Minceys Musings
Ronnie and the Desk
Submitted by Ronnie Mincey on Mon, 07/08/2019 - 23:46I had the privilege of seeing several of my elementary school classmates last week. One of them, my friend Kevin White, reminded me of a circumstance that happened in third grade.
That was the year we received new reading books. We began the year with a book titled Looking Ahead. This book was the first of two third grade reading books from the same series as the famous (at least to my generation) Tip and Mitten. I loved that series—even the books had a special smell, and the pictures were inspiring in ways that I cannot explain. The first story in that book was “Eddie and the Desk”.
Where I Believe I Am From
Submitted by Ronnie Mincey on Tue, 07/02/2019 - 11:18One of the professors in my doctoral program at Lincoln Memorial University once gave us an assignment entitled “This I Believe About Educational Leadership”. I am thinking there is a website or blog called “This I Believe” to which people can publish their beliefs on certain topics. The importance of the assignment was to teach that what we believe guides our life decisions and impacts not only our own but others’ lives for better or worse.
Carbon Copies
Submitted by Ronnie Mincey on Tue, 06/25/2019 - 01:10Mincey’s Musings
Year Two, Week Twenty-Two
I received an email a few days ago that referenced some of the phrases that my generation adopted as standard language that everyone in that time could understand. One of the phrases identified was “carbon copy”. The explanation of the origin of the phrase was: “Before photocopiers were a thing, copies were made by sliding a piece of carbon paper between an original document and blank paper. It’s also what ‘cc’ means in your email.”
You Big Dummy!
Submitted by Ronnie Mincey on Mon, 06/10/2019 - 23:36I Go to the Garden, Alone
Submitted by Ronnie Mincey on Tue, 06/04/2019 - 11:22Mincey’s Musings
Year Two, Week Twenty
A few days ago, I was eating with some colleagues from work at my favorite restaurant in the world, the 33 Diner. One of these friends was enjoying hearing me repeat some of my stories. (It amazes me that there are those who enjoy hearing my twice, thrice, or over told tales!)
I was wrapped up in myself enough that I must have gotten louder than maybe I should have, for as I was leaving an elderly lady asked me, “Are you a lawyer or preacher?” I told her neither, that I was a teacher.
Not Pretty, But Honest
Submitted by Ronnie Mincey on Tue, 05/28/2019 - 00:57Mincey’s Musings
Year Two, Week Nineteen
In one of my favorite episodes of Bonanza, Hoss Cartwright is in jail, having been arrested for stealing a horse of a murdered man suspected to have had lots of money. The townspeople keep asking Hoss what he did with the money. With increasing frustration, he tells them he knows nothing about any money. In one scene, the preacher asks Hoss if he can help him in any way.
Church Humor
Submitted by Ronnie Mincey on Mon, 05/20/2019 - 23:54Mincey’s Musings
Year Two, Week Eighteen
One has to be careful when typing or texting, especially when texting. Sometimes the auto-correct on Facebook can get a person in trouble, like the preacher who once texted me that he was sitting on his deck; unfortunately, auto-correct changed the vowel in the word “deck”. The message that came to me, though totally unintended, was hilarious, and provided my soon-to-be-deceased stepson one of his last moments of hilarity. I never told the preacher of his mishap.
Onion Rings and Common Sense
Submitted by Ronnie Mincey on Tue, 05/14/2019 - 02:07Courtroom Cinders
Submitted by Ronnie Mincey on Tue, 05/07/2019 - 12:04Mincey’s Musings
Year Two, Week Sixteen
In an article published in the Knoxville News Sentinel on April 26, 2019, writer Brittany Crocker reported the Loudon County Courthouse fire, noting in the title to her article that “Fire Once Leveled Another Historic East Tennessee Courthouse, Taking Everything With It”.
Which Came First, the Egg or the Basket?
Submitted by Ronnie Mincey on Tue, 04/23/2019 - 09:37Mincey’s Musings
Year Two, Week Fifteen
When I got to work this morning after the Easter weekend holiday, I was clearing my email when I came across this interesting subject line: Do you have all your eggs in one basket? It is a question perhaps best not contemplated first thing on Monday morning of a work week.
Musical Money
Submitted by Ronnie Mincey on Tue, 04/16/2019 - 08:13The Definition of Freedom
Submitted by Ronnie Mincey on Tue, 04/09/2019 - 02:39Mincey’s Musings
Year Two, Week Thirteen
To many he was a burden from the moment of conception. He was so unwanted by his birth mother that she tried to abort him six months into her pregnancy. Her efforts failed, but resulted in his premature birth with handicapping conditions that he was to endure for his entire life. There were many who pitied him and felt him nothing more than a prisoner in a deformed body.
Teachers, Books and the Greatest Book of All
Submitted by Ronnie Mincey on Tue, 04/02/2019 - 12:27Mincey’s Musings
Year Two, Week Twelve
When I was in first grade, Ms. Hazel Butcher gave me the teacher’s edition to some of the old reading books. One of my greatest regrets in life is that I let two brats bully me into giving them those books. It turns out they are one of the things that can’t be found on Amazon.
Who Knows?
Submitted by Ronnie Mincey on Tue, 03/26/2019 - 10:31If memory serves me correctly, the then sitting Union County Board of Education ousted sitting Director of Schools David F. Coppock in spring, 2001. Three months later, a new director, Dr. James Pratt from Albertville, Alabama had been hired. It was Dr. Pratt’s philosophy to let principals hire their own teachers and to make very few changes his first year in office. He did make at least one change during his second and final year—he moved me from principal at Sharps Chapel to principal at Luttrell.
Marital Versus Martial
Submitted by Ronnie Mincey on Tue, 03/19/2019 - 11:01Reservations, Please!
Submitted by Ronnie Mincey on Tue, 03/12/2019 - 08:41Mincey’s Musings
Year Two, Week Nine
I was part of a conversation last week that revolved on horrible motel experiences. It seems that anyone who has traveled much at all has a horror story or two to tell about overnight travel accommodations.
I had a nephew who was graduating from Marine basic training at Paris Island, South Carolina. There is much I could tell you about that trip, and I believe I will share that experience with you next week. But for now, the only part I’ll share is about the hotel.
Portrayed (Betrayed?) by History
Submitted by Ronnie Mincey on Tue, 03/05/2019 - 09:51Mincey’s Musings
Year Two, Week Eight
I was on my way to the Central Office this past Saturday to work on the districtwide plan. I drove down Main Street to see if there was flooding due to the record amount of rain that was being received. As I passed the First Baptist Church of Maynardville, I noticed organist and attorney K. David Myer’s truck in the parking lot.
Food Makes the Man?
Submitted by Ronnie Mincey on Tue, 02/26/2019 - 01:46I did something this past weekend that I have never done before. My good friend and former teacher Martha Warwick sent me a notice on “Messenger” that the Lincoln Museum at Lincoln Memorial University was sponsoring free admission on weekends in the month of February. Most fascinating to me, however, was the fact that patrons would be allowed to enter the vault.