FIREWORKS!!

The trip from Graceland is about a 3 hour drive. Left Nashville about noon and figured we had plenty of time to get to Memphis in time to make the last tour of Elvis’s residence.

We stopped for gas about half way to Memphis and I notice a huge sign “FIREWORKS”. I just have to stop! I was like a kid in a candy store. Ever since I was teen I’ve wanted to bring back some firecrackers and bottle rockets to Michigan. They had everything, but since we were in day 3 of our trip – I knew I could not load up the car with explosives. I settled for a ton of fire crackers and a pack of M-1000′s. What are M-1000′s you might ask? Not sure, but when I was growing up the loudest firecrackers were Cherry Bombs or M-80′s. So if M-80′s were loud can you imagine M-1000′s??? Love it. I will give you a full report on what I find.

What does all these posts have to do with Lee Racing you might ask? Well just because I am on vacation – is no excuse for not training. We left Wednesday with no workout, but Thursday Johnna and myself strength trained upper body and did an hour of cardio on Friday at the first hotel. Saturday we worked legs at the Opryland Hotel. You can always find hotels that have fitness centers nowadays. Just a side note – Johnna kicked my butt training legs – she always has something up her sleeve to change up the routine!

The other reason is to enjoy the moment. After hurting my ribs from a fall about 8 weeks ago – I had a taste of what people deal with on a daily basis. The fall made me a better husband, son, father, minister, pup (the name given me by my granddaughter Riley) and of course friend to those that I come in contact with on a daily basis. The whole underlying premise of Lee Racing is to inspire to do better with what the Lord has blessed you with. Go make a difference!

Tomorrow Graceland!

Finally! The Opry!

The Grand Ole Opry here we come!!

Took the shuttle bus over to the Opry at 6:45, with the show starting at 7:00. As I had mentioned, I was able to land main floor tickets in row D, online the night before. Needless to say we were very excited to be heading to the Grand Ole Opry! We took our seats – the first cool thing I noticed was that the seats were long bench seats and not individual chairs. The second was the stage was still the same looking set that I had seen on TV. So loved the entire atmosphere. Thirdly and possible the best was that the show was broadcast live on the local radio station and on Sirius radio.

The way the format worked was as follows. There were four 30 minute shows. A host would come out and sing a song. After the host would do his or her introductory song then a DJ off to the side would do a commercial. All the while the next act would be setting up to do their next set. Each artist would do 2 songs. Then the host would come out, say a few words and introduce the next artist, then go to commercial break. The break would be no more than 2 minutes, so it flowed very well. This was repeated for 30 minutes. After the half hour show was over, they would lower the curtain and set up for the next 30 minute show. There would be a new host for the next half hour segment and the format would repeat.

The first host was John Conlee. Good host, but the artist that stole the show was Casey James. Young guy from Texas, that apparently was a contestant on American Idol. His 2 songs were well received, especially by the 8 college girls that were sitting in our row.

The second host was suppose to be Jimmy Dickens – who is in his 90′s. He was not able to MC due to a illness.They had a woman stand in for Jimmy that was good (did not get her name). All the artists she introduced were good.

The third host was awesome – his name is Mike Snider. Fantastic banjo player and comedian. The artist that stood out in that half hour was Mark Wills with a great song, “Don’t Laugh at Me”.

The final host was Vinice Gil, with his unbelievable voice. One of artist’s that preformed in the final half hour, I never heard before. His name is Will Hoge. His songs included “Someone Else’s Baby” and “No Man’s Land”. Great performance, sort of a cross between Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen. Lastly a great performance by the great Connie Smith. Vince Gil performed the final song of the evening.

The show started promptly at 7 and concluded at 9:30. The best way to sum up the Opry? I have to say that if you like country music you have to add the Grand Ole Opry to your bucket list. Can’t wait to listen to it tomorrow night on Sirius Radio. I’m hooked!!

Tomorrow on to Graceland for some Elvis time!!

Are they out of there mind?

Made it back to the hotel in search of some cowboy boots. Located the Cowboys and Angels store and from a distance it looked like a really cool store. On my list was a western shirt, cowboy boots and possibly a hat.

Yeah right!!! The store was double and triple the cost of the most expensive store in Nashville. We are talking $80 western shirts on the clearance rack and $400 boots that were not even cool looking. Even the hats were cheaply made and a no name brand for $75.

Oh well, I guess it is a Lee Racing shirt, jeans and flip flops for the evening attire. Of course Johnna looked great in her Ross dress that she bought for $15 on route to Nashville. Crazy thing was that all the locals asked her where she bought her dress and when she told them Ross’s they did not believe her.

On to the Opry I promise!

Does ANYONE eat greens in Opryland?

We left our our room to explore our very large hotel with map in hand. On the map was a list of the many restaurants, pools, fitness center and shops. Everything that is essential to our stay, namely food!!

It is lunch time and we were looking for a decent salad – not iceberg lettuce and croutons. We went from restaurant to restaurant, checking every menu listed at their front door and notta. How many might you ask? A total of 18!! Come on nothing – picked up my trusty iPad and found a Dave and Busters that was within walking distance from the hotel.

Upon arriving and already checked the menu online – was ready to order. Picked out an awesome sirloin steak salad – and as always dressing on the side please. Now I think I was born with a sign on my forehead that says, “even though I ask for the dressing on the side, what I really mean is drench that salad with every bit of the oiliest dressing you have”.

Over the years I have tried every different way of ordering and nothing has worked. First I tried using the words, “no dressing please”. That did not work, so I tried, “dressing on the side please”. Still no dice, what usually happens believe it or not, the salad comes with the dressing on the side AND on the salad. This is the case today, while Johnna is enjoying her great looking salad – with – might I add – dressing on the side, I am waiting for them to remake mine. The other problem is whenever they remake the salad even though it is their fault – it never looks right. They will pull off the top layer and just throw some more lettuce and half as much meat that was on the first go around. Come on!! How much does lettuce cost? I also learned if you complain too much you never know what they throw on your plate. They can hide a lot of undesirable objects in a salad.

What is wrong with dressing you might ask? Not really sure because I NEVER liked ANY kind of dressing on a salad. The only thing that I add to my salad is regular yellow mustard – the more the merrier. Black pepper and red pepper if they have it. Pet peeves that bother me – mustard packets – they take forever to open and apply to your salad. Give me the big squirt bottle and I am in heaven. Pepper shakers – there is no way to get black pepper through those little holes, poor design!! Instantly I take the top off and pour away.

Enough of my eating habits, which I am sure to many are very strange. That is okay it works for me. Meal done and very satisfied with my D & B salad. Now back to the hotel to get ready for the Grand Ole Opry. Need some cowboy boots – I will have to check one of the stores in the Opryland hotel. Cowboys and Angels I think it was called. There is no way I can go to the Opry in flip flops!

Opryland??

On to the Opry!

We left our wonderful hotel in the center of Nashville – Union Station. I highly recommend this hotel if you stay downtown.

Last night, after we got back to the room and knowing that we had tickets to the Opry – we needed a room for the night. Again with my trusty iPad I started researching rooms again. Not wanting to travel too far from the Opry I researched the closest hotel – the Opry Hotel. The reviews were good so I went for it.

It is only 10 miles from downtown to Opryland – so drove right there and found ourselves in front of the Opry. I will try to describe the setting – the whole area looks like a scaled down Disney – TOURIST TRAP!! The mall next to the hotel was flooded a year ago so that was closed, the Opry looked like any other music theater, the hotel looked like a huge compound and the entire area just looked crowded.

Johnna looked at me and said – “do we really want to be here?” I felt the same way and thought how do I cancel the hotel and sell the tickets to tonights show. With both of us not wanting to check in, we headed to the hotel entrance anyways hating every second. Still disappointed that the whole area had lost that old time flair – guess we should have come to Nashville in the 70′s.

We pull up and the line of cars to get in were a mile long. Got through the line, valeted the car and while I registered at the desk Johnna walked through the lobby. She came back with a huge smile stating “this place is awesome – it is like a huge inside garden”. We walked through the lobby and WOW what a scene – it was this huge garden area that was 6 stories high. There was not just 1 but 3 garden areas that were all part of the hotel. This was not a hotel, it was a city! The other cool thing was all these rooms had balconies the looked out onto these beautiful gardens. We also needed to upgrade our room since of course I booked an interior room WITHOUT a balcony – which I might add is pointless.

Back to the desk and of course all the balcony rooms were taken. I asked of course in my very persistent way – “there has to be something you can do”. She talked with her manager and came back with great news – there was indeed a open room with a balcony! There was just one catch – it was a handicap room. I asked “what is the difference”? She replied, “Pretty much the same except the bathroom is larger and the bed is closer to the floor”. I thought what is wrong with that – “I’ll take it”.

Happy ending? The rest is rather gross if you have a low tolerance for dirty hotel rooms – skip this paragraph. The room was perfect we thought. First impression was good until we were in the room for a while. Johnna went into the bathroom and I heard the words “is that poop on the floor”? – (sorry to be graphic) – l checked – AND IT WAS!!! Over by the doorwall – gum on the floor! Later we seen what looked like a booger on the wall! Great room – poor cleaning staff. Johnna took care of the crap on the floor and we just overlooked the rest and went to explore the hotel.

Tomorrow – what more we found!

Nashville!

It’s a rainy day in Nashville!

But who cares!! Staying at a great hotel and we are in the city that was built on country music. We leave our hotel which is right on Broadway, the main drag through the city. The porter as we are leaving provides us with an umbrella – the staff at Union Station were phenomenal. We walked the strip and noticed it was just a bunch of bars with live music. It was kinda cool, but I guess if you don’t drink it is kinda pointless. What we do like to do is shop and of course eat!!! Shopping kinda was not that great – tried to buy a hat but none fit right. Was recommended a steak house – it was packed so we gave it a try. The name was Demo’s – it was ok – too much salt on the steaks. I would not recommend. I asked for a side of pasta because they claimed it was homemade. Yea Right!! I’m married to an Italian – I may look American – but I know homemade pasta when I taste it.

We were walked the streets for the third time trying to get into the feel of the city, but it just wasn’t happening. I texted my niece Brit who is an expert when it comes to Nashville. She told us to go to Tootsies and we would find the roots of the city. So we walked the strip again and went right to Tootsies. It was a Thursday night and there was a line to get in. Well lines to get into a bar is not me.

What we needed was a time machine. I pictured the legends like George Jones standing on the corners singing. We even walked through Ernest Tubbs record shop. Apparently after the Opry the country greats would come to the record shop at Midnight and sing and perform into the wee hours of the night. All that was left was some cutouts of Good old Ernest in the back of the store with a fake stage. Kinda of just a tourist stop with no real meaning.

As we were walking and feeling kinda deflated Johnna asked – what about the Grand Ole Opry can we get tickets. Well one of my talents is somehow getting tickets to concerts when no one else can. I pulled out my trustee IPhone and booked us 2 tickets on the main floor to tomorrow nights show with the guest host – Vince Gil. All that was missing started to come rushing back. We felt like there was purpose in Nashville!

We need to celebrate and celebrate we did! Found an ice cream shop that was open until midnight named Mike’s. Great place – had that old country feel to it and at 10:30 pm it was packed!! We both got a single scoop of Pistachio – Johnna’s was in a cup, but I went all out and got it in a cone!! We sat right in the inside window and ate that ice cream and watched the world go by.

It is amazing how ice cream in the right setting is like a little slice of HEAVEN!

Tomorrow to the OPREY!!

Union Station – Nashville

Now let me set the stage for you. I have never been and know nothing about Nashville. I guess I can’t say nothing – I know that Nashville and country music sort of go together. Well here we are cruising into town – Johnna is driving again and I am in iPod mode looking for a hotel online. I have all my feelers out there – Facebook and texting. I have Jason Monaghan texting his buddy that lives in Nashville so needless to say I had info coming in like crazy. Love the app “TripAdvisor” but even given all the info I was still nervous – I HATE a bad hotel and also know Johnna’s taste in hotels are very important to the trip.

So I mapped out the hotel “Union Station – Nashville”, drove up in the parking lot of the hotel with all my info queued up on my IPod. Johnna loved it due to the fact it was a renovated train station, I loved because it was right on Broadway – we have a winner! Sent the info online just as the valet was coming for my car.

We are here and now ready to walk Broadway.

Let’s see what this town has to offer!

Nashville Here We Come!

Here we are on our way to Nashville – sun is out, beautiful morning!!

As we are on I-40 which is the direct interstate to the great city of country music, we see this sign “ROSS”. Well you have to know me and my wife – we love Ross stores. To date there are no Ross stores in Michigan. If you do not know what a Ross store is then you are really missing something. The best way to describe the store is that has lower prices than TJ’s or Marshall’s with basically the same stuff. We are taking cheap! When I use the word “cheap” – I am talking price not quality.

Needless to say for myself the men’s selection was very picked over, but Johnna scored! Lots of sun dresses so we were off on the highway again.

Tomorrow I promise – Nashville.

Lee Racing on Vacation 2

Well it’s now Wednesday night and we decided that Nashville was our first destination. Cruising through Tennessee was a breeze – along the way Johnna noticed a sign that said I-75 south closed ahead. I did a search on the internet and came up with nothing. Just as quick as the sign came we were taken off the freeway. I thought for sure it was going to be a quick on and off – within a mile or two we will be back on the main road.

Well quick it was not! Round and round and up and down for at least 35 miles, all the while Johnna was driving. Now one of my wife’s weaknesses is that she gets sick very easily. There have been times she has gotten nauseous from me just stopping the car too quickly. One of the remedies is to have her drive, well needless to say – she was sick AND she was driving!!! The road was dark, no lights and I was waiting to hear banjo music!! Deliverance II.

We survived barely. Back on the freeway, but by this time it was late, we needed gas and were starving. We were just on the outskirts of Knoxville and seen an exit that looked like it had all the food and hotels that an exit could offer. Got gassed up and right next store was an I-Hop. We ate enough times at the one in Michigan that we knew the menu. We both really enjoyed their “simple and fit” menu items and am a big fan of their Blueberry Harvest Grain ‘N Nut Combo. We went for the simple and fit french toast which was about 100 calories less.

Here is the setting – it is late, the characters in the restaurant were rather questionable and the whole setting just let’s say – looked like trouble. But it’s IHop what could happen? We ordered our healthy food with much anticipation – what showed up was what we ordered BUT smothered with whip cream and powdered sugar!!! Come on!!! Given the crowd and we also noticed our waitress was friends with the fore mentioned hoodlums – we did not complain.

After taking off the whipped cream and powdered sugar we enjoyed our dinner until it came to taking care of the bill. I asked for change for a $20 dollar bill from the waitress she said “sure thing”. Walked over to the table where her friends were seated – heard her say – Butch always has change on him and came back to our table with a $10, a $5 and 5 singles. Payed the bill and we were outta there. Johnna asked for a bottled water once at the hotel which was in the same town. Put one of the singles in the vending machine and it spit it back out. Everyone of those dollar bills would not work in the machine!!! Counterfeit!!! The next morning we stopped at Starbucks for my wife’s usual coffee the total bill came to $5 and some change. I counted out the 5 singles that I had received the night before and payed the bill. The cashier exclaimed “WOW these are some bright dollar bills??”, I said “yes they are”. Made a bee line for the car and we were on our way to Nashville!!!

Tomorrow – trip to the city of country.

Lee Racing on Vacation!

Vacations are a good thing!

Every time we go on vacation we usually fly – as I was about to book our flight to head south my wife asked the question – “I would like to drive instead of taking a plane”. My first thought was sitting on my can for 18 hours does not sound fun, but then thought why not. Well we made no usual hotel reservations, no plans – just hitting the road with Florida in our sites.

We loaded up the car last Wednesday morning and pulled out of the driveway around 11:00 A.M. after a wonderful prayer that my wife offered as we always do when we leave on a trip. Heading to South I-75, I drove Michigan and Ohio, Johnna took over for Kentucky and Tennessee. About half way through the very short state of Tennessee – I was navigating with my trusty iPad – I heard the words – “you know I always wanted to see Graceland”. My reply was “why not, let’s go!” Punched in Memphis into the GPS and got back the info 7 hours!!!! Well then punched in Nashville (which I am embarrassed to say did not realize was a 200 mile difference!!).

To be continued . . .