So, in Tennessee we get national news for the asshattery of Arlington mayor Russell Wiseman, which really still amazes me. Grasping at straws is a bit crazy and the whole thing just reeks of stupid. I love this state. I sometimes wish the Economic Development [...]
The worst thing that ever happened to news was sales getting involved in editorial. The Dallas Morning News can spin it all they want but when you are getting involved in different editorial factions of the newspaper, the line has been crossed.
I was supposed to be out of town today at something I was really looking forward to but cruel fate decided that I needed to have a stomach virus which kept me locked in one room of the house for a little longer than I wanted to be most of [...]
Tennessee politics can be a very interesting thing. This year we have seen the Jason Mumpower/Kent Williams hootenanny, a crowded race for governor on both sides of the spectrum (I’m not talking about that one) and this week’s hokey pokey with the announcement of John Tanner citing [...]
Sometimes I hear weird things that amuse me. So here is another edition of Overheard in Hoots.
There is a giraffe in Alamo. His name is Jerry. His tongue made my wife cry. Umm, alrighty then. I have two donkeys. I always consider myself to be the little donkey. Photographic proof [...]
I own it. I had the holiday blues. I want you to know that I have such wonderful sweet friends. You know you are in a good core of people when one of them plays a polka for us to help us get through the holidays.
Yes, a [...]
How ’bout those Yankees?
Obviously Hoots has been a hotbed of what I like to call political “doings” the past couple of days. Since Tuesday night, I probably have talked to dozens of people talking about the domino effect of Tanner giving his one year notice. Most folks around here know [...]
It’s funny that I wrote about the Hoots book on Sunday to be hit in the head with a baseball bat filled with writer’s block for the past two days. Let me tell you, I’m all out of sorts fright now which probably goes back the entire year. Knowing I [...]
I’ve got some sort of funk this morning. My tonsils have decided to revolt and I’m a little tired of them getting all swollen and pissy. So I will give you more of your favorite former presidential candidate, Mabel, who occasionally lets me know to put down [...]
A Time Of Rest
During any holiday, Hoots kind of shuts down. On Saturday, there were some pre-Christmas events but all in all, the folks I hang with had vanished from sight. I guess this is a good thing. We replenish ourselves a bit.
On Friday, [...]
A little calm Sinead O’Connor music for this last day of the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.
[...]When I was a kid, my mother and grandmother used to tell me that if I said I was bored, then that meant that I was boring. I think, in retrospect, they told me that to shut me the hell up as I was a loud, rambunctious child who had [...]
The one where a commercial for a zombie game makes me run to YouTube to find out what the song is.
Harmonica player is kicking it.
[...]
When I was a kid, we had three channels on the tube and what we watched really depended on what the networks had on. If we were lucky and the stars were aligned, we could sometimes get channels from Memphis where I would drown myself in old [...]
The new M&M’s commercials in where we see our round candy talking treats trying to run from their own demise on a grocery store conveyer belt. Alas, the red M&M does not escape his fate and we see in the next scene he is in a grocery bag 
[...]
Thanksgiving was different this year for me. I’d been in sort of a funk over some situational things and had to gear myself back a bit. I’m usually pretty cheerful, but holidays are wickedly weird or in my cranium, I make them weird.
Yeah, that’s about right.
I’ve been [...]
Jeez that’s a huge turkey. Wish I knew to credit for this wonderful thing, but I don’t.
That turkey gives me the wiggums.
[...]
Mabel is an impossible dog to get a picture of believe it or not. And sometimes she demands my attention. And then, sometimes she blogs.
[...]
My random observations on pop culture this week aren’t that pithy or clever, but I did randomly observe them so there is that.
1. Donny Osmond will remain in your tubes with ebbs and flows forever. The man constantly reinvents himself. (And, yes, I did like his song [...]
The Saturn plant closes tomorrow. I know the economics between the South and the Midwest are different, but I have to tell you, news of this sort takes me back to my childhood and just chills me to the bone. It’s no good, Pith readers. It’s [...]
As the old saying goes, it’s all fun and games until someone loses an eye, or the cops show up.
I’ve been thinking a lot about community and politics, development both personal and professional and how sometimes we are paralyzed by the things that make us unique. As I wrote yesterday, [...]
What is it with rock musicians and cryptozoology this week? Apparently, Bigfoot might be driving his Hummer around the hills of West Virginia.
But to rock musician Kris Allen, the idea of Bigfoot running around in West Virginia’s rugged terrain is no laughing matter. Rather, it is a serious issue [...]
This is tragic. I was talking to my friend, The Engineer and to another buddy who runs a mill about this very thing this past week. The rains have taken a very heavy load this year on America’s southern farmers.
But just as the harvest began in September, it [...]
No, really. It’s in this news story from Houston’s Fox 27 news. Apparently the aliens downloaded music into Sammy’s head.
Ghost Theory isn’t so convinced.
Now off to hunt Bigfoot stories for our holiday enjoyment.
[...]Stephen Yeargin writes of a conversation he had with a young man who was barely keeping his head above water after an accident.
David was involved in a serious car accident earlier this year that had left him bedridden. The glass repair job was a fairly recent development for him [...]
Can someone explain this to me please.
I think if my parents had put me on top of an ostrich when I was a kid, I would have had ongoing nightmares for the rest of my life.
[...]There’s been a lot going on this past week and it’s been all I can do to keep my brain functioning. I even told Squirrelly that I think I’ve been overstimulated to the point of paralysis.
Ever gone through that?
So, let’s recap. During my adventures in Whites Creek, I met [...]
There are ridges in Whites Creek.The fall leaves make the sides of the hills look like they are on fire which is a beautiful sight to see, I assure you.
The grocery store is smaller than the one in Hoots, and though I’ve already been to Tony’s Foodland twice, I’ve already [...]
I have laughed until I cried over this one from Probably Bad News.
Don't Drink In Front Of The Bird, It Makes The Dog Mad
It’s the little things that give me so much joy.
' [...]I am sitting in Chez Coma sneezing as the end of Harvest has kidnapped my nose and is holding it hostage. Oh hay bales, you mysterious intertwined bundles of hell that kidnap my soul each year.
On the other hand, dear farmers of Hoots, thanks for feeding all of us because [...]
I love this painting.
Love, Newscoma
On to the story of where I saw this. I’ve been fortunate enough over the last few years to be invited by wonderful friends to attend Artrageous in Nashville. We always have a wonderful time as we roll through the streets of Nashville looking at some [...]
Holy CRAP!
I just realized it’s almost Thanksgiving, that this year is almost over and I still dress badly.
Hold me.
[...]There are a few things about Hoots that make me smile. On Friday, I met up with Realtor Mom, The Engineer, The Grad Student (who soon will no longer be a grad student but a Grad) and KK for awhile where we laughed and joked around about life in general.
Then [...]
I haven’t really done an AAP lately mainly due to the fact that I meet some very interesting people and it’s hard to know where to start.
I think today I might hit up one of my bromances to go and find the picture of the dog that was buried with [...]
I occasionally walk into political discussions I want no part of. Usually this is due to the yelling and screaming, but the most infuriating part is when both parties in said “discussion” are saying the same thing.
Invariably, I’ll get the question “What do you think?”
Here’s what I [...]
Lou Dobbs has left CNN “to pursue other opportunities,” apparently unaware that standing on street corners yelling about big government and foreigners is kind of a crowded field.
[...]As I have told you before, Squirrel Queen hates teaching me about nature. I know very little about the outdoorsy life and yet she thwarts my every attempt to learn more.
An average conversation usually begins with me asking what particular animal is lying “asleep” on the side of the [...]
I love it when my friends here in Hoots start groovy new blogs.
[...]Stephen Fry was on Craig Ferguson last week and talked about Tennessee.
I love them both. Stephen Fry is going around America seeing very odd things. I think the Body Farm in East Tennessee applies. He’s wonderful about his experience.
[...]
From My Confined Space
When I take a couple of days without blogging and leave you with a gif of a monkey drying off a cat, I just have to tell you, I get out of sorts.
I was without my computer this weekend and I’m waiting, [...]
Over the weekend, during my weekend in Memphis, I met Adrienne Pakis-Gillon who is the democratic candidate running against Brian Kelsey in District 31. It was a casual introduction where we talked briefly about the state of politics in the state and I found her to be very passionate [...]
I’m headed to Memphis later today after I go to a meeting regarding broadband access in rural areas here in Tennessee. I’m sort of bummed that my cell phone is borked right now. It won’t recharge and I don’t have time to spend a gajillion hours at Verizon, which is [...]
What feels better than seeing a monkey dry off a cat?
Nothing. NOTHING I tell you!
[...]I just heard the term “soldier on soldier violence” on CNN. I’m probably like everyone else who was somewhat riveted to the television yesterday afternoon. I saw Twitter updating the Fort Hood trend something like 500 tweets a minute. I turned on the news and watched news channels scrambling for [...]
As I am apparently a geezer, I woke up this morning with my back bothering me. This could be due to falling over one of the pets trying to go to the bathroom last night who conveniently decided they need to walk in the same path that I did in [...]
We sat and chatted last night over a cold beer as chilly weather began to make its presence outside, talking of tombstones for pets that were discovered by Dirk Diggler, politics and the local college, and how we would be lost without it. The bar was too smoky even for [...]
It constantly amazes me that people will bitch about the government and then they don’t participate by the mere act of casting a ballot on election day. So, I’m with Michael Silence and Say Uncle on this one, that when Knoxville only had five percent of registered voters [...]
The sky in Hoots these last couple of days has been so blue and wide-open that I found myself catching my breath from its beauty. These are fragments of sight and sound when I meander around the towns of this area, small wicked things that I see that make me [...]
Bruce Tuck was indicted by a grand jury on three counts of rape as well as 22 criminal charges yesterday. And, yes, I’m glad they expedited this for the sake of helping the victims move forward. Good call from our local attorney general whom I like a great deal.
Here’s [...]
Wow. She’s right.
What follows are a few of my thoughts regarding recent changes in social networking. It’s also an exercise in geeking out. Those of you who are not card-carrying social media experts probably won’t understand why I’m so excited, but it’s worth the effort to learn. “But Amber,” [...]
Umm, MSM quit linking the bloggers awhile back even when they took their stuff without attribution. So know, MSM is yelling at each other about not getting attribution?
But it’s a good conversation.
The thing is, In Session now knows what bloggers have been going through. Although I don’t [...]
I miss link dumps, so I guess I’ll just do one myself. As NaBloPoMo is happening this month, I get to see people that don’t
Hoots
blog like they used to participate.
And some of what they say is mysterious and intimate, and quite stunning. And some of it is [...]
Once upon a time, there was a vampire dog named Mabel. She would eat the candy of small children and bark at leaves. Blood, however, sort of creeped her out. So, due to her infliction, she would protect the small dog, Duff, who was a vampire slayer. [...]
I have spent the better part of the morning here reading about Ingmar Bergman. When I was a kid, you were more likely here in Hoots to see a variety of exploitation films, Burt Reynolds was huge or the occasional bad horror movie at one of the local drive-ins. [...]
Is the free story of one of the only stories that ever scared the poop out of me. Ambrose, you wicked man, we studied this in school and it still creeps me out.
.
A man stood upon a railroad bridge in northern Alabama, looking down into the [...]
I am somewhat disappointed about Halloween this year. The issue comes down to that SQ has a soccer game tonight in a town 50 miles away.
Don’t these folks know it’s HALLOWEEN!!Dang.
Last night, a dude from Budweiser, the grad student, the Engineer, Squirrelly and the fabulous Mandy decided [...]
I’ve been a traveling girl this week and headed back to Hoots after a pretty groovy time of work in Nashville. This is going to sound odd, but I do dig the “going to the office” sort of thing. I’m too social of a person to be in my mumu [...]
Cemetery In Hoots
This photo, taken by Reel Librarian, is of a cemetery in Hoots. I think it’s absolutely and positively beautiful. I asked her if I could post it and she said that I could.
If that’s not eerie, erotic and somewhat mysterious, I don’t [...]
It is the week of Halloween and Dan Lehr reminded me this morning that I need to point you to Aunt B.’s ghost stories from Nashville. They are a sight to see, well textured and really wonderful. Get on over there later today when you have your [...]
Welcome to a world where getting a Hardees’ Ham and Cheese sandwich means driving 30 minutes. A world of juke joints, countless churches, gun racks and the sound of hunters in the distance.
You have entered The Hoots Zone.
Scary things float in the sky during October
[...]
Yesterday in Hoots, everyone had a birthday.
The Grad Student (who is working on her thesis right now. I’ve lit a candle for her because that’s a lot of brain work that’s going to have to be expended in the next couple of weeks), my pal NeNe (Not the one from [...]
I was asked earlier this week why I haven’t posted any Hoots stories recently so I decided it might be time for one about the man from Alabama with the voice of an angel. Or the devil. You choose, I just know it was wonderful.
I was dorking around yesterday asking [...]
I’m posting this video for all the folks here in Hoots who have been following the Steve Ross issue out of Memphis. You see, there are a lot of folks who know Ross because he comes and hangs out here some and I’ve been asked about it by some of [...]
Christian Grantham played this video this morning on his show, the Morning Browser, and I thought I’d share it. Gary Wake coined the phrase pervasivideo which I think works for this quite nicely.
[...]
A North Carolina woman has found the holy image of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer in her pork chop.
Chaos ensues.
[...]As more of the story comes from last night of what Joe Brown said in the Memphis Charter Commission meeting, I’d like to offer him this.
I love this country but you have to love your country like an adult loves somebody, not like a child loves its Mommy. And right-wing [...]
This is what I want to talk about. This is going to be long and a bit of a hissy fit, so if you aren’t in to that, you might want to see a picture of Barney Frank The Bassett Hound whose human is Mary Mancini.
I am [...]
And then there is a roundhouse kick in a room that looks like a convention room at the Ramada Inn.
I can’t just say how this made me giggle.
And there are ninjas.
Heh.
[...]I haven’t been in Hoots much lately and I don’t expect that’s going to change anytime soon, so I decided to go hunt down my former boss, The Businator.
Most people’s hobbies include knitting, crafts, coin-collecting and autograph seeking. Not me, dagnabbit, I want to talk about paranormal crap, Bigfoot, politics [...]
I have been somewhat offline in the last few days. I’ve been busy, had some unexpected things come up and, alas, my routine of following everything willy-nilly was put to the test. Alas, I survived.
The whole Balloon Boy thing where a family created a huge, costly hoax with a big [...]
I went to BarCamp Nashville.
Hey, Look At The Bad Picture I Took With My Cell Phone. Yay Me!
It reminded me of the first time I went to a blogger meet-up back in the day when dinosaurs smoked cigarettes and died due to massive shoot-outs due [...]
The gossip tabloids have taken on the story that there is a possibility that Bigfoot will be in Nashville this weekend at BarCamp Nashville.
I’ll be there to witness this event because I have it on very good sources that he will, indeed, be there.
[...]Just for the record, I voted for Fake Prince Mongo for mayor of Memphis.
Of course, this happened in my mind because I don’t live in Memphis.
In the video, dig the groovy jazz going on in the back.
Carry on.
[...]Hey, it’s not The Tantrum but it’s still damned good.
lets do the fork in the garbage disposal dance – Watch more Funny Videos
Well, all righty then.
The last few days have been interesting. My beloved St. Louis Cardinals choked, the Vols surprisingly won (I KNOW!) and I watched Craig Ferguson all weekend to clear my mind. Why would one watch Craig Ferguson all weekend? Well, sometimes you just have to [...]
