Bellefontaine Examiner Blogs

The worst part about our vacation to Cuzco, Peru, last month was tolerating the street vendors who were always pestering us to buy something. Every time we left our hotel or a tour bus or a tourist site, we were bombarded with offers from poorly dressed, weathered looking women or children to buy sweaters, blankets or rugs, all promising that these identical-looking items were handmade and original.

Finding a restaurant without interruption was even worse. For the first time in our lives we knew how Britney Spears must feel being trailed constantly by the paparazzi. Every time we came near a restaurant, waiters would run up to us, three at a time, shoving English-language (how did they know?) menus in our faces and extolling the virtues of sautéed alpaca or fried guinea pig. My husband learned that saying, “No thank you. Maybe later” would bring us some temporary peace, at least until the next vendor saw us coming. I just trudged ahead, head down, annoyed at the continual inconvenience.

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Republican presidential hopeful John McCain says the focus on illegal immigration during the Republican primary season harmed his party’s image among Hispanics.

Speaking to reporters in Phoenix on Cinco de Mayo, McCain said that Hispanic citizens want America’s borders secured and illegal immigrants to be treated humanely.

He says low-income Hispanic citizens are vulnerable to losing their jobs to the lower wages accepted by illegal immigrants.

On the subject of broader immigration policies, McCain says local governments would not have to take on immigration problems had the federal government overhauled the country’s immigration policies.

Overhauled?

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I can’t help but wonder what the atmosphere is like in the office of Attorney General Marc Dann now that the interrogation lights have been switched on there and directed toward him.

He has admitted to a romantic relationship with a female staffer, two ranking employees in his office have lost their jobs recently in connection with sexual harassment allegations and more investigations are being considered ranging from more sexual complaints to credit card and state vehicle uses. It reads like a movie synopsis and it doesn’t get any prettier.

The atmosphere of the office since he took over after his 2006 election could be described as decidedly frat-boyish: Lewd language and ample alcohol during office hours reportedly and even more after hours in a party-like atmosphere with single girls in the apartment Dann shared with two buddies.

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Thursday night, while walking through downtown I saw a refreshing sight — a group of teenagers hanging out tossing what appeared to be a footbag around on the oldest concrete street in America.

It stirred memories of writing poetry and watching hippies flip juggling sticks on Pearl Street in Boulder, Colo. Almost.

Downtown needs a place pedestrians can congregate and I can’t think of a better location than the south side of courthouse square. Not to mention that the concrete is in terrible shape and City Council is already kicking around the pros and cons of closing it to traffic.

And for those of you who say it needs to be open for traffic, I say tough luck.

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Starting May 2, the much talked about economic stimulus payments will begin to be sent to more than 130 million U.S. households. According to the IRS’s Web site, www.irs.gov, the payments are not taxable and will neither reduce your refund for this year or next, nor increase the amount you owe when you file your 2008 return.

There are a plethora of confusing scenarios to determine what your payment amount will be. Income level, filing status, number of qualifying children and other special circumstances all factor into what you will ultimately receive from Uncle Sam.

Highlights of the stimulus package as summarized from the IRS’s Web site include:

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I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. A dog is truly a man’s best friend.

If you don’t believe me, just try this experiment. Put your dog and your wife in the trunk of your car for an hour. When you open the trunk, who is the happiest of the two to see you?

Okay, that’s a bit extreme. But there’s only one human being in my life that I knew was going to be a friend from the moment we met. And that person turned out to be my best friend on God’s green earth: Gina, my wife.

It’s a love thing, obviously, but it’s a “like thing” too. I mean, I really like my wife. I don’t always understand her, but then again, when I really think about it I’m not so sure that I want to.

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I’m imagining life with no more Antonio’s stuffed clams … no more burritos and huevos rancheros at Los Cabos … no more Mediterranean pasta at Banana’s … no tofu from House of Szechwan or Hunan Dynasty.

Everything would be stamped out burger patties or meals that come ready-to-reheat from corporate America.

Unfortunately that may be the future if locally-owned restaurants are forced to shut their doors in today’s tight economy.

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For an Ohio State football fan, I believe attending the annual spring game is a must.

This year’s game is Saturday at about 1:30 p.m. (there is a lacrosse game first) at Ohio Stadium. If you have not been to a spring game, I suggest you strongly consider going.

The spring game is an opportunity to see Ohio State’s players up close without having to pay a lot of money to do it. As ticket prices continue to escalate, the $5 cost of attending the spring game is a great bargain. Kids under 6 are admitted free so it really is a cheap family outing.

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In this politically charged world, our President says he’s going to a “sporting event” in China.

A sporting event, are you kidding?

The Olympics are more than a sporting event.

The Olympics are a world stage for political statements.

Our President is heading there not as a spectator as he says, but as an ambassador for the economy. The United States needs the financial clout of China as much as it needs us to buy their products.

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Spring has sprung. That means one thing: It’s garage sale season!

The first person to hold a garage sale was a genius. Everyone who ever lived in a small town — or a trailer — anywhere in the country or has relatives south of the Ohio River has followed the garage sale suit.

In short, a garage sale is a miniature flea market, only without as many fleas (customers). Moreover, one can buy and sell just about anything at a garage sale — shoes, tools, coats, music and videos, boom boxes, kids’ toys, your all-around general run-of-the-mill crap, and of course — that trusty garage sale staple — kids’ clothing.

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