Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Let it Snow, Let it Snow. Let it Snow


     Seeing all the snow up north reminds me that I have seen snow 8 times in my life, that is 7 times too many,,,,,, the other time was a hoot.(Southern for a damn fun time). In 1980 we had a significant snowfall for Charleston. I think it was about 6 inches and like we do here, the roads were closed for traffic and all businesses closed for the foreseeable future.
      I had just bought a Toyota 4x4(first one in Charleston) and promptly put on the prerequisite lift kit and huge mud tires. It just seemed like a sign from above. As the snow came down we spent the day in the old JM Fields parking lot pulling each other on an old inner tube that I used at the lake in the summer,,,,So much fun!!! Then it was off to David Lesters house for a party that lasted into the morning hours. I left to drive a friend(Not named to protect the not so innocent) home and on the way while listening to the radio we herd that the Cooper River Bridge was impassible, So we stopped and bought a six pack and decided to find out if it was true. We were surprised when we got there that there were no police around, so without hesitation we sat off to visit Mt. Pleasant. Whether it was the cold, the party or the six pack but we forgot to lock the hubs, so you couldn't use the 4 wheel drive. So in a snow storm we spun our way up and slip slided our way into Hungrneck at 2AM. With the hubs now locked we made the return trip up and over the humps of the old bridge in half the time. Once down on the other side, adrenaline flowing we decided to prove it wasn't a fluke, so we turned around and did it again...,,Yep it was impassable.
      For a nightcap we came across a guy with a brand new brown 280ZX Nissan who had managed somehow to lose control of his car and slide it about 150 feet off Attaway where it sat stretched catty cornered across the rail road tracks. Being a good southerner I stopped to help, being a cash strapped North Chucker I told him we would pull him back on the road for $100.00. He begged, pleaded, cursed, and eventually cried while we sat on the tailgate drinking the last of the beer. After about 30-45 minutes the tracks began to talk and we could hear the approach of a train. This seemed to accelerate the negotiations and eventually through late night diplomacy we came to an understanding. $125.00 and a bottle of jack that he had in the back seat. In 5 minutes we had a chain on him and both of us were on our way. Maybe snow isnt so bad after all,,,,,Let it snow,Let it snow. Let it snow.......Merry Christmas Y'all

Stories From The Carolina Coast: Poetry/ Four Beers, Three Moons and Way Too Many M...

Stories From The Carolina Coast: Poetry/ Four Beers, Three Moons and Way Too Many M...: Four beers, Three moons and Way too many miles She danced through his mind again as the time slowly slipped away Four dreams, Three wishes...

Poetry/ Four Beers, Three Moons and Way Too Many Miles

Four beers, Three moons and Way too many miles
She danced through his mind again as the time slowly slipped away
Four dreams, Three wishes and Far too many smiles
It was her laughter that kept  him warm, when the night hid from the day
Four words, Three tears, he Said too few worthwhile
He left her world behind and watched his sanity start to stray

The world was once a brighter place, of Cheer and Hope and Dreams,
With blue skies bright and Summers long and songs of loving Themes

Four more, Three less and Too lost somewhere in the fog
She danced away every night, through grey and dark and gloom
Four chances, Three lies and Too long loves broken cog
So gently he pushed her away in that Charleston motel Room
Four reasons, Three doubts and Too old to teach this dog
He walked away down cobblestones, he couldn't be her Groom

The world was once a brighter place, of Cheer and Hope and Dreams,
With blue skies bright and Summers long and songs of loving Themes

Four breaths, Three shots,and too late to use his guile
She danced her dance of love once more, as the music slipped away
Four promises, Three broken, and too long without her wiles
He saw her ghost slip from his mind, there will be no other day

Four beers, Three moons and Way too many miles.

The world was once a brighter place, of Cheer and Hope and Dreams,
With blue skies bright and Summers long and songs of loving Themes

R. Sweat







Monday, December 16, 2013

I HATE YOU GEORGE WASHINGTON CARVER!!!!

I am not, nor ever have been a sweet eater. Cakes, pies, candy bars have no effect on me, but peanut butter is a different story. So I just don't keep it in my house.
Last night my wife decided to make fudge, but not just any fudge, the Devils own Peanut Butter Fudge. I am now suffering through a peanut butter hangover worse than anything Mad Dog 2020 could do. 3 lbs of fudge later I think I found the equivalent of the tequila worm about 3AM in the bottom of the last piece. 
I HATE YOU GEORGE WASHINGTON CARVER.
Another batch coming out of the oven. What do you say, "Hair of the dog?" Does that work with fudge? I think I have a New Years Eve resolution. Find George Washington Carver's grave and PUKE on it.......
Merry Christmas Y'all

Thursday, December 12, 2013

Poetry/In My Dreams, I Fell Asleep

In my dream last night, I fell asleep and dreamed a dream of dreams
To places where the dark night tide, rides trails of bright moon beams
I've run away and closed the door and shut the world away,
Where crescent light, guides my sight, she comes to me to say.
I haunt the dreams, you dream each night, when all your world is dark,
and whisper sweetly, words you love, one day we;ll never part.
Warm breezes blows across her form, she gently starts to sway,
Come dance our dance, with me this night, and in my arms you'll stay

We start to move as lovers do, when all the world is right,
When time stands still, and lessons wills, that test your very might
Don't look away, I begged of her, don't let sorrow fills your eyes,
For if you do, I swear to you, my soul will surely die.
We'll run away and lock the doors and shut the world away
Where crescent light, guides my sight, I promise you'll I'll stay
If dreams are dreams you dream at night, under summer skies serene
Then bright sunlight is the rising tide, that vanquishes your Queen
She fades away into the dawn, she sings her final song
I'll wait for you, I promise you. My love it won't be long

R. Sweat




Friday, December 6, 2013

Merry Charleston Christmas

Merry Charleston Christmas,
A time when we break out our Christmas T-shirts and shorts
String lights on the trees holding up our Hammocks
and pour a little Cruzan Rum in our Holliday Eggnog
...
The time of year when we make wreaths out of magnolia trees
Sing Jimmy Buffet Carrol's and mow the lawn for the last time this year(maybe).
Beach walks on weekends and nights just cool enough to make steamed oysters a treat, under moonlight that's seen a million nights just like this.

Horses decorated for the season, walk down cobblestone roads just as they did 200 years ago, as the scent of a dozen fine restaurants and home kitchens fill our senses with recipes both new and old.
A place where people still say good morning and Merry Christmas to everyone they pass, and Y'all is a term of affection.

A place in time, where Church bells still play the background music for our Sunday mornings as we drive home with the windows down as the warm December air teases us with a hint of the sea. Past ladies weaving sweetgrass baskets and our favorite Boiled P-nut stand, whose been selling bags of joy at the same place for the last 30 years.

A time when friends and family gather around seemingly limitless platters of turkey and ham, blackeyed peas and collard greens and everyone just knows that they make the best sweet tea in town. Another day and another night where our windows are as open as our lives, where the sound of laughter drifts out and mingles with that of our neighbors and for a time all seems right.

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM CHARLESTON Y'ALL