It's Christmas Time Again!

It has been a few weeks since my last post. I know – you haven’t been able to function without them, right? Well, part of the reason for that is I will get an idea of something to write, and then my filter will kick in. What’s that, you ask? Chuck Dauphin has a filter? It might surprise you to know that. For that matter, it surprises me too!

But, as December prepares to glide down the home stretch, it’s a time for reflection. To be honest, if you had asked me two or three months ago how I would be at the holiday season, I would reply “Bah, Humbug!” It was going to be my first Christmas single again – at least technically. But, over the past few weeks, I have found myself drawn into the festive time of year like I haven’t been in years. I even bought Christmas cards tonight, which is something I didn’t think I would be doing this year.

Some of you might frown upon my reasons for that, but nothing brings out the child in me like going to the store during the holidays and – if nothing else, looking. This year, I haven’t been able to do as much Christmas shopping as I used to, but that’s ok. Hopefully, I’ll be a little more on my feet in the future. God has taken care of me abundantly in 2012, and I trust in him for the future. I mentioned God and Christmas Shopping in the same paragraph? If that offends any, I apologize. But, so many of my memories of Christmas stem from being out in the hustle and bustle of the season. The lights, the colors, the wonder. It is truly the most wonderful time of the year. And, personally, I think God is ok with that line of thinking. After all, when you think about it, he blesses us 365 days a year. 

 

Today, I had a chance to be out and about most of the day. I had a couple of work-related appointments that were scheduled hours apart from each other, so I had a chance to hit some stores. It’s amazing what that did for me. More than anything, it took me back to a time when things were a lot simpler. These are some of the places I went back to today in my head. Some are still there, while some have faded into obscurity like Stratton’s in Ashland City – and their jukebox!, and Twinkies!aybe, you might have a memory of this as well.

MALLS – Many of you hate these places. And, to be honest, I couldn’t tell you the last time I have been to a mall. However, as a child, so many of my memories go back to those nights spent at the mall. Whether it be the beautiful decoration displays at Hickory Hollow or Rivergate, or how big 100 Oaks Mall looked to a 3-4 year old, those were some great memories. I remember a talking tree that used to amaze me at Columbia’s Shady Brook Mall, and my first musical memory was being three years old at Two Rivers Mall in Clarksville, and hearing “You Light Up My Life” everywhere we went. As crazy as it sounds, I still think of it as a semi-Christmas song to this day.

BREECE’S 5&10 – For the past five years, I have lived in Centerville, TN. But, the town has held a special place in my heart for many years prior. In fact, one of the last “Five and Dimes” I remember was located in the county seat of Hickman County. I can’t tell you that I ever bought anything there, but those type stores are a part of America’s history – one that I doubt we will see again.

ROSE’S DEPARTMENT STORE – A good friend of mine brought this department store chain up on Facebook last week. For those of you who don’t remember it, it was a neat place. Before Wal-Mart became super, and took over the retail world, you could find plenty of these in Middle Tennessee. I don’t know how to describe them, other than to say that it was a little more scattered than Wal-Mart. I don’t mean that in a bad way, but it just didn’t feel as organized. You could walk from one aisle to the other, and not really know what to expect. Roses’ still exists, though mainly in Virginia, Kentucky, and West Virginia. Some – like the one in Somerset, KY, still even has a luncheonette – which is like a trip back in time.

TWITTY CITY – For a few years, my family would go see the lights at Conway Twitty’s home place. As large and as elaborate as Opryland Hotel was / is, as a kid, I don’t think it had anything on the Hendersonville showplace of one of Country’s most enduring legends. It’s a place I truly miss.

TIME / TEMPERATURE LINES – OK, work with me on this one. I don’t know if they do now or not, but every city used to have a phone number you could call to get the current time or temp. In Dickson, it was 446-5111. I remember at Christmas time, the voice of Santa Claus would greet you when you called wishing you a “Merry Christmas” from whoever was sponsoring the phone line. In Centerville, it was First National Bank. I couldn’t tell you how many times I called – day or night – I actually thought Santa Claus was there, and I’m not convinced he wasn’t.

MUSIC – We all have our favorite Christmas albums or songs, and for me, it’s not the holidays without Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton’s A Christmas To Remember, any Elvis Presley compilation, Lorrie Morgan’s Merry Christmas From London, Patty Loveless’s Blue Grass, White Snow, or Conway Twitty’s Merry Twismas From Conway Twitty & His Friends. One disc that could join that list from this year is Sammy Kershaw’s great new disc A Sammy Klaus Christmas. It is one of the most fun holiday discs I have heard in some time.

CHRISTMAS LIGHTS – Of course, the holiday season brings out the Clark Griswold in a lot of people. I can think of many displays that have struck a chord in my mind, but two stand out. There’s a house in Burns on Highway 96 that always was lit up in basic blue – nothing fancy, just simple blue lights that I always thought was very elegant in its’ simplicity, and in Camden, TN – not too far from the intersection of Highway 70 by-pass and Highway 641. The family there took a lot of pride in how they decorated, and it showed...and if you’ve ever traveled to Grand Rivers, KY – Patti’s 1880s Settlement. Wow. That sums it up.

ERNEST TUBB RECORD SHOP – This one might sound odd. But, especially back in my days of doing radio full-time, people would give me gift certificates to the legendary record store. For me, it’s the ultimate candy store or toy store. It’s still one of the most fun places on Earth for me to kill time it – or a gift certificate. Hint, Hint, Santa!

FOOD – And, finally, who doesn’t think of food over the holidays? When I think of culinary statements of the season that I love, I think of peanut butter fudge from my Mama Kimbro, my cousin Mattie’s Shoepeg Corn, and many of the various friends and listeners that would have me into their homes for dinner. I think a lot of a woman named Mary Baker, who had me to her house on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and many other occasions. Her family became my family, just like many of the people I have gotten to know through radio. I’m not the biggest potato fan in the world, but at her house, I ate my fill – and then some. But, my greatest memory of food over the holidays remains the “Nuts & Bolts” that my parents would make. Bascially, their version of Chex Mix was what others would make, but a little heavy on the Worcestershire Sauce than most. That’s not a complaint, though...I’d gladly eat another batch of it again!

So, that wraps up this week....Who knows, I might even blog again this year! To be continued....Santa Claus, I’ve been good...at times!

Farewell, Larry Hagman.....

I hope that everyone has had a great Thanksgiving. I ate more than I should have, started my Christmas shopping, and spent time with family and friends. I also had my cell phone stolen, but enough about that.

It’s strange what enters your mind sometimes. Thanksgiving morning, I was watching the CBS coverage of the parade from New York. For some reason, memories of watching the telecast as a child came up, and for quite a few years, the hosts were Linda Gray – and the man who played her TV husband on “Dallas,” Larry Hagman.

Then, Friday evening, my phone rang. It was Sheila Vest, who I work with at Kix 96 asking me if I heard the news. I told her I had not. Larry Hagman – legendary for his portrayal of J.R. Ewing, had died at age 81. You could have knocked me over with a feather.

Just like with many children of the late 1970s and 80s, Friday nights were big around the Dauphin household growing up. Usually, about 7:45pm, pizzas would go into the oven – because in fifteen minutes...it was “Dallas” time. For fourteen seasons, he was the man you loved to hate. But, most of us never did. Hagman played the ruthless tycoon with such a sense of humor that you actually had a soft spot for him. In the hands of another actor, the character would have been a (fill in the blank), but with his talent, Hagman chewed up the scenery in a way that few actors do.

And, while I will be the first to say that the character named Ewing would not be someone you would have wanted your daughter to marry – or teach your kids in Sunday School, there was something about the character that I latched onto early. I think it was the “Me against the world” mentality that he played JR with. In any life or career, there are always people that want to tell you no or that you can’t do something. For the first twelve seasons of the series, the character won – and won often. In the last couple years, it really went downhill, but his character always served as an inspiration to me. Granted, Hagman had writers that ensured his victories....maybe I need to hire some!

I will be the first to admit this blog is a little bit random for me. I am writing off the cuff tonight. I’ve been blessed to have met many of my heroes from music and entertainment, and actually got to interview and meet Linda Gray this past summer, but I never did get to meet Larry Hagman. But more than any other TV or movie actor, he was my favorite. As strange as it is to say about someone you never talked to, he was family....and I’m not alone. From 1980-1985, the show was either # 1 or # 2 in the ratings. That impact was felt by many others, I know.

Though he was in “I Dream Of Jeannie,” as well as the films Nixon and Primary Colors, he will always be remembered as JR Ewing. When TNT came up with the idea to reboot the show this year, as usual – he played hard to get, and won his asking price. Though some have debated the quality of the writing at times, I felt the show definitely had more pros than cons. The biggest pro was Hagman. Though the show was right to focus on Josh Henderson as JR and Sue Ellen’s son, when JR was on screen, school was out. He was simply incredible to watch in his role of a lifetime.

Mr. Hagman, we never met. But, I want to take a moment to say thank you for all the Friday nights during my childhood. Before cable came to Beechwood Road, there was only three or four channels, and once that theme song started, it was truly an hour of escapism. While it might be more of a goal to have a life like those lived by people in the likewise fictional towns of Mayberry or Waltons Mountain, who wouldn’t have loved to have been JR Ewing for a day? (Even without the love scenes with Linda Gray, though they were a plus!) To the man who earned moniker “The Mad Monk Of Malibu” due to his somewhat irreverent ways, I simply say “Thanks for the memories.” Rest in Peace!

Welcome To You Tube-Ville!

Again, trying to keep it light with the blog. It has been a rough week for a lot of people that I know very well, so I do want to ask you for a few unspoken prayer requests. Between Sandy and life’s ups and downs, a lot of people are hurting – in ways that I cannot imagine. My heart goes out to them.


That being said, I found myself with a little bit of time on my hands over the weekend. I had time, but not a lot of money. Bills and trying to plan for Christmas had me on the low end....so I reverted to that great addiction that we all have – though some never admit it – YouTube!


For me, YouTube serves a couple of ways to get lost on a weekend afternoon. The music video clips are endless. You can see anything from Britney Spears on the MTV Music Awards from any year to Buck Owens doing “Queen Of The Silver Dollar.” (Yes, I like them both...I have always been a strange one!)


I also love YouTube for it’s seemingly endless collection of TV and Movie clips. You can type in almost any TV show or movie title, and there’s a clip from it. So, I got lost in my youth a little bit. With that said, and not that anyone will care, LOL – Here are ten TV or Movie characters that I would love to be – for a half-hour, hour, or three hours, depending on the medium.


TELEVISION

1. JR Ewing – You know how in “You’ve Got Mail,” Meg Ryan’s character was lamenting the fact that most men looked up to “The Godfather?” Not me! The baron of Southfork Ranch, played by Larry Hagman, would be my TV hero. Some see the character as pure evil, and there are elements of him that I would not want to be like...but the character was a lot more complex than that. There have been times where you feel like it’s “Me Against The World,” and the fact that I can quote Dallas script so quickly proves the character made an impact.
   
2. James Rockford – Without a doubt, the coolest private detective that ever lived in a trailer by the sea. James Garner was such a lovable con artist, and to be able to get away with some of that would be nice.
   
3. Steve McGarrett – Critics of the original “Hawaii Five-O” have called Jack Lord’s acting stiff. Maybe, but he was one the sharpest-dressed policemen that has ever booked anyone. Oh, wait a minute, that was “Danno.” But, what about that hair? Come on, as someone who doesn’t have much....Jack Lord had the coolest hair ever.
   
4. John Boy Walton – I guess if I could watch one show from here to eternity, it would be the “Waltons.” And, to be able to write and think as eloquently as Richard Thomas did in that role would be a feat I don’t know if I could ever accomplish. Granted, I know those words were coming from the typewriter of one Earl Hamner, Jr., who created one of the classics of all time with this show. My chance to do so might have passed me by, but if I could be like any TV father, I would also have to put John Walton on this list, as well.
   
5. Patrick Jane – Among today’s TV shows, there is no character as well-written or well-acted as the lead character on the “Mentalist.” Simon Baker – who, in reality, sounds nothing like you think, seems to take great delight in being an absolute smart-aleck. Do you see a trend?
   HONORABLE MENTION: Darrin Stephens – It doesn’t matter if you’re talking about Dick York or Dick Sargent. To do love scenes with quite possibly the most beautiful actress ever on television, Elizabeth Montgomery – even by tame 1960s standards, would be a the perfect job to have!
   

MOVIES

1. Bo Darville – I should leave it right there. Most probably would have no clue. But, Burt Reynolds provided such a childlike enthusiasm to the role of the “Bandit,” the character would have to make this list. To drive the most famous Trans Am in history with Sally Field in the passenger seat---wasn’t that the fantasy of most men in the 1970s.
   
2. The Joker – Whenever I have interviewed an actor, they usually talk about how much more fun it is to play the heavy. In 1989, I bet Jack Nicholson felt the same way, playing the role of Batman’s biggest thorn. He was bad, but light.
   
3. Ron Burgundy – OK, Rhett Butler was available, and I choose Will Ferrell’s role in Anchorman? Sad, but true. Maybe, it’s a broadcasting thing, but Ferrell was so clever in the role. And, Christina Applegate fell for it. Enough said.
   
4. Danny Ocean – George Clooney in Ocean’s Eleven defined the word “Cool.” Women want him. Guys want to be him. No matter how many times I have tried to repeat the same lines, it never comes off as cool!
   
5. J.B. Books – You could put just about any John Wayne role on this list, but his role in The Shootist - his final film – from 1976, stands as one of my favorites. Staring death in the face, Wayne delivered some of the best lines he had ever been written, and went out the way he wanted to go.
   

All things said, I’m pretty glad to be myself these days. But, escapism is a good thing, don’t you think?

It's A Team Choice!

OK. I have been heavy for awhile now. I want to write about something fun this week. One of my good friends stands in occasional amazement at my wardrobe. Now, believe me when I say it’s not because I am the sharpest dresser in the world. In fact, when I get a little breathing room, I actually need to buy some clothes that fit. I have dropped four pant sizes in the past three years, and have gone down from XXL to XL in shirts. I do like my clothes roomy, but I guess it is time to be a little more stylish. But, as I said, when I get some breathing room!

What my friend remarks about is the amount of sports-related clothing in my collection. There’s a few reasons for this. For starters, I am a fan. Except for my guilty 70s and 80s pleasures like “The Waltons” and “Dallas,” unless it’s music related, I could watch the NFL Network 24/7. There’s just something about “Tony Romo’s Greatest Picks” that is just so entertaining. Secondly, since 1995, I have made a living at covering sports – either in print, online, or broadcast. And, over the past couple of years, I have been blessed to do a little bit of traveling. When I am someplace far from home, if I can afford it, I try to pick up something of a local college or high school team. But, the collection is not complete, so here are five teams that I would gladly wear their colors anytime!

Arkansas Razorbacks – Several of my friends live in Arkansas, but for whatever reason I have never gotten a T-Shirt or piece of clothing from Hog Nation. Seeing how Jimmy and Jerry both came from there, you would think I would have some....

UConn – As much respect as I have for the Lady Vols, I also have respect for the team that was their nemesis during much of the past few years.....

UCLA – Troy Aikman, the last great Cowboys QB played there, and that’s good enough for me. Plus, California is very cool!

Cleveland Browns – I have never bought a jersey or anything Cleveland related, nor have I ever been a huge fan. But, I love the color scheme.

Boston Celtics – I don’t consider myself to be a huge NBA fan, but if I have a favorite team, it would have to be the one that Larry Bird played for. I grew up thinking that the Lakers and the Celtics were the only teams that ever played in May and June.

And, on the flip side...five teams you will ‘Never, Ever, Never, Ever’ see me wearing their colors....

Philadelphia Eagles – Simply put, the most classless bunch of athletes I have ever seen. (Yes, I am a Dallas Cowboys fan.) Though, the teams that Buddy Ryan coached with Randall Cunningham at QB were among the best to not win a Super Bowl. In 1999, Michael Irvin lay motionless as his career was ending on the Veterans’ Stadium turf (if you can call it that)....and the Eagles fans cheered. Ugh. They even booed Santa Claus, and threw snowballs at Jimmy Johnson.

Florida Gators – Not no, but heck no. It has nothing to do with living in Tennessee. They could lose their games 72-0 and I would be tickled pink, and that’s despite being a fan of Steve Spurrier....

New York Giants – Yes, Eli Manning has a lot of grit, determination, and can lead his team back week after week....but I’m sick of him and them. Tom Coughlin acts like he woke up on the wrong side of the bed every day. And, yes, I am jealous. They have what we don’t!

USC – Putting Florida and USC on this list might make you think I am a Vols fan or something. Aside from Women’s basketball, I am not, but Lane Kiffin is an overrated pretty boy. Granted, the man does have a pretty wife, but I was one of many who laughed when Stanford beat him earlier this season. Again, not a Vols fan, but don’t let the door hit you on the way out....

Miami Heat – They were able to get it done, but does anyone outside of the area root for them? They’re so cocky, so arrogant. Almost like a team from Arlington, Texas used to be.

Well, that’s all tonight from the home of the Bulldogs, Hickman County, Tennessee – and also of the Eagles who are making their first post-season appearance this week. As for me, I’ll be in the Cougars press box as Dickson hosts McGavock.....Go DC!

Seven Years Ago

My mother was not the only person to believe in me. I have been blessed to have a wonderful father, family, and friends. Seven years ago, she went "home." I wasn't planning to write this, but waking up this morning in the middle of the night at the same time I did on this date in 2005 made me think overnight....It was a phone that rang then. This morning, I don't know.

I was coming back from an interview in Nashville when my cell phone rang around the Pegram / McCoury Lane exit on Interstate 40. It was my father. "If you can, you probably need to get here this afternoon," he said, referring to Dickson County Healthcare, a place where he and I had spent many a early morning and a late night since my mother had been admitted as a patient for about a month. Neither one of us had missed a day since she was admitted. That's something that I have to say I felt pretty good about. In just a month's time, you find out that many people do not ever visit their "loved ones" in the nursing home, including one of Dickson's biggest "movers and shakers," who actually is nothing more than the other name for a mule....but anyway...There seemed to be some kind of complication with my mother's health. You worry, but you also know that with her situation, she's probably going to be here a while. Seven years later, I can't say that I totally understand what happened or why, but there would be getting no better.....as things would only get worse. Still, how many times had we braced ourselves...and she would rebound enough to make it to the next day. There was one night, after a football game, where I stopped there on the way home, and they said that I probably shouldn't leave. Her vitals were dropping.....only to be normal again in just a few hours. So, even though she wasn't having a good day, I wasn't going to go anywhere but there....just in case.
 
October 25, 2005 (10:30pm)

It had been a long night, but everything seemed to have gotten better. I don't remember there being a moment where I think she was aware of her surroundings, but we had our goodbye moment about a week prior. I was tired--it had been a long day, plus I was to do some fill-in work at the radio station where I was working the next morning. Daddy was still there, so I thought I would go on home and go to bed. It was a down day, but there would be others....and who knows tomorrow just might be better.
 
October 25, 2005 (11:45pm)

Daddy got in, and I had just got done with everything I needed to do, and about to hit the bed. Prayed a prayer for God's will. I had learned after talking with some counselors from Hospice that it was alright to let them go. I didn't pray for that, but I did ask that God's will be done. She had suffered so much, and there didn't look to be any kind of turnaround......So, I got in bed. 104.5 The Zone was talking about the Chicago White Sox's game in the World Series that night, and I was drifting.


October 26, 2005 (12:25am)

The ringing of the phone breaks the beginning of sleep. At first, I thought it might be one of my friends who would call having ran out of gas in the middle of the night. Caller ID, however, said the rest of the story. "Dickson Heathcare,' it said. Daddy answered the phone. A football coach and a good friend of mine named Jerry Pearson once told me that the phone doesn't ring for a good reason past midnight. It seemed at the 12:20 night check, my mother's pulse and heartbeat had stopped. It was over. We drove to Dickson, and I didn't know whether I should cry or not...I was numb. After we called Taylor Funeral Home, there wasn't nothing much to do except to go back home. The sun shone the next morning, of all things.



October 27-28, 2005

For all the bad memories of the week, the outpouring of love and sympathy was great. So many of my friends from radio, music, and DCHS came by. The funeral was what funerals are supposed to be. I spoke. It wasn't that bad. The burial, however, was something else. That night, I was on the air, broadcasting a football game in Williamson County. Some probably didn't understand or understand that fact now.....but I sleep at night. Even though I wasn't "on" that night, that's where I needed to be. The week was over. 
 
October 26, 2012
 Seven years......That's hard to believe. I had people I cared about who passed away prior to you, but over time I guess you get used to it. I can honestly say that there hasn’t been a day that has gone by that I haven’t thought of you. I have been working all week like crazy, and went to bed last night at 11. I woke up not feeling too well in what I thought was the early morning hours. I looked at my phone, and wouldn’t you know it? 12:20. I’m not making this up, believe me.

You told me once to “Do what you do....Things will always work out like they should.” I’m still hoping that’s right. Some days, it feels like it’s one step forward, two steps back. But, I will tell you that my faith is stronger than it has ever been. Every time things have looked bleak, the checking account has looked dry, He has provided. Sometimes I wonder if maybe I shouldn’t have done something else, but this is me. I am doing the only thing I know to do. And, most of the time, there are no regrets. It’s going to work out. God is there, and he will continue to be. The other day, one of my friends put up a Facebook post about recognizing people in Heaven. It’s a debate that has went on for a long time. Though either way, it’s going to be...Heaven, I hope so. I couldn’t imagine not. Well, I’m gonna run for now. I love you. I’ll let you go. I hear Buck Owens is singing this morning, and I know how much you want to hear that....or maybe not!

Your son,

Chuck

Heroes

I share the tough times with you so much, so I think it’s only fair that I talk about the good times, and there have been plenty of those as of late.

First of all, I had an experience yesterday that strengthened my belief about prayer. I had posted something on Facebook a few weeks ago wondering about prayer and if things got answered. I was honest about my lack of faith sometimes. Well, without going into the situation too much, yesterday on the way back from Nashville, I had one of the most honest prayers that I have ever had – about what I had done wrong in my life (a’ plenty), what I had done right, and some fears that I had. As I was driving down Highway 100 through Percy Warner Park, I felt it. I didn’t know if it was peace, but as I said, it wasn’t a prayer of “I need this, God, please.” but of just ‘Hear Me.’

I know I am being somewhat vague, but within twenty minutes I got a phone call. It didn’t take away every cloud in the sky, nor did it solve everything that I needed to work on, but as I approached Fairview, a couple of things that I was worried about disappeared. One day at a time.....I don’t know what the answers to all of life’s little questions are, but maybe it’s not about worrying on things that may or may not happen....but taking one day at a time. I hope I’m wise to realize this in the future as much as I am tonight...

Secondly, I achieved a major plateau in my career Monday night in Birmingham, Alabama. I got to interview Kenny Rogers prior to a promotional appearance regarding his new autobiography. I am not going to ramble on and on about it, but it was a neat experience getting talk time with someone who has been one of your heroes. I have been blessed, fortunate, whatever you want to call it, to get to spend time with people that I am fans of, but every now and then, you get to do something a little special – your Kenny, Dolly, or Oaks don’t come along every day...I get that, and trust me, nobody appreciates it any more than I do, I promise you.

With that in mind, I have thought over the past few days about the word “Hero,” and what it means to me. I realize that I have been very fortunate to know some people who have inspired me – that you won’t see on the front page. I’d like to tell you about a few of them:

Jim Anderson: I met Jim for the first time back in the early 1990s, when I started at WDKN. Over the years, I have always enjoyed being around him and his wife Bobbie. Having gone through some of life’s changes the past few years, I appreciate his honesty about what he has went through. I just hope I come out on the other end as good as you have, Jim. I’m still trying to feel my way.

Jackie Bledsoe: One of many great coaches I have worked with in one form or the other. There have been (and are) some great ones, but there is none any finer. Out of all the coaches I have worked with, save my broadcasting partner Ed Sheley – who I would put in the same league, I have probably had the longest non-sports conversation with him than any other coach – at my mother’s visitation. Don’t get me wrong, many came that day. But, an hour of sharing thoughts about what he went through with his father meant the world to me then, and still does – though I could never get on but one coaches’ show!

Glynn “Chunky” Brown: I don’t know if I have ever thought about Glynn as much as I do his nickname, “Chunky.” When I first started attending Church, he was one of the first people I met. He was a friend of my father’s, but he was also a deep influence on me. To this day, I never see a pack of Juicy Fruit that I don’t think of getting one every Sunday morning as a kid. He and I also talked football a lot, as well. It’s arguable, I guess, but in my sometimes not-so-humble opinion, I think that were it not for Chunky Brown, the Burns Church of Christ might not have survived some tough times in the late 1980s. Nowadays, it thrives with great leadership in the form of elders and deacons, but I remember a time when there were none – and there were barely enough of us to cover a service. I miss him a lot, and I think there’s a Peyton Manning fan out there that feels the same way too.

John Clore: I don’t know how long I’ve known John, but I’ve got to say that he’s one of the most top-notch people that you will ever be around. He’s one of the town’s top publicists, but even though he’s good at his job, that doesn’t have a lot to do with why he’s on this list. He’s a prime example of how to balance life and career. I’m 38, and still learning. He’s got me by a few years. One of the best all-around people in the crazy world of the music business – proof you don’t have to do it 24 / 7 to be a success. As I said, I am still learning!

Lewis Grizzard: OK, I never met him. Though I did talk to him one time as he was the morning guest on WSM Radio. It his his 1989 book CHILI DOGS ALWAYS BARK AT NIGHT (also won on WSM) that inspired some of my humor, and also inspired me to write. I wish I could be as great of a writer as he was, but nobody has done so since his passing in 1994, and I’m not looking for anyone to come down the pike anytime soon. He managed to weave stories about such iconic subjects as politics, the SEC – most importantly Georgia football, and that queen of Moreland, GA- Kathy Sue Loudermilk, that conjured up my imagination. What would Grizzard have had to say about the Braves of the late 1990s, Lewinsky, 9/11, or Snooki? When I get to that newsroom up there, I would love to know!

Janie Grove: The former “First Lady” of my hometown, Burns, TN, Janie was an inspiration to everyone she ever came around. She lived with grace, and she fought with grace. I could tell you the many ways she touched my life, but her son Jason told me one that trumps it. As director of the Dickson Help Center, she touched so many lives without anyone even knowing it. He has told me so many times about people coming up to him and telling him how she touched their lives. That is what you call a legacy.

Dean Roberts: Dean is my first cousin, and lives in Florida. Aside from family get togethers, I’m not going to say that I know him that well, but he is very active in something that I admire and respect him for. He does a lot of work for some of the local humane organizations down there, and is quite often posting about some of the animals on Facebook. It takes a special heart to do that, and as someone who loves his animals, I appreciate and applaud him for what he does!

Joanna Gibson: I debated about calling her “Joanne,” but she probably would kill me. I met this brilliant and beautiful person back in 2006. If you want to know the definition of a “worker,” look no further. Few of us puts in the hours at her three jobs that she does to take care of her family. And, after most wouldn’t care, she does.

Coming To Terms.....

It’s been a couple of weeks since my last blog. Two very eventful weeks, to be exact. One of the biggest things that happened to me was attending my 20^th class reunion. Now, if you look at my pics on Facebook, or read any of the articles that I write, you might not comprehend this – but I was more nervous over attending the reunion than anything I have done career-wise lately. You go through so many life changes in twenty years. Marriage. Children. Job changes, and in some cases, that ugly “D” word, and you wonder what people will think of you. It’s interesting how you never totally change from that person you were in high school. But, I will say, it was an incredible night.

One thing I learned is you never know who is aware of you – even though you might not think so. That was a lesson I learned. But, it was just really great seeing people that, in some cases, I hadn’t seen since May 22, 1992. And, though gravity, father time, and receding hairlines had caught up with some of us, most looked the same. A few even better – not naming names, don’t want to get in trouble with the husbands – LOL...but it was really a fun night and I’m glad I went. Hopefully, we’ll do it again in five more years!

Some really neat opportunities have come my way as of late. I will be able to tell you about one of those next week, but it does have to do with that city with one of the Mannings as QB. I’m excited about that. This week, I am headed to Jonesboro, AR to cover the Johnny Cash Music Festival at Arkansas State. I am really looking forward to this, as I hope to interview Rosanne Cash – who I think made some of the best music out of Nashville during the 1980s – and the punk look was an added bonus, too!

At the reunion, I ran into an old friend of mine named Michael Evans. He’s as classy now as he was back then. We talked about this blog some, and he said he enjoyed reading some of the stuff I write about. I appreciated him saying that because I always wonder if I write too much. We all have problems and crosses to bear, and mine aren’t as bad as a lot of people’s. But, the last few years have left scars. Relationships that you thought would be there forever aren’t. You can read behind the lines, as I’m not going to go into details, but lately I have done a lot of looking around – and not liking what I see.

I never thought that I would be where I am today. You can take that in so many directions. I never thought that my career would take me to the places it has – particularity in the past year, but I also didn’t think I would be writing this as a divorced man either. But, I don’t think anyone has that in mind when they are saying their vows. The saying “one of those things” or “it is what it is” tends to trivialize things a little too much, but sometimes you just have to swallow it and move on. You can’t change the past. If I could – on my part, I would, but that’s water under the Duck River bridge now.

The thing I have learned about myself post-divorce is that it’s ok to be still. Don’t get me wrong. Having had someone in your life, it’s not easy to go back to being alone, but I don’t want just someone....I want “The One.” But, that’s not there right now. Unlike twenty or ten years ago, I can breathe. I can exist without a girlfriend / wife. I didn’t think I could before.

I have also learned – no, wait...am learning to trust in God a little more....about everything. Growing up in Church where my family went, you tend to go with the flow a little bit more than you might otherwise. One of the positive aspects of my year in Georgia was that after being down there for about nine months, I began to realize that my spiritual walk was about me – not the fact that I was Charles and Paulette Dauphin’s son, and this is where I’ve gone – and so I go....(and that is not a knock on my Church in Burns, which will always be my home. You just take things a lot more for granted in the Church you grew up in sometimes!) I can’t say that I am where I need to be, but I am in a better spot than I was. But, through the counseling of a lot of people, I think my faith is stronger than it’s been – but it’s got a ways to go. I fight fear just about every day. Fear about money, love, you name it. One thing about fear is it doesn’t come from God. So, I need to work on that. After all, since I moved back to Tennessee last fall, he has kept me afloat. My mother told me one time when I was between jobs that being tested was a good thing. Well, I could live without it....but she was right.

I guess I am writing this as a testament to my faith and what it means to me. I am not where I planned to be, nor am I where I want to be, but I hope and pray it gets better. (I realize there may be a couple reading this who will say I made my own bed....thanks for the judging.) I want my life to improve, and I want someone in it, and I want to do it right...but that’s one day at a time.

I write all this to simply say I am scared right now. I just hope and pray that God allows me a chance to start over.  I can't do it alone. I don’t think he would bring me this far not to allow me to finish it. I guess it comes down to keep on keepin on....Prayers for all of us!

A True Visionary

As someone who covers the world of entertainment, writing celebrity obituaries is often one of the down sides of my career. I have loved music for so long that these public figures are often a part of my childhood and upbringing – in one form or the other.

Today, I am reflecting on someone who has touched my life in a less obvious, more subtle way. Steve Sabol, longtime head of NFL Films, died yesterday at the age of 69 due to brain cancer. His father, Ed, was a pioneer in filming the league, and how the sport was presented, and to say that Ed followed in his footsteps is putting it rather lightly.

He went to work for the league in the early 1960s, and it was his unique artistic touch that shaped the way we would look at game highlights from the NFL. Hank Stram’s “65 Toss Power Trap” in Super Bowl IV. The Immaculate Reception. Montana to Clark. Barry Sanders’ twists and turns while making the run look like an art himself. Sabol and his staff changed the way we watch sports. In a sense, (and for sports fans, I don’t think this is an exaggeration) he and his father were the Walt Disney of his genre. To think of a generation of NFL highlight films without that voice, while something that is inevitable, is something that makes me (and all sports fans) a little somber today.

I want to close out this entry with something that Sabol wrote years ago. It was in tribute to the Oakland Raiders, but I dare say all football fans can identify. I wish I had half the imagination to write something as moving. It’s called “The Autumn Wind Is A Pirate.”

The Autumn wind is a pirate
Blustering in from the sea
With a rollicking song he sweeps along
Swaggering boisterously
His face is weatherbeaten
He wears a hooded sash
With a silver hat about his head
And a bristling black mustache
He growls as he storms the country
A villain big and bold
And the trees all shake and quiver and quake
As he robs them of their gold
The Autumn wind is a Raider
Pillaging just for fun
He’ll knock you ‘round and upside down
And laugh when he’s conquered and won.



Brilliance, pure and simple. RIP, Steve Sabol, and thanks for the memories.

The Off Switch

It has been a few weeks since I last blogged. The past two weeks have been a blur - which is a very good thing. The more that I work, the less time I have to think, which keeps me a little more sane. I said in my last blog that I wanted your insight on something I have been thinking about a lot lately.

First of all, I have to set this blog up a bit. I have never considered myself to be that driven. Many of my inner circle used to wonder if I had any ambition at all. I have a lot to do with that perception. At times, I can seem like a low-key person who seems to let the chips fall. Sometimes, that's true. But, since I was 13 or 14, career-wise, it was a different case. I tried to learn everything I could about the business I wanted to be in so badly. I was blessed to be able to start my career when I was sixteen years old.

I worked as hard as I could from that time on, trying to establish myself with as many people as I could. Whether it be music, sports, programming, or anything else I could do, I tried to be as good as I could be. And, I have been blessed to be able to continue my career some twenty-two years later, and the past year has seen some of the highest highs I have ever experienced from a career level. I don't consider myself the best writer, the best radio person, etc, that does what I do, but as far as having passion for it, nobody has any more. I can assure you of that.

But, there is a flip side. I was having a conversation with a close friend of mine the other day. I was saying I wish I had a couple of days where I could "do nothing." (Just a few days off - if any of my bosses are reading this!) But, my problem is I would always find something to do. And, don't get me wrong - I love it. Beyond a shadow of a doubt, I am blessed beyond words to do what I do for a living. I don't take it for granted, and I know where it comes from. But, is it healthy to spend all of your time on a computer? Where is the off switch? I don't have an answer. I know several people who are successful in all phases of life. My question to you is how do you find the "off switch," or do you?

I want to stress once again that I have no problem with my schedule right now. I love interviewing, broadcasting, and writing. There is nothing else that I would want to do any more, and truth be told...probably nothing else I could do. Is it bad to be a workaholic? That is the question. It seems to work for a lot of people I know in the business, but I don't know. I know that I want to succeed, but also if I get a second chance at happiness in a relationship, I want to be able to make it last. What do you think? 

Now, back to writing. After all, it's what I do. And, I do love doing it!

We Are The Same....

The past two weeks have been among the most exhilarating of my career. This weekend marks the one-year anniversary of my job at Billboard Magazine. I give God all the credit on that one. What a week to celebrate it with a one-on-one with Lisa Marie Presley backstage after her Opry debut this past Tuesday night. I am blessed. There’s no doubt about it, and I don’t take it for granted!

A few people have asked me how she was. She’s very quiet and unassuming. People have said before how shy Elvis was, and I see where she gets it. Of course, she gets her charisma and looks naturally. Between her father – as well as her mother, she’s one of the most stunning people I ever have been around. It was truly a night that I won’t forget anytime soon.

There have been a lot of those moments lately. A little bit of nostalgia mixed with a wave of the future. Last week, I became heavily interested in a Facebook group that included my fellow classmates from DCHS, Class of 1992. My 20^th class reunion is coming up in a few weeks, and unless a business trip takes me out of state, I am planning on going. That is a big step for me.

It’s not that High School was a bad time in my life. Truth be told, I wasn’t really there. There is a record of me being a student from 1989-1992, but I tried to get through those three years as quietly as I could. I spent more time studying the music business than I did anything else. That’s where my passion was even then. I remember in eighth grade English class, I got into trouble for reading a magazine in class during something else I should have been doing. The magazine? It starts with a B. I say that not to boast. If your car breaks down, I am useless. Plumbing around your house? A call to me would be a wasted one. But, I just have always been drawn to music – even then.

You see, this isn’t about what I did or what I do now. It’s something that I have learned over the past two weeks. Some of the things that my fellow classmates have written have made me realize that we are more the same than I ever thought before. There were a few comments that stated they were just trying to get by day-to-day, or talking about how other people’s words made them feel inadequate. And, the ones saying these things surprised me. Some of them were on top of the world during those years – in my eyes. Good times – or bad times – are not always what it seems.

I thought I was the only one who was scared of getting made fun of. Turns out I wasn’t. Don’t get me wrong, while nobody is ever liked by everybody, I only had a problem with three people during my days on Cougar Hill. Now, neither of those three have made those comments, but I bet those years weren’t as careless and fun for them, either.

I guess what I am saying is that I see a lot of things (and people) differently than I ever have before. And, that’s very refreshing. You never know how you are looked upon – then or now. People have thought I was a snob at times, I am sure. I – even to this day, am so scared that someone is going to reject who I am or what I do that if I don’t know you, I am going to be very quiet. But, if I ever have offended anyone as being aloof or snobbish. I do apologize. I didn’t mean to. I was simply insecure. Even twenty years later, I still am to some extent. Though I had plenty of friends back then, I wish I had been more extroverted. Might have been a lot of fun! If anyone reads this who is in High School, I say not to worry about what others think because (as my Sociology teacher Emma Hall once tried to teach us) – the people who you think are thinking about you more than likely – aren’t. But, also get to know people – deep down, they are not as intimidating as they seem to be!

I want to close with a preview of what my next blog will be about – LOL...you’re on pins and needles right now, aren’t you? I want your advice on something that I have had a few discussions with people about lately....the off switch. Being connected all the time.....good thing or bad thing? Would love to hear from you on this......Have a good week, everyone!

Goodbye, 106 East College Street

I got the phone call today, and it kind of surprised me for a minute. It was from Cory Williams, who I worked with at WDKN from 1995-1998. He wanted to ask me what was going on at the station. I had to think for a minute, as I hadn’t been employed there since March of 2009. Then, it occurred to me. Many have asked me over the past few weeks about the station’s decision to move from the current location at 106 East College Street to the other side of Main Street.

OK...Before I get underway with this, I know that it’s common knowledge that after the closing of the station under the former owners three years ago, I fell into a deep depression. There, I’ve said that. But, in 2012 – the station has done well without me...and likewise. They have made a lot of great decisions since then, and they’ve got a good staff.

But, this isn’t about now. This is about then. The moving of the station has made me feel a little bit nostalgic. And, though a few of you might be saying “Here we go again,” I feel that there’s nothing wrong with that. It’s a part of my past, and still a part of me.

I remember when I first walked into the station in the spring of 1991. It was under the guise of an Explorer Post – an off shoot of the Boy Scouts. Many people from High School met for a few weeks to learn about radio. The post didn’t last, but two of us, James Garton and myself, kept coming back and badgering the staff there until we both had jobs. I remember sitting in Jackie Rhodes’ office for my job interview. I was wearing shorts. I was told not to do that much....though she didn’t patrol that much. I have to say that if it weren’t for Jackie, maybe I would have still found my way to do what I do now, but I still owe it to her.

So many memories of that building. James Garton and I playing soccer in the hallway during Cougars games. Sitting and hearing the wit and wisdom of the station’s PD, Gordon Rhodes. I can’t quote everything...but I did learn a valuable career lesson from him – don’t sweat it. You need to take your job seriously, but there are some nights that it’s just not going to be your day. And, that is true. I remember Marcia Campbell coming into my half-office back in 1995 wanting to start a Bluegrass show. She’s done quite well for herself, I would say, as the nighttime host at WSM. Kristy Owings, one of the best friends I have ever had. A lot of laughs took place when the mic was turned off....the phone call....she knows who it wasn’t!

In 1996, I remember this guy from Arkansas coming into the station for the first time. Since then, I don’t know if there is a better example of how to conduct yourself as a professional than Ken Loggains. Class doesn’t even come close to describing him. Joe Webster. Jim Hudson. Warren Medley. Randy Tidwell, The “Mayors,” “The Rat Pack,” “Big D and The Dickson Mafia,” the memories are still there and a huge part of me.

There are several other memories there that I keep to myself. My first kiss took place right there, at 106 East College Street. I’m not alone in that. I’m sure if you asked anyone who worked there from 1991-2009, there would be a few memories that they won’t divulge. It was a place where I grew up – and I cherish each and every year I had at that building – even with the cords hanging from the wall.

I hope nobody gets the wrong idea about this. I’m not waxing melancholy about change. I wish the station nothing but success. The last person I hired is still there, and so is Warren Medley. People like Robert Freeman and Dale Turner are doing a great job making the station work. I have no idea how history will record any of us that worked there at 106 East College Street – and I’m more concerned with making the future better than living in the past.....but it was a great time in a lot of people’s lives. I just wonder if the “Ghosts” upstairs – who always seemed to prowl around between 5am and 6:30 are still there......

JUST AROUND THE CORNER!

Checking in today from the hometown of one Minnie Pearl, Centerville, TN......This is where I live, so I don’t know why I introduced this blog like that – but it sounded cool. Today is just one of those days that you know that God has created. It’s sunny, and the view off of Kayjoe’s Hill is spectacular. At least four people have commented about the weather today. Today is one of those that lets you know that Autumn is just around the corner. And, I am always excited about that!

Of course, another aspect to this time of the year is that you begin to see a lot of more clothing on people reflecting their choice of athletic teams. Here, that means Hickman, East Hickman, Dickson County, or Creek Wood, all of which kick off their 2012 seasons next week. Besides high schools, college football looms large. While being a native of Dickson County, I never really thought of Hickman County as being too “Southern,” it’s interesting to note that there seems to be a lot more Crimson Tide fans here than in Cougars country. Don’t get me wrong, as long as Ed Sheley and Shane Buchanan are still kicking, there will be Alabama fans in Dickson County, but it seems a lot more even here.

That’s not to say that you don’t see a lot of orange and white. I have to admit that I have never been a huge UT fan – aside from cheering on the Lady Vols under former Coach Pat Summitt, but living in the Volunteer State – it is a way of life, and people live it. I think that UT polo shirts sometimes are the default attire for Church or going to Wal-Mart – and you see a lot more of it this time of year. And, that’s a good thing. The arguments are starting to heat up on sports talk about who’s the best in the SEC and NFL, George Plaster is back, it is indeed Football Time In Tennessee.

While my NFL heart will always beat to the rhythm of the Dallas Cowboys, (though I find myself fascinated by the New York Jets and Rex Ryan), I have no allegiance in the college world. If I travel somewhere that has a team, I do try to buy a T-Shirt, but I tend to go more for the quarterbacks than a team. I was a Barker Alabama fan, a Manning UT fan, as well as a Couch UK fan. Nowadays, I don’t even have a favorite player, but watching a college game is different. There’s a certain extent of pomp and circumstance that goes along with the college game that you don’t get with the NFL. I still prefer pro, but the excitement level is a lot different.

Anyway, this blog really has no point to make. I don’t have an ax to grind with anyone. I haven’t had a lot of time to study teams and figure out who’s going to be good. I don’t even know if I can make a prediction about the Super Bowl or the SEC (How bout this – New England and the Giants in the former, and the winner of the Alabama – LSU game takes all? That’s a stretch, huh?), but I am just going to enjoy it as much as I can this year! After all, it’s just around the corner!

AN INTERVIEW BUCKET LIST

I was going through a box of discs the other day as I was trying to locate an interview I needed for an article. I started to go through them, and I realized just how blessed I have been in my career. Jones. Haggard. Lynn. Parton, so many legends in Country Music that I have been privileged to talk to. There also have been superstars with names like Shelton, Lambert, and Underwood. Occasionally, there have been a few from outside music – such as Georgia coach Mark Richt, “Dallas” star Linda Gray, or “Waltons” creator Earl Hamner, Jr.....So, I started to think about people I would love to cross off the interview list. I came up with twelve, some from the music community, and a few who aren’t. If anyone is out there who can help me with any of these, I would take it!

Music

Garth Brooks – He’s the biggest selling artist in American music, but it goes deeper for me. As I have said before, it was Garth that made Country not only cool, but as respected as any other form of music. Also, his catalog only gets better with time, including my personal favorite Brooks tune, 1992’s “What She’s Doin’ Now.”

Amy Grant – As someone who has grown up in Nashville, Mrs. Vince Gill is one of the city’s biggest goodwill ambassadors. I’ve always been a fan of her music, especially songs like “Baby Baby” and the tender “I Will Lead You Home,” and she’s still one of the most beautiful women – inside and out that Nashville has ever seen!

Faith Hill – I’m going to confess. Once upon a time, I was a member of the Faith Hill fan club. Whether that is professional for me to admit or not is besides the point. But, it would be really neat to come full circle from fan to interviewer. And, I’m still a huge fan of her music. When she’s on, she’s on!

Reba McEntire – In my opinion, she’s the biggest star that I have not interviewed. She embodies class, perseverance, and hard work. Again, I was buying her music when I was a teenager, and those albums still rank as some of my absolute favorites.

Barbara Mandrell – Ok, I have talked to Barbara before. Back in 2006, when RCA released a tribute album to the singer, but this is one that I would love to do a long-form interview about the entire gamut of her career. She started touring when she was eleven, and has seen so much during her career. One of these days...

Lionel Richie – His music was the soundtrack of my life growing up, as evidenced by the Tuskegee disc that has become one of the years’ best sellers. After all of these years, the guy has still got it. I would love to ask him about some of the stories behind his great records, and those who covered him long before it was cool to do so, like Conway Twitty.

Acting

Larry Hagman – As many who know me can attest, I was a “Dallas” fan when I was six years old. I think his portrayal of JR Ewing is one of television’s all time greatest characters. So many people think of the oilman as a ruthless evil (fill in the blank), but there was (and is) more to the character than that. Even at 80, he’s stiil ruling the Southfork roost on the TNT reboot.

Sports

Terry Bradshaw – I am not a Steelers fan. But, with Terry, you don’t really have to be. I have read his books over the years, and have so much respect for the way Bradshaw is able to laugh at life – and himself.

Jimmy Johnson – If I had to choose one coach to lead my team – college or pro – it would be Johnson. I think he is nothing short of a genius. I don’t know if I would be able to ask him anything that potent, because I think – more than anyone else on this list – I would simply be in awe.

Politicians

Lamar Alexander – From a Tennessee state level, no politician – save Ned Ray McWherter fascinates me more. Alexander rose to prominence during the 1970s, one of the state’s most turbulent times. He lost to, and then replaced one of the most controversial leaders the state has ever had in Ray Blanton, and carved out one of the most legendary careers in Tennessee history. And, he could play a mean piano on “Hee Haw.”

Bill Clinton – From a charisma standpoint, I don’t know if anyone could match the former governor of Arkansas. He could be equally at home at a high school football game as he could at the United Nations. And, though I have voted on the other side of the ticket more, I actually believe that he felt in his heart that he was making a difference in people’s lives – more so than any other president we’ve ever had.

Colin Powell – I close with a man who really isn’t a politician. Both parties have tried to lasso him in, and he hasn’t bit. I had a chance to hear him speak last fall, and it became apparent to me how much America is the weaker for him not electing to run for office. He’s simply one of the most brilliant people I have ever heard. By far, he would make a great choice for the nation’s top office – or any office he so chose!

So, I’ll update this one in a few years, and let you know how I did!

BACK IN THE SOUTHFORK SADDLE!

Some of my best friends were starting to wonder if I had slipped out of myself the past few weeks. I’ll be the first to admit that I have had some mood swings the last few years, but some people have been very concerned since June 13.

That was the day that TNT premiered the new ‘Dallas.’ Of course, I need not remind you about the legendary CBS series, which ran for fourteen seasons before ending back in 1991. I was very excited about the fact that TNT was going to bring the series back. And, I was excited beyond measure when I got to interview Linda Gray and Josh Henderson during their visit to Music City last month during the CMA Music Festival. But, somewhere after the first episode, I kind of got lost just a little bit.

For starters, life is a little bit more involved than it was back during the 80s. I was a little bit younger after all, and knew not what a deadline was. Two, the show is on Wednesday night, and I have been trying to make more of a commitment to Church on that night. And, the best way for me to watch the show is by buying it on iTunes the day after it runs, so I have to admit it hasn’t been as much of a priority as it was, say in 1987.

Also, the show moves fast – lightning speed, actually. They only filmed ten episodes this season, so you have to hang on tight. For a few episodes, it seemed that every character was out to put it to each other, which wasn’t too terribly different from the glory days of the original. Larry Hagman was getting some great lines, and Henderson found his way as John Ross, but it just seemed like there was no rhyme or reason. J.R., though known as the man viewers loved to hate, had always been a sympathetic character to me for a lot of reasons. No matter what he did, you felt he was doing so out of (maybe a sometimes misguided, but still) love of family. That hadn’t been there.

But, last week’s episode changed most of that. The Ewings bonded together against a common enemy, which was always the show’s strength. They could fight with each other brilliantly, but go after any one of them...and beware of the whole brood. Bobby – now the emotional patriarch of the family, came to the defense of nephew John Ross – who has spent the first seven episodes battling, and stood up to evil businessman Vincente – who has made life rough on the Ewings as of late.

There’s just two more episodes before the show takes a hiatus. Of course, the season finale was always a benchmark of the original, and it’s going to be tough to top. However, there looks to be plenty of emotion. Bobby has been fighting a possibly fatal disease this season, and it looks like he and J.R are going to have some very emotional moments in the final two episodes this season. I have a feeling that I am going to be on the edge of my seat for these episodes.

Overall, I would say the series deserves a B-minus for the first season. Of the original characters, Hagman and Ken Kercheval (Cliff Barnes) don’t seem to have missed a beat, Duffy had a slow start, but has gotten more interesting, and Sue Ellen is just kind of there – but I have a feeling that will change in season two. Of the newcomers, Josh Henderson is the star. He makes the John Ross character vulnerable enough that you have to like him – just like Larry Hagman did with J.R. I also like the character of Harris, the ex-husband of Ann, Bobby’s wife (need a scorecard?) He’s not a nice guy at all, and he’s actually kind of creepy – but Mitch Pileggi, the actor who plays him, makes the character one that you have to snicker at. Will this ‘Dallas’ last fourteen seasons? Who knows, but I’ve got to say that I am starting to get impressed with what I am seeing....just don’t tell me what happens until Thursday afternoon. Thank God for iTunes!

TOMATO OR NO TOMATO, THAT IS THE QUESTION!

Have you ever had one of those days where you just got so busy That you forgot to pull aside and do the little things – like eat? LOL...That happened to me today. Had the usual schedule, a couple of interviews and work-related things, and about 4pm, it dawned on me. I hadn’t eaten yet, and I was feeling it.

As it turned out, I just happened to be within a few miles of a Nashville landmark – the Loveless Cafe. So, I pulled in to regain my state of mind. I was sitting at my table, and a woman was talking to her children about some of the food on their menu when her daughter asked her a question, “Mama, what do fried green tomatoes taste like?” The mother replied, “Oh, honey, they are the most delicious things you have ever eaten,” she said.

You know, to that woman, she may have been telling the truth. But, my thought at the time was ‘Why does a mother lie to her child like that?’ Ok, to each his own, I know. But, one of the biggest traditions in the south is slicing a tomato, putting salt on it, and telling everyone how good it is. Really?

Somewhere in the Bible, I think there is an explanation about tomatoes. “And the Lord said, thou cut up the tomato in 4,040 pieces (40 is a big number in the Bible, after all), and put in Chili. The other way you should consume a tomato is on a Cheeseburger – provided you have it buried under all the other toppings.”

Am I being a little harsh? Alas, maybe. There may be something enjoyable about tomatoes by themselves. I am still trying to search for that answer. If you like the vegetable, I humbly apologize. But, yuck! Chili would not be chili without tomatoes, though cheeseburgers would still have their shine. Now, I guess a BLT would only be 1/3 as good, but a BT would probably settle a little easier on my stomach.

Well, that so ends my tirade on tomatoes. I have nothing against tomato eaters. We all have our crosses to bear, I guess. Hey, give me credit.....this blog was meant to make you chuckle, laugh, or think I’m crazy....rather than be anything heavy. And, that was (and is) the goal!