Newby household sees fireworks

Summer, although not officially here yet, has certainly kicked off with true heat, that oppressive humid heat that borders on suffocating. Following on the heels of the heat, naturally, come the air-conditioning problems. Amazing how that happens!
At the Newby household, we were blessed with a Monday sleepover with 5-year-old Shelby and 7-year-old Jack (Andy and Ashley Miller’s young ‘uns). Time spent with these two is invariably a blessing given their sweet nature, but Jack’s mischievous side was flying full flag as he uncovered some old fireworks.
Now, he’s inherited his fireworks obsession. As a youth, his father, Andy, could be counted on to spot a fireworks billboard at least 3 miles away. And, trust me, he’d be begging to stop at the aforementioned fireworks outlet each and every 100 feet you traveled until the exit appeared and Papa Newby made the turn.
What is it that happened to parents when they become grandparents? I’m sure you’ve all noticed it. Suddenly the things that would have cinched a whooping for you become excusable in the grandkids, sometimes even cute.
It gets even worse with great-grandkids.
The first 15 times it happens, you look at these people, the parents who raised you, loved you, but believed deeply in ‘spare the rod, spoil the child,’ and wonder: ‘Who the heck are you? And what have you done with my parents’?
Anyway, Jack’s discovery of the old fireworks necessitated Papa being enlisted for a little front-yard fireworks display at dusk. Now, fireworks are real pretty at the Fourth of July display at the Civic Center (especially because they are in the hands of pros), but done on home grounds by loved ones always provokes a little anxiety in me.
You know the kind of stuff: Will everyone come out of it with all their fingers? Will they catch themselves on fire? Or burn the house down? None of these things happened, but year-old fireworks should, in my book, be safely disposed of in another manner.
Nevertheless, we all has a great night with a Shelby-hosted tea party, the kids chasing fireflies in the yard and watching ‘Happy Feet’ yet again.

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As one reader reminded me, I forgot one childhood critter in last week’s column ‘ everybody’s favorite, the June bug. Probably cause I haven’t seen any yet this year. But June bugs were fun. You surely remember tying a thread around one of their legs and zooming your own personal bug around in circles.
Just as much fun could be had off the ‘June bug stink.’ By the time you got the critter properly corralled and roped, that ‘ucky-yucky’ June bug smell would be all over our hands. Don’t know about you, but after we’d freed our June bugs we’d chase each other around the yard trying to stick our stinky fingers under the other’s nose. It was great, not-so-clean fun!

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Seems I was far from the only woman peeved at media coverage of the Hillary Clinton campaign. A New York Times article, written by Katharine Q. Seelye and Julie Bosman, reports many women and Clinton supporters are proposing boycotts of cable networks and putting up a ‘Media Hall of Shame’ in order to start a national conversation on sexism.
Most media folks, naturally, reputed the contention that sexism colored their coverage. One of the few exceptions was Katie Couric, anchor of the ‘CBS Evening News,’ who said in a posted video on the CBS Web site, ‘Like her or not, one of the great lessons of that campaign is the continued ‘ and accepted ‘ role of sexism in American life, particularly in the media.’
CNN campaign reporter Candy Crowley told reporters that ‘for the most part’ she didn’t see consistent sexism in daily reporting but ‘certainly did in the commentary.’
And, now that is over, guess who else is suddenly seeing sexism in the Clinton media coverage?
None other than old Push-Her-Out-Of-The-Race Howard Dean, chairman of the Democratic Party!
Why is Dean just now recognizing the sexism issue? According to him, it’s because he isn’t a ‘regular viewer of cable television.’ Now Dean’s been quoted in recent interviews as saying, ‘The media took a very sexist approach to Senator Clinton’s campaign. It’s pretty appalling,’ adding the issue is a timely one because Clinton ‘got treated the way a lot of women got treated their whole lives.’
That’s a big DUH to Dean.
Just a couple of the commentaries given as examples of the sexist coverage included the following:
From Chris Matthew, an MSNBC host, Clinton was called a ‘she-devil,’ who had only gotten as far as she did because he husband ‘messed around.’
Other MSNBC panelist comments included Mike Barnicle who said Clinton was ‘looking like everyone’s first wife standing outside a probate court.’ Tucker Carlson said, ‘When she comes on television, I involuntarily cross my legs.’
Mark Rudov, author, discussing what went wrong with Clinton’s Iowa campaign on ‘Your World with Neil Cavuto:’ ‘When Barack Obama speaks, men hear, ‘Take off for the future.’ When Hillary Clinton speaks, men hear, ‘Take out the garbage.’
Plenty more examples were contained in the Times story, but you get the idea.

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The school system’s two-week YSI proved an astounding hit this year with its ‘Decades: Warren County and Beyond’ theme. Each day featured a decade from the 1860s through the 1960s, which, I hear, wrapped up Friday with a ‘hippy-dippy’ day featuring a concert, tie-dye T-shirts, headbands and ‘peace, baby.’
Carissia and Company, the same band which played Friday night’s Main Street Live concert, enthralled the YSI crowd, which boogied down to the ’60s Motown, R&B and rock tunes. Among those styling on the dance floor were YSI students Crosley Smith, Trevor Moore and Jacob Thurne, who, we hear, could be called up for one of the reality dance shows just any day now.
Teachers providing decades of education and fun for this year’s YSI included Tim Fariss, Shawn Palombo, Stormy Hall, Jimmy Haley, Carol Neal, Kevin Dunlap, Ann Hutchings, Jacqueline Hitchcock, Donna Womack, Dawn Cantrell, Brent Cates, Jeff Watson, Mandy Blankenship, Lyn Bradshaw and Carol Roberts. Good job, folks!

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Got a good look at the art of Chuck Haston, our illustrious retired Circuit Court Judge, at Security Federal Bank downtown last week. Haston’s art, in case you didn’t know, was highlighted on the ‘Tennessee Crossroads,’ TV show.
Among those checking up the excellent artworks Thursday were Neil Schultz, Mike Galligan, Robert Newman, Susan Marttala, W.C. Chilton and Jimmy ‘Bird’ Earle.

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Again I’m singing the praises of WCPI 91.3 FM and their diversity. Working on this column Saturday morning, I was tickled to hear some of the old Andy Griffith comedy routines. Andy Griffith was a great favorite of my Momma Hill’s, right along with John Wayne.
This particular comedy bit centered on an old country boy getting caught up in a big crowd, ending up watching ‘convicts’ running up and down a ‘cow pasture’ somebody had painted white lines on.
The good-ole country boy then sees 30-40 men running out of one end of an ‘outhouse,’ then another 30-40 running out the other end. The men end up in the ‘awfullest fight I ever seen’ over this ‘funny-looking punkin.’
Griffith’s character finally decides he’s watching a ‘contest to see who can run for one end of the cow pasture without getting’ knocked down or steppin’ in something.’
If you’ve never heard the old Andy Griffith take on a football game, you need to find it. It’s desperately, side-splittin’ funny.
Which brings me to this week’s thought: ‘A good laugh and a long sleep are the best cures in the doctor’s book’ ‘ an Irish proverb.