• Q:  How are you?
• A:  Good

• Q:  How’s Work?
• A:  Good

• Q:  How’s the family/wife/husband/kids?
• A:  Good

COME ON!  There is so much more to the story.

Earlier this week, a dear friend came to visit and when she asked, “What do you WANT to do?”  I started to say “I donno” and change the subject, as usual.  Then I stopped.  I did know.  I just didn’t know how to translate it into a job.  So instead, I just admitted this and a relatively short discussion reveled that she actually has a friend who helps folks find the experience for the job they want, embedded in the stuff they’ve already done.  KINDA IMPORTANT don’t you think?  If I had only said ‘I donno’ I would never have learned this.  And now, I have some butterflies in my belly at the idea of making a shift in 2012

Answering questions thoughtfully, listening and asking questions in return can lead to really surprising information.  (ok this particular frend probably would have told me I was lying and we would have gotten there eventually, so good friends are also a good idea. Listening and asking questions also leads to good friends.  Go figure.)

And also?  VERY EXCITED FOR 2012!!!

Just thought I would mention that

What do you do when one of your favorite people lives 10 HOURS AWAY and you just don’t want to fly?  Well you find someplace in the middle and meet up of course!

Even better when that person is your husband’s sister and just awesome to hang out with!  I forget sometimes that they are related.  It’s great though, because she is the only person who can possibly make him uncomfortable with conversation!  And she backs me up when he is not quite seeing the light

So we decided we would go on a girls trip by our selves, for some sister-in-law bonding.  Since it was her birthday, she got to choose the location.  Asheville, NC to see the Biltmore House!

I must say, I was all geared up for a cute little town in the Blue Ridge mountains… I did not expect a huge art community and adorable (and tasty!) coffee shops and restaurants.

In the middle of the town was a huge outdoor amphitheater.  apparently all summer local folks just setup there with their drums and everyone else just comes down and dances!  It is truly surreal.  We stumbled there after dinner and I tried to get a photo…

and then the skies opened up!  WOOSH!  RAIN!  I forgot I was in NC until no less than 3 cars stopped and asked us if we needed a ride to get out of the rain.  WOW!  Luckily we were only about 3 blocks from the hotel but we were pretty much DRENCHED by the time we walked into their swanky lobby.  Not sure if it was the squish of our shoes or the giggles and laughter that had people staring at us – either way – we didn’t care!  We were on vacation and having a great time!

The next day we headed to the Biltmore.  This house, it’s not so big, I could totally live there.  Well, as long as I also had the original amount of staff that ran the place.  WOW was it impressive!!  Still, you could see how folks could easily live there – it just had a homey feel in spite of the grandeur.   We did a couple of the extra tours which were completely worth it!  And even had lunch in the old stable, now a bustling restaurant with fantastic food.

We spent all day there and only toured the HOUSE!  I think perhaps another trip is in order to check out all the other places to tour… the gardens, winery, other restaurants, and gift shops!