Photography and Irony.

So, we all have this friend who generally does NOT take the best pictures ever. He's a good poet and a good person, but his camera skills usually leave something to be desired.

And we all make fun of him--in a good-natured way of course. Even HE has admitted that he's not the best photographer--and he's enlisted my boyfriend to take pictures at poetry events that we all attend.

Fast-foward to yesterday, when Nicole (who works with Andy Thomas, the guy whose book I am co-authoring) came over to snap a headshot of me for the back of the book. She took several pictures of me, and frankly, I didn't like any of them as much as I wanted to.

"You know, I don't love any of these..." I said to her, knowing she was probably getting more agitated by the second. But I'm vain. I can't help it.

We finally decided on becoming Facebook pals, and she went through my profile picture album in the hopes of finding something appropriate for the book. She finally did and called me. When she described the pose, I realized it was a photo that my friend--the so-called bad photographer--took of me on Monday Night Poetry and Music!

"We can give your friend credit for the photo. Just email me his name," said Nicole. So I did, rather gleefully.

Take that, Alanis Morisette. Irony isn't always about bullshit happening in life--sometimes it can be downright amusing and awesome!

Happy weekend, my readers!

The famed portrait. 

Strawberry Fields Forever.

I got a basket of freshly-picked strawberries today from our local Boone Hall Farms.  I'm working on an article about the upcoming Strawberry Festival, and I picked these beauties up at the Boone Hall market.

They're delicious. Juicy and so red that the juice looked almost like blood when it dribbled onto my napkin and fingers. I'm thinking about dipping a few of the berries into a pool of dark chocolate, and maybe making a simple shortcake with the others. I've also heard they're great with balsamic vinegar.

What strawberry recipes do you have, readers? I'd love to have ideas!

Best Easter Ever.

 I had a great time celebrating in Litchfield over the weekend. It was crammed with family, friends, good food and gorgeous beach time. Stefan didn't get a sunburn either, thanks to SPF 50 'screen.

Some of the highlights:

1. We tried a couple of new restaurants. One of the best parts of living around tourism is constantly testing the new venues. We had Pastaria in Litchfield on Friday night (yummy NY style pizza) and Spuds in Murrells Inlet Saturday night! The view of the inlet was breathtaking. Then Sunday we tried out the Applewood Pancake House right down the street. BEST french toast EVER.

2. Alice was shopping at the thrift store on Saturday after breakfast, so we joined her. Stefan scored an awesome vintage camera, plus accessories, for a rock-bottom price. I found a book that I've been loving ever since. I read like a hundred pages of it on the beach. It's not literary, but it's a good summery read. I'm trying not to feel guilty for putting the classics aside while I savor it.

3. Uncle Philip was sharing stories that I've never heard before. Some were real, Southern Gothic tales about people from the past who were just plain remarkable. Since my uncle is also a writer, he retains these tales as fodder for his own stories. I really enjoyed listening at the kitchen table while we ate pastel-wrapped Hershey Kisses. Family time can be good.

4. I got to see almost all of my beach pals. Alice was there, John Myers made TWO appearances, and Jenn Merrell joined us for dinner on the inlet.

5. Mass on Sunday was remarkably good--thanks to the uber-young priest, I'm guessing, who claimed that his "favorite part of being a priest is sprinkling people with Holy water."

Can't wait until the next trip! Happy Easter to my readers!