Jitterbug Jones and the Magic Pawpaw Tree

Kentucky Author Brings Magic to Life with Jitterbug Jones and the Magic Pawpaw Tree

(Jackson, Kentucky, March 2012) The hills of Eastern Kentucky may seem like a magical place to the many people who live there or who visit them every year. Bringing that magic to life on the pages of his latest book, author Alonzo Fugate creates a world where the magic is real and the adventures are exciting! Perhaps you have always imagined that the woods are mysterious and full of magical creatures such as ghosts, trolls, or even witches. You will find all of these and more in the author's latest work, JITTERBUG JONES AND THE MAGIC PAWPAW TREE [ISBN 978-1-4583-7064-8, Lulu Publications, $20.00].

Drawing on his professional knowledge as a National Board Certified Teacher (the highest achievement in teaching today), Alonzo Fugate is well-known for his earlier works for children, NOSE PICKIN' and PUMPKIN GUTS, TATER EYES, AND OTHER TASTY TREATS. He also published a work for older teens and adults of scary stories set in Eastern Kentucky called DARK AND BLOODY. However, he wasn't done with writing for children just yet.

Teaching elementary students, Mr. Fugate saw a need for more quality literature in the school setting. “My students read lots of books about other places in the world. I wanted to write about their world."

Mr. Fugate brings Eastern Kentucky to life in his latest work. According to the book, there once lived a man who was so jumpy and jittery that everyone called him Jitterbug Jones. Now his real name was Fred, but almost everyone had forgotten that. They just knew him as Jitterbug. Jitterbug was always moving around. He hardly ever sat still. He loved to move. He would hop around when he tried to stand still. He would shake his legs when he tried to sit still. And when he tried to walk, he ran.

Come along on an adventure with Jitterbug Jones as he encounters a magic fish, an old witch, some ghosts, and even a hungry troll! Set in the hills of Eastern Kentucky, this book will have you whisking through the forest in search of a magic pawpaw...if you can escape the clutches of the evil witch! JITTERBUG JONES AND THE MAGIC PAWPAW TREE is the first in a series of books about the magic that fills the hills of Eastern Kentucky. Join in the journey. Join in the adventure. Can you find the magic pawpaw tree? Just be careful with those wishes!

JITTERBUG JONES AND THE MAGIC PAWPAW TREE will be officially released on March 24, 2012 at the Powell County Reading Celebration which will be held at the Powell County Middle School. However, it is already available at bookstores everywhere. More information about the book and the author can be found at the official website (http://www.alonzofugate.com) or at the official book website (http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/alonzofugate). It will be available from the publisher, Lulu Publications, or at online bookstores such as Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Books-A-Million. It will also be available worldwide wherever books are sold. To reserve your copy of JITTERBUG JONES AND THE MAGIC PAWPAW TREE today, just check with your local bookseller.

###

Spring Break

You can tell by the warmer weather and the plants starting to peek up out of the ground that spring is almost here. In fact, it should be here already by the time you read this article. The Wheel is turning once again, bringing a new season of growth and emerging life. It won't be too much longer until we see the Easter Bunny and all of the brightly colored eggs. In fact, I have seen a few decorated Easter trees already! One of them is in our yard. Lisa worked really hard today to get our house decorated for the upcoming Easter holiday. Time to start practicing those egg hunts.

 

 

This past week was spring break for the Breathitt County School System. Lisa, Jacob, and I spent it in Gatlinburg, TN. This is a nice little mini-vacation if you only have a few days to enjoy. We love going to Gatlinburg to shop, eat, ride on the rides, and of course, have our picture taken on the skylift. Lisa and I have been having our picture taken on the skylift for about 13 or 14 years now. This was our second year with Jacob. I guess that we will keep doing this family tradition as long as we can both haul ourselves into those skylift chairs....LOL!

 

 

While we were in Gatlinburg, we did the usual family vacation things. We ate at Applewood Farm and the Old Mill. Both of these restaurants are part of our Gatlinburg tradition. We HAVE to eat there every time. We found a great place last year called Huck Finn's and now it is also a part of our Gatlinburg tradition. It has the best catfish I have ever tasted. If you go to Gatlinburg, you have to eat at one (if not all) of these restaurants.

Of course, we couldn't escape the clutches of consumerism. We had to make a trip to the shops to do a bit of spending. We took Jacob to the Disney store. He has really gotten into Mickey Mouse lately. He loves the show The Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. He was so excited to be in the Disney Store. He kept running around looking at everything. He really liked the large figures of Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, and the rest of the Disney gang that were perched up above the registers. We ended up getting him a cool t-shirt with Mickey, Goofy, and Donald on it. We also got him a stuffed toy Goofy and a stuffed toy Pluto. He has packed them around constantly since then.

 

 

We also took Jacob to ride some rides at the little kiddie carnivals that they have placed around Pigeon Forge. He rode a train, ferris wheel, the swings ride, a swinging boat, and a twirling car ride. He loved them all. However, he was really excited to watch the go-carts. We weren't sure if he could ride on the go-carts or not. But we measured him and he was just the right size to ride with an adult. So, Lisa drove the go-cart and Jacob rode with her. He had a BLAST! He loved riding the go-carts! I can just imagine how it will be on our next visit.

Of course, we didn't spend all of our time in Gatlinburg. We also drove up into the Smokey Mountains and over into Cherokee, North Carolina. There is a real, old-time working farm just as you get into Cherokee. Jacob loved looking around at the old houses, corn cribs, smoke house, and barn. There was even a chicken coop and a pig-pen! His favorite part was throwing rocks into the stream that ran beside the farm. Of course, that is ultra-cool to a three-year old boy!

 

 

Now, we are back in good old Breathitt County. We are getting ready for school tomorrow. Time to put our noses back to the grindstone and get ready for the last few weeks of school. It amazes me that we only have 6 weeks of school left! I can't believe that the last day of school is April 26th! I can't remember ever getting out this early. But I'm not complaining. That just means that there will be more time for trips over summer vacation! I'll keep you posted!

Until next week....class dismissed!

Jabo’s State of Mine–Local Restaurant Celebrates East Kentucky Heritage

It isn't everyday that a new restaurant opens in our local area, and it is a rare event indeed when a new restaurant opens that isn't a corporate chain. However, one local eatery that has hung out it's shingle is that wonderful combination of both good food and local culture. It is a place where you can go and immediately feel right at home while you enjoy some of the best food in the area. The name of this restaurant is Jabo's State of Mine located in Hazard, Kentucky.

My wife and I were out on a date night last Friday night when we decided on a whim to try out this new restaurant. We eat out a lot! In fact, several people might say that we eat out too much. But we say...if we don't have to cook it or wash the dishes then it is perfect! So, on our way to Hazard, we were going over our usual favorites. Nothing seemed to peak our interest until I suddenly remembered that some of my Facebook friends had been going on about a new place called Jabo's State of Mine. My wife agreed that she would like to try it out and so off we went.

Entering the place, I was very impressed with the atmosphere. I love restaurants that have low lighting because it gives the place a cozy atmosphere. Jabo's did not disappoint in this. The lighting was low enough to be cozy and to bring attention to the wonderful fireplace in the back. The combination of the low light and the fire made me feel right at home. I also appreciated the sign posted at the front that stated "In God We Trust." You just don't see enough of that in today's world.

After being seated very quickly, we scanned that menu. I loved the fact that everything on the menu is named after something in Kentucky. For example, instead of a Kentucky hot brown, my wife ordered an Eastern Kentucky Hot Brown. There were other examples on the menu that I could tell you about, but believe me....you have to go and experience this place for yourself.

While we were enjoying a hearty appetizer of cheese fries, I took some time to look around at the decor. For those of you who are into supporting coal and coal miners, you will truly appreciate the pictures that are placed around the restaurant. There are several pictures of coal miners, mines, and other pictures related to the coal industry.

After enjoying the appetizer and a great meal, I decided that I just had to write about Jabo's State of Mine. I asked some questions to our wonderful waitress who called herself Amazing Grace....and she was truly amazing! If you go, I hope you get to experience her cheery disposition and wonderful service! Grace informed me that the owner was in the place, and she immediately introduced him to me.

The owner, Jabo Clemons, is a man who knows the restaurant business. He has been in the business for over 4 years. After being successful in other areas in the business, he knew that he wanted to bring a nice restaurant back to Perry County where he has lived his entire life. Originally, the place was going to be a Tony Romas. However, he decided that he wanted to do something a little bit different....and in my opinion, better....here in our local area.

Mr. Clemons stated, "If I had opened a Tony Romas, I would have to put stuff on the menu that doesn't sell. But with a local business, I can put things on the menu that people want." So instead of opening a chain restaurant like Tony Roma's, the idea of Jabo's State of Mine came about.

When asked about the mining nature of the place, he stated that all of his family was into mining and he knew that it gets a bad rap. He wanted to have a place where people could see the other side of mining...the good side. Mining is a huge part of our local economy and it is great to see a business that supports it. This was easy to see with the large "Friends of Coal" signs throughout the place.

Jabo's State of Mine is a family restaurant with a full service bar. The bar is separated from the main part of the restaurant so that the family atmosphere is maintained. It is a great place to go and unwind with a nice drink. It is also a wonderful place to take your family out for a great meal. In either situation, you will be in a locally owned restaurant where the owner truly appreciates both the people and the culture of the area.

And speaking of appreciating the culture of the area, Jabo's State of Mine does something that I have never seen in any other restaurant. It takes suggestions for recipes from the people who visit! As Mr. Clemons stated, "Everyone is proud of their hometown. And they think that their grandma's chicken and dumplings are the best." So, in order to celebrate this, Jabo's has a box at the front of the restaurant for recipes. They also accept recipes on their Facebook page. Once a month, a different recipe is selected and is given a place of honor on the restaurant's menu. This month was Tammy's Taters. Although I did not try them, I am sure that they were delicious....just like everything we tried that night.

If you want a real treat that will support a locally owned business and also the local coal culture in our area, you have got to try some of the wonderful food, drink, and atmosphere at Jabo's State of Mine. Located in the shopping center where Big Lots and Rite Aid are located, it isn't hard to find. There is a wide variety of food on the menu that is sure to please just about anyone. But if you ask the owner, he is most likely to say that his favorite is the ribs. The place has a huge smoker that turns out a wide variety of barbeque.

The restaurant opens at 11 a.m. every day and stays open till 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, till 11 on Friday and Saturday, and till nine on Sundays. For more information about the restaurant you can check out their Facebook page or stop by.  They will have a website up and running very soon.   They are located in the Village Shopping Center.

So stop by the next time you are in Hazard and bring the entire family. Believe me....you will be very happy that you did. In fact, I think that my wife and I have found our new favorite place to eat....Jabo's State of Mine.

Until next week.....class dismissed!

What Drives You?

Everyone gets up each day with a clean slate ahead of them. We are faced with literally hundreds of choices that we can make from what to wear, what to eat, and how to interact with others. One thing that I find interesting is that we not only have an effect on ourselves with these decisions. We also have a major impact on other people around us. For example, let’s imagine that you are really grumpy because you didn’t win the Power Ball jackpot. Because of this, you are very rude to the waitress at Hardee’s while you are getting your morning biscuit and coffee. This brings down her mood and so she takes it out on other customers who innocently walk in wanting some breakfast. These people might feel bad enough to snap at their kids when they get back in the car.

Wow! Your one little action just created a big negative vibe for several people in the community. What a bummer. Just imagine what we could do if we took the time to always be aware of how we are acting. If we tried to be positive and have a great outlook on life even when we didn’t really feel like it, just imagine the possibilities. You may have heard the term, “Fake it until you make it.” That isn’t what I am talking about here. I am talking about taking the time to be genuinely caring to others around us. It doesn’t take as much effort as you might imagine. And believe me…people can tell when you fake it.

Now that I have gotten this little tidbit off my mind, I want you to focus on why you do the things that you do. What is it that drives you to be the person that you have become? For me, the answer is pretty easy.

When I was growing up here in Breathitt County, my family didn’t have a lot. I wouldn’t say that we were poor, but I never had everything handed to me either. Like a lot of other people, I knew what it was like to do without. One positive aspect in my life was school. I had some wonderful teachers when I was growing up who really showed that they cared for me and encouraged me to grow.

I literally went from a quiet child who was afraid to say boo to anyone to someone who can talk to just about anyone. Of course, I'm a much better writer than a speaker...but everyone has their strengths.

When I decided to become a teacher, I knew that I wanted to teach in Breathitt County. There are a lot of kids in this county that are growing up and facing the same things that I faced when I was their age. So, I guess that I could say that the main thing that is driving me to do the things that I do is the fact that I want to help others the way that I was helped. I want to be a positive influence in their lives. I really care about the future of this county.

Today, I was telling my students that there are a lot of outside powers that would love nothing better than to keep people in this region poor and uneducated. If people are poor and uneducated, they are easier to control. I told the kids that they owed it to themselves to work hard and to get as smart as they could. Smart people ask questions. Smart people are not easy to control. Smart people work to better their lives and the lives of the people around them.

If you watch how the media portrays people in our area, you often wonder what happened to all of the good things? We have people in Eastern Kentucky who make a great living, live in decent housing, and drive pretty nice automobiles. We have professionals…and yes, we have poverty. But then again…so does every region in the United States…and the world. Why does the news feel the constant need to berate and belittle people in the Appalachian region? It makes good ratings, and that equals more dollars for them.

So once again, I ask you….what drives you? What makes you do the things that you do each day? Take a moment to think about it. The answer may just surprise you. Until next week…class dismissed!

Easter Eggs and Sesame Street

The warm days that we have been having remind me of early Spring weather. We were out driving this past Saturday, and I told Lisa that I wouldn't have been too surprised to see children out in the grass hunting for Easter eggs. This season has almost an unnatural feel to it. However, it isn't. It is just one of those flukes of good old Mother Nature. She's just having a hot flash at the moment. I'm still holding out for at least one good snow, but it doesn't look like we will have one this week. Maybe February will be better for snow. Time will tell.

 

 

In other news, one of our good Facebook friends is in Russia right now. She is on her first trip to see her possible new baby. She left yesterday and should be in bed at the moment since Russia is 8 hours ahead of us in time. I can remember the first trip that Lisa and I made to Russia last year. The airline we flew, Delta, did a really good job of making you feel like you weren't skipping time zones. They fed you dinner once you were on the plane, then darkened the lights so that you could sleep, and then fed you breakfast when you woke up.

However, your body knows differently! At least, mine did. The clock said that it was 10 am at the airport when we landed, but my mind was screaming that it was only 2 am and that it wanted to go back to sleep. There was a five hour drive from the airport to the hotel. Lisa and I did fall asleep during the drive there. But then...when we were supposed to be asleep, we were wide awake again.

I can remember that it was one o'clock in the morning, and we were both wide awake and starving! That is because it was just 5 pm here in the USA. We were ready for dinner! Luckily, we both had some snacks with us. It is amazing how the human body can function even in extreme situations such as that one. We are all true living miracles.

I know that Jacob has been our miracle. After 18 years of marriage, we were more than ready to become parents. Now, we are coming up on 20 years together this May. Lisa and I are more in love today than ever, and we are so in love with our little boy. I knock on wood often because I don't want this good luck to end.

I just wish our good friend the best of luck on her first trip. I know that she still has a long journey in front of her, but at least she has taken that first step. The flights to Russia are 10 hours long each way, and that in itself is enough! Lisa and I took a total of 3 trips to complete our adoption. I'm glad that we don't have to go back anytime soon. However, we will probably take another trip to Russia in the future just so that we can show Jacob where he came from. That is...if he wants to go. We will leave that up to him.

On another subject, I went to the local hospital and had my Upper GI and my EKG tests done. The results were sent to my doctor in Columbus. I have to still have my stress test done this week. I'm not really looking forward to it, but I see it as just another hoop I have to jump through in order to get my gastric banding surgery done.

I would like to lose about 90 pounds within the next year or two. My main reason for doing this is to be healthier and have more energy. My other main concern is being able to fit into amusement park rides. I don't know about you, but it seems like it gets harder and harder to get my big butt in those rides each year. I have a feeling that Jacob is going to be the type of child who loves to ride every ride....including the ones that flip you on your head about a zillion times. Lisa won't ride anything that flips you upside down...so I guess that I will have to be the responsible parent on those rides. Not that I mind. I love amusement parks!

In fact, this summer, we are planning on taking Jacob to Sesame Place. Sesame Place is a family theme park that is located in Langhorne, Pennsylvania. According to their website, you can "share in the spirit of imagination with your kids at Sesame Place - where you can experience Sesame Street together through whirling rides, water slides, colorful shows & furry friends. And where you'll discover that sometimes, the best part of their childhood is rediscovering yours." I'm really looking forward to going and seeing the life size recreation of Sesame Street! This sounds like a really cool park. I don't think that I'll have to worry about flipping on my head at this park though....LOL!

 

 

Take a moment today and be thankful for all of your blessings. The small things in life are truly the most important ones of all. I know from personal experience that the best thing in the world can be a hug from your child as he says, "I love you daddy." I wouldn't trade that for all the gold in the world.

Until next week....class dismissed!

What a Weekend!

This past weekend, Lisa and I decided that we would actually (gasp) stay home all weekend long! For those of you who know us, you know that this simply isn't how we do things in the Fugate household. Usually on a Saturday, you will find us all joyfully in our minivan, traveling to places here and there. Granted, since it is just a weekend trip, it isn't to some grand, far-away location. But it is at least away from the house.

My poor mother can never understand this. She is a true home-body because she loves to stay at home. There are a lot of people out there who love to stay at home as well. Perhaps some of you who are reading this will agree with my mother. However, ever since Lisa and I have been married...and that is 20 years this year...we have always been travelers. You can't mess with tradition.

Well, leave it to us to try and mess with tradition....LOL! I don't know what got into our heads this weekend, but we thought that it would be a good idea to just sit home and enjoy ourselves. Well, we did sit home....so that part actually worked out. The enjoying ourselves? Not so much!

It all started about half way through Saturday. For me, it was when the walls started to breathe and drip blood. And then there was the demonic voice yelling, "Get out! Get out!" Okay...so maybe it wasn't that bad. Maybe it was more of a whisper than a yell.

At first, I thought it was just me. However, by Saturday afternoon, Lisa looked over at me, her eyes glazed, and stated, "We have GOT to go somewhere next weekend!" I was so happy! I couldn't have agreed more. While it was nice to stay home....maybe for an hour or so....I wouldn't want to make a habit of it! Things like that can drive a person crazy!

Now this isn't saying that we don't love our house. We do! We absolutely LOVE our house and feel very blessed to have it. I'm just saying that we are not the type of people who like to be enclosed by four walls and a roof. We like to be out and about. We are explorers. And I think that Jacob feels this way too. He seemed unusually grouchy this weekend. Maybe he was just picking up on our vibes, or maybe he was truly wanting to get out on the open road. Who knows! All that I know is that I don't want a repeat of this weekend. As Lisa and I say, we can rest later....much, much later!

Looking back on our marriage, I know that this is one of the many reasons why Lisa and I have had such a strong marriage. We have been together so long because we love doing the same things. We both love to travel, we both love to see new places and experience new things, we both love the theater, we both love to read, and we both love to make the other one happy. Now that we have Jacob, we have just added him to the mix. It all makes for one fine family recipe!

In other news, for those of you who are keeping up with my upcoming gastric banding surgery, I went for a full day of tests at Riverside Medical in Columbus, Ohio. During this full-day event, I had my blood work done. I also had a meeting with a psychiatrist to see if I was mentally sound enough to know what I was doing. The doctor was very nice and said that she didn't see any red flags....besides me seeing images of blood and wanting to dress up like my mother and open a hotel. Okay...okay....just kidding. Everything went by smoothly in that area. I guess all of you who have children in my classroom can breathe a sigh of relief. I'm NOT crazy after all!

I also saw a medical doctor for a complete physical who gave me a clean bill of health. A dietician was the last doctor that I saw that day. I have to start a food diary so that I can see exactly what I am putting into my body. She also suggested that we start cutting our food into dice-sized pieces to get used to it.

One thing that is going to be hard for me is giving up pop. I love to drink pop. I did switch to Diet Pepsi several years ago, but I won't be able to continue drinking anything carbonated when I have my banding. The bubbles make you very uncomfortable and can swell your pouch. I have been pop free for over a week now, and it hasn't been as bad as I thought it would be. I have been drinking a lot of G2 and water.

I have to go back and see the surgeon, Dr. Tom, in a week or so. Then we can plan on surgery. I would love to have it mid-February. If not, then I want to wait until mid-March since I have several things that I need to get done in early February. I will keep you all updated!

So....time to get this article posted. The walls are starting to breathe again....time to call in the priest! Or....maybe it is time to plan something to do next weekend. What do you think?

Until next week....class dismissed!

New Year Resolution!

Another year has gone and a new one is underway. Sorry that I haven’t written in a few weeks, but it has been a very hectic few weeks with the Christmas rush and the New Year’s celebrations. Throw in a trip to Houston, TX and….woosh….the time seems to fly by!

As the new year starts, I hope that everyone is sticking to their resolutions. It seems as though everyone is all ready to start fresh…to start their lives over again…with the ringing in of another year. A New Year's resolution is a commitment that a person makes to one or more personal goals, projects, or the reforming of a habit. A key element to a New Year's Resolution that sets it apart from other resolutions is that it is made in anticipation of the New Year and new beginnings. People committing themselves to a New Year's resolution generally plan to do so for the whole following year. This lifestyle change is generally interpreted as a good thing. In other words, we don’t say, “I’m going to resolve to gain 50 pounds!”

One of my resolutions this year is to lose weight and get healthy. I have always had issues with my weight…even as a child. I had some success with low-carb dieting a few years ago, but the weight is creeping back up. So before I get back to my old weight again, I have decided to take measures to lose weight this year.

I guess that a lot of people have made this resolution, but I plan on taking another step toward my goal. I am getting ready to have gastric banding surgery done. With this surgery, an inflatable band is placed around the upper part of the stomach to create a smaller stomach pouch. This restricts the amount of food that can be consumed at one time and increases the time taken for the stomach to empty. The patient achieves sustained weight loss by limiting food intake, reducing appetite, and slowing digestion.

This will be a fairly straightforward surgery. Gastric banding is the least invasive surgery of its kind. Gastric banding is performed using laparoscopic surgery and usually results in a shorter hospital stay, faster recovery, smaller scars, and less pain than open surgical procedures. Because no part of the stomach is stapled or removed, and the patient’s intestines are not re-routed, he or she can continue to absorb nutrients from food normally. Gastric bands are made entirely of biocompatible materials, so they are able to stay in the patient’s body without causing harm.

My wife had this surgery done 2 ½ years ago and she has had wonderful results. I have lived through this with her, and I know the pros and cons of the banding lifestyle. I know that this is not just a magic bullet that is going to solve all of my problems. However, it is a great tool that I will be able to use in order to obtain a healthier weight. I feel that I will be able to do this because I have the support that I need from my wife. We can support each other.

In the coming weeks, I will be sharing my experiences with you as I go through surgery, recovery, and my first steps into the gastric banding life. I hope that perhaps I will be able to help others who may be having trouble with their weight who may be considering gastric banding.

Until next week….class dismissed!