You may all go to hell, and I'll go to Texas...

So sayeth Davy Crockett. So sayeth.. well, Davy Crockett. I admire the attitude.. sad thing is, all those politicians that Mr. Crockett so eloquently expressed that attitude for back in Tennessee were still alive and kicking after the King of the Wild Frontier lost his life to Santa Ana's men.

Believe it or not, I really enjoyed visiting the Alamo. I've had a great time getting out and about in San Antonio, and I'm a little sorry that I'm only going to be here another week. Classes have been interesting, if a bit grueling.. lots of technical minutae to memorize. I'm feeling that it's been well worth the trip at this point, even though the company is trying to feed us to death. I've never eaten so much over the course of seven days in my life. I think I've put on ten pounds since I got here!

I went out tonight to La Hacienda de Los Barrios.. my friends
Jamie and Maggie had both said that they'd read about the puffy tacos the restaurant is famous for and suggested I poke my head in for a taste. Good call, y'all.. they don't look like much, but those were damn good. Everything I had there was, as a matter of fact.. so good that I'm going back for more before the week's out.



The only thing I'm bummed about so far is missing out on some really neat local Dio De Los Muertos art work.. I passed up the purchase in hopes of finding a larger/less expensive selection elsewhere in the town. I'm hoping I can get back out for another chance to buy some before I have to head home. I'm missing family and friends, and looking forward to getting back to Carolina.. but since I'm down here for a few more days yet, y'all may go to hell.. I'll keep eating in Texas!

Texas bound..

In about 24 hours, I'll be leaving Chucktown for San Antonio, TX. I'll be out there for two weeks, attending product training and procedure classes for work. I'm excited and a bit nervous.. it's supposed to be some fairly intense classroom training. The past few days have been an absolute whirlwind.. trying to get some required prerequisite training out of the way in time for the trip, my travel advance and paycheck came in late.. I didn't get either until late Friday afternoon. Mad rush to get by the bank, and now I'm in a mad rush to get everything else done. Laundry, packing, washing the dog (my folks are going to be looking after the wondermutt), last minute bills. Urg. I'm just ready to go, already. Luckily I'll have a laptop with me, and free wifi at the hotel, so I'll still be able to feed the internet monkey that's on my back! I've got one single day off while I'm there, so I'm hoping to get a little sightseeing done then. I've heard the Riverwalk was nice, and it might be against the law to visit without seeing the Alamo, so those two destinations are a given. I'm hoping I can dig up some more interesting stuff in the next few days..

iPhorgot about the iPhone...

...as soon as I saw the Neo 1973. It doesn't look quite as slick or refined as the iPhone, but it offers TOTAL freedom in regards to service providers and software. Me likey. It's a product that fairly screams "hack me!" and I'm down with that in a big way. Here is the Neo Advanced kit that has me drooling like a Great Dane at a cookout. "If you can't open it, you don't own it."

Right on.

New job, new shoes, new outlook..

New job, anyway. I recently accepted a position as a service consultant with a company that manufactures and provides critical care equipment to area hospitals. I've got to say, it's turned out to be much more interesting than I had expected. I've been dividing my time between intensive product and procedural training classes, diassembling and sanitizing equipment at the warehouse, and popping in and out of ICU/CCU's to deliver and setup this equipment. It's enjoyable, lets me get out and about the lowcountry, and satisfies my inner "tinker demon". And, it feels good.. like I'm helping folks in a small way. Also.. profound respect for health care professionals.

On the other end of the emotional spectrum: lonely. I went to the grocery store today, and noticed that they've begun decorating for fall already. I snatched up a cinnamon broom for my wall (I'm a sucker for them), and the scent made me think of the holidays. Generally, that brings such a pleasant nostalgia.. but this year I felt anxious. And a bit empty. And I'm not ready for any holiday cheer. I suppose it's because of the relationship struggles my girlfriend and I have been having. Blech.

So, tonight I've got a pot of chili on, some Pink Martini (I love Sympathique), and a shiny new bottle of Nassau to help sanctify my soul. If I'm stuck with the melancholy, at least I can shoot for a pleasant state of melancholy. Also, upcoming travel plans to make.. I'm being sent to San Antonio for more training for work in a week.. two weeks in Texas! I've never been to any points west before, so I'm really looking forward to the trip.

Letting go of Richard White.

The end of last week was good.. I talked with my girlfriend, I mean really talked, we had dinner, we spent some time together. I took a day trip down to Tybee Island, GA, with a good friend on Saturday. I spent the afternoon with my family on Sunday. It ended this morning, when I learned that my biological father, Richard White, had passed away. 10 months ago.

Now, let me say that I really never knew Richard very well. He and my mother split up when I was a toddler, and I never really met him until I was in my early 20's. For whatever reason, that side of my family never contacted me until then.. I met Richard at my parent's high school reunion. I learned that he was happily married, with two strapping sons and a beautiful daughter. I learned that he had a brother, whom I met and liked very much. I visited his home and family a couple of times after that, but we never really stayed in touch. We'd talk on the phone every couple of years.. that dropped off altogether back in 2001. I learned in 2005 that Richard had suffered a stroke, and I spoke to my grandmother a few times after that. His stroke was of such a magnitude that he didn't remember anyone and was unable to talk or walk. I wanted to visit, but couldn't quite bring myself to. It brought up such an odd combination of emotions, a flood that I never quite understood, and was unwilling to face.. and I just didn't.

My Dad (mom married him after the divorce from my biological father, and he adopted me) had told me on several occasions.. more like insisted, actually.. that I try to talk to Richard as much as I can. He tried to emphasize the importance of knowing your parents, of talking to them and spending time with them. He lost his own father to WW2 when he was very young, and I think he always felt the loss of not knowing him. I think I'm just beginning to realize what he was talking about. I think I'll know much better as time goes on.

I'm not sure what I feel right now.. it's hard to separate one thing from another. I do feel grief, and loss, but I'm having difficulty discerning exactly why, when we were never close. I never even called him Dad. And I'm angry that his mother (my grandmother) never called me to let me know that his condition had worsened, or that he had died.. and I'm not sure why, because I certainly made no more effort to keep in touch and check on him on my own. And because of that, I'm guilty. And I'm so sorry that we didn't talk more, that we didn't visit.

I love my family.. but I didn't love him enough when I could have. Now I've got to try to let go of someone I never made much of an effort to hold onto in the first place.

Pedalers and pushers..

The only people movin's gonna be the sailors, just castin' their fate to the wind..















I ran across a recording of this unreleased Buffett tune on an old mix cd of mine.. I think he performed it a few times back in the early seventies. It almost applies now!


They're running out of gas for your automobile
The only way to get it gotta learn how to steal
Or push your car home til' your back starts breaking
I'm sorry now, kiddies, that's too much to take and

Chorus:
I wanna be a pedaler, not a pusher
I can't wait til' they find a new gusher
Skinny tires and wires get me where I wanna go...

There won't be gas for campers or trailers
No, none for big yachts, or even Boston Whalers
The only people movin' gonna be the sailors
Just castin' their fate to the wind

Repeat chorus

And I hope this record won't be my final,
But the company is just about to run out of vinyl
Maybe they'll go back to plastic on paper,
Or even punchin' holes in vanilla wafers..

Hell, now people you have heard my warning,
Better get up kinda early this morning
And get yourself down to the bicycle dealer
Pick out a one, maybe two or three wheeler.

I wanna be a pedaler, not a pusher
Don't wait around, there ain't gonna be a gusher
Skinny tires and wires get me where I wanna go...


I wanna get a greasel...

Ebony and ivory..

Sorta. Living in perfect harmony. All up in my front do'.



What I'm referring to is yet another invasion of widow spiders, both black widows and brown widows. The black widows are black, of course. The grown brown widows had these light tan backs with dark scribbles on them, like some sort of ancient scrimshaw. Anyway, I killed them. All of them, I hope. I only noticed a single spider at first, high up in the corner above my

door, but after going through this last year I knew that there were most likely more hiding out. Once I dosed my doorway with spider poison, they came scurrying out of the cracks and crevices of the wood trim. Five BIG fat adults, and six or eight immature ones.

Normally, I don't mind spiders so much. Even creepy ones like garden spiders(or banana, or "writing" spiders as we called them as kids).. I prefer to let them be. I even think the little fuzzy jumping spiders I see on occasion in my kitchen are cute. But widows.. something about their hunched, spindly appearance.. the way they hide so well in plain view.. the speed with which they do move when disturbed.. it just freaks me out. Sort of like a bunch of evil little befanas (yeah, I know she was a good witch, but she still scared the bejesus out of me when I was five) lurking around my cottage door. So, now I have to spray the rest of the house.

Feeling seriously nostalgic for the keys today. I've been sifting through some pictures I took when I lived there, and I surely do miss it. I need to plan a road trip. I need some Tiki time. Some Marley music and a deliciously touristy frozen pain-in-the-ass. With a 151 float. Hells, yeah.

Long time no sea..

And I mean it. I need to get my feet into some salt water, and I mean soon! It's shameful that I live so close to the ocean but never spend time in it. Also, it's been a while since I posted, obviously. Sorry for the cheesy play on words, but folks come to expect it of me.

The past nine months have zipped by ridiculously fast. I helped a friend out by letting him stay with me for a few weeks.. that turned into 6 months. Much awkwardness and no hilarity ensued. My mother was diagnosed with Celiac's disease, and my grandmother with COPD, nonsmall cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the lung, and stiffening heart valves. They're both doing ok for the most part, all things considered. Dad and my uncle are in relatively good health.

Lil' Mama's Red Pepper Squirrel has closed their doors since my last post.. the owners have a bit too much going on and have decided to sell it. I've been having some issues with my girlfriend over the past several months, a good part of which is due to my own inherent instability. Or maybe it's fear of commitment. Or maybe I want too much and am not willing to give enough. Bottom line, I'm trying to be a better person. Hard. To. Pull. Off. Mainly because being a shit just comes easily. But I'm trying, and progressing, I think.

I talked to a really good friend of mine from way back this afternoon, and that was really refreshing. It's nice to have the sort of friendship that maintains like that.. seems that no matter what's happening in either of our lives, when we talk it's just like it was back in the day. And that sort of stability speaks volumes. He's got a local band together that gained a lot of popularity, and I couldn't be prouder of that. I'm proud that he's pursuing his talents, and I'm proud that he's found a way to express his beliefs in a way that can touch so many folks. Check out www.solidgroundministries.com sometime.. you won't be disappointed.

While I'm still thinking about music, I'll mention that I may have a little something developing around here. I've been in touch with a local guitarist about possibly putting together a small group, and I couldn't be happier. I've loved playing music for over twenty years now, and I've been really jonesing to find someone with similar tastes to practice with. Hopefully we'll be able to hammer out some tunes.

In other news, I'm stopping painting pretty much altogether. I'm sad about not working for myself in that aspect (did I ever mention on this blog that I did interior/exterior contract painting?), but it's probably for the best. I never really made much money at it, and I blew out my knee today for the last time while stepping off a ladder. No more climbing for me! Really, I haven't been taking many contracts lately, so it won't be a huge change for me I suppose.

Move on.

Culinary nirvana!

Forget Halloween, yo. All those neighborhood candy fiends had to get their fix with my neighbors... I was at the opening of the Red Pepper Squirrel. I'm at home now, and I'm still visualizing the plus-sized serving of heaven that was on my plate tonight. Allow me to give you a brief rundown...

I met my friend Kristi out at the Squirrel for dinner. I'd have loved to have been able to chat with Beth all night, but she was husslin' her tail off in the kitchen, cooking for all the hungry townies. I had a couple of Yuengling drafts, Kristi jumped on a glass of Purple Rain MD 20/20. I wish I'd have had the testicular fortitude to order a glass... I'll work up to it eventually, but right now it brings up too many memories of teenage hangovers, and the less appetizing occurences that generally preceded said hangovers.

Kristi started with the garlicky cheesy spinach artichoke dip (I've had that before at Lil' Mama's, Beth and Seana's other restaurant. Gooood dip.) with toasted pita wedges, and I had the brushetta topped with tomatoes, fresh basil, roasted garlic, parmesan and balsamic vinaigrette. Excellent, excellent, excellent. Beth also brought us out some toast rounds covered in the most delicious pimiento cheese in the world, all melty and hot. For the main dish, I had a spinach and goat cheese ravioli in a fantastic roasted red pepper marinara; Kristi went with a huge steak quesadilla. Man alive, my ravioli got better with every single bite! That marinara had zing! I'm going to have a hard time not ordering it the next time I eat there.. there are so many other things on the menu I'd like to try!

I had such a great time out there... the restaurant is beautiful inside, thanks to the art work of a local graffiti artist. Such a fun, funky place. Congratulations, ladies! You've done a wonderful job with the Squirrel. I'm going to be thinking about tonight's meal for days to come...

Recovery sux.

Monday morning... why couldn't I get better on a Wednesday? I was down for the better part of last week with a bad stomach flu. I know it's not really a flu, but that's what everyone calls it. Aside from the fever, chills, and setting up camp in the bathroom, it wasn't a bad week. Got a lot of reading done. Got my satellite tv fixed. Watched some DVD's. And now, when I'm feeling 110% better and able to really enjoy goofing off, I've got a full week of work to look forward to. Damn the luck. Ah well... at least I have the work.

Last week actually put me pretty far behind on the house I'm working on right now. It's a huge house, waaay out in the country. I was hoping to finish up this week, but it'll be another ten days for sure now. The scenery is amazing... a little spooky, even. The house is on a tidal creek in the marsh, with half-dead live oaks draped in spanish moss all around. Fitting for a Halloween workweek, no?

In other news, tomorrow is opening day for the Red Pepper Squirrel, Beth and Seana's new restaurant in Mt. Pleasant! I'm hoping to be the first one thru the door.. if I can't do that, I'll be the last one out! I'm pretty excited for them. They've closed Lil' Mama's, their gourmet pizzaria out on Folly Beach for a few months.. partly because the traffic drops off so drastically at Folly during the winter, and partly so they can concentrate on getting the Squirrel up and running. Lil' Mama's last night open was Saturday, and I understand it was a very emotional night. Lots of folks, especially regulars, came out to wish them luck and show their support, and quite a few even stayed to help them close up. Such great peeps out on Folly. I've got a feeling these girls are going to take Mt. Pleasant by storm...

What's all the hubbub, bub?

I never seem to know when the neat stuff is going on around town. I'd like to blame it on how much I've been working lately, but the God's honest is that I just don't keep up with things. I generally carry on with normal day-to-day stuff, and rarely look outside of my own little world.. resulting in my missing so many good things that I know I'd enjoy.

Topping the list right now is Once Upon A Midnight Dreary, a dramatization of select Edgar Allan Poe stories that was read at Fort Moultrie on Sullivan's Island, SC, where Poe was stationed for a bit while in the military. There were guided tours of the fort (which I know was spooky... we used to sneak into the fort as teenagers and it was creepy then) and a party held on the grounds by a local pub, Poe's Tavern. I wish, I wish I'd have caught that... I love Poe's works, and I couldn't think of a better time than Halloween month to put this on. I wonder if they were serving absinthe...

There were a few others that I shouldn't have missed out on, two of which Beth was catering for. I've no excuse at all for missing them. Sure, I was working, but a perk of being self employed is being able to rearrange your schedule at will, right? Riiight. We'll keep believing that.

In any case, holidays are coming up, and there are always some good shows going on downtown around this time of year. I'm hoping someone will put on a production of A Christmas Carol, as that's my all time favorite holiday story. I think I'm addicted. Keeping my fingers crossed for that little Christmas fix.

Introductions are in order...

This is the second go round for me in the blogging arena... still trying to get used to all the techy ins and outs. I think I need to borrow someone's inner geek until I get the knack of this.

First, a couple of things about me. My name's Dave, and I live in Charleston, SC. I'm self employed as an interior/exterior paint contractor (right now). I've got a girlfriend who works a LOT, and a dog who sleeps more often than not. I love boats, but I no longer have one. I love classic cars, but I no longer have one of those either. I live in a tiny ghetto hovel. Well, not really very ghetto... and it's not really a hovel. Tiny, it is. My lease is up in December, though, so I may step up from hovel to shanty. We'll see if I can afford it.

I'm not sure how often I'll be posting here, but keep an eye peeled. Also watch for a domain name change... I'm still trying to find adequate hosting for barefootboatnik.com.

Hasta!