ATLANTA, Georgia, November 10, 2007

I drove in at night; four Red Bulls strong, through Virginia and the Carolinas, and the deep dank dark that was northern Georgia at three in the morning.

I came from D.C. – a city that wouldn’t miss me – back to Atlanta, a city that had.

I stayed with friends for a few days, a week, two, a few more, and then finally a few months. There were possibilities in my days – lives in other cities, tangents, grad school?, maybe cooking?, maybe deckhand? – and free time. Scads of free time.

I did things I’d never had the time to do – spend the day in IKEA, eating hot dogs, rummaging for costumes at thrift stores, reading books, playing frisbee with Zeke and Lulu, and applying, applying, applying, to new paths.

It was an unplanned October – a month of ‘today this and tomorrow that’ – a continuing period of transition, perpetually on the brink of being over and figured out and done.

November creeps, it’s here: fall sweaters, crumbly crimson leaves, pumpkin spice chai lattes, scarves catching crumbs at dinner, mornings too cold outside and warmcozycomfy in bed.

Here, in review, an Unplanned October.

##Stuff I been cookin

###Coriander-seared Salmon with Fried Green Tomatoes, Rainbow Chard and Homemade Tomatillo Salsa

###Sesame Teriyaki Chicken Skewers with Bok Choy

###Comfort Hash: Chicken Chorizo with Fingerling Potatoes

###Swordfish Tacos

###Bison Tacos

##Stuff I been doin

###Watching Mattman play guitar – with and without Elmore

###Halloween as Delta Burke

###Hanging out with KatieKaiser.com

###Carvin Pumpkins

###Eatin bagel sandwiches with Zeke and Lulu in Piedmont Park

###Volunteering in the kitchen at Cafe 458

###Chris & Clarence. (yeah, that’s no joke)

###Havin dinner with Paul & sister Shannon in SF

###(Strawberry & goat cheese topped tuna steak, wtf)

###Righteous Room curb parties

##Stuff I been eatin

###Tacky sushi buffet at Rusan’s Edgewood (in Adventure Plaza)

###Salmon salad sandwiches

###Apricot-glazed salmon and salad, Righteous Room

###Brisket & poached eggs, Ria’s Bluebird

###Spinach salad at Six Feet Under

###Lunchtime Rusan’s with Carla

###Bacon, egg & cheese biscuit with Russ, West Egg Cafe

###Wings at the Local with Mike

###Yeah, I didn’t eat that

###Burritos in SF’s Mission District

###Cheese with Shannon in the San Francisco Marriott’s rooftop bar

###Congealed beef blood in San Fran with Forrest

###Rad.

###Sesame Chicken from House of Nanking, SF

###Grilled ham & cheese, Majestic

##Stuff I been thinkin

###Mom would really like this Halloween card …

### …. so I’ll take a picture of it and blog it

###Veggie chili on fries at the Righteous Room is reallllly icky looking.

###WTF, who would actually wear this horrible scarf in the manner portrayed?

###I love Atlanta.

##It’s been a weird, wild month. But, I’m thinking …