Why we do what we do (07/24/08)
Last weekend, I had my first opportunity to attend the Associated Press awards banquet with some of my fellow Times-Gazette co-workers. Even though I had not submitted any of my work for the 2007 AP contest -- for one reason or another -- I enjoyed supporting my fellow reporters who had won several awards...

Ledger leaves behind legacy in 'The Dark Knight' (07/24/08)
Mind-blowing. That is the only expression that comes close to describing my experience at the Saturday night showing of The Dark Knight at the Capri Theater in Shelbyville. While I've always been a 'Bat Freak', this latest edition to the 'Batman' franchise, in my opinion, blew the others away...

Turn off the tube, tune into life (07/23/08)
Due to circumstances completely within my control (I forgot to pay the cable bill again), we were without television for a few days last week. I believe, with therapy, we will make a full recovery. My oldest son, Scott, who is annoyingly saint-like with his vegetarian diet and exercise regime, didn't even notice the idiot box had been decommissioned. He was out saving whales or Zen meditating under Rutledge Falls...

Golden Key and weight loss accountability (07/18/08)
Several people have called, e-mailed or commented to me about this column within the past few weeks, and I thank everyone for their encouragement. One gentleman called and asked me how I avoid eating sweets, and the only thing I had to offer him was that I try to pray whenever the temptation arises...

Square's becoming the place to be (07/17/08)
I was very much looking forward to working last Saturday. Yes, on a Saturday. The reason being, Saturday was also the day of the Uptown City Fair, and I was assigned to cover it. John Philleo, my editor, and I set out around 10 a.m. to cover the fair and I was delighted to see the vendors setting up and old fashioned cars parked on the square ... people were beginning to roll in and it seemed like it would be a great day for the city...

Homebound mother wonders, 'Where's the beef?' (07/16/08)
I had to make one of those crucial, life-altering financial decisions the other day, right up there with purchasing a house, choosing a college and saying "I do." This one involved buying gas... Unfortunately, there really wasn't any choice, but having gas money for work means losing gas money for family jaunts. Since selling a kidney on eBay is not an option, we've been staying close to home...

Instant gratification is challenge to weight loss (07/14/08)
A little more than two weeks ago, I set some goals for becoming more healthy, and documented them in the first installment of this "Gut Check" column. My goals include regular exercise and a sensible diet, with added focus on the spiritual and mental challenges involved with this major lifestyle change...

Trip to Gatlinburg stimulates economy (07/14/08)
Two important dates were quickly approaching and my husband and I -- being the poor planners that we are -- knew that time was running out. Around mid-June, we decided we had better make plans for our anniversary, which falls the day after Independence Day. Because we'd waited so long to make plans and didn't have much time off from work, we knew we'd have to go somewhere fairly close...

Cleanup crew deserves applause (07/13/08)
On the fourth Saturday in June, a group of citizens, businesses and officials got together behind an environmentally friendly effort that has continued to grow since it's humble beginnings 11 years ago. More than 200 people participated in this year's Duck River Cleanup, which was started 11 years ago when Wayne Bomar and Aksel Jensen led a group of young people from First Presbyterian Church on an outing to clean up the river...

Fat guy gets off duff, with help from above (06/27/08)
If you're looking for expert advice on how to lose weight or get healthy, read no further. If you're interested in exploring the trials and tribulations of an average fat guy trying to lose weight, please continue. Throughout my childhood, I was a picky eater and a scrawny kid bursting with energy. They didn't have the term ADHD back then, but I'm sure that if I were a child today, somebody would suggest pumping me full of Ritalin...

If Liz could talk... (06/27/08)
It's the same thing every morning, or every time I leave the house for that matter. As I head to the door I have to block her from escaping. After I tell her 'no, get back' I turn, one last time, and say 'goodbye, be a good girl. See you later.' I wish my baby girl could talk. If she could, I would ask, "Lizzie, would you like a friend, someone to keep you company while I'm at work all day? Or do you prefer your status as the Queen B?"...

Torture never stops for devoted Zappa fan (06/18/08)
When the lineup for this year's Bonnaroo festival in Manchester was published earlier in the year, I was -- like other classic rock fans -- disappointed that the rumored Led Zeppelin performance would not take place. Having that band drop into our neck of the woods was an admitted longshot, but the festival still had an impressive array of talent: Metallica, Pearl Jam, Chris Rock, B.B. King, Widespread Panic ... there was something for every musical taste this year...

Koreans work hard, play hard (06/07/08)
It was about 10 p.m. when my Rotary-sponsored Group Study Exchange team arrived in South Korea April 23 and it didn't take long for the Koreans to earn our respect. We were greeted by true gentlemen and their kindness flowed into the next morning when we began our first day of touring....

Korean food odd; education system shines (06/05/08)
My month-long journey to South Korea concluded May 20. The Rotary Foundation, which sponsored this group study exchange trip, promised it would be life-changing, and it fell nothing short of being just that. There would not be enough pages in this newspaper for me to disclose all of the highs and lows we encountered on our journey; nor would there be enough room for me to explain how much I learned from my experiences on this trip.....

Better names come to mind (05/24/08)
Although I normally cover Bedford County Board of Education, I wasn't at the specific meeting at which the name of Learning Way Elementary School was chosen. Last week, while driving past the construction site, I got to thinking about the issue. It's far too late to change the name of the school -- I'm sure plaques and signage have already been ordered -- and mine is just one opinion out of 40,000. But I have to say, I'm really disappointed in the name...

The "Briefs" column .... isn't (04/26/08)
A few years ago, back when the "Bedford Briefs" / "Around & About" / "Area Briefs" column ran on the front page, we had a rule of thumb that items only appeared in it once, not day after day. In recent years, after moving the column inside, we've loosened up on that rule, and -- for the most part -- have allowed items to stay in the column from the time they're submitted until the event takes place...

OPINION: Graduation ceremony a time for joy, respect (04/23/08)
This column is to clarify statements made by me at the recent Bedford County Board of Education meeting. The Shelbyville Times-Gazette reported that I said air horns (plural) blared at last year's graduation ceremony. There was one air horn but I have heard a (one) air horn also at Community High Schools graduation a year or two ago...

Melodies at the horse arena (04/23/08)
Well, it's that time of year again -- time for me to remind you about "Symphony at the Celebration," the Nashville Symphony's annual concert in Shelbyville, which will take place Tuesday at Calsonic Arena. Last year's concert featured the Community High School band, and was a great success. This year's concert will feature the band from my alma mater, Cascade High School, and will therefore be even better. (I could be biased, however.)...

Sorry, no poetry for Mom here (04/19/08)
I had run to the grocery store in the middle of the day and on my way out, a woman who knows me stopped her car in the parking lot, rolled down her window, and pleaded. "Can't you please put the poem about my mother in the newspaper?" she asked. No. No, we can't...