Neighborly

My wife and I moved into our house in Madisonville last month. Here's the note on a card we found in our mailbox this week: "Everytime I pass your house walking our two dogs, I think what a blessing it is to have you in our neighborhood. Welcome! We live a couple of doors away up toward the golf course. We'll wait for better weather to introduce ourselves. You all seemed to settle in in no time, but if you need anything feel free to give us a call."

Rah!

Football!

OK, huge news. The American Football Specialists/Ray Guy Kicking Academy is based in Ashland. Its director played for Eastern Kentucky University. According to a release from www.Prokicker.com (sponsored by the academy) and a story at http://www.wjbf.com/jbf/sports/college/article/thomsons_guy_elected_to_american_football_kicking_hall_of_fame/10259/:Prokicker.comPublished), the American Football Kicking Hall of Fame were to induct Ben Agajanian, Peter Gogolak and Ray Guy on Jan. 22.

Pastries, football and puppies

There's a terrific, terrific story on the front of Madisonville's newspaper, The Messenger (http://www.the-messenger.com/), this morning about a local woman who last year both was diagnosed with breast cancer and opened a bakery/restaurant. It's all about boldness, supportive marriage and healing. Hooray for the owner/operator of Rocksan's Cafe and Bakery, Cathey Deitz, and hooray for the writer of The Messenger story, Patricia Wiles!

Now here are some overnight news items, which connect at least vaguely in my mind to the developing theme of this little blog here ...

Paducah and Princeton will revive their long-dormant football rivalry: http://www.timesleader.net/articles/stories/public/200901/21/4ccH_sports.html.

Deeper in the same story, the future is now in Reidland: http://www.timesleader.net/articles/stories/public/200901/21/4ccH_sports.html.

And here's some good puppy news from Gravel Switch: http://www.kypost.com/content/wcposhared/story/Stolen-Puppies-Show-Up-Safely-At-Kentucky-Store/ZmTDhhfA3U-WG7EzkvnKOw.cspx.

Now what?

In Mayfield, they're working together to create a safer community: http://www.kfvs12.com/Global/story.asp?S=9699274&nav=8h3xwcvy.

In Olive Hill, they're working together to improve services without an influx of new resources: http://www.wave3.com/Global/story.asp?S=9701596.

And, in Lousiville, they're working together to deliver a more relevant educational experience: http://www.wave3.com/Global/story.asp?S=9703898.

From the new president's inauguration address

... With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come. Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations. ...