Canned Reply

I've noticed lately that everywhere I communicate, I'm offered canned responses to use--emails, text messages, and even Teams. Pretty soon, there will be no need for me to reply or even be on the other end of the conversation. It will just be bots talking back and forth, and they will keep on talking long after I am gone. It feels like another example of taking the human out of the equation.

My emails have little sub-headers like this:

Start your reply with:  Great, thank you so much! Great, thanks for the update. Perfect, thank you!

I am going to start keeping an eye out for people using them. It's the kind of canned response I would get from Billie if I sent her that letter...I've decided I will not.

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Sienna, my cat, has become an ankle biter. Whenever I am pacing around the house, which is usually when I refill my tea, she nips at my heels for attention. She likes me being home, and I haven't been home much lately.

Temperatures are rising slowly here. Ava and I missed a lovely weekend of weather here in Michigan last week, but we had better weather in Kentucky. This weekend we may hit 70 degrees before things start going lower again.

Leave your canned message in the comments, and have a great weekend.

Charisma Exercise

A book Ava and I listened to on the trip to Kentucky was on charisma. It is called Charisma Myth. One exercise in the book is to write a letter to someone that has wronged you in the past. There are several reasons for this: letting go of the past, stopping its effect on you, and closure. After writing the letter, you write the person's response. By constructing the reply, you create a reality that can be as effective as an actual interaction in changing how you feel about the event.  What follows is a letter from myself to Billie and my written reply from her.

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Billie

How are you? It has been a while since we spoke. I have thought of you often over the past few years. At first, it was every day, but now sometimes days will pass without something reminding me of you. Sometimes I wonder if it is the same for you, but I'm not sure if I want to know. I have come to understand why you left. Still, the way it happened hurt me. I deserved better from you. 

When we were together, I was willing to compromise parts of myself for the relationship. Probably too much of myself, but I would not be who I am today if we never met, and I do not look back on our time together with regret. It still seems strange that we seldom reach out to each other, but those times we do never seem natural anymore. There are people I don't mind losing touch with, but you will never be one of them. I like to think that we are still friends.

I have met several women over the past two years, but I am not expecting to find a relationship. I am not willing to compromise. Frankly, I haven't seen anyone worth considering.

I have accomplished several things and hope to accomplish many more. I've traveled to places we never could and plan on going to more. I am happy most days and making the best of my life. Deep down, I am the same person, but I would like to think you would also recognize my changes if we were to meet. It has taken me a long time to get to this place, and I still have a long way to go, but I see my path more clearly now.

I genuinely hope you are happy. I hope you are healthy and have kicked your habit. More than anything, I wish that for you. I hope you think of me fondly when a silver Jeep passes you on the road or when you hear a particular song on the radio the way I do you. I fear you probably want to forget the past, but I hope you can remember there were good times there.

Sincerely

Bathwater

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Bath

I am good, work is still a struggle some days, but I have not stopped learning. You know I am sorry I hurt you. It is something I never intended to do. I didn't leave because of you. There are still things I need to do. I am still trying to figure myself out.

I never will forget you. I probably would not be alive today if it wasn't for you, and that is something I will never forget. 

I am glad you are happy and doing the things you've always wanted to do. I am sorry I could not give you that. Yes, I often wonder how you and the boys are doing. You will always be my friend, and you can always reach out to me.

It is a struggle, but I am clean. I would like to think you could see the changes in me and be proud. They wouldn't be possible without you. We are planning to get married and want to have children. I hope you find someone. You are a good person and don't deserve to be alone. Don't shut out that possibility.

 I can never repay you, but I want to thank you for all you did for me. 

Billie

*     *     *

I am mauling over the idea of sending my letter to Billie. I don't think she would send a similar reply. I believe she feels many of the things I've expressed, but she would lack the ability to articulate them. I don't think I am looking for closure. This isn't a door I am willing to close in the strict sense of the word. 

Kentucky Trip- Days Three and Four

We parked up our belongings a day early on day three. The B & B was perfect for exploring the area, but we picked a hotel closer to Louisville for our last night to give us more privacy and visit a horse farm on our final day, but before Louisville, we spent the day in Bowling Green.

We wanted to experience a cave in Bowling Green. It was on our agenda since day one. It is a boat tour, but the water was too high the first to days for us to explore it. Ava dressed in matching shorts and a top with a flower pattern. We stopped at a rock shop where Ava purchased several large rocks. Each weighed over a pound. I told Ava she could get what she wanted as long as she could carry them all to the cash register.

We went horseback riding at a nearby stable and headed for Bowling Green. The Lost River boat tour is located in Bowling Green and has a couple miles of trails for hiking on the property. We walked the trails taking pictures while waiting for our tour to begin. Ava nibbly traversed fallen trees and muddy creek beds to get her perfect shots. I was not as eloquent and ended up in the mud once. I kept telling her I would be there to document when SHE got dirty, but it didn't happen.

The final cave tour was by boat. It was a short ride, but you need to duck your head for the first five feet of the ride to avoid the ceiling. Even leaning over in the boat only provided inches of clearance. 

It was another beautiful day. Temperatures were in the eighties. I rewarded myself with ice cream from Dairy Queen, something she is determined to get me to avoid. Ava opted for a salmon and kale salad and a healthy smoothie, though she was tempted to get ice cream. We still ate both inside Dairy Queen. No one minded. It was dark when we made it to the hotel outside Louisville.

Ava is a perfect travel partner. She never complains, and she pulls her own weight by helping with the navigation and selection of audiobooks. Monday, when I was in the office, I sent her a text.

Bathwater: You are an excellent navigator/ adventuring partner. Together I think we can travel almost anywhere and not have a bad time.

Ava: You read my mind. I was about to say the same thing. Yes, I had a wonderful time, as always. Thank you.

We had one more day of adventures before we returned. The following day, we woke early. I watched Ava choke down a grapefruit on the side of the bed-- because, well, she doesn't enjoy the taste, but it is healthy for you. I decided to forgo the grapefruit for an orange and a breakfast bar.

Ava wanted to check out a nearby outlet mall. Shopping is one of her weaknesses. Ava has a hard time avoiding a perceived deal. She had never been to an Outlet mall, and while the nearest one back home is deserted, this one had a variety of active stores. I bought myself two pairs of pants in the hour we had while Ava bought herself pants, a blanket, and two small backpacks.

Our last stop was another horse farm. This one had several horses, all roaming freely. Ava enjoyed the experience because she loves horses, but I have to say this one was not the safest. One rider actually fell during the ride, though she was okay. They took us for a two-hour ride through unmanicured trails and through a stream at one point. I am comfortable riding, but this was not my favorite experience. 

The ride back took us around Louisville along winding country roads. I preferred this to the city's traffic, and we linked back to our regular freeway outside of Cinnianti. We are acquainted with the drive now. It has become second nature for us to stop at familiar rest stops along the route.

Part of me was sad our trip had ended, but I was also ready to get back to the comforts of home. Ava and I decided to go to Hawaii the first week in November. It seems fitting, neither of us has been there, it is a week before her 30th birthday, and it will also mark one year ago that we met. 

Kentucky Trip- Day Two

 The following day, we set out to do more cave exploring. We didn't have a set plan, but we stopped. Ava is interested in crystals and rocks, so we stopped at a rock shop and toured Onyx Cave. It is a small cave found when the nearby stables and amusement decided to expand their parking lot in the 1970s.

From Onyx Cave, we traveled to the town of Horse Cave, a few miles away. Horse Cave has a cave in the center of town with a wide opening and three major domes. The cave is sixty feet below the town.

"I wonder what happens when they flush the toilets," I asked Ava, looking down into the sinkhole at the entrance. Indeed, on the tour, we found out that Horse Cave was once the worst-smelling town in Kentucky. Apparently, locals did not realize what they were doing by polluting their source of fresh water with waste.

Entrance To The Cave In Horse City

We spent a little time in Horse Cave, then heading back toward Mammoth Park, we saw a sign for Diamond Cave. Naturally, we pulled off and decided to see what we could see. There is a lodge built on top of Diamond Cave. You actually enter the cave from a gate in the entranceway that looks like it leads to a cellar.  It is incredible how close to buildings these caves can be. Diamond Cave has some pretty stalagmites and formations, but it also shows signs of damage from what we learned were cave wars back in the forties when local establishments were destroying the completion to gain more of the tourist trade.

Ava In Diamond Cave

From Diamond Cave, we stopped back at the B & B to change. The temperatures in the caves are from fifty-five to sixty degrees. Outside, it was sunny and eighty degrees. We loaded up the bikes, water, and snacks and headed back to Mammoth Park. We took a ferry across the Green River, which cut through the park's center, and rode some trails on our bikes.

It was a nice ride but not as scenic as the hiking we took the first day. On the way back to the B & B, the GPS took us up a two-track gravel road in the park. In several spots, it was only wide enough for one vehicle. Ava was a bit nervous, but I assured her the path was nothing the Gladiator couldn't handle. At one point, she saw an owl in the trees and made me stop and back up so she could get a picture. She stood up from her seat and took a video of the owl flying overhead through the Jeep's open top.

It was a long day, with hundreds of stairs, thousands of steps, and an eight-mile bike ride through hilly trails. When we arrived back at the B & B the sun was down and we were the only people there. We ate dinner in the room. A combination of pizza I picked up for myself and the groceries we packed for her. We cuddled in bed and Ava stoically held back her usually passionate screams. I slept soundly through the night without even remembering falling asleep.

Kentucky Trip- Day One

We packed our bags, the cooler, snacks, and the bikes and left the Detroit metro area early Wednesday morning. The weather warmed the further south we traveled. Our destination was seven hours away. We ate in downtown Cincinnati near the college. The area was packed with students. Parallel parking the Gladiator with a four-foot-long bike rack sticking off the back was challenging, but we had no issues.

We made it to the Bed & Breakfast by 5:30 pm. I was expecting the Dragon Fly Inn from Gilmore Girls, but we were in Kentucky. Our B & B was a large house on a sloped section of land close to Mammoth Park.  They had plenty of seating, a gazebo, and a fire pit outside the home. The owners live on the premises and have three or four rooms in the place they rent and a cabin.  The owners are friendly, and the wife made a fantastic breakfast each morning with plenty of options for Ava to eat. 

After driving around the area, I don't think there was a better place to stay. Each room had its own bathroom. The only downside to staying there was Ava could not be as vocal during sex in the evening, but we worked around it. 

On the first day, we drove into Mammoth Park. The park is vast, with plenty of hiking and bike trails. You don't need to pay to get into the park only if you want to take any cave tours. They have several. We booked a two-hour tour and spent the time we had before the tour hiking the trails near the main cave entrance.

This was one of my favorite days. Ava seems to love it all as long as we are outdoors. She took pictures everywhere. She is good at capturing the beauty in the little things we often overlook. Most of my photos are of her taking pictures. I had her take a few pictures of me, but there is only so much one can do to make me look good.

The Artist In Action

Hiking in Mammoth Park

Mammoth's main cave tour does not have as much interesting rock formations. It is primarily a wide-open space. Thankfully, that was not the only cave we visited.  We toured five in total throughout the trip. 

Entrance To Mammoth Cave

After the park, we grabbed something to eat in Bowling Green and returned to the B & B later in the evening. We don't have much downtime when we are on vacation. We don't spend nights watching TV or on our phones. One of us usually has something planned, but there is always time to switch things up or add locations.

 

Snow, In April

 It snowed yesterday. Nothing stuck to the roads, but there was an inch on the ground when it was done. I am so sick of this winter weather. Thankfully, we will be in 70-degree temperatures when we are in Kentucky. Despite my preparation, I don't feel like I am ready to leave. Work is piling up, and I cannot seem to get ahead, but I will forget about everything once we are on the road.

Max's car is in the shop again. They cannot seem to solve the problem. It is the third time we have taken it back. Otherwise, nothing to report. Hopefully, I will have several days of posts when I return.

Three-day Weekend

 It was a busy three-day weekend.  The weather was still cold and dreary, but I expect to have some good days this week for our trip to Kentucky.  Friday, I went to have Alexis cut my hair, and I removed and installed screens in their new windows. 

After I left, her sister's boss called. Alexis' older sister is an alcoholic and goes through binge cycles where she doesn't eat and only drinks. Alexis' sister is not healthy on a good day. She only weighs ninety pounds. The sister passed out at work, and Alexis was forced to pick her up and get her to the ER. She was a mess. I didn't learn all this until Sunday, but I am getting ahead of the story.

Saturday, Ava and I went to Whole Foods to stock up on snacks for our upcoming road trip this week. After grocery shopping, we stopped and had lunch at one of the small restaurants near the grocery. We decided to extend the day by going to the gym, so we swung by her place to pick up her gym bag and then headed for my condo to unload the snacks.  We ended up going to the gym location closer to my house. It is a nicer location than where she usually goes.

Ava did some time on the stair machine (her favorite) and the sauna, while I used the weight machines that my gym at work lacks. We didn't stay long, but the gym is next to an outdoor mall, so we also walked around there. Though cold, the sun was out earlier in the day, but the sun was behind clouds when we got to the outdoor mall. We didn't end up staying long. 

Ava picked up two items at Buckle. A bright red spaghetti strip bra-let and a rose color crop-top with lacy details around the neck and shoulders. She doesn't think she has the body to wear them, but I continuously assure her she does. She will say, one day, when I am in shape. She is young and in shape now. It gets harder the older you get, so she shouldn't wait.

Sunday, I got the bikes ready for our trip. I pulled the spare bike off the stand in the basement and replaced the training tire with a road wheel. I added a phone and water bottle holder to the orange bike and moved the accessory rack because the seat will be too low for it if Ava is riding the silver bike. I am almost set for the road trip to Mammouth Caves National Park.

My two bikes

I had Easter dinner over at Alexis' house. There were five of us, including Sam and me. After, we went to Alexis' sister's work to pick up her car and take it back to her house. The sister is still in the hospital detoxing. Sam and I made a quick trip to Meijer to pick up a part for a broken toilet, and Alexis cleaned up and took care of the sister's cats.

Bananas, Birthdays and Spring

 Firefly is five months pregnant. She says the baby is the size of a banana, but she looks like she is carrying a few bananas from the pictures she shares. She is still working and seems happy. She is having her baby shower in June.

Today is Max's birthday. He is twenty-three today. We had to take his car to the shop this morning. He was wearing jeans, a black windbreaker, and a black ball cap. He looked really good. I think his break-up has done him some good. He seldom takes my dating advice (I don't blame him), but he would do well on his own. I don't think he is interested. It doesn't hurt to concentrate on work and school for now.

I finished editing Dave's book-- another murder mystery solved. Now, I have to get back to work on my own. I haven't had time. I have been too busy keeping up with my work and going on vacations. It looks like I will be traveling in May for work. Just locally, out to Grand Rapids. As of now, I am not planning any vacation trips in May. Ava's mother doesn't like her to travel in May. Apparently, it is bad luck.

I plan to go to Mackinaw Island with Tink, Tech, and T-Rex in August. Ava wasn't interested in joining us, but she might change her mind by then. She had a bad experience going up north before, but I doubt that would happen with me. 

Plans

I was stuck in the office, but today was a beautiful Spring day. This is a shortened week. I have Friday off for Easter. Next week, I am only working two days, and then Ava and I head to Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky. There were no cute cabins available near the park, so I booked us into a Bed and Breakfast for our stay. I thought about splitting the time between the B&B and a hotel until I saw they offered vegan/gluten-free breakfast options. 

Bathwater: Actually, this place might be good for the whole trip. They say vegan and gluten-free on the website.

Ava: Very funny & yes, super cute!. Yes, go ahead and book it for the whole trip.

Bathwater: I was being serious. They offer gluten-free and vegan breakfast options.

Ava: Oh! Love that! Wow, that's awesome!!

Bathwater: If I was joking, I would have said it is in a dry county, and you will have to bring your own liquor (she doesn't drink).

So far, it doesn't look like the weather will be as warm as I hoped, but I don't think it will matter. We will make the best of whatever comes.

Bathwater: I'm excited. Another road trip is just a week away.

Ava: Yeah, me too. It's gonna be great!

Names

I call Ava by several names. I'll call here Busybee because she self admittedly never sits still. I'll call her Violet because Ava said she was much like the character from the Incredibles Movies in high school. Ava keeps have hair dyed dark. It contrasts nicely with her pale skin tone, and she tends toward black clothes. I like to remind her she is incredible too.

Violet (but this could be Ava's Avatar)

She likes the name Ava and doesn't mind being called it in public. Her least favorite is her own name, and she tells her mother and sister not to call her it in public. It isn't bad, but there is an ethnic pronunciation that most people don't catch.

We have made plans for another road trip because our first was so enjoyable. Next week we will be going south again. This time we will be adventuring through Kentucky's Mammoth Cave national park and some other parks in the area. Mammoth Cave is only a seven-hour drive from the condo, and we'll be staying at a bed & breakfast.

Ava's been very open since our trip. I am no longer questioning her honesty. She answers all my questions and gives me updates concerning her life. She's never had to tell me everything, and I'm sure she still doesn't, but we are complete opposites. She likes her privacy, while I tend to be open. It is nice we have found some middle ground.

Old Haunts

 I am still having issues with hair bumps on my face. I look like a crack addict who cannot stop picking at his face. My solution was to stop shaving for a few days, but I am not sure it helped much. Ava didn't like the beard. She thought it was scratchy and made me look older. I finally shaved it off today. 

Ava and I went to The Landing Strip on Friday night. I told her she needed to see what an actual strip club was like. I picked her up at 9:00 pm. She slid into the passenger seat but told me to wait. Ava was still debating which shoes to wear. She felt heels would be intimidating to the dancers.

"It doesn't matter," I told her. "Either way, you will be the prettiest girl there."

Ava wore black leggings and a black and white top. Her long dark hair was full and curly. She had put a lot of effort into getting ready and looked hot.

Landing Strip is a forty-minute drive, but it flew by as we chatted on the ride. Ava filled me in on the latest concerning the arrangement she was considering. The more she tells me about the guy, the more it sounds like he is gaslighting her. The guy is going through a divorce but still lives with his wife. He has made several promises that he hasn't kept. Ava is tired of him, but the lure of money keeps her from pulling the plug. 

We arrived at Landing Strip before ten. Friday was opening day for the Detroit Tigers, but that didn't increase the crowd at the strip club. I had the bouncer seat us at a small round table near the main stage. Ava was apprehensive but excited. She near goes to bars and is never out late because she is at a club.  

There was a good number of girls dancing. A few were even what I'd consider pretty, but not many. I still long for the good old days when cute girls were the norm and overweight girls would be relegated to working days. 

I ordered Ava water (she doesn't drink) and myself a beer. When the waitress came back around, Ava ordered a fruit plate to pick at. Ava and I discussed the attributes of the girls on stage. Her tastes don't differ much from mine. There were a couple of girls Ava was interested in taking upstairs, but we hadn't been able to connect with any. Some don't like dancing for couples, while others shy away from tables with women.

At one point, I pointed up at a dancer who was leaning on the upstairs railing. She was a bit too skinny, but I noticed when she was on stage, she had nice nipples. "She wouldn't be bad," I said.

"I can't go talk to her, can I?" Ava was still getting a feel for the club and wasn't sure if she could just walk upstairs.

"Of course you can. Come on, I'll show you." I led Ava to the stairs behind the main bar, and we went up. 

Ava went up to the dancer, still leaning on the rail, and asked if she would dance for us. We went to one of the back rooms with the girl. Ava sat on the couch, and I balanced on the arm. We told the girl to dance for Ava. I just kept out of the way and watched. It wasn't a great set of dances, and Ava was content not to do more dances with the girl.

We both liked this petite blond stripper named Anastasia. I tipped her on stage, but she went to sit with a regular once she finished her set. The second time she made her rounds on stage, she assured me she would come to see us. I gave Ava the money and told her to take the stripper up alone. I had a feeling Ava would have a better time without me. The booths upstairs are not big enough for three. 

I sat with Teach-- Tinkerbell and Tech's friend, who was also at the club, while Ava went upstairs with Anastasia. Ava liked her dances with Anastasia. They seemed to be up there longer than four songs. Ava said they talked the whole time.

We got home from the club late, and Ava spent the night. We stayed up having sex into the wee hours. Ava came three times and kept me satisfied that night and again in the morning.

Because her other arrangement is not going anywhere, we are talking about going back down south for another cave exploring getaway this month.

Violet

I had a hard time concentrating on work Tuesday. All I wanted to do was tell everyone what a wonderful time I had on vacation. I received a text from Ava Tuesday evening.

Ava: You are the best travel partner I've ever had the pleasure of exploring with. Thank you again for everything.

Bathwater: I had the best time, hon. You made it better than I ever imagined. I will be disappointed if we can't do it again soon. I would take you anywhere.

I have a fun time with Ava. She puts up with my sarcastic humor and corny jokes. She is a great navigator and keeps us on course when my directional skills falter while driving. Ava keeps up with me outdoors and indoors. She and I together reminds me of the Steve Martin movie LA Story for some reason, but Ava is a mixture of the two female leads.

I would describe Ava as a woman despite to escape herself, but she doesn't know how and sustains herself on hopes and dreams. She should embrace who she is. I don't see anything wrong with her. It goes back to The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck. One mistake I made on the trip was not listening to it with her on the road trip.

I will sit back and see how things unfold for her in the coming months. It would be nice if she made herself available this summer, but I cannot count on it, and I will need to look for other possibilities.

Tennesse

 We had an excellent trip. We did so much in the short amount of time we had. I wouldn't have changed anything. I only wish we had more time.

I picked up Ava Thursday night. We spent the night at my condo and left early Friday morning. We drove through a snow squall leaving Detroit, but the weather improved the further south we traveled. Ava is a perfect travel partner. She is a good navigator, goes with the flow, and equally participates in adding unplanned stops.

We stopped for lunch in Cincinnati and spent a few minutes walking around the area, checking out the shops near the restaurant. I bought a tee shirt at a local bike shop before continuing our journey. The trip to Tennesse took nine hours of driving, but it was a pleasant trip. It gave us plenty of time to get to know each other better. I love listening to Ava discuss things she is passionate about. She can get worked up but is never unpleasant.

Our cabin was tucked away down a secluded gravel path just off the main two-lane road. It was fully stocked and situated in a few acres of woods with a mile of trails for us to explore. The cabin was a spacious one-room building divided into a seating area, a kitchen, a sleeping area, and a bathroom. We reached the cabin at dusk. It gave me enough time to explore some of the paths while Ava freshened up.

We stayed two nights in the cabin, and they were just as energetic as our days. The following day we walked the trails near the cabin. Ava loves to take photos. She can spend fifteen minutes trying to take the perfect picture of a pine cone. The path led us passed a pond, across a small creek, and into the trees. I basked in the silence of nature while she took photos. 

We headed for Cumberland Caverns after our walk in the woods. The main entrance into the caves looks accessible and inviting, but our tour took us on a half-mile hike up and down a rocky unmanicured path to an intimidating hole in the ground. We came prepared. They gave us hard hats with lamps, and Ava and I wore gloves and kneepads and carried extra flashlights. And believe me, they were all needed.

Our tour guide led us and fourteen others through a challenging adventure through dark, twisting corridors and tight spaces. It was very physical. We crawled through mud, climbed up and down ladders, and squeezed through tiny openings. I fell once on a slick mud-covered decline. We had to slog our way through six inches of water at one point on the two-and-a-half-hour tour. I found myself bumping my head more than once. Thank god for the hardhat, and we were both sogging and covered in mud before the end.

Ava was quiet as we walked back to the gift shop. I fear she hated the experience, but to my surprise-- she LOVED it. Ava wants to come back and explore more caves. Cumberland Caverns is not as scenic as Carlsbad but much more physically demanding if you are up for it. 

It was late afternoon by the time we finished the caves. We quickly changed the car and headed to Falls Creek state park after. It was a short drive away, and we got to see the Falls Creek Falls from the lookout before taking the half-mile trail down to the base. Once again, the path down to the bottom of the falls is only partially manicured, and you have to watch your step.

Ava is timid, but I convinced her to climb up onto a giant boulder at the base of the falls to take photos. It is a beautiful area. We drove around inside the park after seeing the falls. We saw plenty of deer along the road and inside the trees. There is a modern lodge with a restaurant inside the park, and we ate dinner there. The food was not remarkable, but the atmosphere inside the lodge was pleasant. It was late by the time we made it back to the cabin.

We went horseback riding the following day. Ava loves horses and used to volunteer at a stable in Detroit. It was a fun experience. Then we headed back to Falls Creek Park to revisit the first falls before exploring the rest of the park and going to the second falls. There was a lot of climbing. My thighs were sore by the second day, but Ava is a ball of energy.

Ava took more pictures of the second falls and along a suspension bridge before it was time for us to head toward Nashville. Our two-hour trip to Nashville took us down some scenic, twisty roads. Ava booked us a sound cleansing in Franklin, a ritzy area south of Nashville. 

We ate in Franklin. Ava loved the area. It has all the trappings of the rich-- Whole Foods (we stopped there to stock up on more snacks), bike paths, and a small downtown surrounded by big fancy houses. The sound cleansing is similar to the gong emersion we in Detroit in December. I was underwhelmed by this one, but Ava liked it.

We headed for our hotel in downtown Nashville after. Ava jumped into the shower while I napped on the bed. We she emerged, Ava sat next to me and said, "there is one more thing I'd like to do while we are here."

By this time, it was after ten at night. "What that?"

She was hesitant to say, "You know, that thing we talked about before."

I wasn't sure what she was getting at, so she finally admitted to wanting to go to a strip club. "There is one just two miles away from here," she told me. This was her idea, not mine. Ava is fascinated with strip clubs, though she has only been to one. Ava is a bit bi-curious. She doesn't admit it to many people, though.

I told her I was game for it. It was after midnight by the time we were dressed and headed back into the city. The Crazy Horse Gentlemen's club would be considered a lower-tier club back home in Detroit, but that made it an affordable adventure. They don't serve alcohol. It is strictly BYOB. That was okay for us because Ava doesn't drink, and I don't need to drink. There is no valet to park your car, and we just had to pay a cover charge. 

By my standards, it was a seedy club. There is a three-foot-wide expanse between the stage and the closest seats. The customers have to throw money at the stage, and after each set, a bouncer uses a squeegee on a pole to rake the singles into a bucket for the girls.

It was late, and the dancers still around were thicker than I preferred, but there was one Korean with a decent body that Ava and I liked. I tipped the girl when she was on stage, and we went back for private dances with her after. 

The girl made small talk with us between songs before asking if we wanted her to dance for both of us. I indicated she should dance for Ava, and I sat across from them to enjoy the show. At first, Ava sat stiff and was reluctant to touch the dancer, but she loosened up a bit after the first two songs so I had the girl dance two more for her. Ava liked it and I reaped the rewards late back in the hotel room. We had sex and stayed up past four-thirty talking.

The next day we didn't make it out of the hotel till noon. Then we ate lunch at a cafe and went to see the Parthenon before the long drive home.

It was a great trip. Ava said it was her second most favorite. Which I consider impressive considering it was only four days long and two were taken up by the drive. She was already planning a return to see more caves on the drive home, but I am not sure if it will happen. Ava has decided to take the two-year arrangement with the guy I mentioned before. She doesn't seem too excited about it. I think it is a bad idea and mentioned my opinion till she was tired of hearing.

My opinion is partly because I don't want to lose what we have going here, but I also don't think it is good for her. The thing is, Ava doesn't want to stop hanging with me either. She has fun with me. This trip really cemented the fact. It gave us a chance to talk and broke down the walls between us. I am just going to wait and see what happens next.