Hello, 2018!

2017 was a tremendous year and our newest collage proves that.  While dominated by souvenirs from our huge trip to Japan, our biggest collage (dimension-wise) to date was needed to accommodate everything we experienced including the Nashville Predators clinching of the Western Conference Championship (of which the poster we got that historic night made for a great back-drop) and a newspaper article in the Tennessean of us and a group of our friends experiencing the new Pontoon Saloon in downtown Nashville.  That's right, they are still printing newspapers.  Bring on 2018 for even more fun and frolic!

Ashlee sent out Happy New Year's cards this year instead of Christmas cards and they turned out pretty cool with some great (and, yes, weird) images from our amazing trip to Japan back in April.  Us dressed as Japanese Namahage in the top picture is actually very timely since they come out on New Year's Day to visit your house and scare off bad spirits for the new year...as long as you invite them in and feed them and give them sake!  We like that  last part the best!

OK, we admit it...we are officially addicted to a new taco truck here in Lebanon...Alberto really knows how to make great tacos! We've had them twice already in the new year and the burritos more than that! 

Saturday, January 6 - On our way to Pigeon Forge for a quick overnight stay, we stopped in Knoxville at The Pretentious Beer and Glass Company for not only some good craft beer, but also an interesting look at the glass-blowing going on next door.  They make all the beer glasses for the brewery next door plus a ton of other beautiful creations.  We had a tasty lunch a couple doors down also at The Crown and Goose Pub.

Our reason for going to Pigeon Forge was to stay at the adorable Inn at Christmas Place, a hotel that celebrates the yule tide season all year long.  Ashlee was in heaven since it's her favorite holiday of them all.  It really is a lovely hotel and they do a great job with amenities for their guests including receiving a nice ornament at check-in, a singing Santa concert, free milk and cookies, free coffee and cider, a tasty complimentary breakfast buffet with omelet station, and tons of cool Christmas decorations throughout the property.  We had a great time along with Ashlee's sister Paige, and our niece, Ella.

The view from our room was a pretty good one.  The hotel is in a great spot with lots of restaurants, shopping and other activities nearby.  Despite some cold temps, the weather worked with us quite well and it was nice  to see the mountains again.

Thursday, January 11 -  We took in a showing of The Greatest Showman at our local Roxy Theater (all recliners, don't forget) per MoviePass, and we were kind of blown away at how good it was.  Outstanding original music, good story and gorgeous cinematography.  

Monday, January 15 - We had a day off to honor the late Dr. King and headed into Nashville to run a couple errands and catch a movie before the bad weather was to set in later tonight.

It's a good thing these folks aren't closer or we might have us another food truck addiction...we got a small pan of  The Peach Cobbler Factory's amazing peach cobbler  to take home, but still had to sample it in the parking lot before leaving.  Afterwards, we stopped by the nearby 12 South Taproom and Grill to split some nachos and have a couple brew-skies before our afternoon matinee.

We caught a showing of the coming-of-age quirky comedy, Lady Bird, (thanks again MoviePass) at the Green Hills Theaters (recliners, oh yeah).  It was pretty good and confirmed to us that everybody's momma is crazy, but means well.  

Thursday, January 18 - Next stop on the MoviePass train was The Post at our local Roxy All-Recliners Theater.  For a movie that was basically just a bunch of people talking, it was great!  Speilberg does it again!   Thanks to our friend, Casey, for joining us to see it.

Sunday, January 21 -  We had an interesting experience today at Float Nashville.  It was a 90-minute isolation chamber session where you float in about 10 inches of heavily salted water in complete darkness.  We both really enjoyed the experience and found it both relaxing during as well as energizing afterwards.  We are considering buying another two-for-one deal there to get a couple more floats in this year.  Thanks to Ashlee for the gift certificate for this float that I got for Christmas.  Afterwards, we settled on The Stillery on Broadway for brunch which was pretty tasty.

This was my tank at Float Nashville, and Ashlee's was the same kind.  They also have an open tank for the claustrophobic folks.  The staff was very friendly and the place was ultra-clean and very private.  

Tuesday, January 23 - We headed over to Cool Springs/Franklin today to catch a showing of I, Tonya at the Thoroughbred Theaters (more recliners!) with our friends, Danny and Brenda.  The movie was great with perfect casting throughout.  No way does Alison Janney not win an Oscar for best supporting actress as Tonya Harding's nut-so mother.  We also had dinner there which was delicious and delivered to our seats.  Sweet! (Editor's Note:  March 4, 2018 - Alison takes home the Oscar...told ya!)