Two Favorite Memories From Working Out In Downtown Nashville

1. I was downtown and went out on my lunch break to do a workout. Part of it included running around the Titans football stadium. On the last curve, I changed the routine and added in some box jumps on a nearby curb. Two younger guys were there and they approached me asking, “Do you play for the Titans?” Well, obviously I do, kids!

2. Jogging near the capitol building north of downtown Nashville, I just ran up a steep grassy hill. At the top, I was in the middle of doing pushups when a group of random people were walking nearby. One of them broke away from the group and set a cold bottle of water next to me. Totally unexpected. Now what? I’m supposed to finish my run holding a water bottle the whole time??

In all seriousness, I was amazed at the random kindness of that stranger. Really cool that he’d do that for a Titans football player.

-Out of the Wilderness

jogger

Wacky Wednesday: I Will Remember Hashtags

desireeSo I finally caught the first episode of the Bachelorette starring Desiree Hartsock. Anticipation had been building for weeks, but mostly for the Bachelorette Fantasy League I’m involved in!  In almost any form, I love competition. Anyway, from shirtless guy to the knight in shining armor, these guys should just be called “future former contestants” because they have no chance. I wish future Wesley (The Baby Bachelor) would time travel back to 2013 and slap us all in the face for watching these shows. Kasey (social media guy contestant) is hashtagging everything in sight. So how long does it take for “business” to make something popular unpopular? No, no State Farm Insurance, I will not like you on Facebook. And thanks but no thanks, Kentucky Fried Chicken… I will not tweet anything about #iatethebones. If you’re reading this in 2035, I promise we did cool stuff back in 2013 besides tweeting and tumblring. 

-Out of the Wilderness

Wacky Wednesday: Boys ‘Round Here

“Chew tobacco, chew tobacco, chew tobacco… spit!”

How I see it, you’ve got the East Nashville hipsters, the money in West Nashville, the crime in North Nashville, and the international mix of South Nashville. But it doesn’t take more than one trip to Nashville Shores to realize we are, indeed, a redneck city in the south. Try it sometime, and bring your camera!

He Blew Me Off

It’s a moment I won’t forget for a long time. You see, my neighbor and I have had a good relationship for the few years I’ve lived in my house. He and his wife are usually kind to me, and they love seeing my dogs. These neighbors will often walk up to the fence and chat with me about the neighborhood, the dogs, the weather, or pretty much anything else on our minds at the time. But a few days ago, the guy blew me off! I didn’t see it coming. Actually that’s not completely true. I didn’t see it coming until just before it happened.

He and I love working in our yards. He loves it more than I do, actually, so when I start to mow my yard and he’s anywhere within earshot, he’ll ask if I want him to mow or if I want to use his “zero turn” John Deere. It’s totally unfair john deerebut I’ll use my push mower to cut his ditch. He’s on a corner lot so there’s quite a bit of ditch, but it’s still very unfair in my favor. So on this particular day, after my yard was finished, I took my mower out to his ditch. It was a windy afternoon so as I mowed, all the grass blew right back in my face. I was covered in green pretty much from my head down to the inside of my boots. Of course it happens on the one day I mow with shorts on! I finished mowing and as I walked the mower past my neighbor’s drive way, he had me stand there for a second. He used his leaf blower to hose me down. Hose me down with air. It was the kindest thing. And we both laughed.

I love having good neighbors.

-Out of the Wilderness

Me and My Machete

It was the weekend and I knew it was time to tackle the overgrown brush in the backyard.

back yard

So Sunday afternoon I picked up a Gerber Gator Machete from REI. Before deciding on that particular machete, I read reviews for a machete at Lowe’s and reviews for the Gerber. Without a doubt, I knew the Gerber was the one to go with. Once I got home, I knew I had a Goliath-sized task ahead of me. So for over 3 hours, I hacked away and was extremely pleased with the machete. My body gave out well before the machete and in fact, to give the machete life-like qualities, I’d say it never even blinked an eye. Take a look at the results below! Still more work to do, but with this Gerber machete, I’m chomping at the bit to get to it!