Hit By A Mack

Have you ever felt like you were hit by a Mack Truck? Maybe you’re not familiar with the term. Growing up in a rural community in Northwest Florida, we used this term anytime we felt like a sickness had just taken hold of us, or maybe when someone had had a rough night of sleep (or sometimes, even with an alcohol binge). We’d say, “I feel like I’ve been hit by a Mack Truck!” Or “You look like you’ve been hit by a Mack Truck!” 😂

Now that I’m older, I’ve still used the phrase from time to time; however, once I realized what a Mack Truck really was, I’m kind of thankful that was just a phrase. For surely, being hit by a Mack Truck in reality would leave one much worse than what I have felt when using the phrase. When I’ve claimed this destructive weight has hit my life, I suppose, I’m almost whining in comparison to what it would really feel like for that 5-ton vehicle to slam into me.

Sometimes, we do overstate our life conditions, don’t we? Yet, when we’re in the middle of the storm, it’s often hard to see beyond the tornadic winds we are experiencing. So, if you’re feeling down today, or maybe you’re even feeling like a Mack Truck has invaded your solitude, just hold on a minute, and let the chaos pass.

You can make it through, if you’ll just not give up. If you quit now, you’ve let that 5-ton machine win, but it doesn’t have to end that way! Get up! Even if you have to crawl to the curb and signal for help. Sometimes, you may have to lean on someone to help you through rather than being “Mr./Mrs. Independent.” That’s ok, cuz we’ve all been there… both with the Mack Truck and with making it through with the help of a friend!😉

Tuesday’s Treats #178

131 Main (@Biltmore Village)

Location: Asheville, NC

I’m not sure I can say enough GOOD about this place! Oh. My. Goodness! Everything was absolutely incredible, from the iron skillet cornbread to the fresh catch mahi mahi, from the Caesar salads to the cheeseburger and hickory plank grill salmon to the chef’s special filet medallion. Be assured, all the ingredients are fresh, even the seafood is shipped in fresh every morning from the coast, never frozen. The sides of fries, white cheddar grits and red-skinned potatoes were also delicious.

Yet, we’d have to say the desserts were rightly tied for the most delicious dishes. First, they were huge servings, and second, they were the best homemade brownie and key lime pie we think we’ve ever had (and we’ve been to The Keys)! Honestly, it was totally unexpected. Usually, you get a little slice of key lime and a generic type of brownie, but their desserts are all made in-house, and it shows! ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS!!

Please note, the menu prices are not incredibly cheap; so, be sure to take your wallet. 😂 It’s so very worth it!!

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Tuesday’s Treats #177

Ian & JoJo’s Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria

Location: Waynesville, NC

This place was AMAZING!! They have only been open for about four months (about 6 when this posts), and they’re doing a fantastic job! The restaurant has a nice comfortable feel, and there are both booths and tables and chairs from which to choose. They also have a large meeting room for big families or gatherings.

The food was absolutely incredible. We ordered the stuffed garlic knots to begin. Oh. My. I could have just made those my meal! The garlic and butter made the rolls delicious, but then add the mozzarella and pepperoni… Holy! Moly!

Our youngest ordered the pepperoni pizza, and our oldest ordered the fettuccine Alfredo. My husband ordered the chicken panini, and I ordered the lasagna. Everything tasted fresh, homemade, and incredible. We would have to say the lasagna ‘took the prize.’ You could taste each individual ingredient, but they blended to create a culinary ‘phenomenon.’ As our oldest said, “It’s like an explosion of flavor in your mouth!” DELICIOUS!!

The owner even came to our table after we were done to make sure everything was satisfactory. She was precious.

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Tuesday’s Treats #176

KTCHN

Location: Brevard, NC

This place has a great atmosphere and really good food. The servers were nice, and we left full and happy. The vegetable beef soup we ordered as an appetizer was incredible. The special of the day was chicken fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and our son ordered “Lola’s Mac and cheese” with it. The chicken was a tad bit dry but had a great taste. The Mac and cheese was just like homemade and AMAZING. Our youngest ordered pepperoni pizza, and it was delicious. My husband ordered the prime rib sandwich, and it was very tasty. I had the chicken sandwich with bacon and an herb mayo. I don’t even like mayo, and it was incredible. They had several other items on the menu we’d have like to try. Maybe we’ll be back one day.

*Btw, yes, that IS the correct spelling! 😉

Website

Tuesday’s Treats #175

Square Root

Location: Brevard, NC

We are here three times during our vacation. The first two times were absolutely amazing…the third time, maybe not so much. The atmosphere is great, but if you want a corner or wall seat, you need to make reservations or arrive early. It gets crazy packed. There is also nice outside seating for both lunch and dinner.

The pretzel barrel app is crazy good! The pretzel is delicious along with the smoked Gouda, Swiss, salami, ham, pimento cheese, and mustard…the fried black eyed peas weren’t quite my taste, but you might like them.

Like I mentioned, we ate here a total of three times. The salmon on cedar plank is so very good. The first time, my husband ordered it as it is on the menu, but the next time, he ordered it with pimento cheese grits. Oh. My. The egg battered fried grouper sandwich, on a pretzel bun, is very tasty. The burgers are amazing, and our son loved the kids pepperoni pizza.

The second time we were here, my husband had his salmon on the grits, and I ordered the chicken marsala, and both were Oh. My. Word. Amazing!!

The third time we ate here, the pretzel board and the pizza was still amazing; however, the grouper sandwich, BLGT (bacon, lettuce and fried green tomato) and rabbit gumbo, maybe not so much. The waitress was kind enough to remove the sandwich charge, and we went next door for chocolates; so, all is good. 😉 oh, and the sides were all tasty: sautéed zucchini, fries, salad, fried zucchini slices.

The desserts were scrumptious; even if the key lime pie didn’t have a stitch of key lime in it! 😂 It actually was an amazing taste of sweetened condensed milk creamy goodness on an Oreo crust. The tuxedo cake was also delicious with it’s three different, creamy chocolate-y goodness.

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Happy Monday

After falling asleep around midnight, my body woke me up around 5:30 this morning. I laid in bed for another thirty minutes, hoping, praying I’d fall asleep again. At 6:05, I just decided to give it up and go downstairs to fix a cup of coffee, do a devotion and read some.

This was definitely how I was feeling, except I had no one to be upset with, except my own brain. So, I decided to just make the best of it.

So, instead of cursing the day, I thought I’d count a few of my blessings instead…

It’s Monday, and I don’t have to get up and get dressed for work…I’m sitting here in my pjs. 😂

The kids aren’t in school today; so, I get to enjoy a few days more of summer with them. ☀️

I walked my son to the door, as he left for work today, and it was raining outside, but the birds were singing a beautiful little melody. 🐦

By these weekend, we will have an 18 year old in the house. Wow. As much as my heart breaks for the way the years seem to slip by, I am so thankful for the years we have had together, the precious memories we have made, and the handsome and amazing young man he has become. ❤️

Happy Monday!

Yeah, You be YOU!

There’s not a lot I need to add to that. You be you, because God didn’t make you to be someone else! If He wanted us to all be the same, He would have created us as clones with no individuality and no difference of personalities, and definitely no difference of backgrounds, families or even race. Yet, here we are, and not one of us is the same!

So, why do we have such a growing consensus that demands everyone to think, speak and act the same? STOP IT! Let us all demand individuality instead of demanding conformity. Let us all expect uniqueness of those we encounter in this world instead of uniformity.

If we will refuse the cultural agenda to make us all identical robotic minions, we can turn the tide back to originality.

Be original. Be unique. Be like no other.

You be You!