Toast of 2009

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I'd Like To Propose A Toast, To Life's Simple Pleasures:

(The Year In Review)


To Curling Up With A Good Book . . .


Beryl Markham’s “West With The Night” (9/7/2009)

Strand Bookstore: Cezanne, Camille & Candide (10/6/2009)

"Street Singers, Soul Shakers, Rebels with a Cause: Music from Macon" (2/3/2009)

Schott's Miscellanies & Lapham’s Quarterly (1/20/2009)

The Between Boyfriends Book & The Debutante Divorce (4/7/2009)

The Cracker Queen (12/1/2009)

To Grabbing A Bite to Eat & A Bit of Hooch . . .

Jim Shaw’s Baby Grouper, Luigi’s Tony the Tuna, & EVERYTHING FOJ

Spanish Praline Chicken Salad & Girlfriend Cheese by Rocky Mills (3/17/2009)

Kitty Litter Cake & Miller High Life Mimosas (4/22/2009)

BJ Dunwody’s Ribs & Cajun Deviled Eggs (3/2402009)

The Rookery: Little Miss Walden is a Hot Dog! (10/6/2009)

Tybee: Black Eyed Susans at Doc's Bar & Crispy Scored Flounder at AJ's (5/22/2009)

New York: A Zabar's Picnic of Wensleydale, Wyfe, Italian White Anchovies, Poached Salmon and Pears Forelle in the Ramble, P.J. Clarkes, Pen Top, Yama, Maxfield Parrish’s King Cole, Buttercup Bakery, Isabella’s, Chilaquiles at Zarela, Margaritas at El Parador (the oldest Mexican Restaurant in the city), Madeleine Patisserie, Fruity Pebbled Pinkberry, Les Halles, White Cosmos, Strawberry Pearls & New York Slings at Daniel, and the Pain Coconut Banana (not to mention the staff) at Bouley Bakery (6/23, 7/14, & 10/6 20009)

The Jersey Shore: Lobster Mac at Langosta, Ice Cream at Nagles Apothecary & a flight of Tequila at Copper Canyon (7/14/2009)

Charleston: Blue Cheese Slaw & Sweet Potato Mustard at Jack’s Cosmic Dogs, The Trash Plate at Seel’s on Sullivan & Burgers at Sesame (10/12/2009)

Nashville: Gnocchi at Mama Mia’s, a Romeo & Juliet at The Patterson House, and anything that the adorable Chef puts in front of you at Oak Bar and Capitol Grille. (2/19 & 11/3, 2009)

Atlanta: Absolutely EVERYTHING on the Menu at West Egg & Niman Ranch Pork Belly Spring Rolls at The Glenn (12/15/2009)


To Keeping A Roof Over My Head . . .

A tent beside the campfire on Cumberland Island (8/31/2009)

Best shower on earth at The Loews Regency on Park & Best rooftop hammock at The Hudson (7/14/2009)

Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health (7/14/2009)

A Butler to draw your bath and a famous Men's room for touring (I promise - they escorted me in. They really did!) at The Hermitage (11/3/2009)


To Laughter & The Tears Throughout the Year . . .

Movies & Shows: Grey Gardens, Lovely by Surprise, The Drummer, Precious, Grey Gardens the Movie, Jupiter Copyote, Opry at the Grand, Loverboy & Daisy, and Second Sunday with The Loyds.

Classes: Travel Writing with The New York Times captivated me, Trapeze School tested me, Sheila Kelley's S-Factor electrified me, & The Charleston Angler had me at "heirloom reel."

Parties: Weenie Roast & Cheap Champagne Toast, 11th Hour Readers' Choice Awards, Big House Revival, Peaches Pecans & Pralines, Lawnmower Grand Prix, Filming "STUCK!" with Steve Balderson, Party of the Year, Rotary Picnic at Walnut Creek (OYSTER SHOOTERS!), Beach Bum Parade, Symphony Reception at The Mcduffie Home, Carrie Preston Q&A at Theatre Macon, An Evening at Charlane, Isabel's Girls Night Out, Festival of Trees Gala, My Birthday Party at Vineville Salon, Grant's Lounge, Fly South, The XMAS Party, and a very YaYa Christmas hosted by Derek & Elizabeth Culp (before) and Mary Elisabeth, Mary Jo & Warren Plowden (after) . . . whew - my GOODNESS!


And To The People Who Made All the Difference . . .

Those I was so excited to meet: Tinsley Martha Loyd, Lily Barksdale Hatcher, & Virginia Parker Wilkin

And those I couldn't possibly forget: Jessica Walden, Jill Rogers, Summer Smisson Neel, Kristin Chenoweth, Lynn Cass, R. Kirby Godsey, Charles H. Jones, Allison LaRue, Sally Sanders Hatcher, Doctors Bickley, Ogburn, Parel & Deal, Regena Thomashauer, Billy Joe Shaver, Kate Lewis, Lauren Summers Hodgens, Jennifer Jones, Marcie Hodgens, Casey Stribling (I'm utterly addicted to my Adult Onesie), every single one of the irreplaceable YaYas!

and the woman who stole ALL of our hearts to teach us the most important lesson of all . . .

Susan Boyle.

What a year - huh? How could it possibly get any better?
Let's raise our glasses and I'll see you on the flip side
of the greens and black-eyed peas!

Ashley