Tag Archives: florence

Thai for two

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Carlton & I went to Thai House 2 for the first time earlier this week, apparently narrowly missing running into the elusive Flossip, who wrote a review of the restaurant earlier this week.  I’m pretty sure we weren’t there at the same time unless she is one of two really loud businessmen who were there when we were. And I’m 99.7% sure she isn’t.

Anyway, I’ve written before about my newfound love for Thai food and flavors. Growing up, Fort Mill had like.. a Hardees, a fish camp (does anyone else call it that?) and a pizza place, so Thai food was off my radar for a long time.

Hi Carlton!

Hi, Carlton! (and, also this picture has convinced me that I need to stop being lazy and actually dry my hair. Bleh. Not a good look!)

Hi, Lizzie!

Hi, Lizzie!

I really liked Thai House 2 for a few reasons… 1) Good food, of course, and an enthusiasm for spiciness 2) Attentive service and 3) Downtown location. I think Florence needs more places like Thai House 2 to bring people to the downtown area in the evening.

Gaeng Daeng - Red curry with coconut milk, basil, bamboo, peppers, beans, zucchini and carrots.

Gaeng Daeng - Red curry with coconut milk, basil, bamboo, peppers, beans, zucchini and carrots.

I got the Gaeng Daeng because I’m currently obsessed with red curry. I ordered “medium” spiciness, and it was pretty hot.

Pad Seelew - Rice noodles in sweet brown soy sauce with broccoli and carrots

Pad Seelew - Rice noodles in sweet brown soy sauce with broccoli and carrots

Carlton got the Pad Seelew with shrimp. Sorry for the blurry picture. I was using my little camera, and I’m still nervous about taking pictures in restaurants. He got “hot” and it was pretty hot. Honestly, I felt like it was about the same spiciness as mine, but I think I’ve killed my hot-tasting tastebuds somewhere along the way, so who knows.

In general, I think it is easier to eat healthy at home, but dinner dates are fun. We had lots of left overs, so I repurposed the curry sauce as dressing the next day…

Heated whole grain tortilla + egg + mixed baby greens + Gaeng Daeng sauce

Heated whole grain tortilla + egg + mixed baby greens + Gaeng Daeng sauce

I realize this is a weird combination, but anyone who has ever lived with me knows I eat weird food. Plus, it was really good!

The half-way point.. Week 4 of C25k

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Thumbs up!!

I give Couch to 5K a giant-sized thumb up!

I just finished  Week 4 Day 2 of the nine-week Couch to 5k program, and.. I think I’m going to make it! I’ve been looking for 5k races near the end of April/beginning of May, and I think I’ve narrowed it down to two or three.

This week’s intervals include 3 min and 5 min runs, and I think I’m starting to understand the mental aspect of running. (Although, for the record, I’m a very slow runner. More of a jogger, but even a slow jogger. Slogging.)

When I started, even after 90 seconds of jogging I was thinking Holy crap, how much longer is this? But now, after finishing all the intervals for the last four weeks, I can stop and ask myself Do I want to stop because I’m hurting or just because I don’t want to run? and.. almost always the reason I want to stop is mental rather than physical. And once I figure that out, I can keep going.

So far the only “injuries” that have forced me to slow down are hellacious blisters. Today my blisters developed blisters, and I’m not at all exaggerating. But, with a lot of medical tape and some better socks, I’m trying to get over that.

I think this season is a really perfect time to commit to this program because there are a lot of pretty distractions outside. I think starting in winter would just bum me out.

blooming!!

Look up... (at Timrod Park)

roots!

..and look down!

Red flags for your rental hunt

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Me, Moneen, Charlotte and Carlton look for places to live in Florence.

Me, Moneen, Charlotte and Carlton look for places to live in Florence.

Carlton and I spent a a few days looking for places in Florence for his growing family. And by growing family, I mean the  puppy Charlotte you see above before you begin to speculate about anyone’s baby bump. He finally decided on an apartment yesterday, bringing our search to an end, but not before we discovered some truly frightening places to live in Florence.

We looked online, asked friends, went to rental agents and drove and drove and drove. So, in honor of that search, I would like to present a list of red flags we encountered while searching. (I was kicking myself for not taking my camera because I’m not sure I can do them all justice.)

Red Flags for Rental Properties in Florence, or Maybe the World

1. Being located within walking distance to two or more liquor stores but zero grocery stores.

2. Smelling like a nursing home with no people, old or young in sight.

3. Actually, smelling like anything other than “MMM.. New House” is a bad sign. No lingering smells, please.

4. Your neighbors’ lawns are littered/decorated with threatening warnings not to enter, security company logos and signs advertising Crime Watch Groups. Nothing says, “This place is soooo safe, and we are not frightened at all to live here!!!” like signs saying.. um, the exact opposite.

5. BYOR/BYOO.. Bring your own refrigerator/Bring your own oven

6. Houses with the locks exposed/unusable because someone decided to abandon their key and just go at the door with a screw driver.

7. Instead of getting a window air condition unit that fits, or finding an appropriate way to insulate around the unit, whoever installed it decided moldy bubble wrap was an appropriate alternative to shove in the sides. (I am not kidding.)

8. Creepy, falling down hastily built plywood “sheds” in the back yard. Perfect for hiding the bodies under. Whoops, did I just say that?

In Florence’s defense, there were lots of cute, non-creepy places in good neighborhoods, but some were already rented, were out of our price range or were too far from where Carlton wants to live. And, honestly, this housing search was much easier than when I was looking when I moved to Florence a few years ago.

Cheese.

Cheese. These ladies have high standards for where they live.

Things I will miss about Florence

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So, in about three weeks I will be heading to Georgia, after living in Florence for two years. I’ve whined a lot about being in Florence, mostly because it is a few hours away from most of my “people” and also because I’m just really, really good at whining. Despite that, there are lots of things about Florence that I will miss.

In no particular order, and by no means a comprehensive list:

-  My coworkers current and former from the paper. You can see all their profiles’ on our facebook page, if you want to get to know them a little better. However, I am lucky to have been embraced so quickly and easily at The Morning News, and despite all the issues and chaos that sometimes happen in the newsroom, I am honored to have been able to work with such a smart and funny group.

The Drs. Bruce and Lee Library

The Drs. Bruce and Lee Library

Of all the places I’ve lived, the library here is by far the most impressive. It makes you want to read. Dargan Street, where the paper is also located, is kind of a study in contrasts. I’m not sure how much the MN building does to counteract all the shadiness, but the library definitely commands respect even if there are people in yellow spandex body suits riding a Rascal down the middle of the road.

Townhouse, an average dinner for Michael and I

Townhouse, an average dinner for Michael and I

Townhouse greek salads are the best

Townhouse greek salads are the best

Because of its close proximity to the paper and the tasty greek salads, I’ve probably been to Townhouse the most of any restaurants around Florence.

Which brings me to another thing I will miss,

My lunch dates with Michael

My lunch dates with Michael

Out for my birthday dinner at Dr. Fishbones

Out for my birthday dinner at Dr. Fishbones

Sweet potato fries and crab cakes at Dr. Fishbones

Sweet potato fries and crab cakes at Dr. Fishbones

And, so of course after all those dinners…

- I will miss the McLeod Health and Fitness Center. I’ve been spoiled by gyms in the past six years. First it was the Strom at USC, and since I’ve lived here I’ve gone to McLeod. I would recommend it to anyone looking for a gym in Florence, especially for the group fitness classes which run the gamut of being fun to being totally butt-kicking.

I’ll miss living an hour from the beach and Columbia, two hours from Fort Mill and three hours from Carlton. Florence’s prime location on I-95 means that it is pretty easy to get places.

And, for something that I will not miss:

IMG_0242Living in Spidertown, USA. Maybe it is just my apartment, but there are so many of these creepy crawlies that it drives me crazy. This guy was outside my door when I came home last week, and I could just imagine trying to open my door the next morning and being overwhelmed by web and this killer spider!!

I wish I could update more since I’m going to be without reliable internet for several months, but it has been very hectic lately trying to fit everything in.

Stuff I like … eating local

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IMG_3594

I think eating locally produced food is very trendy right now, but I fully support it because it is a GOOD trend. And a delicious one. Even the Morning News has covered the “locavore” trend. It is good for local farmers, good for the environment and good for you. Win, win, win. 

Yesterday in the grocery store I got a big whiff of something delicious.. cake? cookies? No!! McLeod’s peaches! I have a long history with McLeod’s since my family used to stop at the farm every year on the way to the beach and load up. I wouldn’t call myself a locavore, but I do try to buy locally grown produce when possible, and I’ve never been disappointed. One day, I’d like to live somewhere thats more “locavore-friendly,” but for now I’m happy with my peaches and other random things I can find. 

South Carolina has even tapped into this trend by telling people to “Become a Palmettovore!” There are amusing vidoes on the site, including talking lots of talking fruits and vegetables. For those of you in S.C., you can find locally grown food and restaurants that serve it on this site.

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