Frog In North Georgia » Travel

Helen Georgia

Christine Eclavea Mercer — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 14:29:59 +0000

We had a great day Saturday. DH and I drove up to Helen. If you’re not familiar with Helen, Georgia, it is this shockingly tacky little town in the mountains. The residents reinvented it as a German village, and have a number of German themed restaurants and bars. DH says the allure is that one could get drunk and make a fool of themselves there feeling that they would not be out of place.

We went to get away for the afternoon. MIL kept the kids. It is silly that DH and I hardly ever get an afternoon to ourselves, since there is a teenager completely capable of a few hours babysitting, and the in-laws not so far away. But that is the reality. We spend most of our weekends with family. It’s nice. But it’s equally nice to get some couple time.

Also, there is the granary. And since DH has been doing a lot of baking, fresh grain has become even more alluring. And going there is fun.

Nora Mill Granary

I went searching for locally made goods other than grain, and was really disappointed to find that most of the other items in the store had a home spun look, but were imported from all over. I did find some locally made honey lollipops. Then after I had purchased them found some soaps, ironically, made close to our house. So I went back through the line and got those too.

The coffee shop next door was badly overheated. I couldn’t stand it and went outside.

And of course, we went to the Habersham Winery and sampled the wine (not me so much). The bartender was trying to help out this young man by getting the woman with him very drunk. DH was astonished by how much wine she purchased. Possibly it was that she had had so much of it to drink.

Habersham by turbojoe (away)

I don’t usually buy more than one or two bottles. But I can see why you would want to have it around. Then you don’t have to think about buying it, just pull one out when you are going to a gathering. Also, it’s really fun to have lots of variety and a tale about buying it.

Before we left, both of us scoured the restaurant recommendations. Most all of them had mixed reviews, except for Safari Steakhouse, which was just all bad. Which left us without much for a recommendation. So we went to the Nacoochee Grill. I couldn’t remember why I knew it. But once we arrive, remembered that I ate lunch there with friends a few years ago. It’s a cute place. The food was good, but not fantastic. And we didn’t have to look at really bad uniforms.

Chattahoochee River Dam by jimmywayne

We ate lunch first, then enjoyed the touristy stuff. Then we went to Hofer’s Bakery for coffee. It has all the super tacky decor and tremendously unflattering clothing. The coffee was good. The croissant, mediocre. I saw baguettes when we arrived. But by the time we left they were gone. And all that was left was rye bread. Boo. I didn’t get a picture. But click the link to their site to see the spectacular tackiness.

Expired Drivers License

Christine Eclavea Mercer — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 01:20:05 +0000

Few thoughts can sap the energy from my body, like the knowledge that I am going to the DMV to renew my drivers license. It’s up there in the top five most exhausting events along with filing, and calling any member of my mother’s family. I feel less drained thinking about the dentist.

DMV hell round 2 by rnair

I think the other two most exhausting events would have to be explaining the words go away to my ex or trying to get a small child into a car in a finite period of time – fed, dressed, clean, brushed, pottied.

So, I’m going to this wedding in October. And I’m excited about the wedding, excited for my friend. But also, I now have this catalyst to get all of these things done for me and my life that have been on the back burner because I’ve been doing other things.

Today, I ordered a new cell phone. I’ve been putting it off. I thought I’d switch carriers. But that didn’t turn out to be the best deal. So, same carrier, new phone.

Tomorrow, the dreaded DMV.

And then there is, flying over New Jersey. I got a ticket in New Jersey circa 1999. A traffic violation. Possibly two. I don’t actually remember. It was that long ago. I don’t think I paid it. And I don’t know what town I was in. So, rapid text messaging today, with SIL, who helpfully, works in law enforcement… how can I find out?

I apparently need to know what town, and call and ask. And I have no idea. She says don’t worry, they might cuff you and hold you a while but not extradite you for a traffic violation. And possibly there could be a bench warrant.

In a sick way, I find this very amusing. Of course, it’s only amusing, because I’m at my laptop, not in a police cruiser cuffed in New Jersey because a storm forced my plane down in Newark and my idiot self couldn’t get across the border to New York without running into the law.

Good grief, I watch too much tv. I’ve never been arrested. I got a ticket. And see, I’m not even going to New Jersey. Note to self: turn off your imagination and slowly back away from the computer.

I also discovered today that my passport expired this summer, which I really dislike. I don’t actually need it for any reason. But I like the idea of being able to leave the country at any time. It makes me feel better.

Suspended License

Think Grumpy Old Men

Christine Eclavea Mercer — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 00:21:15 +0000

Looking at my post, DH seems quite badly represented. He was actually very amusing in a cranky way, like Grumpy Old Men.

He is really the worst for a car trip. He acts like I’m not prepared enough for our journey to the center of the Earth.

Today, it was the Zoo in strange weather. But last weekend we went to his mother’s. Really, how complicated is a trip to see your mom, right in the next town?

A Squatter Did It

Christine Eclavea Mercer — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 11:03:00 +0000

It appears that someone broke into the beach house after we left on Friday. The owner, after accusing us of trashing the place, went to check it out. The screen door was torn open. And the lock on one of the doors was broken.

03-18-09_0741 by JackBunny

He sent a noncommittal note to DH, not really an apology, just an um, well, guess it might not have been you sort of thing.

Professional again.

Right, I have no desire to repeat the Florida vacation. Ever.

I knew it was bad news when DH mailed a check. Hello, 2008. I have a difficult time trusting people who still use checks.

The Shower

Christine Eclavea Mercer — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 11:00:00 +0000

DD took one look at this shower and said, “I’m not getting in there. I want my own bath, in my own house. I want to go home!”

It was clean. But after a couple of days ants appeared. And we had to spray. I think this must be a beach thing. I have yet to take a trip to a beach anywhere and not see ants come out of the plumbing.

Does this look like Paradise?

Christine Eclavea Mercer — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 16:00:00 +0000

This is the house across the street. lol.

Bird Prints

Christine Eclavea Mercer — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 11:00:00 +0000

If I were a birdwatcher; I would have been in heaven.

How To Know You Need a New Maid or Occupation

Christine Eclavea Mercer — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 18:30:00 +0000

Beach house owner has sent DH a scathing message accusing us of “trashing the place” and “stealing towels.”

That is asinine. We left a wading pool under the deck. We couldn’t fit it in our car and thought somebody else visiting might like to use it. So we didn’t throw it in the trash. This was apparently a huge problem for the maid, whose very angry message was also attached. We also forgot to pour out the coffee.

Oh gee, have to work much?

About the towels, I suggested looking in the dryer, though I thought I folded them and put them back into the cabinet. It is possible that I forgot them in the dryer. We certainly didn’t take them home. We even checked to make sure that neither of the kids took them by accident. I pulled out our towel that is similar looking and verified that it is ours – it has paint splatters from when I painted the living room.

I told DH I think the owner has an issue with the maid, not us.

He said, he definitely has some kind of issue.

imho, if you’re sending scathing email to your customers without even checking out their side of the story, at all, then you aren’t too happy in your profession, or something. Is the maid also the girlfriend or something? Some person who feels unappreciated and thinks she has a personal stake in the property?

Whatever, not my problem. We didn’t want to go back there anyway.

Hello Undertow

Christine Eclavea Mercer — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 16:00:00 +0000

Walking East from where the thorny path from the beach house emerged onto the sand, the water would get rougher and rougher, the closer you get to Indian Pass. If you walked West, toward Mexico Beach, the water would be more calm.

Crazy Beach House Pics

Christine Eclavea Mercer — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 11:00:00 +0000

Indian Pass Florida – Beach House

The house was very clean, except for the ratty furniture. Please note the really nice new tile and deck in contrast to the awful furniture and decor. I think the owner must be fixing the place up a bit at a time.