This is a golf outing in memory of my nephew and niece who passed away. Kevin would have been 20 this year on September 6th, and Lindsay would haven been 21 on September 27, if I'm remembering correctly. But they will forever be in our hearts and minds...
The Chai Vang trial starts tomorrow and it's amazing how it is creating an uproar around here. Unfortunately, our office is in the same hall as the courtrooms so we are going to be in lockdown for the duration. We've been scrambling trying to get everything we need out of certain rooms, and trying to get all our "mobile" work done before hand, as we will have to go through metal detectors and be searched every time we go in and out of the area. The prisoner and the judge will be using the bathrooms right next door to us and we'll all be locked in our offices whenever they are on the move. It's just so annoying and adds a lot of frustration to the workday. We'll all be glad when it's over. The media has already begun moving in and Court TV is right down the hall. The sick part is that some people are loving all the attention. I for one wish I could work at home the next 2 weeks. With today's technology it's quite possible, but they say we have to be open to the public. Well let me tell you, with the security they're bringing in, no public will be within blocks of this place. It will be tighter than a drum.
I'm sure that everyone is as devastated as we have been with Hurricane Katrina. The media sure does tend to play it up. But the stories are heart breaking. As some of you may know, I'm on the board with the Salvation Army here in Sawyer County, and our director got deployed last Saturday. Debbie has already gone from Texas, to Baton Rouge, to New Orleans, and the stories she has been calling back with are just heartbreaking. Locally, people have been swamping me with phone calls about what they can do and where they can give. Don't want to send it to parts unknown I guess. So I've been scrambling getting kettles back out in the community, doing PSA's with the newspapers and recording 5 second spots for the radio. I feel very honored that I can do a tiny bit to help, but it is definitely extra work. But then I remind myself that it's nothing compared to what those poor people are going through. The schools wanted to do something personal for all the victims that are kids, so I'm helping them organize something special for the families that are being relocated to Wisconsin. I've been emailing my niece Ashley and she has told me all the things that she's been doing to help, as well as my niece Amy doing things too. Wouldn't it be nice if the media could focus on all the Americans that step forward in these times of need, instead of all the looters, etc? Will that ever happen I wonder? Probably not in my lifetime.
On a brighter note - Mike, Kendie and Mikey came to visit! What a charmer our little grandson is, and what a joy to be around. He's soooooo cute, very happy, easygoing, adaptable - well, I could go on and on. I'll put some pictures on of our visit. Talk about a redneck family reunion, one day we took the guns to the local gravel pit and shot at targets and apples! Yeehah! It was a gorgeous autumn day and we had fun riding the dirt roads on the tailgate and acting silly. We set up competitions and I am by far the best shot as I got my apple on the first try! Ohh yeah baby. I totally blew their doors off. Although they might have another version. hee hee. We enjoyed firepits and football, setting up deer stands and scouting out the wildlife. Plus, since their last visit when we first got the trampoline, Mikey can now jump on it by himself! Too cute.
Well, I think that brings everyone up to date. Sunday begins Packer football! Don't forget to dust off your green and gold and cheer loudly. I think they're going to need it this year. But that's ok, we love our Packers.
Until next time, happy trails.
