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Windchills and Regrets

December 13, 2010 by charlsiekate

It is cold here in Charleston, South Carolina.  Not that it really mattered to me today because I was inside the whole day, but it sure looked cold out of my window.

As I was getting onto the interstate on my way home from work today, I saw blue flashing lights ahead and realized two seconds too late that getting on the interstate was not a good idea.  I stopped.  Considered my options.  And realized I had to continue onto the ramp of stand still traffic.  Ugh.  I knew the fluffy puff was waiting patiently at home to go outside, and I hoped she was sleeping.

When I finally made it 1/4 of a mile after 20 minutes and saw the wreck, I was instantly glad I stayed an extra 15 minutes at work.  It was for real.   There was a mercedes that had taken quite a beating but the driver and passenger area looked totally intact, which made me feel safe in the silver bullet.  She now has 199,500 miles, give or take a few.  The silver bullet is getting her 200k badge for Christmas this year!

Briscoe was extremely pumped to see me when I got home.  I felt guilty that she hadn’t gotten to do anything fun this weekend besides snuggle with Uncle Matt and lick and sniff all over Aunt Jennifer, so I decided to take her on a walk to look at some Christmas lights.

I knew it was cold, but figured I’d be okay in my layers and gloves and headband.  I should have taken into account the 20-30 mile wind, but I was so happy to be outside, and Briscoe was so happy to be outside, we ignored the cold.  I quickly paid dearly for this poor decision-making.

Briscoe was in high spirits, and her little dog breath made puffs of smoke as she jangled down the sidewalk, stopping to sniff and forage.  At one point she was chewing on something and I had to stop and manhandle her until she spit out a chicken bone.  My precious knitted gloves were no match for the 30 mph arctic blasts.

By the time we made it home, my hands were numb and Briscoe’s smoke puffs had become a constant cloud.  We were both very happy to get inside our warm apartment.  My hands were so cold I couldn’t get Briscoe’s collar off.

After a scalding hot shower, flannel pajamas and a bowl of hot chili, I’m starting to warm up.  Briscoe is asleep next to me on the couch and she’s a great little heater herself.

I hope you are all as cozy as I am tonight!

Posted in Briscoe, Charleston, Weather | 1 Comment »

Detox and Daylight Savings

November 9, 2010 by charlsiekate

Travers and Natalie’s wedding was this past weekend, and let me go ahead and say that it was one of the most fun weekends ever.  I knew it was going to fun, but I don’t think I realized HOW much fun it was going to be.  Friday night was a blast, and Saturday night went by in the blink of an eye.  When someone told me that they were leaving the reception, I couldn’t believe it.  I thought it was about 8:30, and it was actually 11.  Things quickly got out of hand at the Partridge Inn, and one of my last intelligent thoughts of the night was that I probably should have eaten something at the reception and that tomorrow wasn’t going to be awesome.

Sunday wasn’t quite as fun and definitely did not go by as fast.  So I decided that I needed to go through some detox  and rest this week.  The best part about detox this week is that alcohol hasn’t appealed to me in the least bit, and with daylight savings, going to sleep at 9:30 has seemed completely normal.

Then this afternoon I decided to take it to the next level.  I went to hot power vinyasa yoga.  Mary Righton and Suz and the rest of the Brown family gave me a month of free yoga for my birthday, but I’ve been working so late the past few weeks I haven’t been able to go.  I knew I was going to struggle, since I am woefully out of shape and I haven’t done yoga since I lived in Athens, but I figured it would be a good way to kick start my new commitment to healthy living.

I did better than I expected, and enjoyed it more than I anticipated.  I did have to step outside of the hot room about mid way through because I was seeing stars and I’m pretty sure I was hyperventilating, but I went back in and I finished!  I thought about barfing on the way home, but after some gatorade and some puppy love from the Briscoe Dog, I’m feeling much better.

I feel sure I won’t be able to walk tomorrow, or the next day, but I want to go back next week.  The idea of alcohol is still making me feel ill, but I did manage to eat dinner.

Charleston has better radio stations than Augusta.  Speaking of music, I found a cd case of old mixed CDs from college while unpacking all my stuff.  I put them in my car, because, who knew, I don’t actually have any other cd player in my life anymore.  LUCKILY, the silver bullet has a six disc changer, because that was a super rad cutting edge car accessory in 1997.

I remember a lot of these songs, and some of the songs were classics that I still love.  But I was left with the overall impression that some of the music I listened to in college was AWFUL, and that I obviously took advantage of a lot of free downloading of poor quality bad music back before the government figured out how to stop file sharing.

I can’t wait to get in the bed tonight.  I’m going to sleep like a professional sleeper in my awesome bed with clean sheets and the greatest pillows ever.  Sweet Dreams!

Posted in Charleston, Working Out | 1 Comment »

Happy Day!

October 28, 2010 by charlsiekate

About a month ago it was discovered that statue in memory of my sister, Alice, had been stolen from the grounds of the Old Medical College in Augusta.  Alice died from a genetic disorder four months before I was born.  She was five years old and had been sick for over three years.  My parent’s friends got together and raised money and commissioned a Georgia artist, Marshall Daugherty, to create a statue in her memory.  It was Daugherty’s last work, as he lost his eyesight shortly after he completed the piece.  He told my mother it was his “Ode to Joy”.  It was bronze, about three feet high, and sat on a rose marble pillar.  Until recently.  The loss of the statue was devastating for my parents, another reminder that nothing lasts forever and nothing is sacred.  Not even the memory of a child. 

But, my awesome to be sister in law, Natalie, was determined to find the statue.  She is a prosecutor and worked tirelessly with the Richmond County Sheriff’s office.  My parents offered a reward for any information leading to the recovery of the statue.  But we were starting to believe that the statue was lost, probably irreparably damaged, most likely melted down for scrap metal. 

Then today we got the amazing news that the statue had been recovered!  Honestly, I really can’t believe it.  Natalie sent me a text message this afternoon that said -

Looky what Richmond County Sheriff’s Office Found!

Apparently a neighbor tipped off the police for the reward money.  I’m so relieved, I can’t even tell you!  Apparently my dad went straight there and put it in his car.  Haha.  Hooray!

Posted in Augusta, Difficulties, The Paines | 1 Comment »

The Love of October

October 21, 2010 by charlsiekate

I love October.  As a classic Libra, October is my month.  The stars tend to line up for me in October.  Not in any concrete, observeable way, but more in an inter-balance sort of way. 

Briscoe and I are adjusting to our new city.  Kate and Trav came to visit last weekend, and Kate and I did the Race For a Cure on Saturday morning with Susan, Jennifer, Mary Righton, Stephanie, Lauren and Meredith.  Trav and Briscoe spent the morning bonding.  I told Trav that he could tie Briscoe up outside of stores if he needed to, but just to not leave her very long. 

Trav’s first stop was the Starbucks in the Frances Marion Hotel.  He decided that Briscoe was probably fine to come inside.  So he and Briscoe stood in the long line patiently waiting for their turn.  It wasn’t until he’d been in the store for about ten minutes and made it up to the counter that anyone even noticed that he’d brought a dog inside.  He said the girl behind the counter took one look at her and said – “YOU CAN’T HAVE A DOG INSIDE THE STORE!” 

And he said, “oh, okay, can I have my coffee and we’ll leave!”

Haha.  It totally makes me laugh to think of the scene. 

Then they went to the visitors center, and Trav tied Briscoe up to the bench outside.  He said she sat down and stared at him, and a couple walking past said, wow, that is a great dog!  After Trav got all the maps of downtown Charleston he could carry and came back outside, the couple was still standing there, watching Briscoe be a great dog.  He said his biggest fear was that someone was going to steal her.  She’s adjusting to city life quite well. 

I’m also adjusting, but I’m starting to have that little homesicky feeling where you start to think of all the people you used to drink beer with on a random tuesday night or the seasonal events you are missing.  Then something tragic like a giant tree falling in your parents front yard, and you really sort of wish you were there to see it.

Crazy times, right?  Kate said she just hopes no one is trapped underneath all the limbs.  I get real sad when trees fall down!

But I’m going to an oyster roast tonight and my new kickball team had it’s first game last night, which was super fun.  We lost, but we could have won if the other team hadn’t had a coach.  A coach.  For kickball.  Come on.

Posted in Augusta, Briscoe, Charleston | 1 Comment »

Fountains and Fairytales

October 12, 2010 by charlsiekate

Briscoe and I decided to go on an exploratory run of our new neighborhood today.  The best thing about wandering around downtown Charleston in the afternoon is that you can look at the direction the sun is setting and then see where the closest body of water is, and you can’t get entirely lost!  It also helps to know which steeple is which and where it is suppose to be in correlation of where you want to be.  Eventually you come upon a main drag and can figure out which way to go next.  That being said, it is completely possibly to end up miles away from where you live with an exhausted dog and long trek home.  We were having such a great time wandering, we really didn’t realize how far away we were from home.

Briscoe is a great dog to walk in populated areas, because everyone asks, Is that a Wheaten?  or, What kind of dog is that?  It is a rare day that someone actually knows she is a wheaten with confidence.  She is adjusting well to her new home, she spends most of her time in what was her favorite chair at our last home.  I’ve decided to just let her keep the chair.  I bought it at the attic sale and have an overstock slipcover on it, and as such, even though it is a high wingback chair I still paid less for it than I did for Briscoe’s last orvis bed.  And she seems to like it better than the orvis bed anyway.  She likes to be up high.

My parents got me a nook for my birthday, like the kindle, but the barnes and noble version.  I’ve always really liked barnes and noble as a store, and I think I like the nook.  Can any one think of any reason why I’d rather have the kindle?

I racked up on novelty electronics this weekend, Travers and Natalie gave me a tom tom, which is really fun.  Now I’ll never be lost again!  Haha.  Somehow I have a feeling that is completely untrue.  I got lost today in North Charleston and took a right turn at a red light that said no right turn because I was so distracted with where the closest fed ex store was.  As I was turning I saw the sign and I thought, OPPS, shouldn’t have done that.  But someone was speeding up behind me so it was too late to turn back!  Luckily, the person speeding up behind me was a cop, who was nice enough to pull me over, listen to my excuse about being a new transplant, lecture me on signs and such, and let me go.  That has never happened to me before!  I’m pretty sure it was the McCoy sticker on the back of my car that got me out of a ticket, but who knows.  I was really pumped about it and really appreciate that cop for being reasonable and nice and understanding – it makes me really respect the force, know what I mean?

K, my battery is dying and I’ve got a good book to read, so sweet dreams friends, and I’ll be back soon!  Love!

Posted in Briscoe, Charleston | Leave a Comment »

Hi.

October 7, 2010 by charlsiekate

So far, twenty ten has been fairly tumultuous for me.  The strongest indication of what a hard time I was having is probably that I stopped writing.  Not probably.  Definitely.  I have been struggling for the past year to find the right job, the right professional environment, the right motivations.  And I think I’ve finally found it.  But in the process I spent months in an environment that was nothing short of toxic for me.

You know how when you date someone who isn’t nice to you, and then you date someone who is nice to you, and you think, wow, why did I ever put up with that last guy?  That’s the way I feel about my professional life.  It is unbelievable.

The most fun about this new job that I’ve acquired out of sheer luck and happenstance, is that it is in Charleston.  I didn’t want to leave Augusta, and I’m not sure I would have left Augusta if my professional life hadn’t forced my hand.  But fate intervened and I didn’t have a choice, or not a reasonable and mature choice.  The only thing for me to do was to pack up my life and move to Charleston for the job I’ve always wanted.  Life is so hard!  Haha.

So here I am, in my new amazing apartment downtown, trying to absorb what has happened to me.  Two months ago I had no idea any of this was going to happen.  I accepted the job less than a month ago, and tomorrow will be the end of my 3rd week at the new job.

I’ve missed my blog.  I’ve missed my blog friends.  And I’m looking forward to this new chapter in this new city.  I’m going to do my best to document it, because I know I’ll regret it forever if I don’t.   I feel like not writing was a reflection on how stifled I felt in life in general.  I don’t feel stifled anymore.

Oh, and I turn 30 on 10/10/10 – which is Sunday.  So get excited.  Briscoe is going to take lots of pictures.  She might even take some videos.  You never know with the fluffy puff.

Posted in Current Affairs, Thoughts | 2 Comments »

Short work weeks and Shade

June 3, 2010 by charlsiekate

The best thing about a Monday holiday is that on Thursday you think it is Wednesday and Friday is here before you know it.  I got home on Monday from a six day long trip to Chicago for work then to Charleston for pleasure.  It was pouring down rain and I was so happy because I had the perfect excuse for laying on my couch all Monday afternoon with the fluffy puff and catching up on all my season finales.  Seriously, Grey’s Anatomy hit me kinda hard.  NCIS left me hanging (I don’t really like being left hanging all summer – wrap it up – I won’t care that much in September).

On a sad note, someone stole part of my herb garden.  I had three pots – one with mint (it was a BIG pot), one with Lavender (it was a MEDIUM size pot), and one with oregano (it is a LITTLE pot).  I had these three pots on the side of my yard so they could get enough sun.  Well, while I was gone, some one stole the two big pots.  Which is weird if only because the BIG pot – I can barely pick up and carry ten feet.  And I’m strong.  And the other pot is heavy too.  Plus the little pot was the actual thrown pottery pot of value, and the only one portable enough to carry off in your arms.  And if they pulled a truck up and threw the big pots in the vehicle, why not take the little one?  I don’t get it.  But now I’m fresh out of mint and lavender and my life is less complete.  Sigh.

But on a happier note, I had an awesome new friend that I met during a period of logistical difficulty this past weekend send me a super awesome package that I got yesterday.  It was amazing, and hopefully I will tell you more about the contents of the package in the future, if I can stop neglecting this blog.

I also got some fun mail on Tuesday, but I’ll wait to tell you about that later.  Suffice it to say, as cool as email and bbm and gchat can be, there is nothing better than pulling up to your house after work and seeing something interesting sticking out of your mailbox.

Yesterday and today have been the first truly hot and humid days we’ve had this summer.  When I got in my car after work this afternoon, my sunglassess fogged up completely.  I had to roll down the windows to unfog them.

This time every year I have to relearn my jogging routes that involve shade.  My winter routes involve sunshine, so it’s always an adjustment.

I had dinner tonight with Robin Anne – tomorrow is her birthday!  HOORAY!  HAPPY BIRTHDAY ROBIN ANNE!  We had so much fun, it was a perfect evening.

YAWN!  So happy tomorrow is Friday.  Sweet dream friends.

Posted in Books, Difficulties, summertime, Television, Thoughts | Leave a Comment »

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