By Jennifer Tardy You start the month feeling motivated and productive. Then, a couple of weeks in, your energy drops. You feel wired but exhausted, reach for caffeine, and wonder why your body suddenly feels sluggish. Many people assume low energy is a personal shortcoming—that if they pushed harder orContinue Reading

Pictured above is the author and James Dickey, June 24, 1995. By Tom Poland, A Southern WriterTomPoland.net Each January, my thoughts turn to a fellow Georgian. James Dickey died January 19, 1997, of the same disease that took my mother’s life. On June 24, 1995, I interviewed Dickey for ReckonContinue Reading

Photo: Osprey at Anthony Shoals with a fish too big to lift. By Tom Poland, A Southern WriterTomPoland.net Three birds hold me in their thrall. The osprey, whippoorwill, and oft-slighted buzzard. I love the whippoorwill’s lilting call. The noble osprey and its distinctive M-shaped wings stands out, and the utilitarianContinue Reading

Carl’s uncle, S.W., and Alene Amick took Carl to his first movie at the Chapin movie theatre to see a Bing Crosby movie.   Our “modern” culture has most people isolated in their homes on Sunday, visiting the TV, and computer screens.  However, Sunday afternoons were reserved for visiting familyContinue Reading

By Radley West As a gym owner, I’m about to say something slightly scandalous: you don’t need a gym to get strong. Yes, I just heard my dumbbells gasp. Truth is, there’s one humble piece of equipment that can help you build serious strength, tone your muscles, and even improveContinue Reading

By Radley West In the whirlwind of our daily lives, finding time for a healthy, nutrient-packed meal can feel like a mission impossible. But what if there was a simple, delicious, and incredibly convenient way to flood your body with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants? Enter the green smoothie, your newContinue Reading

When Holiday Meals Trigger More Than Fullness: Understanding Histamine Reactions You didn’t overeat. You skipped dessert and passed on the bread. Yet halfway through dinner, your nose starts running. Your cheeks flush. You feel bloated, restless or itchy. Maybe you wake up in the middle of the night feeling hot,Continue Reading

The snow of 2010 in Columbia. By Tom Poland, A Southern WriterTomPoland.net A thirteen-year relationship was dying. The song seemed written for us. Here comes one of those songs that arrives at a hurtful time. You grieve, heal, stumble into new entanglements, regret and vow never again, and before youContinue Reading

By Mike DuBose Food is one of the largest family expenses. Rising food prices and busy schedules while providing economical meals are challenging In our earlier article, we examined the four largest South Carolina food chains (Kroger, Food Lion, Publix, and Walmart). We compared onsite prices using 21 of theContinue Reading

By Tom Poland, A Southern WriterTomPoland.net A restless boy grew up in the midst of forests and pastures. Outside of biking, reading, and exploring woods, the Augusta Highway entertained me. If Rambling Man was born on the back seat of a bus rolling down Highway 41, traffic rolling down HighwayContinue Reading

By Mike DuBose The US Bureau of Labor documented food prices have increased 30% since 2020! Contrary to what politicians promised and with few exceptions, the November 2025 Wall Street Journal reported that food prices aren’t coming down! The USDA reported families spend more than 15% of their income on food (Singles $300-$600, CouplesContinue Reading

By Liesha Wessinger-Huffstetler Christmas lights are beautiful at this time of year, The Spirit of Lake Murray, is offering a cruise on December 21 from 6:30- 8:30 to see the lights on Lake Murray. This cruise will bring an extra special Christmas cheer to the season. The Boarding begins atContinue Reading