News - Friday, December 20, 2013

Malaka Watson always dreamt of becoming a savvy attorney. Working at BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee the summer before her senior year in college had only crystallized her intent. But, like most college students, the cost of tuition was a major concern.

The Chattanooga Women’s Leadership Institute on Friday, Dec. 13 celebrated its 15th anniversary during its final Leadership Luncheon of the year. The program was held at The Chattanoogan.

Founded in 1998 by seven local women, CWLI is a local non-profit, non-partisan organization whose mission is to increase the leadership capabilities and influence of women in all sectors of public life and private enterprise by offering educational, networking, and information gathering programs throughout the year.

As memory serves me, I was five or six years old. It was a week or so before Christmas, and I came across a closet full of items. The items in question had the appearance of being recently purchased. One item, in particular, stood out to me. It was a GI Joe. I loved GI Joe, and it was the only thing I remember asking for that year. I was very excited to see the GI Joe in the closet, and started visiting it every couple of hours just for good measure. I had a lot of plans for me and “Joe.” I couldn’t wait to unwrap him.

Recently, I was talking to two friends at a party, and both said they had lost weight and were feeling better. When I asked how, they said they were on a gluten-free diet.

If you’ve been to the grocery store lately, I’m sure you’ve noticed all the products on the shelves now labeled “gluten-free” (G-free). Have you wondered if you should buy them or not? I have. So I did some investigating, especially after having heard my friends bragging about their results.

It’s that time of year again. Time for holiday programs. 

Such as the one recounted by John Irving in “A Prayer for Owen Meany.” The one directed annually by Rev. and Mrs. Wiggin. The one that made Owen mad, because the little kids were “disguised as turtledoves.” In costumes “so absurd that no one knew what these children were supposed to be”! They looked like “science-fiction angels, spectacular life-forms from another galaxy, as if the Wiggins had decided that the Holy Nativity had been attended by beings from faraway planets.” 

Juvenile Court Judge Robert Philyaw and Juvenile Court Clerk Gary Behler applaud the Signal Mountain Middle School Chorus, which performed at the Hamilton County Courthouse on Monday, Dec. 10. (David Laprad)

KM informed me of the death of Joan Fontaine as I sleepily navigated the dark wood of my staircase last Tuesday before dawn. I smelled the coffee; Folgers, which my buddy Kevin Horn says really isn’t coffee. Kevin recommends I buy something called Seattle #4. But I buy cheap wine, too.

I can hardly believe it’s almost 2014. As the old adage goes, “time flies when you’re having fun.” This has never been more true for me. Time is flying. and I’m having fun!

I remember when I was in elementary school and we received “Weekly Readers.” They were usually four-page newsletters about new inventions and goings-on in the world. We would all get one, and our teacher would go over them with us about the latest happenings. I think “Weekly Readers” are still used in the schools. However, they probably use iPads and computers now to investigate that stuff. They probably read the online edition.

Realtor Geoff Ramsey doesn’t sell real estate. Rather, like a lawyer practices law, and a doctor practices medicine, Ramsey practices real estate. As his fellow agents know, helping people make the biggest purchases of their lives is rarely easy.

Pictured: Mountain City Realtors owner Lois Killebrew at the 15-year anniversary luncheon of the Chattanooga Women’s Leadership Institute. The event took place Friday, Dec. 13 at the Chattanoogan. CWLI is an organization focused on increasing the leadership capabilities and influence of women in all sectors of public life and private enterprise. Killebrew was mentioned as having been influential in politics. (David Laprad)

More Christmas trivia… Just trying to get all of you ready!

1. In Luke 1:20, what happens to Zechariah when he doubts what the angel Gabriel has told him? He rejoices with the angel; he’s unable to walk; he’s unable to speak; he’s unable to see.

As I was writing my review of “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug” in my head after leaving the theater, I realized I was going to sound more like someone who’s complaining about the movie rather than reviewing it. So be it. Watching these films has become a chore.