Opryland

D and I arrived yesterday evening after driving hours through severe thunderstorm and flash flood warnings. At least by the time we got to the hotel, the tornado warnings had been relaxed and they had let folks back into the atriums (atria?) - of which this place has several big ones. I might worry as much about big hail stones as about twisters.

The Gaylord Opryland is a huge hotel - maybe one of the biggest in the world that isn't a casino. It's sort of a grown up Disneyland - no rides, but lots of waterfalls and shrubbery and overpriced stores. Sort of like really big cruise ship that ran aground on the Cumberland River.

We were here four years ago and must have raved so much about this mega-bubble that M decided to come out and join us this time. Bad weather screwed up her connection, so she spent last night in a Ramada near Dallas, but she arrived on a morning flight around lunchtime today.

The main event began this afternoon and right now over 5000 players from all over the country, of all skills and grades, are in the second of their seven rounds.