This is a two part blog on the subject of VEGETABLES… very inspiring, I’m sure!?!?

#1 – I was struck this morning sitting at my favorite Meat&3 in Franklin, TN – Puckett’s Grocery, at their new fancy shmancy electronic menus on the wall.  If you are not from the south, let me explain.  A Meat & 3 is a restaurant that basically features a few kinds of meats and a few kinds of vegetables.  You pick a meat and 3 vegetables for your meal…hence the name – Meat & 3.   Puckett’s is kind of a higher class of meat and three.  They feature a few special meats every day and a ‘vegetable’ of the day.  Of course, they also have top sirloins, blackened salmon, and grilled chicken salads.. but the fancy sign lists their meats for the day and vegetable.  Why is this newsworthy?  Well… the board says this today…

SOUP – Loaded Potato

MEAT – Pulled Pork, Country Smoked Ribs, and Chicken N’ Dressing

DESSERTS – Bread Pudding, Peanut Butter Cheesecake, Key Lime Pie

VEGETABLES – Macaroni & Cheese

That’s right people.. only in the south does ‘macaroni and cheese’ count as a vegetable.  Not a side item – not a starch – not a kid’s meal – but a VEGETABLE!  And we wonder why there is an obesity problem in the country. 

But here I sit… just finishing my healthy Meat & 3 breakfast…

Country Ham, Eggs, Fried Potatoes, and Biscuit and Gravy!  My meat and three ‘vegetables’.  Gotta love it!!!

If ever in the Nashville area… gotta visit Puckett’s Grocery in downtown Franklin, TN – just south of downtown Music City… great place!

#2  My youngest daughter, Quinli, is a vegetable.  Fortunately, not in the tragic medical sense but rather in the hugely popular, oh-so-cool Veggie Tales sense of the work.  That’s right… our family has finally made it to the national stage and our little Chineses Princess, Quinli, is a star.  Check her out in the new Veggie Tale Valentines Video – ‘SILLY LITTLE THING CALLED LOVE’  – she is a little black haired veggie sitting at the table drawing.  She mentions something about love being helping to clean the house when company is coming over.  If you get it, you can see her live in the “meet the veggie kids” section.  We are so proud!  Really… a Nason in the Veggie Tale world…watch out Oscars!

Much love,

Wally

Well…my Tuesday nights are taken again… so much talent, so little time.

I host a songwriting competition in downtown Franklin, TN on Tuesday nights.  It’s really a lot of fun. We do 7 weeks of preliminary rounds where songwriters come to share one song…usually just them and a guitar/piano.  I bring in some industry folks who pick their favorite tune of the night and then the audience gets to vote on one.  After seven weeks of prelims, we bring those 14 writers back to share 2 songs.  Again, judges pick their top 3 writers and the audience gets to pick one.  Then, on the last week, we bring those 4 hit makers back and pick a grand prize winner… they get $500 and are invited to play a round on a Friday or Saturday night with some big time established writers.  It’s really a lot of fun and I get to work with some super talented people.  I love the good ones, love the bad ones, and love their stories.  You can check out the Puckett’ website… (also…the best food in the county is at Puckett’s)… www.PuckettsGrocery.com

Then, of course, is American Idol.  I am not ashamed to say that my family doesn’t miss an episode.  What I am ashamed to admit is that while I am at Puckett’s on Tuesdays, my family tapes it for me…that’s right, I said it – they TAPE it – on a good ol’ fashioned VHS tape.  We don’t have TIVO or any other super device… just a good ol’ VCR.  Anyway… we love it!  Love the good ones, love the bad ones, and I love their stories.  OH..and the judges.   ESPECIALLY SIMON!  As a general rule…I agree with him.  And really just want to be him when I grow up.

Well this week… I caught a show on Public Television I hadn’t seen before.  After AI, I was flicking through the channels and came across a documentary on the Metropolitan Opera Company’s competition for new, up-and-coming opera singers.  It was fascinating.  Just a side note.. I love Opera-studied it for several years while earning my Master’s degree at the University of Arizona.  These young (22-30 yr old) singers were tremendous.  It was so funny to watch… I loved the good ones, loved the bad ones, and I loved their stories.  (OK>>there weren’t really any bad ones… just less great) But it was the same as AI and Puckett’s… same stories, same personalities, same struggles, same insecurities…etc.!  Some were really nice and others, not so much.  Some talked non stop while others didn’t say a word.  Some had studied their whole life and others where just getting back into it after years of life got in the way.  I was shocked….

Artists are Artists… no matter the genre.  Country songwriters at a grocery store in Franklin, super pop wanna be idols at an arena in Chicago, or French speaking, high ‘C’ singing, vocal divas in New York City – they are all the same!
What a great week of talent… I love Tuesdays…

Now… if you want to read a super cool article… do a google search for Simon Cowell’s 50th birthday letter to himself.

It was awesome… Simon wrote a letter to younger Simon… he talked about failures and insecurities and bad times and good times and things that are really important.. loved this letter…

Did I mention… I really want to be him when I grow up?  Have a great week!

Wally

I love Las Vegas… OK…there… I said it… I really do. Why? Lots of reasons… The food is world class! Mon Ami Gabi was a cool new place I tried out on my trip there last week. Great place in the Paris. French steak and fries! Sitting outside on the patio (67 degrees in December) overlooking the Bellagio Fountains – Wow! It was great. And then there was the $5.99 Top Sirloin and Eggs Breakfast at Bill’s Casino… not exactly world class but really wonderful and cheap!

I also like the poker… won’t lie, I like it a lot. I love poker. I love the slow speed of the game. My life is very busy with work and church and softball and baseball and student council and gymnastics, etc.. When I’m playing poker…all of that slows down. Poker is a game of playing people…not cards. Sure, there are cards – but the people are what makes it interesting. Are the other players new? Seasoned pros? Aggressive? Tired? European? Redneck? Businessman? Rich? So many options that all play into how I play. It’s fascinating really! If you’ve never played – send me a plane ticket to Vegas and meet me there with a few bucks – I’ll teach you!

Then there are the spas. A great massage and 30,000 square feet of hot tubs, cold plunges, steam rooms, dry saunas, fresh fruit, exotic teas and NO CELL PHONES! A shout out to the Caesar’s Palace spa – QUA! It is so relaxing and one of my favorite places.

The music. Live music is everywhere. We actually saw Gloriana on the streets Wednesday night. They just won the American Music Award for Breakout Artist of the Year and they are playing a free concert in downtown Vegas. And they are great!!! Great singers and performers! Congrats!

Also… Vegas is 24 hours! Enough said!

I was there for a convention… work… and I worked hard in the midst of the fun. The International Association of Fairs and Expos. Decision makers in the State Fair, County Fair, and every possible festival (strawberry, popcorn, etc.) world were there. They learn about new ticket procedures, parking lot flags, ice cream booths, and entertainment. That’s why I was there. I work with a country artist, Chris Filer, and we were there meeting entertainment buyers. Very successful trip! You can check out Chris and get a FREE DOWNLOAD on his site… www.ChrisFilerMusic.com

But we had competition… let’s just talk about the type of folks who do fairs for a living… blond woman in bikini on stilts – giant talking robot – woman who is chained in a pool of water and escapes – Mexican wrestling – guy with monkey in diaper (the monkey, not the guy) – jugglers – and of course, Elvis!
And in all areas… some are better than others! Just sayin’….

Anyway… had a lot of fun. Made a lot of great contacts. And after 4 days there… I was ready for pre-school and basketball again!

Thank you, thank you very much!
Wally

(Brad Arnold and Charlie Daniels Jammin’ out!)(Phil Vassar – or is that an angel)
It’s nice when people do nice things… Monday night I went to a fund raising concert at the world famous Ryman Auditorium… really a great place. Everybody who is anybody in country music has played there and everybody still wants to. It was the original home of the Grand Ol’ Opry and still has the kind of atmoshphere that makes you feel like you are a part of something special. I drove to downtown Nashville – pulled into a parking garage that I had never been in before – paid the attendant $6 and asked if he had a close place to park – “I was in a hurry” – he said yes, moved an orange cone, and there I was…first space by the entrance!!! That was nice!

Christmas for Kids is an organization in Nashville that provides clothing, food, toys, etc. for over 400 local children at Christmas. They do this concert as well as a really cool event where all the busses for all the super stars in Nashille meet at a big parking lot and for a small fee you can tour them. Then the busses do a convoy sort of thing to a local Walmart and all the kids get to go shopping… it’s really a cool organization. My friend, Ken, runs a bus company – is a huge supporter of the organization – and got free tickets to the concert… and I got to go. So did my friend, Mike Bell of HobNobNashville… Thanks Ken…that was nice!

Concert started with Chris Young… he has a huge single right now.. Gettin’ You Home (The Black dress song). Gotta tell you… as a performer, he was kind of boring… but he did donate his time and sang his hugely popular tune. A local radio personality came out on stage with a black dress. The bottom half fell off to reveal him in boxers.. and the place roared with laughter… thanks for your time guys… nice!

Then came Gretchen Wilson – OK.. I know her music and reputation… not the kind of good girl I’m used to hanging with (nod to my wife, Lori) and I wasn’t sure if I would like her or just be offended all night. Well… Gretchen- You have a new fan! She was great!! She can flat out saaannggg!!! not an off note all night. Very genuine, very fun, very surprising but I loved her! Besides the obvious best moment – Red Neck Woman! she did a Christmas song.. I’m sure this tune is one of your favorites – you know, the one you play over and over and over again… the one you hum when you go to see Santa at the mall and buy that perfect gift for your loved one! That wonderful Christmas standard – “I want a hippopotamus for Christmas.” She invited her young daughter and several of her young friends and it was a super success. By the way, you can download the tune on ITunes now… Gretchen was great! Thanks for donating your time… that was nice!

Then came Phil Vassar… holy stinking cow! He was tremendous… great voice, great performer, great piano player.. super nice guy (at least on stage, didn’t meet him) and lots of fun. I really enjoyed his set.

Then the concert closed with Charlie Daniels and friends. He had a group called the Grascals come out and do a song and a very special guest – Brad Arnold – drummer/lead singer for the huge rock group Three Doors Down! It is so cool when rock and roll meets redneck… (see my previous Kid Rock post) Charlie is incredible… a legend… and a super great perfomer. And then to have Brad join him was really a rare treat. Brad sang a good ol’ redneck song from the south and then the concert closed with Brad and Charlie doing the Devil Went Down To Georgia…. Wow!!! What a great night.. thanks to all the organizers and artists who donated your time and talents… that was nice!!!

OH… and one last thing… sometimes be careful what you wish for this holiday season! My car… in the close spot…you know, by the entrance because i was in a hurry… It sat there all night… because the garage closed at 11:00 – oops… missed that sign…. we went to eat after the concert and didn’t make it back until 11:24 – fortunately we have cell phones.. Ken came and got me and took me home… Mike drove me back downtown the next morning to get my car…. thanks guys! That was nice!!!

Happy Turkey Day!!!

Wally

November 14, 2009

SORRY I HAVEN’T WRITTEN IN A COUPLE WEEKS – MY BAD – WON’T HAPPEN AGAIN – EXPECT SOMETHING NEW EVERY WEDNESDAY!!!

Fun week here in Music City USA… in case you don’t know, Nashville is the Country Music Capital of the World.  And this week is just one of the weeks that prove it.  The super popular CMA (Country Music Assoc.) awards were this week.  I had a great time… here was my evening… didn’t actually go to the awards but had a lot of fun!

Drove to downtown Nashville – started at The Standard – great old house downtown that has been converted to a restaurant with a private club on the top two floors.  Senators, judges, executives, business owners, etc. are members.  There is a hefty fee for belonging to this very exclusive club where the maitre de knows you by name and the bartender knows you by drink… You need a code to get through the door but the atmosphere is very friendly – Northern sophistication meets good ‘ol southern hospitality. Why was I there, you ask?  I have friends.  Josh Smith, the owner, is a friend and great guy.  And I have brought him members. So I get to take advantage of the club at times – between baseball, softball, gymnastics, and basketball games and practices – that is.

So on this night I was with my buddy, Mike Bell, president of HobNobNashville – an online resource for everything going on in Nashville – he is a member of the The Standard…

Anyway… we stopped by there – arguably the nicest place in TN… Then we walked over to the Sommet Center – Nashville’s downtown arena and host of the awards. Mike used to work for the Sherriff’s Dept.  – so he knows a bunch of security guards and officers – thought we’d say hey to some of his buddies. Behind the arena were red carpets, tents, trailers, and lots of wires for lights, cameras, and all-day action. So.. we walked around the first corner to the back of the venue and before we saw anyone Mike knew, we ran into Kid Rock…literally… came around the corner talking and nearly ran him over… he had come out the back of the building with an entourage of folks who quickly wisked him away into a golf cart and off to who knows where. So the evening begins…

While The Standard is probably the nicest establishment in TN – when downtown, I like to eat at Paradise Park, one of the many hole-in-the-wall dumps in Nashville serving great food – we sat in the front of the restaraunt – right on Broadway, and ate the best club sandwiches on the planet with styro cups full of diet coke and sides of homemade greasy fries.  We watched the first half of the CMA awards (200 yards from where they were actually taking place) on the small TV with about 12 other people while listening to some female vocalist wail on covers of Carrie Underwood, Wynonna, Taylor Swift, etc. with the band in the bar next door. We finished up the food, wiped our mouths, and then headed back to The Standard.

We finished watching Taylor Swift kick some country music bootie, listened to Martina sing a Barbara Mandrell song better then Barbara herself, marveled at how Barbara looks exactly like she did in 1985 (good clean living or medical intervention?), and agreed we all wanted to be Darius Rucker when we grow up. It was all over but the drinking!

So, we left the Standard and walked over the the convention center for the CMA after party. WOW! More food than you have ever seen. Mounds of big peeled shrimp – my favorite! Sushi, hummus, lamb, chocolate, shrimp, bread, free booze, shrimp, and lots of really dressed up people who love country music! It was really wonderful. And so was the music. They had a house band who seemed to know every song on the planet. They had several guests come up and sing – Joe Nichols, Trent Tomlison, and others. We acted like we owned the place and went and stood backstage by the mix engineer. Nobody asked us to leave, so we stayed! Joe was super nice and Trent told me how he was just sitting at home watching the awards when his manager called and said ‘ hey, come on over and sing a couple songs’ and he did. Great guy. He is married with a 22 month old. He spoke highly of his wife and talked about how much he missed her and his daughter when out on the road. “Sucks to miss Halloween for a radio visit in Seattle…but “It’s what I do!” Enjoyed them both a ton.

Josh sent us a text saying a bunch of members were going to this dance club called MAI… said to meet him back at Paradise Park and a limo would pick us up. And so we did. Took a limo to this warehouse type place with guys hired to do the coolest “hip-hop, I’m a robot, watch me spin on my head” dancers you have ever seen. Very young, hip, cool crowd. Glad I was with a bunch of people I knew ’cause this crowd was not my scene. Not that I didn’t really like the place…I really did… but I honestly don’t think I’ve been that cool in a couple decades. Met and chatted with Tye Hernden (county artist) and Diana DeGarmo (American Idol 1st runner up) … nice people as well. OK..so now, it’s 2:15 am… yes, that’s right, I’m out until 2:15… but the fun is just starting.

Josh said to load up…we were going to The Spot – John Rich’s (from Big and Rich) private club. A couple guys in our ‘oh so cool’ entourage are members and can bring friends… so we did. This is the desired place to be on the Broadway strip. Doorman. Private entrances. Great band playing. And stars. So we hung out there for a couple hours and our evening ended (or morning started) with Kid Rock! Again. When we first arrived, Kid Rock was in an intense conversation (possible argument) with another famous guy whose name I can’t divulge…top secret country music stuff.. you know. So we waited. I can’t say I’m an enormous fan and I don’t consider him a role model for my three young children, but it is Kid Rock for goodness sake! Eventually he finished up that engagement and Mike and I cornered him at the bar. He could not have been nicer. He was with a beautiful girl and was very polite. Another guy sitting at the bar (a possible intruder into OUR conversation) asked him if he ever got tired of the cameras, autographs, surface conversations, etc. Mr. Rock said that he had actually had a conversation earlier this evening a guy who had recently lost his job in Detroit – real life stuff. He said that that happens more than you might think but a lot of his time out in public is spent with the other stuff… but he said “I signed up for that. I wanted to be the big star that everyone knows and listens to… so the cameras and other sh*& are just part of it. I can’t complain. It’s just part of it. It’s what I do!”

Now.. he didn’t say it exactly like that… I’m pretty certain I remember a few additional adjectives that I don’t need to repeat… but I liked what the heart of the answer was either way. It’s the whole – “be careful what you wish for” sort of thing.

I enjoyed our brief conversation. I really did want a picture for some reason… just didn’t seem like the place. My son would like it. But is it OK to ask? There were no other cameras. Maybe there is a rule. You know, what happens in THE SPOT stays in THE SPOT. I started thinking… I can’t get a picture.. it would make me look like a FAN – I’m NOT a fan. I’m a VIP at a really cool club who works in the music industry. I thought all the people there at this “really cool, everyone wants to get it” club would think I was a dork for getting my pic with Kid. NO ONE else was taking pictures. And then I started to change my mind. For a moment I thought… “I don’t care what all these people think of me! I want a pic! Who are these people anyway… I don’t care what they think! I’m a grown man… If I want a picture, I’m going to get one.”
And so I got my camera ready. Rehearsed the question in my head – “Can I get a pic? It’s for my son!” – and there we went… in a flash—-

We left… I didn’t get a picture… apparently, I really do care what all those people think. It’s just what I do!!!
Blessings!
Wally

This week we (our kids) had two days off for ‘fall break’. So last Friday the family set off for a few days vacation.  Can you guess where we went?  I’ll give you a few choices:

1) Memphis, TN – Graceland (home of Elvis)

2) Atlanta, Georgia - big city, lots to do

3) Destin, FL – huge beach destination, very popular in TN

4) Shipshewana, IN – Tiny little Amish town in Northern IN

That’s right – Shipshe (that’s what the locals call it).

And now, the question is why?!?!

I wrote a musical.  A two hour musical based on the life and ministry of Simon Peter.  And this little town of horses and buggies and homeade bread and big homes with no electricity boasts a 300+ seat theater. My musical, The Rock, The Redeemer and The Resurrection Morning has been playing there for a couple months and closes this weekend.  I took the family to check out a performance.

  The BlueGate Restaurant and Theater serves hundreds and sometimes thousands of people from all over the country each week.   Homestyle food served by women in aprons and caps create an atmosphere of a much more simple life than most of us live.  The owners have a vision to bring professional, bible-based musicals to the area and through a series of relationships I got asked to write a musical for the theater.  I wish thousands were coming to Shipshewana to see my show…but most come for a local flea market that is just enormous.  Really… it goes on forever and ever!  And the people come to town in busses to check it out along with the dozens of local storefronts selling all kinds of stuff.  Our hope is that they will eventually get into the habit of seeing a musical after they purchase their favorite purse, t-shirt, sock puppet, or Amish inspired quilt made in China.  We’ll see!

Many thanks to the great cast of the musical…thanks for working so hard to see my vision come to reality…thanks for using your talents to encourage others…thanks for being so darned talented and so easy to work with…and thanks for your very kind words of encoruagement to me!!! I am very grateful.

October 14, 2009

I’m writing this on Tuesday night, October 13… 2009 - The 5th birthday of my 3rd child – Quinli Mei Nason… And she loves to celebrate!  Her mom made her a two layer chocolate cake with cream cheese frosting AND chocolate frosting… and cream cheese frosted cookies to take to pre-school.

Last night, I signed a dozen copies of my children’s book – HAPPY BIRTHDAY BUNNY – and Quinli autographed each one next to the character in the book based on her – MANGO MEI.  And this morning, we loaded up the books and CDs(that go with the book) and cookies and blanket (for naps) and purse and lunch and went off to pre-school.  WHAT DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH POKER – you ask?!?!

Have you ever heard of a poker face – you know… you bet a lot making them think you have a huge hand when you don’t – or you bet a little making them think you don’t have much so that you can suck them in and take all their cash a little later – Either way, you need a poker face.  You don’t want them to know what you think, or feel, or anticipate, or fear, etc.  Your face and language and betting style and body language all need to look the same all the time.  But 5 year olds don’t get this… at least, not my 5 year old.  You always know what she thinks and feels and anticipates and fears, etc.

So… back to pre-school – we walk in with a 4yr old friend of hers that is in her class… beautiful little red head girl with a big smile and freckles.  Quinli was clearly exited about her birthday and announced to everyone who would listen that she was five – and she held up all five fingers on her little right hand to prove it!  Now – another piece of information… we are having a party for Quinli on Thursday, Oct. 15 at a Build a Bear shop at the mall…but, she could only invite 6 people… and that includes her and her sister.  Of course she would have loved to have 30 or 40 but we can barely afford 6…

And to my horror..it happened.. we hadn’t talked about it, I hadn’t prepared her for school and her friends and the fact that she doesn’t need to tell everyone everything… With a huge smile on her face (it was her birthday) but a tad bit of disappointment (’cause she wanted everyone there), she looked at the cute little red head girl with the pretty smile and cute freckles and said…

“I’m 5 and we are having a party at Build a Bear on Thursday but YOU are not invited ’cause we could only invite 6 people and I had to invite my other friends so you can’t come!”

No poker face!  Just straight up ‘that’s the facts jack’ sort of reality.  Of course, the little girl burst into tears and I could say nothing… what do you say… what does her mother say?  We just looked at the little girls in amazement – ouch – Quinli wasn’t trying to be rude… just telling it like it is…

You know… “I have aces and you don’t!!!”

Fortunately, Quinli recovered quickly and told the little girl that she brought her a present – a book… and to my amazement..the tears were gone and they were once again great friends.  Kind of like poker.  I’ll beat you today – brag about it to all my friends – and then we’ll meet same time, same place, next week!  I love kids.. and poker!

I fold!

Much love,

Wally

Quinli is 5 – HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

October 7, 2009

It’s a beautiful day in Arizona… Flew to Phoenix on Sunday, drove to Prescott on Monday, drove to Lake Havasu on Tuesday, and sitting in a hotel room back in Phoenix today – Wednesday… Off to Yuma in the morning and then to Tucson – and if you’ve never been to Arizona – remmeber this – GO TO AZ IN OCTOBER!!!  The weather is unbelievable..sunny and perfect. 

I’m here with Amy Berna… a super talented singer/songwriter.  I am driving her and her friend Andrienne around the state for the week meeting with radio stations (trying to convince them she is as wonderful as she is and hope they will support her by playing her new single – you can check her out at www.AmyBerna.com).  In addition, she is doing three concerts with the duet Chris and Conrad (www.ChrisandConrad.com). 

Let’s talk about radio…these guys work hard.  Take a look at their computer…hundreds, literally hundreds, of emails requesting that they play music.  Some of the songs that are sent in don’t even fit their formats…Radio works in formats.. each station decides – We are a country station or a Christian inspo station, or a rap station, or a whatever– So…sending your Southern Gospel tune to a top 40 pop station wastes everyone’s time…yours and theirs… and they still get songs that they would never play. 

In addition, they get tunes from big established artists and new indie artists that do fit their format…so they have to decide… do we play this and if so, what don’t we play.  It’s kind of a science.  It kind of isn’t.  Pretty subjective in most cases.  But you don’t want a playlist of 22 slow songs and one fast one. 

And the DJs.. they are awesome… play a song, do the weather, interview an artist that you just met 10 minutes ago, play a song, do a sports update, answer calls, play a song, etc.  All without dead time – and proper English – and some level of entertainment – you don’t want people to change the station.  Very interesting to say the least…and it’s all live on the morning shows… at the smaller stations, at least.

Anyway… thanks to radio everywhere… radio that introduces us to new songs and new artists and work really, really hard to keep listeners and keep the lights on.   We in the music business appreciate and need you.

To our friends Dave, Mike and Steve at KGCB in Prescott, AZ and to Amy, Feron, Debbie, and Tracey at KNLB and KWFH in Lake Havasu – THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!!!

Oh.. and the London Bridge… it’s not inLondon…it’s in Lake Havasu…REALLY!!! Look it up and find out what 2.5 million dollars would purchase in the late 60s… pretty cool… Here is a pic of me and Amy this morning…Enjoy!

Wally
www.NasonMusicGroup.com

Weird day Monday (the 28th of Sept.) … had a 4:30 meeting with John Mullins of SESAC… a performing rights organization on Music Row in Nashville.  First time to meet John… couldn’t be a nicer guy.  Meeting was with Chris and Kelly Filer and myself… Chris needs to join SESAC.  John said he had to wrap things up about 5 because they were hosting a #1 party for a writer, Liz Rose… they were celebrating her new #1 song that she wrote with Taylor Swift.  He invited us to hang around – which was very nice – and on the way out of the office told us that Taylor was going to be there. 

While I’m not a personal huge fan of hers, I do know all her songs.  I have a 7 year old and a 4 year old girl.  And they know all the words to all her songs.  And so I saw her come into this lobby where cameras and friends and family were gathered – only about 60 people – and I snapped a couple pics of Taylor from about 10 ft away with a specific plan to get my mug snapped with her following the short, yet meaningful ceremony.  And so I did what any ‘cool’ Nashville industry guy would do – wait around till the other ‘fans’ got their pic and then just happen to be real close to her and get a shot for my girls – you know…for the children.  And so I did… I waited and waited and was just about to make my move – looking cool and sly and acting like a shot with her didn’t realy matter – and then disaster!!!

Her keepers turned their backs to the rest of us making a path for her to exit out the back door… I politely asked “could she do just one more picture?”.
I said it quietly, sure to not sound desperate – and with a beautiful smile and authoritative tone, an attractive blonde woman (who I think was Taylor’s mother) said “No.”  And there she went… out the door… without a pic, without a hug, she didn’t sign my shirt, she didn’t wave, gone– she was gone.  

But… it was cool to see her.  Here’s a pic… I was in the room… I almost got my picture with her… for the children… of course!