Bricks!

I saw this circle-o-bricks while hiking at Ijams on Valentine's Day with my sweetheart and my dog. I have been to Meads Quarry at Ijams several times but have never noticed these bricks. I wonder what they are / why are they there? You can see them on the quarry loop trail near the owl themed water tower. And if you haven't been hiking on a brisk winter day, I strongly suggest it. Downed leaves and crisp winter air provide some nice clear views this time of year.

Bzzzz...spelling bee for grownups

When I was in 8th grade, I won my school's spelling bee. I had been trying to lose on purpose so I would not have to advance to the regional event, but I miscalculated the remaining turns and ended up winning nonetheless. So I found myself with a lot of unwanted studying to do. After all, I was supposed represent Saint Pat's School with pride and charisma and spelling, and I did not want to do it.

I did not study. I was about to be in deep trouble. To use a middle school spelling word, it was a predicament. Then, like a magic gift, the week before Regionals I had an emergency appendectomy and was in the hospital for a week, hence rendering me unable to attend Regionals. My classmate, runner-up William, had to go in my place. But he was always the true bellwhether, and he ended up going to Yale. So he probably belonged at that Bee anyway.

(As a strange aside, that was also the week that we all had to build catapults for science class, and my partner Jenny came to the hospital so we could test the catapult in the hallways. I think the nurses had fun with that. Physics.)

Anyway, moral of the story is that I hate to participate in Spelling Bees. Too much work, too much anxiety. But I have always enjoyed watching them. I adore the Scripps spelling bee and look forward to watching it on ESPN every year. I'm also a huge fan of the documentary Spellbound. Those kids, for the most part, have such poise; and I just don't know how they do it. I am a bundle of anxiety the whole time I watch them. Even when watching the same documentary I've already seen.

If you are like me, then perhaps you will want to get yourself to the Pilot Light tonight at 8pm. They're hosting their inaugural ADULT SPELLING BEE (!!!!!). How cool is that? I think it promises to be a very scintillating, if not slightly weird, event. Note that some words will be of a mature nature. So if you're a prude, this event might not be for you.

It's free to watch and 5 bucks to enter, but you get one free PBR with entry. And we all know how to spell PBR.

A Call to Arms... (for loving)

Some of you may remember a few months ago the wigshop made a difference, we helped rescue a loveable little creature named Lulu, who now resides with a certain blogger named Lo...

And today we have another opportunity, we need your help. Please pass this post around, retweet it etc and help us find a home from this little guy. He needs some loving and I'm sure our readers can help, he even wrote a letter (seriously, I did not create this part this is straight from the horses mouth... per se.)

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Hello Knoxville! My name is Forrest and I'm an adorable beagle puppy who was hit by a car last week. I came out of the accident with a fractured pelvis, but not to worry, my veterinarian says that with enough time I will be healed and as good as new. Unfortunately, my previous owner did not have the time to dedicate to my healing, so he brought me in to be euthanized shortly after the incident. I was less than an hour away from meeting my maker when I decided to turn on the charm and convince the nice people at the vet clinic that I was worth saving. It worked! Now I am looking for a new family who has the time and commitment to help me grow big and strong. I will never be the fastest dog on the block, and might end up with a little arthritis when I get old, but I promise that with the right family I will grow to be the sweetest dog in east Tennessee.

Woof woof,
Forrest




Now that you are well manipulated emotionally either get this dog as a late valentines day present for yourself or a loved one or help us find someone who will help him.

You can email the wigshop if you want to know more, but please hurry he only has a stay for 24 more hours... not really but hurry. Here is another picture just in case you weren't already a pile a mush.




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UPDATE

Thank your all for your responses and support for this little guy. We have passed along any emails we received to the vet who is current caring for Forrest and she will be coordinating meet and greets shortly. Please feel free to continue to contact if you're still interested, we'll let you know when he's officially been adopted!

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UPDATE UPDATE

The vet caring for Forrest is appreciative for all of the responses and will be in touch soon, please be patient as Forrest is slowly healing.

Thanks

Marathon Time!

My favorite time of year is nearly upon us! We're just a little over a month away from the Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon, Half-Marathon, Relay & 5k! The races take place on Sunday, March 28, with the Health and Fitness expo the day before, Saturday, March 27.

Just wanted to give you a heads up that tomorrow is the last day to register at regular price. After tomorrow, the price jumps 10-bucks per event. So commit early to the race and register now at the Marathon's website!

I'll be running the half again this year. It's a beautiful, challenging course. So is the full marathon. Lots to see and do throughout the weekend!

I should convince my fellow Wigshoppers to make a relay team - it's only between 5 and 7 miles per race leg!

Something new in the Old City

It's a special day today here at www.wigsphere.com. We have, not one, but two special guests to show and tell you about a new enterprise in the Old City. I haven't been yet, but after reading Will Farley's review below, I'm going to have to make it a priority. All photos are by the illustrious Katherine Campbell. I know, I know! So much Hotness today, I can barely handle it.

Without further ado...

In the fall I was asked by a friend, “If you could open a business in the Old City what would it be?” My reply was that, being an audiophile, I would open a vinyl record shop. Then I talked to Jason Boardman (owner of the Pilot Light/manager at McKay/Knoxville musical hero) and he told me that he had just bought the space that the short-lived Woodward Books had occupied to open a record store.























The name that he chose to call his store was Hot Horse. Initially it was going to be full of used vinyl and some music equipment so if a band playing at the Pilot Light had any instrument problems they could just go next door and get parts to fix it. Then Jason approached Janice of Legacy Vintage and it became a whole different beast. Now it is a self described “experiment in collaborative retail.” The stores that are represented in Hot Horse are the Pilot Light, Raven Records, Lost & Found Records, Legacy Vintage, and Music Room Guitars.

The store that has resulted is a wonderful place to pick up obscure vinyl or some musical instruments. The staff is very friendly and willing to help the customer find anything you might need. I have been in there a few times now since they opened and have found it to be a great place to pick up my musical needs. They have a lot of interesting old vintage items in the back, and they sell cigarettes. It is worth going down there and checking it out, especially if you love records.



Hot Horse
108 E Jackson Ave, next to the Pilot Light
open noon to 10pm daily

A long love letter, in some fashion, to one of my favorite places in Knoxville

I used to work at the Panera in Bearden. There, I climbed the corporate ladder from washing dishes to (wo)manning the cash register. To most, this kind of promotion would seem desirable. For me, it was an adjustment, as I am slightly uneasy around people I don't know well.

It's sad, but my biggest source of social anxiety while working there came from seeing the same people over and over again, what you would call regulars. I'm bad with small talk, therefore when given two minutes to speak to someone on a regular basis that I don't know at all, well, let's just say it's not my cup of tea.

When I'd ask any one of them, "What side item would you like?" I was really thinking, "Why are you here all of the time? What goes on with you when you leave this place?" (and, "I hope you know how foolish I feel in this flare-encrusted Panera hat.")

I have a sister who worked at Starbucks for a while. She used to talk about how Starbucks aspires to be people's "third place," their first being home and their second being work. The "third place" functions to take one away from the stresses of the first and second place.

This idea has always intrigued me, being a regular or making some random place your home away from home. I was never able to imagine having a place like that, or even more so, needing a place like that.

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Last Saturday, early in the evening, I was bored staying inside due to the slush on the ground, so I went down to Old City Java. I expected the place to be fairly empty, but when I walked in, the line almost reached the front door and patrons filled the seats. I decided to walk into the second room to find a seat while the line died down.

I saw a friend who pulled out his earphones and invited me to sit with him. We talked for a while, one of those unexpected conversations that flows smoothly and provides unforeseen encouragement.

I took in my surroundings as we talked: a boy with a guitar on the couch behind me, playing softly for a few minutes, across from our table, a smartly dressed couple sitting with a girl whose religious affiliation requires her to wear a head covering, a couple of cool looking dudes in the window playing backgammon, and on the other side of us, five or six attractive Spanish speaking students, having a discussion that, to me, sounded pretty intelligent.

I finally went back to the counter to find the guy working delicately make a leaf out of latte foam. I ordered a cafe au lait and he went on about what that meant and names of other drinks that are in different languages. I was happy for him to enthusiastically carry the conversation, as I nodded up and down in return.

I went back to my table where my friend had his earphones back in, reading his book. I pulled out my sketchbooks and accomplished more in 30 minutes than I could in a few days at home.

I finished my coffee with milk and gathered up my things. On my way out the door, another Java employee who was not currently working called me by name and wished me a good night.

As I walked to my car while evening set in, it dawned on me. It was the fourth time I had been to Java that week.

I may not be as regular as a regular, but I think I found my third place.


photo from Java's Facebook page

Old City Java
109 S. Central Ave.
Knoxville, TN, 37902

Rock For Haiti Aid

Most of you don't know this, but as well as being a renowned blogger, I am involved with a lot of work in Haiti. I just got back from working in Haiti a month ago, right before the earthquake hit. I've worked down there for a long time, and I can tell you they need all the help they can get. So I wanted to pass this along- Sapphire is hosting Rock for Haiti Aid to raise aid for earthquake relief. You can find more info here.

The low down:

Thursday, February 4th

three bands-

The Fine Line 8 - 9
Vera Noreva 9 - 10:30
Joe Dunn of Adoration 11 - 12

NO cover- 1% of bar sales go to relief efforts through the Red Cross.

I know 1% doesn't sound like much, but if you've ever bought a cocktail at Sapphire you know that those proceeds will pile up quick. If you're going out to drink or see live music anyways, why not do it for a good cause?

[edit: 10% of bar sales will be donated. even better!]

Why Not Knoxville?

OK sorry to double post, but I have to put this up as well.

I'm not usually one to discuss national issues on this blog, but I think Knoxville has a chance here to be of some good use to our president/ fellow citizens.

See articles here, here, and here.

Here is my basic premise. If we are going to try Khalid Sheikh Mohammed (9/11 mastermind) in Federal Court, but don't want to try him near NYC I say we try him in Knoxville.

We have a Federal Courthouse right here in downtown, we are far away from NYC, and we do not provide a high profile target for other terrorists.

On a more selfish note, I would love for the Federal government to pump $100 million plus into Knoxville for this trial each year. Imagine how much business would be driven into downtown at a time where we could really use an influx of new patrons to support the new businesses and residences that are coming on line.

Knoxville would benefit and the country would benefit, it's a win-win. I hope Bill Haslam (who is following the Wigshop on Twitter) sees this and pushes for it.

Read on for the other post I wrote today, which is also time sensitive.