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Kevin’s Peace of Mind
www.kevintharpe.com (770) 503-1022
June 2022
WHAT’S BETTER THAN ONE BEST FRIEND? 2 Best Friends
Some people say you can’t have more than one best friend, but I know firsthand that you definitely can. I am blessed to have two best friends whom I’ve known for a very long time: Todd Sullivan and Marshall Browning. We don’t get to see each other often, but when we do, it’s like nothing has changed. Over the years, Todd and Marshall have both made it a point to check in on me from time to time, even though I’ve not been as good at touching base with them. “A best friend is someone who knows everything about you and still loves you.” This is a quote I read recently, and it rings true for me when I think about my friendships with Todd and Marshall. Besides my wife, Missy, Todd and Marshall both know me better than anyone else, and much of what they know about me — and the things we did together over the years — have been kept between us (or will stay that way until the statute of limitations expires). Todd and I met in the 10th grade of high school in Brandon, Florida. We were in the same home room, and we loved talking to each other about a lot of different things (mainly cars, girls and sports, especially football). We both became fans of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers shortly after they formed in 1976. We were in attendance together when the Bucs got their 1st home win in franchise history in 1977.
My other best friend is Marshall Browning. Even though Marshall, Todd, and I attended the same high school, it wasn’t until after I
graduated from high school that Marshall and I became friends. I attended junior college in Plant City, Florida, for two years before I went to Florida State. Marshall attended the same junior college, and we became fast friends. Besides our passion for Burger King hamburgers, Marshall and I also shared a love and passion for politics; so, we both got involved in student government. My first year in junior college,
Marshall and his wife Terry Ann
Marshall ran for student body president, and he asked if I would be his vice president. We got close during our time working together and while taking trips on behalf of the student government association. Once Marshall graduated from junior college, we remained close friends, and I became his successor as student body president the following year. I also decided to run for president of Florida Junior College Student Government Association, and Marshall, an incredible writer, wrote many of my campaign speeches and created my campaign themes and messages. I got a lot of my writing skills and style from Marshall. Although I didn’t win the campaign, I am thankful for the time I spent with Marshall. That wasn’t the only time I got to work alongside him, though. During high school and college, I worked as a stringer, or freelance writer, for the Tampa Bay Tribune newspaper. I covered a variety of high school and college sports around the Central Florida area, and Marshall went with me to many of the games and helped me write the articles. He was great at adding emotions and painting a picture for readers. As we got older, we both went our separate ways; I went to law school and Marshall started a family. And even though we were on two different life paths, Marshall always made it a point to keep in contact with me, whether by letter, email, or text. Recently, I went back to Florida for a high school reunion, and I reconnected with both Todd and Marshall. Even though I hadn’t seen them in a while, it was like time never passed by as soon as we
Todd and I also bonded over music. We were huge fans of all kinds of music, primarily rock and roll. We both collected albums and would study music sheets and play the “air guitar” or “air drums” to all of our favorite songs. We enjoyed listening to Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, and The Beatles together — and we knew all of their discographies. This love for music turned into a passion for concerts. We attended a
Todd and his wife Dori
ton of live shows as we got older. I have no concert memories that do not involve Todd. No matter the concert, Todd was always right there with me. As we started getting older, we were figuring out what we wanted our careers to be. I hoped to do something with TV that was sports-related, so I thought about going into communication and journalism. Todd wanted to become a lawyer. Our paths took different directions — and ironically, I became a lawyer and Todd got a career in television. In fact, Todd recently retired as the station manager and producer for Tampa Bay’s NBC affiliate, Channel 8.
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When It Rains, It Pours A Case Drenched in Disorder
Some people love the rain. After all, there’s something magical about thunder rolling through the clouds as lightning illuminates a multitude of raindrops. Yet, if the storm is too strong — or even dangerous to be in — people might not enjoy it at all. And that certainly appears to have been the case in 1996 when an Israeli woman in Haifa, Israel, sued a television station because of their incorrect weather report. The weather forecaster, Danny Rup, predicted that the day would be beautiful and sunny, but the weather had a mind of its own and ended up being rainy, dark, and gloomy. Because the woman relied upon the accuracy of the report, she left her home without a raincoat or an umbrella and got caught in the pouring rain. As the old wives’ tale goes, if you get caught in the rain, you’ll catch a cold. Well, the woman claimed that after being exposed to inclement weather, she caught the flu and subsequently was out of work for four days, had to visit the doctor, and spent $38 on medicine. Due to such a daunting experience, she also said that she suffered additional stress from the entire situation. The woman ended up taking Channel 2 news station to a small claims court where she sought financial compensation to cover her sickness and suffering — as well as an apology from the forecaster who wrongly
predicted the weather. The woman stated that weather forecasts are legally binding.
Many of us would see this as a frivolous lawsuit, but the TV station settled out of court and the woman received $1,000 for her pain and suffering and an apology from Danny Rup. Despite this case, most people take weather predictions from television and radio forecasters with a bit of skepticism thinking that forecasts are just a well-educated guess based on available resources — and it can change on a whim. It’s just the nature of it!
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cases, a victim’s stalker is someone they know or were once in an intimate relationship with. While it’s always important to never engage with your stalker, you can take certain steps to protect your safety and well-being.
To keep yourself safe, what can be done? Of course, if you are ever in immediate danger or if someone has made a credible threat, you should call the police right away. Be sure to carry a charged cellphone with you at all times for this reason. If someone is following you, seek out the nearest safe place to go, whether it be a police station, fire station, public place, or a friend’s house. Always trust your instincts: If you feel like something is wrong, it likely is. If you feel like someone may be taking an unnatural interest in you, begin varying your routines and routes a bit. Be careful when posting on social media; don’t give out information about where you live, work, or enjoy hanging out. Lastly, try to avoid going places alone. Exercise with a friend if you can and walk to your car with a coworker after work. Stalking is a serious problem and many people assume that ignoring the behavior will take care of the issue. In most cases, that doesn’t happen. When people stalk other people, they violate boundaries in order to make their victims
First and foremost, you must know the signs and tactics of stalking, which include:
• Receiving unwanted emails, phone calls, text messages, voicemails, social media direct messages, or instant messages
• Appearing uninvited at places such as the victim’s home, school, or place of work
• Leaving strange or potentially threatening items for the victim to find
• Watching, following, or tracking a victim
• Sneaking into the victim’s home or car and doing things to scare the victim or let them know the perpetrator had been there
feel unsafe. If you ever fall victim to stalking, it’s paramount that you take the necessary steps to keep yourself safe as well as involve law enforcement.
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6 Gifts Dad Is Sure to Love IT’S DAD’S DAY! Dad is a very important person in your life! Every year when Father’s Day rolls around, it can be tough to come up with the perfect gift, whether it be for your dad, a new father, your grandfather, or a father figure. Getting creative can be tricky, but this list is sure to help you with an idea or two for all different price ranges! Wallet Why not go really classic and opt for a thoughtful and practical gift? Most men’s wallets see a lot of wear and tear. After all, they’re sat on, toted around in pockets all day long, and sometimes forgotten about and sent through the wash. A new one just may be in order! Massage Gun Massage guns are rising in popularity. To help Dad recover from soreness and injury or just a tough workout, a massage gun will do the trick! The best part is that they range in price, and you can even purchase one on Amazon! Apple Watch Strap Does the dad you’re celebrating own an Apple Watch? If so, help him customize it with a new Apple Watch strap. You can choose from many materials, colors, and designs so he can blend in or stand out as much as he wants. A New Cooler Men love their coolers — it’s a foolproof Father’s Day gift! Whether Dad loves to camp, fish, tailgate, go to the beach, or barbecue in the backyard, he’s sure to appreciate a new way to store ice, drinks, food, or bait! Tool Bucket Organizer Is your dad a bit of a handyman? Help him get organized and never lose track of his tools again. Tool bucket organizers come in many forms and, again, can be purchased right online, making your shopping easy! Bluetooth Headphones or Speakers If your father doesn’t have Bluetooth headphones or speakers yet, he’s missing out. The opportunity to jam out wirelessly while working out, cutting the grass, doing hobby work, or just relaxing is effortless with this thoughtful gift.
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reunited. We shared memories of the good old days, with stories now being more dramatic and funnier than the last time we told them — at least for us. Callie was with me, and she seemed surprised by how easily my friends and I could pick up where we left off. But that’s how friendships are supposed to be. Now that we are husbands, fathers, and grandfathers (at least for one of us — Marshall) we have new stories about our families to mix in with the old ones. A true friend is someone who is always there when you need them, no matter the distance. A true friend is someone who will regularly check in, and regardless of how long it’s been, it will feel like no time has passed. For me, two of those people in my life are Todd and Marshall. I wish everyone could have friends like them. I will forever be grateful for them and the friendship we have. Happy National Best Friends Day, Todd and Marshall. You are both my best friends and my brothers.
—Kevin Tharpe
Summer is here, and you know what that means: It’s time to break out the barbecue and meat skewers! SWEET AND SPICY BBQ CHICKEN SKEWERS
Ingredients
For the Marinade • 1 tbsp olive oil • 2 tbsp soy sauce • 2 tbsp chili garlic sauce • 2 tbsp rice vinegar
• 3/4 tsp smoked paprika • 1/2 tsp salt For the Skewers • 2 lbs chicken breast, cut into bite-size cubes • 1 small pineapple, cut into 1-inch cubes
• 3 tbsp honey • Juice of 1 lime Directions
1. In a bowl, whisk together marinade ingredients. 2. In a reusable freezer bag, combine cubed chicken and all but 1/4 cup of the marinade. 3. Seal bag and massage marinade into the chicken. Chill in the fridge overnight. 4. The following day, preheat the grill to 400 F. Thread chicken and pineapple onto skewers, adding two cubes of chicken for each cube of pineapple. 5. Grill the skewers for 3–4 minutes per side, brushing with the reserved marinade in the final minutes. 6. Serve over rice or with your favorite barbecue sides!
Inspired by RecipeRunner.com
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(770) 503-1022 www.KevinTharpe.com 405 Broad St. Gainesville, GA 30501 INSIDE THIS ISSUE
These 2 People Know Me Better Than Anyone
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Woman Sues Weatherman
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Sweet and Spicy BBQ Chicken Skewers Father’s Day Gift Guide
How to Handle a Stalker
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Is Somebody Watching You?
When many think of stalking, the common image is likely a stranger prowling around in the shadows of the night, showing up at random places uninvited, or spying on victims from afar. However, stalking can potentially involve so much more. Stalking is menacing behavior that makes victims feel unsafe and can lead to some terrifying acts. Stalking is more common than you may think: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 1 in every 6 women and 1 in every 17 men have reported experiencing stalking at some point in their lives. For women, roughly 54% experienced it before the age of 25, and for men, 41%. Research conducted by the CDC revealed that stalking can damage its victims, leading to potential depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. It’s reported that roughly 68% of female and 70% of male victims received threats of physical harm in connection with stalking at some point in their lives.
Stalking — Here’s How to Handle It
Stalking takes place when a person repeatedly harasses or threatens another person. In most
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