Quickie-Blog

I don't have a lot to write about today, and I should be packing, but I figured I'd take a little break for some random thoughts.

Note to Business Owners:

Do not advertise on digital billboards. Worst invention ever created. I can't tell you how many times lately I have been interested in something on a billboard, only to have it change before I get a chance to read the whole damn thing. I sat at a red light and watched one of those digital billboards change about 8 times with totally different ads every time. I don't know how much it costs to advertise on one of them, but it's not worth it if you really want to get your info across to drivers. This is one of those times when technology is not that big of a deal.

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We had a great weekend - nay, I'd say it was epic, on par with last weekend, which was even better in a lot of ways. Last weekend the BF and I had a romantic, no-special-occasion-whatsoever (unless you count Halloween, and we don't) dinner at Ro' Chez. We are picky about where we go out to eat, but I had a feeling (based on a recommendation from K. and her man) that we would not be disappointed. It was divine. A 5-course meal, just-right portions and served with just enough time to savor each course. Chef Roache changes the menu every week, but it seems there is always a Cajun influence. Everything we ate was lovely - we even got lucky and had a bonus course at the beginning of the meal: walnut-encrusted goat cheese with pears, brie, a balsamic reduction and crouton. The chef told us he got the goat cheese from the farmer's market, and so I just had to go get some for myself this weekend. We were not disappointed. Ryal's Goat Cheese is based in Tylertown, and they have several varieties of goat cheese, including feta. I went with the basic chevre, though, because I'm a purist. I had it with some pears and dried fruit, and Oh. My. Goat. totally delicious. Please go support these people at the Farmer's Market on the fairgrounds. Even if you don't like goat cheese - go buy me some. I love that our farmer's market is finally growing (thanks in part to the recent merge with the Belhaven Market) - I hope one day it will be as big and awesome as the one I went to in Portland.

I'm getting mentally geared up for my big move. I have cleared out a lot of junk, gotten old clothes together for Goodwill, and packed a box or two. But I think next weekend will mark the beginning of the Big Packing Ordeal. I am literally counting the days until I am out of here (22!) - especially after having to call the cops on my neighbors last night for fighting and generally disturbing the peace. I went for a walk/run in Belhaven this afternoon with my friend A., and let me tell you, it was so peaceful. I am so looking forward to this next chapter in my life!

And that's about it. I need to go be productive with the next couple of hours (What is up with it getting dark so early, yet it's so warm? Totally messing me up.) I will be driving right into the hurricane this week it seems, but hopefully I'll be back to blog another day next week.

Granny's snoring

I feel like I talk about my dog a whole lot, but dammit, she's a pretty interesting creature. Sally is still just a puppy -- 7 months old -- but she has the sleeping habits of an old lady. She goes to bed early, like 9:00 sometimes. And when I say "goes to bed," that often means curling up on the floor here in the living room to sleep, but more often than not she literally clop-clop-clops back to the bedroom and gets into her bed to sleep. By the time I go to bed, usually an hour or two later, she is wayy deep into Level 4 REM sleep, stretched out with her head under my bed and snoring loudly. It's hilarious.

I am just happy she doesn't keep me awake all night with whining or anything. She really is a good dog most of the time. I have to be away from her this week while I'm out of town for work, and I really think I'm going to miss her!

Before I get ahead of myself, I wanted to do a little self-back-patting. I have a new column with the local alt weekly, a monthly deal, and I am pretty proud of it. My first entry is here, and I got a great deal of feedback on it! A few comments on the actual story, and a couple of emails too, including one from someone who had submitted a mix tape to http://www.cassettefrommyex.com/. She encouraged me to submit a tape of my own, and I may just do that if I can find any of the good ones. At the moment I have no idea where all my tapes are. I blame that on moving no less than 8 times in 8 years.

I just finished up this month's column, and I'm pretty happy with it. I'll wait until it's published to post a link and give away the topic. I will say that I have been on a sort of nostalgia kick lately, so that explains a lot. I don't know if it's being in my 30s or what, but the nostalgia just happens. I know people say this all the time, but time really does go by faster the older you get. I look back over the last 10 years, and I'm really not sure where all that time went.

This week is going to be so busy for me. Actually, the next month or so is going to be nonstop madness... even the weekends will be full. I see a massage or two in my future!

Lastly, I have to say that I hope this is the last of the hurricanes for a while. It was sort of fun the first go-round with Gustav, but after Ike I am tired of people freaking out about gas prices, I'm tired of rain, and I'm tired of worrying about where the next one will hit. That's enough for this year mmkay?

Comfy and cozy

I know that this hurricane is terrible for so many people. I am glad that it hasn't had quite the same impact as Katrina, and that everyone was so much better prepared. But I have to say that I have enjoyed the comfyness of holing up in the den with the xBF and the dog, watching the Weather Channel, eating and napping. Yes, I said I'm staying with the x-BF, but it's all good, we are friends and sometimes even with benefits. Stone me for that, I don't care... people need people.

Sally and I decided to come crash here yesterday when the weather started looking like it would get worse. We brought all the necessities and then some, but you can never be too prepared, right? It looks rough on the coast, but not total chaos and destruction like 3 years ago. For that I am thankful and glad.

Here we are just getting some rain and wind -- technically Sally and I could probably go on home. But it's not any fun riding out a storm alone, and we're making a mean pot roast tonight, so we're staying put!!

Some highlights from this weekend:

1. I have some friends who think Jim Cantore is hot. I think he is slowly morphing into Beaker from the Muppets. Soon we will tune in to Jim on the coast, clinging to a palm tree, and all he can say is "Meee Meee Meee!! Mememememeeee!!" See?

2. Went to One-to-One studios on Saturday night, for a benefit show so that they can keep on keepin' on. I have to say, I was really impressed! Millsaps Avenue has been an arts center for a while, but only recently has it begun a real revival. It was nice to see the diverse crowd, young (some VERY young, like not finished growing young) and old, white, black, Asian and whatever. Seven*Studioz was bumping as usual just down the street, and other than the sweltering heat, it was a good time. I especially enjoyed Johnny Bertram and Dent May (and his magnficent ukulele was indeed magnificent). I am happy to see Jackson's nightlife continue to grow.

3. Why is it that all the TV marathons on during Labor Day weekend are all my least favorite shows? I don't need to see that many episodes of Star Trek or Project Runway. I'm not sure anyone does.

I think that's about it for now. Back to more of doing nothing for the rest of the day!