According to reports Blue gets from family members who still live here and stories he gets from his favorite left-wing websites, things here in my hometown of Topeka, Kansas can't get much worse.
I disagree.
I suppose if you judge everything in terms of what the government has to offer, well, maybe we do fall short.
I don't know.
What I do know is that I've traveled this country from one end to the other.
I've been in almost every state and major city America has to offer.
And I've met the people.
For the most part the people I deal with are just like I am. Working class stiffs who get up every day and do the best they can to provide for their families regardless of what the politicians do or don't do.
Topeka's no different.
Do we have our problems?
Of course we do.
Just like any other city in America it's almost all drug and gang related.
Blue likes to point out that we have Fred Phelps' clan to deal with.
True. But what he doesn't mention is that for the most part their particular brand of hatred is routinely rejected every time they make an appearance.
He also leaves out the fact that Fred Phelps was a democrat.
But I digress.
He loves to point out how our downtown is all but abandoned.
Yeah, well, that was a self inflicted wound when the city chose to develop the wildly successful Wanamaker corridor.
So, what's so great about my hometown anyway?
Glad you asked.
Hungry?
Just like any other city in America, we have every chain restaurant there is.
We have everything from Larry's Short Stop to Cracker Barrel and everything in between.
I specifically mentioned Cracker Barrel because for some reason, Blue really hates the place.
I guess the thought of families going out to eat together after church on a Sunday afternoon really upsets him.
Looking for a micro brewery?
We got em.
Want to go to see a play?
Look no farther than the Helen Hocker Theater or TPAC.
Maybe you're looking for something to do outside.
Lake Shawnee is second to none.
Gage Park and The Topeka Zoo has been a favorite kid's destination for decades.
Maybe diversity is your thing.
Then the annual Mexican Fiesta is where you'll want to be.
Looking for a gun show, lawn and garden show, boat and RV show, monster truck show, moto cross race, arena football game, or some politician speak?
There's no better place to be than The Kansas Expo Center.
Like history?
I'm a big museum fan and The Kansas Museum of History has always been one of my favorites.
Looking for a place to stay while you're visiting our fair city?
We have everything from the very top of the line to crappy little motels you can imagine.
Health care?
Yes, Topeka offers world class healthcare.
Education?
Topeka offers up a variety of choices. Everything from public education to private schools to a top-notch Vo-Tech school and Washburn University.
I could go on and on.
Everything I've mentioned is just stuff.
Things to do.
Distractions form everyday life.
For me, Topeka is home.
You see, because of circumstances way beyond my control, my childhood involved constantly moving from one house and one town to another.
So when I say Topeka's home, it's more than where my house is.
Yeah, we bought our house 25 years ago but it took time to truly turn it into a home.
It's the same home my kids grew up in.
It's the same home where daily after school football games took place.
It's the same home where weekend sleep overs were routine.
It's the same home where birthday celebrations took place.
It's the same home where graduation and wedding parties happened.
It's also the same home where life's little victories were celebrated and major disappointments were dealt with.
We've laughed together, cried together, and yelled at each other.
Nowadays it's grandma and grandpa's house.
We have the same birthday parties and backyard cookouts we've always had but with three grown kids, two daughter in laws, one son in law, and 7 grand kids it's a hell of a lot more work.
It's also where my little dog, Buster Brown is buried.
My roots run deep and I wouldn't trade it for anywhere in the world.
So Blue, you can go about judging us based on government statistics and left-wing website all you want.
You can even stick with reports you get from your relatives that things can't get much worse.
But speaking strictly for myself.
Things in my world can't get much better...
Kevin McGinty
Yup it is home for sure my friend and no one can take that from your heart ever...
ReplyDeleteThat's the difference Ole Dimm Witt In D C has no respect for any thing except himself and that's not any thing to brag about. Ole blue boy hayes everything that has any thing to do with him being where he is now. He hates his childhood, his family, relatives and so called old friends. He hates Topeka, He hates Ks. You see ole blue boy never tried to be a real human. He wanted some one else to ride on their coat tails, while bragging how he did it all himself. With out Topeka and Ks ole blue boy would be just another punk looser. A person is judge3d by who he was and where he came from and how he got to where he is today. Some people still believe in this country .People like him are just free loaders on the system. That is why he likes to brag about being a Butt doctor and cleaning bed pans. You make out of it what you put into it. Something libs don't get. Its no doubt that he has no friends here. He has so much hate inside of him because of his decisions in life. And those where his decisions to be made not Topeka or Ks. See that's the difference between you two. You worked had with what you had to work with and live with. You could have ran away but stayed and made a life and didn't forget where you were and came from. Good Job
ReplyDeleteThank you Kevin for your written words.
ReplyDeleteI have lived in a number of places and I have traveled this fine land extensively. I have lived in some very exclusive areas and some very crappy areas. I currently live comfortably in a small town in Texas and I've lived here for 30 some years and I have no complaints. The people are friendly and our community works together to help keep our little town a nice place to live. BUT, there is nothing like the friendly people in Topeka. I moved from Topeka when I was in my early 20's. I left on my own to set out to make a life for myself. My family still lives in Topeka and I visit them often. Sure, Topeka has some problems, but I have never seen a town that doesn't have some problems. When I drive to Topeka I feel at ease when I exit the south Topeka turnpike exit. I drive down Topeka Blvd past my old elementary and junior high school. Then I drive down 10th street past my old high school and then to Memorial Park where my parents and grandmother are buried. Sadness and gladness fills my heart. I am at a place I call home. Topeka will always be home to me, and I am proud to call it home. The people are like no other people around. They are genuinely friendly. People are what makes a ordinary town great. My hat is off to the fine folks in Topeka.
Very true words spoken indeed Kevin and thank you.
ReplyDeleteEach place has a beauty uniquely all their own - and what makes more special is the family and friends that are with you.
Lake Shawnee's Ted Endsley Garden (Botanical Garden) has a deep special connection for me. My beautiful Mom (she went to Heaven on 4-18-2011 that year it was Easter Week when she passed) loved walking through the garden - loved seeing the floral lanscapes, etc. When she passed on, my hubby mentioned 'what about a memorial tree'? So I called Shawnee County Parks n' Rec, yes they do plant memorial trees. Every year around Easter, her redbud tree blooms. I visit it quite often. Her tree reaches quite tall now and is beautiful beyond compare.
So yeah, I am proud to call Topeka my home - met my hubby and we've been together now over 33 years, both our sons were born here, my older son's wedding was at Lake Shawnee, my adorably awesomely handsomely cute grandson was born here -
So if there are folks who are fed up with Topeka - then what's holding them back from staying? They can leave and I hope the door hits them in the butt on their way out.
There's no need to thank me.
ReplyDeleteThe thing is, my story isn't unusual nor is is unique.
People from the smallest towns to the biggest cities all across the country have the same story.
It's not so much where you live. It's how you choose to live.
If climbing that corporate ladder chasing the almighty dollar is your thing.
But that's never been what I wanted out of life.
All I wanted was to give my kids a better life growing up than I had.
I wanted them to have a home they could always come back to.
And I wanted grand kids who always looked forward to coming over.
I got that in spades...
One of favorite things to do is sitting out on the back porch when they're all over watching them do whatever it is that they're doing through the kitchen door.
ReplyDeleteYeah, to me this is what being home is all about...
I am weeping you know that.....
DeleteLol... Pull yourself together soldier...
ReplyDeleteWOW ! Looks like that "Ole Blue" got under somebody's skin. Enjoy that dinner at Cracker Barrel and forget about it. I for one love Wanamaker, especially because it's got a Taco Bell !
ReplyDeleteWell good morning America, How are You???
ReplyDeleteLocked, loaded, and ready to get after it...
ReplyDeleteGood Morning back at ya Sarge and good morning to everyone
ReplyDeleteThis clip from the Highwaymen concert in 1990 at Nassau Colliseum.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94AF_-RIl0E
I can listen to Willie sing this song endlessly over and over again.
ReplyDeleteArlo Guthrie does this song awesome, then when it got reborn with Willie singing it well it is just beyond awesome.
ReplyDeleteWell done with all the news papers, I see the world is still in a mess.
ReplyDeleteThe world may still be in a mess Sarge, but here's a ray of sunshine.
ReplyDeleteThere wasn't official intelligence used to start the FBI probe into the Trump campaign / Russia collusion story.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/apr/22/nunes-no-official-intelligence-used-start-fbi-inve/
“Then, Nunes dropped the bomb. "We now know that there was no official intelligence that was used to start this investigation.” This, in a word, is huge."
https://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/no-official-intel-used-to-start-fbi-probe-into-trump-campaign-russia-collusion-rep-nunes
There are other weblinks to this story, but I haven't seen any links for the major news media (CBS, NBC, and ABC) - no surprise there though.
We all know this Russia collusion story is a gross fabrication drummed up to unseat President Trump - just another nail in the coffin of the lies that have been spread about President Trump.
Just saw this a little bit ago... read the article, it's a good read.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/apr/23/justice-departments-attempts-influence-investigati/
“Obama Justice Dept.’s attempts to influence investigations exposed in McCabe probe”
Boz has a fantasy Topeka where we all dwell in squalor because of those evil Republicans. He looks through the Topeka of the past with rose-colored glasses. He went somewhere else upon THS graduation and never did anything but glance back. And I know what he did because it's similar to my own past. When I graduated from THS I told myself I was never coming back here except to visit. But I kept visiting, moved back to Kansas, still kept visiting, and when I found out none of my siblings wanted to live in Oakland, moved back into the tiny (845 sq. ft.) home on Wabash. Rikki sees me every month. Is Topeka paradise on earth? No, but it ain't hell, either. Pretty decent middle sized town. Of course it doesn't have the amenities of DC or NY. But you need to compare it to Springfield (Mass), Syracuse, Canton, Terre Haute, Jackson, Flint, Fresno or other locations in our phylum. What about it, you College Hill refugee? How do we look next to them?
ReplyDeleteAnyway, where you live is the setting. Life is what you make of it.
Maybe that's why ole Blue continues to come to your blog, Kevin and Safe. He is missing something that he can't get in D.C. Home! By writing all of his trash talk about Topeka and Kansas, he is trying to justify to himself, why he thinks he should stay where he is and not move back, why he has to talk down to all of us who choose to be here. I guess that I could feel sorry for him, but I don't. I just figure, the fewer Liberals we have in Topeka and Kansas, all the better, for all of us!
ReplyDeleteAmen Brother!!
DeleteDam howdy? Is Topeka really in a situation where Flint could be compared?
ReplyDeleteWe are far better off than that place. Even ol dumb hammer knows that.... Lol
Their populations are similar. Both Midwestern, neither close to anything you'd call scenic. Of course Topeka beats Flint and Fresno (that's part of my point). Now I already know from a posting of about a month ago that Boz thinks Topeka behind Jackson (and it may well be) and probably Syracuse as well. Topeka is most comparable (at least in my travels) to Springfield, Canton and Terre Haute. But these are all legitimate comparisons. He's comparing to DC, SF, NY and the like (did you know Brooklyn alone has a larger population than all of Kansas?) and ol' Howdy is doing what he so often does with lefties - keepin' it real.
DeleteHey Sarge! How you doing Big Guy? Hope things are going well for you and your family.
ReplyDeleteGary things are looking up, thanks for checking, I hope you and yours are well also.
DeleteLets hear a good morning America out here!!!
ReplyDeleteGod Bless America"
“One Flag, One Language, One Nation Under God” Supporter of the NRA. And the Constitution.. plus" Beer!
Good Grief where are all the morning people?
ReplyDeleteWe're already at work...
ReplyDeleteDamn you got that white thingie going for ya.
DeleteHey Kevin got the inside of the house all don except the new carpet, they start painting the out side today. All is going well and looks like a home again, wallet is a lot lighter though, but I should get it all back plus when it sells. ( I hope).
ReplyDeleteGlad things are finally coming together for you, Sarge...
ReplyDeleteLike my mom always said but at the time I didn't really understand it.
"This too shall pass."
I hope that means the harping from the wife will pass also? But she was right hire this stuff out and admit you can't do things like you are was 40 don't ya know. ( sure don't know why she always throws in tight wade???).
DeleteThis business of comparing one city to another is a pretty meaningless exercise, really. In the case of our faux doc, this has more to do with his hatred for us and everything we believe in than it does Topeka. Topeka is what it is and it's a pretty complex issue to try to dissect, especially from the lofty perches of Washington DC.
ReplyDeleteTopeka is Topeka. Is it better or worse than Lawrence? It's different. Some love Lawrence and all the restaurants and bars. The little eclectic stores on Mass St. The breweries. They have Topeka beat there. But the town is also overrun with smug arrogant elitist old gray pony tailed hippies hanging on to their past from 50 years ago. Walk down Mass St with a MAGA shirt or hat and see what kind of response you get from the tolerant godless left. Then do that in Topeka and see if it's any different.
I'm going to be moving to California within the next year or so. My family lives there and we have determined we are going to be with our family as we grow old. Personally, I hate California for so many reasons I can't list them. The politics. The crime. The taxes. The saturation with godless left wing loons. But it's a beautiful place. And it has its good points. And I have a daughter and her family including a 3-1/2 year old grandson who I adore. So I'll take the bad with the good.
But just remember, when it comes to the old faux doc and his proclamations everything he says here is driven by his hatred for us and everything we believe. And his insane irrational hatred of our President. Just like the rest of the bloviating godless left.
Everything you look around and find happiness from, he detests and finds repulsive. At some level he doesn't, but he is driven by hatred as is the entire godless left. And hatred does funny things to a man. Makes him an ugly person.
So I'll just enjoy Topeka while I can. And I'll suffer California when that time comes. And I'll laugh at the faux doc's bloviating nonsense. But it doesn't bother me in the least what a hate filled godless left winger thinks of me or my city.
A man has to do what man has to do, family is always the first priority . But California, will require a prayer from me for you and yours every night. Just saying..... :):)😂
DeleteWell got my mowers and weed eater started and mowing before the next blizzard comes. Now if I could just get ole sarjr to help me get my snow blower running I would be set to go. Be Prepared Right?
ReplyDeleteOn your snow blower pull you push to start primer button pull it out, start your air compressor put it over the gas line and blow back until you hear the gas bubbling in the gas tank, put your primer push button back on and starter up. Did it on both of mine and run perfect now. But hurry I just got my plants in yesterday and today, should have a snow storm any day now. :)
DeleteGot it I got cucumber plants ready to go in. Some pepper and tomato plants about ready to go in also. Waiting on my asparagus. Just getting in a hurry with this weather. looks like rain coming and cooler. Oh well I am prepared.
ReplyDeleteActually I like Burlingame better than Topeka, but Topeka is okay. I don't live in any city, which is even better. Small towns are good as everyone knows everyone else and are always ready to help. Also, the assholes know better than to do their dirty deeds in town and go somewhere else- like maybe Topeka or Lawrence.
ReplyDeleteThat guy that thinks he is a doctor, just likes to pull your chain.
Topeka does seem to do stupid things like build that area around 15th and Lane, that didn't work out so well. Then the airport, they just don't give up, keep hiring consultants to bring in another airline. I don't think the Expo center could support itself, nor can TPAC. However, I would guess most every city has certain problems with a small group of people that run things behind the scene. Topeka always has the historical Ramada Inn built in the 60s. I don't know how old Jim pulled that one off, wonder if you get any tax breaks on being a historical site. Then thinking downtown will ever be anything- isn't going to work.
Still overall I would give Topeka a B. Someday I may move to Topeka to downsize, I think it would be fine.
Good morning, lets hear for the good guys...Yaaaaaa! And the rains came
ReplyDelete(Gush).
Back at you
ReplyDeleteNew blog up and running...
ReplyDelete