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@whatwedidthere
It occurs to me, a whole year later, that I never posted the pictures of the interior of the condo... *facepalm*sigh*
Apologies.
From the front door into the kitchen:
From the patio door into the living room:
From the living room to the (screened-in) patio:
The front bedroom:
And the master bedroom:
Well, The Boyfriend has been itching to do another series of food bloggy stuff since we have some of the best food places for every budget. He wants to do an Around Starkville series to get started, so I guess we’re gonna start that now.
The main purpose is (as always): Good food, affordable prices, excellent service.
Starkville is a college town, home to Mississippi State University, so we know how to eat, how to tailgate, and how to make strangers feel like part of the family.
It’s also home to a hell of a lot of college students, teachers, admin, alumni, and your basic North Mississippi residents. It’s actually not just a small town, but a pretty compact college campus, too - much smaller than I anticipated it being when we moved here back in 2006.
Starkville shares space with a gorgeous wildlife refuge and MSU boasts one of the best veterinary schools in the country. You can drive from one end of Starkville to another in about 10-15 minutes if you catch the stop lights just right, and you’re never too far away from home.
So, welcome to another series of visits around our new hometown: Starkville, Mississippi.
GO DAWGS!
Spring Break 2014 - Pensacola Beach, Florida
Day 6: The Final Day
We spent the majority of the morning packing up and making sure everything would fit in the van. (It didn't.) Donations in the form of breakfast food were made to the front office, LOTS of boxes were thrown away, and we made at least 4 trips up and down the (4 part) ramp with the luggage trolley to load everything up. Luckily, it was a beautiful morning, the breeze was kicking up nice and cool, and it all went relatively smoothly...
My bird buddy came to say goodbye.
And so we tearfully departed Pensacola Beach
Now, originally, I saw this sign on the way TO Pensacola, and promised myself I would get a picture of one of the most ridiculous signs I've ever seen. The amount of "OMFG, did you SEE what that sign SAID!?!?!?" was suffocating. So, I snapped this picture to share with you...
Free. WIFI. Mullet. Dear god.... hehehehehe
By the time lunch rolled around, we had already decided to hit up Lambert's Cafe in Foley, Alabama. Because they have really good food and THEY THROW ROLLS AT YOU. No joke. Technically though, they're popovers instead of rolls, but who cares? Hot yeasty bits of bread get chucked at your face, and all you can do is grin and say, "THANK YOU!"
What else are you gonna say!?!?
On the way out of Foley, we took a small detour through the Tangier's Outlet Mall and, while all the sores were exceptionally nice and varied, the grounds were CLEAN and well-kept. That alone would have encouraged me to come back. Oh and the carousel and the playground area and the fountain! PRETTY! But then I saw an M&Ms vending machine. ... ... ... Not just a vending with M&Ms in it. No. A BRANDED machine... ... I've never seen one of those and it made me stop, in the middle of the street, in my van, and gape a little. "Really....? Like, seriously? There's an M&Ms vending machine. Good lord, that's just.... odd..."
OH! And we also saw this coming through Foley on the way to Pensacola, too. Every single time one of us said the name, we'd crack the hell up and just giggle like mad people.
You try it and see if you don't giggle. Or if someone overhears you, you might get a 'What the hell?!' from them.
hheheheeheheh
Rachel sent her dad a text with the name and he laughed!
Sadly, this location is still being built, so we could ask them what the hell a 'foosackly' was, if it was a 'foo' or a 'sackly', or even (as Chase thinks) if it's a sack of foo... hahahahahah
*phew*ahem*
We finally made it back into Mississippi after about 3 million years of driving. (That really is the longest drive when your passengers are asleep for a majority of the trip. But that's what I get for feeding them, then stuffing them back in the vehicle for several more hours of travel time...)
Outside of Waynesboro, Mississippi, there are a few oil rigs. Chase explained that they burned off the excess gas build-up like this:
I don't remember what type of gas and why they do it, but when I find out, I'll amend this post. I just thought the giant plume of fire was awesome...
The sky was really pretty, too! The clouds were doing this awesome ripple effect for MILES and, as far as I remember, continued until after dark.
When we finally got home, it seems that the school has been super busy on the stadium addition. They're closing in the horseshoe shape and making it into a bowl. There'll be tons of seating added and we now have a big ass lighted sign on the side of the football stadium in the shape of the school logo. This is a nighttime shot, but I'll add a daylight one soon.
Now, we're home, back in Starkville, home of Mississippi State University, home of the Bulldogs. Small town, lots of folks, and a REALLY good school to look forward to on Monday morning.
Thank you for joining me on this first trip. I hope you enjoyed it as much as we did. Stick around for more because (hopefully) we'll be hitting up New Orleans next!
Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler!
Spring Break 2014 - Pensacola Beach, Florida
Day Five
We are nearing the end of our excursion and are extremely sad about it. *weeps* Even the birds will be sad to see us go. My lil' dove buddy has been hanging around since Day One and we had breakfast together this morning. I had my tea while s/he nibbled on some bread. Chase just watched from the door and shook his head and sighed at me... hahaha
Rachel showing off her spiffy new seashell-style earrings
Like I said in my last post, we were lazy bums and didn't get going until around noon, but after Chase checked out the menu online, we did take Tiff's suggestion and headed off to The Oar House for a 1 o'clock lunch.
It's right on the water at a marina on Bayou Chico and has a great decor.
Chase loves the pelican statue.
Simple appetizers like fried pickles or their awesome hushpuppies with cheese dip paired with their Choose Two lunch special (soup-salad-sandwich) such as my turkey and pepperjack sandwich with shrimp etoufee, was fantastic.
And best of all, it was not so much that the rest of the day was spent digesting. Which was fantastic because we left The Oar House, headed back to the condo, and packed a bag and a cooler to head out on a dolphin cruise!!!!!
We chose Chase-N-Fins because they were the only charter boat that we could find with wheelchair access. And it was WORTH IT! The captains were fabulous and made sure everyone had a great time. It was a small group (about 20 people) on the 5pm to 7pm "sunset" tour. We didn't get any dolphins leaping because it was way too cold out, but I got some good video of what we did see. Some peeks here and there of them feeding and fussing at the birds, but a lot of relaxing, good music (Jimmy Buffett! Woo!), a few laughs, and just an all-around good trip. I would recommend them any day and will be going back next year!
Since they did have wheelchair access, Chase got to sit on the platform in the center of the boat by the control housing.
He had a great view, but not as good as mine. I climbed up to the bow of the boat and just planted myself there for a bit. The waves and the wind were very hypnotic, so calming and so pretty.
We traversed the bay, just enjoying the trip when it became clear the dolphins weren't being very social, and floated by (I think) a Coast Guard station and were they keep the Naval Museum.
I have so many pictures and several videos of the dolphins, so I'll possibly do a separate post of a couple of them.
After we docked and thanked the Captians (Thanks Jamie and Mike!!!), we headed back to the condo for a refresher before gong back to Crabs for dinner. (Look! A crab butt!)
And sharks hanging over the tables...
And more crabs...
I even found my new favourite sign (the neon one):
So, tonight we're doing laundry and Chase's dialysis treatment, cleaning house, taking out the trash, and basically clearing up the messes we've made because we have to be checked out by 10:00 am. This means getting up around 8:30, loading up the van, and handing the keys over by 9:45.
I think Rachel and I were thinking about hitting up this awesome cemetery we saw in Pensacola before we leave town. It'll be perfect for the paper we have to write for Anthropology class!
Tomorrow is Day Six: The Final Day of Spring Break, so there will be one final post for this trip when we head home tomorrow. We'll make a few stops, see some sights, meet some people, etc.
Until then, Stay Tuned For More!
Spring Break 2014 - Pensacola Beach, Florida
Thank you so much to my friend, Tiff, for the awesome suggestions! I'll just post them here because WOW it's a lot.
"In case you've never been, go to the Naval Aviation Museum. It's on the navy base, not far from the beach area and it is AMAZING. It is free (you can donate if you'd like) and it's huge and indoors and it is wheelchair friendly (veterans of all ages go). I make a point of going there every time I'm in Pensacola. (They have a blimp and a WWII display. Lots of aircraft and ships. They even have a moon landing exhibit!)
So glad you liked McGuire's! The last time I was there they only had over half a million $1s. I wonder if they'll have to reinforce the ceiling soon. (Did you know they have to count all those dollars every year for tax season? And sometimes people will try to steal a handful and when they get caught, McGuire's requires them to write a letter of apology which is then hung on the wall... Oh, and the bathrooms... I love the bathrooms! I miss that place. If you go in the evening they have a singer who sings old Irish drinking songs. Funny stuff. I love McGuire's so much ♥)"
And of course, darling woman that she is, she gave me food places. (You know me so well, darling!)
"Oh! And the Oar House! It's on the mainland too. It has some REALLY good food. It's all outdoor eating, right on the water. They have covered areas in case the weather sucks. It has a bit of a dirty sense of humor. Right before we moved away it burned to the ground. They had it rebuilt in like a month and a half, thanks to donations and local volunteers... That's how much people love that restaurant. They have some amazing appetizer fajitas.
OH! And if you like Hibachi, look for NobuSei. It's on 9th and Creighton. Ask for Nobu. He is hilarious and really pervy. Very fun. I think the tables are up on a platform though so they may not be as wheelchair accessible. Fuji is also a good one, but it's more hibachi without the side of lovable dirty old man. We liked going there because it's right next to a pet store with fuzzies that we could pet. Man, I really miss Pensacola."
Since the day is just really starting for us because we're lazy bums and just got out of bed at 11:30 am, :) , I don't know what we'll do today, but I'll be sure to take lots of pictures!!!
Stay Tuned for More!
P.S.: And don't forget to send suggestions. If we're not friendsies on Teh Facebooks, visit the blog home page and click on Ask or Submit to shoot us a message.
Spring Break 2014 - Pensacola Beach Florida
!!! DAY FOUR !!!
Still ouch a lot. Like, Seriously, owwie. My back looked purple and I freaked out a bit before I realized it was the Blue Stuff (so nicknamed cause it's blue cooling aloe gel stuff) that had been LIBERALLY applied and allowed to dry. Freak out averted. *phew*
Again, we spent a lot of the day inside away from the sunlight, but then the hungries kicked in and we all realized we hadn't eaten today. So food time, yes.
By the way, thank you sporkandbindy for suggesting we go to McGuire's. Amazing! Oh I loved it.
I love a good debauchery. *giggles madly*
What's really cool is that they have over ONE MILLION dollar bills hanging around the walls, ceiling, beams, etc. The brochure says this:
"McGuire's Irish Pub first opened in 1977 by McGuire and Molly Martin as a small neighborhood pub in a shopping center. In 1982, McGuire's moved to its current location, Pensacola's original 1927 Old Firehouse. Inside the pub, a turn-of-the-century, New York Irish saloon theme reigns. This 525-seat, 20,000-square-foot landmark with a staff of over 200, is celebrated for its atmosphere, boasting more than One Million signed dollar bills hanging from the ceiling and walls of the pub, and features the best Irish entertainment south of Boston. It is still family owned and operated, yet has grown to become a multiple restaurant corporation, including McGuire's Irish Pub of Destin, which opened in 1996 on beautiful Destin Harbor with the same great food and live Irish entertainment."
It's all true, too. Freaking gorgeous building, amazing decor, HUGE but intimate, loud in the bar and comfortable in the dining rooms, and (of course) the food. Oh... Lemme tell you.... We had an appetizer but I didn't get a picture of it because I forgot. (hahaha) But it included: 3 grilled chicken thighs, 2 fried cinnamon apple sticks, 2 mozzarella sticks, 2 Irish Boxtys, 2 potato skins, a handful of pepperjack cheese balls, 6 onion rings, a pickled (purple!!!) egg, and some celery and carrot sticks. No joke, it was all amazing. Except the egg. I couldn't do the egg...
Don't let the lighting fool you in the picture. All the lights above the tables are tinted red. This is great because red light doesn't dilate your eyes, so you can still see in the dim light without having to strain. (I've seen this in a couple of places while we've been here, including at Flounder's yesterday.) I considered posting the picture I took of my eye to show what I mean by the pupil not dilating, but it looks really creepy... PASS!
In the meantime, take a look at The Grand Burger. Sounds nice, doesn't it? Now, look at the price... Go ahead! I'll wait...
... HA! Nope.
On to dinner! I got the Chicken Supreme (grilled chicken with smoked ham and swiss on grilled french bread). Minus all the bread, it was wonderful. The bread got taken home to get fed to the doves in the morning. :) The fries were wonderful too. Nice and not too thick, crispy outside, potato-y on the inside. And NOT GREASY. Perfect.
Chase: Shepherd's Pie. Holy frijoles that thing had some flavour! And the chunks of roasted carrot. Oh, mercy... Completely better than my crap interpretation I make at home and WORTH IT!
Rachel got the burger, and while it may not look like much, it had some awesome beef flavour without a lot of salt that you might expect to find in some places. The tomato and lettuce were relegated to the side plate but only because she didn't want 'em. (heathen...)
And finally, dessert shared among the three of us. Bread pudding in whiskey sauce. Thankfully, the alcohol cooks out so I could partake (An allergy to alcohol sucks!) But the flavour of the whickey WAS THERE. Holy crap was it there. All the flavour, none of the burn. We got about halfway through and had to stop, it's THAT rich. The bread pudding itself kinda gets lost in the whiskey, but it's still lovely.
And then I saw Jared Padalecki in the gift shop on the way out! ;) (Sorry, I couldn't help myself. I tried though! I really did!)
After dinner, we rode around on Gulf Breeze Island. And I found this. inhaleexhalelovelaugh: This is for you and yes, we can go one day. Promise!
All in all, a wonderful Wednesday evening. We hope to make a trip to the Gulf Breeze Zoo tomorrow, but depending on how Rachel is feeling will determine that outing. (Her poor legs! Sunburned across the top of her shins. Ugh. Poor thing... *hugs*)
Stay tuned for more!
P.S. We're always looking for stuff to do, so if anyone has any suggestions, please let me know. Especially if there is wheelchair access for Chase, that would be excellent. Ideas?
Spring Break 2014 - Pensacola Beach, Florida
Day Three (Part Two)
I had considered not posting the events of our shopping trip after dinner, but... eh, what the hell. Why not?
I found several adorable signs in the shop next door to Flounder's. All seem to be variations on a theme, but they were cute nonetheless.
This is a frame and the top says, "SOUTHERNERS" before you read the bottom. The bottom says, "Like our tea sweet & our chicken fried. Start summer in April. Know macaroni and cheese is a vegetable. Like our front porches wide & our words long. Think 'Y'all' is the only proper noun. Have made hospitality and art & are always blessin' someone's little heart."
"A Southern Boy: Someone Who... Knows macaroni & cheese is a vegetable. Likes his chicken fried & his biscuits with gravy. Will always consider his dog his first love. Likes fishin' holes & rope swings. Replies with "Yes, Sir" & doesn't thing good manners are a thing of the past. Is as loyal as the day is long. Loves his mama & respects his daddy."
"A Southern Girl: Someone Who... Knows macaroni & cheese is a vegetable. Makes bein' sassy a little bit cute.Likes her okra fried & her tea sweet. Knows pearls match everything. Thinks biscuits are always better with gravy. Replies with a "Yes, Ma'am". Put daisies in a mason jar & monograms her towels. Can tell y'all stories for miles about her hometown. Loves her mama and thinks her daddy hung the moon."
And then I saw this and thought of my mom. Oh god, I got the biggest laugh!!!
"Finally! A wine glass that fits my needs!"
And now that our evening has rounded itself out, I got Chase hooked up on his dialysis and we're rockin' it. Well, kinda... He's buried under a few blankets, and I'm making sure it's all running right. All good so far!
Good night, darlings!
Spring Break 2014 - Pensacola Beach, Florida
Day Three (Part One)
It started out as a lovely day. A little overcast and windy, but lovely nonetheless. The Management people serve breakfast to people on Tuesdays, so Rachel and I did that while Chase slept on. Since this is a timeshare/condominium "resort", they've got renter, owners, and guests all throughout the year.
Well, in addition to breakfast, Management was also hosting a giveaway. One person per unit (condo) could enter to win the deed to a unit for Week 9 of each year. This means the winner would own a timeshare here. It's pretty awesome! I didn't win the giveaway for the unit they were offering... But I did win the surprise second drawing for a second unit!!!! YAAAAY!!!
Here's the coolest part: The first unit was in a non-wheelchair accessible building, so I wouldn't have been able to use it. Chase's wheelchair weighs almost 200 pounds and I am NOT picking it up. HOWEVER, the second unit is wheelchair accessible! YAY AGAIN!!! I am now a happy, unemployed, college student that owns a timeshare, but not her own car... HAHAHA Oh god that's funny!
For anyone wanting to stay in a really nice place during their vacation, try Soundside. They're super nice and very affordable in the off-season.
Check out the map as to where they are... (Look for the smiley in the lower corner area)
Since the majority of the day consisted of rain, rain, rain, and more rain, we spent most of the day inside napping, relaxing, and recovering from the sunburns... (ow, ow, ow, friggin' ow)
But needs must, and food was necessary, so off we go!
Flounder's Chowder House
I have passed by this place more times than I can count in the three or four times I have been to Pensacola Beach over the last 8 years, and to be honest, I wasn't too sure I wanted to go.
!!! THANK YOU, RACHEL, FOR DECIDING ON DINNER !!!
Had it not been raining, I would have definitely sat outside on the patio...
... with the private beach and volleyball courts...
... and pier... :)
But this is the inside that separates the dining area from the bar.
Pensacola Beach has some flipping awesome food places. Considering how little fresh seafood and fish we get in Starkville, Chase and I were determined to enjoy the cuisine. And I am seriously proud of Rachel for branching out and trying new stuff, including the chowder on tonight's menu (flounder, shrimp, and clam).
Chase got the Shrimp Boat with 5 different kinds of shrimp (cocktail, fried, coconut, popcorn, skewered with veggies, and boiled "peel-'em-and-eat-'em").
I had the Shrimp and Bacon Mac N' Cheese. (Oh my god. Never in my life have I felt like I was having a religious experience at dinner, but this had to be close...)
And Rachel had the Coconut Shrimp plate. SOOOO good!
Dessert was pretty, but disappointing. It was the key lime pie and was supposed to be the same (or very close) as the one at Crabs, but instead of that 3-layer answer-to-a-prayer, it was served in individual layers and topped with whipped cream and lime sauce. Again, it was pretty (AND A LOT OF PIE. good lord...) but it wasn't the same.
So, what do we do, being three young, well-taught, and semi-well-behaved Southerners? Why, we keep the pie, of course. (Mama would smack me for doing anything less.) We say thank you, pay our bill, and proceed to Lillo's to get a small scoop of their gelato selection to split among the three of us.
(But not before Rachel touched the boat. hehehe)
I think this is appropriate, don't you? Especially since each serving is only about 1/2 cup... Butter pecan, chocolate chip, mint chocolate chip, chocolate, and mixed berry. After about a bite of each one, it was all put away, so we exhibited self-restraint. YAY! PROUD MOMENT!
We do more than eat, I promise, but meal times are some of the best times to snap pictures. Sometimes, I just forget I have my iPod with me until later, and then I think to myself, "ARG! Damnit! I wish I'd thought to take a picture of that *insert amazing thing here*!!!"
Oh well.
As a whole, we love suggestions and opinions on things to see, places to go, and whatnot.
Stay Tuned For More!
P.S. - So, if you have any ideas, let me know by clicking on the comment bubble. Please? ;)
A vertical panoramic picture from where we sat on the beach. This is one if my favourites so far.
Spring Break 2014 - Pensacola Beach, Florida
Day Two as it appears from the front door. *sigh*love*
Rachel and I decided to hit the beach and Chase just gives me a look. You know. The one that says, “Oh, aren’t you precious. Go ahead, dear. Go play in the sand.”
So, we did!!!
This is from the front of the van at a little beach access inlet about halfway to Navarre.
Look! Evidence of animal life! hahaha The birds had been all over the place here. Cute little footprints!!
I love panoramic pictures of the beach. They look so bendy and pretty!
Look! A bird!
I’m not allowed to post any of the other pictures of Rachel upon threat to my life, so just know there was a really awesome panoramic picture that I can’t post, and one of her making a face at me. *nods* :)
Dinner! I love this place. Seriously, they have this grouper chowder with dill and chunks of potato, and it is delicious. Even Rachel, who doesn’t like a lot of fish or seafood, enjoyed this. YUM. No pictures of that, but here’s a pirate!
On a boat? No worries! Dock in the slips behind the restaurant and come on in!
They even had a band last night playing some of the current top 40s. I did not know a violin could sound so awesome with some of those songs! Fantastic!
Now, at the end of the day, you might think to yourself, “Wow! What a great day! Let’s do it all again tomorrow!” Which would have been what i said, except this happened…
2 STINKIN HOURS ON THE BEACH…And of course I forgot sunblock. *sigh*facepalm* Ow… It was worth it though. Every bit of it.
Stay Tuned For More!!
Spring Break 2014 - Pensacola Beach, Florida
Day One in Pensacola Beach and this is the view from the back patio. I am 31 years old and this is my first Spring Break vacation that doesn't include familial requirements and that gets me out of the state. And I LOVE IT! The Boyfriend (Chase) and our friend Rachel made the trip to Pensacola Beach because oh wow, did we all need the break... *phew*
So, this trip will be the inaugural post for our new travel blog. YAY!
We arrived late Saturday and slept in Sunday morning. So, when the tummy-rumbling started up, we hit up a local favourite, Crabs! (The full name is "Crabs! We Got 'Em!"), for an awesome brunch.
Believe me when I say the food was easily three times worth the price. Especially since, as a brunch menu, the main course plates were about $10.00 each.
Appetizers of crab claws...
...and complementary beignets.
Rachel got the Crab Cakes Benedict.
Chase got the Shrimp and Grits.
And I got the Crab Omelette.
Needless to say, there were leftovers because we HAD to save room for dessert. Oh. My. God. This key lime pie... Ask any of us about it and just watch our reactions. You might laugh but you'll also be soooo envious!!! ;)
Yes. It is THAT amazing.
The table next to us was enjoying their buckets of alcohol (6 different flavoured rums!) and using them to combat their hangovers. Good Luck!
And here's a few panoramic shots of the view from our table.
In the 1st panoramic picture, you can see where the local humane society was hosting an Adoption Day and Fundraiser. After brunch/lunch, we headed over that way for a look-see. Chase immediately found an admirer. Unfortunately, we couldn't bring anyone home, but it was lovely!
And then, there's these guys... walking down Via DeLuna on a scavenger hunt... We all got a good giggle out of it. "SCAVENGER HUNT!!"
Not much else doing for the rest of the day. Drove around and looked at the pretty houses, etc. Then hit up the Publix for groceries before heading back to the condo.
We finally rounded out the day with a dinner of rolled flank steak florentine and mozzarella or provolone, mashed potatoes, and bits of Mississippi State University cheddar cheese.
An all-around wonderful Sunday!
Stay Tuned For More!