Signs of the Earth and Moon
Memories are funny things. When one memory emerges from the recesses the mind, a chain of memories, long forgotten, follow. I found this to be true when thinking about the signs of winter, suggested by nature, from my father and grandfathers. I suddenly recalled other “signs of nature” made by these same, wonderful people. My […]
School Stresses
Beginning a new school year can be stressful to your child. Children have different responses to returning to school. Emotions run the gambit from fear and dread to sheer uncontrollable excitement. Most children fall somewhere in between, and vacillate between two or three reoccurring emotions. Some children hide their feelings, while some children act them […]
Music on the Town
Why is Music on the Town not on September 1st, which is the first Thursday in September? The first Tennessee Football game in on September 1st and so they moved the Music on the Town to Saturday to avoid conflict. The event will return to Thursdays for the remainder of the event date.
Twinkling Night Fiends
Parental pride is powerful, but it is undeniable that it sometimes takes unusual forms. I’ve seen parents proud of what’s in a diaper, how vigorously their child assaulted a fellow Cub Scout, and clothing the child did not buy, pick out, or look particularly good wearing. I’m certainly not passing judgment. Okay, well, yeah, I […]
So what are those round circles on some of the Olympic athletes bodies?
The round circles you saw on some of the Olympic athletes, like Michael Phelps shoulders, are from a treatment called cupping. The treatment is performed using various sized suction cups creating a vacuum to the underlying tissue. Cupping therapy is a significant component of complementary and alternative medicine throughout the world and is popular in […]
Tomato Season
I have been looking for tomatoes all season and there just doesn’t seem to be any. Was this just a really bad year or did I somehow miss the season? Very hot temperatures and dry conditions, combined with early hot weather, made this a bad season for tomatoes. It is unfortunate but many weekend gardeners […]
Teachers Thank Parents
School has started, and I want to take a moment to thank parents on behalf of teachers everywhere. Your children are a pleasure to teach. Now, I know some of you just fell out of your seat, so let me assure you I am talking about your child. Yes, I know that he used to […]
Greg Egan’s “Diaspora”
This week I want to review a fiction book that makes you sit down and really think about some of life’s grander questions: Greg Egan’s Diaspora. Diaspora is a book that follows three separate civilizations, each of which were directly created by humans. The Fleshers, as the first species is commonly known, is a coalition […]
Swann’s Marina Drowning
I head that there was another drowning near Swann’s Marina this weekend. I haven’t heard or seen anything more about it on television or facebook. Is it true that someone drowned this weekend and who was it? According to officials, there was a call about a potential drowning but it was determined that the person […]
Pre-K: Yes or No?
Parents ask the question, “Does my child need to enroll in a Pre-K program?” The answer is dependent on your child’s specific needs. A Pre-K program certainly is appropriate for all children, whether it is implemented in a school setting, private setting, or in the home. Your child’s Pre-K years are filled with tremendous social, […]
White Pine School Cafeteria
I heard that the students at White Pine School will have to bring their lunch this year because there is no cafeteria. Is this true? While there is a renovation and addition project that will be ongoing at White Pine School this year, it is not true that students will have to being their lunch. […]
Florida
I just got back from vacation, and I can categorically state that if Satan’s hot tub caught fire, ate ghost peppers, and erupted a pyroclastic lava flow, it would still be cooler than Florida. I have also determined Florida is entirely populated by a few very distinct demographic groups. First, you have the tourists. They […]
Lake Levels
I am new to the area and was wondering how long the lake will stay up at the current level? Generally, TVA starts to seriously pull the lake down just after Labor Day. Of course, that all depends on need, as local lakes are reservoirs and there levels are dependent on more than recreational seasons. […]
Hearing Loss in Children
Hearing loss can affect a child’s ability to develop speech, language, and social skills. The earlier children with hearing loss start getting services, the more likely they are to reach their full potential. A hearing loss can happen when any part of the ear is not working right, including the outer ear, middle ear, inner […]
Getting Lost in Dandridge
Do you remember when you could get into and out of Dandridge without getting lost? As Dandridge is a small town, you may wonder how in the world anyone could get lost. Well, believe me, it can and did happen… to me! Upon discovering that my car tags were expired (that’s another story), I quickly […]
Matthew Reilly’s “Area 7”
This week I went back and revisited some of my favorite authors’ earlier works. Matthew Reilly’s Area 7, is a high-octane action thriller following Reilly’s Shane Schofield, and is the second novel following Ice Station (which I reviewed several months ago) to feature Schofield. Area 7 is the most secure and secret military instillation in […]
