The Wandering Puma's Blog

Quiet time in St. Simons Island, GA

thewanderingpuma — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 21:26:57 +0000

I needed some quiet time away from the buzz of life so I am in St. Simons Island for a few days. I am sequestering myself to focus on my laundry list of things to do and for silence. I haven’t spent much time meditating and it has taken its toll. When I don’t take time to be quiet and meditate I get so very disconnected and I just feel off. I often have more adverse reactions to things when I am not centered and I often feel pain in my neck or shoulder as a result of my heavy attitude towards life. It’s really amazing what a little quiet time will really do for one’s self. Clarity feels so very good.

I appreciate so much the clean sheets and the fluffy bed pillows in a decent hotel room. Clear, non-personal energy in a hotel room always helps me focus. Plus the thought of someone cleaning up after me is always enticing and relaxing. I really have a sincere appreciation for people who work in hotels. They provide a clean, quiet environment for me to play, work and relax and they probably never realize what a service they provide.

I went down to the little village on St. Simons and had brunch. A great, non-greasy ham and cheese omelette, vacation bacon, english muffin and coffee. I even tried grits with a little sugar today. Talk about indulging. Well, after a half a plate of brunch, I decided I was finished. I took a moment to look around and it was such a neat little cafe. Dressner’s Cafe. A little bustling cafe with locals working quickly. Beautiful wide, old looking floor boards, pale yellow walls and a gorgeous old wooden door with a unique stained glass top. The gentlemen at the register, after watching him extract $100 in cash which he put in his pocket, finally cashed me out. I asked him what I need to see down here if I were only going to be here a day. He said if he hadn’t been working, then he would give me a personal tour. I giggled as I looked at the two forearm tattoos that he had (which I believe were both swords) and thought how grateful I was that he was otherwise occupied. He was stumped for a bit but then suggested I see Christ Church which is apparently one of the oldest cemeteries in the US. Interesting. I thanked him and continued into the overcast day with its breezy and nippy moist air.

After having lunch I wondered down by the water to see a very large tanker or container ship uncomfortably close to shore near million dollars houses. What a view! Then I wondered into a little vintage shop to take a look around. A fairly friendly gentlemen was there. He had a pretty wide collection of men’s wear which is nice to see. Women’s selection was, eh, okay. He carried some fantastic vintage sunglasses though. After a very short look through his racks and a quick conversation wherein he stated he had no cards because the art students are not there and he had no website after years of trying to get one done, I finished walking up and down the streets of the little village.

Then off to the local bookstore which was nestled very close to the cafe. I think it was named “Oceanview Books”. The quintessential independent bookstore. I loved it. Musty books mixed with relatively new titles. I spied the quiet bookstore owner who looked like she could have been a character in one of the Scooby Doo episodes. Old, handwritten note cards indicating the sections adorned the top of the motley shelves. Old books whose spine had all but deteriorated to dust on some shelves. These stores are amazing. The variety, the prices. A reader’s paradise. After purchasing a book about Edgar Cayce, 2 very OLD books on positive thinking and personal transformation, along with an autographed hard back by Steve Berry, I returned to my car with my treasures. The Steve Berry book is for my wonderful boyfriend who I absolutely love surprising with small tokens of my love.

Back to the mainland. The drive is breathtaking off and on St. Simons. You drive down these small roads that have moss draped, middle-aged oak trees creating an inviting tunnel for all the drivers to admire. It was windy and overcast but once on the island it just felt sunnier. Maybe I just felt sunnier because I am taking a personal retreat.

Rue de la course– NOLA

thewanderingpuma — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 18:26:26 +0000

Sitting in Rue de la Course on Magazine Street in New Orleans. I love this town! Professional debauchery at its best!

This coffee house is very unusual- just like its city. Great coffee. Awesome blueberry scones. Great wifi.

I absolutely adore the town and its eclectic people. It’s sweet and sinful all in the same breath.

Asheville, NC- The happy hippy mountain town

thewanderingpuma — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 18:08:03 +0000

Needing to escape Charleston, the universe magically coordinated a trip to Asheville for me. A weekend away from the day to day business of my life was very welcomed. About a four hour drive from Charleston, I took my time driving up I26. Along the way, I was able to witness the color of the trees still turning bright yellows and brilliant reds. The thing I like about Charleston is that it does have 4 seasons but the depressing season of winter is just brief- from late December to February. Then the spring comes blazing in!

Anyway, it was an easy drive up I26 to Asheville. It was bitterly cold when I arrived but despite the icy temperatures it was inviting. It is a neat little town nestled in the mountains literally. Lots of cute little artisan shops. Stores peddling everything organic from clothes to furniture. The restaurants are welcoming and sweet. I first ended up working at Green Sage- a little cafe and coffeeshop. I enjoyed a great avocado blt there!

Asheville is very artsy and alive with culture. It is made up of eclectic groups of people from hippies to intellectuals (or pseudo-intellectuals, who can ever tell). The overall energy of the place is friendly. Downtown there are all different shops and restaurants. The “Chocolate Fetish” was closed when I walked by but the name definitely got my attention! I would have loved to wander a bit more but the awful weather did not permit browsing.

I went down to the farmers market and enjoyed some great food and met some really neat people. Homemade everything was available for purchase. I sampled everything from homemade spicy mustard, $6/slice applecake, to Argentinian empanadas and pork stew. It was so good. In Asheville, there is a sense of pride in living in a mountain town and being respectful of nature and being ecologically responsible. There was a tshirt for sale in the Mast General Store that said something to the effect that you have to be weird to live in Asheville but if you are too weird for Asheville than you really are weird. It seemed to really fit but in the most wonderful sense.

I enjoyed watching the children hula hoop while music played in one of the squares. Lots of freash grass fed beef available for the carnivores! All the vendors were sweet and friendly. It seemed like a peaceful place with a down to earth, “fun at heart” attitude. I look forward to experiencing this city when I don’t have to fear losing my digits to frost bite!

The “Cheers” of Charleston Coffee Shops- Charleston Coffee Exchange

thewanderingpuma — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 19:59:24 +0000

I wandered over to Charleston Coffee Exchange in West Ashley and had a great lattee and a great time. It’s like watching an episode of “Cheers!” here. The locals come in and are greeted by name. The friendly baristas know their drinks and engage in a little bit of gossip, getting the updated version of what has changed since last time the local was in. Today it was about a wedding that happened over the weekend. The coffee shop provided these cute little “Perfect Pots” as the wedding favors. The groom even showed up to say “hey” before he headed off on his honeymoon. The best thing besides the free Wi-Fi, great satellite music playing and the comfortable surroundings is the smell of when the owner roasts his own beans- IN THE SHOP!! For all of us coffee lovers, it is an inviting smell that evokes memories and warm thoughts about time spent around a cup of coffee.

The owners are a married couple that are really cute together and are really cool! You can feel how much they love this place.

I give it 5 stars!! A great place to get a good cup of coffee and watch the locals.

http://www.charlestoncoffeeexchange.com

Baked in Charleston, SC

thewanderingpuma — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 19:34:33 +0000

Sitting at Baked enjoying the great coffee and friendly atmosphere. It is one of the best places in Charleston to grab good coffee and even better baked goods. The espresso isn’t bitter at all and it has a great nutty flavor.

The owners are from New York and are fabulously friendly. Melissa Fritz is responsible for all the yummie goodies that come forth from the kitchen. I just tried their pumpkin pie- just like Mom’s. It’s a must have this fall.

The staff is super friendly and just fun to be around. It always feels welcoming here.

The building is right on East Bay Street. It is worth the drive from anywhere in the Tri-county area. Plenty of people watching from the booths. It’s ligtht wood and decor is inviting and helps me focus. It’s a great place to work, meet and just people watch. Plus, they have great coffee and great treats to eat.

Another thing to try when you need something more substantial than a cupcake is one of their homemade sandwiches. They rock!!! So fresh!!!

Enjoy! www.bakednyc.com

Birmingham, Alabama

thewanderingpuma — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 20:48:18 +0000

My travels have led me to Birmingham, Alabama. I have just touched the outskirts so far, haven’t ventured over the mountain into the valley of Birmingham. It seems much like any other suburbian town with it’s shopping centers and Starbucks. Over the past few days, I am reminded of how deep in the Bible Belt of American that I really am. I guess after being in the south for so longyou forget. People are very friendly here. Beautiful foliage and cool mountain air here. What struck me is that I feel like I know nothing about this town…. Looking forward to learning more.

Charleston in October

thewanderingpuma — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 15:34:05 +0000

Charleston is heavenly in October. Cool evenings and mornings. Crystal clear blue skies. Warm, sunny afternoons. A feeling of relaxed drawing down from the frantic pace and excitement of summer. The southern sun warms you as the cool breeze washes over your skin.

I went to Folly Beach last night to walk. The sky was a rosey color and the ocean was flat and calm. The 3/4 moon was so bright, I had a full shadow. It was not windy at all and it was probably the most peaceful I had ever seen the ocean at night.

Hina the Hawiian goddess I am sure was enjoying the scene as well. It was a magical time to be on the beach. Even though that was the first time that I ever discovered gnats or mosquitoes lived on the beach.

Holy cow, what an appropriate quote for my last post

thewanderingpuma — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 02:58:11 +0000

Our past is a story existing only in our minds. Look, analyze, understand, and forgive. Then, as quickly as possible, chuck it.
Marianne Williamson

Letting go.

thewanderingpuma — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 02:45:26 +0000

I believe that everything in our experience mirrors the makeup of our vibration. A friend of mine showed me that I am very sad underneath the happy exterior. I am sure that I had an inkling of what was lurking there but I didn’t know other people could see it. I thought I had gotten “over” all the horrors and heartaches that I have endured in the last 5 years (especially) but I guess not. Not only did he say he saw a tortured soul when he looked in my eyes but he’s a tortured soul himself. I must have attracted him because the balance of my vibration is sad and heavy.

I realized in that moment that I have to let go of using my past as a reference point and use it as a springboard. I have lived alot in 30 odd years and now I need to take away from all of the hurt and sadness only what my preferences are. I need to avoid focusing on what I do not want or what I fear. Because of what I went through, I am afraid of losing a spouse in a violent manner. I am afraid to follow my heart because the second husband was an awful demon of a man. I am afraid to be powerful and who I really am because people might not like it or I will be lonely. I am afraid to leave it all behind because it is such a part of me. There are so many fears and misguided beliefs because of everything I have lived. But I know for sure is that everything is vibration and unless I get rid of the past in my present moment’s vibration, I will never achieve the success, abundance and true love that I so very much desire.

So begins a new day. Each day I have to monitor my thoughts objectively and make sure I am not using my past as a reference point. I just need to keep my focus on what I want. My past helped me define what I want to experience now. I would not be who I am or where I am without my past but it has served it’s purpose. Now I have to direct my gaze at only what I want to experience, not what has been before. Now I have to let the past go or I will keep repeating it. I refuse to do that. It was so painful and difficult the first time around I would never wish it on anyone.

I have to re-train myself to see life as an adventure that starts anew everyday. That I want to wake up eager and excited because I have creative control over my life. I have to learn to be fluid in my thinking. I need to learn to chill out ALOT. I need to remember how life works here. You live life and you naturally ask for things or experiences or decide on your preferences. The Universe arranges it all for us and my job is to allow it; to be a vibrational match to it and let it in. My job is not to make anything happen just to decide what I want and then line up with it. To be in my female energy and allow it to come to me. I need to follow my own heart, my divine guidance and feel my way through life. That there is no judgment, no punishment, no reward for this life just the joy of expansion (I really need to work on getting that point) and the experience of being in a physical body. Being able to feel, and decipher, and touch and taste and move in a body.

I know it is going to take a bit to change the balance of my vibration but I know if I have made it this far in my journey than I will get there. I am looking forward to the day where I can experience unabashed joy without a shadow of pain underneath it all. My challenge is to let it go…

Premiere of “Patrol” at Terrace Theatre

thewanderingpuma — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 14:52:58 +0000

Last night I went to the premiere of “Patrol”. A film by John Ford which premiered at the Terrace Theatre on Maybank Highway in Charleston, SC. It was a well shot 18 minute movie with a wonderful actor, Daniel Jones. The film was funny yet had really dark undertones. It was shot with special lenses so the color, feel and look of the movie was dingy yet hopeful at the same time. It reminded me of the late 70′s cop shows.

It had a bit of a slow start to set up the emotions but then quickly got you hooked into the story. It was about the disconnect a very middle class Dad had with his young son. It shows the lengths that this man will go to in order to connect with his son. Daniel Jones does a great job of making you feel the angst and making you feel what he is thinking as the Dad. Then hilarity ensues and in the end, the connection between the son and father is real. You can feel the triumph that the dad feels for just that one moment of connection. Aaaahhhh, what humans will do for love and approval!

Check out the website. http://www.patrolmovie.com

I look forward to seeing what John Ford comes out with next!

Support your local artists and filmmakers. Artists, of any kind, are the heart and soul of a society.