Happy 2023!

 Happy New Year, y'all!

We had a fun get together yesterday, the last day of 2022, at our home in The Nations Nashville. I didn't take any pics because I was properly dedicated to enjoying the moment and the unique group of people we had in the rooms. After record low temperatures and snow, and rain, and wind, the weather took mercy on us and we had temps in the 60s, allowing me to open both front and back doors wide. The drop-in party was cleverly scheduled for 1pm to 5, and the 30 or 40 friends, family, and neighbors amiably killed a case+ of beer, 2 magnums and 4 bottles of Segura Viudas Brut, an affordable but delicious bubbly which is a staple of our home bar, along with 3 bottles of red wine and maybe 5 of white. We had sent out a Paperless Post invite only a week before, figuring if only a handful of folks showed up it would all be good. Turnout was impressive.

It all went swimmingly well and I am thankful for everyone who showed up. I wish all of them a happy 2023, along with all of you, which I am well aware is just another handful, but clearly one with discerning reading tastes.

This morning we started out the year with a bottle gifted by a guest, and sadly I have no idea which one or which couple brought this for us. Going from a packed fridge to a nearly empty one, save for 6 new and diverse bottles of bubbly, we figured that before Lee Ann had to go into work to oversee a store deep-cleaning by a new service, we'd better get started. We opened the Prosecco, which was incredibly cold and pleasing. I did a little food prep while my love sought something New Years related to watch while we ate (we settled on the 2018 Steve Martin and Martin Short New Years special. I plated a meal we have often, Nova Salmon with sides on an Everything bagel. DElicious:

New Years morning gnosh

As we ease into the new year, I want to reaffirm my gratitude to life for keeping me along for the upcoming next ride around our sun. I am completely blessed, whether by God or Fate or just (and I mostly suspect this is the one) pure blind Luck. 2023 marks the 40 years I have known the love of my life, and just how did that happen? Just lucky I guess. Here's a pic from the past to celebrate:

5 years ago at Couples Negril in beautiful Jamaica

That is all for now. I have a dishwasher to unload. May you be as lucky as I in your own way for 2023 and always.

Written and produced this morning

I hear this as a sort of Irish folk song, lilting and lyrical, and I may yet make it a song. I had to get it down this morning, inspired by the snapshot of a native neighbor's backyard set. Can you guess which line came to me first?

West Park, Almost Ready!

Took a little stroll around the new West Park yesterday, and I want to share my 8 minute Periscope with ya. The park is not open, its opening delayed by something in the order of 2 years, with no less than two scheduled ribbon-cutting events having been cancelled in that time. Go watch:

https://www.pscp.tv/scottmerrick/1ypKdYDdmRdGW#

I mention at the end of the 8 minute rambling that I would pick video back up but I did not, prefering to take some stills as Watson and I finished out our morning walk. But I am soooo excited for the opening of this rich community resource for residents and visitors to The Nations and surrounding communities. I wrote about this project at its outset in the fine community publication 372WN a good while ago. Congrats to Eric Henn, muralist, for gettin 'er done!

Stills from the rest of the walk:

Birthday 2017

As I ease into my bday tomorrow, it's the last half-day of the school year for students. It's a teacher in-service day the next day, then we are done.

I have been "released. Eligible for re-hire." That means I have my parsed out paycheck for my 10 month school year for 12 months, coming to me until the end of July, and I have insurance for me and my family until July 31. My school, the struggling Warner Enhanced Option Elementary School, has eliminated the computer teacher position: That's me. I am applying my head off, and I feel I'll fall into something great, where hopefully I can make more of a difference in children's lives than I was able to do at Warner. I'm sad for the kids. They need technology, and they won't get it without a geeky teacher, a technology advocate.

As I have often explained to the querulous--there is the city, the river, the stadium, the projects, and our school. Okay, I suppose it's not "our" school anymore after tomorrow, but it has been for a year. And this has been a year of eye-opening for me. I need to get some distance on it, and I need to rest in order to get the smile in my eyes. Stay tuned.

I will be at The Old Gas Station in The Nations tomorrow after work for their "painter watching" party, to watch Guido van Helton as he applies coats of paint on the Silo Bend silo. If you're around, drop in for a local craft beer and a hug. I'll be there from 4:30 or so until I'm tired of drinking free-on-your-birthday beer!.

Here's the even more iconic grain silo as it appeared this morning on my way to work:

372WN!!!

Just dropping into me bloggie to note my highly excited pride at being included in the stable of writers for the new publication, 372WN. It's edited by the multi-talented Miriam Drennan, and each and every one of its writers is a resident of West Nashville.

372WN's homepage

It can be read online in its "issuu" incarnation, but I'm partial to the heavy-stock, hefty, beautifully printed magazine itself, free in racks at stores and businesses all over West Nashville. So far, I've had four articles published in the first two issues, I have one slated for issue 3, and I'm working on two more for the June-July issue. FUN! Pick one up, or click one up.

Nations Homes Video

...and, by way of overcompensation for my recent radio silence from scottmerrickdotnet, here's a little video composed of photos take from New Years Day 2016 up to June1. Enjoy: