CHRIS ARVIDSON

OK, I'm not sure if this will work, but here's a short video I made of Day 5 today. There's one on You Tube of Day 4, too. I am starting to get dangerous with this stuff.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=safz5pG3we8

Things are going well...knock on wood... only minor hiccups (more…)

In the car on the way back to town, our NCNR intern Jasmene asked me if I would call the first day a "success." I had to think about the answer to that question for a second or two.

I was kind of in a gut-twisting moment when she asked. I had thoughtlessly taken the long way back to where we were dropping off cars and just realized I'd added at least 45 minutes to our time to get home. Following me in another vehicle, my husband had just noted this screw-up via IPhone. (more…)

I can't believe it's almost time. Time for another adventure down the New River -- about 235 miles worth. Holy crap. No matter what little thing I think up at 3 in the morning now, I'm sure to forget something that I needed to do!

It all starts on Saturday, July 24. That's not even a week (more…)

A Verlyn Klinkenborg piece in the NYT today ("Crossing Nevada") brought vivid memories to me of a very similar crossing for my family and me. It took place at about the same time as Klinkenborg details in his essay -- hell, we could have passed his car on the road.

We had a Ford Galaxie, too. It was a 1962 though, and I'm not sure what we were driving when we made our trip from California east. (The one we had was aqua blue, a convertible with a white interior and top. Sweet.) (more…)

Whew. Just got back from a whirlwind trip to northern Michigan...what we in Michigan call "up north." Henry and I had to get the condo ready for our incoming tenant, and get ready for and attend the really big event of the week, my niece Rose's graduation from Benzie Central High School. (more…)

At the On the Same Page Literary Festival last fall here in Ashe County, Jill McCorkle told us about the box she keeps in her office. It's her writing stash. The clips and drips of thought that might someday turn into stories - even novels - she deposits in a box of idea treasures. (more…)

Many of you know our wonderful music friend Emma Rugg. Last night, she won the Pop artist award at The Peoples Music Awards in London. We are thrilled, thrilled, thrilled. (more…)

As you can see from the picture at right, lots of people are going places this morning via the skies over Ashe County, NC. Even Ginny the cat seems fascinated by the white streaks across the clear blue; she is ignoring the birds in my office window in favor of the moving lines. I have no idea what weather, wind, or air traffic control in Charlotte, or Roanoke, or wherever, is causing all of this activity.

But, I can tell you this: I want to be on one of these planes bad. (more…)

Last Friday we hit the North Fork. George and Ben and I put in at the bridge off Deep Ford Rd. and went down to the bridge at Hwy 16. I went swimming, too, not on purpose... and it was cold, my friends. Trying to scooch in off the bank, ooops, put the nose right on in and filled up the boat in nothing flat. (more…)

Below is an essay I've submitted to the New River Writers in Blacksburg who are mounting an exhibit of photos and the writing they inspire. The photo to the right of this post is the photo I have written about below:

Under the Bridges
Wednesday, August 5, 2009

The morning started out refreshingly cool; a quick little shower had wet the pavement and then moved on. Beside the road, we found a small parking lot, the ubiquitous brown wooden government issue sign denoting the place to put in your boats. Claytor Lake Dam loomed industrially in the background. (more…)