Category: Daily Life

Ramblings, often stream of conscious, journaling the events of my life.

  • And afterwards I’ll sign autographs at Market Square

    Tonight I’ll be on Knox Politics (Comcast channel 12 – Community TV) from 8:30-9pm. This is a live broadcast and accepts calls at 865-215-2288. The topic will be Knox County School rezoning, of course. The bloopers DVD will be on special for $9.99.

  • The County Wide Forum Powerpoint

    I had a request last night to provide the Powerpoint presentation online. It will officially reside at Knoxschools.info but until then you can download it here: community forum powerpoint. Thanks to everyone that showed up last night! Please keep the momentum going. We need volumes of people at both public meetings and once the school board votes NO to this rezoning plan, we must act as a community to help build the YES plan! Last night’s agenda is below:

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  • I’m a Pamphleteer!

    I could swear I have seen newscoma write multiple times about Bloggers being the modern day pamphleteer. Last night certainly showed that to be true. The Knox County School rezoning has caused quite a stir and last night roughly 130 people came together in a meeting that was planned only 4 days ago. Of the 7 organizers of the meeting, 4 are bloggers and others are readers of blogs. Even in the crowd there were mutters of blogging. "Thank you for your website" "I read your post" and so forth. Blogging can make a difference! Granted, these are words; action takes heroic effort and fortunately at least one of the organizers took that effort to arrange a meeting place, pull together a fact based Powerpoint presentation, alert the media (and we had media!) and get the right people together. Action also takes concerned citizens and the citizenry stepped up!.

    Cathy appeared on WATE twice, WBIR was there, and at least 2 or 3 newspaper reporters. There may have been others. Tonight I will appear on a 30 minute political program from 8:30-9pm (details as I get them). Through blogging, have we joined the ranks of Thomas Paine and Jonathan Swift?

    A big thank you to everyone that showed up last night! Brian Hornback has a recap of last night.

  • Taking any punches today?

    Sure. The Panasonic microwave we rely on so heavily runs for 3 seconds then turns off. That’s new!

  • Is the shell cracked yet?

    I feel like I live in some bizarre government sponsored experiment to see how much adversity a mind can take before it breaks. Build him up! Knock him down. Build him up! Knock him down. Give him as much as he can possibly take, oh, then give him some more. Oh, I know! Give him a job that requires extreme concentration, and has been documented that a 60 second interruption causes a 15 minute loss of productivity (see also), then let’s give him enough work for 2 or 3 people but give him less than a normal work day to do it and make sure that he is interrupted at least once every 3 minutes. Oh, and since he is in such a predicament let’s make him fill out paperwork for half a day explaining himself then let’s make a major, irrational, unjustified change to the school system requiring great and immediate advocacy to avert a 10 year disaster.

    Why couldn’t I get one of those cool experiments like sleep deprivation, LSD overdoses while listening to Justin Timberlake, determining the proper dosage of Viagra, or how many bamboo splitters can fit under a single fingernail?

  • I need some of that Comcast silver stuff

    I need to build a pagoda! Having one of those days where I’m focused but just cannot seem to move quite fast enough.

  • Ti Quan Leap

    Noah performs on Jack Butturini American Karate’s demo team.

    ps. I’m testing Revver so please comment if you can’t see the video for some reason.

  • Blogfest Happened!

    Last night was one of those nights where I just should not have left the house. Of course, here of late as stress has increased, and I continue to work alone, I seem to have more socially inadequate moments. For me the blogfest was a blur as if I had too much to drink by the time I arrived. I got people’s names wrong, botched jokes, interrupted at inopportune times, could not get some of my past to come into clear focus, failed to eat my meal, and overall was a distraction rather than a compliment to the festivities. Oh, we also showed up late rather than early and that was me too.

    I blame Evan! The child does not get restaurants although the wait staff seemed pleased that Evan was willing to sweep the floors. He tore through the restaurant as if it were a race track. Poured tea on the table. He chatted with strangers trying to enjoy their meal with the exception of the older gentleman and his daughter co-worker date escort hooker which is regretful because that could have been a fun conversation, "pardon my son for interrupting your, uh, uh, thang. So, do you measure those heals with a yard stick?" Evan was tired and doing his best to stay awake so I did the fatherly thing and drove him around until he slept but timed it wrong and he woke up just as I returned to the restaurant. Some thought I left angry but I was simply frustrated. I think Evan should have terrorized his grandparents instead of the patrons. For future blogfests, I will stay home and watch Evan, and Cathy and Tommy can go have a good time (and Tommy did have a good time! "Strawberry short cake fixes headaches and bad moods.")

    On the positive side, I finally made the connection that a fellow blogger happens to be an old friend from college days! I had to sit back with a stunned look on my face as a wealth of blocked memories rushed into my head like the failure of the Wolf Creek Dam will on Nashville. Better put a call into the psychologist and hypnotist. I have lost touch with most people of my past. My best friend from high school and college days who at one time could read my mind hasn’t even met my youngest child and has only seen Amy once. Strange how age, responsibility, and children pull us into our own little cosmoses. When we went to the funeral, we boarded Molly at Dreamcatchers. I had to fill out a form that required a local emergency contact and I struggled to actually come up with a name and a phone number since all the relatives were going to Parsons.

    Rich has the roundup listed as: Glenn, Helen, Tam, Friend o’ Tam (Bob I believe), Me, Cathy, Tommy, Evan, Mark, Lissa, Michael, and Rich. Cathy has the photographic evidence including the rain chains (see Jon) for Les.

    Let’s do another blogfest soon!

  • Marker Fairy Strikes

    struck by the Marker Fairystruck by the Marker Fairy

    Oh yes. Apparently we have a rouge Marker Fairy in our bedroom. Typically Marker Fairies dwell in the basements of college dormitories on weekends. Fortunately, despite my grand efforts, I never had the pleasure of a visit by a Marker Fairy until recently. Anyone want to wager why?

  • Blog Meetup

    Brian Hornback blogs the Beard to West rezoning

    It is always a little nerve wracking and exciting to meet fellow bloggers in person. At last night’s school rezoning meeting I was identified "You’re the juggler!" and an instant connection was created! It was nice being able to identify other bloggers as well. To walk into this room of strangers and see Brian Hornback was somewhat comforting; here was someone I had never spoken to in person but knew well through print. Blogs create bonds and connections that simply would not exist under other circumstances.

    On this Saturday, April 21 at 6pm, bloggers will be meeting at Calhouns West (Kingston Pike and Pellissippi) for good conversation and eats. I hope someone rented the upstairs this time!

  • School Rezoning? We’ve gone to the media!

    Cathy has been taped on a panel discussion to air on WBIR’s Inside Tennessee this Sunday morning at 9:30am. Be sure to watch! And apparently, I made page 9 of today’s paper.

  • Taxes Filed!

    At 5:23pm today, my taxes swooshed off into the ether. My good Uncle should be very pleased. Somehow I think if I had a half decent accountant doing my taxes that I would have faired better. However, they were sent and life is good. And to a few with closer insight into my life, that probably means a lot!

  • I really want to fix this problem

    You know how when you are base jumping and at that exact moment you plunge from the cliff you realize that your parachute is sitting beside the big tree where you had lunch. Yeah. It’s like that.

  • They made me sleep!

    I woke at 5am this morning wanting to leap from bed and jumping into the enormity of responsibility that lay in wait for me today. I was frozen. The dog lay across my feet. And Evan was using my chest for a pillow. My muscles ached from yesterday’s races through the obstacle course and longed to stretch or have me move about; however, there is no better feeling than the love of wife, children and pets. I convinced myself that, if I moved from the bed, Evan was certain to squirm out of it to the floor, so for his protection, I slept in! Yeah.. that’s it..

  • From the mouths of babes

    With a slow creak, Molly lets herself back into the house but fails to close the door. Someone needs to train that dog!

    Evan: "Uh oh." As he runs to the door, he exclaims, "Ess OP een" and closes the door for Molly. Evan feels capable and important.