Articles By Author - Paula Travis
Travis: How do teachers savor their summer? Let’s count the ways
In just a few days, the school year for Newton County children will be over. We'll see pictures of them rushing out of the schools' doors, cheering.
Crosswalk confusion is rampant
I try to walk at least five days or more a week for close to an hour.
Children older than their years
I wrote a column not too long ago bemoaning the fact that my grandchildren were growing up. Well, I have more proof.
“Art” installations to cabin
Since I last wrote a column about my husband's cabin, he has made additions.
Newfound e-reader junkie
My husband gave me an e-reader more than 15 months ago. I was surprised. I had not asked for one, but he thought I would enjoy it.
Spring into the yellow season
I suppose it is never a normal spring. But it does seem like we have gotten more rain than usual this spring. Not that there is anything wrong with that as Seinfeld would say. I am sure we will be hearing dire predictions of drought soon enough, and all the rain we have had lately will be forgotten.
The dumps of home improvement
My husband and I have lived where we are now living for more than 40 years. More than half my life.
Travis: Grandmothers grow up, too
I spent two days with my Macon grandchildren in Macon last week while they were on spring break and their parents were working. It was a thoroughly enjoyable experience, but different.
Precious pet gets princess syndrome
My erstwhile outdoor cat Julianne has gotten used to the good life with a vengeance.
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Archive By Author - Paula Travis
A gift fit for a princess
My youngest granddaughter asked me for a pair of boots for Christmas. Wanting to clarify her request, I asked if she meant cowboy boots. She looked at me as only a child can look at an adult when the adult has not grasped what is obvious to the child, and she said firmly, "No, grandmamma, cowGIRL boots.
Visits from the wild animal department
My indoor cat is no longer with us. To make up for the loss, my husband has taken to inviting the outdoor cat Julianne, in after dinner to watch TV with him. We fed her on the back porch, and when she came in to watch TV, we did not shut the door from the outside to the back porch, just the door from the inside to the back porch. Then when it was time for Julianne to go outside, we shut and locked all the doors.
Expanding our youth’s vocabulary
My granddaughters who attend school in Newton County have weekly vocabulary tests. To paraphrase Martha Stewart, that's a good thing. The more words a reader understands, the better reader a person is. And reading is the bottom line (no offense to math majors).
Endless PINs and passwords
It's my birthday month again, and I had to renew my car tag. This year, I had to get an actual tag, not just a decal. I didn't think anything about it until I had to find my car in a parking lot and realized that I couldn't look for the familiar "ACY" license plate. (I told you there are several cars in Covington just like mine.) I have to learn a new set of letters.
Holidays on the square
I hope everyone who attended the annual Lighting of the Courthouse on the square had a wonderful time.
Travis: Holidays on the square
I hope everyone who attended the annual Lighting of the Courthouse on the square had a wonderful time.
Christmas shopping strategies
It's the middle of November, Black Friday is looming, and I don't have a Christmas list. My older daughter usually gives me a list for her family by the first of October. Her list always contains the name of what is to be bought for each of her children, her and her husband. She includes the place to purchase the item, the size or color, the catalog number, the price, the website and any other ...
Travis: Don’t believe the hype
My husband recently handed me one of his shirts which had a stain on it. He suggested that I try buying a certain product to rid the shirt of the stain. I explained to him that I had tried several stain removing products and had settled on the one I now use. I was sorry that the stain was still on his shirt and told him I would try again. But I warned him it might not come clean.
Varying vampires and their evolution
Halloween is All Hallows (All Saints Day) Eve. Traditionally, it is when all the witches and other supernatural spirits get to play until midnight. All cultures around the world have traditional evil spirits of some sort. Western European spirits include witches, warlocks, ogres and dragons, to mention only a few.
Battling oak tree roots and more acorns
Now that cooler weather is here, I have been working in my yard trying to get everything caught up before the onslaught of leaves that inevitably end up in my yard.
Travis: Keep charter school control local
I received a call at home the other day, and the caller asked if he could count on my vote for charter schools in the upcoming election. I told him no and offered to explain to him why. He hung up.
Dissolving education myths
I recently received an email from a friend which touched on several "myths" about the American education system. The article was based on statistics gathered by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (not a misspelling, the organization originated in France).
Competing on ‘Jeopardy’
My husband and I have very different TV viewing habits. He watches most sporting events, especially football, golf and NASCAR. If there is an old western movie being televised, he will find it. He will also watch endless reruns of any murder-mystery series. I think his all-time favorite is "Lonesome Dove."
Hopes of a sewing family tradition
I own a sewing machine. My husband gave it to me as a Christmas gift just after we married so it must be more than 40 years old. It still works, but I have cracked the presser foot and the top of the machine is a bit dented. I have also broken off the back-up button. But it still works just fine.
Travis: Common sense threshold
A frequent topic of conversation in the Language Arts teachers' work room of Newton High School more than 20 years ago was something we called the sense threshold. When the administration, county office or other powers-that-be issued an edict that defied common sense, we would exclaim in wonder, discuss the absurdity and intone, "sense threshold, sense threshold." One year, it was decided that we would not keep official attendance in our roll books; we would ...
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