Happy Nashville Anniversary!!

TOP TEN LIST OF NASHVILLE MOMENTS FROM THE LAST 365 DAYS...


10. THE ONE WITH THE ROPE-SWING

One summer day some friends and I decided to have a pool day. Unfortunately, the pool we usually trespassed at was locked and we were unable to get inside without a key. So we sojourned to the Harpeth River where someone knew of a rope-swing.

We shared the swing with some crazy high school hoodlums, almost got bitten by a huge water mocassin... but this, frends, was the highlight of the day. My poor roommate, Caroline, could not get a good grip on the rope and even after 3 attempts continued to bellyflop into the river.


(you have to watch sideways.. sorry)





It was a good day.

9. THE ONE WITH THE BLASTED CANOE

Hanging out again on the Harpeth! This time canoeing with Rachel and my best friend, Jen, who came in town for the week. It was the end of the summer and the river was extremely low so we spent the majority of the adventure walking our canoe down the river. It was unbelievably frustrating but still a great memory (not to mention the awkward, crying young adult in the kayak with her friend who kept yelling at her and leaving her behind... Lord bless 'em)

"Just around the river bend!", "Majesty!! Kingdom Authority!!!" and "Where is the freaking bridge!?!" were the memorable quotes of this day.





8. THE ONE(S) ON THE PORCH

The porch at the Villa House is probably one of the best in the city. A couch, christmas lights, a fire pit, music... I cant pick out just one favorite memory so here's a few that will forever stand out in my mind...
- Post-run cool-downs, discussing how much we suck at running and never want to do it again...
- Adam grilling his famously delicious burgers
- Cold winter nights with fires
- Watching HIMYM until 4 am while it poured down rain
- Breakfast on the porch (minus tofu sausage)
- Talking for hours about anything and everything





7. THE ONE WHEN THE LONGHORNS LOST

Texas Tech versus the undefeated Texas Longhorns. Homemade Chili, Chips, and a whole lotta Texas Spirit... we were ready to watch the Longhorns slaughter the Red Raiders. Texas played a pitifully poor game until rallying from a 19-0 deficit in the first half and a 29-13 in the third quarter to lead 33-32 with only 1:29 to left to play.

At this time I was standing on my couch jumping, everyone was yelling...it was intense.

Texas left Tech with too much time on the clock and stupid Graham Harrell drove 62 yards to score a TD. Oh and all the ridiculous Tech fans decide to rush the field before the game was over...good call, guys.

This was probably the biggest let down of the year.. but another great memory.


6. THE ONE WITH PEPE LOPEZ

Josiah, Mark and I thought it might be cool to have our friend, Pepe Lopez over for a movie. Then we all hung out on the porch (see #8). He's a pretty cool guy I guess... but not as fun by himself. I dont think he'll ever be back over.

Sorry.. no pics for this one.

5. THE ONE WITH THE TATTOO

Emily came to visit and we both had been contemplating the idea of getting tattoos. So we did. Props to Billy Joe's on Broadway...


It says majesty written in Greek... artistic emphasis on the alpha and omega characters...

4. THE ONE WITH THE ROOMMATES

Decorating the tree for Christmas, Vaulx House Family Band, Try to kill/Screaming/Running from the Monster Bug in the Entry way, Movie Nights, Perching in the Kitchen... lots of fun memories in the Vaulx house.






3. THE ONE WITH THE KIDDIE POOL ON THE PORCH

My roommate Sara and I purchased a blow-up kiddie pool at Walmart. Around 2 am, Josiah, Tim and I decided it might be fun to have a pool party on the porch of the Villa House (see #8). It took at least an hour to blow up the pool... and Josiah had the brilliant idea of runnin the water hose from the kitchen sink faucet through the house and out into the pool.

Finally, it was all ready to go. So we sat in it... for maybe 30 min until the water got cold. Then got out. It was fun.



I wish I had a picture of us enjoying the "Blue Paradise Lagoon Kiddie Pool" ($24.96 at Walmart)... but I dont. So here's a pic of these kids enjoying this one instead..

2. THE ONE WHERE WE ORDER AND LEAVE

Making decisions, especially about food, is one of life's most challenging moments for us. Sometimes (more than once, believe it or not), we have taken an hour or more to decide what to eat, gone there, sat down, ordered four waters, decided not to eat there, tipped the waiter, got up and left...then we usually just go to Qdoba, Fat Mo's or just get Club Chili's ToGo.







1. THE ONE WITH BLUE HANDS

Rachel and Amber enter the Villa House and are immediately called on for medical advice and consultation. Blaine twisted his leg while running after Mark in a restaurant, and by the time he had returned home, his leg was throbbing and his hands had turned blue. We assessed the situation and, although the facts did not all line up, we sent Blaine to the Emergency Room for further evaluation. We receive a call not longer thereafter. The boys, looking for the Vanderbilt ER (located less than a mile from their home), are pulled over by the Vandy PoPo. Their story is believable enough to avoid a citation and they continue their search.

5 minutes later, we receive another phone call. On the other end is Blaine laughing hysterically. They found what they thought was the E.R. and went to check in. 20 year old, Blaine Tanner Reedy, reports to the admitting desk where the lady, obviously confused, asked him, "Sir, are you a veteran?" Yep... the found they E.R-at the Veterans Hospital...

Back in the car, the have one more run-in with the police before finally arriving at the Vanderbilt Emergency room. Blaine's leg is checked out briefly and the nurse looked at his hands, pondering what might have turned them this odd, grayish shade of blue. She asks Blaine to go wash his hands. He does. Still blue. He returns.

"No, go back and really scrub those hands good" she says.

He complies and there at that sink the mystery was finally solved. You see, Blaine's jeans were new and after hurting his leg, he began to rub it, transferring the indigo from the jeans to his hands. Unfortunately, the shade of blue was more of a bluish gray and the coolness of his hands gave them the similar appearance to those of a deceased person.

Needless to say, we have never lived down the fact that we completely misdiagnosed our friend. Sorry Blaine.


So many amazing memories to choose from! My life over the past year has been such an unbelievable blessing. Here's to another year of life and laughter... I love you guys.