Home Again

I am back home and happy to be here. The drive was long--traffic and construction-filled--and a joy to drive with two doors that don't properly close/latch.
On the drive I heard "Poke Salad Annie" or "Polk Salad Annie," the Tony Joe White version, not the Elvis version. I have Poke Sallet growing in my yard, so that amused me.
Ellen gave me a dress form she doesn't need anymore. I put one of my hats on it and drove home with it in the passenger seat. My grandfather would have liked that, it looked like someone else was in the car with me. Sort of.

Affirmation

If I needed confirmation that I should not be in Chicago in winter, I have it.

I came to town for the DIY Trunk Show, to try to sell hats, do some interviews, and see some people. Downtown was lit up beautifully last night, I had decent Chinese food for dinner last night and saw 10 or so friends today, which was great. While not sad about moving, I was missing my friends.

I was driving to a friend's house in Lincoln Park for dinner and the roads were a little icy and I got re-ended. I'm fine, and the car can be driven home, and everything will be fine. The woman who hit me was apologetic. (Actually, the police officer was very nice, too, given that my car is still registered in IL, my drivers license is TN, and I didn't have my insurance card. I will probably be glad Judy has such a nice steam shower in the a.m. but, geez, no more signs from above needed. I HEAR YOU NOW. I am getting out of town before winter.

First house guest

Jamie came to visit this weekend, which made the dogs and I am happy.

We did some dog training and some sightseeing. We discovered that Cooper can slip through the railings of the porch. So, either I need to go buy 90-100 ft. of chicken wire, or I need someone to replace the railings ASAP.

In addition to dog training, we went downtown to listen to music at some of the honky tonks:



We discovered that despite conventional belief, the San Antonio Taco Co. downtown has re-opened. So, I have eaten SATCO three times in two weeks. And, now I have found a SATCO at least 15 minutes closer to my house than the one by campus.

Had dinner at my new next door neighbor's tonight. Funny conversation about them wantinhg pass through gates in a fence, which is was of the sticking points with Brent and Pam and my old neighbors...

Rollin' on the River

One of the many times I looked at this house one of the neighbors mentioned that he got tired of hearing "Proud Mary" played on the river boat. I haven't heard it once, and was thinking I might be deaf.

The Music City Queen, which is a much smaller boat than the General Jackson, went bythis afternoon playing very bad renditions of "Ring of Fire" and "King of the Road." I really had to be outside to hear and it wasn't annoying (yet). It was fun. Also, a little weird to have this in your backyard. Cooper didn't even bark.

Said nosy neighborhood didn't believe me that the Music City Queen went by, but then he remembered the CMAs were this week. Lots of celebs in town renting tour boats, I guess. It is funny how the town is clean up like a campus on parents weekend. A bunch of lights had been burned out on the signage of the movie theater across the river. They're all fixed up this week.

"Killing Freeze"

Tonight we are expecting the first hard frost of the year...they keep calling it a "killing freeze" on the news. We're talking 31 degrees. Ha ha ha. I have not had time to plant the plants I uprooted from Chicago (except for that Weeping Canadian Hemlock tree that I tied to the top of the car). So, I've basically turned my car into a greenhouse tonight.

Had my third trip to the DMV today and success! I have a Tennessee drivers' license. I must really live here. And, not a bad photo either.

I'm so glad to be here, but between the house tasks, the moving tasks and the actual work tasks, I'm exhausted. So, more later.

Before pictures

Some of you have asked to see some house pictures. Remember that this is a work-in-progress. If you click on the photo you should be able to see a bigger version.

Fog rolls in:



Dining room looking toward the river:



Front door:


Master bedroom:


Front room:

First animal charity event

Today was a fun day...after I walked the dogs to Shelby Bottom Greenway and DG helped with some house projects, we went to eat at a Thai restaurant that connects to a Go-Kart track. Seriously. See photo: Nicer decor than the typical Thai restaurant.

While over on the Opryland side of the river we stood in the parking lot and looked at the back of my house. Again, see photo:

Then we went to a charity event in East Nashville for a local no kill animal shelter. There I learned that crazy animal people are the same no matter where you live. I left having:
1. Seen someone I know (the electrician)
2. Got an invite to go see the closed to the public Opry museum
3. NOT adopted a third dog, despite a temptation from Blu, who is a hound like Cooper, plus about 70 lbs.