Planning

One of the side effects of working as a Project Manager is that my planning strategies tend to spill over into my life. I am currently working on preparing for our upcoming trip to Colorado Springs, and I'm doing so with a spreadsheet. Yes, really. I'm not kidding. Yes, I understand that this may be a sign that I need some form of professional help!

Seriously, when I travel, I feel like I don't want to miss any of the "best" things the area has to offer, so I like to do loads of research about what to do. I can't keep it all in my head, so I use a spreadsheet to create a list of ideas. And then I have to admit I can't do it all and shorten the list a bit. (Well, at least I will certainly have to do that for the Colorado Springs trip - there's LOADS to see and do around there, and my list currently has 24 things on it!) Let me know if you're planning a trip to that part of the world...I'll send you my spreadsheet if you want ideas!

I recently saw a list of the "assets" of Ocracoke (i.e. the things to do; the reasons people visit here), and was impressed with how many were on it. A group of people involved with the Civic and Business Association created it. Here it is - how many of these would you have thought of?

lighthouse
pirates
ghost legends
water sports
beaches
Portsmouth Island
fishing
bicycling
historic village
restaurants
lodging
live entertainment
welness retreat
night sky
unique shops and galleries
arts & crafts
park service
nature trails
ponies
birding
watermen
waterfowlers
history
British Cemetery
boating
festivals
traveling to the island

Quieting down

I drove by the Back Porch restaurant at about 5:30 tonight and was struck by the fact that there were NO cars there. They open at 5:00, and usually even on Sundays there are folks there to dine as soon as they do.

The empty parking lot was the first sign of fall. The busy summer season is winding down, and the village is certainly getting quieter. Weekends are still pretty busy, but during the week it is lovely and calm. It's a great time to visit!

Thai time

I had been craving Thai Moon for several days, so we finally called and ordered some tonight. I love it, and will be sad when they close for the season (which won't be for a while, thank goodness).

In case you don't know about this tiny but wonderful option for dining on Ocracoke, Thai Moon is located in Spencer's Market at the corner of School Rd. and Hwy 12. They have a varied menu, including vegetarian dishes, and you can order most things prepared from mild all the way to "Thai hot" (read: painful). My personal favorite dishes are chicken panaeng curry (mild or sometimes medium, when I'm feeling adventurous) and the shrimp and crabmeat fried rice. Be aware that it's take out only, and cash only. Enjoy!

Travel tweets

Did you know that you can sign up on Twitter to receive updates regarding travel conditions in NC? I didn't either, until I read the press release below regarding NCDOT preparations for Tropical Storm Danny. I haven't signed up for Twitter yet, but I just might do so now. (Been meaning to for a while, anyway...just too busy to keep up with the times!)

NCDOT PREPARED FOR TROPICAL STORM DANNY
Coastal crews on standby along the Outer Banks; travel information available on Twitter

RALEIGH — Although Tropical Storm Danny is not expected to reach North Carolina’s coast, the N.C. Department of Transportation is prepared for high tides and potential road flooding along the Outer Banks.

NCDOT has put coastal crews on standby, moved heavy equipment to flood-prone areas in Dare County, as well as Ocracoke Island, and will monitor flooding along N.C. 12 on the Outer Banks. Crews can use the front-end loaders, motor graders and bulldozers to push sand off the road and help drain any standing water once the tide passes.

There are several ways for citizens to find out about road conditions. Travelers can call 511, the state’s toll-free travel information line, or visit the NCDOT Traveler Information Web site at www.ncdot.gov/traffictravel. Ferry operations are not expected to be affected; however, motorists are encouraged to call 1-800-BY-FERRY (293-3779) for schedule updates.

NCDOT also offers travel information on Twitter, a free social-networking Web site. Citizens can get brief updates, or “tweets,” for 16 different routes or regions of the state, including the coast. The department’s Twitter alerts about the state’s ferry system include details on schedule changes, weather-related delays and ticket sales.

To see all the Twitter options NCDOT offers and information on how to sign up for a Twitter account, go to www.ncdot.gov/travel/twitter. Signing up allows users to receive tweets on mobile devices such as cell phones and PDAs.

The department reminds motorists not to use mobile devices while driving. Instead, NCDOT encourages them to check the alerts before they leave home, work or school. This will not only enhance safety but also help motorists determine the best route to take.


***NCDOT***

Surf's up!

The only good thing about having a Tropical Storm approximately 500 miles away and coming this direction is the effect on the surf. Well, really that's only a good thing if you're a surfer. If you are a surfer, and you're here on the island, I suspect your mood is good at the moment!

I found this first sentence of the 8 PM public advisory on the storm rather amusing: "Disorganized Danny moving slowly northward." That's my favorite kind of storm - a disorganized one, moving slowly, and staying off shore.

Appropriate dress for the first day of school

My friend Mary Ellen is the first grade teacher at Ocracoke School. She's also an avid NC State Wolfpack fan, a fact which is quite well known on the island. So imagine her surprise when yesterday, the first day of school, ALL of her new students arrived dressed in Carolina Tarheel blue! Of course, she went home at lunch and changed into her best Wolfpack red. I love that story as an example of a fun small town prank.

For all you teachers and students out there: hope your first day of school was (or will be, if it hasn't happened yet) fun, wherever you are...

'maters, part 2

The best thing about growing your own tomatoes, in my opinion, is eating fried green tomatoes. That was dinner tonight...YUM!

Slice 'em...


...fry 'em...


...and serve 'em up!