It's confession time - I'm in love.
I am somewhat dismayed by the efforts of Newton County's leadership to change the mailing address of Baxter International.
As a city-bred person, I always thought that life in the country would be idyllic: scenic, slow paced, clean air, healthy living, strong sense of community and more. Well, much of this is true; however, what I didn't know anything about was critters! We have critters here that are like an unending plague. We can control them - but rarely, if ever, get rid of them.
When the phone rang, I knew who was on the other end: Skeeter Skates, owner of Skeeter's Tree Stump Removal and Plow Repair in Greater Metropolitan Pooler. I can't tell you exactly why but the phone always sounds more urgent when Skeeter calls.
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.
Spring is here, and after we sailed past Good Friday and the risk of frost, it is now planting time! I've bought seeds and pots and I'm ready to plant something.
Last week saw the conclusion of this year's legislative session. In three all-day floor sessions, we considered 22 bills and resolutions, and also worked through more than 40 reviews of amendments and compromise positions between House and Senate versions of bills.
I heard the whoosh of a sliding door and the hurried clip-clop of a man's shoes on the tile floor, but I couldn't see him as the elevator doors closed across my view.
Are women equal to men? Are Jews equal to gentiles? Are blacks equal to Italians, Irish, Polish and other white people?
We are constantly admonished to live in the moment and decried if we appear to be living in the past. The past is behind us and cannot be changed. The future lies ahead, unpredictable and out of our control.
Just last week, I was commiserating with other moms of middle-school teenage girls about the lack of appealing clothing available to teenage girls and the appalling state of girl teenage fashion today.
I want to suggest to you that there are at least four good reasons why Jesus came to earth.
My erstwhile outdoor cat Julianne has gotten used to the good life with a vengeance.
Last week saw the House closing in on the end of this year's legislative session - we only have one week to go. The committees were working through Senate bills, so we had more to consider on the House floor. We voted on 38 bills and resolutions during the week.
I decided to let my remaining hair grow a lot longer than it normally does, and someone suggested I "must be in a mid-life crisis." Well, yeah! I've been in a mid-life crisis for at least 12 years now, and I have no intention of ending it anytime soon.
Last week you would have thought we were living in two different states. North of the Gnat Line, it seemed like Siberia. Even possums and yard dogs were hugging each other trying to stay warm.
Even before 'Taps' faded from Georgia State Trooper Chadwick LeCory's funeral people were wondering how Gregory Favor, a man with an extensive criminal record, could be out of jail to - allegedly - perpetrate such an act.
It's the third consecutive day that we have been snowed in. I had thought that I would have time to read, reflect and get organized while my two children frolicked in the snow. Instead, my days have been filled with cooking meals, cleaning up and doing laundry after changing wet, dirty, snowy clothes into wearable garments. We have gone through almost 3 gallons of milk making hot chocolate.
There's a scene in the epic World War II film, "Saving Private Ryan," that always gets me. The Tom Hanks character, Capt. Miller, at D-Day plus three, having endured 45 of his men killed and 90 wounded knocking out Nazi artillery pieces, has been summoned to company headquarters, away from the action, for reassignment. While awaiting orders, the battle-weary captain takes in the surroundings. Nearby, a soldier casually shaves with water heated over ...
The recent snow-followed-by-ice storm was unusual for our area. What wasn't unusual was the wall-to-wall news coverage. News coverage noticed that the interstates and streets were not being cleared and that cars and large trucks were stuck on icy roads for hours on end. The reporters did ask elected officials and others why prevention and clean-up weren't faster. And they got the usual litany of responses that it was a lack ...
Kids and canines love snow. Cats and codgers like myself have less use for it. Our Maine coon cat, Hades, ran out the back door to our home Sunday night when I was looking out at the falling ice pellets covering our deck. He knows he's not supposed to go out at night (possums here are twice his size), and he thought he'd pulled off some great escape, until halfway down ...
To Nicholas Wansley and Brian and Thomas Yarbrough: If my abacus is working properly, this is the 12th year I have dispensed some grandfatherly advice to you in the hopes that something I tell you will be helpful as you step out into a world that looks a lot more complicated than the one I encountered at your age. When I first started this annual correspondence, you were learning to ride ...
"My first memory of a congressional swearing in dates to Jan. 3, 1979, when members of the 96th Congress took the oath. My father, Newt Gingrich, was among them. After losses in 1974 and 1976, he had finally won the seat for Georgia's 6th Congressional District, to become the sole Republican congressman or senator from Georgia.
And a pleasant Sunday morning to one and all. I'll make this one short, sweet, simple and to the point.
It's a good thing I'm writing this column on deadline after a rare good night's sleep. You would have found me in a groggy state and bad mood otherwise.
We here at The Covington News strive to be your go-to source for what's happening around Newton County.
Oh great. Now, the Obama administration is getting involved in public education in Georgia.
Here we are, ringing in yet another New Year. It's time for the annual wringing of hands at remembrances of ironclad resolutions made 12 months ago which somehow went unfulfilled. I planned to drop 60 pounds in 2010, but the scales report a 10-pound gain. The scales are probably wrong, after all, they're made in China. Obviously, something was lost in translation, although my girth is evidence of what was not. ...
If you're really into organization, if you're really into time management, if you really believe that "to everything there is a time and a season," then your Christmas decorations are back in storage in the attic, the Christmas tree has been tagged for the chipper, thank-you notes have been written, and the refrigerator is sparkling and clean, nary a leftover to be found.
Good grief! I haven't gotten used to writing 2010 yet and 2011 is here.