September 16-Monday First Full Day at Myrtle Beach

Today was an easy day.  We slept a little later than usual.  Breakfast was cereal and English muffins - once I figured out how to work the toaster.  OJ for me also (no Diet Dew so it was plain jane OJ this time).

I worked on several things on the laptop most of the morning while Gary lay on the bed and watched a couple of movies.  A post on Dotti's.  Catch-up on the daily devotions I am doing with Rhonda.  Big catch-up on the OBS from Proverbs 31 on Psalm 23.  

Lunch was at a place called Lulu's.  It is part of the Jimmy Buffet chain and located at Barefoot Landing.  It was our first time to go to BL, and we tried the restaurant on the recommendation of my cousin Dale and his wife Karen.

My first thought was to order a special cheeseburger with all the fixings, plus fries.  But Gary really wanted seafood and a special fish platter for 2 caught our eyes.  On it were shrimp, oysters, crab claws, and fish, which was the special today of red snapper.  When the entree arrived at our table, there was a basket of the fish, a plate of a butterfly shaped red-snapper, and three other baskets. One for each of us and one containing cups of cole slaw, fries, jalapeno hushpuppies, and a couple of cups of special dipping sauce for the fish.

That meal was fantastic!  The fish was so good, the slaw excellent, and the hushpuppies quite tasty (and not hot or spicy like I expected). We decided that we may try it again some evening when there is live music playing also.  The atmosphere was fun, and there was indoor and outdoor seating next to a marina.

After the meal we stopped at the gift shop for t-shirts for our smallest grandchildren.  Owen calls Lynnlee 'Lulu' so of course we needed to find shirts for them with the Lulu name on them.  I think they will look so cute!

We also strolled around the interior lake, stopping at a few shops.  The first stop was a popcorn place, and I purchased a small bag of a caramel corn with chocolate.  I also passed on the sugar cookie flavor of corn but yielded to just plain Kettle Corn.  I ate some of the first bag and there is no other way to describe it except messy.  The chocolate melts and it is everywhere.  The taste is good though, but I can't eat too much of it; otherwise, I feel a sugar rush of sorts.

Next stop was at a Hot Sauce type of place where, upon the recommendation of the guy working there, we bought a jar of very hot salsa for Matt.  He loves everything spicy and hot, so this will be a nice thank you for helping us out with mowing this summer.  He can keep it at his house and not share it with us.   Not for me ---at ---all.

Next to the spicy sauce place was one that featured oils and basalmic vinegars.  I wanted just a plain EVOO that I could spritz on meat when we put it in the air fryer or on the grill.  The lady working in the shop had tons of good suggestions and combinations to use.  Plus she gave some tips for using the oils with meats and fish and chicken in the air fryer as well as the crockpot.  There was a good raspberry basalmic vinegar that mixed well with a lime that she was out of on the shelf. We may need to stop back and pick up a bottle of that at the end of the week since she hopes the delivery comes by then.  Just what I need --- more oils and vinegars to add to my shelf in the upper turn-around!

Our final stop for the day was at the cinema at the Myrtle Beach Mall.  We have seen movies here before, but never at that particular theatre.  We chose Angel Has Fallen (I think that was the title!) with Morgan Freeman and Gerard Butler.  Also in the movie were Nick Nolte, Jada Pinkett Smith and the gal who starred in Coyote Ugly years ago.  I wasn't sure I would like it, but I really did.   

After the movie we decided to return to the condo and eat things we had purchased at Kroger last night rather than stop somewhere to eat.  As we were eating on the balcony, darkness fell quickly!  The ocean vanished and everything was dark by 8:15.  And once it was dark, it was dark.  No dusk at all.  Just dark.

I am now sitting on the balcony, typing this blog post, enjoying the warm late summer/early fall breezes.  There are people here at the resort, but it is not full by any stretch of the imagination.  Nowhere that we have been has been crowded.  It is definitely a quiet time at Myrtle Beach. Much warmer than when we visited in early March over spring break, and I think I like it better than when we were here in May.

On to tomorrow....not sure what is on the agenda, but that is one thing that is fun about our trip this time.  No plans.  Whatever we feel like doing...that is what we will do!