There it is, the Hitschmann elevator just likeit's supposed to be.
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Alomst There
Coming into town from the west. The first house on the rightbelonged to Frank and Bertha and the one to the left is where
Art and Lucielle used to live.
Main Street
This is a shot of Main Street. The building on the left isFrank and Bertha's. And as you can see, parking wasn't
a problem.
Hitschmann School
I was standing in what used to be the playground when Itook this picture. The classrooms were both on the upper
floor. My room was on the right. We had K-6th and the big
kids (7th, 8th, and 9th graders) room was the one on the left.
Frank and Bertha's Store
Unless you've lived in a small town it'd be hard to understandwhat I mean when I say this little store was the heart of
the town. But hey, I'll get into more of that next week.
Friday, June 27, 2008
Bo
Please don’t be sad mommy, it’ll be okay. Whatever it is, we can get through it together. Hey, we’re going to see the doctor tomorrow. That‘s always fun. I love the sonograms because it shows us how big I’m getting. Last time we were there I heard the doctor say I was a perfectly formed little boy. He said I had all my fingers and toes. That’s good news, isn’t it? I heard him saying something about time was running out to decide. I’ll bet he was talking about it being time to name me. You haven’t mentioned anything about it so I’m thinking maybe you haven’t made up your mind yet. I’ve got a couple suggestions. How about John Wayne? That would be cool mommy. It would come in handy when you buy me my first pair of cowboy boots. Maybe Einstein. I might not be as smart as him but I bet I‘m pretty close mommy. Maybe Superman or Scooby Do. Hey, I know. How about naming me Bo. I like that name.
I heard a man talking about this being a bad time. What did he mean, mommy? This is going to be a great time. You’ll see. I can‘t wait till you can hold me for the first time. And the first time our eyes meet is going to be something special, I promise. You’re going to love the way I run to you for comfort. There’s no safer place than in your mother’s arms. I’m going to need a lot of help learning to walk. They tell me it’s pretty hard. With your help I’ll be just fine, you’ll see.
It’s going to break my heart when I have to go to kindergarten. But that’s the only way I can learn to read. I can’t wait to read you a bedtime story for a change mommy. Will you teach me how to play baseball? I heard it was fun. Will we go to Gage Park? Teach me about the monkeys mommy. I think they’re funny. How about my first bike, will you help me learn how to ride it mommy? I think I’d like to play the guitar. Can you teach me how. I hope you name me Bo. I really think it’s a cool name. Mommy and Bo. We’ll make a great team, you’ll see.
Mommy, I heard that man talking about time being up. Didn’t you tell him we’d decided to name me Bo? Tell him mommy. I don’t like him mommy, he makes you cry. When I get big I‘ll never make you sad mommy, I promise. You’ll see.
Mommy, I heard you and that man talking about a new doctor. Is that why you’re sad? Are you afraid? Don’t be. We’ll get through this together. You’ll see. I promise to behave myself if that’s what you’re worried about. I want to make a good impression on our new doctor too. Mommy, I’m getting sleepy. Don’t worry, I won’t forget to say my prayers.
Now I lay me, down to sleep. I pray the Lord, my soul to keep. If I die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take. God bless Mommy and Bo. Wake me up when we get to the new doctor.
Mommy, that new doctor scares me. He’s not nice like our other one, he scares me mommy. Please, let’s go home. Mommy, he’s hurting me. Mommy, he’s pulling on my arm with something. Mommy, mommy, please help me mommy. Mommy, he’s poking me in the head with something. Oh mommy, it hurts. Mommy I’m scared, please, let’s go home mommy!
So what’s it going to be mommy? Are you going to protect you little buddy, Bo? If given the chance, he could be a really cool little kid. Please choose life. It’s the right thing to do.
Kevin McGinty can be reached at: kevinmcginty@sbcglobal.net
I heard a man talking about this being a bad time. What did he mean, mommy? This is going to be a great time. You’ll see. I can‘t wait till you can hold me for the first time. And the first time our eyes meet is going to be something special, I promise. You’re going to love the way I run to you for comfort. There’s no safer place than in your mother’s arms. I’m going to need a lot of help learning to walk. They tell me it’s pretty hard. With your help I’ll be just fine, you’ll see.
It’s going to break my heart when I have to go to kindergarten. But that’s the only way I can learn to read. I can’t wait to read you a bedtime story for a change mommy. Will you teach me how to play baseball? I heard it was fun. Will we go to Gage Park? Teach me about the monkeys mommy. I think they’re funny. How about my first bike, will you help me learn how to ride it mommy? I think I’d like to play the guitar. Can you teach me how. I hope you name me Bo. I really think it’s a cool name. Mommy and Bo. We’ll make a great team, you’ll see.
Mommy, I heard that man talking about time being up. Didn’t you tell him we’d decided to name me Bo? Tell him mommy. I don’t like him mommy, he makes you cry. When I get big I‘ll never make you sad mommy, I promise. You’ll see.
Mommy, I heard you and that man talking about a new doctor. Is that why you’re sad? Are you afraid? Don’t be. We’ll get through this together. You’ll see. I promise to behave myself if that’s what you’re worried about. I want to make a good impression on our new doctor too. Mommy, I’m getting sleepy. Don’t worry, I won’t forget to say my prayers.
Now I lay me, down to sleep. I pray the Lord, my soul to keep. If I die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take. God bless Mommy and Bo. Wake me up when we get to the new doctor.
Mommy, that new doctor scares me. He’s not nice like our other one, he scares me mommy. Please, let’s go home. Mommy, he’s hurting me. Mommy, he’s pulling on my arm with something. Mommy, mommy, please help me mommy. Mommy, he’s poking me in the head with something. Oh mommy, it hurts. Mommy I’m scared, please, let’s go home mommy!
So what’s it going to be mommy? Are you going to protect you little buddy, Bo? If given the chance, he could be a really cool little kid. Please choose life. It’s the right thing to do.
Kevin McGinty can be reached at: kevinmcginty@sbcglobal.net
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
It's Still The Oil
Okay, maybe I jumped the gun last week when I stated that Cuba and China were recovering oil right off the coast of Florida.
According to an article Betty Phillips forwarded to The Metro News a few days ago to counter my statement, there is no drilling going on off the coast of Florida by either Cuba or China. And because I have a lot of respect for Betty Phillips I checked her story out.
Here’s what I was able to find out. She’s exactly right, for now anyway. Cuba has leased out exploration blocks 60 miles off the coast of Florida which is closer than American firms are allowed to operate. They are doing exploration work on those leases. But at the present time there is no active drilling going on by Cuba or the Chinese. Yet.
Betty, I do appreciate you reading my column and I thank you for keeping me honest. But here’s the deal. It still doesn’t change my mind. Just because Cuba and China haven’t started drilling yet doesn’t mean they won’t be in the near future. And I still think it’s stupid that we allow it.
I still think it’s stupid that we’re willing to sit on top of some of the largest known oil reserves in the world simply because we don’t have the guts to tell the environmental whack-jobs to go to Hell. I still think it’s stupid we quit building nuclear power plants. And I still think it’s stupid we’re more worried about the mating habits of the Caribou than drilling for oil in ANWAR.
Those of you who read this column on a regular basis know by now that I do a lot of traveling around our great state. Last week I was a little closer to home than normal. I was in the Lawrence/Tonganoxie area. And one of the things I noticed as I drove north of Lawrence was the “coal-fired” power plant they have. Normally that wouldn’t be that big a deal. But with all the predictions of death and destruction being made if the Holcomb plant was allowed to proceed I paid particular attention as I traveled through the area. Guess what I found? The same thing I find in every part of the state. The crops were standing tall. There were cows doing their thing. The plants, wildflowers, and grass was thriving. People were going on about their lives as if nothing was wrong. And yes, there were even old people and I can’t help but to believe some of them have lived in the area most if not all their lives without dying from the dreaded co2 emissions. The only thing I can figure out is that Western Kansas co2 must be a lot worse than that coming out of Lawrence.
This week I’m in the Great Bend area and I just love this part of the state. The biggest industries around here are agriculture and oil. My dad and grandfather both worked in the oil fields around here when I was growing up and I even drove by a few of their old wells. And guess what I found. Same thing I found around Lawrence. The wheat crop looks as good as it ever has. In fact the wheat harvest is in full swing around here. The corn crop is coming along just fine. The cattle seem to be doing well. Pheasants are everywhere. I several deer, one skunk, a snake, and even a badger. Oil exploration and production has been going on around this part of the state for the last 70 or 80 years and guess what? Life has gone on in spite of the dire predictions of the environmentalists.
Like I said last week. Go ahead and develop your alternate energy sources. Work on your windmills. Work on your solar power projects. Develop whatever you think will work. Most of us don’t really care where our energy comes from, we just want it to work well and to be there when we need it. But in the mean time our very existence as a nation depends on having an adequate supply of crude oil and we have that right here at home as long as we have the guts to recover it.
Kevin McGinty can be reached at: kevinmcginty@sbcglobal.net
According to an article Betty Phillips forwarded to The Metro News a few days ago to counter my statement, there is no drilling going on off the coast of Florida by either Cuba or China. And because I have a lot of respect for Betty Phillips I checked her story out.
Here’s what I was able to find out. She’s exactly right, for now anyway. Cuba has leased out exploration blocks 60 miles off the coast of Florida which is closer than American firms are allowed to operate. They are doing exploration work on those leases. But at the present time there is no active drilling going on by Cuba or the Chinese. Yet.
Betty, I do appreciate you reading my column and I thank you for keeping me honest. But here’s the deal. It still doesn’t change my mind. Just because Cuba and China haven’t started drilling yet doesn’t mean they won’t be in the near future. And I still think it’s stupid that we allow it.
I still think it’s stupid that we’re willing to sit on top of some of the largest known oil reserves in the world simply because we don’t have the guts to tell the environmental whack-jobs to go to Hell. I still think it’s stupid we quit building nuclear power plants. And I still think it’s stupid we’re more worried about the mating habits of the Caribou than drilling for oil in ANWAR.
Those of you who read this column on a regular basis know by now that I do a lot of traveling around our great state. Last week I was a little closer to home than normal. I was in the Lawrence/Tonganoxie area. And one of the things I noticed as I drove north of Lawrence was the “coal-fired” power plant they have. Normally that wouldn’t be that big a deal. But with all the predictions of death and destruction being made if the Holcomb plant was allowed to proceed I paid particular attention as I traveled through the area. Guess what I found? The same thing I find in every part of the state. The crops were standing tall. There were cows doing their thing. The plants, wildflowers, and grass was thriving. People were going on about their lives as if nothing was wrong. And yes, there were even old people and I can’t help but to believe some of them have lived in the area most if not all their lives without dying from the dreaded co2 emissions. The only thing I can figure out is that Western Kansas co2 must be a lot worse than that coming out of Lawrence.
This week I’m in the Great Bend area and I just love this part of the state. The biggest industries around here are agriculture and oil. My dad and grandfather both worked in the oil fields around here when I was growing up and I even drove by a few of their old wells. And guess what I found. Same thing I found around Lawrence. The wheat crop looks as good as it ever has. In fact the wheat harvest is in full swing around here. The corn crop is coming along just fine. The cattle seem to be doing well. Pheasants are everywhere. I several deer, one skunk, a snake, and even a badger. Oil exploration and production has been going on around this part of the state for the last 70 or 80 years and guess what? Life has gone on in spite of the dire predictions of the environmentalists.
Like I said last week. Go ahead and develop your alternate energy sources. Work on your windmills. Work on your solar power projects. Develop whatever you think will work. Most of us don’t really care where our energy comes from, we just want it to work well and to be there when we need it. But in the mean time our very existence as a nation depends on having an adequate supply of crude oil and we have that right here at home as long as we have the guts to recover it.
Kevin McGinty can be reached at: kevinmcginty@sbcglobal.net
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
It's The Oil Stupid
Oh thank God. The Democrats have plan to fight high gas prices. They want to go after the oil companies in a big way. Their plan is to impose a huge “windfall profit tax” on the big, evil oil companies. You know, “Big Oil.”
I know what you’re thinking too. Like me, you’re having a hard time believing Democrats would raise taxes on anything. But it’s true. In a nutshell, that’s their plan. Raise taxes, the same answer they have for everything.
How many of you believe like I do, the only thing this plan will achieve is to separate us from even more of our money just to keep gas in our tanks? Do they really believe the oil companies are just going to sit back and absorb the new taxes imposed on them? Do they really believe the oil companies won’t simply pass them on to the rest of us, raising the prices even higher? If you’re a multi-millionaire, member of congress I guess that’s not that big a deal. But if you’re like most of us and are already struggling to keep your head above water, it’s a huge deal.
No, I don’t claim to have all the answers. But I think it’s stupid for us to just sit here on top of some of the biggest oil reserves in the world and not recover it. I think it’s stupid we haven’t built a refinery in America for the last 30 or so years. And I think it’s stupid that we quit investing in nuclear power plants. Why do we do it? I guess so the polar bears can live and so we won’t interfere with the mating habits of the caribou or something like that.
I know it’s not late breaking news but Cuba and China are recovering our oil right off the coast of Florida. Yes, I think that’s stupid too. The Dems tell us it’s impossible to drill our way out of the mess we’ve created for ourselves. Besides, they claim it’ll take at least 10 years to develop any future oil fields and bring the oil to market.
Part of that is true. It is impossible to drill our way out of this mess. It’s impossible as long as we just here whining and wringing our hands and doing a whole lot nothing else. And you know what? Ten years might sound like a long way off but it’ll come and go before you know it. Tell me, where do you want to be in ten years? Do you want to live in an America that is capable of taking care of her own energy needs or the one we’re becoming? The America who depends on foreign countries, some of them very hostile towards us for almost all of our energy needs?
Don’t take this as an endorsement for the Republicans either. We saw what could happen in the 70’s when America was held hostage by OPEC. Remember that? Remember the gas lines? Remember gas being rationed out in some parts of the country? We’ve had almost 40 years to develop alternate sources of energy. We’ve had Republican as well as Democrats in office and neither party has done a thing about it.
Go ahead and develop your wind mills. Develop your hydrogen cars and such. I have no problem whatsoever with solar power either. I don’t care what it ends up being as long as it works and works well. But in the meantime, America needs oil and we have plenty of it.
Here’s my plan. Let’s quit the whining. Let’s quit being stupid. And let’s develop our own resources and tell countries like Saudi Arabia to shove their oil up their, oh never mind, you’d probably be offended by what I was going to say. Let’s just say this. If we have the guts to get to the point where we didn’t need their oil, you’d be amazed at how fast they’d be willing to deal. But what do I know, I’m just an old guy.
Kevin McGinty can be reached at: kevinmcginty@sbcglobal.net
I know what you’re thinking too. Like me, you’re having a hard time believing Democrats would raise taxes on anything. But it’s true. In a nutshell, that’s their plan. Raise taxes, the same answer they have for everything.
How many of you believe like I do, the only thing this plan will achieve is to separate us from even more of our money just to keep gas in our tanks? Do they really believe the oil companies are just going to sit back and absorb the new taxes imposed on them? Do they really believe the oil companies won’t simply pass them on to the rest of us, raising the prices even higher? If you’re a multi-millionaire, member of congress I guess that’s not that big a deal. But if you’re like most of us and are already struggling to keep your head above water, it’s a huge deal.
No, I don’t claim to have all the answers. But I think it’s stupid for us to just sit here on top of some of the biggest oil reserves in the world and not recover it. I think it’s stupid we haven’t built a refinery in America for the last 30 or so years. And I think it’s stupid that we quit investing in nuclear power plants. Why do we do it? I guess so the polar bears can live and so we won’t interfere with the mating habits of the caribou or something like that.
I know it’s not late breaking news but Cuba and China are recovering our oil right off the coast of Florida. Yes, I think that’s stupid too. The Dems tell us it’s impossible to drill our way out of the mess we’ve created for ourselves. Besides, they claim it’ll take at least 10 years to develop any future oil fields and bring the oil to market.
Part of that is true. It is impossible to drill our way out of this mess. It’s impossible as long as we just here whining and wringing our hands and doing a whole lot nothing else. And you know what? Ten years might sound like a long way off but it’ll come and go before you know it. Tell me, where do you want to be in ten years? Do you want to live in an America that is capable of taking care of her own energy needs or the one we’re becoming? The America who depends on foreign countries, some of them very hostile towards us for almost all of our energy needs?
Don’t take this as an endorsement for the Republicans either. We saw what could happen in the 70’s when America was held hostage by OPEC. Remember that? Remember the gas lines? Remember gas being rationed out in some parts of the country? We’ve had almost 40 years to develop alternate sources of energy. We’ve had Republican as well as Democrats in office and neither party has done a thing about it.
Go ahead and develop your wind mills. Develop your hydrogen cars and such. I have no problem whatsoever with solar power either. I don’t care what it ends up being as long as it works and works well. But in the meantime, America needs oil and we have plenty of it.
Here’s my plan. Let’s quit the whining. Let’s quit being stupid. And let’s develop our own resources and tell countries like Saudi Arabia to shove their oil up their, oh never mind, you’d probably be offended by what I was going to say. Let’s just say this. If we have the guts to get to the point where we didn’t need their oil, you’d be amazed at how fast they’d be willing to deal. But what do I know, I’m just an old guy.
Kevin McGinty can be reached at: kevinmcginty@sbcglobal.net
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Obama's Wrong for America
So you want change do you? Can’t say I blame you. Things aren’t exactly going the way I’ve envisioned them either. But come on. Obama? What do we really know about the guy? We know he supported a racist, Anti-American pastor for the last twenty years. When he finally figured out this relationship was going to damage him politically, he dropped his church like it was a disease. That didn’t faze you. We know he doesn’t believe he needs to wear a flag pin on his lapel to prove he’s patriotic. I don’t believe so either. But now that he’s figured out it’s more politically expedient to do so, he’s decided to wear one. You don’t find this a little hypocritical? We know he’s had a long standing relationship with a man named Bill Ayrers, a man who bombed the Pentagon and says his only regret is that he wasn’t able to do more. You don’t see this as a problem? What the hell is wrong with you people? For some reason, he thinks we have 57 states in America. Again, no problem there.
For the first time in her life, his wife, Michelle is proud of her country. Excuse me? The first time in her life? I came across a You Tube video the other night of Ronald Reagan standing in front of the Berlin Wall. He was asking the Soviet leader to open the gates. He went on to ask him to tear down this wall. A request that was granted too. It was the beginning of the end of the cold war, and Reagan had sealed the deal. That might not have impressed you or Michelle Obama. But it sure as hell made me proud to be an American.
We know he’s jumped on the Global-Warming band wagon and he believes in the push for Government controlled health-care. You believe that’s a good thing? If you’d like to see Government controlled health-care in action, check out your local VA. Ask a few veterans about the quality of health-care the Government can provide. Google Walter Reed Hospital and see for yourself how good things can be. I know, you’ll just blame it on Bush. I hate to be the one to break this to you, but the problems with Government controlled health-care didn’t start with Bush and it won’t end with Obama. I know you’re not going to listen to me. You do what you want.
Some of you will whine and cry that people like me won’t support Obama because we’re a bunch of old white racists who can’t let go of the past. Whatever. Throwing the racist label around is getting more popular these days. I’ve even been called a racist because of my opposition to abortion. Go figure.
Here’s the bottom line for me, and yes, I know I’m not supposed to talk about it so much. But my biggest problem with Obama is his unconditional support of abortion. He’s one of the few Senators to vote against the ban on partial-birth abortions. He even supports the idea that if an abortion is botched and the baby lives through it, doctors should be allowed to withhold medical care allowing the baby to simply lie there and die on it’s own. This is progressive? This is the America you want? This is the thing that finally makes people like Michelle Obama proud to be an American? You gotta be kidding me.
In a recent speech, Obama said if one of his daughter’s made the mistake of having sex and ended up pregnant, he wouldn’t want her to be punished by being forced into having the baby. First off, if you don’t want to have a baby, don’t have sex. And if you do “choose” to have sex, use some form of birth-control. What have we become, a society of animals who can’t control ourselves any more?
That’s pretty much it for me. I cannot and will not support someone like Obama who’s demands the right to kill their own grandchild. If that makes me a racist, so be it.
Kevin McGinty can be reached at: kevinmcginty@sbcglobal.net
For the first time in her life, his wife, Michelle is proud of her country. Excuse me? The first time in her life? I came across a You Tube video the other night of Ronald Reagan standing in front of the Berlin Wall. He was asking the Soviet leader to open the gates. He went on to ask him to tear down this wall. A request that was granted too. It was the beginning of the end of the cold war, and Reagan had sealed the deal. That might not have impressed you or Michelle Obama. But it sure as hell made me proud to be an American.
We know he’s jumped on the Global-Warming band wagon and he believes in the push for Government controlled health-care. You believe that’s a good thing? If you’d like to see Government controlled health-care in action, check out your local VA. Ask a few veterans about the quality of health-care the Government can provide. Google Walter Reed Hospital and see for yourself how good things can be. I know, you’ll just blame it on Bush. I hate to be the one to break this to you, but the problems with Government controlled health-care didn’t start with Bush and it won’t end with Obama. I know you’re not going to listen to me. You do what you want.
Some of you will whine and cry that people like me won’t support Obama because we’re a bunch of old white racists who can’t let go of the past. Whatever. Throwing the racist label around is getting more popular these days. I’ve even been called a racist because of my opposition to abortion. Go figure.
Here’s the bottom line for me, and yes, I know I’m not supposed to talk about it so much. But my biggest problem with Obama is his unconditional support of abortion. He’s one of the few Senators to vote against the ban on partial-birth abortions. He even supports the idea that if an abortion is botched and the baby lives through it, doctors should be allowed to withhold medical care allowing the baby to simply lie there and die on it’s own. This is progressive? This is the America you want? This is the thing that finally makes people like Michelle Obama proud to be an American? You gotta be kidding me.
In a recent speech, Obama said if one of his daughter’s made the mistake of having sex and ended up pregnant, he wouldn’t want her to be punished by being forced into having the baby. First off, if you don’t want to have a baby, don’t have sex. And if you do “choose” to have sex, use some form of birth-control. What have we become, a society of animals who can’t control ourselves any more?
That’s pretty much it for me. I cannot and will not support someone like Obama who’s demands the right to kill their own grandchild. If that makes me a racist, so be it.
Kevin McGinty can be reached at: kevinmcginty@sbcglobal.net
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
The Pass
Was anybody really surprised by the news that the Governor threw a party for George Tiller and his staff while the man was supposedly under investigation by the Attorney General? I mean come on. Were you surprised how quickly the left gave her a pass? In their eyes, she can do no wrong. Hey, that’s fine with me, if that’s the way you want it.
Just remember though, and yes, I know it’s a stretch, but one of these days we just might have a pro-life governor. Hey, it could happen. What’s going to happen when he or she starts throwing rally’s to support organizations like Operation Rescue and Kansan’s for Life? They’ll be given the same pass, right? I mean why shouldn’t they be allowed to support the people who support them, right? Or is that pass reserved exclusively for pro-choice Governors? I keep forgetting how those rules work. Anyway, how about this? How would it be if this future Governor’s name was something like Governor Phill Kline? Surely he’d be given the same treatment, wouldn’t he? Oh well, it’s probably not going to happen like that, but it’d sure give us something to write about, wouldn’t it?
Do you remember me telling you about a columnist named Russell Steen? He lives in Pratt and writes for the Hutchinson News. Anyway, I’ve been reading his stuff off and on for the last year or so and have really enjoyed his work. And since I’m working in Pratt this week, I decided to look him up. A couple e-mail exchanges and one phone call later we decided to meet at a bar downtown named Woody’s for lunch. First off Woody’s is a really cool bar. It sits on the south end of a very vibrant and beautiful downtown. If you ever find yourself headed west on 54 and go through Pratt, do yourself a favor, pull off the hi way and check out their museum, courthouse, and downtown area. Really cool place. If it’s close to lunchtime, stop by Woody’s and try the mushroom, cheeseburger.
Sorry, that wasn’t the story I wanted to tell you. I wanted to tell you about meeting this guy. Guess what? He was just a regular guy like me. You know, a working guy who’s doing the best he can to keep his head above water. It’s funny, our stories about why we bother in the first place were about the same. And no, neither one of us really believes we can make a real difference but we try anyway. We have both become the targets of internet hard guys who think they can insult us into shutting up. He told me he was moving his family to St. Louis in a few weeks and was giving up his spot at the Hutch News. Russell, thanks for lunch the other day. And thanks for the passion and effort you put into your column. It was a good one.
Sorry guys, I’m going to have to cut it short this week. It’s 3:30, I was supposed to be at Eric and Ronni’s house in Haviland, a 20 mile drive, 30 minutes ago. Gotta go.
Oh yeah, before I leave. I wanted to ask you whether you’re really sure you want Obama to be our next President? I mean, have you really given it some thought? Or do just like him because People Magazine does? Just wondering? Maybe we can talk a little about it that next week.
Kevin McGinty can be reached at kevinmcginty@sbcglobal.net
Just remember though, and yes, I know it’s a stretch, but one of these days we just might have a pro-life governor. Hey, it could happen. What’s going to happen when he or she starts throwing rally’s to support organizations like Operation Rescue and Kansan’s for Life? They’ll be given the same pass, right? I mean why shouldn’t they be allowed to support the people who support them, right? Or is that pass reserved exclusively for pro-choice Governors? I keep forgetting how those rules work. Anyway, how about this? How would it be if this future Governor’s name was something like Governor Phill Kline? Surely he’d be given the same treatment, wouldn’t he? Oh well, it’s probably not going to happen like that, but it’d sure give us something to write about, wouldn’t it?
Do you remember me telling you about a columnist named Russell Steen? He lives in Pratt and writes for the Hutchinson News. Anyway, I’ve been reading his stuff off and on for the last year or so and have really enjoyed his work. And since I’m working in Pratt this week, I decided to look him up. A couple e-mail exchanges and one phone call later we decided to meet at a bar downtown named Woody’s for lunch. First off Woody’s is a really cool bar. It sits on the south end of a very vibrant and beautiful downtown. If you ever find yourself headed west on 54 and go through Pratt, do yourself a favor, pull off the hi way and check out their museum, courthouse, and downtown area. Really cool place. If it’s close to lunchtime, stop by Woody’s and try the mushroom, cheeseburger.
Sorry, that wasn’t the story I wanted to tell you. I wanted to tell you about meeting this guy. Guess what? He was just a regular guy like me. You know, a working guy who’s doing the best he can to keep his head above water. It’s funny, our stories about why we bother in the first place were about the same. And no, neither one of us really believes we can make a real difference but we try anyway. We have both become the targets of internet hard guys who think they can insult us into shutting up. He told me he was moving his family to St. Louis in a few weeks and was giving up his spot at the Hutch News. Russell, thanks for lunch the other day. And thanks for the passion and effort you put into your column. It was a good one.
Sorry guys, I’m going to have to cut it short this week. It’s 3:30, I was supposed to be at Eric and Ronni’s house in Haviland, a 20 mile drive, 30 minutes ago. Gotta go.
Oh yeah, before I leave. I wanted to ask you whether you’re really sure you want Obama to be our next President? I mean, have you really given it some thought? Or do just like him because People Magazine does? Just wondering? Maybe we can talk a little about it that next week.
Kevin McGinty can be reached at kevinmcginty@sbcglobal.net
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Stupid Ping Pong Table
It‘s funny how things work out. Last week we were talking about Cumulus Radio firing Jim Cates. This week he’s teamed up with CJ Online. You gotta admit it. Jim’s a cool old guy. Oops, I mean I’m an old guy. I mean damn, I’m impressed.
Hey, do you remember me telling you about reclaiming my basement last year. It started out as my office when we first bought the house. That didn’t last long. Over the next few years at one time or another it became my daughter’s room, my son’s room, my other son’s room. It was home to one of my wife’s friend’s for a while. Then it was my daughter’s room again. Then my son’s room again. Ha, they just thought they knew everything.
Finally, it was my turn again. I drug in all my old stuff from the garage that had been boxed up for years. I even had a couple old book cases I made in high school. I drug in box after box of priceless treasures. I finally had a place to show off my eagle and beer can collections. I set up my stereo and dug out my old albums. I found most of my belt buckle and bumper sticker collection. I have a cigar box full of old pens that don’t work. And another one full of old Zippos and pocket knives. By the time I got through everything I had come across a couple hundred old pictures and have been trying to get them all put into photo albums. Well, I’m not actually trying all that hard. But I have set up a table on the other side of the room just in case the mood hits me. My brother hooked me up with a really cool desk so I’d have a place for my computer and stuff like that. Yeah, I like it just the way it is.
I put strict rules in place concerning, who, what, why, when, and how someone could enter my domain. The rules applied equally to everyone. Okay, I had to give a little when my grandson asked where he was supposed to work on his leggos. I brought in another small table from the shed and set him up with his own work space. That worked fine until my grand daughter came to me with her sad, puppy dog eyes and asked why she didn’t have a place to color. Okay, we’ll figure that out too. But the rest of you, forget it. It’s not going to happen. Got it? Good!
Yeah right. Last Christmas my wife decided we needed a ping-pong table. And where do you suppose she wanted to put it? Yep, right smack dab in the middle of my basement. I explained there was no way it was going to happen. No way! Nope. It’s not gonna happen. I reminded her it was my basement and I’ll be the one who decides what goes into it. I was still explaining that part as I was putting the stupid thing together too.
Everything’s different now. Instead of listening to talk radio while I’m writing, I’m forced to listen to things like my kids having a good time. I have to listen to my grand daughter laughing as she’s chasing a run away ball. I listen to them arguing about the score. You hit the net! Did not. You’re a cheater! There are high-fives, thumbs-up signals. I’ve even seen a couple of single finger salutes. Yeah, everything’s different now. It’s better. It’s funny how things work out.
You can contact Kevin McGinty can be reached at: kevinmcginty@sbcglobal.net
Hey, do you remember me telling you about reclaiming my basement last year. It started out as my office when we first bought the house. That didn’t last long. Over the next few years at one time or another it became my daughter’s room, my son’s room, my other son’s room. It was home to one of my wife’s friend’s for a while. Then it was my daughter’s room again. Then my son’s room again. Ha, they just thought they knew everything.
Finally, it was my turn again. I drug in all my old stuff from the garage that had been boxed up for years. I even had a couple old book cases I made in high school. I drug in box after box of priceless treasures. I finally had a place to show off my eagle and beer can collections. I set up my stereo and dug out my old albums. I found most of my belt buckle and bumper sticker collection. I have a cigar box full of old pens that don’t work. And another one full of old Zippos and pocket knives. By the time I got through everything I had come across a couple hundred old pictures and have been trying to get them all put into photo albums. Well, I’m not actually trying all that hard. But I have set up a table on the other side of the room just in case the mood hits me. My brother hooked me up with a really cool desk so I’d have a place for my computer and stuff like that. Yeah, I like it just the way it is.
I put strict rules in place concerning, who, what, why, when, and how someone could enter my domain. The rules applied equally to everyone. Okay, I had to give a little when my grandson asked where he was supposed to work on his leggos. I brought in another small table from the shed and set him up with his own work space. That worked fine until my grand daughter came to me with her sad, puppy dog eyes and asked why she didn’t have a place to color. Okay, we’ll figure that out too. But the rest of you, forget it. It’s not going to happen. Got it? Good!
Yeah right. Last Christmas my wife decided we needed a ping-pong table. And where do you suppose she wanted to put it? Yep, right smack dab in the middle of my basement. I explained there was no way it was going to happen. No way! Nope. It’s not gonna happen. I reminded her it was my basement and I’ll be the one who decides what goes into it. I was still explaining that part as I was putting the stupid thing together too.
Everything’s different now. Instead of listening to talk radio while I’m writing, I’m forced to listen to things like my kids having a good time. I have to listen to my grand daughter laughing as she’s chasing a run away ball. I listen to them arguing about the score. You hit the net! Did not. You’re a cheater! There are high-fives, thumbs-up signals. I’ve even seen a couple of single finger salutes. Yeah, everything’s different now. It’s better. It’s funny how things work out.
You can contact Kevin McGinty can be reached at: kevinmcginty@sbcglobal.net
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Thank You Jim
Okay, it’s been nine days now and we’ve all had a chance to cool down. Good thing too. If I’d tried to write this column last Wednesday after hearing about Cumulus Radio firing Jim Cates, I probably would have said something stupid like, hey Spike Santee and Cumulus Radio, how about you kissing my butt! I probably would have called them names like scum sucking pigs or something like that. Good thing I didn’t go there, huh.
I’ve had a couple of interesting phone calls this week about a certain local politician deciding that “local talk radio” was out of control in Topeka and needed to be reigned in. Surely that couldn’t happen here. Well it sure as hell did. From what I’ve been told, Cumulus wanted Jim to discontinue his open lines policy. It wasn’t necessarily Jim they were trying to shut up. It was us. Unless we wanted to talk about something positive, they didn’t want to hear it anymore. They didn’t want us talking about the helicopter anymore. Looks like we weren’t supposed to question anything going on at city hall. They didn’t want us talking about our county commissioners. I’m sure it really got to them when someone had the nerve to disagree with the Governor or the Attorney General. Wow, maybe I was part of the problem.
I guess it doesn’t really matter, does it? Jim’s gone and nothing I say here is going to change that. So instead of wasting a lot of time ranting and raving about it I’m just going to say thank you Jim. Thank you for all the help, encouragement, and support you’ve given me over the last couple of years in getting this column off the ground.
Thank you for introducing me to your friends. People like Marge and Ralph. Man I loved those two. I had the honor of meeting Marge at one of your remotes a while back. Very classy lady. Marge, there were a lot of times I had no idea what you were talking about but your calls always made my day.
I’m going to miss Vince, ol’ Bill and Jake. I’m going to miss the words of wit from Gene the liberal. And hearing from Cheryl the cabbie, another very cool lady. What would a day be without Myron plugging his web-site. Does anyone know why Dave Menely just stopped calling in? I always put a lot of stock in what he had to say. I’m going to miss Don from Wamego and Dee From Maple Hill. I’ll miss hearing you and Steve from Silver Lake going toe to toe. Then there’s John Clooney. Man, that guy can talk. I had the privilege of meeting John last Friday. John, I’m very glad to know you.
I’m going to throw out a special thanks to three people I’ve met through your show and have a great deal of respect for, Kim Borchers, Thomas Lessman, and Paul Degener for spreading the word about the rally in front of Cumulus last week and I’d like to thank everyone who showed up for it. Maybe we didn’t change their minds but they sure as hell knew we were there.
Jim, I don’t know what your plans for the future are but I think you ought to consider writing your own column and it just so happens that I know the editor of a really cool local newspaper that might be willing to give you a shot. Let me know, I’ll see what I can do.
And Jim, just so you know. There were many, many days that as a result of listening to your show my day was just a little bit brighter. Thank you for everything.
Oh yeah, Spike Santee and Cumulus Radio. Calling you guys scum sucking pigs probably would’ve been out of line but you can still kiss my butt.
Kevin McGinty can be reached at: kevinmcginty@sbcglobal.net
I’ve had a couple of interesting phone calls this week about a certain local politician deciding that “local talk radio” was out of control in Topeka and needed to be reigned in. Surely that couldn’t happen here. Well it sure as hell did. From what I’ve been told, Cumulus wanted Jim to discontinue his open lines policy. It wasn’t necessarily Jim they were trying to shut up. It was us. Unless we wanted to talk about something positive, they didn’t want to hear it anymore. They didn’t want us talking about the helicopter anymore. Looks like we weren’t supposed to question anything going on at city hall. They didn’t want us talking about our county commissioners. I’m sure it really got to them when someone had the nerve to disagree with the Governor or the Attorney General. Wow, maybe I was part of the problem.
I guess it doesn’t really matter, does it? Jim’s gone and nothing I say here is going to change that. So instead of wasting a lot of time ranting and raving about it I’m just going to say thank you Jim. Thank you for all the help, encouragement, and support you’ve given me over the last couple of years in getting this column off the ground.
Thank you for introducing me to your friends. People like Marge and Ralph. Man I loved those two. I had the honor of meeting Marge at one of your remotes a while back. Very classy lady. Marge, there were a lot of times I had no idea what you were talking about but your calls always made my day.
I’m going to miss Vince, ol’ Bill and Jake. I’m going to miss the words of wit from Gene the liberal. And hearing from Cheryl the cabbie, another very cool lady. What would a day be without Myron plugging his web-site. Does anyone know why Dave Menely just stopped calling in? I always put a lot of stock in what he had to say. I’m going to miss Don from Wamego and Dee From Maple Hill. I’ll miss hearing you and Steve from Silver Lake going toe to toe. Then there’s John Clooney. Man, that guy can talk. I had the privilege of meeting John last Friday. John, I’m very glad to know you.
I’m going to throw out a special thanks to three people I’ve met through your show and have a great deal of respect for, Kim Borchers, Thomas Lessman, and Paul Degener for spreading the word about the rally in front of Cumulus last week and I’d like to thank everyone who showed up for it. Maybe we didn’t change their minds but they sure as hell knew we were there.
Jim, I don’t know what your plans for the future are but I think you ought to consider writing your own column and it just so happens that I know the editor of a really cool local newspaper that might be willing to give you a shot. Let me know, I’ll see what I can do.
And Jim, just so you know. There were many, many days that as a result of listening to your show my day was just a little bit brighter. Thank you for everything.
Oh yeah, Spike Santee and Cumulus Radio. Calling you guys scum sucking pigs probably would’ve been out of line but you can still kiss my butt.
Kevin McGinty can be reached at: kevinmcginty@sbcglobal.net
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Great Road Trip
Hey, thanks for stopping by today. Pull up a chair and sit down, I’ve got a story to tell you about a trip my wife and I made earlier this week. It was a trip that started in the present, went into the past, and on the last leg of our journey we were propelled into the future.
Okay, maybe it wasn’t that dramatic. Still a pretty cool though. We left Topeka early Sunday morning headed to Greensburg. Because of my job, I’ve been able to go through there probably 10 or 12 times since last years tornado. But this was the first time my wife’s had the chance to see how much our little home town has changed since we left there almost 19 years ago.
We spent about an hour just driving around town. We found the places we used to live. For a while we rented a house across the street from the Big Well. The only thing left is the sidewalk, the basement, and that big old tree in the back yard. The house was gone. So was the house next door, and the one next to it. And the one across the street is gone too. In fact, it was all gone.
They’re rebuilding though. I’d guess that so far they’ve built a couple hundred houses or so. The school is up and running. Churches are rebuilding. They’re going to be the “greenest” city in the world I guess. I’ve poked a lot of fun at the ’Greenies.” And I’m really tired of everything “green.” But you know what? I’m not convinced it’s really such a bad thing. How about naming it something else though? How about just calling it “energy efficient?” But hey, if calling it green helps Greensburg rebuild their town, go for it.
We left Greensburg to meet up with our friends, Eric and Ronni, who because of the tornado now live in Haviland. Eric took my wife and I back down to devils corral. My wife wanted to see the initials we carved in the rocks I told you about a few weeks ago. We headed southeast from there across the Anchor-D, Longhorn Ranch, toward Belvidere. We stopped by the old abandoned school house I’ve talked about. It was built sometime in the 1880’s, and I have no idea how long ago it was abandoned, but it’s such a cool place. Like most country schools, this one consisted of one classroom. And like classrooms even today it had a blackboard on each end of the room. There’s no more chalk or erasers, the blackboards themselves are both long gone, but both frames are completely intact and in pretty good shape. If you stood there long enough you could almost make out a young kid named Johnny writing something over and over again.
We had to leave before we got Johnny into more trouble with his teacher so we headed towards the big hill behind Belvidere. From the top of this hill you can see for miles and miles. On a clear night you can see the lights from Medicine Lodge, Pratt, Greensburg, and even Dodge City. I remember one night after consuming 25 or 30 beers I even saw Denver. We spent a little time there just looking and remembering some of the earlier trips we’ve taken to that same spot. But it was time to go. We headed back to Eric and Ronni’s place for supper, then headed out for Pratt for the night.
We left Pratt the next morning intending to head northwest toward Larned because we both wanted to visit “Fort Larned” but we hadn’t decided on any particular route to take and decided to see if we could make the entire 60 mile trip using only county roads. So off we went. Most of the roads were paved and in pretty good shape. Others weren’t. It took us a little more than 2 hours to make the trip but was well worth the effort. We got to see things we’d have never seen from the highway. Things like 20 or 30 pheasants, 2 snakes, it seemed like we had hawks watching us the whole way. Outside one town we saw 6 or 7 buzzards eating something. We saw several roads that had had water over them in the last few days. We passed a lot of small, family farms long the way. If someone was outside they were quick to smile and wave. A lot of these farms had an American flag flying in the front yards. We saw a crew setting up a rig to drill for oil.
We finally got to Fort Larned and yes, it was everything we’d hoped it would be. But time was running short and we had to get going. It was time to hurry up. Time to head toward Ellsworth so we could catch I-70 and hurry on home.
We had just reached I-70 when I realized we’d been propelled into the future. There’s a wind farm along I-70 a little west of Salina. These windmills are the real thing too. They’re huge and there must be a couple hundred of them. If you get the chance, you ought to drive out there to see them for yourself. Very cool.
Looks like the Governor has decided we don’t need any more coal-fired power plants in Kansas and that our future is blowing in the wind. Governor, I just hope you’re right.
Kevin McGinty can be reached at: kevinmcginty@sbcglobal.net
Okay, maybe it wasn’t that dramatic. Still a pretty cool though. We left Topeka early Sunday morning headed to Greensburg. Because of my job, I’ve been able to go through there probably 10 or 12 times since last years tornado. But this was the first time my wife’s had the chance to see how much our little home town has changed since we left there almost 19 years ago.
We spent about an hour just driving around town. We found the places we used to live. For a while we rented a house across the street from the Big Well. The only thing left is the sidewalk, the basement, and that big old tree in the back yard. The house was gone. So was the house next door, and the one next to it. And the one across the street is gone too. In fact, it was all gone.
They’re rebuilding though. I’d guess that so far they’ve built a couple hundred houses or so. The school is up and running. Churches are rebuilding. They’re going to be the “greenest” city in the world I guess. I’ve poked a lot of fun at the ’Greenies.” And I’m really tired of everything “green.” But you know what? I’m not convinced it’s really such a bad thing. How about naming it something else though? How about just calling it “energy efficient?” But hey, if calling it green helps Greensburg rebuild their town, go for it.
We left Greensburg to meet up with our friends, Eric and Ronni, who because of the tornado now live in Haviland. Eric took my wife and I back down to devils corral. My wife wanted to see the initials we carved in the rocks I told you about a few weeks ago. We headed southeast from there across the Anchor-D, Longhorn Ranch, toward Belvidere. We stopped by the old abandoned school house I’ve talked about. It was built sometime in the 1880’s, and I have no idea how long ago it was abandoned, but it’s such a cool place. Like most country schools, this one consisted of one classroom. And like classrooms even today it had a blackboard on each end of the room. There’s no more chalk or erasers, the blackboards themselves are both long gone, but both frames are completely intact and in pretty good shape. If you stood there long enough you could almost make out a young kid named Johnny writing something over and over again.
We had to leave before we got Johnny into more trouble with his teacher so we headed towards the big hill behind Belvidere. From the top of this hill you can see for miles and miles. On a clear night you can see the lights from Medicine Lodge, Pratt, Greensburg, and even Dodge City. I remember one night after consuming 25 or 30 beers I even saw Denver. We spent a little time there just looking and remembering some of the earlier trips we’ve taken to that same spot. But it was time to go. We headed back to Eric and Ronni’s place for supper, then headed out for Pratt for the night.
We left Pratt the next morning intending to head northwest toward Larned because we both wanted to visit “Fort Larned” but we hadn’t decided on any particular route to take and decided to see if we could make the entire 60 mile trip using only county roads. So off we went. Most of the roads were paved and in pretty good shape. Others weren’t. It took us a little more than 2 hours to make the trip but was well worth the effort. We got to see things we’d have never seen from the highway. Things like 20 or 30 pheasants, 2 snakes, it seemed like we had hawks watching us the whole way. Outside one town we saw 6 or 7 buzzards eating something. We saw several roads that had had water over them in the last few days. We passed a lot of small, family farms long the way. If someone was outside they were quick to smile and wave. A lot of these farms had an American flag flying in the front yards. We saw a crew setting up a rig to drill for oil.
We finally got to Fort Larned and yes, it was everything we’d hoped it would be. But time was running short and we had to get going. It was time to hurry up. Time to head toward Ellsworth so we could catch I-70 and hurry on home.
We had just reached I-70 when I realized we’d been propelled into the future. There’s a wind farm along I-70 a little west of Salina. These windmills are the real thing too. They’re huge and there must be a couple hundred of them. If you get the chance, you ought to drive out there to see them for yourself. Very cool.
Looks like the Governor has decided we don’t need any more coal-fired power plants in Kansas and that our future is blowing in the wind. Governor, I just hope you’re right.
Kevin McGinty can be reached at: kevinmcginty@sbcglobal.net
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Lisa Montgomery and Phill Kline
Because of recent rulings by the U.S. Supreme Court, it’s full speed ahead with the Death Penalty again. Good! I mean that’s what these people deserve for what they’ve done, right?
How do you guys feel about the death penalty? Do you believe, like I do, that someone like Lisa Montgomery deserved the death sentence she was given? If you remember, she was the woman from Melvern who traveled to Missouri to kill a young woman named Bobby Jo Stinnet so she could steal the child the young woman was carrying.
Some will argue that Lisa Montgomery was emotionally unstable and shouldn’t be held responsible for her actions. They’ll argue that we as a society, don’t have the right to condemn anyone to death. And that two wrongs don’t make a right. You know, that kind of stuff.
Personally, I believe Lisa Montgomery got what she had coming. Do I believe justice was served? Maybe, maybe not. It’s hard to say. No, putting her to death won’t bring Bobbi Jo back. It won’t restore any of the damage she’s inflicted upon the lives of so many people. So what’s the point? I don’t know, maybe it’s revenge we‘re after.
Call it justice, call it revenge, call it whatever you want. Lisa Montgomery was given the sentence she had coming. But what about someone who’s been wrongly accused, convicted, and sentenced to die. What about those guys? What do you do if you put the wrong person to death? Do you just say oops, sorry about that? How do you make it right?
Think it can’t happen? Think again. I’m not sure of the exact number, I think it’s somewhere around 130 people, who, because of DNA testing have been exonerated of the crimes they were condemned to die for. How do you make that right?
You can’t. How many more people are there out there sitting on death row waiting for the day to come when they pay the ultimate penalty for a crime they didn’t commit?
If Lisa Montgomery does indeed pay for her crimes with her life, so be it. But until the day comes when we can remove all doubt about someone’s guilt, I think we need to put a halt to the death penalty in the United States. But that’s just my opinion.
I realize most of you reading this column today are well aware of my pro-life beliefs. And maybe some of you are tired of me going on about it so I won’t dwell on the subject today. But because Phill Kline has been in the news so much lately I do have a few comments I’d like to make. Why are there so many people out there today who’ll seemingly go to any length to make sure the laws concerning late-term abortions in Kansas are ignored. Why?
Some of you act like Phill Kline is the devil himself. You’ve called him every name in the book. You yell that he’s on a personal crusade and should be silenced. You’ve fallen for the patient privacy excuse Tiller and Planned-Parenthood have used to obstruct his investigation. You cry that he’s trying to change the law. You accuse him of violating the separation of church and state principals of the law. You scream that his investigation of the abortion clinics is unconstitutional.
Here’s the way I see it. Phill Kline doesn’t need to change the laws. Late-term abortions have been outlawed in the State of Kansas, the only exception to this law is if an abortion is necessary to save the life of the mother, period. Tiller boasts of performing more late-term abortions than anyone in the Western Hemisphere, somewhere around 2,800 from the way I hear it. Do you really believe these are all on the up and up? No, you don’t believe it. But you don’t care either.
Mr. Kline, I don’t know how you keep going. But I do want you to know there are some of us out here who support you in your efforts. Keep up the good work.
Kevin McGinty can be reached at: kevinmcginty@sbcglobal.net
How do you guys feel about the death penalty? Do you believe, like I do, that someone like Lisa Montgomery deserved the death sentence she was given? If you remember, she was the woman from Melvern who traveled to Missouri to kill a young woman named Bobby Jo Stinnet so she could steal the child the young woman was carrying.
Some will argue that Lisa Montgomery was emotionally unstable and shouldn’t be held responsible for her actions. They’ll argue that we as a society, don’t have the right to condemn anyone to death. And that two wrongs don’t make a right. You know, that kind of stuff.
Personally, I believe Lisa Montgomery got what she had coming. Do I believe justice was served? Maybe, maybe not. It’s hard to say. No, putting her to death won’t bring Bobbi Jo back. It won’t restore any of the damage she’s inflicted upon the lives of so many people. So what’s the point? I don’t know, maybe it’s revenge we‘re after.
Call it justice, call it revenge, call it whatever you want. Lisa Montgomery was given the sentence she had coming. But what about someone who’s been wrongly accused, convicted, and sentenced to die. What about those guys? What do you do if you put the wrong person to death? Do you just say oops, sorry about that? How do you make it right?
Think it can’t happen? Think again. I’m not sure of the exact number, I think it’s somewhere around 130 people, who, because of DNA testing have been exonerated of the crimes they were condemned to die for. How do you make that right?
You can’t. How many more people are there out there sitting on death row waiting for the day to come when they pay the ultimate penalty for a crime they didn’t commit?
If Lisa Montgomery does indeed pay for her crimes with her life, so be it. But until the day comes when we can remove all doubt about someone’s guilt, I think we need to put a halt to the death penalty in the United States. But that’s just my opinion.
I realize most of you reading this column today are well aware of my pro-life beliefs. And maybe some of you are tired of me going on about it so I won’t dwell on the subject today. But because Phill Kline has been in the news so much lately I do have a few comments I’d like to make. Why are there so many people out there today who’ll seemingly go to any length to make sure the laws concerning late-term abortions in Kansas are ignored. Why?
Some of you act like Phill Kline is the devil himself. You’ve called him every name in the book. You yell that he’s on a personal crusade and should be silenced. You’ve fallen for the patient privacy excuse Tiller and Planned-Parenthood have used to obstruct his investigation. You cry that he’s trying to change the law. You accuse him of violating the separation of church and state principals of the law. You scream that his investigation of the abortion clinics is unconstitutional.
Here’s the way I see it. Phill Kline doesn’t need to change the laws. Late-term abortions have been outlawed in the State of Kansas, the only exception to this law is if an abortion is necessary to save the life of the mother, period. Tiller boasts of performing more late-term abortions than anyone in the Western Hemisphere, somewhere around 2,800 from the way I hear it. Do you really believe these are all on the up and up? No, you don’t believe it. But you don’t care either.
Mr. Kline, I don’t know how you keep going. But I do want you to know there are some of us out here who support you in your efforts. Keep up the good work.
Kevin McGinty can be reached at: kevinmcginty@sbcglobal.net
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
The Letter
I called home early last Saturday morning from Guymon Oklahoma to let my wife know I was headed her way. It gives her something to look forward to! I do the best I can to keep the old girl going, and it gives her time to get the house cleaned up and have a nice supper ready when I get there. I know how important these things are to her.
Okay, maybe that’s not exactly the way it went. She told me in her usual sarcastic way that it was about time I decided to come home. The bathroom sink was backing up and the yard needs mowing. She then informed me we were going out to eat when I got there. So much for that home cooked meal. She called me an old fool, told me to keep it between the ditches and she’d see me when I got there. Just before we hung up, she said, oh yeah, you got a letter from Melissa today.
Oh, just so you know, Melissa is one of my nieces. Like most old guys, I still think of my nieces and nephews as kids. That’s not exactly the way things work though. Melissa’s now a grown woman. She’s married to a good guy named Brian, they have two kids of their own and she teaches school in Houston. I spent most of that 400 mile trip home trying to figure out what her letter could be about. That and passing people. I finally got home that afternoon and opened the letter. In it was a picture I hadn’t seen in at least 25 years. I was sitting on the couch holding Melissa and my daughter, Misty in my arms with my other niece, Michelle was sitting on my shoulders. Michelle’s the oldest and I’d guess she was about 3 years-old in the picture. Yeah, that was a good day.
She said she came across the picture and just had to send it to me. She wrote, here’s a picture of you and your girls. We put you through a lot didn’t we? There were the leeches in Greensburg, then the teenage years. She seemed pretty sure I missed those years the most. Yeah right!
It cracked me up that she remembered the leech story. They weren’t exactly in Greensburg. Do you remember the story about Rosa Smith? She’s the girl who was buried out in the middle of nowhere back in 1884. If you head east from her grave just over the next hill is a small, winding creek. On this creek is a really cool beaver dam. In the process of building their dam, the beavers created a small oasis of sorts. The pond they created is small. Probably only 25 feet at it’s widest point. But the ground surrounding the pond is a little like a small swamp. The grass is beautiful. Wild flowers, cat-tails, and Cottonwoods thrive. It’s one the best places I know of to watch the sun go down. Okay, that’s the story about the beaver dam.
I’ve told you about Sunday picnics we used to take. One of those Sundays I decided since both my sister-in-laws and most of the nieces and nephews were spending a little time with us it would be good idea to share my beaver dam with them.
It was. We spread the kids out on blankets with their peanut butter sandwiches and potato chips or whatever they had that day. I got busy packing stuff up in the back of the truck while the rest of them roamed the area. It wasn’t long before someone asked me if I thought it would be okay if the kids got in the creek. Sure, I told them. It’s a natural spring, you won’t find more pure water anywhere. With that assurance, one by one the kids all got into the water.
I was sitting on the tailgate of my truck watching what them have the time of their lives. Three mother hens and their kids. The water was probably up their bellies. They were laughing and splashing each other. I was watching what could be described as a “Norman Rockwell” moment when it all fell apart. Once the girls climbed out of the creek it took all of about two seconds to realize they were all covered with big, fat, leeches.
There was Misty, Michelle and Melissa, Josh and Katie screaming at the top of their lungs. Their moms, Donna and Karen were about to lose it. And there was my wife giving me that look.
Hey guys, sorry about that. My bad. And Melissa, thank you so much for the memory. You made my day.
Kevin McGinty can be reached at: kevinmcginty@sbcglobal.net
Okay, maybe that’s not exactly the way it went. She told me in her usual sarcastic way that it was about time I decided to come home. The bathroom sink was backing up and the yard needs mowing. She then informed me we were going out to eat when I got there. So much for that home cooked meal. She called me an old fool, told me to keep it between the ditches and she’d see me when I got there. Just before we hung up, she said, oh yeah, you got a letter from Melissa today.
Oh, just so you know, Melissa is one of my nieces. Like most old guys, I still think of my nieces and nephews as kids. That’s not exactly the way things work though. Melissa’s now a grown woman. She’s married to a good guy named Brian, they have two kids of their own and she teaches school in Houston. I spent most of that 400 mile trip home trying to figure out what her letter could be about. That and passing people. I finally got home that afternoon and opened the letter. In it was a picture I hadn’t seen in at least 25 years. I was sitting on the couch holding Melissa and my daughter, Misty in my arms with my other niece, Michelle was sitting on my shoulders. Michelle’s the oldest and I’d guess she was about 3 years-old in the picture. Yeah, that was a good day.
She said she came across the picture and just had to send it to me. She wrote, here’s a picture of you and your girls. We put you through a lot didn’t we? There were the leeches in Greensburg, then the teenage years. She seemed pretty sure I missed those years the most. Yeah right!
It cracked me up that she remembered the leech story. They weren’t exactly in Greensburg. Do you remember the story about Rosa Smith? She’s the girl who was buried out in the middle of nowhere back in 1884. If you head east from her grave just over the next hill is a small, winding creek. On this creek is a really cool beaver dam. In the process of building their dam, the beavers created a small oasis of sorts. The pond they created is small. Probably only 25 feet at it’s widest point. But the ground surrounding the pond is a little like a small swamp. The grass is beautiful. Wild flowers, cat-tails, and Cottonwoods thrive. It’s one the best places I know of to watch the sun go down. Okay, that’s the story about the beaver dam.
I’ve told you about Sunday picnics we used to take. One of those Sundays I decided since both my sister-in-laws and most of the nieces and nephews were spending a little time with us it would be good idea to share my beaver dam with them.
It was. We spread the kids out on blankets with their peanut butter sandwiches and potato chips or whatever they had that day. I got busy packing stuff up in the back of the truck while the rest of them roamed the area. It wasn’t long before someone asked me if I thought it would be okay if the kids got in the creek. Sure, I told them. It’s a natural spring, you won’t find more pure water anywhere. With that assurance, one by one the kids all got into the water.
I was sitting on the tailgate of my truck watching what them have the time of their lives. Three mother hens and their kids. The water was probably up their bellies. They were laughing and splashing each other. I was watching what could be described as a “Norman Rockwell” moment when it all fell apart. Once the girls climbed out of the creek it took all of about two seconds to realize they were all covered with big, fat, leeches.
There was Misty, Michelle and Melissa, Josh and Katie screaming at the top of their lungs. Their moms, Donna and Karen were about to lose it. And there was my wife giving me that look.
Hey guys, sorry about that. My bad. And Melissa, thank you so much for the memory. You made my day.
Kevin McGinty can be reached at: kevinmcginty@sbcglobal.net
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Racism, Guns, and The Governor
And once again, racism rears it’s ugly head. Last week one of our distinguished 501 school board members, Betty Horton showed us who she really is.
Once again, things didn’t go her way and she had another one of her now famous, hissy fits. This time her target was fellow board member, Patrick Woods. I guess in Betty’s way of thinking, because Woods and Horton both happen to be black he was supposed to automatically agree with her on every issue that came their way.
When asked to comment on her confrontation with Woods, Horton said, “all I know is he think’s he’s white. That’s it. Print it.” She went on to say that on the issues, Woods “whited out.”
That’s a hell of a thing for you to say Betty but I am glad you did. Your words expose you as the racist you are. Hey, I hear your position will be up for re-election next year. Good luck with that.
Oh well, that’s enough of that for now. I wanted to talk about a couple bills that have made their way to the Governor’s desk over the last few days. She signed a bill into law that makes it possible for average citizens to own things like machine guns and silencers. Hey, I’m all for the right to keep and bear arms. I’m all for citizens having the right to carry a concealed weapon. I’ve got no problem with that. In today’s world you never know when you’re going to run into the path of some nut case out there. I get it. But a machine gun? How cool is that?
Backers say the bill was necessary to make it legal for Kansas police departments to buy things like sawed off shot guns, machine guns, and silencers. Hmm, maybe it’s just me. But I don’t really feel that comfortable with the cops being able to cut someone in half with a machine gun equipped with a silencer from 1,000 yards out. Yeah, it’s probably just me. Besides, everyone knows there’s no reason to believe any our officers would resort to using excessive force. Don’t we?
Oh yeah, the other bill I wanted to talk about is the yearly abortion bill. You know, the one Sebelius vetoed the other day. The bill would have required abortion providers to report suspected under age, sexual abuse cases. Late-term abortions are illegal in Kansas. The only exception to this law is to save the life of the mother. The bill would have required abortionists to provide the specific life-threatening medical condition that existed making the abortion necessary to save the mother‘s life. It would have also provided women having an abortion the opportunity to view a sonogram image of the baby, who’s life she’s contemplating ending.
In her veto statement Sebelius, said she was concerned the bill was likely unconstitutional or even worse, it could endanger the lives of women seeking an abortion. Whatever Governor.
Mary Kay Culp of Kansans for Life said the Governor has vetoed a very reasonable bill with very unreasonable excuses. And Julie Burkhart, executive director for the pro-choice group, ProKanDo said that law makers wasted their time writing this bill in the first place.
Julie, this is the first time I’ve ever agreed with any thing you’ve ever said. Sebelius has vetoed every abortion bill that’s crossed her desk since taking office. To think she wasn’t going to do the same with this one was just wishful thinking. And as long as we continue to elect people like her into office nothing will ever change.
Governor, I’m not sure who offends me the most. You or Betty Horton. I’m just glad you’re both on your way out of office.
Kevin McGinty can be reached at: kevinmcginty@sbcglobal.net
Once again, things didn’t go her way and she had another one of her now famous, hissy fits. This time her target was fellow board member, Patrick Woods. I guess in Betty’s way of thinking, because Woods and Horton both happen to be black he was supposed to automatically agree with her on every issue that came their way.
When asked to comment on her confrontation with Woods, Horton said, “all I know is he think’s he’s white. That’s it. Print it.” She went on to say that on the issues, Woods “whited out.”
That’s a hell of a thing for you to say Betty but I am glad you did. Your words expose you as the racist you are. Hey, I hear your position will be up for re-election next year. Good luck with that.
Oh well, that’s enough of that for now. I wanted to talk about a couple bills that have made their way to the Governor’s desk over the last few days. She signed a bill into law that makes it possible for average citizens to own things like machine guns and silencers. Hey, I’m all for the right to keep and bear arms. I’m all for citizens having the right to carry a concealed weapon. I’ve got no problem with that. In today’s world you never know when you’re going to run into the path of some nut case out there. I get it. But a machine gun? How cool is that?
Backers say the bill was necessary to make it legal for Kansas police departments to buy things like sawed off shot guns, machine guns, and silencers. Hmm, maybe it’s just me. But I don’t really feel that comfortable with the cops being able to cut someone in half with a machine gun equipped with a silencer from 1,000 yards out. Yeah, it’s probably just me. Besides, everyone knows there’s no reason to believe any our officers would resort to using excessive force. Don’t we?
Oh yeah, the other bill I wanted to talk about is the yearly abortion bill. You know, the one Sebelius vetoed the other day. The bill would have required abortion providers to report suspected under age, sexual abuse cases. Late-term abortions are illegal in Kansas. The only exception to this law is to save the life of the mother. The bill would have required abortionists to provide the specific life-threatening medical condition that existed making the abortion necessary to save the mother‘s life. It would have also provided women having an abortion the opportunity to view a sonogram image of the baby, who’s life she’s contemplating ending.
In her veto statement Sebelius, said she was concerned the bill was likely unconstitutional or even worse, it could endanger the lives of women seeking an abortion. Whatever Governor.
Mary Kay Culp of Kansans for Life said the Governor has vetoed a very reasonable bill with very unreasonable excuses. And Julie Burkhart, executive director for the pro-choice group, ProKanDo said that law makers wasted their time writing this bill in the first place.
Julie, this is the first time I’ve ever agreed with any thing you’ve ever said. Sebelius has vetoed every abortion bill that’s crossed her desk since taking office. To think she wasn’t going to do the same with this one was just wishful thinking. And as long as we continue to elect people like her into office nothing will ever change.
Governor, I’m not sure who offends me the most. You or Betty Horton. I’m just glad you’re both on your way out of office.
Kevin McGinty can be reached at: kevinmcginty@sbcglobal.net
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Lone Tree Incident
I was headed out to Liberal a couple of weeks ago. Nothing special, I’ve made the trip several times lately. I like to take highway 50 from Emporia through Hutchinson then out to Pratt and jump on 54 the rest of the way. I like this route because there are a lot of passing lanes and as I’m blasting along at 80, I mean 65 mph., I hate having to disengage the cruise control because I get stuck behind someone doing the speed limit. Come on man, I’m making good time and you’re slowing me down.
We blast down the highways in our air conditioned and heated vehicles as fast as we want while talking on our cell phones. We have technology to tell us the way. We have GPS systems to track every move we make. Locking your keys in your car is no longer a problem. All it take is a phone call and presto, you’re in. We entertain the kids with built-in DVD players, and video game systems. If that doesn’t satisfy them, break out the lap top. We’re in such a hurry to get there, if we do stop to eat it’ll probably be at a drive through at some fast food joint along the road.
We’ve all sped by those “Kansas Historical Markers” along the roads to wherever we’re headed. You know the one’s. They’re the one’s we usually look at in our rear view mirror and wonder what historical event could have taken place in that spot making it worthy of a marker. On this particular trip curiosity finally got the best of me and I stopped at the one I’d noticed along highway 54 just west of Meade for a quick look. Wow! I had no idea. The marker told a story called the Lone Tree Incident.
It was August 24, 1874. It seems that six men working for a surveying company in the area were ambushed by a band of renegade Cheyenne Indians led by Chief Medicine Water who was leading his warriors in attacks against the white settlers in the area. Some 27 settlers had been killed and many farmsteads had been burned to the ground. On this day the Indians had seen the survey crew coming and hid out of sight waiting for their chance to catch them by surprise. The men of the survey company did their best to out run their attackers that day. But in the end, they were only able to make about three miles before the Indians killed the oxen they were using to pull the heavy wagons loaded down with their equipment. In the end all six men were killed and three of them were scalped. Their bodies were found a few days later and were temporarily buried underneath a lone Cottonwood Tree about five miles south of the marker.
The attack that day became known as The Lone Tree Incident. And I’m sure it gave future settlers a special kind of creepiness as they passed through the area to wherever they were headed.
No, it wasn’t exactly the story I expected to read about that day as I pulled off the road for that quick look. But it did make me stop for a few minutes. I shut my truck off and just sat there listening. Listening to the wind blowing across the plains and wondering about the events of that day almost 180 years ago.
I’m glad I stopped by that marker outside of Meade that day for a couple of reasons. First, it was a fascinating story about some of the things people had to endure in those days. But mostly It made me glad I didn’t live back then.
I can live without an onboard computer to tell me the way, I know how to read a map. I’m not into the built-in DVD players and such. But I love blasting down the road at 80, I mean 65 mph. And if putting up with people driving the speed limit is the worst thing I have to deal with while I’m out on the plains of western Kansas, I’ll be probably be okay.
Kevin McGinty can be reached at: kevinmcginty@sbcglobal.net
We blast down the highways in our air conditioned and heated vehicles as fast as we want while talking on our cell phones. We have technology to tell us the way. We have GPS systems to track every move we make. Locking your keys in your car is no longer a problem. All it take is a phone call and presto, you’re in. We entertain the kids with built-in DVD players, and video game systems. If that doesn’t satisfy them, break out the lap top. We’re in such a hurry to get there, if we do stop to eat it’ll probably be at a drive through at some fast food joint along the road.
We’ve all sped by those “Kansas Historical Markers” along the roads to wherever we’re headed. You know the one’s. They’re the one’s we usually look at in our rear view mirror and wonder what historical event could have taken place in that spot making it worthy of a marker. On this particular trip curiosity finally got the best of me and I stopped at the one I’d noticed along highway 54 just west of Meade for a quick look. Wow! I had no idea. The marker told a story called the Lone Tree Incident.
It was August 24, 1874. It seems that six men working for a surveying company in the area were ambushed by a band of renegade Cheyenne Indians led by Chief Medicine Water who was leading his warriors in attacks against the white settlers in the area. Some 27 settlers had been killed and many farmsteads had been burned to the ground. On this day the Indians had seen the survey crew coming and hid out of sight waiting for their chance to catch them by surprise. The men of the survey company did their best to out run their attackers that day. But in the end, they were only able to make about three miles before the Indians killed the oxen they were using to pull the heavy wagons loaded down with their equipment. In the end all six men were killed and three of them were scalped. Their bodies were found a few days later and were temporarily buried underneath a lone Cottonwood Tree about five miles south of the marker.
The attack that day became known as The Lone Tree Incident. And I’m sure it gave future settlers a special kind of creepiness as they passed through the area to wherever they were headed.
No, it wasn’t exactly the story I expected to read about that day as I pulled off the road for that quick look. But it did make me stop for a few minutes. I shut my truck off and just sat there listening. Listening to the wind blowing across the plains and wondering about the events of that day almost 180 years ago.
I’m glad I stopped by that marker outside of Meade that day for a couple of reasons. First, it was a fascinating story about some of the things people had to endure in those days. But mostly It made me glad I didn’t live back then.
I can live without an onboard computer to tell me the way, I know how to read a map. I’m not into the built-in DVD players and such. But I love blasting down the road at 80, I mean 65 mph. And if putting up with people driving the speed limit is the worst thing I have to deal with while I’m out on the plains of western Kansas, I’ll be probably be okay.
Kevin McGinty can be reached at: kevinmcginty@sbcglobal.net
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
The Wreck
Do the names Jennifer Longfellow, Julia Alcala, Victoria Dowell, Myranda Mason, or Veronika McDaniel mean anything to you? They were five young 15 and 16-year old high school girls. Friends, they grew up together. Two of them were involved in high school sports, two of them were cousins and for the most part all of them were inseparable.
The girls had mothers, fathers, grandparents, brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles. Like most young kids, they had friends, a lot of them. They had hopes and dreams. They probably had boyfriends, and were looking forward to some upcoming dance or something. They talked non-stop on the phone and they knew things about each other no one else would ever know. That’s the way it’s supposed to be. They were young and had their whole lives ahead of them.
The five of them left Ulysses high school in Jennifer’s car for lunch a couple weeks ago. It turned out to be the last thing they‘d ever do.
I don’t know what happened that horrible day. I don’t know if the sun was shining in Jennifer’s eyes. I don’t know if she was distracted and just didn’t see the tractor-trailer coming.
What I do know is this was the last time they’d ever see each other. Jennifer, the driver, was horribly injured but somehow managed to survive. Her friends, Julia, Victoria, Myranda, and Veronika weren’t so lucky. They didn’t make it.
The deaths of these young girls will effect so many people. Never again will their moms hear those beautiful words “mom, I’m home.” Their dads will never get the chance to watch the little girls they used to bounce on their knee grow up. And the brothers and sisters won’t be able to say they’re sorry for snooping through their stuff. There’ll be no more high school football games. There’ll never be another test to take. No more high school proms to worry about. No more boyfriends or weekend plans to make. In the blink of an eye none of that mattered anymore, they were gone.
As a dad, I can’t imagine how bad the day of the memorial service was. No matter what, life will never be the same. The thing the families needed most that day was respect. People needed to respect their right to privacy and give them the space they needed to cope with the loss they were suffering. They needed the support of family, friends, and the community of Ulysses, which they received without condition.
The last thing they needed that day was to come out of the Ulysses community center to find the freaks from Topeka’s Westboro Baptist Church with their sickening signs thanking god for dead kids. I guess in their twisted view, because God hates fags he also hates Kansas, the unholy, ungrateful land of the sodomite and sent the semi to kill the girls for our sins. Whatever.
If we’re going to thank God for anything, we should thank him for sending the brave men and women of the Patriot Guard. This group of about 150 motorcycle riders came from all over southwest Kansas to act as a human shield to stand between the protesters and the grieving families . They rev up their engines to drown out the name calling the Phelps’ are so famous for. And once the protesters move on so does the Patriot Guard, allowing the families to grieve in peace. Is this too much to ask for?
The only reason we even know the names of the girls is because of the wreck in Ulysses that day. I wish we’d never heard of them. And to the families and friends of the girls, I’m sorry for the horrible loss you’ve suffered and I’m sorry you had to witness the worst Topeka has to offer.
Kevin McGinty can be reached at: kevinmcginty@sbcglobal.net
The girls had mothers, fathers, grandparents, brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles. Like most young kids, they had friends, a lot of them. They had hopes and dreams. They probably had boyfriends, and were looking forward to some upcoming dance or something. They talked non-stop on the phone and they knew things about each other no one else would ever know. That’s the way it’s supposed to be. They were young and had their whole lives ahead of them.
The five of them left Ulysses high school in Jennifer’s car for lunch a couple weeks ago. It turned out to be the last thing they‘d ever do.
I don’t know what happened that horrible day. I don’t know if the sun was shining in Jennifer’s eyes. I don’t know if she was distracted and just didn’t see the tractor-trailer coming.
What I do know is this was the last time they’d ever see each other. Jennifer, the driver, was horribly injured but somehow managed to survive. Her friends, Julia, Victoria, Myranda, and Veronika weren’t so lucky. They didn’t make it.
The deaths of these young girls will effect so many people. Never again will their moms hear those beautiful words “mom, I’m home.” Their dads will never get the chance to watch the little girls they used to bounce on their knee grow up. And the brothers and sisters won’t be able to say they’re sorry for snooping through their stuff. There’ll be no more high school football games. There’ll never be another test to take. No more high school proms to worry about. No more boyfriends or weekend plans to make. In the blink of an eye none of that mattered anymore, they were gone.
As a dad, I can’t imagine how bad the day of the memorial service was. No matter what, life will never be the same. The thing the families needed most that day was respect. People needed to respect their right to privacy and give them the space they needed to cope with the loss they were suffering. They needed the support of family, friends, and the community of Ulysses, which they received without condition.
The last thing they needed that day was to come out of the Ulysses community center to find the freaks from Topeka’s Westboro Baptist Church with their sickening signs thanking god for dead kids. I guess in their twisted view, because God hates fags he also hates Kansas, the unholy, ungrateful land of the sodomite and sent the semi to kill the girls for our sins. Whatever.
If we’re going to thank God for anything, we should thank him for sending the brave men and women of the Patriot Guard. This group of about 150 motorcycle riders came from all over southwest Kansas to act as a human shield to stand between the protesters and the grieving families . They rev up their engines to drown out the name calling the Phelps’ are so famous for. And once the protesters move on so does the Patriot Guard, allowing the families to grieve in peace. Is this too much to ask for?
The only reason we even know the names of the girls is because of the wreck in Ulysses that day. I wish we’d never heard of them. And to the families and friends of the girls, I’m sorry for the horrible loss you’ve suffered and I’m sorry you had to witness the worst Topeka has to offer.
Kevin McGinty can be reached at: kevinmcginty@sbcglobal.net
What Mission?
Once again Jig, you're talking about things you know nothing about. You asked me how my fellow whackjob, Steve Forman feels now that his morning talk show has been cancelled.
Well buddy, I just finished listening to his show, he sounded okay to me. It's funny, I was able to listen to a show that's no longer on the air.
What exactly are you taking credit for with your stupid "Mission Accomplished" statement? Kinda makes you look a little like Bush doesn't it?
Well buddy, I just finished listening to his show, he sounded okay to me. It's funny, I was able to listen to a show that's no longer on the air.
What exactly are you taking credit for with your stupid "Mission Accomplished" statement? Kinda makes you look a little like Bush doesn't it?
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Time Travel
I’m going to tell you a story today that might bore some of you, it’s a personal story about traveling back in time. Well, sort of anyway.
But first, maybe someone could answer a question that‘s been bugging me. Why would you name your son Robert, Richard, or Charles and insist on calling them Bob, Dick, and Chuck? I realize there are more pressing issues but just the same, I believe this practice is responsible for a lot of our problems we face as a nation today. Talk about an identity crisis. These poor souls don’t even know who they are. What about their family members? You have no idea how confused I was as a child when I found out my uncle Bob was actually my uncle Robert? I thought maybe he was in some sort of witness protection program or something and was just using our family as a cover. No, things were never the same once he let it be known his name was Robert. I was thinking maybe somebody out there might know why and maybe when we started doing this to our kids. Now before you go flying off the handle, I’m just kidding. I do find it weird though.
Okay, I promised you a story about time travel today. As some of you might remember, I moved here from Greensburg. I’ve told you about road trips we used to take to places like Belvidere, Sun City, Medicine Lodge and to a place called Devil’s corral. Devil’s corral is a huge area of sandstone rock formations on a ranch about 20 miles south of Greensburg. This particular bunch of rocks resemble a horse shoe and people have been carving their names in the rocks for generations. Okay, it was also a good place to have a keg party on a Saturday night. We always had a roaring fire, plenty of ice-cold beer, and there was always someone willing to provide the music from the cab of their truck. I won’t go into all the things that took place out there on some of those Saturday nights as some of you might not approve. Just trust me when I say they were good times.
And once you got over your Saturday night hangover and made up with your wife, Devil’s corral was a wonderful place to take your family for a Sunday afternoon picnic. We’d spend hours cooking, eating, and exploring the area on my wife‘s motorcycle. We were out there one Sunday with a bunch of friends and their kids and decided to add our names to the wall.
I remember it like it was yesterday. I was 25 years-old. My wife and I had been married 4 years and our little girl was 3 years-old, she carried her cabbage patch doll with her everywhere she went. Probably had it with her that day. I remember, what started out to be a group project ended up being my project. All the sudden, everybody found something to do. I was stuck, it took me all afternoon but I got it finished. Yeah, good times.
I spent last weekend with my friends, Eric and Ronni Sears from Greensburg. Eric and I went to Devil’s corral. It was one of the best road trips we’ve ever taken. First of all, it’s dirt roads the whole way. There’s a couple low water bridges, and a lot of the is on open range where you’ll probably going to come across cattle in the road. When we finally got there I just kind of stood there looking. Looking and remembering. Once I started up the hill towards the opening on the front to the corral, it was like stepping back in time. I was scanning the walls for our names but coming up empty. I was about ready to admit someone had probably carved over ours. Or that time had simply wiped us out. I was snapping a few pictures when I saw it. There we were, Kevin, Linda, Misty, Jerri, Jenifer, and Katie, it was dated 2-27-83.
Yeah, that was a good life back then. But you know what? The 25 years that followed were just as good. My wife and have been married 29 years now. We have 2 more sons, a daughter and son in law, and grandkids all over the place. How much more could an old guy ask for?
But first, maybe someone could answer a question that‘s been bugging me. Why would you name your son Robert, Richard, or Charles and insist on calling them Bob, Dick, and Chuck? I realize there are more pressing issues but just the same, I believe this practice is responsible for a lot of our problems we face as a nation today. Talk about an identity crisis. These poor souls don’t even know who they are. What about their family members? You have no idea how confused I was as a child when I found out my uncle Bob was actually my uncle Robert? I thought maybe he was in some sort of witness protection program or something and was just using our family as a cover. No, things were never the same once he let it be known his name was Robert. I was thinking maybe somebody out there might know why and maybe when we started doing this to our kids. Now before you go flying off the handle, I’m just kidding. I do find it weird though.
Okay, I promised you a story about time travel today. As some of you might remember, I moved here from Greensburg. I’ve told you about road trips we used to take to places like Belvidere, Sun City, Medicine Lodge and to a place called Devil’s corral. Devil’s corral is a huge area of sandstone rock formations on a ranch about 20 miles south of Greensburg. This particular bunch of rocks resemble a horse shoe and people have been carving their names in the rocks for generations. Okay, it was also a good place to have a keg party on a Saturday night. We always had a roaring fire, plenty of ice-cold beer, and there was always someone willing to provide the music from the cab of their truck. I won’t go into all the things that took place out there on some of those Saturday nights as some of you might not approve. Just trust me when I say they were good times.
And once you got over your Saturday night hangover and made up with your wife, Devil’s corral was a wonderful place to take your family for a Sunday afternoon picnic. We’d spend hours cooking, eating, and exploring the area on my wife‘s motorcycle. We were out there one Sunday with a bunch of friends and their kids and decided to add our names to the wall.
I remember it like it was yesterday. I was 25 years-old. My wife and I had been married 4 years and our little girl was 3 years-old, she carried her cabbage patch doll with her everywhere she went. Probably had it with her that day. I remember, what started out to be a group project ended up being my project. All the sudden, everybody found something to do. I was stuck, it took me all afternoon but I got it finished. Yeah, good times.
I spent last weekend with my friends, Eric and Ronni Sears from Greensburg. Eric and I went to Devil’s corral. It was one of the best road trips we’ve ever taken. First of all, it’s dirt roads the whole way. There’s a couple low water bridges, and a lot of the is on open range where you’ll probably going to come across cattle in the road. When we finally got there I just kind of stood there looking. Looking and remembering. Once I started up the hill towards the opening on the front to the corral, it was like stepping back in time. I was scanning the walls for our names but coming up empty. I was about ready to admit someone had probably carved over ours. Or that time had simply wiped us out. I was snapping a few pictures when I saw it. There we were, Kevin, Linda, Misty, Jerri, Jenifer, and Katie, it was dated 2-27-83.
Yeah, that was a good life back then. But you know what? The 25 years that followed were just as good. My wife and have been married 29 years now. We have 2 more sons, a daughter and son in law, and grandkids all over the place. How much more could an old guy ask for?
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