Posting daily at 1pm central about all kinds of things. One day it's dating, the next it's TV commercials. I hope you're entertained. Professional photos on SmugMug – https://benwilder.smugmug.com
These amazing creatures were seen and admired about an hour south of Tallahassee, Florida near Alligator Point. As cliche as it sounds, pictures just don’t do them justice but at the same time, I find myself marveling at the detail of each picture in ways I didn’t or couldn’t see in the moment. Take a look and I hope you enjoy the photos!
Check back again soon for part 2 of the amazing wildlife, thanks for stopping by!
-Out of the Wilderness
I’ve gone around in circles about the whole mandatory mask-wearing order lots of us have seen in the past weeks and months. Here in Nashville this week it became required to wear a mask at all times if leaving home. Here it is in writing: (scroll down for the rest of my thoughts)… 
So Nashville has gone backwards into Phase 2 because there has been a rise in cases. Here are the stats for the last few weeks in Tennessee. The two images are the number of cases then a screen grab for the number of deaths.
The first pic shows that there is definitely a rise in cases but the number of deaths has stayed relatively low each day (meaning that an increase in cases does not equal an increase in deaths). In fact, math would show that if the number of cases is rising and the deaths are not, then every day that goes by means the chance of dying from this decreases.
Back to the mandatory order from Nashville metro government… I guess now they’re more focused on reducing the number of cases, although time will tell if that has anything to do with decreasing the number of deaths.
What bothers me is this… 1) I think this crosses the line for what government has the authority to make us do, 2) we are a free country so shouldn’t all citizens have the right and responsibility to choose whether they want to wear a mask or not? 3) these mandatory orders are killing businesses all over the country, especially Nashville which thrives on tourism and locals going out for meals and entertainment 4) dance floors are closed? Are we taking notes from Footloose or something?? 5) I am stubborn and sometimes this stubbornness is a problem for me 
What’s going on in your city? Are you frustrated, supportive, or indifferent about it all? Let me know in the comments below, and as always, thanks for stopping by.
-Out of the Wilderness
Do you want to get what Jason’s got in his “Got What I Got” video? Well, be prepared to lighten your wallet! I’ll give you a grand total at the bottom of this post, but for now… read on!
Jason Aldean and wife Brittany show off their love and their kids in this video that already has well over 750,000 views in just 2 days. The video was shot in Destin, Florida and the backdrop for some of the video is the Henderson Park Bed & Breakfast. Rooms here will set you back anywhere from a couple hundred to close to a grand, but can you put a price on a room right on the beach? If you’re as rich as Jason Aldean, the answer is no… no, you can’t. But let’s say it’s $500/night just for sake of our research. Speaking of research, I have done quite a bit on other music videos, a list of which you can check out here.
By the way, “Nashville Noise” has more good info from the video so be sure to check that out here.
Early on, the video has a strategically placed shot of Wolf Moon Bourbon, undoubtedly a case of integrated marketing as the bourbon is owned by Aldean and country group Florida Georgia Line. Here’s more on the brand, and a bottle of this will run you about $25. Our running total is now at $525.
The video was directed by my all-time favorite country music video director, Shaun Silva. He has a lot of videos that I love including Kenny Chesney’s “Anything But Mine,” “Come Over,” “Who You’d Be Today,” and Rascal Flatts’ “What Hurts the Most.”
Aldean fans already know this I’m sure, but his nTr hat means “Night Train Ranch,” a nod to his home in Columbia, Tennessee. Among other things, this home has a 2-lane bowling alley where if you’re lucky, you can be a better bowler than me by scoring anything over 130… after purchasing the home for $7 million, of course. Or if you just want the hat, we’ll ballpark that at $20. So now our total is up to $7,000,545.00… to be just like Jason Aldean 🙂
Enter the red Ford Bronco. I spent way too much time trying to narrow down the exact year of this modified classic, and at the end of my research all I can say is that it’s either a ’75 or ’76 model. Any car enthusiasts out there can feel free to chime in with more knowledge about it, but for now I’m sticking with mid-70s based on the headlights, grill, hood, and overall body style. I’ll value this ride conservatively at $40,000.
For you to “got” what Jason’s “got” in this video, you’ll need to spend $7,040,545.00. And that’s not including tax! He also has 4 kids (as seen throughout the video) so let’s just round up to half a billion, mmmmk? Kids are expensive, so I’ve heard, with all the iPads and scrunchies.
If there’s anything else in the video you’re curious about comment below and I’ll try to dig up the answers… Thanks for stopping by!
-Out of the Wilderness
How many of you have watched romantic comedies where all the problems are solved when the man and woman finally become a couple? It’s the plot of a few of my favorite movies (Hitch, The Notebook, Serendipity) and EVERY Hallmark movie. There’s the main character who is dating someone who is clearly the opposite of a good match, then a love interest pops on screen who initially has conflicts with the main character but is clearly the perfect match for them romantically. An hour and a half later bells are ringing and everyone’s cry-laughing and hugging.
Gosh, I love The Notebook. I just watched this boat/swan scene again and I’m not crying, YOU’RE crying. But anyway, what I’ve noticed as a single man in my 30s and 40s about marriage specifically are a few things. One, it’s a wonderful thing most of the time. I’m not here to bash the institution of marriage at all. I hope to one day experience it. There are many great things about it (so I’ve heard), but there’s something else…
Marriage worship.
The idea that a relationship (and marriage, specifically) is the highest of life goals one can pursue and achieve. As a single person, this idea can be so hurtful. Imagine going up to a woman who hasn’t had children yet and talking to her all about how great being a parent is. Try approaching a blind person to tell them how beautiful the sunset was last night. Do either of those examples sound like a good time for the childless woman or the blind person?
We’ve put marriage on a pedestal and that’s not at all where it belongs. Yes, it should be sacred and cherished, guarded and nurtured, but I fear that in America it’s become a thing we worship. The lesson is that a person is not reaching their full potential until they have a love in their life. We’ve been conditioned to think this way and it’s so unhealthy.
I need to stop watching these clips before I include them. You’re crying again. But to get back to the point… it bothers me how marriage is worshipped in this country.
You complete me.
That’s a classic line and it sounds good, but sorry, no. You can be a complete person with or without a wife or husband. I’m a Christian so my slant on the solution is this: I would rather worship God and if I ever get married, yay. If I don’t, yay. I hope and pray that at the end of my life if I’ve never been married, I don’t feel as though I didn’t reach some sort of man-made goal and have despair about it.
Let’s take marriage and love OFF the pedestal and treat it as a great thing, but not the ultimate goal of life. There is so much more out there than finding someone to grow old with. At least that’s my take as a happy man looking in from the outside.
-Out of the Wilderness
I don’t want to be insensitive about issues that ignite these social movements and to be perfectly clear, I’m on the side of those that rally around cities under attack. It’s the marketing that bothers me. It seems like every city is quick to adopt the “_______ Strong” mantra and I liked it at first. But now it just seems lazy. I don’t mean the people that are fighting for unity in any particular city, they’re not lazy because of this… it’s the people who pick this as the rally cry; they’re just phoning it in.
Let’s take Nashville, for instance. There was a tornado or two that came through town back in March and immediately we took to the “Nashville Strong” banner. Again, I get what it’s used for and I support the idea of banding together to help one another, but can’t someone somewhere, as creative as this city is, come up with anything else at all that’s original? Here are some ideas off the top of my head:
Nashville Unified
Nashville in Harmony
Let’s ‘band’ together, Nashville
Nashville ‘bands’ together
Nashville knows how to duet
Nashville Tough
Stay Tough, Nashville
Nashville in One a-chord
Those are just a few examples of how one city can band together around a rally phrase that fits the city more than a generic “________ Strong.” It can’t be that difficult for each city to come up with something original, I’m sure. What are your thoughts on this? Have you come up with a few for Nashville, or the city you live in? Chime in below!
Thanks for stopping by and hey, y’all, stay strong 😉
-Out of the Wilderness
Out of the Wilderness 