Retiree Rant

I have not been able to figure this one out. Our neighborhood is populated with retirees. Some do volunteer type work and what not during the week. However, I assume they have more time in general than this hard working couple. On weekends, these retirees get to it with their leaf blowers, lawn mowers, and other very loud lawn equipment. This sunday morning, 9 am, someone was out with their lawnmower. Lordy- cannot we enjoy some peace on our weekends! What is wrong with a rake?

Murderous Springfield

I have always been bothered by the number of murders in this town. I did some calculations and found that the murder rate for Springfield of late is 8.585/100,000. In line with Belarus.

Cock Fighting in Springfield

Last Saturday, Nov 14 the Boy Scouts of Troop 3 were raking leaves at their host church, Douglas Ave Methodist. A red rooster showed up walking across the parking lot. It was clucking. This poor bird was a wreck, bloody defeathered back, one toe broken and flopping. We called Animal Control and they came and took the sad victim away. We had already figured out what happened to the rooster and the Animal Control person confirmed it- the rooster had been used in an illegal cock fight and lost apparently. Somehow it escaped or was dropped off, and must of heard all the raking noises and found the boy scouts and help. He had a little cracker meal before being picked up by the Animal Control.

Deer running west downtown

We were at Cafe Brio at Monroe and 6th street, at 6:20pm a large deer was going west at full speed down the sidewalk on the north side of the street. Do not know where it went after that. Darla

Lucky or unlucky, Air Force One, In and Out

Coming into town this evening, just before going downhill into Springfield on I-72, I just glimpsed Air Force One landing. After the Presidents speech, I sat out on our deck, getting colder and colder, then saw Air Force One take off, circle over our neighborhood, and head out east. I could see the tail lit up and a flag symbol. When President Clinton came to Champaign, I went to see him and Mr. Gore speak at the Assembly Hall. I saw President Clinton's Jet come in to Champaign, his badass motorcade, and then went south of town east of the airport to watch him leave. Some other people were out there and one had a police radio. We heard the Jet roaring after it slipped off the runway, trying to dislodge from the mud. We heard over the radio they were bringing in a second Jet, watched it come in, and then take off with the President. I am not one lucky enough to go to any Lincoln celebrations today, but I enjoyed seeing the big Air Force One coming and going. Darla

White girl response to Obama Inauguration

I took off Tuesday to stay at home and absorb it all in, and I am so glad I did. I only lost it when President Obama and his First Lady held hands and walked down Pennsylvainia. The tears came out with no control. Today when speaking with people about it, some wondered why I was so into it. Well, for one, my direct ancestors owned slaves, I know this is a fact. I do not feel guilty about it, I had nothing to do with it. However, I have never understood all the hate and discrimination. As a child I knew racists and KKK members in my own family. I listened to their crap all through the 70's and remember thinking what was wrong with these people? Luckily, I was raised differently.

Anyway, I enjoyed watching history being made and feeling it move across the centuries of history. Darla

The Crack is Back!

Crack Bauer that is. 24 Ai Ai Ai. This crap gives me the creeps, but I love it all the same. Mondays at 8p. on the Fox. Darla