Small Town

I've been pretty worthless today. I've got a deadline whizzing up like a Catfish Hunter fastball and I can't seem to get in gear. So, when the going gets tough, the tough goes to lunch.
And that's what I did. We went to the historical district of Apex, North Carolina and walked up and down the street. 
We walked by a frozen yogurt place, and ice cream shop, a couple pizza places, but we ducked into Salem Street Pub. 
We talked to the waitress (Kelly) about the choices, and we both decided on Carolina Burgers which had chili, cole slaw, and some other stuff on there. As I always say, you can't fly on one wing.
It tasted good but I felt like I needed a shower when I finished eating and by the time we made it back to the hotel, I felt like an arterial gram might be in order,  and my stomach made it clear to me that I need to be more mindful of my nutritional choices. So I snorted a few Tums and soon began to feel better.
Jilda's class started at 6 this evening but she got out at 9 so I drove down to fetch her. I was a bit early so I walked down the street to the Salem Street Pub where the live music was just starting. 
I stood outside for a while and listened. I hadn't worn a jacket and regretted the decision. As I headed back up the street I saw Jilda walking out of class and heading toward the car. The heater felt good on my feet.
Earlier I stopped by Whole Foods and picked up some hummus, pita chips, cheddar cheese, and some fancy~smanchy crackers.
When we got back to the room tonight, we snacked on the chips, hummus and fruit that we'd scored down in the lobby.
Sitting here tonight trying to think about a topic, I thought back over the day and our short tour of Apex. We only touched on the historical section but what we saw was interesting ~ lots of shops, antique stores, eating places, and art/gallery places.
It occurred to me that this is exactly what Jasper (the town near where I live) is trying to do -- to bring people downtown to eat, shop, listen to music, and spend time -- a place with a little culture, and not just a place to do commerce.
I'm guessing it's not an easy thing to do because until you get enough people, businesses, and activity going on, so that it's not only profitable for the business but also a unique experience for the visitors, the people won't come.
It was not my intention to start delving into city planning and urban renewal, but it's nice to see a place that seems to have gotten it right. There is nothing better than walking around and soaking up the ambiance of a small town.


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Phil Campbell update -- They moved into second place today and only a few thousand votes behind the leader. 
I am so excited for these kids. I'm going to continue to remind my blog buddies to keep voting because the huge schools can turn the tide in a heartbeat. But for right now, I feel really good for their chances.


Phil Campbell High School  Vote Here