White Knuckled White Water Rafting

Isn't it amazing how experience is something you get when you attempt something you have no idea if you can accomplish or not?. I mean, it would be so nice to have a database of experiences in our brains. It would be kind of like in the Matrix. When you want to learn how to do something you just plug in a microchip that dictates your motions and understanding of a skill or task. Of course we all know that life would be exceedingly dull if we didn't have our own individual feelings and idea. Which is why I have now concluded that having no experience when taking on a new task, can be a great thing. For example: as anybody who has read the previous blog will know, I have a great new job. This is the kind of place where fellow employees really do try to work as a team. I was offered the opportunity to join any other willing participants in a team building trip to the Ocoee River. The idea was to split into three 6 man boats and navigate a series of Class 4 Rapids. I immediately said no. Actually I think I said something closer to, "Are you crazy?" After one of the gals leading the trip (who also happened to be an experienced paddling instructor)explained how safe it would be with guides and how much fun I would have and that I wouldn't want to miss something like this, I gave in. I was terrified. All I could ask myself was how would a 120 pound college student pull me back into a raft moving at a rapid pace down the river? No pun intended! But I decided that Jean was right, If I didn't try this I would regret never knowing what an experience it could have been. As we were headed to the river on a big yellow bus Jean, the group leader I told you about, said, "don't look guys." So of course I looked. It was a boat of rafters pulled onto the shore next to an Ambulance. One person on a stretcher and a river full of onlookers. I thought to myself at that moment...Oh my sweet lord I am going to die. We had to divide up into groups of Six and I felt like I was lined up against a wall waiting to be picked as the weakest link for the next school yard kickball game. I didn't really know anyone, so my strategy was to wait for the groups to form and then make my selection at the last moment. It came down to 2 boats. One with a loving, yet very nonathletic looking family, and a group of 5 guys who all looked like they were sacrificing their daily weight lifting session to be here. I knew in my heart that I belonged in the boat with the adorably plump family, however, I also knew that my chances of surviving were greatly increased if I joined the boat flooded with Testosterone. So there I was the only female carrying our raft (or should I say holding onto a strap)I at least had to look like I was working. What I didn't realize when I made my choice between the boats was that these guys couldn't wait for the ride of their lives. When the guide asked us if we wanted to be dropped in all the River's little strategic sink holes, they all shouted back with an emphatic, "YAAAAH!"
It was to late. I was not going to be able to escape my raft and make a Bee Line for the cuddly family's raft with out making a scene. I was trapped with the Thrill Seekers. We were receiving strict instructions to only paddle when our guide barked military style orders at us.

I was gripping the paddle so hard that all the blood had left my fingers, and my hand almost looked Alien to me. We pushed off from the "Put-in" and as we approached the first Rapid I held my breath and closed my eyes. I felt a wave of fresh water rush over me.

I was still on the boat, and I was still alive! I let out a high pitched scream, "We did It!" I yelled. It was only after I saw the others looking back at me, that I realized the rapid I had so cleverly beaten with my eyes closed was hardly the most ferocious rapid we would tackle that day.

But each new rapid became more exhilarating than the one before it.
I had such a great time that day. After meeting a challenge that seemed impossible, I felt like I could take on anything. and I won't soon forget it.

Mustering the Most Minor of Marvels

There are so many things about Nashville that we love.






The Beautiful skyline.





The free events for families around town.







Of course we cant forget the Nashville ZOO.







If we didn't miss our family and friends so much I think we would want to live here for a long time. Nate and I are on what looks like the 2 year plan. Stay long enough to save enough money to drive all of our worldly possessions back home. We figure that'll take at least a year and since I just started a great new job. I guess I'm not in so much of a hurry now.

It was definitely time to update the Blog. I have gotten so far behind. One of my many goals for this weekend besides studying my new manual for work. Yes you heard correctly! I am not longer working for Lowe's. No hard feelings. I just saw an opportunity to advance to a better situation and I took it. In fact Deena(of Dan and Deena-our Nashville friends) told me about the opening. She gave a recommendation and now I am working for Optimum Solutions. A great company that has developed software for payroll and HR purposes. I just help customers get in touch with the program support staff (Which is what Deena does) and I send out paper work that helps to introduce them to the program. Pretty cool. I have only been there for two days, and it is a lot to learn, but I like it. I can assure you I will never be bored.

For those of you who did not know, Nate is working in the "majors" department at Costco. As in Majorly big screen tv's, phones, computers, and cameras. Mostly Electronics. Not his dream job, but it does allow him to use some of his vast array of knowledge in electronics. Not that his customers really listen very well. They usually just listen to the options and then ask, "Which one would you pick?" Like that will tell them in which PC they should invest a month and a half's wages? Sarcasm aside. This is the first time in over a year we have been living off more than one income. so if you ask me, it is worth it not to settle for the dream job right off the bat. Nate is so talented I have no doubt that he will find a way to use his education in a positive way.

Speaking of Nate we celebrated his Birthday in June and had a wonderful time. We both took the day off and celebrated by driving to Opry Mills the mall across from the Grand Old Opry. Wow, What a cool place. We really only have photos of the Gibson Guitar store because as you might imagine we (and by we I mean Nate) Got a little sidetracked "Guitar Land." But that is what we were there for. I wanted to Let Nate lead the way and just have a ball.








We miss everyone so much and if you are reading this we thank you for trying to keep up with our (sporadic at best) blog entries. There is more to come. As for us, we have mostly just been trying to stay dry.


Quite a few random Thunder and Lightening storms.







Several times we've had to run for the car to avoid getting drenched while out for a walk on a beautiful sunny day!

Love Hayley and Nate

We had the chance to visit Nashvilles's Centenial Park. It was such a gorgeous spring day . All the flowers were in bloom and I snapped these pictures. The city holds many events in this park near downtown. There was a craft fair there this weekend and a race(kind of like Bloomsday for those of you who know what that is).






This photo reminded me of What New York's Central park might look like.I of course have never been there so I am only speculating. We also visited the life-sized replica of Greece's Parthenon with an equally life size sculpture of Athena inside. It is a lot to take in. There was a lot of history in the Park. We spent 2 hours there, and still only saw half of the park .











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We will update you on more later. For now Nate has 12 hours left to finish his internship, and I have a job that keeps me busy enough that the day flies by. I like the new things I am learning and will learn more I'm sure. Nate got an E-mail from the Director of CRAS asking him to help move gear and set up mics for a well known magazine called MIX Magazine. He has accepted and is hoping to do a little networking on site. We are hoping for great opportunities. Love to you all who are faithfully still reading.
HayleyJones

Exploring Nashville

I haven't had a chance to really explore Nashville yet. I hope to be able to get to the "Frist", which is the local art museum. I also want to take a picture of the Parthenon and some of the other statues downtown. There is so much to see there. I may just have to take a bus on one of my days off.

These are some of the beautiful trees I have seen so far in the area. Some of them right outside my front door.






I loved these two pictures. Nate and I drive by them on a fairly regular basis and I thought I would recreate the drive for you.







This is called the Belle Mead area:





. It was one of the founding plantation areas. They still have one of the original buildings so you can go and visit as in museum style. I am so curious to know more of the history of slavery. I mean this is one of the Founders of American Slavery. I learned Very Quickly that it is not a topic that southerners are prone to talking about and dropped the subject.

I also found some houses I thought were pretty. Some of these are less than a half mile from our apartment. What a beautiful state.







I've come to realize that all the houses in the area have one of four architectural designs: Columns, Castle entryway, or looks like a barn.

I will post a blog of the downtown area as soon as we get the chance to spend the day down there.

Gainful Employment

Life in Nashville, as you might imagine, has taken some getting used to. It has been a while since we have added a post on this blog, but I feel like we have fully settled in and have both done what we had set out to accomplish. Nate has found a Recording studio that has agreed to take him on so he can finish his intern hours, and I have found a decent paying job so we can pay the bills. We are so Excited. "East Iris Studios" is located on Berry Hill not far from the illusive "Blackbird Studios." He has had the opportunity to meet some pretty well known artists at this studio and has had the chance to set up microphones and lay cables for upcoming sessions. He is getting an average of 20 hours a week. At that rate he will finish his internship just in the nick of time.

Here are some pictures of East Iris studios:













He has however found a couple clients in the Nashville area needing some work done for personal projects. Now that he has his studio set up he is able to take on some new work. One of the gals he is working for is a director of a play at Tenn. State. She needs someone to compile a set of sound effects.




I met her at Lowe's actually. That is my new place of employment. I am a team leader of the Home Decor Sales department. I am acting as middle management. I am enjoying it so far. Most of what I do involves Cutting faux Wood blinds to every size window imaginable, Ordering custom made Shutters, networking with Lowe's installers and the product vendors to make sure orders are created and sent in a timely manner, and Mixing Paint with an automated tinter. One thing I have noticed about this job is that I am never bored. I am usually so busy that I am jogging down the aisle to attend to my next task. My managers are kind and personable and always straight forward.

I think the idea that we don't have a set departure date has allowed us to settle in a little more. I have unpacked my easel and paints. Things I haven't seen for some time. Nate is working on frames again (as much as he can do with out any power-tools here). I have learned to take the bus to and from work if Nate is not available for some reason. I feel safer walking down the street than I would have in the Phoenix area.
Nate and I are feeling a touch of Homesickness (him more so than me). I think it might be because of the amount of downtime. He has a little more time on his hands now that he doesn't have loads of homework and tests. I know we miss Spokane, But I think what we really miss is having family and friends close by. That is a privilege that is easily overlooked until it is taken away.

However, we are doing well here. Nashville is a gorgeous place and I am so glad that we chose it over New York and LA. Today I drove to the hair salon near our apartment and got a hair cut the ladies there are so nice. Southern Women are nice in general.



thanks to all of you checking in on our latest events. We hope to keep up the good news. Nate will be eligible for a job soon so we will keep you updated as to any new developments.
Hayley Jones

Home Sweet Home

This is what we saw coming into Nashville. Big city life again





Today Saturday, March 22nd(well technically very early on the 23rd)We will have lived in an Apartment for 1 whole week. It seems so Surreal. The idea that we are at least 6 states away from our home state . I walk out my door and see green again.



It is warm. The sun is shining and the flowers are blooming. I can hear screams of laughter in the park over the fence.

How did we reach this point. This place that seemed so far away during a time that felt endlessly challenging. We were met with what seemed like every bump in the road. I was so tempted to question why I should have to endure such hardship and then it hit me. I only know my version of hardship. I only know hardship compared to what I have had to endure in the past. I have this feeling that Human beings are far more resilient than they know. But I realize now that we can't know what we are capable of until we put our character to the test.


This was the first time I had the feeling that everything would be alright. while I was watching this sunset. I guess it sets pretty much the same no matter where you are

Nate and I both left our jobs and homes to pursue a new life and in leaving our regular paychecks we became unsuitable as tenants in Nashville. I have never been homeless before. If it were not for our loving and supportive families we might have known an all together new kind of hardship. The kind you don't spring back from so easily. We Had to stay in a hotel until we could find someone to rent to us. The problem was all the places we had the leasing criteria, I would never have felt safe walking alone. We didn't have jobs or more than $2,500.00 in our bank account after all the gas, food, and rental truck were paid for. After several phone calls to family members and an outside reference, as tenants, we set off to look at apartments with a new hope for a home. We found a great apartment in a fairly safe area within our budget.







We had to stay at the extended stay for 4 More days while they installed new carpet in our place. It gave me time to think about what we had overcome. We took a risk. But I see now looking back that it wasn't supposed to be easy. That 's why they call it a risk



There is a church with a steeple this tall or higher literally on every corner. Every house is made of Bricks and has columns in the front and there is even a building downtown that is modeled exactly after the Parthenon.

We are so glad to have the things we do ... A roof over our heads, Food to eat when we feel hungry, and the love of our Families. Those are all we really need when it comes down to it.