10 things you should know before visiting Nashville

I've lived in Middle Tennessee 23 years, since 1990.  Next year (2014), my Tennessee total will constitute half of my life, since I'll be 48 then.  So while I'm not a native, I've been around here long enough to be dangerous. Over the…

That first step is a doozy

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Well, you can't say it hasn't been an interesting week. Tuesday morning, March 26, I was awakened not by my alarm clock, but by three mini-ninjas creeping into our quite-dark bedroom and pile-driving me to the strains of "Happy Birthday."…

Coffee karma

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In my Dec. 18 blog, "What to do about it," I offered several simple ways for us to get our minds off the Sandy Hook tragedy, like purchasing coffee for the person behind you in a Starbuck's drive-thru.  Holly and I did this several times…

The Smart Phone-omenon

The "Smart Phone-omenon," as I call it, is more about behavior and less about technology.  There are plenty of good things about smart phones. They keep us in touch with our loved ones. They provide a added level of safety during…

I wanna be Dick Proenneke when I grow up

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"Alone in the Wilderness," the documentary about Alaskan naturalist Richard "Dick" Proenneke (pronounced prin-uh-key) is one of the most remarkable films ever made, in my estimation. Yes, I know that's an ambitious statement, but I stand…

It’s official: I’m rich!

Great news to report!  Today, I decided to take a closer look at the barrage of emails I've been receiving lately, and boy, am I glad I did —  I appear to be filthy, stinkin' rich! No more mortgages!  No more 9-to-5 grind! No more…

What to do about it

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Since Friday (Dec. 14, 2012), it's been the elephant in the room of our minds. It won't go away.  It's too horrible to look at directly, and it's too big to ignore.  It is an foul, obnoxious, unwelcome houseguest that is draining the…

No color copiers

I grumble as much as the next person — I admit it. I often grumble about my job. I don't like office politics.  I'm not particularly fond of planting my butt in a swivel chair for eight or 10 hours at a time.  No matter how much I…

To my fellow Bigfooters: Don’t stop believin’!

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OK, I'm gonna come right out with it. I believe in Bigfoot. Sasquatch. Yeti. There you go. I said it. Hello, my name is Mark, and I believe in Bigfoot. (All together:  Hello, Mark!) From the infamous evening back in 1972 when…

Sugar pushes buttons

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Tuesday night, I wrote a post about how America indoctrinates our children into the Sugar Culture from the word go.  I really didn't expect the post to generate much interest. Boy, was I off. Now granted, my blog page is still in its…