Back on the Road: Leaf-ing home

Hi, all,

It's been quite awhile, but we're back on the road for a short trip. Our lives finally opened up schedule-wise, so we decided to hop into "Monroe" and have "Leila" guide us to Asheville, NC. We think we're probably a week or two early to catch the turning of the leaves, but this is when it worked for us - and we've been meaning to get back to Asheville - ever since we visited Biltmore mansion with the kids - probably 20 years ago.
The drive up from Florida was relatively uneventful. Kelly brought over her camera at 7AM so we'd have the GOOD camera again, then we packed up and headed out - wearing shorts and T-shirts since it was 93 degrees. We cruised up I95 - and saw the aftermath of a multi-car accident near Daytona (again! - we saw a BAD one a couple of months ago - a few miles further up the road). But we just took it as a warning to "take it easy" and all went fine. We were fussing with Kathy's brand-new laptop - getting the Aircard to work - and totally missed when we left Florida and entered Georgia - and we had some really interesting rain patterns as we cruised: one sheet of rain couldn't have been more than 50 feet wide: clear, then RAIN, then clear again - all within 50 feet. Of course, that may have been caused by the drop in temperature from the 93 of Florida - to - eventually 56 here in Asheville, NC. Quite a temperature change for one day.
I had a hankering for Italian food, so we had Leila tell us where any Italian restaurants were nearby - and we wound up at a wonderful little restaurant named "Capri". Our waiter Justin was really attentive and friendly and I enjoyed my Lasagna - and dessert of "Brownie bites": *fried* balls of brownie so that they were crunchy on the outside but gooey and fudgy on the inside. Paired with ice cream, it was like little individual "molten Lava cakes".
Annnd I got some good news once I asked Kathy to drive for a bit - and got onto *my* brand-new laptop: I had "given up acting" - yet again - only to wind up auditioning for another 35mm film at Full Sail University - on Saturday. Usually it takes a couple of weeks to hear anything - but I had an email waiting - offering me the lead in "Box 304". It will shoot in November and I play a Father who is bent on cleaning up the world. I thought I'd done well in the audition, and it's great to get another lead part. Cool.
So. Our plan is to enjoy the grounds of Biltmore Mansion, browse Art Galleries in Asheville - and try a short hike or two which lead to waterfalls in State Parks. Then head over to Tennessee for a party with our friends Chris & Denise.
Hopefully we'll get to see some pretty leaves in the process.

Good to be back on the road.