The Tennessean from Nashville, Tennessee · Page 29

KZ CANINE Newspapers educational Page 2D IVING Crossword 2D Entertainment 3D Comics 6D SATURDAY, MARCH 1, 1997 , C.:'J.',l'IH-?:i First Person . Cullieriiie Darnell Where do D they find Radio favorite Mark Wills hasn't been booked for a major tour yet, but says he's happy doing what he's doing playing music. Mark Wills climbs chart with ' Jacob's Ladder' Bv ROBERT K. OCRMANN Jacob's Ladder was the first rung on the Mark Wills climb to success; now he's looking for the second step. A Top 5 hit on the charts with your debut single is no guarantee of a lasting career in today's highly competitive country-music marketplace. Wills doesnt have a major tour booked yet He's still playing nightclubs just like he was before he became a radio favorite. "I'm just happy to be doing as well as I am, especially with all the people who are out there right now," says the young man from Georgia. "If I'd never gotten a record label deal and never had my first Top 5 record, I'd still be pluggin' along. This is something that I really enjoy doing, whether I ever make it or not" '. Wills, 23, is an earnest straightforward fellow with the kind of open-faced friendliness you might expect of someone from little Blue Ridge, Ga. He's a former high school football player who once ; dreamed of going to Bible college and winding up in church work. "I was the smallest nose guard in iour county, I played quarterback land was a center, too," he recalls. "I ; was 5-feet-B and 125 pounds. When I took my shoulder pads off, it was Hike, 'What happened to him?' ! "When I started singing, I was so ;thin I looked sick. So I hit the Waf-fle House, the party melt plate dou- I ble order, scattered, covered, lightly , topped. Put it on me. I gained 30 ; pounds in a year and a half. I had ; to, because I was up on stage looking like a split rail fence two legs '. and that was about it" ! The stage is where he has always ; wanted to be. Even as a child, Wills would put chairs together in his ' parents' living room to make a per- ; forming platform. He created ; playlets with his Dukes of Hazzard toy car while Waylon Jennings' singing of the show's title tune blared from his Fisher Price record player. He learned all the songs on Turn to PAGE 5D, Column 4 AT A GLANCE: Bom: Maik Williams on Aug. 8, 1973 (He shortened his name to Wills because there was another country singer in Atlanta with the last name Williams) Family: parents Jerry & Shirley Williams, sister Amy, foster brother Taofillo (from the Virgin Islands), wife Kelty, a cosmetologist Singles: Jacob's Ladder (a Top 5 hit), High Low & In Between, Places I've Never Been (new this month) . Album: Mark Wills (Mercury Records) THINGS TO DO Learning ropes, 1861 style, is the goal of The 1861 Athenaeum Ladies' Weekend, set for May 2-3 at The Athenaeum Rectory In Columbia. It's open to women over 18 interested In becoming re-enactors or learning about life In the 1860s South. Among topics studied: needlework, etiquette, music, history, penmanship, 1861 hairstyles and parlor games. Fee: $100, which Includes meals and supplies. Applications are due Apr! 18. Info: 381-4822, or write to 808 Athenaeum St, Columbia, TN, 38401. MANOY LUNNSTAFF Dawn McCroskey, left, Pat Poindexter and Catherine Williams watch one of the weekly videotapes that are part of their Weigh Down Workshop meeungs at Two Rivers Baptist Church. PRAYING MWM Weigh Down Workshop shifts focus from food to faith $lill U nur ive us tins day our daily G; bread. And maybe a little peanut butter. "God, our genius creator, is way too cool. He's not going to let fat grams be our savior. He's not going to let exercise be our savior. He's not going to let weight loss gurus be our savior. He is our savior," said Gwen Shamblin, founder of Weigh Down Workshop, a Christian weight loss program based in Franklin. Shamblin's comments have struck a chord, winning converts from traditional weight loss programs to one that touts dropping pounds via getting closer to God. "America is ripe for this because they have tried everything else," Shamblin said. The numbers back her up. Weigh Down began in 1986 with one location in Memphis. It is now in 9,000 churches, up from 5.000 last year. It's not alone. First Place, another Bible- Get what By USA FAYE KAPLAN Cicimuit Situs Strive The one thing Perry Buffington hates about being a psychologist is that too often he's accused of using cheap psychological tricks to manipulate people and situations. When he mentioned it during lunch with his publisher, a book idea was born. A year later, Cheap PsichoJooieai Tricks: What to Do When Hard Work, Honesty, and Perseverance Fail (Peachtree; $9.95) is in stores. The book picks up when true grit and diligence fall flat "When hard work, honesty and perseverance fail, where is the competitive edge?" Buffington says. "It may be found in an honest cheap psychological trick." Cheap Psychological Tricks (or CPTs) is filled with winning headgames. Want to beat a speeding ticket? Greet the officer and call him by name. NO KIDDING? Storied people: 1. Joe Namath J. Edgar Hoover tapped his phone 2. Roseanne Barr "Boss childhood nickname 3. Arthur Murray had 65 press agents 4. Sonja Henie 1st to order "ZambonT Ice machine 5. Eliot Ness unknown outside Chicago and Cleveland 6. Gilbert and Sullivan hated each other Collaborated mostly through the mail Source: World Features Syndicate ; i TE EPOUNJ based program that began at Houston's First Baptist Church 15 years ago, is now in 10,000 churches. There are also smaller programs such as Overeaten Victorious and Gentle Eating. The phone rings constantly in Weigh Down's crowded offices where 60 employees respond to callers, and pack and ship program materials. Weigh Down is adding about one employee a week, and will be moving to a new, 20,00&square-foot building at CoolSprings soon. The seekers who come to Weigh Down Workshop, and 250,000 have, are introduced to a program without recommendations for diet or exercise. The program teaches that when you give up your sinful nature and obey God, he lets you "eat what you like and rise above the magnetic pull of the refrigerator." If you don't like broccoli, don't eat it If you do like potato chips, have a few. "I mean, who'd want to find out about a God that doesnt love chocolate?" Shamblin asked. That's where Weigh Down Workshop departs radically from most other weight loss programs, Christian and secular. While others offer suggestions about some combina- you want, use 2 "This turns the officer into a fellow human being instead of an authority figure," the book says. Want a $50 raise? Ask for $75. "Asking for a higher amount may improve your employer's perception of you." Dying to know a secret? Follow a question with a long silence. "Sometimes the extended silence is uncomfortable enough that the other person feels compelled to say something. Adding a leveled stare can also help." Sound cfiaboEcal? Buffington, who lives on Amelia Island off the Florida coast prefers to call it "faking it honestly" or doing it tothe-other guy before he-does it- i 'M AT : I'll r UIV SECTION EDITORS Joanne Mamenta-Bjordahl, Assistant Managing EditorFeatures, 259-8058. Patrick Connolly, Deputy Features Editor, 259-8040. To list an event, cal 259-8054. Fax: 259-8057. E-mail: DvingOtonnossean.com 3S Getting there Local author Gwen Shambin wi ds-cuss and sign copies of her book, The : Weigh Down Diet, at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Davte-Kidd Booksellers, 4007 Hilsboro Road For information on Wetcfi Down Wcxk-shop groups, cal 1-800-844-5208. The organization also can be reached via the Intemot httpywoNwxkshop.com or wdworkshop9aol.com. tion of counting calories or food exchanges, choosing from the four food groups, decreasing fat intake and increasing exercise, Weigh Down's focus is "to replace our passion for food with a passion for God." Getting down on your knees to pray. Shamblin said in the program's introductory tape, is what she recommends over any other exercise. Such an approach fails to include some basic elements, according to the American Dietetic Association. Turn to PAGE 41), Column 3 your head to-you. For instance, soothing music in grocery stores makes shoppers walk more slowly and browse longer. That's a cheap psychological trick, Buffington says. "You'll buy more stufT," he says. "Next time you shop, put some fast paced music in your Walkman, and do your shopping to your own music." Another popular CPT is used by restaurant owners, who know the stomach is full before the brain gets the message. So waiters are trained to ask for dessert orders directly after they clear the entree. "Chances are you'll order it because you dont know you're full," Buffington says. But if you wait five minutes, you'll be able to tell if you truly want that piece of pie. This CPT will save you megabucks in rcstau- Turn to PAGE 5D, Column 4 BY THE NUMBERS (Bay) watch carefully. How many viewed the... 1. First moon landing 600 million 2. Last episode of Dallas 42 million 3. Last M'A'S'H episode 125 minion 4. Princess Di's Royal Wedding 700 mil-Ron 5. This year's Super Bowl 1 29 million 6. Baywatch every day 1 billion Souc: World Features Syndicate the time? I have this love-hate relationship with female over-achievers. ' 1 On the love hand, I applaud that they have fought hunger, sexism, illiteracy, juvenile delinquency and child abuse while taking care of their families, working, volunteering and finding the time to win Olympic medals, Pulitzer prizes and the Pillsbury Bake-Off. On the hate hand, I must confess that they area nagging reminder " that I have been sitting on both of my hands all my life. This is what I was thinking when I attended the judging of the 18 Athena Awards nominees. The award is so-named because Athena was the Greek goddess of wisdom and skill, known for her steadfast courage. The woman who most epitomizes those qualities will be announced March 13 at a 6-830 p.m. ceremony at the Parthenon during National Women's History Month. The $25 tickets ($1150 for students) must be purchased in advance. Call Carole Kennedy at 754-9001. Here's the list of 18. Rejoice and grieve along with me: Sarah Clark Caldwell, a veteran career-ladder American history teacher. Vicki Agee, a 30-year licensed clinical psychologist in juvenile corrections. Pat Pierce, a civil rights advocate for more than 20 years. Rosemary May, a retired retailer, and a survivor of the Holocaust Susan Huggins, founder of Direct Link, a direct-mail company. LeeAnne Wills Parham, co-owner of MetroCenter Management Inc. Beth O'Shea, a professional educator, founder of OUR KIDS Inc. Aleta Trauger, currently a United States Bankruptcy Judge for the" . Middle District of Tennessee. Juli Mosley, presently working toward her master's degree in environmental engineering at Vander. bilt who conducted research that evolved into the formation of Project Pencil. Ruth Johnson, Commissioner of Revenue for the State of Tennessee. Mimi Wallace, the first female broker to be made partner of J.C. Bradford & Co. Sallie Bailey, a 21-year Girl Scout volunteer who also complet- : ed the 28-mile New York Marathon ; last year. Rita Mitchell, owner of a finan- ' cial services company, and a charter member of the National Association of Women Business Owners. Patsy Smith, who has 24 years in the field of construction and is executive director of the American Subcontractors Association of Middle Tennessee. Mary Ann South, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation Distinguished Professor of Pediatrics at Meharry. Donna Paz, owner of Paz and Associates, and national president of the Women's National Book Association. Gail Reese, partner with Manier, , Herod, Hollabaugh and Smith. V Gayle Ray, first woman to be elected to the post of Davidson County Sheriff. All of these women have served on enough committees and boards to make your head swim. Their lists of accomplishments, honors and awards are mind boggling. So on March 13, give 'em all a pat on the back. Or get 'em out of my sight I cant decide which. Catherine Darnel is a columnist for The Tomessean. She can be reached at 2S9-8037. TELEVISION John Tesh performs the tunes San Panfilo, Avalon Shores, and more at a concert In the town of Avalon In John Tesh: The Avalon Concert at 9 p.m. on WDCN-Channel 8. r: OOQ J A female rock star is visited by a futur istic traveler on Outer Limits at 9 p.m. on WNAB-Channoi 58. Complete TV listings on Page 70. f