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ask-the-great-gatsby · 6 years

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Places To Visit: Asheville NC

These are some cool as heck places to visit if you ever drop by historic Asheville NC.

The Grove Park Inn

- There's quite a bit of F. Scott Fitzgerald/20's history here. He stayed there in '35 to detox from alcoholism. My grandma used to work here, and it's a really nice place. If you like ghosts and spooky stuff, room 545 is supposed to be haunted by the Pink Lady. You can just visit the place, or actually book a room there. It's really pretty to come around Christmas time.

The Biltmore Estate

- The entire estate is hard to cover in one day, but it's very very interesting. Sometimes they have art events and exhibits going on there, and it's really neat. Really beautiful home interior and it's all very well preserved. Oh, they also sell 1920s style flapper bucket hats, I got one and wore it around. My grandma used to work here to. They have some amazing restaurants on the estate, they turned the old horse stable into one. There's also an inn on the estate you can stay--its nice. Pricey though. Never stayed there before, but since my grandma worked there, I toured the place.

Honeypot Vintage

- This place is on the downtown strip of Lexington Avenue. They sell a lot if 60's, 70's, and 80's clothing and apparel there. It's all in really good shape, but it's a bit pricey. Worth a visit, especially in the summer.

Earth Magik

- I recently found this place and went in there with a friend. They have a super nice pet snake in the back. They sell crystals, gemstones, and the staff are friendly. I bought some ammonites there. They do spiritual readings and palm readings in the back, and have all the crystals metaphysical properties listed beside their displays on the floor, if you're into that. Most if the things in there are very moderately priced, very affordable. I love that place.

Cornerstone Minerals

- A super neat rock shop, but usually pretty expensive. It's always really quiet in there, and they have super nice staff, with very very helpful information cards that they offer with each stone/crystal/fossil you buy. The staff are also very well educated on what they're selling, like, I learned how the entire Orthoceras species went extinct from the staff and nearly cried about it in the store. Check this place out, even if you're just looking for info on the crystals.

Enter The Earth

- This place is located in The Grove Arcade, and it's another moderately priced crystal place. If you can't tell by now, I love rock shops. Very friendly and helpful staff, and you also get info cards there, to. Out of every crystal shop on this list, this place has the most out of all of 'em. While you're at The Grove Arcade, check out re other shops in there. Fudge shop, barber shop, jewelry shop. Not to mention, the 20's history there I worth your while. The building was built in '26, I believe. The interior shows it.

Of Wand And Earth [This place is in Marshall, a small town near Asheville, so it's a bit out if the way but DEFINITELY worth the visit.]

- Really locally owned, very small, and very adorable crystal shop 20 miles from Asheville. The staff are calming, friendly, and love to chat! I've bought a lot from their shop, and they are very very good with prices. They have a pretty wide selection for such a small shop. One woman who works there knows a lot about metaphysical properties, chakra, and meditation, if you're looking for that kind of info.

Regeneration Station

- One real kickass antique place--but not your average antique shop. Massive building, a lot of ground to cover. There's all kinds of different vendors in the building, some sell antiques and oddities, others sell homemade products and handmade creations like jewelry and clothing. There's a crystal booth in there called 420 Love Street, and I've met the booths owner. Very nice affordable prices on the rocks. He doesn't deal so much with metaphysics, just sells the rocks. They sell a lot of 20s-80s era things in there, like clothes, militaria artifacts, books, helmets, dresses, jewelry. All of them are local vendors, to. The owner and founder of the place recently passed away in an accident, and they have a super cool mural on the wall dedicated to him when you first walk in the door. It's a big neon green building, you can't miss it.

Bryant's Antiques

- One of my favorite antique places. Super nice building and staff, once again. There's a lot of 1920s clothing, books, jewelry, purses, hats, and shoes there. There's a bunch of neat knick-knacks in there, and they're always playing 60s music. This place is almost 9,000 square feet, much bigger than it looks from the door. Don't underestimate this store. Nice prices for the most part, and booth C34 always has a sale going on. It's part of like, a little antique strip mall. There are I think like 4 shops beside this one, one sells a lot of coins and keys that are all like, really really old (I got an old British coin there from 1860 something for like .50 cents) and the shop at the opposite end of the mall is like, nothing but 1950s things. Check 'em all out.

The Antique Tobacco Barn

- Take a friend. This place is big as hell. You'll get lost if you're alone in there. It's happened to me before. Successfully managed to lose my grandma for 30 minutes when we went in there together. Wear comfortable shoes, it's a lot of walking and you'll be there for a while. Very cold in the winter, very hot in the summer. Dress temperature appropriate. You'll need to. Literally anything antique you can imagine is in that store. Craziest thing I've seen in there has probably been a prison bathtub and a prison toilet, sold together, or the map of North America that was labelled entirely in backwards German. I'm not saying that to say that I can't read German, im saying that because everything was printed backwards, but in German. I've bought a lot of military artifacts in there. When I say they have everything there, I do mean anything and everything. If you think of it, it's probably there somewhere within the 77,000 square feet that makes up the building. There are 75 different antique dealers there.

Helen's Bridge

- Allegedly haunted by the ghost of a distraught mother who's child perished in a house fire--the mother hung herself from the bridge due to the immense sorrow she felt due to losing her child. A really chilling experience, honestly. I've been there twice, and both times I've been there, I've left feeling emotionally shaken.

Points Of Light

- Another crystal shop!! Very nice display and selection, and the owner is world's nicest. Very very nice place to come and relax in the presence of super calming crystals. Theres some chairs in there, gathered around a very very large sphere of clear quartz. You can bring a book and sit and read beside it. Its wonderful. Very very nice prices as well. I've bought a lot of fluorite from there.

Raven & Crone

- This is a cute little witchy shop in Asheville and the staff are real nice. Incense, wands, crystals, bottles, and advice. Palm readings and free tea samples. Really local and small, very calming place. Check it out, definitely worth your while.

//There's a lot of places I didn't mention because there's too many to remember, but these are definetly places I would recommend going, because they're my favorite. Check out the shops near these shops, and the shops near these shops beside the original shops I mentioned. There's a lot of cool stuff here, and a lot of 20s history.

#the great gatsby #20s history #asheville nc #asheville #north carolina #tourism #f scott fitzgerald #come visit asheville please #add this city to your to visit bucket list because its really kickass #take it from me #i live here #a little queue never killed nobody

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someoneinjersey · 2 years

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Just a lil update

Every so often I like to check in on my mostly defunct social media accounts.

Still living in North Carolina with Kate, with her cat Wimby and my dog Deano, and then we had a stray decide to adopt us who is so sweet and lovey. Her name is Larry because she has a very raspy meow if she can make sound at all, so Kate said she had laryngitis, thus, Larry. She's wonderful and we want to work on bringing her inside if we can (she likes to sneak in sometimes anyway). She brings us so many "gifts" so we know she loves us but for god's sake, so many dead mice, chipmunks, and rabbits turning up on our porch.

I'm still disabled as fuck, yo. I rarely have the physical or mental energy to do things, which sucks because I was doing really well for a few months after I moved in and then at some point, possibly conflated by my birth control that I hated, my panic disorder kicked into high gear. Like I'd have a panic attack just driving into town, or thinking about driving into town, or for no reason at all. We went to Kate's brother's five hours away for Christmas this past year and I had to stop at a gas station for an hour to sit and let my meds kick in while fighting vomiting and hyperventilating because I was having such a bad panic attack. Once we finally got there I had at least one attack every day, sometimes two or three. It was out of control, so my psychiatrist put me on extended release xanax to try to improve my quality of life and it's worked very well, though it does make me sleepy and panic or the fear of panic does creep in from time to time.

My brother disowned me. My mother needs a kidney transplant now on top of her liver transplant, and will refuse dialysis once her kidney function fails completely, so we have no idea how much time she has left. She still won't leave her husband. She wants to come visit again (she came last October) and while she's my mom so I'd love to see her and cook for her, I don't know if I can handle the stress. She doesn't realize she's a huge trigger for me and she can never know that because it'll kill her and she's already dying. She is aware, however, that if she visits, she may have to have Kate or a taxi pick her up from/drop her off at the airport because I don't know if I can drive to Asheville yet. It's about a 30 minute drive, but I still struggle with just going into town. She's not too happy about that. We've had so many fights since I've moved here.

I keep falling into ruts. I swore I'd break all my bad habits once I got down here and lived on my own, without a parent lurking around, but I just keep letting things go all over again. The dishes pile up, the garbage piles up, and then the monumentous task of just starting a clean up becomes unattainable. I've also learned that I have ADHD, likely always have. My psychiatrist said it was a "soft" diagnosis he was giving me, however, because I wasn't interested in going on medication for it. I want to sort out my other shit first but naturally I'm making no progress on that either. I put things off because I'm scared, and because I can never guarantee that I can make my appointments due to my panic attacks.

I'm still a killer cook. I've taken up collage journaling, which is just basically gluing scraps of paper and putting stickers together in a notebook, but it makes me feel good to do. I bought myself supplies to start drawing again but they've been here over a week and I haven't touched them yet. I need to get back into art so maybe I can sell some because we are barely scraping by, paycheck to paycheck and disability to disability. It really sucks.

Anyway, for anyone that's still around, I just have tumblr, facebook, and instagram now. FB and IG are private so you'll have to send a follow request or whatever, but please do. I'd like more interaction and I miss some of you on here. I'm also always up for texting, so my number is only an ask away.

ETA: My fb is under "Sara Ann" and my current userpic is not my face, and my ig is "atthedividingline" thank you

#me #about me #personal #update

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directmarketingnc · 3 years

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Advantages Of Choosing BCBS Of NC In Asheville And Fletcher, NC

Ensuring health is not an option but becomes mandatory as one age slowly but surely. Visiting a doctor without insurance coverage can prove to be hugely expensive as well. It certainly makes sense to join BCBS of NC in Asheville and Fletcher, NC, instead of approaching any other insurance carrier operating in the State. Sure, being well above the age of 65 makes one eligible for Medicare plans, with low-income people being qualified for Medicaid. One does not have to give up on these benefits completely while searching for a good BCBS plan. However, it would be best to remain informed about how the insurance plans work and the process of keeping the escalating medical expenses limited. People residing in North Carolina are pleased to find all BCBS agencies in State offer an additional period of enrolment in 2021. This is due to the pandemic raging across the nation and the world. One does not have to be COVID-19 positive to qualify, however. Sadly, one cannot go for Medicare plans during this extended period. It is advisable to check the variety of plans available before deciding on a specific one. Insurance experts recommend shopping for the right plan following the need and budget. Individuals who opt for BCBS may choose to shun it in favor of a family plan eventually that covers couples and children. The expense can be reduced via a subsidy or tax credit. More than 80% of salaried individuals find this discount helpful in meeting their long-term goals vis-à-vis health insurance. Singles, as well as families, may select any of the following after checking out all available plans:- · 100% preventive coverage · Coverage of ER visits as per the selected network · Coverage for telemedicine as well as nursing advice provided by experienced professionals · Substance abuse and mental health coverage · Prescription plans with low deductibles · Option of choosing any one from numerous in-network doctors and specialists Insurance holders are also reimbursed for remaining healthy and physically fit Elderly citizens who find private plans to be too expensive can opt for a selection of Medicare by shopping for one suited to their purpose. Some of the things that one needs to check while hoping to find the best Medicare Plan include the following criteria:- There is no co-pay or premium on a selection of Medicare Advantage Plans bought through BCBS · Preventive care comes at no cost · It is possible to get the best of both worlds by opting for a combo plan that includes Medicare and Medicaid. · Option for joining free fitness and wellness programs · Extra coverage for prescription drugs BCBS offers a range of visual and dental care. It is good to shop for suitable coverage to prevent visits to the dentist or ophthalmologist frequently. Several individuals prefer buying private health insurance in Asheville and Fletcher, NC, instead of Medicare to remain covered for all possible health problems.

#BCBS of NC in Asheville and Fletcher NC health insurance in Asheville and Fletcher NC

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georgerealestategroup · 4 years

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Buy and Sell Homes with Noah George – The Most Reputed Realtor You Can Work With

Noah George is an experienced realtor the majority of people in North Carolina trust for all their real estate needs. He has a huge amount of experience of selling over 1100 properties. In 2005, Noah entered the real estate industry and since then he has been working as a professional real estate broker in North Carolina. He understands all the ins and outs of working as a real estate agent.

Noah George got married to Helen Joy in the same year he started working as a real estate broker. He’s the proud and happy father of three beautiful children. When he isn’t doing real estate work, he can be seen walking down Main Street in Hendersonville, listening to music, eating at locally-owned restaurants and camping/hiking in the nearby national forests. In 2011, Noah George started a weekly local radio program to discuss the local real estate market. People interested in real estate can listen to him every Monday 9AM on FM95.3/AM1600 or Stream Live at www.WTZQ.com. Listen Live every Thursday 10AM on FM107.7/AM1450 or Stream Live at www.WHKP.com.

Noah George attended and graduated from the Columbia International University. He used to work as the Southeast Manager in a successful internet company based in Lakeville, Connecticut. He is proud to be ranked as the number 1 agent in the Hendersonville Board of Realtors. Whether you want to buy or sell a residential property in North Carolina, contacting and consulting with Noah George can be of big help to you.

If you are looking for a reliable and experienced real estate agent to buy or sell residential property in North Carolina, George Noah is the best name you can work with. He has been serving as the professional real estate broker for quite a long time, and therefore he understands everything involved in the process of selling or buying a property.

Noah George is currently running a real estate company named ‘’George Real Estate Group.’’ You can visit his official website to know more about how they work to bring you the best real estate deals. Whether you want to know about a home’s value or are looking to sell your home, visiting George Real Estate Group is the best thing you can do.

With George Real Estate Group, one can find the best real estate deals in any of the following locations: Charlotte, NC, Asheville, NC, Statesville, NC, Concord, NC, Gastonia, NC, Waynesville, NC, Waxhaw, NC, Denver, NC, Lenoir, NC, Fort Mill, SC, Lake Lure, NC, Salisbury, NC, Matthews, NC, Lancaster, SC, Lincolnton, NC, Huntersville, NC, Hendersonville, NC, Hickory, NC, Brevard, NC, Morganton, NC, Rock Hill, SC, Monroe, NC, Black Mountain, NC, Burnsville, NC, Arden, NC, Cornelius, NC, Maggie Valley, NC, Indian Land, SC, and Weaverville, NC.

If this is your first time buying or selling a property in any part of North Carolina, it is highly advised that you work with a credible and experienced real estate broker like Noah George to avoid any problem involved in the buying and selling of a property. You may also visit Noah’s website dedicated for the people of North Carolina. The website brings you listings with stunning and shine photos, 3D walkthroughs, videos and virtual tours.

Using Noah’s website, one can search all the properties for sale in North Carolina and stay posted on everything their real estate agent do along the way. If you’re looking to sell your home, the team at George Real Estate Group will market your listing exactly where investors are looking at. Users can stay up to date with the latest reports on their neighborhood.

There are several things you should consider when buying a house to stay on the safe side. Here’s what Noah George recommends considering when buying a new home:

What type of lifestyle you want?

First off, determine the lifestyle and core values that matter the most. Perhaps you need a hyperlocal, walkabble and environment-friendly urban lifestyle. Maybe you need a rural country life. Or perhaps you are looking for a low maintenance setup suiting frequent travel. There’s no use to settle for anything less than you need. Imagine your lifestyle for both today and years to come. This will go a long way toward helping you choose the features you would like in your home. Think of your day to day life with regard to running errands and commuting to work, and also image how you want to celebrate your holidays and weekends.

Do you plan to host large gatherings or host parties?

Would you like to travel or stay home?

How often your guests will stay over?

Does any of your family members work from home?

Do you use public transport?

How many vehicles will you use?

Try to answer these questions while buying a new house. This is how you can find the right property meeting your requirements. However, you should also look for other aspects such as number of bathrooms, bedrooms, kitchens and privacy.

Facilities in the Neighborhood

Schools

That’s biggie if you have or plan to have kids. The presence of elementary schools is good, but having a high school in the surroundings is considered a big plus.

Pet Friendliness

Do you need some outside space to walk your pet? If you want to have uncommon pets, be sure to check the neighborhood restrictions. If you’re planning to buy a house in a neighborhood that is governed the association of homeowners, the HOA may have other restrictions beyond the town rules.

Walkability

Some people love their cars, and want a spacious garage and a roomy access to freeways. Some need greater walking potential. There are a lot of websites available on the internet, which provides you with walkscore of a property. So, you can easily check the bike-ability and walkability of any property from a scale ranging from 0 to 100.

Have something to say about Noah George? Please feel free to offer your thoughts in the comments below.

Source Link: https://zedoff.com/buy-and-sell-homes-with-noah-george-the-most-reputed-realtor-you-can-work-with/

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cosmotographer · 4 years

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Introduction

Something that I had missed this year was going on an annual trip with Amy and to say that we had cabin fever would be an understatement as most of our travel plans this year were cancelled due to COVID, but that didn’t stop us to plan and scheme a safe trip somewhere. While Amy and I had made plans in the past, most of our trips were canceled at the last minute due to COVID (I’m looking at you Rehoboth Beach), therefore we never really had a chance to go anywhere other than little day trips.

The same thing almost happened to our trip to Asheville, North Carolina.

I’ve been researching a good amount on the current state of affairs in this small mountain town through Reddit and their official website. Apparently the locals were pretty vocal about their displeasure of tourists that completely ignored wearing their face masks around town and after seeing it in person over the weekend, I have to agree that Asheville has issues with people following safety protocols and I’ll get to that later in the essay. Despite the negative feedbacks I’ve received from the locals, Amy and I decided against canceling another trip and we were fully committed as we drove for seven hours deep inside the Blue Ridge Mountains. After spending a couple of days in town, I’m happy to say that it was worth the trip.

Asheville, North Carolina

I vividly remember visiting the little mountain town back in August 2015 during a bachelor’s party trip and it was one of most underrated trips I’ve ever been on. The gorgeous scenery deep within the Blue Ridge Mountains, the amazing food and the hole in the wall shops bring life and charm to this mostly touristy town (services industry). Downtown is a comparatively small town with only a population of just over 90,000 people, but the region itself has over 424,000 residents as of 2010 and currently the third largest city in the state, behind Wilmington and Charlotte.

Downtown Asheville

Downtown

Most of the energy and vibes is of course, downtown, but the interesting thing about downtown Asheville was that everything was within 1-2 mile from the center of town, therefore everything was relatively easy to walk to. From the shops to the bustling micro-breweries all over the perimeter of downtown, you could leave your hotel room or AirBNB and you could find something within a stone throw away. We strategically stayed at the famous Cambria hotel in the middle of downtown, which proved to be a wise choice as there were several occasions when Amy and I had to go back to our hotel room to either use the restroom, take a break and recharge before our next adventure.

Cambria Hotel Lobby

One of many tourists

One of many street vendors. This one was outside our hotel.

What their official site and travel brochures do not tell you, however, is that there is a large number of poverty in the town as small as Asheville. You can walk for blocks and every block has a homeless person sitting in front of an empty store that was hit hard due to the lack of foot traffic from tourists as COVID had hit this town pretty hard.

Public benches were mostly occupied

Despite the hardships of the town folks, their attitude showed anything but negativity as the natives of the town were some of the nicest people we’ve ever met. We were always greeted with a friendly smile and hospitality that you would expect in the South.

A friendly stranger we had met during breakfast at our hotel.

One of many street performers

The Food Scene

It wouldn��t be much of a Amy and Tae adventure if we didn’t talk about the food and drinks of every place that we visit, and if you love both, then Asheville has your covered as the town is absolutely loaded with independent restaurants and breweries to keep you (and your stomach) busy. From small coffee shops, donut, bagels, biscuits and gravy to candy stores, there is no shortage of weight gaining opportunities that await.

Vortex Donuts

This small street alone has 8 restaurants like a little European town

Detour: Twin Leaf Brewery

After a seven hour drive from home, Amy and I were famished and thirsty for drinks. We walked down toward the Southern Slope of downtown Asheville and noticed that there were no shortages of breweries within half a miles from our hotel. Unfortunately due to COVID, all the breweries were at half capacity, therefore there were long lines for those thirsty customers that need to sip on some delicious sweet nectar from the gods.

The first one that we had visited was Twin Leaf Brewery, located…well pretty much next to all the other breweries on the street that span for several blocks.

The thing about breweries in general, is that they all do the same thing, but you go in for what makes them original. Otherwise, they’re just glorified bars with overpriced beers. I’m please to say that Asheville had some of the best beers I’ve ever had and if you’re a beer lover, a couple of days in town is not enough to visit every brewery that the town has to offer.

Twin Leaf Brewery

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Twin Leaf Brewery was actually a our “holding pattern” brewery as Amy and I had reservations at the Wicked Weed Funkatorium across the street for dinner, but we do plan on return to Twin Leaf Brewery again.

Wicked Weed Brewery

Our neighbors at our dinner table

A great way to celebrate the end Day One of our trip

He loved to hang with us

Looking Glass Falls

Looking Glass Falls is one numerous waterfalls you can visit in the Blue Ridge Mountains and it also happens to be one of the most popular in North Carolina. As it’s less than an hour drive from downtown Asheville, it’s also one of the most accessible since it doesn’t require a long hike to reach the falls. Located deep inside the Pigsah National Forest, the name “Looking Glass” comes from Looking Glass Rock, where water freezes on its sides in the winter and then glistens in the sunlight like a mirror or looking glass, which I’ve only seen in photos but I don’t doubt that it’s beautiful to see during the winter season.

Looking Glass Falls

Unfortunately, not a single person was practicing social distancing and some weren’t even wearing masks.

Being the designated photographer, this was a tricky shot to pull off

Behind the Scenes

To take advantage of the drive out here and to take photos of this beautiful scenery, I took a lot of risk carrying my [eafl id=”6182″ name=”Leica M10-P” text=”Leica M10-P”] paired with the [eafl id=”5270″ name=”Leica Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 ASPH FLE” text=”Summilux-M 35mm FLE”] through the slippery rocks. I eventually took my shoes off completely and left them on one of the river rocks while I stowed Amy’s hiking shoes securely onto my backpack. I then trekked barefoot through the shallow (albeit cold) waters to find a composition that didn’t have random people in the frame.

This was quite nerve wracking when you have over $14,000 worth of camera gear slung across your neck with a 30 pound backpack loaded with miscellaneous travel gear.

I know Leica cameras are legendary for their robust gear, but I would still take the fall (pun intended) and sacrifice getting wet over dunking my camera in the water, or worse, fall on the rocks.

Amy was able to take this shot after precariously handing my camera to her – very rarely do I get my photo taken

The part of the falls was very packed with tourists and locals alike and if I had to do it all over again, I would go earlier in the day when there are less people because the one wooden staircase leading down to the waterfall was very narrow. This made it a little tricky to navigate between the crowd, whom were completely not aware of their surrounding and most were not wearing masks.

Food and Shopping

I was actually pretty impressed that we didn’t do a lot of shopping as I had expected during our stay, but then again, food and beer takes precedence over anything else – that is something both Amy and I agree on when we visit new places. What was charming about the food scene was that while the food and beer were excellent (I don’t think we actually had less than ‘excellent’ dishes), but the people at these establishments mimic what I said earlier about the culture in this town and how everyone is so friendly.

Amy’s sexy Lavender Lemonade Cocktail

One specific restaurant of note is Tupelo Honey, located downtown (I wasn’t kidding when everything was within walking distance downtown). They consider themselves a revival of southern food with food made from scratch using simple ingredients sourced from local farms that is in season.

Simply put: the food was incredible.

Right away we ordered the Crispy Brussel, an appetizer topped with topped with fresh herbs, lemon zest & chopped bacon, served with garlic buttermilk ranch dipping sauce. After my first bite, I was floored that it wasn’t seasoned with truffle oil because it tasted just like it. We then continued our fat-assery by ordering their famous fried chicken, which were brined for over 18 hours with honey sprinkled with their signature “bee dust”.

It was also quite incredible and probably the best fried chicken I’ve ever had.

Unfortunately I didn’t take photos of the food, but I did share them on my Instagram stories (I was distracted from shoveling my face). There are additional photos and videos on there not mentioned in this blog, so be sure to follow.

Asheville had some beautiful small shops

Rabbit Rabbit Brewery

Zen Ink

One of many coffee shops

Most shops were dog friendly

The Biltmore Estate

One of the major cornerstones in Asheville’s history is the old country home of the Vanderbilt family, built by George Vanderbilt. George Vanderbilt first visits Asheville in 1887, where he considered the area as a possible location for his future country home. A second visit to the Blue Ridge Mountains with his mother in 1888 sealed the deal for him, therefore he begins purchasing land for what will become Biltmore.

In 1889, the construction of the Biltmore House begins and Vanderbilt’s construction of the 250-room French Renaissance chateau is a true marvel, the largest undertaking in residential architecture. Over a six-year period, an entire community of craftsmen comes together to create what was known as the largest privately owned estate in the country.

The Biltmore House

It wasn’t until 1895 when George Vanderbilt officially opens the house to friends and family. The finished home contains over four acres of floor space, including 35 bedrooms, 43 bathrooms, and 65 fireplaces.

After George Vanderbilt passed away in 1914 at the age of 51, his wife Edith continued his husband’s love for philanthropy and sold approximately 87,000 acres of the estate to the United States Forest Service for less than $5 an acre.

The Front Lawn

It wasn’t until 1930 when both George Vanderbilt’s daughter, Cornelia and her husband John Cecil, opened the Biltmore House to the public to help increase tourism during the Great Depression, therefore generating income to preserve the estate.

The “Backyard” that the Vanderbilt family owned

Trivia

1942 – During World War II, the house stored priceless works from the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC.

1971 – William Cecil (son of Cornelia and John Cecil), plants his first vines at the Biltmore and creates his first successful wine. It wasn’t until 1983, that the Biltmore Estate Wine Company was established and opened to the public in 1985.

One of many priceless marble busts on the estate

Gorgeous overgrown vines in the Italian Garden

Amy taking in the scenery

Underground Wine Cellar

More marble statues around the estate

On one of the balconies of the house

Traveling During COVID

It doesn’t take a genius to know that it can be risky to travel during COVID, but what we’ve witnessed in Asheville gave us a new perspective that there are people that seriously just doesn’t care to protect themselves or others. I’ve lost count on how many people on the streets of downtown Asheville would completely ignore their face masks and I’m going to assume that most of them are tourists, therefore I feel that the anger the locals have against tourists are justified as they not only endanger themselves, but the economy that depends on tourism. The town itself was hit pretty hard as unemployment and shop were shutdown due to the reduction of tourism. All it takes is another spike in cases for the town to shut down again and we as individuals need to take responsibility of our safety and others.

Despite these issues, it didn’t deter us from enjoying ourselves and wearing face masks or social distancing was not an inconvenience for us as we were still able to enjoy most of what the town had to offer. If you readers are close to the East Coast and want to take a weekend trip somewhere, I highly recommend this beautiful town known as the “Paris of the South” and take in what Asheville has to offer.

Equipment Used (Affiliate Links)

[eafl id=”6182″ name=”Leica M10-P” text=”Leica M10-P”]

Leica M-D (Typ 262)

[eafl id=”5270″ name=”Leica Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 ASPH FLE” text=”Leica Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 ASPH FLE”]

[eafl id=”5634″ name=”Leica Summilux-M 50mm f/1.4 ASPH” text=”Leica Summilux-M 50mm f/1.4 ASPH”]

[eafl id=”6200″ name=”Leica Summicron-M 28mm f/2 APSH II” text=”Leica Summicron-M 28mm F/2 ASPH II”]

Asheville, North Carolina – Traveling Socially Distant Introduction Something that I had missed this year was going on an annual trip with Amy and to say that we had cabin fever would be an understatement as most of our travel plans this year were cancelled due to COVID, but that didn't stop us to plan and scheme a safe trip somewhere.

#asheville #leica #north carolina #travel

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deleggestudioeu · 4 years

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Amazing Benefits of Using Professional Hair Care

Good health is true wealth! When you put endless efforts to stay fit and healthy; make sure you do the same for your hair. Remember: Giving self-care to your hair may not be the best course of action you’d succumb to for a longer period. It can act as a temporary solution but might not actually treat your hair.

Caring for your hair can be both challenging and time-consuming. This is where taking a little help from a professional can do more good, preventing any possible harm to your hair.

When it comes to availing complete hair care, it goes beyond regular trims, hair cuts or a casual trip for hair care. The treatment gets a little extensive along with the inclusion of hair spa and in-salon hair treatments.

Invest in your hair, it is the only crown you never take off. This is why it is necessary for you to take some time and give your hair the necessary care. Therefore, it is mandatory to schedule an appointment with a professional to make sure that your hair stays strong, look beautiful and feels amazing.

Below is a list of reasons what professional hair care product can do to your hair:

Better ingredients: Unlike the rest of the hair products- professional hair care products are highly effective and they contain no harmful chemicals or toxins.

Professional products guarantee results: Your stylist who is knowledgeable enough will provide you with hair care products that will help you seek results that you wanted.

Save money: No need to waste all your money to get endless products. Now invest in a right hair care product, save money and witness the change.

To shop for virtue hair products in Asheville, please visit www.deleggestudio.com.

#virtue hair products in Asheville

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vfdarkness · 4 years

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Episode 9: Blue is...

Intro:

You’re watching television alone in your living room.

Without your involvement, the channel changes.

A pale inhuman being stares at you through the screen.

You turn the television off. And now the creature stands feet away from you.

You need my help.

This is A Voice From Darkness.

Hello, as always this is Dr. Malcolm Ryder, parapsychologist. Here to answer your supernatural questions, warn you of otherworldly threats that span our country, and teach you a bit of bizarre American history. We have a full show tonight, so why don’t we get right to our National Alerts.

National Alerts:

Our first national alert is for North Carolina. Bars and music venues in and around Asheville have hosted a rock band called Spirit Mirror. Following each of their performances, those who were in attendance have reported they can no longer see their own eyes in reflective surface. When they stare into a mirror, there are two black voids where their eyes once were. Their eyes are not missing. Anyone who looks at the affected see nothing wrong. Only those who heard the live music of Spirit Mirror cannot see their own eyes. The band has no website, no contact number, or any other means of getting a hold of them. When asked, each music venue was unsure how the gigs were booked. To those in North Carolina, do not attend any concerts or shows featuring the band Spirit Mirror.

Our second national alert is for central Pennsylvania. Small towns across the region have relayed to me that a man in a grey suit missing his left ring finger has journeyed into their communities and parlayed with their people. Offering them the extravagant and impossible in exchange for the seemingly inconsequential. To the people of central Pennsylvania, do not make any deals with The Traveling Salesman. Do not meet with him. Do not shake his hand. Do not even nod your head in response when he tells you, “Good morning.” Nothing pleasant can come from any interaction with him.

That is all for national alerts.

Quick Questions:

For our next segment, I’ll be answering quick questions you’ve sent to us either via Twitter @vfdarkness or by email at [email protected]. If you have a question you’d like answered on the show, please tweet us at @vfdarkness or write us at [email protected]

Our first question comes from Sarah. She writes, “Dr. Ryder, I moved into a new house recently. Multiple nights I’ve gone to bed in the master bedroom, but I’ll wake and find myself in the closet of one of the other bedrooms. A loud banging on the door always wakes me. I’ll call out to whatever’s causing the sound, but they only answer by furiously hitting the closet door harder. When the morning comes the noise stops. I have no history of sleepwalking or hearing things that aren’t there. What’s happening to me in my new house?”

Well Sarah, if I were to make a guess, I’d say you have two entities in your house. One trying to protect you, and guiding you in your sleep to a place they feel is safe - that other bedroom’s closet. And then a second entity that means you harm. Are the entities spirits or some other unworldly creature? I don’t know. I’d be happy to get you in touch with a good spiritualist in your area. They’d better be able to assess the nature of the haunting you’re experiencing and help put an end to them.

Our second question comes from Bob in Minnesota. They write, “I was on the road, passing through Montana and I stopped at a diner one night. Place wasn’t crowded. A large man in a t-shirt that read: They Are Here. They’ve Always Been Here sat a few stools away from me at the counter. Before the waitress came over to take my order, she spilled a container of sugar, laughed about it, and asked the large man in the t-shirt what his plans were for the fourth of July. Thought that was weird, since the holiday’s months away. Didn’t say anything about it though. Just got my food, kept to myself, and left. The thing is, I had to come back that way on my return trip. Again I stopped at the diner, about the same time of night. Place was as busy as before. I sat at the counter. The large man, wearing the same t-shirt, was already there, eating the meal he had before. The same waitress came out. She once again spilled sugar. Laughed and asked the gentleman about his fourth of July plans. He was partway through giving the answer I’d overheard my previous visit - but I interrupted. Asked why they were having a conversation about the fourth of July - twice now - so many months out. They stopped talking. Both had concerned, nervous looks about them. The waitress pulled out a bunch of papers. Coffee-stained, held together with brass tacks. She came over to me and whispered, “That’s not your line. Aren’t you off book yet?” Her finger guided me down the page of a playscript. I saw stage directions and dialogue. For the waitress, for the large man. For myself. Her spilling the sugar. Her lines about the fourth of July. His response, my sitting down, my ordering a meal - all in the script. There were lines I was supposed to say to the both of them. Things that made no sense to me. Things I’d never say. So I ran out the diner. Ran out, got in my car, and drove as fast as I could for as long as I could. What did I walk into, Dr. Ryder? Please help me understand what happened.

Bob, I’m afraid I don’t know what you walked into. I could say something trite about how Shakespeare believed all the world’s a stage, but obviously he didn’t mean that literally. If you would, please send in more information - the name and address of the diner. I’d like to visit it myself perhaps or ask a colleague to stop by there. Gather some first hand intel, so I can better understand what’s happening at this Montana diner.

That’s all the time for questions we have for your written questions. Onward to Today In Odd America, and then we’ll open up our phone lines.

Today In Odd America:

Today in Odd America we find ourselves in Guilford, Connecticut. Earlier this evening, the children of Guilford put on masks sculpted from wax - made to resemble hideous monsters. They trampled through streets with a candlestick in one hand and a bag in the other. Children playfully hit adults with their candlesticks, and in return were given candy. A bonfire was lit in the middle of the town’s square. After the fire had been burning for a few hours, a skeleton in a misshapen wax crown, dubbed the Candlestick King, was thrown in. Children cast their masks off into the flames as well, and presented the Candlestick King some of their candy bounty. At the end of the night, children buried their candlesticks in their backyards - where they’ll remain until next year. This is a holiday that only exists in Guilford.

Most believe it is a second Halloween. And seeing how the holiday is celebrated, it’s understandable to draw that conclusion.

But that's not what the Candlestick Riot is.

To better understand the holiday’s true meaning, let us go back on this day to the year 1748, when the first Candlestick Riot occured.

William Martin was twelve years old at the time of the initial event. Forty years later, he’d write a few pages about the night in his memoir on his career as a judge. No other details in the book deal with the supernatural. Almost everything else he wrote can be corroborated with other documents from the era. So we’ll take William’s account of the Candlestick Riot at face value.

Sometime late in the night, William felt a compulsion to rise from his bed. I say compulsion, though William stated it was unclear if he were controlling his body at this time, and throughout the rest of the night, or if he were merely a spectator to the acts his body committed. He left his bedroom and made his way down the hall. Behind him came his two sisters from their room. His parents in front of him, coming from their bedroom. No one spoke.

The Martin family silently shambled into the dining room. On the table were several unlit candles in brass and iron candlesticks. Each family member grabbed a candlestick with one hand and held a candle in the other. Father turned to mother. Mother to father. William turned to his two sisters - and they back to him. All at once they rushed each other. William broke the jaw of one sister, and cracked several ribs of the other. They each offered him their candles. When they did, he stopped beating them. His mother was not so lucky.

His father, Mathias, beat his wife to death with a heavy iron candlestick. Afterwards, he reached down and grabbed the blood-soaked wax from her hand. He then turned to William - who presented his three candles to his father.

This offering was accepted. Afterwards, Mathias and William made their way outside. The sisters stayed behind with their mother’s body.

The Martin’s neighbors stood outside their own homes. Bloody. Bruised. Those holding candlesticks and wax charged at each other. From across streets and yards: men, women, and children were beaten. Dozens to death. More would die in the following days of injuries they sustained. But the night was not yet over.

Those who gathered the most candles from their skirmishes lit small fires all over Guilford. They melted their wax and rubbed it over their heads. They burned their skin and hair doing so. But it didn’t stop them. They molded the wax into monstrous shapes.

While they did this, those who lost their candles but who were not too injured to walk, gathered wood and carried it to the center of town. They lit a bonfire.

Soon all ambulatory members of Guilford gathered around the fire. Two circles formed. The outer, and bigger, was filled with those who lost their candles. The inner circle all wore wax masks and held bloody candlesticks.

The outer circle locked arms and swayed back and forth. They chanted: “Flame against the shadow. Flame against the shadow. Protect us from the echo. Protect us from the echo.”

William chanted along with everyone else. The meaning of their chant, unclear to him.

The inner circle walked closer to the fire. They let their hideous wax masks melt. They held their candlesticks in the flames - until they burned their hands.

The third round of fighting began. The inner circle consisted of only a dozen or so. Mostly men. When it was all over, only one remained. Mathias Martin stood alone - victorious. The outer circle moved in. They took the wax from the dead and placed it over his body. Once encased, he could barely move. But he stepped closer to the bonfire.

Mathias shouted, “Who is your Candlestick King?”

The outer circle reformed with locked arms and chanted back, “You are the Candlestick King.”

“Who protects you from shadow and echo?”

“The Candlestick King!”

This call and response went on for sometime. But it ended when Mathias walked into the fire.

As his body burned the outer circle chanted, “Shadow and echo are defeated. Long live the flame.” Over the chanting, William claimed he heard his father’s last words: “Keep a candle lit, William.”

The outer circle chanted until only ash was left. Ash and a skeleton clutching a heavy iron candlestick.

The sun began to rise. The outer circle collected the candlesticks and dispersed. But before reentering their homes, they dug into the earth and buried their candlesticks. Only then was the night truly over.

_________

The dead were collected. The injured, looked after. No one was charged with any crimes for what occurred.

Townsfolk were terrified the events might repeat. But the next night passed. And the next. When the anniversary of what was now referred to as The Candlestick Riot approached, Guilford again worried the event might repeat itself. But it did not. For over a century, The Candlestick Riot fell into obscurity.

No one knows when The Candlestick Riot turned into an annual holiday. A strange, childish, almost mocking echo of what the first event was, but it’s now been celebrated annually by the community for decades.

My grandfather, Professor Duncan Ryder had a fascination with the ritual. He was the one who first told me of the holiday’s history. This will seem like a non-sequitur, but he also hated Frank Sinatra. Early in Sinatra’s career, in 1940, he recorded a song called “We Three (My Echo My Shadow And Me). My grandfather believed Sinatra had secret knowledge of whatever forces compelled Guilford to behave the way it did during the inaugural Candlestick Riot.

He once confronted Sinatra at a show sometime in the ‘60s. Demanding the singer tell all he knew about shadow and echo. Security grabbed my grandfather and hauled him away. But as they did, Sinatra said to him with a wink, “Keep a candle lit, William.”

Not since the first Candlestick Riot has anything like it occurred in Guilford. Was the sacrifice made by Mathias Martin enough to ward of shadow and echo? Was the event simply a mass delusion? Or was it real… and shadow and echo have since triumphed? And the world now waits for a new Candlestick King to defeat them? The answers to these questions remain a mystery. But maybe you should keep a candle lit, just to be safe.

And now back to our main show.

ACT II

Today In Odd America music fades out.

RYDER

And we're back. Well here's a change of pace. We have two callers on the line. Both in the Ozarks - where hidden within its mountains, dense forests, hills and hollers there have been countless encounters with the strange and terrifying. Callers, why don't you tell us your names and what you're experiencing down there?

Through the phone, the sound of cars can be heard driving on back country roads.

SAM

This is Sam.

EDDIE

And Eddie.

SAM

We're visiting from the UK. We have a paranormal podcast you've probably heard of - Ghosts n' Goblins n' Gravesend.

RYDER

I'm afraid I'm not familiar with your show.

EDDIE

Pretending to not know about your competition? Alright, Ryder. I see what you're up to. We talk about weird stuff like you.

SAM

But also video games. Ghosts n' Goblins is an old game.

EDDIE

Yeah, and we're from Gravesend. So you get it, right?

RYDER

Crystal clear. And what's the supernatural situation you've found yourselves in down in the Ozarks?

SAM

That's the problem. We're not in a supernatural situation.

RYDER

Have you listened to A Voice From Darkness before? Because normally people call in when-

EDDIE

(interrupts)

No, we get it. We came all the way to the US to encounter some of the crazy stuff you talk about, and so far we got nothing.

SAM

We spent a day in Saint Louis - went to the Lemp Mansion, even got to go into the underground cavern. No ghosts though.

RYDER

Wait, so if you're in the Ozarks driving around are you deliberately trying to summon...

EDDIE

The Unwelcome Riders? Of course we are.

SAM

The Ozark Family. They're supposed to be one of the more elusive, more dangerous ones, right? I bet we'd get a ton of downloads if we captured them on audio.

RYDER

You're driving together? Thankfully they're unlikely to appear in your car. You're lucky that-

EDDIE

(interrupts)

Oh no, we're not together.

SAM

Two cars. I'm driving about a mile behind Eddie. Is that enough distance? Should we space ourselves out further? There's so many contradictory rules online about the Ozark Family.

One forum said they're more likely to appear if you have an open wound. Another said they absolutely won't if you have a copy of the bible in your vehicle. But then another forum said if you travel with a holy book, you're more likely to attract them. Help us out, Ryder, what do we gotta do to get them to appear?

RYDER

Gentlemen, I highly suggest you-

SAM

(interrupts)

Eddie, why's your car stopped in the middle of the road?

A beat.

SAM

Eddie?

A beat.

SAM

I'm pulling up alongside you.

We hear Sam's car slow to a stop. The idle engines of both Sam and Eddie's rentals.

SAM

Eddie?

RYDER

Describe what you see, Sam. What's happening?

SAM

He's just... sitting there. Staring blankly ahead. Still holding his phone. What do I do? What's happened to him?

RYDER

Sam, I'm sorry, but-

EDDIE

(monotone)

I am here. I am fine. And I am here.

RYDER

Eddie, what happened? Are you all right?

EDDIE

(monotone)

Do not worry about my condition.

SAM

Dr. Ryder - I'm staring right at him. His lips aren't moving when he talks.

EDDIE

(monotone)

Hello, Sam. You are my friend. And I am fine. You don't need to worry about me. All is well.

SAM

You are not well. I don't know what's happening, but-

RYDER

(interrupts)

Who is this? What is this? What are we currently addressing that resides inside of Eddie?

EDDIE

(monotone)

I occupy the flesh. I have access to the memories. I am the I that speaks. Does that not make me Eddie?

RYDER

People are more than flesh and memories, you are not Eddie.

EDDIE

(monotone)

My tendrils move through the labyrinth of his being. If I am not all of him yet, no matter. I soon shall be.

SAM

What does that mean? Dr. Ryder? What does that mean? Help him.

RYDER

The Resident inside Eddie - what is it you want? What is it we can give you so that you move on?

EDDIE

(monotone)

Sensation. Physical sensation. It has been so long since I've occupied a being. Felt sensation. Experienced time. Experienced Qualia. Green is green. I forgot that. It is a tautology, but I forgot that. Epiphenomena. That knowledge became lost to myself... Red is... red. Blue. Blue is... Blue is...

SAM

Blue. Blue is blue.

EDDIE

Thank-you, Sam. You are right. Blue is blue. I forgot that.

RYDER

You remember now though. Take that knowledge with you. Take that knowledge and leave Eddie. That is his gift to you.

EDDIE

(monotone)

Sam. You are my friend. Let me ask you, what should I do? Is the knowledge of these qualia payment enough to abandon this flesh? To give back these memories?

A beat.

RYDER

If you want your friend back, you need to-

SAM

(interrupts)

Yes. That's payment enough. Blue is blue. You know that now. Eddie gave that to you, so please give back Eddie his flesh. And his memories.

EDDIE

(monotone)

Thank-you, Sam. I shall.

A beat.

SAM

Eddie? Eddie? Are you-

EDDIE

(interrupts, concerned)

What happened?

RYDER

Drive. Now. Eddie, if you can't drive, abandon your rental and get in Sam's and get out of there.

EDDIE

Something's wrong. What happened? Sam, what happened? You see it all too, right?

RYDER

What's going on?

SAM

See what? I don't see anything weird.

EDDIE

All the colors. They're wrong. All different. The grass isn't green anymore... it's... it's... I don't know. I don't have a word for it. The sky's not blue. I don't know what color it is. It's strange. All the colors are wrong. I've never seen any of them before. None of the colors I see have names. What happened to the world? Why has it all changed?

RYDER

Stay on the line. Both of you. Sam - help Eddie from his rental. Put him in yours. Drive. Get out of there immediately, but stay on the line.

RYDER

(to listeners)

I'm sorry, but we're going to cut the show off here.

Until next time, this has been A Voice From Darkness.

RYDER

(faint)

You need to get out of there immediately.

Outro Music fades in and out.

#a voice from darkness #horror #podcast #audiodrama #audioficiton #avfd

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bringinbackpod · 3 years

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Interview with Greensky Bluegrass

We had the pleasure of interviewing Greensky Bluegrass over Zoom video! Greensky Bluegrass are thrilled to announce their return to Colorado for four unforgettable performances. The band will kick things off with An Evening With Greensky Bluegrass Sept 14 and 15 at the Dillon Amphiteater. Then, the band will head down the mountain to Morrison for two more fun-filled evenings at Red Rocks Sepr 16 and 17. Special guests for Red Rocks TBA. For more information and all up to date news and tour info visit greenskybluegrass.com. Earlier this year, the band released their eighth studio album Stress Dreams via Thirty Tigers. Ahead of the release, Stress Dreams received high praise from critics. Garden & Gun calls the album "one of the most complete and engaging of the group’s more than twenty-year career" and Glide says “Stress Dreams perfectly exemplifies, once again, why Greensky Bluegrass is heralded as one of the most important & influential bands of the modern progressive-bluegrass era.” About Greensky Bluegrass: Since their 2000 formation in Kalamazoo, MI, the quartet—Anders Beck [dobro], Michael Arlen Bont [banjo], Dave Bruzza [guitar], Mike Devol [upright bass], and Paul Hoffman [mandolin]—have unassumingly progressed into a phenomenon on their own terms with the undying support of a devout audience. Rolling back and forth across North America on successive tours, they’ve sold out multiple dates at Red Rocks Amphitheatre, the Ryman Auditorium, the Fillmore Detroit, Riviera Theater Chicago, and many more. Beyond standout sets at Bonnaroo, Outside Lands, New Orleans Jazz Festival, Telluride Bluegrass Festival, and Austin City Limits, they co-own and have headlined 4848 Festival and Strings & Sol. In 2019, "All For Money" marked their second #1 debut on the Billboard Top Bluegrass Albums Chart and third straight Top 3 entry. They’ve also earned critical acclaim from Billboard, Parade, NPR, and Rolling Stone who hailed them as “representing the genre for a whole new generation.” For the past century, bluegrass music has traditionally relayed real tales of American life, struggle, tragedy, and triumph. It gives a voice to the quiet, yet colorful stories woven into the fabric of the country itself. Greensky Bluegrass live these stories through their records and performances. When touring ceased in 2020 in the face of the global pandemic, the band hunkered down and compiled demos individually at first, sharing emails and voice notes. In July 2020, they got together for the first time in four months, dedicating rehearsals to the development of the new material. Once circumstances safely permitted, they recorded what would become Stress Dreams during a session in Guilford, VT and two sessions in Asheville, NC with frequent collaborator “and old friend” Dominic John Davis as producer and “wizard engineer” Glenn Brown mixing. They preserved the hallmarks of their sound while widening its expanse. “Greensky is and always has been very unique in our world,” says Paul Hoffman. “We put our love, energy, and focus into what we appreciate about our music. We come together as a band in a way that’s organic. We take a lot of pride in how we grow and challenge each other too. We’re maturing together. I think we get more Greensky all of the time.” We want to hear from you! Please email [email protected]. www.BringinitBackwards.com #podcast #interview #bringinbackpod #GreenskyBluegrass #StressDreams #musicinterview #MusicPodcast #NewMusic #zoom Listen & Subscribe to BiB https://www.bringinitbackwards.com/follow/ Follow our podcast on Instagram and Twitter! https://www.facebook.com/groups/bringinbackpod source https://www.spreaker.com/user/14706194/interview-with-greensky-bluegrass

#podcast #interview #bringinbackpod #music #aspn #americansongwriter #americansongwriterpodcastnetwor

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pjbehindthesun · 6 years

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chapter 16: road dogs and glass eyeballs

Friday, October 26th, 1990

“I still can’t believe you came to see me off, Luce! You sure Jeff didn’t mind? Doesn’t his flight leave soon?”

“Nah, we said goodbye this morning.”

“You really should have stayed in bed with your man and snuggled like the adorable otters you are.”

My friend giggles, although I’m not quite sure where she’s managing to come up with the oxygen, since my brother basically has her in a stranglehold as we all stand on the curb a little ways off from the Greyhound bus in the very early hours of the morning, getting ready to say goodbye. I’m trying hard not to think about the goodbye part.

She eases herself free and kisses his cheek. “Yeah, but I know he’s getting back in a few days. You? Who knows when you’re gonna grace us with your presence again.”

“Yeah, well, Portland’s a lot closer than Asheville.”

I interject, “we’ll come down and see you once you get settled in, promise. We’re due for a road trip.” Lucy bounces on her heels in affirmation, but Alex lets out a huff of disapproval.

“Don’t listen to ‘em, man, these two will suffocate you if you let them. Especially this one,” Alex ruffles my hair, “just go live your life, enjoy it. We’ll see you around.”

His words feel like a boot print on my chest. I swallow hard, as if that’s going to wash away the tread marks.

“But, call when you get in anyway, okay?” I curse the little quaver in my voice, which I know is what’s making Alex roll his eyes.

“I will, I will,” Patch sighs, but with a loving smile quirking his mouth.

The hiss of the bus’s air brakes makes me wince, and we all turn to watch the rest of the small group of passengers start climbing on board, or hugging their loved ones, or fussing over luggage in the storage bay. Luggage… oh right, I’d almost forgotten…

“Hey, kiddo, I forgot, I have one more thing for you in the car…”

“For fuck’s sake, Cora,” Alex ribs, but I walk past him unblinkingly, leading my brother back out to the parking lot where I can talk to him in peace.

Patch’s forehead wrinkles questioningly as I open the hatch of the Rabbit and thrust a bike wheel into his chest.

“Here, hold this, I had to pop it off to fit the whole thing in the back…”

I wrestle my bike out of the tight space and frown back over at the bus. “Huh, I thought there was a bike rack on those things, but I guess not… well, a cable lock will keep the wheel and the bike together in storage until you get there. It’s a quick release attachment, you know how those work?”

“Cora, slow down, what…” Patch’s shoulders shake with a soundless laugh as he watches me fidget with the bike.

“What do you mean, what?”

“You’re not giving me this thing, are you?”

“That’s the plan.”

He shakes his shaggy head. “No can do, C, it’s a sweet idea but it’s yours.”

“Yeah, well, it was also my idea for you to leave your truck all the way back in western Carolina in the first place, and I don’t like the idea of you all on your own in a new town with no way to get around.”

“They’ve got buses and shit, Cora.”

“Humor me, you brat,” I finish working the bike lock key off my key chain and thrust it into his hand. Something in his face contracts, and he pulls me into an embrace.

“Love you, C.”

“Love you more.”

“Try to be happy, okay?”

“Mmhmm,” I affirm, squeezing him tighter.

We rejoin Lucy and Alex on the curb, help Patch stow his one small duffel bag and new-old bike underneath the bus, and start to hug our goodbyes. None of the words being said seem to want to stick in my numb, fuzzy brain. The only things immediate enough to feel real are the last little squeeze he gives my shoulder before climbing onto the bus and the look of excitement on his face as we wave him off.

Lucy wraps her arms around my neck from behind in a fond hug, leaning her head against mine. “He’ll be alright.”

I swallow hard again and nod, not willing to unclench my teeth just in case that’s the only thing keeping me from crying.

“You two are unbelievable. He’s a grown man, he’ll be fine,” Alex grumbles.

Without even turning my head, I know exactly what kind of glare Lucy’s giving him. But instead of arguing with him, she lets go of me and turns me around. “So, I gotta head back and get to work, but it’s movie night tonight…”

“Oh, right.” I’d lost track.

“...but I feel like heavier artillery’s in order. Night out?”

I glance at my boyfriend to gauge his reaction. “Oh, I don’t know, I mean, Alex is leaving Sunday morning, I probably ought to --”

“No, hey, it’s cool,” he cuts in, “I can go game over at Brian’s, you girls have fun.”

Lucy smiles and starts to chatter about what we might do for a girls’ night while we walk back to the Rabbit, but I’m stuck on Alex and his eagerness for a night apart so soon before a whole week of nights apart. We really are done here, aren’t we? What are we even doing?

***

“So, have you decided what you want to be?”

Cora’s rummaging through the thrift store’s bargain bin of hats as she asks me about Halloween. There’s a thing next week at the Tavern with a drink special if you show up in costume, and I’d talked the guys into it the other night. Cora took a little more convincing, but I think the prospect of sitting home in an empty house finally got to her, and she agreed to play along. Normally, I don’t think Alex leaving town for a week would have her feeling quite this down -- after all, they’re pretty good at managing time apart for her research trips -- but it’s obvious how intensely she’s already feeling the void left by her brother. She’s keeping it together admirably, but everything about her is more subdued since this morning.

“I have absolutely no idea,” I tell her as I pluck a fuzzer off of a pair of red velvet platform heels. “I was thinking I could just recycle the flower child from last year, I still have the fringed vest.”

“Oh come on, we can do better than that. What’s Jeff going as?”

“Larry Bird.”

“Typical,” she snorts. “I’ll only acknowledge it as a success if he wears the super short 70’s shorts.”

“Oh, bet on it,” and we crack up loudly enough that the only other patron in here on a Friday night looks up from his careful inspection of a broken camera to figure out what we’re laughing at.

We poke around the racks, trying various things on for size, debating costume ideas for the creatively and budgetarily challenged, and ultimately settle on plans for us both. Pleased that I managed to incorporate the velvet shoes into my own idea, we pay for our finds and walk the few blocks to the bar where we’d planned to have a drink. On our way, we catch up on each other’s lives. Her frustration with her advisor Jim, who keeps forgetting to send in a recommendation letter for her fellowship application. My annoyance with Greta for piling more responsibilities on my plate after someone else in our department quit. Her excitement over finally getting a chance to listen to the new Neil Young album. The stray cat that I’ve been seeing in our building parking lot, who looks ready to have her kittens and who I’ve been leaving food out for. Where we’d actually go on a road trip, not just to Portland to visit Patch but throughout the whole West. It’s a steady, comforting rhythm that’s rudely interrupted by a sleazy guy about our age who’s already three sheets to the wind when he catches up to us on the sidewalk as he walks the same direction.

“Damn, where are you fine ladies heading tonight?”

I have to try not to laugh as I watch the loathing seep out of Cora’s every pore. Half the fun of going out anywhere with her is watching her destroy buffoons like this one, who only seem to materialize when we don’t have our usual herd of guys in tow. But she’s in a quieter mood tonight, so I decide it’s my turn.

“Just out for a walk,” I respond in a neutral tone.

“And may I app..ccompany you?” he hiccups, I guess trying to seem gentlemanly but failing miserably.

“No thanks, it’s a girls’ night tonight, just want to spend time with my best friend,” I throw an arm around her shoulder because I could have sworn I just heard her growl.

He clucks his tongue. “Ahhh, I get it, I get it, that’s *hicc* that’s beautiful. I just,” he slurs, and at the sound of Cora grinding her teeth I have to look over and stifle a laugh so the asshole won’t notice, “I’m out here looking for the same thing as everybody, y’know? Just trying to find love, my girl, my one and only, my road dog…”

“Your road dog.” Cora repeats in monotone, no longer able to resist the temptation.

“Yeah!” the guy enthuses. “My road dog, you dig?”

“I do not.”

“Like, my best friend, my road dog, the one I wanna travel this wild and crazy life with *hicc*, you know how it is. Well, I don’t wanna bother you no more, you girls be good,” he gives us a sleepy grin and disappears around the corner while we continue straight.

“Calling a girl a dog is a special kind of pickup line fail,” Cora cackles.

“Points for originality though, I kinda love the whole road dog thing.”

“You do?” she shoots me a withering glare.

“Yeah!” I stop on the sidewalk and drop to one knee, holding her hand while she looks at me like I’ve totally lost it.

“Cora, my darling, my dream, would you… be my road dog?”

“Yes, yes, a thousand times yes!” We hold hands and skip the rest of the block.

***

Sunday October 28th, 1990

“Hey, Red, guess I missed you, uh… hi, it's Stone, obviously, what other rude motherfucker would call you at this hour? Anyway, uhm, I just… wanted to say hi, and fill you in on our New York happenings… oh, Kelly had a thrilling brush with the law today, it's a long and pointless story and I really wanna bore you with it if you're around. Call me, okay? The number here's… shit, hang on, what is it again?...”

Why does the sound of his stupid, rambling voice make me grin like such an idiot? It probably helps that no one’s watching, I guess. I wouldn't be caught dead smiling at Stone like this in person because I know I’d never hear the end of it. Someone has to keep him in line.

I grab a notepad while I listen to him look up the number in his room and read it to my machine. I didn't miss his call by much, it's not even 7:30 here yet, so I figure I have time to shower before I call him back. He’ll probably be up late anyway because of the time difference that he obviously forgot about. There's no reason to rush, and I’ve got the whole apartment to myself now.

But I’m rushing anyway.

After I shower and throw on whatever sweatpants and shirt are closest, I fold my legs up and sit on the couch with the phone, wiping away the occasional stray drip of water from my sopping wet hair, and dial the number he left. He answers on the second ring.

“Hello?”

“Okay, bore me.”

I'm greeted by the laugh he makes when he's feeling particularly pleased with himself. “Hey Red, you got my message?”

“Obviously, idiot.”

“Hi to you too,” he sasses. “Jesus, where are your phone manners? I’d make a crack about you being raised in a barn, but in your case it's probably true and I wouldn't want to make you relive the trauma, so…”

“Ooh, etiquette lessons from the most obnoxious, sarcastic piece of shit I’ve ever met? Gee golly mister, sign me up.”

“I think my rates are a little steep for you, Red.”

“Oh really? What do you charge?”

“If you have to ask, you can't afford me.”

“I’ll cry myself to sleep tonight.”

“Is this you using your manners? Try again.”

“Hi, Stone.”

“Hi, Cora. Sorry to bug you so late, is this a good time?”

“I called you, man.”

“Fair.”

“And it's way later there than it is here, anyway.”

“Ah, fuck it, I’m still on Seattle time, this trip’s not long enough to adjust. Whatcha been up to?”

“Mostly studying for that exam I’ve got on Tuesday, but I needed a break, so I just got back from a run and got your message.”

“You know, I thought I could detect a rank, sweaty odor as soon as my phone rang…”

“Well either you should call your doctor about those olfactory hallucinations, or you should tell Jeff to throw those damn hats in the washer already. Anyway, it’s not me, I just showered.”

“Ah.”

He’s quiet for a beat, so I decide to prod him. “And what are you up to?”

“Nothin’. Being lazy in bed.”

“Aww, that’s kinda cute. Tell Jeff I said hi.”

“Jeff’s out with Kelly tonight, so it’s just me.”

I shift my position a little on the couch to distract myself from the odd little thrill that just shot down my spine.

“Just you, huh?”

“Yup, you got me all to yourself,” he jokes, pouring the seduction on thickly.

“You’re a pig, Stone, it’s not like I asked 'what are you wearing’ or some seedy shit.”

“T-shirt and boxers,” he says bluntly.

“I didn't ask! ...where the fuck are your pants, dude?”

“It’s almost midnight and I’m in bed, why the fuck would I be wearing pants? This is what I always sleep in.”

“Again, for the record, I did not ask.”

“Why, what do you wear to bed, a Victorian nightgown?”

“New subject, please.”

“Oh my God do you wear a nightgown??”

“NO!” I laugh, my cheeks reddening.

“Then what? You're not getting out of this without telling me, Red, I told you mine.”

“I DIDN'T ASK.”

“I'm gonna have to get a look at this nightgown when I get back, I feel like it's got to be fuckin’ awful if you're trying this hard to avoid telling me about it. Like, high neckline, ruffled hem, puffy sleeves…”

He sounds way too gleeful for me to believe he’s ever going to drop this, so I brace myself to rip off the band-aid. “Icantsleepinclothes,” I mutter.

“Excuse me? Didn't catch that.”

“I can't sleep in clothes. I go to bed naked.”

“Oh… oh.”

“Yeah.”

“No nightgown then.”

“Uh uh.”

“Well okay then.” He’s quiet for an excruciating pause, and then, “point of clarification, are you in bed now?”

“I am not, you pig. I am studying on my couch, fully clothed.”

“You're no fun,” he baits me.

“NEW TOPIC,” I shout, mostly just to drown out my own laughter to avoid encouraging him.

He fills me in on their trip so far, which has included a case of mistaken identity that landed poor Kelly in jail for a few hours while he and Jeff were occupied in meetings. Overall, though, the trip seems to be leading to a productive resolution with the old record label people. I forgot how much I love talking to him like this, aimlessly. Even when we lose the thread of the conversation and sit together in silence, it doesn’t feel weird, it just feels peaceful.

“I had a dream about you last night, you know.”

“Yeah? Good dream, I hope?” His words are innocuous enough, but I can hear his smile permeating his voice, that stupid challenging smirk.

“Ugh, not like that kind of dream, gross,” but I'm smiling too as I tangle my fingers in the phone cord. We're both talking in quieter voices all of a sudden, too, even though there's no one to overhear us and nothing of consequence being said.

“Oh yeah, disgusting. Absolutely revolting,” he cackles in that breathy, almost silent way he has when he thinks he's being utterly hilarious.

“You wanna hear about it or not?”

“Definitely.”

“Be nice, then. I should warn you, I have extremely weird dreams…”

“Ooh, a disclaimer,” he says in a scandalized tone, “now we're gettin’ to the fun stuff, lay it on me.”

“You're a pig.”

“Mmm, so you said.”

“I just mean like surreal, kind of psychedelic, but very vivid. Nothing’s straightforward in my dreams, ever.”

“I'm dying to know how you dreamed of psychedelic me, then.”

“Well, I guess it wasn't technically a dream about you…”

“Tease!”

I'm so stupid for blushing, ugh.

“Pain in the ass. You weren't really in it, you were just the first person I wanted to tell about it when I woke up.”

“...aww, really?”

“Really.”

“...Cora… that's so sweet…”

“Maybe you should reserve judgement until you hear it.”

“Well, I’m all ears.”

“Okay…” I take a deep breath and slump deeper into the couch, trying to figure out the best way to explain my weird little world to him. “So, the first thing to understand is that in the dream, the Earth isn't really a planet in outer space, okay, it's… it's a glass eyeball in a jar…”

“This is what made you think of me??”

“Damn it, man, have a little patience,” I laugh.

“Patience is my middle name,” he deadpans.

“Well, they can’t all be winners. Wait, what actually is your middle name?”

“Carpenter. You didn't know that?”

“No, asshole… wait, really? Stone Carpenter Gossard?”

“Mmhmm.”

“Your parents really went all in on a theme, huh? Respect.”

“Yeah, well, the hippie streak runs deep.”

“Clearly. I like it, though. Anyway, if you're such a know-it-all, what's my middle name?”

“It's, uh… fuck, I don't think you’ve ever told me.”

“Which means you have to guess!”

His groan of irritation gives way to a low little laugh. “Hmm… let me think…”

After a long pause, I’m pretty sure he's striking out. “Admit defeat, Stoner, you got nothing.”

“Give me a chance… okay, Cora… Cora…” Move along, nothing to see here, just Stone sighing my name, that doesn't affect me in the slightest, nope… “Cora Something Shaw…”

“Compelling, but incorrect.”

“You're impossible.” His grin broadcasts itself through the phone again. “Well, in order to suit you, it has to be something short and matter-of-fact… nothing flowery…”

“You're getting warmer.”

“...and you’re a good little Catholic girl,” ...nope, that doesn’t affect me in the slightest either, Jesus if you save me right now I promise I’ll believe in you again... “so it's probably some saint bullshit… Maria? Theresa? Anne? Joan?”

“Ha, colder. Except for the monosyllabic part.”

“Okay, I give, what is it?”

“You got closer than I’d like to admit, to your credit, but you forgot the hippie dad.”

“In my defense, I didn't know you had a hippie dad. This isn't the paterfamilias asshole, is it?”

“Nope. That's the stepdad. My actual dad is a whole other story.”

He’s quiet for a beat before speaking up in that same tender, vulnerable tone I heard for the first time at the cafe, when he’d asked if he could call. The tone I've been wanting to hear again ever since, against all my better judgement.

“I’d like to hear it sometime.”

“Hmm. Maybe when you get back. So, any last guesses?”

“I give. You got me.”

“Really? You're folding? That's damn disappointing, Stone.”

He chuckles. “If this is the worst way that I manage to disappoint you, we’re in good shape. What's your fucking name, huh?”

“Penny Lane is in my ears and in my eyes…”

“Hang on… monosyllabic… Lane? Cora Lane Shaw?”

“Ding ding! That's me!”

“Huh. It suits you. Very strange.”

“Hey, thanks,” I sass him.

“No, no, I mean it… like, I’m sure they couldn't have known when they named you, but it's the perfect song. The surface seems wholesome enough, but the closer you look, the more… ‘off' it seems, the more interesting and cryptic it gets…”

“I can deal with being interesting and cryptic.” I bite my lip in, which is stupid because there's no reason to hide how hard I’m smiling when I’m by myself.

“Well, good, because that's you. Speaking of which, back to eyeballs…”

“What? Oh, right… okay, so we're all living on this glass eyeball suspended in a jar, right, just sitting forgotten on a dusty shelf somewhere in a warehouse or something… and the jar is filled with some kind of gas, I guess that's our atmosphere, and stabilized by electromagnetic fields so the eyeball can float.”

“Right, okay…”

“Well, it was supposed to be a sterile environment, but something went wrong, or someone screwed up, I don't know, but something started growing on the eyeball. So all the life on Earth we’ve ever known… dinosaurs, trees, amoebas, dogs, cats, humans… that’s all we are, we’re all just eyeball fungus.”

He's silent for a long time, and I imagine his face looking the stupid smug way it always looks before he launches into a typical sarcastic takedown, but when he finally speaks again, his voice sounds so sincere, almost childlike.

“How do day and night work inside the jar?”

My smile splits so wide it's hurting my cheeks. “I... I don't remember. I’d have to go back in the dream and look it up.”

“You can do that??”

“Sure, I do it all the time… can't you?”

He lets out a soft laugh. “Baby, I think our dreams are such entirely different animals, I couldn't begin to relate.”

I don't give a fuck whether he can relate, or about much of anything else, except wanting him to call me that again... “Well, uhm, you’ll have to tell me some of your dreams so I can be sure. I showed you mine…” holy shit, did I just say that?

“Hah. I don't have anything to offer on this scale of creativity. I don't even remember most of them, and the ones I do are just your typical, mundane, playing-a-show-in-your-underwear-type stress dreams, shit like that.”

And now I'm picturing him in his underwear for the second time tonight. Fantastic. Doesn't he know my subconscious don't need any outside help objectifying him lately? Focus! What were we talking about? Oh yeah...

“Anyway, one thing I do remember is that the stars are not real.”

“Oh, inside the jar? That makes sense. What are they, do we know?”

“It’s a scientist’s dream, of course we do. A long time ago, people got sick of having nothing to look at at night. So someone climbed up there and pasted a bunch of random stuff on the inside of the jar for the people-fungus to look at and dream about. But over time, the sticky stuff wears off, right? and the pictures fall down, and someone has to climb back up there and paste the ‘stars’ back into place. So, somewhere, there's a real Stairway to Heaven, just for that purpose: for the one person whose job it is to climb up and put the stars back up when they fall.”

The silence stretches on long enough that I fear we’ve been disconnected. “...Stone? You there?”

After what feels like an age, his voice drifts over the line, barely above a whisper.

“And this is what you woke up wanting to tell me?”

“Yeah… it's stupid, I know…”

“It's not stupid at all, it's… that's beautiful.”

“No, it's definitely stupid, all my dreams are. I just woke up and... you were the first person I thought of who might possibly understand.”

“...I love it, Cora.”

“Really?”

“Mmhmm. Really.”

After another long pause, I ask, “You okay over there?”

“Yeah, never better. Just thinking.”

“About what?”

“How your brain must work, if that's the normal dream output you're used to. It's gotta be pretty wild in there.”

“I mean, I think it's just nonsense most of the time, odds and ends that get mixed up from my waking life and jumbled into stories.”

“Yeah, but like, that's a pretty intricate story. And you remembered it! I'm jealous, I wish I remembered more of mine.”

“I guess the thing about being an artist is that all your creativity comes out when you're conscious, huh?”

“Mmm, maybe. So, uhm… tell me another one? Please?”

Damn him, when did he get so endearing? “I don't know, this exchange is feeling a little one-sided… I think maybe I need to limit you to one dream a day, especially if you don’t have any good ones for me.”

“Aww, come on.”

“Nope. Go to bed, call me tomorrow, maybe I’ll have a new one for you.”

“I’ll settle for an old one, they're all new to me.”

“You’re getting greedy.”

“Oh, unabashedly,” he laughs. “Come on, just a short one? Maybe your dreams’ll rub off on me and I’ll have a better one to tell you tomorrow.”

“Uhm… well, there is this great one I’ve had several times --”

“Oh, god damn it,” he grumbles.

“You okay?”

“Yeah, I just forgot, I might not be able to call tomorrow night, we have a dinner thing. Fuck.”

“Oh?”

“Yeah, well, hopefully anyway. If everything goes well tomorrow we were gonna go celebrate a bit. And if not, I guess drown our sorrows.”

“Aww, poor thing, getting wined and dined by record execs, what a terrible burden it is to be cool.”

“Yeah,” he sighs, “but this is pretty cool too.”

“What?”

“This. Just... having all kinds of time to sit and talk to you about nothing. Kinda like when you were in Alaska, remember?”

“Yeah,” I bite back another grin, stretching my legs out and savoring the softness of his voice. “It's almost like I like you best when you're three thousand miles away.”

“My band needs to make it big and start touring aggressively, then. Just think how likeable I’ll be from Australia.”

“Better yet, I oughta launch you to the moon, you’ll be irresistible.”

“There’s a thought,” he murmurs. “Want me to hang the stars back up while I'm up there? It's no trouble, it's on my way.”

“Yes, please.”

“You got it, baby.”

Silence is definitely the safest policy because I have no idea what might come out of my mouth in response to his sleepy, affectionate whisper. I decide instead to focus on restoring my breathing, which has gotten a little too fast, a little too uneven, like we’ve been running from something. Or towards something. I don't even know which way we're running. How did a phone call become so reckless?

Thankfully, Stone doesn't seem to have much to say either. His breathing comes more evenly over the phone than mine feels, so I try to follow along with it. Soon he starts to breathe deeper, and slower, and I wonder if maybe he's falling asleep. I open my mouth to ask if he's still there, but the image of him asleep in bed with the phone to his ear is so sweet that I can't bear to disturb him, although don't want to hang up on him either, because the thought of him waking up later to nothing but a dial tone is even worse. The textbook I was studying from earlier is still on the floor, so I decide to read a few pages, but it feels more like mindless word recognition when my mind's so far away.

Consider the case of an initial excess hydrostatic pore water that is constant with depth…

How is it that a person can feel such a potent mix of relief and anxiety at the same time? Relief, because even if we haven't come out and said it all yet, there's the feeling that we no longer have to. We both know where we stand. All of a sudden, there's this sense of security, out of nowhere on a quiet, sleepy phone call, which somehow feels so much more intimate than swapping dirty penguin jokes. Flirting can be pretty impersonal, almost war-like, where you're both trying to gain the upper hand. But it's not everyone you want to fall asleep with, wake up with, and tell all your dreams to.

...shows plots of the friction angle θ vs. plasticity index PI of several clays as compiled by…

And anxiety, because this is all going too far, too fast… like being trapped in a speeding car, except we’re both flooring the gas pedal, and no one is keeping their eyes on the road. What are we going to hit? Or whom? Someone's bound to get hurt. There's an undeniable violence to falling this quickly. So who's it going to be? Me? Him? Alex? Shit, Alex… how did I let this get so far away from me? Not like Alex seems to care how I spend my time anymore. Alex, who didn’t even come home Friday night, who stumbled in yesterday morning, hungover as shit, saying he’d fallen asleep at Brian’s place. I don’t even know who he is anymore...

... Comprehensive failure conditions or yield criteria were first developed for metals, rocks, and concrete…

“Ow, shit!”

“Cora? Wh-what's wrong?”

“Nothing,” I say around my finger, which I’ve got in my mouth to stop the bleeding. “just a paper cut.”

“Aww.”

“Sorry to wake you.”

“Mmm? I wasn't asleep. Is it bad?”

“Nah, just a flesh wound. You were awake all that time?”

“Well, maybe I dozed off a little…” his voice gets gravelly as he stretches himself out, making the image of him in bed even harder to resist. I don't want to hang up, it's pretty much the last thing I want right now, but I know it's essential that I do.

“I should let you go, you need to sleep.”

“I do not.”

“Go to bed, Stone.”

“Waaaay ahead of you,” he chuckles. “I'm awake, though, I’m good.”

“Go get some sleep.”

“Nooo,” he whines, “you were gonna tell me another dream! Please?”

His indignation makes me giggle. “Okay, just a short one. Or even better, what if I tell you just the first few minutes, and then you can dream about it tonight and we'll compare when you get home to see whose version is better?”

“I already told you, I don't remember my dreams.”

“I know, idiot, that's why I'm gonna loan you one of mine.”

“Okay, yeah,” he chuckles, sounding drowsier by the second, “hit me.”

“Okay, just, leave it the way you found it, okay? It's one of my favorites.”

“Promise.”

“Something tells me you'll like it too, there's ice cream involved.”

“Now we're talking.”

“Okay. There's this ice cream parlor, but it's not down here on Earth, it's floating up in space.”

“Are we still in the jar?”

“No, that's a totally different dream. Anyway, there’s air, you can breathe normally, but you're out in the night sky, among the stars. And the parlor is an old converted train car, still has all the old booths and the sliding windows and everything. And on the very back stoop, where the train car would have been connected to another one once upon a time, there's a rickety old wooden chair. Just one. It’s hot up there, so close to the sun, but there's a good solar breeze. You're sitting in the chair, leaning back, your feet up on the railing, eating an ice cream cone --”

“What flavor?” his voice is thick with sleep.

“Dealer’s choice. You're listening to the music on the radio, and watching the vastness of space, and that's where your dream starts.”

“Mmhmm, got it,” he murmurs. “Are you gonna be there?”

“No, dumbass, I’m lending it to you, I’ll be in another one.”

“We’ll see about that. G'night.”

“Goodnight, Stone.”

With reluctance I hang up, set my work down in a haphazard pile on the floor and stretch out on the couch, staring at the ceiling with no intention of falling asleep. Why do I miss him so much already?

***

Her voice is still sounding my name in my ears as I drift down further and further, or is it up, higher and higher? until another sound replaces it, followed by another, and another, as I acquaint myself with my new surroundings. The creaking of the chair underneath me. The drip of ice cream in my lap, prompting me to hold the melting cone out to the side where it drips onto the floor instead, sizzling as it lands. Elton John’s Rocket Man playing through crackly speakers. The gentle rocking of the train car, like a boat on idle water. I take a taste of the ice cream. Blueberry. Weird. I like it. Why’s it so hot up here?

As if to answer, the roar of the sun’s fire rises in my ears. It’s right there in front of me, how’d I miss it? I shield my eyes reflexively but end up whacking the bridge of my nose with the sunglasses I didn’t know I was wearing. Huh, I can stare right at it, they must be protecting my eyes somehow. Can’t say the same for the soles of my feet, which are gonna have blisters tomorrow from being propped up on the railing facing the sun. Time for a change. I balance the ice cream cone precariously between my knees and grab the railing on either side of me with sweaty hands, trying to rock the train car and steer it away from the sun. Inch by inch, the damn thing eventually lurches away from the blazing star, and now I’ve got a beautiful nebula to look at. Much better.

Swirls of gases, some purple, some orange, some red, some colors I don’t even understand, are entwining gracefully before me, shielding the stars with their dance. I crane my neck to keep watching it as the train car continues to gradually float around its central axis, turning me toward the blackness of space. One of the red plumes curls sinuously towards me, seeming to follow me, and I regret turning away from it... how do I stop this damn train from turning, shit, come back...

Grumbling in disappointment after I’ve lost sight of it, I frown at the vastness of space in front of me. The longer I stare, the less it seems like a dark vacuum filled with stars and the more it seems like a thick blanket covering an immense light, which peeks out through holes in the fabric. As the train car finally turns fully opposite the sun, the blanket of space folds in on itself, clothing a figure, and suddenly the stars are freckles and the nebula swirls back into view as a cascade of red hair, and Cora’s smiling enigmatically at me as I watch her step onto the train. I don’t dare make a sound as she climbs into my lap, nuzzling my neck and tugging at my shirt… I’ve never been seduced by a space goddess before, I’m not sure of the etiquette, should I say hi? Before I can think of something witty to say, a solar flare blinds me.

“Oh hey man, sorry, didn’t know you were asleep,” Jeff says, switching off the hotel room light he’d just turned on.

#i hope you like it... kinda one of my favorites #i like the weird ones #chapter 16 #behind the sun #fanfiction #fanfic #stone gossard #jeff ament #pearl jam

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