I am really getting spoiled with this mild weather too. I do so love this time of year. The sky is so blue it looks unreal. Perfect temperatures, a little breeze and rain occasionally. What more could we ask for? Soon the leaves will turn and autumn will be official. I love autumn, I really do!

Good weather for football, right?

I had a call from Gayla Bishop the other day. She called to tell me that the gin at Hargrave's Corner started up Friday. That is always a momentous occasion, the beginning of harvest. It is such a seasonal checkpoint in a farming community. I hope to get out to the gin to see it in operation this year.

Of course when the gin starts up, Chappy goes to work. You remember Chappy, the Akita that lives with Gayla. He came home for lunch Friday to take care of his entertainment responsibilities and played ball with Gayla for a while and then went back to the gin. Gayla tells me that eventually he will not come home for lunch. Seems he likes the burritos the workers feed him. Guess no one brought lunch Friday.

Did I mention the fantastic football team?

Thank you for your response to the plight of the puppies from Oklahoma. I have referred all respondents to the Small Paws Rescue group. In case you are interested in helping, you can contact them directly via email at pup3@aol.com. Small Paws is just one of many rescue organizations across the country who come to the aid of needy dogs and cats. They all need our support.

Like that awesome football team!

Politics is getting smarmy now, isn't it? I am getting all kinds of smeary email lately. I am sure you are too. I try to check out every single thing. Just because it is on the web doesn't necessarily make it true. One resource is snopes.com. They check out rumors and urban myths. The all news channels are also running checks into what is being said by and about each candidate. They even rate the statements as true, false, and misleading. That is a pretty important category.

The other thing we have to do as voters is to keep our eye on the facts and not be distracted by flak that has nothing to do with a candidate's ability to lead and the direction we want to go. Right now the direction is most important! Who can take us out of this economical mess? Who can put us back on a firm footing? Who can put ethics back into mainstream business? Who has YOUR best interest at heart?

Keep up the good work, Cougars!

Time to go. Don't forget to tell me what goes on with you. Just give me a call or send me an email. My phone number is 595-3173 or you can drop me a note at 514 West 3rd St. My email address is: porchswing@newwavecomm.net.

Go Cougars Go!!!!!