Nashville, TN

As of last night, I expect to be a first-time home owner by October!

There is a TON of new construction on the southside of Nolensville Road between Old Hickory Blvd and Franklin. Their calling it “Cane Ridge”, but if we’re all going to be honest with ourselves, it’s still Antioch. Hopefully though, with all the new developments, this will change the face and reputation of Antioch.

I am very excited about my investment, but still kind of freaking out. I mean, unless you have a gazillion dollars, who DOESN’T freak out over the word ‘mortgage’.

I’m becoming such an adult. Oy-veh.

I have to admit, I am pretty stoked about this news.

Ms. Cheap’s column in yesterday’s Tennesseean revealed the great news that McKay’s Used Books will be opening a store in Nashville later this year.

For those of you unfamiliar with McKay’s, they are a superb used book store that has locations in Knoxville and Chattanooga. McKay’s sells used books, CDs and movies as well as offering trade credit.

I’ve missed McKay’s a lot since I moved away from Knoxville and am ecstatic they are coming to Nashville.

Another Fourth of July come and gone. I didn’t do anything big this year - no cookouts, no traveling, no major family get-togethers. It was just like a bonus Saturday, two days before Saturday. I made M&M pancakes - my specialty, and then laid out at the pool with a friend. Then I took my roommate by a townhouse I am considering buying. I did some light shopping which I decided to call pre-major-life-decision-(buying a house and signing my life away)-shopping. After that happens, I doubt I’ll be doing much ‘dropping by the mall to pick up those $60 shoes I’ve had my eye on.’ But I’m excited about it.

After church, my friends and I walked down one of the Brentwood biking trails that leads to Crockett Park. Crockett Park always gives a pretty decent fireworks show on the Fourth. It’s a nice alternative to fighting the crowds downtown, though I bet the downtown firecrackers are a bit more spectacular. These were very nice though, and I as I sat and watched them go off above me, my mind drifted from thoughts on war and freedom, to my grandfather who fought in WWII, to my dad who served in the air force, and then on to some random thought about life and how blessed I am to be sitting there enjoying this beautiful light show.

And then bugs started biting me and sweat started dripping, and the grass and allergens got into my sinuses, and thus the magic was over.

Part of the marathon of great Titans games from the past yesterday included the Titans appearance in the Super Bowl from 2000.

For those of you who don’t recall (and if you don’t shame on you!), this is the game that ended with Kevin Dyson tackled one yard short of a potential game-tying touchdown and the clock running out.

This morning, the crew on 104.5 the Zone asked an interesting question about that game. So, if you could make a DVD alternate ending for the game, what would you do? Obviously, the Titans score but then what–do you go for the tie and try to win in overtime? Or do you go for the win by going for a two-point conversion?

I will say this–it’s fortuante for the Rams the Titans didn’t score. We’d have tied the game and won in overtime. The Rams were out of gas and the Titans had taken over the game. Sure it was too little, but that’s not the point of this exercise in speculative history.

So, leave your comments and suggestions of how you’d like to have seen the game play out. (Unless you’re a Rams’ fan….cause you got the result you wanted!)

So, to celebrate the 4th of July, 104.5 The Zone has been re-running some great games in Titans’ history.

Today I heard bits and pieces of the playoff game in Baltimore a few years ago, the huge game in New York against the Giants when Steve McNair willed us to win and this year’s game against Indy. The day was capped off with a repeat of the greatest moment in Titans’ history and one of the top three great moments in sports history….the Music City Miracle.

Interestingly, I got into my car just in time to hear the last ten or so minutes of the game. I’ve heard the Mike Keith call of the play itself, but hearing the events leading up to it and hearing Pat say we needed a miracle of some kind to win the game seconds before it happened….it was hard not to be a little bit excited. Then, the famous call and then the discussion of it afterward as we waited for the review.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again–Mike Keith is the best play by play guy in the NFL. He’s a definite homer, but that’s exactly what you want in the guy calling the game. He is all for the Titans and to hear his voice go from resignation at the Bills going down and scoring to the sheer delight and euphoria when the Titans pulled off the greatest play in NFL history is a joy to hear.

I have to admit, I still got a little choked up hearing it…a bit misty-eyed at the play.

I can only hope in the years to come that Vince Young and the Titans will give us all some more plays that are just as memorable–not only for my generation of Titans fans but also for the new generations of Titans fans.

And the re-broadcasts of these games did one more thing–made me miss football that much more.

Seriously, can we just skip to late August and get a REAL sport rolling, please?

How do you describe to someone how or why you love Nashville?

I was talking with a girl I just met who moved here from Arizona just a couple of weeks ago. She loved her previous town and said she really wants to love Nashville, but she’s not sure yet why she should.

I understand these things take time. A city usually has to grow on you. Like a long-time friend, it will have it’s flaws, but you will love them despite their flaws because you know their heart and you have built a history with them.

I tried offering to her some of Nashville’s finer cultural points as reasons she will love this city. But honestly, if felt so shallow. There are so many reasons to love this place, and yet I couldn’t really word it in a meaningful way.

What would you have said?

I know it’s mid-summer and there’s not a lot going on sporting wise, but seriously can we stop devoting every minute of every sport show to the will they stay or will they go question surrounding the Preds?

Don’t get me wrong here–I want the Preds to say. I think losing our NHL franchise would be a major blow for Nashville. Not just for the sports fan but for the business and commerce side of keeping our fair city going.

But it seems to me that every station in town is quick to jump on the gloom and doom bandwagon at every possible story or rumor that comes out. And then they wonder why these potential buyers won’t come on the show and talk. I’d be afraid to come on the airwaves for fear of the bashing I’d take from the hosts or even the callers.

I understand the passionate hockey fans are upset–and they have a right to be. I also think the team is being dismantled in an attempt to make the push to save them ineffective. But what do I know. I’m more of a football fan. That said if the Titans suddenly started cutting all their name players, I’d be more than a bit concerned.

It almost makes me wish Pac-Man would do something stupid so we can hear about him instead of the constant gloom and doom hockey stuff that is on the air waves all the time.

Well, except when WNSR lets on the idiot caller, the Wizard (aka Gator Jay). Talk about a hateful, rude creep who deserves to be banned from the airwaves. He’s one of the many reasons I despise the Florida Gators and their fans. He’s rude, crude and his comments are just insulting to everyone who doesn’t like Florida.

I admit. I’m a tiny bit obsessed with my city.

Sometimes, I’ll be driving down I-65, and I’ll get a little giddy. Not because of where I’m going. Just because of where I am.

Is that weird to anyone? Does this happen to anyone else?

Maybe I’ll start a club. City-Stalkers Anonymous. Or a hotline. 1-800-HRT-NASH.

Is it possible for a city to get a restraining order against a person? Would it be a bit like deportation? Hmm…

If you didn’t or couldn’t live in Nashville, where would you most want to go and why?

I’d kind of like to hit Charleston, myself.

…but not in that domestic-dispute-Cops kind of way…

Happy Fourth!

Can somebody please explain to me why people develop allergies in Tennessee?? What is it?

I am miserable today. I know it’s gonna be a bad allergy day when it starts first thing in the morning. I sneeze so much I am barely able to make it to work on time. Claritin used to be my drug of choice, and now it seems it does little or nothing for me.

Any suggestions? I am dyin’ out here!!!

Yours Truly,
Emily the Red-Nosed Nashvillian

Voting has opened over at the USA Today web site to see which one of 14 Springfields across America will host the world-premiere of The Simpsons Movie (opens in theaters July 27).

Springfield, Tennessee is in the running to host the premiere and I may be biased, but I think out state makes the best case for hosting the movie. One big reason is that we also have a Shelbyville located in relatively proximity to Springfield. If you watch the show, you know about the rivallry between Springfield and Shelbyville.

So, head on over and vote for the Volunteer State to host the movie.