{{ POSTCARDS FROM FAR AWAY }}

I got up super early this morning so that I could run. My plan was to run down rutherford and then head down pleasantburg toward cherrydale. If you're familiar with the area then you know where I'm talking about. the only thing that stopped me is that my mom told me that that the gas station up the road had been held up at gun point the night we arrived. So I figured that running in that area in the dark, early morning wasn't the best option for me. Instead, i headed over to my old neighborhood where Wade Hampton High School has built a nice athletics facility. I ran the track there and it was nice.

1) I've grown tired of people who write the word "christmas" as "CHRISTmas" as if they are making a point. It really is impossible to make the "lets keep christ in christmas" argument while partaking in the American brand of Christmas. So I say, lets all just calm down a bit. I've thought about protesting and using the word "christMAS" but then whenever I type that I feel bad inside. Maybe Holydays instead of holidays. Or perhaps the phrase "tis the seaSon." Or we could go catholic is stick with Mary Christmas...or MARY CHRISTmas. Feh.

Our day in Greenville was PACKED. First, because we went to sleep at 2 and I had to meet some friends at 7, I didn’t get up to run. This was fine. I got up about 6:30 and headed out to Stax Omega. Nick and I jumped up and down and greeted each other in the parking lot with screams and giggles. This is common for Nick and I. We walked into Stax Omega and began looking for Tyler. The hostess said she didn’t know of a customer who was there by himself waiting for two guys. Just as we got confused Tyler burst through the front door of the place. I galloped over and leapt into his arms. Tyler is STILL massively strong. He caught me in mid air and we had a good man hug. Nick and Tyler also embraced and the hostess looked at us, smiled, and said “that was pretty much the best thing I’ve seen in a long time! Thanks for that. That really made my day. Seriously, that was awesome.”

Who knew that Stax Omega hostesses were such man-hug fans.

We had breakfast. Tyler and Nick had omlettes and I had some eggs and bacon. It was one of the most perfect breakfasts I’ve ever had. Not the food. The food was average. The company made it perfect. We laughed, we discussed, we chuckled. It was great.

Tyler had to get to work, so we paid for our food and stepped into the parking lot. We got stuck talking there for another 20 minutes or so. Tyler and I thought we kept seeing snow. Nick never saw it. Eventually Tyler found out what was falling around us. Nick was shooting tiny spit bubbles out of his mouth when he spoke. After determining this, we disbanded and left. Tyler to work. Nick and I to crossway.

Crossway was closed. So we headed across the street to Starbucks so that Nick could use the little boys room. He did. We left and went out to barnes and noble. We discussed church polity and some other things while looking through the theology section. Nick ended up buying me two books for Christmas. Augustine’s Confessions and the new book by Francis Chan. This was a great treat!

I headed home and picked up Alexis at about 10:50. We raced over to the Wade Hampton Country Buffet and met my Dad and Miriam there. This place used to be a pretty good Chinese buffet. Now it is mostly country food…a lot of fried stuff…and I think it is still owned by the same Chinese couple. The food was good, but our lunch didn’t nearly last long enough. My dad had to get to work so we had to head out rather quickly after eating.

Next we went to see my grandmother. She’s not in the best shape, but she was definitely well enough for our visit. She told us a great deal about the family happenings and things going on in her Sunday school class. She told us that she prays for us everyday which means a great deal to me! She showed us some recent pictures of our family get togethers that Alexis and I have had to miss for various reasons. Turns out my cousin Brian’s boyfriend doesn’t look like the Geico caveman anymore.

And yes, you read that correctly.

We left my grandmother’s and headed out to my old place of business. Suntrust Bank. I wanted to see LaDonna and Babs as they both still work there. I got in line and when it was my turn bab’s didn’t even recognize me. I said “Beverly!” and she just looked at my blankly and said “yes…” and then I said ‘BABS!!!” and she got all excited and ran around the counter to come and see me. As you’ll find out later, this wouldn’t be the last time that someone wouldn’t recognize me.

We left the bank and met up with Mike at Starbucks. We chatted with him for a bit before headed over to Smiley’s. Smiley used to be the cook at the Handlebar when Mike and I worked there together. Smiley is a culinary genius and the taste and appeal of his own place proves it even more. What a great place! Alexis and I had an appetizer that blew my mind. It was sweet potato and brie wantons and though that sounds a little odd, it was delicious! We swung by Mike’s place so that he could show us his apartment. He has a pretty sweet set up.

Next up was dinner with my mom, uncle pete, and gerry. Uncle Pete and Gerry treated us to Flat Rock which was AWESOME!!! I got to share some of my cult knowledge with them and, though it may not have been as fun for them, it was a lot of fun for me. I get excited talking about cults now. This happened back when I took my ethics class too. Anyway, Alexis and I both had steak and steamed veggies and then split peanut butter pie. The food was great but the company was much better!!! Uncle Pete and Gerry are awesome and my mom is awesome as well.

Our last event of the night was to head back to my mom’s place to open gifts with her. We weren’t sure if she’d be joining us in Charleston so we wanted to go ahead and open gifts with her just in case.

For my mom we bought a snuggie (hot pink), a John Wayne Movie collection, and a collectors edition of Bonanza episodes. My mom like westerns…and she likes being warm so these gifts are all things she will enjoy.

The house was cold and our day was busy, but we had a great time.

Before we left I went over to the Kroger (K-Roge) in Prospect to do some bank stuff for Starbucks. During my short, brisk walk I notice a car pull up in front of the Kroger. The door opened. It was Santa. Pre-Christmas sleigh Santa apparently rides around Prospect in an old Rav 4. While waiting in line at the Bank Santa apparently left the Rav 4 and came into the Kroger. He was hollering santa slang slogans and getting a lot of attention for it. The only point to this story is that Santa rides (doesn't even drive) around Prospect, Ky in a Rav 4.

I'm on a mission today. My goal is to flood nick ballenger's facebook page with so many comments that I'll be the only one present on his profile. I'm getting close.

Two things about gifts.

One more day of class. honestly, this class has been really good. Really interesting. My only complaint is that the days are super super long. literally 8-5. This is good because I've paid him to teach me from 8-5 but bad because rarely do professors take the whole time to teach their material.