Smith Says

Some people run triathlons; some people climb mountains. I conduct search and recovery missions. In my house. Our 90-year-old home, aka the Love Shack, has much charm and zero storage. It has just four closets plus a dilapidated metal shed in the ba ...  full story

When three adult kids try to take care of one ailing mom, the result is regression—all the way back to childhood days. We don’t push each other in the pool or scream and stomp our feet. We just snarl things like, “I can’t hire a caretaker from 200 m ...  full story

Kids are—or were--getting sick from pet food. I believe it; I’ve sampled a Milk-Bone or two in my time. In my experience, children will eat anything that isn’t hissing at them. When I was a kid, there were very few things I didn’t bite or taste. Fr ...  full story

It still may be, for all I know, but I don’t know because I can’t remember the last time I actually licked my fingers. And that’s because I’ve morphed into a walking, talking germ-o-phobe. Howard Hughes has nuthin’ on me. These days I spray Lysol o ...  full story

When I was a child, my mother loved spring cleaning. In fact, she enjoyed cleaning anytime, anywhere. Even when she visited other people’s houses, she’d casually pick up a washrag and a can of Comet and take a swipe at the kitchen sink. Most folks we ...  full story

British scientists claim to have finally solved an age-old conundrum: Which came first, the chicken or the egg? After studying clues such as biogenetic markers and chemical enzymes, they announced their findings. (Cue drum roll.) The chicken came fi ...  full story

Yesterday I saw a woman in Publix who looked suspicious, by which I mean she seemed awfully serene for someone buying $200 worth of groceries at 6 p.m. She didn’t look the least bit rushed or anxious. In fact, she was nodding her head and smiling sli ...  full story

I spent some time with one of my oldest friends last week. Well, she’s not the oldest—that honor goes to an 80-year-old lady who makes me laugh like a jackass—but she’s been my friend since high school, so that’d be… let’s see… 32 years.We sat up gig ...  full story

I hate hot weather. Thus far this summer, I’ve had plenty to hate.Numerous transplanted Northerners have told me, “Broiling like a pig on a spit is still better than being snowed in from October to April.”I used to work with a reporter who’d call his ...  full story

So, Sullivan’s Island is going to outlaw hooting, whistling, singing or hollering in the street.Somewhere, my father is laughing. (Well, smiling broadly. He only laughed about three times in the 26 years I knew him.)According to The Post and Courier, ...  full story

So, a new study has found that short people a 50 percent higher risk of having a heart attack or dying from one, compared to taller people.While weight, blood pressure and smoking remain important factors, shortness is now, apparently, a risk factor. ...  full story

As everyone knows by now, Al and Tipper Gore have separated after 40 years of marriage. And the question on everyone’s lips (okay, mine) is: Why? After 40 years, four kids and grandkids, what could be so bad you can’t live with it another day?I have ...  full story

What with two wars, milk at $4 a gallon and an environmental crisis of Biblical proportions, I’ve been a little tense lately.Unlike our President I don’t smoke, and my husband forbids me to drink before noon. So what’s a gal to do??As a child I bit m ...  full story

If you’re under 40, you can skip today’s offering, which is about The Big Croak, aka Buying the Farm, aka Passing On, aka Going to Glory, aka Meeting Your Maker.Dead and gone is our topic today--and, no offense to Gen Xers, but I suspect that people ...  full story

There was a blurb on AOL last week about children vs. upscale restaurants: Should they be allowed or not?I didn’t read the article, but I understand the debate.In today’s economy, some eateries would welcome snarling pit bulls if they ordered two app ...  full story

Ahhh… there’s nothing like living in the country. (Insert theme from “Green Acres here.)Sure, the lights blink every time the wind blows, and we have to tote our own trash to the dump. Plus we’re 14 miles from the nearest grocery store, not to mentio ...  full story

Let’s talk about Steve Consalvi, the teen who rewrote “Take Me Out to the Ball Game.” In his case, it was “Take Me Out AT the Ball Game.”Consalvi, 17, pulled a spectacularly stupid stunt during the Phillies/Cardinals game at Citizens Bank Park, when ...  full story

By now you probably know your bad habits are… well, bad for you. But there’s been a lot of blast recently about a 20-year study involving 5,000 adults with bad habits. English researchers announced that four of these habits--especially when combined- ...  full story

Craigslist, I love you madly. Goodwill, what a thrill. Habitat, you have my heart. E-Bay, we had our day.I love you all. And I’m not just saying that.Eighty-five percent of everything I own came from thrift and resale stores. As a card-carrying tight ...  full story

After years of research, I’ve stumbled upon the REAL difference between men and women.It’s not chick flicks vs. “Clash of the Titans.” It’s not Laura Ashley wallpaper vs. unpainted drywall. It’s not even the Great Home Depot Divide, wherein he flies ...  full story

T.S. Eliot said April is the cruelest month, but it’s also Animal Cruelty Prevention Month.I’m betting most of us have never harmed a helpless animal. But have you ever considered rescuing a homeless pet?Three years ago this week, Widdle and I adopte ...  full story

Once upon a time, someone asked my brother T-Bob to describe me.He sighed, studied his fingernails and finally said, “Quirky. Yeah, that’s it. Quirky.”The ensuing decades haven’t changed a thing. After all these years, I’m still quirky (which is just ...  full story

Some days the news makes me sad; other days it astounds me. But usually, it leaves me scratching my head.This is me, scratching and pondering recent headlines….-    The Celebrity Mercury should be towed out to sea and torched. Or sunk, ...  full story

Forgive me if I babble on today. The antibiotics I’m taking cause dizziness and possibly delirium.The medicine is for—wait. Fair warning: Lay this column aside NOW if you’re eating, recently ate or may eat today.The drugs are for a particularly nasty ...  full story

Ten years ago, my brother T-Bob married a Russian woman. Five short years later, two babies joined the crew.Today the tykes—Alexander and Anastasia, better known as Sasha and Ana--are 6 years old. Their favorite activity is screaming. In Russian.T-Bo ...  full story

• Santee Cooper sets comment period on proposed changes to residential leases
• Santee Cooper sets comment period on proposed changes to residential leases
• Educators take part in Santee Cooper energy series
• Santee Cooper organizes 'flash mob' to celebrate major milestone in energy efficiency
• Santee Cooper approves 2010 bond sale
• Santee Cooper President and CEO Lonnie Carter assumes APPA chairmanship
• Santee Cooper hosts annual dinner
• Santee Cooper’s GOFER celebrates 20 years

Which high school team are you cheering for this football season?