Mountains, Gandalf.

This weekend was a much needed break.

Thursday - Slept in a little too late, but it was the first time I was able to sleep until I wanted to get up in weeks. I got up and tried to get some cleaning and laundry done while I waited to hear from Wes. I left G'boro around 5:30, which meant getting into Boone around 7:30PM. Which was cutting it kinda close. Not 10 minutes out from the apartment and the rain starts.And of course there was a wreck on 421 at the bottom of a hill on a bridge so traffic was craptacular thanks to rush hour and rubber-neckers. But I managed to get into town just in time to make it to Hannah's symphonic band concert. Which was awesome. The concert hall she performed in has amazing acoustics and the pieces they did were complex and amazingly well played. While Sarah took their grandmother back home, we walked back to Hannah's place and took a look at App's campus. It was a good night for it, and it's a pretty campus. We got back, relaxed, ate some pizza and watched some movies. Fun times!

Friday - Woke up a little bit when Hannah went to class, but only long enough to be shunted off the futon and into Hannah's bunk bed. Which was...small. Not too small, but the place itself isn't terribly big. Her room reminds me of some officer's quarters in a submarine. During the day I alternated between reading and playing my gameboy. Relaxing time, really. The sun was shining, the air was cool. Man, how I miss mountains. Friday afternoon I went with Hannah to a senior seminar. Apparently it's one of the required number of things seen deals, but it was pleasant to listen to. At some point during that afternoon we also dropped off a saxophone that Hannah got from the Nat'l Guard with her former tutor/teacher(I think. He taught her sax and does sax repairs, as I understand it). Yay driving on mountain roads. So bright! So green! For dinner Friday night, I got to meet one of Hannah's Big Brothers (#1, Anthony) over dinner at Cafe Portofino in downtown. I had me an awesomely garlicy bacon cheeseburger with a Reese's cheesecake and a Guiness. Mmmmm. Afterwards, we went back to the apartment and chilled. She surfed, I read. Eventually we passed out on the futon together. A little earlier than usual for both of us, if I recall correctly, but it wasn't so bad falling asleep next to Hannah. I do so love that.

Saturday - Family politics FTW!!!1 Hannah's mother was running a 5K for Huntington's Disease starting at 9AM (or theres about). Needless to say, I was there bright and early with everyone else. Luckily Hannah had the forethought to make coffee and it was a gorgeous day out. Mrs. Eckerd ended up doing the whole run in just over 30 minutes. And wasn't collapsed on the ground like most of the runners that finished before her. It should also be mentioned that she was one of the first third to be finished. Running, ick. Hannah's father showed up unexpectedly and I was at least able to visually see who he was, despite not being able to be introduced to the man. *Sigh* Parents can be so difficult. I suppose next is the Ritual of Chest-Beating and Animal Dominance. Hannah and I had breakfast at Boone Drug, which serves food reminiscent of your typical country kitchen joint. Which is to say: very good, but not terribly good for you. We got dropped off there and walked back to the apartment from downtown. I did a lot of walking this weekend, but it was just so gorgeous out, it was a shame to be inside too much. We stopped in the Mast General Store and I got myself a sturdy little cane for $6. I had left mine at home, and the hills weren't too kind on my knee. Sudden weather changes didn't help, but I got used to it pretty quick. After getting back home we napped for a while until my dad and Barbara arrived. The four of us stopped in Macados for lunch and had a really good time. I love the weather in Boone! The restaraunt had the front doors open and just fans going. And it felt awesome. Dad and Barbara couldn't stay too long, but we were able to all sit and chat about lots of stuff. I think Dad and Barbara are taking a liking to Hannah, and that means a lot to me. After dinner we dropped in at the shop where Hannah got some ink done and looked at a few things and got an idea for a tattoo for me. I've been thinking about getting one for a long time. I'm still not decided on it, but I've got a design in mind that should make for a pretty sweet one. All full of personal imagery and all that. After that, we got some snackery type food (yay ice cream!), smoked some hookah, watched Grosse Pointe Blank and called it a night.

Wow, this thing is getting long.


Sunday - Nothing like work screwing around with a schedule to wake up to. Bleh. Anyway. So I'm up an hour earlier than I thought I would be, but it worked out. Hannah picked at a few ingrown hairs and did a little grooming on me. Oddly enough, I find this to be comforting overall, if uncomfortable when she's plucking at something. Shrug. I went to the church Hannah sings for again. I seem to be developing some sort of pattern for this kinda thing. Might be catching. I miss churches. Many people greeted me and thanked me for coming. It's a United Methodist church, so I'm roughly familiar with the service. Their order for things deviates from what I'm used to at Rockwell UMC, but each church is different. I didn't agree with the VT memorial thing the pastor did in the middle of the service. I understand remembering the loss, but reading each name, age, and major/occupation...a bit much. And...well...a bit long. Not my favorite. Also? Not enough singing. I'm used to three hymn services. Eh. The two of us popped in for some Mexican for lunch and home for another afternoon nap. Good stuff! And her futon is perfect for it! Eventually, we had some...beefy-veggie-sandwich type stuff for dinner and Sarah drew on my arm a bit. Sarah being visually artisitically inclined and all. It allowed me to get an idea of what the design I wanted might look like, and I think it would look pretty sweet, the tattoo I want, I mean. Shortly after that, I finished packing up and headed home. I miss her (and her mountainy area place thing) already. And it's going to be until at least next Thursday before I see her again, but she'll be practically living here over the summer, so there's plenty of time together ahead.

Coming home was so hard, let me tell ya. I love the mountains.

i want to see mountains again, gandalf. mountains!