Updates

Ok, I have been doing routine stuff lately and I haven't felt compelled to post. But even the mediocre stuff needs to be reported.
My birthday came and went. I received great gifts of cash that in turn helped me buy the essentials...Diesel, Gas, Food, New Battery Charger (my old one bit the dust), WiFi membership at Books-A-Million for a year and I went to catch the movie Avatar at the IMAX theater. The movie was my special treat to myself. The theater is located near Opryland hotel and a major mall. Traffic going there was as heavy as going to a college football game, which added to the effect that I was going to an 'event'. I arrived 3 hours early to make sure I got a ticket to the 7pm show. I viewed this as a once in a lifetime event, after this run, I doubt I will conveniently ever be able to see this incredible movie in all it's glory, 3D and on the largest screen around. The sound actually comes through small holes in the screen. The story and the graphics makes this groundbreaking cinema experience definitely worth the trouble and cost to see. I can't remember the last time I have been to a movie theater, I can't usually justify the expense. And it was only the second movie I have ever attended by myself.

To help me get around town, my brother Keith is letting me borrow his GPS. I get more than the occasional chuckle from the computer voice directing me to take the next right in .6 miles with a thick British Butler like accent. It seems all too proper for the bus. The GPS has been a godsend for me in the crazy Nashville interstate system. They have major interstate construction going on, actually closing down portions of it through the entire weekend. I'm thankful for the rerouting capabilities of my British navigator.

I am about to become a legal Tennessee resident. I am going to the DMV to get my drivers license after this post. The reasons for this are two-fold: I want to register the bus here where they have less stringent laws about what constitutes an RV AND I feel like it would aid my attempt to find local employment. Employers might not get that warm and fuzzy feeling if they think I am going to bolt in a couple of weeks. I plan on staying at least a month maybe longer. This will be the time I want to save money so I have a cushion to relax and enjoy crossing the country at my leisure during the fun weather months.

This weather right now, cold and cloudy is zapping my energy levels. Motivation is at a low point but I will push on through. I keep my eye on the prize. Freedom and adventure.

I am off to the DMV.

Job Hunting

I haven't posted very much lately because I have been busy looking for work before the newlyweds come back. I've focused in on getting a bartending job. This would be the most enjoyable, non 9to5 type work that would give me folding money after each shift. I am finding that most of these type jobs are already filled around here but I believe my persistence will pay off.

I haven't had much to photograph lately. I haven't had the free time to explore like I would like. I washed my bus when I first got here and now my generator won't start. I washed it specifically to degrease it. I checked the usual suspects...distributor, spark plugs. It turns over but I don't think it is getting gas. It is lightly snowing outside so I will investigate more when I don't have to worry about getting the inside components wet.

Grammy night and Sledding

I really dig Nashville. Something is always going on. One of the first days I was here, my brother's bride-to-be Bethany went to her florist to pick up flowers for the wedding but Jewel was there filming a video. Today, Jason went to eat at Baja Burrito (think Moe's) and Kevin Costner came in at the same time to have lunch. For Grammy night, I watched the Grammy award show at a girl Hillary's with a bunch of people, she wasn't there. Evidently she is the lead singer of a band, Lady Antebellum and won the Grammy for best country performance by duo or group. They were also nominated for best country song but I think Taylor Swift got that one. They did perfom at the awards show. I just googled them and they now have the #1 pop album this week. I never heard of them before I went to Hillary's house to watch the Grammy show. I saw a framed platinum record on the wall. Guess they are pretty good.
After watching the the Grammys (that sounds like a good title to a retirement home sitcom), a few of us decided to go sledding. Missy upped the ante by telling us how they do it in Texas, by towing the sledder behind a vehicle, and she just happened to have brought a ski rope. We all drove over to a local high school with what we figured to be a big enough parking lot. When everybody with cars finished doing donuts in the parking lot (to presumably practice handling their vehicles in snow and ice) we tied the ski rope to the back of Missy's Jeep. The parking lot proved unworthy of our talent so we moved to the road. Each time a new person went it was as if they had to somehow top the person before them. That meant go faster than before. The last person reached 35 mph on very icy roads. Fun and easy for the sledder, scary and dangerous for the driver of the jeep. It was a mailbox and tree lined narrow road. I am glad to report there were no injuries and it was one of the best times I have had in a long time.

After the Grammys before going sledding--
Evan displays his game face
Tiffany - Hawaiian Princess
Photo ops before sledding


Redneck skiing

Philanthropic work

When I come to a town I like to leave my mark. And in Nashville that will have to be the Bordeaux Library branch. Nashville certainly is johnny on the spot in getting my library added to their web site

Check out the two 5 star reviews it has garnered on Yahoo locals http://local.yahoo.com/info-14943637-bordeaux-library-nashville
It makes sense for me to establish a library, I spent many an hour pouring over books and getting online at the Greenville libraries. The people of Nashville will come to this bastion of knowledge to glean the pearls of wisdom I leave behind. And I really don't think it is distasteful to name it after myself, my brother Keith who will still reside here long, shares the name (as well as his wife, Bethany). I don't really mind if he wants to bask in the spotlight that such a grand public building commands.
But I don't stop there. I really like Nashville, especially the older population. So I figured I would endow a little something to make sure they lead a worry free life in their later years. Let me present Bordeaux Long Term Care.

I will have to say that Nashville really is a great place for Bordeaux's.