National Doctor's Day 2011 - My Doctors!

National Doctor's Day honors the work of doctors across the United States, and is celebrated each year on March 30th. It's a day to celebrate the contribution of doctors who serve our country by caring for its' citizens.

The first Doctor's Day was observed on March 30, 1933 in Winder, Georgia, when Eudora Brown Almond - wife of Dr. Charles B. Almond - decided to set a day aside to honor doctors. In 1990, the House and Senate officially declared March 30 "National Doctor's Day."

Traditionally, people celebrate the day by going out of their way to thank their doctors, mailing greeting cards, and sending flowers. The red carnation is commonly associated with the National Doctor's Day.

I grew up in a very small town; our local doctor lived in the community, and took very good care of his patients. They were like family to him! He would see you in his office, at his house, in your house, or wherever he was when you needed him. He always thought about his patient first, and made sure they were comfortable. His name was Dr. S.E. Farmer. When I moved to Nashville, I just knew I wouldn't find any doctors that were as good as him. I was wrong; I've been lucky to find some amazing doctors here in Nashville, and below are a few of the great doctors that I have in my corner.

My Internist: Dr. Travis Pardue - He's my sounding board; most of the time we'll talk through what I'm feeling, and figure out the best approach to the problem. At other times when he's worried, he can be blunt and sometimes he'll just tell me how it is . Robin talked me into going to see him in 1999; he took blood of course, and I started to walk up the hallway in his office. I couldn't make it to the end, I turned around thinking I had saw a chair, but it wasn't there. His Nurse Practitioner saw me, got me a chair, but right as I sat down Dr. Pardue grabbed me before I passed out and fell in the floor. He got me to an exam room where I completely passed out; he watched over me, and even offered to sing to me. He didn't sing to me that day, but later on in years he did. I should have been glad he didn't sing to me on my first visit! Dr. Pardue is someone that can talk the medical language to other medical personnel, but can also explain your situation to you in a way you can understand. If it wasn't for him, I would probably still be too scared to go to doctors. He does need to work on helping me not be scared of needles though!

My GYN: Dr. Brian Beatty - I went to Dr. Beatty many years ago with an extreme pain in my side; other doctors had given up trying to figure out what was happening, and they were just keeping me comfortable. Dr. Beatty never gave up; he didn't like seeing me in pain, and he was going to figure it out. Well, several years after that we got the pain under control. I don't know if we really figured out what it was, but Dr. Beatty stood by me all the way. I remember being scared before one really rough surgery; Dr. Beatty patted my shoulder (Why do doctors always pat your shoulder?), and told me he would take very good care of me. He did, and continues to do that when I let him! Let me warn you though that once Dr. Beatty has made his decision, it's hard to change his mind, and when he's focused on something and you ask him a question, he'll shake his head and roll his eyes before answering your question. He will answer your question though! He cares about his patients, he knows completely what he's doing (Of course, he attended Washington University - Washington DC is where I was born.), and if you're in trouble you want him on your side. I'm glad I have him on my side!

My Chiropractor: Dr. Peter Hinz - I saw a poster on Dr. Pardue's wall; it was Dr. Hinz, a Chiropractor/Acupuncturist. I thought, what do I have to lose? So I talked Robin into trying him out; she went first of course. We started with acupuncture (He must be a miracle worker to have gotten those needles in me and don't tell Dr. Pardue he did!), then we decided to let him take over our chiropractic care too. My previous chiropractic experiences weren't the best; when I would ask questions I usually had to watch a video, and once when the chiropractor was helping me up off the table I fell back. Was I supposed to be able to get off that table by myself; was something wrong, I still worry about that. That scared me enough not to want to get adjusted. I've not been going to Dr. Hinz for very long, but he does seem different. He's listens, watches (Sometimes he watches too much.), and really cares I think. I know that I feel better; I can stand for a long period of time, and my back doesn't hurt as much or my leg doesn't go numb completely anymore. I'm also able to use my wrist more and more without hurting. Although he likes doing exercise demonstrations, he might be able to change my mind about chiropractors!

Thank you Dr. Pardue for just being you, Dr. Beatty for caring so much, and Dr. Hinz for starting to change my mind about chiropractic/acupuncture care. You all are EXCELLENT at what you do, and I know your other patient's feel the same. Other doctor's who have helped me through the years are Dr. Farmer, Dr. Knoll, Dr. Dube, Dr. Herring, Dr. C. Pardue, Dr. Gates and Russell. I have and have had some exceptional doctors!

Thank you to all the doctor's who have stepped up, became a doctor, and who are taking care of all the citizen's of the United States. It's not an easy task!

Happy National Doctor's Day - March 30th, 2011!

The Jompson Brothers at Twelfth & Porter

Twelfth & Porter, Thursday night - Michelle, Robin's co-worker, mentioned that the band her brother manages was playing tonight at Twelfth & Porter. The bands name was The Jompson Brothers.

Chris Stapleton below does vocals and plays the guitar. He's a Grammy Award winner; wrote songs for Darius Rucker, Clay Aikens, and several other singers. Although he writes for country stars, he is working on starting a rock band.

J.T. Cure plays the bass.

Bard McNamee is the drummer; I couldn't get a picture of his face, because of the cymbal on the drums. He was wearing these brown, spandex pants with diamond shapes on them.

Greg McKee played the guitar; he looked at me and smiled in one of my pictures, but unfortunately it was blurred.

The Jompson Brothers played for forty five minutes; they were the opening band, and hoping to get future gigs at Twelfth & Porter. Many say they sound like the Allman Brother Band, but I think they sound more like AC/DC.

I do have their CD and T-Shirt, Robin bought both of them from the band members before the show. We didn't know they were the members at that time. Great Band!

6th Annual East Nashville Pub Crawl 2011

First Stop - Red Door Saloon

It was about 5:30 p.m.; we were able to get a table, drink a couple of drinks, and even take the below pictures. This pub was decorated with Chicago Cub memorabilia, a few Tennessee Titan tickets and such, and just a few Chicago Bear items.

Then you see the skeletons hanging on the ceiling with women's bras, skeletons on the wall and in glass cabinets. You also see all kinds of signs everywhere.

I think this was Robin's favorite pub; when she went to get a picture of the pub crawl sign for me, one of the ladies in the back tried to ask her out.

Robin

Penny & Robin

"Me and My Sis - Love this Picture"

Look at these Skeletons!

Signs on the Ceiling and the Bar - Mosy on up the Bar for a Cold One

At the end of the bar, there was a machine that you could pour shots so they are cold. They were only $5 each, and they were changing those upside bottles all the time.

Pictures on the wall

"Wonder if the below picture is a real restaurant?"

Surely this is the owners vehicle.

Second Stop - 3 Crow Bar

There were several tables and chairs beside the windows but they had taken the chairs and tables out of the middle to get more people in. Standing room only. We didn't stay here too long, there were not enough bartenders to accomodate the customers. You had to stand in a very long line to get a drink.

Red Bull bar on the left and their regular bar on the right as you walk in. Didn't have much decoration due to all the windows.

Third Stop - Batter'd & Fried

We thought we would eat at this stop, drink a green beer, and rest a little. We were able to get a high top outside. The breeze was blowing; it wasn't too hot, and people were bringing their puppies to eat with them. So cute!

Green Beer

Robin & Jim Penny & Richard

Jim ordered fish & chips; his chips/fries came in this paper bag with the restaurant logo on it, and Richard, Robin and I had chicken chili. It tasted good.

When we were leaving at 7 p.m. (the starting time of the pub crawl), more people were starting to arrive!

Fourth Stop = Drifters

This was a smaller pub; most of the seating was outside, and they had some live entertainment and ping pong tables. We went inside; there was a very nice manager and staff.

Their menu had the story of the first motorcycle on it; interesting, and probably a biker bar.

Decor

Fifth and Last Stop on the Pub Crawl - Beyond the Edge

Everywhere was getting so crowded by this time; Robin, Jim and Richard purchased their green beer, and we stood outside in their seating area until it got so crowded that you were standing back to back. Then we decided to leave.

Their decor was similar to Drifters.

Us Leaving our First St. Patrick's Day Pub Crawl

We think Beyond the Edge, Drifters and Batter'd & Fried were probably connected somehow. Drifters and Beyond the Edge sold the same shirts, and Batter'd & Fried used Drifters ice.

We do need to go back to Drifters or Beyond the Edge to try their barbeque; everyone said that we should try it, because it was so good. It smelled delicious!

We all had so much fun at the pub crawl; we'll have to do it again next year, but I'll remember a these things next year. Arrive early and go to each pub, that way you get to see the pubs atmosphere without the crowds, take pictures, buy a t-shirt or even eat. Then go back to the pubs a second time to have fun with all people.

Hope everyone had a nice St. Patrick's Day; I sure did, and if you're wondering where I got that amazing hat. Sheree, a friend from work, gave it to me. She was wearing it; thought she would discuss it with a few people, and they voted I should wear it. The shamrock on the top flashed; that's the way Robin could always find me, and that flashing didn't stop until Monday morning.

Thanks Sheree, the Hat was a Winner!

Nashville Guitar Town

Guitar Town, a public arts project that featured fifty 10-foot tall fiberglass Gibson Les Paul or Chet Atkins model guitars were launched on April 1, 2005 proceeding the Catfish Town sculptures. All these oversize guitar sculptures were artistically designed by local and nationally acclaimed visual artists and placed throughout Nashville in front of the city's landmarks and businesses for a period of one year. December 2005 Gibson Guitars collected all the sculptures, and auctioned them off for charity in February of 2006.

Robin and I were driving through Cool Springs looking for Chef Paul's restaurant; when we passed Blue Coast Burrito, I noticed a large sculpture within the outside sitting area. I've been addicted to taking pictures lately; so I had to get out to take one, and realized this was one of the 2005 Guitar Town sculptures. Unfortunately Chef Paul's is closed, but I'm glad I was able to take a picture of this guitar. I wasn't interested in these sculptures in 2005 when they were distributed throughout Nashville, but now I'm mesmerized. I have to find more!

It was so pretty last Friday, that I got Robin out into the beautiful weather for a treasure hunt. We were able to find six more sculptures at the Nashville West shopping area. I don't know if there is a way to find more, but I'll be on the lookout.

THE SCULPTURES: (Aren't they amazing?)

"The Beat Gogh's On"

Located at Blue Coast Burrito in Cool Springs

"The Driving Force in Entertainment"

Nashville West Shopping Mall

"Twang"

Nashville West Shopping Mall

"Muzik Mafiad Orginal"

Nashville West Shopping Mall

"50 Years of George Jones"

Nashville West Shopping Mall

"The Wizard of Waukesha"

Nashville West Shopping Mall

"Nashville the Beautiful"

Nashville West Shopping Mall

Cinderella Story Told Through Puppets

The stage is set; this is the outside of the house where Cinderella, her Step Mother, and her two Step Sister's live. Doesn't it look like a normal, happy family house? It was before Cinderella's father pasted away, and she was left to be brought up by her Step Mother. Her Step Mother had two children of her own, and Cinderella was made to due all the chores of the house.

The Story Teller should set the scene for the next occasion; he tells it much better than I. Story Teller: An invitation arrived one day that invited the whole household to the ball, and the Prince would be there looking for his Princess.

The Step Mother was so excited that her two daughters were going to be able to go to the ball; there was so much to do, and Cinderella would have to help.

Oh Cinderella wanted to attend the ball just as bad as her two ugly Step Sister's, but her mean Step Mother wanted no part of that. She told Cinderella that she could only go if all her chores were done. It would be almost impossible for her to get all her chores done in time.

After her Step Sisters and Mother had left for the ball, a Fairy God Mother appeared to Cinderella. She helped her finish all her chores, and magically a dress and a pair of glass slippers appeared. It was the prettiest dress Cinderella had ever seen.

How would Cinderella get to the ball? Of course by horses and a carriage! Cinderella's Fairy God Mother turned some mice into horses, and a pumpkin into a carriage.

The Prince was intrigued by Cinderella's beauty, they danced until the clock struck midnight, and then Cinderella ran out of the ball room. Her Fairy God Mother had only given her until the stroke of midnight, and then everything would turn back into what it was. While she ran down those stairs at the ball room, she lost her glass slipper on the stairs.

The Prince found the glass slipper, and the very next day scoured the land to find the young lady that it fit. That young lady would be his Princess.

All the ladies within the land tried very hard to fit into that glass slipper, especially her step sisters, but Cinderella was the only one that fit into the slipper. The Prince knew he had found his Princess, and he and Cinderella lived happy ever after.

Sometimes we get so wrapped up in our lives that we get the feeling that there are no happy endings or magical moments. You just have to think about each day at a time; I bet you've had a Cinderella day sometime, it's just probably mixed up with some of those Step Mother Days!

Robin, Margee and I went to see this story of Cinderella at the downtown library. It was so amazing to watch the puppets and the puppeteers. They moved the puppets with such ease, and the story flowed through their hands.

I hope you have your own Cinderella Day soon!