Sunday Funday (aka Delayday)

I woke up around 9:45 from itching, went to the freezer and rubbed some ice cubes over my contact dermatitis. It really helps, I recommend it. Sadly, while I was tending to my wounds Marc called and I missed it. Thanks a lot fabric softener, thanks. Genny got up shortly thereafter and we watched some MTV until we were motivated enough to go to the beach. On the way we stopped at Starbucks and Bagel Nation. I had the most amazing egg and cheese this side of the Mason Dixon Line (I was in SC, so it was the Confederate side, NYC is not included).

The beach was super windy, again, and the waves were bad for surfing, so we sat with some of Genny’s surfer friends and had some miller lights (with sand in them). We went for a long walk, but didn’t hold hands, and then finally left around 2pm because it was just too windy, and we had something important to do: Manicures and Pedicures.

After rinsing off pounds of sand, which had blown on us due to the wind we went over to Nail Palace, where they worked their magic. Genny’s lady was an honor roll manicurist and spoke perfect English. I mean I think they all speak good English, but they just hide it. So, we talked with her the whole time. She grew up in Boston too, after coming here from Vietnam.

Once we were polished we got some ice cream and then headed to the airport, where the real fun began. My flight to Atlanta was supposed to leave at 6:35pm where I was then flying stanby on an 8:30pm flight to DCA. However, there was also a flight at 11pm, so regardless, I would not miss my connection. Well, due to weather in Atlanta they issued a ground stop, meaning no planes headed to Atlanta could take off, nor could any leave. This went on for 3 hours and (to take a term from Marco) wheels were up at 9:30 pm.

Obvs I missed the earlier connection, and was quite excited that I would not even have to wait that long for the later flight at 11pm, only about 30 minutes. Boy was I wrong about that too! Because of all the delays, and groundstops, and vagstops the flight attendants for my DCA plane were stuck on another one that didn’t arrive in ATL until about 11:50. Wheels were finally up at 12:30, and I arrived in DC at the ungodly hour of 2am. I managed to share a cab home with some people in my area, and only paid $12 for the ride, cheaper than usual.

One home I got right into bed, dreading the next morning…

 

Death in a Bottle: Fabric Softener

I woke up with some bumps on my leg, but figured it was just some weird South Carolina bug, and thought nothing of it. We all went to Hominy Grill for brunch, a Charleston staple that serves up a mean plate of grits and to die for biscuits. I had some blueberry peach pancakes, and half a biscuit, to add to the carb intake. We took a sib pic before brunch, I look mini.

After brunch we bid adieu to Paul, who was heading to USC for orientation and high-tailed it to Foley Beach on James Island. It’s the cool kids beach, mainly because it has good waves for surfing. It was super windy, but that did not stop Gen and I from tanning profusely. My legs were a little itchy at the beach, but I figured it was just sun and sand, or something.

On the way home we stopped at Sonic, that legendary place you always see in commercials, but never actually see the real place. Welp, they have them in Charleston and they are awesome. You just drive up, read the menu outside your car, order, and they bring the food to you on roller skates. We all got milkshakes.

Once home we rinsed off and went to King Street for some shopping, hitting up all the usual spots. I bought a cute dress at a store called Francesca’s and Genny got a dress at White House Black Market. We did dinner at a little cafe on King Street and both got the same thing: Homemade butternut squash ravioli with a Parmesan cream sauce, bacon, mushrooms and apples, sounds like a lot of flavors, I know, but they worked and really hit the spot.

When we got back to Genny’s house we both took a power nap and then began getting ready for a night on the town, that’s when I realized what happened…. I had broken out into a rash all over my legs, the cause? FABRIC SOFTENER.

This winter I washed all my clothes in detergent that had a touch of fabric softener in it and I broke out in bumps all over my body. Back at the time I was pretty sure it had been the detergent and Genny had washed her sheets and towels in the same type of stuff, boom, rash on legs, neck and ears, yes ears, since they had been touching the pillow. This girl had a major case of contact dermatitis.

Contact dermatitis aside, we got all ready and were having really good hairdays that we had to document, look at the hair not the accidental cleavage…

Before calling Genny’s favorite Moroccan cab driver we had some beer and Red Bull, then headed to the Pavilion hotel to their rooftop bar. We walked in at the perfect time. One of Genny’s friends has a very rich Uncle named Larry who owns a tobacco company and a yacht that he brings to Charleston. He likes to buy his nephew’s friends, especially the girls, lots and lots and lots of drinks.

The nephew flagged us over and we sat down. We were told “order whatever you want, get Grey Goose.” It was amazing, the Veuve Clicquot was flowing like water. If Marc had been there he would have most def ordered a Blue Label.

A bachelorette joined the fun too. On any given weekend night in Charleston there are probably 69 bachelorette parties going on. Genny and I made a pact that we would not let each other wear those bachelorette sashes, tacky. It looked cute on her though.

We had so much fun drinking top shelf booze and sister bonding. The weather was perfect, not humid and even a little breezy, and my Grey Goose martini was amazing. I think it may have been better than Russia House, sorry DC.

We lasted long enough so that Genny’s boyfriend could pick us up. He happens to work as a valet at the hotel, so we waited for him in the lobby and had a photo shoot.

Free booze really gives you energy. On the way home we stopped at the 24 hour Harris Teeter for some anti itch cream and Cool Ranch Doritos, then called it an itchy night. I slept in some knee socks to protect my legs from the sheets of death.

 

Southern Sunday

There was a HUGE storm around 5am that most likely woke up the whole city of Charleston. Thunder and lighting were going non-stop, and the rain was pounding at the window. Needless to say, I didn’t have the best sleep. Genny and I woke up at the same time and headed to Bruggers Bagels for some much needed coffee and egg and cheese bagel sandwiches. After talking about celebs for awhile and munching we went back home, lounged and then made our way to Mom and Dads hotel to give Momma our Mother’s Day wishes.

After some family hangout time we went to King Street again and hit up the usual haunts. I got a shirt at Banana Republic that they didn’t have in my size in DC, score. We all walked around and went into a bunch of art galleries on East Bay Street, along the water. I also had to stop by my Boo’s fave store for a pic.

Mom bought a painting by a lady named Reina, she already has one that she bought last time she was here. Both are beautiful little oil paintings depicting Charleston scenes.

We all ate a light lunch at the Charleston Brew Pub, the beer wasn’t cold enough. Afterwards Genny and I got gelato while I talked to my booboo far away in the Greek Isles, my little travelling Odysseus (yes I prefer the Greek terminology to that of the Roman genre), so far from my bosom. Once we were good and full Genny and I watched Lifetime and dozed. Obvs a teen was pregs, who doesn’t get pregs on Lifetime?

My flight leaving Charleston was delayed, and I missed my connection in Atlanta. So, now I’m sitting in the airport waiting for my 11pm flight to leave. It gets into DC at 12:30am and I have to be at our magazine’s annual conference at 6am tomorrow to help with registration. Wahoo. Tomorrow will be a looonnnggg day.

 

The Graduate

DISCLAIMER: I left my camera cord at Genny’s house. Pictures are forthcoming and will be posted when she sends me the cord. Dilemma

Another Disclaimer: CORD IS HOME WITH ITS MOMMY! Enjoy the pictures!

This morning Genny and I slept in then went to meet Mom and Dad at their hotel. Genny hung out a bit then left us to get ready for graduation. We headed to King Street on a shopping mission: dress for Callie’s wedding. I found the perfect black dress at the first store we went to, Luna. Actually my Mom found it. Since it was the first stop I didn’t want to buy right away, so we put it on hold and hit up the rest of the King Street stores, and when we didn’t find anything better I went back and got it

After our successful shopping mission we all got ready for the graduation. College of Charleston holds their ceremony on the Cistern, their version of a quad. It is beautiful and southern, with Spanish Moss hanging from the trees and the college’s first building, as a backdrop. We had to wait in line for at least 10 minutes and then sit for about 2 hours in the heat.

All the girls wore white dresses and carried roses, all the boys wore white jackets and bow-ties, it was elegant and southern to say the least. All those northern colleges could learn a thing or two from College of Charleston. I mean come on Bates (etc). Even though it was hot and sticky, it was still fun to see Genny walk down the aisle and get her diploma. She didn’t trip!

We left the ceremony a little after Genny’s name was called and went back to the hotel to hydrate. We then met Genny at her house and took the requisite family pictures. Minus Paul. Tear

After our photo shoot the family piled into the PT-Loser (our rental car) and went to the Pavilion Hotel’s roof bar for cocktails. It is probably my favorite bar in the world.

Yup, Genny’s tan is real, and yes, Dad is pale.

Once we had done some champagne toasts and gotten good and liquored up we met more people at Tristan for dinner. The food was delish per usual. I had the red snapper with vanilla foam and butternut squash risotto, WOW. We all paired our choices with a cork free California chardonnay. After dinner we left the parents and me and the graduates went to an array of Charleston drinking establishments, including Social, Wasabi and Mad River (in an old church, we felt bad).

It was a lovely day shared with lovely people.

 

Charleston: manis, pedis and tanis

Red Top Cab came to pick me up at 5:30 am. We drove to National and I boarded my Airtrain flight only a few minutes after getting through security. I timed it perfectly. After connecting in Atlanta I arrived in Charleston around 10:30. Genny picked me up and we headed straight to Grandpa’s to meet up with Mom and Dad and, of course, spend some time with Grandpa. We all told about the same amount of stories, and did not mention Mexicans once, quite an accomplishment if you ask me.

Genny and I then headed to the pool. The beach was getting clouds on and off, but it was nice and sunny inland. So, after grabbing a sandwich at Bull Street Gourmet we headed over and tanned for two hours of sunny bliss, with intermittent dips throughout.

After our tanning extravaganza we stopped at Nail Palace for some Mani’s and Pedi’s. We both got French manicures and shades of pink on our toes.

Once home we lounged, read people, watched Food Network and readied ourselves for dinner at Circa 1886 at the Award winning Wentworth Mansion - the beautiful hotel my parents are staying at. Before entering we had to snap a shot to capture our southern beauty.

The hotel was just amazing. Built in the 1880’s it was the home of a wealthy Charleston merchant and became a hotel almost 30 years ago. No detail has been spared right down to the hinges on the doors. We went up to our parents enormous room and lounged for a bit before dinner.

Mother also presented me with a pair of Tory Burch flats she had gotten for me at the latest Bloomies sale. I am forever indebted to her for this most illustrious gift.

Before heading down to the restaurant we went to the rooftop cupola and admired the city views.

Dinner was absolutely delish. I had a pecan roasted pork chop of goodness and a lobster salad to start. Others ordered the sea bass, grouper and the steak tasting. We all were highly satisfied. For desert I chose the tropical sampler complete with coconut ice cream, key lime torte and a passion fruit pot au creme which was pretty much just a party in my mouth.

After dinner Gen and I asked Mom and Dad if we could trade rooms with them, they said no, so we headed back to her house for a sister sleepover.