Nashville Confidential

call me hostess

Well, I do hope to post those long-overdue entries, but I have some great guests coming: JAD + husband today, and the day they leave, my brother is coming for a couple days! Solo! My sister-in-law, who gets to stay behind with two wriggling boys, is a saint.

How geeky is it that I think this item from Sunday's New York Times is way cool?

"On Saturday and Sunday, the New Bedford Whaling Museum in New Bedford, Mass., will play host to its eighth annual marathon reading of Herman Melville's "Moby-Dick." The event begins at noon on Saturday with a reader costumed as Ishmael standing at the stern of an 89-foot ship model. It moves to the Seamen's Bethel (called the Whaleman's Chapel in the novel) for a singing of the Navy Hymn. It continues at the museum, mostly under hanging whale skeletons, but Chapter 40, "Midnight on the Forecastle," is read in the museum's life-size replica of a crew's living quarters."

merry christmas

I hope yours was as enjoyable and relaxing as ours here.

We began our merriment last night at my sister's. I used to host Christmas Eve at my house and I do miss doing that. Without a house I really don't decorate much and I rarely cook. That one night a year of hostessing was fun and made me feel somewhat useful. Anyway, we had the festivities at LKT's and I helped out a bit (I bought the seafood tray from Dixon's, for example). We started the day with a walk and a jaunt to the supermarket. It's pretty fun to shop with her.

My uncle and his family now live in East Peoria and they joined us for food and games. We laughed and laughed and an excellent time was had by all.

I have written about this before, but I sincerely love -- and like -- just about everyone in my family, even my extended family. I might not always agree with them or understand them, but I do enjoy spending time with them. So last night was a joy for all of us.

During our second walk of the day today, my brother said he hadn't laughed so much in a very long time.

Really? I asked.

Yes, he said, I haven't been doing a lot of laughing this year. But 2004 will be a lighter load for him. He's starting a new job that really is tailor-made for him, and I couldn't be happier. Neither could he.

new traditions

For the second year in a row, my mom has come to Nashville to see Opryland Hotel in all its glory. That's the main reason for the trip, but I'd like to think it's so we can have a little time to ourselves before the holiday onslaught.

My dad brought her down on Friday night and promptly left on Saturday morning. Mom and I went and got a manicure, then had brunch at Jackson's and threw a little cash around the shops in Hillsboro Village, particularly Social Graces. I love that place and can never get out of there for less than $30, it seems. We then breezed through the library and checked out a bunch of books and films, some of which we got through during her visit.

Saturday night we had reserved for our Opryland excursion. But where to eat? We decided on Old Heidelburg, a German restaurant just a few blocks from my place. I've walked by it a thousand times but have never been in (it's mainly a lunch place and is open just a few nights a week for dinner). It's not a trendy place, but it's a place that is strangely charming. They have an incredible escargot soup. Really. I'll eat just about anything, even escargot. This soup was velvety, delicious and the vegetables in it were wonderfully crisp. The escargot were not.

pinkies raised

VGG, HER and I finally made it to the Hermitage Hotel for tea. Exquisite.

For months we've been talking about it and we scheduled a "strategic planning session" for this afternoon there in the beautifully decorated lobby. They brought out porcelain tea sets for each of us, finger sandwiches and petit fours and wonderfully flavored tea.

The three of us sat and talked about strategic planning for the requisite 45 seconds, then moved on to other topics. Mostly we just enjoyed each others' company and expressed how fortunate we are to work with people who delight us. And who like formal tea.

Our strategic plan? To have a meeting like this once each quarter.

sliding scale

Our foursome went to dinner tonight to my favorite place in Nashville, Tin Angel. Come and I'll take you. On me. Your money's no good there.

I had venison and it was fabulous. We talked about a lot of great stuff. K updated us on her romance, which seems to be going swimmingly. B confessed she has posted an ad. I'm trying to persuade DMJ to do it. Told her I'd write the ad for her. I'm not jumping in yet, though. I'll take my rejection in person, thank you very much.

We compared deal-breakers, which we will probably do again at K's impending wedding reception. Pretty much we agreed the longer you're on your own, the pickier you get, which seems to defy logic, but it's true. B said she'd look past a couple less-than-desirable qualities for a guy who could fix a lot of things around the house, help put up the Christmas tree, and tell you when a mechanic is trying to pull one over on you. We all laughed at that one.

i enjoy being a girl

How much have I been talking about manicures and lip gloss and stuff? So much that my team bought me a home kit for paraffin dips. I'm not kidding -- that was their Christmas gift to me. Two of the women have already invited themselves over for a manicure party.

It's pretty cool. My hands shall henceforth forever be silky soft.

viva nashvegas

Yes, it's almost 3 a.m. Just got back from the Jack Emerson tribute show and it would have been a bargain at double the price. I got in for a mere $30.

Read 'em and weep:

(this isn't even a complete list)
Tim Krekel
Webb Wilder
Sonny Landreth
Billy Joe Shaver (with Will Kimbrough)
John Hiatt
Steve Earle
Jason and the Scorchers (went on at 1 a.m.)

I could just cry with joy. It was 1986 all over again ... they played a set of all early Scorchers and it SMOKED. Jason was wired and sweaty and full of energy. He has to perform as Farmer Jason in less than 12 hours at the Country Music Hall of Fame. Good luck with that! The crowd was with them (the hearty 40 or so souls that stayed until the end included luminaries like Tennessean writer Peter Cooper (who looks amazingly like MKR), ex-Wilco drummer Ken Coomer, former Slow Bar and current Grimey's owner Mike "Grimey" Grimes, Jack Emerson's former business partner Andy McLenon, and a couple other people who were somebody, just not to me. Yet.).

I'm somebody too, you know. I'm the most inhibited woman in North America because even when the band launched into "I Don't Want to Know," my all-time favorite Scorchers rocker, I could not dance with abandon. That's kind of sad. I was dancing inside.

I'm also the person who drank a pot of Snow Monkey Plum tea before going to the show because it is powerfully caffeinated and now, shaky and weak, I am WIDE AWAKE.

Where else could you see a line-up like that? And feel that you are surrounded by some of the greatest musical minds as you stand in the little club?

Steve Earle said Emerson always believed that Nashville is a rock 'n' roll town, and that it still is. Jack Emerson was integral in all of those acts being born and developed and successful. R.I.P., Jack, and many, many thanks.

true confessions

I really like the people I work with. They surprise me sometimes ... You know I have a secret tattoo on my forehead that says, "Tell me everything." And they are no exception -- they tell me everything.

In my first meeting of the day, one guy told me he's remarrying his ex-wife. This is fabulous news. I've secretly been hoping they would reunite for some time now. Last year he was hit by a car and she was very involved in nursing him back to health. Whenever he talked about her or about things that happened during their marriage, I could tell. So, unbeknownst to most people in the office, they're doing the Vegas thing over the holidays.

Then in the next meeting I was talking with another guy about his daughter's upcoming wedding. Turns out it's been accelerated a few months due to a grandchild on the way. We sat in silence for a few moments and his eyes said it all. We talked about it for a while and agreed that we both know a few marriages that started in similar circumstances and turned out well.

Fortunately my third meeting was cancelled. I wasn't sure what would turn up in that one.

Here's my true confession: I spent $15 on an eyelash curler. Seriously. What's up with that? It works great, by the way. I also bought some fancy lip gloss that I figure costs about $1.75 each time I apply it. Makes me feel like a movie star when I wear it.

I'm going through a strange I-want-to-be-pretty phase. I went after work tonight and got a manicure, which is such a bizarre practice. I can't even believe I do it, but there I was, with the Vietnamese teenager talking on the cell phone while I chose a nail color. I always choose the plainest, most subdued color. Wonder what that says about me?

Wonder how the Vietnamese teenager -- Andy Tri Nguyen, according to the posted license from the state of Tennessee -- ended up in this strip mall in suburban Nashville? Wonder what he is talking about on the cell phone, then to the other manicurists? Wonder what secrets Andy would tell me if he saw the tattoo on my forehead?

can't sleep

Just got back from the Bluebird Cafe and saw a great band backing singer Mark Germino. Two guys from work said they wanted to see something at the legendary showplace so we picked this show and what do you know, it featured some musicians I recognized (half of Webb Wilder's backing band) on stage and in the crowd (John Prine!)

Yet again, may I state, I love this town. And I love the guys from work. How cool is it that they were willing, after a very long day, to stay up late and rock a little. Never underestimate insurance people.

The opening band featured a lovely mandolin player who sported a gorgeous A-style mandolin. It's the very mandolin that I have ordered. Nope, I can't play a note, but I plan to learn. I originally had my heart set on an F-style mandolin, but when I saw and heard this A-style a few weeks ago at a local store, I revised my order.

too little, too late

Concerned citizens (read as: my brother and sister-in-law) recently forwarded this piece of news from the hometown paper:

"East Peoria's riverfront park is now open to the public. The project has been in the making for about 4 years now. In that time, the then empty space behind the Super Wal-Mart has now been turned into a recreational area. It's filled with paved walking and bike paths, benches and night lights. About a million dollars in local and state funds went into developing the park. And local officials say East Peorians now have a place of their own to enjoy the view of the Illinois river. There are also plans to put in restrooms, a fishing dock, and a playground. " -- Peoria Journal Star, 4 Dec 2003

Well, that is wonderful, since they've been promising to do that for, oh, about a decade. I do appreciate that the park is becoming a reality. I'm afraid, though, it will only highlight what a colossal waste of land East Peoria caused when they allowed that monstrosity to be built.

In case you didn't know, I hate Wal-Mart. Won't spend a cent there, nor at any Walton-owned establishment. Do what you want. But I won't support them. (This caused an awkward moment recently when I asked a bride-to-be where she was registered. Guess I won't be buying them anything on their list.)

Jason recently sang a song about his feelings for Wal-Mart. He hates them too, but he said it much more delicately and artistically. I love that guy.