26 NOV 03: GIVE THANKS
As Thanksgiving Day approaches, what are YOU thankful for? Perhaps my own partial list can help you -- in no particular order:
+ For a church congregation which had a Thanksgiving dinner last weekend, and a workplace which held a catered Thanksgiving lunch Tuesday. When I go out to eat Thursday evening, I'm going to feel both spoiled and guilty.
+ For all the people who have purchased my debut album, and all of you who plan to buy it. You can hear the Christian music with a clear conscience, knowing you didn't steal it through an Internet download.
+ For the new Veterans Parkway Bridge, ending the downtown detours. It feels good to go over that bridge at the posted speed limit of 30 miles per hour, and watch all the law-breaking speeders pass me.
+ For Muscogee County School Superintendent Dr. John Phillips. He's turning out to be a lot more entertaining than Guy Sims.
+ For my landlord, who has not increased my rent one penny since I moved to Columbus six years ago. Now who wants to introduce the rent control ordinance at Columbus Council?
+ For "Ritmo Latino Radio," which has brought good salsa and merengue music back to Columbus radio for the first time in years. Now if they can get the announcers to talk in Spanish a little slower, so I can understand them....
+ For Pizza Hut, which offers great discount coupons. It's nice to know they'll be open and serving pizza on Thanksgiving Day - for people who want plenty of privacy.
+ For Opelika, only a 30-minute drive away. At least THAT city has a Kroger store....
+ For Computer Discounters on Veterans Parkway, which has fixed my computer power problems for four years. So when do I get my "frequent foul-up discount?"
+ For Amy Giuliano - who's become the most heart-pounding reason to watch WRBL News since Katie Crecente left town. (I'll let the ladies fight over Trent Aric.)
+ For the men and women from Fort Benning who battled in Iraq, and made it safely home. Hopefully someone on post is creating a Saddam Hussein ice sculpture, for you to attack after Thanksgiving dinner.
+ For Auburn University Athletic Director David Housel - who apparently realizes it's Thanksgiving week, and is waiting until December to fire football coach Tommy Tuberville.
(Instant Message to David Housel: You realize, I hope, Mike Price still doesn't have a coaching job....)
+ For the Playwright Café downtown starting Monday "Scrabble nights." When tournament time comes, it'll be a great way for me to earn extra money.
+ For everyone who worked to clean up the Riverwalk after the May flooding, and prepared the renovated section under the Trade Center. May you all receive reduced jail terms.
+ For the Alabama Supreme Court, which has put videotapes of the trial of Chief Justice Roy Moore on sale for 12 dollars. Some preachers who back Moore would have demanded a donation of at least 30.
+ For the most powerful people in Columbus, the people who can close schools and public meetings merely by saying the right words - yes, the TV meteorologists.
+ For the Columbus Cottonmouths deciding to stay in town another season. I was going to ask why the hockey team's games are not on radio this fall - but now that they have a 12-game losing streak, I really don't care anymore.
+ For the Columbus library system and its high-speed public access computers. They let me clean out e-mail spam in half the time it takes at home.
+ For pre-Thanksgiving sales at Peachtree Mall, offering some surprisingly good discounts. We'll see you mall shoppers again around December 30th.
+ For Robbie Watson - who, from what we can tell, is now the last real radio news reporter left in Columbus.
+ For the Columbus Council naming Memorial Stadium after the late A.J. McClung. Maybe by NEXT football season, they'll get around to putting his name on the main south entrance.
+ For Callaway Gardens, which announced Tuesday Harold Callaway will leave a Colorado resort and come home to be C.E.O. Wow - it took him 18 years to finally get tired of all that snow?!
+ For an improving economy in Russell County - improving to the point where homes can cost $300,000, and be bought by potential Muscogee County school officials who haven't even been hired yet.
+ For Miriam Tidwell, who has Robert "Jazzano" Carr play piano throughout her Tuesday night talk show on TV-16. At least Carr's jazz work is usually interesting....
+ And for all of you who read this blog, and send e-mail comments pro and con about it. I deeply appreciate your interest, and encourage you to tell your friends about it - so someday, this blog might have more readers than the Ledger-Enquirer.
© 2003 Richard Burkard, All Rights Reserved.