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A day at the State Fair
It was a day about food.
I moved to Rocky Mount almost three years ago. During those first two years, every time fall rolled around, I wanted to go to the N.C. State Fair. I had never been to a state fair but had heard good things, mostly about the food. Having written about the fair in 2007 and 2008, I had heard about the new fried foods introduced each year. Since the most exotic fried food I had eaten was a funnel cake, I usually was intrigued.
Two years went by and I never made it to the fair. This year, I decided I was going no matter what. A friend from church told me about a group going last weekend and invited me to tag along.
Food definitely is the main attraction. Everywhere I looked people were hawking hot dogs, candy apples, funnel cakes, corn on the cob and more deep-fried food than you can imagine. Some of the stranger ones included deep-fried banana split sundaes, Oreos, macaroni and cheese and pecan pie. I am not a huge deep-fried fan, but I decided to try the chocolate chip cookie dough. It was OK, but I wished afterward I had tried deep-fried Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups instead. (I did not think my stomach would handle both and the hot dog, fries and caramel apple I also had that day.)
For some people, the rides at the fair are the main attraction. I have to admit, I am not one of those people. I like big roller coasters that go up and down and make my heart beat heavily in my chest. The fair rides all seemed to be about suspending you upside down or spinning you around until you are dizzy, nauseous or both. Neither appealed to me.
Reading this, you might think I didn’t enjoy myself. You would be wrong. I had a great day. I loved the smell of the foods and the sight of people chowing down on things they wouldn’t dream of eating the other 355 days of the year. I had a great time hanging out with friends and people watching. I loved seeing so many families having a good time together.
With just two full days before the fair ends, if you haven’t gone, now is the time. For me at least, the fair lived up to its theme, “Whole Lotta Happy.”
Do you have any favorite memories of going to a fair? Share your thoughts by commenting here or e-mail me at lmcfarland@coxnc.com.
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A gentleman I sorely miss
I miss Boice Walker. For those of you who never enjoyed the opportunity to meet him, I’d like to take a moment to introduce him.
Mr. Walker — I always felt a gentlemen such as him should be called “mister” — was not one of Rocky Mount’s elite. He was not, at least to my knowledge, wealthy. People did not seek him out for connections or favors with government at any level. In fact, if you passed him in the store or set beside him in a restaurant, you probably would not have looked twice at him.
What Mr. Walker did that makes him worthy of remembering was his love of the city in general and its history in particular. I suspect that there are many people who can tell you about what happened “back then.” So could Mr. Walker, but the difference is that he worked to document it.
Two things he did that stood out. The first was writing a book of reminiscences, “A Rainbow in the West.” I still remember when he came into my office to give me a signed copy. He was pleased, you could tell, to have finished the project and to be able to give me a copy as a gift. There were several signings held at different places in the city. I think he relished each but not because of the acclaim he drew from them or any money he may have made through the book’s sale. No, they were chances to share some of the good stories about the way that the city used to be.
Second, Mr. Walker was a faithful collector and conservator of local photos. I know many of these made their way to Braswell Memorial Library. Mr. Walker knew that the good people there would ensure that these bits of our history would be safeguarded and shared. A few of the photos also made their way to my desk as contributions to the Back Then feature that runs in each Sunday’s edition. Mr. Walker easily could recall the story that created the scene in most of the photos. He also watched over this editor’s stewardship of them, calling every so often to make sure that they still were in the rotation for future editions and periodically reclaiming the published photos so they could be passed on to the library.
All through this, I never saw Mr. Walker as angry, demanding, gruff, blunt or in any way unpleasant. Smiling seemed to be as natural to him as breathing. His voice always was pleasant and, now in my memory, even soothing when my day has been anything less than easy.
I’m sorry to have to tell you that Mr. Walker passed away on Sept. 2. Even with the passing of a month, I cannot get him or his gentle ways off my mind. Even today, his face came flooding back into my thoughts and his voice echoed in my head as I scanned photos submitted by other people for future use in Back Then.
If you never met Mr. Walker, I am sorry that you have missed the chance to make the acquaintance of such a fine gentleman. If you did know him, well, you understand what this blog is about.
—-
Click here to see a gallery of photos from ‘A Rainbow in the West.’
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More free Stuff!!!!
It’s free stuff time again.
I love doing the occasional blog where I just get to tell people about some of the free stuff promotions I have heard about. Labor Day weekend is a good opportunity for a few of those. If you know of any more, please share them with our readers.
Free bowling - Saturday, Sept. 5, marks the final day of National Bowling Week. The bowling industry is trying to make history by having thousands of bowling centers nationwide take part in an effort to set a new world record for the most bowling games rolled in a single day. Right now the record is 548,721. The Bowling Center at 3250 N. Church St. will be participating in the promotion. Just come during the regular business hours of 9 a.m. to 1 a.m. to receive a free game. Shoe rentals still are $3. For more information, call 252-446-9557.
Free chicken - To kick off its annual football game, Chick-fil-A restaurants nationwide will offer a Chick-fil-A Chicken sandwich to any customer wearing any sports-related apparel on Monday. The promotion goes from 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Chick-fil-As at Golden East Crossing mall and Cobb’s Corner. All you have to do is have some type of sports logo on your hat, shirt or other apparel. Limit one per person.
Free children activity - From 9 a.m. to noon on the first Saturday of every month, the Home Depot at 950 Home Depot Plaza, Rocky Mount, has a free workshop for children ages 5 to 12 to teach them do-it-yourself skills and tool safety. In this month’s workshop, which happens Saturday, the children will build bean bag toss boards. The materials are supplied for the children, and they even get to wear little child-sized orange aprons like the Home Depot employees.
Free chicken - As a special note, the Chick-fil-A at Golden East Crossing mall is running another promotion where you can score some free food. If you eat at the restaurant Thursday, Sept. 10 and keep your receipt, you can bring that receipt back any day in October and get the same order free.
Do you know about any other promotions for free stuff going on soon? Share your thoughts by commenting here or e-mail me at lmcfarland@coxnc.com.
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Alaska Uncovered
I didn’t mean to lie.
I wrote a blog in July about my wonderful trip to Alaska to participate in a half marathon, the first big race I have ever done. As I mentioned in that blog, I stayed after the race and explored Alaska on my own for a week. I meant to share some of my experiences much sooner than this, but time got away from me.
The week traveling around Alaska by car was amazing. I saw so many things I wanted to see and even more I had never considered. Here are a few of the highlights.
After the race, I left the area around Anchorage and traveled about 240 miles north to Denali National Park. This huge park covers almost 9,500 square miles of Alaska’s interior and contains Mount McKinley, the tallest mountain in North America.
There are several ways to see the park, but I chose a shuttle bus that drives you about six hours in and turns around at a place called Wonder Lake. When the shuttle pulled up in front of the visitor’s center at 6:15 a.m., it turned out to be an old school bus. My first thought was, “Where do you go to the bathroom if the trip lasts 12 hours round trip?” (Give me a break, it was really early!) I needn’t have worried; the bus made stops every few hours for bathroom and stretch breaks.
We passed mountains, valleys, streams and tons of wildlife. Each time someone spotted an animal, he or she would yell, “Stop,” the bus came to a halt and the cameras started snapping. I was so pleased with all the animals we were able to photograph, including moose, a lynx, a fox being chased by a magpie, sheep, ground squirrels (they look like prairie dogs with bushy tails), a golden eagle and several bears. The most exciting moment was seeing a mother bear and her two cubs cross in front of the bus and walk into the hills. Oh, I forgot to mention the plentiful presence of the state bird, mosquitoes (A joke I heard many times growing up in Texas).
After Denali, I drove about 350 miles south to the Kenai Peninsula and the port town of Seward. There are plenty of outdoor activities to choose from in Seward, but I was operating under some time and budget constraints. While I didn’t try them, I heard some wonderful stories about sea fishing, dog sledding and flight seeing.
After arriving in Seward, I visited Exit Glacier, which is one of 40 glaciers spawned by the Harding Icefield. Exit Glacier is notable because it terminates on land and you can drive to a nearby visitor’s center and hike to it relatively easily. Standing at the tip of that huge mass of ice and touching it is sure to make anybody feel small.
The next day I took an all-day cruise that explored the coastline of the Kenai Fjords National Park. Again, wildlife was a big part of the scenery. We had sightings of orcas, black bears, sea lions and horned puffins. All this was set against a backdrop of mountains, fjords and glaciers. We visited the Holgate Glacier and listened in silence as the pieces of it broke off in the water, or calved. The pieces looked small, but the cracking sound reverberated against the walls of the fjord.
Obviously, I saw much more than I can fit in this blog, but these were some of the moments that stood out the most to me. Alaska is a vast and beautiful land, and I know I was only able to see a fraction of the wonders it has to offer. Still, I feel like I had a wonderful introduction to the state and look forward to the day when I can return and explore more of it.
Do you have a vacation memory from this summer you think people will enjoy? Share your thoughts by commenting here or e-mail me at lmcfarland@coxnc.com.
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Run until you can’t run anymore
This is long overdue.
I have been back from a vacation in Alaska for more than two weeks, and friends keep asking me, ‘When are you going to talk about your trip?’ The idea of condensing a 10-day vacation into a few paragraphs that are interesting for people who weren’t there to read was daunting, but I am doing it. I decided to split it into two blogs so I could justify posting more pictures. (I took 1,500.)
I went to Alaska in June as a member of Team in Training. The national program helps people train for marathons, half marathons, triathlons and century bike rides while they fundraise for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. For five months, my main focus was to raise $5,500 to reach my goal and train to walk and jog 13.1 miles in the Mayor’s Half Marathon in Anchorage.
Race day was beautiful. The temperature started off in the low 60s with a light rain, so I was a little cold. (The Alaskans were in shorts marveling at the warm day.) As the race got underway, though, I warmed up just enough to be comfortable for the three and a half hours it took me to finish.
The half marathon course took the participants on a road bordering the airport and down a coastal trail. Highlights included having planes take off directly over my head, seeing a moose on the trail and being encouraged by all the volunteers who showed up to cheer us on and work the water stations. By the end of the race, my feet had not hurt so much since I was a grocery store cashier in high school, but crossing that finish line made it all worth it.
This was my first race, so I have no doubt it would have felt special regardless of whom I was with or where it took place. However, doing the race as part of Team in Training added an extra dimension I didn’t fully understand until I attended the inspiration and victory parties the nights before and following the race.
I learned that about 400 people from across the nation participated in this race through Team in Training. Many were cancer survivors or had lost loved ones to the disease. Together we raised $1.8 million to help fight blood cancers such as leukemia, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma. I will carry the knowledge that I was part of that for the rest of my life.
The day after the race, many of my teammates were headed home or off on their own travels. My adventure included renting a car and doing a little exploring on my own for six days. I will save the highlights of that adventure for my next blog.
Have you ever participated in a race such as a 5K, marathon or triathlon? Share your memories here or by e-mailing me at lmcfarland@coxnc.com.
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An unassuming American hero
This weekend has had me thinking about military history and the one man I have met who was there when it was chronicled in blood.
When I met Frank Nelson of Roanoke Rapids 10 years ago, I never would have suspected he was anything more than a quick-to-smile grandfather. He was as easy-going on Memorial Day weekend in 1999 as any other fellow. But an interview with him revealed an unassuming American hero.
Nelson was a member of the 2nd Ranger Battalion, which helped storm Omaha Beach, the toughest-held of the five sectors the Allies seized in the invasion of France on D-Day, June 6, 1944. By his account, he was in the midst of the battle for a strip of land that some have come to call “Bloody Omaha.”
Nelson spoke quietly of the fighting and the other horrors he saw in the war. When his landing craft floundered offshore, he found himself wading through chest-deep water to get into battle. Once there, he and the other soldiers fought their way up narrow passes from the beach to the tops of overlooking cliffs. One time, he helped set an explosive charge that blew a German pillbox from a cliff’s face into the surf below.
From the story I wrote for the June 6, 1999, edition of the Telegram:
“Reactions drilled into him by training took over as war raged up close and personal around Nelson. But two thoughts were running through his mind.
“‘You think, “This is the last day of my life. I might as well do things because this is the last day of my life,”’ he explained.”
The war exacted its toll on Nelson. Eventually, he was captured by the Germans after a firefight. He saw two badly wounded men, who also were captured with him, executed by the Germans. He later was forced to work in a coal mine while a prisoner.
All of these things added up, leaving Nelson eventually to be diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. When I met him 55 years after D-Day, he still found it too painful to watch ceremonies marking the event or popular attractions such as the movie “Saving Private Ryan.” He participated in a psychiatrist-led support group for former prisoners of war.
Again, from the Telegram profile:
“‘I don’t pity myself,’ he said, sitting forward in his chair to make the point. ‘That was a duty I was supposed to have. What was so bad was the guys I was with are still over there.’”
Please share your stories about the veterans you know by commenting on this blog or by e-mailing Ross.
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Life on the street
It’s a great time of year for road work, and I’m not talking about the kind done by the N.C. Department of Transportation.
Last weekend saw the running of the first Fun Run for Charities, Rocky Mount’s new 5-, 10- and 15-kilometer road race. The event drew 277 racers downtown to the Imperial Centre. The courses were fast and attractive, leading runners through downtown — where, despite the sad conditions now, the district’s potential clearly is visible — then out along Falls Road. The 5k racers turned back there, while the 10k and 15k crews headed further along Falls, onto the Tar River Trail, into the Sunset Park area and then back to the center.
The results for the 5k, 10k and 15k showed these were fast-moving packs. The top male and female finishers and their times were:
5k — Ashley Bass, 18:21, and Mandy Hopper, 19:51.
10k — Izzy Jaimes, 37:36, and Paula Medley, 53:11.
15k — Jack Mignosa, 59:00, and Laura Haynes, 1:23:33.
Yes, I was there, and, no, I still would prefer not to discuss my time (although my pace was faster than in the past). Suffice it to say, I’m ready to hit the road running to increase endurance and lower the time. I also would say that the race was a blast, it was great to see such a large turnout for a first running. I’m sure that more runners will show up next year and it’s good that so many worthwhile groups benefited.
The Fun Run for Charities isn’t alone. Though it’s still a couple of months away, the second annual Ford’s Colony 5k and 10k Race has been calendared for Sept. 12. The 2008 running drew a good-sized crowd to the route along the development’s golf course, which surprised some runners with its hills in an area that usually is thought of as all but prairie flat.
Registration is open now. The fees are $25 for the 10k, $20 for the 5k and $10 for the 1.5-mile family fun run. The fees rise on July 15 and Sept. 1 and, with the field limited to 300 runners, that means that there is no time like now to sign up. Registration is available through the race’s Web site.
For the off-road crowd, the Medoc Trail Races have been scheduled for Oct. 17 in Hollister. This will be a little bit tougher: The event offers a 10-miler and a marathon. Registration is $45 for the 10-miler and $60 for the marathon, both of which can be handled through its Web site as well.
One more opportunity, but this is for younger athletes. Kids in Training offers the KIT Youth/Family Triathlon June 27 in Nashville. Yes, you read that correctly, “triathlon,” and no, no one is talking about tykes taking on the Ironman. The event offers three age groups for 5- through 17-year-old competitors, and each looks to have appropriate swimming, cycling and running distances. The idea of Kids in Training, a nonprofit group, is to lead youngsters and parents to change their lifestyles so they will be healthier. If you’d like more information or to register, you can do so on KIT’s Web site.
There’s lots going on around here, all offering opportunities for fun in the sun. Why not enjoy them?
What do you do to get a little exercise? Why not share your thoughts by commenting on this blog or e-mailing Ross.
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Free stuff!!!
It’s free stuff time again.
I love getting things for free or really cheap, which is probably why I was so happy to jump on the coupon bandwagon. Coupons are not for everyone, but I think we can all agree that everybody loves free stuff. If that describes you, this is going to be a good week for you.
So without further ado, let’s get to the free stuff:
I’ll start with Sonic, which is doing its annual free root beer float night again this year. From 8 p.m. to midnight Wednesday, Sonic will be handing out the tasty treats to everyone who comes through. In Rocky Mount, the only location is at 2804 Sunset Ave. Otherwise, click here to find a store near you. Enjoy.
Did you know there was a National Doughnut Day? I didn’t, but there is according to Krispy Kreme. To celebrate, the restaurant is offering a free glazed doughnut to each person who visits the store from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday. There is a limit of one per person. In Rocky Mount, the only location is at 969 N. Wesleyan Blvd. Otherwise, click here to find a store near you.
For those of you who have not discovered Redbox yet, it is an automated kiosk that rents movies for $1 a day. In the past, you could sign up to receive texts every Monday with a promotion code good for one free rental. This summer, the company is limiting the codes to the first Monday of each month. You missed June’s freebie, but there is always July, August and the months beyond. Go to www.redbox.com to sign up.
Arby’s is not doing a straight free giveaway, but they are offering free items with purchase every Wednesday this summer at participating locations. There’s a different deal each week, featuring favorites like roast beef sandwiches, iced fruit teas and shakes. The Rocky Mount store at 746 Home Depot Plaza is participating. Here is the calendar of free items:
June
3 - Free Iced FruiTea with any sandwich purchase
10 - Free Roast Chicken Club with any soft drink purchase
17 - Free Regular Sidekickers® with any sandwich purchase
24 - Free Regular Roast Beef with any soft drink purchase
July
1 - Free Regular Beef ‘n Cheddar with any soft drink purchase
8 - Free Orange Cream Swirl Shake with any sandwich purchase
15 - Free Regular Roast Beef with any soft drink purchase
22 - Free Roastburger with any soft drink purchase
29 - Free Iced FruiTea with any sandwich purchase
August
5 - Free Regular Roast Beef with any soft drink purchase
12 - Free Roast Chicken Club with any soft drink purchase
19 - Free Iced FruiTea with any sandwich purchase
26 - Free Regular Beef ‘n Cheddar with any soft drink purchase
I hope you enjoy these freebies. If you know of any others, feel free to share them so other people can enjoy them as well.
Do you know of any opportunities for free stuff this summer? Share them by commenting here or e-mail me at lmcfarland@coxnc.com.
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People, start your clipping
I am hooked on coupons.
At 27, I have always known the power of coupons. I just have never harnessed that power … until now.
On Saturday, a friend from church, Melody, showed me what someone who spent some time and serious effort on coupons could do. Before this weekend, I was like many people who get the Sunday paper. I looked at the sale papers for items I might like. I went through the coupon circulars and clipped the ones I thought I could use. I always have been careful to avoid buying something just because I had a coupon. You are not saving if you never would have bought the item without a coupon and end up spending money.
The coupon subculture is entirely too big and complicated for me to fully explore in a single blog. There are entire Web sites dedicated to this stuff that do a better job than me. I will just give some of the highlights about what I have learned.
Harris Teeter regularly doubles coupons valued at 99 cents or less. Starting today and ending Tuesday, the store will triple coupons. When applied correctly, you can get dozens of items free or for a few cents. I think this is the Holy Grail for coupon-savvy shoppers. I went to the store about 8 a.m., and several items on sale already were sold out. Considering the triple coupons didn’t start until 7 a.m., those were some dedicated shoppers.
Drug stores such as CVS and Walgreens have reward programs that give you vouchers toward future purchases when you buy certain products. Melody warned me I probably would mess it up the first time I tried it, and she was right. For some good instructions on how to use these programs to your advantage, follow these links for instructions on the rewards programs at CVS and Walgreens.
There are tons of bloggers out there who do nothing but update people on deals, coupons and freebies. I have found a few favorites, but I know you will find more if you keep look. Some of the ones I have found are www.coupongeek.net and www.thefreebieblogger.com.
The Sunday paper is a great source for coupons that you will not find anywhere else. There also is a wealth of printable coupons to be found online. Some of the biggest sources are www.coupons.com, www.smartsource.com and www.afullcup.com.
As I said, this is just a drop in the bucket of the coupons and deals that are out there. I will say up front, this probably is not a hobby for people with no free time. It takes time to find these coupons, cut them out and keep them organized so you are not dropping them all over the grocery store floor. But when done properly, these coupons can be huge money savers. Melody went to Harris Teeter and bought $130 worth of groceries for $33. Another friend bought $120 worth for $50.
Someday I hope to reach those highs, or should I say lows.
Have any good coupon or money saving tips for your fellow readers? Share your thoughts by commenting here or e-mail me at lmcfarland@coxnc.com.
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Attending the college of Web knowledge
I feel as if I dodged a bullet.
Not only did I finished the Web design class I started in January at Nash Community College, I passed it, too.
Whew.
I know, I know. A lot of people are taking more than one class at a time. Many of them, especially with the economy in such trouble, simultaneously are taking several classes while juggling a combination of full- and part-time jobs, families and other commitments. All the while, they’re managing to maintain their sanity.
Like a certain recent president said: I feel their pain.
One class was enough for me, at least until I felt comfortable with a few things. Keeping up with a generation of raised-on-computers teens and twentysomethings was another. Then there was going back to school as a middle-age man. The biggest of all was the job-juggling act. My boss was cool about me missing a few hours in the mid-morning one day a week, and my pages still made the evening deadline (well, most of the time anyway). Studying was handled on some nights and several weekends.
While I’m glad the spring semester is over, I’m starting to gird myself for the summer session. Many of you will get a real kick out of this: I’m taking introduction to computers. But, when you stop snickering, I’d tell you in my own defense that it’s a potentially challenging class. You see, it covers Microsoft Windows (the Vista version, I believe) and the software maker’s Office productivity suite.
While you may think that’s not all that hard, please understand that I’m an Apple man through and through. The only work I’ve done on a Windows-based computer was the in-class sessions for my spring course. For the rest of my life, including those homework assignments I just told you about, I’ve worked only on Apple computers.
It’s going to be a challenge, but I’m up to it. In fact, I’m even looking forward to the prospect.
Are you planning on going back to school? Why not share your plans, thoughts and hopes for your education by commenting on this blog or by e-mailing Ross at rchandler@coxnc.com.
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Play ball
It’s time to play ball - or at least watch somebody else do it.
As part of a fundraiser for blood cancer research, I am selling $5 tickets to the Carolina Mudcats game at 7:15 p.m. May 26 at Five County Stadium in Zebulon. The Mudcats will be facing the Montgomery Biscuits. Half of every ticket sold goes to blood cancer research. Additionally, an extra 25 cents will be donated for every ticket redeemed.
If the baseball game isn’t enough incentive, you also should know that the stadium will be selling hot dogs for $1 that night. That’s quite an improvement from their normal $3 price tag.
If you are interested in tickets, please call me at 252-407-9946 or e-mail me at lmcfarland@coxnc.com.
You might wonder why I am mentioning this in the Life blog. The blog is about community events, but it is also about what is going on in the lives of Ross Chandler, the Life editor, and myself. Ross likes to blog about gardening and running. My blog topics have ranged from movie trailers to local events to my prayer life.
Once or twice during the last few months, I have talked about a project I undertook in January. I have been keeping up a better blog about the event on my fundraising Web site.
I signed up with a program called Team in Training, which raises money for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. LLS funds research and care dealing with blood cancers such as leukemia, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma. As a member of the team, I have two responsibilities: Training for a half marathon on June 20 in Anchorage, Alaska, and raising $5,500 for blood cancer research.
For the past five months, one of the main focuses of my life has been getting ready for this race. Physically, I have gone from being a couch potato in December to being able to go 8 miles on Saturday and 3 or 4 several times during the week.
I have hosted more fundraisers in the last few months than I have ever been to in my life. I am not exaggerating. I have held book sales, bake sales, restaurant nights, babysitting nights and make-up parties. The Mudcats game is one of the last fundraisers I will be able to do before my fundraising deadline, June 4.
As far as the fundraising is concerned, I still have $1,308.57 to raise. It is a scary number for me, because whatever I do not raise I have to pay for myself. If you knew what reporters make, it would scare you, too.
I think it is going to be a really fun night. I have been to a couple Mudcats games and enjoyed myself thoroughly. If you like baseball, want to have a fun night out with the family or just want to support a good cause, please consider joining me. It is going to be a great evening.
What have been your favorite sporting event memories? Share your thoughts by commenting here or e-mail me at lmcfarland@coxnc.com.
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Roads less-traveled beckon vacationers
Even with the economy on the skids, it’s the time of year that millions of North Carolinians eagerly are awaiting their summer vacation. Guidebooks are being perused, maps are being checked and plans are being made.
For so many of the travelers, this will entail a high-speed trip along an interstate to a distant city, mountain or beach. The allure will be limited to the destination. But, it doesn’t have to be that way.
Instead, the route itself can be part of the pleasure of the trip. Imagine, say, in place of zipping down Interstates 95 and 40 to reach Holden or Ocean Isle beaches, a traveler were to pick up N.C. 242 just off I-40 to head south to Elizabethtown. Not too far pass the Bladen County seat, he or she could turn onto N.C. 211 to head toward the coast.
You probably think this is the stark-raving slow way to start a vacation, and, well, that is part of the idea. Both of these relatively little-used highways are parts of the state’s scenic byways system. The former is known as the Meteor Lakes Byway and the later the Green Swamp Byway. The idea is to get travelers off the long, wide ribbons of interstate macadam and onto roads that show another side of the Variety Vacationland.
The system’s guide, simply titled “N.C. Scenic Byways,” is straightfoward in describing the collection of 51 routes: “The state program identifies and highlights scenic roads with unusual, exceptional or unique intrinsic qualities for public viewing and enjoyment.” It leads travelers along trails such as the mountains’ 98-mile-long Waterfalls Byway that runs through Cherokee, Clay, Jackson, Macon and Transylvania counties or the Uwharrie Scenic Road that covers 50 miles through five Piedmont counties.
There are several byways closer to home. The longest of all, Lafayette’s Tour, covers 173 miles across seven counties just to the north of the Twin Counties. It moves through several communities — you guessed it — that the Marquis de Lafayette visited on his 1825 tour of a then-young United States. Also nearby, the Pamlico Scenic Byway starts its 127-mile run to the coast in little Washington.
One byway, the Tar Heel Trace, touches home, starting in Wilson and then running through southeastern Edgecombe County before ending in Williamston. The guidebook explains how the route crosses the pine forest-dotted area of North Carolina that once provided tar and turpentine, key materials in the days of wooden ships and sails.
“These byways are intended as an alternative to the faster-paced traffic and commercial areas found along our state’s major highways and interstates,” the guide’s introduction reads. “Following the byways, motorists will see some of North Carolina’s most breath-taking scenery, from the Blue Ridge Mountains in the west to the fertile plains of the Piedmont to the crystal blue shore of our coast.”
The 173-page guide is available for download from the N.C. Department of Transportation or by mail by calling Helen Landi at 919-733-2920. One consideration: While the download is, of course, free, the state does ask for a voluntary $5 donation for each mailed copy.
Where are you going for vacation this summer? Why not share your thoughts by commenting on this blog or by e-mailing Ross at rchandler@coxnc.com.
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Just can’t wait to get on the road again
It seems as if there should be “Road work ahead” signs going up across the Twin Counties.
No, I’m not talking about the N.C. Department of Transportation being busy creating, widening or paving the highways and byways. I’m talking about the road races going on in the area.
We’re just a few days past the Blooming Festival 5K in Nashville. The race, now in its second year, drew 79 runners who finished the course around Birchwood Country Club. Props go to Christy Pace, the top women’s finisher, who posted a time of 24:02, and to Ashley Bass, who led the men’s field with a time of 17:32.
There’s more to come. Road runners will have the chance to test their mettle in the Fun Run for Charities on May 30 in Rocky Mount. The event offers a trifecta of races, 5k, 10k and 15k, plus a just-for-fun run/walk and a kid’s dash. It starts at 9 a.m. at the Imperial Centre.
Of course, money is involved, but there’s an interesting twist. The registration fee for the races is $20, for the run/walk $10 and for the dash $1. All that’s what you would expect. The neat thing is that the registration form also offers runners the chance to make a contribution to any of 47 supporting charities or to a general matching gift fund. The groups run the gamut from a Boy Scout troop to the American Red Cross to the foundations supporting the Rocky Mount Arts Center and Braswell Memorial Library.
Want details? Check out FunRunRM.org.
If you’d rather run down the road on a motorcycle, there’s an opportunity for you, too. The second annual Jack Laughery Ride for Knowledge also runs on May 30, starting at noon from Winstead Avenue in Rocky Mount. Its course covers 30 miles across Nash County. At the end, riders will find a catered barbecue and seafood lunch.
This ride benefits the Helen and Jack Laughery Honorary Scholarship Fund at Nash Community College. Registration costs from $15 to $35 per rider.
What? No motorcycle in your garage? I feel your pain, but I have some good news: The event also includes a raffle for a 2009 Harley Davidson, tickets for which are $10.
For information, you can reach Pat Daniels by e-mail or at 451-8329.
Closing note: If you’re just looking for the chance to run for the sake of running, why not hit the Tar River Trail? It’s turned lushly green with spring’s arrival, and its shade adds a degree of comfort as the sun shines down brightly.
Planning on doing some road work of your own? Why not share your thoughts by commenting on this blog or by e-mailing Ross.
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Pray much?
When is the last time you bowed your head, closed your eyes and prayed?
It might be longer than you wish to admit. I am sure there are plenty of people in the Twin Counties who would be equally proud to say either they haven’t prayed in years or it has been a matter of minutes or hours.
The reason I bring this up is because today is National Day of Prayer. The day dates to 1952, when a joint resolution by Congress, signed by President Harry Truman, declared an annual, national day of prayer. In 1988, the law was amended and signed by President Ronald Reagan, permanently setting the day as the first Thursday of every May.
I have been thinking about prayer quite a bit this week with National Day of Prayer looming. I couldn’t make it to the noon prayer in downtown Rocky Mount, but I plan to go to the prayer service at 7 p.m. today at Church on the Rise, 3520 Bishop Road.
I have struggled with prayer all my life. It is not that I don’t want to talk to God. It is more that every time I try to, my mind decides it is time to think about something else. I have let myself be distracted by thoughts about family, cleaning the kitchen, TV shows, movies, books, friends and even the very problem I am praying about. It is really frustrating and has led me many times to stop praying altogether.
I know we all like to think our problems are unique and so important, but I am sure others have the same issue getting past a confusion of thoughts to say what you really want to say. If that is you, there is a little formula that I heard about that might help, and it is the most appropriate acronym I can think of … P.R.A.Y.
Praise - Start off by thanking God. Praise his name, declare that he is true and express thanks for the blessings he has given you and the good people he has put in your life. This part of the prayer is important, because it is about dedicating time to him, not thinking about what he can do for you.
Repent - Think about what you’ve done in the past. Ask God for forgiveness, even for the smallest things. Don’t rush through this part. Maybe pause for a moment to ask God to show you the things that you have done that are not right there at the front of your mind.
Ask - There are going to be certain things you definitely want to ask God for - jobs, prosperity, good health and healing for a sickness. Don’t forget to ask God to help you in the spiritual and emotional aspect of your life. If you are a Christian, ask God to make you a stronger one. Ask him for a life that better reflects his glory. Ask him for the needs of others - problems you have heard about from friends and family. If it helps you to make a list before you pray, do it. It is better than forgetting things you really want to bring before God.
Yield - This is the hard part, especially if your mind likes to wander. This is the part of the prayer where you shut up and let God do the talking. It involves waiting and listening to see if God has a word or instructions for you. I will readily admit, this is the area I have to work at the hardest.
I don’t know if this will help, but if you struggle with concentrating when you pray, it might be worth a try.
What are the biggest problems you struggle with when praying? Share your thoughts by commenting here or e-mail me at lmcfarland@coxnc.com.
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Book recalls unforgettable tragedy
Ten years ago, I stared at the newsroom television as the story of the attack on Columbine High School unfolded. I should say I stared dumbstruck; until that day, I could not imagine that sort of event ever taking place in the United States. I don’t think I can ever forget the headline stripped across the top of the Telegram on April 21, 1999:
“Laughing gunmen; horrified nation.”
In the days that came, I followed the story through wire services and the fledgling Web sites run by The Denver Post and The Rocky Mountain News. I can’t explain the attack’s grip on a personal level. I don’t have children and then didn’t know anyone living in Colorado. On a professional level, I admired the Post and the News’ breadth and depth of coverage and use of the Internet as a relatively new method that quickly moved news to the world.
My interest subsided but never died. From time to time, I’d check those newspapers’ Web sites and also made it a point to read related stories from other sources. Even the horrors of the 2001 terror attacks couldn’t overwrite what I had seen and read about Columbine.
Now, Dave Cullen has revisited the attack in “Columbine.” His book recounts the events leading up to the day - killers Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold made frightful plans to assault their school - the attack itself - thank God it went badly awry - and the aftermath - years of pain, anguish, perseverance and, sadly, cover-up.
Some of what Cullen has to offer is information you’ve known from when the first reports of the attack trickled out. Other is little-known. Still more is fascinating, the result of dogged digging by a sharp journalist. Page after page, he recalls a story that still begs retelling and explaining 10 long years after the fact.
This book is well worth your time, and I’d like to ask you to meet me Sunday on the Telegram’s books page and on the Web site for a review.
Contact Ross Chandler at 252-407-9942 or by e-mail at rchandler@coxnc.com.
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Yen for yard work offers ideas
Mea culpa. It’s been entirely too long since I posted something here. I sincerely apologize. I would promise to amend my ways; however, I also know what route has been paved with similar commitments.
That said, I would like to share with you a couple of ideas about gardening. I’d call them rules, laws, commandments or the like, but I don’t feel that I’m enough of an expert that they rise to those levels of authority. (I also still violate them from time to time.) These are things I learned from experience - some hard and even bitter - over the last two seasons of yard work. I hope that I’m the better for them as my third season in the yard is starting. Anyway, here they are:
Plant nurseries are a little too much like all-you-can eat buffets at a restaurant; you’re almost certain to take away more than what is good for you.
Don’t buy that plant - or those plants - unless you can have it or them in the ground in a day or two. Sitting in the garage, plants quickly go to pot even if well cared for.
Before you go on a buying spree, ask one key question: “Who’s going to plant these?” If you live by yourself, you likely already have your answer. If you’re thinking your significant other will help, you may want to ask before counting on him or her giving up free time to help.
Caring for a plant is part of the obligation of planting it. If you want to continue to enjoy its beauty in the future, care for it now.
Don’t just buy plants, study and plan for them. Sketch a rough map of what you want to put where in your lawn. Check reference books or sources such as the Master Gardeners Volunteer Association or cooperative extension agents to make sure that the plants you like will grow in this climate.
Some plants will die no matter how much tender loving care you lavish on them. Get over it, pull them up, plant again.
Finally, don’t hesitate to show off your handiwork. Invite family, friends and neighbors to stroll through your yard to oooh and aaah over everything, or shoot photos and whip them out like a proud grandparent for everyone to marvel at.
I wish I could tell you that this list is all you need to know or that it will ensure your garden grows beautifully. It isn’t and it won’t, but I hope it will help a little.
What are you up to in your yard and garden? Why not share your thoughts by commenting on this blog or e-mailing Ross?
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Roasting the Bard
The Bard is back.
Though he has been gone for more than five centuries, the memory of William Shakespeare endures. In addition to the countless productions done every year in theaters worldwide, he always will live on in high school English classes, much to the groans of millions of teenagers.
Were Shakespeare still alive today, aside from being really wrinkly and crusty, he would be turning 445 years old on Friday. To mark the occasion, N.C. Wesleyan College Theatre’s Wesleyan Players is having its third annual Shakespeare Roast at 6:30 p.m. Monday in the Garner Lobby of the Dunn Center for the Performing Arts.
Tickets are $25 and include dinner and a show with music, speeches and scenes from Shakespeare’s plays read by students, alumni, faculty and friends. Proceeds from the evening go to the Players’ Visiting Artist Fund, which will bring in theater professionals to speak to and work with students.
For information, call 252-985-5197.
I love the fact that Wesleyan started this event. Many people have a problem connecting with Shakespeare’s works because his writing style is so different from what is used today. By using his plays for a roast, the participants take potentially difficult prose and make it fun and accessible for a new generation.
That, to me, is what the essence of learning is all about.
What play by William Shakespeare would you most enjoy roasting? Share your thoughts by commenting here or e-mail me at lmcfarland@coxnc.com.
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Publicity that is free for the asking
There’s no such thing as a free lunch, but you can have free publicity in the newspaper.
Yes, you read that correctly; I said “free publicity.”
This post has some shades of when I blogged about a few months ago about how you can help ensure your story will appear in the paper. If you’ll give me a minute, I’d like to share with you a superquick tutorial about the Telegram’s four calendars: Coming Attractions, which handles entertainment activities and is in the Marquee; Church Notes, a listing of what local religious congregations are doing that runs on Fridays in the Religion section; Health Calendar, postings on medical items that runs on Tuesdays (space permitting); and Community Calendar, the general calendar for all items not covered by the previous three and runs Wednesday and Sunday (and sometimes Friday, again space permitting).
Sharonette Richardson, the newsroom’s clerk, handles putting all four of these together. Actually, to call her a clerk is to do her a disservice; she’s more like the personification of the saying, “You can ask the man in charge or the woman who knows what’s going on.” A brief talk with her cleared me up on all the details about the calendars, including:
Deadlines - Like the rest of newspaper work, three of the calendars have them, too. They are noon Monday for Coming Attractions, 5 p.m. Monday for Church Notes and 5 p.m. Thursday for the Health Calendar. If you have your notice to Sharonette by then, the item should appear in the appropriate calendar. Notices for the Community Calendar may be submitted anytime.
Full disclosure - Make sure that your notice lists the time and address for the event. If there is an admission fee or a donation is requested, that must be included, too.
Contact information - In part, this is so Sharonette or one of the editors can reach the submitter or the event’s organizers if there is a question. (One question often is whether you would allow a reporter, photographer or both to come cover the event.) But this also is for readers to ask any questions they may have. I would say that the more you tell them, the more you are likely to get a positive response to your event.
Space - In the old days, say three or four years ago, newspapers always had more than enough space for calendars. Nowadays, with space tightened as a cost-cutting move, that simply isn’t true. Local events coming up in the next one to two weeks are most likely to make the printed calendar. Events further into the future will be printed as their dates draw nearer. In the case of Coming Attractions, a longer-range version of the calendar also is posted online.
Cost - Did I mention the cost earlier? Sharonette had a reminder for me about that: “It’s free. We want to make sure we tell them it’s free. It’s free publicity.”
This ended up being longer than Sharonette or I thought it would be, but it pretty well covers the free - yes, you read that correctly, FREE - publicity that the calendars offer. When you’re ready to submit your announcement, send those for Coming Attractions to telegram.life@coxnc.com and those for Church Notes, Health Calendar and Community Calendar to srichardson@coxnc.com. If you need to reach Sharonette, call her at 407-9957.
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April fooled
I have been fooled for the first time in I don’t know how long. April fooled that is!
Today is April 1, the day tricksters and pranksters around the world go wild. Honestly, it has never been a big holiday for me. I am not a trickster, and few of my friends are. The pranks I vaguely remember from when I was in school were obvious and predictable - things like whoopee cushions and buzzers on the hand. As I remember it, nobody was ever fooled. You just smiled and nodded when they yelled “April fools!” My mindset was, “If they think they got you once, maybe they won’t try anything else.”
I wasn’t even thinking of today as April Fool’s Day. So I clicked without thinking when a friend of mine made a simple Facebook status post, “I am not sure how to comment on this: http://www.thinkgeek.com/stuff/41/squeez-bacon.html?cpg=93H.” I followed the link and found a Think Geek article about “Squeez Bacon.” This is what the Web site has posted:
“A few years after WWII ended, a young man working in a small restaurant in Sweden developed a new way to process bacon. By precooking it and blending it in a special way, he was able to make a fully cooked 100% bacon paste that could be squeezed from a tube. Knowing he had discovered something paradigm-shifting, young Vilhelm Lillefläsk quickly went into business. That, dear friends, is when Squeez Bacon® was born. And this delicious delectable from Sweden has finally been brought over to the USA - now with American Flavor!”
OK, so I should have seen it coming. But my reasoning was, fake bacon bits already exist, as does SPAM. People eat all kinds of weird things, so why not this? It wasn’t my brightest moment, but it made me laugh. And hey, isn’t that what April Fool’s Day is all about?
To read about some of the more memorable April Fool’s Day pranks in history, check out the Museum of Hoaxes Web site.
What are some of the best April Fools pranks you have had pulled on you or that you have pulled? Share your thoughts by commenting here or e-mail me at lmcfarland@coxnc.com.
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Get ready to hit the road
Yes, it’s spring — last week’s weather not withstanding — and people are ready to make the switch from winter’s lethargy to warmer weather’s training and conditioning. After what seems to have been an endless cold season, it’s time to jog, run, cycle or whatever raises your heart rate and lowers your weight.
Thinking about this made me wonder: What should a person do when picking up the exercise pace in spring? Not knowing what to tell you, I turned to three people who train seriously and help others do so as well: Angela Barnhill, wellness director at the Kate and Billy Harrison Family YMCA; Mary Whitwell, a trainer there and a triathlete; and Michael Forrester, president of the Rocky Mount Endurance Club. Each offered several good points about the seasonal switch. Distilled, the highlights include:
- Respect spring weather, but don’t fear it. Become acclimated to warmer weather before starting your hard workout schedule. Make sure that you do not become dehydrated, and have water handy when you work out. Know the signs of heat stress.
But don’t let the changing weather keep you from exercising outside. If you know it’s going to be hot later in the day, exercise at a cooler time. And, while you don’t want to run in a thunderstorm, a gentle jog in the rain can be a pleasurable thing.
A corollary to this is, dress for the weather. Look for workout clothes in “technical” fabrics, which wick away sweat to keep you cool. Have an extra clothing layer handy in case the weather changes. Don’t forget to wear sunscreen.
Think safety. With more people on the road, make sure that you can be seen during a workout by wearing reflective clothing. There’s safety in numbers; exercise with a buddy. Work out in safe areas. Make sure someone at home knows where you’re going to be working out and when you’ll be back. Carry a cell phone with you if you’re going to be some distance away, say cycling in the countryside.
Get out of the training grind. Varying your workout keeps your body from being accustomed to the same exercise, which will slow your improvement. A cross-training regimen will alternate days of, say, running and cycling and swimming with kettle bells and free weights. Even simple things can offer a workout: Carry hand weights with you while you walk, doing various lifts as you go. And there’s more to exercise than strength work; remember to add yoga or pilates to improve flexibility.
Of course, there’s more to training than this, but I hope these ideas will help you get started on your warm weather conditioning program. And I’d like to offer my thanks to Angela, Mary and Mike for their help.
By the way, if you’re interested in a race for a good cause, the Movin’ For Community Outreach 5k starts at 9 a.m. Saturday at Howard Memorial Presbyterian Church in Tarboro. The benefit for the Tarboro Community Outreach Center Inc., a nonprofit community-service agency, also includes a quarter-mile fun run for children. Registration is $17 through Friday and $20 on race day.
What are your plans for getting in shape? Why not share them by commenting on this blog or by e-mailing Ross.
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Time to ‘Bloom!’
Flowers and moonbeams that sing and dance? Sign me up.
For those of you who didn’t catch the story I did on March 12, the Rocky Mount Community Theatre is premiering a brand new musical this weekend.
“Bloom!” is set in the kingdom of Eternal Spring, where a group of pretty young flowers fiercely are competing in a pageant for the title of Miss Bloom Princess. The winner receives the honor of being the first flower to bloom come spring.
Don’t expect this to be all sunshine and roses, even if one of the main characters wishes it were. “Bloom!” deals firsthand with the cattiness that can be found behind the scenes in the pageant world. The two main contenders for the crown are Lily White, played by Sarah Bergland, and Rose Black, played by Nicole Louisius. Rose is a mean, spoiled flower who thinks she is better than the rest of the contestants. Lily is Rose’s opposite, a genuinely nice flower.
As if pageants didn’t have enough drama, writer and co-director Melvin Tunstall III has Lily facing the complication of falling in love with someone she is not supposed to, a moonbeam called Beamer.
It took two years for Tunstall to finish this musical, which has 20 original songs and dances, but that just means it is a labor of love. Just a few weeks ago, Tunstall still was working hard to finish the musical arrangements with Mark Peterson, director of music at Barton College in Wilson. Pulling it together as they have, this has to be a huge night for the entire cast and crew.
The show will be at 8 p.m. today and Saturday and April 3 and 4 and at 2 p.m. April 5.
Tickets are $10 for adults, $9 for seniors and students and $6 for children ages 5 to 12.
For information, call 252-972-1266.
I plan to be there for Saturday’s performance, and I am really looking forward to it. So if you don’t have anything planned this weekend or next, consider coming out and supporting your local community theater.
Have you seen any of the plays put on by the Rocky Mount Community Theatre? Share your thoughts by commenting here or e-mail me at lmcfarland@coxnc.com.
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