Dancing With Shrek

"Greg, do you want to be in the local version of Dancin' With The Stars?
It's called "Stars Dancing For HEALS."

Me? You Kidding Me?

Completely out of my comfort zone. Never danced in my life.

But whatever Tracy Wright wants, I will do. She runs the HEALS Clinic operation.
HEALS is a non-profit that is dedicated to providing health care for students and their siblings at participating schools. It's an extraordinary effort.

If they want me to dance to raise money, where are my shoes?

Basically, you know how this works. You take someone that is "dance-challenged" like me. Take lessons and then you dance in front of a big crowd.

If you watched me on television, you probably know I don't get a nervous very often.
Not a lot makes my pulse race at work. In television news, a calm head pays big dividends as deadlines approach. The closer to the newscast you get, the calmer you stay.

But the thoughts of dancing in front of people just terrified me. Still does.

But with the help of an extraordinarily patient woman, Mendy Langford, I'm going through the lessons to "Dance For HEALS."

More on Mendy soon on my blog. Suffice to say, she has her work cut out for getting me dance-ready.

In fact, take a look at the pictures. Dance instructors are fit, cut, toned, and athletic people. Mendy looks great and is an athlete. But dancing with me, it looks like she is dancing with Shrek.

The way this works, you raise money by having people vote for you with cash.
Here is the link to do just that. Help me raise money for HEALS.
Will keep you posted on who it goes up until showtime on November 18 at Monaco Pictures.

Plenty more on the timing of the lessons, and the instructor unfortunately dancing with me on November 18.

Reports of Huntsville Shooting

Here is a link to the reports of a shooting at Huntsville Hospital. We received calls into the newsroom about the shooting. But no official confirmation of the shooting from anyone at the hospital yet or Huntsville police.

Will keep you posted. Thanks for watching NewsChannel 19!

Greg

Kate Burnette

This is a link to Kate Burnette's story.

If you are free, go help the family at Hampton House Saturday, October 4.

The Burnette family is very nice...and anything you can to to help would be great!

GS

More on October Domestic Violence Awareness Month

A viewer, and friend, sent in this poem that her mother wrote about surviving
domestic violence. What strikes me is that through it all, this person hung on and didn't give up.

Suvivorship

Take a good look at me.
I'm a survivor.

You can't see my bruises now-
They're healed.
But I'm a survivor.

Although my spirit still hurts sometimes
and i still cry,
I'm a survivor.

My future is looking good-
because I'm a survivor.

For the first time, I have a job
as a survivor!

I have close friends now
who help me know myself
as a survivor.

I'm a happy and confident person now-
Because I'm a survivor.

Best of all
My children laugh and play-
Yes, we're all survivors.


The poem below is from a person who feared they wouldn't wake up because they would
be killed in their sleep. This is about a person who finally realized remembering their family was a key to getting out and living.


The Door

Survival means walking through the door.
Sunlight.
Air.
Safety.

Rescue yourself.
Do you want to live a long life?
See your grandkids?
You can walk out the door and don’t look back.

Going through the door means not taking a punch.
Going through the door means not hearing how you hold them hostage.
Going through the door means not crying in the shower to start, or while you cook dinner to end, the day.

What did you say to your best friend the last time you talked?
Your parents?
Your kids?
How will they remember you from that call?

Will you wake up?
Will you know?
Will your last moment offer a glimpse of rage fueled by fear, confusion, and darkness?
Will it matter to your family that you stayed to fight, fix, and solve the problem?

Go through the door.
Don’t look back.
Choose to live.
You can’t search through darkness and madness to find a hand that won’t reach back.

The national hotline for domestic violence help is 1-800-799-SAFE. The emergency number for the Crisis Services of North Alabama is 716-1000.

Please help.

Greg's Book Club For October

Oct. 2

Hot, Flat, and Crowded
by Thomas Friedman

Thomas Friedman is one of the smartest and sharpest people on the political landscape. Friedman is with the New York Times and covers world economic issues.
Hot, Flat, and Crowded is about what we, meaning America, should do about climate change, and how we should be on the point of developing new energy sources.
He says the U.S. has to invent it's way out depending on oil. The book projects ahead, looking down the road at what should happen as the world devours huge amounts of energy by the nanosecond.

Oct. 9

Salvation on Sand Mountain
by Dennis Covington

There were some people in the newsroom who had never heard of this book so I thought I would bring it back. It's non-fiction.
Salvation on Sand Mountain is Covington's journey visiting snake handling churches. He was drawn to the churches but also found some aspects of the experience distubing. This book is riveting. The ending is very abrupt. Like he had to get it in under deadline. But it's a remarkable glimpse into a group of people who
very fiercely practice their faith. After reading the book, I had a much more enlightened grasp of what these people believe and perform in their church.
One of my Top Ten books.



Oct. 16

Dad's Tweed Coat: Small Wisdoms, Hidden Comforts, Unexpected Joys by Jim Reed.

Jim Reed owns one of the best book stores in the country. It's a unique place called "Jim Reed Books-The Museum of Fond Memories."
Everything from old Life Magazines to the actual pig from atop a Piggly Wiggly, Reed's place is a treasure.
The book contains essays from Reed childhood and most focus on his father.
Warm book. Great book that makes you smell your childhood home while you are reading it.





Oct. 23

Lies and Other Truths: Rants, Raves, Low-Lifes, and Highballs by Jim Dees

Jim Dees is the host of Thacker Mountain Radio. Thacker Mountain Radio is a live radio show featuring authors and music produced by
Mississippi Public Radio. Dee's book is about living in the south as we start to roll through the 21st century.
Great titles in this book like "My Dog Can Mix Drinks" and "Thinks I Have Smelled WHile Bicycling."
Dees lives in the town I hope to retire in...Oxford, Ms.


Oct. 30

Family Bible
by Melissa Delbridge


I always hated when movie reviewers used the phrase "tour-de-force" about a film. It is such a cliche.
But I really can't explain Family Bible any other way. Astounding. Incredible.
It's one of those "you can't read this if you have a bad back, are pregnant, or have high blood pressure" sort of reads.
It's a memoir by Melissa Delbridge about her life in Tuscaloosa. If you know Tuscaloosa, you will recognize a great
deal from this book.
It's not for the faint of heart. It's about her father who drank, her mother who "invented road rage" and her search for identity.
The book is a powerhouse of writing. If it sounds like I'm jealous it's because I am. What a book.

National Domestic Violence Awareness Month

October is the month designated to heighten awareness about domestic violence issues.
It was first observed in 1987. The month brings awareness to those who have died due to domestic violence, honors those who have survived, and puts together efforts to to end the violence.

Domestic violence is many cases comes somewhere that you least expect it. It is a terrible plague in our culture, and the daily battle to end it seems a long way off.
But it's a battle that has to be fought, and has to be won.

While the overwhelming number of battered and abused spouses are women, there are men who suffer as well. For more information on National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, you can click here.

Domestic violence can happen anywhere. Big city. Rural. In the quiestest neighborhoods. The people trapped in abusive relationships live lifes of desperation that can end behind four walls of fear, pain, and suffering.

One person who went through just that wrote this poem called The Door.


The Door

Survival means walking through the door.
Sunlight.
Air.
Safety.

Rescue yourself.
Do you want to live a long life?
See your grandkids?
You can walk out the door and don’t look back.

Going through the door means not taking a punch.
Going through the door means not hearing how you hold them hostage.
Going through the door means not crying in the shower to start, or while you cook dinner to end, the day.

What did you say to your best friend the last time you talked?
Your parents?
Your kids?
How will they remember you from that call?

Will you wake up?
Will you know?
Will your last moment offer a glimpse of rage fueled by fear, confusion, and darkness?
Will it matter to your family that you stayed to fight, fix, and solve the problem?

Go through the door.
Don’t look back.
Choose to live.
You can’t search through darkness and madness to find a hand that won’t reach back.

The national hotline for domestic violence help is 1-800-799-SAFE. The emergency number for the Crisis Services of North Alabama is 716-1000.

Please help.