Nashville, Tennessee 3/15/2014

MARCH 15, 2014 (Saturday)

We all had a pretty miserable night last night. About midnight a large group of young teenagers arrived at the hotel. There was a lot of loud noises, running up and down the hall, slamming of doors, and many more annoying things. Around 12:15 AM we got a knock on our door. Thinking it was Lexi, I got out of bed and answered the door. Outside were three young girls looking for someone’s room to party in I think. I told them it was time to settle down. A while later, more running down the hall, slamming of doors and noise. I opened the door and looked out (in my jammies) and told the young men that enough was enough. I asked for the chaperon, who happened to be with the young men. He said he was trying to get them to settle down. Took about another hour. Anyway, we were tired.

This morning, when we went down for the breakfast, we asked if the kids were going to be back tonight. The lady at the desk said no. I then proceeded to tell her of our experience and she said they had a really hard time with them and almost had to call the police. She said they were outside and inside running amuck everywhere. She even said that they have a group of basketball players that come every summer and they dread them because they are so rowdy. She said this group was worse and she had a new appreciation for them. The bad part was, this was a church group. Sad.

Michael still wasn’t feeling well. He asked that Lexi and I go to the nearest Walmart and get his prescription refilled, which we did. While we were at Walmart we also got our hair cut. We stopped for lunch on the way home at a nearby Steak N Shake (Michael got a salad, Lexi and I got a hamburger).

We left for Nashville to do our backstage tour of the Grand Ole Opry. The traffic was horrible, again, but this time only near the Grand Ole Opry area. This is a very big weekend for the Opry as it is its 40^th anniversary. We finally found a parking spot and walked to the tour area. There were about twenty in the tour and we got to see the dressing rooms, the area they film Nashville, the stage, the entrance where the performers arrive, and a lot more. It was fun. We even got our picture taken in the special six foot round area from the Ryman auditorium. Glad we went.

A viewing area and chairs were set up for a video.

Blake Shelton on video telling us of the history of the Opry.

We went through the lobby and out the opposite side and then back inside.

Huge, warehouse like in back of the stage area. Very clean and organized.

We each had the chance to get out pictures taken in the circle from the Ryman Auditorium. — We each had the chance to get our pictures taken in the circle from the Ryman Auditorium.

The circle where so many top CW performers have stood.

Called, "the walk of stars" it comes with star shaped shrubs. — Called “the walk of stars” – it comes with star shaped shrubs.

Minnie Pearle bequeathed the fountain to the opry upon her death. — Minnie Pearle bequeathed the fountain to the Opry upon her death.

Members of the Grand Ol' Opry get a brass plaque. — Members of the Grand Ole Opry get a brass plaque.

Inside one of the dressing rooms. — Inside the dressing room reserved for 1st time performers at the Opry.

The Yo-yo Richard Nixon tried to play with on stage, March 16, 1974 — The Yo-yo Richard Nixon tried to play with on stage – March 16, 1974

Dressing room dedicated to vetrans. — Dressing room dedicated to veterans.

Wall lockers in a hallway, the dressing rooms have no closets or restrooms. — Wall lockers in a hallway, most of the dressing rooms have no closets or restrooms.

One of the only ones with a bathroom, was Roy's. — Another dressing room.

Roy's dressing room, it has a bathroom, one of two out of the 18. — Roy’s dressing room, it has a bathroom, one of two out of the 18.

Lex for scale. Notice black bar on wall.

Star's shower off the green room. Looks like it would be real awkward showering there. — Star’s shower off the green room. Looks like it would be real awkward showering there.

Clint Black left his guitar in the green room.

Roy Acuff's home, just off the Opry plaza. He lived there for 11 years before his death. — Roy Acuff’s home, just off the Opry plaza. He lived there for 11 years before his death.

Lex spotted the WSM radio antenna with it's unique diamond shape. — Lex spotted the WSM radio antenna with its unique diamond shape.

We did the salad bar. It was very good, organic and expensive.

On our way home we decided to stop for dinner at Whole Foods. We’re hoping a more organic approach will help Michael’s gout and health in general. We all got wonderful salads and drinks. We enjoyed the back roads home from Whole Foods. We are now home for the evening. That was our day. Hope yours was great!