'Blissfully unaware' kids give thanks

"Because I Said So" column for The Commercial Appeal.

November 27, 2008

In the days leading up to Thanksgiving, I've asked my kids what it is they're thankful for. They've offered up thanks for their favorite toys and cartoons, summer vacation, and sprinkled cupcakes, which is just how I'd expect a group of 2- to 10-year-olds to answer the question.

I had a notion that they would tell me they are thankful for the truly important things: For family and friends, for the health and peace that envelops their everyday, closely guarded lives. In so many words, of course ... (read more)

International Paper vice president lauded for efforts

Corporate Giving story for The Commercial Appeal.

November 21, 2008.

For an avid volunteer, there may be no better work environment than International Paper.

Peter Heist, 49, vice president and general manager in the coated paperboard business, has moved to 10 different locations in his 28 years with the company, including England and Ireland. He was surprised to find that the commitment to giving wasn't at all the same overseas as it is here. "Americans, in general, give of themselves fantastically," he says ... (read more)

Donate-a-Shoe program fills key need for homeless

Corporate Giving story for The Commercial Appeal.

November 14, 2008.

Jake Lawhead, president and owner of Breakaway Running, likes to keep it local, whether it's his training for the next St. Jude Marathon or his company's charitable contributions.

Since January 2007, the specialty running store has been accepting donated running shoes and distributing them to such charities as Idlewild Presbyterian's "More Than a Meal" program, First Presbyterian Church's Clothes Closet and Memphis Leadership Foundation's "Refugee Empowerment" program ... (read more)

Tot's togs a learning experience for Dad

"Because I Said So" column for The Commercial Appeal.

November 13, 2008.

As a student at St. Louis Catholic School in East Memphis, I woke up every day for eight years and dressed in navy blue pants, a white dress shirt and tie.

The uniform made life uncomplicated, with no sartorial decisions to be made each morning.

Three of my kids go to public school and wear khaki or blue pants and a white or red shirt. Simple. No guesswork there, other than clean or not ... (read more)

On the job, coworkers hesitant to talk politics

2008 presidential election coverage for The Commercial Appeal.

November 3, 2008.

The office water cooler by all accounts should be boiling over. More than Tigers vs. Rebels, more than young Elvis vs. old Elvis, more, even, than Willie vs. City Council, this year's presidential race has had the potential of pulling people together in conversation and ripping them apart in debate.

It's one thing to be open online, where tempers and tones can remain hidden, couched in parenthetical asides and emoticons. On Web sites and blogs, the talk starts placidly enough, then begins to swell and bubble until the nameless medium of e-mail becomes vitriolic ... (read more)