Today's Opinions

After completing the 150-mile section of Appalachian Trail that follows the low mountain ridges of western Connecticut and Massachusetts, I spent a night at Tom Levardi's home in Dalton, Mass.

Levardi, who is becoming a legend among AT aficionados, has been hosting hikers since the early 1990s. The trail runs directly in front of his house and many trail-weary souls have spent a night at his place where showers and occasional home-cooked meals are free for the taking. Levardi said he hosts 400-500 hikers every year.

I've said it again and again, I love the people of Anderson County.

That in itself is one of the reasons I work here.

As with any place, we still have a few people who would rather take time out of their day to send crude, unnecessary e-mails to "airheads" like me who write nothing but "mindless dribble" rather than actually put forth some positive energy, but for the most part Anderson County is full of loving, caring and accepting people.

Here are two cases in point:

The "American Idol" auditions are coming to Louisville. I've heard about it - and keep hearing about it - from family and friends, all of which followed the news with the same question: Are you going to go?

My mom asked. My cousin asked. My friends asked.

My fianc was out of the loop, but once I told him about the auditions, even he asked.

I told each of them the same thing: I don't know.

I've never been a diehard fan of the show, only watching occasionally, but up until my junior year of high school, I seriously thought I would make a career out of singing.