The Rabbit

So I am finally living within my means as Gilbert would say. I bought a car, a little rabbit. I like it a lot so far and the best part . . . it has heated seats! I know not really a recent revolution in the car industry but this is high tech compared to my old jeep. I felt a little sorry for the jeep. It was the same when I bought the Jeep, I felt sorry for the subaru (even though that subaru was a total lemon and the Russians had destroyed a lot of it). I tend to give life to the non-living things. I'm not the only one who does this, see here.

Holiday Parade Photos

I don't know what the little cars were for but I loved them. And this guy kept dancing with all the bands when they came by. I think he was just trying to stay warm!

Nashville Holiday Parade

Friday night it was 27 degrees and little windy. I found myself watching the Holiday parade down Broadway and onwards. My feet were little stumps by the end of the fairly long parade. While I haven't been to a parade in years and years this one was fun but where were all the floats? It was really an "Emergency Vehicle and Shriner Parade". Luckily there were no big emergencies in Nashville on Friday night! One of the cars of the clowns broke down in the middle of the parade and the clowns tried to fix it. After several funny minutes, the clowns decided to push the broken car with another car. It was quite comical!

Christmas time . . . .

Around my house it is getting a little festive, though it's still way frickin' colder than I ever thought Nashville would be! My sort of lame but cool to me tree. It's a Norfolk Island Pine which is on my top to see places. I wonder if this tree would actually grow here? I don't think I will plant it in the ground at Nebraska Ave . . . The little skiers don't know that Bumble is afoot! But he only wants to be their friend, that's all :)

Sunday Night Shout

I finally got to out to the Station Inn to see Mike Farris last week. The show was fantastic, while on occasion the music was repetitive for me, the whole band was amazing. The music was toe tapping, knee slapping, inspirational and all together made me smile and want to sing along. I was so glad I went, it's always tough for me to get out of the house on a cold, rainy night. Especially on a Sunday. I took this grainy, lame picture. There was lots of affirmatives and raising of hands to the air.

Fun at the Ryman and on Broadway

Some former colleagues of mine were in town for a conference. We had fun at the Ryman. Getting to explore the place, stand on the stage and wander through the dressing rooms was certainly cool. It really does feel like a church. It's quite a gem though the staff promptly threw us all out at 9:15! Then we ordered the Recession Special at Robert's on Broadway. I can't wait for Jeff (aka Bunky Spunks) to get down here to try out the Recession Special. He will love the PBR, fried baloney sandwich and a moonpie! Photos are taken by me not of me . . . .

Around town

Hmm . . . hmm . . . where can I get some whiskey?

I love this guy with the accordion. I need to take lessons . . . I would love to play.

this is what heaven must be like

This is what my Dad said while we were wandering through the gaudy, lovely Opryland Hotel. Sarcasm of course. But I have always liked things which were fake. Las Vegas, model trains, Rawhide in Arizona, main street at Disney Land and now the Opryland Hotel! I like the fake New Orleans street, the imitation spanish moss in the trees. It's cool though, all the twinkling lights. I will probably never go there again!

A little Halloween

Here are some costumes from Halloween East Nashville style . . . . I forgot to get a photo of myself!

and then Chata gets fleas . . . .

Well I don't know if the fleas were at the house when we moved in or if that one glorious day in the grass gave her the fleas.  The fleas have yet to bother me.  Anyway I got medicine for her and the vet said that the fleas will leave her and likely find a new host . . . . Me!  Well who knows, I'm not scratchy yet and I never get bit by mosquitoes.  We'll see.  I had a friend in town last week.  We went to a show, Robert Pollard Boston Spaceship.  It was great, more than I expected.  It was like a 70's Brit rock show.  There weren't any tall drinks but there were several dozen tall drunks.  Cookie needs her glasses to read a menu but somehow she spotted a $20 on the floor at the show in the middle of the show!  So it was nice to have someone in town and plans.  I miss my friends, miss having people to hang out with effortlessly.  I live for the weekends. I'm experimenting with new hairdos.  Mostly I am offended by own meaninglessness.  

Some photos here: the $20, my friend Cookie, Chata tries to find the sun and Germantown Fest.

Chata goes outside

Chata finally went outside and stayed out for awhile!  It was a beautiful fall day.  Sunny and nice.  One of the last warm days I am guessing.  Which is ok, I have never liked hot.  I prefer colder weather.  I wish I didn't have to go to work tomorrow or ever for that matter.  I forgot to buy my lottery ticket, even though people keep reminding me I should be buying them left and right since I am close to the states where people actually win.  No one ever wins the lottery in Arizona.  

Old No.7

I went to the Jack Daniel's distillery, on the tour and everything. It was great, highly recommended. I don't even like whiskey. It was very informative and I learned more than I ever needed to know. Jack was only 13 when he bought the distillery and 16 when it was registered. He died because of an infected toe, he was an odd dresser and a good business man. The rye to make JD only comes from Wisconsin! Here are some photos from the tour.  Club Liquor in Menasha is in the "single barrel club".  I like the papa, mama and baby Jack Daniels display.  All the roads look like this in Tennessee . . . .

Richland Creek

Richland Creek is a beautiful greenway just about a 5 minute walk from my front door. It's a really nice place, creepy when it gets dark because the animals in the trees are very loud. And poor queen anne's lace taking the last breath of summer. Here are some photos of the place. As of today, I've been here one month. Can't believe it! Someone admonished me about grammatical usage today. I did get a C in grammar. oh well.

Drink the koolaid

I love www.walkscore.com Check it out, you might find places in your neighborhood you never even knew about. Also, currently obsessed with the Sarah Connor Chronicles. Ever heard of John Titor? He was (allegedly) a time traveler from 2036 back in our time around 2000, for personal reasons on his way back home from picking up an old computer in 1970something. John posted comments and answered questions online for about 4 months and then nothing. Believers say he went "home" to 2036 but maybe he just started taking his meds again. He made several predictions, some of which seem to be happening, like the CERN experiment, proliferation of digital vs. film cameras, elimination of cell phones in favor of web based service, mad cow disease, erosion of constitutional rights, the US government as enemy of Russia and some more. I guess if you were really paying attention in 2000 you could make the same predictions. Many of his predictions haven't come true as well. One being the break up of the US presidency into 5 parts. 5 leaders creating less political in fighting that is screwing up our current system. Also a decentralized presidency with a focus on local and state level politics. I always have found voting in the federal election almost useless. I still vote but its the local vote that matters. I don't know if I believe any of it, but it is fun to think about. My drivers license doesn't expire until 2036!

Biking Around

Here are some interesting scenes from my neighborhood.  The thrift store is my favorite!  "Just trying to make ends meet"  Cookie would laugh at that.  There are lots of thrift shops up on Charlotte Pike. Charlotte seems to be a dividing line. Lots of shops have notices that they have been burglarized. I don't know if they are warning us or threatening us? The "Sanitary Barbershop" is also on Charlotte. So good to know it's sanitary!!  And the Masons, what's up with Nashville and the Masons?  There are lots of Masonic Temples around here.  This lion is guarding my local temple.

Fried Chicken, anyone?

My neighborhood smells like fried chicken.  The Sylvan Park restaurant is right around the corner and everytime I ride my bike by I get a craving for fried chicken.  Oh, I am riding my bike everywhere because, apparently, there is a gas shortage here.  Mostly, people just freaked out and everyone filled up their tank on Friday.  I was driving home from work on Friday and running some errands and I noticed that there were only two gas stations open and both had lines at least a mile long.  I guess there has been a shortage for about a week.  I was oblivious to it all, I went to the gas stations last Wednesday night, but only got $20 or so because the only place I found was $4/gallon.  I don't really need a car.  I could ride my bike to work but it is a bit hilly.  I road my bike to Hillsboro Village yesterday and that is quite near work.  It was steamy and I was a little sweaty but it wasn't bad.  So, if I have to ride the bike that's ok.  I don't understand when the government investigates gas prices.  It isn't a necessity.  I mean if gas is a necessity, isn't everything?  Milk, eggs, soap, paperclips?  Why stop at gas prices?  All this bike riding has made me hungry.

My office

Here is my new office.  Notice the piles of paper already scattered around.  Looks familiar . . . .

More photos of Nebraska Ave.

Here are some more photos of the house and the "back 40."   The yard is huge!

So I am here

After 12 years and 6 days in Tempe (ack!), I moved to Nashville, TN.  Everyone thought I would die before I left ASU but that won't be the case.  I have been here for about two weeks now and so far so good.  My parents helped me out a lot; finding a place, driving out here and putting it all together.  I think my mom was sure she was going to get me to buy a new couch, but alas I am too cheap (I'm thrifty!).  I rented a house in Sylvan Park, hard wood floors, fireplace, huge yard and lots of trees.  Chata has become an indoor cat.  I don't know if she got scared by the raccoons or the trees or what.  She certainly isn't used to all this green.  It's humid too so maybe she is just waiting for the cool down.  The house has settled, probably along time ago.  You can roll a marble from the front door to the middle of the house.  Check out the kitchen floor here, it's a little slopey.  Parts of the house have bouncy floorboards and every time I hear a new creak I get freaked that the house will collapse.  My Aunt Sharon said that at least there was only a crawl space so there wasn't far to fall.  Thanks Auntie Sharon :)