Christmas vacation … Nashville

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First of all I would like to thank those few readers who enjoy my blogs, and understand in many ways they are just a personal journal with photos that becomes available to the public.  I have had a few popular blogs in the past, but my readership is normally from 30-250 people per blog.  In any case, thank you to those faithful readers.  Please give me encouragement to continue along this path.

Nashville Tennessee

The second leg of our Christmas vacation was in the Nashville Tennessee area.  After having a really great time in Savannah I doubled we could ever TOP the moments we had there.

Baby it’s cold outside. How about 3 degrees before wind chill factor?

Rockvale Tennessee

We were invited to stay at my sisters house in Rockvale Tennessee just about 30 minutes South East of Nashville.  We stayed there for 2 nights.

My sister…. Tina Cranfield

Let me introduce you to my sister Tina Canfield, winner of the Parson’s School of Design Thimble award. Well, if you know Tom you can imagine a girl version of Tom.  Full of talent, and even self proclaimed OCD.  To listen to her talk made me wonder if it was me talking.  Tina had a very successful career as a Fashion Designer with her own line: Tina Hagen.  She was highly acclaimed as one of the best women’s fashion designers of her time, having worked for Calvin Klein, Ann Taylor and finally out on her own line… Tina Hagen.  Well that was then this is NOW.  Tina is now a very capable and successful interior designer in the Nashville Area.  With her artistic and fashion flair along with a regimented and educated skill in interior design, she has built quite a little niche.  Good for you Tina.

Christmas Eve with the famous

We had many wonderful meals and moments with Tina and her husband Bob (the retired Emergency Room doctor.). Christmas Eve we spent at one of her friends (Doreen) house whom I met nearly 30+ years ago.  We had a great evening at her friends house and got to meet and party with Patrick Cassidy, the brother of David Cassidy from the Partridge Family.  Right before we left he banged out a few songs on the piano. All I can say is WOW. Mother Shirley Jones must be very proud.

Patrick William Cassidy (born January 4, 1962) is an American actor and singer best known for his roles in musical theatre and television.[1]

He was born in Los Angeles, California, the son of Shirley Jones and Jack Cassidy. Jones was pregnant with Patrick while filming The Music Man; Patrick even kicked his mother's co-star Robert Preston in one scene when they were embracing.[2]

His brothers are Ryan Cassidy and Shaun Cassidy, and his half-brother was David Cassidy.[3] He is also the uncle of Arrow star Katie Cassidy.

Patrick Cassidy

It’s that Mormon Virgin thing…

We had a hoot talking about Mormonism and the days he played basketball at the Mormon church and observed how rough the guys were.  Said he thought it was because they were all sexually frustrated because they were all still wearing their chastity belt waiting for their future temple marriage as a virgin.  I wish I could have spent some more time with him.  We did seem to hit it off.  Patrick has also had a very successful career on broadway and music as well.  Darn, and he is also better looking than ME.  Oh well, maybe I can beat him in Tennis.  6-0, 6-0.  Game, set, match goes to Mr Tom Schmuki.

Christmas Morning at Tina and Bob’s

Christmas day, Quack Quack

We spent Christmas morning with Tina and Bob and had a wonderful Christmas dinner with roast DUCK.  I had a vision…… BANG, SPALSH, WOOF WOOF, “get the bird”, “thanks Fido”, “break his neck and put him in the bag…”. Yummy the duck tastes even better now.  A very fatty bird, but BOB had has ways of getting rid of most of the fat.  Thanks again Bob and Tina. Bob, did you have to pluck the feathers off that duck from Tennessee?

Quack Quack, how about roasted Duck by Chef Bob?

Christmas Day after dinner we headed out to spend a few nights in Nashville.  Only about a 30 minute drive from my sister Tina’s house. Last time we were in Nashville we were called home right as we had arrived because my father was dying and we had to get home.

Off to Nashville where country stars are made

We stayed in a hotel called The Dream Hotel, just a few blocks from the heart of Nashville. Nashville, great music, great fun, but the food, not nearly to the level we had experienced in Savannah Georgia.

The homeless of Nashville

I was surprised and anguished by all the homeless people in Nashville, living and sleeping in the streets with the weather below 0.  I saw one man sleeping on top of an air vent coming out of the sidewalk with a little extra heat. I was very happy to see many passers by offering the homeless help with food and loving thoughts during the holidays.

Baby its cold outside

We left sunny south Florida with anticipation of cold weather, sweaters, boots, snowfall and fireplaces.  All of this came true.  I had forgotten how cold 3 degrees felt with a wind chill factor much below that number.  I had heard that South Florida may have had a small snow storm of their own during Christmas.  I “sort of” felt sorry for the poor souls who vacationed there hoping for 80 degrees, bikinis, and surfing in South Florida.  The snow fall was beautiful while we were in the heart of Nashville. I had to leave the bar to go out and get a short video to share.

Country Music Hall of Fame

Probably the best part of our visit to Nashville was at the Country Music Hall of Fame.  All I can say is you have to experience it to understand it.  The connection and history between country music and rock and roll was much closer than I had ever imagined.

Country Music Hall of Fame. Tom…,. Not so famous

Can I have a TIP Please?

I cannot end this blog without mentioning our experiences regarding tipping and added charges at the restaurants in Nashville. Anyone who follows our travels and entertainment knows we go out a lot to dinner.  We have watched the cost of our restaurant meals rise in the last two years by as much as 35 percent or more.  Everyone blames this on COVID.

Here are a few ways the Nashville establishments add to their profit line after raising food prices by 30+ percent.  One restaurant added a TIP line on the bill to tip the kitchen staff in addition to the waitress or waiter tip.  They noted they would double any tip added to the kitchen staff.

We were surprised to see our last restaurant bill with a CASH bill and a CARD bill 4-5% higher than cash. I thought I was getting gas for my car and decided to pay by card.  The waiter noted he did not know any other restaurant in town that was doing this. I’ll take premium please and FILL HER UP!


Tip Bucket

Now to the bars of Nashville, each with live bands entertaining the guests.  After each set of music (less than 1 hour), the band members would walk around with a tip bucket to each table asking for “ALMS for the POOR”.  I thought I had walked in a strip joint with a pole dancer asking for her dues.  Don’t get me wrong, I almost always TIP the band on my own being a musician during my college days.

I have decided when I photograph a fashion show, I will have Alice walk around with a tip bucket.  “Alms for the poor starving photographer who does all these shoots for free!” “Hello Mr Photographer, can you please send me a copy of all the photos you took of me?” No TIP bucket allowed

A few TIPS from TOM

I have a tip for you my blog readers….. “BUY LOW, SELL HIGH…”  if you don’t like that one here its another: “If you liked it at 50, you will love at at 25…”  “Don’t get sore, buy some more,..”  There you have been Schmuki TIPPED.  Yes I worked on Wall Street! I had a million of these.

Off to the last leg of our Christmas vacation journey — Charleston South Carolina