I called a local florist in my mother's town in Arizona on May 2nd and scheduled a very expensive arrangement to be delivered to her on Saturday, May 13th. I also asked that they called me to confirm its delivery. Despite the fact that they happily charged my credit card the same day I called, the flowers were not delivered and no one called me nor my mother about it. I didn't find out about this until I called her on Mother's Day and asked if she liked the flowers, to which she replied, "What flowers?" Thus ensued some Pretty Righteous Fury.

But this is actually not a story of divine wronged-consumer vengeance. I left the lady a furious message Sunday night, but once the flowers were delivered on Monday--an incredible arrangement, my mom said, that came with profuse apologies--and I actually spoke to the store owner on the phone Monday afternoon, it was hard to stay angry at her. In fact, I almost felt guilty, despite how she'd messed up something so important to me. All I could think was, This is a woman who's made it her job to make people happy with flowers; why do I need to shit on her just because she made a mistake that she ultimately rectified?

Then I began to wonder why it's so easy (and often enjoyable) for me to go to work every day and throw people out of their apartments over money that's not even mine, yet in situations like this, when my own money's involved, I suddenly become all zen? Is this a good thing, or bad? Or does it even matter?

No answers, just dumb questions.

In other news, my sister's graduation was this past weekend and Evan, I and the whole extended family turned out to her place on Sunday to celebrate. She got her second Masters and is now doing something she really loves. I'm as thrilled for her as I am jealous of her. This was also, coincidentally, the one-year anniversary of my own graduation. Sometimes I look back on everything I've done since then and I marvel; other times I feel like I've completely wasted the whole damn year. (Another, far minor note on the subject of anniversaries: I forgot to note in mid-April when this journal turned five years old. I'm amazed it's lasted this long, frankly.)

Since my nightly workouts at home have largely plateaued, on Tuesday night I mustered my courage and joined a good (though perhaps faltering) local gym. Evan was generous enough to show me all the machines and help me work out (haha get it?) a routine to do three times a week. Things are in motion, baby! I'm finally getting into the shape I've always wanted.

Tomorrow's my first solo workout, so I'm heading to bed. I'll need all the energy I can get.

Three days was not nearly enough time to do everything we'd planned in Asheville, but we certainly made the most of it! We dedicated almost all of Saturday to the Biltmore estate, where the crowds were even more massive than usual: April was the Festival of Flowers, and there were also Easter egg hunts being held on the front lawns throughout the day. Because of this, timed passes were required for the house tour, and despite arriving at noon the passes we got were for 2:15. Snap! We spent the time wandering the gardens and lawns, getting lunch and checking out the shops. The tour of the house itself, covering four floors and 60-something rooms, lasted over two hours. We enjoyed it so much that we're planning to get annual passes so we can go back for more, especially around Christmastime. Needless to say, I'd strongly recommend a visit to anyone with even a mild interest, as the scope and grandeur of the place are simply incredible. In-house two-storey organ, basement pool and embossed Spanish leather wallpaper, anyone?

To illustrate the massive size of the estate and its grounds I made a panoramic image of several shots I took by the entranceway. It's fittingly huge itself-- 4189x1024-- and can be enjoyed here. A more reasonable 1200x293 version, as well as some of our (well, Evan's) best photos of the grounds and gardens, can be found here.

On Saturday night I got to introduce Evan to Bec and Monica, though we didn't get to stay very long, and on Sunday we headed back to Athens. It's such a painless drive that there's really no reason we can't drive up after work on a Friday and come back the following Sunday. I hope we'll be able to do it again soon.

This past weekend was the Twilight Criterium, a huge bike rice held in downtown Athens. Despite the fact it's held annually, this is the first year I went. Watching a sea of professional bikers blaze past quickly enough to cause a burst of wind with each lap was enough to make me feel pretty damn lazy. They were also much too quick for my camera phone, but I still tried.

I need to wrap this entry up because Evan and I are leaving bright and early tomorrow morning to head to Charleston for the weekend, which has always been entertaining and beautiful.

May is turning out to be a busy month: next weekend is my sister's graduation party in Atlanta. Not long after, Wicked: The Musical arrives in Atlanta, and I fully intend to witness it. On the 23rd, I'm getting my second tattoo done at Pain & Wonder by the same woman who did my first one. Many pictures to follow, naturally, including some of the design, whenever I finalize it.

Now I will leave you with some links. How books are really published; a good ephemera blog; a hedgehog blog (hedgeblog?); Richard Simmons on Whose Line; and all about polyphasic sleep. I think that should have something for everyone.

See y'all on the flipside, and hopefully with a respectable tan.