Monday Fully Caffeinated

Hey kids...back from the trip to NASHVILLE!...it was a blast...put way too many things in for such a short stay...but you know...what the heck...the reason for going, was the belated birthday gift for Marsh...she loved it...here are the what ifs and what fors...

Blake Shelton...could have been one of the best concerts we have ever gone to...am trying to download the opening song...this may work...he has so many hits, that it just kept getting better and better...of course, you country haters, this would NOT be your gig...for the rest of us, right on...

We had seats that were 8 rows up...eye  ball to eye ball with the dude...it was way cool...the Bridgestone Arena was 4 blocks from our hotel...BTW, one of the reasons for staying at the Sheraton was the inside heated pool...which, of course, was closed for maintenance...ha ha...just like ours here at home....the room was great and modern...the food at the bar/restaurant was exceptional...

LowBroad is like no other...the main street...where there are live bands in all of the bars and restaurants...it is the place to be found in country music...and where to hear it, too...we hit like 5 of them during our stay...also, got some boots...if you are there, that's what you do...never seen so many peops at the humongous number of boot stores...unreal...

Took the trolley tour of the city...this was my 2nd time...and still was a good way of getting to know what this city is all about...it is in transition...I thought that SD was building...Nashville even more...and they are going up...high rises...really...the "in spot" is the area where the UO QB Mariota bought..."The Gulch"...lots of condos and bars/restaurants...real near the legendary recording studios of the country stars...BTW, they still do that there...anyway, it has intrigued us...very affordable...and...we are looking into possibly purchasing...shhh...don't tell anyone...

The Grand Ol Opry...in a new location...used to be at the Rymen...just like 3 blocks from where we stayed...now, it is on a property all itself...kind of like a compound...with a huge mall, number of hotels, and of course, the auditorium...yup, we went to a show...took like 20 + minutes to get there...are you aware of how the acts go?

It actually is 4 30 minute live broadcasts...beamed radio wise, as well as live video...wait, not sure about the video...no act does more than 2 numbers...you have 4 different hosts...goes fast...and...you sit in church pews...just like at the Rymen...you definitely get the feel that it is Evangelically based...it is an experience that you MUST go through...the stars of the night were Montgomery Gentry and Crystal Gayle..."Don't It Make Your Brown Eyes Blue"...way cool...

I tell you, the people are all so nice...all over the place...and...very few, if any, street bums...a plus...they talk with a funny accent...the football blokes all complain about the lack of an offensive line for Mariota...let's just say, we are going back...

The weather is quite cool at night...each morning was 32*...then got up to 60 something...of course, it depends on the time of year you go...they do have seasons...unlike SD...where it's always 70*...definitely, not complaining...

I have to mention a few other things...have no idea what the Repubs are doing...Cruz?...OH PLEASE...the Demos?...just a very vanilla debate last eve...and...how about the Lake Show beating the GS Warriors...really?...they don't beat ANYONE...hmmm...very confusing...

Anyway, we are back...our eyes are opened...and that's a good thing...we are supposed to have some of that wet stuff today...hmmm...wouldn't you know it...have a great week, kids...