Back in MO 2/29/12

     I left Myrtle Beach 7:15am on Sunday 2/26/12.  Had a near-perfect roadtripping day -- mostly blue sky, temps in the 50s, traffic wasn't terrible.  Made it almost to Paducah, KY, approx. 770 miles according to my SGD.  Stopped at a Days Inn for the night, in time to see the red carpet Oscar hoopla.  Wow, that was some dress J-Lo was wearing!  And the Clooney, hunkalicious!
     Back on the road before 8am on Monday for the final 330 miles, was rolling into my SGD's driveway and his wraparound hug by 1:30pm.  We've had a great time reconnecting, trying to fit all the stuff I brought back in with his.  In a way, it feels like I never left, like we were only on pause for a bit.  But I did leave, and I'm a different woman for running away and chasing my dream.  I know I am a writer now, even if I'm not making money at it.  I still love the beach, but I've learned that I am an adventurer and home is wherever I want to be, not a specific state or place.  So this won't be my last adventure, that's for sure.  And home may change many times until my journey is through, but I'm hoping my SGD will be right there with me wherever I go.  That will make it home.
     Thanks for reading Myrtle Moments.  I won't be blogging here again.  Who knows, maybe I'll start a new blog as my writer life continues and I can share the excitement when my novel and memoir come out.  So stay tuned, as Carrie Bradshaw says.      

Time to go 2/25/12

     It's been a crazy couple of days since I last posted.  I've had several good-byes:

• to Mother Ocean as I took my last barefoot walk on the beach.
• to Dirty Don's, my SGD's and my favorite Myrtle Beach bar, with one last Fat Tire and some delish fried cheese stix as I watched the tourists stroll by on the Boardwalk.
• to the Fun Plaza and Skeeball, which sucked because they got new Skeeball machines and I never could find the sweet spot that allowed me to score big (and even beat my SGD once or twice!).
• to my Myrtle Beach writer's group, whose support gave me the courage to share my work and who encouraged me to continue writing in my unique voice and style.
• to the hot tub last night, which I had peacefully to myself one last time.

     I have learned so much during this trip, about myself and being a writer, and done so many things for the first time.  It has truly been a dream realized.  But I'm not done dreaming.  I still believe that writing is my thing and I have something special to share with the world through my writing.  So I'm carrying that dream back to Missouri to start the next chapter of my life with my SGD.  Look out, Babe, you've got a crrr-azy writer woman coming your way!  And look out, World, you're going to have my novel "Life Is A Beach -- After I'm Gone" and memoir "Life Gone South (when I ran away to live at the beach and be a writer)" coming at you soon, even if I have to self-publish the suckers.
     Believe it or not, I am so ready to hit the road.  This place turned into "Animal House" yesterday, with 40-some young'uns from Virginia making the pool (and anywhere else they decided to take over) into their private bar and the whooping and partying continued late into the night.  They are already at it again this morning.  Yay -- so much for getting a good night's rest before my roadtrip tomorrow.  And now I have to fit all my junk from this 3-room condo into my Cavalier.  I'm not sure, but it will probably involve much drinking and cussing before the job is done.  Wish me luck.  I'll do one more post when I am safely back in my SGD's arms.  

Vacation state of mind 2/22/12

• I have been stressing too much lately, trying to write full time and pack and clean and do all the prep to head back to MO.  Decided that was a crappy way to spend my last four beach days.  So, I've adopted a vacation state of mind, starting today.  Like it so far.
• Took a sunrise beachwalk, first time in a long time.  My coffee didn't stay hot for long, the wind was mighty chilly, but seeing the sun come up with my sneakers in the sand was worth it.  Saw my buddy Bob, another sunrise walker.  He's headed back to Pennsylvania soon to go on a Caribbean cruise to St. Thomas with his lady friend.  Doesn't hurt so bad to leave the beach when you're going cruising to an even more tropical beach, huh?
• Saw a flock of seagulls like I've never seen before, with black heads and feet.  They were grouped up and far away from the "regular" gulls.  Wonder if they crashed the beach without being invited?
• Had my first pedicure today since I've been here.  Got a "welcome to the neighborhood" $10 off coupon in the mail for Sue Ann's Nails, thought I'd try it.  Worst pedicure ever!  Turns out Sue Ann is an Asian man who runs his computer repair business out of the nail shop and does nails when he doesn't have a computer to fix, or maybe the Asian lady that was his girlfriend, sister, or wife.  I couldn't tell by how they interacted what the relationship was.  He did my pedi, and there was no massaging of feet or legs, just soak, clip, and then he scrubbed my feet with a purple Brillo-like pad just like he was scrubbing a pan of burned lasagna.  I told him it tickled, and he just scrubbed harder.  And, no, my feet were not hoof-like, either, if that's what you're thinking.  I do my own exfoliation on a regular basis.  His polishing skills were lousy, too.  Didn't even get the Purple With A Purpose on evenly and left smudges on my toes.  I do like the color, though.  Purple is my signature color.  And I shouldn't need any further exfoliation for a year, at least!
• Got in another beachwalk this afternoon.  I did go barefoot, but in capris, shirt and sweater.  And I was still chilled.  There were kids in the pool and on the beach in swimsuits.  Don't know how they could stand it, but they were whooping it up big time.
• My peeps back in MO are having sticker shock today that gas went up from $3.23 to $3.39.  I empathize, that's a stinger of a jump.  But it's been in the $3.40s to $3.50s here for a month or better, even up to $3.66 when I was roadtripping.  So it could be worse.
• Think it's time for wineing and hot-tubbing.  That's what vacationers do, right?!

Roadtrip Recap 2/21/12

Good Lord, can't believe it's Tuesday already and I'm just now catching up on my blog about my roadtrip.  It's been crazy since I got back, lots of writing to do and getting ready to head back to MO.  I'll try to hit the high points and not bore you silly with all the details, BUT IT WAS A FABULOUS TRIP!

• Even though I left early on Saturday, still got caught in the Myrtle Beach Marathon and had to drive about 20 miles out of my way.  So the trip started out with much cussing.
• Beaufort, SC, was a dream town.  Literally, like something from a dream.  The old narrow streets topped by Angel Oaks with Spanish Moss hanging down.  The homes were quaint and welcoming, with the front doors near the street, as if saying "come on in."  Found Tidalholm, where "The Big Chill" was filmed.  Couldn't get close as it's a private residence and behind huge iron gates, but it was just like I was in the movie.  I could picture the scenes playing out right in front of me.  Got a few pictures to prove I was there.
• The Historic District on Bay Street had cutesy shops and funky cafes, behind was a lovely park with brick walkways bordering the bay that comes in from the Intracoastal Waterway.  Touristy and loud on Bay Street, with church people hawking Jesus on the corners, still and peaceful sitting by the bay.  Would love to come back and spend more than a couple hours here.
• Savannah, what a crazy tri-polar town.  The River District is wild with nightlife and drunks.  The Historic District is stately with family-named homes and ornate architecture and horse-drawn carriage tours.  Then down South, at least on Abercorn Street where my hotel was, it's any-urban-sprawl-type-town in America.  Loved the tour of the Mercer-Williams House Museum, although I would have loved even more to have had a cocktail on the veranda or to sit in Jim William's chair in his study where he fired the gun than just to hear about paintings and antiques.  Still I got the feeling at times that I was there when John Berendt, author of "Midnight In The Garden Of Good And Evil", was strolling through the house with Jim Williams, learning the sordid tales of Mercer House and Savannah and how to play Psycho Dice.
• Had a late lunch at Clary's Cafe, where John Berendt used to breakfast after his morning jogs.  It was just like he described it.  Had a delicious egg salad sandwich, one of their specialities.  Got a snap of Clary's, too, to remember her by. 
• And finally, The Lady Chablis show was FABULOUS!!  I got stuck in the middle of a bridal posse, complete with t-shirts that identified who they were in the posse, including "Mother of the Bride" and "Pastor's Wife."  They were party girls, now.  Curious -- no "Mother of the Groom" in sight.  Was she not invited?  Trouble in marital paradise already??  I did not get enough of Chablis, she had her drag queens perform a lot during her show, but what I did get of her was:  gun-shot quick comebacks to anything the audience could throw at her; raunchy hilarious comedy; gorgeous outfits that made her look like the most beautiful woman in the world (I would kill to have her sculpted arms!!); and a wonderfully talented performer that I could have watched all night long.
• So, all in all it was a final fling roadtrip dream!!  You'll have to buy my memoir -- Life Gone South (how I ran away from home to live at the beach and be a writer) -- to find out more.  Hopefully available in stores soon.  As soon as I find an agent.  And finish the dayum thing.      

Roadtripping 2/17/12

I am headed out early tomorrow for my final-fling roadtrip, the fun-venture I promised myself instead of making a New Year's resolution.  First stop is Beaufort, SC, where "The Big Chill" was filmed.  Love that movie.  Going to check out the house where the movie was made and cruise around town, check out the local flavor.  Then I'm off to Savannah, GA, setting for "Midnight In The Garden of Good and Evil."  One of my fave books, I read it every year.  Have tickets to Lady Chablis's cabaret show tomorrow night, doing Clary's Cafe and the Mercer-Williams House Museum on Sunday for any of you familiar with the book/movie.  I am jazzed and ready to hit the road.  Will catch you up on all my crazy adventures when I return. 

Just one thing 2/16/12

     I had a meltdown a couple days ago -- a bad one -- from letting a writing rejection get to me.  It had me so down, I didn't want to get up the next morning.  So I made a deal with myself.  Do just one thing, that's all.  Just get out of bed.  If you don't do another thing all day, that's OK.  Do just one thing.  And I did.  And I did it with my full attention on that one thing.  Then when I felt like doing just one more thing, I did that.  I got through that day, and it felt so good, I carried doing just one thing on to yesterday.  Then today.
    It's been pretty amazing.  Most days I wake up with an entire day's worth of have-tos weighing on my chest.  No wonder getting out of bed is such a chore.  But I haven't felt that way since doing just one thing.  Last night I had a crappy sleep, waking with bouts of heartburn all night long, but all I had to do was get out of bed this morning.  Just one thing.  And I could do that, no matter how bad my night was.
     I've noticed that without feeling like I am forever running behind on getting things done, panting just to keep up with all I think I have to do, each one thing I do brings more pleasure.  I am actually present enough to enjoy that one thing, to really relish it, not already thinking about how I'm going to accomplish the next thing.
     This "just one thing" prescription may not be a biggie for anyone but me.  But so far, it feels like a life-changer.  And no side effects.  So I wanted to share it.  Now if I can only remember to take a big dose of just one thing every morning when I wake up.
   

Good 2/14/12

     Wishing a Happy Valentine's Day to all of you in love or like or lust or whatever state you find yourself in today.  If you are blessed to have someone special in your life, be good to each other and good for each other.  And if you find yourself alone today, be good to yourself.  Do something special just for you.  I splurged on a new notebook for my memoir and a nice bottle of wine today.  And it felt good.
     Soon, I'm going to crack open that bottle of Carmenere and share some phone time with my SGD.  Even 1200 miles away, he is so very good to me and good for me.  Thanks, SGD, for blessing my life on Valentine's Day and every day!

Simple 2/13/12

     A simple sunrise this morning over the ice blue ocean.  No clouds.  No contrails.  No sound.  Just Sunbella bringing on the light, the energy, the day.  Warming me to the bone for the brief time she shone directly on my balcony.  After several days without seeing a sunrise or feeling her warmth, I needed that.
     I wish life were that simple.  No wants that leave you disappointed.  No hurts that leave you wanting to hide and not be hurt again.  No trying to figure out what it's all supposed to mean or if the cost of knowing is just too much to bear.  I guess nothing is that simple.  Except the sunrise.  So I'll keep watching them.  Maybe I'll learn something.

Cold and Sad 2/12/12

     No, I haven't been on vacation.  Wish I had been.  The weather has been so screwy for the past few days that my wifi connection has been molasses slow or none at all.  No wifi, no blog.  I hope someone out there missed me.
     First, the cold.  I hate the beach when it's cold.  Never thought I'd say that.  Ever.  That I hate the beach.  But I've never been here when it's cold like this.  I'm trapped in three dinky rooms and the beachy decor is getting on my last nerve.  The wind has been howling like a hurricane, so I can't even find respite on the balcony.  Last night the wicked wind was blowing the lounge chairs around like matchsticks downstairs, white-capping the pool, and sometime during the night turned over a porta-john in Hurl Rocks Park next door.  Haven't heard anyone yelling, so I guess no one was in there when it turned over.  The icy wind was howling through my front door so bad last night, I had to seal myself in with masking tape.  I shouldn't complain.  Mama said it was eight degrees at her house in Missouri yesterday morning.  But I'm going to complain.  I can't beachwalk, so I've got to do something. 
     Now to the sad.  I am devastated by the loss of Whitney Houston.  She was a beautiful woman, a brilliant talent, and a true diva in the best sense of the word.  But beyond that, she felt like one of us.  A screwed-up sister that fell down, picked the wrong guy, made bad decisions, and embarrassed herself sometimes -- just like I've done, just like a lot of us have done -- but somehow had the courage and strength to stand up and go on.  And she faced all this with the media in her business 24/7.  Wish they would leave her and her family alone now.  I'm sorry, Whitney, for all the sadness in your life.  But that's over now.  Go in peace.  The rest of us screwed-up sisters will keep moving forward with the spirit in your music leading the way.  You won't be forgotten.  Ever.

Blessings 2/8/12

I have enjoyed several blessings today:

• Despite a mostly hazy day, I saw a dazzling sunrise and sunset backdropped by air-brushed clouds in intricate designs.
• Sitting on the balcony talking to my SGD this morning, Sunbella drenched me with full sunshine for a few wonderful minutes.
• Got out to Myrtle's Market for apples, oranges, pears (delish!) and tomatoes.  Fabulous to still get fresh produce this time of year.
• Worked hard and got three memoir pieces and a query to an agent completed today. 
• Will be blessed shortly with some well-deserved hot tub time!

Hope you have had blessings in your life today as well.    

Words weigh a ton 2/7/12

• A grueling day at the notebook.  Finished three pieces for my memoir today, and sent out a query packet to a new agent.  My memoir is titled Life Gone South (when I ran away to live at the beach and be a writer).  Coming soon to a book store near you.  I hope.  If I can ever get an agent interested in it, or the novel I wrote.  What I did today might not sound like a lot to you, but words must weigh a ton.  My body feels like I carried bricks all day.  This writing business is heavy duty work.  But I love it.  Want to keep on doing it as long as I can.
• Another gray day in Myrtle Beach, but there was a slice of diffuse sunshine enough to get me out walking.  Went to the mini mart to buy my Mega Millions tickets -- I'm ever the hopeful fool -- and walked back up the beach into the northeast wind slapping my face.  Mother Ocean kept me company.  She never quits, she is relentlessly pounding the sand.  And so will I.  I won't give up.  I've tasted this dream of being a writer, of words and thoughts pouring out of me like nectar from the holy grail, and I love it.  It's what makes me come alive.  Everyone needs that one thing that makes them come alive and keeps them getting up hopeful every day.  Writing is mine.  Hope you find yours.
• Now it's time for a little writer TLC in the hot tub.  Relax those muscles, tight and sore from writing a ton of words.

Bipolar? and the Super Bowl 2/6/12

• Mother Nature is bipolar or PMSing.  Bad.  Early yesterday afternoon I was beachwalking in bare feet, rolled-up jeans, and a t-shirt.  A balmy breeze was ruffling my hair, and Sunbella was peeking out from the clouds and giving me a sun blush.  Then by Super Bowl kick off, the wind was slapping the balcony chairs around and I could see my breath before I even lit up when I went out to smoke.  Today is just as frigid.  Somebody please slip Mother Nature a Lithium or a big old Midol and make it quick.  I need the sun back.  I'm jonesing for another sultry beachwalk.
• Spent my best Super Bowl ever with my special guy D!  From our couches 1200 miles apart, we snacked and sipped wine and yelled at the players for dropping the ball.  I turned him on to Puppy Bowl on Animal Planet (still can't believe he'd never seen it), and he schooled me on how to play the football squares betting game he does.  I snuck a few peeks at the Sex and the City marathon on E!, too.  OK, I flipped over to SATC a lot.  But we had a great time sharing the game on the phone.  And Madonna was awesome, even lip-syncing.  And best of all, the Patriots lost.  Don't care much for the Giants, but I really don't like the Patriots.
• Hope yall had a fantastic Super Bowl and Mother Nature is in a better mood where you live.

The Plunge 2/4/12

     Went to my first polar plunge today.  No, I did not plunge, except into a can of Heineken while I watched.  And I don't know that you can really call it polar -- the sun was shining, the air temp was in the mid-60s, and the water was 55 degrees.  But it was fun to watch, the first fun I've had since I did karaoke and that was two weeks ago.
     Didn't hear how many plungers showed up, but there was a bunch in all shapes, sizes, ages, and manner of dress.  The best costume I saw was a big blond gal dressed as Wonder Woman -- swimsuit with the gold belt, head gear, cape, red stockings over her Birkenstocks.  She was getting her picture taken as much as J-Lo and loving it.  Even the Chick-fil-A cow did the plunge.  And once they got out in the ocean, a bunch of people stayed in and played.  The one that enjoyed it the most, though, was a blond Lab.  He would gallop into the water, hit the first wave, and dog paddle back to the beach.  Over and over he did the same maneuver, with a huge smile on his face.  Finally his owner had to leash him to make him stop.
     Gotta say a "good job, Guys" to the Horry County Police and Rescue dudes for staying out there in the cold water until the last plungers were safely on the beach.  And for providing eye candy to go with my Heineken.  It's not every day that I see buff bare-chested guys in wetsuits with the top half peeled down.  Hunkalicious!  I may have to become a regular plunge watcher.

The change-up 2/3/12

• Yesterday I was walking on the beach, barefooted and sweating.  Last night I was star-gazing from the balcony in PJs and no shoes.  Today I'm on the balcony in jeans, sweater, wool jacket, scarf, and my feet are freezing in my funky plaid sneakers.  I like yesterday's weather much better.
• Intense pre-sunrise this morning.  Not the typical tropical rainbow.  Sunbella, below the horizon, splashed up brush strokes of watercolors onto the fading contrail clouds -- cotton candy pink, virgin blush, harlot rouge, melting Push-up pop, Lifesaver tangerine.  With all that painting of the sky to watch, she snuck on me and had risen before I knew it.
• Bright sun now, but the wind is cold and whipping Mother Ocean into ripping waves and white caps.  Big crowds on the beach yesterday, even swimsuiters splashing in the ocean.  Not today.  Very few brave souls willing to battle the northern gusts. 
• Gotta get my Mega Millions tickets today.  Hope it warms up some before I have to venture out.  Happy Friday yall!

Joy 2/2/12

• Wow, how did it get to be Thursday already?  Can't believe it's been a few days since I last posted.  Today has been a doozy, so at least I've got something to blog about.
• Murky morning, no sunrise, felt achy, so I got on the treadmill the first thing.  Did stretches.  That helped.  Thought I would get cranking right away on writing my memoir since my body was warmed up.  Not so fast, my mind said.  I kept sitting at the table with pen and paper and all I got was mental constipation and grunts.  Nothing I wrote was worth keeping.
• Even though caffeine was pumping through me, my body said "rest."  So I napped.  Wasn't even noon yet.  Didn't sleep, but it felt good to relax my body even while my mind whirred at warp speed.  I just ignored it, like it was a dream I wasn't interested in having.
• When I got up, it was sunny outside.  Had a call from my sister with a funny story about a marshmallow hidden in a body part.  I won't share the story here, the details are too intimate for public consumption (ba-dum-bum), but I laughed.  First time in a while that something seemed really funny.  And when I started writing, the words flowed and I was funny, too.  First time in a while for that as well.
• Promised myself a beachwalk if I would finish the piece, and I did.  Low 70s, breezy but not cold, puff clouds drifting by.  Perfect.  Walked north 22 blocks to 2nd Ave Pier.  Stayed in the sun-warmed squishy sand near the dunes and beach grass.  Had it all to myself.  Hadn't been to that pier since my SGD was here back in December.  Brought back a nice memory of hanging out there with him.
• Came back walking south with my three besties -- my feet in Mother Ocean, Luna Linda hanging in the north sky, and Sunbella blazing in the south.  The spray from every crashing wave made the air tangy and lightly salted my lips.  Felt like summer out there, like vacation, like the most relaxed I ever feel.
• I only have 24 days until I'm heading back to MO.  So I'm not going to let this perfect day end.  I'm taking an ice cold Yuengling Black & Tan out to the ocean deck to watch the waves, drink in the sun, and stretch this day at least until sunset.  Then maybe I'll get back to work.  Maybe not.