Pop Life
Aladdin
Monkeys and tigers and genies oh my! The new live-action version of the 1992 classic Disney animated movie “Aladdin” is currently playing in theaters, and continues the studio’s new tradition of turning their animated movies into live-action flicks. Both films are based on the Middle Eastern folktale from “One Thousand and One Nights.” The film […]
Batteries Not Included
For Dad
You may have noticed that in last week’s issue of The Loafer, my column was nowhere to be found. That wasn’t a mistake, this was done intentionally. The week that I would have prepared and sent in my column, I was dealing with something. On May 26, my father, Gary Ross, passed away. It wasn’t […]
Living Your Best Life
Stop Feeling Bloated After You Eat
Feeling bloated is never comfortable. We’ve all experience it. It feels like your food is just sitting at the bottom of your stomach. You look in the mirror and you think, “when is my due date?” Sweet relief can come when you follow a few simple steps that will improve your digestive system and can […]
Pop Life
Summer Blockbusters
Several weeks ago I recommended some hot movies for Spring, but now that Summer is upon us, it’s time to list my 10 must-see movies for June, July and August. It’s always fun to escape the summer heat in a dark and cool theater to catch the latest blockbusters. I have listed these movies in […]
Appalachian Wanderers
Forney Ridge Trail
Across the entirety of Appalachia, the eastern deciduous forest forms an almost unbroken blanket, stretching from the deepest gorges to more than a mile in elevation. This relic is all that is left of what was one of the greatest woodlands in the world. Thanks to conservation efforts throughout the last century, much of the […]
Living Your Best Life
How to Stop Self-Sabotage
We’ve all done it. We’ve all had the good intention to get to the gym, choose the healthier option on the menu, or just get off our butts. But instead we allowed self- sabotaging behaviors to make their ugly way into our good intentions? Why do we self-sabotage? And how do we stop it? Keep […]
Tea Time with Appalachian Barbie
The Plight of the Childless Woman
If you are a childless woman of a certain age, it is inevitable that you have experienced some degree of “motherhood shaming,” and if you haven’t you probably will. It doesn’t matter how understanding, well-intentioned and open-minded the people surrounding you are, there will come a time someone will probably unintentionally diminish your womanhood and […]
Pop Life
See You Yesterday
The new Spike Lee produced and Stefon Bristol directed film “See You Yesterday” recently debuted on Netflix, and I must say the film has a unique ending, but more on that later. “See You Yesterday” is a sci-fi film that introduces us to the world of a science prodigy, C.J. Walker (Eden Duncan-Smith), who, along […]
Appalachian Wanderers
The Channels
Sitting just a few miles north of Meadowview, Virginia, The Channels are located high atop one of Clinch Mountain’s highest peaks and are one of the greatest hiking destinations in our region. This geological marvel was once a huge capstone that covered the summit. During the last ice age, the constant wear and tear of […]
Tea Time with Appalachian Barbie
The Art of Being Annoying
Over the weekend I enjoyed a night out with some friends. I met up with them at the Country Club then dinner at Peerless followed by after dinner drinks around town. It was a decently large group of people, 6 of us, and we were all having a great time. I’m only particularly close to […]
Batteries Not Included
The Light Bulb Adventure
In the last twenty plus years, lightbulb technology has come a long way. We’ve gone from incandescents and their familiar shape to a wide range of LED powered bulbs that are more efficient. With this evolution, we have begun to place bulbs everywhere. My parent’s bed even has LEDs under it. But one of […]
Living Your Best Life
3 Ways to Get Your Summer Body Back on Track
Are you on track to have that summer body you’ve been working on since January? No? Then read on… A life lesson I’m trying to teach my teenagers is, don’t complain about something if you’re not going to come up with some ideas to fix it. It’s a great lesson for us adults too! I’ve […]
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