Continue reading »]]> It’s hard for me not to keep writing about Tennessee, that state where I was raised.   I was reminded again recently of just how beautiful Tennessee is, when I came across some photos my wife and I took.

God's country.

Below is an image I’ve seen my whole life.  An old barn in the field behind mom and dad’s house.

Storing hay for the winter.

And here’s a tree in my parents’ backyard that’s as old as I am.  Looking up at this angle forces you to breath in that crisp Tennessee air.

When your in the mountains, you’re closer to the heavens.  Here, the moon doesn’t wait for nightfall.

Now imagine sitting in your easy-chair taking it all in.  That’s my dad.

Harold Waller. Age 76.

O Tennessee, that gave us birth,
To thee our hearts bow down
For thee our love and loyalty
Shall weave a fadeless crown
Thy purple hills our cradle was;
Thy fields our mother breast
Beneath thy sunny bended skies,
Our childhood days were blessed.

Continue reading »]]> It’s no secret I’m a Tennessee boy.  My bio on WYFF4.com says so.  But it’s also understood I am not your typical southerner. I’m an Ohio-transplant who moved to the Volunteer State at the age of 7.  While I don’t sound like a southerner (and don’t own a pair of camouflage pants), I’m a Tennessean for all intents and purposes.

And what do I do to relax when I go home?  Just ask my Tennessee-friend of 22 years!

Videogame extraordinaire Joe Gragg.

Since the start of my career, I have stayed in close touch with my friend and former coworker, Joe Gragg.  Joe is the chief photog at WCYB-TV (NBC) in Bristol, Virginia, otherwise known as the Tri-Cities market.  He is the first news photographer I ever worked with, and has remained a friend for all these years.  Our most common bond is video games.  We are two guys in their mid-40s who love to play.

Friend Kenny joins in the fun.

This week, Joe and I have logged hundreds of hours trying to out-do each other in the virtual gaming world.  From X-Box 360 to Nintendo Wii, there’s been no shortage of competition.  From golf to tennis to bowling to darts to baseball to basketball to football, I’ve spent all of my down-time here with a game-controller in hand.  So much time, I literally dream pictures like the one below.  As always, Joe is the more skilled of the two of us.  He owns the game systems and plays more than I do.

But everyone is the master of their universe in Wii world.

Don't be fooled by the seemingly straight-in put you see here.

Now my time in Tennessee has nearly come to an end.  I will return to G-Vegas on MLK Day to prepare for another busy year in TV news.  But no matter which stories I become immersed in, and no matter how busy I become in my husband-parent role, I know my mind will eventually drift back to the virtual “playing field” of Joe’s living room.

Darts anyone?

Taking a much-needed break from the Wii dart championships.

Addendum: On the last night of my visit, I broke one of Joe’s Wii controllers by slapping it against his living room floor while bowling. Sorry Joe!