FOR 2 WEEKS ONLY!

If you know beyond a shadow of a doubt that your kids are going to be bringing home more candy than they can handle, or that you want them to handle. There is an alternative for you!!

I talked with my good friend, Donna Lyon, this afternoon, and the orthodontics office that she works in is holding their 2nd Annual Candy Buy Back!

For 2 weeks, Bradshaw, Hathaway, and Bradshaw (300 W. Watauga, JC and a another branch at 904 W. "G" Street--Elizabethton) are buying back the candy you want out of your house for $1 a pound. Then, as a wonderful display of service, they are shipping the candy to Iraq. As a matter of fact, one soldier, who is an orthodontic patient when in the states, is going to be distributing that candy while in service there. His name is Brad Allen--No pressure, man :) Just kidding...Thanks, Brad!

Last year, the office collected 170 pounds of candy. What a neat idea!

For more information call 929-1126

The office in Johnson City is open M-TH 8-5 and F 8-12.

CH

Sanctus Real - Face of Love Video

This is the link I referred to today--

The drummer of the band Sanctus Real (Mark) put this video up on YouTube. He wanted to introduce you to his son's (Benjamin's) cute side...He said he just randomly shot it, and randomly put it up on the site. Good video, because babies are always cute.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5o5diw4GRh0


CH

Dessert?

A new fast food is making its debut -- fried Coke.

Abel Gonzales, a computer analyst from Dallas, tried about 15 different varieties before coming up with his perfect recipe -- a batter mix made with Coca-Cola syrup, a drizzle of strawberry syrup, and some strawberries.

The batter is then deep-fried, ending up like ping-pong ball sized doughnuts which are then served in a cup, topped with Coca-Cola syrup, whipped cream, cinnamon sugar and a cherry on the top.

Gonzales gave no indication of the calories in his creation (smart man,) but said the success of his fried Coke has inspired him. So, in the near future, you can look forward to fried Sprite or -- for those watching their weight -- fried diet Coke.

LOL!!!

(Oh wait, he's serious...that's even funnier!)

CH

PS-I think I wouldn't mind trying it once...My wife, though, she might eat a quick taste, but wouldn't order it...1st of all, because it's not chocolate, but also because it's fried Coke...she's a Pepsi gal :)

Tomorrow Night

I had a chance to talk to Elizabeth Berry from the Jonesborough Visitor's Center about the fun that will happening in the Historic District of Downtown Jonesborough!

This annual event provides your family with a safe alternative. The festivities will begin at 6:00 p.m. as they will have games, contests (including a costume contest for your pets...so bring Max along with you!,) music, stories (of course,) and the main event of allowing your kids to receive lots and lots of the sugary goodness that they long for...yes, candy.

Just a few more quick details about the event. When you come into downtown, you'll notice Main Street is blocked off for all the fun, and that the Main Street Merchants will decorate their stores and dress up while they give out candy. It really is a safe choice...and it fits the budget! Everything is absolutely FREE!!! YAY!!

Elizabeth also told me that last year over 3000 people made their way to event. Hope you can come and enjoy!

CH

YAY!

Congrats to Kristen and Cliff Jeffrey on being the Grand Prize Winners in Extreme Makeover: Kitchen Edition!

You can see their picture, their current kitchen, hear the Grand Pirze Winning Announcement, and read more HERE!

CH

BIG DAY

This morning at 7:20, we will announce the winner in Extreme Makeover:Kitchen Edition!!! I'm in studio early this morning in order to help Mike and Mike with the big announcement!!

They are going to be headed out shortly to surprise the family that will receive a brand new kitchen...including new cabinets, countertops, appliances, floors and more!!!

Also, be listening for special guests stopping by to say "Congrats" to our winning family!

CH

PS- Thank the Lord for Coffee...4 am always seems to come early. :)

Nice Car...

Every car...Every person...We are all different, and apparently that plays a role in how we drive.

I read this from the Washington Post today...

Does your car have a good personality? Is it a "he" or a "she"?

The answers to those questions might indicate your propensity for road rage. In fact, how people view the "personality" of their cars might be a better indication of how aggressive they'll be behind the wheel than their own personalities.

They found that drivers who thought of their cars as being male or female "scored significantly higher than non-gender-vehicle drivers on aggression, use of vehicle, and driving anger."

Researchers also found that the personality of the car and driver were far from a perfect match. Actually, the perceived personality of the car sometimes was a better predictor of aggressive driving tendencies than the owner's personality.

For example, people who thought of their car as friendly were more likely to behave better on the road, even if they were not particularly friendly people.

I like my car..It's (Notice the Non-Gender) been nice to me...So, it must have a good personality.

I want it to be a nice car...I want to be a better driver :)

CH

Kids First

I was happy to read this story:

Researchers have ranked states by intelligence and Vermont tops the list!

The ratings are based on 21 elementary and secondary education indicators, ranging from graduation rates and test scores to teacher pay and class size. Vermont is followed by Massachusetts, and Connecticut.
Arizona is found at the bottom.

Of course with any state ranking, you may wonder where states you live in or hold dear rank.

The TN/VA areas made good strides this year! VA is just outside the top 5 at 6th...while TN jumped by leaps and bound going from 41st to 30th!!!

And since I know many, many teachers (I even married one,) I fully expect Tennessee's ranking to only get better ;)

The full rankings - http://www.local6.com/education/10097048/detail.html

CH

Can't live with 'em...cant live without 'em

It doesn't matter where you go...take you cell phone (or a camera with a flash,) and make sure the battery is charged. Now, I know that sounds like a command, and I am not trying to be to be forceful. But that little device could come in really handy.

Just down the road in Knoxville. A couple got lost in a heavily wooded area, and were rescued thanks to their cell phone - not the phone itself, but the camera part, too. Around 8:30, Sunday, the tandem alerted emergency workers that they had lost their way. So, police used a helicopter with an infrared device that detects body heat but were still unable to find them...because of the trees and all the leaves still on them.

By this time, the hikers' flashlight batteries were losing power. So, the wife told authorities by cell phone that she would use the camera flash on the phone to alert the helicopter pilot. it worked!!! He saw the flash using night-vision goggles.

Then, the helicopter hovered over the hikers' location until workers reached them around 9:20 p.m.

Awesome!
CH

The Craziest Thing

Friday was a wonderful day in my life! My wife and I celebrated five years of marriage! WOO!! I am a truly blessed man.

This weekend was also the 5th reunion year for my wife and her graduating class at Emory & Henry College. So, we decided to travel there this weekend. Heading up that way, we decided that we would stop into Backbone Rock in Damascus (where we had our wedding reception) as a way to stroll down memory lane. Well, we travelled through Shady Valley and up through the beautiful mountain roads...and all of a sudden ***FLASH*** Police Lights were a head of us!

There were also a couple of cars right in front of us, so we figured that someone had just been involved in an accident. We even saw an ambulance. But a couple minutes later, we were waved through...as we passed the Sheriff's deputy...we kept looking around to see what was going on. I said, "Wouldn't it be funny if they were filming a movie?"

There were a lot of vans, cars and things in the lot where we would normally park, so we had to drive down the road a second to find a spot. As we pulled in, we saw a truck with the words, "Lightning Productions" on the side. Hmm....we hopped out and made our way back to the Rock. As we were walking we asked, the other Sheriff's deputy what was happening. Lo and behold, they WERE filming a movie in the park!!!!!! LOL!!!

The fun part was that we were able to go running around the Rock and watch them film without getting in their way. So, we relived some memories while making a new one. I decided to not bring the digital camera this weekend, so we have to wait on the pictures. But once they are ready, I will digitize and place them on here for you to see.

The name of the film will be "Grizzly Park" and it WON'T be for your kids to see. However, if you are one to enjoy scary movies...sounds like this one will be for you. And it can't be that small of a film...Glenn Morshower (From the show "24"-- Aaron Pierce) is going to be in it.

So, when you see the previews, take a look around the scenery...you'll see that it is actually the Appalachians! That's neat. And we were there!!!! I think that's neat, too.

The rest of our weekend was fantastic! We saw all sorts of friends, had a blast, and Emory won! Good times.

Hope your weekend was just as fun!
Chalmer

Had to Tell you

If you are a fan of the movie A Christmas Story...

The Cleveland house where the film was shot will open as a tourist attraction Nov. 25.

Brian Jones has painted the exterior of the house and rennovated the inside to match the look of the home where Ralphie lived in the 1983 movie.

A few touches still remain, he is still searching for a claw-foot tub and a pull-chain toilet to finish the 1940s look of the upstairs bathroom.

Brian also bought the house across the street, which will serve as a ticket office, museum and gift shop. There will be plenty of leg lamps for sale. LOL!!

Wonder if they'll have the Bumpus Hounds?

CH

Now, that's practical!

I love our two dogs. They are so much fun to have around, to play with, and cuddle. They really do provide great companionship, but as I was surfing the net today, I came across a great question:

What advice do you give to people who live with animals ‑- particularly, dogs? I'm looking for advice on flooring and furniture options that don't attract dog hair, etc.

I about fell over in my chair with laughter...flooring and furniture without the dog hair? RIIIIIIIIGHT. LOL!!!

Our dogs shed all year round, and not just a little bit. Let me put it this way...the dog on the bottle for a vitamin supplement called SHED STOP is a CORGI. We have 2.

But since this was a type of "Ask the Experts" Column, I read it, and was a bit impressed with the answer. My wife and I already do a few of these things, but there's always room for improvement.

Sharing your home with a canine companion has its ups and downs. While the love, loyalty and affection are so rewarding, clusters of dog hair and dried drool have a tendency to diminish the elegance of a chair. To answer your question, I asked a dedicated bunch of designers ‑- and pet lovers ‑- for their suggestions for pet-friendly home-furnishing products.

Performance fabrics, formerly the domain of outdoor fabric houses, have come indoors. Crypton Super Fabrics (www.cryptonfabric.com) is one good example. The brainchild of two dog-loving entrepreneurs, Crypton offers a range of fabrics from washable twills to suede.

Designer Annie Selke of Pine Cone Hill Linens (www.pineconehill.com) is enthusiastic about Sunbrella Fabrics' range of stain-resistant fabrics (www.sunbrella.com) for her slipcovers and upholstery. Waverly's Sun-N-Shade collection (www.waverly.com) is another group that caters to the demand for high durability and easy care.

Carpeting is another complicated issue when you live with dogs. Some like to coordinate the colors of their carpets with the colors of their dogs so that the dog hair isn't as noticeable.

Although hardwood floors and tile may be easier to maintain, with a little common sense, a reliable vacuum cleaner and an arsenal of stain remover and deodorizer, you can live with both your carpeting and your pets.

Consider keeping a paw towel by the door to wipe your dogs' paws when they come back from exploring. You can also try Oreck's dry powder and spray-on treatment. Maybe try keeping Nature's Miracle within reach. Bissell (www.bissell.com) also makes a line of stain- and odor-removing products, and Febreze Fabric Refresher (www.febreze.com) is safe for use around pets.

Last, to keep the bed free of dog hair, spread a throw on top that can be quickly washed or changed.

Just as with a new baby, safety-proofing your home for a pet is an important step in decorating. You can learn about pet-proofing at www.americanhumane.org, but a good place to start is by taking breakable objects off of tabletops and low-lying shelves, removing poisonous plants, locking up chemicals and organizing wires and cables. It's also a good idea to install locks on low cabinets and add baby gates to any off-limits areas. Plus, chew toys and quality pet beds make great alternatives to your chair legs and fine upholstery.

Good luck!

Hope these quick and simple tips have helped you think about something you haven't tried before. As for my household and the dog hair that we have...I think I just need to make sure our vacuum cleaner is empty for a daily pickup. :) It's not so bad when you look into the dogs' sweet eyes, and know that you are loved.

CH

(Source: Lifestyle.msn.com --Picture: Dennis Cope; Johnson City, TN)

Mommy, I'm Sick

After a big weekend full of festivals and fun, you might have had a bit of trouble trying to roust the kids out of bed and out the door for school. And you might have even found that your kids started giving certain excuses for not wanting to go, including feeling sick. My Mom might have called it "Playing Hookey" if I had said those things. She would have been right...but now there is a more serious issue at hand.

About 5% of U.S. school children have something called "school refusal behavior," a malady that may sound like an old-fashioned desire to skip school, but is actually "a serious anxiety disorder" in the eyes of health care professionals.

For kids who have it, "the mere thought of entering a classroom is so distressing that they will do almost anything to escape."

But as a Mom, how to tell the difference between the disorder and just laziness or a preference for staying home to play video games?

The American Academy of Family Physicians put together a checklist and published it here. However, there is one key difference between a plain old want to skip and a child with the disorder: The one who wants to skip usually tries to hide his/her actions. The child with the disorder doesn't.

CH

Food for Thought

Thanks for letting me join you a couple of days on the Morning Show this week. Gotta admit...I had forgotten that 4am even existed. But I found it again. It was really fun hanging with you and Mike Perry. And Mike Riddles thanks you for all your prayers while he was out with the flu...blech...(Not So) Friendly reminder to get a flu shot!!!!! There are supposed to plenty this year.

As the busyness of the weekend is here, I thought this little notion from the bassist of Third Day, Tai Anderson, was fantastic food for thought. Enjoy "chewing" on this for a while :)



Peace, CH

Storytelling

Last weekend in our Sunday School, we talked about not just living our faith (although very important,) but also telling the stories of our faith. That way, the next generation will know about the Love and Grace of God throughout the ages.

In that same vein, the International Storytelling Festival is coming to Jonesborough this weekend. I found it interesting that this was in yesterday's Upper Room Devotional, a global publication. God is cool!

_______________________

A friend and I recently attended the National Storytelling Festival in Tennessee. Nestled in the Appalachian Mountains, the small host town welcomes thousands of people annually. The storytellers are as unique as their stories. There is something for everyone. A common thread of interest united us into one group on a similar mission -- to enjoy something as simple and beautiful and powerful and touching as someone telling a story.

I was reminded of Jesus, the greatest storyteller of all. I wondered what it would have been like to sit and listen to the Master himself, instructing me concerning how I should live. What would it have felt like to make eye contact with the man who could see into my very soul? What would it have been like to hear his voice and feel his love fill my heart?

We are all called to be storytellers. We are told to "go and tell" about our risen Savior. We are to tell of his sacrifice for our salvation, of his great love. "Go and tell." (See Mark 16:15.)

Written By: Brenda Whitten

_________________________________

Tell the story!
Chalmer

Pack Rat

We were talking about cleaning out our storage area in the WCQR building today during staff meeting. Soon, the proclamation came out that Mike Perry for our Family Friendly Morning Show is a pack rat. I gotta say I'm on the same page as he is. It's sad, but for some reason I find myself holding on to things with the thoughts of "I'll need that sometime soon...or as soon as I get rid of it, I'll need it."

Thus I make my case for being a pack rat with this story...

Ruth Ferrell donated one of her husband's shirts to Goodwill as she was making room in her closets. As far as the shirt goes, she never liked the red-and-black checkered flannel, and her husband rarely wore it.

But she had forgotten that Walter Ferrell had stashed $2,000 - the couple's savings for a trip to Europe - in a pocket in the shirt. They had stashed it there on a whim.

When her husband asked her about the missing shirt, Ruth realized that she had given away more than a piece of detested clothing.

The panicked couple called Goodwill and a worker found the cash. In happiness that all was not lost, they gave the associate a $100 reward.

Okay, so it may not make a clear cut case for being a pack rat, BUT (not that I will ever have $2000 lying around) it will make me check my pockets & use the bank!

Have a great day!
CH

Trouble...That starts with T

Which rhymes with D and that stands for DETENTION! (Gotta love The Music Man!)

I don't know why...But I have chronic "5 Minutes Late" Syndrome.

It doesn't matter if I'm trying to get somewhere leisurely, or on a deadline. I am always 5 minutes later than I want to be. Sometimes that means I am 5 minutes past the time I was expected to be there. Other times, it means that I lose 5 minutes in preparation for what I going to be doing. It may also mean that I leave 5 minutes later than I wanted, and end up at my destination on time (but never early.)

I tell you what, though, I think some school offcials have found the cure all for my disease: Detention.

Yup, you now have a new incentive to get your kids to school on time. Some public schools are making you serve detention if your kids are late.

Under the new rule, parents who don't drop off their kids by the specified time, have to pick up late slips from the principal's office.

But that's not all...then, you must go to the auditorium to serve 20 minutes of detention with your kids!!!

Most parents who have served detention say they won't be late again.

Chalmer

PS- Congrats to the cast of the Jonesborough Repertory Theater's THE JACK TALES! They did a fantastic show this weekend. Proud to know ya!