Saturday, April 26, 2008

I'm Tired...

I knew the last part of April would be wild, and it has been. I spent last weekend out at Gaylord Opryland hotel for Mark Lowry's Spring Fling (read the blog here). On Monday I checked out of the hotel, went home and dropped off my bags, then headed for a Christian music showcase downtown (report in my Nashville Blend blog). Tuesday was the GMA Southern Gospel showcase, this year it being the Harmony Honors awards. That's chronicled elsewhere on the web (Google it), so I will skip that report. Realizing my limits, I did not attend the Dove Awards. I had the best seat in the house at home and in front of my computer, where I watched Mark Lowry and Paul Johnson win the Best Inspirational Album award for "I Love To Tell The Story". I was so thrilled for them both. (By the way, if you haven't heard this marvelous conversation with Paul Johnson that I did for my podcast, this would be a good time to do so...he gives a lot of interesting detail on the making of this album.)

I stayed home the rest of the week but saw one or two things happening in town that I would have liked to attend. A person can go insane here in Nashville with all of the possibilities to take in great music and events.

It all starts again next week, and next weekend I'll be at the Middle Tennessee Women's Retreat. I had not originally planned to attend, but mountains were moved so I could be there. I have to believe that God has a message for me at this one.

In the midst of all this, I have a couple of other pieces to write, too. Better get to work.

Thursday, April 10, 2008

My next "project"

So I've been in Nashville one year. It's been well documented how much I love it here. Thus, I have made a decision to "seal the deal" and attempt to do something that years ago I said I'd never do again. Yes--I'm buying a home. But this time, it's going to be a townhome or one-level condo. Some of the tales I can tell on my last homeownership experience with a single family home have turned me away from that forever. I know it's a different, and maybe pricier, ball of wax in the condo world, but renting sort of prepares you for that. (I must say, though, of late, renting has been a very different experience here than when I lived in Minnesota.) So I decided that if I am going to live the way I want to, get up in the morning when I choose to, etc. it's time to buy. Plus, I gotta get out of this traffic pattern.

Now that I've been preapproved, my realtor and I are ready to start looking. I'm excited but at the same time asking myself if I'm ready for all the stress that comes with it all. I guess we'll find out.