Blog-cation 12/29/11

• Another gorgeous sunny but chilly day at Myrtle Beach.  I'm layered up and headed out beachwalking.
• Happy 19-month Anniversary, SGD.  LYMTTY.
• I'll be heading out to visit family for a few days, so my blog will be on vacation.  Wishing everyone a safe and festive New Year's Eve and a kickbutt start to 2012.  See you next week.

What's happening 12/28/11

• Didn't get up in time to see the sunrise this morning, trying to let myself heal with as much sleep as I can get.  But Sunbella shone bright the whole chilly, breezy day, glistening on the smooth ocean.
• On a day like this, I'm flabbergasted at how some people can leisurely stroll on the beach in shorts and bare feet, while others are bundled up head to toe and speedwalking like they can't get somewhere fast enough.  
• This chick didn't beachwalk today, but I did make myself get out to Myrtle's Market for fresh produce -- love it that they still have tomatoes that taste like summer -- and to the grocery store.  I'd had a lifetime worth of pimiento cheese sandwiches and microwave popcorn the past few days.
• Just caught a gorgeous sunset off the breezeway.  No glass of wine tonight, just orange juice.  Sunbella set into a stand of trees to the southwest, looking like sunset on the Serengeti, except for the jet contrails stitching the sky and squiggle clouds left by earlier jets.
• My SGD got to play golf today back in Missouri and played pretty well, too.  Even got two birdies.  I'm tickled for him.  It's been way too long since he got to do something he loves so much.    

What a finish! 12/27/11

• After a wicked, wild day of pummeling wind, pounding waves, and pouring rain, the sun broke through late afternoon and took the temp up to 69.  Got in a short breezy beachwalk.  First time in days and it felt good.  Watched Sunbella set peacefully in a cloudless sky, the sliver of new moon hanging overhead in the deep blue.  Goes to show, I never know how things will turn out, so my expectations are pointless.
• Forgot a HAPPY BIRTHDAY shout-out to my nephew Jordan, wherever he is.  Hope you're having a good one, Dude! 
• In case anyone is catching my blog, this is my 100th Myrtle Moments.  Not bad for an old chick who didn't even know what a blog was when I started.  Take a minute and give a comment just so I know someone is out there reading, huh?!  Thanks.

A tale of two mornings 12/26 and 12/27

• Yesterday was a sleepy, cold sunrise.  Mother Ocean lay like a pond, sliding unbroken ripples onto the sand with barely a splash.  The fishing seagulls didn't even bob.  Though the static, steely blue clouds along the skyline squelched her colors, Sunbella managed two sunrises -- she did a peep show from under a flat cloud, hid again, then blew over the top of the cloud bank in full shine.  The day continued cool, breezy, sunny.
• Today is restless and rolling and gray, with no sunrise at all.  Mother Ocean is churning waves worthy of "Point Break," frothy white and slamming high onto the sand.  The few beachwalkers braving the morning are wading through thick, brown foam on the narrow beach not covered by tide.  A man nearly lost his little boy to the ripping waves, grabbing his shirt and yanking him back while in up to his own waist.  A passerby recovered the boy's floating flip flop.  The palmetto fronds whip wildly in the blustering wind blowing straight off the ocean.  While typing this, the rain starts pelting down, driving the beachwalkers back to their resorts.
• Yesterday I gave in to being sick, passive, going back to bed before noon to sleep as much of the day away as I could, in survival mode just to write and breathe, making myself get dressed and leave my place to get a haircut, returning worn out from the effort.
• Today I woke feeling crappy again, but I plowed on and colored my hair, showered.  Maybe Mother Ocean's wild, untamed fury is inspiring me.  I am dressed, breathing as deeply as I can and being thankful for it instead of whining that I can't breathe, fueled with cold meds and coffee and writing furiously, and working an I'm-going-to-kick-this-crud's-butt attitude.  Maybe this is my turning point to getting well, being a fighter instead of a whiner.   

Christmas tidbits 12/25/11

• Been too sick to blog, saving what little energy I've had for volunteering.  Wasn't scheduled to work today, but I'm headed back shortly for Day 4 of the Red Cross feeding the multitudes.  Want to see all the onion chopping, cranberry dipping, gravy stirring, dressing making, mashed potato scooping, hefting and cleaning and truck loading and unloading I've done come to fruition.  Hope I make it.  I'm feeling pretty puny again.
• It helped to see a gorgeous sunrise today.  Sunbella shined her blush onto the sponge-painted clouds all the way to the west horizon, then rose slow, hot orange, diva glorious.  Back to clouds and a chilly breeze now.  Still a few folks out taking a Christmas day beachwalk.  Good for them.
• Just a few funny things to share from the past few days:
• A family of 12, all with black hair and dark skin, were leaving the beach and resembled a Christmas shepherd gang flocking to see the Christ child.  Only their robes and towels were draped over swimsuits, they were carrying floaty tubes and boogie boards instead of gold, frankincense and myrhh, and Grandma was wearing a swim muumuu.
• Made a quick dash to Wal-Mart on Friday to get more meds for my cold.  Thought I'd hit the jackpot when I found everything I needed and got in a 20-item or less line with only two people ahead of me.  Then I spent 25 minutes sneezing and hacking while a lady with a cartful of bags and a $197 plus change bill (you think she had more than 20 items??) in the front of the line tried her American Express card three times and couldn't complete the transaction because she didn't know her zip code.  Then her debit card was also declined.  I was ready to collapse -- not smart taking cold meds on an empty stomach -- or tackle the woman and drag her out of the store, when her husband appeared, entered the magic zip code, and they were gone.  I crashed back in bed as soon as I made it home.
• When I finally awoke from the above nap, I drug myself to the hot tub to steam my chills and open my head.  Unfortunately, a woman and her young'un in a floaty tube were in the pool nearby, close enough that I could hear her say "no, Maybeline, don't splash Mama," at least 27 times.  The girl kept on splashing and jibberjabbering and giggling, no matter how many times or how loudly Mama said not to.  Mama even threw in a "stop" now and then.  Made no dayum difference.  I couldn't help but think -- if Maybeline had been a dog, I would have been able to enjoy the hot tub instead of flee to my room.  A dog would have either a) not gotten in the pool at all because it's not their cup of tea, or b) been dogpaddling along and amusing themselves, not splashing around.  Maybe I should check out Ocean Park resort next door.  The marquee says "dog friendly" and I see lots of pets going in.  Now if it is only kid-free! 

Lucky 12/22/11

• Slept lousy again but got up with the alarm anyway.  Stepped out onto the balcony to warm and humid, sky socked in with dark clouds except for a stained glass window at the eastern horizon glowing black and red.  Had to walk the sunrise.
• A tumultuous Mother Ocean slapped foamy swells onto the sand.  A lone dolphin rolled up out of the waves.  Pelicans belly-flopped on the water, then bobbed and fished.
• The east window stayed open and let the intensifying sunrise colors through -- hot orange backdrop; blush turning the murky clouds to cotton candy and the ocean to chablis.
• Sunbella rose, pancaked between two clouds, then was gone and night returned.  The sunrise show may be the best today has to offer.  And I got to see it walking barefoot on the beach.  I'm a lucky gal.  Plus, I just got to phone convo with my SGD after he got off work.  The day begins.
• Sending a "happy birthday" shout-out to my nephew Eli.  Have a kickbutt day, Dude! 

Quick change 12/21/11

• Aunt Peg said the Myrtle Beach sky changes faster than any she's ever seen.  It does.  When I hit the beach for my sunrise walk, ominous clouds were rolling in the west, looking like rain was holding just on the other side of Ocean Blvd.  North up the beach was blue haze, south purple-pink haze.  The air felt cool and moist on my face, thick with salt.  Mother Ocean was rocking and roiling (yes, roiling), her 3-foot waves crashing like thunder.
• A break in the eastern clouds allowed muted light to shine through as Sunbella got closer.  Blue sky took over between the now fluffy western clouds.  Sunbella made two distinct sunrises using the clouds as props, both muted, not her usual verve.  I kept walking, waiting for more.  Just as Sunbella was blasting rays from behind a monster cloud and I could feel the crescendo of a "hallelujah" moment coming, more clouds crowded in and choked out her big finish. 
• Now everything is murky gray.  I've got lamps burning for light to write by.  But it's warm, 61 degrees, 88% humidity.  I love that, even if the humidity makes my hair a tangle of beach grass.
• I'm back to feeling my solo mojo, after my SGD's visit.  Didn't take long to take over the dining table again with dictionary and thesaurus and notebooks and steno pads and a different pen for each project.  Didn't take long to cover the coffee table with magazines and books, spread my junk back out into empty drawers, start sleeping toward the middle of the bed and throwing my legs over to find the cool spot, to eating and wearing and doing any dayum thing I want anytime I want.  It feels good to know my way again, not to be empty and lost.  But I still miss him.    

200 pounds of onions, oh my 12/20/11

• Sometimes being a vegetarian sucks.  When I got to my volunteer gig, which is helping the Red Cross and Street Reach Ministries prepare Christmas dinner for 5000, my options were to hack up turkeys or cut onions.  I can't hack hacking turkeys, so I chose to peel and quarter 200 pounds of sweet Spanish onions.  Worked with a lady named Sandy from Little River, very nice, and another couple from West Virginia that spend half the year in MB, also very nice.  After the first 50 pounds or so my eyes didn't sting and I couldn't even smell the onions.  I could sure smell that turkey, though.  Yuck.  And there's nothing more slippery than a tiled kitchen floor covered in turkey grease.  I scrubbed the soles of my sneakers as soon as I got home. 
• Since I did so well on the onions, Lee, one of the guys in charge of the kitchen, deemed me Cranberry Lady.  A team of female basketball players from Atlanta, in MB for a tournament, were coming to volunteer and I had to supervise them dipping cranberry sauce from 5 gallon buckets into little plastic souffle cups, capping them with lids that fit, putting the cups into boxes, and keeping count of the whole shebang so we could get to 5000 cups of cranberry sauce.  We had 4 buckets going in my work area, 3 buckets going in another room.  While we were dipping and capping and stacking, their head coach was standing around taking pictures and yacking, so I started hollering, "Hey Coach, how about toting some of these boxes out to the fridge truck."  The girls got a kick out of me making their coach do some work.  Guess I got a little bit of drill sergeant in me from my dad.   We finally ran out of matching lids, somewhere between 2000-3000 cups.  Chef Brad assured me his restaurant would be donating more cups with lids by tomorrow.  Hooray, I'll probably get to scoop more cranberry goo when I go back on Thursday.  At least it's not sweet potatoes.
• Lee was a really cool guy.  When I introduced myself, he said his first girlfriend's name was Roni so it would be easy for him to remember.  Then he proceeded to call me Tori all afternoon, even after I would say, "Roni," and he'd say, "oh, right."  So when I was signing out to leave, I shook his hand and said, "Well Ted, guess I'll see you on Thursday."  He laughed and winked at me and said, "Thanks, Roni."
• I was supposed to work until 5, but by 4:15 my back was screaming "I'm done."  Plus my ballteam had left, so there wasn't much more I could do except turkey duty.  Gave me time to do some barefoot beachwalking before sunset.  Great way to end a good day.  That and getting my butt down to the hot tub right now.

Glad 12/20/11

• Slept lousy, too much coughing, not enough sleeping.  Still got up before sunrise.  The ocean-clouds-sky was silver-blue-gray.  Then came the pinking as Sunbella got closer.  She peeped through a hole in the thick clouds at the skyline and spread blush on Mother Ocean.  Finally she blazed past the thicket of clouds, sassy orange and bold.  A new day begins.
• After my shower, the world is back to silver grays with a tad of soft blue, no delineation between Mother Ocean and the sky.  Sunbella lays down a creamy yellow haze of sunlight on the waves.  A few shell snatchers are walking the low-tide beach in shorts and bare feet.
• Time to get to writing before my volunteer gig for Street Reach Homeless Ministries at noon.  Glad I have some way to be of service today.  Glad my living solo groove is returning to me.  Glad my SGD got back home safely yesterday.  A new chapter of my journey begins.  

Good-bye Christmas 12/19/11

• Up early to get my SGD ready to head back to Missouri.  Excellent morning to get back to sunrise watching.  The tropical rainbow colors were deep and luscious, wrapped around the skyline.  Mother Ocean rolled ice blue and peaceful, barely making a splash as she slipped in the low tide.  Clouds along the horizon were whispery blue-gray mountains.  A few splotches of clouds became a glistening wet rainbow trout as Sunbella unleashed her colors before cresting.  Seven silver contrails threaded the blue sky.  Sunbella rose quiet, humongous, glowing molten orange, and quickly melted away all the clouds.  A dazzling day begins.
• My SGD is already in Atlanta, awaiting the last leg of his journey home to Springfield.  I beachwalked south and waved at his plane as it took off and banked out over the ocean.  He didn't see me, but it felt right to give him a send him off from the beach.  Mother Ocean and Sunbella comforted me as I cried my way back to my place.  We had a wonderful visit, the best Christmas present I could ever have.  But alone feels so much more lonely when you've been sharing space with the one you love and now they are gone.

Catching up

• Haven't seen the sunrise now in two days.  Yesterday I slept in because I wasn't feeling well and knew it would be cloudy anyway.  Today I just slacked and didn't get up.  My soul misses starting the day with Sunbella rising up and proclaiming "the day begins."  I'll do better tomorrow.  Dazzling sunshine now, taking the temp to the mid-50s.  Hopefully we'll get in a beachwalk on our last day together.
• My SGD has still been feeling puny with head/chest congestion, so we've been taking it easy.  Friday we sunned on the ocean deck and took a short beachwalk before the cool front moved in.  Topped off our day with hot-tubbing and sauna time.
• Yesterday we headed back north to La Belle Amie Winery for the Saturday bonfire.  A country picker/singer entertained, including his hilarious rendition of "The Devil Went Down to Jamaica," with Johnny and the Devil at war over who had the best weed.  We sipped Heavenly Body Cabernet Savignon and warm mulled wine, did a little rubbing on Bella and Amie (the winery dogs), and enjoyed the sharp woodsy bonfire smell and cuddling in the afternoon chill.  The ash blowing around looked like snow.  Wonderful way to spend a Saturday, or any day, afternoon.     

Sharing the sunrise 12/16/11

• Still not feeling great but we got out on the beach before the sunrise.  Cool but not cold, barely a breeze.  The sunrise was dazzling, as always, but the best part was sharing it with my SGD:  saying "look" and "did you see that;" having our fingers laced together as we walked; holding his coffee mug while he snapped pictures; dodging the seagulls flying perilously low over our heads; stopping for a hug or kiss just because it felt right; helping each other up and down the tall sand shelf; counting contrails; gazing at the sunrise and seeing the exact same thing at the exact same moment.  Priceless.
• Sending a Happy Birthday Shout-Out to my sister Sonya!!  Enjoy your day!

A Beachin' Day 12/15/11

• SGD and I both felt a bit crudded up, but we couldn't waste a 70 degree December 15th.  Did some marshwalking at Murrell's Inlet.  Such a peaceful place with the gentle lapping of the marsh under the boardwalk, compared to the constant whoosh of ocean waves at Myrtle.
• We layed out on the ocean deck for over an hour, soaking up the toasty sun, ignoring our goosebumps when the wind picked up.
• Drove to Plyer Park by the SkyWheel and beachwalked down to the start of the boardwalk past 2nd Ave Pier, just to have some different scenery.  Walked the boardwalk back to Dirty Don's, which became "our place" when we visited back in May.  Got the same table, same waitress named Chrissy who took our picture again.  We sipped draw Fat Tires out of beer goblets and munched fried pickles, cheese sticks, and potato skins -- delish food and drink, delightful company.  We likey Dirty Don's!
• We topped off a beachin' day with a quiet evening playing Uno and doing laundry, soothing our scratchy throats with hot chocolate while watching Big Bang Theory, and going to bed early.

New Year's Eve 12/14/11

• We chose 12/14 to celebrate New Year's Eve, for no particular reason except we won't be together on the real one.  It was fantastic!
• Dazzling sunshiny day with a bit of a brisk wind.  We walked north up Ocean Blvd to 2nd Ave Pier, shared a Diet Coke while watching fishermen reel in spotted trout off the pier.  The sun warmed us on the beachwalk back.  Then we shared a pre-New Year's Eve nap.
• Watched the kaleidoscope of criss-crossed clouds and colors sunset from the breezeway and sipped a bold Cabernet Savignon.  A group of Snowbirds were having martini time on the floor above us.  We raised our glasses to each other.
• Our Eve event was wine tasting and dinner at Noodles & Co.  Our fave of the wines was the Silver Palm Cab, which we tasted several times and then ordered a glass to share.  We also tried Sake for the first time.  SGD said it was like tasting gasoline.  Both our dinners were delicious, topped off by Rosa Regale sparkling wine and chocolate cheesecake bites for dessert.  We even got to see Luna Linda drenching the ocean with her moonshine before calling it a night. 
• My best New Year's Eve ever.

Blush 12/14/11

     Woke up on the dot of 7am without the alarm.  From the balcony, Sunbella spread her watch-me blush across the clear skyline.  SGD came through the door to join me just as Sunbella peeked fire orange over the horizon.  Silver contrails zig-zagged across the blue.  The dark blue cloud bank to the west could have been the Ozark hills.  Pelicans swooped low over the waves in formation.  Mother Ocean rolled in the high tide with gentle, frothy waves.  One swirly cloud hung over Sunbella, her ethereal signature on the masterpiece sunrise she just created.  The day begins. 

Orange moon rising 12/13/11

• Another great day with my SGD.  I'll just hit the high points, because there were so many exquisite moments I could fill up pages.
• Another dual treadmill workout.  I love that we share a love for walking workouts.  SGD had cheesy scrambled eggs and toast waiting for me when I got out of the shower -- delicious.  Checked out Whispering Pines golf course.  SGD would love to be playing golf but didn't bring his clubs.  Maybe soon he'll get to do a golfing visit.  Even picking up this and that at Wal-Mart gave us several don't-make-me-pee (for me) laughs.  Life feels so good having him here.
• Beachwalked to SpringMaid pier in the dazzling sunshine, had a draw Yuengling lager sitting on a picnic table watching the waves roar into the shore, beachwalked back.  Mid-60s felt perfect, not hot, not cold.
• Watched the sunset from the breezeway.  The after sunset blush across the sky and ocean is the color of love.  We weren't alone.  Groups on several floors above us were sharing time and the sunset, too.  Felt like a party.
• Our pier passes were good all day, so we went back to watch the moonrise.  Took slushy Yuengling Black & Tans for refreshment.  Probably a warm mulled wine would have been a better choice, as we had the shivers waiting for Luna Linda.  Finally SGD said "look, look, look," and Ms. Moon peeked up orange and huge over the ocean edge.  Never, ever, saw the moon look like that before.  When she was fully exposed, she was full except for looking like she had on a beret rakishly tilted to the left.  She stayed deep orange for 15 minutes or so and layed out an undulating orange path across the ocean straight to us.  We stayed on the pier as she morphed into a butter yellow glow, then headed back to BlueWater to watch her whitewash the waves with moonshine from the ocean deck.
• Even with all the resort lights, we were awed by the black canopy of stars and two that blazed across the sky just for us.   
• The hot tub killed our moonwatching chill nicely and capped off an amazing day, sandwiched by a phenomenal sunrise and moonrise.  

Perfect day 12/12/11

• No sunrise yesterday to inspire me to blog.  Woke to dreary clouds and a raw wind, which didn't go away.  The rest of the day with my SGD made up for the sucky weather, though.
• We did dual treadmill workouts watching "Will and Grace."
• Beachwalked with the north wind slapping our faces for 16 blocks.  SGD found a few shells that were keepers, took pictures of a foursome enjoying a cold beach day of fun.  The walk back was more pleasant, less runny nose.
• Roadtripped north to La Belle Amie Vineyard in Little River.  Quaint place with beautiful grounds, tasty wines, and a sweet white dog named Bella to greet you.  We brought home a Poor Bastard Merlot and a What Was She Thinking white blend -- surprising, too, because we never drink white.  Gertha at the tasting bar took excellent care of us.  La Belle Amie is a must-do if you're into wine and spending time in Myrtle Beach.
• Continued our wine lovers afternoon with an early supper at the Carrabbas Italian Grill.  Icicle lights everywhere and jazz ballads playing gave the room romance.  The Montepulciano d'Abruzzo (red wine) was smooth and luscious and perfectly complemented the soft bread, explosion of greens salad, and the simple but delicious pasta entrees.  How could we not hold hands and stare into each other's eyes between courses?
• What could top off such a perfect day?  Hot-tubbing and watching moonshine on the ocean, of course.   
• Unbelievable that after all of yesterday's wine we made it up in time to see the sunrise.  Only one bubble cloud on the horizon, but it was directly where Sunbella was coming up.  She silhouetted the cloud with fire orange, then slipped up like she was coming out of an envelope (SGD's words).  SGD's first sunrise of his visit and it was a dazzler! 

Triple sunrise Sunday 12/11/11

• Mother Ocean cooked the jam this morning, rolling and bubbling and churning the deep blue blueberries.
• The tropical rainbow was held to the north, thwarted by a cloud wall blocking most of the skyline. 
• Relished three distinct sunrises because of that cloud wall.  Sunbella found chinks to shine through twice, then made the peaks of the clouds luminescent gold as she made her final appearance.  Cold -- 38 degrees, 31 wind chill -- on the balcony, but the show was worth it.  The day begins.
• My SGD got in safely last night, his plane was even 20 minutes early.  I was a sweaty mess by the time he came through the gate, from nerves or a hot flash, who knows.  He didn't seem to mind and grabbed me up in a wraparound hug.  Had a lovely evening sipping Merlot, holding hands, laughing with Big Bang Theory, watching the full moon over the ocean, sharing some space together -- finally.

SGD Day 12/10/11

• Didn't see the sunrise this morning.  Got a gig proctoring the ACT test at Coastal Carolina University, had to be there by 7:15am.  Used to do testing at the university where I worked back in MO.  Nice to look forward to a check coming about a month from now.  Plus it kept me busy and not going crazy waiting for my SGD to show up.  He made it to Atlanta, is due into Myrtle Beach International in about two hours.  Can't believe this day is finally here.
• Sitting on the toilet in a campus bathroom, I looked over at the toilet- seat cover rack where someone had written "free hats!" with an arrow pointing at the covers.  Got an out-loud laugh out of that one.  Good thing no one else was in the bathroom with me.
• Just stepped out on the balcony to kill time.  Cloudy, 55 degrees, brisk breeze, and there are Eskimyrtles out in the ocean again today.  These appear to be fully grown.  And they are in up to their waists.  I can hear squeals, all the way on the balcony, every time a wave hits their upper sensitive parts.  Makes me shiver just to imagine feeling that.
• Saw a lady and a little boy run into the middle of a group of seagulls.  She screamed and swatted when the birds flew right at her and grabbed for her hair.  There's a lesson there:  if it's not fun for the gulls, it's not going to be fun for you, either.    

Eskimyrtles? 12/9/11

• Dark clouds hung thick above the ocean and made a solid wall at the horizon.  As Sunbella climbed behind the wall, she painted the clouds push-up orange.  When she topped the wall, she beamed streaks of dazzling light straight up the sky, like a soprano throwing back her head and hitting the highest note in her register.  The day begins.
• Took a break from cleaning and writing to beachwalk.  The horse ploppers were back.  Could they be so kind as to walk together and not muck up the whole beach?  NO, they have to meander here and there, dropping their plop hither and yon.  As I stepped over a pile that had been steaming in the sun, I remembered a line from "28 Days" where the group is doing equine therapy as part of rehab and snarky doctor Daniel says, "They couldn't stink more if they were dead."  You're right, Daniel.
• Found a peachy fairy teacup shell, tiny cousin to one I found weeks ago, when I was talking to SGD on the phone.  He brings me love and luck.  I brought her home to keep her cousin company.
• I think I found a new breed of humans on the beach.  Ages 2 to 17, dressed in shorts and swimsuits, squealing and splashing in the ocean.  The temperature is in the low 50s, so they must be of Eskimo heritage to frolic so in such cool water and weather.  I'm calling them Eskimyrtles.  I didn't see any in water above their knees, but I had worked up a sweat by the time my beachwalk was done, so who knows?  They may take the full-body plunge before they call it a day.

Not sold in stores 12/8/11

• Romance is not a diamond in a velvet box from a jewelry store.
• Romance is holding hands on the balcony on a frosty night.  Watching a nearly full Luna Linda pool her moonshine on the ocean, making a million waves sparkle and dance.  Sharing the moment and not saying a word.
• Romance is feeling giddy over cleaning the shower because you know in two days your special someone will be using it.
• Romance is holding your breath when the phone rings because you hope your special someone is calling.
• Romance is creating your own New Year's Eve on a random night because you won't be together on the official one.  And knowing it will be extraordinarily special no matter what you do to celebrate, because that night you will be together.
• Create some romance in your life tonight.  Not sold in stores.

Breakfast buffet 12/8/11

• Mother Ocean was spread smooth with blueberry jam.  The skyline served up orange marmalade, lemon pudding, and blue-raspberry Tang.  I watched from the balcony bundled in sweater and gloves.
• Sunbella poured over the top of the breakfast buffet in molten orange glaze, then dripped golden honey across the ocean.  Delicious.
• I am embracing the chilly morning and dry air.  But wind, you can go away anytime.  I had enough of you last night:  howling through my place like evil spirits and keeping me awake; slinging the lounge chairs and smoke pots noisily against the fence and into the pool; and driving the rain in sheets beneath the street lights.
• Only two days until my Special Guy D flies in.  I've got to stay busy or go crrr-azy.  Think I'll take myself to Chapin Library for a free showing of "The Help" this afternoon.
• Yall have a blessed day!  

Wicked cool 12/7/11

• No water at BlueWater again today; more maintenance issues to be fixed.  So I ran errands and worked at Chapin Library.  The change of scenery did me good.  Felt my creative mojo perking and got some good writing in.
• Made it back in time to beachwalk, and what a wicked cool (one of my Sister Kris's favorite sayings) beach walk it was!  A front is moving in, and the beach was a wind tunnel blowing from the south.  I had to bend at the waist and keep my head down to keep moving forward.  The dry sand was rippled like potato chips and stung my skin.  Seagulls did their hover dance, hanging on the breeze.  Mother Ocean churned and frothed, leaving foam to slither down the beach.  I kept going and made it to my designation, but I was sucking air from exertion when I got there.
• Coming back was easy.  I felt light as a feather, nearly took flight once or twice.  Found a perfect small swirly shell, the kind I love.  Hadn't picked up one of the ocean's gifts in several weeks, so the shell came home with me.
• I'm back now and just before the scary clouds moved in.  My hair is a tangled rat's nest, and there's no water to wash the sticky sand from my skin and sunglasses, but I'm dayum glad I went.  Being beaten by a salty gale made me feel alive!  

Carnival 12/7/11

• The last warm morning for a while.  I was up early and ready for beachwalking.  When I hit the ocean deck, I stopped and gawked.  The sky was a carnival.  The barely-there cloud streaks snatched pink or blue or orange from the tropical rainbow and glowed.  I did 360s on the sand to take it all in.
• Mother Ocean rolled in foamy towards high tide and lapped over my feet.  She felt the same temp as the air, only wetter.
• The piers were swallowed up by humidity again, making the beach cozy.
• Saw a young man squating on his duffel bag and sipping a Miller High Life 40.  He said, "It's been a helluva week on vacation here" and asked for a cigarette.  I'm not sure what he meant, but I gave him a smoke and wished him a good day.
• 7:07 and I stopped to watch Sunbella blaze her way through the clouds.  My heart pounded and my breath paused.  Her rising was quiet and slow and ordinary, but glorious at the same time.  I told a passing beachwalker we should be hearing the "Hallelujah Chorus" while watching this sunrise.  He laughed and agreed.
• My feet were ice blocks plodding on the ocean deck when I returned, but I feel blessed to be able to beachwalk the sunrise in 66 degrees with 88% humidity.  I will miss this warm weather!

Here comes the sun 12/6/11

• Stepped out on the balcony in time to see the leftover moonshine dribble through a hole in the high clouds onto the ocean.  A streak of orange bled through gun-metal gray clouds clogging the horizon.
• Minutes later I hit the sand barefooted.  The beach was compact, only visible maybe ten blocks to the north, five to the south, bookended by fog instead of the piers I usually see.  No wind, 61 degrees, humid.
• I didn't expect a sunrise, but Sunbella cleared a stage when she was ready to shine and rose bright, bold.  Divalike.  
• Yesterday I speedwalked in sneakers.  Today I strolled, let my big toes play in the cool sand, welcomed Mother Ocean to splash me.
• By the time I got back to my place, there was more blue sky than clouds.  
• Talked to my SGD after he got home from work (he works nights), and it was a slick snowy-road morning with slide-offs everywhere back in Missouri.  I felt guilty for my barefoot beachwalk morning.  But I wouldn't trade.  No way.
• Finally got internet working so I could post this.  The sun is blinding, reflected off the resort next door.  It's time to slip on a bikini and take my work down to the ocean deck.   

Monday's maxims 12/5/11

• Sunbella blasted through the muck of clouds and was waiting for me to hit the beach.  Mother Ocean's salty tang saturated the humid air and flooded my nose.  Contrails stitched the sky, then spread to become clouds.  I fast walked 16 blocks north, then 16 back and had a good sweat going this morning.  It had been too long since I'd done an early morning beach walk.
• Thought of some Roni maxims while walking:

1. Even cellulite looks better with a tan.
2. Almost everything tastes better with ranch dressing.  (Desserts and chocolate not included).
3. Love is hard.  But if it's right, it's worth it.  (My SGD visits in 5 days!  Guess love is on my mind.)
4. Crap in, crap out.  If you're trying to release your creativity, turn the dayum television off.
5. Some people get way too relaxed in the hot tub and tell you way too much!

That's all for today folks.  Have a kickbutt Monday.

I love this place 12/4/11

• I layed out on December 4!  I only lasted an hour before the clouds rolled in thick and no more sun, but still.  Compared to the 40 degree and rainy weather at home, I'll take being able to lay out for an hour any day.  Amazing.
• Went to the Murrell's Inlet Christmas parade this afternoon.  Best.  Parade.  Ever.  Even though there was one school band butchering Christmas tunes and lots of Santa hats and reindeer antlers and candy canes being tossed to the crowd, there was also:

1. bars all along the parade route with tables set up next to the street where the parade watchers could buy cocktails and chili and slices of wood-fired pizza.
2.  people in shorts and flip flops as well as jackets and jeans.  I don't remember feeling comfortable in just jeans and a sweater at a Christmas parade EVER.  Loved it.
3. dogs everywhere, in and out of the parade, including a Black-mouthed Cur puppy named Luke that became my good buddy and rested his paws on my shoulders when he stood up, and the fattest bulldog I've ever seen being wheeled around in a Red Flyer wagon cushioned with blankets.
4. people walking around with huggers of beer chatting, kids throwing a football around, and smokers everywhere not afraid to light up.  My kind of crowd.
5. radio station vans blasting out good music, not just Christmas music.
6. beach-themed floats and lots of boats and classic cars.
7. the world's largest bicycle, from a Shrine in Conway, that held 11 riders, and they didn't fall down.
8. and the coolest entry of all, a humongous Cat dump truck showcasing Bubba's Love Shak, complete with Bubba (I assume) on mike doing his own rap to "Love Shack" playing on the loud speaker, with dancers in the truck and grooving behind. 

Perfect timing 12/3/11

• Weather Channel said the sunrise would be at 7:04am and BAZINGA.  Sure enough, Sunbella peeked over the ocean at exactly 7:04.  Good thing, too, as my hair color needed to be rinsed off at 7:05.  For several days I would hear "have your roots done, Clairee" whenever I looked in the mirror.  That's a line the fabulous Shirley Maclaine, playing Ouiser, said to her best friend in "Steel Magnolias."  Since I don't have a BF here in MB, Ouiser was looking out for me.  Amazing what a hair cut (yesterday at Smart Styles) and color can do.  I feel positively perkified.
• Went to my writer's group this morning.  The only thing I'm going to say about that is:  my perky has now petered out.  How long am I going to keep kidding myself that I'm a writer?
• Saw a hundred or more Harleys go by on a toy run as I was driving home.  Some of the riders had on reindeer antlers or Santa hats.  (No helmet law in SC.)  Cool to feel that concentration of revved-up power and giving spirit.  How fitting that Skynyrd's "Freebird" was playing on the radio as the riders flew down the highway.
• I'm taking myself out sunning now to clear my head and warm my soul.  Doesn't matter that it's only 62 degrees.

    No blog today, folks.  In case anyone even notices.  I'm taking a blog break to focus on work.  Yall have a nice day!

The Mall 12/1/11

• Jeez.  I am an idiot.  I went to the Mall for a pleasant diversion and a little people watching.  Forgot it was Christmas.  Everywhere I went "Blue Christmas" and "I'll Be Home For Christmas" and "Santa Baby" was blaring from store speakers.  Even the Charlie Brown Christmas song swamped me with sadness.  Not for myself.  Not because I'm here alone.  Sad for another 24 days of this in-your-face-buying-frenzy complete with sappy soundtrack to quilt you along into buying more crap and feeling bad about your otherwise OK life. 
• Can you tell I hate Christmas?  Not the urge to help others and give the gift of love (and not diamond love) Christ-y Christmas.  I hate commercial Christmas.  Quoting Alfred, the Macy janitor, from Miracle on 34th Street, "There's a lot of bad 'isms' floatin' around this world, but one of the worst is commercialism . . . don't care what Christmas stands for, just make a buck, make a buck."  Amen, Brother.  Every year I wish I could go to sleep on Halloween and wake up after New Years.
• I didn't last an hour in the Mall.  I was either going to have a boohooing meltdown or start snatching that giant Christmas tree bald and hurling ornaments at the speakers.  So I left.
• Even when I was beachwalking and hearing the nurturing swish swish of Mother Ocean, "Winter Wonderland" was playing in my head.  Dayum.  My brain has been abducted by Christmas Classics.

Forty-nine 12/1/11

• 38 degrees, 32 wind chill.  Mother Ocean slipped slow and still onto the sand.  The narrow cloud band at the skyline between me and Sunbella became fiery embers, then a sailboat silhouette in her glow as she topped the horizon.  Birds sang out as soon as Sunbella was fully revealed, announcing "the day begins."
• This morning I wondered why I even get up.  No one would know if I didn't.  Wondered why I should write about the sunrise.  No one would care if I didn't.  After tears and the urge to ignore Sunbella's rising and go inside where it's warm, I realized I get up and write the sunrise because of hope.  Seeing the sunrise unfold in a different way every day reminds me nothing stays the same.  If I keep getting up and watching, there is always a surprise, a shift, mystery, beauty, and maybe even a dazzle or two.  I'm glad hope kept me on the balcony this morning to witness the glorious sunrise.
• Thinking about sitting at my dining table alone with my writing notebook today had me paralyzed.  Someone once said something like -- writing is easy, you just slice open a vein and let your blood pour out onto the paper.  That's how I felt anticipating today's work.  So I'm getting the hell out of here.  Taking myself to a mall to people watch.  Who knows what kind of creative fire that may spark?
• This is day 49 that I've been in MB, and I am 49 (not today, just in general).  That feels like an omen, like there's something special going to happen today, something to confirm that I'm on the right path being here and writing.  Hope I'm not just wishful thinking.