Author Richard Scott Releases Third Book

I had the honor yesterday of photographing my good friend Richard Scott. The photo session was for some media related material to be used for the occasion of his third book that was recently released titled, "SEC Football: 75 Years of Pride and Passion". This illustrated book celebrates the coaches, graduates, rivalries, and games that have made Southeastern Football one of the most storied conferences in all of collegiate sports. It is a beautiful hardbound book, and really a labor of love and passion that Richard has for sports, in particular SEC football. With the holiday season around the corner, this book would make the perfect gift for that hard to buy for armchair quarterback that is in your life. If you are like me.....men are the hardest ones to buy for...this book makes the perfect gift. But that is not to slight that many women who enjoy SEC football as well.

Richard's other books include:

Legends of Alabama Football:
(Amazon) With 12 national championships, 19 players and coaches in the College Football Hall of Fame, and a tradition of national achievement that dates back to the 1920s, the University of Alabama has secured its spot as one of the most successful athletic institutions in the history of American sports. Dating back to the days when university president Dr. George H. "Mike" Denny decided football would be the university’s ticket to national prominence, Alabama has produced some of the most legendary teams and players in the history of the game.
Many of those legends have long since passed, but standouts such as Johnny Mack Brown, Dixie Howell, Don Huston, Pat Trammell, and Derrick Thomas remain alive and well in the hearts and minds of loyal Crimson Tide fans. The legends of Tide stars such as Joe Namath, Ken Stabler, Harry Gilmer, Johnny Musso, John Hannah, and Ozzie Newsome continue to grow with time. None of those legends stands taller than Paul "Bear" Bryant, the former Crimson Tide player who returned to Alabama as head coach in 1958 and built a dynasty that rivaled any in sports, pro, or college. From Wallace Wade to Shaun Alexander and all points in between, Legends of Alabama Football chronicles the coaches, players, and events that placed Crimson Tide football on the national sports landscape.

Tales from the Auburn 2004 Championship Season:
(Amazon) How do you argue with perfection? The voters in the coaches and media polls can deliberate who's No. 1, the computers can spit out endless data to add to the arguments and everyone involved can ponder the merits of a playoff system, but some things aren't up for debate, especially the final perfection of Auburn's 2004 season. With a 13-0 record, an SEC championship and a Sugar Bowl victory, the Tigers know, "We're national champions in our hearts, even if no one else thinks so," quarterback Jason Campbell said. "No one can take that away from us." Nothing and no one, not the polls nor the computers, can take away what Auburn accomplished in 2004. Tales from the Auburn 2004 Championship Season is an inside look at the extraordinary character and the unique characters behind Auburn's undefeated season. "There's no doubt in my mind we left a legacy," safety Junior Rosegreen said. "They will never forget us. That's what it's all about."

Amazon.com says this about Richard:

Richard Scott is an award-winning freelance sports writer and editor whose work appears in a variety of sports-related outlets, including American Football Monthly, American Basketball Quarterly and USA TODAY.com. His first book Legends of Alabama Football, released in September 2004, earned him an invitation to participate in the "Alabama Bound 2005" author's conference. As a former college football and basketball writer for Birmingham (Alabama) Post-Herald and the Columbia (Missouri) Daily Tribune, Scott has covered numerous major events, bowls, championship games and tournaments throughout the United States, including and Auburn's undefeated 1993 season and Alabama's national championship victory over Miami in the 1993 Sugar Bowl. Scott is a native of Kansas City, Missouri, and attended the University of Missouri, where he attempted to play rugby and stay out of trouble long enough to graduate from the School of Journalism in 1985. Scott moved to Alabama and the Post-Herald in 1989 with the intention of staying two or three years and moving on. He soon developed a genuine respect for SEC football and its passionate fans. He now he lives with his wife Karen, sons Colin and Taylor and dogs Bo and Grace in Helena, Alabama, where he welcomes invitations to hunt and fish and attempts to avoid most college football discussions for the sake of peace and diplomacy.

(Photo by Leigh of Photographic Memories)

To purchase any of Richard's Books Click on the Title:

SEC Football: 75 Years of Pride and Passion
Tales from the Auburn 2004 Championship Season
Legends Of Alabama Football

Other Sources for Purchasing:

Sports Publishing LLC - Publisher
Amazon.com
Barnes&Noble.com
Books-A-Million
BookSense.com
Google Product Search

------------------------------------------------------------

Sharing Passion Through Writing

Richard Scott is one of those people who you consider yourself lucky to know. He is not only one of the kindest human beings you will ever meet, he is also one of the most interesting. He is passionate about whatever it is he sets his mind on, be it journalism, broadcasting, reporting in on a radio sports talk show, acting, teaching a middle school English class or continuing his education. He is a role model for everyone to do what you love and love what you do. Accept no less. Richard is also a chosen mentor of and by my son, Bama, who would love to follow behind in many of Richard's footsteps. Bama received some sage advice from Richard on what Bama hopes is a future in broadcast journalism. I had to share this photo of two generations of men that are passionate about their Sports and the preservation of that passion through words, be it spoken or written. I think they could've visited all night with one another but I had to pick up Sledge from cheer leading practise at cut their meeting short. When we got into the car to leave , Bama said, "There is more that I wanted to ask him...."

To Richard: Camp Richard Scott.

Ya'll need to do lunch.

Blinded by the Duece

Recall this post last week? It got people talking. The old douche, deuce lyric in the song, Blinded by the Light. Well, my good friend Richard enlightened me. I thought I would share it with all of you. Maybe you will feel enlightened too.

""Cut loose like a deuce ..."OK, lucky for you I'm a huge Springsteen fan and Springsteen wrote that song. You should hear the original. It's magical and will make you want to vomit when you hear the one that became a hit. Anyway, a deuce is a car ... like the Beach Boys sang in "She's My Little Duece Coupe." It's a two-seater that guys liked to muscle up and race back in the day. So there's my answer of the day! How's that?"

Ohhhhhh! Richard........
When I looked up the lyrics online I saw it posted under Bruce Springsteen as lyrics. I thought...maybe he sang it before but never anything beyond that. I never knew he WROTE that song. I too LOVE Bruce (old school Bruce). Born in the USA and everything before. Born in the USA was an anthem album for me when I was 16. Darlington County in particular. I don't like much after USA. He kinda went Dillon IMHO.
I have heard the Beach Boys "She's My Little Deuce Coupe." Interestly enough, I never thought the Beach Boys were singing about a douche. I knew that was a car, deuce.
Now! I am in the know! Now that is an answer I can appreciate.
But now...what is the song, Blinded by the Light about?
It seems I am blinded by the lyrics......but Richard has an answer for that too...

"Here's an explanation I found:Bruce Springsteen wrote the song as a chronicle of his life playing small clubs and bars in New Jersey. A few of the characters - young Scott, go-cart Mozart, madman drummers, silicone sister, etc. refer to actual people he met doing shows.
Springsteen wrote "Blinded by the Light" after most of the others on Greetings From Asbury Park were finished and is also one of the few songs for which Springsteen wrote the words before arranging the music.
The song's swiftly-paced, jumbled lyrics are stream of consciousness descriptions of a series of bizarre individuals he met while a young artist in New Jersey. Playing small venues, such as bars along the Jersey Shore, Springsteen recounts various characters from these events. He alludes to Vini "Mad Dog" Lopez, then his drummer, in the opening line "Madman drummers", as well as the "silicone sister" (bartender, possibly referring to an erotic dancer) who encourages him to play a particular, unknown song. United by the chorus: "And (s)he was blinded by the light/cut loose like a deuce, another runner in the night/Blinded by the light/(S)he got down but (s)he never got tight, (s)he's gonna make it (alright) tonight", the song goes on to chronicle Springsteen's trouble to get the bar patrons, who rarely cared about or even heard the music, to get excited by his performance."


Richard's good. I mean, really good! Interesting! Now I wonder if he can explain that Roswell stuff to me.....or the Bermuda Triangle...shed some light on those perhaps? Thanks Richard for explaining. I think there is alot of people who were confused by the entire song. Blinded no more, huh? Thanks!

Cheaper by the Dozen

Saturday I finally did what I have been saying I was going to do. I went to see a good friend of mine, Richard Scott, perform at South City Theater. My family circus took in the performance of Cheaper by the Dozen, based on the 1946 book by Frank Gilbreth, Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey that tells the story of Time and motion study and efficiency experts Frank Bunker Gilbreth and Lillian Moller Gilbreth, and their twelve children.

My friend Richard played the part of Frank Gilbreth, and he did it with brilliance. I was completley absorbed into the play and actually forgot that Richard was a friend of mine. I looked at him as his character, Frank. And that, my friends, is what good acting is about. Sister Sledge and Bama also knew some of the cast (though we didn't know they were also a part of the production until we got there). Jenna, Sledge's friend, played the youngest Gilbreth in the film. And Taylor, played the eldest son. Taylor is also Richard's son. Talent is indeed in that family bloodline.All of the actors were very convincing in their rolls.

Cheaper by the Dozen was performed to a packed house. We actually purchased our tickets at the door and were happy to find some remaining. We sat in the last row, but it is theater seating, so there was not a bad seat in the house. And guess what! Guess who sat directly in front of us.....none other than Deedra (author of the blog,"The Abundant Lakeridge Life") and her family. I was so happy to see her and have a few moments before the performance started as well as intermission to get to chat with her. She is such a dear person. I always am happy to see Dee.

South City Theater was a first for our family. We do plan on going back.

(Big Daddy, Bama, Richard and Leigh)

Blood Brother

“Blood Brother”
By Leigh Rutledge Bratina

Richard Stout was living the American dream. He is a 40 year old man, married and has a daughter and son, ages 6 and 10. But for Stout his dream has become a nightmare. Stout is at a crossroads in his life, and time is of the essence. Stout has myelogenous (myeloid) leukemia. This form of leukemia is a rare form most often seen in childhood, and rarely survived in adulthood. Stout needs to find a bone marrow tissue match to save his life.
A few years ago, Stout sponsored a blood drive for potential matches and paid out of pocket. No donors proved to be matches. Stout feels his days are numbered and fears that he will not be around to watch his children grow up. He desperately needs a marrow match. He is currently at the Anderson Clinic in Houston Texas undergoing very aggressive chemotherapy treatments. Doctors are also using an experimental drug that has not been approved by the FDA. Doctors are hoping that the drug will allow Stout to show some improvement; however, the drug has only been tested on eight people, and thus far has shown not to be successful in those that have tried it. Doctors are expecting Stout to go into remission after his dose of chemotherapy. During this time, finding a bone marrow match is critical.
Don Stout is Richard Stout’s father. He is doing what he can to give his son a chance at recovery. Don Stout’s company, The Gas House is sponsoring a blood drive on January 24 in Fort Payne, Alabama for his son, Richard. At the blood drive a small blood sample will be taken, which is tested to determine the tissue type. Those who donate can be registered to have their blood type listed on the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) registry.
The tissue type will then be compared to the tissue types of thousands of patients around the world who are searching for a matching donor. The person donating will be given information about the marrow and peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) donation processes. Potential donors will also be asked to complete a brief health questionnaire and sign a form consenting to have their tissue type listed on the Registry until their 61st birthday, unless they specifically ask to be removed. If one is identified as a potential match for a patient, medical costs are covered by the patient or the patient's medical insurance, as are all travel expenses and other non-medical costs.
When a person joins the NMDP, they are asked to bring with them an address and phone numbers of two alternate contacts who do not reside with the donor as well as a social security number or driver's license. It is recommended that to discuss the donation decision with family or others close to you before you join. It may be important to have their support if you are ever contacted as a match for a patient who needs a transplant. As a volunteer, you are never under any legal obligation to donate. Individual decisions are always respected. However, because a late decision not to donate can be life-threatening to a patient, it is recommended that you think seriously about your commitment before deciding to join the Registry. Identity and donor records confidential. The NMDP has strict standards to ensure that donor privacy and confidentiality are protected.
Randy Young of Helena, Alabama had a recent experience on the other side of the fence as a donor. A co worker of the company he worked for was in need of a tissue match because she had leukemia. The company sponsored a blood typing drive to help find a potential match. Young participated in the drive by having blood drawn to be tested for a possible match. At the time, he was asked if he would like to be put on the national register of donors so that his type would be available to worldwide patients in need. Young readily agreed. His blood type was not a match to his coworker that was in need, but it did match an individual on the registry that needed a donor. The National Registry soon contacted Young and asked him if he was still interested in donating and sent paperwork to be completed. Young then went into his doctor for a more intensive blood study. With the process of paperwork done, Young was on his way to New Orleans, Louisiana to have his marrow extracted from his hip bone and put into the ill patient. Young was told that if the patient wanted to, he could be contacted by person he gave to. Contact is strictly at the patients desire to meet their donor. If the donor would like to remain anonymous one can make that request. In Young’s case he was told that a year must pass before contact of any kind could be made. Young’s donor did write to him after a year and told Young that his health was doing better. Young is very happy that he may have helped save another person’s life, “if you have the ability to save another person’s life you should”.


Richard Stout hopes that he too can be saved by donation. He is in desperate need of finding a donor while he is still healthy enough to undergo the surgical procedure. Stout’s greatest fear is that he will die while he is in Houston for testing. He feared he would not see his children again, for this reason, the children have been temporarily been taken out of school and have gone to Houston to be close to their father. The family would like to ask the public to come out and donate at the blood drive. There is no charge for the testing.
The Gas House is sponsoring the event on January 24 from 7:30 AM until 2:30 PM. The Gas House is located at 108 Third Street North East, Fort Payne. For more information on Stout’s drive, you may contact Tammy from Blood Assurance at (256)599-36376. If anyone is unable to donate, the family asks for prayer for the Stout family.
If you would like to be a tissue donor with the National Marrow Donor Program, contact the Donor Advocacy Program at (800) 627-7692 (1-800-MARROW-2) or send an e-mail to advocate@nmdp.org. For information on the National Bone Marrow Program the web site address is http://www.marrow.org/


Follow up: Sadly, Richard Stout lost his battle with leukemia, but there are others who still need help. Please consider the donation program.

Pink Panther Strikes Again

If you are looking for something to do the first half of February, be sure to check out the South City Theater's presentation of Pink Panther Strikes Again. The SCT is a great little community theater that puts on some great quality productions with some very talented actors (including the multi-talented-and my personal friend Richard Scott). Please support your local theater. If you have one in your city or community consider yourself lucky and support the arts!! The theater is one of those things that is two fold, it is good for the city but the city must support it too. Not to mention that that it is a fair priced entertainment. Take your spouse to supper and then onto the theater and celebrate the month of love....Guaranteed you will score some big points and appear to be very classy (**smile, and wink)

"The Pink Panther Strikes Again":
Based on the hilarious slapstick comedy based on the film starring Peter Sellers.
Opening February 1st at South City Theatre in Alabaster, Alabama.
*Wine and cheese reception to following opening night performance.
Directed by Billy Ray Brewton.
After years of suffering the indignity of watching Clouseau undeservedly succeed, Jacques' long-suffering boss Paul Dreyfus has now gone raving mad and threatens to destroy the world with his Doomsday Machine. It's up to the bumbling Clouseau to save the day, but Dreyfus and his army of assassins have other plans for the Inspector! Based on the hysterical film of the same name, "The Pink Panther Strikes Again!" is as hysterical and as slapstick as stage productions come!


Show Dates: February 1 -17. Thursdays thru Saturdays at 8pm and Sundays at 2pm

Ticket Prices: $15/$12(student/senior) *special group rates available

For more information on this production or to make reservations, please visit: http://www.southcitytheatre.com/ or call 621-2128

Cast includes:
Saxon Murrell - Chief Inspector Jacques Clouseau
Kenny Morris - Paul Dreyfus
Brad Riegel - Dr. Hugo Fassbender/Arabian Assassin
Susan Cook - Olga Berriosiva
Richard Scott - Ainsley Jarvis
Diann Gogerty - Margot Fassbender
Dan Strickland - Francois/Chuck/Elderly Desk Clerk/Japanese Assassin
Kevin Garrett - Cato/Messenger/Chinese Assassin/Mr. Stutterstutt
Scott Nesmith - Dr. Duval/Mafia Type/Italian Assassin
Todd Ponder - Detective Drummond/Hindu Harry/Swedish Assassin
Drew Brown - Detective McLaren/Cairo Fred/Nigerian Assassin
Gabrielle Metz - Mrs. Japonicka/Uppity Desk Clerk/Pip #1
Lee J. Green - Mr. Shork/Waiter/French Man/Orderly #1/Polish Assassin
Mary Anne Garrett - Mrs. Leverlilly/Woman #2/Waitress/Head Pip
Bernadette Chapman - Mrs. Bullock/German Agent/Woman #1/French Lady/Pip #2
David Rosen - Tournier/Nut House Inmate/Mexican Assassin

Last Weekend for Cheaper by the Dozen

This will be the last weekend for South City Theater's production of Cheaper by the Dozen. The play runs Thursday-Saturday at 8PM and on Sunday at 2PM. All seats are reserved and you can make reservations online.

I have heard alot about the play. My good friend, Richard Scott is playing the father. I am hoping to go on Saturday night to see him perform. Break a leg, Richard!

If you are looking for something to do this weekend-take the family to a live theatrical performance. It is a family friendly show... Fun for the whole family.

Support the arts! http://www.southcitytheatre.com/

Directions To South City Theatre
SCT is located just off Hwy 31 South (in Alabaster)within Cloverdale Commercial Park.
Take I-65 South from Birmingham. Exit at #238 (Alabaster) and turn left (onto Highway 31) at the traffic light. Drive back over the overpass bridge (passing Colonial Mall) and continue south on Hwy. 31 for 2.3 miles until you pass a traffic light at the junction of highway 26. Cloverdale Drive is the next street on the left. South City Theatre is the 3rd warehouse on the left.

Vote for Ashley Mac's!

I got the following email from Ashley Mac's and I wanted to pass it along, because I believe in it.

Please, read and then click to vote for Ashley Macs-they deserve to win!

Please, because I ask of you.


Friends and Family,

It is time for Birmingham's Best! This list comes out once a year in the Birmingham News and this year Ashley Mac's has a chance to be on it! But we need your help! It only takes 2 minutes to do..you do NOT have to fill in a vote for every category.. only 10! Please click on this link below (or come in to fill out a hard copy) and put in your vote today! Must be done by September 29th!

We are pushing hard in the dessert category.... You can just put Ashley Mac's- or we have a lot of people nominating our Strawberry Cake so you can put "Ashley Mac's Strawberry Cake"

.. but only if you do truly believe it is B'hams best!(: There are also other categories that you can nominate Ashley Mac's ...

lunch, chef Ashley McMakin of Ashley Mac's

take-out, bakery, etc... so put in our name wherever you see fit.

Thanks so much for supporting us and please forward this email to your friends!


Click here to Nominate Ashley Mac's

Birmingham's Best Dessert...
Ashley Mac's Strawberry Cake

If you've had a taste, then you know why Ashley Mac's Strawberry Cake deserves to be nominated for Birmingham's Best Dessert 2008!

If you haven't tried it, go by Ashley Mac's for a free sample.....tell them that Leigh sent you!

Strawberry Cake Prices:

Slice: $3.75

Small (feeds 8 - 10): $29.95

Large (feeds 12-16): $39.95

and worth every cent, I can promise you. This from someone who is not a huge fan of desserts. I dream about this cake at night. I kid you not.

Let AM know if you're celebrating a special event, they'll write any message on the cake for you.

Ashley Mac's

759 Shades Mountain Plaza

Bluff Park, AL 35226

(205)822-4142

Hours: Monday - Friday 10:00 AM to 6:30 PM

Saturday 10:30 AM to 2:30 PM

15%OFF
Get 15% off your purchase when you come into Ashley Mac's and fill out a nomination ballot. Tell them Leigh sent ya!
Offer Expires: September 29,2008

While you are filling out your form, here are a few other good answers (you just have to fill in 10 to be valid and here they are):

Best local boy made good: Fabian Sanchez

Best Nursery- Petals from the Past

Best Actor-RICHARD SCOTT

Best Performance Theater-South City Theater

Best News Personality- has to be one of my frans: Brian Peters, Jeff Speegle or my cousin Anna Donaldson! Hey-three way tie!

Best new Restaurant-Yuki Japanese

Best Chef Ashley McMakin of Ashley Mac's

Best Dessert-Ashley Mac's Strawberry Cake

Best Bakery- AShlee Macs

and hey, isnt this really the best website? Well....on second thought....don't answer the last one.

VOTE!

Think You Know It All?

For those of you who thought you knew everthing....Here's a refresher course!
*****************************************************************************
The liquid inside young coconuts can be used as a substitute for Blood plasma.

***************************************************************************

No piece of paper can be folded in half more than seven (7) times.

Oh go ahead...I'll wait..

****************************************************************************
Donkeys kill more people annually Than plane crashes or shark attacks.

What an ass....
************************************************ ************************

You burn more calories sleeping than you do watching television.

Now I have a great excuse for my afternoon nap!
**************************************************************************
Oak trees do not produce acorns until they are fifty (50) years of age or older.

That may be about the time I grow my own pair of nuts. Hope not....I am working on it.

****************************************************************************
The first product to have a bar code was Wrigley's gum.

*************************************************************************
The King of Hearts is the only king

WITHOUT A MOUSTACHE
( I told Big Daddy that mustache's were NOT in or sexy. Sorry Tom Selleck.)
***************************************************************************

American Airlines saved $40,000 in 1987 by eliminating one (1) olive from each salad served in first-class.

I am going use that reduction in my annual grocery budget, see how it fingures in there. Hey, my family is largly Italian. They eat alot of olives.

That fishing boat is looking more assesible with each olive we don't eat.
**************************************************************************
Venus is the only planet that rotates clockwise.

(Since Venus is normally associated with women. What does this tell you!)
********************************************************************
Apples, not caffeine, are more efficient at waking you up in the morning.

I use cold water to wake up myhusband. That always works....but I will try throwing an apple at him while he sleeps. It's worth a try.
***************************************************** ******************
Most dust particles in your house are made from DEAD SKIN!

No offense, Jen-Dust Bunny Hostage. I really dont think that of you.
****************************************************************************
The first owner of the Marlboro Company died of lung cancer.

So did the first ' Marlboro Man.'

The Artist (my BIL) as well as some certain bloggers at a recent bloggers meeting take note.
***************************************************************************
Walt Disney was afraid OF MICE!

**************************************************************************
PEARLS MELT

IN VINEGAR!
*********************************************************************

The three most valuable brand names on earth:
Marlboro, Coca Cola, and Budweiser, in that order.
Sounds like what grown men of the "he man woman haters club" bring into the meetings for snacks.
************** ********************************************************
It is possible to lead a cow upstairs...

but, not downstairs.

(who tried this...and why?)
************************************************************************
A duck's quack doesn't echo,

and no one knows why.
************************************************************************
Dentists have recommended that a toothbrush be kept at least six (6) feet away from a toilet to avoid airborne particles resulting from the flush.

(I keep my toothbrush in the living room now! Excuse me while I go and give the bathroom another cleaning with clorox--which incidentially is on my list of "most valuable brand"))

***************************************************
Richard Millhouse Nixon
was the first U.S. president whose name contains all the letters from the word 'criminal.'
(who thinks up this stuff???)

The second?
William Jefferson Clinton

(Please don't tell me you're SURPRISED!!!)
*********************************************************
And the best for last.....

Turtles can breathe through their butts.
(I know some people like that, don't YOU?)
Always keep smiling. Makes 'em wonder what you've been up to!

The Legend of the Bell Witch

(Copied) According to the annals of supernatural history, the story of the Bell Witch started in 1817 when the Bell family, prosperous farmers from Tennessee, began experiencing strange phenomena in their home. First, the house was plagued with knocking and rapping noises and scratching sounds. Blankets were pulled from beds, family members were kicked and scratched and their hair pulled. Particularly tormented was a 12-year-old Betsy Bell, who was slapped, pinched, bruised and stuck with pins. At first, John Bell was determined to keep the events secret, but soon confided in a friend , who then formed an investigative committee.
John Bell's friends soon learned that the strange force in the house had an eerie intelligence. It soon found a voice and from that day on. . .was seldom silent.The spirit identified itself as the "witch" of Kate Batts, a neighbors of the Bell's, with whom John had experienced bad business dealings over some purchased slaves. "Kate" as the local people began calling her, made daily appearances in the Bell home, wreaking havoc on everyone there. People all over the area of soon learned of the witch and she made appearances, in sounds and voices, all over Robertson County.The ghost became so famous that even General Andrew Jackson decided to visit. He too experienced the antics of the witch and his carriage wheels refused to turn until the witch decided to let them.
John Bell fell victim to bouts of strange illness, to which "Kate" claimed responsibility. While he was sick in bed, the spirit cursed and prodded him, never allowing him to rest. One day, he went to bed and never recovered. He was found senseless in his bed one morning and a strange bottle was found nearby. Bell's breath smelled of the black liquid in the bottle, so a drop of it was placed on the tongue of a cat. . .the animal dropped dead. John Bell soon followed suit and "Kate" screamed in triumph. She even made her presence known at his funeral, laughing, cursing and singing as the poor man was buried.
"Kate" didn't vanish immediately after the death of her proclaimed enemy though. She stayed around, threatening Betsy Bell to not marry the man that she truly loved, Joshua Gardner. The witch would never say why, but she did allow the girl to later marry the local schoolteacher, Richard Powell. "Kate" soon left the family but promised to return in seven years. She did come back and plagued the family again for two weeks. Before departing, she appeared at the home of John Bell Jr. and made a number of predictions that Bell recorded. The warning proved true, reflecting the Civil War and the later World Wars of the next century.
"Kate" said that she would return again 107 years later, in 1935, but the year came and went without incident.Who was the Bell Witch? Was she really a ghost, who claimed to be connected to a living person? Or did the resentment and the hatred of the real Kate Batts create an entity of it's own? Or could the haunting have been poltergeist activity linked to Betsy Bell? No one will ever know for sure. . .but whoever, or whatever, the Bell Witch was, many believe that she has never left Adams, Tennessee at all.
Located near where the Bell Farm once stood and near the old family cemetery, where many of the Bell's still rest, is what has become known as the Bell Witch Cave. The cave has no real connection to the legend of the witch but it is located on property once owned by the Bell family. Many in Robertson County believe that when the witch departed, she fled to the sanctuary of this cave. Whether the Bell Witch is here or not.... the cave is a very haunted place.
The Bell Witch Cave can be reached by exiting Interstate 24 near Clarksville, Tennessee and following Highway 76 to Adams, Tennessee. The cave can be found by turning left after the Amoco Station onto Keysburg Road. Go about a half mile on Keysburg Road and turn right at sign. Admission to the cave is only $7 per person and well worth the cost. Call ahead for tour times! (615) 696-3055 or click here to visit the Bell Witch Cave Official Website!

Bama accepts "Bama"

ROLL TIDE!

I am shouting it from the rooftops, because we really weren't sure....my son, "Bama" got accepted to Bama! I thought it would take much longer to find out if he had been accepted. Though they began taking applications on June 1st. And we sent ours in ASAP. For I was told the sooner the better to send it in. Of course, this is all contingent on his grades this year and his final transcripts. He got his letter of acceptance on Saturday. You would have thought he was the publishers clearing house winner...BTW, I am still waiting on my PCH big win....perhaps they lost the map to my house?

Roll Tide, Bama! Congratulations!

In a personal note, to my friend Richard....thanks for making Bama's day at media days. He was so excited and appreciative. Our sincere thanks. We are blessed by your friendship.

Sensible Observations...

1) When I die, I want to die like my grandfather--who died peacefully in his sleep. Not screaming like all the passengers in his car..'
--Author Unknown

2) Advice for the day: If you have a lot of tension and you get a headache, do what it says on the aspirin bottle: 'Take two aspirin' and 'Keep away from children.'
--Author Unknown

3) 'Oh, you hate your job? Why didn't you say so? There's a support group for that. It's called EVERYBODY, and they meet at the bar.'
--Drew Carey

4) 'The problem with the designated driver program, it's not a desirable job, but if you ever get sucked into doing it, have fun with it. At the end of the night, drop them off at the wrong house.'
--Jeff Foxworthy

5) 'If a woman has to choose between catching a fly ball and saving an infant's life, she will choose to save the infant's life without even considering if there is a man on base.'
--Dave Barry

6) 'Relationships are hard. It's like a full time job, and we should treat it like one. If your boyfriend or girlfriend wants to leave you, they should give you two weeks' notice.
There should be severance pay, the day before they leave you, they should have to find you a temp.'
--Bob Ettinger

7) 'My Mom said she learned how to swim when someone took her out in the lake and threw her off the boat. I said, 'Mom, they weren't trying to teach you how to swim.''
--Paula Poundstone

8) 'A study in the Washington Post says that women have better verbal skills than men. I just want to say to the authors of that study: 'Duh.'
--Conan O'Brien

9) 'Why does Sea World have a seafood restaurant?? I'm halfway through my fish burger and I realize, Oh my Gah....I could be eating a slow learner.'


--Lynda Montgomery

10) 'I think that's how Chicago got started. Bunch of people in New York said, 'Gee, I'm enjoying the crime and the poverty, but it just isn't cold enough. Let's go west.''
--Richard Jeni

11) 'If life were fair, Elvis would be alive and all the impersonators would be dead.'
--Johnny Carson

12) 'Sometimes I think war is God's way of teaching us geography'
--Paul Rodriguez

13) 'My parents didn't want to move to Florida, but they turned sixty and that's the law.'
--Jerry Seinfeld

14) 'Remember in elementary school, you were told that in case of fire you have to line up quietly in a single file line from smallest to tallest. What is the logic in that? What, do tall people burn slower?'
--Warren Hutcherson

15) 'Bigamy is having one wife/husband too many. Monogamy is the same.'
--Oscar Wilde

16) 'Suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of Congress.. But I repeat myself.'
--Mark Twain

17) 'Our bombs are smarter than the average high school student. At least they can find Afghanistan '--A. Whitney Brown

18) 'You can say any foolish thing to a dog, and the dog will give you a look that says, 'My God, you're right!
I never would've thought of that!''
--Dave Barry

19) Do you know why they call it 'PMS'? Because 'Mad Cow Disease' was taken.
--Unknown, presumed deceased

20) ' Everybody's got to believe in something. I believe I'll have another beer'
--W. C. Fields

And lastly: Why in the hell should I have to 'Press 1 for English?'
--Every American