Recently, I decided it wouldn't be a bad idea to start a "blog" of my own. I found it so enjoyable to keep up on the fun events, changes, and happenings with friends and family back home via the "blogging" tool of the 21st century, so here I am. I have no idea how this will turn out, and whether or not I will be able to be a consistent "blogger" with up-to-date posts and pictures. Time will tell!
As most of you may know, I recently moved to beautiful Charleston, South Carolina during the last week of August, and already I feel like it's becoming more and more like home. That's not to say, however, that anything in the world can truly replace Versailles, Ohio, (No sarcasm. I mean that!) but I'm happy to add yet another fantastic city to the list of places I've lived.
I came to Charleston on a rather quick note, embarking on another academic journey of which I'm very excited to explore. So far the experience has been wonderful, and it seems more great things are in store! I'll keep you posted.
Transitioning was an interesting process. I think the first month was simply decompressing from work, relaxing and trying to get into a school groove once more. I worried constantly about work for a while, even from 800+ miles away, and white-knuckle-clasped onto my precious blackberry just in case "work" called. Unhealthy as it may seem, that feeling has now passed. Instead of "worrying" about work anymore, I wonder about my fantastic (former) co-workers and how they are kicking tail and taking names. I miss them, always. But they know that.
My schedule here has been very busy, but I'm now into a pretty darn good groove, so my schedule does not feel as hectic as before. Regardless, 4 classes and 4 corresponding labs certainly keep me busy, on top of a few extracurriculars, a new and very welcomed social life (again, finally!), and, of course, quality time with the "girls," Wendy and Carly. They really are best buddies and keep me constantly entertained. Carly has such a whimsical personality. I've never met such a happy dog that was so pumped about life in general. She loves everything, all the time. Wouldn't it be great to project her enthusiasm for everything onto people?!?
As far as lifestyle goes in Charleston, the town itself is very laid back, the people are wonderfully kind, and the weather, of course, is phenomenal - especially this time of year. Warmer temperatures aside, the size, pace, and people here remind me a good deal of Lexington, which is great news since I love that city too! There are always cultural festivals or 5 or 10k runs on either of the connector bridges (connecting the main island, or peninsula, to the others), good bars, bands, restaurants, etc., not to mention the beach only minutes away... I find it extremely difficult to exhaust fun-and-leisure options...They simply never run out!
For example, today pretty much on a whim I decided to drive out to Magnolia Plantation, which is apparently a breathtakingly beautiful, historic plantation in West Ashley. En route, I came upon Drayton Hall, literally a mile before my GPS was going to place me at Magnolia Plantation. I took interest, and cut a hard right onto the gravel lane, meandered my way down the path through a beautiful wooded lane. I can't even fully describe the sight. Drayton Hall is one of the oldest preserved plantation houses in America - over 350 acres - and one of only a few pre-Revolutionary houses that has been preserved close to its original condition. Only the words of Robert Frost even begin to do justice to the grand landscape, a home to seven generations of Drayton's (over 236 years), surviving not only multiple natural disasters, but also notably both the Revolutionary and Civil Wars. I was lucky enough to arrive minutes before a guided tour was about to begin, so I tagged along and learned about the remarkable history of the site. I ended up enjoying my time so much at Drayton Hall that I didn't have enough time to explore Magnolia, which was on my original, very lax, agenda. I suspect I'll go next weekend and perhaps post more pretty pictures.
I hope you enjoy the pictures as much as I enjoyed taking them. They do very little justice to the real thing, but expand your imagination a bit and you'll appreciate the historical value of Drayton Hall as much as I. Oh, and one last remark. While strolling through the gift shop I picked up a book titled,
Ghosts of Charleston (I painfully admit how much of a Transplant-Charlestonite Tourist Invasion of Southern Culture I am to this city....). I took the book to the steps of an old well on the plantation grounds and read in the sun for a little while. The very first "haunted" story in this particular book told of a home that is literally a 30-second walk from my front door. Essentially I live next to a real haunted house! If any of you are interested, Google the Aiken-Rhett house in Charleston. The history of it is pretty interesting, and even more-so now that I know it's documented to be one of the dozens of haunted houses in the city!!