December 29th

I am sitting here at work on Thursday. There is not much going on. Most people take this week off. So I am sitting here reading blogs about family, farming friends, hitch-hikers, train-jumpers, hippies(Rainbow people), and dreaming about a new adventure. I started a new book last night. It is called 'Into Thin Air' by Jon Krakauer. It is a autobiographical novel of his trip to the top of mount Everest. That is an adventure! Not sure I would ever undertake something that huge, but something new for me would be awesome. I am really looking forward to getting further into this book. I will keep you updated on how it goes.

I was asked the other day about how I felt about my kids and the way they were being raised. I think about them a lot. They come here pretty rough around the edges and by the time they go home, they have manners and act proper. I don't think this is all me, but I think it has a lot to do with a lack of TV and an increase in supervision. I don't think that their mother is involved enough in their daily lives and their education. I think that they are both very smart kids. I know they could be doing more and getting more out of life than simply being able to beat a Zombie video game and quoting Family Guy. Michaela spends large amounts of time coloring and drawing. Jonathan loves to be outside. Both of these traits I see in myself. I would really like to culture their more inquisitive sides and help them explore more options. We will see how everything plays out. The summer will be here before we know it again.

I have been kind of removed from my normal life this month. I am not sure why or what is going on with me. However, I made dinner and tried to watch a TV show with her. This was how we spent our normal evenings in. We both loved the show S.O.A. and so I put it on. I was not feeling it. I was so tired of the drama and bullshit they were selling. I just wanted to throw something at it!! So, before it was over, Ashley was falling asleep on the couch and so I started cleaning around the house. I picked up the living room, took out the trash, and when I came back in, it was over. I immediately put on some music and went to do up the dinner dishes. The music choice, I was really hoping she would like and we could discuss it, but that didn't happen. She hated it and asked if I wanted to have them play at my bar when I open it. I told here I thought that would be awesome, and she was not impressed. I decided to pull out some pants that I have had in the back of the closet for about 2 years. I was shocked, my two favorite pairs fit and were loose!! Three other pairs were too big and went into the Goodwill bag! I also decided to go through my shirt closet and get rid of things that I just never plan to wear again. I got rid of a nice sweater and my only Banana Republic shirt. Cuff links went with it!! I never want to have to dress like that again!! My clothes are not who I am, nor do they need to sell my social status. I am happiest in jeans and a t-shirt.

Ashley and I talked about the bar idea. We also discussed, me looking for a job in a bar 2 days a week, to do some research on how they are run and what the local laws are. I have never worked in a bar and I am not sure how it all works. I have lots of friends that have, but I need the personal experience. The bar idea, seems to be very romantic to me. I want something that is only open 2 or 3 days a week. This way I can do something else with my weeks. I could build something, or work with other people doing odd jobs and learning new skills. If the bar could make enough money to keep me in about $30k a year, then anything I do during the week would be savings,spending money. Along with giving me the opportunity to devote time to boating when the rains come. This could also be a great thing if the kids were to come and live with me. It would provide me with the time needed to raise them, through their teen years. It would also keep me appeased with new bands and new people all of the time. Like I said it is a very romantic idea! We will see what happens after I have spent some time working for someone else in the industry.

~RF

Holiday Plans!!

So this week has flown by!! I went and picked up my kids on Sunday in West Virginia. Melissa rode with me. We had good conversation and listen to lots of music. Once we crossed into WV the snow started falling lightly and the ground had a nice blanket of white. We stopped at the New River Gorge Scenic area and crossed the Do Not Cross line on the path and went down for a look! The river was flowing nicely and the hills were beautiful. We then headed on up to Summersville and went to Applebee's for a beer and a snack until Erin and the kids got there! They arrived about an hour after us. We had a snow-ball fight in the parking lot, then went into have lunch/dinner at Bob Evans. The kids were great the entire ride home. I am very proud of how they are growing up! I never dreamed they would be this well-behaved.

Since they have been here, Alyssa has been keeping them. It has worked out well. I am very pleased with her. They have been playing and really getting along well. I have only had to get on to them for arguing once. My parents are flying up Friday morning to pick them up and take them down to Darlington. They will spend the night and Ashley and I will drive down in the morning. Christmas should be nice, with lots of family around. It is crazy how much I miss the kids when they are not here!

Sunday, I am taking them back to WV. We are planning to have lunch in Huntersville, NC with my Aunt Ellen and her fiance'. It will be nice to see them. I have not seen them in quite some time. We will then head on up to WV and meet Erin. We should be able to meet Erin at 4pm and then get back to Charlotte by 8 or 8:30 for the Andy the Doorbum show at the Milestone! I love going to the Milestone. After all this driving this weekend, I am not sure how I am going to get home Sunday night, Monday morning. I will take some gear, in the car, so I can sleep in the parking lot if I have to rest before trekking home. Should be a good time, either way!!

I have plans to open a punk club here in Greenville. I am going to spend the spring researching bar owners and the requirements for a beer only bar that we can have local music at. I want to be open Thursday - Saturday only and always have music. Be open at 8pm and close at 2am. Nothing like a six hour day and an 18 hour week. I really want to give something back to Greenville. Asheville, NC has a great place called the Grey Eagle. Charlotte, NC has several places. Greenville, SC has the Handlebar and thats it. They get some big guys in there, but I want some more punk style stuff. I have lots of ideas, so once I get back from my walk I am going to devote all my extra time int o the research for the bar! So keep your eyes and ears open for what's happening with this.

~RF

November Paddling

Wow. November is gone and December is deep upon us! It has been pretty crazy around my house. I have had friends split up, old friends fizzle out and new friends taking over for the old. Boating has remained pretty constant. I have been able to get on the water one day every weekend. I have made a first descent of the Five falls on Chattooga section 4. I have paddled the French Broad section 9 a few times as well. All have been good trips. My boating is getting way more controlled and I am happy with where I am. I have made it to the point where all class III water I am comfortable and class IV water I am able to read and make educated decisions on what I want to run and what I want to walk around. I have a lot of runs that have opened up to me and I am just waiting on water and guides. The southeast is just starting to get our winter precipitation. Soon all of the runs will begin to creep up!! I have decided that winter spring 2011 is my time to really start creeking. I am so amped up about stepping up!


I have been going through some shit in my head this fall and early winter. It all boils down to the following things.

Nomad: I have been moving for as long as I can remember, and now everything is in place and I have been so happy here. I am currently at the longest job I have ever had. I have lived here the 2nd longest of anywhere in my life. So I have been ready to see something new for a little while.

30 years old: I made my 30th birthday alive! I have had a recurring dream since the time I was 16. I just knew that I would never see 30. For the months before my birthday, I was paranoid every time I got in the car or went boating. Once my birthday passed, I have been wanting to run!!

Hiking: I have been talking about getting in to hiking for over a year. I have read books about hiking, and they were good. I have done several short ones. A couple of miles in and back, just to go see some waterfall or some other highlight. Over the past 2 years, I have been buying gear for boating and when I purchase something I have been making sure it is light enough to carry in a backpack. I don't even own a backpack. Yet, every time I went to the store to buy something, I was asking myself if I could fit it in a bag and carry it long distances.

A random hike in the woods is not what I am searching for. I joined a gym and have been losing weight all year. I am now down to 203. I have been preparing myself for some kind of a change. So two weeks ago it hit me!! I want to go for a walk. Not just in the woods, like normal Appalachian hikers, but through towns. I want to hitch-hike and jump a train. I want to go to Asheville, catch a train and see where I end up. I want to wake up and not know where I am and be at peace in that moment!! I asked Ashley for a few weeks to do this. She was not so happy about the idea. She is not really happy with me at all anymore. I am less active at home and I have been drinking more. I am very restless. Ashley gave me two weeks. I have not set a date yet to leave, but I am waiting on spring. I want it warm!! But I am going to see a different life than the one I have chosen to lead!!

I will keep you posted on how all of this turns out!!
~RF