9-18-10 Saturday and 9-19-10 Sunday

I worked on Saturday.  Surprising, I know.  We did get to go over to Carl and Tim’s for dinner.  It was good and I actually enjoy the peacefulness of their trailer park.  It’s well treed and for the most part quiet other than the banjos.  The weather has been perfect so sitting out on the broken concrete slab patio is nice.  Jim and I sat in the trailer while they prepared dinner.  They adjusted quickly to the itty bitty tight space very well.  We drank wine.  We socialized.  We ate dinner outside.  We had a great time.  I forgot my damn photo so I wasn’t able to document this historic event!

Sunday we decided to go to Ikea for breakfast and then we’d shop.  We met there at 9:30 but they didn’t open till 10:30.  None of us wanted to wait so we went to Golden Corral up the road.  I must say, they do offer a lot for breakfast.

After breakfast we shopped at various places.  Carl and Tim were looking for recliners.

Above: Big Lots.  It was humorous to see these peopel stuffing a tree into their truck.

We returned to Ikea for Carl & Tim’s virgin shopping trip.  All of the photos below are from our shopping trip:

For dinner we went to 1900 for Mexican.  Tim didn’t much care for his food but we enjoyed each other’s company.  I think.

Above: Tim enjoys the drink special.  Sunrise.

8-29-10 Sunday

It’s been a while since I’ve done a:

I enjoyed reminiscing about last year but eventually it faded.  That happens when you work I suppose.  Not just that but also the fact that the traveling had ended and we were just going through the motions of job hunting and deciding if we could stay in Fort Myers.  What a stressful time in our lives.  Looking back at last year’s post brings me happiness though.  Fun with friends!  Check it out here.

Looking at that entry with Carl and Tim brings me back to excitement about them coming here.  I’ve been thinking about all the cool stuff we’ve done here and what I want them to see/do.  The great restaurants to include Crave Dessert bar.  Yum.  A nature walk through some of the parks Jim and I have recently walked through.  Snow tubing!  Ikea!  Lake Norman!  There’s so much and quite a lot of stuff we haven’t even seen yet.  Hurry up guys!

Jim and I went to breakfast at Ryan’s this morning.  Omelets, waffles, bacon, sausage, etc.  We ate a lot but we won’t eat again till dinner.  For dinner we have plans with Doug and Bill.  We haven’t seen them for quite sometime so we’ll have a lot to catch up on.

After filling up on cheap buffet food, we did grocery shopping at Walmart.  Our shopping trip was uneventful BUT that’s a good thing so I’m not complaining.  With grocery shopping done, we spoke about things we could do.  Jim decided on a nap.

We met up with Doug and Bill and headed to 1900 Mexican Restaurant.  Jim and I have been there numerous times and once with Doug and Bill.  We all enjoyed it and of course we’ll be back. 

Tomorrow is Monday.  Ick!

6-1-10 Tuesday (The Wait or Weight)

Unfortunately Jim had to work so Mike, Dave and I did a little shopping.  Our first stop was to Ikea.  Mike & Dave had never been to one so this was a unique experience for them.  We were hungry so prior to any shopping, we ate at the on-site restaurant. 

Up next?  Concord Mills Mall.  We walked around, shopped a little.  Browsed.  We even snacked.  I had a child-size Gelato.  It was tasty.

We made it home to meet Jim and then all decided to have Mexican this evening.  Off to the 1900 Mexican Restaurant we went.  Jim and I have taken Jodi here previously.  In fact, we’ve figured out we’ve been there about 3 times.  Here’s what I ate:

 

This was amazingly tasty.  I was extremely happy with my choice. 

For dessert we went to Crave.  I’ve mentioned Crave several times.  We love the dessert and we love the atmosphere.  Jim and I split a peach cobbler while Mike and Dave split a banana fosters cheesecake.  We all enjoyed our desserts but the wait time was horrible.  It took so long – almost an hour – from the time we ordered till the time we got the desserts.  We were told our cobbler takes a long time to bake.  Well, you know what, warn us.  Besides the last time we were there, Jodi got an apple pie dessert and it didn’t take that long.  Poor Jim, we were ready to just settle up on drinks and walk out because it had gotten late.  Jim didn’t get to bed until late.

Here’s a slide show:

 

Here’s how I did for the day:  On the Gelato, I calculated as best I could.  I tried to use the companies information combined with what I could find on the internet.  I found the Ikea Buffalo Wrap on a website which didn’t belong to Ikea so I hope it was right.  Once again, another company with no nutritional values.  That cobbler dessert I had was amazingly high in points.  I should have expected that and maybe only had a quarter of it or none at all.  It’s not a real big deal though.  I only went over a half a point for the day.  I think that’s pretty damned good.

 

 

A fire at that Fire Dept?  Lunch in an empty town.  Cave exploration – breathtaking.  We wait for and watch bats.  This was a great post.  Check it out here.

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5-16-10 Sunday (Dedicated To Our Friend Steve)

Jim read something about recommended Asheville restaurants and found that the Tupelo Honey Cafe made the list for Southern Country breakfasts.  This place is in the heart of downtown Asheville and had a 30 minute wait.  We waited.  It was worth it.

Above: On the way downtown.

Above: The skyline.  The photo didn’t capture the mountain (it was hazy) on the left.  I’ll try again.

 

Above: More people who can’t park.  We parked all on top of them – Jim had to slide out the passenger side.

Above: Think of Alix over at Casa Hice.

Above: Jim poses in front of the cafe where we’ll eventually get to eat.

Above: We.

I realize it’s “strange” to have an appetizer at breakfast but Jim suggested:

Candied Ginger Cornbread
(with Peach Butter) 3.25

These were 2 small muffins.  It was good but nothing “spectacular”.

For our main entrees, here’s what I had.

Sweet Potato Pancake » One large buttermilk pancake flavored
with cinnamon and sweet potatoes, topped with whipped peach
butter and spiced pecans 5.50

This was absolutely delicious!  Jim had several bites of mine.  He enjoyed it.  He ordered an omelet that was ordinary.

He said it was tasty.  I did taste the rosemary potatoes which were good.

After breakfast, Jim and I re-explored the downtown area.  We stopped into the Woolworth Walk I mentioned yesterday.  Check out the original flooring.

Here’s the exterior of an interesting building:

Above: I’m not quite sure what the architectural style is called but it reminded me of Egyptian.  Anyone?

Above: Inside the Grove Arcade.  You can check out the link for some interesting history tidbits.

Jim and I then walked around, stopping in several unique stores while viewing the many local “characters” that roam the streets here.  A few humorous things in store front windows:

Above: We laughed.  This poster drew us into the store.

 Above: Ugly.

  Above: Sounds weird and fun!

Later in the afternoon Ann, Morgan, and Tonia met us downtown for lunch.  Patti who had arrived the day prior was off with some friends who live nearby.  The rest of us had a late lunch at  The Flying Frog Cafe.  The service sucked.  Really.  They had attitudes and were just terrible.  The food?  Wonderful.  I have no photos from lunch.

Since the crew had just arrived into town, they needed to check into their hotel and settle in.  Later we met them in Patti’s room for some conversation.  Tonia brought wine and I brought wine glasses!

Above: Trader Joe’s wine is about $2 a bottle and is pretty good!

 Above: Tonia – Jim’s sister-in-law.  The only one who doesn’t mind being photographed.  Everyone else “bitches” about it.

  

At dinner time, we all shuffled in to a Mexican restaurant called “Cocula”.   Good food!

The “old folks” returned to their rooms while Tonia, Jim and I went back into downtown Asheville.  Unfortunately most everything was closed.  It was after 9 on a Sunday so I guess it’s no surprise.  We did go to the “Asheville Yacht Club” which was not a yacht club but rather a bar.  Tonia was craving a chocolate martini.  I’ve never had a martini before so I got a raspberry martini that was pretty good.  Tonia got  her martini.  Jim?  Diet soda.  We did have a banana in tempura batter type dessert with ice cream that was pretty damn tasty. 

Since downtown was pretty dead, we returned home.

Downtown Bisbee is cool!  We viewed an old mining pit.  Some old vehicles using unconventional parking brakes.  Jim erroneously tries to escape the United States.  Creative dinner.  Fantastic photos.  Check it all out here.

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3-28-10 Sunday (Viva Black Y Decker)

As typical, Jim came up with some sightseeing/activities to keep us busy today.  He had remembered a flea market in Fort Mill, SC that we saw when we moved here.  He “knew” where it was so we’d just look out for it.  I entered different words into the GPS but it found nothing.  It was too new.  We drove trying to spot it off the interstate.  Yeah, we missed it.  We turned around to head home and then spotted Trader Marc’s.  It was an average sized indoor fleamarket with room to grow.  We shopped and bought some of this and some of that.

Laundry!  A Walmart!  Dona & Darrell!  Santa Monica Pier!  Mexican food!  Check it out here!

While we were sightseeing driving around lost, we saw a Black & Decker outlet store.  We “made note of it” and stopped at it on the way home.  It was inside a Latin mall called Plaza Fiesta.  This place was hopin’.  Strolling Mariachi band.  Stage with music, a food court, fountains, cobble stone walkways, etc.  It seemed to unit Latino’s regardless of being Mexican, Puerto Rican, etc.  The “street” names used to locate vendors were named Ecuador, Mexico, Cuba, etc.  We bought a bunch of stuff from the Black and Decker store.  Jim got a churro and I had some deep fried pork thing with a side salad.  Mine was tasty, Jim’s said he’s had better churro.

Photos

Above/Below: It appeared as though someone stole their statue so Jim and I lend a hand.  If everyone would just take a turn, they won’t need to replace it.

 

Below: Why yes, behind Jim there is a rollercoaster.  That would be Carowinds. 

Below: The food court. 

Below: Some huge playground for kids.  Wish I could go play on it!

Friends Laurie & Pearl called tonight asking “are you OK?” to which I replied, “why?”  They knew immediately that I hadn’t been whisked away to Oz (wicked ALix would have been pleased) via the tornado that struck Charlotte (we later found out 8 had hit).  If it hadn’t been for them calling us we would have been surprised by the hail storm later in the evening.  Here’s a video.

3-20-10 Saturday (Top of the World)

Today’s high is supposed to be 80.  We’ll need to enjoy that since tomorrow is rain.  Ugh.  I’m sure the warm temps combined with rain will make more blooms and growth.  I just love the air here.  It smells crisp and clean.  Light and airy.  Yay.

I’m beginning to love it here.  I’m already at a like status.  I actually like the weather.  Maybe I just like that it’s all “different” than Florida?  Hmmmm, I’m not sure yet.  Jim was bummed yesterday.  He was having a homesick feeling.  It’s a rough feeling, ya know?  Quick, someone come for a visit!  Take it from Jodi – the guest bed is comfy!  AND you know what, I might just have perfected Towel Origami.  

We relocated to Palm Springs.  We held up traffic in the middle of an intersection due to an overly wide turn.  We had some other MISadventures on this day.  Click here to read all about it.

Back to reality.  We drove to Statesville to pickup the MoHo.  Using a BOGO coupon, we ate lunch at a Mexican restaurant.  Yes, we did that last weekend at Charanda.  This weekend we went to Cozumel Mexican Restaurant.  I think it was the worst Mexican food we’ve ever had. 

 

We picked up the MoHo without incident and returned it to the storage facility.  We put it in a different spot that was surrounded on either side by big box trucks.

I have a rant about 2 footed drivers.  I don’t like ‘em.  These people don’t realize that the slightest pressure on the brake pedal causes the brake lights to come on.  When they stay on, it’s as bad as not having brake lights since we can’t tell when you’re really braking or not.  Quit it!  I’ve said to Jim on many occasion that I’d politely flag one of these morons down and tell them there’s something wrong with their brake lights.  Very innocently of course.   We and he were about level to one another at a traffic light so I put down my window and pointed to the driver like there was a problem.  The guy stared at me with his mouth open.  I made a rolling the window down gesture.  He put his window down.  I said, “There’s something wrong with your brake lights – they’re staying on.”  He replied, “That’s because I put them on.”  He totally sounded like he was a special needs person.  I think he specially needed to not drive.  He looked and sounded like an uncartooned version of Chris from Family Guy.  His dumb reply angered me which made me mimic him in a child like manner and then call him a moron.  I did.  I was bad.  It felt so good.

I don’t think I ever blogged about the guy I yelled at from throwing his cigarette wrapper on the ground while being 15 feet away from a trash can.  Some day I will.  I’m just thinking that sometimes, I get my fill of litterers, of people who think the world is their ashtray, of 2 foot drivers, etc.  What bugs you enough that you want stand up to someone but never do?

Tonight for dinner we had a blind date couples meeting.  Huh?  Well, a couple of weeks ago I posted an ad seeking other couples to go to dinner with.  See a movie.  See a play.  Go camping.  Tonight was dinner with Jonathan and Rick.  We met at Bravo!, an Italian restaurant.  For those of you who are anti-chain restaurants, this was a chain.  We’d never heard of it or eaten at one.  We met at the restaurant located at the Northlake Mall.  The food was good, we talked, we laughed and then we walked the mall a little bit until it closed (at 9).  We said our farewells and off we went.  It was a great night and hopefully we’ll get together again soon! 

The flowering trees and bushes are quite frankly amazing.  It’s beginning to be spectacular here.  Even in our neighborhood, almost every home has a flowering white tree in it’s yard. 

Here’s a slideshow of miscellaneous photos from today.  Most are of Dasher.  I was trying out some cool photography angles.