Murfreesboro, Y'all!

Greetings from Murfreesboro, TX!

We left yesterday morning around 7:30 AM and enjoyed a breakfast break at the Sonic in Grove City. I totally love Sonic, especially on roadtrips. It turned out to be a total downpour throughout most of the Ohio and early Kentucky trip. We hit a really bad accident in downtown Cincinnati which delayed us. But, it wasn't like we were in a complete hurry. We stopped at a Kroger Fuel station in KY, just outside of Clermont. $3.99 a gallon! Crazy. We spoke with a truck driver who was on his way up from Texas and he said gas was cheaper in TN. After we bought gas, we heard on NPR that the KY Governor had just signed a bill banning gas stations from raising prices in anticipation of Ike. Go figure.

We got to the Jim Beam Distillery around noon. We enjoyed a short tour and a sampling of Knob Creek and Basil Hayden's. The buildings the bourbon is aged in smelled so delicious! Whiskey is one of my favorites, so it was a lot of fun to learn about the process and the history of Jim Beam. I hope sometime when we have more time, we can do the entire Bourbon trail. I think it'd be especially fun to stop at Maker's Mark. Below is a pic of Joe, Jim Beam, and I, sippin' whiskey.

After that, we headed south to Cave City. We were going to go to Dinosaur World, but decided against it. Instead, we took pictures outside the front:

We then stopped at Mammoth Cave to figure out if we should go there on the way home. The decision was no, because, Mammoth Cave is totally awesome and deserves a trip of it's own.

We headed to Murfreesboro for our last stop of the day. We were fortunate enough to hit the Nashville rush hour traffic. Lucky us hitting both AM and PM rush hours! Our hotel is really nice - it is a brand new Holiday Inn Express. I love their cinnamon rolls! We ate at this awesome restaurant called Toots. We had a pitcher of beer and two dinners for $21!! So cheap! We drove around town and visited the MTSU campus. George Clinton went there. It was pretty neat.

Joe came up with this idea that we take Obama Rama around on our trip, photographing him in various places. We just so happened to drive by the Murfreesboro Republican Headquarters, so we snapped a shot:

I was pretty disturbed this morning to hear about hurricane Ike. CNN was showing a shot of the Chase building in downtown Houston...all the windows were blown out. Almost 4 years ago, I was on the top of that building looking out among the city. I wish everyone in Texas the best of luck and a speedy recovery.

Well, we're off to Lynchburg to visit the Jack Daniel's Distillery.

More later

in the bar light, she looked alright

today was my last day of work for the next 6 business days!

I almost have my desk all caught up, which is good. If I keep it like this, it will be smooth sailing until my resignation in December.

Joe called off work today, so I drove alone. On break I ran to the library to grab the Neil Gaiman book I reserved on CD to listen on the trip and gassed up with my Kroger fuel discount. On lunch, I deposited my OADE check for the trip and headed to Jimmy John's for lunch. #12 on 7-grain baby! I'm a 7-grain convert. This was my second Jimmy John's this week...can you say F-F-F-F-F-F-atty?

After work I went to Sax for a car wash. I was well overdue and I want my car to sparkle as I cross the Mason-Dixon line.

I accompanied Joe on his errand run once I got home. We went to Staples to have the NADE award narratives copied and laminated. We had 30 minutes to spare, so we browsed. I found the best rear-view mirrow air freshener in the beauty store at the Lennox (of all places!):

A perfect, subtle way for me to show my support while I'm on the roadtrip. I love it!

I spent the evening packing and printing up directions to all of our destinations. We leave tomorrow at 6AM! Woohoo!

the end of an era.

R.I.P.

Yesterday, I said the goodbye to the end of the era. I officially retired my most recent pair of Chuck Taylors. The tears were getting ridiculous, and I wasn't confident in their ability to carry me through the roadtrip next week. So, I went on my new favorite website, Zappos.com and found a suitable, reasonably priced replacement.

I purchased the shoes on Friday. They promised free 4-5 day shipping. But, to my delight, they mailed my shoes early! I received them on Monday. Put them on. And the rest is history.

I'm sad to say goodbye to my old friends. They went with me everywhere. They were with me when I returned to Europe. They were there when I first touched ground in Seattle. They walked miles and miles with me throughout Columbus. They saw more concerts than I could count. They were with me in South Dakota, Minnesota, Chicago, California.... I couldn't even tell you where all they have been.

But, my new Chucks are guaranteed an adventure starting Friday. They'll be with me as I tour distilleries, enter Arkansas and Mississippi for the first time. Heck, they were with me as I finished my tour of Anatomy. They gave me luck as I earned the only A in my class on the final. They will host new adventures, and walk me all over new, uncharted lands!

time flies

So it's been a really long time since I've posted anything. I think it is mostly because this quarter has kicked my ass. It is unfortunate, because a lot has gone on. We moved, had lots of friends in town to visit, went out of town a bunch. Luckily, I have my Anatomy final tomorrow night and my lab practical on Tuesday. Then I'm done! This is the last quarter where I'm taking a huge courseload and working at the same time. Next quarter I only have Physiology, and then I'm off to nursing school!

On Friday we saw the Wombats at The Basement. I really hate that venue. The audio sucks and it takes the bands an hour to get it to sound halfway decent. The only thing it has going for it is $1 Natty Cans. Mmm! The opening band was really crappy. I don't even know what they were called. The Wombats were awesome, though. I started talking in a British accent after they came on, and like a dumbass, went to the merch table and ordered my t-shirt with the same accent. The nice, British merch vendor responded "Brilliant!" a la Orbit gum. It was great.

Joe's mom was in town on Saturday. I hung out, studying, while they went to see The Lion King. Then we went to the Ox Roast and followed up with beer and food at Old Bag.

Today, I've spent the day studing more. Perkins for brunch.

Joe and I are working the details for the trip to the South for the NADE conference. The conference is in Nashville, but you know me. I've planned many stops and not-so-side-trip side trips along the way. I'm hoping to document it on here as it goes on, but last year's huge NADE Conference roadtrip through the Midwest didn't receive much of my internet attention. I really want to get more into blogging, if not just for my own way of keeping up with what I've been up to. We'll see. Anyway, the tentative plan is this:

Friday: Jim Beam Distillery Tour
Dinosaur World
Picture break at Wigwam Village Inn #2, if we don't end up staying there on the way back...
Spend the night in Murfreesboro, TN

Saturday: Jack Daniels Distillery Tour
Joe presents the 2012 Conference bid with Laura and Kristen and I hope to get Charles and the rest of the delegates to watch the OSU vs. USC game in the hospitality suite or at a local bar

Sunday: The Hermitage (Andrew Jackson's house)
Belmont Mansion (I don't know what it is exactly...)
Grand Ole Opry
President's Reception

Monday: Meetings all day
Evening "Brews Cruise" all over Nashville with our friends, touring breweries and tasting Nashville's finest beers

Tuesday: More meetings
I have no idea, hospitality suite? Hopefully a trip to the Flying Saucer, our favorite bar that doesn't exist in Ohio.

Wednesday: Meetings...that is why I get paid to go on this trip
Conference activity/Hospitality suite!

Thursday: Ditch the conference and head to Memphis!
Tour Gibson Guitar Factory
Party Hearty on Beale St.!

Friday: The moment I've been waiting for....trip to GRACELAND!

Saturday: Either stay an extra day in Memphis, or more likely head back to Cave City to check out Mammoth Cave

Sunday: Return to C-bus


I can't wait. I love our trips. Traveling is what I'm all about. I can't wait until I'm a nurse and do the travel nurse thing. My first stop will be Alaska. I've already got it planned!

Well, I guess it's back to the grind for now. Although there's pretty much no way I can fail Anatomy at this point, I don't want to bomb the final...

Hopefully I'll write more soon.

byebye