In Bloom

Late last week I heard that the cherry blossoms in Washington, D.C. would be blooming ahead of schedule due to the mild winter. The next day I saw photographs of Eden Park in Cincinnati on Facebook with blooming trees. Kent and I went out and it was indeed a beautiful day with everything in bloom. I'm still nursing a leg spasm from the walk, but it was worth it.

Even the post office yesterday near my workplace, in a very un-park like setting, had blooming trees to greet the customers.

The Constant Explorer

What is it about the dryer?

Rewind -- March 7, 2012 -- Going Home

I always get excited seeing the mountains during the trip (or in this case the Cumberland plateau, as Kent pointed out) and sad when they disappear again.

Rewind -- March 6, 2012 -- Biltmore

We visited Biltmore on a lovely blue-sky day. It was fairly empty, which was lovely after the holiday crowd we endured last time. Obviously we weren't the only ones taking advantage, as we were greeted by a film crew working on a commercial for the estate. Mostly I enjoyed the shadows and combination of colors against the blue sky. I still don't know what the mini helicopter was, but it added a certain novelty. With the warm winter, both the indoor and outdoor flowers were blooming.

After four trips to Biltmore, we finally made it to the Bass Pond. I was struck by the shadow of the tree against the water and how it reminded me of a Linda McCartney photograph I had seen in a book collection of hers just the prior week.

Rewind -- March 5, 2012 -- Miles Henry of Wildfire Glass

Last Monday, Kent and I visited an old high school buddy of his who is now a glass artist and flame worker with his own studio -- Wildfire Glass -- just outside Asheville. He kindly showed off some of his wares and even did a very cool demonstration for us. I suppose occasionally there is a good reason to look up old friends on Facebook.

P.S. Koka was quite fascinated with the finished product.

3.11.12 -- Devou Park Overlook

It was a dry and warm day, so we headed out to Devou Park. First we stopped at the Behringer-Crawford Museum, as they were having a free day. Their exhibit on the historic floods in the area was quite informative. Wanting to take advantage of the warm day, we walked on the nicely paved trail over to the overlook area near Drees Pavilion. If the sky could stay this blue and the temperature 70 degrees year round I'd be very happy.

Rewind -- March 4, 2012 -- Going to Asheville

Kent and I went down to Asheville, North Carolina for a few days. We saw a great deal of devastation from the storms off the highway, but also the same beautiful mountain range. This time we decided to do a little drive-by in Berea, Kentucky. Boone Tavern was more grand than I expected. They also had a high school designed like a pagoda (very cool). I've always been amused by the metal cross towering over Adult World.

Upon arriving, we were starved, so we went to the Asheville Pizza and Brewing Company. The American remake of "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" was playing, but had already started, so we opted for the dining room. The 80s movies table grabbed me (ah, the memories). The Memorial Library on the wall was also fascinating, but what I loved most was the ladies room. Talk about visual overload. Austin Powers greeted me on the ceiling as I looked up, Phillip Glass was on the wall, along with a helpful traffic warning, and a lovely smiling orange kitty.

Rewind -- March 2, 2012 -- Tornadoes

Waking up on that Friday, I was a bit startled seeing the construction workers already on the job for the casino going in across the street from Kent. The workers almost seemed close enough to touch.

Later that day the storms came. I left work early, yet when I arrived home it actually seemed okay, so I finished up a few things and decided to go to the gym. The skys turned dark rather quickly and I almost wondered if I should stay home, but I went out anyway. After I was on the elliptical machine for a few minutes one of the staffers said we may need to go to the lockers. A little while later he did ask us to go in, but some didn't want to go and as they stayed behind, so did I (the staffers were all outside watching the storm). The rain was torrential for a few minutes, then it lessened again and I was able to safely make it home after my workout. By the time I got home and turned on the tv I realized how lucky I was. Many communities to the west, east, and south of me were hit, but I didn't even lose power. The winds continued to be strong that evening, which fascinated Koka.

Churtling

Many years ago, when I was still fundraising, I attended a breakfast meeting where many politicians were in attendance. Being Ohio, they were mostly Republicans. I was stuck at a table with an aide to a local Republican politician who quite craftily stayed on his cell phone until the event began, eluding all of us wanting his boss' support. The speaker was a high up leader of that party whose name I don't recall (this was during Bush's first term in office). He kept repeating over and over again in different ways that Bush and his team were good people. This obviously bored me, so I began taking in the grandeur of the room. Then the aide, who was sitting next to me, I noticed was in complete concentration on what was being said. This caused me to turn back to the speaker, who was still saying Bush was "good people." I turned back to the aide, who then began vibrating slightly and making some noises. I was concerned he was having a seizure, and naturally moved a little away, but on continued look I realized that he wasn't convulsing. There was something strange about what he was doing, yet it seemed familiar. Then it dawned on me -- he was doing what I'd seen a friend's cat do whenever a shiny small pom pom was shaken near her. She became almost trance-like and began making the same noise. Koka does it too whenever a bird flies near any of Kent's windows and she can't get to them.

That event told me all I needed to know about Republicans.