Georgia on My Mind

[Katniss]

Originally Posted by diamondrose

I have to say.. the peaches here are usually awesome, but this year the peaches suck!(just my opinion) On the other hand, the nectarines have been awesome this year!

I know! Drought? But S. Carolina has more or less the same conditions. I am lucky because I go to this little independent produce stand and the owner is great. I bought some Ga. peaches 2 weeks ago and she asked how they were and I said they were "fine". She then grabbed my arm and steered me to the S. Carolina peaches. Apparently her husband goes up there and buys on the weekends. They are da' bomb!
But hey....we have the best pecans hands down!

Katniss

p.s. Sooo glad to see another femmie post here. I was feeling lonely...

[Tony]

I'm not from Georgia or the south. But my 2nd ex-wife is Southern. I whole heartedly admit to a huge attraction to Southern ladies. The protocol. The vernacular. The accent. Oh, damn, that slight, soft sweet drawl. Atlanta is on my to do list.
I apologize in advance if I sound like a male chauvinist pig. I'm truly not.
But I will admit to being somewhat shallow. ;-)

[Tawse]

Originally Posted by Tony

I'm not from Georgia or the south. But my 2nd ex-wife is Southern. I whole heartedly admit to a huge attraction to Southern ladies. The protocol. The vernacular. The accent. Oh, damn, that slight, soft sweet drawl. Atlanta is on my to do list.
I apologize in advance if I sound like a male chauvinist pig. I'm truly not.
But I will admit to being somewhat shallow. ;-)

Boy when you come to Atlanta you're prolly in for a surprise... and those stereotypes are prolly gonna be "gone with the wind" lol

[Tony]

Originally Posted by Tawse

Boy when you come to Atlanta you're prolly in for a surprise... and those stereotypes are prolly gonna be "gone with the wind" lol

Damnitalltohell.

[Tawse]

Originally Posted by Tony

Damnitalltohell.

LOL a small town in the south may get you closer to that stereotype.. but then you get the likelihood for the other stereotypes. Racism, Religious intolerance, homophobia...

So if you stay "inside the perimeter" you'll get a lot of people who weren't born in the south - and those that were have very little if any southern accent (because we grew up around so many different accents). And if you go OTP (outside the perimeter)... well. Some people do what they can to avoid it. lol Personally I live OTP, but I definitely find myself "keeping an eye open" more than I did when I lived ITP.

[clay]

yessss, to MaryMac's!!!! How could I FORGET??!!
Yes, I hear you on the pecans, too!!!
As for any of my "leftover" birthday cake..well, we had cupcakes...just a couple...soooo, none leftover, here...so sorry...next year then? smiles...
hey D.R. good to see you here, too!!

[diamondrose]

Originally Posted by Katniss765

I know! Drought? But S. Carolina has more or less the same conditions. I am lucky because I go to this little independent produce stand and the owner is great. I bought some Ga. peaches 2 weeks ago and she asked how they were and I said they were "fine". She then grabbed my arm and steered me to the S. Carolina peaches. Apparently her husband goes up there and buys on the weekends. They are da' bomb!
But hey....we have the best pecans hands down!

Katniss

p.s. Sooo glad to see another femmie post here. I was feeling lonely...

My partner has been getting our peaches at a little produce stand somewhere in south carolina. Those are the best peaches I'v had this year!!

[Katniss]

Originally Posted by Tony

Damnitalltohell.

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"

[Tawse]

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.

[Katniss]

Originally Posted by Tawse

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.

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.

[Tony]

Originally Posted by Katniss765

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"

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.

[The JD]

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!

[Katniss]

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