Trout Lily
John at Low Gap
Cosby Creek
Yesterday mid-afternoon, I left Knoxville amidst the rainfall that has plagued our area since Friday night. Somewhere around the Sevierville exit, a slushy snow mixed in with the rain and around Bristol, VA the rain turned entirely to snow. No problem with driving until just outside Mt. Airy, where I drove into an incredible snow, ice, fog and high wind storm. A slow, very careful drive down the mountain brought me safely into an foggy, rainy Surry County where snow flakes were non-existent.
Coming down the mountain on I-77, about 20 miles outside of Mt. Airy...fog, high winds and blowing snow.
Heavy rain has turned this downspout into a waterfall and my wildflower garden into a rice paddy. Another project added to the list. Guess we are fairing better with the weather than other parts of the country.
Over the holiday weekend, I received an email that indicated that I needed to make a trip to Bentonville to do maybe 1-2 hours of work. Having recently spent more nights out of town than in, I decided to fly in and out the same day if such flights made sense. A quick Google search turned up the possibility of a 16 hour door to door trip. On the surface, this looked pretty good so I booked it!
Tuesday, travel day, came quickly. I was out of the house by 7:00 AM with wheels up around 8:20 AM. Several hours of flight time and a layover in Atlanta passed quickly, lost to the pages of a really good book, "One Hundred Years of Solitude" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. But a good book, smooth flight and early arrival provided no compensation for the cold rain that greeted me on the ground.
My rental turned out to be a Mustang pony. With it's cheesy interior and low to the ground front seats, I don't understand the fascination with this car. The back spoiler almost sent me back to the Hertz counter but my other choice was a Chevrolet Monte Carlo and, well....
After a few errands and lunch, it was time to head to my meeting. By this time, a gusty wind had kicked in and the rain was relentless. I cruised the parking lot looking for an open space and was quick to react to the backup lights on a car near the front door. I turned on my blinker and circled close. The parked car began to pull out about the same time I spotted a car pulling in another entrance to the lot. The driver, a New York garmento type, quickly gunned his car, put on his blinker and pulled in the spot before I could get around the car pulling out. A few choice words muttered in the solitude of my pony and I am back on the road heading to a parking lot several blocks away, glad I had stopped to buy yet another umbrella that I will forget on the next trip.
The meeting was quick but not quick enough to get me to the airport to standby for the 4:20 PM flight. I caught the last flight out to Atlanta, the 6:05 PM. I was tired and ready to get home. The return flights were a little rougher and my mind kept drifting away from reading. Finally, on the short Atlanta to Knoxville leg, I surrendered to a short nap.
I pulled into the driveway about 11:45 PM, 16 hours and 45 minutes door to door. At the end of the day crawling into my own bed was worth the effort.
Our family Easter celebration has come and gone. Things started a little rough this morning when I discovered the fan on the heat pump was not working, but a nice fire in the fireplace and sweaters all around kept everyone reasonably warm.
Mother and Daddy were here, John, Leslie, Carol and her friend Barbara, who is visiting from Sarasota, Florida. Food was a potluck affair with everyone contributing something. We had lots to eat and lots of leftovers for everyone to take home. Somehow, in all of the activity, I forgot to take photos. Oh well, good company and lots of conversation makes for a very fine day!
After a very hectic week, we took advantage of the long holiday weekend for an overnight in the Smokies backcountry. Unlike many backpackers, we did not get an early start, instead, we pulled up stakes in Knoxville around 10:30 AM and drove about 45 minutes to our trailhead in the back of the Abrams Creek Campground. The hike to Campsite 17 was short and easy. A quick search netted a fairly level site and we proceded to set up our tent, organize our stuff and eat lunch. We both would have enjoyed lounging around camp and reading but neither of us packed books and it was only 2:00 PM so we had no option but to tighten up our boot laces and head to Abrams Falls.
The 6.0 mile roundtrip hike was pretty easy without packs. We had not been on this piece of trail since the first summer we were dating (some seven years ago) and were pleased to see several much needed improvements. We reached Abrams Falls in a little over an hour and spent about 15 minutes watching the crowd then we headed back to camp.
To our surprise, only one other group set up camp in the large site, three young guys who introduced themselves as Andy, Andy and Andrew. (This, of course, brought to mind the Darrell brothers routine on The Bob Newhart Show). Our tents were on opposite sides of the campsite, far enough apart that we could not hear their voices but around 10:00 PM, we were a little spooked to see their headlamps shining through our tent walls. Based on the intensity of the lights, the guys had to be in close proximity to us. We never did figure out what they were doing through we suspect they were scouting for more firewood.
A view from Little Bottoms Trail
John enjoying the sun and the falls
Me at Abrams Falls
Although not one of the better wildflower trails in the Smokies, we saw enough flowers to make us feel like spring!
A view from the tent :-)
It is dusk here in my adopted town of Mt. Airy. I am looking out of the window (from my third floor hotel room) at a series of old roofs and church steeples. I arrived yesterday after a pleasant mid-morning drive and knocked out a good six hours of work before checking in the hotel. Today was a series of meetings and projects and after 10 very busy hours, I was glad to get outside and enjoy the waning sunshine.
Did I mention dinner at my favorite Mt. Airy restaurant? Food at the Thailand Cafe was just perfect, as usual, and I am even getting to know the owners, Belle and Spanky. This means I am eating there way too often, but in a town of maybe eight pretty good restaurants, the choices are limited. Besides, the food at this little cafe, nestled in the corner of an aging strip mall, stands up with any of the meals I remember from my travels to Thailand, especially the Tom Yum soup!
In mid-February, after several false stops, my old desktop finally shut down for good. While pleased with the excuse to buy a newer, faster computer, I stalled around a bit, vacillating between another desktop and a laptop. Meanwhile, I stayed connected to the web with a slick, pint-sized Dell Latitude. The little Latitude (my work laptop) is small enough and light enough to toss in my daypack, but in dim light, the print on the little 12.5" screen is almost unreadable and when operating on battery power, the screen itself becomes dim quickly. I have spent enough time with the Latitude to appreciate the convenience but I wanted something a little more substantial for home use.
A couple of weeks of computer research and I decided on a Dell Inspirion with a 15.5" screen. With the decision to go laptop, going wireless was a given. A couple more weeks go by for ordering and delivery and finally the Dell computer set-up expert arrived to set up the computer, download my files and hook up the wireless (okay, okay, I could have done this myself). Long story short, 2-1/2 hours later, Mr. Dell could not get the Inspirion to go wireless although the Latitude works just fine with the new secured system. So $$ and hours later, I still have to download my files and add software AND, deal with Dell again about the missing whatever to liberate the Inspirion from a wired connection. All it takes is time!
The big, bright Inspiron is on the right, the little Latitude on the left and the very out of date desktop screen in the back.
Very cool quartz looking clock on the main screen. I haven't had time to get into Windows Vista yet so I really don't know the what and why for the whale's tail.
I am beginning to settle into my commuter life although I guess some people consider the 150 miles I have been driving every weekday for the past 10 years, commuting. These days that distance doesn't seem like much as I cross several state lines to spend time in my new office. I must admit that sometimes, when I am passing through Virginia on the way to North Carolina or home to Tennessee, I find my circumstances a bit surreal. More often than not, it suits me just fine.
Today I have traveled to Arkansas. The weather in Bentonville is quite nice, warm and sunny with only a hint of the wicked summer humidity that lies ahead. Aside from the usual aggravation in Atlanta's Terminal C, flights have been on time and quite smooth. I spent much of my time finishing an adventure book I began reading this weekend, "Amazon Extreme" by Colin Angus.
This evening, after a light pasta dinner at a local eatery, I am nestled into a fine hotel room decorated with a breath of oriental sophistication and a huge 42" flat screen TV. With drapes closed and traffic sounds from a nearby interstate, I can almost imagine myself in a hotel in mid-town Manhattan.
Sadness has been our shadow recently. After several months in intensive care, John's father passed away last week. His family celebrated his life in the warm embrace of extended family and so many caring friends. For five days beginning last Tuesday, an unending supply of food came through the door confirming the words of my favorite uncle, "food is love." The funeral was held last Friday, celebrating one very special life.
After the funeral, many people gathered in the Dunlap home where food comforted and tears and laughter filled the rooms. The young listened as the elders relayed a lifetime of stories about John's father, Bill and John's brother, Bill who passed away a short three months past. This occasion was a visible reminder to us of how ones own good actions toward others are repaid times 10.
I returned to Knoxville on Saturday, John came home on Sunday. He will greatly miss his father. Peace be with you William R. Dunlap.
I brought home an interesting purchase today, makes quite an orange neon glow on the walls. John suggested we crank up the record player and listen to a little Jefferson Airplane while lava watching. Impossible, while I have a Jefferson Airplane record, I no longer have a record player.
Home again after a couple of days in Mayberry, USA. It was a rather uneventful trip, the weather was good and the drive quite pleasant. I had no business taking the trip on my treadless tires but the trip came up quickly and well..... Anyway, I have new tires on high priority before before I take off again.
John and I are off in different directions for the next couple of weeks, so we took advantage of the only evening we both have available and headed to The Strip for dinner. Most restuarants were overflowing with basketball fans (UT vs AL) but we found a table at Moe's Southwest and settled in for a cheese quesadilla and an "Art Vandalay". Much to our surprise, we spotted Barbara (of retirement party fame) with a friend in tow. Since we thought she left for Arizona over a week ago, we couldn't quite grasp the fact that she was sitting at a table nearby. After a few moments of conspicuous starring, I finally circled the table and caught her attention. We joined her and friend and listened to her trials with some household plumbing issues and last minute trip preparation. She is committed to be off early in the morning and will be in Arizona in plenty time to start her "summer" job. We admit to being just a little bit jealous of her summer vacation!
The Whitesell family came a' callin' yesterday for a mini family reunion of sorts. Auntie Sue was here, Uncle Joe, Vicky, Steve, Eric and China (Vicky and Steve's pup). We had a fine time eating lots of food, talking and laughing uncontrollably! One of the highlights of the day was watching an old 8mm movie of the family from around 1952-1959. What an incredible treat to share a slice of family history with the elders (who were the youngers at the time of the film) and to listen to their comments and family stories. Many thanks to my brother-in-law, Mike, who patiently transferred some of Daddy's extensive collection of 8mm film reels to DVD!
Mother, Auntie Sue and Uncle Joe
Hostess gifts from Cousin Eric. Eric has taken up home brewing wine. "The Medicine" he calls it. Read into that as you will.
Cooking in the kitchen with Uncle Joe and Cousin Vicky, clearly the best cooks in our family although Eric gives them a strong run for their money. Joe treated us to the favorite foods of generations of Whitesells...country ham rolls (ham he cured using Granddaddy's old family recipe), fresh fruit Whitesell style and corn, stripped from the cob and frozen moments after picking. He reconstituted the corn with 2 sticks of Land O' Lakes and milk. He was a bit disappointed that my refrig contained only skim milk. We were thankful, our collective waist lines can't take much more!!
from left: Leslie, Eric, Vicky, Steve and Mike
Leslie listening as Uncle Joe spins his stories, throwing all of us in fits of laughter! 
Bother and sister, Eric and Vicky
Daddy and Carol listening and laughing, must be Uncle Joe telling another story
The camera is turned on us 
The Whitesell family (John is taking the photo), front row from left: Vicky and China, Mother, me, Leslie. Back row from left: Eric, Carol, Daddy, Sue, Joe and SteveGr-r-r-r-r! I am fed up with the problematic nature of Internet Explorer. After a computer shut down several months ago while trying to download the new Internet Explorer 7, I have been very careful about downloading newer versions of anything (except the army of protective software that maybe part of my problem). Several nights ago while trying to talk on the phone and work on Smithposts, I accidentally hit the download button for the new Blogger software. When I discovered I couldn't log back in, I had a few days of serious aggravation.
In the "old" days of Blogger, I could research the help section and, if an answer wasn't found, send an email. In a few days, a response would appear in my mailbox and I could fix the problem. But now that Google has purchased Blogger, things have become a bit more complicated. The Help link sends the reader on a problem solving deadend. Even the "Write Us" link does not lead to an email address but another series of instructions. I spent several evenings applying all sorts of tweaks and twists as directed by Blogger. In a weak moment, I even went as far as researching and ordering a new tower for my computer. This was an expensive knee jerk reaction and I came to my senses before the tower arrived at my front door.
John finally provided the solution by suggesting I try opening Blogger with another Internet explorer. I remembered that I had downloaded Foxfire while having an earlier problem with Internet Explorer. Foxfire was the solution, I am back on Blogger problem free...for now anyway.
A rather large Friday evening gathering at Will's house to officially celebrate the retirement of friends Barbara and Ron. It was a gala affair with lots of vegetarian goodies and hours of conversation and stories.
Ron and Barbara have been smiling big since the day they retired, Ron at the end of December, Barbara at the end of January
Ron with wife Ginger, to his right and hmm, George's attractive friend, whose name I didn't get, to his far right
Dave and Robin
Will and Kim in Will's library...
Bill and Silke
Judy and John, with Silke and Cheryl
Will, Cheryl and Ron
Priscilla, Judy, John and Dave
George, Robin, Steve, me and Barbara
Barbara, Will and RobinThis morning I woke to a humming noise I couldn't identify. In a strange hotel room and slightly disoriented, I fumbled for the alarm clock, only to discover it was 4:20 am and not the alarm clock disturbing my sleep. The humming noise continued and I realized my cell phone, on the far side of the room, was emitting the offending noise. With John's father in intensive care, I struggled to shake the sleep out of my head and stumbled across the room to grab the phone, hoping for no bad news.
I hit send to redail the missed call. Instead of John on the line, I got the India branch of Delta Airlines who wanted to inform me that my 7:35 am flight had been canceled and I could be rescheduled on the 6:00 am flight, if I could leave for the airport right now. I vaguely remembered that my boss was on the 6:00 am flight, so I quickly called to see if he had checked out. He was still in his room and offered to wait 15 minutes (the latest he could leave and still make the drive to the airport, drop off the car and navigate through a very picky security inspection).
I called Delta back and again the phone was answered by the India branch. It has been my experience when dealing with India based service centers, that some of the representatives speak and understand English better others. Unfortunately for me, when I needed someone who could move through the process quickly, I found myself on the line with a young woman who struggled to understand my very mild southern accent. So, while she asked me to repeat the same information over and over and over, I scrambled to dress and pack and talk on the phone. Finally we had some sort of breakthrough and she transferred me to the Delta medallion office where an American voice (southern I might add) answered the phone and took care of the flight in minutes. Yeah...down to the lobby and off to the airport in the allotted 15, well maybe 18 minutes. A ridiculous experience at 4:30 am but it was great to get home early!
Delta might want to reconsider that offer from US Airways, at least from my perspective anyway. Another day of traveling, another day of delays. Mechanical problems plus an inoperable toilet on the flight to Bentonville. I threw away my the Diet Coke with that announcement.
This time it wasn't just my plane, but at the far, far end of Atlanta's Terminal C, most of the commuter planes were experiencing some type of delay...weather or mechanical. People were sprawled on the floor and spread out on the furniture. Every few minutes a monotone voice read the latest delay. Busy working on materials for an afternoon meeting, my flight's hour delay passed quickly and I was wisked away on a very uneventful flight!
Duane, Bill and John stop close to the top of Jane's Bald 
Endless mountains visible on the horizon
John, Duane and Bill coming down the rutted Appalachian Trail on the backside of Jane Bald
Sunset at our campsite low in the saddle off the backside of Grassy Ridge Evening fell around 5:30 on Grassy Ridge. Our tents were up and we donned our warmest winter clothing for the anticipated falling temperatures. Everyone gathered around the fire ring and we were quite pleased to discover that others before us had left wood. Since we carried up a number of small fire logs for a " just in case" situation, we burned them so we would not have to carry them down.
Aside from the commotion caused the a grass fire set by Will's Seva stove, dinner was uneventful. John and I had our usual pizza with an after dinner hot chocolate. The temperature dropped quickly and the wind became very gusty as the sun disappeared.
Fire set by Will's stove, fast foot work by Will and John averted a possible disaster in the wind
We woke to a winter wonderland ("Yes, it's cold out here," says John) The wind gusts were tolerable as we stood by the fire after dinner and watched the twinkling lights from Beech Mountain ski resort (several ranges away). Finally the bitter wind found its way into the layers of our clothes and we headed to the tent around 8:00 pm. I couldn't wait to get out of the icy atmosphere and into my very comfy down sleeping bag.
The night was interesting. High winds put our 3-season Mountain Hardware tent to the test as gusts slammed into the side countless times during the night. I woke from a restless sleep on numerous occasions with the fabric of the tent blown against my face. Sometime around 3:00 am, we heard ice hitting the tent. Getting up and out in the morning would be a challenge.
Oh so cold breaking camp
Cold and windy as we broke camp on Sunday morning. The clouds swirled low on the bald as we hurried to pack and get on the trail. With the temp no higher than 20-degrees and the winds gusting at 30 mph, we figured the temperature around 0. Br-r-r-r-r!
The hike to the car went quickly as we skirted icy patches on the trail. Somewhere on Round Mountain, the icy wind turned to a blowing snow. Ah, the car heater never felt so good!
Yours truly, very cold on Grassy Ridge!!
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