It's one of the most wonderful times of the year!

Dedicated to all the lucky parents out there... ;-)

Misty Summer Memories

Although I am not an individual that loves the heat, I do love the seasons here in Missouri. Summertime has its good moments. Summer is the season that keeps me young. It also is the season that generates its fair share of those ol' timey summertime memories; family cook-outs, friends, and weekend rides through the beautiful countryside.

It is hard to believe how nice it has been out the past week. Middle 80's for a high, and even lower 60's; upper 50's for the low. The weatherman is saying that the heat is gone for the year. Very comfortable outside! It's a perfect precursor to the autumn season. I know, I know... labor day hasn't even come yet! Ohh well....

Real Life Scare...

Just two months ago if you were to ask how business was doing with my company, I would have told you we were as busy as ever. But I sometimes forget that we are now part of a larger company as JWS was purchased by an Alabama company a few years ago.

Yesterday around 4 P.M, we all received the same mandatory meeting request:

Subject: CAI Update
Location: Support Department

RE: If you are unable to attend the meeting, you will be given a call and we will fill you in on the content that will be discussed.

YIKES! The meeting was scheduled for 1 P.M. the following day (today). You can only imagine what was going through people's minds, as well as mine. And being that I was traveling made it even more unnerving.

Yes, it was true that several people were laid off, JWS was not directly affected by the initiative. We did recently have a couple people leave, but they were not let go, although JWS is not hiring for those positions as we are in a hiring freeze.

We have been affected by the current market, especially since we serve the construction industry. We were assured that no more layoffs are planned, although the future will tell the truth; obviously.

It's just a stark reminder that everyone needs to do all they can do to better serve their customers and the business they work in. We all need to do the best we can to find new business and keep current business strong.

I must say it wasn't a pleasant feeling getting an e-mail like that. Hopefully it's the last........

CASS COUNTY CAN ... an initiative against Child Abuse and Neglect

I attended the first group meeting this past Tuesday in response to my volunteer availability. I'm awful excited about this opportunity as it will let me use my skills towards a great initiative; something for which I'm very inexperienced in. I look forward to the challenge.

So far I donated my time in coming up with a web-site for the group. Cass County CAN is not necessarily the name of the final initiative. It's just something I came up with when searching for a domain name for the web-site. The members of the Planning Committee are unaware at the moment of these efforts, but the Committee head will announce the web-site sometime next week once all the meeting minutes have been consolidated and published.

Anyone interested in volunteering or those that have questions about the initiative are invited to contact me.

Viva Chihuahuas!

The Dogmata Of It All...

It just doesn't make sense to me. How can everyone be right, and not one person be wrong; except for those people that aren't right!?! Does that make sense? Sure doesn't seem right to me, but then again I'm wrong.

Here are some ways you can be sure that you are always right.

• When proving that you are right, please be sure to talk excessively loud.
• While talking excessively loud, you can further your rightness by not stopping when you talk.
• Make certain that you interrupt others and talk louder when doing so.
• If someone says they don't agree with you, then tell them they are wrong. Remember the louder the better.
  
• Don't purposely say something that is wrong. It will only confuse those that are really wrong into thinking they are right.

Memory Lane of West Line Missouri

Today was an interesting day. Dana and I decided to take a motorcycle trip through Western Cass County. On our way, we passed through West Line, a small village about 40 minutes due south of Kansas City.


View Larger Map

I've taken this little spur that connects between 2 Hwy and Route D many times. It's a town of roughly 90 people and the main road is roughly less than 1 mile long. On your way towards the South end of town, Memory Lane is almost hidden on the West side of the road.

Memory Lane is a little nostalgic 'mini-town' created by Romaine Dennis. I was lucky enough to meet Dennis and ask him the questions that had been lingering with me ever since I first discovered the little town about two years ago. Dennis owns a classic car shop in Paola, Kansas, and in his spare time, he build his own little village. He didn't have any exciting story as to why he built it. He says that, "It just keeps me busy."

Memory Lane is quite the interesting town. It's a mini version of a small town setting with just about as much as you'd expect to find in a 60's - 70's style town.

You will find the following buildings: West Line Courthouse, Church, School, Soda Shop, Diner,Filling Station, parlor, boutique and more. Even more interesting, most of the building have an interesting assortment of vintage artifacts inside.

Take for example the marble collection and bath powders and medicines.

Dennis has just about thought of it all. Even down to the 'Burma Shave' signs throughout Memory Lane.



If you are ever in the area (Louisburg, KS, Freeman or Cleveland Missouri, then I suggest you take a few minutes and give memory lane a check. If your lucky, you'll find a couple classic cars sitting in the filling station. And say hi to Dennis for me. He spends his spare time up keeping the little town, and he's more than happy to give you his little tour. You'll know it's Dennis as he'll have his little golf cart close by to get him between the town buildings!



Here is a tidbit of history of the old West Line village. The town was originally called State Line when it was founded in 1854. Before that it was inhibited by the Poney Indians, one of the 12 tribes of the Osage Indians. The town really didn't grow much until the KATY (later to be called the K.C.P. & G Railroad) railroad. In 1872 the towns name was changed to West Line. From 1890 and later, over 20 buisnesses were run. It had a general store, bank, barber, lumber yard, restaurant, dance school, several blacksmiths, a couple doctors and much more. In 1904 a chocolate factory was built by Mr. Holinger. From 1890 to the 1930's, the West Line Baseball team was known as a great team, and often played the Kansas City Monarchs. The post office closed in 1972 because of a mishap. The people thought they were voting to keep the post office open, but because the way it was written, they actually voted to close it. Their address is now Cleveland, MO.

Matt the Nomad

So I was bored and decided to stay way up past my bed time so I could plot all the places I lived and worked. If you are just as bored, you may want to click this link to get a virtual tour of the places first hand.