Collage Time!

2012 Memories

Collage # 14 is done and another year is now "under glass."  2012 was a good one despite a few set-backs and missed opportunities due to Ashlee's mom's prolonged illness in the last quarter of the year.  We are happy to report she looks to be well on the road to recovery, and we can't wait to have her back home!

We saw a lot of great concerts this year including Mumford & Sons twice.  We found a great new music festival called Bunbury up in Cincinnati, and we returned again to our beloved Bonnaroo here in Middle Tennessee. We took some awesome trips this year including a 3-country tour in Europe (again) where we felt our first strong earthquake while in Milan, Italy; California (twice); the Outer Banks (again); Chicago (again); and tropical Aruba.  We saw an array of sporting events including playoff wins for our beloved pro hockey team, the Nashville Predators, the U.S. men's soccer team, pro and college football, and pro baseball in two different cities.  We had some great food at some wonderful new restaurants during our travels as well. 

2013 is already looking to be promising with planned trips to Jamaica for New Year's, China (yes, China) in February, and Colorado in early March for some snowshoeing.  We also have a possible first-time visit to the city of Pittsburgh and then on to Mt. Rushmore in the planning stages as well as a possible return to the Indy 500 in May, and a possible music cruise in November.  We already have a few concerts we are planning to attend including our beloved Augustana in an acoustic show, Gaslight Anthem in a more intimate venue than we've ever seen them before, and another run at Bonnaroo in June. 

A special thanks to all our friends who have joined us this past year for many of our endeavors. We appreciate your camaraderie and enthusiasm in everything we do. 

Now, as long as the Mayans aren't right, let's proceed in filing up our next collage!

Happy New Year everyone!

OK, now....Let's hear It for the boys...

November 5, 2012 - We caught another show by one of our favorites, Snow Patrol, at the Ryman Auditorium (this is the second time we have seen them there) tonight along with co-headliner, Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds, and opener, Jake Bugg.  It was a good Irish and British invasion  of Nashville all around.


November 17, 2012 - We attended the UT vs. Vandy college football game in Nashville tonight.

Great seats, eh? Just 7 rows off the field! It was a  41-18 shellacking by Vandy of the once-proud Vols.
  It was OK by us since we were pulling for the Dores who were already bowl eligible
 and increased their chances for a better bowl with this win.
This also turned out to be embattled UT Head Coach Derek Dooley's
(white shirt, right center) last game before being fired the next day.

December 1, 2012 - We caught another show by one of our regional faves, The Dirty Guv'nahs, at Track 29 in Chattanooga tonight along with openers, The Black Cadillacs, from Nashville, and Shark Week from Chattanooga.  Another excellent show by The Guvs who never fail to impress us with their energy and passion.  Thanks to our friends Mike (who also met us for dinner beforehand at the always-delicious Terminal Brewhouse), Michelle and Debra for hanging with us at the show.  In the photo above, members of The Black Cadillacs join The Guvs on stage for a closing cover of the appropriately-named Beatles/Joe Cocker staple, "With a Little Help From My Friends."