Ten things to know BEFORE you move to Duluth

Ya gotta love Garrison Keillor!

Bullying from the past

 Have you ever had something rolling through your head that you want to blog/write about but think you may be opening yourself up a little too much? Or maybe what you want to write about may offend someone if they realize who are what you are talking about. You know what you want to say but are afraid it may come across wrong?

 You think about it. Dwell on it a little too much. You know it is your own recollection and bad memories and others will not remember it in the same way. Things that have happened a long time ago and you have gotten passed it. Moved on. But it still hurts.

 School years are brutal. I cannot speak for boys but girls are retched. I have very distinct memories of some of the girls that I went to school with and how mean they were to me. Well not just me but a lot of other girls also. I hated going to school. I could not wait to move away after graduation.

 I left after graduation and never looked back. I would go home to visit my family but that was it. No class reunions, why would I subject myself to that? Some things I just could not let go of.  Things that I remember clear as if it was said yesterday. Never anything physical. Words. Words that were said that filled me with hatred for them. I could never understand how people could be so mean.

 Of course now as an adult I have a much better understanding of people and why they do what they do. I know also that these people have completely forgotten just how mean they were to me. Is that a flaw in me that I cannot forget.

 I went home for an all class reunion after 23 years after some serious encouragement from a dear friend, the only  person I kept in contact with from school.  My husband went with me for moral support. I had no high expectations. Just expectations of bad treatment from people that I went to school with for 18 years. Why was I doing this? Curiosity is probably the best answer to that question.

What I did get was a huge hug from a girl that hated me in school. The things she said to me back then were nothing but cruel. I can rattle of a dozen things right now. All I would like is to forget them. I was very confused by the warm greeting that I received from her. Did she forget just how bad she treated me? Or did she just not think that the things she said were mean or had an impact.

I have heard that others that I have gone to school with are dealing with bullying with their own children. She is now experiencing bullying with her daughter. No, I am not thinking Karma is a Bitch.

 What I am thinking is they kids have no idea that they are doing it. They think it is funny. They are just kidding around.

 Just joking around while saying very hateful things.

 These things have long term affects on people.  I just don't trust people easily. I tend to believe that people will do what they can to serve themselves.

 Having a teenage daughter has brings all these things so close to the surface. I don't dwell on others being mean to her. I worry about her being mean to others. Why isn't it the other way around? Is it that I know she is a strong, beautiful, smart girl. That she has everything going for her?

 I don't know how I would handle it if she were mean to others.

 I don't know.

 Maybe ignorance is bliss.

 I also have two boys. I am sure that I will experience some trials with them also.

 They are very different though. That is for sure.

 Much easier to understand.

 Sticks. Bugs. Building stuff, Taking it apart. Things seem to be very clear with them.

 Very little drama. No theatrics.

 And to think I was worried about having boys

What was I thinking?

Hey, if it works

Over Easy Cafe in Asheville, NC

The old saying of "Look what the cat dragged in" brought in our friend Sam from Alabama. Sam is up in our neck of the woods for a few weeks so she ventured over the mountain to hear friends play in the Blue Grass Festival.
My husband met Sam on the Internet.  A bunch of bad biker dudes talk on the Internet and then decide to meet up somewhere in the country. This really raises all kind of stereotypes, most of which couldn't be further from the truth with this crowd. The group is spread all over the country and get together formally once a year for the official forum reunion. When someone is traveling we always have a place to stay. Friends that go out of their way to make room for you. We have housed several friends that have been on the road and it is always an enjoyable visit.
Sam showed up late last night, her friends  didn't go on stage until 10pm so that meant she did not even get to our home until 12:30ish. We had planned on going to brunch  late in the morning...
I had the BEST breakfast EVER. The Over Easy Cafe is nothing much to look at. It is one of those places that would be very easy to keep walking past if you were to peak in. Eh, lets keep moving would be a likely thought. It is very casual, a dive look to it. Thankfully there was not a terrible wait, 20 minutes. The rain and the threatening storm had a lot to do with that.


Sam had the French Toast with fresh fruit and over medium egg.

I had the Zorba the Greek. An omlette with sundried tomatos, olives, feta and spinich. Kale and a biscuit. I cannot begin to tell you how delicious it was.

I am loving my camera phone. I can take pictures incognito and I don't feel like a tourist. The photos are not nearly as clear and there is a lot of noise but that is ok.

Sam the Auburn fan, shared with us a card that she has in her wallet. The Auburn University Creed..

I believe that this is a practical world and that I can count only on what I earn. Therefore, I believe in work, hard work.

I believe in education, which gives me the knowledge to work wisely and trains my mind and my hands to work skillfully.

I believe in honesty and truthfulness, without which I cannot win the respect and confidence of my fellow men.

I believe in a sound mind, in a sound body and a spirit that is not afraid, and in clean sports that develop these qualities.

I believe in obedience to law because it protects the rights of all.

I believe in the human touch, which cultivates sympathy with my fellow men and mutual helpfulness and brings happiness for all.

I believe in my Country, because it is a land of freedom and because it is my own home, and that I can best serve that country by "doing justly, loving mercy, and walking humbly with my God."

And because Auburn men and women believe in these things, I believe in Auburn and love it.

-George Petrie (1945)

Dessert was in order.
For some reason Asheville has a lot of gourmet chocolate shops. Not complaining one bit but it seems kind of odd. I don't know if you have ever had Lavender Milk Chocolate but I will be indulging in it again in the near future.

Walking in and out of shops, dodging the rain we met the shop cat guarding the front door.

Mighty ferocious...not. I don't think she weighed 4 lbs.

Love the name of this concert series...I tease the kids that they ride the short bus. I know, not very politically correct and I shouldn't tease, don't lecture me.

Mike's on Main Street, Hendersonville NC

Bob and I headed to Hendersonville NC this morning to pick up a piece of furniture that I had spotted on Craigs list. He had come here a few weeks ago for dinner and said it had a great downtown. It was so nice. Amazingly clean and bright looking,

We stopped for lunch at Mike's on Main Street. An old Apothecary shop that was converted into a diner/soda fountain.

The diner is was really cool. Lots of character with lots to look at. There were quite a few families having lunch with little kids.

There was an entire wall of old apothecary jars, very Harry Potter ish.
We ordered lunch and shared a chocolate malt. It was so cute with its chocolate heart on top. Too bad the kids were not with us so we could embarrass them by drinking out of the straws at the same time.
 To tell you the truth I felt kind of bad that we didn't make them come with us.  
Kind of.

Doesn't he look thrilled? Actually he was being quite the trooper for someone who is not feeling well. He will do that. Allow me to drag him all over and then get home and I find out he is not feeling well.

I ordered a BLT which was good and Bob had the Pastrami and Swiss.  Unfortunately for what we ordered it was very expensive, $24.50 and that I can say will keep us from going back.

I have my new iphone so I used that for taking pictures today. I am not use to not looking through a view finder to take my pictures so I had some difficulty making sure they were focused.

After lunch we strolled around Hendersonville looking at the different shops. This place was hoppin with people, lots of families.  They city is doing some capital improvements on the road that will be completed in March but that did not cause any problems.

This is a hobby shop that Bob stumbled upon. The place was crammed with stuff.

A pub that we would like to try out.

Liked this gate.

This was a bakery we went into to. These cream puffs were the size of softballs.

My motorcycle friends check this out!

Chad, you will love this place.

We picked up two guitar hooks and Bob schmoozed with one of the old guys.

Much to my husbands dismay I found this place.

There was an unbelievable amount of stuff in here.

And here is why we made the trip to Hendersonville. I found this on Craigslist for $50.00.  It is in wonderful condition. I believe it is walnut but I am not crazy about the color of the finish. Thinking about making it black?

It is going to be in the kitchen and the black finish would  go great with the Ubatuba granite.

So what do you think? Black?