Pieces in Asheville

I had the brilliant idea on a Tuesday morning to check out the events schedule in Asheville, NC. The funky little town, tucked within the Blue Ridge Mountains, is one of my absolute favorite places. It has the speed of the South but the culture of a city. And with dozens of mom-and-pop establishments, pet friendly cafes and restaurants, happening bars and endless outdoor activities I find myself fitting right in and never wanting to leave.

We picked our destination, rounded up some friends. The plans were set and we were ready and eager for the 6 hour trek.

We rolled up to our cabin at about 1 a.m. with 1 car-full, 1 truck, 2 dogs and 2 motorcycles. The pleasantly rustic cabin was a quaint place to rest our heads, although we didn't hit the sheets until about 2 hours later after several mojitos and 1 shaved head (I'm practicing my fade). The company was ideal with the perfect mix of friends.

The agenda for Saturday was to set out early to the Blue Ridge Parkway to drive fast and enjoy the turns. Pat and Doug geared up in their full leather suits. I started the ride on the back of Doug's bike while Ashley rode in the GTI with Jonathan.

Winding through the Blue Ridge Mountains is difficult to describe. The air was crisp and the scenery simply breathtaking. Each time the mountains opened up and a beautiful view was revealed I immediately felt small, humble and amazed. Still, we were able to cram in a quick 90s rap pose at a scenic overlook.

We rode for about an hour until Doug and Pat decided to hammer down through the Diamond Back Loop. I hopped in the car with Jonathan and we were off. This particular road consists of nothing but hairpin turns and blind corners. It's not uncommon to hear squealing tires and screaming exhaust.

After about 15 minutes Doug and Pat were no longer on our tail and we began to worry. Climbing back up the mountain towards where we last saw them I began to panic. My heart sank deeper and deeper with each moment we didn't see them. We finally came around a turn and saw Pat's bike on the side of the road, kick stand down. No Pat, no Doug, no Doug's bike. Naturally, I freaked out but was quickly calmed when I looked over the ledge and saw Doug standing on a gravel driveway next to a destroyed motorcycle. He was standing. My husband was okay. He had crashed at the best spot with only about a 20 foot drop. His bike skinned trees on the way down while he tumbled through the brush until being stopped by wrapping his torso around the trunk of a tree. He had survived what could have been a deathly accident, walking away with a few broken ribs, torn cartilage and a collapsed lung. The bike was in pieces but my husband was in tact. I couldn't have been any happier at that moment.

Despite his injuries Doug was happy and thankful, as were the rest of us. We celebrated by sticking to our plans of going to Beer Fest. The next few hours were filled with fun and laughter. The joy we felt that Doug was okay made the day incredible! We sampled local brews, met interesting folks, hung with the hipsters in the water fountain and truly enjoyed the good company.

After a day of fun we set out to experience Asheville at night. The small town with metropolitan-sized buildings became bustling at night. Locals played music on street corners while we strolled past shops and enjoyed dinner on the patio of Carmel's Restaurant and Bar.

We ended the weekend with a hike on Mount Mitchell, the highest point east of the Mississippi. We soaked up the views and reveled in the beauty of the vast mountains before us. The weekend was eye-opening and simply wonderful.

SOWO 2011

With Porsche, playstation and a keg in tow we headed to Helen, GA for one of the most amazing VW meets I've ever experienced.
So viel spass!!!!

The Art of Miscommunication

Why is it that the people that we talk to the most can be those we communicate with the least? I feel like I am a perpetual communicator: always talking things out, brainstorming, discussing... Whereas others answer vaguely, withhold information, refuse to participate, etc. Is the lack of communication intentional? Or do they really think simple and inadequate is enough to keep a conversation going or find a solution? Is it just a lack of effort? Maybe a general disinterest?

Whatever it may be, I encounter it daily and it drives me crazy. When having a conversation we should be able to talk about the subject, bring up specifics as needed, uncover or discover things we may not have known. It doesn't require too much effort. Instead, I'm asking question after question trying to drag answers out of people.

And as much as I hate to say it, my areas of miscommunication seem to be related to gender. I'm never one to stereotype based on sex, however gender is a different story. We're all socialized to think boys and girls act differently, excel in different areas, and have different characteristics. Girls learn early on they are supposed to be talkers, problem solvers and mediators. Boys are the doers. So despite the fact that gendered stereotypes are less extreme, these subtle differences remain and make communication between men and women a difficult task.

Lace 'Em Up!

I'm making a New Years resolution in April. It may be a bit unorthodox but that's how I roll. I plan to run as many charitable races as I can moving forward. The local 5ks are fun, but I've recently graduated to bigger races. A few weeks ago I ran the Cooper River Bridge Run in Charleston with 40,000 people. It was incredible! The energy and excitement was enough to keep anyone going, not to mention I loved being out there with my friends doing something to benefit both myself and my community. My registration fee went toward the American Cancer Society.

Cooper River Bridge, Charleston SC

Pre Run

Land Rover Hilton Head will be sponsoring the below races that I will be participating in:


May 15 - Low Country Trail Run
June 25 - Run Bike Run & 5K of the Lowcountry
July 4th - 26th Firecracker 5000
Oct 9th - Buzzard Island Adventure Run
Oct 23rd - 20th Hilton Head Bridge Run 5K & 10K
Oct 29th - Bluffton Zombie Mile


Throw in a Beach Bum Triathlon, maybe a Turtle Trot and I'm gonna be in great shape!


Now I just need to train.

Post 10k Celebration

Who Doesn't Like a Good Parable?

In my attempts to step up my frugality a notch, I visited a thrift shop in search of a few items I needed. I'd much rather re-use something than waste the resources on producing a new, more expensive one. In reality I probably spent more money that day than if I hadn't walked through the door of Off Island Thrift because I probably wouldn't have shopped anywhere else. Still, there's something exciting about circling the crowded shelves of a second-hand shop, weaving through the retirees and looking for that diamond in the rough. We all dream of finding that one item, unique and exactly what we needed, skipping up to the counter and happily paying a few bucks for it. I had no such luck.

The furniture selection was dismal (I was looking for a bookshelf), the bedding and mattress area is still giving me nightmares, and one can only have so many chachkis. So I spent the majority of my time perusing the book section. Used books are an absolute favorite of mine! After purchasing almost all of my books second-hand in college I've made it a habit. They're cheaper, sometimes you find interesting or insightful notes, and there's something nostalgic about reading a book with ruffled pages that has obviously been enjoyed time and time again.

One of the books I came home with is a parable about coping with change. Who Moved My Cheese, by Spencer Johnson, is an adorable tale about two mice and two humans living in a maze searching for cheese. Occasionally their cheese supply gets moved and they must search all corners of the maze (even the dark and scary ones) to find the new supply. They must adapt and use their instincts.

At only 96 pages (several with illustrations), the book is a quick read with an easy message: In order to reach you goals (cheese), you have to be willing to change. You have to go out and search for it, put forth some effort and run through the maze. You can't be afraid of trying different things and leaving your comfortable little corner. Only then will you be able to reap the benefits.

With such an easy message I feel frustrated that I regularly encounter people who simply can't adopt this philosophy. They like the way they do things, they have a routine, they've been doing it for twenty years...blah, blah, blah. It's impossible to grow while resisting change and new ideas. Becoming complacent with your dated ways can be very destructive.

Try something new. If it doesn't workout and you find yourself falling, pick yourself up, dust off your knees and keep going. Isn't this something we all learned as children? Applying it to our professional and personal lives is just as simple. It just takes an open mind.

As you can see, I found this book very relatable to my life. And in several ways: professionally, personally, even physically. I definitely recommend it. I found mine for just $3. Click Here to find it on Amazon.com.

Although I also walked away from the thrift store with a Nicholas Sparks novel, I'm suddenly in search for other books that will help me professionally. On my Amazon wish list: The One Minute Manager, The Go-Giver, 7 Habits of Highly Effective People and Coaching Sales People into Sales Champions.

One last note: the mice have jogging suits and running shoes. It's adorable.

Together, yea

With so many things uncertain in my life, I feel incredibly fluid but still grounded. Evolving but stable. Earnest but nonchalant. I'm burning to change, desirous to grow but undeniably happy with how things are.
We could pick up and move half way around the world and I would still have stability while facing new challenges. I've never felt so confident.
I suppose my new-found courage is a result of being an "us" rather than an "I." I know whatever challenge comes my way, I now have four feet to stand on, rather than two. That is the ultimate security. He believes in me, and I trust him. Together, we can do anything, go anywhere, be whoever we want to be and still be "us."