Wilson Post Blogs

Tennessee hunters trade one long gun for another Saturday.

Muzzleloader season closes Friday and rifle season opens Saturday. Of course, during the rifle season, hunters may use bow, muzzleloader or rifle. Just be sure and wear the required hunter orange. The bag limit is still three does a day and a total of three bucks for season here in Unit L.

By PATRICK HALL
Special to The Wilson Post

It’s been 50 years since British secret agent James Bond hit the screen and for the first time in the longest film series of all time, an audience knows who that man is, where he came from, and in “Skyfall,” the franchise maybe has reached its apex.

The third outing for Daniel Craig as Bond is without a doubt his best and as a lover of every Bond film, short of a couple stinkers, “Skyfall,” is one of the best, right up there with “Dr. No,” “Goldfinger,” and other classics.

In “Skyfall,” Mi6 loses a computer hard drive that contains the identity of every agent embedded in terrorist organizations across the world. During the pursuit of the thief, Bond is shot and seemingly falls to his death.

When the devious and maniacal villain Silva (Javier Bardem) uses the list and begins to personally attack Mi6 leader “M” (Judi Dench), Bond returns and proves that he is the best at what he does, even when he has lost a step.

We don’t get to see each other often, but my dearest and oldest friend, Destini, and I talk on the phone every day. Sometimes – several times. Since she lives in south Mississippi and I’m not on Facebook - this is how we communicate.

For every bad hair day, work project, family issue, crazy ex-boyfriend, awesome new boyfriend, Keeping Up with the Kardashians tidbit – you can bet there is a morning, noon or nighttime conversation about it. Plus texts. I pity the people in line at the grocery store behind me when we are having a life bashing talk fest. Having been friends for 15 years now, Dess Bess and I talk in codes and inside jokes that only we will ever understand.

On particularly bad days – the phone conversations extend to email. Not email as in written accounts of our days, but emailed coupons, links to pictures of new boots, purses, hairstyles and websites with things we want. We’ve both come to the conclusion that when the world goes crazy the only thing left to do is throw your hands up…then reach for your wallet.

Conversations go like this:

“Tell me what you think of this… It isn’t too Snooki is it?” (Destini had the misfortune of being compared to Snooki from the Jersey Shore once and now suffers from paranoia that hairspray, UGGs or sun exposure will trigger another comment. D – I know you are reading this and I’m sorry that I brought this up. No, you don’t look like Snooki. I promise.)

“Do you think I should try a new nail color?”

“I’m bored with my hair.”

“I love your hair.”

“I shouldn’t buy this…I’m saving for (something else).”

This is just normal conversation for two gals in their twenties and usually everything goes well. We throw a little money at our problems, wait 5-7 business days for the package to arrive, open it up and voila – STYLE & HAPPINESS!

Obviously you can’t shop away all of your problems. We understand that life requires us to work hard, pray without ceasing and figure things out in a mature manner without adding personal debt as an issue. But when all else fails --- shopping is the only cure.

While Tennessee was inventing ways to lose at home to Missouri, Vanderbilt was making up a 17-point deficit to beat Ole Miss in Oxford.

By ANGEL KANE
Wilson Living Magazine 

There comes a time in everyone’s life when they find out who their true friends really are.

For me, that day was Thursday, Nov. 1, 2012.

It’s a day that I’ve marked down in Sharpie and can never be erased.

I blame most all that transpired on my husband.

Since this blog is new, I probably haven’t mentioned how much I love to travel. I’ve figured out that, in my case, the trip usually is not the most important part – it is the preparing for the trip and traveling that I adore.

Most people have told me that packing is their most daunting task. If they could have someone else do it for them, they would. Not me. I love to spend hours washing my clothes (or just picking them up from Sparkle dry cleaners), deciding what I will wear on the trip and then carefully checking to make sure everything liquid is double bagged in Ziploc bags and that I have the tools necessary to create any hairstyle. I think that by taking my time and not rushing the packing process I am able to pack lighter and travel better.

Then comes the actual travel. I love airports. To me, they are like a mini-world. Starbucks? Check. Nail salon? Check. Bookstore? Check. Don’t even get me started on buying perfume at the Duty Free shop. Perfume is my weakness.

Today (Friday) I am traveling to New Orleans.

I was up and at work by 6:45 a.m. to cover the meeting of the Lebanon Breakfast Rotary, then it was write, write, write all day until I had to leave to catch my 4:50 p.m. flight.

I still had one more story to get in before press time once I arrived at the airport. “No problem,” I thought. “People are at the airport on laptops all the time. I will just sit down and be one of them.”

What I didn’t know was that BNA does not have free internet! I thought everyone had free internet, but apparently sitting at Panera sipping lattes has spoiled me.

I paid $8 to get online and email one, 200-word article to my work. Maybe I shouldn’t be complaining - but $8 could buy several other things. For example, with that $8 I could have:

-          Had my nail polish changed at Palazzo Nails in Lebanon (my favorite)

-          Ordered at #3 Spicy Chicken Sandwich meal at Chik-fil-A with waffle fries and a diet coke

-          Had two tall Soy Caramel Macchiatos from Starbucks

-          Bought a tube of my favorite drugstore mascara

-          Picked four Powerball tickets…with PowerPlay…for my lottery-playing mother

-          Pumped two gallons of gasoline into my SUV

-          Purchased a magazine (since I unfortunately left the latest issue of Wilson Living on my desk)

-          Saved it for my “Las Vegas Trip” fund

Okay, I am off my soap box.

I got a chair massage and it soothed me. I still love airports!

By PATRICK HALL
Special to The Wilson Post

Captain “Whip” Whittaker wakes up, inhales a line of cocaine, stumbles over countless bottles of liquor and beer and makes it to the airport in time to make another alcoholic beverage and fly a passenger jet to Atlanta, he also winds up saving the lives of 96 out of 102 people onboard.

Such is the life of Whittaker (Denzel Washington) in “Flight,” the latest film from Director Robert Zemeckis, which is absolutely one of the best of the year. The entirety of its success is built on Washington giving one of the best performances of his career.

When the plane goes down (which is obvious in the previews, if you’ve seen them), Whittaker is a hero for saving all but six people onboard as he miraculously crash-lands the plane in a field after a massive mechanical failure.

But when the investigation into the crash begins, Whittaker is forced to face his alcoholism and drug addiction. He hides from interviews and the public eye while they call him a hero, but the fact that his blood-alcohol level was 0.28, would land him in prison for years.

Regardless of how you feel about the way it turned out – let’s all take a deep breath and give thanks – Election Day is over!

I am not sure what Wilson County Administrator of Elections Phillip Warren and his fearless crew are up to on this Wednesday, but I hope they are getting a chance to relax. Over the past few weeks, I have kept in touch with them on a day-to-day basis, to get information for stories on early voting. They have worked tirelessly to make sure that both Early Voting and Election Day went smoothly for Wilson County.

51,715 of our county’s 75,824 registered voters cast their ballots in Tuesday’s general election. 31,896 of those individuals early voted.

Next election, I am FOR SURE voting early. I ran around like crazy yesterday trying to find A) Time and B) the right location to vote.

The great thing about early voting is that you can vote at ANY of the four designated Wilson County locations – which were the Election Commission in Lebanon, the Mt. Juliet Community Center, the Watertown Community Center and the Gladeville Community Center.

I should’ve have listened to Phillip Warren when he told me that early voting saves time and stress on Election Day, but I did not. For starters, I lost my Blue Voter Registration Card. Lucky for me, voters here are not required to present their voter cards at precincts, just a state or federally issued Photo ID.

I went to Southside Elementary School before work to vote, which is where I voted before. However, I was told when I arrived that I had been moved to another polling place – the Norene Community Center. On my lunch, I drove all the way out to Norene only to find that my assigned polling place was not the community center, but Cedars of Lebanon Park.

Last night, when I got another break in my schedule, I voted. It was just shortly before the 7 p.m. close, so I know I was cutting it to the wire, but I was successful in my voting quest! 

There has been much talk in some areas of late regarding canned hunting. It got a push when a man supposedly shot a deer on an Ohio deer preserve, alleged to have over 600 inches of antlers. I do not know if any of that is true but it sure got folks talking.

What is a canned hunt?

If the present trend continues, Titans Coach Mike Munchak and Tennessee Coach Derek Dooley can meet at a designated coffee shop on their way to file unemployment papers.

Circumstances could not have been any bleaker than they were last weekend when Troy came within a whisker of upsetting Tennessee. A day later, it was Da Bears who blew into Music City and handed the Titans what was arguably their most embarrassing loss in franchise history.

With Tennessee, Dooley is all but dead man walking. When Troy took a lead late in their game, sources report a number of folks sitting in the President’s private box engaged in some hush-hush conversation.
 
If true, it’s doubtful they were discussing East Tennessee’s beautiful fall foliage. Nor do I think they were making plans for a future golf trip.

If the men of Troy had been successful, I think Dooley would not be coaching this week against Missouri. I would think even Dooley would agree.

The Vols must run the table for the decision makers to give Dooley another year. The first thing he needs to do is send defensive coordinator Sal Sunseri packing. He may be a great position coach, but he has been an abject failure as a coordinator.

While Sunseri may, or may not, have a perfect scheme is up for vigorous debate. But his inability to teach it to Tennessee’s players is plain as day. Most shots of Sunseri I have seen during TV games show him yelling to his players. Obviously the results prove he is not getting his message through.

If they should dump Dooley some time between this week and the end of the season I don’t see a slam dunk candidate to replace him. And even if Tennessee is of mind to pay Nick Saban type money for Dooley’s replacement, I’m not sure anyone who can get the job done would take it.

A new coach would be starting in fourth place in the SEC East with sound programs in Georgia, South Carolina and Florida with a wide gap between them and the rest of the SEC East. Trust me when I say those programs will not surrender their status without a street fight.

Tennessee is not the job it once was. Some fans and media wearing orange tinted classes claim it is a top 10 job. Please. I will tell you it’s no longer a top 25 job. They have to recruit nationally, as South Carolina and Clemson have locked up what was once a fertile Tennessee recruiting state. Georgia and Alabama get the cream of the crop in their states, while Tennessee has seen in-state recruits such as Alabama All-American Barrett Jones and ex-All American linebacker Dont’a Hightower left the state. Current recruits Max Staver and Jalen Ramsey of Brentwood Academy chose to go to Florida and Southern Cal respectively. Top 20 teams invade Tennessee and take the best players home with them.
As for Munchak, he has more rope. He grew up in the organization, as a player, offensive line coach and the last two years as head coach.

Twenty-five years ago, owner Bud Adams would have fired Munchak after the Bears massacre. The 89-year-old Adams is a more kinder, gentler sort, and not as quick on the trigger.

It will be worth watching to see the plot thicken at Baptist Sports Park, as well as on the Hill.

Contact Sports Columnist Joe Biddle at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

By BECKY ANDREWS
Wilson Living Magazine

With all that everyone is trying to accomplish in 24 hours, it’s clear that no one is planning on slowing down. So to that effect, I think there is a need to create some sort of reference formula to keep you from losing it while trying to do too much.

As sometimes happens, life gets the best of us and that is exactly where I was on Monday night when I called Becky. “It’s Monday night, and I’ve got nothing to write about!” To which Becky usually responds, “No problem, I’ve got something, so I’ll write it.” 

But this Monday, Becky was as exhausted as I was. With work, the upcoming Holiday Expo and the latest edition of Wilson Living Magazine coming out next week, plus our customary drop off and picks up at basketball, football, cross country and soccer, neither of us found the time to write our article this week. 

By Ray Pope 

Coming back home from Al's Foodtown, I drove down Cole Avenue and was well surprised to hear a House Wren singing its little heart out. Usually this late into the fall, they should be much farther south where the weather in a little warmer.

I have also made many trips to South Hartmann Drive, looking for Thelma Sorrell's mysterious Hawk. There was one that flew over my van the other day, but it still hasn't allowed me to identify it by sight. I will tell you that its flight pattern would make me think that it was a Northern Harrier, or in the old days, known as a Marsh Hawk. Different birds have different patterns of flight, such as a Woodpecker's up-and-down habit of flying. The White-breasted Nuthatch will fly to the top of a tree and work itself downward in a spiral. Many other birds can be identified by these special movements.

I’m heading to Halloween on the Square here in Lebanon at 5 tonight – and guess what? I have company!

Boo came into my life at 10 a.m. this morning when he was running in the middle of North Mt. Juliet Road. I was in the area to do a story, saw this little cutie scared to death in the road and had to help him. Thanks to my friends at New Leash on Life who are working hard to find Boo’s owners.

Until then, he is running with me.

Happy Halloween you all!

From Sabrina and Boo

By PATRICK HALL
Special to The Wilson Post

Sitting in a very empty theater, I realized that “Cloud Atlas” is a film that’s less about conveying a singular idea or story, but rather more about the way in which the stories of six events spanning across thousands of years are relatable to one another through the human spirit.

It would be nearly impossible to convey what “Atlas” is “about” because it tells six different stories, from time periods ranging from 1850 to 2344 and everything in between. Based on the 2004 novel of the same name by David Mitchell, “Atlas” really is a wonderful experience, but most likely won’t make very much money as its form isn’t massively appealing.

Written and Directed by Lana and Andy Wachowski and Tom Tykwer, the film opens with just enough from all six stories to get hooked on each of them. It bounces from one to the other, but not in an incoherent way.

They are all stories of love, freedom, finding the truth, overcoming society’s boundaries and how the actions of one individual can affect countless lives. I couldn’t possibly name every member of the amazing cast, nor the characters they play.

Since the stories jump from one time period to another, every actor portrays multiple characters and sometimes those characters are of different age, race or sex than the last. “Atlas” really is an unbelievable feat of acting and directorial skill, as well as writing.

When South Carolina running back Marcus Lattimore was tackled by Tennessee linebacker Herman Lathers and defensive back Eric Gordon, it became obvious something had gone wrong with Lattimore.

It was gruesome to watch on TV. His left leg was pointing in different directions. Lattimore had gone through extensive knee reconstruction in 10 months to be able to play this year. That occurred on his other knee, and he knew this one was season ending.

At that point it didn’t matter which team you pull for. It didn’t matter how much you hate South Carolina.

No one likes to see what happened to Lattimore happen on a football field.

“Oh, man, it just absolutely took my breath away. I was watching it and it just breaks my heart. I just hurt for him and his family and teammates. This is a guy who represents all the good things that college football should be about.’’

That quote wasn’t from South Carolina Coach Steve Spurrier. It was from Clemson Coach Dabo Swinney, South Carolina’s most hated rival and vice versa.

Marcus Lattimore is special. The night before the Tennessee game, Lattimore spoke to his team. One of the things he told them was to always play every play as if it is your last one.

As medical people worked on Lattimore, players from both teams came out on the field and surrounded him. Many took a knee in prayer.

The news was not good although not as bad as was painted in social media outlet, Twitter. He did not have a broken femur as tweeted.

Doctors reset a dislocated kneecap, but he has multiple ligament damage, the extent of which has not been released,

Hopefully, Lattimore will take a redshirt year to rehab and play two years from now. He was projected as a high round NFL draft choice. These type injuries will lower his stock.

“He is such a good young man,’’ South Carolina Coach Steve Spurrier said. “Good things are going to happen to Marcus. I don’t know exactly where or how, but good things are going to happen to Marcus Lattimore.’’

Lattimore crossed my mind when I was writing in the LP Field pressbox after the Titans game Sunday.

There were three or four youth football teams playing each other on the field, after the Titans game. I don’t know their ages, but they looked like ants from the press box. I guessed they couldn’t have been more than 10 years old.

Do parents need to subject kids that young or younger to football? It is a contact sport.

At any age, injuries are going to happen. Pediatricians tell you a child’s bone structure is not fully developed until much later, putting them more at risk for injuries.

You also should be cognizant that kids are subjected to concussions and we are seeing what they have done to college and NFL players.

Let them play other sports, like soccer, swimming, tennis, basketball, golf until they are fully developed and then they can choose to play football or not.

Too many youth coaches and parents live out their failed athletic youth through their children.

We saw what happened to Lattimore. It could happen to your child. Think about it.

What is the rush for them to compete in football? What if that was your son writhing on the field instead of Marcus Lattimore? Is it worth it?

Contact Sports Columnist Joe Biddle at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .     

Front stuffer, smoke pole or muzzle loader, call it what you want. Hunting with a muzzleloader is fun and our season opens this Saturday and runs through Nov 16. We can kill three does a day here in Unit L and no more than one buck a day, limit of three for the entire year.

By PATRICK HALL
Special to The Wilson Post

Dr. Alex Cross is a family man, an intellectual psychologist and above all, a good detective in the Detroit Police Department, but despite the role being a welcome change of pace for star Tyler Perry, the movie didn’t really stand out.

Based on books by James Patterson, the film follows the titular character played by Perry as he tries to uncover some brutal murders by an unnamed sociopath played by Matthew Fox. The villain hits Cross and his partner and childhood friend, Tommy Kane (Edward Burns), close to home and the film takes a revenge-flick tone.

Unfortunately, the plot of “Cross” doesn’t really move in any coherent direction for most of the film. The fact that nothing is known about its sociopathic villain, identified as “Picasso” in the end credits, or his motives is annoying and how he achieves some of his villainy is questionable.

For instance, he of course, knows the exact location and time Cross will be out to dinner with his wife. Well enough, in fact, that he’s able to position himself inside a neighboring building with a high-powered rifle with perfect line-of-sight to their table, which they sit down at after “Picasso” finds his position.

Who doesn’t love a wedding?!

I attended a beautiful (and extremely fun) wedding this past weekend (Congrats Pat & Allison!) and I am looking forward to another memorable occasion when my best friend, Destini, and her fiancé, Corey, tie the knot in five months!

Dressing up, eating cake, dancing the night away, seeing family and friends, toasting the happy couple, going into the photo booth (multiple times) – I can’t think of a better reason to celebrate!

All of these moments make the event fabulous and memorable. But the actual moments I love the most are these:

During the ceremony…

- When the preacher/priest/rabbi/wedding officiant announces the bride and groom – Mr. and Mrs. (insert name here) to the guests after their vows are complete. As a guest, you get to witness something truly epic! Here are two people, embarking on one of life’s greatest journeys together.

- Watching the bride walk down the aisle. Brides are always beautiful and the moment where her father lets go and she takes her future husband’s hand never fails to make me cry.

During the reception…

- The Best Man’s Speech. I love to watch the best man deliver his speech (which varies from hilarious to offensive) and pray that the bride and groom are good sports.

- Everybody dancing to Shout!! and any other music that promotes organized dancing (I’m talking about some good ole Cha Cha sliding and the Wobble).

I was curious if other people love weddings as much as I do, so I asked my nearest & dearest to share their thoughts for this blog. Read on… 

Q: What is your favorite part of a wedding?

“The precious little flower girls trying their best to make it down the aisle. Always makes me laugh. Especially when they walk halfway and then freak out. Of course, the entrance of the bride. The music always makes me cry. Always. Even if I am a guest and don’t know the bride from Adam.” – Christy

“The bride’s dress.” – Destini

“When the groom says his vows to the bride.” – Romel

“I personally like the ceremony. Just because I see marriage as the ultimate bond between two people in the name of God that is meant to never be broken. I guess it’s just because of a high respect for the idea of the institution itself. Then, of course, the garter throw.” – John L.

“The bouquet toss! I always catch it and yet am still single!” – Carrie

“You’ve got me. I’ve never been to one without drama.” – Marie

“Prenups are good. They function to ensure that people really want to be together. No one financially gains when they decide to leave. Gives peace of mind and honesty to the ceremony.” – Mark

“The reception because of the great food and drinks!” – DJ

“When they kiss!” – Michelle

“When the already married couples give the newlyweds advice on how to have a great marriage…that and open bars.” – Lexi

“When the preacher announces them husband and wife.” – Mitzi

“I love a good reception. It warms my heart to see friends and family celebrate love and commitment for the couple through being together.” – Maggie

“The way the groom looks at the bride when she walks down the aisle and how happy the couple looks together.” – Tina

“My favorite part is the reception. It’s that time when people who don’t get to see each other often all come together with two people in mind. Also, a great time to meet new people that have come for one side or the other.” – John M.

“The reception. Everyone is relaxed and having fun…stress is over.” - Delaine

“Dancing. And staying as far away from the bouquet toss as possible.” – Aline

“My reception was awesome because we could just let go and have fun after months of planning. Also, when Tommy and I washed each other’s feet symbolizing our dedication and humble love for each other. That was really special to me.” – Mary D.

“The moment the bride and groom first see each other when the wedding march starts. Love the looks on their faces.” – MJ

“Watching the couple exchange vows. And the cake!” – Kim

“Watching the bride in all her beauty and seeing the reaction of her future husband’s face as she is walking toward him. The innocence and genuine emotion it brings is amazing.” - Charity

“The reception! Duh! … When the bride walks down the aisle probably.” – Casey

“Dancing at the reception.” – Steven

“The reception.” – Mary 

“The moment the doors opened and I looked at the groom (my husband). I felt such a peace and love. It was overwhelming and I knew I was supposed to be with him the rest of my life … I wanted to stay in that moment forever. Then I wanted to run down the aisle because I was so happy.” – Melanie

Thank you to everyone who submitted answers!!! Here are a few priceless memories from my friends' special days I wanted to share :) Love is beautiful - and so are these folks!

I saw something last Saturday I never recall seeing before.

Vanderbilt’s football team didn’t play its best game, yet managed to beat Auburn at Vanderbilt Stadium.