Visit from the boss

Chad (Attorney living in Franklin, married to oncologist) Charles and Lee( Radiologist)

Imagine my surprise when I looked out the window and saw my boss walking towards the office this morning! His friend Danny had picked him up in Jackson yesterday, and they had stayed at Charles's farm last night, and were going to stay tonight. But they had to come by and visit with Nicki and me first. It was really good to see him. He has lost all his hair. He looks a lot like Darth Vader when they take his mask off! But he is able to make it from point a to point b and then rest. He has no energy. But he was asking me about things we had talked about several months ago, so he is still pretty sharp.

It just so happens that while he was there one of his old friends he hasn't talked to in a couple of years called, and he was able to talk to him for a few minutes.

I'm not expecting any big changes or miracles here, but with cancer, if you manage to have a good day, you grab it. Because Cancer is going to take it away from you tomorrow. It is a plague brought to mankind by Satan. And Cancer wins too much. But today, we had a victory. And that was good.

Because who knows what tomorrow will bring.

Everyone, go hug someone that is important to you. RIGHT NOW!

Opry Part 2

The program from Saturday night.



Oh, yeah, in keeping with the conspiracy I feel is in place in the universe to ruin my vacations, or at least to keep me blogging, we were met at the desk with this letter. It seems that the ONE night I will EVER stay at the Opryland Hotel, they have an emergency test of the generator system. The test should only last 4 hours, and if all goes well, guest interruption will be minimal. So we got the room as cold as we could before we went to bed, just in case the air went out. But we slept through it, so I guess their test went well!

Grand Ole Opry

View from our room at night



View from our room

Vince Gill

Connie Smith

Jean Shepard

Josh Turner

Center Stage

Waiting for the show

Minnie Pearl.. She was just as funny as the original

I Love Nashville.

Beautiful Glass Sculpture installed after the flood.

View from our bedroom

After last weekend's less than perfect getaway, we also had scheduled a visit to the Grand Ole Opry this weekend. While we were searching for what we wanted to do last weekend, I had looked at the Opry schedule and saw that Josh Turner was performing. I LOVE JOSH TURNER! Easy on the eyes. And if we could hear God's voice, I think it would sound like that. So we made the decision to go anyway. The Opryland hotel has a package that you get one night at the Opryland Hotel, (we got the premium balcony room). (We will probably never stay there again, and I wanted the 'full package") and tickets to the Opry were included.

So we got up Saturday morning and headed to Nashville. As usual, we made it to Jackson, and stopped at the Cracker Barrel. We hit there right at 11:00, so I was able to get breakfast and Bennie was able to eat lunch. Nothing special. But of course, there were not one, but 2 tables with screaming kids. A woman that insisted on coughing on me every time she walked by. Then there was "the Kid".

I must make assumptions. Kid appeared to be about 10-12 years old. At first, I thought it was a noise repeating itself in the kitchen. But it kept on. Sometimes more of a mumble, and other times, a well pronounced "Bitch". A few moments. Bitch. Bennie was trying to play dumb, but I'm not so subtle. I kept looking around. (It was sort of like looking for the elusive "woot!Woot! Bird on the cruise". And this continued through the meal. And the checked out at the same time. The whole time as he was walking out the door...bitch....bitch...bitch... Not mean or hateful. Just the word of the day. I assume he had something like Tourette's. If not, he needs his mouth washed out with soap.

So on toward Nashville we head. No real excitement. Bennie had his heart set on going by a motorcycle shop and looking at a Ducati. I dunno. Some motorcycle. Whatever. My blog. Don't care. All except for the cidadas are still running rampant. And as we were getting into the car, a cicada landed on Bennie's shirt. I screamed. And kept screaming until he got rid of it. Those things are crazy. Gotta remember to visit Nashville in 13 years, so I can be grossed out.

So we head to the room. Got checked in pretty easily. I think I have found my new job. I want to work at the Opryland. EVERYONE was so nice and helpful. They have people standing around to just help you figure out where you are going, and the always say it is a pleasure to meet you. I could do that! It's like they are trained by Disney to treat their guest as special.

Well, I had timed my visit and had certain plans. (Map will be added so you can follow along, but it may be tomorrow's post.

Start at A. That is the elevator near our room. We are headed to B- to the Jack Daniels Grill. Their dinner menu looked good to us, and timing would be good. So we walk to Point B. Jack Daniels Grill is a dinner show on Friday and Saturday nights. WHAT???? So we met a chatty person and decided Cascades American Grill was where we needed to be. So back to A. Get to cascades, and they don't open until 5:00. And we wanted to catch the shuttle bus at 6:00, so that would be pushing it. So we decided to go to C. Stax Burgers. We wind our way through the hotel back to the Delta and get up to Stax Burgers. Placed our order, got our burgers and found a place to sit an eat. It was an open area, and there was an Indian wedding going on. Very annoying music.

But after we ate, Bennie had to go back to the room, and take pills, so back to A. Then to D. We shoved our way onto a bus (not sure where this trait was learned) and we get over to the Opry House. The holy City for Country Music.

I was walking down the wrong side of the walkway and got yelled at by the golf cart driver. Too bad there wasn't a rail I could push him over like I pushed that cruise photographer over when he yelled at me.

Bennie had never been to the Opry. But he is very susceptible to emotion when something is moving to him. The film they show about the history of the opera, moving the center stage from the Ryman, and showing the flood damage and restoring everything, including that circle that was underwater. They had him at HOOOOWWWWDDDDIIIIEEEE!!!!

For anyone not familiar, this is a live radio show. Complete with commercials. And an intermission for the audience. It is broken down into 4 sets, each having a different sponsor. I will add the program so you can see how our acts were. With it being Memorial Day, we did a lot of thanking of Veterans. As we should. It was just a beautiful Show. I am so glad we got the chance to go. It was a perfect night.

We buffaloed our way back onto a bus to get back to the hotel. Just a couple of blocks, but worthy of catching a shuttle.

Got a little shut eye after spending a little more time just enjoying our balcony. It really is neat to sit and people watch. My favorite sport.

Our penciled in plan for today was to go to the Wildhorse Saloon and eat lunch there. But they open at 11:00, and we were ready to get on the road at 9:00, so we decided to go to Shony's and then get on the road.

So Bennie programs a Shoney's address in his GPS. And as soon as we pulled out of the Opryland hotel, remembered there is a Shoney right there. So he made a left turn from the right land and we got over to Shoney's. Restaurant was only 1/2 full, so there should not have been a wait. The hostess kept going away and coming back. Obviously, they had several servers, none of who would work. Finally a couple of them came out and started working. I mean, really. It's a buffet. Bring me a drink, I'll take care of the food! But that is more of the way my luck runs. I am very gifted.

We got back early afternoon, and it has been lazy time since then. I will get on here tomorrow and add the pictures.

Gatlinburg

We didn't stay here., Just showing that I think is an unreal amount of foundation to build a house!


Bennie found a Celtic Shop. He bought a souvenir.

Bennie and the Bears.

Yep. We paid $7.99 each to ride the Earthquake. Cheesy. Very Cheesy. But we were being tourists.

Bennie in front of the Chocolate Monkey. He can't say Monkey.

This putt putt drives me nuts. It is up a mountain.

Stream under Ski lift.

Bennie at Bubba Gump Shrimp Co with his garlic bread.

Cute Camper

Looking up the ski lift.

Beautiful Mountain View

Here I am at the top of the mountain.

Bennie at the top of the mountain

Bennie relaxes in the cabin before we realized that the air conditioner was out.

Living Room of the cabin

Whose idea was it to have a weekend in the SMokies. I thought we should try something besides cruising. I was really afraid that Bennie was ready to do something else.

WRONG!

We spend all day Friday driving to Sevierville. There was construction and wrecks for about 200 miles. Then the GPS took us a very strange way to the cabin. I was yelling at Bennie at one point to get me off that mountain. I heard banjoes.

We finally made it to the cabin. Stuck around long enough to ohhh and ahhh. Then we were going to try to find some food. We found a straight shot down the mountain, and it was easy from then on.

We decided to eat at 5 Guys. They just opened one in Memphis, so we thought we would try it out. We ordered 2 burgers and 1 regular order of fries and 2 drinks. It was good., I won't be driving out of my way to eat there. Expensive for burgers.

Then we went to Walgreens to pick up a few items we needed. Had to have some Pepsis and snacky cakes.

Well, up Saturday morning. Went for a dip in the hot tub. Didn't stay long. There was sand in the hot tub. We've owed these things. They shouldn't be sandy. Then we decided it was tourist time. We headed to Gatlinburg. I will try to contain the excitement. We ate at Bubba Gump Shrimp Company. I had the BEST shrimp cocktail. Bennie ate chicken fried chicken. We ate some of it. He didn't die of starvation. But I was tickled with his moxie that let us go somewhere he knew he would hate, just because we've never been there, and he wanted to try it..

We walked across the street and did our Ski Lift picture. We love to go up the mountain and get our picture up there. Why? It's what we do.

We walked down the street and went into some shops. Then we came up on Earthquake. We bought our tickets. And went on a ride on what it would be like to be on a train during an earthquake. Alligators, Rats, such horror. We cracked up.

We found a old time candy store, bought a couple of snacks. Bennie found a Celtic shop. He found a souvenir!

We headed back to the cabin to get dressed for our date. Sherry and David were coming to town to meet us for dinner. We had a nice dinner, then they came back to the cabin with us. It was a that time we discovered without a doubt that the air was not working. So we put in a call to the owner. He had his people call to let us know it would be Sunday morning before it could be fixed.

Sunday morning, we went to the Apple Barn for breakfast. Judy and Charlie had taken us there, and it is a really good home cooking restaurant. We were toying with the idea of leaving Sunday, after 2 nights without air, we were kinda over this vacation. After a few minutes, we did decide that we would leave.

We disobeyed the satellite Bitch and went another way. We drove straight into 45 minute delay. When will I learn that satellite bitch knows everything? We made it into Nashville, and found a new restaurant called Cheddars. We ate there. Pretty good.

We made it on home, and I started laundry. I didn't have much from the trip, but I had plenty waiting on me.

So the grades- Being away from work---a+; Having fun in Gatlinburg; B+; Cabin; A. Airconditioner f-; Spending time with Sherry, priceless.

It has been decided that cruising is our vacation of choice. 6 hour drive-and 7 days of no decisions. Me likey.

Celebrate!

Well, today was the day. We had Mothers Day, Cindy's graduation, Robert's Birthday and Bennie's Birthday. And I made the executive decision to carry in, because I wanted to enjoy the day and not have to work in the kitchen, so ILBH made a run to LEonard's and got us all the food we need. It was good, as usual. And not a lot of work for anyone. I made rotel, and when everyone got here, we opened all our present in the order of the celebration. I thin everyone was pretty happy, except maybe Paw and Neil. They didn't get any of those presents, so they just had to watch. But Fathers Day is right around the corner, and I won't get any presents that day, so we will be even! I think that it was a wonderful day, and everyone had a good time.

We had the pleasure of having Robert, Monica and Mitchell here the whole day. That baby boy is such a blessing to us all. And I LOVE watching Robert be such a good daddy!

Cindy finally finished her school for right now. I can't make you understand how very proud of her I am. I know... I know... It has taken her 11 years. I know...I know...She should have been done a long time ago. But you know kids. She really doesn't like school. She had to find her way. But she did it. The hard way. She is working 2 jobs and taking classes. There have been many weeks that she has worked 7 days straight and 5 days of the next week. And kept her house standing and her dogs happy, and her husband happy . She is the most awesome daughter in the world. ( I hear myself humming...somewhere...somehow...I must have done something right...)

Well, as you can see from the pictures, we had a great day. Enjoy looking at them again.

And for everyone that has facebook, which is everyone, I think, I would give up this blog, since everything is on facebook. But Paw isn't on facebook, and he really like to see my blog. And I find myself looking at it sometimes, just going back and looking at pictures. They are right here at my fingertips.


One of the 4 minutes that he was not being held.


Robert and Mitchell. I can't tell you how this sight makes me feel.

After a lot of the hub bub dies down. Paw took a little snooze.

Another Kodak moment. I love to see Bennie with this smile.

Paw and Mitchell.

Cindy caught me re-gifting. But considering it held loot, she was happy!

The vase Cindy got me for Mother's Day.

Cindy got into the Chocolate Ganache Cake.

Monica, Robert and Mitchell

Neil and Lu waiting on food.

Cindy waiting on time to open presents. And guarding Lillie.

Monica

Ghia and Baby Mitchell.

Miss Aunt Gayle and Mitchell. Such Sweetness!

Granny LuLu, or whatever her name is and her favorite new pastime.

Lillie snuggling with Cindy. Trying to get away from that evil Robert.

We didn't know Sadie knew any trick. We found out Robert is the dog whisperer. Sadie would bring the pig, Robert would tell her to drop it and she would. We were amazed!

The balloon we sent to Mikey heads off towards heaven.

Ghia brought the Mother's Day balloon to send to Mikey.

Pretty roses Cindy brought.

Cindy's favorite, Chocolate Ganache cake from Fresh Market. We had Lemon Pie for Bennie's birthday and chess squares for Robert's birthday. And Leonard's BBQ for Mothers Day.

We bought a feeder and seed in our patio re-do. The yellow finhes were back in about 5 minutes!

Bennie worked hard on the furniture. But of course, there was one snafu. I had to grab a picture quuic, Because rather than take the table apart and re-do the entire table, he grabbed my can of black paint, and painted the upside down logo plate!

My newly painted black furniture and new cushion for the chaise. It doesn't match the rest of the stuff, but it was all they had!

The swivel chairs.

My pretty new furniture. And it was too cool and no one wanted to sit outside with me. When they come back for Father's Day, it will be too hot to be outside!

This little bunny sleeps in our flowerbed. I caught him yesterday in Gus's backyard. Luckily, Gus wasn't home our he would have one of two things. Eaten the bunny, or looked at him and decided he wasn't going to run 50 feet and try to catch him.