Columns

FRANKFORT – It may be quiet in the halls of the Capitol as 2011 draws to a close, but that is set to change early next week, when the General Assembly returns to kick off the 2012 Regular Session.
Even-year meetings are always a busy time because of the budget, but another major task awaits us as well beginning January 3rd: redistricting.

Being a husband is tough!
Normally when I start out a column with a statement like that, readers tend to sit back and get a laugh out of the paragraphs that follow, which tend to house some kind of funny story about my still-young married life.
This however, has nothing to do with a funny story about Abby and I. In fact, it could be a true testament for all husbands during any special occasion, especially Christmas.
I tell myself every year that I will not wait until the last second before I wrap up my Christmas shopping for Abby Jo.

“You’ll shoot your eye out.”
“Look Daddy, teacher says, every time a bell rings, an angel gets its wings.”
I think you all know where I am going with this, and for those who have no idea of what is going on, shame on you.
For those Christmas movie junkies, like myself, we find ourselves watching more and more Christmas-based movies this time of year, which I don’t understand because they are good enough to watch all year long.

FRANKFORT – There is never a bad time to count our blessings, but with Thanksgiving upon us, this time of year especially welcomes a look back on the positive things in our lives.
I know it has been tough for far too long for many families because of the economy, and yet I am heartened that our sense of charity has never wavered.
According to the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 63 million Americans volunteered at least once last year, and each spent 52 hours on average helping others.