We Be Clubbin

Tuesday night, we went to our first "meetup". Meetup.com is a website where you can join (or create) groups for members of the local community. Each group has a different theme, such as dog owners, or 20 somethings, or 20 something dog owners.

Normally these kind of forced gatherings wouldn't be my thing. Well, they still aren't. But since we don't have jobs, it's an alternative way to meet people. It's especially important for Chris to meet new people. He gets his energy from interacting with others whereas I'm more self contained (and absorbed). Plus I have my mom, brother and stalker dog down here. But because I am a supportive (amazing, fantastic) girlfriend, I graciously joined the site.

One of the groups we both joined is the "Greenville Social Scene." The name alone makes me cringe. It sounds like a cheesy club you'd join in middle school.

But hey, new life, new outlook right? One of the scheduled meetups was Tennis in the Park on Tuesday night. I grew up playing tennis and Chris is newly obsessed with it so we both signed up. We also brought along our bestie, Loye, who has been playing for 30 years. Unfortunately we got a little lost on the way and by the time we arrived everyone in the group was already playing. The three of us decided to just play against each other. So much for "meeting up". We also lobed more than a few balls into the other courts during their games which didn't exactly endear us to anyone. But whatever, we had fun despite the lack of new BFFs. Personally I think they should be the ones trying to "meet up" with me but that's another story.

Tomorrow night there is a bowling meetup for the "20 something" group. I've decided I'll attend because it'll give me the chance to meet people the old fashioned way: copious amounts of alcohol. I wouldn't have any friends without it.

The Daily Haps - Tuesday 9/28

Tuesday was a very active day, and the reason that I have aches in muscles I didn't know existed. Around noon we went to Cleveland Park, a beautiful park near downtown. The park has a series of exercise equipment along one of the trails. Each one was a reminder of what terrible shape I am in. I could've done these exercises with ease in high school. Now, I can barely hang on long enough to take a picture. That's right, these are all staged.

After the photoshoot, we walked a few miles on the trail. The weather was perfect. Cleveland Park makes it more comfortable for the less exercise inclined like myself by cushioning half the trail. It's like walking on a mattress. I can almost convince myself I'm still in bed. Chris said the cushioning is to help prevent shin splints but I know the truth.

After the walk, we stopped at the courts for a quick game. For us, a game means rallying for 10 seconds, running to get the ball, rallying for 10 seconds, jogging to get the ball, rallying for 20 seconds, walking to get the ball...you get the point. Five minutes in, I was ready to go home.

On our way home we stopped at the grocery store to pick up lunch ingredients and gawk at the unrefrigerated meat.

What happened after the meat?? Stay tuned for the exciting details!!

The Daily Haps - Monday 9/27

Rain, rain go away. Monday was day 2 of cold rainy weather.

It was a stay-in-bed and watch Bad Girls Club reruns. This is what the day looked like:

Fast forward to the evening. We decided to go to a restaurant downtown called Lazy Goat since we had a gift certificate. We pregamed dinner with a couple glasses of wine. Look how much fun I'm having!!!!

Dinner was great. Paella for me and Steak Frites for Christoph.

During dinner, a monsoon started suddenly. Our waiter was nice enough to direct us out the service entrance so we could be dry for most of the walk back to the car. People are so nice here.

I was surprised when I first visited to discover that Greenville, especially downtown, has a lot of really great restaurants and bars. Eventually I'll write a post about downtown Greenville and all it has to offer but for now, I have a lot more exploring to do. If I have to drink at every bar in this town, I'm willing to make that sacrifice. You deserve quality information.

The Daily Haps - Sunday 9/26

Sunday was a wet and dreary day 'round these parts. The temperature dropped 30 degrees and the skies opened up. In spite of the weather, we decided to accompany Landlord Loye on a house hunting trip. She wants to move to a bigger house with more land. Most people, as they age, want to do less work. Not my mother. She's always looking for a new project to tackle. I'm still not convinced that I wasn't adopted. Imagine the upkeep on this place:

House hunting was unsuccessful; the 3 houses we saw weren't what she was looking for. But our Realtor made the whole trip worth it. Rick was a flamboyant gentleman and if we'd met in New York I'm sure it would have been at 5 AM at a gay club. But down here Rick is a married man who lets his inner queen shine by decorating and showing houses. I don't have any of my gays down here so he was like a double rainbow on an otherwise grey day.

After house hunting we stopped at Copper River Grill, a wannabe Applebees, for lunch. The food was pretty bad but the company was good. I got to hang out with my only friends!!!!

Then a stop at Landlord Loye's for some dessert: rum cream + ben & jerry's mint chocolate chip. Try it.

We then headed home to Chris could prepare for his staffing agency interview the next day. Who wouldn't hire this guy? Seriously, please hire him? Please? Please!!!

NL East Champs!

Tonight the Phillies clinched their forth NL east championship in a row! Go Phils!

I'll be honest, I didn't watch the game. In fact, I didn't know there was a game on tonight. I even stole the word "clinch" from Google. But I've been a die hard Phillies playoffs bandwagon fan since I lived in Philadelphia in 2008. For most of the year, I barely know what sports season we're in. And what I enjoy most about regular season baseball games is the 3 hour naps I take while Chris watches.

But by the time the playoffs roll around, I'm fiercely invested in every game. Each loss is devastating. Each win, exhilarating. I barely notice the beer I've spilled all over myself. Ah yes, another reason I love playoffs. It's an excuse to drink at 1 in the afternoon. And the older one gets, the more one needs excuses for daytime drinking.

These next two weeks are my favorite drinking time of year. The energy at the bar is electrifying. Strangers become friends, united by the common bond of a major league baseball team and hours of inebriation. While I'm far from Phillies territory now, I'm confident that there are enough northerners down here that I can go out and publicly, maniacally cheer on my boys.

Let's ride this bandwagon till the wheels fall off.

The Daily Haps - Saturday 9/25

Without a job, half the time I don't even know what day it is. All the weekdays just kind of run together. But despite the weeks being quite pleasant, the weekends are still exciting. I drink an extra 5 beers with dinner and sleep in without guilt. After awakening around noon on Saturday, I geared up for a Snapped marathon with a grilled cheese-and-tomato sammy.

5 hours into the marathon, Landlord Loye swung by to finally put the finishing touches on the endless door project. Our handyman is a sweet, well-meaning man but his sense of deadlines is not the greatest.

We'd planned to make meatballs but it turned out the ground turkey had spoiled. At least I'm assuming turkey shouldn't smell like year old milk. Instead we decided to have pizza night. So, Chris headed to the grocery store. Since I'd already cracked eggs for the meatballs, I decided to make brownies. When life gives you rotten meat, make organic brownies! I should make t-shirts.

Chris returned over an hour later (toppings indecision) and got to work.

Our life in Greenville isn't filled with the hottest clubs or celebrity run-ins. What we do have is pizza night. It's my favorite night of the week. There is just something so orgasmic about a pizza that you made with your own hands. Every time, we experiment with new toppings. We've done a turkey pepperoni/goat cheese/onion/hot pepper pie and a spicy sausage/goat cheese/hot pepper/potato pie. Tonight was bacon/onion/gorgonzola/hot peppers. Yes, we really like hot peppers. They make everything better.

Up close and personal

It was delicious. And since it was Saturday night, we decided to have a few beers. 2 six packs later, the beer gods convinced us we were starving and we devoured the 2 remaining slices of the pizza. Unfortunately, we weren't satisfied. Chris casually suggested that he make a new pizza. I drunkenly scoffed. It was already after midnight and pizzas take time. Chris countered that he could make a pizza in 25 minutes. I scoffed again. Roll the dough, put on the toppings and cook in in 25 minutes? Scoff! As a heterosexual male, Chris took this as a challenge and shuffled off to the kitchen. I took a picture of the time as evidence. Seriously, just go to bed guys.

24 minutes later, a plate of fresh baked pizza slices was placed in front of me. He'd done it. He'd won Iron Pizza Chef, with a minute to spare. And I gotta say, this may have been the bud light wheat talking, but it was the best pizza I've had in a long time.

The evidence. 1:12

And then of course we followed this up with some brownies for dessert. By the time I went to bed I appeared to be 3 months pregnant. I almost wish** I was, at least then I'd have an excuse for such behavior.

**KNOCK ON ALL THE WOOD IN THE FOREST

The Daily Haps - Friday 9/24

Today was a scorcher (like all the other days). Brutus was the only sucker who chose to be outside.

We had a lunch of repentance for yesterday's late night ice cream binge (unpictured)

But eventually we decided to venture out for some shopping. Chris warmed up to prepare.

I accidentally left my iphone in the car while we shopped. When I returned to the car, turned out even the phone was feeling the heat. If I'd left my phone in the car in NYC/Philly, I would have returned to the car window shattered on the ground.

We stopped over at Mom's house for some home cooking. She basically makes a variation of the same meal every time, but it's always tasty. If it ain't broke...

Later she talked about her wood carving class. The creepy owl was one of her class assignments.

Then we each had a Clemson themed cake lollipop for dessert. They live for college ball down here. I eat for it.

Then some tennis to burn off the high calorie Clemson spirit. You know you're getting better when you leave the court with the same number of balls you came with.

This was a pose. I do not serve.

On the way home we decided to get beer. "Where you gon' git it?" I asked. "Prolly the gas station by ahr house," Chris replied. Know what I love about you South Carolina? The fact that that is an option. I've even bought beer at the dollar store.

On the way home we passed a high school football game. Apparently high school football is also huge around here. We considered stopping but a wild party awaited us at home. Me, Chris, Brutus and 2 six packs of Bud Light Wheat.

This is what their Friday night looks like

This is what my Friday night looks like. Call the party police, this could get real.