Shrimp 'n' Grits

Hello all. It is hot here in NYC...but it was even hotter in Charleston, SC where we spent last weekend. In fact, on Monday, the day we left, it was about 95, and with humidity around 80-90%, it felt like about 105. Ugh. Katie said she'd never been more uncomfortable in her life. Of course, she is pregnant, and we were touring a rice plantation where we were in the direct sun for much of the time.

But the discomforts of heat and humidity were no match for the pure, unbounded joy of seeing my family. All of 'em: Alan, Gayle and my folks. We stayed at Alan's palatial house that he shares with two other guys (both USAF), which overlooks the marsh that abuts the Ashley River. It's a tidal river at that point, so the water is brackish and supports all kinds of yummy critters: crab, trout, minnows, flounder, shrimp, etc. Alan and I went fishing one morning and caught that day's lunch!

The whole trip was a kind of graduation gift to Bird (thanks Mom and Dad!) and we tried to keep it a surprise. She basically figured out that we were going to see Alan in Charleston a few weeks ago, but she didn't know Gayle and my parents would be there too. Some highlights: We visited Alan's Air Force base and toured the plane he flies, the C-17. It's about 5 stories high and can fit several jeeps, or a full-size tank, or helicopter in the cargo area. We also took a horse-drawn carriage ride through the historic downtown area of Charleston and enjoyed gazing at the stately homes and public buildings there. As always, after any outdoor activity, we were happy to get into an air-conditioned restaurant, church, home, or store, but especially restaurant. We ate like Kings and Queens, from the regional dishes "She Crab Soup" and "Shrimp 'n' Grits" which are both freakin' DELICIOUS, to Alan's wood-smoked cheeseburgers, to seafood extravaganzas, it was a good eatin' weekend for us.

Of course, it wouldn't be my family if there weren't some games. We all played Hearts and a game called Five Crowns (with up to 6 people), while Alan and I played some chess and also Halo on the 15' wide by 10' high projection screen TV upstairs. (Did I mention the house was palatial...'cause it was!)

Everyone was excited to see Bird's baby belly and some of them, especially Gayle, got to feel the baby kickin' up a storm in there. It was also kind of strange to refer to Mom and Dad as Grandpa and Grandma, but I bet we'll all get used to it pretty soon. The next time we'll all be together will be at the baby's baptism sometime in late October.

Katie says next time I take her on a trip, the requirement is that it has to be at least 20 degrees cooler than NYC. Next stop...Nunavut, Canada (I guess...I hear Baffin Island is quite pleasant this time of year...no wait, I just made that up).

Oh, and before I forget, here are some pictures from the trip. Our camera started to malfunction about halfway through the trip, so we're only putting up pics from the beginning of the trip.