Writer's date
I spent much of the weekend THINKING about writing, without getting a great deal of it done. I did, however, manage to get Wahini out of the house for a bit to do a little "research" for HER novel that involved a visit to one of the last three important existing public buildings from the Revolutionary era left in America - namely, the Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon here in Charleston. I was shocked recently to learn that, in all my years of taking tourists around town, I never took Wahini to this building. Admittedly, it's probably because it creeps the livin' B'Jesus out of me. On this day, however, the sun was shining and I was feeling brave. So off we went.
The day started, as all days like this must, with brunch:
I am obviously high on the strawberry jam and giddy from the homemade sausages.
We then drove around a bit searching for free Sunday on the street parking. We ended up at the quiet end of Waterfront Park, a couple of blocks behind the Old Exchange, and found a lovely spot for a photo op.
Yes, I was going for the whole "cool Southern author book jacket" look. Well, except for the whole crazy out of control bang thing.
We eventually made it to the Old Exchange, where we oooohed over 18th century vests and dresses (Wahini was a costumer once upon a time) and peeked into the meeting room for the local DAR chapter before trooping off to the part of the building I most hate: the dungeon.
The place is creepy. I know it's haunted. And the boring tour guides and automatron talking "dummies" from the Bicentennial era don't help. I didn't take pictures. It was all I could do to stay down there for the tour.
We then went to my favorite part of the building - the Great Hall, where old George Washington was once feted by 300 ladies wearing patriotic flags in their elaborate wigs. We did not dress for the occasion, but there was a bit of whirling around. I can't resist a dance floor and piped in waltzes.
Not seen: the bermuda-short, fanny pack wearin' tourists. Without them, the room would seem MUCH larger.
After we went back downstairs to drool over a dreamy antique desk and to consider buying Pirate paraphenalia just for kicks, we opted to walk down the street to get Baked instead.
This was obviously Wahini's favorite part of the day.
So besides general bonding, we DID accomplish some things for the day. Wahini now knows quite a bit about one of her important characters, I found a place to set a scene that I hadn't considered before, and I DID eventually get some words written.
Any writing day that involves eating key lime pie squares and chocolate covered rice krispies HAS to be a good day, right?
The day started, as all days like this must, with brunch:
I am obviously high on the strawberry jam and giddy from the homemade sausages.
We then drove around a bit searching for free Sunday on the street parking. We ended up at the quiet end of Waterfront Park, a couple of blocks behind the Old Exchange, and found a lovely spot for a photo op.
Yes, I was going for the whole "cool Southern author book jacket" look. Well, except for the whole crazy out of control bang thing.
We eventually made it to the Old Exchange, where we oooohed over 18th century vests and dresses (Wahini was a costumer once upon a time) and peeked into the meeting room for the local DAR chapter before trooping off to the part of the building I most hate: the dungeon.
The place is creepy. I know it's haunted. And the boring tour guides and automatron talking "dummies" from the Bicentennial era don't help. I didn't take pictures. It was all I could do to stay down there for the tour.
We then went to my favorite part of the building - the Great Hall, where old George Washington was once feted by 300 ladies wearing patriotic flags in their elaborate wigs. We did not dress for the occasion, but there was a bit of whirling around. I can't resist a dance floor and piped in waltzes.
Not seen: the bermuda-short, fanny pack wearin' tourists. Without them, the room would seem MUCH larger.
After we went back downstairs to drool over a dreamy antique desk and to consider buying Pirate paraphenalia just for kicks, we opted to walk down the street to get Baked instead.
This was obviously Wahini's favorite part of the day.
So besides general bonding, we DID accomplish some things for the day. Wahini now knows quite a bit about one of her important characters, I found a place to set a scene that I hadn't considered before, and I DID eventually get some words written.
Any writing day that involves eating key lime pie squares and chocolate covered rice krispies HAS to be a good day, right?