First day in Atlanta

[vaneramos]

The Fuqua Orchid Center at Atlanta Botanical Garden boasts the largest orchid collection in North America (or the world?). I also learned that the Southeastern States possess the planet's highest species diversity of pitcher plants. Somewhere back in Canada (at Royal Ontario Museum) I learned this is also true for freshwater oysters. There must be something remarkable about the streams and rivers. Ontario lies on the outskirts of this region; we also have pitcher plants and freshwater oysters. Unfortunately these wetlands are all at extreme risk.

We ambled around the garden for a while on Saturday, but the heat was oppressive so we came home. In the evening we went to Woofs, a bear bar, followed by the Atlanta Eagle. Some interesting flirtations happened, and yes it's fun to cruise a new city's bars, but in the end I was happier to come home with Stephen.

Yesterday I fell ill: food poisoning or flu, I don't know which. I slept part of the afternoon while Stephen went to his softball games. Later we curled up and watched movies. Whatever it was passed quickly, though. Today I feel ready to see more of Atlanta.

I've never visited a city with so many trees; impressive. On the down side, the temperature keeps climbing, and is expected to hit nearly 100°F tomorrow. I just hope it doesn't prove too much for this Ontario woodland flower.

Comments

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

It hit about 100°F four or five of the days I spend in Atlanta and Knoxville, though the humidity was much less in Tennessee. I'm sure you would have enjoyed it. Unfortunately it socked me out somewhat. Ontario feels like nothing, by comparison.

[mattycub.livejournal.com]

We usually hit up Woofs one good time when we come to Atlanta for the holidays. I like the bar. It's non-pretentious, friendly, clean, frequented by many good looking men, and plays the music low enough so as to actually encourage conversation. I've become spoiled, though, by the smoking ban out here in California; hopefully the rest of the country will catch on to that one day.

On the way home from a bear pool party yesterday, I turned to Sean in the car and said "you know, as many hot guys as there were there, there's no one I'd rather go home with at the end of the day than you." So I totally get what you say about enjoying the flirting, but being glad in the end to go home with Stephen.

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it was strange to see and smell people smoking in bars again. Apart from that, Woofs was the nicest of the bars we visited. It was utterly non-cruisy compared to what I'm used to. That threw me for a loop at first until we hooked up with several friends of Stephen's and had people to talk to.
My schedule has been a bit hectic since I got home. Summers always carry on this way, especially this one, as I'm working and trying to juggle time with my kids. They were here over the weekend, and I'm taking off the last wee of August to spend some time with them. Meanwhile the lack of time to myself is wearing on me a little. But I do hope to be able to chat with you soon.