For several years now we've tried to get a movement, a groundswell if you will, to find a place for the lowly, but very noticeable mosquito among our state emblems. My first thought was as the official state insect, but we lost out to the honeybee there.

In this session of the General Assembly we've already seen bills introduced to add five more state emblems.

Just for fun, let's see how many of these you know. Answers are below. No peeking and no asking your fifth grader.

State bird

Floral emblem

Arboreal emblem

Lithologic emblem

State mineral

State song

Musical instrument

Fossil

Dinosaur

Tree nut

Official animal

Folk dance

Aquatic animal

State fish

State horse

State grape

State amphibian

ANSWERS:

Bluebird

Hawthorn

Flowering dogwood

Mozarkite

Galena

Missouri Waltz

Fiddle

Crinoidea

Hypsibema missouriensis

Black walnut

Missouri Mule (if you missed this one you might have to move to Kansas)

Square dance

Paddlefish

Missouri Fox Trotting Horse

Norton/Cynthiana

North American bullfrog

Bills being considered this year would make the bobwhite quail the official game bird of the state, losing out to the wild turkey. Another measure installs the crayfish, also known as crawfish, as the official state invertebrate. The three-toed box turtle - as opposed to the two-toed box turtle?- would become the official state reptile. Big Bluestem would become the official state grass and the smooth chanterelle would become the official state mushroom.

About the only place I can find for the mosquito would be the official state pest. There's probably too much competition for such recognition.

0002000007700000065276A,By the way, last week a group of our local Scouts and their leaders, including former state representative Phillip Britt, traveled to Jefferson City where they enjoyed the hospitality of State Rep. Tom Todd. I'm told the pizza was a hit.

They also met with Gov. Matt Blunt, who quizzed them on their state history. Having every one of his questions answered by the Scouts rewarded the governor, according to reports.

They also spent some time at the Missouri Supreme Court where one of the justices, sorry I didn't get the name, came out and spent some time with them talking about the court's role in our state. One of the leaders, Charolyn Hilburn, even tried on the robe. The word on the street though, is that she doesn't need any robe to put her orders into law around the Hilburn household. Just ask Charley.

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Flying coconuts

Sometimes I get information from sources who prefer to remain anonymous. Then there are times when folks just tell out on themselves. Consider the following that came along in a congregation-wide email from the head honcho at First United Methodist Church.

The church had just celebrated Girl Scout Sunday and Gary Carter was sharing his remembrances of the service.

"I have just one suggestion. There needs to be a warning label on every box of Samoa Girl Scout Cookies. That's the one with caramel, chocolate and toasted coconut. I ate a couple (okay a few of them) on Saturday evening. In spite of a regular nightly mouth rinse and 2 minutes with a power toothbrush on Sunday morning, one of those little toasted flakes sprang from its hiding place right in the middle of the choir special. If I looked kind of distressed it was because I was trying to keep it in my mouth and off Pat Stapleton who stands in front of me. I'm not sure how to word the label, so if you've got any ideas, let me know. Ah, the joys of being a part of the family of God."

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Safe and er, sound

It's that time of year when guys just can't wait to hit a golf ball. Some of them have been so cooped up all winter and in such a state of cabin fever they're just about to go stir crazy. The only logical thing for them to do then is head south. Yes, the annual winter golf trips are upon us.

We're glad to report that one group which went to the Gulf coast shortly after the first of the month has returned safe and mostly sound, although one unfortunate incident did take place

C.H. Young slipped and fell in, actually out of, the shower. We're glad to report he's doing fine and getting a lot of TLC from Sandy.

His roommates, John Henry Stephens and Jack Holifield are to be commended for cutting their trip short by a day to bring him home. Of course, they also should be ashamed for letting him lay on the floor after he fell for a while.

According to reliable reports, these two heard C.H. fall. However, they said, "We thought it was an earthquake, or something."

Now C.H. is a pretty good size fellow, but that's just mean. The story goes that after a few minutes they did get manage to get up and go try to find out what had caused such a racket. They moseyed down the hall and found C.H. lying there in pain.

Give 'em credit. They didn't laugh or anything, even when they found out he was still in one piece, and I think they even tried to persuade him to seek medical attention. C.H. assured them he would be fine, but didn't really feel like playing any more golf for a few days.

Rumor has it that this trip had all the makings of a snoring contest, but no winner had been declared by the time they returned home. Guess they will just have to go back next year and see just who does snore the loudest.