The Gift of Java Joe

And the Universe said, "Here is a small and fragile being. If you show compassion, open your heart and give what needs to be given, you'll be rewarded with a gift like no other".

Ripping My Heart Out

I love animals. 

I have a dog and a cat and my brother's cat lives with us too. I keep them safe and healthy and wish I could do that for all. I can't but what I can do is give to organizations that further my cause in a bigger way. My company matches my donations so all the better.

So yesterday I am in the kitchen and I start to open my mail. I have a letter from one of the local organizations that I donate to. They have sent me a picture of this very cute little dog with big, beautiful eyes. As I look at the picture I noticed something written at the bottom that reads something like "The biggest contributor to the death of companion animals is not disease but euthanasia". I then look closer at the picture and see there is someone putting a needle in the little leg of this beautiful pup.  I'm looking at his very last minute of life. I start to cry.

I then get angry. Pretty pissed off. I do not need an organization to rip my heart out and play on my emotions to get me to send them money. I sent them a donation last year simply because I think they do such important work in our community.  I made a decision when I moved to Asheville to contribute all my donations to our local organizations. I like local in pretty much everything I do, buy, eat, drink... Now I see that this organization has subscribe to the same belief that I have seen with alot of the national organizations. If you can shock your donors, prey on their love of animals, they will send you money. I use to get and still do, envelopes with pictures of starving and abused horses, chained dogs, and malnourished kittens. My husband, being the wonderful person he is, intercepts these mailings before I see them and puts them in the recycle bin. At least this local organization was kind enough to enclose the picture INSIDE the envelope. 

So my first reaction is to tell them I don't appreciate their tactics and stop my donations. Why give to an organization that has offended me. There's lots of really worthwhile organizations here in Asheville that I could help. But I really believe in this organization's work. It aligns with my beliefs, and my dollar makes a big difference. Maybe I should just suck it up and send in my donation. I don't know. What would you do? I'd really like to know.

Thank You Asheville 2008

Well here it is the last day of 2008. This was my first full year of living in Asheville. It was an ubergreat year for me and I would like to say "Thanks!" to everyone and everything here in Asheville that made my year so wonderful.

To John for sharing this great place with me.
To Christine Kane for writing such a beautiful song.
To Asheville for showing me how to be real.
To Terry, Zach, Kelcie, Jake and everyone at the Rootbar for soooo many great memories and taking in 2 escapees from Fla (yikes!).
To all the breweries in Asheville for putting out great beer.
To Pisgah Brewing for your Endless Summer. I LOVE your beer.
To the farmers in our area for providing us with tasty, organic, wholesome food.

To Asheville for voting Obama and helping in turning North Carolina blue!
To all those that spent countless hours standing up against Parkside. You are what makes Asheville so special.
To all the Asheville bloggers for keeping me up on current events and happenings in Asheville.

To Now You See Them for always putting on a great show. I love your energy and your music and Diesel!
To Nikki Talley for playing 3 straight hours at The Beacon Pub.
To bus 29, for all the rides into and back from town.

To the waitresses at Cornerstones (especially Megan) who make our Sunday morning breakfasts so enjoyable.
To East Village Grill for your food and being so great with my Mom.
To Newbridge produce stand. Thank you for your great selection and always friendly welcome.
To Asheville Pizza and Brew for providing such a great place to see a movie.

To The Fine Arts Theatre, ditto.
To the mountains, woods and rivers for providing us with so much beauty.

To the turkeys roaming around who always make me smile.

To the black bear. You were awesome.

To our house (a very, very, very fine house!) for taking in all our friends and family over the year who have come to visit us and play some Rootball.

 

To Asheville, I love you.

Peace.

C.A.R.P. - A shout out for The Rootbar

Over at BlogAsheville, they came up with C.A.R.P. (Crappy Assets Relief Program). In doing my part as an Asheville blogger, I am going to showcase The Rootbar. It is my favorite place to go and hang out. I think that between dealing with this mess of an economy and the holiday season, everyone could use a break and listen to some good music while drinking a brew.

The Rootbar is located on Tunnel Road just off exit 55 on I-40. Most nights there is live music from our great local bands. The Rootbar serves only beer but their selection is fantastic and you can get many of our great local brews on tap. Out back are the Rootball courts. Ahh, rootball! If you have never heard of rootball, it is a game played on sand courts with a plastic disk, called the root and a plastic spikey ball. Like horseshoes, but better. The courts are always open, although this time of year it is a bit chilly out there, and you can always find someone willing to explain the rules. This place is full of friendly people. 

So if you're in the east Asheville area, bring your dog and have a brew. Terri (the owner) and Vinnie (her ubercool dog!)  will be happy to have you come and hang out.

Buy Local

To those of you who live here in Asheville, I'm sure you have seen the "Buy Local" bumper stickers. Buying local is a big part of this town. We have so many great artists, shops, restaurants and breweries. The good people of Asheville know the importance of buying local. Two great articles in Mountain Xpress by Dan Clere, "Why Buy Local?" and Edgy Mama, "Buying local for your kids" highlight the positives of buying local. So before you head out to the mall for all that holiday shopping,  think instead of finding those great local shops. 

I know here in Asheville anything I could get at a mall store I can find at a locally owned business. Clothes, jewelry, chocolates, books, computers, you name it. I have friends and family that love getting "anything Asheville". Not only can I get something unique to Asheville, my dollars stay in Asheville, I'm helping out a neighbor and I get to meet new people who will remember me when I come back in. 

So think local. Support your community and neighbors.  

A Reformed Miller-Lite Drinker in Asheville

I confess. I grew up drinking Miller-Lite. Its just what my friends and I drank. That is up until a year and a half ago when I moved to Asheville. I am born again. Not in the religious sense although I think beer drinking here in Asheville is rather spiritual and moving. Nope, I have discovered the local Asheville beer scene. Between the local music scene and the local breweries, I think I have died and gone to heaven.
My husband and I are into all things local. We love everything Asheville has to offer. Especially the breweries. Asheville has become one of the premier spots in the south for craft brews. So we started to sample the beers. Being from an American Pilsner background, I have gravitated towards the Goldens/Blondes/Pilsners. First it was French Broad's Goldenrod Pilsner, then Pisgah's Endless Summer, the Asheville Pizza and Brew's Rocket Girl and the Wedge's Pilsner. All great beers but I CRAVE Pisgah's Endless Summer. My drink of choice every Saturday night when we go out.
I was thinking the other day that although I love the local brews, I have pretty much stuck with these beers. What kind of fan of the breweries am I if I don't expand my horizons and try the other styles of beer? So Saturday night I had my first Cold Mountain from Highland Brewing. Pretty good stuff. Not a beer I could drink all night but I found myself ordering another one Sunday evening. My husband has been trying the IPA's and they are very tasty indeed.
I have known people who are wine connoisseurs. I think I would someday like to be an Asheville beer connoisseur. That would be pretty cool. So I am starting my Asheville Beer education. Every week I will try a different brew from one of the local breweries. Anybody have any suggestions of what I should try next?

Oh How I Love Asheville!