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Continuing on...
Aug. 30th, 2002 04:54 pmOkay, so it's been a day since I started the Grand Description, but the best laid plans of mice and deathpixies and all that... Anyhoo, I'm here in the apartment on my own whilst Dex goes to work and Gerg helps Daryl move into his new place. I have stuff to repack and organise, postcards to write and things to generally get together, but fow the moment I'm happy to sit here in the relative quiet (the only noise is music I've put on) and have some brain space, as Mel calls it.
Speaking of Mel, we dropped her off at the airport yesterday afternoon. She should be just about home by now.
Miss my Melancamp.
*shakes self* But rather than get all maudlin and introspective, let's continue with the account. Let's see, last time I left you, we were just arriving into Atlanta, Georgia, accompaied by a rather spectacular thunderstorm.
QB lives in an area called Decatur, which is really a village within a city. It reminded me of Brunswick and Fitzroy, with its cafes and bars and good places to eat and the atmosphere of "do your thing". That first evening we went to a Cuban restaurant and stuffed ourselves silly, and had margaritas. Margaritas are attack drinks - they're basically alcoholic slurpees, and the raspberry ones in particular are just too good. So we had a good meal, laughed and talked and generally relaxed after the drive. This continued back at Queen B's place, until we collapsed into sleep.
There is, also, the story of QB and Mel's adventures with the air mattress, but I'll leave that tale to be told by one of the actual participants. :)
That's a hint, by the way. :)
Right, next day, next day... Oh that's right, QB's cat decided to smooch me whilst I was asleep, and me, being comatose in the fashion that is my travelling sleep, did even notice, save to incoporate into my dream a cat licking my nose. Having survived this trauma - both of us - I eventually hauled my arse out of bed and together with my comrades-in-arms, went down to a restaurant called the Vortex for lunch with Indigo and her friend Marni. *waves* Hi Marni. :) The Vortex is my kind of place - no-nonsense, brash and friendly without the obsequiousness of some places. The food was also excellent, and the waitress a lot of laughs. After food we went to the Junkman's Daughter, basically one of those shops where you will find anything and everything, particularly if it's made of leather or lace or both. Mel found the bowler hat which has becom her identifying feature in the journies since, and I experimented with halter tops. I couldn't find anything I liked, but at least I know I can wear them - the quest shall continue, since, after all, when I get back, it'll be summer again. I'm getting double my usual warm weather exposure, cool. :)
That night... hmm, I'm drawing a blank on that night. I know we did something, but I don't remember what it was. HIlly, QB, Mel, care to help out?
The next day the three Trippers piled into the car again and headed eastwards to Savannah, to visit Duann.
Ever notice those people that you meet and within ten minutes it's like you've known each other for years? Alestar was like that, and so was Duey. I'd only really spoken to her on occasional chat nights, but at Dexcon we were like old mates after that ten minutes of conversation. Lise has an expression for it, describing certain people as belonging to her 'tribe', and that's what I'm finding on this trip. There are people you meet and you just know them. Others are tribespeople from way back. It's something I'm profoundly grateful for.
Okay, soppy moment over, let's hit Savannah. :)
Duey and her husband live about fourty minutes' drive form the city itself, in a wonderful renovated farmhouse-type place. Lee was elsewhere at a conference, but Duey quickly made us feel at home. Again, it was late-ish when we arrived, so we had a good talk and then staggerd off to bed. Fortunately Duey's work committments had eased to just the next morning, so we were able to slowly stir ourselves. For once - in fact, about the only time, I think - I was up first, so I put on the Lord of the Rings DVD (I'm such a Tolkien geek) whislt I was having breakfast. We got as far as the Falls of Rauros (sp? I don't have my copy of the book with me to check) by the time Duey got home and changed from Evil Corporate Duey *ducks* and we were ready to head onto town for the obligatory - and very much fun - tour.
I like Savannah. A lot. Any city which makes a point of having a park in the centre of every second block in the inner city is my kind of place. It reminded me of the whole village green concept, somewhere you could go and escape the heat and relax and stroll and say hi to your neighbours. It's very much an Old Southern place, with lovely old buildings and very friendly people. We wandered hither and yon - after finally managing to get me to a post office so I could mail off a card to my folks with my bankcard inside - through the city market and along River Street. I even got some pictures this time - Savannah is very photogenic. :) We had dinner at this ultra-cheap pizza place after unsuccessfully searching River Street (the restaurant and tourist-ish strip) for vegetarian food, and it was more than worth it. Then we headed back to the car, pausing to indulge gelato cravings in Hilly and Mel. There was a pair of buskers playing steel pedal guitars in the Market square where we waited, and Duey and I were much entertained but Bucky and Bill and their Bucket of Love (the bucket they had set out for they money, that is. Bucket of Love sounds better, I have to admit.)
Back in the car, we headed to the beach. The name of the island eacapes me, but it was a glorious night for beach-walking - full moon over the water, slight breeze, warm waves breaking over our feet. In fact, the temptation was too great, and by general consensus we stripped off outer clothing and went swimming in our underwear.
*pauses to let several readers calm down after that image*
It was wonderful, and there hadn't been the occasional person wandering along the beach with a torch, I might have been tempted to strip off completely. Considering what happened next, it's probably a good thing I didn't. Jellyfish stings on the feet are bad enough, without them getting into places no jellyfish was meant to be. ;)
Yep, the Australian got stung by a jellyfish. One minute I'm carvorting in the water, the next I feel something that wasn't seaweed wrap around my foot and commence burning. I exited rather rapidly, saying a few words I'm sure Mum would disapprove of. I amused the Americans by asking - reasonably, I thought - whether I was at risk of dropping dead or becoming paralysed. Well, it's a possibility where I come from! We found our clothes, dressed - the other three discovering the joys of sand in their jeans - and headed back to the car, stopping to get some ice and some spray designed for stings and bites. After a few painful hours, things calmed down, and my leg didn't drop off. Which was kinda, you know, good. Hard to Walkabout with only one leg. It's a Hopabout then, and it looks kinda silly.
Hilly had to get back to Baltimore for registration for her post graduate classes, so the next day (being Thursday), she dropped Mel and I off at the Greyhound station, and continued on her merry way back home. Mel and I, for our part, returned to Atlanta, successfully navigating the subway - I really like public transport, have I mentioned that? - and waited for QB at another nifty place of food, a coffee shop called the Javamonkey. *grins as Duey hides* After a change of clothes, we headed to the bar where QB does her poetry readings.
*pauses*
Queen B kicks arse. She really does. She hsa such a way with words, and is so adept at making them do what she wants... And she looks great in the red cowboy hat. :)
*looks at her watch* Okay, I've been doing this for an hour, and I need to get stuff done. To be continued, folks. And ficcers, go read the latest Constantine chapter on OTL - it was a pain in the butt to post. :)
Speaking of Mel, we dropped her off at the airport yesterday afternoon. She should be just about home by now.
Miss my Melancamp.
*shakes self* But rather than get all maudlin and introspective, let's continue with the account. Let's see, last time I left you, we were just arriving into Atlanta, Georgia, accompaied by a rather spectacular thunderstorm.
QB lives in an area called Decatur, which is really a village within a city. It reminded me of Brunswick and Fitzroy, with its cafes and bars and good places to eat and the atmosphere of "do your thing". That first evening we went to a Cuban restaurant and stuffed ourselves silly, and had margaritas. Margaritas are attack drinks - they're basically alcoholic slurpees, and the raspberry ones in particular are just too good. So we had a good meal, laughed and talked and generally relaxed after the drive. This continued back at Queen B's place, until we collapsed into sleep.
There is, also, the story of QB and Mel's adventures with the air mattress, but I'll leave that tale to be told by one of the actual participants. :)
That's a hint, by the way. :)
Right, next day, next day... Oh that's right, QB's cat decided to smooch me whilst I was asleep, and me, being comatose in the fashion that is my travelling sleep, did even notice, save to incoporate into my dream a cat licking my nose. Having survived this trauma - both of us - I eventually hauled my arse out of bed and together with my comrades-in-arms, went down to a restaurant called the Vortex for lunch with Indigo and her friend Marni. *waves* Hi Marni. :) The Vortex is my kind of place - no-nonsense, brash and friendly without the obsequiousness of some places. The food was also excellent, and the waitress a lot of laughs. After food we went to the Junkman's Daughter, basically one of those shops where you will find anything and everything, particularly if it's made of leather or lace or both. Mel found the bowler hat which has becom her identifying feature in the journies since, and I experimented with halter tops. I couldn't find anything I liked, but at least I know I can wear them - the quest shall continue, since, after all, when I get back, it'll be summer again. I'm getting double my usual warm weather exposure, cool. :)
That night... hmm, I'm drawing a blank on that night. I know we did something, but I don't remember what it was. HIlly, QB, Mel, care to help out?
The next day the three Trippers piled into the car again and headed eastwards to Savannah, to visit Duann.
Ever notice those people that you meet and within ten minutes it's like you've known each other for years? Alestar was like that, and so was Duey. I'd only really spoken to her on occasional chat nights, but at Dexcon we were like old mates after that ten minutes of conversation. Lise has an expression for it, describing certain people as belonging to her 'tribe', and that's what I'm finding on this trip. There are people you meet and you just know them. Others are tribespeople from way back. It's something I'm profoundly grateful for.
Okay, soppy moment over, let's hit Savannah. :)
Duey and her husband live about fourty minutes' drive form the city itself, in a wonderful renovated farmhouse-type place. Lee was elsewhere at a conference, but Duey quickly made us feel at home. Again, it was late-ish when we arrived, so we had a good talk and then staggerd off to bed. Fortunately Duey's work committments had eased to just the next morning, so we were able to slowly stir ourselves. For once - in fact, about the only time, I think - I was up first, so I put on the Lord of the Rings DVD (I'm such a Tolkien geek) whislt I was having breakfast. We got as far as the Falls of Rauros (sp? I don't have my copy of the book with me to check) by the time Duey got home and changed from Evil Corporate Duey *ducks* and we were ready to head onto town for the obligatory - and very much fun - tour.
I like Savannah. A lot. Any city which makes a point of having a park in the centre of every second block in the inner city is my kind of place. It reminded me of the whole village green concept, somewhere you could go and escape the heat and relax and stroll and say hi to your neighbours. It's very much an Old Southern place, with lovely old buildings and very friendly people. We wandered hither and yon - after finally managing to get me to a post office so I could mail off a card to my folks with my bankcard inside - through the city market and along River Street. I even got some pictures this time - Savannah is very photogenic. :) We had dinner at this ultra-cheap pizza place after unsuccessfully searching River Street (the restaurant and tourist-ish strip) for vegetarian food, and it was more than worth it. Then we headed back to the car, pausing to indulge gelato cravings in Hilly and Mel. There was a pair of buskers playing steel pedal guitars in the Market square where we waited, and Duey and I were much entertained but Bucky and Bill and their Bucket of Love (the bucket they had set out for they money, that is. Bucket of Love sounds better, I have to admit.)
Back in the car, we headed to the beach. The name of the island eacapes me, but it was a glorious night for beach-walking - full moon over the water, slight breeze, warm waves breaking over our feet. In fact, the temptation was too great, and by general consensus we stripped off outer clothing and went swimming in our underwear.
*pauses to let several readers calm down after that image*
It was wonderful, and there hadn't been the occasional person wandering along the beach with a torch, I might have been tempted to strip off completely. Considering what happened next, it's probably a good thing I didn't. Jellyfish stings on the feet are bad enough, without them getting into places no jellyfish was meant to be. ;)
Yep, the Australian got stung by a jellyfish. One minute I'm carvorting in the water, the next I feel something that wasn't seaweed wrap around my foot and commence burning. I exited rather rapidly, saying a few words I'm sure Mum would disapprove of. I amused the Americans by asking - reasonably, I thought - whether I was at risk of dropping dead or becoming paralysed. Well, it's a possibility where I come from! We found our clothes, dressed - the other three discovering the joys of sand in their jeans - and headed back to the car, stopping to get some ice and some spray designed for stings and bites. After a few painful hours, things calmed down, and my leg didn't drop off. Which was kinda, you know, good. Hard to Walkabout with only one leg. It's a Hopabout then, and it looks kinda silly.
Hilly had to get back to Baltimore for registration for her post graduate classes, so the next day (being Thursday), she dropped Mel and I off at the Greyhound station, and continued on her merry way back home. Mel and I, for our part, returned to Atlanta, successfully navigating the subway - I really like public transport, have I mentioned that? - and waited for QB at another nifty place of food, a coffee shop called the Javamonkey. *grins as Duey hides* After a change of clothes, we headed to the bar where QB does her poetry readings.
*pauses*
Queen B kicks arse. She really does. She hsa such a way with words, and is so adept at making them do what she wants... And she looks great in the red cowboy hat. :)
*looks at her watch* Okay, I've been doing this for an hour, and I need to get stuff done. To be continued, folks. And ficcers, go read the latest Constantine chapter on OTL - it was a pain in the butt to post. :)
