Hanging out in Nashville (and listening to Caleb Collins)

This weekend I am hanging out in Nashville. It is the first weekend I've had in months where I've not been glued to my computer and writing away on my dissertation proposal. I submitted the proposal Friday afternoon (hallelujah!) and then I headed out-of-town.

I'm staying with friends Cathy and Barney near Nashville, and yesterday we attended a wedding reception for our friend Alina and her husband, Darren. Alina and Darren were married last month in Missouri, and also had a reception here in Tennessee since this is where Alina grew up. I'm very excited for them. Alina and Cathy are classmates from my doctoral program, and (along with Bryan) we've bonded during the last three years of coursework.

Last night I stayed with Cathy and Barney and attended church with them today at Forest Hills Baptist Church. It reminded me of when I was a kid and sometimes attended a Baptist church with my great-grandmother. And, everyone jokes about how I can find connections to people in the strangest places. As we were walking into the church this morning, I noticed a truck with a license plate from my home county in Mississippi. I thought that was pretty cool.

Okay, this should satisfy Cathy, who has been slightly frustrated that I have not updated my blog since before Hurricane Gustav. (And my family made it safely through that, btw). ;-)

At the moment, Cathy is trying to order a Caleb Collins CD online. She was introduced to his music this morning after hearing his CD in my truck. So, I thought I would introduce his music to you as well. Here's a YouTube clip of "Just As I Am".