News - Friday, September 2, 2011

“Do you like what you do?” Attorney Bradley Weeks has had nearly 40 years to think about his reply. But he still waits for several seconds before responding. When his answer comes, it somehow avoids the question and is commendably straightforward. “I have opportunities to help people, but I also have to do things I don’t necessarily enjoy,” he says.

Each year, study councils made up of principals representing nine districts from across Tennessee come together to vote on a principal of the year for the state. The award celebrates principals who have implemented programs resulting in significant school improvements and advocated for the improvement of the education of children.

Sunday, September 3

A major expansion and improvement program will be carried out at Newell Clinic Hospital, Edward Newell, Jr., president of the hospital announced. A third story will be added to the south wing and a modernization program throughout the hospital where needed.

In August, the courts go on summer schedule and a lot of lawyers head to the beach. It’s been an awfully hot summer, so when my good friend Dan asked my wife and I to spend a long weekend with him at his vacation home in Jackson Hole, Wyo., it seemed like a better alternative.

In football, there is no better time to have the ball. You can never have more plays at your disposal than on “First and 10.” That doesn’t mean that you have the best field position, nor does it mean that you have all the time you need. What it means is that you have four plays to get 10 yards or score. For purposes of this column, it represents a fresh start.

Over the past several years, the reintroduction of some wildlife into our Tennessee landscape has meant new adaptations in many areas of the state. The deer population has grown to a degree where its numbers are causing dangers on our highways and turkey have even grown to a point where they too can stop traffic in some areas.

As I saw the green plants in the fields wilting from the heat with their rounded red and green fruit hanging from the limbs, it brought back memories of my thirteenth summer. I was in Boy Scouts and took on a project to teach crafts at Ashton Woods Convalescent Center a few miles from my home. I remember being excited to get to teach leatherwork and other crafts to the residents.

Darwinian tubas. Kids in the marching band at a Missouri high school are wearing T-shirts that show brass instruments evolving from one to the next, with the inscription, “Brass Evolutions.” That is, they were wearing them until the powers that be banned said shirts after receiving complaints from some religious conservative parents.

“A man made the bet of a horse that another could not say the Lord’s Prayer without a wandering thought. The bet was accepted.” So begins a fable. Half-way through the prayer, the one praying looked up and asked, “Do you mean the saddle also?”

One of the best things about the warm weather that accompanies summer is those backyard barbecues. Among the assortment of food items that come along with barbeques is the main staple of hamburgers. When we grill hamburgers, we like to mix into the meat before making patties onion soup mix, an egg, Dale’s marinade and feta cheese.

I have always liked doing stuff. I’m not one to sit around and veg all day, unless I’m sick or having a bad hair day. Learning, going, seeing and trying are the kinds of things you will find me doing. You could add meeting new people to that list, too. What I really enjoy is hearing how other people make a living or some other tidbit that makes them unique.

In honor of the 10th anniversary of 9/11, see how much you remember of this tragic day in World History that remains an open wound to so many Americans.

1. Omar Rivera and Michael Hingson, who were inside the World Trade Center on 9/11, owe their lives to dogs. What kinds of dogs saved them? Bomb detection dogs; Search and rescue dogs; Guide dogs; Therapy dogs.

As a little boy, Robert Hughes dreamed of living in a log home. He’d even talk with his mom and dad about his plans to someday build and move into a timber frame house. When he grew up, he did exactly what he said he’d do. Now, with his children gone, he and his wife, Julie, are preparing to downsize.

Most Realtors strive to embody positive traits, such as honesty, integrity, and accessibility. They also try to be knowledgeable, friendly, and good communicators. Jill Hill is all of these things. At the moment, however, she’s demonstrating one of the lesser-known characteristics of a good Realtor: courage.

Soda Jerks Matt and Tiffany Rogers and Shawn Clouse have only been in the soda business for two months, but already have made a name for themselves in the community and are quickly spreading the good word about their natural and unique sodas. Pure Sodaworks came about in March of this year when the husband and wife team, were looking for a way to differentiate their five-year-old business of handmade cosmetics, Everyday Eclectic.

Now is a great time to take care of the exterior details that will make your home stand out when buyers first lay eyes on it. Starting at the top, make sure your roofing materials are functional and looking good. Gutters should be cleaned out and repaired, and any signs of water damage eliminated.

One day last week, I was reading an article about sugars, and how many different sugars are in our foods. I was reading about sweetness of the good, the bad and the ugly. Most of it, I didn’t care for, because even though it may be true, it wasn’t something I wanted to hear; however I continued reading. Eventually, I did get some of the “good” out of it!

Sitting down to see “The Help” during its third week in release, I was surprised to see the theater filling up. Most films peak their during opening weekend and then drop away, but “The Help” has been gaining momentum. Clearly, word of mouth has been strong.

Lead follow-up is really a disqualification process.

My objective should be to disqualify people from doing business with me; to evaluate their probability of conversion against a pre-determined set of standards and criteria. I have to be willing to let go of poor leads to invest my time to create, secure, and convert good ones.