Days: 4

Cities: Atlanta GA, Charleston SC

Confederate flags spotted: 2, not counting the zillions in souvenir shops in downtown Charleston

Bumper sticker of the moment: “Got Jesus?”

Favorite cheesy Charleston pirate souvenir magnet: “Work is for people who don’t know how to plunder.”

New foods tried: 5 (sweet tea, grits, squash soufflé, collard greens, crab cakes)

Local microbrews sampled: 2

Interviews conducted: 1, with a South Carolina Stingrays player selected entirely for his good looks. Turns out he was remarkably articulate and thoughtful - whoever said ulterior motives are a bad thing?

References to Obama being assassinated upon election: 2, one overheard on King Street in Charleston (“If Obama gets the nomination, they’re gonna kill him. If Hillary gets the nomination, they’re gonna kill her.") and one from a homeless man in Auburn (“Them white folks ain’t gonna let the White House become no Black House.”)

Strange coincidences: 2, a Carter Center intern who did African history at Dal two years behind me, and a South Carolina Stingrays player who knows my ex-boyfriend’s Dad

Enjoyment factor so far: 9/10 (Would be 10/10 if it hadn’t been for that ugly highway incident yesterday – is it rude to deduct only one point considering a man’s life was on the line? Maybe let’s call it 8.5/10…)