This day ended pretty quickly. I got dropped of in town, meandered for a bit, got picked up and went grocery shopping. I swear they've never heard of bagels here cause I finally found them, frozen, in one of the corners of the store. I also bought some juice, turkey, and cheese.

For those who may be unaware of what it's like to take a shower in 40 house, I'll recap for you. 1. take towel and fresh clothes into bathroom 2. undress and get into shower as quickly as possible, pray its still hot water (the hottest setting will not be even closing to burning temp) 3. scrub like your life depends upon it 4. turn water off, dry yourself off, and haul your tuchus to some fresh clothing. The floor is awful so remember to wipe your feet somewhere before trying to put pants, socks or anything else on.

My genius move today was to wait until everyone was out of the house so I could stick the sweats I'd be changing into in front of the woodstove so when I sprinted out of that bathroom I stepped into some toasty clothes. To take a line from Charlie Sheen who probably slept more nights in the bathrooms I speak of, winning.

All the days are starting to blur a little bit now. I'm waiting for my internship to start up and give me a little more routine and a little bit more reason to be out of the house. I looked at the bikes today and the one that fits me is definitely gonna need a little tune up. The gears are a little off and I can't risk an injury, the soft braking doesn't help me either. So i guess I'm gonna learn a lot. I ran today, freaked myself out a little and then did a mini "brickyard" workout in the back yard.

We took Harley out for a walk today, as much as we're trying to avoid it, I think we're getting attached to that mutant beagle mutt. We met up with Aubrey at some cafe, then Aubrey and I went dumpstering and picked up some yogurt, onions, zucchini, and more yogurt...I must have missed the memo that low-fat stuff is bad for you. You know what, its 51 degrees in here, and I'm damn tempted to get a fire going in the newly installed wood stove. Eli is gonna help me out.

The communal aspect of this house is starting to throw me a little (as if it didn't any other possible way). In Mass or at school, its nice to "go out" and grab dinner, here its all about cooking a meal together (and not giving money to any businesses and eating green, local, healthy, and all that jazz. Is it still better than eating out somewhere alone? I felt like that lonely kid in the cafeteria only this time there was no hope of someone I know to sit with me. A lot of debate, both internal and conversationally, has been about money. I'm living cheap, that's for damn sure. No idea when that habit is gonna peter out though. Yeah it's simple living but it can take a toll. I'm kinda interested to see what shape I walk outta here in.

I just awakened from an ill-timed nap. Today I had Tara drop me off at the University, the one I'll be interning for, so I could see what it's like to walk back. I was only a tiny bit cold cause I was a dumbass and thought I'd get too hot and weighed down with a jacket. The walk wasn't bad, I could have hiked a few more miles. I broke it up into a few sections and stopped at a place called Burgerworx for a late lunch. I had another ground-score* today with a free coupon booklet from Wendy's...I have no idea where the closest one is to me, but I put it on the fridge in the Commie* section.


ground-score: According to Clover, anything that one finds on the ground that is then taken
Commie: Abbreviation for Community or Communal items, essentially something that anyone in the house can use,eat

Migraine City:

For those of you who know me well, I tend to get headaches occasionally. For those of you who do not know me well, I get headaches, and they suck. I have yet to see a professional about them but today has changed my mind. It was bad, including get nauseous, exhausted, and dehydrated enough that I went out and spent outrageous amounts of money on chapstick, bread, jelly, and crackers. My total came to $15.40. It was a good thing I was already nauseous because if i had felt any better I would have vomited on the counter from the price alone. Damn your organic groceries when all I want is to coat my insides with enough crap to give second-hand heart attacks.

I'm now on my 5th cup of matte and although its a giant pain in the ass to heat things on stove top, tea is one of those items that's really hard to screw up.

The power of animals:

If I had awakened without a blinding migraine I would have been able to go with Tara and Aubrey to pick up Harley, a four year old beagle mix (we cant figure out what shes a mix of exactly). She's a tiny pup that's beyond happy and hyper to get out of the shelter. I think in some time she'll calm down, but she sure is excited right now. She's already formed and attachment to Tara. On the way to the grocery store she sat in my lap in the front seat. And for as hyper as she is, shes very kind. When I opened the car door, upon meeting her, all i had to do was stroke her neck and ear and she picked up right away that I was not feeling well. She licked my hand and then climbed over the seat, taking advantage of my excess warmth.

The floor:

Clover is worried about the floor, it has started bubble in certain places so plans may shift slightly. Hopefully he realizes that getting the wood stove set up again would be a nice priority to have, and then just work around that. Seeing the conversation he had with Aubrey in the kitchen made me realize that he's just a big kid at heart.

I'm getting my grasp here, even though I've yet to figure out a few systems, everyone is open to questions and understands that some things are a little difficult to get used to.

That's all for now, I'm gonna try to keep down another Excedrin and piece of toast.

i set simple goals today: find the ywca, find out how much a monthly member ship is, find a newspaper to use for shelving protectors. I ended up walking in the city. It's probably a 20 min walk and most of that is due to the hills. I saw some tourists and hoped I didnt looked as lost even though I didn't really have any destination set. I thought about trying to walk up to the university but the initial map i saw happened to send me in another direction. I wasn't dissapointed though. There was a massive shoe store that was advertising a penny sale for the second pair you buy. Only issue is the first pair of shoes probably would cost more than 100 bucks. I looked around for a bit, tried to people watch. There was a dad with his wife and two kids looking for shoes. He was trying to help his daughters pick which shoes they want for a formal. And he knew a lot. The shoe store had heat, room to roam about, and chairs to sit in. I saw one pair that i liked but they were at least $90.

I decided to head back, grabbed some free shopping guides, and walked back the way i came. I went into a market to look around and they had super cheap dairy alternatives such as soy, almond, and rice milk. I thought about getting some but I also like the idea that i should try and spend as little money as possible. I just took pictures and headed back out. I looked up to see the Thirsty Monk, which is a bar my friend's older brother used to tend. I kept walking and very close to the YWCA- which was my frist stop, a middle school with basketball courts and a track and a field if i really needed it. I found a perfectly good thermal. A brand new expo marker (no white board to use it on), and a neon green headband (which ill use to hold things together, its staying out of my hair)

here's some pics of 40 house:

front of 40

left side of house, my room is one above the deck landing

front porch, lights are on to help vent out paint, garden beds are not currently being used

back yard. Upper right is the garden, currently not in use. Clothing line is upper left. Mish-mash of crap in the middle.

steps that lead down the baement. Crusty(the cat)'s main stomping grounds. Saw table out for flooring rennovations

right side of the house, deck is enterance to the kitchen.

sink (greywater buckets beneath) Wire shelving as massive dish rack and containers.

Clover, eating his dinner

Avocado as part of dinner. White bin is for compost. If you dont finish your dinner, either you can leave it out and someone else will probably eat it- or its composted

other side of kitchen. Fridge, oven and range, cabinets: spices, oils, extras. The pots contain mashed sweet potato, chicken soup(with the bones), fruit salad. Behind the pots to the left of the oven is the toaster over- which I managed to set fire to the tortillas within 30min of being here.

Aubrey made me dinner when I got back from Downtow. Eggs in red cabbage, carrots, chicken sausage, peanuts, cheese chunks, lettuce, tomato, tortilla chips with green salsa and avocado.

Im in my sleeping bag now, typing this out. Winter jacket, sweatshirt, and my icehockey sweatpants are on over my black jeans. feet are still cold and im breaking a cold sweat. The scarf is pretty thin. I got access to more blankets. And i used the newspapertoday to put my organized fancy clothes on. Im sharing other shelves with Aubrey, but we're both pretty slack about sharing stuff.
When i was exploring downtown I realized just how much was based upon this material facade of a hearty, resourceful person. The stores reflect this. They sell this attitude. Im leaving with the people at the heart of it. The ones who pay low rent for the communal housing. They sell weathered boots with zippers and partially torn shoe laces- Eli's boots are paint splattered, tattrered and worn through the heel. He's wearing them to sand the floors but probably not for much longer. I live with the people who work to survive- they find what they need and install it. There is no middle man. Oppurtunivores.

More thoughts soon.
~ R

I hadn't even gotten my duffel from baggage claim before I came upon this gem.

view during the ride from airport

first meal: huevos rancheros. Dumpster cheese, sour cream, green salsa. Not sure about the tortillas or eggs. Tasted wonderful but not hot enough to melt the cheese.

seen downtown, loved the leggings.

one example of the shops in Asheville.

View from some governmetnt center, looking out to the sunset and the mountains.

market place downtown. Super cheap organic stuff. Notice all the flax based cereals im missing out on?

this is a beverage isle

Arnold Palmer cocktail mix...where am I!?

On my way back from downtown- Asheville Middle School

the rock wall separates the school from the back grounds of the YWCA which is trying to eliminate diversity by making it a pain in the ass to get a monthly memebership.

Rocket project

YWCA buses

A perfectly good shirt i found under this wooden bench. Only some brush on it.

twig wrapped gracefully around a metal fence pole.

it's 11:30 right now, Ive been up since 5:15am plane hopping my way into the land of the pines. As stated previously I arrived around 1:45. Rodney the flight attendent did a stand up job. My impressions of the house are that it is dirty, tough to breathe in, and by far one of the most monumental and brilliant adventures I have undertaken thus far.
 I met some very friendly people but i can only describe the culture shock a little right now.

12/26/11

I woke up at 1pm. Tough nights sleep in my sleeping bag plus blanket plues sweatshirt plus winter jacket and scarf. I woke up sweating and without socks. Goal # 1 get socks without touching the awful floor. This is the real life lava floor, folks. I'm in splinter territory now.

I missed the memo that having eart tone clothing and materials that you can stain permanently. This is going to be tough with all of my hard work from tj maxx.

So here's the character list and I make no promises of proper descriptions or name spelling:

Clover - he owns the "condemned" house, although until recently it was his fathers. Before that it was actually a condemned house.
You can read a whole article about the style I've entered into here: http://business.highbeam.com/410951/article-1G1-242672836/nature-spoils

Its really not that bad, and they dont mention the fact that you can leave when you want to. No one cares about your age here. Once you leave the ideals of formal schooling behind, it doesn't matter. Your interests, skill set, and deseires are going to make you- not your age and sure as hell  not your grades. I've also reallisex that the majority of the work on this house is to better help the survival of those occupying 40.

Clover is clearly older than I am, he has a kid and a partner, that are not in the house- but his wave of calm makes me think of him as the house dad. He's the leader of these projects but he's also concerened for his house family- which i have now entered into. 6'2, graying dark red hair, well maintained beard, hair held in ponytail, slim/muscular build.

Aubrey- Yesterday I figured ou that she must be around my age if not a year younger. She smokes hand rolled cigs like crazy, but talks in a familiar voice and looks like a short Brett Dennen. She's leaving here on the 3rd but that has also meant some overlap as to the amount of residents here. She was in my room and honestly, I dont know where she slept last night. When your housing situation is as ramshackle as the group of people known as your chosen family- anywhere is home. 5'4", does not regualrly exercise, red hair, good humor.

Alexei: he is the most excited puppy. He's not actually a puppy but he and his house brother, Eli (not related that I know of) crack the most jokes and bring that high energy. Eli is slightly more distanced but still has his set ideals. They are very clearly eliteist in thought and practices. Both are 6'2ish wirey guys. Alexei has very short brown hair, Eli has long dark brown nearly black hair held in a pony tail.

There are some other people that live that I haven't met yet- mainly cause they live in the rooms that are being effected by the new living project. Today they're putting on another coat and taking the shelving supplies out of my room and building books shelves. So i'll get a little more space. Also, they should be re-installing the wood stove soon too.

Ok it's now 1:25 and I will be finally putting socks on and venturing into the kitchen to find meal- then figure out how the hell to cook it.

I'll formulate a traditional blog post later, but I arrived in Asheville around 1:45. It is now currently 9:20 pm and I have yet to excrete solid waste because I have to figure out how to use the greywater system here.