asheville

[This was written on Saturday, but I'm posting Sunday morning from a cafe with wireless net access. Alas, Georg can't get his iMac connected at all. It's on the network but he can't get through to the internet and we have no idea why. Technology is a little less wonderful than usual today.]

Took the dogs to the new kennel, Pets Companion. It's way the heck out -- on 501 north, almost to Bahama -- but it's so nice inside! I told Georg after I got back that the old kennel was like taking your dogs to stay with your uncle who raises hound dogs out in the country. He loves dogs and you know he'll take care of them, but it's not the most professional environment. Pets Companion was like going to the vet's office. Everything was nice and new, the staff all wear brightly colored scrubs, and the woman who handles medications had a long talk with me about what both Lina and Thirteen need and when. She printed up a med chart for the front of their pen and even said she would put the anti-lick gel on Lina's leg 4 times a day, like the vet wanted! I didn't think they would be willing to do it that often, I just asked her to do it as often as she could manage in a day.

While I was there I made reservations for Thanksgiving and Christmas. It's more expensive and I feel kind of bad about leaving the old place after so long, but with Thirteen's health declining, and Lina having health issues too, I feel like they need to be at a kennel where the staff will be on top of their medical issues.

Georg took care of packing while I was driving to the kennel and back, so all I had to do was pack up my computer. My only major disappointment is that I forgot all my camera accessories -- the tripod, new lens, and polarizing filter which I had bought just for this trip. Argh! I thought about it yesterday, and went into the study to get all that stuff, but got distracted by something else and forgot all about it. It's supposed to be cloudy all weekend anyway, so the polarizing filter wouldn't have been that much use. I am bummed about the tripod though. Now that I'm here, I remember last time planning to bring it so I could get a nighttime shot of the wig shop. Oh well, no point agonizing over it. At least I remembered the camera.

The drive out to Asheville was faster than we had expected. We stopped for lunch at Keaton's Barbecue again. Every bit as good as I remembered. I think they must have had an increase in tourist visitors, probably due to the Road Food people. (Which is how we heard of them). There are signs all over the restaurant now asking customers not to photograph the staff without permission. The "absolutely no profanity" sign is still there, and we still had to remind ourselves not to shout out how goddamned good the fried chicken was. This time I also had the macaroni and cheese, which was outstanding. Some joints like that serve gross institutional mac and cheese, with mushy macaroni and bland cheese sauce. This was just like something you would make at home: the texture of real cheese and a nice baked crust on top and bottom.

There doesn't seem to be much in the way of fall colors out here. I guess because it's been so wet and warm this fall. All we need is one cold snap, one night of frost, and all the leaves would turn. I don't think we're going to get that. But it's still beautiful though.