Blue Ridge blog

It is a 'two-fer' and Twitter day here at the Blue Ridge Blog...

It's a 'two-fer' day here at the Blue Ridge Blog. One day=two blog posts. Such a rare occurance of late...

I sit here watching the start of the Davidson v Kansas game, watching for my friend Sal, who is at the game in Detroit. Go Cats!
But I am not the only one in Western NC watching and hoping for Davidson to go all the way. So is Ashvegas down in Asheville. Ashvegas not only has a great blog about all things in the city known as the "Paris of the South," but his blogroll is filled with WNC bloggy goodness. My eyes naturally gravitated towards the Asheville Beer Blog.
That said, I am also delving into the "The Land of Twitter." Not sure I get the point of micro-blogging but I'm such a follower I'll try anything until it because pointless. If you want to see what I'm doing, you can find out how pathetic my life is by looking at my Tweets. And I'm not so sure I like the sound of that, but that's what individual Twitter posts are called. If you start Twittering, let me know so I can follow your Tweets.

Additionally:
The ever-so-resourceful Liz Donovan linked on her News Research to an interesting New Yorker column by Eric Alterman, "The Death and Life of the American Newspaper." It is an interesting read. I especially connected with the following paragraph as I've witnessed the struggle of our our High Country media sources awkwardly coming to grips with newer technology:

"Newspapers are dying; the evidence of diminishment in economic vitality, editorial quality, depth, personnel, and the over-all number of papers is everywhere. What this portends for the future is complicated. Three years ago, Rupert Murdoch warned newspaper editors, “Many of us have been remarkably, unaccountably complacent . . . quietly hoping that this thing called the digital revolution would just limp along.” Today, almost all serious newspapers are scrambling to adapt themselves to the technological and community-building opportunities offered by digital news delivery, including individual blogs, video reports, and “chat” opportunities for readers. Some, like the Times and the Post, will likely survive this moment of technological transformation in different form, cutting staff while increasing their depth and presence online. Others will seek to focus themselves locally. Newspaper editors now say that they “get it.” Yet traditional journalists are blinkered by their emotional investment in their Lippmann-like status as insiders. They tend to dismiss not only most blogosphere-based criticisms but also the messy democratic ferment from which these criticisms emanate. The Chicago Tribune recently felt compelled to shut down comment boards on its Web site for all political news stories. Its public editor, Timothy J. McNulty, complained, not without reason, that “the boards were beginning to read like a community of foul-mouthed bigots.”

Gotta get into the game. It is tied, 28 all.

He's dazzling us in the Valle....

I attended the Appalachian National Championship banquet last night and watched as the football players received their championship rings. It was with great delight that I caught a glimpse of Valle Crucis native, Seth Breitenstein, as he put on all 3 of his "Back-to-back-to-Back" rings. I remember photographing Seth and his buddies as 6th graders at Valle Crucis Elementary when they did a mythology unit in English/Social Studies. Then, later in high school, I watched as he excelled in both varsity sports and academics. Seth brought depth to the ASU football team in his role on special teams.
Congrats, Seth! I know your parents are proud of your accomplishments, but folks here in the Valle are as well. We can't wait to see what 'special team' you become a part of next.
But man, you can put your hand down now. That collection of ring bling is blinding ;)

From the inside looking out....

I have a huge office window. This might be a dangerous spot to place someone like me who is easily distracted by sights in addition to strong daydreaming tendencies.

From my window I watch the ebb and flow of college students as they go through the rhythms of their hourly class changes. The kids walk with purpose--a backpack slung over one shoulder with the opposite hand clutched around a cell phone crammed against the ear. Every so often, someone from the outside will have just enough curiosity to look in. I catch their eye and then smile. Mostly, the gesture is returned.

I've enjoyed three photo ops from the comfort of my desk which caused me to grab my camera and fling open the door to the outside. The first: A student wearing a leather flying cap who had made three snowballs and was walking down the sidewalk juggling.  The second, a girl with a camera who photographically studying  a nearby oak tree. I took her photo from my window but then went outside to talk a little 'shop.' And then yesterday, a pet bunny rabbit frolicked on a nearby grassy patch.

Blazing new trails....

I might fall asleep before I finish this post...
On my second holiday I ventured up Hwy 143 in Carter County, Tn., line to the border of NC @ Carver's Gap. I was hesitant to hike the grassy highland balds alone, but couldn't find a hiking partner. I really missed Harley...but was armed with my camera, backpack and taser. I mounted Round Bald and went all the way to Grassy Ridge Bald. On Jane Bald I stopped and ate an apple and contemplated absolutely nothing of importance but do remember asking myself why anyone needs drugs when they can get high on a mountain? Seriously, the feelings of being so close to what truly is large compared to how immeasurably small one is, seems easy to see on the Appalachian Trail.

The above photo is a familiar blaze marking the northward trail towards Jane Bald and Grassy Ridge.

Lingering snow on the fraser firs frame the Black Mountains and Mount Mitchell (far far right) in the background.

Checking back southwest from atop Jane Bald towards Tennesse looking at Round Bald and Roan Mountain.
I ate my apple on this here rock.

Looking Northeast I have attempted to note from left: Stone Mtn, Ashe County, Hump Mtn (foreground), Beech Mtn, Sugar Top and Grassy Ridge Bald.

Mark VanDyke schools me with his seasonal images from the Highland Balds. Go see. He's got some phenomenal images.
Wanna know more? Here is a wiki on Roan Mountain

Oh and if you are at all curious about what happens when you accidentally fire a taser: When test firing it without reading the instructions or watching the DVD, I found that not only are you left with a potentially electrocuted body, but also with a metal hypodermic needle attached to at least 40 feet of trout fishing line and a room full of confetti.
My husband was not nearly as amused as I was. But that is a story for another day:)

An Appalachian 'almost' Spring...

It was hard for me to chose which shot to share with you from the 8 gigs of photos I took on my Monday holiday. I spent my entire day hiking trails around the Grandfather and Linville area off the Blue Ridge Parkway. It is almost spring in the Southern Appalachians yet you couldn't tell from the ocassional snow showers and fiesty winds which prevailed during the day. The shot above was taken around 6:30 pm from just beyond the Scotchman on Hys 105 at the Tynecastle intersection. The snow was intense yet not nearly as daunting as the effects of the cold temperatures upon my fingers. I fumbled with a neutral density filter to subdue to masked sun through the clouds. I should have used a tripod but after a long day of shooting, was lazy.
Tomorrow I may venture the Appalachian Trail near Carver's Gap on Roan Mountain....depends how soon I wake up.
Hey. Did y'all see National Geographic has printed an online map: Discover Appalachia? It is interesting, yet I find that many of the sights and scenes I value as Appalachian icons aren't noted. Maybe this is for the best...

Stuff I otter know....

I don't have a fantastic view of a wild otter in my small backyard pond like Amy in New Hampshire but the River Otters on Grandfather Mountain aren't too far away from my Valle Crucis home to get a taste of the tamer mammals. There is a huge size difference between Amy's otter and the one shown here. I'm not an otter expert.
I reckon I otter google more info to see which is what...

Cold toes and a piggie nose, that's what Marie's morning was made of....

Today I got a much needed dose of Valle Crucis. I went to the Goodnight Family farm and visited piggies. At first I thought they had escaped, but after a few minutes noticed a huge pile of mud in the pen. Upon closer inspection, the pile of mud was piggies in disguise. They were sleeping in. Lazy pigs. They were happy to see me, until it was clear I did not come bearing piggie gifts.
Everything about the spring morning was refreshing, especially the frosty grass. I wandered over to the Valle Crucis wetlands and waited for the sun to illuminate the reeds. During my patient moments I noted the singing birds recognizing the happy season, though my cold toes missed the point entirely.

On trees and legends...

I have lots to mention, just not a whole lot of time to say it.

First, this tree shot was taken from the stairs of my deck. I had to dodge a couple of electrical lines and I wish I could have isolated it more from the glob of trees on the right, but I got what I got and that's all I got.

If'n you aren't from these parts then you might not know about Nike's commercial which features legendary games and sports figures. Apparently there is no such thing as a cupcake or a cinderella team anymore:

Give it a look-see here.

...the hallway to the Appalachian Mountaineer weight room appears much more glamorous in the movies...

I have more photos to post, but let's just see how it goes. Ok?

This makes watching them blow up in the microwave passe'....

It is a real live Peep Show. This is SFW (that means 'safe for work, Mom)

It also begs me to ask: "What do you do with your Peeps?"
Wait, maybe I don't wanna know...

The hole story...

On the work front:

Most work mornings I walk to the top floor of the library parking deck and survey the Appalachian Kingdom. I am attracted upward because the early light has never been the same and because I can be alone for just a few minutes. It is a new ritual.

On the home front:

"Would you completely hate me if I got my tongue pierced. I'm going to do it anyway no matter what you say."

That was the text message my youngest daughter sent me yesterday.

I did not freak. Instead, I whipped around my chair and asked my Google Guru, Gnumoon, for help.

"Quick, find a rational reason why my youngest should not get her tongue pierced," I pleaded.

Gnumoon made quick magic on the keyboard and blurted, "Brain Abscess. She might get a brain abscess," she reported.

So I text messaged my daughter back and in the same tone that the adults tell Ralphie why he shouldn't get a Red Ryder BB Gun I typed,

"You'll die of a brain abscess, kid. Just google it for yourself."

Later in the evening, youngest did do some internet searching on the subject and the horrifying  images of infected tongues and brain abscesses convinced her to reconsider.

Whew. Another bullet is dodged.
She turns 18 in a week and longs to get something pierced to, ya know, like make a personal statement about being an adult  <eye roll>. I asked her to get her ears double pierced, but she wasn't buying it. The belly button is out because she has to dance for the next couple of months and it will chaffe 'neath a tutu. And any facial piercings may make her father and dance teachers' heads explode.

I reckon we'll just have to wait and see what she comes up with....

...BTW, I don't have a problem at all with piercing or tats on anyone but my daughters. It is a parent thing, I reckon.