These magic moments: Health department board, 5:30 p.m., today.

ON THE AVENUES is postponed until Friday.

There's no time for creative writing today, with far too much to do in preparation for this evening's much-anticipated gig at the Floyd County Health Department, performing before its board of directors.

Heavens, what shall I wear? And on such a wretched hair day, too.

Here is the board, as identified on the FCHD's web site:

Tom Andres, MD
Cindy Andres, RN
Edward J. Cook, Jr.- CPA
Beverly Jan Craig, RN
Cindy Dickey, RN
William H. Garner, III, M.D.
Alice Miles, RN

The board's attorney is Richard "Rick" Fox, who yesterday afternoon faxed us six temporary food server permit citations sans explanation; we presume these are intended to comprise all such citations for the past six years. Observing merely that it required a month and a formal complaint with the state to compel the transmission of six sheets of paper, readers should be able to grasp the dismissive attitude of the health department's leadership toward due process in general, and this appeals process in particular, to date.

Whatever. I've written a statement, and perhaps they'll even let me read it. There'll be documentation, too. The board will have seven days to render a decision. At the moment, I'm a bit constrained as to what I can publish (apart from invective, that is), but rest assured that when possible, the history of this sordid experience will be posted in this space.

Several persons have gone out of their way to be helpful, and their kindness is appreciated. They know who they are. Thanks. Invoking the memory of Gene Lind and Tom Young ... time to wade in there and see what happens. The hearing is this afternoon at 5:30 p.m. at the FCHD's bike-rack-less compound at 1917 Bono Road, and if you want to come see the show ... well, why not?