Yesterday, the Jaycees helped with the NALC Food Drive. We hung around the post office waiting for the mail trucks to come in, unloaded donations, and sorted them (well, until it got late. Then we didn't sort anymore.) There is something gratifying about tossing cans into a very large box. The amount of food collected filled one semi-trailer about 3/4 full, and we left before the other semi got there. Now, there were many items that were just people cleaning out their pantry, (No, we don't need the open box of cereal. Thanks.) but most of what was brought in will be used by the Food Bank of Central and Eastern NC. The Food Bank volunteer told us as the first truck pulled away that the food would be gone by Thursday (do note that the Food Bank turns the food over to charities which distribute it, but this is still an overall indication of need). It was dirty, tiring work, but also fun.

That night, a group of us headed out to Clayton to see Ashton Allen at The Flipside. He is talented and put on a good show, but it's not really my type of music. However, I loved the musician after him. Sara Hamilton has a wonderful voice (she was amazing live) and plays rock/country, which is exactly the kind of music I love (well, that and Celtic pop, but that's another story.) I had decided I was buying the CD two songs into her set. I'm very glad I did. It's excellent. I'd check her out if she's heading your way.

Actually, when we first got to the venue (very small, very intimate, the kind of bar I would love to hang out at, if it weren't 40 minutes away from my house (oh, and also, needs more cute guys)) we sat down outside because some of us (me included) had not eaten since lunch. (It was then about 8:30.) There was a pretty blonde woman sitting at the table across from us, eating and enjoying a glass of wine. A couple walked up to her, she greeted them and they talked for a while. I assumed she was from Clayton. But I was wrong, as I found out when she took the stage. So, it seems she is also very down to earth.

Oh, and it's been a while since I went to hang out at a bar with a large group. I forgot how much fun that can be.