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near asheville, NC: "future west" - 'nuff said. north carolina: this place is overrun with butterflies; it's kind of amazing. koi at the bed and breakfast. houseplants escape the car for a few days. run some errands, end up with a car full of bees. the god people are on the radio in full force. realize southerners aren't necessarily more friendly; southern cashiers just feel more obligated to say friendly things while giving you that boston-style death glare. hole up in izzy's coffee den, get my internet on. local beer and tasty food at the laughing seed. catch a show at bobo gallery, which is a neat space; wish for the life of me i knew how to meet strangers (as opposed to friends-of-friends, or even acquaintances-of-acquaintances). wonder if i'm the only person on the planet - other than the somewhat creepy-seeming 60+ hippie dude in the corner - who goes to shows by myself. ----------------------- somewhere outside asheville, NC: missed a turn on the blue ridge parkway, ended up driving to an elevation of about 5000 ft. went wandering up a hiking trail before turning around; it was pretty. north carolina: visit folk art center after breakfast. bumper sticker: "try not to hate people." butterflies all over highway, can't tell which are dead and which picked stupid places to land, do my best to drive around all of them; a few hit my windshield, and i feel *really bad* about it. find what used to be a cicada stuck to my license plate, which makes me feel even worse - it's a wholesale bug apocalypse out here. get lost on the way to the farmer's market, drive way up into the mountains, don't mind at all. find farmer's market, purchase pickled stuff called "butt-kicking chow chow" for my dad - not sure what it is, but it sounds like something he'd eat. go to earth science museum, look at cool rocks. finally get kinda lonely - driving around thinking fondly of my friends is nice and all, but i'm missing social contact with people who aren't old enough to be my parents. soak in hot springs overlooking river, get hot stone massage, realize traces of carolina accent are seeping into my speech; get a call from a friend in boston right as i'm about to pass out, which is lovely. yay.