Welcome Back Old Friend, You Have Been Missed!

Click here to read about Don Imus' return: http://www.rfdtv.com/Press/Releases/HTML/Don_Imus_Returns.asp

Christmas, Christmas, Christmas!

Once again, I am offended. Seems to be happening a lot lately, doesn't it? Today, I was reading about the Christmas Tree that was taken down at MSU due to what some call "cultural insensitivity." Yet the groups that complained, had been invited to place their own symbols and decorations along with the tree, but they declined to do so out of fear of theft. So now the tree is down, and the grinch has won another battle.

Let me say...I am pissed. Pissed beyond belief. I remember in school (which was NOT in the stone age like some believe), we would have a Christmas Program, sing Christmas Carols in the halls, be off for Christmas Break, and when we would see someone else, we would wish them a Merry Christmas...not this Happy Holiday's crap that we are having forced upon us by a slim minority. Wishing someone Merry Christmas is not an insult - never was - never will be.

There is a special spirit that seems to flow with Christmas. People are kinder, gentler than usual. We think more about families and children. We do the good works that we should be doing all year long but don't find time for. We contact those who have fallen out of sight due to the busyness of everyday life. We reflect, are thankful, count our blessings, and try to help others. Man, that's hardcore when you think about it. One little holiday that can do so much, just by it's spirit. Too bad the Christmas season isn't around all year long - think of how much better things would be if it were.

I am not a religious nut, nor do I hold my church membership at the mega church near Ozark - the one I laughingly dub "Six Flags over Jesus." BUT...when I see you, this is your warning. I will STILL wish you a Merry Christmas. If you're offended...too bad, get over it.

Ramblings...Part I

Heck of a good weekend if you are a college football fan. Mizzu kicked some Jayhawk rear and are on board for the national championships. I despise KU. Almost everyone I've met from there has an attitude. Nice to see the smirk wiped off their faces. Turning Westward to the land of the Cornhuskers, Bill Callahan and his merry band of idiots were fired from Nebraska and it looks like AD Tommy O will be restoring order in Lincoln. About time.

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It's better the 2nd time around for shock jock Don Imus, who will be returning to the airwaves in December. I'm not sure if any Springfield radio station has signed on to carry him - hopefully someone will. But never fear, if you get RFD-TV, his show is being simulcast there. This takes the struggling little network and turns into a much more attractive buy for agencies. Lets face it, like Imus or not, he generated the coveted dollar that is so wanted by the majority of today's media outlets. He did NOTHING that could surprise anyone...shock was his job, and he does a damned good job of it. Welcome back Imus, you HAVE been missed!

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After a few fleeting moments of watching "Meet the Press" yesterday, I've determined that host Tim Russert is nothing more than a fat pant-load. This is a man who sponged life and ratings success off of Don Imus, yet did nothing to stop the blood flow when Imus was down and out. Russert was a frequent guest of the show...and with it's return, I hope he's placed on the list of "Lip Service Wack Jobs" that will never EVER be allowed on the ratings, revenue, and career making show that belongs to Imus. There are too damned many fake people who will tell you what you want to hear. I thought more of Tim Russert. But I think his time covering the slime in Washington has rubbed off on him.

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Speaking of slime, Gov. Matt Blunt topped my "Top Turkey" list for this Thanksgiving. Talk about adding insult to injury, I'm sure some of those people that were receiving dinner at the Victory Mission were put there due to the "Boy-Blunder's" change in medicaid laws. Now, they get his smiling face serving food to them? Nice, please...hit me again. Does he really think he has a chance of winning round 2? If not, I've also heard the nasty rumor that his name is being pitched for a possible Vice Presidential candidate slot. Oh God, please...deliver me.

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Democrats, this will be our election to loose. Please, oh please, don't do something stupid...again...like usually happens.

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Whew. I feel SO much better now!

No "Spirit" In Springfield - Oh How I Miss Thee

As many of you good readers know, I've never been a slave to fashion or popular ideas. I like what I like, and I know what I like.

We have some great sports here in town, including the Cardinals. Basketball is well represented, and the football at MSU is better than it's been in YEARS. World Class Tennis and all kinds of programs for the kids. Yes, for the most part, we are a sports lovin' town. We like our football with KC, and baseball with St. Louis, and we follow with a passion. But, I for one, see a little hole in our semi-pro world of Springfield. Yes, I miss the "Spirt."

Our short lived hockey team the Springfield Spirit was fun to watch. No, it wasn't a Blue's game, but there was some good stick action and the occasional fight, plus the dedication of the few but die hard fans. Yes, I miss the Spirt - while good, watching MSU just isn't the same.

Remember the Colonial!!

As I read the "Voices" section of the News-Leader today, I became a man of mixed emotions. I'm thrilled at the idea that something creative might actually be done in the Heer's building. Like the majority of people 30 and over who grew up in Springfield, I spent so much time in the Heer's building as a kid, I can remember it like yesterday. I would love to walk around in it again, something familiar, something from my past, something...that would give back to the city once again and be a source of pride.

Then there's the other part. The pissed off part. The "damn those foolish idiots" part. Of course we don't have any old historic hotels because the wisdom of the "city fathers" in their rush to obliterate the past and become the "Midwestern Mecca of Moderns" was that it was better to have parking lots than old buildings, and they were torn down! We used to have some beautiful hotels in this town. Anyone remember the Colonial? Hello??? Anybody home? Here's what a true historic hotel looked like on one of those postcards with the fancy writing, thanks to a photo from the Missouri State Archives: Missouri State University gets double damning in my book for what happened to that grand old lady. They could have turned it, like the Kentwood, into student housing. Nope. They could have created a state of the art hotel management program, with a living, working hotel as it's training grounds. Nope. To hell with it said the officials...we'll let it fall into such disrepair that the only thing that CAN be done with it is tear it down. Then, we'll add another parking lot and charge to park there.

Yes to Heer's. It's a great idea, and I'll look forward to spending a weekend there. Damn you MSU and the City of Springfield, for letting our heritage be torn away from us in the first place!

No Snacks For You!!!!

Today's lead article by Wes Johnson in the Springfield News-Leader left a bad taste in MY mouth. It follows the owners of a snack bar located in the hallowed basement halls of the Greene County Courthouse.

Click here to read the story: http://springfieldnews-leader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071112/NEWS01/711120356

Let me say this up front. Yes, courthouse workers need someplace close by to eat. I'm not against ANYONE having a lunch break for goodness sakes...if you've ever met me, one of the first things you'll notice is that I've done a good job at not missing too many meals over the years. My problem has to do with a private, for-profit business being located in the basement of a county building. This is supposed to be a place where county officials are housed, business is conducted, taxes are assessed and collected - a place where the workings of government slowly grind forward. It is a building of the people, by the people, and for the people...and it should not be a place for individuals to make a profit. Should the county get into the food service business? In my opinion, no. Close the snack shop and make another office.

Next time the county decides they need to build more offices, I hope the powers that be grab a cup of coffee down in the Courthouse Snack Bar, and think long and hard...about how stupid they will look to the rest of us. Egg on your face?? Only $1.23 in the basement...

Gettin' Spanked - Not Once, But Twice

Poor Hal Higdon. If anyone is having a bad week, it's the not-so-new President of OTC. First, voters in Tuesday's elections tell the growing school that while their programs are valued, they are not valued enough for added taxes. A school that started out so small, and has accomplished so many BIG things during it's short life, Ozarks Technical Community College will now have to continue turning away students, raise tuition, and hold on additional staffing for the time being.

If that wasn't bad enough, salt was poured on the wound when it became public knowledge that OTC had lost a bid for the former Social Security Office near Police Headquarters, to none other than the Rev. Larry Rice - a man whom both the City of Springfield, and the City of St. Louis would loved to see sucked into a funnel cloud, never to be heard from again. No one wants the homeless, the disadvantaged, and the down on their luck people in their back yard. Springfield city leaders are considering different places for the disenfranchised to go - possibly moving them out of the Commercial Street area to another location where they are "not as visible" to the general public. I've never met him, but I like Larry Rice, and I admire his 35 years of work on behalf of those who don't have anyone else to turn to. Except by the Grace of God, we could be just a paycheck or two from being in that situation.

Back to OTC and poor Dr. Higdon. I would like to give some words of advice and comfort to him: Dr. Hal, we don't hate you or your school. We are proud that OTC has been able to accomplish so much, and we see a bright, shining future ahead. We do, however, hate taxes. Springfield's School Board knows that lesson better than almost ANY institution in town. Take a big page from their play-book. Get a focused message together. What will the money do, how will it benefit the kids, and why should I fork over an extra $22 per year in taxes for my $100,000 home for their benefit? Once you've got the message, condense it into easy to read graphic boards, sound bytes for tv, radio, and newspapers, and above all, make sure that a 4th grader could understand it. Once that is done, drive that message home to EVERYONE. Saturate the area and market it heavily. You'll get a win next time around.

Mixing the Old With the New

Tomorrow begins the great odyssey. My new boss starts work, which always means change, change, and more change. Now, if the boss looked like this, it would help a great deal.

Ahhhhh, but no such luck. We went out to dinner tonight, and he seems like a nice enough guy. Of course, he will do things different, which isn't a bad thing. But, it will be tough seeing him call the shots instead of me.

Well, I've got to think there is a lot to learn from him. Hopefully he will be a good teacher and all will end up well. I don't know, but I don't think he'll be around too long. He's got a long resume with some short tenure. Guess we'll wait and see. Again, I'm just thankful to God that I've got a job.

Just Leave It Alone!!

Let me just get this out in the open...I hate daylight savings time. I've never liked it, and probably will only when I'm older and need the extra daylight. I remember as a kid, my bedtime would be around 7:30 at night, and it was still "blue" outside. Laying in my bed, I would hear the other kids playing, but nooo..bed time for me.

Granted, I'll give the devil his due. Each household will save a small amount of money due to springing forward earlier, and falling backward later in the year. But the big benefit is when all of that savings is put together - hundreds of millions of dollars a year are saved nationwide. That can go a LONG way to help fund research into other energy sources.

But I still wish they would just leave it alone. Changes make my alarm clock, angry...very angry, and take my word for it, you won't like him when he's angry!

Death of A Legend

For as long as I can remember, there have been constants in Country Music. The shrill sounds of Hank Williams, smooth serenades from Jim Reeves, stories spun from the mouth's of masters, and the "Thin Man from West Plains," Porter Wagoner.

Porter died last night in a Nashville hospice from lung cancer. I met him one time - here in Springfield. His music was simple, filled with death and lyrical twists that sometimes made you sit back, suck in some air, and explain; "Really!"

He had many fans here, in his hometown of West Plains, and newer fans still, after this year's release of "Wagonmaster" which was a work of love by Marty Stewart, and lauded by many as a comeback album. Porter received great recognition and critical acclaim from it - possibly some of his best work came at the end. I wish I would have interviewed him.

The Flame Flickers...

A dream partially died today.

For the past few months, I've been working to prove to my superiors that I'm worthy of a promotion. The job came open, I ran as hard as I could, and today, I was told that I did not get it, someone from outside the company was being brought in.

I am thankful that I still have a job, and for everything that I have been blessed with.

Monday, will be better.

Reflections From a Steamy Sink

Have you ever wondered what people see when they look at you? What are those first thoughts that cross their minds when you round a corner in the hallway, or when you come up in conversation among your circle of friends? Are you afraid to let them see the "real you" and because of that, you hide behind a mask?

I do.

Last night, I was drawing water in the sink for a nice hot shave - one of the few treats I give myself from time to time. As the sink finished filling, I started looking at myself through the steam, and I was not pleased. Oh, I appear to be a nice enough guy, a little "grizzled" around the edges, much heavier than I think I should be. Where did those lines come from? Look at that gray...even white hairs starting to appear. My eyes though, bothered me the most. Blank, soul-less, no twinkle.

Why can't I show the inner soul to the outside world? The heart is there, the care is there, helping others is there, but it's stone faced, sometimes with a smile, sometimes not. Have I become THAT jaded? Have I lost it? Am I turning the corner from being in idealist into an apathetic jerk? Hmmm...lots to think about and decide. Why should I be afraid to show the soul? After all, we'll all be dead in a hundred years, what will it matter then? What matters is what I do now, while I have the opportunity.

As the water swirled down the drain, I thought to myself..." that's one of the best shaves I've ever had."

Return From The Dead - Episode II

Hours can turn into days, then weeks, and finally months if you don't pay attention. Once again, I've become engrossed in my every day life, my family, and trying to achieve that american dream. It seems like I'm very close to making career goals become "career gold." After years and years of hard work in my profession, it's coming close...the payoff. "Stay awake boy, don't let the brass ring slip past you" says the little voice in my head when I think about even easing up for just a minute or so. But damn, in the process, you can nearly kill yourself preparing for it!

So, it's good to be back in the land of Springberg's writers again. I've started reading some of our local blogs again, and see that talent abounds here in the Queen City - talent, has NEVER been in a shortage around here. It's nice to know, some things never change. Our red light camera seems to be functioning just fine, and National and Battlefield is probably now the safest intersection around town. It's getting to the end of summertime, and it's hot as hell here. The Simpson's movie has come and gone, thank GOODNESS, and the little ankle biters are about to start school. Lets hope none of them get squashed in traffic.

Runnin' on Empty

Before I start this little rant, I will agree, the United States has enjoyed some of the lowest gas prices in the world. When I was in the UK in 2001 / 2002, gas came out to $5 a gallon then. We have been lucky...sort of. Oil companies are still making HUGE profits at the expense of the public. Duh. That's really no news flash. Now, I'm all for a business making a buck, after all, that's why we work - to make the money to live. But the sheer greed of these large corporations is outrageous. Take Exxon for example - this blurb courtesy of the Washington Post:

Exxon Mobil, the world's biggest oil company, said profit climbed 10 percent to a first-quarter record after higher gasoline and diesel prices increased refining profit. Profit rose to $9.28 billion from $8.4 billion in the comparable period a year earlier, the Irving, Tex., company said in a statement yesterday. Revenue fell 2 percent, to $87.2 billion.

When the price at the pump goes up so much, and our paychecks don't change to meet that need, we're all in trouble. $3.09 a gallon is something we should ALL be mad about.

Another Freaky Twist in the Virginia Tech Shootings

The twisted life of Virginia Tech shooter Cho Seung-Hi takes a huge twist. Just after 4pm today, it was announced that during the time between the first & second shooting rampage, Cho put togher and mailed a package to NBC News in New York. Read the Associated Press story here: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070418/ap_on_re_us/virginia_tech_shooting Yeah...talk about messed up! So, what do you think...did NBC make copies of the materials while waiting for the State Police to pick up the originals?

How Can It Happen

Since the news broke yesterday about Virginia Tech, I've been wrestling and wrangling in my head about how something like this could happen. What motivates someone to go anywhere and blow away 30 some people. I can't process it...I just can't.

I'm not THAT old of a guy - 34 in November. But in the not too distant past of my youth, things were different. There is a disconnect in American society that is so wrong, so out of whack, that something like this happens. Case in point...my high school days. When you walked the halls, all the guys had a pocket knife - that was just the thing. You're from the Midwest, you have a pocket knife. No big deal. Hell, you would get it out and compare with friends on who had the baddest one around.

Walk out in the parking lot after school, especially during hunting season and you would see trucks parked, with gun racks, and guns IN the racks. Standard fare. Guns were brought on campus, and yes once again, no big deal.

So that leaves me to believe in what I call the "Great American Disconnect." That certain "something" that has gone wrong with our country as a whole, and I don't know what it is. Video games? TV & movie violence? Not enough stay at home parents? A broken school and social service system? Taking God out of schools? Materialism? Racism? Terrorism? Fanaticism? A complete mind change in the general populace that doesn't recognize today's youth are the most IMPORTANT generation and that to make them great leaders, you've got to give a damn? Divorce? What???? Just what is the magic answer?

I don't know, and I can't understand...

Virginia Tech - An Interesting Twist

Again, the latest from the Associated Press:

SEOUL, South Korea South Korea's Foreign Ministry says the country's "in shock beyond description" after learning the Virginia Tech shooter is a South Korean native.

The gunman has been identified as 23-year-old Cho Seung-hui (joh sung-wee). A ministry official says he's been in the U-S since 1992.A foreign ministry spokesman says South Korean diplomats are traveling to Virginia Tech.

Face of A Monster - Virginia Tech Shooter Revealed

From the Associated Press:

Cho Seung-Hui, 23, identified as killer in Virginia Tech massacre

written April 17, 2007

BLACKSBURG, Virginia (AP) _ A Virginia Tech senior from South Korea was behind the massacre of at least 30 people locked inside a campus building in the deadliest shooting rampage in modern United States history, the university said Tuesday.

The Virginia Tech Police Department identified him as Cho Seung-Hui, 23, a senior in the English department.

The bloodbath ended with the gunman's suicide, bringing the death toll from two separate shootings _ first at a dorm, then in a classroom building _ to 33 and stamping the campus in the picturesque Blue Ridge Mountains with unspeakable tragedy.

The Virginia State Police say ballistics tests show one of the guns found after a deadly shooting at Virginia Tech was used in both shootings, at the doom at the classroom building.

Virginia State Police say ballistics tests show one of the guns found after the deadly shooting was used in both shootings, at a dorm and at a classroom building.

Outrage Over Imus' Overblown

Let me give you a little education into the world of Radio because the part that the public doesn't see is brutal, and sometimes very ugly. While a broadcaster genuinely enjoys the audience and interacting with them, they are always looking for the next bit, the next thing that will keep them ahead and in front of their competition.

Don Imus is a master at this cat 'n mouse game and has BEEN a master for over 30 years. From the bits of "John Cardinal O'Connor" to "Go Baby, Go" with the Clinton's, to the now famous "Nappy Headed Basketball Ho's" Imus has this knack for reaching into his bag of political-incorrectness and throwing it in our face.

Why are you surprised at that? Ron Davis on his blog "CHATTER" has some excellent points which I agree with. You can read his post here: http://chatterbyrondavis.blogspot.com/
Imus mixes politics with pleasure, and blends being a crass old grouchy bastard with a persona that can make authors best sellers, and help politicians win elections. No doubt the man has influence. No doubt he regrets being busted like he has.

But the outrage is outrageous. There is such a double standard in America that it's almost laughable. Lets look at who is throwing stones...the NAACP - an organization for COLORED people? Isn't that a little racist? What about Black Entertainment Television? Last time I checked, there is NO White Entertainment Television. Are you catching on here?

Yes, I know the examples I've given are extreme one's, but they are pretty good at driving home the point. There is "acceptable" or "PC" racism and then politically-incorrect racism. In the end, Imus will be judged...by his listeners, and his advertisers.

And I agree with Ron, a Dark Day for the world of free speech.

I'm Your Daddy!

Ahh yes, the great American post-mortem of the life of Anna Nicole Smith continues today with a twist. It turns out that photo boy Larry Birkhead indeed slipped it to the now dead playmate, and indeed IS Dannielynn's daddy.

And what a rich daddy he will be!

You know that Anna's estate will take care of the little girl. Of course, there will be something used to raise her in the manner she would have been accustomed to if her mother had lived. So there you have it...Birkhead in the end, gets the girl and Howard K. Stern looses his meal ticket.

Does this really surprise you? Look, anytime the LAWYER starts to back off, well, you know there's got to be a reason. Ahhhh the drama!

**Photo of Larry Birkhead courtesy of CNN.com**

The End of Empire

It was an empire at one time...stores from here to Ft. Scott, Kansas. Oklahoma throughout Southwest Missouri. You could hardly toss a stone, without hitting a Consumers Markets. Remember the jingle? "Consumers, Consumers, the BEST supermarket under the Ozarks skies." Well, thank God I just type on here, and not sing...everyone in the blog sphere would be trying to get me to go away again!

Anyway, the Consumers empire ended years ago, but Clarence & Edna Wheeler kept their profile low, and their check books open wide to area organizations. Sadly, Edna passed away Saturday, March 31st. She was a true lady in every sense of the word. Strange...death always seems to go in 3's...Edna Wheeler, John Stone...and I've not found the last one yet.

Back to my story...I remember going over to the Wheeler's home many times as a kid. You wouldn't KNOW they had money...until you got to their home. HUGE! Long brick, built in two different wings in Southern Hills. The Wheeler's had a poodle named Bubbles. Actually, I think there were several "Bubbles" in my lifetime. Long story short, not only did they give of their hearts to this community, rub elbows with the most influential of our town, they were perfectly great to a little boy, who was amazed at their kindness, and their reality, and to this day, I have never forgotten them.

Consumers empire is finally gone...and there will never again be two people like Clarence & Edna Wheeler...and it's a damned shame.

Coming Up For A Little Air

It's been well over a month since I last posted. No, I hadn't thought I'd be gone so long, but, just shove that under the category of sh** happens.

It's just after 3am and the house is quiet now - no tv, no telephone, no radio. All are sleeping but me. These days, quiet time comes few and far between. Every day, I got to work, and I work hard, busting my rear end to make a difference. In doing so, I end up working hours that no sane man or woman would put in, and myself and my family are the ones that suffer for it.

Just before sitting down to type this, I cracked the bedroom door open, snuck into my little man's bedroom, and just watched him sleep. He's so little, but getting so big so fast. This time last year, he was still fresh from the womb, and now he's walking, running, and has almost a full head of teeth. His blue blanket softly moved up and down with his breathing as he slept, dreaming I suppose of more toys, his mama, his brother and me, and wondering in his own little way what tomorrow will bring. He's a happy boy, full of love, and I thank God everyday for it.

Doing what I can to make those little dreams come true is my biggest responsibility, and at times, it is the weight of the world times 12. No, I don't worry. You can't worry about the things you can't control, but to a degree, you can try to manage the other things. I am at a big crossroads in my career and that requires some serious thought. One thing I know for sure, that little boy is worth it.

So, it's nice to come out of seclusion for a bit of air. I'll try not to stay gone so long next time.

Ward Connerly: How A California Businessman Could Change Missouri Education

He's a little known name in Missouri, but in the coming months, Ward Connerly could spark one of the hottest debates since the Civil Rights movement - by changing the way your child applies to college. Connerly, who served 12 years on the Board of Regents of the University of California was the driving force behind California's Proposition 209, that was approved by voters in 1996.

Prop. 209 amended California's constitution, prohibiting to prohibit public institutions from discriminating on the basis of race, sex, or ethnicity. Last year, Michigan voters enacted similar legislation, and now Connerly intends to take this measure to other states that could include: Arizona, Colorado, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming. Next month, it is expected that he will announce which states he has chosen.

RESOURCES:
* Ward Connerly bio information: http://www.acri.org/people/
* New York Times Article: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/26/education/26affirm.html
* Prop 209 from Answers.com: http://www.answers.com/topic/california-proposition-209

Ice & Reflections

I've heard it said by different folks that it's odd the first time you switch rolls with your parents, and you become the care giver instead of the recipient. Well, the validity of that statement didn't sink in until our recent ice storm. My house was without power for only 48-hours, but my mom's was down until last night and she's been staying with me during that time.

I have been very blessed. Unlike some kids, my mom and I have always been close, but do to a hectic work schedule, a growing family of my own, and everything else under the sun, we haven't spent a lot of time together in the past few years. It was good to have her there. But, the reversal of rolls has left me a little speechless. I want to be in denial that time is marching on, that we are all getting older, and that someday, I probably won't have her around anymore. That thought makes me so sad, I don't even know how to describe it.

But with every package, there's more than just the wrapper. This has been my wake up call, that I am happy to share with you. Enjoy the moment. Make as many of them as you can as often as you can, because someday, you won't be able to make any more.

And Then There Were Four...

With the death of President Ford, my list of "Top 5 People I Want to Interview" dropped to 4. There were years where I thought Gerald Ford's name should be placed with that of Benedict Arnold and every other traitor who sold his country out. Time passes, and it seems for the most part, to show the good decisions for what they really are.

I was wrong.

So, what fascinated me with the 38th President of the United States? Simple. President Ford had this moment of clarity that cut through time and prevailing politics of the day and with the wave of a pen, pardoned his disgraced predecessor. America was mad. Americans felt there was no faith left in government...and, Americans owe Gerald Ford a debt of thanks, and a sincere apology. We were all wrong and because of your sacrifice, we were able to move on as a nation. While I've often thought Jimmy Carter was a great leader as well, I would like to have seen what kind of mark would have been made by 4 more years of a Ford White House.

As for the remaining 4 that I want to sit down face to face with, they are as follows, in order:

4. Bill Clinton
3. Bill Gates
2. Mikhail Gorbachev
1. Jimmy Carter

2006 Goes Down With the Ship

So much blogging that I have wanted to do over the past few days, but, just not enough time on the planet to be able to squeeze it in. Really, it seems like that's just how things go with me anymore. If there were 30 hours in a day, some jackass would figure out how to clutter THOSE hours up as well.

Anyway, 2006 had not been the best year for me. It was filled with a few extreme highs but more lows and low blows than anyone should have to absorb. Yes, 2006 needed to go, and I thought it should go out in style. So, what better way to do that, then to spend New Year's Eve on the Titanic in Branson.

The weather was cold, the museum warm and inviting, and the character actors that were throughout made the whole experience. Owners John and Mary Joslyn have truly made what could have been another stuffy museum into a first-rate attraction. At midnight, rockets fired from the ship and when the smoke cleared, my disappointing 2006 had also vanished into that cold night. Make plans to be there New Year's '07. I'm sure they will make it even better.

Here is their website in case you would like to visit it:
http://www.titanicbranson.com/