Merry Christmas.... Happy Holidays

Merry Christmas to all
Happy Holidays
Be kind
Be thankful
Tell those you love that you love them
Be healthy
Be happy
Take nothing for granted

From me to you.

Lenexa, Kansas HATES Their Small Businesses & Has Forgotten Its Roots

I have lived in Old Town Lenexa, Kansas for 23 yrs., I have seen the city officials attitude toward the Old Town area go from bad to worse. They are even building a multi-million $$ shopping center and have had the balls to call it the "new downtown."

It is as if our city officials aka mayor, city council, city admin and other policy makers want to forget the roots of this city and bulldoze the entire area. When all around us the other communities are embrassing their old downtown areas, they have created vibrant, busy, centers of their respective communities.... but not Lenexa.

Tonight was the "Lighting Ceremony" our Old Town businesses have been strung with lights and are all lit up and pretty. The lights on my shop are plugged into MY electrical outlet so I get to pay the bill. Most of the other shops are plugged into the street light outlets so they don't get an additional $50 tacked on to their December electric bill.

I would not complain about this if the lighting ceremony was held in the Old Town parking lot where it had been held for many years but last year (my first Christmas in business) the ceremony was moved across the RR tracks to the community center so that all the activities could be held indoors. The rational behind this is "because it is cold outside." No shit people it is Dec. in Kansas!!!! But no, the powers that be don't think that folks have the common sense to bring a jacket and stand in the cold for an hour, at the most.

They have a group of kids that dance..... can't their costumes include tights??? Can't their be a blow heater of some type put up on the stage to keep the dancer's warm? Give me a fucking break, these kids get out and play in the snow, walk to school in the cold, play in the cold, why can't they dance in the cold.

Last year I purchased snacks, hot chocolate and cider thinking that the event would be held in the parking lot and customer's would wander into the shop during the event. Boy was I ever surprised because of course the Old Town Merchant's were not informed of the decision to move the event across the tracks.

This year I didn't bother to do anything special and as I was preparing to close the store I had a small rush of customer's. These were people who had come to watch the lights get turned on but were watching from the parking lot to have a better view. I had a few sales and lot's of conversation with these Lenexa resident's who feel like I do about the whole lighting ceremony thing.

All of the businesses in this area are small independantly owned businesses who would benefit greatly from having a hundred or so warm bodies mingling in their immediate area.

The activities and events that Old Town Lenexa has lost since I have lived here are;

• 4th of July Community Days
• Farmer's Market
• Old Town Lighting Ceremony
• Car Show

The only event still in Old Town is;

• The Chili Challenge.... and they will probably pull that pretty soon

In this economy there are events and activities the city and parks and rec can still pull together and hold in Old Town with minimal cost. This would not only bring the community back together but would bring exposure and business to the small businesses in the area. Aiding small businesses boosts the tax base and we all win. The crime rate in our area has risen but studies show that when people, especially youth, feel connected to their community the crime rate goes down.

A group of citizens tried to pull a group together but it fizzled out after a couple of years. I would love to bring the Friends of Old Town (FOOT) back together but I am having to put all of my energy into keeping my business alive.

Old Town Lenexa is rich with history and is a beautiful area it is truly a shame that the city officials including parks and rec. do not see this or flat out don't give a rat's ass anymore.

Shame on you all..... shame on you.

Tiger Woods Is Buying His Wife.... Ummm isn't that called a prostitute....

I am feeling a little sorry for Tiger, I like Tiger Woods and I am not a golf fan.

Sure he messed up by fooling around with other women but we had a President do the same thing and as far as I know he and the Mrs. are still married.... a good, solid marriage can survive this type of indiscretion.

Now it is being said that Tiger is going to up the ante on the pre-nup, shorten the amount of time she has to stay with him and give her 5 mil or more to agree to stay with him. Does this now make her a prostitute? She is being paid, and very well I might add, for staying in her marriage plus a bonus when she divorces him in 2 yrs.

I would just kick her to the curb and say if we can't make this work you don't get the money honey. I will be by to get the kids this weekend.

What he did is not right or moral but what he is trying to do now is plain assinine.