2 hours ago
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Short Update
I suppose another Tennessee update is in order.
We went back to the Parthenon in Centennial Park on Sunday. People nearby were playing soccer, taking engagement or wedding photos, or just reading on the steps. It was very nice and makes me wish we had monuments in Plymouth or New Hope like it. Six dollars to look at the inside.
Inside? Replicas of the Elgin Marbles, a 42 foot tall gilded statue of Athena, and displays about the construction and preservation of the building. The Parthenon was constructed as part of a Centennial fair for the city of Nashville and was the only building that they saved from destruction over the years. Why the Parthenon? Nashville, with its strong educational background, is often referred to as the "Athens of the South." Who knew?
Oh, and let's not forget the obligatory gift shop.
Other than that, not much else is new. Been eating out far too often (Ate Buffalo burgers at Ted's Montana Grill) and moving far too little. Saw "Little Nemo" and "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" on the free movie channel. Looking forward to buying souvenirs at the airport and coming home.
We went back to the Parthenon in Centennial Park on Sunday. People nearby were playing soccer, taking engagement or wedding photos, or just reading on the steps. It was very nice and makes me wish we had monuments in Plymouth or New Hope like it. Six dollars to look at the inside.
Inside? Replicas of the Elgin Marbles, a 42 foot tall gilded statue of Athena, and displays about the construction and preservation of the building. The Parthenon was constructed as part of a Centennial fair for the city of Nashville and was the only building that they saved from destruction over the years. Why the Parthenon? Nashville, with its strong educational background, is often referred to as the "Athens of the South." Who knew?
Oh, and let's not forget the obligatory gift shop.
Other than that, not much else is new. Been eating out far too often (Ate Buffalo burgers at Ted's Montana Grill) and moving far too little. Saw "Little Nemo" and "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" on the free movie channel. Looking forward to buying souvenirs at the airport and coming home.
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Still in Brentwood, TN
Day Three: Electronic Withdrawal
I didn’t bring my computer on the trip. Or my gameboy. Or my anything remotely electronic and entertaining. I brought my work laptop, but it turns out we don’t need it in class, and we aren’t allowed to use it for personal use. So, rather than crying myself to sleep in the bathtub, I decided to take in some of the sights in Tennessee.
“Country Music, Serious Business.”
First stop, the Country Music Hall of Music and Museum. Learned a lot about Elvis and gobs of other country music stars who I have already forgotten. I don’t mind country music. Some of it is quite listenable. I just never got swept up in the whole cult of personality that surrounds country music stars, much like the cults surrounding movie stars, rock stars and really good sandwiches. I think the highlight of the tour was a car decked out with silver dollars and guns for handles.
“Called GOO by the locals”
We stopped by the Grand Old Opry later, but decided not to take the fifteen dollar tour. Not very interesting to tour an empty building, regardless of how many stars have poured through there… Maybe if it was five bucks instead of fifteen. HOWEVER! The area immediately next to GOO had a shopping mall filled with all kinds of crap, touristy or not. Interesting to look, but I prefer to get my souvenirs at the airport where they cost three times as much.
“And then we ended up in Greece, for some reason.”
Did you know that Nashville has a full-scale version of the Parthenon? Neither did I until today. We tried to visit it, but the entire site was sealed off for a massive wedding. You know you have some kind of money when you get to close off a public park for your own massive parties. Oh well. I didn’t want to see your stupid reproduction of Classical Greek architecture anyway!
On a side note, I believe that the Twin Cities should build a full-scale replica of the Sphinx.
Also, they have a Five Guys Burgers down here. I hope I get to stop there before I leave.
I didn’t bring my computer on the trip. Or my gameboy. Or my anything remotely electronic and entertaining. I brought my work laptop, but it turns out we don’t need it in class, and we aren’t allowed to use it for personal use. So, rather than crying myself to sleep in the bathtub, I decided to take in some of the sights in Tennessee.
“Country Music, Serious Business.”
First stop, the Country Music Hall of Music and Museum. Learned a lot about Elvis and gobs of other country music stars who I have already forgotten. I don’t mind country music. Some of it is quite listenable. I just never got swept up in the whole cult of personality that surrounds country music stars, much like the cults surrounding movie stars, rock stars and really good sandwiches. I think the highlight of the tour was a car decked out with silver dollars and guns for handles.
“Called GOO by the locals”
We stopped by the Grand Old Opry later, but decided not to take the fifteen dollar tour. Not very interesting to tour an empty building, regardless of how many stars have poured through there… Maybe if it was five bucks instead of fifteen. HOWEVER! The area immediately next to GOO had a shopping mall filled with all kinds of crap, touristy or not. Interesting to look, but I prefer to get my souvenirs at the airport where they cost three times as much.
“And then we ended up in Greece, for some reason.”
Did you know that Nashville has a full-scale version of the Parthenon? Neither did I until today. We tried to visit it, but the entire site was sealed off for a massive wedding. You know you have some kind of money when you get to close off a public park for your own massive parties. Oh well. I didn’t want to see your stupid reproduction of Classical Greek architecture anyway!
On a side note, I believe that the Twin Cities should build a full-scale replica of the Sphinx.
Also, they have a Five Guys Burgers down here. I hope I get to stop there before I leave.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Nashville
I never seem to handle air travel very well, but I managed to remain fairly calm during the flight down to Nashville (aside from spilling Pepsi all over my shirt). My first impressions? They carved the entire city out of jungle. Wander three feet off the highway in any given direction and expect to be swallowed alive by foliage. Everything is very green, and lush, and vibrant. A hazy fog covers the landscape, setting the mood more for some kind of Myst-like puzzle game rather than a training conference. The air is thick, humid and difficult to breath. I feel like a fish out of water, only getting shallow breaths. This will take some time to get used to.
The hotel itself? Swank. I think I might steal some of the decorating styles from my king-sized suite when I leave, and maybe a few tiny soaps.
I am off to forage for sustinence. There are several restaurants nearby, and even a Target across the street. My life-long dream of shopping at a Target in every one of the continental United States is about to come one step closer to being reality.
The hotel itself? Swank. I think I might steal some of the decorating styles from my king-sized suite when I leave, and maybe a few tiny soaps.
I am off to forage for sustinence. There are several restaurants nearby, and even a Target across the street. My life-long dream of shopping at a Target in every one of the continental United States is about to come one step closer to being reality.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
You're the Best Around!
A movie I made a long time ago back when Tiegs used to make comics. Or rather, put off making regular updates to his comics. So I used iMovie to motivate him to make more.
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