Saved by the Bell seasons one and two are just as brilliant as I remember.
We found a pretty incredible place to stay. We are actually in West Asheville which is infinitely cooler than the downtown. There are 6 people that live in this house and they are all amazing people. Funny thing though, none of them are from Asheville. I don't think I've actually met anyone who is born and raised here that's under 30.
It snowed the first morning we were here. It was beautiful but rather nippy. The following day the girls went climbing at the gym where one of our hosts works. I went for a hike down to the Green River with some kayakers to scope out the rapids. The Green is unique in that there is a powerplant that filters water for energy and then releases it back into the river. So roughly 300 days a year there is a surge of water that makes for great rapids all year long.
The highlight of our stay, so far, has been the Hoots and Hellmouth show at Bobo's. Those four boys from PA rocked our effing socks off. Oh, there was dancing and mayhem, and there was a group sing-a-long. Those crazy kids ended up spending the night at the same house as we were. Once there was a modest crowd assembled, the fun really began. We placed a tissue on the ground and then took turns trying to pick it up with only one foot on the ground and no hands. People had been drinking, so balance turned out to be the greatest challenge for most. Technique ranged from one foot on top of another to a kind of splits in the air kind of thing. I don't think anyone ended up getting it, but the tissue certainly got a work out. The next morning the whole house entourage went to an amazing breakfast. The Sunny Point blackberry jam stuff will change your life a little bit for the better.
Julia ended up heading north without us. She had a journey to make solo. Rocky and I are suffering in her absence, but we have been calling and texting everyday to avoid withdraw.
The weather let up long enough for us to go on a bouldering adventure to the Rumbling Bald. There were many boulders to climb, but I refrained after a couple climbs and stood around as a one woman peanut gallery. I both encouraged and harassed all the real climbers. That is one intense sport and I think it was for the best that I made lame jokes and got everyone to at least smile under their breath.
We are now waiting for the joyous day of thanks to descend upon us. There are multi-plans out there for Rocky and I, so I know that we will be fed and surrounded by wonderful people.
Conway, Arkansas is home to three universities/colleges. It is no wonder that we made fun college friends that took us in off the streets and gave us a place to stay. After showers, we were invited to attend an election party on the Hendrix College campus. There was a big TV, blue and red balloons, free Bomers posters, and tons of free food. All the little young democrats were running around passing out stickers and acting frantic in their blue Oxfords and ties. Once Obama was in the 200's in the electoral count, I headed back to the house to watch the race in peace. I wanted to be sure and catch the speeches in a place where I could hear. I sat back and enjoyed the ride. One state after the next turned blue. I am encouraged by the outcome and found Obama's acceptence speech moving and inspriational. I wish I could have been standing there watching it, next to Oprah.
Today, I cleaned our hosts kitchen and watched the pundits battle back and forth about the what ifs and maybe who's. I also got distracted with one episode of "Project Runway." Which was the finale and therefore, awesome. In the evening, I got to hang out with the Apiculture Club at Hendrix and make lots of little honey bear labels. The beekeepers oversaw the bees and harvested the honey and now they are selling it as a fundraiser for the club. The girls set off on an adventure and ended up in a ceramics lab. They also got to garden and compost. This is a very chill town.
