Are the friends that bring you a watermelon from their own watermelon patch.

Homegrown in Timmonsville… it is the best watermelon I have had all summer.

I wish I could settle this question for once and for all. My memory of South Carolina History tells me there are 7 counties in the actual Pee Dee Region. This is confirmed by some sources.

The Pee Dee Region of South Carolina is traditionally made up of seven counties:

“This seven-county region, named for the original Native American Pee Dee Indians who inhabited long ago and subsequently the Pee Dee Rivers, still offers the natural wonfers that attracted the Native Americans and early settlers.” Pee Dee Tourism.

Darlington
Dillon
Florence
Lee
Marion
Marlboro
Williamsburg

I see a lot of reference to Horry and Georgetown, but that is not the traditional designation for the area called the Pee Dee. Discover South Carolina does not include them in “Pee Dee Country.”

Wikipedia claims Horry and Georgetown but Wikipedia is written by anyone who wants to write and is the least reliable source out there. SCNow has a past article that says “the seven counties traditionally considered to be the Pee Dee.”

I need the SC History book– was that seventh grade or eighth grade? Any middle school teachers out there? I will check my copy of South Carolina- A History by Walter Edgar as soon as I get home.

I have a question…. if you are heading down Edisto towards Cherokee…. you go over the bridge at Jeffries Creek and there is a school zone with a flashing light. Is there an end to that school zone? I maintain school zone speed and continue through the NEXT flashing school zone light. But, where does it end? Am I totally missing an “end school zone” sign? People get very impatient– especially after I pass the turn for Briggs and I maintain 25 through the second light. Generally, I assume it ends at the stop light.

Anyone?

My favorite holiday, April Fools Day, is upon us!  In honor of the occasion, I am going to answer questions.  Some will be answered with the truth, some will be answered with a lie, and some may be a combination of the two.  I will let you try to figure out what the truth is!  So, post your questions below or email them to me at theflossipATgmail.com

(Remember last years April Fools post?)

There are 2 parades for children today. One is in the neighborhood next to Highland Park and starts at 4, the other is in Windemere also at 4:00. Take your pick! This website would hate to be caught without its green on, so we have some green pictures to help:
A CUTE BABY!

Some green pizza!

(Order yours from Fox’s Pizza Den today)

Nails by Angela: (Always gold at the end of the rainbow)

The Florence-Darlington Youth Symphony:

A shamrock plant! (Bi-Lo $3.99)

There is also a sale at Porters Gift Shop today! Look for the green….20% off!!

Keep the green coming! Email pictures to theflossipATgmail.com

I see that a lot of people out there don’t want to fill out the Census forms. Thats your prerogative and whatever, I just don’t personally care what big brother knows about me. They already know all of my tax information and business information and I am really pretty boring. That said, there is a reason for everyone in Florence to fill out the Census forms.

New businesses? They look at those numbers.

New restaurants? Look at those numbers.

New franchises? Look at those numbers.

It also determines funding for roads, healthcare, and other vital services.

I don’t know about you but I want new restaurants and businesses to come to Florence. I am a big fan of having more options to choose from. I am not taking a political stance on if it is cost effective and if we should have it and yada yada yada. All I care about is my palate having a more diverse selection. I’ll take a Carrabba’s over politics EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK. Or a Macaroni Grill! OOO… maybe a Cheesecake Factory (dreaming, I know.)

Thats all!

It is Wednesday, and I am tired. I can’t think of anything witty to say, but Pee Dee Foodie wrote a nice post on Fox’s Pizza. I love Fox’s Pizza. I have their number stored in the contacts in my phone. (No you may not start looking through my contacts to see if I am who you think I am. I’m not. )

So, you should read the Foodie.

Also, you should look at the events calendar, as there is a lot to do this weekend. If you are going to the events I would love for you to be a Flossip guest writer– take some pictures, write up the event. Email me if you are interested.

Thats all for now. Maybe my funny will come back after lunch?

Oh– I am working on a big post about why your business needs to be involved in social media. A little advice you never asked for but I will give you anyway. If you want your website critiqued? Let me know and you will get a full blog post dedicated to what your website is doing right and what it is doing wrong– for free! Warning: I will be honest.

I love checking in to see what brings people to the Flossip.

For example:

The top hit consistently is: “Mrs Ruby Florence, SC”

“looking for a nice neighborhood in darlington sc to live in at a great price”
(Anyone have a suggestion?)

ny butcher shop florence sc
(One of my favorite places!)

florence columns civil war renactment
(This weekend!)

when does the pecan festival start in Florence in 2010
(I *think* it is November 6)

summer theatre kids camps in sc
(I’ll check with the theater contacts!)

things to do in florence sc
(Keep reading, something will appeal to you!)

That I don’t really plan on making concrete New Years Resolutions. I made some general ones last year about this website and plan to keep that up as much as possible.

I do have my resolution to continue to subscribe to the Morning News and hope you will do the same.

Other than that? I am pretty content with my life. Sure, I would like more money, more skinniness, less stress and more hysterical laughter with friends. I don’t really think resolving to make it happen will make a difference. I tend to enjoy all of those things so much that they naturally will ebb and flow throughout my life. Hopefully this year, they will be more plentiful.

For each of you, I wish that 2010 is the best year yet. Be thankful for the good and work hard to get rid of the bad. Get rid of the scumsucking boyfriend you don’t really need, find a better job that pays more if yours sucks, go to church or temple or meditate in the forest more. Quit smoking. Give someone a present. Give a friend a much needed hug. Help an elderly person. Fill your spouses car with gas so they don’t have to worry about it. Lose a pound (or gain one if you need to).

Mainly? Realize that good things come in small packages. Don’t miss the forest for the trees. Don’t sweat the small stuff. Keep reading the flossip.

You are awesome. Never let anyone tell you otherwise.

move back to Florence. — The Flossip, 1994.

That is a direct quote of something I said a million times in college. I wanted to see the world, live in big cities, have some swanky high-paying job that kept me in cosmos and Louboutin shoes. Looking back, it is surprising to me that I ever felt that way. I am more small town than big city. I hate dressing up and would wear jeans to work if they were allowed. I like having everything I need close to me. I was in college then, what did I know? I assumed that everything else HAD TO BE BETTER.

Amazingly, as much as I complained about having nothing to do… I have some really fun memories of growing up here. As I watch my own children grow up, its funny to me that they will remember a lot of the things they are doing now. I remember swinging on the All Saints playground, I remember my gym teacher playing “Eye of the Tiger”, the Harlem Globetrotters coming to town (By the way they WERE my favorite team on Amazing Race), pep rallys in high school, and on and on and on.

I have facebook friend requests from people that I went to elementary school with. We still feel connected through this town and the people that live here. I love discovering new people that currently live here or that have lived here. I love sharing this town with new people.

The point is… that sometimes we all complain. “Florence sucks.” “Florence is too small.” “Florence is too round. (Just seeing if you are paying attention).”

We need to stop complaining and start PROMOTING. Tell people what is GOOD about Florence. Convince people to move here. Talk to the council people and give them your ideas– many of them are on facebook and seeking out your opinion.

Tell the city which roads need to be paved, tell the police where criminal activity is occurring.

This is OUR town. Why not make it the best one we know?