With Mr. Darling enjoying some days off, I decided to use his space to also clean out my own notebook of sorts. Things that I've pondered in the last several months while recovering. I hope you don't mind and if you see something we agree on, let me know. If you see something you don't agree with me on, still let me know.

t Anna Nicole Smith: I'm sorry this woman died and I'm sorry she had to go through losing a child first. However, I'm tired of hearing about it. It seems like you can't turn on the television this long after her death and someone is still on talking about it. Let it go. May she rest in peace.

t Paris Hilton: I do not think I've seen such a feeding frenzy over one person since before Princess Diana died. She did the crime and she should have done the time. I read somewhere that NBC's Brian Williams made the comment that for that particular night there were very serious stories that needed to be told so no Paris news. Of course, the next time was a different story. I wish someone would tell Miss Hilton that her 15 minutes are up.

t Michael Vick and everyone like him. I'm so tired of people of this caliber getting the limelight. These people are paid well for their athletic abilities and a lot of children look up to them. Just the other day I was in line at a local retailer when I realized the two children in front of me were wearing Vick jerseys. As Rodney Atkins sings in one of his songs, &#8220I'm watching you.”

I wish more parents would wake up and realize the people their children need to be modeling themselves after concieved them, and that in this day and time, professional athletes aren't the greatest role models.

t Donald Trump, Rosie O'Donnell and Elizabeth Hasslebeck. I walked into my sister's house one morning and FOX news spent like two hours discussing the catfight between O'Donnell and Hasslebeck. Well, my thinking on the way this got so much media coverage was simple. As long as we have American military members dying on foreign soil, then the national news media needs to keep their focus on that. It just goes to prove that the network news people are all about glitz and glamour and they fail miserably in their reporting.

As I emailed FOX and CNN both that day and said, &#8220American blood spilled today. Why is that not as worthy as Donald Trump, Rosie or Liz?”

No response yet.

t My family is doing well and I thank those who have asked about them.

t Greenville's growth amazes me still.

t I know the work on the Bypass is in progress, but I sat for nearly 30 minutes in one spot the other day trying to get from point A to point B. I had Atlanta traffic flashbacks, but here at least I know there is a plan and it will all work out.

t A movie theater in Greenville. I dare anyone to say to me now that there is nothing to do here on the weekends anymore.

t Finally, gas prices. I spoke with a gentleman the other day while he pumped his gas and he said he was amazed that prices were this high. I asked him why and he said we have been told that the American military are in control and guarding the oil fields in Iraq? Whatever happened to the idea of the spoils of war? Start sending that black gold home as a way of helping pay for this little tete t tete over there.

Well these are just a few of my ramblings from the recent months. What is on your mind these days? Why not share it with the rest of us? You might be surprised to see that there are others who think the same way.

Thomas is group managing editor and can be reached at 334-382-3111, ext. 136 or via email at jay.thomas@greenvilleadvocate.com.