The American Daydream

I think it really hit me last week, when I filled out my grad school registration form and sent in my class requests. In three months, I won’t live in Georgia anymore. Circumstances determine who you view your situation. I have friends who never plan on leaving and friends who got out the first chance they got. I think I’ve vacillated between both camps over the years, and now I’m at the point where I have to leave. Before I do, I feel that there’s a lot left to experience both in Athens and Atlanta, whether it’s going back to beloved places or finally going to locales I’ve been meaning to visit.

Athens:

- Eat/drink at these places: Food for the Soul, Mama’s Boy, Porterhouse, Last Resort, East-West, The Grill, Clocked, Copper Creek

- Hit up these bars: Buddha (have two deadly sins), Magnolias, RPM, Barcode, The Loft, General’s, Flanagan’s Allgood

- Night out with Will

- Beer with ABH guys at Taco Stand

- Go to a show at the 40 Watt

Atlanta:

- Night out in Virginia Highland

- Visit the Georgia Aquarium

- Night out in Buckhead

- Hit up these bars/restaurants: The Porter, Twist and/or Shout, Fat Matt’s, Cypress Street, Vortex, Der Biergarten, Holeman and Finch, Ormsby’s, Midway Pub, FLiP, Mary Mac’s, J.R.’s Log House

- Go to Sweetwater, Red Brick and Jailhouse breweries

- See one more show at Dad’s Garage

- One more visit to the World of Coca-Cola

Of course, there are personal things that I want to get done, but I’ll keep those to myself. Also, I want to throw one last party. Logistics are definitely an issue (Where? When? Who will drive my drunk ass home?), but it can be done.

Any other suggestions?

I went to Boston last weekend to visit Boston University. In essence, I went there to confirm that I wanted to attend BU for grad school in the fall. Sure, they offered me a full scholarship, but it’s like most things: you have to be there. The photo is the front of College of Communication, where I’ll be spending most of my time for the next year and a half.

Anyway, I had an amazing time. Got to see a lot of the historical parts and sports areas. Even saw some of the sketchier parts (hell, my hotel was in one of them). A few things I loved about the city: a great, affordable public transit system, the weather (I may feel differently in January), the beer and the sports (Red Sox Nation is real; no wonder people crap on Atlanta as a pro sports city). I’ve wanted to leave Georgia for a while, and this is the best possible way it could’ve turned out. I can’t wait to be up there for real. Honestly, I need a change of scenery, a change of speed, a change of direction. Boston and BU are providing all three. Good times.