Taco huh?

I've been in Columbia about one month now. It would probably be appropriate to report that I've dropped the useage of my car to 1-2 days a week with 10-15 miles tops put on the vehicle per week. That's going to round out to 60 miles a month, assuming I don't make any major trips, which means a tank of gas may well last me several months. THAT is something I'd die to see.

Tonight though, I found myself firing up my Saturn for a clandestine trip. As I plugged my coordinates into my Garmin and located my destination I was very aware of the cars around me. Would they know where I was going? I didn't want to give any clues, so I drove speed limit and stayed in the lane opposite to where I'd need to be. Then, 2.1 miles from my apartment, I made a left hand turn...

Into the Taco Bell drivethru.

Okay, there's really nothing clandestine about that. I wasn't really worried about it. But I was CRAVING Del Taco tonight with a passion that I can't even describe. I have heard of such cravings, had laughed them off as weakness of people who had moved away from home, but to actually EXPERIENCE this craving...it was too much for me to bear.

In my mind were pictures of spicy jack quesadillas and Big Fat Chicken tacos (especially the ones I'd get with jalepeno poppers after me and my workout buddies would hit the gym. I know, it totally defeated the purpose, but they were SOOO GOOD!) I imagined Coke products and Del Scorcho sauce.

But alas, there are NO Del Tacos in the great state of South Carolina. There are Taco Bells...but Taco Bell is a cheap bastardization of a perfectly delectable fast food creation, in my opinion.

Still...tonight I was up a creek without a paddle...er, taco. I slid into the drivethru and ordered something random. It was there that I received my first bit of South Carolina rudeness, and I'm happy to find that some things (ie, the rudeness of Taco Bell employees) are just universal truths no matter what state you're in.

As I headed home with my ill-gotten goods I had to laugh at myself. I felt so un-Southern. I felt so un-South Carolinian. I felt so...Las Vegan. Sigh.

I guess its true. You can take the girl out of the city...

But you'll never take the craving for really decent fast food out of the girl.

"And I won't be back..."

Today is a day of reflection. I've been settled in Columbia for over a week, have spent more than I care to know about (it was all necessary, I keep telling myself...I mean, the tire went flat, I had to fix it--right?), and am finally settling in to this world that is now my own. What can I say?

The campus is beautiful. I have gotten to the point of irritating my classmates because I keep repeating, "This is unreal. We go to school here?!" There is more natural green than anyone has a right to, sunlight for miles, and regular rain. My cats are learning to be indoor creatures (though Oliver isn't exactly thrilled at the prospect. I'm just too neurotic about the road I live on to have him trying to cross it), and I'm finding routine.

I have a full kitchen here, which I admit is nice. The full bath tub has also been nice.

I'm not fully fitting in yet. I don't guess I ever really feel like I fit in anywhere, anyway, so this is really par for the course. I've met a few people who are quickly becoming fixtures and a few people who understand and can support my faith and its dominance in my life. This whole move is God's move, and I know for some that sounds really corny, but I have no clue what I'm doing here. I have to hold on with both hands.

I'm losing weight, thanks in large part to the amount of walking I'm doing these days. I try to walk everywhere I go. This isn't difficult since school is at the end of the street and the supermarket is just a few blocks down. When the weather is more pleasant I'm sure it will be even better to be walking.

At the moment I'm hosting my younger brother--we were sure the truck would take forever to get here so we scheduled his return flight for very close to school starting. Poor kid, his whole summer has been spent traveling. I have to admit that although there have been brother/sister feud moments and he and I are very different, I will miss him terribly when I take him to the airport. It has been nice to have someone to cook for and talk to. Even if he is often poking fun at me. That's what brothers are for, I suppose.

I miss the ones I love, but I don't miss Vegas at all. In fact...I am finding that anything that even remotely reminds me of the "Vegas" that I left is receiving an extremely negative reaction from me. A lot of people thrive in Vegas. I've never been one of them. And now, its almost like having a wound that someone is picking at--when people bring up things that remind me of the negative experiences from there I am super sensitive. Hopefully time will numb that and I'll be able to say the word without cringing.

Beyond that--nothing much to report. Stay tuned though...I'm sure an adventure is just around the corner.