I need to start eating better (less) and working out. I have a genuine desire to do these things— until I wake up in the heat of the day, starving. Then, all I want to do is eat. I also noticed that this week I haven't been writing as much and have returned to my old sleep patterns. My creativity seems to be tied to getting up at a reasonable hour— I think largely because I can go to Starbucks during the day but that comfort is denied me in the middle of the night. So, I hope to get things flipped around again soon so I can get more writing done.
The poetry challenge is being pushed back once again. The deadline for the Blizzard writing contest is coming up in a few weeks, and I need to make sure I devote all the time I need to that. Writing for potential fame and profit now; poetry later. :-)
Yesterday I spent the day perhaps more indulgently than any other day since I started this unemployment period. In my post I mentioned how I watched the first two episodes of the final season of Queer As Folk. After writing, I jumped back in. I ended up staying up until 5 AM this morning to watch the entire 13-episode season in one marathon session. It was great! QAF has always been one of my favorite soaps, and once I began watching the last season, I couldn't stop. It reminded me of the time, several years ago, when I took a previous season over to my friend Gina's house and we sat there watching episode after episode. If you can get past the gay sex, which is a bit much even for me at times, this show is highly recommended. The characters aren't the one-dimensional stereotypes that TV usually show us. I wish there was a 'hetero-friendly' version with edited sex scenes that I could give out to my friends so they could all share in the show as well.
Meanwhile, Sunday morning, 08 MAR 09, in Raleigh, NC:
Russell and I got a reasonably early start to the day after having a lifeless breakfast in the hotel. Our goal for the day was Asheville, NC, where Russell's sister and brother-in-law live. We wanted to make the four-hour trip by 3 PM, which shouldn't have been a problem as we took off shortly after 10 AM. However, as we passed through Durham, Russell decided to stop in and visit an 'cousin' who lives near and teaches at the School of Mathematics and Science. (I'm such a nerd that when i saw that school I thought how wonderful it would have been to go to a school like that instead of a regular high school!) I say 'cousin', because that's how they think of themselves. In fact, I think they are cousins once removed, but I don't remember too clearly as a lot of family connections were thrown at me in a short amount of time.
In addition to teaching, Russell's cousin is also an accomplished artist. Her medium is found objects, and she creates some delightful pieces from the objects she finds and binds to her vision. There were many pieces of work around her house— animals and other objects made of sticks and fabrics and weird bits of metal— and I spotted several other pieces in the homes of Russell and his sister. Had there been a mention of selling any, I would gladly have bought one for myself.
Anyway, I stayed in the car while Russell knocked, unannounced, at his cousin's door. Apparently she had her it's-too-early-and-I-haven't-had-any-coffee face on when she answered the door, but she warmed up upon seeing Russell. I joined them inside a few moments later. We sat and enjoyed a round of sodas, and I listened mostly as Russell and his cousin caught up. About 45 minutes later we hit the road again.
North Carolina is a beautiful state to travel through and I heartily recommend you do so if given the opportunity. Unfortunately, I slept through much of the state, including our gradual ascent into the mountains. I tried to stay awake, but sun and quiet and the rhythm of tires is too much for me.
Russell's sister actually lives outside of Asheville, to the east, in a town named Swannanoa. Upon reaching the town, he exited the highway and took off over roads we in California would think of as 'country.' In a few minutes we were back in an area called Buckeye Cove, a lower green area, surrounded by the hills. The houses, as new and modern as anything, are all far enough apart that bad neighbors are not an issue. Kath and Bob, in particular, live far enough back that as soon as you get out of the car you can't hear anything except the sounds of a forest. You can distinguish individual bird calls, it's that quiet. I was deliriously relaxed as soon as we parked.
Kath and Bob have a split level house with a large porch on the top-floor front, which you can walk up to. We spent our first hour together kicking back in easy chairs and enjoying a beautiful day out there on the porch. Had everyone else disappeared, I could've grabbed a book and spent the entire afternoon snuggled up in one of those chairs.
After awhile, however, Kath and Bob had a party to go to. They invited Russell and I, but I begged off because of my anti-party DNA. So, while they went to the party, Russell and I threw our bags in the house and then headed out to see the area. Again, Russell was an excellent tour guide. Asheville is a beautiful city, and, as anyone who has ever lived in the area will tell you, it's where all the ex-hippies went to live. Maybe that's why I loved the area so much! I was never a hippie so I can't be an ex-hippie, but I admire the good parts of the hippie movement and wish that I had been involved with it. I guess I'm a wannabe ex-hippie.
I could give you the short version of Asheville's history, but Wikipedia would do a better job. Suffice it to say that the city was largely abandoned and moneyless for decades while other cities were building and re-building. So, downtown Asheville is left with a grip of older style buildings that never got torn down while other cities were renovating. This anachronistic feel adds a real charm to the city.
From downtown we headed out to the Grove Park Inn, an old hotel that catered formerly to the very wealthy. Now it just caters to those with enough money to throw around. Asheville is also home to the Biltmore, another old-time luxury estate. In Asheville's early days, it was a retreat for the super-wealthy of the East Coast. Check out my pictures of the Grove park Inn.
We met Kath and Bob for a nice Italian dinner that night and then made our way back to their house. An attempt was made to watch Our Man In Havana, but I used part of this time to phone my parents, and Russell fell asleep during part of the movie. I slept very well that night on an inflatable mattress in Kath and Bob's lower workout room.
Part 13 and our arrival in Atlanta in the next post!
Until next time!
"Ah, west and wewaxation!"— Elmer Fudd in Wabbit Twouble
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment