Eat Up

You can tell a lot about a person by what rests, temporarily, on his/her dinner dish. I am sure you have done it at one time or another, judged a person by their plate; eating too little, eating too much, a sauce fanatic, the salt junkie, the BK resident (always wanting food his/her way), the vegetarian, the protein buff, and so on.

I am fairly predictable. I love carbs (rice, delicious dinner rolls, pasta, potatoes...) and I slowly savor vegetables; there is no limit to the veggie world's real estate as far as my plate is concerned. I usually stick to poultry-chicken or turkey-and the occasional seafood entree of salmon or crab cakes. As far as condiments are concerned, I typically favor ketchup and barbecue sauce to all others. If I can't distinguish what something is, I stay away. Soup or salad? Salad all the way (Italian dressing, please). I'm pretty simple and usually stick to classic, routine dishes.

Vegetarian I am not, but I do carry a certain stigma toward meat. I blame it on a tragic occurrence at the tender age of five for this condition my husband deems as "unnatural".  Inching ever-so-slowly toward an Adirondack lake's edge, my foot searched for stability atop a slimy, floating deceased-yet plump-frog. By my reaction you would have thought I lost a limb, but worse. I can not look at, touch, smell, taste, or consume any portion of meat that resembles (in my presence) the animal it once was. Examples: slabs of steak, ribs, shrimp, lobster or crab claws/legs/tails/other random body parts, turkey carcasses (displayed on Thanksgiving tables), breasts of chicken with bones, fish with skin/scales-ick!, barbecue displayed as pigs' butts/thighs/whole bodies, big chunks of ham, pork roasts, and so much more. Yes I get grossed out, but I also feel bad for the little (or big) guys. In such moments I consider converting to the herbivore side, but then I think of Chic-fil-A and the act simply can not be done. Maybe some day.

What does your plate say about you?

Fields of Imaginative Frolicking

"Two roads emerged in the wood, and I -- 

I took the one less traveled by, 

And that has made all the difference"

-Robert Frost

I think it is safe to assume most people have heard this Frost quote before. Today, the quote serves-Frost's intended purpose aside-to encourage (generally young) people to step out into the world boldly, not be afraid of the unknown, take a chance, and other messages similar in theme. Has anyone stopped to wonder what would have happened if Frost did take the more traveled way? What if the worn path looped around and eventually met it's other half further into the wood? 

My blogs often explicitly reference my quick decision to move to North Carolina. So many great things have happened since and I know that I have been generously blessed. Every so often I wonder: what if I decided to stay in upstate New York? If I had, where would I be today? 

I'm not talking about regret here. I do not live in regret, but there are a good number of things I have done that I can now see other-wiser-ways in which I could have handled past circumstances. 

I urge you to wonder for a while where the path you passed by could have taken you. When your mind returns from the fields of imaginative frolicking, appreciate the path you're on and the fruit that this part of the "wood" has granted you. 

Chucktown

Chad and I just returned from a little anniversary getaway in Charleston, South Carolina. I absolutely adore Charleston. It is a quaint city with a tangible nostalgia of antebellum days that can charm just about anyone. Part of what made our trip as enjoyable as it was, were the overwhelming recommendations we received from friends for restaurants, activities, historical "musts", shopping, even parking. So rather than narrate our experiences to you, I'm going to share some of our own recommendations. Here goes...

For the Civil War/historical buffs:

Now, I'm not one to trade shopping for a historical moment, but this was probably one of the coolest museums (if you will) that I have ever encountered. Our guide was more knowledgable than any history teacher I have had and I truly walked away feeling more educated than I was when we pulled up. If you have time to spare on a Saturday or Sunday, visit the H.L.Hunley, the first submarine (used in the Civil War) and the vessel responsible for sinking the USS Housatonic in a mere five minutes!

this guy is old

Chad and I hanging out in a replica 

(10% larger than the real deal!)

Our first day in downtown Charleston began on an hour-long carriage tour with Palmetto Carriage Rides. My favorite part of the tour was learning about the unmistakably unique architecture throughout the entire peninsula and the practical functions behind it. If interested, there are two dollar coupons on their website AND they offer free parking for the entire day. We even returned to the city for dinner that same day and...free parking!

Some sites from our tour...

For those who must eat to survive:

Craving a cheeseburger (or GREAT turkey burger) but don't want to walk away feeling like your stomach is on the verge of bursting? Burger Babies has all your favorite burgers and sandwiches, just reduced to a more manageable mini size. It's perfect for a quick lunch to keep you fueled for King Street shopping. If you go, add a side of sweet potato tots. You won't regret it. 

Chad's cheeseburger and jerk shrimp sandwich,

made complete with the sweet potato tots.

(They offer great combo deals!)

Our pastor recommended that we check out Hyman's Seafood. The food, service, environment, tabletop food for thought, and even the waiting bench is worth your time. Also, allow your eyes to stray to nearby tables as they feature small brackets letting you know the various celebrities who enjoyed the same food. (We were near Hootie and the Blowfish, Vanilla Ice, Sandra Bullock, and Kevin Costner) Don't be crazy, go eat there. (I ordered the crab cakes...awesome!) 

The hubs :) 

Keep your eyes peeled around town for coupons-easy to come by-for free appetizers. Also, we told our server it was our anniversary and they treated us to a free brownie with three scoops of ice cream. We loved the treat, but it ruined our plans to visit Kaminsky's-just down the street-and indulge in dessert (recommended by friends). 

For the walker/nature lover/collegiate minded...

Located in the heart of Charleston is the College of Charleston, a public liberal arts and sciences university. If I had grown up in the south, I would have begged to go here! The campus is breathtakingly beautiful. Chad and I strolled around and enjoyed the nature the school obviously values. 

*Located southwest of the Calhoun and King Street intersection.

Me...wishing I could go back to college

For the shopper:

Market Street is known for its...you guessed it, open-air markets that were very recently given new life. Here you can find locally produced pottery, jewelry, baskets, and the like. Great for souvenirs, but beware: very touristy. 

King Street is home to every major national retailer you can think of as well as some diverse antique dealers. If seeking antiques, bring a full wallet and make sure you visit the southern end of this retail walk. 

a fun find!