Last month, Angie and I spent a long weekend in the self-proclaimed music city capital of the world, Nashville, Tennessee! While the purpose of the trip was business oriented, to attend and participate in the Diversified Mortgage Expo 2023, we tacked on an extra day to enjoy some great food and also had some time to reflect.
There were lots of highlights from the DME event but here are four top ones. First, I was excited to be on a panel with my good friends Matt Gillette of Scottsdale Mortgage Investments and
Yonel Devico of Crosby Capital to discuss how we source product in today’s market. As an added bonus I met Candace Horne with Moondance Ventures who moderated our “lively”
debate.
But the panels did not stop there as Angie was asked to fill-in as a moderator of the first panel of the conference! She did an amazing job leading her panelists through the discussion of how do you decide which asset class to invest in. I am sure she will be on stage again in the months ahead!
For those of you that know me, you know I LOVE ice cream so it made perfect sense for Colonial Funding Group to be the official ice cream sponsor of DME 2023. I have to admit we were the most popular sponsor (who doesn’t like free ice cream!) if I do say so myself.
Finally, one of the true measures of a successful conference experience is the chance to make new connections and just as important reconnect with friends you have not seen in a while. We were able to do that over the two days. It was great to see some familiar faces and make some new friends as well and we hope we will see them soon at NoteExpo November 3-4 in Dallas.
https://noteexpo.com
After the conference ended on Saturday, we journeyed into downtown and checked-in to the Courtyard by Marriott to relax and get away from the buzz of the conference. Well, we quickly
experienced an increase of activity once we hit downtown! I have to say Nashville can give,
New Orleans or Las Vegas a run for their money on things to do and the ever popular “people-watching!”
After checking out some up and coming and should I say “wanna-be” country musicians it was time to refresh and get ready for the dinner I have been looking forward to for the past month or so.
Earlier this year, Sinatra Bar and Lounge opened in Nashville. It was a tough reservation to get as they only take them two weeks in advance, but thanks to Angie’s late night planning (and difficulty sleeping due to her broken shoulder), she was able to secure us a table for two on that Saturday night! And it did not disappoint. The poached pears, short rib ragu and slow braised rabbit were all amazing and the cheesecake crème brulee capped off a great dining experience. We highly recommend https://www.sinatranashville.com/
Speaking of great food Angie and met our friend and industry colleague Rob Napolitano and his family for Sunday Brunch at Puckett’s Grocery. Believe it or not, I passed on the meatloaf in favor of the smoked bologna and once again I was not disappointed. Rob and I host a bi-weekly “Rob & Bob” podcast every other week. Be sure to check it out on the link at
https://thefrznrope.com/
After brunch we took one last walk down Broadway, basically to be sure to grab some “goo-goo” clusters, the official candy of Nashville, for the trip home. As they say IYKYK. Being surrounded by everything “Country Music” gave me an opportunity to reflect on the
impact music has on our soundtrack of life. Growing up I can remember taking family road trips and my Dad putting in his eight track tapes that almost always consisted of Johnny Cash, George Jones or Merle Haggard.
So I started thinking which of the three is my favorite? What do others think?
Here is the “starting 9” playlist I put together of my favorite songs, three from each of these legends. Why 9? The Frozen Rope can’t miss a chance to making a baseball reference!
Johnny Cash
A Boy Named Sue – Live at San Quentin (1969)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOHPuY88Ry4
Starkville City Jail – Live at San Quentin (1969)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAhGLxOuE5U
Hurt – American IV: The Man Comes Around (2002)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8AHCfZTRGiI
George Jones
He Stopped Loving Her Today – arguably the greatest country song of all-time! No disrespect to
Nobody to Blame by Chris Stapleton or Keith Whitley’s When You Say Nothing at All.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1R2F9f2Cl6Y
She Thinks I Still Care
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pE1QYlATnGo
Who’s Gonna Fill Their Shoes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxHjRqnY7zA
Merle Haggard
Mama Tried
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=loT_pYzi3VwOkie from Muskogee
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68cbjlLFl4U
If We Make it Through December
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0AM6mb19os
Unfortunately all three of these all-time country music legends are no longer with us but as Luke Combs sings in his song My Song Will Never Die “It ain’t about the leaving, it’s in what you
leave behind. I will, but my song will never die”
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