Who I Met Today

Everyone has a story – Collecting & sharing interesting info, life lessons, & fun things to see & do from the wonderful people in our world

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Book of Mormon Ensemble Cast Broadway

Ben Estus – Book of Mormon Actor

Tapping my toes and laughing out loud,  I  admit – a little sheepishly – I thoroughly enjoyed myself.   The material was shocking and offensive and often not tasteful at all.  But the actors, singing the catchy songs and dancing to the spirited tunes, seemed to be having a whole lot of fun on stage. According to Ben Estus, he and his fellow ensemble members ARE having an absolute ball.

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salmon fishing in bristol bay alaska

Thomas Persinger – Salmon Fisherman

Thomas Persinger’s love affair with Alaska – its glaciers, volcanoes, captivating wildlife – began a dozen years ago.  Celebrating his dad’s 50th birthday, the family travelled to Anchorage and Seward and Port Alsworth, a tiny fishing village in the Alaskan bush. What was not to love? “We ate breakfast, hopped in a float plane, and caught fish all day,” Thomas remembers. And he was determined to return.  Studying at Auburn

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kombucha taproom rowdy mermaid

Erin Donnelly – What Exactly is Kombucha?

Strolling into the Rayback Collective on a bright, sunny morning, I spot an eclectic array of food trucks, bikers sipping coffee around a fire pit, folks clicking laptops at community work tables, and a vegan ice cream cart.  Combined with a lounge, live music, and an adjacent multi-use trail, this place may be too cool for me…..

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Brittany Fuson Paper

Brittany Fuson – Fashion Illustrator

Crazy about pretty clothes, great shoes, and lists of all sorts, I fell in love with Brittany Fuson and her long-legged girls.  Dressed in fabulous dresses and carrying the latest  handbags, her blondes and brunettes and redheads sport everything I ever hope to find hanging in my dream closet. Finishing up her Apparel Design degree at the University of Alabama back in 2009, Brittany wanted to give each of her

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Matt Russo and The Gambling Stick BBQ Trailer

According to Matt Russo, “a gambling stick is an old Appalachian name for a stick used to hang a pig from the limb of a tree. Threaded through the heels of the pig, the stick supports its weight while the animal is harvested.”  The gamble, and hope, is the stick can handle the pig’s weight, and the animal will not come tumbling down. In a parking lot in trendy East

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Dustin Williams, Violin Maker in Nashville, TN

Meet Dustin Williams – Violin Maker

As we wander through the charming, historic Music Row building with the rickety staircases and old-world architecture, Dustin Williams proudly explains, “Everything we have here we fully expect to last 200 years.” The older they get, the more valuable. The more they are played, the better they sound.  “We are lucky to be the caretakers of these beautiful instruments.”

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Introducing Patty Russell and Her Groom’s Cakes

On a day when the bride and her mom tend to handle the details, I could not wait to tackle the assignment of helping my son select the groom’s cake for his upcoming wedding. Sitting down with the baker at an upscale Italian bakery in a trendy section of Brooklyn, we explained what we wanted.  The gentleman, who had been baking panettone and cannoli and biscotti in this neighborhood long before

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Jim Laurent and His Brahman Cattle

Jim Laurent is relaxing with a book in the straw-filled “home” he and his wife share in the cavernous exhibit hall.  Their area is neatly swept, and a crockpot of chili is simmering on a cloth covered portable table.  The background noise is a constant and comfortable lull – goats, pigs, and cows bellowing to get attention. One of the largest and richest rodeos in the world, the Houston Livestock

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Chris Pence – What Does a Sound Engineer Do?

Since moving to Nashville, I spend more time listening to live music in a variety of venues around town.  After all, this is Music City.   Aside from raw talent and lots of practice, I never really think about what else makes for an outstanding show.  According to Chris Pence, a sound engineer with country and pop bands, “When everything at a show sounds great, the artist is wonderful!  But

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Barbara Heilman and UnbuckleMe

Eager to care for her brand new granddaughter on occasion, Barbara Heilman’s first order of business was to go shopping for a car seat.  She couldn’t operate the model her daughter, Becca Davison, already owned, and she wanted something easy to use.  However, when Barb and Becca returned from their shopping trip, Barb was frustrated and slightly panicked.  She didn’t have the strength to unbuckle any of the car seats

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