The Loafer 20

Happy Valentine’s Day &

Lives are changed at The Haven of Mercy Homeless Shelter Please Consider Donating

Volume 03 Issue 20 Publisher Lisa Durbin Creative DIrector Jon Bill Forrester Managing Editor Peggy Gale DIstribution Elizabeth Armstrong Sales Jessica Carlisle Entertainment Coordinator Andreax Jarre

your week’s line-up

04 Spotlight

Contributing Staff Andy Ross

06 The Haunted House on the Hill 07 Karaoke 07 Trivia 08 Puzzle Page 09 Pets of the Week 09 Maple Syrup Festival at TiptonHaynes State Historic Site 11 Things To Do 13 WQUT Concert Schedule 14

Kathie Scalf Ken Silvers

Naturally Yours: Stories Behind our Tennessee State Symbols

Wendy Hayden Tim SImpson

22 Tri-Cities Faces and Places

The Loafer Po Box 39 Telford, Tn 37690 423-930-7319

15 Ponderings to Ponder

www.theloaferonline.com theloaferonlineprint@gmail.com All advertisements are accepted and published by the publisher upon the representation that the agency and/or advertiser is authorized to publish the entire contents and subject matter thereof. The agency and/or advertiser will indemnify and save the publisher harmless from any lossof expense resulting from claims or suits based upon contents of any advertisement, including claims or suits for defamation, libel, right of privacy, plagiarism, and copyright infringement.

Founder: Bill Williams

LBD FAMILY MEDIA Let’s Get Social!

NOTE

FROM THE

PUBLISHER Valentine’s Day! The month of Love. Are you showing your loved ones some extra attention? My family may celebrate a little differently than yours. My husband spoils the whole family for this holiday. From the time our kids were very small they get dressed up and we all go out to a “fancy” restaurant. There have been times the girls have worn what they like to call princess dresses. They really love this. As our older girls began dating and even engaged they would tell their guys they were going out with their Daddy but they were invited to go. What is your tradition for Valentine’s Day? Remember it doesn’t have to be materialistic if that isn’t in your budget.

There are many things you can do to show love. Send us your pictures on Facebook and we will get as many in the paper as we can of you and your Valentine’s love.

Whatever you are doing this month I hope that you are happy and healthy! Thank you for your continued support of us!

My Son Eli and His Teslas

columns & reviews

theloaferonline.com February 08, 2022

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17

Social Sentiments: Spring Sunshine Into Your Feed

19 Tea Time with Appalachian Barbie: Can People Change 21 Pop Life: Don't Look Up 23 Batteries Not Included: My Sporting Event

Love, Lisa Durbin Publisher

Visit Our Facebook for Valentine’s Giveaway!

905 Chase Drive Johnson City, TN

Across from Sams Club

facebook.com/fringefurnishingsdecor

theloaferonline.com | February 08, 2022

Furnishings • Drapes • Lamps • Wallpaper • Accessories

3

Spotlight

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Johnson City, Tn Johnson City, TN TUESDAY Feb 8th Brim & Marci Leal 6:30pm at Rocks Wood Fired Pizza WEDNESDAY Feb 9th HB Beverly 6:30pm at Rocks Wood Fired Pizza THURSDAY Feb 10th Justin Mychals 6:30pm at Rocks Wood Fired Pizza FRIDAY Feb 11th Sideline 8:00 pm at The Down Home The Kindest People, Donnie & the Dry Heavers, and Jusfine 10:00pm at Capone’s

SATURDAY Feb 12th

Bristol Bristol, TN/Va TN/VA

Robin and Linda Williams 8:00pm at The Down Home

TUESDAY Feb 8th

Natural BLK Invention, Gloom Mountain Gospel, Illustrateur, Gray Heron 10:00pm at Capone’s Kingsport Kingsport, TN FRIDAY Feb 11th Railway Express Band 8:00pm at Kingsport Moose Lodge

Coal Camp 7:00pm at Quaker Steak and Lube

The Guido Awesome Show Asylum Suite with Jigsaw 10:00pm at O’Mainnin’s Pub Jane 9:00pm at Sidetracks WEDNESDAY Feb 9th

Elizabethton Elizabethton, TN

Luke Brogden 7:00pm at Cascade Draft House

TUESDAY Feb 8th

THURSDAY Feb 10th Scotty Melton 7:00pm at Cascade Draft House

Downtown Country 6:30pm at Jiggy Ray’s ABINGDON Abingdon, VA SATURDAY Feb 12th

FRIDAY Feb 11th

Wyldeheart’s V-Day Adult Prom 9:00pm at CJ’s Sports Bar

Adam Bolt 6pm at White Birch

Teni Rane 7:00pm at Cascade Draft House

Jonesborough Jonesborough, TN

SATURDAY Feb 12th

Wild Fire Honey 7:00pm at Quaker Steak and Lube

Sam Collie and the Roustabouts 7:00pm at Gypsy Circus Cider Company

Makenzie Phipps Band 7:00pm at Sidetracks

From the Edge 8:00pm at Kingsport Moose Lodge Ali Randolph & Wyldeheart’s Anti-Valentines Party 9:00pm at CJ’s Sports Bar

SATURDAY Feb 12th Just Chuck 7:00pm at Cascade Draft House Jason Lloyd 7:00pm at Delta Blues BBQ

TUESDAY Feb 8th Jonesborough Storytelling Guild “Stories n’More” Show 7:00pm at TheMcKinny Center FRIDAY Feb 11th Eric Cox 6:00pm at Tennessee Hills Distillery SATURDAY Feb 12th James Meadows 6:00pm at Jonesborough Barrel House

Submit Your Live Shows to: theloaferonlineprint@gmail.com or call 423-930-7319 to be Featured in the Loafer Spotlight

5

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theloaferonline.com | February 08, 2022

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Last Week's Puzzle Answers Sudoku

Crossword

Cryptogram:

Dropquote:

"I've come loaded with statistics, for I've noticed that a man can't prove anything without statistics."

"The recipe for perpetual ignorance is: be satisfied with your opinions and content with your knowledge."

GRANITE | MARBLE | QUARTZ | QUARTZITE

STONE COUNTERTOPS SALES • FABRICATION • INSTALLATION

theloaferonline.com February 08, 2022

6

The Haunted House on the Hill

By Lisa Durbin

As the years rolled on the Talcotts received phone calls from people that previously lived in the home and also others in the community all told them of the hauntings in the house.

Strangely this doesn’t scare this family from New York. Their son Noah hears a lady call his name on a regular basis and a few years ago he started getting visits from a small boy he calls Jimmy that seems to have relocated when the next door neighbor’s house burned and his spirit needed a new home. The family has seen a face and their granddaughter appeared to make a friend during her visit as Linda found her sitting on a bed having an intense conversation with someone unseen. Footsteps have been heard upstairs and recently several flower arrangements were destroyed in a spare room. Personally I would have packed and left on day one but this family is not afraid. They feel grateful to the spirits for sharing the home with them and they love living there.

They even have no hard feelings for a male spirit who stays in a corner in their basement with a few mummified cats and makes it clear to everyone that he does not want to be disturbed.

The local paranormal teams have performed at least 5 investigations at Linda Talcot, owner of The Haunted House on the Hill

In 2014 Linda and Brad Talcott and their children were looking to relocate from New York to Tennessee and trying to find the perfect home. They had a long list from the local realtors but one was crossed off. They were told it was built in the mid 1800’s, needed a lot of work and it didn’t have heat. One afternoon the family found some free time and decided to investigate the house with no heat.

After looking in the windows they discovered an unlocked door which Linda found strange. Upon entering this abandoned run down old house the family loved it! Something felt like home and the kids even picked out their rooms. Later Linda says she felt like the house picked them. It

seems this house had rumors of being haunted and many families had come and gone over the years.

The Talcott moved into the home they later learned was called the haunted house on the hill and began their complete remodel while preserving and bringing out the original attributes of this house over 150 years old. After just 2 short weeks Brad experienced the first sign of someone or something besides his family living in the house.

He was awakened by the bed violently shaking and even though Linda felt nothing the same thing happened to her a week later. It was as if someone or something was letting them know they were not alone.

the room where most of the ghost activity occurs

the original owners in the 1800s

the now Talcott home and each time they have made contact with the spirits living in the home and have even heard the lady say Noah’s name. One of the spirits told them he has been there since 1920 as he still believes it is 1920. Apparently visitors to the family that have verbally expressed their nonbelief have been surprised by things making them believers. I was not brave enough to try that. Maybe one day I will if Linda invites me to come back.

Recently the family was contacted by Ghost Hunters TV show and they came to Sulphur Springs and spent a week investigating the house. Meatloaf came to help out and sadly this was the last investigation he performed before his death.

I expect more than a few readers to be more than skeptical about the events happening in the house but the Talcotts and I invite you to tune in to Discovery Plus on your smartphone, fire stick or etc. on February 12th at 8:00pm and watch the results of what was discovered in this Haunted House on the Hill in Sulphur Springs, Tennessee.

The Haunted House on the Hill

TUESDAY TUESDAY

Karaoke at Numan’s - JohnsonEntertainment City Karaoke with Absolute at The Pub Out Back Karaoke with Bert & L.A. at Kingsport Moose Lodge 7pm (The Italian Pizza Pub) - Johnson City 7:00

WEDNESDAY

WEDNESDAY

Turn the Page Karaoke at VFW Post 2108 – Johnson City Karaoke Night at Wonderland Lounge Bar Turn the Page Karaoke at VFWand Post 2108 – Johnson City, TN Karaoke NightSteak at Wonderland Lounge and Bar Karaoke at Quaker and Lube (Bristol, VA) 7pm Johnson Moose City, TN 9pm6pm Karaoke at- Kingsport Lodge Karaoke with RonValley at Kingsport Moose Lodge 6:30pm Karaoke at Thunder Tavern 8pm

THURSDAY THURSDAY

Karaoke at Zachary’s Steakhouse Karaoke with Karaoke with Open Mic Entertainment Michael’s Krazy Karaoke at Stateline Bar & Grill at Wild Wing Café Johnson City, TN 8pm Karaoke w/ DJ Marquez Top Shelf Entertainment Wild Wings Café JC Karaoke at Numan’s - Johnson City, TN at 10pm Karaoke at Numan’s Johnson City Karaoke at Jiggy Rays Pizzeria - Johnson City, TN Karaoke at Hell JiggyYeah Rays Pizzeria Abby’s Karaoke at CJ’s Sports Bar - Kingsport, TN 8pm 8pm Karaoke w/Tony & RodToad at CJ’sTavern Sports Bar Karaoke at Tipsy - JonesboroughTN Karaoke w/ Absolute Entertainment at Tulips Grub & Pub 7pm Karaoke at Tipsy Toad (Jonesborough) Open Mic & Karaoke at Wonderland Lounge/Bar N Grill Karaoke w/ Absolute Entertainment at Tulips Grub & Pub 7-10 Karaoke at Midnight Oasis - Brtistol, TN Post 2108 – Johnson City, TN Turn the Page Karaoke at VFW Karaoke at Sonny's Marina/The French Restaurant Karaoke at Numan’s – Johnson Quarter City, TN 10pm

FRIDAY

Karaoke with Absolute Entertainment FRIDAY at Rainbow Asian Cuisine 9pm

Karaoke w/ Shane Rouse at Bear’s Bar Karaoke at Kingsport Moose Lodge Karaoke w/ Reverb at The 8:30pm Turn the PageKaraoke Karaoke atCottage VFWPost 2108 – Johnson City, TN Turn the Page Karaoke at VFW Post 2108 – Johnson Karaoke w/ Absolute Entertainment at City Tulips Grub & Pub 8-11 Karaoke at Elizabethton VFW – Johnson City, TN 10pm Karaoke at Numan’s Karaoke w/ Michael Hawkins at Holiday Inn (Exit 7) –Macado’s Bristol, VA Kingsport Karaoke with Absolute Entertainment Karaoke at Numan’s – Johnson City Karaoke at 27 Lions (Marion, VA) 9:00pm Karaoke with Absolute Entertainment at Rainbow Asian Cuisine 9pm Karaoke with Absolute Entertainment at Laurel Marina on South Holsten 9pm

SATURDAY

Trivia TUESDAY

Wild Wing Café JC- Team Trivia Tuesdays 8:30pm Johnson City Brewing Company- Trivia Tuesdays 7pm Aubrey’s Johnson City- Trivia Night 7pm 27 Lions - Trivia Night 7pm Union Street Taproom - DJ Trivia 6pm

WEDNESDAY

Tipton Street Pub- Trivia Wednesdays 9pm Aubrey’s Bristol- Trivia Night 7pm Johnson City Moose Lodge 1831 - DJ Trivia 7pm Tipsy Toad (Jonesborough) - Trivia 7pm

THURSDAY

Holy Taco & Cantina Trivia Night 9pm JRH Brewing - Trivia Night 7pm Mellow Mushroom Johnson City - Mellow Trivia 7pm Gypsy Circus Cider Company - Trivia 6:30pm

MONDAY

Barley Waters- Trivia Night 7pm Yee-Haw Brewing- Trivia Mondays 7pm Woodstone Deli - DJ Trivia 7pm Model City Tap House - Live Team Trivia Night 7pm

SATURDAY

Karaoke at Kingsport Moose Lodge Turn the Page Karaoke at VFW Post 2108 – Johnson City Karaoke w/ Absolute Entertainment at Tulips Grub & Pub 8-11 Karaoke at Numan’s – Johnson City Karaoke w/ Tony & Rod at CJ’s Sports Bar

SUNDAY 7pm Open Mic with Karaoke at Go Burrito Johnson City Karaoke at Kingsport Moose Lodge 6pm

MONDAY

Karaoke at Thunder Valley Tavern 8pm

**The schedule is subject to change due to the request for social distancing at this time.**

theloaferonline.com | February 08, 2022

KARAOKE Kara ke

7

PUZZLE

theloaferonline.com February 08, 2022

8

SUDOKU

CROSSWORD

ACROSS

DROPQUOTE QUOTE DROP

C RY PTOG RAM

XFNCPBNCX BP BX XVBA PDVP NVZ KVZZFP RC CRYPTOGRAM

1. Actuality 5. City in Ohio 9. In a fog 14. ____-deucey (form of backgammon) 15. Monopoly prop.

16. In a hostile way 17. Kyphosis 19. Like old bread 20. Artoo's "surname" 21. SuperBall maker 23. ___-pah-pah (tuba tune) 25. Unruly 30. Not stylish 33. Ball caller 35. Neuter 36. Lost a lap?

37. Crock ____ (slow cookers) 39. Soapy

PLQXPCA YBPD PDC IFUCLZBZI FJ DBNXCWJ. KVZ DC, PDCZ, RC PLQXPCA YBPD PDC IFUCLZNCZP FJ FPDCLX? — Thomas Jefferson

42. Early puzzle cube 43. Polecat's defence 45. Show support 47. ____-Tiki (renowned raft) 48. Kiwis 52. ___ International 53. "Hoarders" network, briefly 54. Certain support staffers 57. Prince from India 61. G. I. Joe's opponent 65. Driver's taunt 67. Middle Eastern VIP 68. Gabor and Perón 69. Subdivision 70. Land with pyramids 71. Says, to Silke 72. "____ and Circumstance"

Answers to last week’s puzzles can be found on page 5.

Down

1. Saudi monarch 2. Miss ____ (err onstage) 3. 50 ___ (rapper) 4. Business mogul 5. One of two heart sounds 6. "____ a Putty Tat" (cartoon short) 7. Ind. neighbor 8. Acid opposite 9. Cuts off 10. Fake it 11. Aunt, in Italian 12. Allen wrench shape 13. Beautician's coloring 18. Horse feet 22. Contemporary of Zhou 24. Atlas pages 26. They're below the rotator cuff 27. Popular media, these days 28. Aid for a ref's review 29. Touring car 30. "___ Girl" (1983 Billy Joel tune) 31. Neighbor of Kuw. and Jor. 32. Many-headed baddie 33. "Once ____ midnight dreary..."

34. Connection need 38. Finance guru Orman 40. Male heir 41. "Star Wars" guru 44. Go back to the beginning 46. In a maudlin mood 49. ___ a loss 50. Where les leçons are learned 51. Study 55. Part of a bar mitzvah standard 56. Kind of party 58. Pantheonic queen 59. "____ sure you're aware... " 60. URL start 61. Average grade 62. Texter's "Wow!" 63. Ottoman governor 64. Workout unit 66. Pueblo hrs.

Li tt le Lo ve as far as her health and if she is around other cats, her family will have to make sure the cats don’t fight (the only way She really enjoys being petted (not that of transmitting FIV would be blood to much being held) and is an expert in blood). That’s just a bit of a hassle in making biscuits. She loves chasing tiny toy exchange for having Love in your house! mice and balls. Little Love is FIV positive, Little Love was born 3-15-2018 that means she will need a bit of control Have you met Little Love? She has the sweetest meow when she’s asking for your attention!

M is s M ol ly Look at this beautiful smile 😃😃😃😃 😃😃😃t Miss Molly. She loves to run and always has a toy in her mouth !!! Her tug of war rope is her favorite. Miss Molly will sit for treats and enjoys playing in the pool during the summer months. Inside her kennel, she loves belly rubs. She has been at the Rescue for a while now and would love to

have her forever home. Miss Molly would prefer to be an only animal. She has been spayed, microchipped and is current on her vaccinations. Bday 5/14/18. She’s inviting you to come and challenge her to a game of tug of war. Oh, I will tell you, she will win the game - every time !!!

If you are interested in adopting : The Bridge Home No Kill Animal Shelter 423-239-5237 • 2061 Highway 75 Blountville, TN Facebook: bridgehome

bridgehome.org

Maple Syrup Festival at TiptonHaynes State Historic Site. TiptonHaynes State Historic Site will be hosting its 18th Annual Maple Syrup Festival and Pancake Breakfast on Saturday, February 12, from 8am to 3pm. Have you ever wondered how maple syrup gets from the tree to your table? Did you know that it takes 10 gallons of sap to make a pint of syrup? This is your chance to learn all about it! Come out to Tipton-Haynes to discover the history, lore, and method of making maple syrup. See how the sap is extracted from the maple trees located throughout the grounds of the site and then watch as the sap is boiled down over a wood fired furnace until it becomes the rich, flavorful maple syrup that you love so much.

our volunteers boil the sap into maple syrup. Seating will be limited inside due to the current pandemic situation but extra seating is furnished outside at the picnic area.

From 8am to 11am, a pancake breakfast with delicious maple syrup will be served. Juice, coffee, and milk is included with your meal. Be sure to arrive early and let us feed you before you help

Tipton-Haynes is located in South Johnson City at 2620 South Roan Street. For additional information, please call 423-926-3631 or email tiptonhaynes@outlook.com.

Admission is $5 for adults and $2.50 for children twelve and under (children 3 and under are free).

Breakfast is $2 extra for everyone. As always, Tipton-Haynes members are FREE! Donations are welcomed and will go to help the site continue its mission values. Genuine maple syrup will also be for sale – $28.00 per quart, $15.00 per pint, $8.00 per half pint, and $3.00 per ¼ pint.

Tipton-Haynes is a Tennessee Historical Commission State-Owned Historic Site.

theloaferonline.com | February 08, 2022

PETS

Syrup Festival OF THE Maple W E E K at Tipton-Haynes State Historic Site

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theloaferonline.com February 08, 2022 10

JOHNSON CITY

KINGSPORT

BRISTOL

SATURDAYS

THURSDAY FEB 10TH

ACOA (adult children of alcoholics) 1:30-3:00pm.

Call for info Bill 423-444-6107 or Cheryl 423-262-6149

Kid's Valentines Party 5:00pm at CJ's Sports Bar

THURSDAY FEB 10TH Free Covid-19 Vaccination Clinic 7:00am at Bristol Public Library

SATURDAY FEB 12TH

FRIDAY FEB 11TH

Nature: Wolf Howling 10:00am at Bays Mountain Park

Teen Game Club & AntiValentine's Day Party 4:30pm at Johnson City Public Library

‘Valentine’s Market’ Sullivan Street Fair 10:00am at Downtown Plant Bar

Valentine Door Hanger 6:00pm at Into the Fire SATURDAY FEB 12TH

CASA Red Shoe Gala 5:30pm at MeadowView Conference Resort & Convention Center

SUNDAY FEB 13TH Super Bowl Party 5:00pm at Lumac Rooftop Bar

ABINGDON, VA WEDNESDAY FEB 9TH Bingo 5:00pm at Abingdon Community Center

Couple Valentine Canvas Class FRIDAY FEB 11TH 6:00pm at Brushstrokes n' More Movies for Grown-Ups Parents Night Out 6:00pm 2:00pm at Washington Co at Greater Kingsport YMCA Public Library Kids Love Birds Canvas 10:00 am at Into the Fire Unbroken : anti- valentine party SUNDAY FEB 13TH for singles and couples 7:00pm Valentine’s Day Adoption Event at Taylored Venue & Events Bingo 5:00pm at Abingdon 5:00pm at The Johnson City Community Center Public Library SUNDAY FEB 13TH Maple Syrup Festival and Pancake Breakfast 8:00am Tipton-Haynes Historic Site

Couples Date Night 7:00pm at Into the Fire SUNDAY FEB 13TH Couples Canvas Class 5:30pm at Into the Fire

Planetarium – “A Part of the Sky Called Orion” 12:00pm , 2:00pm, 4:00pm at Bays Mtn Park

LIMESTONE SATURDAY FEB 11TH

Paint Night Fundraiser Kingsport Puppy Bowl 3:00pm 7:00pm at Washington at Gypsy Circus Cider Company College Academy

COMEDY SHOWCASE WEDNESDAYS Comedy Open Mic 7:30pm at Blue Ridge Comedy Club THURSDAYS Pick a Side Stupid 7:30pm at Blue Ridge Comedy Club FRIDAY FEBRUARY 11TH Clean Comedy Show 9:30pm at Blue Ridge Comedy Club SATURDAY FEBRUARY 12TH Southeast Comedy 7:30pm & 9:30pm at Blue Ridge Comedy Club Boomtown Improv 8pm at Wallace Theater SATURDAY FEBURARY 19TH Improv Open Mic 8pm at Wallace Theater SATURDAY FEBURARY 26TH Comedy Showcase 8pm at Wallace Theater THURSDAY MARCH 31ST Rodney Carrington 8:00pm at The Cameo Theater FRIDAY APRIL 22ND James Gregory 8pm at Capitol Theatre of Greeneville

To be featured in The Loafer's Things to Do email us at: theloaferonlineprint@gmail.com or call 423-930-7319

theloaferonline.com | February 08, 2022

THINGS TO DO

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theloaferonline.com February 08, 2022

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118 West Market Street Johnson City, TN Ph. 423.929.1083 Fax. 423.929.1038

campbellsmusic.net COME CHECK OUT OUR YEAR END CLEARANCE EVENT!

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Bristol

BRISTOL TN/VA

PARAMOUNT Mar 12 Free Fallin-Tom Petty Tribute Mar 18 Randy Houser Apr 3 Crowder Apr 7/8 The Black Jacket Symphony: The Police’s Synchronicity Apr 9 Mark Lowry Apr 16 Bela Fleck & The Flecktones May 15 Scotty McCreery May 29 Million Dollar Quartet CAMEO THEATER Feb 18 8 Second Ride, The Dugger Band and Aaron Walker Band Mar 12 Cooper Alan Mar 31 Rodney Carrington Apr 23 Three Dog Night BRISTOL MOTOR SPEEDWAY: Sept 30-Oct 1 Country Thunder Music Festival with Morgan Wallen, Jason Aldean, Hardy, Lauren Alaina, Tracy Lawrence, Travis Tritt and others

JOHNSON CITY TN

JOHNSON CITY

FREEDOM HALL Feb 21 Reo Speedwagon Mar 12 Casting Crowns MARTIN CENTER FOR THE ARTS Apr 27 Melissa Etheridge WILLIAM B. GREENE JR. STADIUM Apr 29 Miranda Lambert GREENVILLE NISWONGER PERFORMING ARTS CENTER Feb 12 Stayin Alive-Bee Gees Tribute Feb 19 Home Free Mar 5 Nitty Gritty Dirt Band Mar 13 The Kentucky Headhunters Mar 20 Herman’s Hermits with Peter Noone

Mar 26 Richard Marx Apr 8 Hotel CaliforniaSalute to The Eagles Apr 9 The Commodores May 1 Dailey and Vincent May 14 The Oak Ridge Boys May 21 Boston singer Tommy DeCarlo with American Idol Singer Rudy Cardenas performing the music of Boston and Journey

KNOXVILLE TN

Knoxville

TENNESSEE THEATRE Feb 11 Ashley McBryde Feb 12 Erick Baker Feb 19 Drew & Ellie Holcomb Feb 20 Punch Brothers Mar 19 Little Feat Mar 24/27 Big Ears Festival Mar 31 JohnnySwim Apr 3 Newsboys Apr 15 Postmodern Jukebox Apr 24 Taylor Tomlinson Apr 25 Primus Apr 28 Walker Hayes Apr 29 Amos Lee THOMPSON BOWLING ARENA Mar 10 Korn Mar 11 MercyMe Apr 8 Elton John KNOXVILLE CIVIC AUDITORIUM Feb 18/19 Billy Strings Feb 23 Dancing With The Stars Mar 6 Joe Bonamassa Mar 13 Bert Kreischer Apr 21 Modest Mouse Apr 25 Rainbow Kitten Surprise KNOXVILLE CIVIC COLISEUM Feb 12 Josh Dunham Feb 18 Gabriel Iglesias Apr 15 For King & Country BIJOU THEATRE Feb 15 Kenny Wayne Shepherd

Feb 19 Hot Tuna (acoustic) Mar 2 Lyle Lovett Mar 4 Donna The Buffalo Mar 11 Marc Broussard Apr 6/7 The Wood Brothers Apr 14 The Zombies

Asheville

ASHEVILLE NC

THE ORANGE PEEL Feb 19 Trial By FireTribute to Journey Feb 25 Elle King Mar 3 Lyle Lovett Nashville Mar 4 The Breakfast Club Mar 10 Dropkick Murphys NASHVILLE MUNICIPAL AUDITORIUM Mar 16 Graham Nash Mar 23 Judas Priest with Mar 20 Ministry, Melvins and Queensryche Corrosion of Conformity May 7 Deftones Mar 23 Shovels & Rope Apr 1/2 The Wood Brothers RYMAN AUDITORIUM Apr 27 Matt Kearney Feb 12 Three Dog Night Apr 30 Paul Thorn Feb 15 Punch Brothers Feb 9 America THOMAS WOLFE AUDITORIUM Feb 20 The Temptations and The Mar 1 Nick Cave & Warren Ellis Four Tops Feb 16 Beth Hart Mar 12 Zach Williams Feb 22/26 Tedeschi Trucks Band Mar 24 Bobby Weir and Wolf Bros Feb 28 Elle King Mar 28 Glass Animals Mar 9 Bobby Weir and Wolf Bros Apr 15 Bela Fleck and the Flecktones Mar 13 Dream Theater (Opry House) Apr 27 Indigo Girls Mar 16/17 Little Feat Apr 30 Amos Lee Mar 16 Slash Featuring Myles Kennedy & The Conspirators Cherokee, N.C.: Mar 19 Ministry with Melvins and Corrosion of Conformity HARRAH’S CASINO Mar 26 Buddy Guy Feb 12 Aaron Lewis Apr 3 Lorde (Opry House) Feb 25 Bret Michaels +Last in Line Apr 8 Trace Adkins Apr 9 The Wood Brothers Mar 5 Gary Allan Apr 13 JohnnySwim (Opry House) Mar 12 Marshall Tucker Band with Apr 17 Jerry Cantrell Dave Mason Mar 25 Travis Tritt BRIDGESTONE ARENA Apr 1 Grand Funk Railroad Feb 11 Kacy Musgraves Apr 23 Blackberry Smoke Feb 14 Dua Lipa Feb 16 Mercy Me Greenville, SC Feb 18 New Edition Feb 25 Dierks Bentley THE FORUM (HAL ROGERS CENTER) Mar 9 Billie Eilish Mar 13 Ace Frehley Mar 16/18 Morgan Wallen

NASHVILLE TN

CHEROKEE NC

HAZARD KY

CALL WQUT @ 477-1015 FOR MORE CONCERT INFORMATION OR VISIT W W W.W Q U T.CO M

theloaferonline.com | February 08, 2022

CONCERT SCHEDULE

theloaferonline.com February 08, 2022

14

Naturally Yours: Stories Behind our Tennessee State Symbols Our state symbols are a rallying point. They speak to the state’s cultural or commercial heritage and its natural beauty.

Connie Deegan will offer a program on Tuesday, Feb. 8 from 10:30-11:45 a.m. at Memorial Park Community Center, 510 Bert St., to explore the nature-based Tennessee

TUESDAY Feb 1st, 8th, 15th & 22nd

state symbols including the wildflower, reptile, insect and others. Deegan also will share the stories behind why they were chosen as state symbols.

WEDNESDAY Feb 2nd, 9th, 16th & 23rd

THURSDAY Feb 3rd, 10th, 17th &24th

All ages are welcome to this free session. Please register at MPCC or by calling 423-434-6237. For more information about the program, call 423-283-5821.

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My Son Eli and His Teslas

fun, but that doesn’t impress him Now I realize quitting could be a blessing. Before today, I had only because it’s not electric.

Oh well but at Although Eli is only eight years old quit 3 jobs in my 51 years. My first job least I have a cool cat on the hood. he can tell me everything about cars. was at a video store in Elizabethton When he was little he was into magic Quitting during my senior year in high school. tricks, then rubik's cubes which he has I had so much fun working there but by Lorie Ann McReynolds hundreds. Then there were the video it was difficult because I lived in Bluff games. He has nearly every system Quitting. Quitting for me is something City, and I would get home very late. available dating back all the way to the very hard to do. Just the sound of It was hard to keep up with work and eighties. He is now a youtuber but the the word makes me think I am letting school, so I had to quit. Soon after one thing he loves more than anything someone down. Even its definition that, I worked in a department store. I else is his Tesla cars. He knows the sounds unpleasant, “quit – leave found out very quickly that retail was history of how they are made all the (a place) usually permanently”. My not what I wanted to do. My favorite little details about the company and parents raised me with a high standard job that I had to quit was working for a its founder. And he collects everything of once you make a commitment, museum. It was by far the coolest job I about them he can spot, make and you follow through. They taught have ever had. But I had to leave it for model of any Teslas a mile away it is a better paying job. me to work hard for everything I truly uncanny. He has posters on the wanted. That nothing was handed And now today, I turned in my notice wall, electric ones, hot wheels, and to me. Quitting to me is like failing. I at my part time job. I struggled with even one he can sit in and drive. didn’t quit when I enrolled in a class this decision. The company is very Now he is trying to get me to purchase to become a Certified Professional good to me. But because of some one, however I tell him I don’t see Coder. The amount of homework I changes I made, I didn’t need the them as practical yet, like taking long had to do was enormous. The test was extra income like I once did. I dreaded trips one would need to plan the 5 ½ hours long and had 150 questions. giving my notice – again feeling like I whole trip around charging stations. was letting everyone there down. And Still, I didn’t quit.

But every day that argument is getting weaker as the technology is vastly moving forward and there are more and more stations going up seemingly by the second and I am seeing more tesla cars running around the local area. I told him maybe someday but for now he has to settle for his Radio flyer tesla ride on car. And I will settle for my “yucky gas powered” Jaguar.

But it’s a five speed manual and it’s

Ponderings to Ponder

By Tim Simpson timsimpson2008 @gmail.com

then it was like the Lord just made it very clear through a message from my supervisor. She asked if I could commit to 20 hours a week. 20 hours doesn’t sound like a lot on its own.

But combine that with a 40-hour full time job, it doesn’t leave a lot of time for anything else. Especially church, writing my book or spending time with my feller. I have already had to turn down many offers to do things or to help with extra stuff at church with the hours I had been working.

After I turned in my notice, I felt this huge relief wash over me. This was the right decision. Now, I only have 2 weeks left to work my part time job.

I will greatly miss the people I got to know, but I will truly enjoy having more time to do what I want to do.

Especially spending sweet time with the Lord. It will be very nice to have a balance back in my life.

theloaferonline.com | February 08, 2022

My Son Eli and His Teslas

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theloaferonline.com February 08, 2022 16

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Social media, if used correctly, can be extremely motivational. It can motivate you to start that project you’ve been working on through groups filled with expert advice. It can also inspire you to start a business that shows the world what you are truly passionate about. Negativity runs rampant on social media, but with some tweaks, you can have the positive experience you deserve.

Ridding yourself of negative followers is a great way to add more sunshine into your feed. Content created and shared by negative people can significantly impact your mental health. Don’t be afraid to click the unfollow button on negativity. That button is the start of your path

Social Sentiments

By Wendy Hayden socialsentiments @outlook.com

socialsentiments.net

to a positive social media experience.

Comments are able to be deleted for a reason. Negative comments can have a lasting effect on mental health, whether intended or not. You hold the power to remove comments that interfere with your ability to maintain a positive outlook.

Take control of your feed by using your settings to your advantage. Filter negative language, block harmful users, and control tagging settings along with deleting negativity through followers and comments to ensure a positive social media experience that leaves you feeling fulfilled.

theloaferonline.com | February 08, 2022

Spring Sunshine Into Your Feed!

theloaferonline.com February 08, 2022

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As someone who is empathetic to a fault, I’ve spent a great deal of time stressing myself out with other folks’ problems. It’s very hard for me to watch the people I love not reach their full potential, or worse, let their own toxic behaviors ruin their lives, without trying to intervene. While rooted in the best of intentions, this has historically never done anything except cause me a great deal of anxiety and misery while the other person does exactly what they shouldn’t do. It’s metaphorically me beating my head against a wall and I should know better; you can’t change a person.

In past romantic relationships I’ve always gravitated toward fixer uppers- men who had a great deal to offer but just couldn’t get out of their own way. But my efforts to push them toward reaching their full potential essentially just pushed them away from me, because it came across as nagging. No one wants to constantly be reminded of all the things they’re not doing. To be fair, these people had serious toxic and dangerous habits that needed to be broken, but it wasn’t up to me to fix that.

As of late I’ve been struggling with keeping my fat trap shut while one of my closest friends delves deeper into an unhealthy relationship that is more symbiotic of their mental state as a whole than just a simple representation of a “bad relationship.” I’m skirting a fine line of genuine concern and

pushing them away completely, when all I want is to keep them safe. But these are grown adults, and no matter how much you care for someone, ultimately it takes dramatic and sometimes painful experiences for humans to make the needed changes in their life.

No amount of good intentions or warnings can replace that, and I’ve experienced this firsthand through my own mistakes.

Having been a ninja level selfdestroyer, you would think I have a little more patience and grace for watching others exhibit the same trait. I’ve stayed in gross, abusive relationships where I deserved better, I’ve knowingly made choices that I knew would hurt innocent people and I’ve even let my own demons take the wheel and drive me to decisions with legal ramifications. I actively participated in all these events, and no one, not even the prayers of my own mother, could stop me.

It wasn’t until I hit rock bottom and had my world turned upside down that I finally made the decisions to get it together. It’s sad, but for the most part it takes digging your own grave and being forced to claw your way out alone to better yourself.

So no, YOU can’t change a person.

But people CAN change. I used to be of the mindset that tigers don’t change their stripes, but having experienced serious shifts of my own, I now believe every day is a fresh opportunity for a new life.

You’re only one decision away from a totally different ending.

But you can’t make those changes for a person. You can’t love someone into loving themselves; even forcing an addict into rehab won’t work if they’re not mentally

ready to commit. They will get out and quickly relapse to their old comfortable surroundings and ultimately it will be a waste of time and money.

So what do you do? It’s hard to sit idly by and watch loved ones crash and burn, and I believe being too scared to voice your opinion at all makes you an enabler. If someone cares about you, they will respect your opinion whether they heed your advice or not. Let it be known you’re coming from a place of love and concern, but set firm boundaries. If someone is exhibiting dangerous behaviors you don’t have to be a silent accomplice to their downward spiral. Sadly it might take losing everyone for someone to change their life. I’m not advocating abandonment of people during hard times, but for your own mental health, sometimes you have to say ‘I’m here for you when you’re ready, but I can’t knowingly participate in your unhealthy decisions,’ and walk away.

It comes down to focusing on things you can control and freeing yourself of the things you cannot.

At the end of the day, we only have power over ourselves, and grieving yourself to death trying to “fix” broken people will only cause you tremendous unneeded stress while providing a crutch for someone who needs to work on self-healing. Being an unspoken beacon of inspiration and light for others is far more impactful than constant nagging and worry, so look inward and direct that energy toward mending your own negative behaviors. None of us are perfect, and I assure you there are things you could improve; if you don’t think you do, I suggest

by Kathie Scalf

starting there and googling the word ‘narcissism.’

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, and as I do each year, I’m going to encourage you to just love yourself first. We spend so much time and energy pouring the love we owe ourselves into others and it’s counterproductive.

Stop chasing people who are running from their own problems; in due time those things will catch up and they alone must face the consequences. Self-love will protect you from being hurt and have the most return on investment for your life quality.

Spend your time wisely by actively making positive changes instead of trying to convert others. In the words of Mahatma Gandhi, “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” Only then will you actually make a difference.

XO - Kathie

theloaferonline.com | February 08, 2022

Can People Change?

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theloaferonline.com February 08, 2022

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Pop Life

By Ken Silvers ksilvers@ theloaferonline.com

a newspaper and then appear on a morning "feel good" talk show hosted by Brie Evantee (Cate Blanchett) and Jacke Bremmer (Tyler Perry), where the two hosts make light of the comet, leaving Brie to hopelessly flirt with Dr. Mindy.

The actions of the hosts causes Kate to erupt in a rant warning the Earth is headed for destruction when the comet hits if some sort of immediate action is not taken.

Kate's action on the show results in people mocking her on social media, while praising the good looks of Dr. Mindy. Meanwhile, another leader at NASA has denied the existence of the comet, and President Orlean has become embroiled in a sex scandal with her Supreme Court nomiee, and in order to divert attention away from the scandal, confirms the threat of the comet, by announcing a project that will use an old space shuttle, piloted by Colonel Benedict Drask (Ron Perlman) to strike the comet using nuclear weapons.

As the world watches the launch with anticipation, the mission is aborted when billionaire Peter Isherwell (Mark Rylance), the head of tech company BASH, which produces an amazing cell phone which can actually reveal your emotions, discovers the comet contains trillions of dollars worth of rare-earth elements, which can be harvested from the comet via large drones. President Orlean hires Dr. Mindy to be the National Science Advisor, and pushes for the comet's commercial value, while Kate tries to organize public opposition to the harvesting of the comet. As expected, the public is divided about the comet, some of which still don't believe in its existence (sound familiar?). One night when Kate, and her new love interest Yule (Timothee Chalamet), she met while working on her new job, are on a rooftop at night, she spots the very visible comet in the sky and runs into the streets to tell people to look up. Of course, these actions result in certain politicians encouraging their followers to "don't look up".

As the film progresses, there is

a shocking occurrence with the mining of the comet, and those who are rich, and have been invited, are able to leave the Earth in a special space ship, thus being saved from pending doom. However, as the film ends, some of the rich get a taste of justice via karma. The actors are all wonderful, and the script is swift and sharp.DiCaprio and Lawrence both have explosive scenes which are

award worthy. "Don't Look Up" is an enjoyable film that clearly conveys the message of the importance of paying attention to warnings, or suffering the consequences of ignorance. Now playing on Netflix.

(Rated R)

theloaferonline.com | February 08, 2022

The current film "Don't Look Up" is a star studded affair described as "satirical science fiction". All I know is I had a blast watching the film. The film had a very limited theatrical release back in December, and since has been available on Netflix. The film opens with Michigan State University astronomy student Kate Dibiasky (Jennifer Lawarence) discovering a previously unknown comet while working with the Subaru Telescope. When she reveals the discovery to professor Dr. Randall Mindy (Leonardo DiCaprio), he calculates the comet is on a path to hit Earth in about six months and is large enough to cause planetywide destruction. Eventually NASA confirms the professor's claims, and Dr. Mindy, Kate and Dr. Teddy Oglethorpe (Rob Morgan), NASA's leader of the Planetary Defense Coordination Office, head to the White House to reveal their findings to President Janie Orlean (Meryl Streep). However, when the two arrive, they are forced to wait for hours due to pending political matters which is of far more concern to the president and her Chief of Staff son Jason (Jonah Hill) than any comet hurtling toward Earth. After being told to "sit tight" and not take any immediate action

by President Orlean, Oglethorpe encourages Kate and Dr. Mindy to leak the coming life ending comet to the media. The two first alert

Don't Look Up

theloaferonline.com February 08, 2022

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Tri-Cities Faces and Places Celebrating the people and places of our community!

ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE

The Super Bowl is this Sunday. I’ve never been much for sports. I like a little bit of Basketball, but that’s about it. Yet, on Sunday a lot of us will be crouched around a TV, eating snacks and yelling at the TV as if our lives depended on it.

My father was one of the all-time great sports-on-TV-yellers. He would clap, get excited, and be so loud that it could be easily heard all over the house, even in the basement. Nascar races were his specialty.

This tradition has been carried on to me, albeit in a rather different milieu. I yell at game shows. If there is one aspect of the current revival of “Supermarket Sweep” that’s on the air that I identify on a spiritual level with is when the host, Leslie Jones, also yells at the contestants who are just poking down an aisle during the big sweep. They can’t seem to grab things, they just poke as if they have all the time in the world.

Spoiler alert, they don’t.

Now, I do the normal things one does during a games show. I’ll

Batteries Not Included

By Andy Ross aross@ theloaferonline.com

watch “Jeopardy” and say the answers when I think I know them, during “The Price is Right” I’ll toss out a price now and then. Yet during “The $100,000 Pyramid” I morph into a Yugoslavian Olympic coach. “You call that a clue!? I’ve seen better clues in the gutter!”

Then during the big money bonus round, I have my eye on the clock and get even more worked up.

“You need to pass! You’ve wasted 15 seconds, pass you fool!” If it was the ‘80s and I didn’t care, I’d be chain-smoking and drinking copious amounts of black coffee out of a small, from cup while wearing a member’s only jacket to complete the look. Maybe this is a look I should embrace anyway, minus the smoking.

This can also elicit very strange looks from friends on the odd occasion they’re also over when

I’m watching one of my shows.

Someone will make a crucial mistake during “Wheel of Fortune” by calling out a very out-of-place letter like “Z.” My friends will say “That’s dumb” which is very normal compared to my reaction of “You fool! You have humiliated all involved today! The category is ‘Before and After’! What makes you think you need a ‘Z!?’”

I can feel their eyes on me. It’s a slow look. I don’t need to turn and acknowledge it. They’re looking at me with a combination of worry, concern, and slight fear in their eyes. “It’s OK, Andy. It’s just ‘Wheel of Fortune,’ no need to get so worked up about it” they’ll say as I sit there visibly shaking because Darryl from Iowa called for a “Z” when the puzzle is clearly “Doctor Who Cares.”

gets so worked up over constants, but here we are. Yet, if I was as worked up over a football game, most people wouldn’t be as concerned or think anything of it.

It seems there is a large paradigm shift when you replace Tom Brady with Pat Sajak. I guess this applies to most things, but really, I don’t think it’s unreasonable that I get a bit passionate about midwesterners yelling out letters.

I suppose at the end of the day I should be grateful my friends are concerned and don’t wish to see me wind up in the hospital because someone couldn’t figure out “Things You’d Say to a Donkey” for $100,000. Perhaps this is a lesson for us all to keep in mind this weekend as we root for our respective teams during the big I may be the only person alive who game. See you next week.

theloaferonline.com | February 08, 2022

My Sporting Event

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FRI. FEBRUARY 18TH DOORS OPEN AT 6 PM SHOW STARTS 7 PM