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A recent visit to a local restaurant found me waiting behind three wide bodies blocking the tea dispensers. Despite tilting the sweet tea canister 45 degrees they found none to be had, so they waited for it to be filled. It didn’t enter their minds to try unsweet tea just as it wouldn’t have entered mine several years ago.
All my life I derided unsweet tea as “Yankee tea” and considered most anyone who drank it from the wrong side of the Mason-Dixon line. I felt strongly that there was something wrong with people who didn’t drink sweet tea. When the South Carolina band Cravin’ Melon proclaimed in song that “on the eighth day God created sweet tea,” I was in complete agreement. Then one day I observed the amount of sugar that goes into making a gallon of it. Soon thereafter my wife had an easier time converting me to unsweet.
All my life I derided unsweet tea as “Yankee tea” and considered most anyone who drank it from the wrong side of the Mason-Dixon line. I felt strongly that there was something wrong with people who didn’t drink sweet tea. When the South Carolina band Cravin’ Melon proclaimed in song that “on the eighth day God created sweet tea,” I was in complete agreement. Then one day I observed the amount of sugar that goes into making a gallon of it. Soon thereafter my wife had an easier time converting me to unsweet.
It’s Super Bowl Sunday time again. I loathe this time of year almost as much as I do New Year’s Eve. Why?
Because there will be Super Bowl parties galore and I won’t be invited to any of them. So I get bitter.
Because there will be Super Bowl parties galore and I won’t be invited to any of them. So I get bitter.
I’m a walking disaster. Within 24 hours last week, I had blood bubbling from under a fingernail, lost a crown and wound up at Doctor’s Care with a damaged eyeball.
I’ve always been accident-prone. As a kid I toppled out of trees, fell down a well, stepped on nails and got thrown from horses. (One time I was bucked off, trampled and knocked unconscious for 12 hours. Which, now that I think of it, may explain a lot about a lot.)
I’ve always been accident-prone. As a kid I toppled out of trees, fell down a well, stepped on nails and got thrown from horses. (One time I was bucked off, trampled and knocked unconscious for 12 hours. Which, now that I think of it, may explain a lot about a lot.)
I am a sedentary sort. I am one who has adopted the deadly sin “Sloth” as a lifestyle choice, but I need to remain active.
I have no energy.
I have no energy.
Several recent incidents in the Palmetto State have underscored the dangers facing the men and women of law enforcement:
-- Scotty Richardson, a public safety officer in Aiken ,was shot and killed during a routine traffic stop in late December. Another officer, Travis Griffin, was also shot but survived.
-- Scotty Richardson, a public safety officer in Aiken ,was shot and killed during a routine traffic stop in late December. Another officer, Travis Griffin, was also shot but survived.
Who said it
Maybe you saw a newspaper quiz last week about “who said what” famous quotations. I got most right, except “Give me liberty or give me death,” which I always think was Nathan Hale but was Patrick Henry. (Hale said, “I regret that I have but one life to give for my country.”)
It is curiosity that fuels the explorer’s fire.
I can feel the burning that Columbus must have felt deep inside his gut as he stood on the shores of the Atlantic and looked west, pondering, “What is that out there?”
We hear a lot about lobbyists and special interest money in South Carolina politics but no one ever seems to talk about the hard numbers. So, here are a few numbers gleaned from 2011 lobbyist reports that are publicly available online at the SC Ethics Commission web site.
Read ‘em and weep.
Read ‘em and weep.
Finally, we have football season.
It’s cold and snowing in places and all the games are being played outside. No more domed teams are left. That’s what I call football.
It’s cold and snowing in places and all the games are being played outside. No more domed teams are left. That’s what I call football.
It is curiosity that fuels the explorer’s fire.
I can feel the burning that Columbus must have felt deep inside his gut as he stood on the shores of the Atlantic and looked west, pondering, “What is that out there?”
I can feel the burning that Columbus must have felt deep inside his gut as he stood on the shores of the Atlantic and looked west, pondering, “What is that out there?”
Lawmakers returned to the State House on Jan. 10 to commence the second legislative year of the 119th South Carolina General Assembly.
The House of Representatives approved S.258 and enrolled the bill for ratification. The legislation creates the office of State Inspector General for the purpose of investigating and addressing allegations of fraud, waste, abuse, mismanagement, misconduct, violations of state or federal law, and wrongdoing in state agencies.
The House of Representatives approved S.258 and enrolled the bill for ratification. The legislation creates the office of State Inspector General for the purpose of investigating and addressing allegations of fraud, waste, abuse, mismanagement, misconduct, violations of state or federal law, and wrongdoing in state agencies.
The 2012 Session of the South Carolina General Assembly began on Jan. 10 with 137 bills read across the desk and assigned to committees and subcommittees.
Public hearings will be scheduled on each issue. Depending on the up or down vote, the bill will move from committee to the House floor for a vote.
Public hearings will be scheduled on each issue. Depending on the up or down vote, the bill will move from committee to the House floor for a vote.
It’s over. Finally.
The college football season has finally ended, and never before have I allowed myself to become so blasé about the sport.
The college football season has finally ended, and never before have I allowed myself to become so blasé about the sport.
In Pickens County, the local “Meals on Wheels” program announced in early January that it’s teaming up with another organization to prepare emergency food packages for homebound people in case inclement weather creates hazardous driving conditions which prevent Meals on Wheels volunteers from being able to deliver food, according to the Pickens Sentinel.
In Hartsville, a group that promotes economic development in the city’s downtown area has been gearing up for a chili cook-off as a way to showcase all that the area has to offer, according to the Hartsville Messenger.
In Hartsville, a group that promotes economic development in the city’s downtown area has been gearing up for a chili cook-off as a way to showcase all that the area has to offer, according to the Hartsville Messenger.
During our recent move to a new home in Summerville, my little fur-baby Darla got out through a small fence.
We knew the fence was not up to standard and had a replacement one being installed a few days later.
We knew the fence was not up to standard and had a replacement one being installed a few days later.
Get out the soapbox, I’m about to do some preaching.
This is not a subject I’ve danced around lightly. I’m passionate.
This is not a subject I’ve danced around lightly. I’m passionate.
There’s nothing more refreshing than a good night’s sleep, which explains why I feel half-dead all the time. Well, not ALL the time—only when I don’t sleep, which is roughly three nights out of seven. And boy, is it rough.
Insomnia, thy name is hell.
Insomnia, thy name is hell.
I caved last week and bought a Snuggie.
It’s been cold lately and as seen on TV, the Snuggie is the ultimate in keeping warm and comfy. For the lonely guy the Snuggie will do when there’s no one else around to get warm and comfy with.
It’s been cold lately and as seen on TV, the Snuggie is the ultimate in keeping warm and comfy. For the lonely guy the Snuggie will do when there’s no one else around to get warm and comfy with.
Happy New Year! Next week I will return to Columbia for my fourth year as your South Carolina House District 94 Representative. I want to humbly thank you for the honor of serving you and let you know how much your trust and confidence means to me each and every day. There is no other place I’d rather be than beautiful Summerville, S.C.… except making sure that we have a strong Dorchester County voice in Columbia!
So, some good news!!! South Carolina is ending 2011 on a brighter economic note than it began. Indicators in the past few months have rendered several encouraging economic forecasts for S.C.!
So, some good news!!! South Carolina is ending 2011 on a brighter economic note than it began. Indicators in the past few months have rendered several encouraging economic forecasts for S.C.!
Before I owned one I never saw one.
I see them everywhere now.
I see them everywhere now.
I haven’t watched a bowl game yet.
What have I missed? I would guess not much.
What have I missed? I would guess not much.
Saying I’m slightly hard of hearing is like saying Rachael Ray cooks a little. I’m definitely deaf-ish.
Thirteen years ago my right ear shut down without warning--in the middle of a death-penalty trial. With one of the suspects on the stand.
Thirteen years ago my right ear shut down without warning--in the middle of a death-penalty trial. With one of the suspects on the stand.
The week between Christmas and New Year’s has always been a strange week for me.
It’s been 35 years, but Dec. 26 always stirs a familiar dread inside: Time to get in shape.
It’s been 35 years, but Dec. 26 always stirs a familiar dread inside: Time to get in shape.
I really hate New Year’s Eve.
I don’t know who has what against me but it seems whenever I decide to do something on New Year’s Eve it turns into a complete disaster.
I don’t know who has what against me but it seems whenever I decide to do something on New Year’s Eve it turns into a complete disaster.
So, friends…. This is the time of year when we talk about New Year’s resolutions. Some people don’t make any; others resolve to do one (or all) of the Big 3: Lose weight, stop smoking, make more money.
Me, I’m on the fence. The only thing I want more of is time, and God isn’t giving anybody extra hours in the day.
Me, I’m on the fence. The only thing I want more of is time, and God isn’t giving anybody extra hours in the day.
Around here the kids call it “ballin.’” Guys my age call it playing a little pickup basketball. Same difference.
There was more than a little ballin’ in Cross last Friday night.
There was more than a little ballin’ in Cross last Friday night.
While the Mayan calendar is telling us not to sweat the final 10 or so months of the 36-month lease you just signed, I’m not here to spout off a lot of Biblical propheticizations (I know that’s not a real word but it should be) at you.
I leave that stuff up to the other Dan Brown.
I leave that stuff up to the other Dan Brown.
There are many things to love about living in a tiny country town. There’s a sense of belonging; everyone knows your crazy Cuzzin Mo and every funeral is well-attended. It’s quaint and quiet, except when the goats go on the warpath or the donkeys down the road get frisky. There’s civic pride, too, with down-home fish fries and roadside sign boards that say: “Congratulations, Missy, on your first kill.”
Christmas is lovely in our town; there are decorations on all the municipal buildings and streetlights (we have no traffic lights, but our yellow blinking caution light is jolly.) Residents decorate their yards and roofs and doors. There’s even a Christmas parade and a children’s festival at the Methodist church.
Christmas is lovely in our town; there are decorations on all the municipal buildings and streetlights (we have no traffic lights, but our yellow blinking caution light is jolly.) Residents decorate their yards and roofs and doors. There’s even a Christmas parade and a children’s festival at the Methodist church.
Baseball has gone nuts.
First they invite the Houston Astros to vault from the National League to the American League West. Then they add another wild card tier to the playoffs, kind of a sudden death play-in game.
First they invite the Houston Astros to vault from the National League to the American League West. Then they add another wild card tier to the playoffs, kind of a sudden death play-in game.
On her birthday last week, a former SJS co-worker posted this status update: “At the tender young age of 45, I find myself entirely held together by (in no particular order) faith, hope, love, ibuprofen, bad habits, and freckles.”
I love it!
I love it!
Many are not aware of a cosmic force flowing across the universe. It is an ebb and flow, almost like the tides.
Some call it comeuppance. Others call it karma. Its 20th century forefather was Murphy’s Law.
Some call it comeuppance. Others call it karma. Its 20th century forefather was Murphy’s Law.
It takes 48 minutes to win a football game, and the Timberland coaching staff had taken up the “48 Minutes” mantra as their rallying cry throughout the playoffs.
I don’t care what anybody says, this game was over in less than four minutes.
I don’t care what anybody says, this game was over in less than four minutes.
I’ve written several columns about Nicky, the rescue terrier who rules our hearts and home with an iron paw. Long ago, I loved two other dogs: Elvis, the fearless pit bull, and Jezebel, the inscrutable Chow. They crossed the Rainbow Bridge years ago, but they’re still in my heart—and on my shelf.
When Elvis died I had him cremated. His ashes went into a rosewood box topped with a plaque engraved with one word: “Beloved.” Jezebel died three years later; I added her ashes to his because they were inseparable in life. The box, about the size of a Costco can of cashews, is displayed in our dining room.
When Elvis died I had him cremated. His ashes went into a rosewood box topped with a plaque engraved with one word: “Beloved.” Jezebel died three years later; I added her ashes to his because they were inseparable in life. The box, about the size of a Costco can of cashews, is displayed in our dining room.
I call this encounter, “An Officer and a Gentleman.”
It happened yesterday.
It happened yesterday.
They laid Larry Munson to rest this week.
I know to all you Tiger and Gamecock fans that may not mean much, but I lived in Georgia for 28 years, longer than I’ve lived anywhere else in my life, and like it or not, I listened to Georgia Bulldogs football on the radio. I watched the game on TV with the sound turned down.
I know to all you Tiger and Gamecock fans that may not mean much, but I lived in Georgia for 28 years, longer than I’ve lived anywhere else in my life, and like it or not, I listened to Georgia Bulldogs football on the radio. I watched the game on TV with the sound turned down.
