I Gotta Go … listen to Robert Earl Keen

I’m a writer, not a musician. That’s the best way to explain my fascination with country music – specifically, alternative country and the work of singer-songwriters. I’m not much of a fan of that over-produced, impure sound coming out of Nashville the last 10-20 years. A few years ago, my native-Texan friend, Bob, introduced me … Continue reading I Gotta Go … listen to Robert Earl Keen →

Making your mark

Before I met my wife, I don’t think I could spell “monogram.” Now, it is an oft-repeated word and an even more oft-repeated embellishment in my home. Pillow cases, hand towels, diaper bags, back packs, purses, framed prints – you name it and most likely there are interlocking initials on it somewhere. I may be … Continue reading Making your mark →

Helpers

By now you’ve heard about Kathryn Stockett’s novel and recently released film “The Help.” The story looks at the lives of African American maids and the white women they serve in Jackson, Miss., in 1960. Stockett has obviously hit a nerve. Her book is currently number one on the New York Times’ combined print and … Continue reading Helpers →

Football dreams

Every August I have the same dream/nightmare. It varies a little, but the essence remains the same each year. In the dream, I’m back in high school participating in two-a-day football practices again as a member of the Lake Wales Fighting Highlanders. Similar to the college nightmares people report having about not showing up for … Continue reading Football dreams →

Peeled or fuzzy?

There are some activities in my home that would appear odd to an outsider. Take my 2-year-old, for instance. It is not uncommon for him to walk past, pushing a chair or other piece of furniture. This indicates he is on a mission to scale some book case or reach the top shelf in order … Continue reading Peeled or fuzzy? →

Have inhaler, will travel

I recently spent a week chaperoning kids from my church at camp. While they are all great, active, healthy kids, what struck me about the experience was that 5 out of 6 had rescue inhalers or allergy medications with them, including my oldest son, Barron. For the four-hour bus ride north, they had their iPods … Continue reading Have inhaler, will travel →

Babyface

Everyone has a beard these days. OK, that’s a bit of an overstatement. Most women I know don’t have beards, but bearded ladies are another topic for another day. I know, I know, facial hair has been popular for a while now, and beards have had many meanings throughout history. Sometimes countercultural, facial hair has meant everything from … Continue reading Babyface →

Some beach, somewhere

Southerners don’t just go to the beach anymore. They go to a particular beach. These beaches aren’t just the popular ones: Panama City Beach, Daytona Beach, Myrtle Beach, Virginia Beach, Hilton Head. In the New South, it is fashionable to go to a boutique beach with its own charming small-town feel. There are still thousands of people … Continue reading Some beach, somewhere →

Are we there yet?

Summer road trips have been a part of the Southern landscape since rednecks first discovered their Riviera on the shores of the Gulf of Mexico. For nearly as long, parents have been looking for ways to entertain their children in the car on the way to the beach. We’re just past Independence Day, and my … Continue reading Are we there yet? →

Center of attention

The only two homes I have owned – or, more accurately, been on my way to owning – have had a fireplace. And with the fireplace comes the obligatory mantel. I will explore the wisdom and necessity of setting wood ablaze inside your home in a different essay, but today I am concerned more about the … Continue reading Center of attention →