In Paducah, KY they have murals on their levee walls. It was way sweet to see.
Photo of the river that runs past Paducha, KY.
Barge traffic on the river in Paducha, KY.
Up close and personal shot of a mural on the walls of the levee in Paducha, KY.
Another picture of one of the murals.

More photos

The KY Dam

This photo is of the stage built in one of the many hotels convention center meeting rooms. The 'bay' doors are not actually there, they are projections.

Skyline

A very blurry downtown skyline photo as seen from the river on the General Jackson in Nashville, TN.

Photos

Photos of the river from on the General Jackson in Nashville, TN.

So Very American

An old gas station that I saw on the way to Nashville, TN. I love the flag, the powerlines and the Texaco sign. So - very American.

Successful Success

What honesty have I failed to convey to myself that months must pass me by before I get the irritant itch to post again? What odd thoughts must pass before I realize that I have yet again shut the world out to foolishly concentrate on my 'personal' day-to-day life responsibilities, which seem to consume all my energy. I am unsure why I cannot seem to stick to anything with any regularity. Diets, and exercise, hard work and organization, friends and family (which are by far the most important of them all). I have excuses, I tell myself. Good ones!

Alas, my guilt overrides any such pitiful attempts to forgive myself. I wonder that I am such a glutton for self punishment; whether logical or not. I wonder also, if I can break myself of my habitual abysmal attitudes and for once allow myself a bit of innocent happiness.

Oddly, happiness doesn't come easy. As a child, I thought surely everyone was meant to find happiness. Everyone was deserving of happiness. Everyone was entitled - to happiness. As the (semi) adult that I am today, I find that happiness is not so easy to obtain. It is elusive and much like the perfect morning mist on a spring day, it never lasts. That is probably my pessimism speaking once again, since I have recently had such successful success in my career.

Successful success. I don't think I can put my first trip to a corporate affair any better than that.

On April 8 th through the 12 th, I went to Nashville, TN, for the 2006 corporate meetings and after-market product show. To say the least I was dazzled, amazed and a bit terrified. At first, I was so amazed that my boss invited me to go and also told me that everything would be paid for by the company. All I needed to take were clothes and some personal pocket money. Secondly, while I was there I was dazzled by the place in which we were staying. The Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center.

This place is a city unto itself, with bars, restaurants, spas, and waterfalls to boast of. Not to mention the full sized palm trees which grow inside the hotel itself underneath a sweet domed atrium. Inside this hotel there are thousands of rooms, on several floors. The room I stayed in was on the 5 th and we had an awesome view of a ground floor water fountain. I really can't say enough about this place or my experience there. You can check out their website here. While we were there we enjoyed an awesome ride on the General Jackson showboat. I was on the top level, watching everyone else drink while I tried to get the best pictures that I could get before night fell.

Thirdly, I was terrified because I was so completely out of my 'element'. I am not from the corporate world. I do not wear slacks, I wear jeans. I don't have blouses, I have shirts; and I am surely not used to eating a full 3 course meal with salad, main course and dessert - well at least not without spilling some of it on my 'shert'.

What else really can I say? It was an awesome experience, a sweet view of how the 'other half' lives. I felt completely out of place - except in the meetings. In there I shined. In there I was full of my usual 'piss 'n vinegar'. Fire and passion. Intelligence and curiosity. At first I was petrified to be myself and become involved in the discussions, but that soon waned. My usual self would not be contained by such a little thing as fear.

John Smith, our corporate franchise liaison, stopped by last Monday. Sean Williams, our General Manager brought him by the shop - at John's request. He sought me out and basically told me that I had impressed him at the corporate meetings in Nashville. He also said he was impressed that I had asked more intelligent questions than some shop managers who have been with the company for years. Then he turned to Bill, my shop manager, and asked him when he was going to send me to TAU. (TA University). TAU is the school where they send promising 'students' to learn how to manage a shop.

Shiny!

Bill just replied, 'We've thought about it'. I don't know what the future will bring, but if I am ever in need of a job, I am sure that John Smith could help me. He he. In any case, if Bill sends me I hope that he will actually let me implement the things I learned for I am finding it hard to affect change in the shop.

Well, I best round this out back to where I started. Happiness.

I remember when I wanted success, when I ached for it. Now, I've had a taste of it, and it isn't enough. And so, my happiness wanes. I am still not where I want to be in this world, but I am getting there. The harsh reality is: time. This journey takes time and my impatience is chomping at the bit. I am ready. I feel ready and I want the rewards that should follow from all this hard work. Don't get me wrong. I truly feel that I am getting there. I am becoming more 'open' with Mrs. Diane (human resources; book keeping) and Patty Anderson (store manager). I guess you could say they are taking me underneath their wings so to speak. 'Grooming' me for my management experience. It won't happen overnight, like I want it too, but, I feel, it will happen.

And so, a toast, to successful success.

With Love,
Meagan