All the Way to Memphis

The BF and I took a much-needed trip to Memphis a few weeks ago, partially to celebrate my birthday, partially to see Big Star, and also just because we both needed some time away. It was a lot of fun, and the trip made me realize how much I miss living in Memphis (or just living in a bigger city, period). The city has changed and grown even more in the 7 years since I lived there, but thankfully I still know my way around.

We arrived on Friday and got settled in just as a huge rain storm started up. We just hung out in the hotel until it slowed down enough to not need a kayak to get anywhere, and then we decided to find some grub. We wound up at JG's Trattoria, which used to be Grisanti's, but now Judd Grisanti has transformed it somewhat into something a little more modern. Our meal started with a thick slice of Bruschetta topped with sun-dried tomatoes, buffalo mozzarella and arugula, and then a cup of butternut squash/zucchini bisque with pesto, which sounds weird but was a delicious combination. Our main courses were manicotti (me) and Tuna Puttanesca (him). My manicotti was deliciously rich, with italian sausage, veal and ground pork, topped with lots of melty cheese and swimming in a red sauce that really would make you slap your momma. The BF's Puttanesca was equally good, the tuna seared perfectly. I'm just not that into olives and capers, so I didn't eat much of his dish.

Saturday I had to get up and run 3.5 miles on the treadmill as part of my 8K training, and it was hellish, to say the least. The exercise room was adjacent to the indoor pool, so the air was thick with chlorine and there was little air circulation in the room. I was determined though, and I did it with minimal walk breaks. Afterward, we made our way toward Brother Juniper's with the intention of having a nice breakfast and then doing some shopping at Tiger Books next door and wherever else our hearts took us. Bro. Juniper's has always been popular, but it seemed to be more popular than ever on this particular day, and there was a 45-minute wait. Since I had just burned a few hundred calories and the BF was ravenous too, that wouldn't work. We did hit up Tiger Books, though, since they were right next door, so that he could get a sweatshirt. (He's getting cold-natured in his old age.) Then we decided to try out the Blue Plate Cafe. I don't know why I never ate there when I lived in Memphis, but I wish I had. Our wait was minimal there and the food was amazing. Simple, country breakfast, but good. He had a fried bologna sandwich with hash browns, I had scrambled eggs with ham and cheese, hashbrowns, and we shared some biscuits and gravy. It was perfect.

After Blue Plate, we started our hunt for a turntable for me. I have been wanting one for quite some time now, seeing how I have this decent collection of LPs and nothing to play them on. We went to Shangri-La records, which is an awesome vintage record store. They didn't really have anything in our price range for a turntable, but I did buy an Echo & the Bunnymen album and Stevie Wonder's "Songbook" album. I could have stayed in there forever, they really do have just about anything you could want, plus tons of rare 45s and singles.

We decided to go out to the suburbs (gasp!) to Best Buy for a turntable. There just really wasn't anywhere else to go, and after stopping in some music stores where the BF nearly spent all his money on a Marshall amplifier/cabinet, we figured Best Buy really was our only option. We found something good there, and in the process, had the opportunity to check out BB's musical instrument section. In a word, it was kind of sad. It was as if they stuck a small Guitar Center on to the back corner of the big box store. The person who helped us did seem to know a lot about the turntables, but otherwise it just felt weird to think about buying a guitar or amp from this place.

We had wanted to go to the Rendezvous for dinner, but the BBQ Fest was going on the same weekend, and the night before our attempt to park downtown was foiled when we realized it was going to cost us $20. I wasn't willing to risk that again, and besides, I knew of another great BBQ joint in Midtown. The BBQ Shop was my 2nd favorite place to eat BBQ when I lived in Memphis, and they just happened to have won "Best Pulled Pork Sandwich" in the Memphis Flyer this year as well. We went before the Big Star show, were in and out in an hour, and it was some of the best BBQ we've had in a long time.

The show, the show. I will have a whole 'nother post about the show. Suffice to say, it was a great time in spite of the rain, and an experience I will never forget.

Sunday came too soon. We had lunch at Huey's, my favorite burger spot in M-town, hit up Whole Foods, where I got some Meyer Lemons and a free box of chocolates, and then hit the road. It was such a nice time, we really needed it. The BF and I travel so well together, I think we're really lucky. Travel is the ultimate test for a relationship, and we've taken several trips, long and short, in the 5 or so years we've been together. I am not sure we've ever fought on any of these trips. Growing up in a family where vacations were routinely cut short because of my parents' inability to get along, I count this as a major blessing.

This post is a bit retro since the trip was about a month ago, but hang tight - I'll catch up soon enough, including this year's trip with the fam!

Y'all want some 'maters?*

Ouiser: Tomatoes!
Clairee: Why give all these to me?
Ouiser: Somebody’s got to take ‘em. I hate ‘em…
Annelle: Then why do you grow ‘em?
Ouiser: Because I’m an old Southern woman and we’re supposed to wear funny looking hats and ugly clothes and grow vegetables in the dirt. Don’t ask me those questions. I don’t know WHY. I don’t make the rules.

I am not an old southern woman (yet), but I'm well on my way now I guess because I'm growing some tomatoes! They are doing really well so far, in spite of the fact that they are thirsty critters and I am forgetful. Luckily this evening there was a nice summer storm that took care of them for me.

I stayed inside cooking crunchy kale in one pan and "slow kale" in another, all thanks to my weekly stash from Flying M farms. This is the first time I've made crunchy kale with the flat-leaf kind, and so far, so good. I plan on freezing the other for the not-so-salad days later in the summer.

I've really been enjoying the turntable the BF got me for my birthday. I shanked a bunch of his LP's and am currently listening to a Pretenders album, which, strangely enough, was printed in Portugal. So instead of "Side A," it says "Lado A." Pretty sure in nerddom somewhere (or just on ebay) this is worth some $$! But me, being a modern woman and "nice girl," I will not steal his albums like his girlfriends of 20 years ago did. Bitches! I know that's what happened to all his Cure albums!

Since work has been so insane lately, it sure is nice to come home to happy plants, yummy veggies, and good tunes. Not to mention a happy doggie. Just 3 more days and I'll be off some more, this time for a much-needed trip to the beach with the fam. Just hope I'm not dodging tar balls the whole time. That whole situation makes me so sick and sad. And no, not just because it could ruin my vacation. :(

*There used to be an old man in my hometown of Crystal Springs named Pope Bell, and he grew and sold his own tomatoes. He had a unique style of advertising, which was basically to go down the phone book, call everybody in the town and say, "This is Pope Bell. Y'all want some 'maters?" I imagine it actually worked very well for him in that small town.

Rolling Rock

"From the glass lined tanks of Old Latrobe, we tender this premium beer for your enjoyment as a tribute to your good taste. It comes from the mountain springs to you. '33'"

Last year I commemorated my birthday with a song. This year all I could come up with is the slogan from a beer bottle, albeit a decent beer. The 33 is mysterious - there are many stories as to what it stands for. I'm not nearly as mysterious, but I like to think I at least have pretty good taste!

I'm not at all bothered about turning one year older. This last year has been mostly fun and a lot of work, but a pretty good year overall. I feel healthier than I have in a long time, thanks to my new crazy running habit. I've got a great new place to live, a place that finally feels like a home. I have a great bunch of friends, a wonderful boyfriend who loves me, and a strong family that loves me too. My job may not be perfect, but I have a roof over my head. There are tomatoes growing in my yard and herbs on my porch. And I have a sweet black and white puppy dog to snuggle with every night.

I think that's a lot to be thankful for - fine lines, gray hairs and stretch marks be damned! Can't wait to see what "33" has in store for me!

Flora and Fauna

I've had a decent week in spite of the huge amount of stress I'm currently under, but it was not completely without its shitty moments. I'm beginning to question the direction my professional life is taking. The BF and I got pissy with each other about never getting to see each other, an argument I could see coming a mile away because we have both had the most insane schedules ever lately. And then there was family drama. There was a time in my life when I thought my family was the last one on earth to be drama-free, but it turns out that it's only a matter of when, not if.

So, I surrounded myself with plants and books this weekend. It all started with this bouquet of purple tulips I got from the aptly-named Tulip in the Duling School building at Arts Eats & Beats on Thursday night. (Since I'm posting from the BB I'll have to add pics later.) Tulips are my favorite flower, and these just made me happy!

Saturday, I bought some herbs at Ellen's Nursery in Crystal Springs, which is my hometown. It is owned by Ellen Sneddon, or as my dad calls her, "The Piccolo Lady," because she used to always play the flute or piccolo at church or sit in with our H.S. band. It's a super-cute nursery, very reasonable prices, and I highly recommend it.

That same day I also picked up a signed copy of "The Help," finally, and a copy of Barry Hannah's "Geronimo Rex." This is the book he wrote that alludes to his time as a student at Mississippi College, and I am very interested in that, being an alumnus myself. Plus, I'm a bad Mississippian for not having read Barry Hannah before he died. I can't wait to dive into both of those.

I was a bit proud of myself for not surrounding myself with food instead. This is a healthy first step, I think. It helped that I had to run a 5K yesterday evening - I didn't want to get sick running on a full stomach.

I am loving having a screen porch on which to grow plants, or just sit and read. And sometimes we do eat out there, too. After the race last night, the BF and I got takeout from Keifer's and ate al fresco. It was a nice change from eating in front of the TV, and can you believe it, I actually couldn't finish my cottage fries?

I still have the goal of running a half-marathon firmly planted in my mind. I have decided to try to run the St. Jude half in December, in order to give me plenty of time to train. Meantime, I want to train for an 8K in May and hopefully a 10K between May and December. I hear there is a 15K somewhere too, but we'll see. I still can't believe I can run a mile without stopping, much less anything further, but I feel so much better for doing it.

Crossroads Film Fest is next weekend, and I've helped out this year by coordinating the bands for the after-parties. I hope we have a good turnout and that everything goes swimmingly. I really love that we have such a successful film festival here, and it's been fun to be part of it this year. That's not to say it hasn't been a lot of work, because it has, but it's worth it! I will be glad when May arrives, though.

Must say T.T.F.N., but I hope to get back to updating at least every Sunday! YAY for the BB!

Huzzah!!

I'm a bit slow on the uptake, but I just figured out how to post to this here blogamajig from my trusty Blackberry!

The reason I haven't updated in eons is because I no longer have internet access at home, which severely limits my blog time. Now, typing with my thumbs is not my favorite way to get my thoughts out into the blogosphere, but it's better than nothing!

So expect some random, fleeting posts, and on a good day, something more.