Music City…….

Took the S.O. up to Nashville yesterday-we had planned to go someplace farther away, but having to travel on Thursday and the imminent arrival of Gustav meant that, just like the Republican convention, our plans had to be changed. I’m still trying to figure out if this is a blessing from the Almighty-in that we have a couple less days to watch the Republicans kow-tow to their insatiable “base”- a group that has hijacked my political party for at least the last 14 years. Or if perhaps,  God is just doing his bit to give John McCain a little extra boost-at Obama’s expense.

Either way, I’ve decided to avoid the Christmas rush and start hating Sarah Palin early. MILF or not, the whole effect gets ruined whenever she opens her mouth. She reminds me of that whiny, girl scout cookie selling mom, who while she was pushing shortbread cookies on you-doing what her daughter evidently could not, or would not do-extols the virtues of home schooling to you for some 20+ minutes. When all you want to do is get in the store, buy your beer and food, and get on your way.   I have visions of her driving a 4 wheeled drive BMW up there in the great white north.

That said-the Democrats better not underestimate her. They will do so at their own peril. If for no other reason than so many of conservative wackos love her like their wicked stepsister. Cross the line and say anything bad about her-whether its true or not- and the four horsemen of the Apocalypse will descend upon you.

But I digress-and I have plenty of time to make fun of her and her “ex wife” voice over the next few months or years.

Saturday was devoted to reliving Southern history. When hockey moms stayed home with their slaves servants, and did not run for public office.

So we visited Belle Meade plantation:

Notice the flag? It only has 31 stars on it. I found that particularly interesting as we went in for the tour. I had think hard when was the time the Union only had 31 states. ( Which was 1850 when California came in…). I found that interesting.

A couple of other shots of the house and grounds:

Just sitting on the back porch!

View from the front porch!

We stayed over near Vanderbilt because the hotel was cheaper. Fortunately they had a free shuttle downtown.

However before we went there-we went to visit the Parthenon.

I never knew that in 1897 Nashville built an exact replica of the Parthenon. Supposedly it is accurate in every detail and is the only known replica of the Greek monument. So now I can say I have been to both the real one and the replica. I think I liked being in Athens better……………

The park adjoins Vanderbilt, where I learned that people still played Red Rover:

(Click on the picture to see the girls better!)

Red Rover, Red Rover, can the girl in the red dress come over?

I was also please to see that there were monuments to Confederate soldiers. One of the things that used to bother me about AFN was that they were never able to acknowledge the military history of the Confederacy-only the Union. I’m sure there was some PC reason for that. However in Nashville the statues survive:

A quick bio of the man who got the Parthenon built:

That evening we went downtown-but I had a difficult time getting the S.O. into a bar there. She find a Japanese restaurant with real Japanese tourists. So we ate there-so so at best. But the staff could habla Nihongo so it was nice. We saw lots of Japanese tourists too.

Today-I took her to Opry Mills. Knew she wanted to see the shopping. I had expected to see Opryland and perhaps go there-but much to my surprise, the park is no more. Since the last time I was in Music City was 1980- I probably should have know better. At least they had a Barnes and Nobles-got so more books. More to follow on that score.