The day I had Anderson Cooper word vomit...

Sometimes the Lord works in mysterious ways.  I've talked a lot in the past about moving to Nashville and I was ready to do it.  I had looked up jobs, apartments everything.  And then this last week happened.  I was discussing with my Mom and sisters how grateful I was that I didn't live there right now.  And maybe not for the reasons you would think.  I would be very upset if I lost my home or belongings but I could handle it. 
The truth of the matter is I would be a filthy hot mess if I was stuck in a flood.  I can barely swim and I would have no idea what to do.  I can just imagine myself sitting on the roof of my house with water all around me.  I would look something like this

(Although I would probably have my shirt on.  Or I might not...depends on the day)

Then of course like flies to mud....would come my knight in shining armour...

Anderson Cooper

And he would paddle by me looking sexy with his perfectly coiffed hair in his canoe and I would be like...

"Anderson!  I didn't want you to have to see me like this!"

And he would be all...

And I'd get in the canoe and he'd probably give me his shirt (because to him chivalry is never dead) and I'd try to hit on him a little bit and be like "Do you come here often? or "What are you drinking?" or perhaps the more geologically appropriate "Are you from Tennessee because you're the only ten I see".

And he'd be like...

Eventually my charm, wit, and beauty would captivate him and then (after I'd taken a shower and mysteriously lost the shirt that he lent me) we'd get dressed up all fancy and have dinner.  Perhaps with Elmo.

And I'd say "Oh Anderson you're such a card!" and we'd be in love.

I'm just saying...that is one possible scenario.  

In all seriousness Nashville is in need of any help people can offer.  Considering this is how Nashville looked a week ago

and this is it now.

Keep them in your prayers.

Signing off,

Vanessa Cooper...wait..what?

I'd just like to point out that: FEMA is not there, the President is not there.  No one is there but themselves.  These people and their neighbors.  Trying to save memories.  Trying to save homes.  Trying to save each other.
And I haven't heard a single person say that the government is racist for not helping them immediately.

But they are family.  And they help each other.  Because that is the kind of people they are.

And why I felt at home there.

Nashville madness

I'm sure everyone has heard of the severe flooding that has happened in Nashville.  This picture made me want to cry.  As someone who respects and loves history of things so much...it broke my heart.  Hopefully we can keep all of these people who are without homes and have lost loved ones in our prayers.  What a terribly sad and crazy year so far.  And it's only May.

Heart Like Memphis

She's got a smile like California

She's got a spirit like New Orleans
Eyes like the lights of New York City
Cool as a Carolina breeze
but underneath
She's got a heart like Memphis

These are lyrics to a new favorite song of mine...maybe because I recently discovered that I too indeed have a heart like Memphis. Last weekend Rhiannon and I took an impromptu road trip down to Memphis and then proceeded to go on up to Nashville.
Here are some things I learned on the road...

1. I do not like road trips on the day after I have just worked a 14 hour shift
2. Gas station bathrooms? Yeah maybe we shouldn't
3. If you drink Sugar Free Red Bull on an empty stomach...you will feel like you want to vomit
4. DO NOT under any circumstances stop at a small gas station in Arkansas....you may in fact be kidnapped.
5. Missouri is pretty much a boring landscape (as are Illinois and most of Arkansas)

Day 1

Once we actually got to Memphis it was a total blast. We first went to Graceland
which was just so amazing.
After Graceland we went down to the legendary Beale St. which is probably the most amazing street on Earth.
We were both completely exhausted at this point. I hadn't slept in over 24 hours and Rhi hadn't had much more sleep than me so we decided to just drive on up to our hotel in Nashville.
I have never been more excited to see a hotel room in my life. We immediately changed into comfies and collapsed on the bed before deciding that we were both pretty much starving. We discovered this amazing Italian restaurant. They deliver but we decided to make the trip to pick it up and I'm so glad we did. It is this little eatery called "Ceasar's Italiano" and it's kind of tucked away in this little corner. When we got there there was a lot of commotion going on and we discovered a whole group of young boys who were playing a rousing game of sidewalk football outside the resturaunt area. When we went inside one of the workers (or maybe co-owners?) told us about a back door so that we could avoid the commotion out front. She said "I don't care if they do it as long as they don't break my neon sign again"
It was just so neat...it made me feel like I was in one of those places where everyone knows everyone and you can let your kids wander and know someone is watching them etc...
So if you are ever in Nashville you MUST go to that place because the food was all homemade and so yummy!!
After that I pretty much collapsed and fell into a coma.

Day 2

The next morning was Country Music Hall of Fame day! That was such a cool place. Nashville in itself is a pretty cool place. I love music and I love country music and to see the place where so much of it started was just so amazing to me. We also went to the Parthenon. It's a life size replica of the original Parthenon in Greece including a 50 ft. replica of the statue "Athena" just like the one in the original before it was destroyed by the Romans. It was so cool!
We also went to an Aussie Footy game (Austrailian football) that Rhi's friend Joe was playing in.
We went back to the hotel after that so the guys could get cleaned up. We ended up in the middle of like 4 tornados that were passing in the area. Not so fun.
That night I started getting a really bad headache so I stayed home while Rhi went out with the guys. I ended up watching a 4 hour marathon of "Dog the Bounty Hunter" which is probably one of the greatest shows on earth. Right around midnight I started throwing up. Not so fun.
Sunday we got up and got on the road because I had to work a 12 hour shift that night.
Needless to say I was SO tired. But it was all worth it. Nashville/Memphis are both amazing places and I hope to be able to go back when I have more time/money to explore and see. I highly recommend it to anyone!
There is another song that Marc Cohn sang called "Walking in Memphis" that I now get chills whenever I hear just because I've seen all those places he talks about and it's just so cool.
Anyway....I think I've almost recouperated although I now have a killer cold. Oh well...it was worth it!
P.S. There are a TON more pictures on my Facebook so you can check them out!