Now, now....
 

Although Tawse does have some valid points (ITP is less 'Southern' than OTP) there is still a lot of the South around, and it isn't all bad. I still very much miss the writings of Celestine Sibley and Lewis Grizzard. It isn't all small-minded prejudice and there are still people who are kind, considerate and caring that will invite you to "come sit a spell" on the porch and offer a glass of sweet tea. LoL! I remember I went to San Fran a few years back and asked the waitress if they had sweet tea and she looked at me and said, "You mean, like, tea... with sugar already in it?" I guess we still do take some getting used to. But I know if I head east an hour and a half away from downtown I can go to visit my parents and stop at Miss Lilly's (84 years old that "Miss" is) and pick up some fresh eggs...if she isn't there just leave your money in the coffee can on the stoop, pass the older ladies at the "coffee club" who meet every Weds. to work on a hand stitched quilt to raffle off for the volunteer fire dept., wave to Billy who took a run-down old gymnasium and turned it into a local skate rink on Fri. and Sat. nights to give the kids (regardless of religion/race/etc.) something to do on the weekends. If it's a holiday the local boys will have smoked a hog for 24 hours and be getting ready to put out the "comin' get it" sign. If BBQ isn't your thing then the Volunteer Fire Dept. is grilling 200 chickens on the open pit (next to that skating rink I mentioned earlier). Oh, and if a bird dog wanders by...no matter whose dog it is,,,odds are he really is named "bleu".
Prejudice...sadly it's everywhere in the world and the south is not immune. Most I think based on fear, some on just flat out not knowing any better. I brought one of my good friends home over the 4th of July. She happens to be Nigerian. The well-meaning Miss Lilly asked her "What tribe are you from?" I wanted to DIE ON THE SPOT! But it wasn't said with any nasty kind of malice. Miss Lilly is 84, has never left the state much less gotten on an airplane. Lucky me my friend just laughed and explained a little about the village where she was from. Miss Lilly was enthralled and gave her a jar of bread and butter pickles to "take home to her mamma" as we hugged goodbye. Being an out gay femme has brought on some interesting conversations to be sure. Do some people give me a tight smile and walk on? Sure. But that still happens in downtown Atlanta too. Usually it's one of the well-meaning older ladies who wants to know if I'm "sure I'm gay, because sweetie you just don't look it." LoL! but we keep talking and I answer as best I can depending on the nature and motivation behind the question.

Kindness and understanding trumping ignorance....one step closer...then another. I think that's the only way...

Katniss (it's midnight...and going for a walk to see if the lightening bugs are out after the storm)

p.s. and you and anyone else are always welcome on the Georgia thread....at least that's my two cents worth. "Peace ya'll"

I didn't say the south was all bad! I just know from previous experience people who think of the stereotypical south are typically (haha!) surprised when they come to Atlanta... it's not what they expect or what they see on TV. Which is not surprising since most things aren't like what you see on tv.


And my experience with the small town you're describing - has been unless you're "one of them" - you are *one of THEM*... especially when butch.

But the great thing is - everyone can have a different experience and it can still be the same place.

I won't deny that part at all which is why every butch needs a strong sassy femme who will take their arm, meet the disapproving gaze of other people, *lock* that look with pride and wield her lipstick like a lethal weapon.

(my opinion anyway)

Katniss

p.s.....and occasionally drive the get-away car.

LOL last time I deliberately went to a small southern rural town more than 1.5 hours outside of atlanta... I was with a butch partner :) lol So that femme wielding thing wouldn't have worked. lol

Well it looks like you have the fast get-away car at least! :thumbsup:

Hope everyone is having a great day! I am...the painters *finally* decided to show up after about 3 previous failed promises to do so. (probably yankees...ha ha ha ha...sorry Tawse, couldn't resist!)

Katniss

LOL I'll have you know I'm born and raised in the Metro area! I am not a transplant!

Happy Friday Katniss, JD, Clay, Tony, and Diamond... and if I forgot anyone.. I'm very sorry but I've only had my first 1/4 of coffee... lol

Katniss - why didn't you fire the painters who didn't show up 3 times in a row??? lol that was bugging me yesterday but I kept forgetting to go back and answer. lol


This weekend - final preps before heading out of town. I need to get down to brushstrokes (is it still there? lol) to get some kind of gay static sticker since mine was uhhhh well it had an accident while the car was getting a bath lol and i refuse to drive through the country without flaggin my colors.

Hmmm what else... I think that may be mostly it. I need to paint my mailbox. How exciting is that? lol

I have some painters who may or may not show up for that mailbox....

Actually, they did show up yesterday, worked for an hour and a half then it POURED buckets! But...blue skies this morning and they are already at it.
Why didn't I cut them loose the 2nd no-show? Because inside I am really a marshmellow...

Hope everyone has an awesome day and is looking forward to the weekend!

p.s....and fly those colors Tawse!

Katniss....

And that is exactly why I love the South & am especially driven to visit Georgia; Atlanta, Savannah..beautifully written. Visual. Wishing I was there right now. You are an ambassador for your state. Thank you, Katniss.

ITP here.... though really, a better label for me might be NLD (never leaves Decatur).

Random bit: I used to call Decatur the land of the 3 Ds: Dykes, DINKS (Double Income, No Kids) and Dentures....except it seems the old folks are dying off or selling out, and the dykes and DINKS all have kids now. :|

Celestine Sibley...wow, haven't thought of her in ages!

Way back in my rock-and-roll band days (the Ellen James Society, for you long-time Atlantans), I used to thicken up my accent whenever we were touring through the Southeast and would fuel up at some scary truck stop in the middle of the night. The regulars/locals would visibly tense up when they saw this rag-tag band of dykes wander in with mohawks and nose-rings...and then visibly relax when I stepped up to the register and this drawwwwwwwl left my mouth. Southern accent as social protection...go figure.

Happy Friday, all. I'm at the tail end of my cold....good riddance! My weekend agenda includes a trip to the Apple store and a trip to Costco....after which I'll need to spend what's left of the weekend resting!

Georgia on my mind
 

Morning to all of you. Have a great weekend.

Clay...hoping all goes well with the Dr. appt. and sending lots of light and energy your way!

Tony...thank you for the comments, that was very kind. Savannah is pretty (although to be fair I just adore Charleston). Cumberland Island is fabulous and with all sincerity the Okefenokee Swamp can be beautiful. All those gorgeous water lilies as far as the eye can see. Although right now it's hot and buggy and muggy! Might want to wait for cooler weather!

JD....too funny. I was posting the other day that I still have trouble pronouncing "siren." It comes out sounding like "sye-reeeen". I am sure when people hear it they deduct 20 i.q. points. LoL!
Don't get me started about the Apple store. I just two weeks ago upgraded to Snow Leopard (yes I am that much of a Luddite and Geek Squad makes a fortune off me!!)

StrongButch---Good morning right back attcha'!

Katniss

LOL don't forget pronouncing Decatur as "Dick Hater" - that was always my favorite. I miss Decatur and yep when the market turns around and our dogs pass on - we're heading back to Decatur.

I don't have much of an accent until I get angry, frustrated, or otherwise distracted and then apparently it comes out. Beats me why that happens... maybe as I was growing up I heard people drawl more when emotional? :|

I can't wait to get back ITP so I can spend my time between Midtown, Decatur, and L5P again... I miss them. Even if Decatur and L5P have been... transformed / taken over. lol

I spent over a half year vacation in GA a few years ago and loved it there. I love the Southern flair, the accent and enjoyed visiting Savannah and Tybee Island. There I had both, the Southern type living and the ocean/beach I miss so much. If I could I would love to live down South somewhere.

Totally agree...
 

One of the nice things about Ga. is there are several beaches (Atlantic and Gulf) that you can get to in a day's drive as well as go up in the mountains which I also love to do.
Ok....my last "yankee" story...(and really, I love everyone but some things are just too funny...)...a friend came down from NYC and we went up to Asheville area and into the mtns. We were driving back down the mtn. near dusk and a mother bear and her three cubs started to cross the road a few feet in front of us. My friend from NYC IMMEDIATELY hit the "lock" button on the car doors. I guess she thought we were about to get jacked...I almost wet myself laughing at the look on her face. Ha ha ha ha!!

Katniss....(still laughing years later)

Good morning!!
 

Good morning Ga. Peaches and Peeps!

Hope everyone is having a great day! Was thrilled with the rain here last night. Just an fyi...fescue in the South isn't such a hot idea despite a fairly shady yard. *sigh*

On an up note...getting the fall bulb catalogs in the mail! I plant 350 tulip bulbs by the front walk every fall. (sadly tulips in Ga. are considered an annual)
Feel free to shout out any color combos you think are awesome....I'm in need of some inspiration. In years past have already done the pink/white, purple/pink, red/yellow, purple/red.

Katniss

How about a team of red/black and a team of yellow/black.... you can plant them in a football formation and let 'em fight it out for the touchdown...

JD, who isn't nearly as into the UGA/Ga Tech football rivalry as this post might suggest

Ha ha ha ha ha!!!!!

Ok....I'm not a huge football fan but I am enough of a weirdo to REALLY like this idea!! Colorblends catalog sells black tulips too...hmmm.....but I would want a little mini-goalpost! (my neighbors would die!!!)

Katniss