Dian' to Share

I recently read an article about what soda can do to your body.

I was very upset. You see, I have a diet soda addiction. I rely on my Diet Coke or Diet Pepsi daily. But according to this article, I’m damaging my teeth, bones, stomach, and a wide variety of body parts.

So even though it’s not Lent and it’s not New Year’s Day, I’m attempting a resolution. I’m qutting soda.

I don’t know how long it will last. Soda and I have such a long, sordid past. But that glass of wonderful carbonation just isn’t healthy for me anymore.

So long, soda. I’ll miss the way you tickled my nose when you were freshly poured into a glass. I’ll hate giving up the boost from caffeine you gave me when I needed it most.

Water and coffee just won’t do the same things to me, soda, but the time has come.

Good luck.

I’m really sad to see the departure of the JFG sign along I-277 in Charlotte.

I haven’t been a Charlotte resident in about a decade, but I just saw that sign Friday on the way to see Willie Nelson. I didn’t know then that it would be the last time.

Yeah. I know it’s just an advertisement, but it’s just an old piece of history that welcomes me to the city when I arrive via Freedom Drive.

I don’t fear change. I typically welcome it. But it’s still sad to see such changes in the skyline where little seems to be sacred.

I know new buildings will be erected, and highways will come through. But I’m still going to miss that old coffee sign that I used to see even before I drank coffee.

I’ve celebrated Octoberfest this year like never before.

I walked down Ocean Blvd. at the beach and listened to live music to ring in the beginning of October.

Then Saturday I was fortunate enough to know three different people hosting celebrations… two involved beer and brats so you can hardly complain.

The third party was an early Halloween celebration, which I always enjoy. I’m a Halloween baby  after all.

But one of the celebrations stood out. It was a beer, brats, polka and vows event… aka a wedding.

A friend of mine had her wedding in her backyard in Concord Saturday evening. I was so happy to see the clouds clear away and good weather grace her event. I was even happier when I experienced her ceremony.

The priest - like the audience - wore casual clothes and had a sense of humor. He read off unusual vows that made the bride and groom promise to love each other through bad hair phases and Facebook addictions.

We all laughed. And they said “I do.” But there was still that serious moment. The one where the priest talks about the meaning of the rings and they are slipped onto designated fingers and the ceremony is complete. Despite the previous joking and laughter, it was touching.

And no sooner were the vows put to bed, a polka band picked up the tempo, the keg was tapped and brats were had by all. It was probably the best wedding and best Octoberfest event I’ve ever attended.

Children are brutally honest.

We all know it.

We were all kids at one point and experienced the honest opinion of children.

And those of us who have kids are reminded of that honest when the teacher learns you fed your kid pizza for breakfast.

Given the blunt, say-anything reality in which children live, why would anyone plan a hoax centered around a 6-year-old child?

I watched TV right along with a lot of the nation as the silver balloon floated high above the ground last week. Many of us gasped when searchers looked inside the box and there was no little boy inside.

A search ensued, and and he was found OK at home. Now we’re being told it was all a hoax.

I don’t pretend to know the facts in the case, but this I know.

If you’re going to do something stupid, do it at your own risk. Don’t involve the kids. Everyone pays attention when children are involved, and kids can’t keep secrets.

We like to argue our points of view in my family.

My mom had to create a rule when I was a kid that there would be no arguing or raised voices at the dinner table. We didn’t always stick by the rule.

You never really knew when Mom would have to turn referee and call a change of subject into play because a discussion had taken a confrontational turn.

Things haven’t changed.

My brother came through town this morning on a trip from Washington, D.C. to Asheville. We had just enough time to fit in a family breakfast at Main Street Cafe in Lincolnton.

A seemingly innocent meal soon turned into a debate. Those leading the debate were my brother, my father and me. Trying to vocalize our opinions on responsibilities by city council members, my nephew had to break the tension by spilling a cup of milk.

OK. So it didn’t break the tension for my brother, but it ended the debate.

We agreed to disagree.

Hugs, kisses and waves wrapped up the get-together and I walked away with a sense of nostalgia. I’m not sure that my brother appreciated my point of view, but I sure enjoyed returning to my roots.

There is an initiation into the journalism biz that we like to call Man on the Street (MOS for short).

The Man on the Street is an important element used in a newspaper to get a grasp on public opinion. Maybe you’ve seen it or been a part of it. We (reporters) stand around somewhere, walk up and ask you a question, ask for your name and snap a quick picture.

Those MOSes are published all together with your quotes and tiny pictures.

Simple, right?

WRONG!

The information is valuable, but getting it isn’t so easy.

The most outspoken, opinionated person suddenly clams up and becomes bashful when asked to put their name and face with their words. Because of this fact, editors often stick new reporters or interns with the task of putting together MOSes.

Since I’ve been covering the sheriff’s indictment and arrest in Lincoln County, I drew the short straw Tuesday and had to conduct a MOS. I realized once I was standing along East Main Street that it’s probably been two years since the last time I did a Man on the Street.

It hasn’t gotten easier.

People had great opinions to share but none of them wanted to give their names and they certainly didn’t have time to pause for a 10 second photo.

Because I can’t use nameless, faceless quotes, many of those won’t go in the newspaper. So, I’m going to share a few here.

The question: What do you think of the sheriff being arrested?

“I think it’s justice.”

“I don’t dabble in politics.”

“I think it’s a little asinine. If the other party was still in, this would have never happened.”

“I didn’t know until you told me.”

This mixture of men and women stopping by the post office Tuesday offered a variety of opinions… ones that’ll never make the paper. Not even my friendly tone and pearly smile could coax them to go on the record.

But the story goes on. And in a few months, we’ll all sit through another trial filled with law enforcement officers to find out if the sheriff is guilty or not. Hopefully he will be more forthcoming than the men on the street.

I’ll never understand abuse - whether the victim is a person or an animal.

I went to the Lincoln County Animal Shelter Wednesday afternoon to meet a 2-year-old Shar Pei who had been through a lot.

The tall, hairless dog walked around with a level of confidence, despite her infected eyes, ears and skin that hung loosely over her visible ribs. But the animal had been through the worst of it. She survived a time of neglect, a surgery to remove dead puppies from her womb and treatment for her multiple infections

A kind-looking older lady waited on a bench outside Wednesday with a leash in hand, prepared to take the dog into her home for foster care.

A short sit down with Animal Services workers told a tale of a continuing battle against neglectful and abusive pet ownership. But Lincoln County is lucky. The administration running the shelter seems bent on fixing the problem. The key is education, according to Jack Kerley.

I believe him.

But I also believe that people who intentionally hurt animals are as bad as those who hurt children. I don’t know how you fix people like that. If Jack has his way, we’ll lock up the bad guys and put pets in the hands of kind, capable people.

Good luck, Jack. I’m behind you all the way.

Some people are just built to travel.

I’m one of those people. Unfortunately, my income and lifestyle have never permitted me to do the traveling I would like.

But sometimes the urge overcomes me, and I can hardly suppress it. That feeling has been consuming me lately.

Maybe it’s the new house; perhaps some psychological push to get away now that I’m locked into a pile of bricks for about 30 years. Maybe it’s just my quarterly need to escape everyday routines.

Because of the recent purchase and looming mortgage payment, I’ve been weighing the cheapest of options for a weekend trip.

I was at lunch today talking about my prospects with a friend. We even talked about scrapping the idea because it seems to be getting complicated… then… I got a sign… encased in a fortune cookie. I’m not a big believer in signs but I’m taking this one.

I’m going to the beach next weekend.

So the trial didn’t happen.

I was ready and waiting in the courtroom in Cleveland County Tuesday, ready for the start to the Barry Taylor trial Tuesday afternoon.

Turns out, the judge and two attorneys decided to postpone the trial until next week… but I didn’t know that. So, I sat in on the conclusion of another case. I don’t know all the specifics, but here’s the gist:

A young black guy - who is also a convicted felon - allegedly dropped a gun in some tall grass before being apprehended by police. Officers say he had the gun and put it there.

He is a felon and isn’t supposed to have a gun, hence the day in court.

Since the case wasn’t tied to Gaston County, I was only watching, not writing. But it was fascinating to watch. If you’ve never sat in on a trial, you really should.

The defense attorney who sat silently during the portion of the trial I watched turned it up several notches when it came to closing arguments. He paced. He shouted. He recognized each member of the court staff. He even used a visual aid - using cups of water to demonstrate holes in the case.

The court took a break, and I left. I still don’t know who won, but I sure enjoyed the show.

Jury selection for the Barry Taylor trial starts in just over an hour.

I can’t wait to hear witness testimony that could finally clarify the the details of the incident that dropped Lincoln County’s second in command in law enforcement in jail on an obstruction of justice charge.

Getting both sides of this case and following up on several accusations involving the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office has been a struggle at best. Several county commissioners freely offer up their opinions and thoughts, but Sheriff Tim Daugherty remains silent.

I alone have probably placed more than 20 calls to him over the past three months. I have never spoken to Daugherty.

Neither the prosecution nor the defense are required to share their witness lists with the media, so I don’t know if Daugherty will take the stand. I hope he does. If for no other reason than to see him in person and hear how he conducts himself. And to hear what he has to say about Taylor.

Comments on stories I’ve written and on blogs posted online speculate that Daugherty could somehow be charged based on responses he might give in court.  I don’t know about that. Time will tell. But I’m glad that Taylor is finally getting his day in court.

If he’s guilty, I’ll be glad to know that the county can finally stop paying him as they have during his 3-month suspension.

If he’s not guilty, hopefully he can get back to work and help restore order at a department that must need a morale boost by now.

Some people are standing by the department, though.

I saw a woman selling signs and bumper stickers at the Apple Festival Saturday. The signs and stickers proclaimed support for the Lincoln County sheriff.