311. Quirky

311. Quirky
Definition: (adj) Characterized by an unexpected trait
Location Placed: Seven Presidents Park, Long Branch, New Jersey
Date Placed: 8/31/11 at 7:00pm





Since I went straight from work to releasing cranes, I wasn't able to change out of my professional clothing. I wonder if people thought the girl wearing heels and nice clothing to the beach was quirky. I think their assessment would probably be fair. Business casual at the beach doesn't really lend to being inconspicuous, that's for sure.

310. Sentimental

310. Sentimental
Definition: (adj) prone to excessive feelings of tenderness
Location Placed: Wells-Fargo, Long Branch, New Jersey
Date Placed: 8/31/11 at 6:37pm

309. Tickled

309. Tickled
Definition: (v) cause someone amusement or pleasure
Location Placed: Asbury Park Convention Center, Asbury Park, New Jersey
Date Placed: 8/31/11 at 5:43pm





It was nice to see the Asbury Park area wasn't too worse for the wear after the hurricane. Several other area boardwalks and locations were hit a bit harder. And Northern New Jersey, it seemed to have been a whole heck of a lot harder. So my heart goes out to all of those that have lost loved ones or possessions. We got lucky but I am keeping those less fortunate in my thoughts.

308. Paragon

308. Paragon
Definition: (n) a person viewed as a model of excellence
Location Placed: Hot Sand, Asbury Park, New Jersey
Date Placed: 8/31/11 at 5:34pm





Today I popped back into Hot Sand to pick up the glass bubble I blew last week (pre-hurricane Irene). After finding a Groupon (or a group coupon website) for glass blowing, I was pumped to try it. It was a lot different than I thought and didn't really seem all that dangerous at all. I'd probably do it again as long as I had another coupon. My friend and I had a good time and we have an interesting experience to tuck into our pockets.

307. Virtu

307. Virtu
Definition: (n) knowledge of or expertise in the fine arts
Location Placed: Books-a-Million, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Date Placed: 8/5/11 at 6:27pm





Aside from the fact that I had quite a lapse of judgment and accidentally put the words on the wrong side of the cranes in a few dozen, this was also the last crane of my vacation down south. I certainly recommend it for anyone thinking about doing it. I've got no other vacations on the horizon, so I had to make sure this one counted. And, by golly, it did. Now I'm back to the grind and trying to figure out local places to release some cranes and little day trips that I can go on. Hopefully you guys are as excited about the second year of crane releases as I am. It's going to be a great year, I can feel it.

306. Proud

306. Proud
Definition: (adj) feeling deep pleasure or satisfaction as a result of one's own achievements
Location Placed: Starbucks, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Date Placed: 8/5/11 at 6:20pm





I saw the mall when I had first landed and wanted to place a crane there. However, since my flight got in super early, the mall wasn't opened yet. So I vowed that if I got close to the airport with time to spare, I'd pop in. This was one nice mall that the Starbucks was in. They had those bouncy-attached-by-ginormous-rubber-bands-thing in one of the open areas. The coolest thing my childhood mall ever had in the middle was a fountain. Kids these days...

305. Buff

305. Buff
Definition: (adj) in good physical condition with fine muscle tone
Location Placed: Books-a-Million, Garden City, South Carolina
Date Placed: 8/5/11 at 5:37pm





Having never been in South Carolina for any length of time, I had never heard of Books-a-Million. In a time when Borders Bookseller is closing, it seems like Books-a-Million, another Barnes & Noble-esque store, seems to be doing well. And, well, it's widely known that I love a good bookstore. Of course I didn't have any room in my luggage to indulge, but I certainly wanted to.

304. Expert

304. Expert
Definition: (adj) having or involving such skill or knowledge
Location Placed: Brookgreen Gardens, Murrells Inlet, South Carolina
Date Placed: 8/5/11 at 2:47pm





This was not actually on the to-do list that I planned prior to going on vacation. It was only when I realized I didn't need to spend the morning of the 5th in Savannah to finish up everything that I had wanted to do that lead me to look on the way at something else to possibly do or see prior to my needing to catch a flight home. And that's when I found Brookgreen Gardens. Absolutely amazing! Between all the different flower gardens and sculpture locations, there was a ton to see and do. They also have a zoo of sorts to wander through. And if that wasn't enough, they had a whole section depicting the area as it was when it was a rice farm. I think I took nearly as many pictures here as I did in each of the cities I visited. Additionally, every single employee there was absolutely wonderful. Most of them gave me little tidbits of information that made for a perfect visit. If I ever manage to get back down to the area in December, I am definitely going to go check out their Night of a Thousand Candles. I was told that there are floating candles in the ponds and displays including candles as well as carolers strolling the paths. It sounds absolutely magical,and I'm a bit sad that I have no relatives living in the area so I could head over there more often! This may have been one of my favorite things on the trip and has reaffirmed that sometimes I need to stop planning everything to such an extreme and just to go with the flow.

303. Allure

303. Allure
Definition: (adj) powerfully attract or charm
Location Placed: Hampton Plantation, McClellanville, South Carolina
Date Placed: 8/5/11 at 1:12pm

302. Creative

302. Creative
Definition: (adj) having good imagination or original ideas
Location Placed: Sewee Visitors Center, Awendaw, South Carolina
Date Placed: 8/5/11 at 12:39pm





What a hidden gem! I just figured I would stop to use the restrooms, pick up whatever information they had, and head out in 15 minutes. But it was a bit more than that. The Sewee Visitor's Center actually had exhibits, trails (which were a bit too hot for me to walk), and even a wolf! I real live one! One of the guys wandering around turned out to be the... I'm not even sure what term he used, but he cared for the wolf. This guy directed me to where to go to find that lovely guy. I was pleasantly surprised to find when I left that I spent the better part of an hour wandering around the place.

301. Illuminate

301. Illuminate
Definition: (v) enlighten spiritually or intellectually
Location Placed: Barnes & Noble, Mount Pleasant, South Carolina
Date Placed: 8/5/11 at 11:56am

300. Chuffed

300. Chuffed
Definition: (adj) very pleased
Location Placed: Starbucks, Mount Pleasant, South Carolina
Date Placed: 8/5/11 at 11:37am





I first came across the word chuffed when I was studying abroad in Northwestern England. It came at the point where I was trying to collect (aka learn) British words and phrases like they were trading cards. As during the majority of that time, I spent a good portion of my time talking to natives going, "Huh?" and "What?" when I didn't understand something that was said. And those lovely, patient, and wonderful friends of mine tirelessly explained what the heck it was they were talking about. Believe me,each time I learned a new thing I was all sorts of chuffed.

299. Aglow

299. Aglow
Definition: (adj) softly bright or radiant
Location Placed: South Carolina Tourist Center, Charleston, South Carolina
Date Placed: 8/5/11 at 10:58am





I'll be the first to admit my sense of direction leaves something to be desired. Thankfully I brought a GPS with me or I would've been completely lost. Even with the GPS, sometimes I had no idea where I am. Stopping at this Visitor Center was one of those times. My GPS had me going a direction I thought was correct, but I hadn't seen anything I had on the way down. So I got a little worried. Turns out I was indeed going the right direction and had just taken a different route from Charleston to Savannah than I did on the way back. Oops! For once technology didn't fail me.

298. Adroit

298. Adroit
Definition: (adj) clever or skillful
Location Placed: Carolina Cider Company, Yemassee, South Carolina
Date Placed: 8/5/11 at approximately 10:15am



I'd like to say this video was purposeful, but my phone switched itself from photo to video (as it seems to do occasionally now. Perhaps my phone needs to be replaced after 2+ years.) So I apparently did not get a picture of it prior to releasing and my release was a small video. Kind of cool to know picasa accepts videos but I think I'll be sticking to pictures from now on, even if my phone doesn't want me to do so.

When I saw the sign saying free cider samples outside, I basically had to stop. I enjoy cider just as much as the next person, and free it a weakness word of mine. I tried the peach cider, which the cashier said was their most popular variety. Had I been able to pack a half gallon glass bottle of it in my carry-on without being over weight, I would've done so in a second. That's how good it was.

297. Blithe

297. Blithe
Definition: (adj) happy or joyous
Location Placed: Frampton Plantation House, Yemassee, South Carolina
Date Placed: 8/5/11 at 9:51am





On my way back to the airport to head back home, I popped into the Lowcounty Visitors Center at the Frampton Plantation House. A good place for a nice little leg stretch during the longest drive of my trip (over 4 hours, which is nothing to some people but quite long for a new roadtripper such as myself.) I would've liked to explore the house and property more but I was trying to complete a few last things before I headed home. Time was a-wastin'!

296. Robust

296. Robust
Definition: (adj) strong, healthy, and/or vigorous
Location Placed: Owens-Thomas House, Savannah, Georgia
Date Placed: 8/4/11 at 11:16am





As touted by a number of local people I asked, the Owens-Thomas House was one of the more interesting and unique houses out there. There were tons of little interesting bits in the house including the makers desire for symmetry, which leads to phantom doors that lead nowhere and windows in ridiculous places. One of my favorite things are the matching china closets built into the corners with rounded doors. It was a pretty cool house. Due to an anti-photo personnel member following the tour like a hawk, I left the crane in the slave quarters/carriage house. Definitely a must see house if you're into that sort of thing.

295. Limitless

295. Limitless
Definition: (adj) without end or boundary
Location Placed: Juliette Gordon Low House, Savannah, Georgia
Date Placed: 8/4/11 at 3:13pm





Being a former girl scout many moons ago, thought not particularly dedicated toward the end, I was a bit excited to go to this house. Some of the knowledge of her life came back to me as I enjoyed the lovely tour. I particularly enjoyed the porch facing the garden. I like to think of them as the 'See & Be Seen' porch. It seems like those sorts of porches were the ones that people in the old days were invited if they were someone import to the hosts. Between that and the higher floors, people certainly knew how to party. I can just imagine the people of the past, decked out in their party outfits, milling around on those porches in the cooler nights of spring and fall. (Only because I can't imagine anyone wanting to party outside in the summer heat I experienced.) But the Juliette Gordon Low was a lovely last minute addition to my house tour of the day.

294. Discover

294. Discover
Definition: (v) be the first to recognize the potential of
Location Placed: Gallery Espresso, Savannah, Georgia
Date Placed: 8/4/11 at 2:40pm





There are lots of wonderful things to discover while vacationing to a new place. From wonderful things to eat, to little between the building cemeteries and cafes with lovely desserts. Savannah has lots of little things to do and see. I popped in here to get a cool drink before I headed off to my next destination. While not really a hole in the wall, as it was on a super bright corner lot next to a square, I'm a sucker for non-chain coffee places. They always seem to have an interesting atmosphere. Do you have a favorite cafe or local coffee joint?

293. Astute

293. Astute
Definition: (adj) ability to assess people and situations to ones advantage
Location Placed: Green-Meldrim House, Savannah, Georgia
Date Placed: 8/4/11 at 1:16pm



It seems my phone ate the pre-placement picture. The Green-Meldrim House is one of those lovely historic homes that are decorated in period furniture with interesting stories of the people that lived there. I think my favorite bit was the lovely set of windows above the stairs that actually had a ring of flame blowers surrounding it to give light into the darker stairwell. That and the double pocket front doors that allow for airflow and light.

292. Unerring

292. Unerring
Definition: (adj) always right or accurate
Location Placed: Savannah College of Art and Design, Savannah, Georgia
Date Placed: 8/4/11 at 1:16pm

291. Fresh

291. Fresh
Definition: (adj) full of energy and vigor
Location Placed: Mrs. Wilkes Boarding House, Savannah, Georgia
Date Placed: 8/4/11 at 12:55pm





Mrs. Wilkes Boarding House is a very popular restaurant in Savannah where you sit at a large table seating 10 and eat together boarding house style (where there is bowls of stuff passed around). Since the line was quite long, I spent most of my hour long wait talking to the nice ladies ahead of me in line. They were about ready to adopt me by the time we got up to the front of the line but as a single person, I was bumped up to a different table. They were also visiting Hilton Head and just spending the day in Savannah. I wish I had been able to sit with them, but instead I sat with a group from Ohio and one from the same area I went to for my undergraduate university degree. Small world.

290. Conscientious

290. Conscientious
Definition: (adj) wishing to do what was right
Location Placed: E. Shaver Books, Savannah, Georgia
Date Placed: 8/4/11 at 10:40pm





From the hotel room window, I could see E. Shaver Books across the street and you all know I have a weakness for bookstores. Definitely cute as independent bookstores usually are. If I actually lived in the area, I could totally see myself becoming a regular there and then popping over Madison Square to read. Makes me want to try to find a local park to do some reading in.

289. Adventure

289. Adventure
Definition: (adj) an unusual and exciting experience or activity
Location Placed: Leopold's Ice Cream Shop, Savannah, Georgia
Date Placed: 8/3/11 at 9:33pm





After the adventure of a Savannah ghost tour, I swung around to the evidently popular Leopold's for some much esteemed ice cream. Birthday Cake Milkshake in hand, I tried to find a place to release a crane where it would be found but I wouldn't be too obvious in taking a picture of it. However, the place was filled with people so I eventually gave up and just put it on a table in plain sight. At least you can see the crane and the location around my finger in this photo.

288. Gentle

288. Gentle
Definition: (adj) kind or tender
Location Placed: Hampton Inn & Suites, Savannah, Georgia
Date Placed: 8/3/11 at 9:21pm

287. Pure

287. Pure
Definition: (adj) wholesome and untainted by immorality
Location Placed: Hilton Desoto Hotel, Savannah, Georgia
Date Placed: 8/3/11 at 5:30pm





I had a lovely view of Savannah from the back of the hotel, facing out onto Madison Square. One of the cool things about Savannah is the number of squares, or small parks, that dot the city. There are over 20 squares making the city look pretty green when viewed from up high. I think the squares were my favorite part of the city. On my first night visiting, I got a meal to-go and spent the night eating in Chippewa Square (or where the opening scene from the movie Forest Gump was shot). I think I drove or walked through the majority of the squares, which was a real treat.

286. Dreamy

286. Dreamy
Definition: (adj) delightful or gorgeous
Location Placed: Hyatt Regency Hotel, Savannah, Georgia
Date Placed: 8/3/11 at 5:02pm





I popped into the Hyatt to enjoy a little bit of their cool temperatures before I struck out to figure out where the tour shuttle stop was. About a minute or so after I started out, a few big, fat raindrops fell onto my plastic bag (filled with my new brand new pieces of art). A bit of blind wandering lead me to standing under (yet another lovely) live oak with a judge and his younger daughter. He told me a bit about his job and his trip to Hilton Head, South Carolina with his family. Out of all the ways I could be stuck in the pouring rain, spending time with an interesting stranger standing under a picturesque tree is certainly high on my list.