JACK OF ALL TRADES

So about a couple months ago, while I was visiting Nashville for one week in October, Kenny and I saw a preview for a movie called Avatar. I was instantly hooked and couldn't wait for it to be released so we could see it together at the IMAX. Then I found out it was James Cameron....

WHO CARES?

Finally feeling like a human being again after 6 days prostrate and prone on the delightful sofabed, I made it out of the house with Kenny and we headed to Opry Mills.

Kenny and I got a huge tub of popcorn, two bottles of water, donned our 3D glasses, and entered the amazing IMAX. How will I ever watch a movie any other way again?

I don't want to give anything away here, but, people, run, don't walk, to the nearest IMAX, and see this film. No, no, EXPERIENCE this story. We were both so sad when it was over. It's just that incredible.

Now, I thought this came straight from JC's imagination, and so I had to give it up to him. Props man. Props. But Kenny found out that Avatar was a cartoon first. So now I've got to find it and check it out.

Then last night, I was invited by the cool Donnie Hillaker to play a half hour set at a place called Pope's, where I'd never been before, and I wasn't sure how I'd do, because while I was sick I didn't practice or play at all. But a half hour set? Hell yeah! Kenny came with me thankfully because the place was pretty much empty except a few regulars sidled up to the bar, most of whom were not interested in me at all. I took my own microphone just to be safe, and my set consisted of, "Christmas In July," "Belle of the Ball," "Flawed," "Out Of My Reach," "One Day," and "Tonight." I actually messed up on Out of My Reach, and couldn't get back in line. I stopped. I stopped and started over! I've never done that before. Usually I fake through it because no one knows my songs, they wouldn't know if I was faking or not. I just couldn't get out of it successfully. So that was a bummer. But the rest went pretty okay. I also made a video of the whole set, which, when I tried to upload it, I found out the file was corrupted. Naturally.

Then I went to Douglas Corner for my last time this trip, just to see who was there and listen. I didn't plan on playing. But when I got there, Jack greeted me and said I might be able to play. He was right. So I was the 4th person in the final round of the night, with Jack, which was very poetic, because I'm gonna miss that little guy! I played "One Day," and "Tonight," because my guitar was already tuned for those two songs (DADGAD), and I didn't have time to retune. I sang my little heart out and said farewell to Donnie who runs the sound there, and Rhonda who makes a great Elixir, and the singer/songwriters I've met during Nashville Open Mic Nights, November and December, 2009. I won't be singing out again this trip, as I'm gonna hang with Kenny and his family for the holidays and pack and get ready for my three-day road trip back home. So I ended on a high note "La La Laaaaaaaaaa!"

I will miss Nashville.