Summer Rageth On

Friday, June 28 - We drove to Asheville, North Carolina, tonight after work and stayed downtown at the Renaissance Hotel with some friends for our annual summer "go to the mountains" trip.  This year's trip came a little early, so we could also take in a concert here tomorrow night. On the way, we stopped at the Buc-ee's in Crossville for some amazing sandwiches for dinner. 

Despite our late arrival, we still met up with our friends, Curtis and Kate, at a late-night cocktail bar called The Rankin Vault within easy walking distance of the hotel for a couple libations before turning in for the night. 

Saturday, June 29 - We started the day here in Asheville with a baker's dozen from nationally famous Hole Doughnuts that included decadent flavors like vanilla glaze, toasted almond sesame, cinnamon sugar and watermelon margarita.  These giant babies are hand-made at the time of order and were delicious.  We had a nice share session in the lobby of our hotel along with Kate and Curtis; and our friends from Chattanooga, Michelle and Patrick, who also arrived last night.  

Despite a strange end-of-the-hall location and a bit of musty smell, our hotel room had a nice view of downtown Asheville including legendary author, Thomas Wolfe's, boyhood home.  

Keep it weird, Asheville.  Even though it's been nine (gulp) years since we've been to downtown Asheville, it's not changed a lot, and that's good.  There was a homeless presence as there is everywhere, but the city's been doing a good job with them based on what one of our Uber drivers told us.  We forgot how much we love it here and sure can't wait another nine years to return!! 

Today's selfish endeavor was a planned Asheville 6-Pack Brewery Crawl planned by me.  Everyone but Michelle was game for it, and we wound up having a great time walking and taking Ubers to Highland; 7 Clans; Hillman (great lunch here too); French Broad; New Belgium [East Coast Ops] (good snacks here too); and finally the recently expanded Green Man Brewing.  

Tonight's show was Michael Franti and Spearhead (guess who we saw here in downtown Asheville nine years ago too) with Niko Moon opening at Salvage Station.  What a great outdoor venue!  It's a damn shame it's closing soon due to eminent domain for an interstate expansion (boo!!).  

Niko Moon was a ton of fun as the opener for Franti.  He's such a great entertainer and good soul seems like.  Love the outfit, Neko!!   It's a natural match to be playing with Capt. Stay Human whose show was as solid and heartwarming as ever.  

Sunday, June 30 - After a great breakfast in downtown Asheville at the Five Points Restaurant, we had an easy drive back home thanks to decent traffic and the continuation of a great audiobook autobiography called "What a Fool Believes" from legendary rocker, Michael McDonald, and his late-in-life friend, funnyman Paul Reiser.   We were supposed to go see them talk about their book a few weeks back in Nashville but got stormed out of going.  We did get a signed hardback copy of the book at least. (photo above).  

(Editor's note:  A mere four months later this beautiful area of North Carolina and East Tennessee were ravaged by flooding from Hurricane Helene.  We wish the entire area and its inhabitants the best in recovery.)

Thursday, July 4 thru Sunday July 7 - Happy Independence Day from the pool!  We hosted a fairly casual long weekend "come by and swim and hang out" party since we both also had Friday off from work as well this year and decided not to travel anywhere.   Ashlee's cousins from Cincinnati came down for the long weekend also and were our only guests on Thursday and Friday which was fine with us.  We grilled excellent steaks from CostCo.  Saturday had a few more friends drop by throughout the day including a couple dog-friends for Sunny.  Hot dogs and hamburgers were the grill selections. 

Sunday, July 7 - It was just us today in the pool and some leftovers from the weekend's activities.  Shout-out to Ashlee (and Memo's in Chattanooga) for this great chopped-wiener plate/bowl idea for dinner tonight.  Salute!! 

We did have several bats drop by during this beautiful sunset tonight as well. 

Sunday, July 14 - It was another Dog Party at the Pool today with Sunny's friends, Duke and Rio, coming by for a dip.  Thanks to our friend, Adrianna, for snapping this great pic, and our friend, Kate, for the Care Bears Knockabout Sunglasses that Duke is sporting. 

Sunday, July 21 - We went to see the new movie Twisters in IMAX at Opry Mills Theaters with several other friends this evening.  The original Twister (RIP, the great Bill Paxton) was the first movie Ashlee and I ever saw in IMAX down in San Antonio, so it seemed like a must to see this remake in the same format.  The film was fantastic!  Great (scary) special F/X and a good, original story that was a bit different from the original.  

Saturday, July 27 - We went to see the Hootie and the Blowfish show at the Bridgestone Arena in downtown Nashville tonight.  Opening were a couple other 90's classic rockers: Collective Soul and Edwin McCain.   The entire show was great, but the timeless voice of H and B's, Darius Rucker, was and is the best of the bunch.  Thanks to our pals, Kate and Curtis, for going with us in place of Emily and her husband, Andrew, who is not doing very well after being diagnosed recently with skin cancer.  We wish him all the best and a full recovery.  

Thursday, August 1 - It's the 25th Anniversary of the BFFFL! Let's get ready to FUMBLE!! 

Monday, August 12 - One perk to some of the dog-sitting I've been doing as a side hustle on Rover is getting to hang out at some pretty nice houses here in the area.   Ashlee stopped by the Tropical Smoothie Cafe in Lebanon and got us some dinner tonight which we enjoyed with this nice lake view and some canine companionship from Sunny and the two dogs I am sitting with tonight, Maggie and Mollie.  

Saturday, August 17 - We grabbed some super-cheap ($8! on StubHub) Titans' preseason tickets for tonight's game against the Seattle Seahawks along with our friends, Craig and Alison, and Emily.  We rode The Titans Express train from Donelson to the game and back.  We chose the Donelson station so we could get some tasty dinner and do some imbibing before the game at the Homegrown Taproom which is just across the road.  The game was a good one (despite the heat) with the Titans pulling out a game-winning field goal as time expired.  While it was still hot this evening, we played it smart and sat on the west side of the stadium out of the sun (opposite of our tickets) since there were large swaths of empty seats up top for the 6 PM kick-off.  The ride back ended with some stormy weather that made the short drive home a little daunting.  

Saturday, August 24 - This beautiful mourning dove hung out around our patio this morning as we sat and reflected on the sad news that our friend Emily's husband, Andrew, passed away last night after a very recent battle with cancer.  At just 48 years old, it's pretty shocking.  We've read that the presence of mourning doves symbolizes departed loved ones, so we hope this one meant Andrew was telling us goodbye in one of the last places we remember him and Emily being together - relaxing and smiling on and around our patio and pool here at home.  RIP, friend.  

Sunday, August 25 - We tried our first Sunday Brunch at the Cumberland University Cafeteria today and it was tasty!  We will be doing that again!  The puddin'-head shown above stayed home and guarded the couch.