What a weekend indeed. I have neglected you recently, poor wordpress, and for that I apologize. This weekend I took El. to Boone with me to meet some new people.
Friday: We arrived in mid-afternoon, at which I promptly took somewhat of a nap as Z. checked my oil and transmission fluid (the car was acting weird on the drive). Both seemed somewhat in order though the former was a gross color and perhaps needed to be changed. Then we set out for Cookout, where I got gross food and then took an antibiotic too fast. I spent the next twenty minutes attempting to sleep while Z. took us on a tour of the Blue Ridge Parkway, then up to Howard’s Knob (the mountain that overlooks Boone.) My stomach finally settled and we headed down to hang out on campus, before possibly seeing D. in an ensemble.
It was very spring-like to see a mallard duck at the duck pond had ducklings. I’m such a city girl, Z. says, as I have never seen ducklings before. Not in the wild at least. I chased after them with my cellphone aloft, trying to take decent pictures (cursing about leaving the camera in the car.) We never did make it back there for actual pictures of the little fuzzballs. We headed over to cut back to the car, and ran into D.’s parents by the statue of Yosef. After that I took a migraine induced nap while Z. and El. chatted, then we went to D.’s for the evening to watch (and in my case, sleep through) No Country for Old Men.
Saturday: The day started at noon when we woke up. We went to Our Daily Bread for lunch with Ma., one of Z.’s friends, and had delicious (SERIOUSLY DELICIOUS) sandwiches. Um… then we passed time, I can’t exactly remember how. I think we left El. at the App Library for a while to spend time alone, then got ready for Z.’s first solo show that night. The show was located in the tiny second floor of the coffee shop beansTalk in downtown Boone. Poor Z. was so nervous, but I think he did a fabulous job. The second act, eh. Then Mika/ElfOwl played and… wow. One thing in the world I wish I had, a unique and talented singing voice.
After that, we purchased some drinks and went back to D.’s where, after the guys had an extended jam session, we teamed up to play drunken clue, and drunken charades (though we had sobered up impressively by the latter, and yet still played.) El. wound up staying at D.’s and the privacy was well appreciated.
These three hours get more painful each time I travel them.
Sunday: The day started again around noon, Z. and I had hot pockets for lunch and then the four of us headed out on what I shall now refer to as the Surprise!Epic Hike. I was under the impression we were going to take a drive on the Parkway, instead we parked at Cone Manor and took what wikipedia describes as a “leisurely hike.” I beg to differ. Since I had only thought that we were taking a drive, I foolishly wore flip flops.
Four and a half miles of leisurely hiking.
In flip flops.
In the mild to moderate but consistent downpour.
This was the first picture I took.
See that glimmer of lake down there?
Yeah. That’s where we hiked to. And back.
It probably wasn’t that impressive of a hike to most, but as Z. and I have proclaimed often, we are indoors kids. We don’t hike really. D. and El. got way ahead of us, made it back to the car a half hour before we did. I swear when Z. and I made it to the top of the mountain again we looked like we had survived the apocalypse. We drove back, warmed up, and had a nice dinner at mountain house before dropping the boys off at a show and heading on our own three hour drive back home.
One of the best weekends ever, but I miss Z. the most that I’ve ever missed anything now.
Oh life.
Finals week is going to be fun, and by fun I mean a new kind of hell. I won’t list for you what I have to do, suffice it to say it won’t be fun.
Hopefully the boys will come visit this weekend for the Mayfest.
