Of course Knoxville looks better and better! I mean, Not only because I live here, but because Jeb misses his hottest pseudo-aunt! And not to mention playing high-stakes Spades! 
What if you CAN change your own oil, but it's easier to take the truck down to the oil change/state inspection place and have them do it?
This strikes me as related to your post on Emasculation (Wed, Oct 20, 2004).
I forgot...I use hair spray, so too bad for me. I guess the beard is to compensate...
Hair spray??
I barely use deodorant.
How about when you're hunting? Hairspray and such tend to negate charcoal suits.
I dunno Bill.. that post was mainly about people who've only known me a couple years.
These folks have known me since I was 13 in some cases.. in other cases 18... either way.. a long time.
Most of the "new Nate" traits while always present, didn't really surface until I moved to memphis in 97.
Umm... I don't think astro hunts dude.
Kristy... High Stakes indeed.
I don't hunt yet. And whenever I get around to hunting, of course the hairspray would stay at home. I don't think I'd even take a comb, because I'd probably be wearing a hat the whole time. Mrs. Astro would probably have to hose me and the boy off when we returned home.
I am definitely a city boy. But I appreciate the country. One thing I'm looking forward to doing in CO is to go hiking. When I can afford the equipment, I would like to try hunting.
Must pipe in, because when can I ever keep my mouth shut. I'm one of those that knew Nathan in high school (which is why, Bill, I still call him Nathan). I totally forgot about the tennis thing, so it's good that you mentioned it. But I even knew then that you were a redneck...it's always been there. Maybe that's because you listened to Kentucky Headhunters or always insinuated that Nashville was a little too big-city for your taste, but "New Trailer" isn't so much surprising to me. It's always been there. By the way, I'm pretty sure you can be a good drummer and still find "artsy" to be repugnant.
Hairspray.. I swear to God.. before long we're gonna have men going to the mall for the shoe sales and using the bathroom in groups.
Pedicures and Manicures... for men...
Shoot me. Just.. Shoot me.
I love ya Mary Beth.
That was kinda my point. It was there if ya looked, but I guess Brian and Jim and the boys never looked.
It's not really old vs new at all.
If it makes you feel any better, Nathan, and I'm going to put myself out there for all sorts of criticism here, I'm having the same problem but in reverse. I'd love to move back to the South, more than anything, and raise my kids where I was raised, because I love my home. BUT, I've changed, too, a lot, and I don't know that my home would welcome me, or that I would love my home as much as I did growing up. I was a different person then, and maybe my memories are pie in the sky. I don't know where to go either. I'm with you, man.
Pedicures and manicures? Isn't that why God have us teeth?
Sure ya can MB. I'm an awesome drummer and find "artsy" revolting.
If it weren't for the construction I would love Knoxville. But there's more construction here than anywhere I've ever been. I've yet to venture out into the Lenoir City/Oak Ridge/Maryville area though. Those places seem nice.
um, "God -gave- us teeth" not have...
I'll bet you can find what ya want in Nashville Darlin'. I just doubt it will be near the old neighborhood, in the old church, or in the old schools.
No way I'd let my kids go to government schools like we did.
Astro, you bite your toenails too?
Yea, I'm not the only one! Can't wait to tell Mrs Bill, she claimed I was the only one in the world that did that.
Now all I gotta do is find someone else that uses tranny fluid as hair gel.
Nate, pay attention. You should NOT base your move on where your friends are. People move all of the time and just because they are there now and claim they always will be doesn't mean it's so. Move to where you and Julie want to be and raise your kids. You don't know where you will be tomorrow, (another biblical principle I try to live by...) and you will make friends whereever you go.
Actually, I'm not flexible enough to bite my toenails...I use my fingers to trim them back every few weeks.
It's great...nothing grosses Mrs. Astro out more than toenails... LOL!
I loved that recent toenail fungus medicine commercial. Grossed her out good.
SB,
come on darlin' you know me better than that. This is a factor. it's not the deciding factor, but it is a factor.
as for people moving all the time...
You obviously don't know my friends. They'd never leave middle TN. Not for fame or money. Just wouldn't happen.
besides.. applying your logic makes it seem that you actually want to raise your kids up there in Hell.
how can that be?
I agree with SB. Go where you feel you have a future. Where you're going to enjoy life the most. That's also where your most likely to find people you have a lot in common in with-- they make good friends. And the old friends will still come around.
BTW, how's the baby doin'?
Bill... Astro...
Y'all're just nasty... damn...
Where's Hell, SB? Just curious. According to Nathan I probably live there, too.
Nate I grew up in the midwest and nothing beats playing the snow as a kid. As an adult I've come to have a love/hate relationship with the snow ( I hate shovelling the snow more now than I ever did as a kid). There are many areas of the states I like and you can find decent people everywhere, you are just less likely to find them in certain areas.
MaryBeth,
SB is Vox's wife. They live up in God Forsaken Minnesota. Somewhere in the Twin Cities district... which I believe Dante said was in the 6th ring.... Is that right SB? The 6th ring?
Chicago definately qualifies as Hell as well. I'm not certain Dante mentioned it specificly though... I believe he just lumped the whole state of Illinois in there.
Thanks for clarifying that, Nathan. 
What's a friend?
What's a friend?
Someone you can call in the middle of the night... to help you move a body.
If that's the case Bill... Then I'm your friend.
Okay - there is nothing unmanly about using nail clippers!!!! (Now if I can just convince Chris of that...although I think he doesn't care about if it is unmanly so much as, it's easier to him to just bite his nails...ugh, either way it's disgusting)
Nate - if this is a Nashville, Knoxville, thing - definitely go with Nashville. Eastern TN is much better than Middle. And yes, I am prejudiced. And in the outlying areas here - like Lenoir City or Maryville - you can probably find some nice acreage for not that much $$. That way, you could be 'in the country' but close enough to the comforts of the 'city.' And Julie can work at the new Baptist Hospital West - which wouldn't be that far of a commute from LC, which is a nice facility. And when you wanted to visit the folks or your friends - it's not that far to drive for a weekend or even a day.
Okay - one more thing - Knoxville is pretty safe as places go. Chris gets on to me and calls me "knoxville girl' for trusting strangers here, but at least here you can usually, and it's a nice place to raise kids.
(I mean if I leave the car doors unlocked by accident, or go to the restroom at a restaurant and leave my purse unattended or something.)
I don't know if it's the same in Nashville.
RJK, in some areas of Nashville you can leave your stuff visible in the car, but I'd say lock your doors everywhere you go and park here.
Nate, thought you and Julie were thinking of Crossville or Cookeville?
Also, I think of you as the fine-wine sort of redneck. A good hybrid of the two sides.
I thought that's what 50 bucks, a couple of Big macs, and some illegals were for.
I don't guess I was expecting so much introspection from you Nate. Or maybe I should say so much introspection on display for the general public.
I just consider you lucky to have a choice at all in where you want to live. That type of freedom is not available to everyone.
We love Knoxville to RJK... Crossville/Cookeville seem to be the front runners for now...
but at the same time... we'd make MUCH more money in northern GA or Northern Bama.... or KY for that matter...
F'ing TnCare...
heheh
AP.. did you just call me a sissy?
Nate, people grow. Sometimes they grow apart. (Yes, I know it's trite, but it's also true.) Your true friends will accept that you've changed and will find the points of mutual interest that will keep the friendship alive. Trying to keep a friendship alive just on memories won't work.
Wherever you go you'll find people to be friends with (just make sure it has high-speed Internet access).
I don't think so Papa. I don't make friends easy. I'd sooner keep the ones I have.
Well, if you look into Northern GA, let me know. Lots of family down there (Jasper and Ellijay mostly), so I know some of the pretty places. Plus, I have an uncle who builds houses should you need it. Everything I've ever seen him do has been beautiful.
Stay outta Bama, Nate, please.
Behave Rebekah. Bama is an awesome state. You see black folks driving around in F-350s.. listening to Montgomery Gentry... It rocks.
Besides... you'd live in bama for an extra 130 grand a year too.
Maybe, but only if I wouldn't be forced to listen to Montgomery Gentry, too!
You can't move back home. I tried it, believe me when I say never, never, never move back home. Truly, truly I say unto you (little KJV speak) leave it to the memories, let them be as they are, not as it truly is. You are where you are for a reason.
You are where you are for a reason...until the time comes to pack up and move somewhere else, and that's the hard part, deciding where to go. And you're right AP, it is a privilege to be able to make that decision instead of having someone make it for you. The good thing about Nashville as I remember it, was that there was A LOT to do as a young person, and it was a really safe place. We traipsed all over the place and never worried about anything, and I don't think our parents did either. I don't think Nashville's the same in that way, now, although I don't know if there's ANYPLACE like that now. All I know is that I don't much want to raise my kids anywhere other than the South, and at the same time that thought scares the daylights out of me.
Mary Beth... Just because the media says everyone in the south is stupid, doesn't make it so. There is nothin' in the North that can't be found down there.
As for going home again...
I don't want to go to Nashville. But I believe you can go to a general area... Middle Tn vs East Tn for example.
Julie and I are country folk. We want 80 acres or so. That's plays a big part in the decision.
And Gregg.. I am here for a reason. God is punishing me.
Nathan, why would I think everyone in the south is stupid? For Pete's sake I lived there for 17 years and my whole family from time immemorial has lived in the south. Geez.
Nate, I understand, but if you don't have anything in common anymore, you will be miserable trying to make the friendship work with nothing but memories.
Besides, I can tell that you are the type of person who makes friends wherever you go. An outgoing person like you, with the stories you tell, will be welcome in any farmers' cafe in any small town in the US. Just realise that if you go small town, you'll be "the new guy" for the next 50 years or so.
Sorry MB.. sometimes I get stuck in "outsider" mode.
I just don't see what's scary about wanting to raise your kids in the South. I mean... Scary would be wanting to raise your kids in Detroit.
This is an interesting discussion, given that I'm fixing to move to Denver from Dallas. I also moved home to Dallas, from Houston, three years ago. A lot of it was the same, but most of it was different.
I know how it true it is that you can't go back home, also. My parents divorced when I was in college, and then my mother passed away a few years ago. So I have no "home" to go back to, even though I did move back to the same town.
Nate,
More like preparing you, I think. How does Julie feel about it? Do you have mutual friends you can be close to?
Speaking of home, Nathan, I was just in O'boro last weekend for the first time ever. Where did you go to church when you were there? If you did.
Nate-
Detroit is scary... I speak from experience. The pisser is being in similar shoes to AP.... what I do is based around this area. Time to make the $$$$ and get the F^$# otta Dodge.
Will:
Maryville's a great place. Not too small, not too big. And those of us who hail from there call it "Murrvull."
Ever been to Murrvull, Nate?
BTW, interesting post. It just goes to show that people have more sides to them--and are complex--than most folks realize.
that should've been *more complex.
MB,
Settle Memorial United Methodist. I'm a lifer. Did you eat at Moonlite? The greatest Barbeque on God's Green Earth! At least the greatest that can be bought..
What were you doin there?
Buffy,
Julie's torn just like I am.
How funny. I was there because my aunt, the one who used to live in Henderson, now lives in O'boro. She's the District Superintendent of the O'boro UMC district and goes to Settle Memorial now (when she's not at other churches). Lives across the street from KY Wesleyan. Yes, Jay's been buggin' me for ten years to eat at Moonlight and it was an experience not unlike what I believe heaven will be like. Yum.
Hey Nate, go check out my blog for my new post. See some of what you're missing by being a stay-at-home dad.
Two words: diversity training.
Awesome. It's a small world ain't it Mary Beth? Course... I wouldn't want to paint it...
...Make your shoulders ache like the dickens.
And Moonlight is what?...
By the way.. MB... Do you get those stupid post cards from Brent High too?
Murville!
Nice place. I like Norris Lake too though...
I was thinkin' west of knoxville... making the drive to Nashville on sunday mornings easier!
Astro...Moonlight is the universe's best BBQ. They have BBQ'd mutton and now I'm drooling. www.moonlite.com. There's some bizarre statistic like more lamb carcasses go through there than all other restaurants in the US combined. Don't quote me, but it's something strange like that.
And yes, Nathan, I do get those postcards from Brent. What is supposed to make them collector's items? Huh? And why will you be driving to Nashville on Sunday mornings?
Checked out their website. Looks good. Now I'm hungry, too.
UT on Saturday...
Titans on Sunday...
Predators at Night...
What I life I'll lead!!
No televised UT game in Chicago 
Yankees...
You can always tell an outsider around here by the way they say "Maryville" and "Blount County."
And of course, the best is when someone says "Len-waa" for Lenoir City.
ok, ...guys do get manicures here (not painted)...scary thought. and i vote for living near chattanooga 'cause i like chatt and i want to live near nate and dr. who.
Hey - I'm getting estimates on getting some nasty pines cut down in the backyard - Does 1800 sound good, bad, normal for 5 trees? I was hoping it would be less...but then I really have no point of reference for this sort of work.
hrmm..
I woulda thought a couple hundred per tree...
What do you think boys?
Reckon it's tough to say without seein' em though.
Y'all are letting a lot of stuff go unquestioned today...
No one made any suggestive comments about Kristy's "High Stakes Spades"... I figured I was gonna be talking my way outta that one for sure....
I just assumed it was some inside joke thing, so I was letting it go.
Yeah. About those trees. Talked to my dad and he said it should be about half that - and he had some done a couple of years back, but didn't get a card, doesn't remember who it was. So, fat lotta help he is! I guess I'll keep calling around.
Hey - does that Moonlight place have brunswick stew? If so, will one of you email me directions?
RJK,
Has something far better than Brunswick Stew.
It has Burgoo!!!!!
Murville!
It's on the way to Dela's Gap and they got a Walmart. What more do you want?
Does this post mean you won't be runnin' off in the middle of a shootin' match to go play 'pictionary' anymore?
You have no idea how ashamed I am of you for that. It reflects on your entire family, you know. Even the brother who just got out of jail.
Stay outa KY. I got a good thing goin' here and I won't have my pictionary playin', bottle wine drinkin', fingernail clippin' brother messin' it up for me.
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The proper tool for finger/toe nail trimming is a pair of 'diagonal wire cutters'. They leave a jagged edge that will snag on women's silky under things.
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Yes, because we SO love it when our pretties get snagged!
What is wrong with you all that you can't use freakin' nail clippers??
(I'll bet Vox uses them!)
Shame on you RJK! He's not here to defend himself.
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Wire Cutters My Ass.
I use a knife. Clippers and cutters are for pussies.
Vox is probly here... He just doesn't comment on anyone's blog but his own.
Vox needs a pseudonym.
Hmmmmmmmmmm.......
Told ya' SB was a guy.
heheh..
Don't think so. SB is way to comfortable with the Girl Chat. Vox may be a soccer fan, but he's not good enough to pull that off.
RJK will back me up.
I think SB is definitely real woman.
Besides, I don't think Vox would feel the need to 'defend' himself for using clippers because I get the impression that he is comfortable enough in his masculinity without thinking that 'clippers or no clippers' makes or breaks his man-status.
And just to be exact - there are still 3 syllables in Maryville - so that it's more like Murahvull. You can also say Mairuhvull (like hair) And Blount is 'blunt.'
I disagree.. I worked with a guy from Maryville... Definately pronouced it Merville...
Much the way that shelbyville is actually pronounced Shebvle
As for Vox being secure in his manhood...
Well... when you prace around in italian shoes, and play soccer...
I agree... clippers aren't gonna make any difference...
He could cut his nails with a plasma cutter and he'd still come off like a queener.
Nate my boy
I really need your help, I need to borrow some of your traffic. Now this is for the children, not for my agrandizemnet (however the hell you spell that) but if you would direct your creative ones to my home page under the "I need some help" Post. This is an emergency of the highest order. I have writers block all of a sudden. I have to finish tommorow night HELPPPPPPPPPPPPPP!
[sloppy salute at Gregg]
Reporting for Duty!!
Actually, the best way to pronounce Shelbyville is more like "Shovl."
Nate-
WOW! What can I say? Certainly time and places change people. Remember the Willie who stayed with you and Julie about 2 1/2 years ago on my way "up here"? Well, that's not me anymore. If you saw me now, your Skoal would fall out of your lower lip, and you'd probably puke. The clothes I wear, the music I listen to, etc. are all different.
As far as Nashville vs. Knoxville, all I can say is don't assume anything about the job market in either city. Julie should start now making contacts in both places-you never know-you might not have a choice anyway. My job search in Nashville was, well, less than fruitful. I might be stuck "up here", which i'm not necessarily happy about. Anyway, if you do end up in Nashville, and one day you see some guy in Armani Exchange jeans and a Calvin Klein jacket walking up your driveway, don't shoot! It's just me, Willie!
Nate: "... because Julie and I have to decide where we're gonna live"
Heh. The great state of Tennessee dodged a really big bullet, compliments of the USAF. Yessir, they almost gained one more bona fide Yankee!
When I explained to a friend of mine (who came from TN) that my wife and I would have a real problem trying to decide where to live, North or South, he suggested TN was a good compromise between them. My aunt and uncle from Ohio spend vacations in TN, and also raved about it, so we were seriously considering it.
Thanks to the AF, we were introduced to CO instead, and agreed this was the ultimate compromise.
Give thanks, Nate, that wherever you and the good Dr settle, there's one fewer chance of having a Yankee for a neighbor. Ha!
Cookeville, I've got friends there... nice area.
Scary would be wanting to raise your kids in Detroit.
Heh, you wuss Nate raising kids in Detroit makes them REAL men (or women, if they happen to be female).
They learn how to survive. 
80 acres is all? I am looking for at least 150, preferably on an island off the coast of Belize or Maine. Whichever.
And snagging my jagged edged toenails on my wife's pretties is the main reason I now use toenail clippers. Although with the jagged edged toenails it allows you to get a good hold on them... when you are playin' High Stakes Whatever.
I'm coming in WAAAY at the end of this and, having slogged my way through all the posts, gotten a little dizzy.
Maybe it's because I was born into a middle-class household in a small town in Texas, but my friends don't drive the biggest cars, have the biggest houses and have some terribly important job that they go to each day where their eight degrees hang on the wall.
What I do have are good, middle-class, working joe friends who have hearts of pure gold and I can depend on for anything, and have. I wouldn't trade that for anything.
As a side note, a good-lookin' man in a pair of jeans and a cowboy hat can make my thighs go all quivery.
Sheesh, you leave for a little while and people start saying all sorts of not nice things about you! Vox uses a nail clippers, but mainly because I make him.
So Nate, are you going to make one of those turkeys stuffed with a duck this Thanksgiving - what are those things called again?
All tongue in cheek, SB.
Nate's coming to O'boro where we will feast on Moonlight, pickled okra, country ham, smoked boston butt, and Aunt Linda's banana puddin'.
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Yup...
Don't y'all sweat it though... a'fore I go I'll blog on the Turkey...
Oh... and you're thinkin' of a "TurDucken" Darlin'.
Turkey, stuffed with a Duck, stuffed with a chicken.
I just go with the a big 20 pound turkey myself.
Kat,
I don't think any of us here are highbrows darlin'. Julie may be a Dr but she's got a gretchen wilson CD in the truck if you take my meanin'.
Just about everyone here started off dirt poor, and plenty of us still are.
I dunno... I saw Spacebunny's picture and I felt a little class-intimidated. No offense to SB, as she seems quite nice and posted a lovely comment on my blog. However, the last pictures taken of me were at a Comic convention in Dallas with Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca), with Army of Mom. The very defintion of NOT highbrow. LOL
As a side note: I just heard "Seven Spanish Angels" on the radio. (Willie Nelson and Ray Charles) I cry everytime I hear that song.
Kat - I don't know SB very well at all, but from what I do know, she seems like a very genuine, caring, classy individual, and you, by the way, seem to be the same. If you weren't, I'm sure Nate would have straightened you out by now. What on earth would make you think you were "out-classed"?
Kat, let me tell you a little bit about myself (Vox selected the picture for Nate, anyone can look good with the right photographer and lighting!) I grew up in a very small farming community in WI. My mom raised two kids on her own with very little money (never felt poor, but I guess by most standards we were) Both of my grandparents had dairy farms and many of my relatives are farmers as well. These are some of the best people on the planet. The people who drive the big cars and live in the big houses are also very nice, you just have to get to know them. You can find pricks in any socio economic level you choose and you can find wonderful, kind hearted individuals in all levels as well.
The thing I enjoy about blogs is that they are definitely an equalizer. No one really cares what you look like (there was much speculation on Vox's blog which led to the picture being posted) or where you come from, but instead, what you have to say. I try not to say too many stupid things, but as anyone here can attest, it happens with greater frequency than I would like! Vox is the thinker and the writer in this family!
Kat, you should never feel "outclassed" by anyone, ever. Plus here, just be virtue of being female you class up the joint as they like to say!
I don't think our darlin' Kat was feelin' out classed y'all. I'm sure she knows that class ain't linked to socio-economics.
Given that Res and JacIII both post here... I can't imagine how anyone would think the place was highbrow though.. I mean damn...
Nate,
I so appreciate the kind words.
Mom's computer has still got your name and email address on the blog comments form and I'm having a little trouble getting rid of 'em....
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You prick.
8-0>
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Well, the first half of our game sucked big time, at least until the last couple of minutes, but we pulled it out in the second half, and it was fun being able to relax for once watching a game. Then, we went out to see Team America, so all in all, good Saturday. Hope everyone is having a fun weekend.
Good to see the O rock and roll a little again.
I am with JACIII the closer you are to Deals Gap the better. Plus you can be a full fledged Tennessean again. What could be better ?
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