Asheville

Normal
0

false
false
false

EN-US
X-NONE
X-NONE

MicrosoftInternetExplorer4

<w:LsdException L

ocked=”false” Priority=”71″ SemiHidden=”false”
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Colorful Shading Accent 1″ />

<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed=”false” Name=”Light Grid Accent 6″ />

So the whole story:

We finally talked on the phone Thursday and it was "normal."  I was still feeling a bit under the weather from the cold I caught earlier in the week, but I had my energy back and felt like I could power through it.  I got some heavy over the counter meds and was able to keep it down to just slightly annoying.  We decided that he would get off at 4 and I would meet him at his place just after. 

The drive up was fine.  We talked and flirted, and it felt fine.  I was still feeling a little off from the week, but I had already decided that if I was going, I was going with a good attitude and would make the most of it.  We got a bit lost on the way to the hotel, but finally found it.  We were starving so we dropped our stuff and grabbed a cab.  I used Yelp to find us a place to eat, but with the hour and a half wait we went with the place next door.  It was pretty good.  There was a drum circle playing across the street in the park.  We ate outside so we could hear, it was pretty cool.  After dinner we walked around the block and poked our heads into a few places to try to figure out what kind of music we wanted to hear.  Neither of us found anything we were super interested in, so we headed to another block.  We found a jazz club with an older crowd that was fun to watch.  The woman had an amazing voice.  After one glass of wine we decided to move on to something a little more exciting.  We wanted to get back to the same place we were before, but got a little turned around.  He thought we were one place and I thought we were in another.  I wanted to look at the map so we could really figure it out, but he started getting irritated and said we would just go my way since I thought I knew what I was doing.  I tried to explain that I wanted to see the map so I could confirm what I thought, and he just wanted to walk and stop talking about “it”.  Trying to avoid a fight, which it felt like it was leading up to we started walking while I looked up some of the recommendations on Yelp from the Ashville locals.  I got the names of some bars with cool music that we could keep an eye out for and lucky for us we walked around the corner and there was this place called the LAB.  It was on my list so we thought we would check it out.  We grabbed a seat and a beer and looked around.  I couldn’t see any place where a band might be so we asked about it.  Apparently there is a music venue in the back (sorta like the Earl if you’re an Atlantian).  We took a shot, paid the cover and went in.  The band was Kovacs & the Polar Bear and they were super cool.  Sort of like a rough cut version of Mumford and Sons.  After, we took a cab back to the hotel.  The rest of the night was pretty amazing, and we got very little sleep.  At least something about us worked out okay.

The next day we slept late and grabbed breakfast at the hotel.  After much debate we decided to drive to the downtown area instead of cabbing it.  We parked and then just walked all around.  Our first stop was a coffee shop.  J  Happy me!  We had fun checking out the shops.  Conversation was pretty regular, but it did seem like we were having communication issues on a very regular, and tiring, basis.  I would tease him and he would think I was serious and the other way around.  It just felt like we were never on the same page.  Well, maybe on the same page, but we were definitely on different paragraphs.  Explaining that you are joking is no fun time and time again.  While waiting for our lunch table we sat in the park and watched the birds, chatted and had a good time.  When we finally sat down for lunch we had our second almost “thing” (the map/direction thing being the first).  He ordered the soup, but it had bacon in it, which he hates.  He liked the soup itself so he decided to take the bacon out and eat the soup.  He basically scooped out half the soup onto the

plate.  After watching this go on for a moment I was going to suggest using a fork so he wouldn’t lose half his soup.  All I got out was, “you know, there’s probably a better way to do that…”  at which point he responded with (something along these lines) “I can take the bacon out any way I want to,  you’ve been criticizing me all day.”  Well…I had no idea.  I told him was just trying to help, I didn’t realize I had been criticizing.  He tried to continue with the conversation, but since we were literally 4 inches from the neighboring table I told him I didn’t want to talk about it and I quietly ate the rest of my lunch.  Near-ish the end of the meal I decided we still had a day and a half left, and I didn’t want it to go down this path, so I started making very cautious comments about the restaurant and food, and answering him in more than a one word answer.  My feelings were super hurt.  I am pretty sure I had not been criticizing him “all day long.”  But whatever he was feeling, it was pretty strong. 

We left and drove around a bit, having walked all of downtown Asheville by this point.  We decided to drive on over to the Biltmore and see what all the hype was about.  The drive just to the main entrance where you bought tickets was so pretty.  Lush and green, with both tall trees overhanging the road and large meadows led the way.  Talk was pretty quite and stilted.  We weren’t ignoring each other, but the ease of conversation was gone.  When we got out he came around to my door and put his arms around me and apologized.  He said that he didn’t think I was criticizing him, he knew I was just being helpful and he was sorry.  I told him I was sorry too, I didn’t mean to sound criticizing, we kissed and made up…more or less.  We decided against the Biltmore and decided to check out two music venues he wanted to try.  One was something or other at the Grove Park Inn.  But whenever we looked it up it only brought us to the Grove Park Inn.  On that website we couldn’t find anything about a music venue.  It’s a swanky hotel/spa/golf course.  He also found a dueling piano bar…which we also couldn’t find anything on where it actually was.  So very strange.  We decided to check out the Grove Park Inn just to see what it was all about.  We drove around the grounds and he decided he didn’t want to go in.  I convinced him to at least check out the lobby since we were already there.  As we were approaching we heard music. I asked him what time it was and sure enough, it was about the time when a band was supposed to be playing.  The lobby is huge, and housed both a bar and a stage.  The band was super mellow and it looked like people from the hotel were gathered and watching.  Not a big crowd.  While poking around the lobby we noticed a huge sign for the dueling piano bar.  Apparently, it is also at the Grove Park Inn.  We decided to come back after dinner and went back to the room for a nap. 

Well, he wanted a nap, I’m not a huge napper, but being sick and super tired I thought it might be a good idea.  I, however, did need to wind down, so I thought I would read a magazine, take some meds, down a water, and then climb into bed.  We get into the room and I use the restroom.  When I get out he’s in his boxers and climbing into bed saying “I don’t know what you’re going to do, but I’m taking a nap.”  The blinds were closed and it was super dark.  He went to the bathroom.  For some reason this just struck me the wrong way.  Probably because of my initial feelings going in, and the little “thing” that had happened at lunch, I was being overly sensitive.  I opened the curtains back up, sat in a nearby chair, opened a water and started reading a magazine.  When he got out I said that I would probably take a nap, but I needed to drink this water first.  He says “that’s fine, but we aren’t messing around, I really need to sleep.”  Hum…apparently if I climb into bed then it’s automatic I will jump him?  Interesting.  I didn’t say anything just continued reading.  I was feeling a little bad about the open drapes and was in the process of saying “I can shut the blinds and turn on a smaller light if that will help” but all I got out was “I can” when I looked up.  He had every single pillow over his head.  Well, this just sent me over the edge.  I grabbed my purse, shoes and magazine, shut the blinds apologized for inconveniencing him, and left the room.  I forgot the stupid water, so after putting my shoes on, I came back in, telling him I was just grabbing my water.  He called me over, asked me what was wrong.  I explained the above from my point of view and he again apologized.  I also apologized, adding that I thought I was being extra sensitive because in the week leading up to our weekend.  I told him that it put us off step.  He said it didn’t put him off, so I told him, when the guy you’re supposed to go away with basically ignores you all week it makes you unsure of things…at least from MY point of view.  We talked it out a bit more before falling asleep. 

 

The rest of the afternoon/night went without much incident.  We did drink a lot though.  I had so much fun at the piano bar.  He kept commenting that he was enjoying seeing me have fun and singing along.  We got back to the hotel room where he proceeded to pass out.  The next morning we went to an amazing breakfast and drove home.  The drive home was pretty quiet.  Both of us were tired, plus I think a bit perplexed at how many issues occurred over the past two days.  We stopped and checked out some cute places and walked around a flea market on the way home.  When we got back to his place he brought my bag to my car, gave me a hug and said good-bye.

So…that was my trip to Asheville.