Awesome.

So today was an awesome day in Nashville!

First it was the last 1/2 of my conference. The conference was interesting, but I was glad it was done. After our last sessions, we had our keynote speaker. Are you ready for our keynote speaker... Barbara Bush. She was really funny and rather self-effacing. I took a bunch of photos of her on the stage. Hopefully one will turn out. Even cooler, though, at the end we got to take our picture with her in groups of 4. The official photographers for my conference took the shots so my contact will email me the photo in like 2 - 3 weeks. We also received her book from Fidelity which is autographed. However, her Republicanness did not rub off on me. :)

Then I went downtown and wandered around downtown. I took some photos and then caught a bus up to the Parthenon. The Parthenon was AWESOME. I got there about 1/2 hour before it closed (unrelated, every tourist thing in Nashville closes between 4:30 and 5:00 what's that about??) So I went up to the 2nd floor where you could take pictures and there was Pallas Athena. She was amazing. There are no words. She's like 46 or 42' tall. She is all gilded or gilt or whatever the word is for gold plating. I said a little prayer to her... we'll see if she helps a gal out. ;)

I changed my mind about renting a car and am catching a Grayline tour. Upon consideration of the costs it is actually cheaper for me to take the tour to two of the sites I want to do instead of renting a car and trying to fit in 3 sites. (Did I mention how weird it is that all tourist destinations close between 4:30 and 5?) (Yes, Michelle, I totally don't drive anymore. I know.)