Red Lobster Restaurant in Asheville 

We have two all time favorite places and Red Lobster is number One. We’ve been to Red Lobster in Spartanburg, Greenville, Asheville, Charlotte, New Jersey, New York and Myrtle Beach. Whenever we want great seafood we look for the Red Lobster. Our absolute favorite is their  snow crab legs. Just incredible! With melted, clarified butter and ice cold beer. The salad is always fresh, crisp and delicious with blue cheese dressing and the sides of broccoli and baked potato are perfect every time. Oh and the butter biscuits… good enough to make me cheat on keto.

Living in Hendersonville our goto Red Lobster is on Tunnel Road so whenever we’re in Asheville we head over that way. I love seafood and I’ve have many great meals in many great restaurants but for something you can count on every single time, it’s Red Lobster!

Our second favorite? Longhorn!

Mr., happy to hear you were well taken care of at our Asheville Red Lobster Restaurant and we'll ensure this is passed along to our team! 😋  We hope to see you again soon for more of our classic seafood meals 🦞

Pardee Hospital / Pardee UNC Health Care

 I  want to express my deepest appreciation to everyone who provided my care for my recent laparoscopic hernia surgery. Everyone from check in to discharge was extremely professional and personable. They attended to both me, as the patient and also to my wife, who was beset with the task of waiting.

Beginning with valet parking, ever so helpful, to check in, to the prep room to the operating table. Each person made me feel special and showed genuine interest in my condition and care. Each nurse was wonderful. I won’t use names for fear I might leave someone out but I want to say to each of you, Thank you! You honored my last minute questions, you validated my thoughts and showed consideration for me as an individual. I know you are faced with a thousand questions a day and still you took the time and showed the patience and the knowledge to address my concerns in a meaningful way. You boosted my confidence in a decision I had already reached but was suddenly now in progress. My OR attending nurse and my CRNA were great at setting my mind at ease well before the ‘I don’t care’ medication began. Small talk and good humor help make the medicine go down. And to my surgeon, I’ll cover that in another review, the confidence that your team has in you also spoke volumes. The countdown commenced, I helped slide myself from the gurney to the operating table, the OR team took over, I go off to dreamland and the next thing you know they were offering me a choice of saltines or graham crackers… let me tell you, the best darn saltines I’ve ever had! It was during that hour of darkness where the real work and the real magic happens. Where your complete fate is placed in the hands of others. Where what was broken is now being repaired. The miracles of modern medicine in process. But for me, the next thing I know my loving wife and I are driving home. Three days later I’m walking our dog as per usual and life is back to normal. For you guys at Pardee it was just another day at the office but for me, to have the care and kindness of your expertise, it is a life changing and life affirming event and I can never say Thank You enough!

Pardee Hospital / Pardee UNC Health Care

(828) 696-1000

https://goo.gl/maps/SPH4LaNy7PZvjgqa7

John Kogoy, MD, FACS

 Just before Thanksgiving and after a fairly strenuous hike I had severe pain in my lower right side, was diagnosed with a hernia by Dr. Tilden and referred to Dr. Kogoy. He reviewed each of the types of surgical procedures used in hernia repair and supported my choice of laparoscopic. Three weeks later I was admitted to Pardee Day Surgery for a bilateral hernia repair. The surgical team was extraordinary in every possible way. They made me feel welcomed, comforted and cared for. In my mind, Dr. Kogoy was their team captain and my team captain. I was and still am very focused on my recovery and getting back to my normal active life. Dr. Kogoy gave me a clear and confident path to doing just that. One week after surgery, I’m walking the dog every day, after two weeks, it’s 3 miles a day and by next month or so I should be heading back into Pisgah. My goal now is to follow doctors orders and not do too much too fast. But I feel Great! and my point in this review to say Thank You to Dr. Kogoy and the entire team for your personal and professional skills and say to potential patients, proceed with confidence, you’re in very good hands.

John Kogoy, MD, FACS

(828) 693-7230

https://goo.gl/maps/xKnzUYa234Ks4qHp8

Dr. Samuel Tilden, MD

Dr. Tilden and his Physician’s Assistant Julie are top notch professionals! Working together  as a team they listened to my concerns, diagnosed the problem and set about providing immediate treatment and relief. I am so happy that I chose to go to the doctor rather than put things off or worse, treat it ( ear wax buildup ) myself. They are highly skilled, personable, and professional. Quite honestly, I never had so much fun going to the doctor and I came out feeling and Hearing like a new man.

On a second occasion I had severe pain in my right side after a fairly strenuous hike. Dr Tilden put me through some paces, diagnosed a hernia and referred me to Dr. Kogoy for surgery. The surgery was successful, I went back to Dr. Tilden for a follow up and within a month from surgery I’m back out hiking. Dr Tilden takes time to discuss your treatment options and help you make informed decisions. It all adds up to healthy choices and an overall great experience.

 Great Clips

It’s right there in the name. Great Clips! I log in on line, drive over and never have to wait. They are great people and do a terrific… I mean a Great Job!

 Sol y Luna Restaurant 
Our favorite Cali-Mex Restaurant features great people making great food. Sometimes I’ll just sit with a friend at the bar. Other times we meet with other couples and often it’s just my wife and I enjoying a wonderful meal and margarita that really caps off a great day.
The food is truly exceptional and even though I have many favorites like shrimp and fajitas, we also like to keep trying something new because you truly can’t miss.

Postero’ s Restaurant 

 The food was great, the service was wonderful and the entire experience made for a memorable evening!

 Google reviews

Southern Appalachian Brewery

 https://goo.gl/maps/LKeqDUkbyieGUKgBA

The original in Hendersonville and still the top pick. They produce some of the best beers on tap with great, friendly service. They have seating inside and out, are family and dog friendly and occasionally host live music. Appalachian is a Must Do Brew! 🍺

https://goo.gl/maps/FAtjNDBDVcfjuGmA9

Reasons to Love, Protect and Defend

 I never intended to create a political blog. I just want to take time to appreciate and celebrate the beautiful things we have here in Hendersonville, North Carolina and America. I do intend to stick with that purpose but there have been things happening in and to America that cause me great concern and anxiety and so I’m taking a moment to record just a few of those things. The two articles below got my attention. 

GOP SKETCHES TERRIFYING VISION FOR AMERICA GOP senators grilling Ketanji Brown Jackson this week have been critical of what they deem to be her "activist" tendencies. But they are also advocating for the Supreme Court to reverse historic decisions to shift the country back decades in a more conservative direction. It starts with Roe v. Wade, but there are many other rights that Republicans would like to see taken away from Americans, writes Amanda Terkel. Today is the last day of Jackson's confirmation hearing. [HuffPost]

Never before have I seen or felt the anger and divisiveness that has manifest itself in America in this past decade. Fox News, that I once called fire engine news because of its high volume, bells and whistles presentation, has been joined and outdone by News Max and Brietbart Inforwars, conspiracy cults like QAnon and the rise in hate groups like the Klan.

I know we had our American Civil War but, after 600,00 dead I thought we learned something. I thought we ultimately agreed that the United States were better and stronger together than divided. I thought we all loved America and despite any debates on ideas or policies we all agree in our love and respect for each other as Americans. Now, even as I still believe in these high ideals of Truth, Justice as the American way, it seems that the very fabric of our Democracy is under attack from within and I am filled with anxiety about our future.

 

ZELENSKYY CALLS FOR WORLDWIDE DEMONSTRATIONSUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged the world to remain steadfast in its support one month after Russia began its invasion. “Come from your offices, your homes, your schools and universities, come in the name of peace, come with Ukrainian symbols to support Ukraine, to support freedom, to support life," he said in a video message. President Joe Biden is in Europe this week for a summit with NATO allies and the European Union to hash out new sanctions against Russia and discuss further military aid. [HuffPost]

This war in Ukraine is not a war as much as an all out attack on civility and humanity. We talked about a domino theory in Viet Nam , well here is a domino assault in its early stages. Russia, no, Putin, has declared war on Freedom, Democracy, America and the rest of the civilized world. What we are watching happening in Ukraine could and very well will be happening to us if we, NATO and the civilized world do not stop him. I hope and pray that the economic sanctions work. That Putin is stopped cold and that the rest of the world together, including all of us in America wake up and recognize what true evil is. Evil begins with hate and lies. Evil manifests through domination not cooperation. Evil, much like those words uttered by Jack Nicholson, Can’t handle the truth so it replaces knowledge with dogma, replaces patriotism with nationalism and replaces respect for authority with absolute authoritarian control.

All of my concerns are better articulated in the article I’ve linked in below. 

https://messaging-custom-newsletters.nytimes.com/template/oakv2?campaign_id=9&emc=edit_nn_20220324&instance_id=56592&nl=the-morning&productCode=NN&regi_id=102846851&segment_id=86416&te=1&uri=nyt%3A%2F%2Fnewsletter%2Fe505871d-9577-5a9c-8c9d-d194906dcfbe&user_id=c574959b2396ae305d0e41f671e9d4d0

 My Response to a letter from the Daily Kos

Dear Daily Kos,

I might agree that Jeff Bezos and other very wealthy people should pay income taxes. After all, I do. But I didn’t build a huge business from scratch and create millions of jobs, make millions in charitable donations and scholarships and advance science and technology in so many ways. So I don’t see harassing Jeff Bezos as necessary. In fact I think it’s counter productive. Jeff Bezos, Bill Gates and Steve Jobs are my hero’s. 

I enjoy your newsletter and have signed a few of your petitions but no, not this. Stand up for free, responsible and honest, not hate and lies, speech. Stand up for Democracy and free and fair elections. You might even address the tax code in a more objective manner by explaining graduated income tax and corporate loopholes but don’t attack some of our greatest entrepreneurs. Don’t discourage innovation, invention and earned wealth or attack wealthy people. It’s not making money that is wrong. It’s making money by cheating people and using it the wrong way.

Again, I appreciate the work and dedication that goes into the Daily Kos. Many of your emails ask for money in fairly desperate appeals. When I buy something from Amazon I get a good product and if it’s not good I send it back and get a refund. That’s good business with great customer service. If you’re asking for people to give you money, or sign your petitions you might consider the Bezos business model rather than attack the man who created it.

I’m not sure if a person reads this or not but thanks for listening.

Pete Tintle

The Warmth of the Sun

Folly Beach

 https://goo.gl/maps/kXknfzc9gGbn6iVi9

Hickory Nut Gorge Brewery

A hole in the wall… from the sidewalk that was The Hickory Nut Gorge Brewery and what hides behind the hole is Fantastic and So Worth Finding! Not being familiar with the place we almost passed it by. Luckily I stuck around to ask and then place my order with the guy through the window. Fish and Chips and a cold IPA. He gave me a table number plaque, you walk inside and look for a suitable table somewhere on three or four cascading decks all overlooking the river. Great views wherever you choose. Then somehow, rather magically, our server found us and delivered our food. The Fish and Chips were outstanding! Crispy Crunchy outside with thick white tender and flaky fish on the inside, I’ve never had any better. After an exhilarating and exhausting hike to the top of Young’s Mountain https://conservingcarolina.org/youngs-mountain/  , The Hickory Nut is was just what the doctor ordered.

Creating “Something”
By George Harrison and 

The Beatles

This truly does provide an opportunity to hear creativity in its raw form. As I listen I hear what I now know so well as the completed song that feels so intuitive, so instinctual and yes, so seemingly obvious and then Full Stop … this is the very creation of that now iconic song. Not the notes, the words, the mood or the melody existed before George had the notion and brought it to the session. I loved it when John said, fill in the blank with cauliflower until the right words come to you. I gained a whole new insight and respect for the song and for the Beatles. It was very rewarding to listen to your video to the end where John and Paul give the full credit to George for being the author and saying that Something was, in their opinion, the best song on the album and worthy of being a single.

And now the finished product:

 

Hey! loved the Flip! I’ve got a good set of D3s but I’ve been using a non stick for eggs. I’m going to give your method a try. We’re also using our new Frigidaire Induction cooktop and love that too. I’m heading out hiking this am but you’ve inspired me to maybe do a quick egg before we hit the trail.

 

Amazing video! Amazing because I bought mine about ten years ago, use it every night, outside for the same reasons. We are not allowed to have gas or charcoal grills in out townhome. I wanted to grill outside and this induction is the greatest. I put the pan on 10 and let it heat up in seconds. Slap on any kind of steak, fish or hamburger and your grilling but it’s legal. On occasion I’ve left the pan on too long and instead of melting the cooktop backs off to a midrange heat so it’s kind of idiot proof and meets the safety criteria as to why we restrict the use of charcoal and gas. I loved the Induction so much that I convinced my wife to give it a try in the kitchen. We replaced our Profile radiant cooktop with the Frigidaire Induction and it’s phenomenal. I don’t cook on 10 anymore, it’s not necessary and in fact I can do cheese sauces on low for keto cauliflower and steam the cauliflower in minutes. Your technical explanation is excellent. I think of it like a microwave cooktop, it’s so incredibly Fast! Thanks for another Great Video!

  https://youtu.be/cSgW5ZZzxQo

Excellent video on all levels! I purchased our all clad 3 ply set in 2019 based on quality reviews at the time and it’s nice to see my decision validated in objective user reviews such as yours. I will start by saying my all clad is basically indestructible. I used it on my induction single hob outside every night for two years searing steaks and salmon and tuna steaks on the highest heat searing for 3 minutes a side. Lots of smoke, outside, no problem. Dinner was done in less than ten minutes. I loved the induction so we just got a Frigidaire induction and it’s great but now I have to learn to actually cook by using lower heat and longer times. I scrubbed up the pan using bar keepers friend and got it back to shiny whereas a cheap pan I’d probably have to throw away. Great advise on preheating pan with olive oil and butter before cooking. Now I’m doing everything indoors. Lower heat, less smoke, cleans up easy and basically great results while still learning. Thanks again for a great video. Easy to watch and listen too. Minimum music, maximum information.

Mona Lisa Italian Restaurant 

 https://goo.gl/maps/88hhbYFcw4uNBYD96

The best Itailian restaurant in Hendersonville! Intimate setting with friendly and knowledgeable people. Sandy makes you feel right at home and every meal a special occasion. The angel hair pasta, lasagna, chicken Alfredo and parmagianas, all are incredible and their Florentine blackened steak is outstanding!

We had a very special dinner again at Mona Lisa again last night. Small, intimate atmosphere, delicious real Italian food with a bottle of wine capped with a Happy Anniversary confection and a demitasse espresso. Just Wonderful!

We are going out less and taking out more. The Chicken Alfredo and Rack of Lamb are so good and so far beyond my cooking skills that calling Sandy to place our order has become almost a weekly treat. 

 

 https://goo.gl/maps/88hhbYFcw4uNBYD96

https://goo.gl/maps/3tiqESKax2BrScmj8