VACATION: Friday

Well it is official – today is my last alone day here at this wonderful beach. Now don’t get me wrong, people have been down here and all, but I could be as antisocial as I wanted to be and no one would be the wiser that that is not my usual habit.

So to celebrate my time here – I went back to Brookgreen Gardens. This time to tour the garden/sculpture side. OMG – this place is truly a work of art.

I spent a very pleasant 4 hours walking around the gardens – admiring the beautiful plants (Ginger Lilly smells HEAVENLY) and stunning art work.













The only blight on the morning was my so called lady at lunch. So many people had talked about the plantation dining room that I simply had to try it. BIG mistake!! I went in, was seated, and the lovely hostess brought out my lemonade right away – then it all went south. Maybe it is because I was there by myself or maybe the waitress just has issues with fat chicks. I’m not sure what happened, but the 4 tables near me (seated after I got my lemonade) were waited on super quick, the waitress came over all smiles, and how do you dos, and may I please take your order with a I recommend the shrimp basket thrown in right. She handled each of those 4 tables with 2 to 8 people at them with lightning quickness – and now I know that the waitress can not control the timing of the food coming from the kitchen – to the point that by the time she even noticed that I was there, the couple that came in right behind me were already receiving their meal. And if that was not bad enough – when she finally notices that I have been patiently waiting for her to come over to the table – I swear I was being waited on by Flo from Mel’s Diner – whatcha want? At that point I said no thank you – stood up and walked to the register, paid for my lemonade and I’m not joking she stood there going “what – you PMSing or something”

So my advice to you – if you go to Brookgreen Gardens – and you really must because it is freaking spectacular – do not I repeat DO NOT go to the fancy dining room for lunch. Either pack a picnic basket or go to the Lowcountry Trail snack bar. At least the prices there are more honest.

Okay deep breaths – enough negativity. Now the true wonder of my day was the sea turtle talk. That was awesome – I didn’t get a good picture of the naturalist Lisa and I will not even begin to embarrass the poor girl with the one that I did snap. Wow. So anyway – the sea turtle talk was very informative. First up, the loggerback sea turtle (SC state reptile) is a threatened species, grows to be between 5-6 long,

And then it rained – and I’m not talking about a nice delicate little sprinkle. I mean a torrential down pour. But hey it was super yummy to curl up in camper and hear the rain on the roof.

VACATION: Thursday

Woke up to a major problem – the camper was playing hostess to about a million ants, so I had to run outside and figure out where they were coming in at, seal up that hole and then deal with the ones inside. What a mess. And that was all before 5am & coffee. Aye Chihuahua!

Hung out around the camper most of the early morning after breakfast (salad) & yoga. Once again – no pictures LOL. After being a lazy bum for the early hours I decided to get up and head out – first stop, alligator class at the causeway.
Where we (the group) met Dean for an intriguing class on alligators. And Dean really I wasn’t trying to make it look like you didn’t know what you were talking about.

*side note – it is not my fault that I know quite abit about a reptile that lived literally down the street from me in Florida. I happen to have read A LOT and I retain information extremely well.*

The surf seining class got canceled due to weather, so I toured the Atalaya early and wow – that place is really cool. Looks like it could use some renovation, but still pretty cool. I really like the servant quarters – small but really super cozy – add a bed and you would be set. It’s amazing how much our expectations change over the years.

Next on my Daily Want To list – visit Ebb & Flow. A funky little art gallery/coffee house. Where I got the perfect breve – foamy & hot with a heart (but the picture didn’t come out *pout*). It was a perfect combo of hip art & snazzy localism with a dash of bohemian chic tossed in. From the driftwood reindeer & palm Christmas tree out front to the refurbished “door” tables in the gallery. I had a perfectly groovy time hanging out and listening to an Irish gig.







I also managed to do a bit of shopping today – picked up a stuffed alligator for Lucas (so what if he calls it a crocodile) & a beach towel for me. And I made it to BAM to get Tuesday & Wednesday up.

After I came back to the camper and fixed our dinner – I decided it was too early to call it quits for the day. So why not take Divo down to the beach and see what he thinks of the big water. Well that was all around a messed up walk. Divo hated walking down the path way, and then he really didn’t like the fact that he had to walk beside the ranger guy, and man the skeeters were awful, but nothing even comes close to his expression when he figured out that I wanted him to get wet. The first time down to the water he walked in with out a hitch. High stepped a bit, but no real big deal. Then he went out a bit further & decided he wanted mom to pick him up, which I did. No big. But when I sat him down at the water’s edge – he dug in all four feet and refused (I mean flat out refused) to step near the water again. Then he started hauling butt to the sand dunes – just as fast I would let him go.



To add insult to injury – we had to rinse off all the sand & salt water when we got back to the campsite – you would have thought I was killing him with all the noises he let loose with. Whimpers, whines, barks & howls. Wow. Wouldn’t have believed it myself if I hadn’t been there with him.

The only down fall to today – my vacation is officially half over now & I don’t wanna go back.

VACATION: Wednesday

I woke up bright & early. Yoga, a quick walk, shower & breakfast – and then hauled hiney out of the park to have some serious FUN. Well okay – after I stopped to take a bird watching “class”. LOL.


But I had more fun watching the crabs and alligator.






But I was a girl on a mission. See DH gave me an awesome present – the fee for the Ultimate Package (wand, topper, 90 minutes play & 5 duels) at Magiquest So I drove up to Broadway on the Beach.

(Got lost for a bit, but had a wonderful trip down memory lane of the summer my sister & I got to cruise Mrytle Beach by ourselves. Hanging out at the Teen Club & going to the Gay Dolphin & the rides at the Amusement Park. I probably stayed “lost” over there for an extra hour going – wow – movie in my head. Those are some great memories.)

Anyhoo – finally got back on the right track and located Broadway on the Beach & Magiquest,

found a really excellent parking place that had trees on 3 sides – so the car would stay shaded. And then it was off to find my wand & topper.

After a brief tutorial (listen to your guide) – let the game begin. You pick a quest such as the “Dazzle Rune Quest”. Watch the wizard tell you about it –

Seek out the five crystals with colors so bright, Red, Yellow, Blue, Black and – most powerful – white. The Lady in the Leaves, in the Forest so deep, Will grant the Dazzle Rune. It’s all yours to keep.

And then you get clues to locate the crystals.

On a wall facing the treehouse, not far from the well, it’s here you’ll discover where Red crystals dwell.

So you go to the well near the treehouse and the look for red crystals (or whatever you are searching for) point your wand and viola – you have claimed the Red crystal – now on to the next. Search for the other 4 crystals, and after you find them, you must find the Lady in the Leaves.


I completed all of the following Rune Quests – Lightning, Healing, Dazzle, Music, Enchant Creature, Reveal – and made it most of the way through Portal. After your game is “over” (Time runs out – and that was 90 minutes worth of running around like a chicken with her head cut off – let me tell you) you can still duel (fight another wizard) or do another game called the Garden Quest. You leave the building and go around Broadway at the Beach looking for characters. LOL. So I think I deserve lunch out and where else can you go but to Margaritaville. and I got a non-alcoholic Margarita and a burger. Wow – this was a super yummy lunch. I’ll have to do salad (no tops) and an extra walk to even out – but it was soooooo worth it.

VACATION: Tuesday

Happy Birthday to Me!!!

Yep – this vacation has a purpose behind it. It is my birthday trip. For several years I always took a nice long trip on my birthday. Sometimes to the beach, sometimes to the mountains, few times to TRA, a cruise & even once to Washington DC. But I haven’t done it in a few years, and I decided that I needed a break.

I got up bright and early today & did yoga (sorry no pictures LOL). Then went for a walk around the campground & down to the beach.




I then walked up and down the beach for an hour – thinking about the past year & to be honest thinking about the past 36 years. I came up with a yearly milestone for every year – from birth to graduation to surgery to transformation.

I then did a little bit of spell work and let the ocean wash all the negative away.


After a long walk and a refreshing shower I decided to check out Brookgreen Gardens and WOW let me tell you – this place is beautiful!!! And if you stop & think about it a really good deal. $12 per person ($10 if you are staying at the state park) and the ticket is good for 7 days.




And I can not wait to see the OTTERS!!!! (My favoritist animal on the whole freaking planet)

When you enter Brookgreen Gardens – they give you a map & a schedule of events. Leave the Welcome Center and head out and around the gift shop (the circle of life statues are here), next up the St James Triad and then a stretch of hot unshaded walkway and next up the Lowcountry Center. Once around this building you are on your way to the Lowcountry Trail.

(While I was wondering the trail my dad called and sang me Happy Birthday, he can’t sing – but he tries so hard. A for effort, Daddy-O.)

You walk a shaded pathway that literally takes you through a rice plantation Archaeological site. You can stop and listen to a “recorded blips” about a day in the life of a Southern Rice Plantation at several different locations. And then you reach the Barn area. They have Red Devon cows, Marsh Tacky horses, and Tunis sheep. All of these are “rare” breeds because the animals have been SOOOOO cross bred. No one wanted to pose for any pictures. *pout*

Then on to the Lowcountry Zoo. And you guessed it – OTTERS!!!!!! I probably spent an hour just watching and talking with these funny little clowns. Now I’ll be honest I saw other animals – alligator, fox, bald eagle, owls, swan, turkey. But in truth – the otter footage “ate up” my camera batteries. Oops. After walking the Zoo, I walked all the way back up to the welcome center.

So I figured I deserved a break & decided to go check out *A Novel Idea* used book store. I was not impressed. It was across the street from Krystals and let me tell you that was temptation city, but I prevailed & overcame the overwhelming desire to eat a slider or two (or three) and drove down the road to Books A Million. Now usually I am not a big fan of chain anything while I am on vacation, but hey, free internet is free internet & I wanted to get at least Monday up and running.


On the way back to the campground – I got curious and decided to stop at the farmers market & I am ever so glad.

This store more than made up for the crappy used book store. They have abso everything there. Fresh veggies, pasta, coffee, meat, cheese – you name it. And the staff, well I can not say enough good things about the staff of this little joint. If you are ever in the area you must check in with Scott & Sketch (and try some of Sketch’s Chicken Salad YUMMY!!!!). This is the kind of store that I love going to.








Then it was back to my home away from home for a delicious dinner of chicken parm with fresh mozerralla & a salad.

VACATION: Monday

Left Fayetteville after noon due to Mom having a Dr's Appointment - drove down south having a good old time. Me and Divo cruising in the Honda, jamming. Sometimes I followed the RV sometimes I led, but no matter what - we made good time.

Got down to the beach and after some difficulty - finally found Huttington Beach State Park and WOW - it is sooooo pretty.












Got the camper mostly set up. I didn't want a bunch of "thing" I had to worry about, Dad staked out the carpet and put out a chair. Said "if you change your mind, you know where stuff is at" OMG - I just LOVE my dad. He is truly the BESTEST dad on the whole planet.

And then my parents took me out to eat at Crabby Mike's mmmmmmmm

- Crab Legs - all you can eat. I think I'm gonna be sick. LOL.

I'm gonna try to do a post a day - but will be running about a day behind.

1-20-09 - Snow Day

Well due to lack of computers at work - I got off at a reasonable time this morning. However, due to snow, road closings, accidents, and morons - it took me almost an hour & a half to make a 20min drive. I'm not joking.

I love my car! It handle these slick roads perfectly but others (bigger 4 wheel drives) ended up in ditches.

Did my Wii after work - then probably killed what activity I did, by eating Chicken Noodle soup watching the inaugaration of Barack Hussein Obama. Wow history in the making.


Oh Yeah - and we have no heat!!!