Arcade!

Possibly the greatest idea for a bar since forever, ARCADE ASHEVILLE, has just opened up near Pack Square on 130 College Street featuring, you guessed it, everyone's favorite games from yesteryear and a few new ones too (the wii and kinect are featured upstairs).  Last night, as part of their opening special, all games were free!  I made the rounds and tried to play every game they had including mortal combat and time crisis(love).  The word on the street is that they will also be featuring arcade-game-themed-trivia nights soon.

I challenge everyone from outside Asheville to NOT want to visit me all the time now.

A New Kind of Amish

I spent 3 days in Chicago last week.  I was there to celebrate the new year and see good friends, but something else happened while I was there too, something that opened my eyes to the ways of the modern world.  It happened when I was sitting on the bus to the Planetarium.  I looked around and everyone was on their phones, but not just any phones--their SMARTphones.  My friend Jamie has one too, so I was literally surrounded by a sea of them.  I assumed people were checking their emails and facebook accounts, but they were also researching directions (where to get off the bus, when to pick up the next bus, etc.).  Jamie says, "If you move to Chicago, you will HAVE to get a Smartphone.  I don't think I could get around without one". 

Meanwhile across the Atlantic, Andrea just received a kindle for Christmas (which is actually kind of perfect for her because she reads and travels so much and the kindle is wonderfully compact.)  Nevertheless, I find myself wondering how long it will be until the paperback book is extinct.  Are the kids of the future not going to know the feel of paper between their fingers?

This has all led me to my GRAND STATEMENT.  I've hit my technology limit.  I don't want anymore.  I'm cool with computers and google and cell phones, but I will not accept the smartphone or the kindle.  I'm a new kind of amish.

blurry, blurry, blurry, clear

After several failed attempts, I had to finally give in and use the flash

I spent the past few days in Chicago with Jake (pictured) and Jamie.  We celebrated the new year and when the night was over, Jamie and I hailed a cab and found $7 dollars waiting for us in the backseat.  I have a good feeling about 2011.  Happy New Year!