Phase Two: catch the bird...

First off, allow me to apologize to any of you who have been following closely and hanging on for our next adventure (bhah, as if...) so let's see...where were we? oh yes! Duncan advendures with the Carroll Clan! First night we arrive, we were greeted with a lovely and somewhat expected suprise, my dad's fried catfish, chips, and hushpuppies. I have had this meal in many places, especailly since we've moved to the coast, but nothing compares to my daddy's fish-fry (Phil agrees and he is unbiased :) After a late dinner we cleared the plates and brought out the tea and chocolates for a round table discussion/date night. My sister and her fiance are getting married this upcoming April and have yet to begin premarital counseling (tisk tisk) so my brillant self recommends we open the floor for any questions, relevent (key word here) stories on the part of my parents and phil and I that might help Beth (my big sis) and my soon to be brother, Dustin. In theory... this is a good idea, right? Hah! well if there is one thing that I've learned in my twenty-odd years, its this: what seems to be a sensible line of reasoning in my household often is NOT. The discussion quickly became one where Phil lost his ability to speak, my parents realized (as usual) their inability to have a 'grown up' conversation (as they held hands, smirked, and flirted like they were high school kids), and I became the unprepared lecturer looking to Phil for prompting and getting NOTHING! this, my friends, is just the way it goes this side of Fuquay-Varina. Over the next few days, we celebrated Christmas together with great food and even better friends and family. Christmas morning, as we opened gifts we shared the Christmas story from The Word as my sister beautifully decorated each gift with Scripture. loved it! (Last year, we wrapped jokes) Our evenings were passed with homemade wine (my Dad makes his special 'Christmas' brew each year) and cookies (contribution of the Honeas) playing Rook. Yes, Rook. I come from a very competitive family where the stakes are high along with emotions and our addiction of choice is this card game. Each year there is 3 groups of two--This year it was Phil and Dad, Mom and Beth, and Me and Amanda Kay (BFF) battling it out. Last year after loosing, I attempted to tackle my sister only to fall into a heap on the kitchen floor laughing uncontrolably. This year, we had a dance off after our game (again, after loosing :) Beth says I can't dance... She'll see at her reception in April. good times to come. Alright, on to Asheville we go (since I'm already home in Maine, I should say 'On to Asheville we went'