Guys. My weekend was terrible.

I mean, not really. Lots of worse things could have happened. 

But during 29 hours of driving (to Fort Lauderdale and back, with some journalism in between), everything that could have gone wrong with my car did, with the exception of flames.

I don’t really wanna talk about it…

Other stuff went wrong too (an overdraft, a speeding ticket, caffeine cravings), and basically, a trip that should have cost nothing has ended up costing several hundred dollars. 

I don’t have several hundred dollars! I was already pretty broke, but now I’m even MORE broke (those late-night Kroger dates are gonna have to stop). But fortunately for me, the Athens economy depends largely on broke kids like myself.

So here is a list of (Basically) Free Stuff to Do in Athens!

Georgia Museum of Art — The Guhmoah is conveniently located on East Campus. I like to think of it as a tiny High. I haven’t been to the High that many times though, so maybe I am romanticizing. Anyway, you’re supposed to donate a few bucks (or cents…?) on your way in, but you don’t have to buy tickets or anything. And there’s art! And speakers! And receptions! I should totes spend more time here.

State Botanical Garden of Georgia — I thought “the Botans” was something people outside of my immediate friend group said, but as I talk to more people about it (them?), I’m realizing we are a lazy minority. Regardless of name, though, the Botanical Gardens (so many syllables!) are lovely. You can go to the actual garden part and take pretend prom pictures or walk through the greenhouse and learn about plants or get hopelessly lost run on the trails or swim in the river or do lots of other things, I’m sure.

Lyndon House Arts Center — I played a concert here in high school when I was in the Athens Flute Choir! I haven’t been inside since, but I took a photo of the Athens Area Pagans herb garden for an article over the summer. You can buy art classes there (especially if you’re a kid), but the exhibitions are free any time, except on Sundays and game days (I refuse to capitalize that).

ATHICA — I guess there’s a lot of art in Athens. ATHICA is cool because it’s in this old warehouse and is a nonprofit and is the only place in Athens that focuses on contemporary art. And it’s not run by UGA or ACC, so take that, Bureaucracy. I don’t always understand the art here, but sometimes I review it.

Parks — Duh. There’s Ben Burton Park, Bishop Park, Memorial Park, and the North Oconee Greenway, though I don’t know if that’s really a park because I’ve only been there late at night to sit on the train trestle (there’s NOT a “No Trespassing” sign!). There might be more, I dunno. But parks are totes free and also fun! Whenever I go to Memorial, I end up playing with other people’s kids on the swings. I felt a little weird the first few times children approached me demanding a push, but now I realize the parents don’t care because they are all tuckered out from feeding ducks by then.

Running — No, for real. Running in Athens is great. Obviously you’ve got the Botans and the IM Fields, but even road running can be really fun. The Five Points neighborhoods are full of fairytale gardens and actually have hills (WHY are you running on Milledge?), and there are a lot of interesting places to run and immerse yourself in local history. If you’re looking for a challenge, Broad and Baxter have sizable hills. Of course, you can also bike in all of these places, which I will probably have to start doing now that I have ruined my car. Once, you know, I can afford a bike.

Music — Free shows happen all the time. Good thing I’ve got the handy dandy Flagpole calendar to check for them.

Aaaand I’ve gotta go to work, but I’ll be sure to add to this list. If you have any ideas, stick ’em in the comments. Peace!

Adventures No. 4 and 5: Swimming in mud and sipping on grass

I was complaining to a friend a few weeks ago about how I hadn’t gotten to swim in a river all summer, and she was like, “Why don’t you just swim in a pool?”

Uh. Well. I dunno. Maybe it’s the pleasant squishiness of mud underfoot, or the thrill of murky water. Is there a fish nearby? A snake? A confused shark?

For whatever reason, swimming in a dirty body of water is much more exciting than splashing around in four feet of chlorine to the sound of Bruno Mars on someone’s iPhone. But I hadn’t gone all summer because I didn’t want to go by myself (for safety reasons), and nobody was able and willing to go with me when I could go.

Until yesterday! Climber Guy and I headed to the Botans (pretentious college kid speak for the State Botanical Garden of Georgia) and swam in the Middle Oconee River. After trekking through slimy, ankle-deep mud (staining the new white shorts I foolishly wore), we jumped off a big rock and into water that was much deeper than last year.

You know how when you get into the pool, it’s this agonizing process during which you try to acclimate first your ankles, then your knees, then your hipsthenyourstomachthenyourchestthenfinallyyourhead to the frigid torture of standing in a giant basin of cold water? Well, you can’t do that at the Botans! You have to jump right in, unless you want to try to navigate your way off the bank through icky mud, jagged rocks, and decaying foliage, potentially disturbing snakes and other wildlife. I was so excited to be in the river again that I didn’t even think about temperature until I swam toward the other bank, stood up, and realized I was shivering. It was totally worth it though!

Climber Guy tried the flimsy red rope someone had tied to a tree on one bank, but it wasn’t very well placed considering all the vegetation you’d have to trample to put much momentum into your swing. I decided just entering the water, which was essentially diluted mud, was enough excitement for me.

I’m glad the drought is over, but not drifting away with the current was a greater challenge in this deeper water than I remembered. At least we could hold onto the rope swing for support.

I’m not the best swimmer, and I’m terribly uncoordinated. On the way back to the bank, I ended up drifting to the wrong side of the big rock with no way to climb up. Climber Guy graciously pulled me up (I had to put my feet in the icky mud — yeek), and I decided I had been wise not to try going alone.

I have been missing out! I can’t wait to drag more people out to the water once their summer classes end — there aren’t many better ways for broke college kids to spend a sunny day in Athens.

I’m not the best surreptitious iPhone-photo-taker, so these aren’t the best shots.

OK, so that was yesterday. Right now, I am sitting in Hendershot’s Coffee Bar, which reopened in its new Bottleworks location a few weeks ago. Seth Hendershot had to move away from Oglethorpe Avenue after a disagreement with the Transmetropolitan owners about the leasing agreement a few months back (I broke the story!), but the new place looks awesome. It’s really different from the former space, but not in a bad way at all. It still has quirky furniture, cool art, and those nifty white hanging lanterns. There is a lot more space here, which is great for seating reasons and because it means shows won’t feel as crowded (or maybe they will just have more attendance). The stage looks pretty much the same as the last one, with the Hendershot’s sign in the same place, which is a nice touch of familiarity.

The view from my armchair. Notice the awesome lanterns and the brick oven.

Anyway, I met Most Interesting Friend here for coffee (which means tea) this morning. We sat outside because it was really quiet and studious inside, but now there seem to be more people chatting. I had lemongrass ginger tea because they were out of the lavender rooibos, but that’s okay because the beverages on coffee dates are really just an excuse to hang out. Still, I want to try the lavender stuff the next time I come.

After Friend left to chicken-sit and study for the GRE, I decided to stay inside and work on an article I’m writing for Flagpole. Then I decided to write this blog post first, but it took a little longer than I expected. And now I have to get on with my day! Oops — guess I’ll be writing at work tonight.

Up Next: Sista Fran is back from Peru! I am working until 2:30 tonight and tomorrow, but maybe we can make music happen downtown Monday, when I get off at midnightish.