The State of Kansas and Its Clueless Politics

Let me preface this with I am a Native Texan. I have had the privilege to live all over the world in places such as Singapore and Mexico City. I did not fall off the turnip truck yesterday but I think that the elected officials in Kansas not only fell off of the turnip truck but the truck then ran over them.

I realize that everyone has their price. I know that politicians all have their own agenda and being the voice of their constituents is very low on their radar.

Kansas has a capitol building full of fools and yes, I did cast my vote for one of them Greg Smith. I voted for him because he is/was a school teacher. I thought that he would be a great advocate for our failing school system. WRONG!! He is one of the biggest idiots right there with Gov. Sam Brownback the leader of Brownbackistan.

Greg Smith is a big failure as a voice of the people - http://midwestdemocracy.com/candidates/greg-smith/ he went in with his own agenda, don't they all, and has proposed several pieces of legislation that would benefit only him. Such as the bit on politicians being able to return to their same job at the same pay. There is already FMLA but Greg Smith choose to be in KS politics and it is not like he would have a hard time finding a teaching position, if he is any good at his job.

Smith ran on the pity vote. Several years ago one of his daughters was abducted and murdered. My youngest daughter had many classes with her. He actually used his deceased daughter's image and story on his mailings as well as the fact that he was a school teacher. He failed to mention that he has no interest in education in Kansas.

Lance Kinzer, my other 'voice' in Topeka did not get my vote. He and I had a very disturbing conversation on my front porch on day and he is no better than Brownback.

So what are some of the topics up for discussion this legislative session in the land of ugh?

Prayers To Connecticut

My prayers, thoughts and tears are with every person impacted by the senseless murders in Connecticut.

12 girls, eight boys and six female adults - - each child was shot three to 11 times, and all the victims were shot multiple times.

Babies

Charlotte Bacon, 2/22/06, female (age 6)

Daniel Barden, 9/25/05, male (age 7)

Olivia Engel, 7/18/06, female (age 6)

Josephine Gay, 12/11/05, female (age 7)

Ana M. Marquez-Greene, 04/04/06, female (age 6)

Dylan Hockley, 03/08/06, male (age 6)

Madeleine F. Hsu, 07/10/06, female (age 6)

Catherine V. Hubbard, 06/08/06, female (age 6)

Chase Kowalski, 10/31/05, male (age 7)

Jesse Lewis, 06/30/06, male (age 6)

James Mattioli, 03/22/06, male (age 6)

Grace McDonnell, 11/04/05, female (age 7)

Emilie Parker, 05/12/06, female (age 6)

Jack Pinto, 05/06/06, male (age 6)

Noah Pozner, 11/20/06, male (age 6)

Caroline Previdi, 09/07/06, female (age 6)

Jessica Rekos, 05/10/06, female (age 6)

Avielle Richman, 10/17/06, female (age 6)

Benjamin Wheeler, 9/12/06, male (age 6)

Allison N. Wyatt, 07/03/06, female (age 6)


 ADULTS


Rachel Davino, 7/17/83, female (age 29)

Dawn Hocksprung, 06/28/65, female (age 47)

Anne Marie Murphy, 07/25/60, female (age 52)

Lauren Russeau, 1982, female (age 29)

Mary Sherlach, 02/11/56, female (age 56)

Victoria Soto, 11/04/85, female (age 27)

I vow to do whatever I can to see effect change so that no more lives are lost to heinous acts of evil such as this.

What Christmas Traditions Does Your Family Have?

My family has a few Christmas traditions that go back generations and we have almost an equal number of new traditions.

Since we moved to the Kansas City area going to the Country Club Plaza and taking a carriage ride has become a tradition. All of us girls get dressed in our finest and go see the Nutcracker ballet

A few traditions passed on when my mother passed away 3 years ago.


Here is my newest article for WorthPoint.com - Baking Cookies, Making Paper Chains, Family Traditions .

I would love to hear your holiday traditions.

As always, thank you for visiting.

I Love the Olympics

I have always loved the Olympic games but the lack of sportsmanship in the current, 30th, games is shameful.

Do we blame the easy access to social media? Do we blame the 'holier than thou' attitude of some of the young Olympiads? Lack of manners or the I don't give a shit what anyone thinks because I am in the Olympics?

If I had the honor of participating I would like to think that I am humble enough to not get myself booted because of spewing swill on Twitter. Shame on these people! I think that they should be banned from participating for life because of their immaturity and lack of common decency.

The other night when Jordyn Wieber failed... yes failed, to make to make the cut for gymnastics individual all-round competition she wailed like a baby. Yes of course she was upset and disappointed but hell she is the reigning World's Champion she should not have failed but since she did she certainly could have held the tears until she was out of camera range. I realize she is just a young girl and that she had every reason to wail and weep but where is her sportsmanship? Why wasn't she congratulating her fellow team members who did make the cut? I don't recall seeing Michael Phelps ball like a baby when he failed to medal in the 400 IM.

Summertime is Travel Time For Me

Point me in a direction and I am off. I have not traveled to any exotic locations in many years but I love to be on the road and always find a way to have the best time possible.

It is getting difficult to travel by car due to the high cost of gas and hotel prices yet with a little research beforehand I can usually find a nice inexpensive motel to lay my head while I am traveling.

Right now I am in the market for a small travel trailer even a pop-up trailer would be nice. You can stay at most RV parks for around $25 a night. Look out world when I have my own little trailer to sleep in I will never be at home.


I am a freelance journalist for WorthPoint.com so when I am on the road I stop at antique shops, flea markets, thrift stores and junk shops along the way to give me something of interest to write about. Here is my latest article if you are interested in reading it - http://www.worthpoint.com/article/michelles-antique-roadtrip-cruising-antiquing-southeast-iowa . I just returned from a seven day trip to Texas and am currently working on a story about that trip. I had an amazing time and met many wonderful people along the way.

In my mind a road trip is about much more than just reaching your destination. It is stopping along the way, taking the small highways, seeing the sights and meeting new people. If you fly down the highway at 75+ mph you are missing a number of beautiful sights.

Tell me about your summer road trips.