Goodbyes

This week is a somber week for me. BUT with no school in my life I find it much easier to have a positive outlook so I shall deliver my somber news with a lighthearted and jovial flair.

First (and the least somber): My Chic Antique gig is over. No more sitting around for money. It was good while it lasted and I so miss the neighboring antics but I have also had much more time for leisurely activities AND I no longer have to desperately try to dig up feminine ensembles and act ladylike. It was a struggle for me.

Second (and this is actually big news): I am somewhat no longer employed by my beloved farm. No, I was not fired. I was forced to casually dismiss myself after discovering that I am still having trouble with my heat induced dizziness. Now that it's really started to heat up again I have found myself unable to withstand humid days in the sunshine. While I've been blaming my pre-diabetes, it seems it's really just heat intolerance. I googled it. Sometimes that just happens after a person has a heat stroke like the one I had at the end of last summer. It's embarrassing to realize you're dainty and girlish. It broke my heart to decide that I shouldn't be out on the farm but I'd hate to be that person you have to keep an eye one because she'll spontaneously drop to the ground. Wouldn't want to be one of those fainting goats.

Now I've explained all this and they agree it's better to keep me cool for now and of course I'm welcome back whenever I feel up to it. I moped all day yesterday. Truly that silly farm makes me very happy. I looked forward to going there each day. I've not yet accepted that it's over (even just temporarily). 

My point is, I've had to say Goodbye to Mt. Pleasant for now. Goodbye Yankee haven. I won't miss your traffic and rude townsfolk but I will miss that magical plot of land on the river, filled with flowers and sweet Mexican faces.

Third (and probably the most heartbreaking but somehow easiest to accept (only because I'm excited for her)): Ari is about to leave.

The both of us being relatively unemployed has opened our eyes to an entirely different side of life. Did you know that having no responsibilities means you can do anything you want? What? The two of us have been defining goofing off recently. Beach, boat ride, beach. Dinner out, beach. Julie's show, dinner party, beach. Date night, pump gas, porch sittin', beach. It's been rough.

Let me do a better job explaining...

Start by putting your friends in a 70's themed musical bash.

and take a few mid-day, all day boat rides.

Partake in a number of perfect beach days,

that almost always lead to running into friends,

who take you places with stick-on mustaches.

And in this particular place, I fell madly in love with this black man. His name is Tim. He's a singer.

But most importantly of all is home time with friends, family, good food...

and the dock to make you feel better when it's all over. 

The Goodwin Project

I'm actually not all that concerned with The Goodwin Project. It's exciting sure, and secretly it's a dream of mine but you know, you have to pick and choose these things and traveling around the world living off the land isn't really all that feasible when you're a giggly and nervous young lady. I'm posting this video simply because it makes my Hawaii nostalgia so profound that if I should ever lean away from myself, maybe even towards The Man, this slaps me back into place instantly. The long-haired dude has the right idea. Even if he does look a little silly.

Trip Plans

It is obviously a goal of mine to be astonishingly attractive at all times.

Mattie took this picture of me studiously involved in my English "class" in Paros last summer. Yes, we often had class here in this waterfront cafe. This was because of the cool Mediterranean breeze that whisked under our sun umbrellas and around the corner back out to the sea. It was hot in our classroom. It was lovely out here. While I am clearly not paying attention, nor am I concerned that Professor Crane (in the corner there) might notice me fraternizing with some nearby customers (Mattie), my expression reveals my inner feelings on being forced to spend such a glorious afternoon on grammatical errors and whether "sticky" or "gooey" sound better in this sentence. Important topics sure, but I see Mattie!! I want to go play with Mattie!!

I was the only one of us four girls that had the creative writing class. Kelsey, Karissa, and Mattie would come to the cafe during my class and sit just a few tables away and order syrupy waffles, fruit plates, fresh squeezed orange juice, bowls of honey covered yogurt, and fresh baked bread and they would taunt me with it. They would talk loudly about the evening before and laugh and tell funny stories from home. It was the worst!! 

Mattie is currently in France working at the Cannes Film Festival.

She'll get back in June and then have about two weeks before we leave for Greece. We still don't have our tickets. We're going on Buddy Passes, a wonderful thing that I just don't understand. From what I gather, we tell the airport when we would like to leave and they squeeze us on the closest thing they have to that date, give or take a few days. I think I'll drive down to Jacksonville so that Mattie and I can fly over together. We have our apartment all squared away and two of Mattie's friends will be joining us at two separate times during our month's stay. The one that comes second will then follow us over to Barcelona where we will meet two other Mattie friends. We have no real plans here yet. I've been looking at hostels and apartments and am waiting to hear from Mattie on how long all these girls want to stay in ole 'Lona or whether we want to make our way around and perhaps end up in Madrid. 

They all have to head back to the states towards the end of August to go back to school. Mwahahaha!!! I haven't decided what to do from here. Kind of depends on my bank account but surely it is most wise to stay on my adventure until I'm entirely out of resources. After all, flights are expensive things. Not sure when I'll be headed back to this part of the world. I've sort of got my sights set on South America lately, but thats another blog post. Depending on how much money I have left, I may head north. Work on a farm near Toulouse, finish some of those hiking trails on the Pembrokeshire Coast, or go back and visit Ari's family in Smådalarö, though I'd rather her come with me for that. 

Such tough decisions. 

Do I sound snobby?

I Don't Ask A Lot of People

Don’t laugh.

I rarely have an opinion or demand attention from a room full of people. I’m in the background. You do what you want, I’ll work around it. This is my approach to life. It is also my approach when taking Buddy on his neighborhood jaunts.

Sure Budds you can stop and sniff, poop there, eat that from the neighbors trash, go for it. But when I call you, you come! I'm trying to prevent an accident. I'm trying to prevent your untimely demise from the same roaring automobiles to which we lost your predecessor. Nothing enrages me more that being blatantly ignored and that is simply because I don’t often ask to be listened to. See how that works? I expect you to lend an ear when I do finally pipe up. While Buddy and walking are two of my favorite things, the combination leaves me angry and out of breath. 

Buddy just WON’T listen. Here I have a quick, hard-to-read sketch of the infuriating fiasco.

I see finding things to whine about will be very easy. Good. I was worried. 

Celebratory Things

You know, I really did "graduate" this weekend. Sure I skipped the ceremony but those are painful anyways. Dad was very pleased with my skipping all the hoopla. "Didn't want to sit through it anyways" he said. Mom however was quite put out with me about it. To ease her sorrows I told her I would prance around in the backyard in a white dress and let her take pictures. She has yet to make me do this but I know better. Just when I start to get comfortable she's going to whip out the camera and make me "dance monkey dance!!!"

To celebrate my exoneration, I had everyone over for a big, Dad-made, Lebanese feast. 

I'd been talking up all this ethnic food for so long that I finally had to show these white folk what they're missin'. I say that knowing full well that I am a white folk. It was most delicious though and everyone seemed to like it. 

I do believe I've not yet told you about Pig, a dice game Dad has become fixated on. He picked it up on a trip to Florida and has since made score cards and a felt-bottomed, pig-shaped, wooden rolling tray to make the game even more of an aesthetic treat. After dinner he forced us to play a few rounds. Everyone seemed to enjoy it.

As a final note on official celebratory things, look... it really did happen.

Honbons: And Other Dental Atrocities

I always have this dejected feeling when the Honbarriers go away. How  does a family of goobers make me so happy with such effortless charm? They headed back up to Virginia on Saturday after a Mothers Day/Graduation lunch of sorts. It was the first time in the whole week that I ate a salad rather than some kind of beef or sugared candy. While they claim they don’t eat like this at home, I was forced to schedule a dentist appointment mid-visit so that I might counteract the cavity that was surely brewing in my molars. I’m telling ya. M&M’s, heath bars, cinnamon rolls, chocolate bars, jelly beans, pies, cheesecake, Carmelita’s, and sickly homemade Reese’s cups. Oh and ice cream. Don’t forget the ice cream. 

We spent the week eating and lounging and playing an endless number of games of Shanghai. There was much movie quoting and stow-rie telling. My efforts to withhold my cackles failed on a daily basis and Dad's efforts to eat sensibly slowly withered overtime. Once again, Will outraged us with his unnaturally large appetite, perhaps partaking in one too many racks of ribs on "All You Can Eat Rib" night at Melvin's. "It's not gluttony if you keep it down." he says.

Laurie continued her food pushing throughout the week supplying us with treats for the card games, sweet rolls for the mornings, and gooey Carmelitas for dessert one night after putting Dad's brisket to shame with her own. She's an enabler. I was most entertained by Don's muffled, running commentary of observations about life, witty puns, and quips that only the most patient listeners get the joy of overhearing. There's generally a low rumbling hum in a room with the Hons. It's Don. Just-a talkin'.

I already miss these folks desperately. I woke up Sunday morning, wiggling with excitement, and then I remembered they were gone. I slugged out of bed that morning, muttering to myself and wishing I could relive the whole thing. 

You just wait HonBons. I'm comin' for ya.

They're Doing it Again

Them Honbon folks are distracting me from my picture taking responsibilities. It is with great joy that I move into Day 4 of their visit- laughing and eating sweets. Yes I will get around to documenting things. I'm just thoroughly preoccupied, you see. Part of this is the fault of my friends and loved ones who have all decided to have birthdays in the same week. The week of the Honbon visit. I've been baking up a storm and I'm sorry to inform you that I am three days behind on Omar's birthday pie and am currently not baking a carrot cake I agreed to take on for todays birthday boy. It's a tough life.

Most importantly of all, Ari's birthday is Wednesday. 24. An outrage!! We are celebrating tonight in a mini-fashion. I am bringing Will along so he can judge me by the patrons of a Folly Beach Bar and possibly misinterpret my personality based entirely on the fools that might recognize me and make their way over to drool out a "hello" before staggering back to whatever drunken haze they emerged from. I feel I may be misrepresented. Alas, this is the chance I take.

Anyways, look how nice things are lookin'...

Yes, I took that picture through Mom and Dad's bedroom window. I'm telling ya, not a lot of time for things this week. Oh and Mothers Day is coming! Geez. I shall keep you posted on the Honbon antics and then update you on my travel plans. I'm headed out to the beach in just a bit. But first I'm going to go work on a disclaimer for Will...

Real Life: Day 1

Today is my first real day of real life. I say that because I've been working everyday since my last day of school. What do you mean working everyday is real life? Nonsense.

Hey look. I found a picture of my painting of Fabio!
You weren't around when I went through my celebrity portraits phase were you? Strategically planting them around the house.

This week the captivatingly marvelous HonBon folk are in town. I am immensely excited for the impending giggles, desserts, and Shanghai tournaments. I will do my best to take pictures of things without being obnoxious about it. Thats the one downside to taking pictures. No one seems to want you around. No one likes to be in pictures. I especially hate it. No pictures please.

As an update, Ellen is off showing property this morning (isn't that funny? It's like she's a real person. Sellin' Ellen). Dad has mowed the lawn, put out pine straw, gone to Lowes, and is now at the grocery store. It's only 10:40. He's a little overzealous.

I believe Mom is in the other room picking at her toes.

I have recently been informed that my newest place of employment is going under. What?? Apparently I'm not the salesperson my Father is. Val told me that Spring is usually her busiest season and for some reason, it seems no one is coming to the store. Her lease runs out at the end of May and I don't think she's making enough money to stay open. I'm sad about this for a number of reasons.
1) Val. She loves her store. I know it pains her to let it go. She will have to go back to selling real estate- something she doesn't miss.
2) It is the easiest job I've ever been paid too much to do.
3) I've befriended the neighboring waitstaff, fitness trainers, and overweight Mt. Pleasant townsfolk and I will miss their antics.
4) The milkshakes.
5) The potential for me to become one of the overweight Mt. Pleasant townsfolk in need of fitness trainers because of the milkshakes provided by the neighboring waitstaff. See how that works?

I will simply have to up my hours out at the farm. Speaking of which, I have been informed that we are opening a plant nursery of sorts and I'm so excited to learn about all of the plants. Gilberto's gonna have to teach me everything he knows. I don't know much about plants. Oh and I never know their names. Gosh I'm only going to know how to say the plants with a hispanic accent. "Laurita, dis one is Tiger LeeLee."

I'm off to the grocery store now too. I've got some sweets to make...