Go Sally Go

09/08/2026

We started off at Milktooth for breakfast. Highly recommend. It’s near Idle Park, so make it a combo.

Not too far down the road was the Gas Station Signs Museum, a free outdoor grassy lot with a spinning metal star perfectly anchoring the space that houses a massive collection of signs from every brand.

Then before long, Big John in Franklin, IN rounded out our Indiana experience. We couldn’t have asked for a more entertaining drive down I-65.

You won’t see a Kentucky post because we drove straight through this time to get back to Nashville. Kentucky is worthy of a solo road trip on its own.

09/07/2026

Keaton’s first time in Chicago. ❤️

I love this city. In fact, I think I could live here before I could live in New York.

Keaton? He’s not so sure. 😂 It was a LOT for him—and we barely scratched the surface.

With hotels in the city starting around $1,000 a night, we backed it all the way up to O’Hare and took the 45-minute train downtown. Honestly, that became part of the experience. We got a little taste of what it would be like to live outside the city and commute in.

We packed in as much Chicago as we could: The Bean, pizza (obviously), Trump Tower, the Riverwalk, and the Art Institute.

Not a bad introduction.

I could’ve stayed another week.

Keaton has seen enough buildings.

09/07/2026

It’s true. I’ve lived in Nashville for almost 35 years and downtown for the last 17. There has been growth and renovation all this time.

I recall when going downtown was a NO. It was too dangerous.

When Ga***rd Entertainment opened the Wildhorse Saloon, it exploded with tourists and locals alike once they put it on their TV channel CMT - Country Music Television. But hotels always sent shuttles or directed the taxis to only drop you at the front door.

Then the renovations came and created what we see today.

And around 17 years ago when we moved downtown, the daily 150-200 people moving to Nashville per DAY started and hasn’t stopped. We’ve now doubled in population from 1 million metro area to 2 million. City from 500K to 1M.

So back to my car. Where is it again?

Wildhorse Saloon CMT Wildhorse Saloon CMT

09/06/2026

The funniest blooper I’ve ever seen happened on QVC this summer. The host was demonstrating a wig for sale LIVE on TV, so there was no coming back from the mistake. May it live on and on in our memories as a hilarious moment in time. QVC

09/05/2026

We thoroughly enjoyed meeting Judy and her ‘hot and dangerous’ pancakes. The omelette was to die for, and we’ll be on Judy’s social media soon hopefully. Her social media manager took this photo for us.

Now we are in Chicago, soon to hit the river walk. We had to pay $77 for parking!

More adventures to come!

09/05/2026

Let me tell ya a little story. 🥞

My nephew and I decided to take a road trip from Nashville, Tennessee, to Galesburg, Illinois, for one very important reason:

We wanted to try Judy’s pancakes.

But that wasn’t really the whole truth.

We secretly wanted to meet Judy. 😂

So we drove for two days, wandered around looking for weird things along the way, found a giant fork in the road stuck in a piece of cake, and discovered that apparently I snore with considerably more enthusiasm than I realized.

Then last night, we showed up for Chinese food.

And there she was.

Judy. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

Not posing for a video. Not making pancakes for Instagram. Just working away behind the counter, sitting at the computer, taking care of business and making the whole thing work.

And we got to meet her. ❤️

This morning, we’re going back for the pancakes—the famous ones that started this whole ridiculous road trip in the first place. There will probably be a wait. We don’t care.

Because this trip was never really just about pancakes.

It was about getting in the car and doing something different. Seeing what we could find along the way. Laughing at silly things. Meeting somebody we’ve watched from afar and discovering she really is there, behind the counter, doing the work.

We could’ve stayed home and cooked out for Labor Day.

Instead, we drove to Galesburg to meet Judy.

And now…

Judy, where you at?

We coming for those pancakes. 🥞😂

LaborDayWeekend

09/04/2026

09/02/2026

Today is too hot for makeup. It’s supposed to reach 100°.

09/01/2026

The best decision I ever made was booking this photo shoot with Mom.

Somehow, I had a feeling our time with her was getting shorter. Getting her wheelchair into this beautiful little setting in Berry Hill wasn’t easy, but we did it.

She complained that she looked old.

I thought she looked beautiful.

Today, while cleaning out my closet, I found the photo album from that day. I stopped cleaning and started turning pages.

Of all the things I’ve spent money on in my life, this may have been the best purchase I ever made. Mom died the next year.

Take the pictures. Even when it’s inconvenient. Even when someone complains. Even when you think there will be plenty of time for another one.

Sometimes a photograph becomes the place you get to visit someone again. ❤️

09/01/2026

The Lady Next Door

The lady next door leans back.
Nashville has kept her busy today—
caring, tending, doing,
being there for everyone else.

Now it’s her turn.

Maybe she’s basking in the sun,
sinking into a warm bath,
or curled beneath a blanket
in her favorite chair.

Wherever she is,
the trash can wait.
So can the dishes.
And laundry?
Laundry has never once
had the decency to stay done.

Someday machines will do it all,
and people will laugh
that we once spent our lives
sorting socks and scrubbing plates—
chores from the olden days.

But life isn’t waiting for someday.

It’s passing quickly
on the streets below her.

She sees it.
She knows it.

And for now,
she pays it no mind.

The lady next door leans back
and practices the quiet art
of caring for no one
but herself.