Beech Tree News Network

After a successful beginning to the week in the Senate, extreme weather conditions on Wednesday evening into Thursday prevented us from holding session on Thursday and Friday. The LRC offices were closed on Thursday, but were re-opened on Friday and we held a caucus meeting to discuss some remaining issues facing the final days of the 2015 session.

The final installment of my When I Discovered series ties in quite nicely with an event that occurred, or would’ve occurred, this past Monday.  Karen Carpenter would’ve turned 65 that day.  She passed away February 4, 1983 at age 32 from heart failure as result of anorexia.  I got acquainted with the heartbreaking story when I saw the movie The Karen Carpenter Story in high school,  Home Economics class I believe (or whatever they’re calling it now). 

Another birthday has come and gone. It caused me to do some reading about birthdays. I didn’t think I’d learn anything new, but I was wrong.

“Your retired?” a fellow asked me. I know this guy from years back, I wasn’t particularly fond of him even when we were kids. He was a blow-hard then--- still was.
“Yeah, I’m retired.” I said
“What do you do?” he asked
“Do?” 
“Yeah you know… you play golf?”
“Well no… I…”
“I play golf,” he went on
“Well that’s fine I…”
“I’m retired too.” He informed me. “Play golf about half the year- we go to Florida in the winter.”
“That’s fine…I…”
“We leave just after Christmas.”
“Well, that’s good… I…”

I went to New Orleans this weekend for my daughter, Nikki’s, and her fiancé Thomas,’ engagement party.  On the way down, I picked up my sister-in-law, Charlotte, in Birmingham.  The party was hosted by Thomas’ mom, Jean, and it was held in a turn-of-the-century restaurant in a small town called Thibodaux (pronounced tib-a-doe).

We live in a time in which few people seem to care for us. David knew this feeling, and wrote, “I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul” (Ps. 142:4). In contrast, we read Peter’s words, reminding us of the care Christ has for us: “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you” (I Pet. 5:7).

Despite bitter cold and record-breaking snowfall, the Senate convened Thursday and Friday to do the people’s work. With the session nearing the halfway point, Thursday and Friday were active days on the Senate floor.

Alabama is a group that has been a staple in country music for 30+ years.  Even though their heyday has long since passed, the group is and forever will be the standard-bearer for all groups in country.  I got my first taste of Alabama music at a very early age.  When their first album, My Home’s In Alabama, was released in 1980, I was 1 year-old.  “Why Lady Why”, one of the best country heartbreak songs ever, was on that album.  They released an album every year up until their 20th Century compilation in 1999.  They would then go 2-3 years between albums.

Even avid snow lovers must be tired of our recent winter weather. I’ve had too much time to think about snow. But, some of the information I found was a bit entertaining.

I suppose there are different kinds of lies- some for different reasons.  I lie at times to spare someone’s feelings.  I’ve lied to the cashier at restaurants when asked, “Was everything all right?”  There may have been “rocks in the beans and sand in the meat,” but to avoid embarrassment or sounding like a sorehead, I’ll say “fine.”