Wonder-Working Power

There is power, power
Wonder-working Power
In the Home (in the home)
Of Fat Jack (of Fat Jack).

There is power, power
Wondering-working power
In the precious home
Of Fat Jack.

(Props to anyone that gets the musical reference.)

The call came in at 8:15 p.m. on Thursday, January 25 (13 days after the first ice storm). My neighbor rang me on the cell at the in-laws home to tell me that my porch light was blinding him and would I please turn it off already. Him thinks he's funny.

We will continue to spend Thursday night at the in-laws. If all goes well, and why wouldn't it, then we will be back home tomorrow. Fortunately, I don't have class on Fridays so I will be moving the family back home tomorrow. I'll be up at 6:30 a.m. to get ready for the day. And I will do all of this while simulateously studying. It will be worth it.

Good thing too. The daughter started crying tonight. She just couldn't stand it anymore. She loves her grandparents of course, but the storm damage has finally taken its toll. She was in tears.

"I want to go home," she said. I miss my bed."

I know just how she feels. One day shy of two weeks (so close that I will just call it two weeks) is too long to be away from home when not on vacation. And this was no vacation, as most of you can attest. She misses her toys and our daily routine. She misses cuddling in bed with Daddy as part of her night time routine. Not every night, but many of them. So we snuggled on the in-laws' couch tonight until she went to sleep, with kitty in the pocket where he belongs. It was nice, but it's just not the same.

There is a gloomy side to this silver lining. I've heard tell that the Farmer's Almanac (which is considered nothing more than pulp fiction by at least one local meteorological tv star and blogger) fortold this event and has also predicted another such storm for the month of February. I can't confirm that as I don't have a copy of the book, but I find it interesting.

Day 13 and Still No Power

My friend, Heavy P, called me on the cell phone to brag that he had power. I wished him a hill of painful ill. He apologized for calling, but he just had to say something (to someone who didn't have power I'm sure.)

The house is dark, the rooms are cold and things are still in a state of disarray. The airmattress is getting harder by the hour. My patience is thin, but what else is one to do but wait and wait and wait some more.

The announcement this morning was that power should be restored by Friday. We will see. Considering there were no workers to be found on my street today (so reported my neighbors) that I am not yet convinced. We shall see.

Bent, But Not Broken

This is a tree in my backyard. I am hoping I
don't lose it like I probably will some others.

Sunday and Still Out of Power

I am still out of power, still staying with the in-laws, still living out of boxes and laundry hampers, and still sleeping on an air mattress. Of course I know where my loved ones are and I have not had to go to a shelter or a superdome. So how much can I really complain? Still yet, it’s frustrating, inconvenient, and maybe a bit greasy feeling. It may sound funny, but I am excited to have somewhere to go tomorrow. It will be nice to get back to college and stretch my legs. I look forward to the walk despite the cold.

We have decided that my daughter’s little vomit session a few nights ago was related to storm stress and not viral. Limbs crashing down around us can be scary to little minds and I think it came out in the liquid, chunky form. We’ve talked with her about how safe we are and reassured her that things are okay and will continue to be okay. It would be nice to be able to go home so she could get back to her normal routine. Going back to school on Tuesday will be a good thing.

Days ago (and my insurance company and electrician verified this) CU stated that they would not hook anyone up to electricity unless the household weatherhead was in good working order. They told us to get an electrician, on our own, and fix it, on our own. I did what I was supposed to, what any good community member should do and got it fixed. I’ve not received the bill but it is substantial, especially to a family with only one income.

Today on the news, CU announced that they will be repairing weatherheads and hooking people up to electricity at the same time. I’ve fixed mine, so there I am stuck with a bill courtesy of city utility. What will CU do? Will they reimburse me for the money? I seriously doubt it. They will let me eat it or stick it to my insurance company, which will inevitably raise my insurance rates. It would have been nice to have known that days ago.

I wonder if John Twitty, Decider of CU, has his electricity restored and when exactly that happened?

It's Better To Look Good Than To Feel Good, Darling

It’s Monday morning and our city has been devastated by a great ice storm just three days ago. We have been without power since Friday evening and have been staying in a hotel. Springfield is a mess as is many of the surrounding counties. Cable, telephone and utility crews are being dispatched from other states to help. The Governor has announced the area as a disaster area and the President will do the same within a couple of days.

I’ve been calling electricians and tree removal services to work on my home, and have reported outages and downed lines to the cable and telephone companies. What does my wife want to do? She insists on keeping her two, previously schedule hair and photography appointments. She and my daughter get to their hair appointments. I am work on the house, change into my dress clothes, pick up the girls from their hairstylist, and take them to the photography for our yearly photo. We typically do this by Christmas, but we got busy and didn’t have time.

I clean up and wear my Sunday best, including a bow tie, and we traipse through the mall. Fortunately there aren’t many folks at the mall so we get there quickly and get our pictures taken. The girls really do look nice. My daughter wants her hair colored just like Mommy, except she wants her hair to be rainbow colored. Incidentally, the photographer did a nice job. The photos looked great. We hang out for the photos, and then head back home.

The worst ice storm in recent history and we head to the hairdresser and photographer. Crazy days, kids. The whole thing reminds me of my sixth grade year. There was a girl, named Melissa Gentry. She was wearing something that was uncomfortable == shoes, or a dress or something. I don’t really remember. What I do remember is her making a comment that it was uncomfortable. Sounded nuts to me to wear something that one hates. She says to me: “It’s better to look good than to feel good darling (in her best European accent). I knew then that girls were crazy as Hell, and at the same time I got hit with a small crush on her. That’s even crazier.

The Great Ice Storm of 07 Continues

As of Friday:
The daughter started throwing up last night. So we didn’t go to the funeral just in case it was a virus. Last thing we want is to infect the grandmothers and aunts. Just as well as we have had several workers come to my house or Aunt Bessie’s house to give estimates or begin work. Netflix delivered movies, so we caught An Inconvenient Truth. What a great documentary.

I am starting to get pretty stir crazy. The in-laws have been great and we get along pretty well, but you can only spend so much time cooped up with one another. The Twit announced that it would be another week before electricity is restored to everyone in the city. That is, they are restoring power on 2,000 households a day on average. They have 18,000 households to go. Now I am just a silly college student, but my math skills tell me something is up. Let’s write a word problem, shall we?

CU has 18,000 households to restore to power. If CU restores 2,000 households a day, how many days will it take to restore power to everyone? If we express that in mathematical terms that would look something like this: 18,000 ÷ 2,000 = 9. So Twit may have over-estimated his ability to restore power to the remaining 18,000 customers. I suspect it will take one week to 10 days. Not that I am complaining about CU’s ability to restore power. I think they have done a good job so far and I am being patient and calm. I’m just not thrilled about that little pinheaded Twit.

The Great Ice Storm of 2007

I’ve been unable to get online long enough to post updates and pictures of our experience during The Great Ice Storm of 2007. So I’ve been keeping a record of what’s been happening on the laptop to post when internet services were available. Today is Friday and I have high speed internet services at the in-laws available. So here is my story so far.

As of Friday night at 10 p.m.:
The power went out and I spent the night listening to the crashes and gun-shot sounds exploding outside my bedroom window. It was a crazy night. I heard one particular tree falling and looked outside to find the mirror of my neighbor’s new Honda Odyssey van torn to bits.


As of Saturday morning:
I got up and the inspection of the house revealed some damage to the house. My neighbors around me had many more limbs down than I. I was very thankful that we had the dying tree in the backyard cut down last year. We built my kid’s tree house on the stump. No limbs to destroy my home or those around us.

The in-laws are quick thinkers and begin searching for a hotel room with power. Done and done. We packed the bags quickly, fed the cat a hearty potion of food (enough for three days) and loaded the laundry baskets with games, cards, books, and non-perishable foods (peanut butter, fruit, juice, and fig newtons among other things). Our cat is very anxious and would prefer being by himself in his own home than anywhere else. By this time the in-laws had found a different hotel with a heated, indoor pool, complimentary continental breakfast and cable. We headed to the Best Western -- Deerfield Inn at the intersection of Battlefield and Highway 65. Good thing too because the original hotel ended up losing power.

We were nestled between a Country Kitchen and a Steak-and-Shake with a McDonalds and gas station across the street. You would think that every restaurant in town was out of power considering the lines that were at both restaurants. Not that we would normally choose those particular restaurants. But hot food is hot food anyway you get it.

We made the best of it and considering the experiences that so many people in Springfield are going through, I will not complain. We were lucky to find the rooms, and have the money to pay for them. So many were not so lucky, spending the night in one of several shelters set up by the city.


As of Sunday at noon:
After taking my daughter for a morning swim and lunch, I headed to the house to check things out and make sure our kitty is doing okay. I drove up to a great surprise. My yard was full of huge limbs and piles of ice. My car was lucky. Limbs had fallen in front and behind it, barely missing it by inches both directions. Lucky for me that I pulled up closer to the garage door than I usually do.

The backyard is a bigger disaster. In my neighborhood all the utilities are located at the back of the lots. The tree limbs had fallen and ripped down the electrical wires connecting to the house. The weatherhead, (the aluminum pipe on the roof, where the utilities enter the home) is seriously damaged. Two sections of guttering is torn up. It’s quite a site. I will be sure to report how quickly the damaged is repaired and utilities restored.

I dread the storm tonight, as the forecast calls for another inch of ice. I’m not sure our poor community can withstand that, especially with the predicted wind speeds.

My Aunt Bessie has been staying in our room at the hotel. She is 87 and is stubborn. She has been talking about going home and she and I cutting up the trees in her yard. She doesn’t know her own limitations. I am not so fond of electrocution (she has five electrical lines in her yard) and I am afraid that she will fall and break a hip. She is insisting that she go home and mentions this every 10 minutes or so. She is nothing if not persistent. I am quickly tiring of rehashing the same argument. The last thing we need is to have her fall and break something. I have finally taken all I can stand. I called my dad and had him come up and take her back to Branson with him. She can drive them crazy for a while. She is some kind of angry at me.


As of Monday:
We are still in the hotel, only now we have an indoor cold pool and a green hot tub. So swimming has ended and the kiddos are none to happy about it. They would prefer to swim in an ice bath, but I have other ideas.

I called an electrician and got on the list for repairs and they hope to get to it this week. Meanwhile I went the house to get the crock pot. I made chili right before this storm hit and we put it in a plastic container and just set it in the garage, where it has nearly frozen. It’s made my room, and the hallway, smell like chili, but it fed the family and didn’t cost us a dime. We are spending enough on the hotel room.

Aunt Bessie is home calling my next door neighbor, her neighbor and anyone else she can think of to track me down. She’s mad that I sent her down there and has now decided that I don’t care about her or love her. She’s telling the family that I don’t care what happens to her and that I am lazy for not cutting up that wood in her yard. The disaster just keeps on.

As a good boy, I have checked on her house everyday and called to give her an update everyday. I hear tell that my mother refused to put up with that and pointed her finger at Aunt Bessie. You can tell when Mom is serious when she points the finger at you. She’s counted to three and said her piece and hushed Aunt Bessie up. She needed that. At her age, when Aunt Bessie gets upset, she becomes irrational and says things and believes things that are not true. No one really needs that during a disaster. My poor parents. I feel bad for them, but not bad enough to bring her back up here.

My grandmother Jewel (Juju) has a sister who passed away this evening. That has further upset the balance. Aunt Bessie is staying with Juju in Branson. They are two old ladies who get along pretty well.

As of Tuesday:
Power is on at the in-laws home, so we are packing up and leaving the hotel for cheaper accommodations and a stove. We got the air mattress from the house and some clean clothes. Buddy, our cat, was very glad to see us. He’s been snuggled up in a nest that my wife made him to help him keep warm. It’s 37 degrees in the house during the day and that is awful cold. I know he is very lonely without us too. The in-laws graciously offered, sincerely offered, to host the kitty as well. Now Buddy is a great cat, but he has some Autistic tendencies, one of which is change. He does not like change at all. It freaks him out. So we were concerned about taking him to their house, but it is just getting colder. We put him in the cat carrier and listened to him scream all the way to their house. We let him out and he sprung to the desk, lodging himself behind the filing cabinet.

The electrician came today and fixed the weatherhead. Mine was in an easy location and quick to fix. So now I am waiting on city utilities to get the juice flowing. As far as damage, I think the worst is done for now. So far it appears that the damage is not too bad. Although we won’t know until we can have it properly assessed. This is the list of damage as of today:

• Sections of guttering torn down
• Roof damage
• Weatherhead destroyed
• Electrical, telephone and cable lines torn down
• Limbs in the yard, like everyone else
• Shrubs destroyed
• Food in fridge and freezer destroyed

Since we are stuck home and the in-laws are both working, we are the caretakers of the home. We have done dishes, laundry, mopped the floor, run the vacuum, and cooked three squares a day.

Grandma Juju was up all night thinking about her sister. Aunt Bessie stayed up with her, which was very nice. At their age, they both understand loss and pain and I think the company helped Grandma Juju deal with the sorrow. Aunt Bessie being in Branson ended up being a real blessing.


As of Wednesday:
I spent the day running errands and cooking meals. I also talked to electricians about Aunt Bessie’s house and where she was on the list. I talked with her next door neighbor to see how they are doing. No heat, but they are okay. We were able to watch a movie, My Super Ex-Girlfriend. It was a fun, but pretty campy.


As of Thursday:
Limbs continue to fall onto my roof, shrubs and yard. It is amazing how much keeps falling. I can't wait for the tree service to be able to get to it.

The funeral for Aunt Vera (Juju’s sister) is tomorrow in Mountain Grove. They are having graveside services only. I suspect it will be a short service considering the weather conditions. We are supposed to have 3-6 inches of snow coming tomorrow night, so I hope to be back in time for that. Aunt Bessie is going too and she’s convinced my dad to let her go by the house to pick up some items. We caught another movie during the afternoon today. Scary Movie 4 was really funny. We laughed the whole time. I was skeptical as the last movie of this type was Date Movie and it was horrible.

My friend, Gabe, just left the Army after two tours of duty in Iraq. He dropped by the in-laws’ house today while his car was getting repaired. He helped me run my errands and watched the movie with us.

The Dark Tower Cometh Again: "The Gunslinger Born"

Marvel comics has teamed up with Stephen King to develop a comic title to go along with King’s Dark Tower series of novels. Written by Robin Furth and Peter David, with art by Jae Lee and Richard Isanove, this is an original comic book that will delve into the origins of the iconic Gunslinger, Roland. The novels were a mixture of genres: science-fiction, western, fantasy and horror. Readers of the novels will remember that we experience a glimpse into Roland’s young teen years and his journey to become a Gunslinger at a young age. The Gunslinger Born will portray the young Roland and the circumstances that lead to his destiny. This will be a 7-part comic book limited series, with the first issue coming out this February.

Marvel has the lowdown:

“ ‘The man in black fled across the desert, and the gunslinger followed.’ With those words, millions of readers were introduced to Stephen King’s Roland—an implacable gunslinger in search of the enigmatic Dark Tower, powering his way through a dangerous land filled with ancient technology and deadly magic. Now, in a comic book personally overseen by King himself, Roland’s past is revealed! Sumptuously drawn by Jae Lee and Richard Isanove, adapted by long-time Stephen King expert Robin Furth (author of Stephen King’s The Dark Tower: A Concordance) and scripted by New York Times Best-seller Peter David, this series delves deep into Roland’s origins—the perfect introduction to this incredibly realized world, while long-time fans will thrill to adventures merely hinted at in the novels. Be there for the very beginning of a modern classic of fantasy literature”

This was the second series that I read all the way through, the first being The Lord of the Rings. I was enamored with the Gunslinger universe. It was such an interesting mix of genres. Finally, after all these years, King finished the series. I won’t tell you how it ends. If this is anywhere as interesting as the novels, it should prove to be a wonderful read. There are several comic books stores in town. Any of which would be happy to subscribe The Gunslinger Born.

The Apple iPhone: It's Finally Here!

Once again Apple makes developments in the technology field that is years beyond other companies. At the annual Macworld Conference and Expo several things were announced including the companies revolutionary new contraption. iPhone combines many of today’s functions in one smooth, clean and efficient Mac and PC device:

• iPod
• Cell Phone
• Daily Calendar
• Fully Functioning html Web Browser (Safari)
• Email
• WiFi
• Bluetooth
• 2.0 Megapixel Digital Camera
• and much more.

This is a must see device. You simply have to check it out for yourself.

See the iPhone on Mac’s website.
Read the Macworld article.

Bowling Is Not My Game

Our little family went bowling yesterday as part of our family vacation. Let me start out by saying that I am at all athletic and I am a pitiful bowler. I proved that with a hearty 66 and an improved 91. My 6-year-old daughter played five games and beat me in four of them. Good for her, but so much for me. The people next to us got a real kick out of watching our youngin’ beat the pants off us. They were some kind of family of bowlers and they could not seem to contain their excitement to utilize us as their source of entertainment. I’m not really sure which one of us needed the bumpers more, me or my daughter. My wife didn’t do any better, but I won’t describe her bowling scores. She can do that for herself if she wants. I will say that I am now convinced that bowling is not my game. She was very kind, in that she kept reminding me that I didn’t have to throw the game just for them. Oh if that were only so.

Smoke ‘Em If You Got ‘em

(Me and Granny Juju smoking our candy grits.)

Can you believe that they still make candy cigarettes? When I was a kid every convenience store had candy cigarettes, but back then I could go in the store as an elementary student and buy my parents’ smokes for them: “A pack of Marlboro and Merit 100’s, please.” We didn’t have car seats or bicycle helmets either. I would go out and play in the woods all day and only come back for lunch and supper. It was a different time.

For Christmas this year my wife found candy cigarettes at a flea market. Don’t be fooled. They were not old ones. They are still manufactured and sold in the United States. A simple Google search for “candy cigarettes” will find you ample places to still purchase them. She gave them to the adults just for fun. Crazy.

The Great Gift Exchange

It appears the stomach flu ran rampant through the Christmas season. It happened to Larry at Simple Thoughts and it happened to us. One of the kids got it right before Christmas and by the end everyone had it except my brother-in-law. It was not fun, but only lasted about 24 hours or so. Made for a very memorable Christmas, but I have to say that the flu wasn’t my favorite gift exchange.

Seems in our family someone is always sick at Christmas. If we stayed home every time someone came down with something our family would never have Christmas, so it’s become a kind of tradition for us. We don’t usually share it so widely, but what do you do?

Other than that, we had a great Christmas – a great Christmas. I spent a lot of time with family and enjoyed the time a lot. Nothing like watching others, especially the children, open the presents they really wanted for Christmas.

Last Harry Potter Book Announced

At long last, and with much chagrin, the title of the last book in the Harry Potter series has been released. As is obvious in the title, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, we should anticipate much death in the sorcerer’s world.

I have read all of the books and they are one of my favorite children’s literature series of books. I label them children’s literature as the intended audience is 9-12 year olds. To think that the book is childish or immature would be a mistake. Just so you know, there are plenty of us Christians out there who love the books.

The fifth movie, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is due out in July 2007.

Pre-order the book from Borders
Official Harry Potter site

My Possible Bag

The side-slung book bag is very popular on the college campus. Also known as a messenger bag or book bag, it is a satchel that actually dates back to the mid 1800’s. In those days, the mountain man carried a possible bag, in which he carried everything that he could possibly need for the day: black powder, powder measurer, flint and steel, lead balls and patch, a patch knife, and a skinning knife, among other things.

I carry my own book bag now. I use it when I have a light day at the university or just to hold my stuff when I am out and about. It is the latter that I am taking the heat. My friends, if you could call them that, love to make fun of my satchel. Yes, I do use it to carry my wallet, keys, cell phone, iPod, current book I am reading, and my writing journal. Any writer worth his or her salt carries something on which to write down ideas. You can see where this is going. These buddies of mine have developed several names for my book bag:

1. European Male Handbag
2. Purse
3. Man Purse
4. Murse

They are bastards one and all, but I expected it when I bought it. Actually, I saw the satchel at Target and thought it was pretty cool looking. Most people think it is an old Austrian or German military bag. Actually, it’s very manly -- as manly as a thing like that can look. I was admiring it when my wife spouted off that it was a man purse. I promptly put it back and walked away. I was done with it. After some thought, I went back and bought it a few days later. It’s very handy as a school bag. I’ve seen several other guys on campus carrying that very bag, and other bags similar to it. It gets no looks on campus. Off campus is another story. I carry it because it is practical and utilitarian and now I carry it to make a point. Metro? Maybe. Weird? Considering the region, probably so. I prefer to think of it as artsy and eccentric.

For Those About to Game, Wii Salute You!

We had my wife’s family Christmas this weekend and it was the best Christmas we’ve had in years. The kids were so excited they could not sleep and were up for good at 4:30 a.m. When the kids get up, everyone gets up and Christmas begins. So we were unwrapping presents at the crack of God on Saturday morning.

Ms. Claus brought a special together gift for my daughter and I – the gift to give this season and wii happened to be lucky enough to get a Nintendo Wii with three games. Forget about the extra controllers, those are very hard to come by. I suppose everyone keeps throwing theirs through the TV.

Rumor has it that Ms. Claus was home sick one weekend. As soon as the daughter and I left the house to go out and about, Ms. Claus to Best Buy, where one of Jack’s elvish operatives gave Ms. Claus a tip that a shipment was coming in. The line was already long by the time she got there. More than 100 tickets were given out and Ms. Claus just got one with only five left. So she endured the line for an hour and a half to get us the gift of the season and she spent money we didn’t really have. Merry Christmas to us.

Ms. Claus, realizing that this was my only week off by myself, saw fit to give this gift to us at the early Christmas party – kind thing that she is.

So we’ve been playing Wii Sports, Billy and Mandy, The Legend of Zelda, Twilight Princess and Red Steel. Well, I’ve been playing Zelda and Red Steel. Wii Sports is amazingly fun and the innovative wiimote and chuck are amazingly response and intuitive. It is an experience that must be felt and not just demonstrated.

I see why this is such a hot gaming system. It is better than I thought it would be and I am really enjoying it, thanks to that wonderful Ms. Claus.

Woo-Wii, This is Some Kind of Fun

I am not much of a gamer. My first game system was an Atari back in the day, but I haven’t had once since. When I saw the Wii commercials on TV, I really thought that is what I wanted, and as you know Ms. Claus gave one to the family for Christmas. I am having a great time playing with my family. We have had more fun jumping and swing and running around with the included game, Wii Sports.

Even my anti-technology spouse has enjoyed Wii Sports. She is especially good at tennis. My daughter rocks at bowling. I was hoping my bowling skills would improve over my live performances, but no such luck. I manage to throw gutter balls in both real life and in game world. I do pretty well at the boxing game, however.

Some of these games are hard. That is, they are hard for the novice gamer. For the 12-year-old kid, or the 30-year-old technogeek, they may not prove very challenging. I find myself getting stumped as to what to do next. It’s usually a hidden door or something like that, but I’m not savvy enough to get that. So it’s off to the cheat sites to find out what to do. My enjoyment comes not from the exploration or the discovery, but rather I just like to run around and blow crap up and shoot at things. That is a pleasant enough distraction from real life for me and a nice stress-relief. I get a bit frustrated when I can’t figure things out. So much for that, I’ll give you some screen shots of a couple of the games I have:

The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess is the game to buy this season. It is highly acclaimed and makes complete use of the intuitive wii controller. I had to buy a guide to go with it and I am also looking at cheats online. I am stuck on this one too. I have worked my way through things, but I am not sure what to do next. I need to get the slingshot and destroy the monkey, but I'm not sure how to do that. Expert gamers are laughing at my stupidity. So far, I have really enjoyed this game.

Red Steel is a first person shooter with a Japanese setting. Being a martial artist and one who studies Iaido (the art of the samurai sword) this is my thing. Some critics have not liked this as much as they thought. They felt it was just another average first person shooter. Seeing how I am not a big gamer, I don't have much to compare it to. I am really enjoying it. I love how I can point the wiimote and the crosshairs follow it. When I move the wiimote toward the TV, I can zoom in on what I'm shooting. Very cool. I haven't yet earned the samurai sword. I am still stuck on the first mission. I can't figure out what to do next. I have to go to the bosses secret office, but I can't figure out where that is.

One of the drawbacks to Nintendo's Wii is the ability to throw the wiimote right through the television. It's been done and Nintendo has issued a recall of the iimote straps. The units distributed in December already have the new cord. As you can see below, the strap on the right is the older strap and it has been known to snap. The cord on the right is the improved strap. Mine was purchased before Thanksgiving so it has the older strap. So far, we have not gotten so over-excited as to let go of the thing to begin with. So our safety cord has not been tested. I'll request a replacement just to be sure.

(NOTE TO MY FRIENDS: I would love to have a game day over at the house sometime if any of you are interested. I'm hoping to be able to find a couple more controllers between now and next week. Let me know if you are interested.)

Christmas Traditions

Christmas is a crazy time in the House of Jack. We purchase Christmas gifts all year long, put up our Christmas tree sometime between the week of Thanksgiving, and it is an all-out affair once December arrives. We have tons of parties and events to attend. We can get plumb tuckered out around here. This year we skipped one party and the weather stomped on another. We purchased all of our gifts online, so it’s been pretty quiet except for finals week. (I’ll talk more about finals when I am finished on Thursday.)

The gift exchanges with the family start on Friday, the weekend before Christmas. We go to my brother-in-law’s home for Christmas with that side of the family. We just recently moved it from the parents-in-law home to his and it has been working out well for everyone. The adults don’t exchange gifts at that party anymore. We decided a few years ago to just buy for the kids and that is just fine with us. Sometimes I have my wife open a gift early because I just can’t wait for Christmas, but for the most part it centers around the kids. When the gifts are open the adults play with the kids.

After that party we head to the party with our friends from college, which is always a fun time. Two years ago we decided not to buy presents for one another, choosing instead to donate the money we would have spent to the Heifer Project. Last year we purchased several animals to be distributed nationally and internationally. We are doing the same thing this year.

On Christmas Eve, we head to Grandma’s house for Christmas with that side of my family. This is more of a dress up party with lots and lots of food, which I would prefer to do without. We exchange presents with Grandma. Then we head to Branson for Christmas with my family – my parents, my sister and her family, the grandmothers, and the multitude of cousins.

I get pretty excited about Christmas. That has always been the major holiday in my family. Birthdays and anniversaries are fine, but they are not the extravaganza, not even close. My family goes all out on Christmas. Many people buy their children toys throughout the year. Not so with us. My daughter gets presents on Christmas and her birthday. That’s pretty much it. We don’t buy her toys when we go to stores. The heap of presents on Christmas can be a bit overwhelming. It’s not about the money or the number of presents. It’s about the excitement, magic and fellowship of the time. It’s about the giving and the fun of watching someone open something exciting. We enjoy the time and it is something that everyone, children and adults, look forward to. I make no apologies for it.

Some family have traditions where they open gifts on Christmas Eve, and then send the kids to bed. That’s a fine way to do it I suppose, but that’s not our way. We put out cookies and milk, read some Christmas stories, and send the kids to bed. Then sometime thereafter Santa comes – some presents wrapped and some just sitting open under the tree. We have a habit of getting up early, the crack of God actually. As soon as the kids are up, usually between 5:30 and 6 a.m. then everyone gets up. That’s the rule in this family. We wake up any stragglers and then head downstairs for the magic and the rip-and-tear. We have two trees: one for the kids and one for the adults. Early morning is for the young ones. We just help them open their gifts, take pictures and make a big thing out of it.

After they have successfully opened their presents, we leave them to play with their new toys and the grown-ups go into the other room and we open ours. After the damage is done, then we start on breakfast, which is usually a feast in buffet-style. No big buffet this year, thankfully, but there is more about that over on FAT JACK – skinny whinny.

By mid-morning all of the cousins come over and we spend the day with one another – talking, laughing, and enjoying being home. It’s really a beautiful and exciting tradition and it makes Christmas last a long time.

A few years ago, the Ozarks was the victim of a long overdue snowy Christmas, yielding up to 14 inches in Branson. It took me four hours to drive from Springfield to my parents’ house. We got snowed in and my sister couldn’t come down from Oklahoma because of all the snow. While that year fell short because they weren’t there, it did have a silver lining. We actually had another family party on Christmas Eve that we had traveled to since before I was born. The year of this big snow, we were able to put the brakes on that long travel and spend more time at home. That year we added another tradition: a Christmas movie.

Come early evening, we pack into cars and head to the movie theatre. Who knew that movie theatres were open on Christmas? We just always assumed they were closed. Now every year we anticipate which movie we will all go to. This year I think it will be Night At The Museum. Anyone who is tired can stay back at the house and can rest, nap or read.

I am just beside myself with anticipation. I feel like a kid, a very big kid.

No More Teachers' Dirty Looks

My finals are finally finished and I am a happy man. I am ready to enjoy my Christmas break. Make no mistake. I have plenty of things to do over my break and I hope rest can be squeezed in there somewhere. You will notice that my blog posts have increased since my last final yesterday. MSU has finals on Saturdays, something I have to get used to. There are a lot of things I still have to get used to now that I’m back in college. One of which is the hypocrisy of professors and another is the myth of personal responsibility.

One of my professors called me stupid during one of my finals. Didn’t care for that, but I’m sure he thought he was being funny. The class gasped when he said it, so if it were a joke, then I don’t think anyone got it. I’ve also had an instructor stand outside our classroom while we filled out his performance evaluations. They were handed to him unsealed and he delivered them to wherever they go. I suspected something was up when he stood outside the classroom so I lied on my evaluation.

At the college level there is a systemic belief in student responsibility. The student is expected to behave like an adult and take responsibility for his or her actions. This includes acting ethically and morally. I’ve heard many professors complain about the irresponsibility and apathetic attitudes of today’s college youth. I can relate to their chagrin in that it seems that people do not respect their own education. However, the thing that is not talked about, the myth that exists, is that this responsibility is one sided. College professors have academic freedom, which allows them to behave in any manner that suits them, including being unethical, immoral and irresponsible. So long as the behaviors do not engage in discrimination, then they are free to do as they wish.

Those that complain are many times labeled as dissenters and troublemakers. I’ve seen it happen first hand when I was a field supervisor for practicum students. I have seen trouble makers and those mislabeled as troublemakers. Students have the responsibility to turn in work by the deadline; however, instructors have no obligation to turn back work in any timely manner. In fact, they don’t have to turn it back to you at all. I have an instructor who has only turned back two items during the entire semester. We received no feedback on our work or notes on how to improve. There was no way to dispute the grade. Professors have no obligation or responsibility to treat students with respect; however students are mandated to demonstrate respect. Some professors have an “attitude” grade built into the class.

I’ve actually had a professor tell me one thing and then grade me poorly on following his recommendations. In fact, I met with him during his assigned time, showed him my work, took notes during the meeting, followed his recommendations and received a zero on that portion of the project. When I met with this instructor about this, he complained that he gets this all the time and that he’s just going to quit meeting with students to keep this from happening. That is true. There have been students who have complained about this to him throughout the year and he tells them all that he never said such a thing and that it is their fault. Not usually true, because he has announced changes in class just to change his mind again (up to six times on one due date, which is verified in my notes). We’ve witnessed him doing it time and time again, but we say little. If he is tenured, in your department, and friends with the other professors, then you are simply hurting yourself. So we say little. We eat the zero and move along.

Professors wonder why students show no respect. That is due to many factors, one of which is the attitude of those who are supposed to be experts in their fields. Just like parenting, when we sow the seeds of poor instruction and irresponsibility, we will yield the same crop. I have admitted when I am wrong. I can admit that to students. My ego is not so fragile as to think that I am perfect. I have admitted wrongness to my daughter as well. I expect high quality, educated and dedicated instructors to follow those same ideals. A lofty goal, I know and one that will not be seen. But inside, I hold them to that anyway. More importantly, I hold myself to those same lofty goals.

If you are wondering, I did not raise any of these concerns to anyone. I care more about my education than being right. Sometimes, in the face of adversity, one has to ask the question: "Do I want to be right, or do I want to be happy?" Many times right does not make one happy. I choose my education and happiness over trying to chance a college professor's mind.

Leland's AIDS Quilt

My cousin Leland died of AIDS in 1996. His quilt was one of several AIDS Quilts on display at Missouri State University this week. He lived in Springfield and worked at KSPR 33 for many years. While at MSU to see the quilt, I met someone there who knew him for many years. In fact, she knew many of the Springfield people who had died of AIDS.

Leland was a very soft spirit – giving and gracious. People always say things like that about folks who have passed away. In this case, it was very true. He loved cats (having many of them) and he was very accepting of other people. He had his habits too. You never waited for Leland to arrive before you started a party. You would wait and wait. That guy, God love him, could never get anywhere on time. He was the lolling gaggingist thing ever was. He was lovable just the same. I’ve never seen his quilt before, but I’m glad I finally did.

Rilly Sabbit, Kix are for Trids

Elementary educators, good ones at least, don’t just depend on the school library to encourage reading. That teacher will also have his or her own personal library of children’s literature available in the classroom for the students. The students can access the classroom library during free reading, and the teacher can use it for reading aloud and for other curriculum needs. The standard rule that my professors use is that every elementary teacher should have around 200 personal books for the classroom library.

I have started amassing my own collection for my future classroom. Thank God for Scholastic in that I can purchase books cheaper than I could at Barnes and Noble or Amazon.com. I recently purchased a book from then by Shel Silverstein. Most people have heard of Uncle Shelly. He was a famous writer of children’s poetry among other things and his books have been treasured for years. His latest book, Runny Babbit, was published posthumously in 2005.

Runny Babbit, is a book of spoonerism poetry and it is hysterical. My daughter and I have enjoyed sitting down and reading this together. She just cackles at the crazy lines and delights in switching them back and reading them correctly. It truly is a billy sook. Here is one of the poems about Runny Babbit who is sick with chicken pox.

I just can't tell you how much fun my daughter and I have had reading these to each other, laughing and then reconstructing them. This was going to be a Christmas present to her, but when I got it, I just couldn't wait to read them to her. I'm going to take it to my parents' house for Christmas and read it to the kids.

Runny’s Bight Toots
By Shel Silverstein

Runny put on bow snoots
‘Cause it was cold outside,
But then he pouldn’t cull them off
No tratter how he mied.
He halled for celp – his buddies came
To hend a lelping hand.
Now Runny is the very tallest
Lunny in the band.


(click here to hear my daughter read this poem.)

The Queen Mother of Dirty Words

My young’in came home the other day and asked what the f-word was. She’s in first grade mind you and doesn’t hear that at home. I didn’t tell her what it was, but I wish now that I had because she went out elsewhere to seek out the information, and that my friends, is a bad habit for us to set up. I didn’t get upset with her or anything. I just told her that it was a bad word and we don’t say it. But I didn’t tell her what it was.

So she went to school and asked one of her friends, who is also in the first grade. He was more than willing to tell drop the f-bomb on her. Don’t know where he heard it, but it’s in his vocabulary and now it’s in hers. Too bad really. I was hoping to keep her a bit more innocent for a while longer but the world has thwarted my efforts.

After we had our first talk, she sought out the info from a schoolmate, then promptly came home and announced to me that she knew the word. That is, we were in the kitchen and she just said the word and then clasped her hands to her mouth. So we had our talk about the f-bomb and then we watched A Christmas Story. She noticed that we couldn’t wash her mouth out with soap because we don’t have bars of soap. We use liquid. Clever little bugger she is.

Before bed she asked me what the b-word was. I got this one right. I told her what it was and then we discussed how those words are swear words. I figured she might as well learn it from me than from her friends at school. At least that way we have open communication. Some would call that hedonistic liberalism at it's worst, but they are misguided puritans. I want to be able to talk to my child.

Ralphie: Oooh fuuudge!

Ralphie as an adult: Only I didn't say "Fudge." I said the word, the big one, the queen-mother of dirty words, the "F-dash-dash-dash" word!

Dad: What did you say?

Ralphie: Uh, um...

Dad: That's... what I thought you said. Get in the car. Go on!

Ralphie as an adult: It was all over - I was dead. What would it be? The guillotine? Hanging? The chair? The rack? The Chinese water torture? Hmmph. Mere child's play compared to what surely awaited me.

[after getting home]

Mother: All right. Now, are you ready to tell me where you heard that word?

Ralphie as an adult: Now, I had heard that word at least ten times a day from my old man. He worked in profanity the way other artists might work in oils or clay. It was his true medium – a master. But, I chickened out and said the first name that came to mind.

Ralphie: Schwartz! [his friend from school]

(from A Christmas Story)

Gender Bias in the Classroom?

I completed my student practicum in an upper elementary grade classroom in a school here in the Ozarks. I enjoyed the experience, the students and my cooperating teacher. I am troubled though. Not with the teacher or with the students, but I am troubled about some things that I observe in the classroom and wonder if those issues are systemic, or just circumstantial to this group of students.

I passed out many papers and I observed the student’s grades on those papers. I noticed that in general terms, the girls seemed to be very successful making A’s and B’s. In general, the boys seemed to be doing far worse, making D’s and F’s. Now I want to be clear that I am not making stereotyped statement about all girls or all boys. I am, however, speaking in generalities and noticing some trends that affect students.

That leads me to my question: Is this a systemic problem found in many schools across the district, county, state and nation? Or is this, perhaps, a circumstantial event in which many of the boys who happened to be placed in this classroom also have poor academic performance? I have heard tell that the national trend has crossed over and that girls across the nation are now outperforming boys academically. The old gender bias has fallen by the way side and it is now boys who are struggling to keep up.

Maybe that word “struggle” is a key factor? Maybe it has to do with the girls in fifth grade are maturing and thus able to achieve a higher academic level than the boys most of which have not started to mature? I wonder if there is a socio-economic reason or perhaps it’s as simple as boys are engaging in many sports-related extracurricular activities and are having a hard time balancing it all? There could be other factors contributing that I have not yet considered. I have not done any research yet, as I am too stretched with school and my practicum and teaching karate.

Should we consider moving toward schools or classroom segregated by gender? Would that hinder or help the students? I’ve also heard there are studies on that issue as well, but I haven’t had time to research that either. If you have a perspective on this, let me know. I’d like to hear it. If you have a link to some research, then that will be even better.

I smell a Master’s Thesis in the works.

Christmas Newsletter 2006

I have been putting out an annual Christmas Newsletter for 11 years now. It's something that my family enjoys and looks forward to. This year, I am distributing it in electronic format to all of those who can access it in such a way. Embrace technology, say I. I will send hard copies to some of the older generation who do not access the internet, but otherwise, this is it.

Merry Christmas
Happy Holiday
Seasons Greetings
Merry Kwanza
Happy Hanukkah

9/11 Commission Report -- Graphic Novel

The 9/11 Commission released its report in December 2005 and it was so large and complex that no one was reading it. So they turned to comic book veterans Sid Jacobson (artist) and Ernie Colón (editor). Knowing that we have lessons to learn, these two have rewritten the Commissions report in graphic novel form to make it more accessible to the general public.

It has received good reviews from reputable sources such as the Library Journal. The users of Amazon.com rated it 4.5 stars out of 5 (38 reviews). My wife bought it and she is currently reading it. Not that any government report is entirely interesting, but as an American who is concerned about our welfare as a Nation, I am going to read it over Christmas break and keep this copy for my classroom when I am a teacher.

Never before has the government worked to make something so accessible to the public. If they go to the trouble and expense, then I will go to the trouble to read it and learn. I encourage you to buy your own copy and read it. It’s not that long. The book is available in both hardback and paperback versions.

(Actual pages from the graphic novel.)

From the Library Journal:
“Beginning with a time line of the morning of the attacks, they move on to a history of al Qaeda and its previous attacks against the United States. They also detail U.S. counterterrorism activities in the years before the attacks; missed opportunities to prevent the attacks; and the many recommendations of the 9/11 Commission, ending with the commission's December 2005 report card on the government's implementation of those recommendations. Jacobson and Colon avoid sensationalism and editorializing; the captions are adapted or directly quoted from the report itself (though much dialog is seemingly invented to illustrate certain points). A larger format would have made the sometimes small text more readable. The artwork is well done, and its depiction (with some blood) of the destruction and the doomed victims can be chilling. Simultaneously released in hardcover and paperback, this important and worthy effort belongs in all libraries.”

From Stan Lee:
"Never before have I seen a non-fiction book as beautifully and compellingly written and illustrated as The 9/11 Report, A Graphic Adaptation. I cannot recommend it too highly. It will surely set the standard for all future works of contemporary history, graphic or otherwise, and should be required reading in every home, school and library."

For the Love of God, It's Sleeting Outside!

The price of coolness has finally paid it’s due and it was a comic scene, I tell you what. I am one big polar bear, with lots of blubber to keep me warm, but even I have enough common sense to bundle up when the forecast calls for sleet and 12 inches of snow. Not so with some college students. While I was bundled in a flannel shirt, Navy pea coat, boots, gloves and stocking hat trucking my big butt across the ice covered sidewalks of Missouri State University today, I saw it. So help me, I actually saw someone in a T-shirt and flip-freaking-flops. No coat, no hat, no gloves. He was cool, to say the least and I’m sure he was impressing the ladies.

I’m sure his parents are paying for his college, fraternity experience. I’m equally sure that his rich Daddy buys him books just to have them half eaten during some ravenous, drunken, fraternity dare. Dumb ass. If he was really cool he wouldn’t have been hunkered and turning blue while he walked. If he were really cool he would have walked tall, proudly displaying his family’s waste of a college fund on his stupid self. He was just a dumb ass who didn’t have enough sense to put on a pair of shoes and socks. I love being around the scholarly and erudite.

Elvis and Stars Make Christmas

Our Christmas tree is up and we are listening to Christmas music. Yes, yes, it’s too early for many of you out there. That old argument is as annoying as all that War on Christmas business. People go to boo-hooing about the stores putting up Christmas décor in November. Not me. I like it and I am going on record. I love Christmas. I love what it stands for and I think peace is something we should remember as often as possible. Our presents are already purchased and being shipped, except for two people. Their gifts are a bit harder. Thanksgiving Day we put up my wife’s family’s tree and then the next day we put up both of our Christmas trees, with stars on top, of course.

If you know me, then you know that there are two things that signify Christmas to me, beyond the reason for the season of course:

1. The only Christmas tree is one with a star on the top. I don’t really know why that is, but it’s just a weird thing of mine. Anything else is a holiday tree, including some cardboard angel. Nothing against angels, I am down with them, but they don’t belong on the top of a Christmas tree. I have two trees up this year: a Christmas tree with a star on top and a smaller holiday movie-themed tree.
2. It ain’t Christmas unless Elvis is singing. Growing up my parents always put on their vinyl Elvin Christmas album while we decorated the tree (complete with star on top). That is locked in my mind, for good or bad, and there it stays. To this day, I play my Elvis Christmas CD while decorating. It just makes it Christmas for me. Now I play other Christmas music throughout the season and even during decoration, but it always starts with Elvis. Always.

One year my Mother decided to replace the burned out star on our tree with an angel. She had no idea that would cause any kind of raucous, but it did. I would not have it and pitched a fit, a fine Fat Jack fit, until we went out and bought a star to put on the tree. Silly, true, but it’s just one of those quirks. I have no intention of changing my opinion. In fact I plan on handing down that tradition to my daughter who so far is quite agreeable to the idea. It’s her job to put on the star and she is relentless in the occupation, reminding me from dawn till dusk that it’s her job. I can’t even pick the star up, move it, touch it or even look at it without her running over to make sure that she is the one to place it in its rightful place atop the Christmas tree. I love it. We have so much fun putting all that up.

Saturday was so nice that I decided to put the outdoor lights up too. I got lazy and didn’t do it last year, but this year my little bit helped me out. That is, until she got bored and ran off to play in the tree house. Nothing too elaborate or extensive. Just a few net lights on the bushes and nine strings on the big oak out front – red and white candy cane stripped.

That’s our tradition and I’m sticking to it. November or December, we are excited about Christmas and the season, the celebration and the happiness, the peace and the giving that it represents. The crazy Black Friday shoppers can punch their way into the season to save a few dollars if they want to. I will be home with my family putting our star on the Christmas tree and listening to Elvis. Most of my shopping is done by Thanksgiving anyway. What isn’t I try to buy online anyway. That leaves very little that must be purchased from stores. I just sit back and enjoy the season.

Strep Throat

No blogger's meeting for me tonight. Daughter has strep throat and just in case I have it and don't know, I will stay away. Don't want to infect anyone over the holiday. Have fun.

Light Blogging

The semester end is drawing near and projects galore are coming due. Blog posts tend to suffer toward the end of the semester. More posts to come after the semester.

A Precious Commodity

I should have paid attention to him, but I was busy getting ready for bed. I know better than to ignore him. He has needs too and he has no playmate, no one with whom to romp and play and wrestle. I learned my lesson quick enough and finally carved some time out for our kitty.

We have a good cat. He doesn’t cause problems or tear things up, with the exception of the one time that he got out of the house and was gone for a week. He sleeps most of the time, but he is a cat and he does have times of high energy. Since he is the only pet and his is by himself all day I’m sure he gets lonely. We try to pay a lot of attention to him. He loves to lie on our laps in the evening. He especially misses me as I am doing homework all the time. Before I started back to school he really enjoyed our nighttime routine where I would sit in my chair and he would curl up on my chest.

Now I sit in my chair at the computer and complete my homework. He lets me know he needs attention by scratching the back of my office chair. He is de-clawed in the front so he doesn’t hurt any of the furniture. If that doesn’t work, then he will typically bit my legs. He doesn’t bit hard, but just tries to get my attention. He loves doing that to my wife in the mornings to remind her to feed him or clean out his box.

I was getting ready for bed last night and Buddy was trying to get my attention. I was trying to ignore him. That’s never a good idea because he won’t let me sleep if I don’t pay attention, but I was stubborn. He threw me a curve ball and changed his game plan. I was standing in the living room brushing my teeth, standing only in my underwear. He was walking through my legs and desperately trying to get me to pay him some mind.

Then the sharp pain hit me. No blood of course, just a light nip and the tip. He stood up on his back legs and bit me in my flanderdoodle. He wanted to play and fight and I was not being cooperative. He knew I was going to bed and that this was his last chance. He took it. I inspected the affected area and no damage was done so I capitulated, and got his sock. We have a sock that we use for him. It covers the length of the arm, up to the bicep, and allows him to play-fight – bite and scratch with his back claws. He really gets after it, panting and huffing. We fought until he was satisfied and then I went to bed. Lesson learned.

The Decider Has Some Things to Decide

Kitty Kat, wife of Jack, asks something pertinent this morning: “What’s going through President Bush’s mind this morning?” A good question. Horn tooting aside, it’s obvious by last night’s election that the President has lost the support of the majority of people. I think the community at large voted against this president’s war policy last night. That’s nothing prophetic, as the pundits have been talking about this for several days, but it makes sense.

I suspect, with a grin, that he will do what McCarthy did in the days of yore. McCarthy was after the communists and blamed everyone, including Army generals of being pinkos. Got him in a lot of hot water, especially when the discovered that his documentation was fraudulent, thanks to the Tydings Committee’s investigation. McCarthy’s response: The Tydings Committee were communists. The same thing will happen here. By the end of today we will find out that this wasn’t a referendum of the President or his war policy. It was nothing more than the evil liberal media (a.k.a pinko commies) attempt to distort the truth about the war in Iraq. Wait and see.

For the Decider to change his mind and change course would mean that he was wrong all along, and he isn’t about to do that. So we will stay the course and just push harder for those “benchmarks”, but you can bet the farm that those won’t be “timetables”. It’s a hard job being the Decider.

Election Results as of 6 a.m.

I thought us Bloggers might make the election night fun with an Academy Awards game during the election. No such luck. No one would make any predictions or have any fun at all – a fool’s game they cried, the big weenies.

So I bought my wife a coffee and a shot instead. That’s money better spent anyway. She went to her first bloggers meeting last night. I’ll let her tell you what she thought, if she chooses. I think she had a good time.

I went to bed around 11:45 a.m. (much past my usual bed time) and most races were still too late to tell. She, however, stayed up until 2 a.m. watching the results trickle in.

Please realize that of the total 3,734 total precincts 3,570 of them have reported, according to the Secretary of State’s web site. So here are the results as they stand at 6 a.m.

ISSUES
Amendment 2 (stem cell research)
Yes: 50.7% (1,024,2136)
No: 49.3% (996,584)

Amendment 3 (smoking tax)
Yes: 48.3% (976,076)
No: 51.7% (1,043,685)

Amendment 6 (vets non-profit exemption)
Yes: 61.4%
No: 38.6%

Amendment 7 (convicted politicians forfeit state pensions)
Yes: 84.4%
No: 15.6%

Minimum wage increase
Yes: 75.6%
No: 24.4%

Springfield Bar Ban
Yes: 62% (33,088)
No: 38% (20,625)

CANDIDATES
U.S. Senate: Talent-McCaskill
Talent: 47.4% (986,007)
McCaskill: 49.5% (1,028,375)

State Rep: Champion-Harpool
Champion: 57.5% (36,366)
Harpool: 42.5% (26,929)

State Rep: Dennison-Hagan
Dennison: 55.6% (9,864)
Hagan: 44.4% (7,888)

State Rep: Marsh-Owens
Marsh: 56% (7,677)
Owens: 44% (6,040)

State Rep: Viebrock-Brown-Rodgers
Viebrock: 63.4% (10,492)
Brown: 33.5% (5,536)
Rodgers: 3.1% (515)

Presiding Commission: Coonrod-Roark-Jones
Coonrod: 50% (48,946)
Roark: 46% (44,901)
Jones: 5% (4,423)

County Clerk: Struckhoff-Johnson
Struckhoff: 79% (73,127)
Johnson: 21% (19.202)

Prosecuting Attorney: Brown-Moore
Brown: 38% (36,739)
Moore: 62% (61,162)

Back Of The Line

There were long lines at the polls. No real surprise there. What surprised me was one poll worker. They had two lines at my polling place, one for A-K and one for L-Z. There were two little handwritten signs hidden behind the lines of people and a young college student at the door mousily alerting people about the lines. I couldn’t hear her, but I knew what to do anyway.

My line was pretty short. At the front of the line was an elderly lady, with a walker. She was in the wrong line. The poll worker was telling her that she would have to walk her way to the end of the long A-K line. The line curved to the door. He explained that her name just was not listed in his book. It was in the book sitting next to him, but that was someone else’s line.

He was bound and determined to see her shuffle and stand for another 30 minutes, which she clearly was unable to do. The man in the other line sweetly offered her to cut in line, which she did.

The signs were poor and people were confused. The elderly surely were confused about the lines and I’m wondering how important it is to force a senior citizen with a walker to the end of the line. Thank God for good Samaritans who don’t mind line cuts.

Great Election Results Here

If you are looking for great election results check out the Secretary of State's office web site.

Election Night Blogging

Tonight is the night that the Springfield bloggers do our first live blogging election event. Odds are you already knew that, but you may want to know which of the bloggers are actually participating in this first time event?

Check it, peeps. I’ll list the members here. You can click and visit each site throughout the night to see what’s happening. I will update this post with new members if they come in late, so remember to check this article out if you want to know who is pontificating. As of 7:27 p.m. this is who is here:

Branson Missouri
Curbstone Critic
Dad’s On A Rant
Kerner.net
Rhetorica (it's all his idea)
Simple Thoughts of a Complext Mind
Tony Messenger – News-Leader
Zach is Here

Predictions Anyone?

Damn that infernal Blogger website for being cantankerous today. It appears to be working for the moment so I will post before it fails again. I really don’t know what good making predictions on electoral races does for us, but to show us now and again that the pundits are wrong. Other than for fun, it seems a bit contrived.

That is, unless you are making a game of it. Now that sounds like fun to me. To the member of the Springfield Bloggers who gets the most predictions correct: A drink of my choice. If you participate, then you will drink what I give you (from Patton Alley Pub) unless of course you qualify for an accommodation, but you best bring documentation. The good news is I’ll have what you’re having, so it won’t be all bad. All predictions must be posted on your own site by 7 p.m. tonight (when polls close). If you post early and want to make changes, then that’s fine as long as your last post is by 7 p.m. If you don’t have your own blog, then you are just out of luck.

Here is the lowdown on how I think the election will roll:

ISSUES
Amendment 2 (stem cell research) – PASSES
Amendment 3 (smoking tax) – FAILS
Amendment 6 (vets non-profit exemption) – PASSES
Amendment 7 (convicted politicians forfeit state pensions) – PASSES
Minimum wage increase – PASSES
Springfield Bar Ban – PASSES


CANDIDATES
U.S. Senate: Talent-McCaskill – McCASKILL WINS
State Rep: Champion-Harpool – HARPOOL WINS
State Rep: Dennison-Hagan – HAGAN WINS
State Rep: Marsh-Owens – MARSH WINS
State Rep: Viebrock-Brown-Rodgers – BROWN WINS
Presiding Commission: Coonrod-Roard-Jones – COONROD WINS
County Clerk: Struckhoff-Johnson – STRUCKHOFF WINS
Prosecuting Attorney: Brown-Moore – MOORE WINS

Election Thoughts at 6 a.m.

The news is reporting that there are already huge lines at the polls today. Not surprised as this should have a large voter turnout. Everyone election should have a large voter turnout but we know how that goes. More to say throughout the day and especially tonight starting sometime around 7 p.m. when the mass blogging event begins here in Springfield.

I have no idea what I will be reporting on tonight. Maybe the results, maybe the discussion, maybe my thoughts. There will be others reporting as well and you will want to check out their blogs as well. I've be sure to give you a list later on this eve, once I know who all is live and blogging for your election pleasure.

Harpool Has Something To Say

I've been remiss in my political coverage this election cycle. Early on I wrote about my the Representative race in my district, but that was before school got in the way. College has a tendency to do that. I've been so engrossed in what I have been doing, that I haven't written about the Champion/Harpool race. For that matter, I haven't written about the Talen/McCaskil race either.

Harpool has a lot to say about education, medicaid, taxes, public service, and of course campaign finance reform. Champion doesn't seem to have much to say anymore, relying on her name recognition only.

I am making time for Doug Harpool today. He deserves it. He understands the Medicaid crisis and how people have been damaged by those cuts. Champion does not, as is seen in the video above, but her's is the typical Republican mantra: No one who really needed it, lost any services. Rep. Viebrock from Republic says the same thing.

I am putting my money on the person who supports persons with disabilities who were drastically affected by the medicaid cuts. I support the person who wants to help education – elementary, secondary and higher edcucation. I suppor the person who wants to push for campaign finance reform. Harpool stands for all of those and Champion … well she stands for none of them. It's an easy vote for me. I only wish I had endorsed him earlier, then he could have used it on his campaign materials:

Endorsed by Fat Jack, or maybe
Fat Jack Seal of Approval or possibly
A Rating from Fat Jack

Either way, I owe him an appology. Someone that impresses me as much as he has deserves an blog post early on in the election.

I'm Fat Jack and I approve of this candidate.

Live and Blogging on Election Day

I shall be sporting my polticial boxing bow tie
from Beau Ties Ltd on election day.

Tuesday night will be brimming with babbling – blogging – as many of Springfield’s finest citizen journalists will be meeting for a live blog event at our usual hangout at the Patton Alley Pub. With laptops in hand we will be reporting on the election results throughout the night. This mid-term election should prove to be one of the most exciting in a long time.

The idea came from Rhetorica and a dandy idea it was. We will discuss local, state and national politics, but I’m sure other topics will come up. Bloggers and non-bloggers alike are invited to attend and no laptop is necessary. We are a nice bunch and are most willing to share. The members are made up of conservatives, liberals and even a libertarian. If you stop by you can participate, learn how to blog, or just watch the fun.

JACK’S Annual Halloween Freak Fest

My wife and I have, for several years, entertained the youth in our family with a Halloween Freak Fest. We have taken our young ones out for a spooky night on the town complete with scary movies, haunted houses and the haunted corn maize in Verona, MO.

This year’s party expanded quite a bit with the introduction of some new teens and adults. My teen cousins, Austin and Jessica came, along with Austin’s mom, Dede, and a friend of hers. Kitty Kat, wife of JACK, stayed behind and took our little girly to the annual fall carnival at her school. Proceeds of the corn maize benefit the Verona Boys’ Home.

It’s always a good time. Austin and I have done this for a long time, and as fun as the corn maize is, we’ve decided that the haunted houses are better. Our goal is to someday take a trip to the haunted houses in Kansas City. I’ve been to them once and it was a fantastic time.

After the spookfest, the kids stayed the night and we watched the Stephen King classic, Children of the Corn. By the way, I remember Children of the Corn being much spookier than it really is. The special effects, in light of today, just do not hold up well. I found the movie a bit lacking especially at the end.

The next morning, the younger cousin, Evan, came up and spent the day with us all. He’s still a bit young for the haunted houses. Saturday afternoon we watched the PG children’s horror movie, Something Wicked This Way Comes. It holds up to the test of time better than Children of the Corn. It’s a bit spooky for the very young ones, I think, but it’s still appropriate.

After they left we took a nap and headed to a Halloween party. This too is an annual party with some of our friends from college. Most of us have children now, and so they play together and we hang out and talk about what ails us. This year we had some old friends fly in from Seattle to join the party. It was nice to see them. The kids and the adults dress up at this party. We didn’t this year, which is unusual for us. I just didn’t feel up to it what with just having surgery. Everyone else dressed up and that makes it lots of fun when the grown ups dress up too.

Click here for the kids’ party
Click here for the college friends