Chris Toomey, RIP

Chris Toomey

Nobody won the game.  It was long enough ago to still be in the era of the NCAA football tie – when the outcome of a game could still be something other than a win or a loss.  The year was 1993, and the place was Birmingham, Alabama’s Legion Field.  It was the third Saturday … Read more

Tom Fillinger, RIP

“But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called ‘today,’ that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” Hebrews 3:13 Tom Fillinger was a man marked by urgency. He could have easily been mistaken for a curmudgeon. But if curmudgeons are marked by criticism and inaction, Tom Fillinger … Read more

2016 in Places

Yet again, following my yearly tradition, here’s a record of all the cities, towns, hamlets, or dots-on-a-map in which I’ve spent at least one night during 2016. New this year is an asterisk, noting multiple nights in each city. Here this year’s list: Anthem, AZ Chattanooga, TN* Holland, MI* Purlear, NC* Minneapolis, MN Kingsport, TN* … Read more

2015 in places

Wow, 2015 came and went with a post to be found. Alas, following my yearly tradition, here’s a record of all the cities, towns, hamlets, or dots-on-a-map in which I’ve spent at least one night during 2015: Chattanooga, TN Holland, MI Kingsport, TN Nashville, TN Sylvania, OH Virginia Beach, VA Washington, DC Williamsburg, VA Woodbridge, … Read more

2014 in places

Oh yeah, I have a blog! And lately, it’s been one post a year. Resolved to post more than once in 2015. Maybe even more than twice, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Thus, following my yearly tradition, here’s a record of all the cities, towns, hamlets, or dots-on-a-map in which I’ve spent at … Read more

2013 in Places

Oops. It’s 2014 already. So, following my yearly tradition, here’s a record of all the cities, towns, hamlets, or dots-on-a-map in which I’ve spent at least one night during 2013: Alexandria, VA Benton, TN Chattanooga, TN Holland, MI Kingsport, TN Stamping Ground, KY Nashville, TN Prince William Forest, VA Solvang, CA Stamping Ground, KY Woodbridge, … Read more

2012 in Cities

Following tradition, here’s a record of all the cities, towns, hamlets, or dots-on-a-map in which I’ve spent at least one night this year: Birmingham, AL Charlotte, NC Chattanooga, TN Holland, MI Kingsport, TN Shenandoah National Park, VA Nashville, TN Rodanthe, NC Sylvania, OH Woodbridge, VA Washington, DC cf. 2005/1999, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011.

3 State 3 Mountain Challenge 2012, Part 3

[Continued from part 1, and part 2] Lookout Mountain Lookout Mountain is an icon of the South.  As a kid, en route to see my grandparents in Alabama, we’d circle the hump-backed juggernaut as we passed through Chattanooga.  It’s lore was spread via one of the most innovative advertising campaigns in history — painted barns throughout … Read more