Back from Hiatus!

I am back! I spent the summer in Asheville, NC for an internship. I had lots of fun and enjoyed the mountain landscape, but I am so glad to be back home! There really is no place like it. Ok, that's the end of the cheesiness. ha ha.

This past weekend I went to the International Festival. A celebration of nations around the world. My favorite part is the parade of nations. It's always fun and colorful.

I'm Voting! How 'bout you?

Tuesday, May 6th is the big day! It's time to vote. Now, this isn't a political blog, so I'm not going to talk about my political views. I do however believe it is important to be informed about the world around you and take part in the voting process.

So here's a few links to help you (and your kids):

NC Voter
Kid's Voting--Get them started early!
NBC 17 Political Coverage

So, get out there and get your voices heard!

Long Time Coming.

I know, I know, I know, it's been a long time since I've updated! I apologize profusely to the one or two people who read this. :)

In the time since I last updated I've had a birthday; watched nearly 50 movies on dvd, the telly, or in the theater; and I've been accepted into an internship program! All whilst working 30 hours a week and going to school.

But enough with the excuses; I'm going to discuss what I've discovered lately in Fayetteville.

1st: I'd like to talk about The Rock Shop. THAT PLACE IS COOL! I've only been once and I really enjoyed it. I went on my birthday weekend and saw two bands, but I can only remember one: T Rex and the Skankosaurs. They were pretty interesting and I got to talk to one of the guitarists. The Rock Shop is a lot bigger than it looks from the outside, with a couple of pool tables and a neat little cubby-type area with a cushy couch and a long bar that goes nearly the length of the entire place. Check it out; it's at 106 S. Eastern Blvd very close to downtown, or maybe it's considered a part of downtown, I dunno!

2nd: The Super Compare Foods. That place is something we've needed in this town for a long while. I adore the huge fruits and veggies section. The bakery, oh! the beautiful pan and pastries, just gorgeous. I love fresh baked bread like nothing else in this world, you know, aside from the big-ticket items such as God, family, pets, and friends. Even the frozen foods section has food that I haven't seen outside of Puerto Rico. I love empanadas. They have empanadas! Yes! Yes! Yum. Ok, I must get a life. haha. So drive on down to the corner of Morganton Road and Bonanza Drive to see what all the fuss is about.

3rd: I'd like to talk about the Dogwood Festival. How cool is it that the concert is free? I don't know a whole lot of Vanessa Carlton's songs, but I think it will be a fun night! So get out there and spend some money downtown and bring a lawn chair and hang out with friends while listening to some nice, mellow music.

People Watching

I love to people watch. I just do. I look for interesting faces, cool outfits, and I even--gasp!--eavesdrop on conversations. Let me explain: I like to listen to the use of words in natural conversation; it comes in handy as a writer when you are trying to write dialogue.

The best place that I've found so far is Barnes & Nobel. Everybody likes books, right? All sorts of people go to B&N: The guys with their laptops in the far corner of the Starbucks cafe, probably playing World of Warcraft or some variation of that game; the people who bring their textbooks to study and have a latte; and the magazine readers, oh the array of topics they can enjoy in the magazine department! This is just one small section of the store, don't get me started on the travel section and that couch pushed into the corner just behind the leather-bound journals; imagine the many hours you could waste spend examining books you never plan on purchasing.

Oh Barnes & Nobel, don't ever change!

Fayetteville City Council

The members of the Fayetteville City Council have been pretty busy lately. First there was "ticketgate" and now they are trying to pass an ordinance to prohibit begging. I've read up a little on this and what I found was that asking people for money is not a crime, but standing in the median is. It's dangerous as well. Every time I see someone standing there I'm scared that they are going to get grazed or hit by a car. It makes me wonder what I would do if I was in their situation. We are living with a shaky economy in which there are many people living paycheck to paycheck; the middle class is disappearing. I am a college student and lucky enough to have a parent to rely on when I need that extra bit of help.

While I understand where the council members are coming from, this reeks of "target moving". What I mean to say is that they are shifting focus to the symptom and forgetting the actual problem, which includes homelessness and unemployment. I hope that the council will really think of both sides of the issue.

I hope everyone has a very safe and happy holiday. I'm going to take the time to reflect on how blessed I am to have a roof over my head and a supportive family. I'm also going to try to avoid going anywhere near Skibo Road until after Christmas. That traffic is not pretty!

Black Friday

So, I know I told everyone to go out and support the Dickens Family Holiday, but I unfortunately did not make it downtown. I was sucked into the black Friday sales propaganda and went shopping. I think everyone should do it at least once in their lives. I didn't get up at the crack of dawn to go shopping. (More like 9AM.) I did however make a pretty big dent into my checking account. I came away with a cashmere sweater, a couple pair of jeans, two jackets and a dress. Not too shabby.

I did make a new discovery this weekend. A health food store! It's called Healthwise and it is located at 3620 Ramsey St, Fay NC, 28311; in the shopping center behind Ruby Tuesday and Rainbow Restaurant. The telephone number is (910) 630-0898, if you'd like to call for directions. Now, I must warn you that it is a bit more expensive than most grocery stores, but these are specialty items. I've come to expect that from health food stores. I got some very yummy Almond crackers and tea tree oil facial cleansing pads, kinda like those Noxzema ones. The brand name is Desert Essence, so far I like 'em. The woman that--I assume--runs the store was extremely knowledgeable and very friendly. And if you need to make copies or fax something, they do that too!

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is upon us again, which means, The Dickens Family Holiday! I love this event. The day after Thanksgiving, instead of going shopping, my family goes downtown to see people dressed up as characters from A Christmas Carol. It's so fun to see dozens of Scrooges and Tiny Tims running around downtown. There's a carriage ride, vendors selling hot chocolate and cider, and handmade crafts for sale. The best part is at sundown. From the website:

As darkness approaches and the clock reaches 5:00 p.m., townspeople gather in
front of the Arts Council for the candlelight procession which begins at 5:30
p.m. No sound but breathing as the crowd follows the carriage to the Market
House. It's time for the lighting of the Holiday Tree and the illumination of
Olde Fayetteville. The sounds of the season pour from strolling carolers as the
evening continues until the magic ends at 9:00 p.m.

The next few weeks are going to be filled with Christmas shopping, holiday parties and family gatherings. It's nice to take some time out of our busy lives to be out in the community. I will be sure to post pictures of the event. Have a great holiday!