Misc. thoughts on my recent trek to SC/NC
Here are a few miscellaneous thoughts and ramblings from my recent post-Christmas family vacation to South Carolina and North Carolina ...
1. "Slower traffic keep right" doesn't seem to apply in South Carolina. To all drivers in the Palmetto state who refuse to GET OVER, may I suggest the following: http://www.slowertraffickeepright.com/?
2. Gas is a lot cheaper in SC than in Florida, so that offsets the bad driving a little. But not much. Someone smarter than I ... please explain why we pay 20 cents more per gallon here.
3. Bojangles is awesome. I could eat that junk every day. Twice. (Steak or country ham biscuits in the AM, and copious amounts of cajun chicken in the PM). Oh yeah ... and cajun pintos. We ate there twice this trip; 4-5 times last time we were there. Craziness.
4. Never, ever believe the "ski report" from any NC ski resorts. 16" base? Where?!? In the old freezer in the worker's lounge that has never been defrosted? (And I know firsthand that these places give out false info all the time ... back in college, Cecilia and I worked at the same NC ski resort (which will remain nameless). I worked on the lifts at the top of the mountain and Cecilia worked in an office (with heat) way down the road. She took calls asking about conditions. Suffice it to say, the reports they gave her to give out and my reality from the actual slopes rarely coincided.)
5. A GMC Yukon XL is a HUGE vehicle ... for about 2 hours. Then, it steadily closes in on you until you can barely breathe. Just because it will seat 7 doesn't mean 7 people will enjoy each other's company for 12 hours. Twice. Oh - and remember this kids: Never take your shoes off in the car after a long day - no matter how hot your feet are. ESPECIALLY if your feet are hot.
6. Sometimes you have to get away and spend several nights in hotels just to remind you how good it is to be back at home (in your own bed).
7. Time visiting with extended family can be bittersweet. I guess I'll leave it at that.
8. Shooting a gun in the woods is powerfully cathartic. My grandparents land up in Lancaster, SC allows for plenty of release. We shot a couple hundred rounds of 12 gauge, 9 mm, .40 caliber, etc. Oh ... targets and skeet only - not animals.
9. I like my church. I'd rather go to church here than anywhere.
10. You can live past 100 years. My grandmother is 101. I don't want to live that long. My poor grandmother hasn't recognized me in probably ten years. I don't understand dementia and Alzheimer's at all - not just the medical aspects of it - I mean the "why-does-God-allow-this" aspects of it. I honestly hope my grandmother goes home to Jesus soon.
11. I have an awesome wife and kids. I'd rather be with them doing anything, than be with anybody else doing anything else. Does that make grammatical sense?
Final note: No angry letters from South Carolinians, please. If you MUST write, contact me here.
Have a nice day.
1. "Slower traffic keep right" doesn't seem to apply in South Carolina. To all drivers in the Palmetto state who refuse to GET OVER, may I suggest the following: http://www.slowertraffickeepright.com/?
2. Gas is a lot cheaper in SC than in Florida, so that offsets the bad driving a little. But not much. Someone smarter than I ... please explain why we pay 20 cents more per gallon here.
3. Bojangles is awesome. I could eat that junk every day. Twice. (Steak or country ham biscuits in the AM, and copious amounts of cajun chicken in the PM). Oh yeah ... and cajun pintos. We ate there twice this trip; 4-5 times last time we were there. Craziness.
4. Never, ever believe the "ski report" from any NC ski resorts. 16" base? Where?!? In the old freezer in the worker's lounge that has never been defrosted? (And I know firsthand that these places give out false info all the time ... back in college, Cecilia and I worked at the same NC ski resort (which will remain nameless). I worked on the lifts at the top of the mountain and Cecilia worked in an office (with heat) way down the road. She took calls asking about conditions. Suffice it to say, the reports they gave her to give out and my reality from the actual slopes rarely coincided.)
5. A GMC Yukon XL is a HUGE vehicle ... for about 2 hours. Then, it steadily closes in on you until you can barely breathe. Just because it will seat 7 doesn't mean 7 people will enjoy each other's company for 12 hours. Twice. Oh - and remember this kids: Never take your shoes off in the car after a long day - no matter how hot your feet are. ESPECIALLY if your feet are hot.
6. Sometimes you have to get away and spend several nights in hotels just to remind you how good it is to be back at home (in your own bed).
7. Time visiting with extended family can be bittersweet. I guess I'll leave it at that.
8. Shooting a gun in the woods is powerfully cathartic. My grandparents land up in Lancaster, SC allows for plenty of release. We shot a couple hundred rounds of 12 gauge, 9 mm, .40 caliber, etc. Oh ... targets and skeet only - not animals.
9. I like my church. I'd rather go to church here than anywhere.
10. You can live past 100 years. My grandmother is 101. I don't want to live that long. My poor grandmother hasn't recognized me in probably ten years. I don't understand dementia and Alzheimer's at all - not just the medical aspects of it - I mean the "why-does-God-allow-this" aspects of it. I honestly hope my grandmother goes home to Jesus soon.
11. I have an awesome wife and kids. I'd rather be with them doing anything, than be with anybody else doing anything else. Does that make grammatical sense?
Final note: No angry letters from South Carolinians, please. If you MUST write, contact me here.
Have a nice day.
posted by Paul A. Thompson at
7:05 AM
4 Comments:
In my earlier days, when I travelled abroad for weeks at a time I would eat at Bojangles on my way home from the airport. No kidding.
Weds. nights all you can eat!
That comment address gave me a good laugh! I love your sense of humor Paul!
Dear Joel,
I am a Sandlapper by birth and my feelings are hurt. :)
JW ... haha ... good stuff
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