I was kind of hoping that just maybe No. 756 wouldn’t happen.

Impossible as it seems, I heard a Christmas carol playing on the radio last week reminding us that it’s less than four months until the official start of the 2007 holiday season on the day after Thanksgiving. Rather than encouraging me to hurry out and complete my Christmas shopping early this year, it reminded me of Jimmy Stewart portraying George Bailey in “It’s a Wonderful Life,” which was originally produced in 1946 yet is replayed every Christmas season.  Stewart wonders what would make his life more perfect and searches for happiness and satisfaction in all the wrong places instead of right in front of his eyes.

Look out Judge Thomas O. Jones. The Democrats and Republicans, the ones who in the spirit of bipartisanship voted for “civil remedial fees” aimed at bad Virginia drivers, are bound to head off on an “activist judge” witch hunt soon.

Photo by Dan Kegley
Brenda Umbarger, executive assistant of operations at Smyth-Bland Regional Library, watches deliverymen position a new sculpture at the front of the main branch Wednesday. Umbarger and library director Patricia Hatfield said they fell in love with “Fallen Log,” a lost-wax cast bronze sculpture by Randolph Rose, when they saw it in an exhibit at a conference in Washington, D.C., in June. The sculptor had reduced the price, and Umbarger said the library’s friends group presented the sculpture to the library. The Randolph Rose Collection is based at the World Arts Center in Yonkers, N.Y.

This summer, I’ve appreciated the blessings of refrigerated air:
Cold glacial chunks of pink watermelon on a muggy afternoon. A jar of ice-cube-clinking lemonade forming beads and a wet ring on the counter, and which you hold to your hot face before swigging. The lovely, soul-restoring bliss of chilled chocolate milk, falling through the floors of your innards like a rich cold river, bringing old memories and hopes to life.
Then, there’s my car. I have no AC because I rarely used it in my last car, and don’t drive many long stints on the sun-beaten interstate.

The baby bird, according to my youngest, got hit by the swing set.

Beware whenever “the children” are used to justify some action, inaction or cause. You can bet that “the children” won’t benefit one bit either way. You can be equally sure that all attempts at logical conversation and debate have gone out the window. At that point there can be no pros or cons, only “the children.”

Be sure to click the "VIDEO" link at right to see a slideshow from FloydFest!

FloydFest kicks it up with Cajun swing

When I woke up Monday morning and had to negotiate with my legs to carry me to the kitchen, it took me a few minutes to realize what the matter was. I’m older than I was 13 years ago. And my body holds a grudge when my brain forgets it.