The World According To Crystal

Being on FaceBook does sort of feel like I’m back in high school again. But it’s also been a great place to reconnect with family and friends.

There’s a chain letter kind of thing making the rounds on FB. You make a list of 25 pieces of info about yourself. It could be a habit, a fact or a dream. And then you publish it and forward it to 25 people that you want to know more about.

There’s no promise of lottery winnings or a new house.

I usually blow these things off but the ones I’ve read have been quite interesting. I was tagged over the weekend and wrote mine last night.

1. I’m older than I look. I’m 44.

2. I have an Evil Twin, but she’s 30 years younger than me. Her name is Sydney.

3. I also have an inner geek/nerd who demands to be nurtured.

4. I’m too chicken to have Lasik surgery but had no problem asking my doctor to let me look at my tendons during tendonitis surgery on my right hand. *I had to look at the tendons because it seems I have two sets in my wrist or something like that.*

5. I love the music of U2, Stevie Wonder, the Foo Fighters, Common, the Avett Brothers, Bettye LaVette (so awesome to see her sing with Jon Bon Jovi @ the Inauguration concert), Radiohead, REM, Aretha Franklin, the Dixie Chicks and Wham! (yes, that’s right, I said Wham!… I own it…go ahead and mock.)

6. I often say that Elvis Presley was the first concert I attended. That’s a lie. It was the Osmond Brothers. I loved Donny. But I did see Elvis twice because my mom adored him. First time was cool. Second time was scary. *Thanks, Mom!*

7. I always thought I would live in D.C. Still might. Who knows?

8. I’ve worn a WVU sweatshirt for years. No one seemed to notice until WVU beat Tar Heels in the bowl game.

9. Also, when I wear a Yankees ball cap, I’ve noticed that people in Charlotte often react negatively.

10. I’ve been told that I’m a perfectionist. I prefer to think of it as having high standards.

11. I don’t have children. I may adopt or become a foster mom some day, but I love my nieces and my nephew as if they were my own.

12. I love having adventures and experiences.

13. I get bored easily.

14. In grade school, I once had to write “I will not instigate trouble” 500 times on a blackboard. (See #13… can’t remember specifics of what prompted that punishment.)

15. I engaged in dictionary battles in high school. (See #13; yes, this means we hurled dictionaries at each other.)

16. I was kicked out of the Girl Scouts for having a “smart mouth.” (See #13… although, whenever I make this confession, other women say “Me, too.”)

17. I’m horrible at math, playing the flute and doing my nails.

18. I believe if you don’t vote or participate, then you shouldn’t bitch.

19. I knew I wanted to be a journalist/writer since I was in 2nd grade. Comics were what drew me in. I did consider being a marine biologist in 3rd grade for a few weeks. I believe this was after my first trip to the beach.

20. I think my brother’s awesome and a great dad. (… I think I’ve told him this but in case I haven’t, it’s on the record now. And despite what he says, I did not try to drown him on that first trip to the beach.)

21. I wonder if I’ve ever really been in love.

22. I’ve learned to trust my instincts because 99 percent of the time they’re dead-on.

23. I was in New York City on Sept. 11. It was the worst and best place to be. The worst because of the loss and the fear. The best because I saw the strength and kindness that we all possess and will share. I still fight not to cry when I think about it.

24. I always chuckle when my cat Chloe snores.

25. I believe that one person can make a difference.

My pals, Rhonda and Rachel, and I are training for a sprint triathlon in October. We agreed to start training in January rather than April. Or August.

On Jan. 11, we hit the Mallard Creek Greenway on our bikes. Mine is an old-school cruiser. I had skinny tires on still from riding around Uptown, etc. The greenway is mostly paved with a few gravel sections.

Skinny tires + pea gravel = not a good idea.

I went to pass Rhonda’s bike and hit her back wheel. And I went down. Hard.

As I was falling, though, I started to stick my hand down to catch my fall. Images of two friends who had broken bones that way flashed through my head. I pulled my hand in and let my shoulder take the brunt of the fall.

The damage (after two doctor visits, x-rays, MRI): Severely bruised shoulder. Could have been much worse. 4-6 weeks of physical therapy.

Here’s what I learned in the week after the wreck and before the diagnosis:

1) Getting back on the bike wasn’t a big deal.

2) Knowing how to fall is crucial.

3) I don’t own any shirts that button or zip up the front.

4) MRI appointments can be scheduled for as late as 9 pm because of demand for the machines. I’m going to guess that cost justification plays a part in that, too.

5) I’m claustrophobic in coffin-like spaces. Tried to do a closed MRI on Jan. 13. Giant FAIL. Elevators, good. Coffins, bad. Good to know. The open MRI with a side of Xanax was just fine.

6) A sling can help deter people from playfully punching you on the shoulder or giving you a real pat on the back.

7) A solid friend is someone who gets up at 7 a.m. on a Saturday – and it’s 14 degrees – to take you to open MRI.

8 ) Change tires to match the kind of ride you’re going to do.

9) Always wear a helmet. *yes, i had one on.*

10) Pain management and a sense of humor are critical.

Most people who know me as an adult probably don’t know this: I was in the high school band. Only for a year or two.

I played the flute. I was lousy. Really, that’s not an understatement. I was probably the worst flutist in the history of West Virginia high school bands.

Before I bailed and spared the ears of everyone around me, I do remember one particular trip to Orlando in 1979 or ’80 (I think… yes, that’s 3 decades or so ago). We marched down Main Street in Disney World. It was So. Much. Fun. The parade still shows up in my dreams. I’m in my band uniform, with the funky hat and the spats. And there’s Disney World… shiny, clean, sunny.

Granted, Disney is not Paris or New York or Napa or an island but it was pretty freakin’ cool.

Which brings me to the point of today’s post: Charlotte’s Harding High School’s marching band got an invite to play in the inaugural parade. No surprise in this economy but they’re struggling to raise money to go.

Click here for the story in today’s Observer about their plight.

I can only imagine the memories that these kids will have three decades. And I love people who are not afraid to dream big and who pursue their dreams.

I’m donating $25. It’s not a lot but it’s what I can do right now. I challenge all former band members and all family and friends of former band members to give what you can.

Send donations to HUHS Band Association, P.O. Box 667773, Charlotte, NC 28266-7773.

It’s raining in Charlotte today. It’s 61 degrees.

I believe that it rained all night. It’s supposed to rain for the next 24 hours.

I’m home with a cold viral thing. Ick. I’m bored.

Before I return to reading “Omnivore’s Dilemma,” I’ll leave you with two of my favorite rain or shine classics… click the title and enjoy:

Led Zeppelin’s “Rain Song” (Madison Square Garden, 1973)

And The Beatles’ “Good Day Sunshine“

I became a Twitter junkie last fall. If you’re not sure what Twitter, FaceBook or MySpace are, then most of this post will be gibberish. But if you’re social media savvy, it’ll make sense.

Twitter is a social media site that asks one question: What are you doing? You have 140 characters to answer. It’s basically text-messaging to the web or frequently updating your Facebook/MySpace status.

I used Twitter for one of the magazines that I edit but switched to my own account.  Separating church (me) and state (work) became cumbersome. (Tip o’ hat to Gary O’Brien for that analogy!)

I alerted the Twitter-verse about the separation and wow .. little did I know that @CrystalDempsey would become #4 on the list of biggest follower increases among journalist twitterers in December. (Click here for the stats, Mom.)

However, I called for a recount since @CrystalDempsey is my personal account… just like this is my personal blog.

If you want to learn more about Twitter, Facebook or social media in general, let me know. I’ve found the Twitter-verse to be full of smart, fun people.

Just stopped by Amelie’s, a French bakery in NoDa, to grab some fresh squeezed OJ (*yum*), and Lynn the owner told me that they’re going to be open 24/7 starting Jan. 9.
Lynn says the move was inspired by a comment from a niece who talking about a great place in NYC that was open around the clock.

Plus, Lynn says, you’ll never have to wonder if Amelie’s is open.

This is one of my fave places in Charlotte. You should try it if you haven’t. Click here for more info. Free wifi, great coffee and soup… and the pastries… tres magnifique!

PS: I resisted the caramel chocolates but not the lemon cream puff.

Glenn Burkins, a veteran journalist who once covered the White House, and Africa and was also a deputy managing editor at the Observer, launched a great new Web site for African-Americans who live in Charlotte and the Carolinas.

It’s QCityMetro.com.

He also wrote an inspiring opinion column this week called “Awakening the Inner Giant,”a wake-up call for all of us. Check it out here. I love the ending of Glenn’s piece.

It reminds of two quotes that I have hanging in my office at work:

“The job of a citizen is to keep his mouth open.” - Günter Grass.

“Well behaved women rarely make history” – Laurel Thatcher Ulrich.

Taking a break during the "Sound of Music" Gay Bingo in 2006 (from left): Sister Daniella, cute bingo ball boy and the divine Miss Shelita Hamm (rawr!)

One of the reasons that I’ve lived in Charlotte for so long (20 years on Dec. 28) is how this community responds to those in need.

Need proof? The Housing Authority asked for volunteers to clean up Hall House and got three times as many volunteers than they needed. Read the full story here from today’s Observer.

Also, inspirational today was Rosie Molinary’s Faith front feature on 5 local do-gooders who really are trying to change the world. *Truth time: I was Rosie’s editor for that story.*

Charlotte is ripe with opportunity to help and give back. Consider the other local nonprofits such as Girls on the Run, Girl Talk Foundation, Beards BeCause, Hands On Charlotte, Jacob’s Ladder, Dress for Success, RAIN (Regional AIDS Interfaith Network), MAP (Metrolina AIDS Project) and so many more.

Then there are the annual events: Art with Heart (Feb 7), Second String Santas (in December), Gay Bingo (in the fall) and AIDS Walk (May 2).

One of the coolest new events is Hands On Charlotte’s “Building on the Dream” project during MLK weekend (Jan. 17-19). My former boss, his wife and I helped sort food donations at Crisis Assistance Ministry. It was one of the best days of ’08 for me.

So, what ya waiting for? Go volunteer. I may see ya there.

A pal is looking for suggestions for a restaurant to take her hubby to for his birthday.

Here’s my reply, based on the food, quality of service and atmosphere (and again, these are in my humble opinion):

“Does he like Indian food? Copper on East Blvd in Dilworth is wonderfully romantic.

For steaks, there’s a great old school steak house – a local writer calls it Sinatra old-school – called the Beef & Bottle (great food, slightly kitschy in a good way atmosphere and easier on budget than big name places).  It’s on South Boulevard near Tyvola.

I also love Las Ramblas on Park Road in Dilworth…tapas, great wines.

Other locally owned romantic spots: Noble’s (SouthPark), Bonterra (Dilworth) and Ratcliffe on the Green (Uptown; Chef Mark Hibbs is big on using local foods).”

I know there are more. What would you recommend?

On a budget? Really, who isn’t these days? Then you won’t want to miss this: Charlotte Restaurant Week returns Jan. 24-30.

Here’s the deal: Several cool local restaurants such as Customshop (Elizabeth; another romantic spot, btw), Frankie’s (Dilworth) and GW Fins (Uptown) are offering 3-course dinners for $30 (excluding tax/gratuity).

The first one was a big hit last summer.

Get the full list of participating restaurants and more details here.