Life in Tennessee – Page 3

Reflections from the Street Corner (It’s Not What You Think)

I have a job! I decided to join the ranks of the employed, and found part-time work as a marketer for the local franchise of a national income tax firm (think H&R Block). While on the job, I occasionally canvas local neighborhoods and business with pamphlets and other leave-behinds, but mostly I am a costumed “waver” who stands at the street corner, holding signs and waving at passersby whilst dancing a jig or shaking my booty. The goal is to get people to smile, honk, or wave back (and maybe visit our shop to have their taxes done). Here is a pic of Yours Truly in company colors. How do I look?

Continue reading “Reflections from the Street Corner (It’s Not What You Think)”

The Great Tennessee Snowpocalypse of 2015

Greetings from Tennessee, Loyal Reader…where I’m snowed in!

The same weather system that is making its way towards New England, where Bostonians fear it may drop another 18 inches of snow, tore through Southern Kentucky and Eastern Tennessee late yesterday. We only received a few inches, but it was preceded by sleet and freezing rain.

A proper ice storm brought down power lines in my neighborhood twice last night, for five hours altogether. The power was restored after the first outage just in time for the evening news, during which the anchors reported that an estimated 40,000 people were without power. Governor Haslam had already proclaimed the state a federal disaster area when the broadcast began at 11 p.m. Just two hours later, the power went out again.

Continue reading “The Great Tennessee Snowpocalypse of 2015”

Finding Bush in Tennessee (It’s Not What You Think)

Tennessee continues to surprise me. I will go several weeks lamenting about the fact that there are no bars, Indian restaurants, or art house cinemas where I live…but then I’ll read about a scenic hiking trail close to home, or drive through a picturesque Civil War-era town, or stumble upon a surprising museum, and feel invigorated again.

It is this last discovery about which I want to write a few paragraphs today.

The Bush Beans Museum and Visitor Center

A few years ago, my parents toured the Bush Visitor Center in Chestnut Hill, TN. I remember their enthusiastic review of the experience, particularly their raves about the on-site restaurant. They suggested a return visit one day last week, and if I wasn’t as excited as they were about the prospect of touring a plant that is most famous for its production of baked beans, I nonetheless agreed to tag along.

Continue reading “Finding Bush in Tennessee (It’s Not What You Think)”

My (Not Quite) Coast-to-Coast Trip Report

I have been living in Gringolandia for a month now, and the Mexico City chapter of my life is over. This reality only fully set in a few days ago, and I’m filled with mixed emotions. Alas, it is what it is.

My return to the U.S. began in Los Angeles, where I spent a few days running errands – monetary and such – and catching up with friends I hadn’t seen in almost two years. I even made it to the beach! From LA, I cleaned out my storage space, loaded everything onto a U-Haul, and drove cross-country to my new home in eastern Tennessee.

The journey went without incident, but it had some logistical challenges and cost more than I expected. As such, I thought you’d appreciate a brief write-up, Loyal Reader. Hopefully it’ll provide some insight should you ever have to make a similar move yourself.

Continue reading “My (Not Quite) Coast-to-Coast Trip Report”