Russ

My lovely friend Russ drove all the way down from Chicago last weekend to visit. I showed her around my new southern town. We went tubing down the Davidson River (with beer) on Saturday, the river that took my prescription sunglasses a week or two before, I don't know, I don't really keep track of time anymore. Now I need cataract sunglasses to fit over my glasses before I can afford real ones again. I think they give those away for free at Walmart or the Golden Corral.

Anyhoos, back to Russ. Sunday we went to downtown Asheville, walked the art galleries and had lunch in time to avoid a down-pour. That night we cooked and stayed at my mom's and Robert's house while they were still up in Michigan. We had wine at the swing and benches and watched the sun set, then drove up to the community center to visit Star the cat.

Monday we stopped at this pull-off on the side of the highway where I always see cars parked. We found a trail that leads down to a cute little crick and followed the trail for a little while. It was very wet and green and pretty. Then we went to this hole-in-the-wall southern diner, Apple Annie's, off the highway for lunch,. It's where all the working locals go. And me. Russ left on Monday and it was sort of like saying goodbye to Chicago again.

She had this shirt made for me. "Someone in Chicago loves me" on the front, and the skyline on the back.

Dance party!

At Apple Annie's for lunch/the Monday special for $6.95: country fried steak, mashed potatoes and gravy, peas, deviled egg, and a roll.