Nashville Cats!

Beware of shuttle drivers who see the digital sign that says "Freezing conditions. Be careful of ice on road" and speeds up.

That was how I was welcomed to Nashville, attending the NETA meeting -- education from the group that really does a fabulous job of training, distributing programs and really making me be better in my work.

For five days, Rick has been giving Mr. Gyps his pets and loves and food while I'm gone. This is the south. Why it has snow all over is beyond me, but the whole south is somewhat socked in. At least there were no flight delays and all is well.

Nashville is pretty nippy -- the pansies are struggling.

Even the lions at the hotel entrance are dressed for the occasion! Truly Nashville cats!

The first highlight was Roasted Butternut Squash and Goat Cheese lasagna at The Tin Angel. To die for.

Took a morning walk through part of the Vanderbilt campus, which is across from our hotel. It's beautiful -- like the pretty part of MSU's campus. (We go from the sublime to the ridiculous in our architecture!).

Loved the graceful, solid lines of this building.

And this view.

There's a good amount of snow here, and I loved the holly berries.

Some interesting campus sculpture -- some obviously designed by trained artists...

Others from would-be sculptors!

Gotta love the sunglass eyeballs and the fork in the head!

Our afternoon sessions were, for the most part, large but interesting. An evening reception provided opportunities for reconnecting with old friends (and wonderful shrimp with roasted corn and butternnut squash served over grits. The secret to the grits, the server told me, is to make them with milk or cream; not diet food, but oh, so creamy!)

More to come!