Christmas

Last night it started raining. All the snow is melting. We now have a lot of ice on the trees. I'm not sure if that is any better than the snow. At least in Bakersville there wasn't as much ice as there is in Spruce Pine at my Grandfather's.

This morning I woke up and we made pumpkin waffles with honey apple cider syrup. Actually it was a joint effort. My dad did most of the work so I'm not sure I can really take credit for much of the result. However, I did find the recipe. We cooked the waffles while we were waking up my brothers and looking at the Christmas presents. The first waffle stuck to the waffle iron. After a little oil it was good. The apple cider syrup smelled really good. It was really strong. It was surprising on the waffles but it was really good.

Pumpkin Waffle with Apple cider syrup

We opened the presents which had arrived. Much of what was mailed had not arrived yet as it was delayed because of all the snow we got. I think my mom was a little distressed by the idea but it doesn't really bother me. It just means that Christmas will happen a little later this year.

Leaving Bakersville for Spruce Pine the rivers were really full. If we get much more rain we will probably flood. The river running under our bridge was really high and the water was pooling in the field. The closer to Spruce Pine we got the more ice was on the trees. By the time we got to my grandfather's road we were seeing downed power lines and trees. The power was out at my grandfathers which had made the cooking take much longer. Luckily there is a generator so that cooking could still happen. Even with the generator cooking wasn't happening until we arrived for some reason so we didn't eat until 2pm. I think it was pretty late for my grandfather but it was fine as we didn't eat breakfast until until late this morning.

The river in Bakersville with the Christmas tree decorations and melting snow

The ice on the trees is really pretty. Before I was dragged in to cut potatoes I went and took pictures of the ice. My camera didn't want to focus on the tree limbs. Jonpaul got some good pictures of the texture of the ice. With the rain it isn't as nice outside but when the rain slows down it is really nice to walk around outside.

Ice on the bush outside with read berries.

Lunch was turkey almost like a Thanksgiving dinner. Lillie, my cousin's daughter, thought it was a Thanksgiving dinner. Or at least that is what she said. With the four little kids it is hard to have everyone sit through a meal. I think the kids are a bit much for Papa. The little kids sang Rodolph the Red Nose Reindeer to him before lunch. He gets really emotional and it made him cry a little. Lillie keeps making Erik wear a holly crown it is pretty funny. He is so tall and she keeps making him put it back on. In some ways it is sweet but I'm really glad she didn't take it into her head to make me wear it. I think Erik is dealing with it really well.

Ice patterns

Erik in his holly crown he has a beard now!

After lunch we all felt really tired. Carol spent the with Papa last night so she was exhausted. Most of us just sat around and listened to the ice falling from the trees outside. It was a really pretty sound. Ruff got lots of treats from little kids so he is really happy. We have to stay with Papa until 10 tonight so it feels like a really long day. Papa is watching westerns so that's what I have been doing when I haven't been wandering around trying to find something to do. I wanted to try and play chess. I've never really played so I thought Jonpaul could teach me but there isn't a board here and Jonpaul has been playing Eve most of the time. Because lunch was late we didn't have dinner until really late around 8pm. All I know is that it has been nice to hang out with the cousins. Their little kids are a bit wild. My mom loves it.

All the little kids have head off to bed and my grandfather is on his way as well. Soon I will also be all tucked up in my bed.

Two or One?

My family has been bothering me about when I'm going to come back to Bakersville so today I packed up and headed home. Now I'm wondering why I came back as I could just as easily be in Asheville doing the same thing. But I'm getting ahead of myself.

This morning I lay in bed for a long time. I finally got up and had a bagel for breakfast. Matthew got home late this morning from work. We read some in our book on Chinese culture and history. We decided to go and give notice on our apartment today. I guess this is motivation for us to find jobs in China and buy plain tickets. Part of me really wanted to give notice and the other part of me feels like I leaving my home. I've come to think of my apartment as home. It feels like it is mine. I don't know if I will have that for a while. In China a won't have my books or my orchids. I know that I will make it mine but it feels funny giving notice before I really have solid plans yet. Something that bothers me is that to show our apartment they only have to give us 2 hours notice. That means that Matthew and I have to be neater than we normally are. I guess that is like good luck, it is going to be a mess.

I thought I was going to leave Asheville at noon but then when I realized my parents and brothers weren't going to be home until much later I decided to stay and collect things from my apartment to bring home. It was a good thing for me to do as now I have less stuff to do later, and it was just laying around anyway. The drive back was interesting. I had to drop some books off at the library so I went down Merrimon avenue and I almost got hit but I truck pulling on. It looked like it was driven by a little kid. That frustrated me. Then I got behind a really slow car on the way into Burnsville and then when they turned off there was another slow car that I followed all the way to Spruce Pine. It was really good timing on my part as my family got home right after I did. Ruff is a mighty hunter and he has a war wound from the last opossum he killed. We don't encourage him to kill them but he really hates them and goes for them.

We had to come to Papa's tonight to cook dinner. It is kind of sad being here. My Grandfather thinks that there are two cats in his house and he only has one. The other cat looks exactly like his cat but it isn't his cat. In some ways I would really rather not come. My dad is really stressed out my mom gets emotional and my brothers and I try and understand what my grandfather is saying. I don't understand him and he can hear me or understand me. When I went to ask Carol if she wanted dinner, she yelled at me. I then asked her if she wanted help and she yelled at me again. Now, why did I come home? I'm asking myself this over and over again. I'm not talking with my brothers they are on their computers. When I did talk to Erik it was because he was complaining about how he still doesn't have his luggage. That is really a bummer but why he hasn't borrowed clothes from my dad is beyond me. I view my mom's closet as an extension of mine when I'm home, not that I like most of her clothes. Erik has a beard now which is really strange. He looks funny. He is supposed to be my little brother which means he shouldn't have a beard.

Because Carol yelled at me and I don't really see the point in being here I'm wondering why I came home today. I should have stayed in Asheville and gotten more stuff done there. I really need to find a job in China and I know that if I keep searching I will find it. I like being able to talk with Matthew about what I find. All I have now is the sound of cards filling across the screen as my dad plays spider solitaire on the TV. I think we will be going home soon though which is nice. I have a cold bed and a cold room waiting for me. I'm just wondering how long I'm going to make once all of the family arrives. My aunt, Carol will remain in a tissy as long as her kids are here it is a bummer for all of us that she gets so out of sorts when they come to visit. She cares for them but it seems like she doesn't know how to express it in a positive way.

BJ just came up and stuck his face in my face. He rubbed my nose. It is kind of terrifying at the same time it is kind of nice. I know that his history suggests that he might bight my nose off at any moment though. Poor kitty has a bad reputation. I have to say though that he has worked himself up to it and he kind of deserves it. Well I've said way more than I should and way less than I could.

Snowed in

This morning Matthew and I went for a walk around the block. It was hard work walking though almost a food of snow. I measured it and we have about 10 inches. That is a lot for Asheville. All the trees are covered in snow and it is like a winter wonderland.

Today I thought I would be able to get out. I was hoping that I wouldn't be able to though. Work called and asked if I could come in. I thought I would be able to get my car out but it was not happening. I tried for 45 minutes and it just wasn't happening. So I called and said that I couldn't come in. At which point I was ready for a day off. But no. One of my co workers lives by me and I cold ride in with her. So I walked to her place and it took us an hour and a half to get to work at which point I just wanted a nap and to go home. This is the point at which they told me I would end up staying the night. I would have been alright with that if I had been prepared to do so before I left me apartment but I was not ready to stay the night. I ended up working three hours and going home. I don't think they were happy with me at work but I needed a warning.

My car stuck in the snow. It looks much better all covered in snow.

I spent a nice afternoon with Matthew. We cooked sweet potatoes and kidney beans and nappy cabbage. I like Nappy cabbage much more than I would have imagined. It was a relaxing night. It started snowing again, a light flurry I can watch against the street light.

SNOW SNOW!!!

So it is snowing and snowing today. Work called me and told me that I didn't have to come as the event was canceled. I really enjoy the snow. Today it is big fluffy flacks. Matthew and I went for a walk outside and all the trees were covered in snow. It was a really pretty walk. On the walk we saw a crow it was dancing on the snow and when we walked up it flew away. It was really pretty when it flew away into the white of the snow.

So I can't really take a picture very well when I'm in it. It is the best I got though.

I didn't think we were going to get the 10 inches that they said we were going to but now it looks like we will get it. The snow on the porch outside is getting really deep. The pile on top of the table outside looks like an large snow angle food cake. I haven't seen this much snow in a long time. Erik was supposed to fly in today but all the flights into Asheville were canceled due to the weather. Asheville doesn't have the ability to deal with snow. The snow on the roof next door is starting to fall off and I can hear it falling off and thudding on the ground it is a sound I haven't heard since I lived in Michigan. When I lived there I didn't like the snow after the first snow but here I love the snow as I know that it will melt in no time at all. I guess when the sky and the ground are the same color for months it gets old but when it is only for a couple days it is exciting. Well I'm waiting for tomorrow to see how much we have. It's supposed to stop by the morning.

Amaryllis

These are pictures of my Amaryllis which I've been taking as it has been opening this post is going to be mostly pics. I am posting them from oldest to newest so that as you scroll down the page you can see the flower opening.

Amaryllis 12/8 just starting to peek out of the bud.

Amaryllis 12/9 just starting to open

Amaryllis 12/10 morning

Amaryllis 12/10 night

Amaryllis 12/11

Amaryllis 12/12

Amaryllis 12/12 different angle

Amaryllis 12/13

Amaryllis 12/14

Amaryllis 12/14 different angle

Amaryllis 12/15

Amaryllis 12/16

Rotary Assignment

Dear Annalisa,

We are pleased to inform you that the Trustees of The Rotary Foundation (TRF) have approved your application for a 2010-11 Academic-Year Ambassadorial Scholarship and have assigned you to the study institution named below (Please note that the Trustees reserve the right to assign scholars to any study institution listed on their application or to another suitable institution):



ASSIGNED STUDY INSTITUTION: Nanyang Technological University

Singapore, Singapore


Sincerely,

Haruka Wada

Coordinator, Scholarships Program

Okay I edited the letter a little bit...But I'm going to SINGAPORE!!!

Osteopath

This morning I woke up with sore neck and a corresponding headache. I called up my mom and she gave me the osteopath's phone number. He is a friend of theirs. I got lucky and there was a cancellation and I was able to go today. I didn't think I would be able to drive as my head was really hurting me, so Matthew drove. I was amazed by how much him cracking my neck helped. I think that the combination of playing violin and working for Dining Innovations is stressing out my body and I'm not able to deal with it. As a result I end up getting a sore lower back and my neck cramps up on the left side and my head kills me. I just want to lay in bed and not move. When I left the osteopath's I didn't have a headache and I was feeling much better.

My violin lesson which I was going to skip was good, I learned how to play Summertime.I know a different version than my teacher so there are some differences in how it could be played. I really excited about the music I'm playing currently.

It was rainy all day and windy. Just before the sun set though it cleared up and the the sun was shining on the hill across from my balcony. The sky was still really dark and I could see clouds blowing back in. It is dark now and cloudy again. I have to say I'm grateful for the little bit of sun I did get to see today.

New World Chili

New World Chili with pumpkin

As I didn't get to carve my pumpkin I decided I would cook it. I've looked up some recipes and found one for new world chili, which has pumpkin in it. It took me a long time to cut up all of the ingredients and when I was done the underside of my right thumb nail was burning. I thought maybe it was onion or garlic that was hurting my thumb but when I stuck it in my mouth it was hot and then like a light bulb going off I knew it was the jalapeno peppers I had cut up for the chili. I washed my hands for the third time and it still burned. Even as I write this I can still feel the fire under my thumb nail.

Chocolate Chip and Cherry Cookies

As I had already spent a lot of time in the kitchen, and I needed to watch the chili, I decided to make some really yummy chocolate chip cookies. I added dried cherries and they are amazing. I'm really quit proud of myself. It was just a normal chocolate chip recipe and I made it something special. They smell so good. They look lovely too.

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving was at my grandfather's in Spruce Pine this year. It was odd not being at my parents house. With my grandfather back in North Carolina we are spending much more time with him. It is hard sometimes to spend time with him as he is not really as aware of his surroundings as he used to be. Sometimes though he notices things that no one would notice. Yesterday he asked why we were all wearing socks and not our shoes? In not as many words. Why would he notice something like that and not so many other things. Sometimes I think that it would almost be better if I wasn't there as I look like my grandmother. Particularly with my hair long as I wear it in a bun and that is how she wore her hair.

The dinner/lunch was good. We cooked way to much food. Well, I should say, my parents cooked way to much food. I'm not complaining though. As always I ate way to much. After lunch Ruff, who we brought along, wanted to go for a walk so Jonpaul, Tadayoshi and I walked him down the driveway. Tadayoshi, my cousin, arrived late to the lunch. Currently he has not figured out how to be polite or make himself pleasant company. Everything is about him. I wouldn't mind if he was more interesting but he is the typical college student. It was so cold outside we didn't walk far as we really needed more layers.

The Mushroom on the tree

Mom and dad thought it would be nice to hike some of the trails that are by my grandparents. Carol joined us which was nice. We walked one that goes to the Spruce Pine mineral museum. It was really chilly and we had to borrow coats from the house. I wore a jacket of my grandmothers and Jonpaul got a coat of Papa's. That really helped make the hike pleasant. A little way down the trail we saw a mushroom hanging from a tree. It was like little tendrils growing down. We made it to the end of the trail and decided that we would like to get warm so we walked back on the Parkway as it was faster than wandering through the woods. When we got back everyone headed home except for my family. We stayed for dinner with Papa as it was our night to stay with him. Mom, Jonpaul, and I went home after dinner. When we got home it was snowing. The first snow which I've seen this year. It didn't last very long or stick to the ground. Mom and I worked on drilling my books and getting them ready to photograph.

Hawk's Bill

Matthew and I came up to Bakersville last night. We had dinner at my Grandfather's as my parents are caregivers some nights of the week. It was really foggy when we were driving. I probably should have followed the advice of the sign for the Parkway and used a different route but I didn't. I thought that it wouldn't get any worse but when we were leaving it was even more foggy than when we arrived.

Today mom headed over to Papa's in the morning and Jonpaul and dad went to get Jonpaul his driver's license. He got it. My little brother has his driver's license.

At noon we set out on the Parkway for Hawk's Bill. It was really sunny and as we were driving I could see Hawk's Bill from the overlooks and it looked sunny and nice but right before we got to the road that goes up we drove into the clouds. The clouds were really cool. On one side it was cloudy and the other side was sunny. We hiked up in the clouds and when we got to the top the clouds were blowing over the top. We sat and watched the clouds blowing over. I always thought it would feel wet against my skin. It didn't. I could see the cloud coming at us like a solid object and then I was inside it, breathing in the chilly air. I'm upset that my camera was in the car with dead batteries but that is what happens when you have old rechargeable batteries that don't stay charged. My brother and dad took pictures on their cell phones so maybe I'll get some of them.

Clouds blowing over the top of Hawk's Bill

It was a nice hike and it was nice getting out with my family although hiking up made me realize just how lazy I've been recently. I need to get out hiking more and not spend as much time sleeping after work. The early mornings really wear me out and I don't go out and do as much as I would like to. After the hike I was really tired and couldn't do much more than sit in the kitchen and drink hot cider.

Firethorn

I have been drawn into the world of fiction, my thoughts over flow with the story. I just finished reading Firethorn by Sarah Micklem. The world was different and yet similar to enough that I could imagine visiting and seeing the plants I read about. I am a reader drawn in from the first word and I follow every step not questioning even though the text may stumble and if I do question it is more for myself my desire to know more, to become the character which I am reading. Firethorn was easy to love even though she was a tough person in the book. I read and read and still I want the book to continue as the end wasn't really an ending. I have the next book and am waiting to pick it up, yet I want the first book to continue I'm not ready for a second yet. I have to wait for the story to drift out of my mind and stop pestering me before I start the next book.

Firethorn is light fantasy. Not the fantasy where you have to try and believe in dragons and time travel, which I have nothing against. I like this kind of fantasy because it is easy to read without questions. Firethorn the main character in the book has been given a gifts by the god of fire, Ardor, after she survives eating the fruit of the firethorn. When she returns from her time in the Kingswood she finds that the kingdom is going to war, and when the troops come through the town she is spotted for her red hair by one of the Blood, descendant of the Gods, and he takes her for his lover, but instead of leaving her in the town he takes her with him. Most of the novel takes place on the Marchfield while they are waiting to go to war across the sea. As there is little physical movement and they never get to war in the story, the book could have easily dragged but it didn't. I did start to feel impatient and want them to leave for war but I never was sorry as the more I read the more I got to know the characters and the more I want to read the next in the series, Wildfire. I have to say that I was really drawn to the cover of Wildfire and would probably not have read Firethorn if I hadn't realized it was a series. I am not sorry that I did though and would recommend the novel. I do think it will appeal more to female readers as it is in first person and Firethorn is not a female character who would easily be liked by male readers.

Saturday I went to the library and picked out books and then I started reading. Sunday it was rainy so I read, I took a break and went to a movie with my parents, we saw Julie and Julia, I really enjoyed the movie. It made me wish I was eating good French food instead of the pizza I had in front of me. Brew and View theater was cold and even though I had hot chocolate my nose and feet were freezing by the time the movie was over. After the movie Mom, Dad, Jonpaul, and I went and got way to much desert at Greenlife. It was good. I needed a break from reading and it was good to see my family.

Today even though it wasn't raining it was gray out and it seems as though winter is really coming and the snow will soon follow. I'm like a little child waiting for the first snow to fall so I can stand glued to the window and watch the flakes fall, like it is the first snow I've seen. It hasn't come yet but the air smells different and I can feel it coming. I'm waiting.

Rotary Dinner

The Flag ceremony line up.
I was confused as to what to wear to the Rotary District 7670 annual dinner, so I spent some time looking for something that would work. I found a dress which I really liked at TJ Maxx but it didn't fit me, it was too big. After failing to find anything, even with help from Teel who I work with, I realized that I could wear a long sleeve shirt under the dress and then it would fit me. That is what I ended up doing and I have to say I am glad that is what I did because it is a nice black dress and it doesn't look like it would be that difficult to take in.

This morning I drove up to my parents. Mom has been altering my Navy Jacket for Rotary and I needed to pick it up from her so I could have it at the dinner. It was really very nice in Bakersville and I got there in time for a walk with Ruff. It is always really nice to walk around the property on a sunny day and now that the leaves have all fallen the views are amazing. After the walk and lunch mom and dad took an impression of my hand for a piece they are making. I didn't want to go to the dinner smelling like alginate so I showered, but I still smelled like a dentists office. We decided that since it was so nice we should go and walk around Swiss Pine Lake before I had to leave. It was a nice walk, but in the shade I could feel the cold air moving back in. Ruff was really excited about getting a second walk. Now that he isn't getting car sick as much we take him places. After the walk I headed out to the Rotary Dinner. I stopped and changed at Papa's and then drove down to Hickory.

Me and the Guatemala Flag before the introduction of the Flags

I got to the event on time which I thought at first that I might not. The place where the event was held was not as nice as where I work, but it was bigger. As soon as I got into the main room someone came up to me and asked me if I would be part of the flag ceremony. Each one of the flags in the ceremony represents a country in which the Rotary district 7670 has a tie either they have a scholar from there, a scholar studying in the country or they have a project which they are working on in the country. I was originally going to carry Australia but there wasn't a flag for Australia, so I ended up carrying Guatemala. Everyone kept asking me if I was from Guatemala, which I am not. I had to keep telling people that no I was not from Guatemala and I didn't know where I was going to be studying yet. I ended up sitting with a group of people I didn't know from Marion. They were all very nice. We talked about Lenard Cohen and Doc Watson. It was an interesting dinner as I think they were all surprised that I knew who they were talking about. The food at the event was not all that great and it really wasn't very filling. The speaker spoke mostly about Rotary and I found it hard to follow what he was talking about and to remain interested as it really seemed like he was just talking about his books and not as much his experiences which would have been better. He was a good speaker but not the most interesting one from my perspective. I think it was good for me to go to the dinner but the drive back to Asheville was long and I'm just really glad to be back and ready to go to bed.

The Banquet room

Pumpkin Patch

Today Matthew and I went out to Hickory Nut Gap Farm because they had a pumpkin patch and I could pick my own pumpkin. It was exciting looking around for a pumpkin. The drive out was pretty as well with all the leaves changing and the mountains all colorful. When we got to Hickory Nut Gap Farm we could see the pumpkins on the hill up by the pigs. Yes pigs. They were laying in the sun. Luckily they were fenced off from the pumpkins. I wandered around until I found a good pumpkin. This means I walked through the entire field twice and looked at every pumpkin. I have to say I'm happy with the one I chose it is round and if I'm lucky I'll be able to get a cat carved on it.

Me and my Pumpkin

After we left Hickory Nut Gap Farm we went up to the Parkway and ate lunch at the Folk Art Center. Matthew knew of a hike on the Parkway that I didn't know of so we decided to try it. The hike was called RattleSnake Lodge. By the time we got to the trail it was already 3:30ish so there wasn't much light left and it was starting to get chilly. The leaves on the trail were amazing though. Matthew and I thought we would be able to make it to the end of the trail but it went straight up. It seemed like and as we weren't hiking fast and we were listening to the little stream and watching the chipmunks we didn't make it to the end. We heard there was a chimney and well from the lodge that used to be there but we didn't make it and when we looked the trail up online we found out that when the trail had branched at the beginning and we had gone right the trail to the left was the one that went up to the lodge sight. I guess that is for another day now.

Leaves on the RattleSnake Lodge Trail

Rotary Club Meeting

Thursday at noon in a town near you the Rotary Club is meeting. I didn't prepare nearly as much as I should have for giving a small speech about myself. I know, who knows me better than I do? In some ways I'm sure this is true but sometimes I feel like maybe there are people who know me as well as I know myself. My mom knows me pretty well and she probably could have done a good job giving the speech in my place, we all know she has more public speaking skills than me.
The fence at my Grandparents house. This fence has many memories from my childhood.

Before I went into the Rotary meeting in Spruce Pine, my sponsor club, I meet my mom at Granny and Papa's. We went and got cider at Alta Pass Orchard. Their cider used to be pretty bad but both my mom and I had heard that they were getting their cider pressed by Saylors Orchard which is the orchard in Bakersville. Saylors has really good cider and so mom and I took a chance and spent twice as much and got a 1/2 gallon. Lucky for us it was Saylor's cider. And if it wasn't then Alta Pass has gotten much better at pressing cider.

My speech and at the club went well. I probably rambled a bit. I tried to make a ruff outline before I went in to speak, but I forgot some of what was on it. I guess that is the way it goes.

After that was over I went back over and helped my mom prepare more for getting my grandfather back to NC. She is interviewing all of the people who I called last week. I felt like I called millions of people even though it was only 38 or so, from a list the hospital provides.

Matthew and I went to our Chinese lesson. Again I feel behind, Matthew is way ahead of me. I am trying to keep up but it is hard. Maybe by next week I'll get as much as him.

Movie

This morning Erik went off to an orthodontist appointment and I stayed and walked ruff with mom and dad. Jonpaul went back to school yesterday.

Erik and I meet in Asheville. He wants to look at cameras. We didn't end up finding the one he was most interested in but we did see that there are some nice cameras. It is good for me to see them as well because I'm looking to get one for when I go to China. The camera I have now is nice but it is really picky about batteries. It takes AA but sometimes the new batteries I get at the store don't work and the rechargeable batteries I have don't last very long. It is really a pain. I don't like it at all when I'm having to think about whether or not my camera is going to turn on when I want it to. I've missed a lot of good pictures because the batteries were dead.

After we got done looking at all the stores that had cameras we thought it would be nice to go to a movie. Mom and Dad came into Asheville as well and Matthew joined us too. We all went to dinner at Doc Che's. We went and saw "The Invention of Lying". It had a good combination of serious and funny to make it a good movie.

Home In Bakersville

This weekend my brothers and I were all home in Bakersville. It is the first time we have all been at home in a while. With Erik on the west coast we don't see much of him. I only live an hour from home so I come home much more than my brothers. It was nice to all be home. I stayed in Asheville last night as I was working until late and didn't want to drive an hour. I did make it for breakfast this morning which was my goal. Mom and Dad cooked crepes a favorite of ours since we were kids.

Black Mountains with a cloud cover

After much indecision we finally decided to go on a hike off the Parkway. As it was really cold we wanted a hike that wouldn't be to cold. It was a pretty hike. There was snow on the mountain tops as we drove out and a little on the leaves that hadn't melted yet. It was really cold and windy exactly what we had wanted to avoid. I had left my polar fleece in Asheville as I ran out the door so I didn't really have a good warm jacket. When we were hiking on the ridge top or the windward side it was painfully cold. Out of the wind it was almost warm. It was a really nice hike, with the leaves turning and all the fall color. While we were hiking mom tried to lead us down a trail that did not exist. It was really pretty funny all of us following this idea of a trail until there really was no trail. There were green brier and lots of laurels which were blocking the supposed trail. It was exciting to tromp through the woods.

Dad, Jonpaul, Mom, and Erik on the trail

Mom's Trail

After the hike we went back to the house and cooked dinner. Ruff was really happy to see us. He needs his people around.

Sunset and Walk at Beaver Lake

Beaver Lake with the sun shining

Yesterday was a beautiful day and Matthew and I decided it would be a good thing to go for a walk at Beaver Lake. I started out the day by going to work and not really knowing what to say to people. I felt numb. It was really hard for me to think that there are so many things I will not be able to share with my grandmother. Part of me wonders if I really ever thanked her for all she gave me and encouraged me to do. I wonder what secrets she kept with her. She didn't tell us so much and I wonder if she told anyone how she really felt or what she really thought. In many ways she was a very private person. She was kind and the grandmother most people would want to have.

It was really pretty at the lake with the leaves turning and the sun reflecting off of the water. It was really nice to get out and just walk after having been at work and feeling so lost. I always like going to Beaver Lake, it seems like it is sunny there more often than not (this can easily be explained: I don't go when it is cloudy or raining).

Matthew and the Dogwood Tree

Matthew has a tree which we go and visit every time we go to Beaver lake together. It is an old Dogwood which at this time of year is really pretty. It is starting to lose its leaves but they are a deep red which makes the bright red berries really bright.

Matthew and My Shadow

Today there was a really beautiful sunset which I just caught before it disappeared. I opened the window up to take the picture so I could show it to Matthew. Yes, that is peeling paint. If Matthew and I forget to pull the windows in they get rained on. I wouldn't say that the peeling paint was created by us though as it was already crumbling before we even moved in.

Sunset from the window of our apartment

After

Jonpaul went back to Math and Science today. Gorden and friend was going that direction anyway so he was able to take Jonpaul which was really good.

Yesterday Mom called from Florida and said that Granny was not going to make it more than another day. I sent an email down to be read to her. She really liked hearing what the family was doing.

She died today.

I went and laid in the hammock with Matthew afterward. My grandmother was a very amazing woman. She was in Pearl Harbor when it was bombed, but didn't really ever talk about it. There are so many things which she never told us but there are many things which she shared with us. I have her violin which made it possible for me to fulfill a dream I've had of playing since I was five. I only started playing last year. There are many things in my life which I am not aware of now which I am sure I will later thank my grandmother for teaching me.

Back from the Beach in No Time

Matthew and I drove down to the beach and his mom's on Friday. We got there in time for dinner. After dinner I practiced violin. Erik called me and told me he was going to have dinner with Brian Greene, who is the only physicist who I have been able to read and understand. I got really interested in string theory after reading his book The Elegant Universe.

Me at the Beach

It was really warm at the beach and after a sleepless night for Matthew, who was worried about his dad, we went to the beach. It was warm enough to go swimming which was nice. We walked on the beach and watched the kite surfers. When we were leaving the beach Matthew got a call and we packed up and headed to Durham to go and be with Matthew's Dad. We packed up at Matthew's Mom's and jumped in the car. I was driving and about an hour into the trip I get a phone call and I don't recognize the number but I answer it anyway. "Hi, is this Annalisa?" "Yes." "This is Math and Science calling and your brother is running a fever can you come and get him? We heard your parents were out of town." "Yes." The one good thing was I was already on my way to Durham where Math and Science is. So when we got to the hospital I dropped off Matthew and went and got my brother and brought him back to Bakersville. At 1 in the morning we went to the hospital to get a flu test which was negative so we just had to wait until his fever went down. He has to be fever free for 24 hours before I can take him back.

Sunday he was still sick so I went out and got stuff for us to eat and Gatorade. Ruff was very bossy and wanted lots of attention. Today it seemed like he was better but then when I got back to Asheville, Tom our uncle is staying with him, he had a fever again. I have to work tomorrow so I needed to come back to Asheville tonight so that I could get to work at 6 in the morning. It is really cold here as the heat isn't on yet.

Art, Mandarin, and Packing

Today was mom and dad's opening at Blue Spiral. Matthew and I invited them over for dinner. I don't know what I was thinking not cleaning up the apartment until the last minute and then having to pack to head down to Matthew's mom's tomorrow.

I slept in so that was a late start to the day. Matthew made biscuits, bacon, and eggs for me. It was great. We watched Gilmore Girls with breakfast. I really like the show. After breakfast we went for a walk. It was cool but in the sun it was pretty warm. When we got back we opened all the windows to try and warm it up in the apartment. It was much warmer outside than inside.

For lunch we went to Urban Burrito. I still miss Rio Burrito, but when you want a burrito you take what you can get. We did some shopping. So by the time we got back to the apartment I had to rush and get everything ready to cook and then get dressed for the show at Blue Spiral. That basically meant taking off the flour covered shirt and putting on a different one. The show was interesting and didn't seem to have a coherent theme to me. We couldn't stay long as Matthew and I had a Mandarin lesson. It was our third lesson. I found someone who taught Mandarin on Craigslist. I have to say I really think it is a good thing we are having lessons before we go otherwise I don't know how we would get on.

When we got back to the apartment I cooked the chicken pot pie the rest of the way and was going to start on an apple cake when mom and dad got here. We made the cake together, mom and I, and it was like I was a kid again and she was helping me learn to cook. We used to bake a lot together. It was really fun. Particularly eating the sugar and butter without the egg. I'm surprised I never got sick. The food turned out good and it was really fun. I'm glad we had them over.

After they left Matthew and I packed for going down to Wilmington for the weekend. I packed like I was going to be gone for much longer than I am. I for once have more stuff than Matthew but that is mostly because I have my violin and that adds a lot. I think I will be glad to have it though.

Last book class

The last book class is over and I have to say that it wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be. They actually seemed excited with the end product. I do have to say I did some poor planning. I thought that I would be able to use Matthew's drill but we couldn't find the drill bits so that was a bit of a catch. I had to borrow a drill, but that was okay. During the class I assisted each student individually, I did all of the drilling and I helped them sew the book. I think they turned out pretty good. Part of me wonders if I thought the class was good because it was the last day. I thought we would finish early but we didn't which was okay. I have to say I am glad now that I taught the class. In some ways it has helped me to realize many things about what I am good at and what I am not good at. I don't always have patience so I'm not the best teacher when it comes to students who don't understand. However, I found it very rewarding to see the kids learn from their mistakes and then be able to do things correctly. If I were able to learn to be more understanding and patience I think that teaching would be really rewarding. I'm not that happy with the job I have right now. I am not intellectually stimulated and I find as a result I have less of an attention span and I just don't feel as motivated to do anything later. When I do use my brain I do feel better. Teaching the class helped me a lot because as the class went on I realized I was becoming more and more effective as a teacher. I guess what I'm considering is being a professor, I don't want to deal with young kids. I think I could deal with college age adults. Knowing me this will fade quickly and I will go back to my previous goal of working for an NGO that helps with development in countries struggling to provide for their population. I don't know that as a teacher I would be able to achieve what I want. I might teach another bookmaking class though.

Dahlias

My mom's garden is beautiful right now. But anytime this week we could get a frost and that will be the end of all of her flowers. Today I picked a bunch before I went back to Asheville so that I would have some.

Mom and Ruff in the Dahlias

Jonpaul was home this weekend so I got up early on Sunday morning and headed over to Bakersville. It was good to see Jonpaul. Ruff ran up from the basement, where mom and Jonpaul were when I got there, and whined a greeting to me. He has gained a little weight with the dog sitters while my parents have been in Florida. Poor boy is going to go on a diet again. He really hates them. He thinks love is food. Mom and Jonpaul were bringing in all of the plants from outside. My brothers have a jungle they have created, which in the winter moves into the basement.

Mom in the Dahlias

At lunch I went out and saw Midnight, my kitten. She's not a kitten, she is 10 or 11 but she still sounds like a kitten. She is not eating and we think maybe it is her teeth.

The Creek Walk Art Festival was going on so we went down there and checked it out. There was some good stuff but not all of it was great art. Ruff wasn't allowed in the Festival so while my parents and Jonpaul checked out the art work Ruff and I walked down to the Bakersville Fire Department. Along the creek there were some really good holes in the dirt and Ruff stuck his head in them and was sucking in air and puffing it out. It is pretty funny. I think that if I ever found a smell that made me want to do that I would there for hours. He makes the smell seem so wonderful. When I got back dad took Ruff to the car so we could all walk around some together. We all shared a Funnel Cake. Mom and Dad had never had Funnel cake before. I don't think they realize what they were missing. Mom's comment was "it's like a big doughnut." Well what can I say it is fried dough. But oh so good.

We had baked chicken for dinner at Jonpaul's request. It was good. I ate more than I should have.

Monday Carol, Earle, and Tom came over for lunch. It was a good lunch. It was very pleasant as communication between siblings was actually functioning. I had to leave to get back to Asheville for work. I almost didn't make it back in time to stop at home (the apartment) and drop off all of my stuff. The construction coming down the mountain is not only ugly but it is also slowing things way down so it takes much longer to get places.

The construction coming down the mountain on the drive from Bakersville to Asheville.

At work I closed for the night by myself. It was not the most pleasant thing. I was lonely. But I wasn't there that long so that was nice. I had an early night with time to do stuff after.

Computer Charger Dying

My computer charger is deteriorating and I've ordered a new one so that the wires I can see don't catch something on fire. It happened really fast too. I was not even aware that something was wrong with the charger until yesterday. The plastic/rubber coating seems to have broken and now the wires on the inside are falling apart. I thought that it would be okay, yesterday, if I was really careful, but now I can smell it every once in a while and it smells hot. Not good. I don't want to start a fire or anything. Also, I want to have a computer later on and my battery doesn't last all that long anymore when it is not plugged in. It is a real bummer as I would have liked to buy something else, I don't know what, food maybe, but now I have a new charger for my computer on the way. I just hope this one doesn't blow up before it gets here, otherwise I'm going to be one unhappy girl.

Yesterday was my second day waking up at 5 am and let me tell you it is not something which I want to be doing again anytime soon. It was not fun at all and I couldn't seem to take a nap when I got back home. I lay in bed for a while but I couldn't sleep. I just kind of drifted close to sleep but not sleeping. I did realize that I don't want to be a waiter and I would really like to do something else with my time. I'm still thinking about what that might be. I do know I want to use my brain more and that is not something I am doing right now.

Two 5 o'clocks

This morning I had to get up at 5 to get into work on time. I was a bundle of joy after that let me tell you. To begin with I don't like waking up in the morning when it is not light out. It was dark. Very dark. I also like waking up slowly at my own pace not up and at em right away. Just not my thing. I like time to think and plan my day when I get up. This was not the case. I did not even eat breakfast before I ran out the door. Lucky for me I did get breakfast at work. Humm Yummy bacon, eggs, potatoes, and fruit. The fruit was really good and the bacon while not the best was well bacon and it was good.

Work was slow today. That is until right about the time I was thinking they were going to let me go. I was thinking I'll get some more sleep. I'm going to go home and crawl back in bed. But no then a group added a lunch so I got to stay longer. I need the hours but I am not a 6 in the morning girl. And I get to do it all over again tomorrow.

Today is one of the first sunny days. It has rained and rained for the past week. After I got off work I had my violin lesson. It was a good lesson but I need to practice more as my fingers were hurting at the end. I think it is from helping out in the dish pit at work. I think I will try and avoid further contact with chemical soaps.

Well it is time for dinner and then bed as tomorrow is going to be an early morning.

Glue, Scissors, Cereal boxes, and Paper

This weeks installment of the bookmaking class went much better. They actually got something done. It was impressive. They had a new assistant teacher and he really laid down the law and the students followed it. There was one new student and a student who had left so the new student got the old students incomplete book. It looks like next week will be the last week I have to go in to teach the class. I'm pretty happy about that. I also think that the students are more invested in what they are doing and as a result they want to participate. I am actually enjoying the class now instead of dreading it. The class is still difficult to teach but now that the students are interested in what is happening and are invested in the process it is much easier to communicate and have them follow instruction.

This week was the last day of cover making so we glued them and they are drying for next week when we will sew them.

On Monday mom was flying back from Florida. I was supposed to pick her up at the airport in Asheville at 3 and take her back to Bakersville. Monday morning I woke up to more rain and it looked like it was going to rain all day. I called mom and dad in Florida and told them to check the flight before she left. It was on time. In Orlando mom called me and told me she was leaving late. She missed her flight from Atlanta to Asheville as a result. Once she got to Atlanta she played musical flights. I gave up on a set time for picking her up at the airport. Matthew and I went for a walk in the rain just to get outside. It was about the time one of moms flights was supposed to come in but I figured that it was safe to go walking because she had not gotten on a flight yet. It wasn't until 9:30pm that she finally got in. She ended up spending the night with me in Asheville. Today was actually sunny for the first time in a couple days too, so Mom and I went for a walk.

Kids Who Don't Do Well in Public Schools

I now know why the kids at Eliada are there and why it is an alternative school for kids who don't do well in public schools. Yes, today teaching book making was an absolute joy. They added two kids to the class and I didn't have enough supplies. One of the kids they added was the exception to the rule of "no question is a dumb question". Everything that came out of her mouth was a question. It seemed to me that she didn't think before she spoke. Not only that but she really irritated me. I tried to be patient but soon I couldn't have defined the word if my life I depended on it. As a result of the disturbance we didn't even finish the covers. I don't know what I'm going to do if this class drags on and on. I want it to end. I also need more work so I'd really like it to end so that I can get more hours. As of right now it looks like I have two to three more weeks of teaching. I really wish it was less. After I left Eliada I was really hoping that Crispy Cream would have warm doughnuts but they did not. I'm going to go to get a doughnut as soon as I unload stuff at my apartment and regain some energy.

I've had a stuffy nose for the past couple days. I've been really worn out as a result. Yesterday Matthew and I went for a walk and when I got back I ended up taking a nap. On the walk I heard a squirrel fall out of a tree. I thought that it was just a walnut or branch but when I looked over there was a squirrel struggling to get up. It did manage to get up and climb the tree again. It took it awhile and it was resting in the tree when Matthew and I walked on. I wonder if squirrels can get rabies and if we should have been worried about it or not. It was a really pretty walk the leaves on some of the trees are starting to change. There are a few on the side walk and soon all the leaves will turn. I really like the leaves when they change it is so pretty.

Work

On Monday I had a headache most of the day because my neck was hurting. And I think it all got worse when I took out my paycheck from Dining Innovations and found that they had only paid me $7.25, minimum wage, for training. I checked with the other girls that were hired at the same time as me and we all agreed that they told us that we would be paid for training but that they had left out the $7.25 part of that. I thought that they would be paying me the $10 that I normally would make. I was expecting a much larger paycheck than I got so it was a little frustrating. Not only that I felt mislead, which is why I am now looking for another job. Not only did they tell us they would be paying us for training, when I was hired they told me I would be able to work between 30 and 40 hours a week. The most I have worked in a week is 28 hours. I am not going to be able to pay rent with this job. Last week I worked 11 hours total and this week I think I might be able to work 20 hours if I can stay late on Saturday. Last night I did get to work around 9 hours so that is a start on me being able to pay the rent but not enough.

I don't want to have to worry about whether or not I will be able to pay rent or not. So that I don't worry about it I'm working on getting another job. I would really like to work in a book store or for that matter a library would be great. I love books and it would be nice to be around them. Maybe I will see if the Library is hiring. I already applied at Barns and Nobel. I haven't heard from them. I tried to apply at Mr. K's Used Books but they had just filled the position. I'm not sure of the point in trying to apply at Malaprop's because they have had the same employees as long as I can remember. I also wouldn't mind working at a movie rental place, but they probably don't pay that well. Once again let the great search for work commence.

No Mandarin

Yesterday morning I got a call from AB Tech saying that due to low enrollment they were canceling the Mandarin for beginners class. It really made me upset as I was hoping that the teacher would be able to help Matthew and I find a good place to teach in Kunming. That won't be happening now. I did get on Craigslist and find a teacher in the area who gives lessons in Mandarin and I contacted him. So it looks like Matthew and I will still be able to take lessons before we go. I was just looking forward to the class. I guess I miss being in school and I wanted to have something similar to school. I will be going to grad school so I shouldn't get to upset over not having a class this year.

Last night was a late night at work. I was supposed to be working at 6 this morning but I ended up trading with a girl whose babysitter was not working out. As a result I got to sleep in. I'm really happy about that. I do have to work 2 to close today so it could be a long day but at least I will be getting hours which I haven't been getting enough of recently. I'm looking for another job as it is. I would really like to work at a movie place or a book store. The two things that I really like movies and books. Yesterday I ordered a book from Amazon, which will start my immersion into everything Chinese. It is called Chinese Lessons: Five Classmates and the Story of a New China by John Pomfret. I think if nothing else it will be an introduction to Chinese culture. I'm looking forward to getting it.

Today it really feels like fall is starting. It is cool outside and the weather can't decide if it is going to be sunny or cloudy. I am really enjoying it.

Book Making Class

I volunteered to teach a book making class at Eliada Home for Children. They have a high school program for students who are not doing well in the public school system. I thought that it would be a good experience and that the kids would like it. I probably should have been weary because of the organizational skills of the principal, who never got back in touch with me. Instead she had the teacher sponsoring the class call me two weeks into the class and ask me if I could come in, that was two weeks ago. Since then I have gotten them a list of supplies and taught the first class.

I'm pretty disappointed with the kids in the class's enthusiasm for anything. I don't think there is much that the kids are happy doing when it comes to school. It seemed to me like they were unhappy about most things. We made paste paper and they didn't want to get their hands dirty. It was really unorganized and the class wasn't that much fun to teach. The two staff members were the only ones who were interested in the class and seemed to be having fun.

I had much more fun making paste paper when I got back home and made my own paper. I made two pieces at Eliada and that will hopefully make a book for me. I even got Matthew to come and play with me in the paint. It was fun and I didn't even have to clean up a big mess someone else made.

Mom's Potluck

I went home this weekend to see Jonpaul who was home from Science and Math for the first time since he went off to school. When I got home it seemed like there was no one there. As it turns out they were still getting up. Jonpaul didn't arrive down in the studio until much later when I was stuck up to my elbows in alginate. My parents are on the panic for a show at Blue Spiral Gallery in Asheville and SOFA (Sculptural Objects Functional Art) Chicago because they are thinking they may end up spending more time in Florida with my Grandparents.

Just about the time I was starting to think that it would be a good time to take a nap my mom started preparing to go to a potluck. This potluck she tells me is very important for me because of receiving the Rotary Scholarship. This means that I have to meet and talk with many people who are just thrilled that I am going to have a Rotary Scholarship. What they don't really care about is the fact that I'm going to Grad school which is what I'm really excited about. I know that the other part of the scholarship is really important and will help me set up contacts who will be able to set me up with jobs later, but that can only happen if I do well in Grad school. I did meet someone who had also received the scholarship and it was good to talk with her and see what she had to say about her experiences. She said that the scholarship did not cover as much of her time abroad as she would have thought. I had already expected that the scholarship would not cover as much of my trip as I would have liked.

Jonpaul was not happy about being at the potluck for as long as we were. He slept in a chair, we brought for dad, most of the time we were there. He was trying to catch up on sleep he didn't get at Science and Math. When we got back, dad charged the furnace (means added batch, the dry mixture which when heated creates glass, to the furnace, which melts the glass and keeps it hot enough to be hot worked and blown). We watched I Capture the Castle which I really liked. It was funny and sad at the same time. I thought it was really well done. It was about a family that moves into a castle because the father, a writer, thinks that he will be inspired by the castle. He isn't, and the family falls into poverty as a result of the lack of income.

Douglas Falls

Today I went hiking with Matthew and my parents. We ended up going to Douglas Falls which was only about 1/2 mile hike but then there was a trail which went all the way up to the parkway. We didn't hike all of it but we hiked up to a second waterfall called Cascade Falls which made the hike about 4 miles total. Near the beginning of the trail there was a fallen tree. The roots were still holding on to rocks and dirt. Some plants had sprouted in the dirt but they were still very small. The roots made a really pretty pattern. I thought I had never been to Douglas Falls before but when we got to the falls I realized that not only had I been there but it was the background I use on my phone. I was there with Mallory about 3 years ago. It is a small waterfall but it is really pretty.

(Right) Me under Douglas Falls (Left) Douglas Falls

It took us a while to find the trail up from the falls. In the process mom got stung by stinging nettle. First it hurts and then it itches for a while but luckily it doesn't last very long. There was lots and lots of stinging nettle on the trail. Sometimes it grew over the trail so that we had to push it out of the way to get through. That is when I got stung. It got me in the butt because my pants were thin and couldn't keep the needles out. Up above the falls there are these rocks one of which looks a little like the front of a ship. That is the comparison my dad made anyway. The rock plowed through the earth sending up billows of dirt until it came to rest. There was a tree growing up from the other rock. It was really cool to see the tree perched on the edge of the rock. We took our time hiking which was nice. We stopped along the trail and ate lunch. Hummus, cheese spread, bread, cookies, and carrots. It was not a special lunch but it was good. I was pretty hungry by the time we finally stopped. We crossed many creeks and mom tried to take me swimming with her in one of the creeks. Luckily it wasn't Cascade Falls because it would have hurt to fall down. It wasn't a complete drop off but it did go down pretty steep and it was rock the entire way. It was really cool in the woods, so we didn't get sweaty which was nice. There were clouds most of the day, but it didn't rain on us.

Cascade Falls

When we got back to the car we had a snack. At the trail head there was a pile of burnt parts to either a car or a camper. It would have been a real drag to have your vehicle burn all the way out there. We had to drive 20 minutes on a gravel road to get to the trail head which was the end of the road. We couldn't decide what it was from what was left. On the drive back we stopped at one of the waterfalls on the road it was almost as nice as Douglas falls. It didn't fall as far but it was multiple cascades. When we got back to the main road I noticed that there were squash fields. I had never seen a place where they farm yellow squash.

(Left) Waterfall by the road. (Right) Roots from fallen tree near the beginning of the trail.

When Matthew and I got back to our apartment it really started raining and I was making quiche. I didn't have any cream, though, so we got our umbrellas and walked to the little corner store. It was nice walking in the rain. Most of the time I don't like getting wet but it was refreshing. As I had never made a quiche before I was surprised at how good it was. Matthew and I watched In the Mood for Love. It is a Cantonese film. I liked it but I feel like I missed a lot of the subtext. I think to really understand it I would have to understand Cantonese and watch it more than once.