Blog

Southern Thing Columns

Who’s watching those microchips – God? The guvment? Maybe Santa?

This post links to my weekly AL.com column below. I used to think it was silly to believe our phones, computers and microwaves were keeping track of our movements, right down to the fact that we make our mac-and-cheese from a box and had to google how to do that. But I'm finally beginning to… Continue reading Who’s watching those microchips – God? The guvment? Maybe Santa?

(ODD)yssey

How a Civil War saber wound led to the creation of Coca-Cola

On a recent trip, Sweetums and I stopped at historic Linwood Cemetery (founded 1828) in Columbus, GA. It was interesting for several reasons, including its intricate cast-iron fences (post coming later), an unusual Civil War cannon and graves covered with bricks, which is something I’ve never seen before. STORY CONTINUES BELOW It is also the… Continue reading How a Civil War saber wound led to the creation of Coca-Cola

Blog Post

Hometown tour recalls muscadine wine, Wacky Packages, quirky topiary

While in Georgia for a family funeral last week, I asked Sweetums if he’d mind driving past the house where I grew up. The modest three-bedroom home was built in 1967 at 123 Lake Drive in Warner Robins, Ga., home of Robins Air Force Base. I lived in that house from ages 2 to 11,… Continue reading Hometown tour recalls muscadine wine, Wacky Packages, quirky topiary

Blog Post

The good ol’ days come ’round again, in 45 rpm

The other day I saw old-fashioned record players at Books-A-Million and recalled the Christmas in 1972 when Santa brought me a case record player and an Elvis album, the soundtrack to "Stay Away Joe." Not long after, I succumbed to the lure of Elton John, Cher, The Carpenters, the Jackson 5,  Michael Jackson, Donny Osmond… Continue reading The good ol’ days come ’round again, in 45 rpm