Fireworks but no BBQ

On Thursday, the 3rd (Ragi's birthday!) we went to pick up a sleeper sofa from a really cool warehouse that I'll tell you more about another time...

The sofa fit in the Element just fine with the help of a couple of well practiced and equipped guys at the warehouse and a piano dolly. Now when we got home, we realized we hadn't really thought it all through as to how we were going to get the monster up to the 2nd floor! (sleeper sofas are like 1000 times heavier than normal sofas - at least that's what it felt like.) (tip: take out the mattress inside the sofa before you move it! it'll make life a little easier)

We, Scott and I, were able to get it off the element (losing a shattered wooden foot making it a 3 legged sofa - hope HD has a replacement.) and up the 5 steps to the porch and to the foyer. Then we attempted to take it upstairs. After about 6 minutes of arguing who meant what and which left? we finally got an idea of how we'd do it and started the process one step at a time.

Let me just say that I knew I shouldn't have done this and that I wasn't thinking, and that Scott offered several times to be the one on the bottom pushing the sofa, but I didn't think I would be able to help if I was at the top. But I'm ok, I don't think there's any serious damage, just pain.

So, we're pushing it up the large part of the stairs, with the help of the cardboard underneath it's sliding slowly upwards. In order to turn the corner at the top, we had to shimmy it forward while standing the sofa up vertically. I'm at the bottom pushing the sofa and it's quite a bit heavy, but mostly manageable. While we were shimmying and pushing, somehow, in a split second, I (very dumbly) used my head to help push the sofa up... and right away, I felt something shift sharply in my neck and pain searing down my right side... not good. We were able to get the sofa up and into the room fine after that, but man... I was in so much pain! I must have pulled something or squished some nerves or something... it really really hurt. I laid there on the floor afterwards doing stretches and trying to massage it.. I was seriously wondering if I needed to go to an emergency Chiropractor.

Well, Scott massaged it a little and we put ice on it most of that night and it got better. It still hurts now, but more like a pulled muscle. I can't turn my head all the way, but since we're unemployed and uninsured, I don't really have the choice to go visit a Chiro right now. :( hopefully it'll go away in a few more days, if not, I'll have to do something about finding a Chiro.

On to nicer news....
On the 4th we went downtown to watch the fireworks. I believe Nashville's fireworks are rated as the 3rd or 4th top fireworks display in ... I don't know exactly, but it's up there. They were really good too. They were bright, colorful, loud, went on for about 15 - 20 min and were interesting. That's not much of a description lol, but they were good.

The highlight of the week was that I was able to connect with my friend Julia and her husband Brandon from YWAM. Julia and I worked at the Nashville YWAM base together in the summer and fall of 2002. Even though we only spent 6 months together, she was my closest friend and someone I cherish very deeply. I have a hard time making and keeping friends, but she's been close to my heart ever since I left the base six years ago, even though we didn't always keep in touch. Her friendship, genuineness, straight forward honesty, keeping it real attitude, 100% faith and trust in God has raised the bar pretty high, making her a tough act to follow! ... maybe that's the reason I don't have as many friends! ;)

Anyway, it was really wonderful to see her again and to meet her husband, and we got to chat for a short time before she had to return to the base, but since she's less than an hour away, we plan to see each other often. :D

We also got to connect with Cobi, a friend of Scott's friend Aaron, and Cobi's friend. Cobi is really really nice and very friendly. He's a musician and had I not hurt my neck the night before, we would've had the chance to see his band play. When Aaron told Cobi that we were moving to town, Cobi offered to help us move and unload the truck - without even knowing us!! How nice is that?? You def don't see that too often. Due to change of plans, he wasn't able to help us that day, but everything worked out well and we finally got to meet him and a friend of his on Friday. We had a good time talking to them, hearing about Nashville and a lot of good insider info on where to go to hear good music and what to do... We're looking forward to hanging out with them again sometime, hopefully where we don't have to yell over the fireworks to hear each other! :D

After fireworks and battling the crowds and traffic, we were hankerin' for some BBQ, so we went searching for anywhere that would be open on the 4th past 11... there were slim pickings and we settled for Sonic... not exactly my idea of BBQ, but they had a decent Chicken sandwich.

More photos and updates soon...
Thanks for stopping by. :D
B.