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.
This week, for more than an hour, I experienced a turbulent airplane ride. It was not fun. Normally, the pilots are able to chart a new course and fly through the rough air pretty rapidly, but on Monday, there was just no clear path, so my fellow passengers and I had to endure the bumpy ride. Normally an indifferent flyer, I ended up turning up the airflow and hoping that the bouncing would stop before I had to reach for the bag in the pocket in front of me.
Americans do poorly on world geography questions and I am no different. Just this week, I read stories about armies from Saudi Arabia in Bahrain, violence in Dafur (part of Sudan), and the US lead no-fly zone in Libya. I had to go look for Libya on a map, which if you are curious, is just to the east of Sudan on the continent of Africa. Which made me curious, because President Obama said that ...
Pat Conroy's latest book is one of my favorites. It's entitled "My Reading Life," and in 15 chapters, he recounts all of those individuals, starting with his mother, and teachers of one sort or another who taught him the love of language, the power in words and the ability of books to change lives. Those lessons have defined and driven his life.
Sunday marked the start of spring officially, but as always in our fickle clime, warm weather had already teased us in fits and starts for weeks.
It is not a beautiful day in Mr. Rogers' neighborhood. Sen. Majority Leader Chip Rogers (R-Woodstock) saw his beloved school voucher bill bite the dust this session. Groused Mr. Rogers, "We want to ignore the fact that our schools are failing. I'm going to have a hard time defending this one." Not really. Mr. Rogers, maybe public schools are failing because you and your colleagues have done a poor job of helping them succeed. Duh! ...
I've been drawn to San Francisco ever since I first laid eyes on the place in the 1950s. Some family friends moved there and would send postcards or letters containing Polaroid snapshots. The place just called to me.
More than two years into the administration of Barack Obama, liberals and leftists have gotten one of their fondest wishes. America is no longer the world's policeman; our will has receded and countries around the world are free to do nearly whatever they please. No need to worry about the American tiger; it is made of paper even on the best day and no longer matters on the world stage. All of the ...
The pace on the House floor continued at a fast clip last week as we closed in on crossover day.
Even in a family newspaper sometimes unpleasant things must be discussed. Women and children should stop reading now.
Most everybody around here knows 95-year-old Charlie King, and if you don't know him personally, you've at least heard of Newton County's amiable historian emeritus. Oh, the tales he can tell about almost anyone and everything that's gone on in town since he was born here in 1915.
I'll be wearing green and a big smile this St. Patrick's Day.
Our 2011 SPLOST referendum will be voted on Tuesday. It is only a continuation of the 1 percent tax we've levied on ourselves since 1985 that has provided funds for a number of critically needed and award-winning projects in this community. Think about our water supply provided by Lake Varner, Turner Lake Park that regularly hosts regional sports competitions, the well-used and popular Newton County Library, an award-winning Judicial Center and ...
This week, along with many other Americans, our family is on spring break. After years of beach vacations, we decided to brave something new and take our family skiing. After turning in points for flights, and determining what location might provide the best value, we are finally midweek into our vacation.
Tying up loose ends is always difficult, isn't it? Humans wish to project some sense of permanency - some evidence proving that we once actually mattered - into our existence. We are mortal, and we know it, yet we throw up obstacles to prevent us confronting the abyss yawing before us. We will all die, and that scares us. We don't know how to deal with the fact that we - all of us - will perish.
The pace really picked up in the House last week. H.B. 87 is a major anti-illegal immigration bill.