Southern Vacation

Mom, Dad, and Hilary came down to Clarksville to see me last week.  The original plan, was for them to stay and see me off but my flight got moved to Tuesday.  So due to the late notice, work schedules, and school, they had to stick to their original plans and left Saturday morning.  Too bad I had to work every morning because I would've liked to spend some more time with them.

Wednesday was light due to the travel, so it was Old Chicago for pizza and beer and then DQ on the way back to the hotel.

On Thursday, we took a tour of the Grand Ole Opry House.  That place is a land mark in the South and had just reopened the week prior after being totally refurbished after the May floods.  It is also pretty cool to walk through the same places that so many country music legends have walked.  Afterward, we moved to downtown Nashville for a quick walking tour lead by yours truly.  It is always a great atmosphere there because live music is always being played somewhere.  We closed the day out with some awesome BBQ from Rippy's in downtown Nashville.  I think their ribs give Famous Dave's a run for their money but everybody else disagreed with me.

For Friday, we went to the Donald Pratt Museum on Ft. Campbell.  Even Hilary seemed to enjoy herself there.  The 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) has a  very heralded history and the museum is well put together.  I like to read about military history, so every once in a while it's nice to be able to get a visual story rather then a written written.  After a stop in the gift shop for souvenirs, we moved to the Post Exchange (AKA - a department store) for some more souvenirs.  Hilary finally got the new coffee mug that she's been bothering me about since February when her old one "accidentally" (sure it was...) broke.

Here are a few of the pictures we took.  There are more, but I need to find out who's cell phone they're on so I can add them if they are of good quality.  

Mom and myself in front of one of the gigantic guitars at the Grand Old Opry House

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Sister Hilary and myself in front of the same guitar.

Mom, Dad, and I on the Grand Ole Opry stage.  The circle on the stage is part of the original stage from the Ryman Auditorium (the first home of the Grand Ole Opry)

This will be the last blog from the States.  The next post will be made from Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan.

LATER.