MIKE PIRTLE, Post Publisher and President
Posted: Monday, January 26, 2009 9:34 am

Much colder and wetter winter weather than we have experienced for a number of years has cabin fever at an epidemic level in our community.

Temperatures in the 60s Friday served only to tease us as the mercury dropped back down into the 30s all day Saturday.

Fortunately, our community offers many, many opportunities to break cabin fever at least temporarily at low or little cost.

To offer possible relief from cabin fever, The Murfreesboro Post Top 10 (it’s 11 because the epidemic is widespread) offers some options to get out despite the weather with some ideas that might reach to the fringe.

1. Go for a swim. Sure the weather outside is frightful, but Patterson Park Community Center and SportsCom both feature indoor pools. And, they’re heated. The Patterson Park pool includes a mini water park for kids. Call either for the reasonable prices and hours for free swimming.

2. Take in an art exhibit. Murfreesboro’s City Hall rotunda always has an art exhibit up and the Center for the Arts has a new one, “Observations,” on display now. Art may not be a staple in your lifestyles, but, hey, the weather is bad, viewing is free and trying something different is a good idea on occasion.

3. Take a drive into rural Rutherford County. Running around in the city constantly, many of us forget we have lots of green space left in our community. Head out any major highway and in a few minutes you will find open fields and wooded areas. Some suggestions: Eagleville down Highway 99. Our delightful smallest municipality is surrounded by a beautiful landscape and offers some unique places to grab a bite. Or, head for Readyville down the old Highway 70S. Readyville boasts our last surviving grist mill. Or, drive toward DeKalb County via Highway 96 North and visit Milton, scene of the Civil War battle featured in The Post the past two weeks.

4. Listen to some music. In addition to a number of adult-oriented music venues, notably now on the Public Square, lots of great music is available from the Murfreesboro Symphony, at MTSU and other groups. The Murfreesboro Youth Orchestra has a concert Tuesday at 7 p.m. at MTSU’s Hinton Hall. Tickets are $10, $5 for students. And, next Monday, Feb. 2, the Stones River Chamber Players of MTSU School of Music offer a free concert at Hinton Hall, entitled “Voice of Their Countrymen: Composers Inspired by Folk Song,” featuring voice, violin, clarinet and piano selections.

5. Go out to eat. Sure, times are tight and many of us are recovering from Christmas, but many of our restaurants are offering great dining deals right now. You could even start a tour of all our Mexican food restaurants or Asian restaurants.

6. Take a walk. Right, it is cold. But, you can layer up with gloves, scarf and hat and be comfortable because you will be moving. Check out the path with the arboretum trail at Oaklands Mansion or the new Murfreesboro Greenway Gateway Island and let the kids feed the ducks that have taken up residence there.

7. Don’t forget about the two agricultural exhibition centers in our community. The Tennessee Miller Coliseum on Thompson Lane something going virtually every weekend and most children loves animals. Today the center has barrel races and next week is host to the college horse show. The superb facility also is host to events like the Longhorn Rodeo ad extreme sports. The Tennessee Livestock Center on Greenland Drive is obviously animal oriented with sheep, pigs, horses and even lamas streaming through every weekend. Again, cost for most events is relatively inexpensive.

8. Try something new. We have excellent facilities offering bowling, Lazertag, billiards and even swing dance, The Vine on Vine Street, that offer an opportunity to try a different activity.

9. Go to a basketball game. More than sport is involved whether it’s a MTSU contest, high school game or even a youth league matchup. There’s often pageantry, new people to meet and certainly people to watch. You can find the best of competition at MTSU’s Murphy Center, the enthusiasm and spirit at high school games that are now right in the heart of the season and lots of fun and surprise at youth games.

10. Try something different at a church. Reaching out in all manner of new ways, area churches offer a wide variety of activities in addition to traditional and non-traditional services, such as The Well. World Outreach Church just started a new series, “God Mountains,’ focusing on the Holy Lands with services tonight at 5 and 7 p.m. and a number of area churches are partnering with Dave Ramsay’s Financial Peace program here.

11. Take in a way-off-Broadway play. Numerous theatrical groups provide lots of options. Currently playing are “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” at he Center for the Arts through Feb. 1, “Steel Magnolias (ends today) at Murfreesboro Little Theater on Ewing Boulevard and “Pride and Prejudice” at Smyrna’s Lamplighters. The Arts Center of Cannon County and Tucker Theater at MTSU will be presenting new shows soon. Again, prices are relatively inexpensive.