Obed is rockalicious

Me and Noah

Noah is the coolest 4 year old I know!

It was getting dark and Chad and key decided it would be a great idea to take the seat belt (an old seat belt was tied to now rotting trees as something to pull yourself up the rock), straight up, through the brair patch.
View from up top, no longer in the canyon

Little Noah was such a trooper! We had to bushwhack through rhododendron and prickly holly.

Truffles anyone? No more Meat

Never thought I would sell truffles, but I am. I might have good news about another job soon too!

In other news...

I am super riled up about the UNESCO report that I just read. ahhhh.... It's nothing new but it just hurts to read and I wanted to share it with all of those I love so that they may also feel the pain and suffering. " UNESCO reported that each day about 40,000 children die because of hunger or lack of nutrition. Meanwhile, corn and wheat are largely grown to feed livestock or to produce alcohol. Over 80% of corn and over 95% of oats produced in the United States are for feeding livestock. The world's cattle alone consume a quantity of food equivalent to the caloric needs of 8.7 billion people, more than the entire population on earth." OH my gosh!!!!

Thich Nhat Hahn says that "Eating meat and drinking alcohol with mindfulness, we realize that we are eating the flesh of our own children."

I leave all of you with that. It has been so great to hear from everyone, much love.

Chad's employed

Chad left for his first day of work today, it was like sending a child off to their first day of school after a long summer break. Chad is sad to leave pre-retirement but is excited to be working as a customer service rep at a medical supplies sales office in town! I am working at a local chocolate shop and selling european and american truffels!

The Green Race

Alice, Me and Nicole at the Green Race-- the most amazing white water race in the nation-- kayakers race down the class 5 rapids to victory in less than 5 minutes
Lots of people came out to watch the race
Boater racing to the finish

The name of this rapid is "Go Left or Die"
Boats seal diving into the river to avoid Gorilla the huge waterfall
Dave and Chad's classic poses

Halloween switch-a-roo

A tribute to the Inspiration

My mom suggested I put a face to the "one Big Dreadlock" man, and I thought not only would I show you an image of his face but give you a taste of what he is all about.

Chiaromonte’s puppet throws weight behind Jan Davis

DOWNTOWN, MONDAY — The hand-puppet of street preacher Charlie Chiaromonte announced Thursday that it is switching its support from Chiaromonte to Jan Davis, an incumbent City Council member who defeated Chiaromonte in the primary.

“Betrayal,” mutters Chris Chiaromonte, whose own bid for a seat on City Council was dashed in the primary.

The news has left Chiaromonte’s supporters shocked. Both yelled down the street to offer him support during this tough period.

Chiaromonte sits in silence at a local coffee shop staring at his puppet. When asked if he knew this was coming, he answers, “No, this is very unexpected.”

“I think the Ellington will be a nice addition to downtown,” his puppet Charlie interrupts. “I also support forced annexation.”

Chiaromonte is visibly hurt by this but his puppet continues.

“Have you ever asked me what I thought about immigration? Taxes? Do you ever consider that maybe I’d like for you to wash your hand before you stick it into me?”

Watching this exchange, it is obvious that this is much more than a man’s argument with his own hand — it’s about a strained friendship torn by opposing philosophies. It’s about a candidate whose own puppet has told him he will no longer be just a shill, a mouthpiece if you will, a cloth device manipulated by a hand as if actually talking or moving.

“Jan’s offered me a cush job at his tire store and to wash me with scented dryer sheets,” continues Charlie. “And, of course, some money… under the table if you know what I’m saying.”

Chiaromonte rips the puppet off his hand and throws it across the booth and yells, “How could you!” Amid the stares and gasps, he quietly picks up Charlie, stuffs him in his pocket and leaves.

Davis hasn’t confirmed Charlie’s support but has stated that after a thorough washing he would be willing to consider using Charlie to promote his ideas for the I-26 corridor.

http://www.mountainx.com/disclaimer/comments/chiaromontes_puppet_throws_weight_behind_jan_davis/

la vida buena

Chad and I moved to Asheville, NC from Alaska in August and are loving just about every minute of it. Contrary to popular belief, North Carolina is beautiful and full of smoky moutains, solar panels, bare foot hippies and wonderful meditation groups. Seriously, though there is a group of people who are trying to convince store owners to remove the "No shirt, no shoes, no service" rule to accommodate the population of people here who apparently don't own shirts or shoes. Our time here has been filled with many adventures to climbing hot spots such as Rumbling Bald, no more than an hour away; Obed in Tennessee , Looking Glass and Linville Gorge. It has been so beautiful here, and by that I mean filled with sunshine and warm weather in the 60's and 70's an amazing and much needed change from overly rainy Juneau. I do miss Juneau and all of it's splendor but spend a week out here and you'll never want to leave. As far as employment, Chad and I are both living the good life in "retirement." I worked temporarily as a counselor and community support staff at a local mental health agency and learned quickly that it was not for me. I am currently in the market for a job in the health care field but also have a second interview at a Chocolate shop tomorrow!! Chad has applied for many jobs and hopes to be employed soon, however not too soon as to interfere with his obsession with climbing (ha ha-- sorry chad). Loving the south and our wonderful "family" here. Much love to everyone.

Chad climbing the Nose at Looking Glass-- crazy thing is we met a couple from Colorado and Chad went climbing with them later that week!

Climbing Cereal Buttress at Rumbling Bald

Lake Lure-- from up top-- famous location of the hit Dirty Dancing, the original of course!

First pitch- nice little chimney chad almost got stuck in it

Blue Ridge Parkway and Looking Glass from Afar

Down by the river
Shining Rock Areaw
Looking Glass is soooo awesome!

Climbing at the Obed, Tennesee

Poison Ivy in the South is the Devil.

Smokey Mountains in Pisgah National Forest.

Looking Glass Rock. All of the horizontal holes in the rock are called eyebrows, hence the name looking glass.

Glowing white at Looking Glass Falls. I love that you can swim comfortably in rivers and lakes in the south.

Chad at Looking Glass Falls, one of our first weekends in Asheville. Augustish