Everybody is getting ready for Spring

Signs that we are coming out of the harsh winter, likely one we will never forget, are all about us and I'm not just talking about the occasional robin bouncing along the ground either.

A lot of us are thinking about warmer temperatures and getting into a bathing suit. For some that means shedding the additional padding we put on to protect us from the cold. One such fellow was seen walking around, all around, the downtown area last week on his lunch hour. He was going at a pretty good pace and doing a lot of good.

At least that's what I thought until I saw him cut the corner at Cedar Street and College. He cut across the parking lot as he headed back to work. I don't know if he was just winded, or running late to get back to the lumberyard. Of course he might make up for the short cut by walking to work from home in Campbell every day.

Another couple of signs appeared in my neighborhood last week. Take the fellow who lives on the corner for instance. His lawn always looking nice and when it looks as nice as his does it's a lawn not a yard. I think one of those Yard of the Month signs was probably given to him permanently. Being a little new in this neighborhood I'm trying to learn his secret and upgrade my own patch of grass. I think I've figured it out.

As I drove by last week he was on the riding mower and his wife was working the rake and digging in the dirt. I think that's called management.

Another sign of spring is Mark Moore on the golf course before April 1. The banker usually puts his clubs up in the fall and doesn't get them out until April. This year Mark was out on the course about 10 days early.

I can also report he made an eagle on the ninth hole his first time out (that's two shots under par for those of you who have better things to do than ruin a pretty day by chasing a white ball around). I don't know what he'll do for the rest of the year, but he's off to a good start. According to sources, there is no correlation between Mark starting back to play on April 1 and April Fools Day.

This is also a good time to launch a new lawn care business. One local gal has already made her plans.

Readers will recall a story several days ago about several teachers announcing their retirement plans from the local school system, one of which was Jan Robertson. Since inquiring minds want to know, I asked Jan what she would be doing with her spare time now. Jan replied that she had bought a rake.

Someone should probably warn another of our recent retirees about the coming competition. Many of you will recall the first thing Lanny Geary bought when he retired was a lawnmower.

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Give back

We've all seen the stories about the Olympic Gold Medal winner who had to give back his or her medals because it was determined they had used a performance enhancing substance. And how about Floyd Landis, the guy who won the Tour de France only to lose the crown because tests indicate he was assisted by a chemical substance that shouldn't have been in his body?

Last week it was learned a local guy who had earned a national honor might have to give back his award as well.

It's only been weeks since John McClellan, head honcho at our local hospital, was recognized by the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) for cancelling the donkey basketball game. John was recognized in the newspaper, received a framed certificate from PETA, the whole nine yards.

What really happened was that the game was first scheduled to be held right around the time we were in the dark and waiting on ice to melt. The hospital was sponsoring the game and John made the decision to cancel. PETA sent the certificate to thank him.

Last week it was announced the game was back on. Any day now look for PETA -does it really stand for People Eating Tasty Animals? -- to show up and rip that certificate right off of John's wall.

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Neighborhood event

During the campaign and around inauguration time our local political guru who made such in-roads with the new president and his administration tried to organize several neighborhood events.

Mike Mowrer put forth a lot of effort, well okay, some effort, to coordinating block-parties community service days and maybe even had a bottle of pop and sparkler around inauguration time. He didn't have a lot of success. Although if he had gotten Jean to come thru with breakfast on that community service thing a few of us would have shown up to eat anyway.

It looks like Mike will have another to organize a neighborhood party.

Last week I received a press release about a group urging folks to begin hosting neighborhood TEA parties. I immediately thought of Mike. He's already demonstrated an interest in such community events and has experience, albeit, limited, in making them happen.

The TEA parties are something he can identify with, too. TEA stands for Taxed Enough Already. He would be right there with that idea. Some folks even suggest he did not get the job as head pooper-scooper for the new First Dog because unlike others nominated to high positions within the administration, Mike paid his taxes. He wasn't controversial enough.

Save the date, whenever Mike gets the date set, and we'll all gather on North Lincoln for tea and Girl Scout cookies