by dtraleigh

Cold wind gushed along the sand, making a sieve out of my jacket. I smiled.

Leo’s parents have a house at Carolina Beach, so we go fairly often. But I almost prefer the beach in the winter, when the sand and sea have a desolate, lonely look. No one is there as you walk along the wet, packed sand, watching angry waves create foam that blows on ahead of your path. It is cold, but the ocean has a different look during this time. It’s like She puts on winter clothes.

There is also something appealing about a beach town during the off-season, when no one but the locals are in residence.

For me, the beach is an escape from my home in Raleigh, an easy getaway to something different. In winter, that retreat is more complete because of the ambiance emptiness and gray skies lend to a normally cheerful and bright location.

by dtraleigh

The cold enormity of President Lincoln sat before me, a marble cast reminder of how insignificant my life really is compared to those who would take incredible risks and achieve greatness.

But the laughter of those around me seemed to take away from the weight of his words etched into the wall.

Still, I was sleepy on the drive down from Miami. We’d just been stuffed full of Cuban food, courtesy of my boyfriend Leo’s grandparents. All I wanted to do was take the longest, strongest nap of my life.

But then I saw it. The vast water, a shade of aqua that I’d only seen on TV.  I sat up in my seat in our rented car and just stared. My eyes couldn’t drink enough of the view.

Until August, I’d never been to South Florida or the keys. It was a sauna, but that didn’t deter my friends and I, who snorkeled, partied on Duval Street and enjoyed a free house for three full days.

Who needs sleep when you’ve got all that?

HB 148/SB 151 would allow the state’s voters in Forsyth, Guilford, Wake, Durham and Orange counties to  decide whether to increase local sales taxes by half a cent and car registration fees by up to $5. In order to take effect, voters must agree during an election.

By Diego_3336/Flickr Creative Commons

Read Ratified Bill

Charlotte voters approved this measure 10 years ago for improved rail and bus systems. Meanwhile, groundbreaking began Wednesday on the state’s first toll road, which will cost more than $1 billion.

According to a study out earlier this year by the Regional Transportation Alliance, 53 percent of Triangle residents said they would vote for such a measure.

But that was before the state approved the new budget, which includes an 1-cent “temporary” increase on sales taxes along with a surcharge on state taxes and higher cigarette and alcohol taxes.

With all that, will voters decide another half-cent is worth it to build trains? In case you’re wondering, a half-cent increase means for every $10 you spend, it will cost you an extra 5 cents.

I dismissed her career idea. But she must have planted a seed in my head, because by senior year of high school, I knew what I wanted to do: write for a newspaper. I did for several years.

Now, I work as a web and broadcast producer for a TV news station, which has taught me other forms of writing. I’ve also gained skills in Web, social networking, an understanding of TV and I’ve honed my ability to think on my feet.

Last year, I began using my skills to write articles/press releases and use social networking and other techniques to promote companies and events.

As I embark on new ventures and uses for my skills, I think about that seed Mom planted years ago.  I’m lucky she did, and it keeps on growing.

Hot Tub at Sequoia Cottage

“Nah,” I told him. “I don’t think so.”

We pulled up to the Sugar Hollow Sequoia cabin at 10:30 p.m. I was struck by how homey it appeared from the outside and how conveniently it was set up inside. As we explored, I wandered to the rear of the living room to scope out the back deck. I wanted to know if I could see any stars.

But eyes were not drawn to the skies. “What IS that?” I asked Leo.

We both started laughing. It’s a HOT TUB!

We turned and gave each other a high five.

Sugar Hollow is a cabin/woods retreat just across the Tennessee border, not far from where I used to live in Bristol.  I’ve just been hired to help do some writing for them and get the word out about the place, hence the reason for my visit. You can look for my writings on the Sugar Hollow Web site soon.