Sketchy Hotels 101

How to know you are staying at a sketchy hotel: 

1.) The price is ridiculously lower in comparison to the surrounded hotels 

2.) It is a motel rather then a inn or hotel

3.) Your fellow motel patrons look like pimps and drug dealers rather then grandmas and grandpas seeing America 

4.) The desk clerk with the name of Susie can not answer simple questions - such as "Do you recommend somewhere to eat?" because her response is "I do not eat out." 

5.) Upon walking into your hotel room you feel it is absolutely necessary to cover the bed with your own sheets. 

6.) When staying on one side of the motel you cannot pick up internet service however once asking Susie about this issue she informs you - "That side does not have service - you will have to move rooms." Sweet.  Lucy grab your bone - we are moving. 

Ohhh Charleston - you have done it again

Ahh - I love this town.  Love Love Love.  Lucy and I arrived Friday evening and after dropping my stuff off at my brother's place I hopped on over to Red's for a few cold one's.  It is this fantastic bar located on Shem Creek and has live music usually friday and saturday nights.  Some of my brother's best friends from high school were down visiting for the weekend as well - so it was basically reunion weekend.  After knocking down a few beers we headed over to Vickery's which is located on the other side of Shem Creek.  LOVE this place - delicious food.  After enjoying a great meal on the water it was time to head downtown and let the night go from great to ridiculous.  

Okay so we are at the Blind Tiger and my brother sees this girl wearing Jack Rogers and stops her and says "My sister wears those same things - are you from NC?"  Wow way to be creepy and just weird bro (see it is normal in my family to talk to strangers when you are drinking)- however she was from NC and as it turns out we know um something like 

over 20 of the same people.  We stood in the bar talking for like hour going over people we knew and where / what they were doing.  Small world... oh but wait its going to get smaller. 

The next day I'm out walking Lucy in my brother's apartment complex and I hear my name being called.  I look around and there is this girl standing on a porch waving her hand at me and smiling.  She goes - it's Ginny - we went to high school together!  Ginny was a year below me and we always seem to have at least one class together throughout high school. I have not seen her since I graduated and that was umm... 2002. Lord. 

That night we are out and about again in downtown Charleston and I run into my friend Margaret from college.  She moved to DC after graduation and just happened to be in Charleston for a wedding.  Love it. 

However - lets make Charleston even smaller.  We decided to go to the Windjammer on the Isle of Palms Sunday afternoon for some drinks and turns out they are having the Bud Light Bikini Contest.  Yes - I just love classy events like this.  Let me paint the picture for you - beach bar - people of all types - picnic tables pushed together for the runway.  Awesome.  Anyway - we are standing there and they ask if anyone else wants to participate and these two girls who were dancing on said picnic tables earlier decide to be in the competition.  They announce one of the girls name and I think oh I know a guy by the same last name and think I wonder if they are related.  Well as it turns out (if you can follow this) one of the guys (we will call him J.R.) I was hanging out with all weekend went to high school in Va with possible family member of bikini girl.  So I ask J.R. and turns out it was a family member - it was his little sister.  So now I am just dying laughing with J.R.  because this is just too much.  The older brother is an absolute hysterical over the top individual and well to be seeing his lil sister shaking her behind on a picnic table - just made my day - families - got to love it.  On top of that - little sister came in 3rd.  

Okay I should probably hit the hay - I'm leaving Charleston tomorrow hopefully by 6 in da mornin'... the plan is to drive until I cannot drive anymore. Here is my route ... 

Ahhh - I cannot get google maps to cooperate! Okay sorry for the lack of photos in this post BUT I cannot figure out how to show y'all my route.  The plan is from Charleston head out towards Columbia, SC -> Knoxville, TN -> Nashville, TN -> say hello to Kentucky as I pass into IL -> truck on through to St. Louis (stop and see the arch(s)) -> Kansas City, KA -> and then Boulder, CO!! 

Providing I have internet in the hotels I will keep y'all posted on my whereabouts! 

4 Days

4 Days until the car is packed and I'm headed to Charleston, SC for the Memorial Day Weekend ... and 7 days until I hit the road again and this time it is BOULDER COLORADO insight!  The Goose and I will be traveling cross country and staying for summer... ahh I cannot wait! 

The Fisherman

Okay so here is the story / deal on that date I went on last week. 

I'm out with M&J, RW&P, and Declare at one of our favorite local bars.  This night it happens to be a bit crowded - but whatever because are headed to our other favorite dancing bar in a little bit anyways.  None the less we all have the attitude - we are out to have a fantastic evening! SO - I go up to the bar to order myself another beer when I run into this guy who is wearing a fishing shirt in a bar.  Me being who I am say "Oh I love the shirt!  Those are great shirts for fly fishing because of all the vents!" He looks at me like "What has this girl just said to me?" and then asks me to dance.  So we start dancing... whatever I like to shag to beach music and it seemed harmless enough. We exchange names and his last name is the same as in he is the same as one of the most prominent public schools in the area. Ohh okay. Over the course of the evening I find out his grand father invented Mountain Dew - seriously - I'm like this must be a joke. He has over 4 million dollars in invested in real estate in various parts of the state.  Um his mom lives on one the best lakes in the state and his dad has a beach house. I'm like well damn - this could be good. So I give him my number..... 

We chat the next day on the phone and its like talking to an ADD 5 year old but I still agree to go out on a date. I'm such a damn push-over.  We agree to go to dinner at 7 - he doesn't show up till 7:30.  Now I'm hungry and have only a glass of wine in my tummy so I mean honestly there is no filter on this one.  

Now we get to dinner - this is where is starts getting good. 

He tells me how he had to sell his truck to pay his lawyer ... his lawyer - um for what? Oh well my last DUI - Your last DUI? Well yes - this last one was my fourth - in the past year and half. OH MY DEAR LORD AND I DROVE IN A CAR WITH THIS INDIVIDUAL?! Somehow I manage not to spit my drink out of mouth and across the table and asked I think in a calm fashion - How do you still have a license?  Oh well they are pending. Oh well in that case .... um no! We finished up dinner - me thinking the whole time I'm going to die on the way home. We get into his car and he then informs me he is taking me to the Rose Garden. Buddy seriously all I want to do is go home - but apparently where he is from that means I do want to go. Plus I hate roses - sorry but I do.  So we go.. I'm now thinking I'm going to die in the Rose Garden. This does not happen either. We are finally back in the car on the way home - or so I think - when he informs me we are going to "swing by his house" so he can pick up his dog to take me home. WHAT?! Not necessary - oh but we are right here! I stay in the car and out comes his dog who hops up into the Jeep.  I get home - in one piece - say my goodnight - tell him firmly to stay where he is and NOT walk me to the door - and high tail it into the house. 

Since this time he has called me multiple times during the day and I have yet to return a phone call. Seriously buddy - leave me alone. 

Another thing - this is why one does not talk to strangers - lesson learned. 

Y'all

Can I tell you how excited I am right now?!  You know how sometimes when you are having a not such perfect day you send a shout out prayer and wham something wonderful happens?  Well that happened to me today.  I went to spin class to burn off some frustration (while spinning I was having my prayer time) and I come out of the gym and Allison has called with some awesome news.  She is coming out to Boulder in June!!  Catherine, Allison, and I are all looking forward to hiking our behinds up a 14'er this summer and now we can do it together.  Also this is my last weekend in town before the Goose and I start our drive out west. Crazy, right? 

I know I know!

I know I owe y'all a fantastic first date story and it was my birthday this weekend so I have a great birthday story for that as well.  However I spent all day at the VA and well I am exhausted and have to turn around and do it all again tomorrow.  My patient is immobile, has a trach tube, stomach tube, can not speak, and today was not one her good days.  I promise to update y'all soon!! 

I just don't wanna ....

I'm going on a date tonight and I do not want to go.  In hopes of sabotaging this possible relationship I am blogging about it because that always seems to do the trick.  Seriously I can think about 10 things I would rather do this evening and one of those is reorganize my closet.  If I didn't have to get ready I would blog more about this individual.  However I do have to remember I brought this on myself - I need to stop talking to strangers. 

Okay I need to get dressed - actually I need a glass (or bottle) of wine first. 

Party Dress

It's my birthday on Sunday - whoot whoot - it's the last birthday I'm celebrating until I hit 30 so I guess that is kind of exciting.  On Saturday I am having a birthday party and I need a birthday dress.  Suggestions ladies please!!  I want a new long dress except I am a tall drink of water to begin with and unless its a super long dress it looks like I'm wearing the pant version of clam diggers.  I went looking today and the options were not in my favor - everything seemed so picked over.  When do stores get in new shipments?  Anyone know?  Anyone have a great place/store where I can find the one? 

Thanks!!

Hmmmm

I love windows - big windows, natural light - its one of those things that just make me happy.  In my new room I have two big windows side by side and a window in my bathroom!  Every morning when I wake up - first thing I do is open my blinds and jump in the shower.  It helps generate that seize the day attitude. 

Today I was driving on the busy road behind my new house and looked over and said "Oh look self - there are the darling brick townhouses you get to live in!  Oh and look there is your townhouse!  And your big pretty windows!  And your bed!  And well your room...." 

Note to Self:  Perhaps I should invest in some curtains. 

I am here!

Blog Friends I am alive and moved and I still have my liver! Life is good ... just got internet yesterday - thank goodness.  You have no idea what it is like to go a week without internet or dvr and I am sad to say that yes I am addicted to both.  Sitting in parking lots bumming internet from cafe's and hotels  - well that just makes me feel like a shady individual. But alas - all is well at the abode.  I LOVE IT!  The neighbors are wonderful, Lucy is just loving her new digs and friends, and I have already planned the first block party - taking place on Cinco de Mayo.  But I have lots more to blog about - but it will have to wait because its bed time and I have work at the Stationery Store tomorrow. 

xoxox 

Pav