My truck had Jet Fuel for Breakfast!

End of an era.

A little background information......when Travis & I started dating he had two vehicles.
One he drove to pick me up in when we went on dates to Asheville and one that he
drove most of the time. The one he drove most of the time was a 1988 Isuzu pup truck.
He had purchased her for $900.00 a few years before we met.
She wasn't the prettiest thing, she was old & loud but she got us places.
We have numerous memories with the "Zu", she witnessed tons of early
dating shenanigans.

For the last couple of years the "Zu" was nothing more than a lawn decoration.
Every once in a while Travis would crank her up & take her for a spin but she
mostly collected pollen, dried up Christmas trees, old Pepsi crates & leaves.
Last week our neighbor approached Travis & asked if we were interested in
selling the truck. We had visited the notion a few times in the past but usually
would dismiss the idea b/c Travis couldn't part ways with her. This all changed
last Monday when I got a call from my mom, she said my Stepdad knew someone
who was really interested in buying the "Zu". Two interested buyers in the span
of a week. She didn't even have a FOR SALE sign in the window.
It all happened so fast....Travis came home from work, cleaned off the windshield,
took her out for a spin, washed her and she sold Wednesday for (get this) $500.00.

Of course nothing in our lives happens like it should, nothing is ever easy.
I only state this b/c I couldn't find the original title, so I had called the
tag office and inquire what we had to do in order for this sell to take place.
I was told all Travis had to do was sign a paper and that the buyer would then
request the title in his name. Easy enough. We arrived at the tag office at
4:00pm (it closes at 4:30) the lady tells Travis he can't sign the title over just yet
b/c there is a Lien on the truck. What? (Long story but he had taken a loan out for
a friend of mine several years ago). Mind you the guy purchasing the "Zu" is already
there. Ugh! Travis & I ride to the bank, get the signature but have to drive to the
other branch to get the paper notarized b/c the lady who signed the paper can't
notarize her own signature. Please also take into account that we are in Sylva,
traffic in Sylva when you are in a hurry is a NIGHTMARE. When we drove
past the tag office Travis noticed that the guy's vehicle was no longer there.
This motions Travis to start throwing an "Ashe Fit".
(For those of you who have never witnessed this so called fit.....
basically it involves some cussing, raising of the voice & rattling off why
we shouldn't have rushed the sell, etc.). Did I mention that it was hotter
than hell yesterday? We finally make it back to the tag office at 4:22pm and see that
the guy had just moved his car to a shaded area. Travis's frown quickly turns upside down.
After apologizing to the buyer......
( for our inability to have our shit together-Travis's words during his fit)
the signing over of the title takes place and money is exchanged.

I have to say that after all of that; seeing someone drive the "Zu" out of our lives was bittersweet.

My Mom, Tio Jorge & I...circa 1983-1984?

I love old snapshots!

GOOOOOOLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The fact that I have Mexican blood running through my veins technically means I should know everything
there is to know about Futbol (Soccer). Now I can't in good judgement call myself a Futbol aficionado.
What I can and will argue is that when a goal is scored and the Sportscaster screams GOOOOOOOOOOOLLLLLLLL,
(this can be drawn out for a couple minutes) I can't help but get excited like all Futbol Aficionados do!



This Saturday started out like many Saturday's do at Casa Ashe. I whipped up some breakfast burritos,
drank coffee and ate while watching ESPN. The plan for the day was to drive to Asheville,
maybe watch a movie and eat some Sushi.
After catching the World Cup bug we decided we would go to the Bier Garden
and watch the Inglaterra vs. EEUU game.
On the ride over we were discussing the fact that we don't get to experience the hoopla caused by hometown teams.
(let's face it.... people aren't rushing to Whitmire Stadium).
Travis hoped that Ashevillians were out supporting the USA team and that we would get to witness
the madness that a win or goal would cause. After parking, we found our way into the bar,
enjoyed a cold refreshing beer and came to the conclusion that we were about to experience the "hoopla".
105.9 The Mountain was broadcasting from the bar and was inviting the crowd to
enter a drawing for Futbol Team Jerseys.
Caught up in the moment, I approached the table and filled out 2 drawing tickets.
We were then instructed to the back of the bar where the tickets were being turned in.
There we had to kick a soccer ball past a girl who was "the goalie".
As I line up for my shot, she tells me to keep it low, like I can control my footwork.
Well I kicked the ball and it ricocheted between two tables and didn't even get close to the goal.
I was embarrassed to say the least. Travis of course makes the goal.
The game was exciting, but watching the crowd's reaction to the game's play by play awesome.
During Half-Time the drawing began and get this, my name was the first one picked!
I never win anything! I ran over to the table and picked out my jersey.
I was torn between the Mexico Jersey (for obvious reasons) and the USA Jersey.
Since we were there watching the USA game it seemed fitting that I grab that one.
A few names later Travis gets picked, luckily the Mexico Jersey was still available so he snatched it up.
When the game ended we were definitely "day drunk" and ready for some food!

Little Nugget

Chelsea Handler...Love her. I love her because she is funny and she says things I wish I had the pelotas to say.

If you have not read; "My Horizontal Life: A Collection of One-Night Stands", "Are you there,Vodka?

It's me, Chelsea", & "Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang", I strongly urge you to pick one up.

Picture this:

I am comfortably curled up under a blanket on my couch or bed reading and out of nowhere

I start laughing hysterically. These comical masterpieces have me wiping away the tears and

my husband looking at me like I have lost my mind (Nice)

I particularly like reading these books (or any book) on a rainy day and Nascar Sunday's.

Home Away From Home

I am officially back home(NC)! Back to the good ole grind.
Some would agree that a 2 week vacation is magnificent but
facing the reality of being GONE for 2 weeks is not so magnificent.
Definitely worth it, tho!

Flying to my hometown is always bittersweet; since the majority of

my familia is there and my selected family is here.

We flew into Tucson May 15th, we immediately went to

El Guero Canelo & BK to judge our very own

Sonoran Dog Food War (El Guero vs. BK).

Umm Sonoran Dog how I miss thee. El Guero Canelo won, Hands Down!

The Travel Network got it wrong my friends.

That night I met up with my 2 best friends from Sahuarita High at the

Desert Diamond Casino for dinner & drinks.

Those girls haven't changed a bit, que locas.

I visited my dad & his family. It's so weird that I have 3 younger siblings I hardly ever see.

Cute kids.

We had breakfast with my cousin Patricia & her hubby at EL Merendero,

the breakfast burrito is a must.

Trav had the huevos rancheros and said mine were better but

I think he was just being nice.

I also had my very first Lemon Eegee (Thanks Lyndsey)!

I don't know how I survived the smoldering weather without one.

Of course it wasn't a Tucson trip without hitting up

Pico de Gallo, they make the

BEST steak tacos ever!

For those of you seeing a pattern, eating indeed played a huge factor in our trip,

nothing better than REAL Mexican food!

After spending a few days in Tucson we drove down to Tombstone, AZ.

Travis is a fan of the Wild Wild West

movies so it just made sense. We walked the same streets Wyatt Earp &

Doc Holiday walked and took a few pictures.

We met my cousin Maribel in Sierra Vista,

loaded our bags in her car and proceeded into Mexico.

We continued our Sonoran Dog challenge by stopping at

Clementes Hot Dog stand for a sample of a true Sonoran Dog.

They are the best in my opinion, something about the

bread & standing in the street eating hotdogs!

The week flew by with the wedding preparations and such.

The wedding itself was BEAUTIFUL!

The pina coladas were flowing and I had my dancing shoes on.

The next day wasn't so grand, our table was one of the tables

that was served under temperature meat (I can only assume since I hear about food

handling from the Environmental Health Specialist at work), meaning we ha diarrhea

the next morning. Poor Trav he had to fly home feeling poop-y :)

The rest of the week was pretty low key. It goes without saying that I laughed a lot.

Then.....there is always a good-bye which is so hard but

I knew my love was waiting for me.

There really is no place like home and home is where the heart is.