After spending several days dealing with the effects of a stomach bug, I have finally felt good enough to get back to writing more of my review of my 2019 memories.
This post I will countdown from 13 to 8. Just a reminder, I wrote detailed posts about most of these memories. Feel free to go back and read them for yourself.
13. Comedy Nights
This memory is a combination of 3 different events that took place throughout the year.
My trip to the Huckabee show wasn't the only time I went to see a stand up comic perform.
The first week of May, Paula and I went to Zanie's in Nashville to see one of our favorite comics from the NBC show, America's Got Talent, Preacher Lawson.
The place was pretty crowded. For only the 2nd time ever we had to sit in the balcony. This was our view.
Preacher is a very funny comic and connects with his audience as a likable guy. That's a big part of his appeal.
Three months later I found myself back at Zanies again. This time to attend the graduation performance of Rik Roberts latest class from his School of Laughs.
I've attended several of these nights before but this one was unique in that I knew one of the performers, June Colson.
June Colson, who I know from Oakland Baptist Church, has been pursing a career in stand up for a few years. This year she really took some big steps forward. Taking Rik's comedy classes was one of them.
June would go on to organize and produce her own comedy show at a local church in early October.
She called it "Let There Be Laughter." I went to the show to both support June once again and see one of my very favorite stand ups, Robert G. Lee.
Christy Conder was the opener, June was the featured comic and Robert G. Lee ended the show as the headliner.
I got to talk quite a bit with Mr. Lee after the show. It was a very enjoyable evening.
The combination of these 3 comedy nights will be a memory of 2019 that will always make me smile.
12. Ikea & Indy Dis Meet
This is one of two things on this list that have some negative memories connected to them. Overall though, the event was positive and is among my favorite memories of the year.
On Friday September 20, I drove to Indianapolis, IN to attend the Indy Dis Meet the next day.
On Friday September 20, I drove to Indianapolis, IN to attend the Indy Dis Meet the next day.
I went the day before so I could visit the local IKEA store. I went out of curiosity and to try the meatballs. They were pretty good and reasonably priced.
An online hotel reservation mix up left me without a hotel room for the night. I ended up traveling around town a bit before finally getting a place to spend the night. Not a pleasant experience at all.
The Dis Meet event itself was a lot of fun and I met a lot of new people.
I covered the event in 3 posts back in September. Here's the links to those posts for the details.
The IKEA Experience
Indy Hotel Hassel
2019 Indy Dis Meet
11. A Wedding In Branson, MO
Branson has been a place Paula and I have talked about going for several years now.
This past June, we drove the 10 hours to the Ozarks to attend the wedding of the youngest daughter of our friends Patty & Mark Quigley.
The wedding, reception and all the fun we had hanging out with our friends was well worth the trip. It was interesting to finally meet and get to know their family and friends as well.
As far as really getting to enjoy Branson and all it has to offer was concerned it was way too short a visit.
We weren't that impressed with the overall area. It seemed to get anywhere you had to walk up a hill. Not something you want to have to do on vacation.
The best touristy things we did was go to the world's largest toy museum and to the Jim Stafford theater to see his show.
I can't tell you how much I enjoyed that whole night. Experiencing Mr. Stafford's talents in person and meeting him was one of the best things that's happened in a while.
10. August Trip To Orlando
I start my top 10 memories for 2019, with the most spontaneous vacation Paula and I have ever taken (other than our '06 trip to Walt Disney World with our granddaughter). We didn't make the decision to go until early July. It was actually 2 vacations and a business trip within a 5 day getaway.
The first significant aspect of this drive was stopping in Georgia to spend the night at a hotel both coming and going. It was an experiment that has now changed the way we will approach such long trips.
The main reason for this trip was for my wife to attend the Color Street national conference. She worked with such focus and excitement that entire weekend.
The experience of being among thousands of people all over the top about Color Street was remarkable.
The 3rd branch of this get away was my 2nd solo trip to Walt Disney World.
On Friday August 16, after driving 250 miles and checking into our hotel, I went to the very first Halloween Party at the Magic Kingdom. This was the first time I'd ever had the opportunity to be at the premier of any Disney event so I felt I had to go.
Overall I had a good time but the combination of the long day and all the walking and standing required that goes with time in the Magic Kingdom took it's toll.
By the time the end of the night came I was exhausted. The next day I went to Disney Springs but was once again barely able to walk around because I was so physically tired.
This really put a damper on my zeal for Disney parks for a while. But in hindsight I realize that I can make changes and preparations that could make my next trip much better. And there's a good possibility that the next one may be to Disneyland. But only time will tell.
The unique aspect and memory for me about this time in WDW was my first ever sighting of a couple of cats on Disney property. One at the Halloween Party...
and the other at Disney Springs.
Overall the trip to Orlando was a big success and a turning point in Paula's new career. More on that later.
Of course, any time spent in Walt Disney World is better than just about anywhere else; even when you're exhausted.
9. Ray Stevens' Cabaray Showroom
On October 25 I took my daughter-in-law Heather to see Ray Stevens perform at his private showroom in Nashville.
Ever since the place opened in 2018 I wanted to go to this dinner show. I was lucky enough to find out that Heather is also a fan of Ray Stevens. So as an early Christmas present I took her to see the show.
We had a good night out together. It was the first time we had ever done anything with just the two of us. Plus we got to meet Ray Stevens. Her first time and my 2nd.
8. Edmonson County Library Show
Sometimes you never know where your memories are going to come from. Thus is the case with this 1st of a pair of top 10 memories that involve ventriloquism.
Thanks to a friend's recommendation, in June, I was hired to present a vent show to launch the Edmonson County Library's summer reading program.
While preparing for this show, I decided that I'd, not only take my granddaughter, Aria, with me but get her involved in the show. It was one of the best decisions I made all year. It was an amazing bonding experience for Aria and me.
She had a great time. Some of my favorite pictures of the year were taken that day. Just look at the expression on her face.
And in this one as well.
Those two shots are why it's my #8 favorite memory of 2019.
This brings me to the end of part 2 of my countdown.
Once again, feel free to go back thru my posts to get all the details on these first 11 memories.
I will be back next time with the final 7. They will include: travels to the midwest and the mountains, a water day, an award winning performance. See you then.
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