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Until last Sunday morning, I was one of those people who thought the Ice Bucket Challenge was silly and annoying. I could not believe how many times my husband rcould scroll through Facebook and watch people dump ice water over their heads. When I would see video clips in my own Facebook feed, I would not watch them for two reasons - because I was bothered by the fact that my friends had little else to post and because I was hoping no one would nominate me. I was also disappointed that people would rather douse themselves in freezing water than donate to a good cause. Those feelings came to an abrupt halt last Sunday morning when I happened to catch a feature on ESPN about Pete Frates. Pete Frates is a 2007 graduate of Boston College where he was the captain of the baseball team. Just four years after graduation, he began to notice early symptoms of ALS but was not diagnosed until 2012. Because ALS is a disease with no treatment and no cure, his health has rapidly deteriorated in the past two years. He currently needs a full time nurse, uses a feeding tube to eat and speaks through the use of a computer. Although ALS has changed life as he once knew it, wonderful things have continued to happen for him. Determined to meet the disease head on, he quickly became an advocate for ALS patients and even spoke to the Food and Drug Administration in March of 2013 to make a plea for more attention and more action regarding ALS research and treatment. He was also married in 2013 to his wife Julie whom he met 8 months before his diagnosis. They are happily awaiting the birth of their baby in September. Pete and his friend, Pat Quinn, also an ALS patient, have been credited with creating the Ice Bucket Challenge this summer to raise awareness for ALS. The challenge began with athletes in the Boston area who challenged athletes across the country. Professional athletes and even entire teams seemed to embrace the challenge. Along the way, celebrities outside the world of sports became involved and in just a short period of time the challenge trickled down to regular folks like my friends who were clogging my Facebook newsfeed with their own Ice Bucket Challenge videos. Of course, now that I know Pete's story, my feelings have changed. I am thrilled to see so many people become involved with the promotion of ALS awareness and I am so happy that they have raised over nine times more than they would normally raise in the same amount of time. I am also extremely proud of the attorneys and staff from Bordas & Bordas who took the challenge last week. They not only drenched themselves in ice cold water but they also made a $1,000 donation. It's so nice for me to work each day with such generous people who are always willing to step up for a good cause. As I began to write this blog last week, I received a video on my cell phone in which my six year old goddaughter joyfully nominated me to complete the challenge. I gladly accepted and asked a wonderful group of cheerleaders from Wheeling Central Catholic High School to join me. As their coach, I wanted the challenge to be meaningful. We took the time to talk about ALS and Pete's story. We also joined in prayer for all those whose lives have been impacted by this disease. As for me, I now celebrate each video I see on Facebook and I hope they continue to dominate my Facebook feed for a long time to come.

Well, in my world, summer is officially over. Sure, there are a few more summer days on the calendar, but the Bordas & Bordas bowling league begins on Tuesday August 26, 2014 at 6:10 p.m. at St. Clair Lanes. This signals the end of my summer, since I am secretary of that league. I am also President of the United USBC Board of Directors, so I like to encourage other women to join our sport. I gave those League details because we are in desperate need of bowlers - first time bowlers, experienced bowlers, old bowlers or young bowlers (18 or older), we don't care. The Bordas & Bordas league has bowlers from 21 years of age to those in their 80's, with averages from under 100 to over 200 (I fall right in the middle). We are the largest league in our United Bowling Association with 17 teams of five women. Well, five is how many a team is supposed to have, but this year some teams only have three or four bowlers. The League bowls 30 weeks a year. At the end of the official season, we have a roll-off, if necessary, and then a bowling banquet catered by one of our teams, Family Market, Darla Starkey captain. After the banquet we have a No Tap tournament in which knocking down nine pins on your first ball counts as a strike. Those who constantly complain they got "robbed" (threw a good ball and left one, usually the seven or ten pin), get to find out how true that really is! I have had the dubious honor of placing last twice. At least last pays $5.00! I have been secretary of this league for 25 years (if I survive this season!). I have had, in my bowling life, averages from 132 to 169 at some time or another. I have never bowled with a heavier ball than 10 lb., plus I am left-handed. Some say I have a disadvantage throwing a light ball and being left-handed, but I have never felt that was so. The fun part of throwing a light ball left handed is beating a right hander throwing a 14 lb. ball. I do try not to gloat!!! However, I have to admit that one time several years ago, I was not bowling well and one of the opposing team members asked me how heavy my ball was. I told her, "ten pounds," and she, trying to make me feel better about my lousy scores, said, "You can't expect to bowl well with a ten pound ball." I asked her how heavy her ball was and she said, "fourteen pounds." I asked her what her average was and she said it was something like 165. I admit I took delight in informing her that my average was 169! Bowling is fun, good exercise (if you don't believe me, try throwing three games, two balls each and see how you feel the next day). There is a lot of camaraderie, encouragement, laughter, and just fun on Tuesday nights at St. Clair Lanes. And sometimes you can get in a zinger! Come join us. Call the lanes at 740-695-3641 or Linda Scaggs at 304-639-6939. I'd love to talk to you about joining a league, preferably the Bordas & Bordas league, but St. Clair Lanes offers other leagues that bowl during the day or another evening.

A little over five years ago, my world changed. Allison Jo McGraw was born on July 2, 2009. While she wasn't born on the 4 th of July, she did come home from the hospital on Independence Day which is quite fitting. Allie, from early on, has been fiercely independent in her own thoughts and opinions. She is strong willed, beautiful and loving. Even though it is very cliché, I could never have imagined the effect she would have on my life. Allie was the first little girl born on my side of the McGraw family in 60 years. You can imagine the disbelief from my parents when we found out that she would be a girl. I will always remember my quiet and reserved mother screaming over the phone "MIKE, PICK UP THE PHONE," to get my Dad to hear the news. From that time forward our lives exploded into a blur of pinks and purples. We picked the name Allison very quickly and knew we wanted to call her Allie. Her middle name, Jo, was not selected so quickly. My wife wanted Allie's middle name to be Elizabeth and I preferred Jo. Jo is also Amanda's middle name. As we neared the due date Amanda told me I could go ahead and pick the middle name and whatever I chose would be fine. I now know, after telling the nurse to putAllison Jo on the birth certificate, that Amanda fully believed that I would pick Elizabeth after watching her go through labor.She was wrong. While Amanda has come around on the name Jo, I did not get the final choice for our second daughter, Lauren Elizabeth's name. Allie was a dream to bring home. Of course, that might be because my lovely wife allowed me to stay in bed as Allie woke up during the night. Allie didn't cry much at all and began to sleep through the night very early on. Through the learning curve of changing diapers, to slippery baths and weird spit up,my world grew into more than I could have ever imagined. Thatcurve continues to change. Today's biggest struggles are trying to pick out clothes and do Allie's hair when Mom isn't home. I have just come to the conclusion that I am just not cut out for such things, and Allie doesn't hesitate to tell me that her clothes don't match. Allie has also shown me that my plans don't always matter. I was the first to say that there would be no"princess stuff" in my house. Today, Disney princess figures, castles, carriages, and dress up clothes now fill our closets and I now know entirely too much about Merida, Elsa, Anna and Ariel. As Allison has grown older, her independent nature has shown through. I doubt that I will ever have to worry about Allison being the victim of peer pressure. Despite her short stature, she is her own girl and is often the ring leader in any group. Allie doesn't just take yes or no for an answer; she wants to have a complete explanation of why she can't do something."Because I'm your father, that's why," is just a losing argument.It's often exhausting, but leads to lots of interesting and oftenthought provoking discussions. If Allie thinks someone, myselfincluded, is doing something wrong, she has no hesitation in trying to explain how to do it right. Interestingly, about the only person in the world she doesn't correct is my father-in-law, Rick. He can do no wrong. It's frustrating, but funny, when Allie sees me struggling to fix something around the house, she tells me that I should just call Pap, because he can fix everything. The last five years have been amazingly fulfilling andheartwarming, but also a little sad. Each birthday, each milestone makes me remember the little baby that had me wrapped around her finger from the first moment I saw her.Allie starts kindergarten on August 20. While she has already gone to pre-school, there is something different about kindergarten. The first real step in her life is starting. All my prayers and hopes for her are still ahead. I can only imagine what the next few years will bring; new friends, school trips,report cards, dances and, unfortunately, the first boyfriend.While I would love to be the tough Dad that scares the young men that come over, I know that I will not have to be. Allie isand will forever be her own woman and she will be more than capable of keeping them in line. My father passed away in November of 2012. I try to think back to all the memories I had with him and the lessons that he taught me. I hope that my girls look back the same way in the future to the times we spend together. As Allison grows older, her goals and her dreams will develop and change, but I know that she will be able to meet anything that comes her way. Along the way there will be challenges and setbacks, but I know that Allie will remain undaunted. She is strong, independent, loves God and her family. Watching her continue to grow, I will be the one that suffers the growing pains. Graduations and weddings are in the future, and I am unfortunately already trying to save for both, but for the time being I wish I could just keep her little for a short time longer. Marianne Richmond wrote and illustrated a children's book we have at our house titled, "If I Could Keep You Little." The book ends with what I am sure arethe thoughts of all parents. "If I could keep you little, I'd keep you close to me. But then I'd miss you growing into who you're meant to be." I love you Allie, I would wish you good luck, but I know you don't need it.

When my husband's job brought us to Wheeling, I thought we would be starting a new chapter in our lives. Little did I know what a big chapter it would turn out to be. At the time of our move, my grandmother, who was 86 years old, hadfallendown her steps and was in a Pittsburgh hospital. While in the hospital, she was diagnosed with dementia, and I was told she could not be in her home alone. So we did what any loving family would do; we brought Grandma with us to live in West Virginia. I had no idea how hard and how much fun it would turn out to be. Our two boys were eleven and six years old at the time, and having their great-grandma who was now acting like a child herself was very challenging. I'd be up half the night with her because she was very confused on where she was and would try to leave the house. When it was time to get the boys ready for school, and us ready for work in the morning, I would be a walking zombie. We tried to have people come to our home and stay with her, but they never worked out. I was blessed to find Family Service-Upper Ohio Valley in downtown Wheeling; a business that offered adult day care for dementia/alzheimer's adults. Now we all had to get up and get ready for work, school and adult day care. My mornings started at 3:30 a.m. to get everyone on the buses to their destinations and be at work by 7:30 a.m. This went on for nine years. Grandma was a big part of our family; she loved the dogs and the kids. The boys always included her in any activities that they had and all my sons' friends who came to the house would come in and talk with her. Sorting socks and folding laundry was what she loved to do. The socks were always miss-matched, but it kept her busy and for crying out loud it was only socks. We could always find a match, right? Grandma could be so mean to me at times, and I want you to know she was never mean to any children, the dogs or my husband. Her anger and confusion was directed only towards me because I was the one who made her take a shower, brush her teeth and make her take care of herself. It was very hard, but I always reminded myself that because of her illness, she was much like a child and just didn't want to do these things. Grandma would pitch a fit, hit me, throw things at me and spit in my face. After the episode was over, she would calm down, look at me and say "I love you Jeanne;" that always made things better. Just like a small child, she could only take one instruction at a time. If you gave her more than one, she would sit there with a blank look on her face. If you asked her why she wasn't doing what you needed her to do, she would say, "You told me to do something? Are you sure it was me and not someone else you asked to do that?" Most of the time she was funny and sweet, but other times it would turn into World War III with her. As time went on, Grandma got a lot worse. Adult diapers, waterproofing the bed and childproofing the house all had to be done. Our boys were now teenagers, and I still had a baby to take care of. Unfortunately, she broke her hip and we had to put her in nursing home. That decision almost killed me especially because I have seen so much negligence in nursing homes through my job. Lucky for me, I was blessed that her doctor found one of the best nursing homes in Wheeling for her. She was well taken care of, and was bed-ridden until she passed away at the ripe old age of 98 years old. She always wanted to live to be 100. Grandma is gone, but will never be forgotten in our home. She couldn't remember our names at times, but, boy oh boy, when she wanted something she knew who we all were! I miss hearing her yell out "telephone," when she heard it ring, "Where are the boys and what time will they be home?" or "Oreo (who was Otis the dog) come see Grandma." One of my favorites is when she would ask, "Where did you put all the food? The refrigerator is locked," when she was trying to open the wrong door. Grandma, you are missed and there is never a day that goes by in our home where you are not mentioned. If this story reminds you of something going on in your own life, please remember you are not alone in taking care of a loved one who has dementia/alzheimer's. There are so many places in the Ohio Valley that offer you help; don't be afraid to call. Rock on Wheeling, WV, rock on.

The Ohio Valley is filled with a variety of different people, all of whom have unique personalities. We all have different careers, stories and experiences. Although many of us may not know each other, there is one thing that we may have in common; a love for animals. Last year, an announcement was made that the city of Wheeling had formed an association with hopes to open a dog park. Sure there are plenty of parks throughout the valley, but not all dogs like being on a leash, and the bigger the dog the more they want to run. People may wonder what the difference is between a park, like Oglebay, and a dog park. Although our local parks are all dog friendly, the dog park will have a different set of rules. At the Wheeling Dog Park, pets will be allowed to run and play in an environment where they will be allowed off of the leash. The park will have an area for both large and small dogs to sniff and play. Pets need to socialize just like humans and at the dog park, both pets and humans can associate with one another. The canine park not only benefits our four legged friends, but it is also good for the elderly and disabled citizens who need a service dog by their side when exercising. It also builds tourism for people driving through the area and allows for the community to be more open to animals. Many states have become pet friendly, allowing dogs in restaurants, clothing stores, and even car dealerships. This summer, I went to Florida to visit my family and I was amazed by how animal friendly the state is. My aunt's Doberman Pinscher, Mya, has been inside many public places from a Mercedes dealership to an Outback Steakhouse. Yes, she took a nap on the dealerships couch and had the chefs cook her dinner at the restaurant. I thought that southern states were more accepting of animals than northern until I did a little research. Other states like California, Oregon, Washington, Illinois, and Texas are the most dog friendly states in the country. I think that a dog park in Wheeling could possibly open the doors for the Ohio Valley to be more canine friendly. Let's be honest, we all hate backing out of the driveway and seeing our pup staring at us through the window. Each time the Wheeling Dog Park posts an update on their Facebook page, I get more and more excited for the new establishment. The association recently announced that they have exciting news to deliver. I am hoping that it is the grand opening date. I plan on attending the dog park on a regular basis and I encourage all pet owners to go over and check it out when it opens.

October 19, 2014, will mark the second time that I will be running in the Nationwide Children's Hospital Columbus Marathon/Half Marathon. When I decided to run the half marathon last year, I knew it was going to be both a physical and mental challenge. To be honest, I wasn't even sure if I'd be able to accomplish it. My only goal for the 2013 race was to cross the finish line on my own two feet, which I managed to do in a time of 2:19:46. This year, I thought I should make my goal a little more challenging. Of course I want to beat my previous time, but I also wanted to make my run meaningful. Participants in the race are given the option to become a Children's Champion, which is a participant who chooses to run, walk or cheer for the marathon or half marathon while fundraising for Nationwide Children's Hospital. By becoming a Children's Champion, my family, friends and community can support me in the race, but also make a donation to Nationwide Children's Hospital to support the Miracle Mile Patient Champions. These children are a true inspiration and I hope that by becoming a Children's Champion, I'll be able to make a difference in their lives or the lives of other patients because their daily fight is far more challenging than running 13.1 miles. Please visit my fundraising page to donate.

Hearing the news yesterday about Robin Williams (who, to me, will always be Mork) hit me right square in the face hard. Some of you may never understand what it is like to fight addictions or depression, and thank your lucky stars for that, but if you have ever watched someone go through these events you can understand how lonely one can be, even when they are not alone. Robin fought hard to stay on the right path, getting cleaned up, staying in programs throughout his life. With mental illness, it's one day at a time and you take each and every day minute by minute. I'm not going to go into all of Robin's accomplishments, because the news has done this and, by God, the list is way too long for a very short blog. I'm just going to say to anyone who struggles with addictions or depression, you are not alone. You can find help for these feelings and there are people willing to help you. Judging others who deal daily with mental illness is very hard to watch, and shockingly, it is one of the least diagnosed illnesses that we know about. You do not have to have two personalities or be banging your head against a wall to be struggling. You can be a happy person on the outside and look fine to others, but on the inside you fight everyday just to keep it together. Please, please find help. There is nothing to be ashamed of. Go and talk to someone or try to get yourself cleaned up. Yes, there will be times when you feel like you are going to "fall off the wagon," but just know you can call someone or go to a rehab center to help you stay focused and help you through these feelings. Suicide is not the coward's way out as many say- most of the time it's a last ditch effort to get help- because a lot of times people really don't know how bad you are feeling inside. For those who die from the attempt, God will take care of them with no more pain and suffering in silence. Please keep in mind we are not put here to judge others. We are here to help others get through the darkest hours of their lives. Remember, you never know what someone else is going through. Robin, all I can say to you is "NaNu, NaNu" and thank you for the outstanding acting over the years. Rest in Peace.

Sunday, August 10, 2014, marks the annual Mahrajan, an event held at Oglebay Park's Site One. The Mahrajan celebrates the heritage and tradition of the members of Wheeling's Our Lady of Lebanon Church. Now in its eighty-first year, the Wheeling Mahrajan began in 1933 as an effort to raise funds to rebuild the church which had burned to the ground in 1932. Though the major restoration efforts were completed years ago, the church's steeple was not replaced until 2013, more than eighty years after it was destroyed by the fire. Today, the Mahrajan continues as a major fund raising event for the church and is an event anticipated by many throughout West Virginia and its surrounding states. More importantly, it's a way for families to come together and celebrate their heritage. When I was a child, I would go to the Mahrajan with my grandfather. Back then, most, if not all, of the food was prepared by the ladies of the church and was simply amazing. While you are still able to partake in traditional dishes like kibbee, tabbouli, laham mishwee (lamb shish kabobs), falafel, rice, stuffed grape leaves, baklava and other lebanese pastries, the majority of the food is no longer made by church members and their families as age has slowed and reduced the numbers of cooks and the popularity of the festival requires ever increasing amounts of food. You will, however, still be able to see several generations of families, including mine, working to preserve the church which has been so important in the lives of our parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles. When I moved back to Wheeling a few years ago, I went to the Mahrajan to have lunch and possibly visit with some of my extended family for a little while. That intended one or two hour excursion turned into an all-day event as my cousins quickly put me to work. I looked around me that day and saw my cousins, some of whom had traveled from Virginia and Columbus, just to work for the church that meant so much to their parents and grandparents. I saw an old high school/college friend working with his family, frying the Kibbee that my family was serving. Before that day, I had no idea he or his family were affiliated with Our Lady of Lebanon in any way. It dawned on me that day. The Mahrajan is more than a church festival; it's an event which brings together families and attempts to preserve the traditions of now-fading generations. Needless to say, I have worked at each Mahrajan since that day. This year's Mahrajan will be a hard one for my family because it will be the first without Aunt Evelyn, also known as "Josie," who passed rather suddenly earlier this year. Aunt Evelyn was a strong, but mighty woman who faced, in my opinion, unspeakable and unfair hardships in her life. However, instead of becoming bitter and resentful, she was the epitome of kindness and forgiveness. Don't get me wrong, she could put you in your place in an instant if you needed it, but never did so in a cruel or unfair manner. Her "zingers" were legendary, but you never, ever doubted that she loved you immensely and was only doing what she thought was best for you. Hers is not my story to tell. I wish I could because I think it would provide a lesson to so many on what is important in life. However, I was fortunate to gain her as my confidant when I moved back to Wheeling, often stopping by her workplace to chat and, more often than not, pick up a little life advice. Although well past retirement age, she worked full-time until her death. On one of my last visits with her, I was the recipient of one of her "interventions." After telling me in the way only she could what she thought I needed to do with my life, she added on the priceless and cherished, "And if anyone has a problem with that, you tell them to come and talk to me! I will deal with them!" Anyone who knew her would know that was a threat to be reckoned with. I wish she was still here to make good on that threat. Sometimes we need the sanity of someone else's experience to place things into perspective. Her generation's ability to provide needed guidance without being cruel or demeaning is something that I fear is getting lost in today's society. To me, the Mahrajan is a way to preserve the value, teachings and traditions of generations gone by. I will be working at the Mahrajan this coming Sunday alongside my extended family in memory of Aunt Evelyn, my grandfather, my sita and countless other family members. We will be there acting as cashiers at the food line, working at the pastry table and likely at several other booths. So if you are looking for something to do on Sunday, come join us at the Mahrajan. Not only will you be able to enjoy some terrific food, traditional music and dance, but you might learn about the heritage of so many generations of Wheeling residents as well.

Summer is a great time for trying new things and starting new projects. Recently I decided that I wanted to turn my small front patio into a cozier place to spend some time. Ideally, I wanted to have lots of greenery and flowers to give the patio some privacy since I live on a busy street. Only one problem - I know absolutely nothing about gardening, except that I'm really good at letting healthy plants die. Regardless, I decided to try to make my brick porch in the city a little bit more like the green haven I imagined. Over the course of two weekends, I installed lattices on one side of the porch to help block some of the noise and views of the busy streets nearby. I cleaned up some old patio furniture with a fresh coat of paint and new cushions to make it more inviting. Finally, I potted several plants to create the beginnings of a "container garden." I have no idea what the names of any of these plants are or exactly what sort of care I should be giving them, but I figure that it must be really difficult to kill outdoor potted plants as long as I give them plenty of water every day. Please keep your fingers crossed for my container garden and its completely inept caretaker! What new projects have you tried this summer, or what tips do you green thumbs have for this novice gardener?

A few months ago, my family and I moved a little farther out into the country. We have a nice side yard and my kids love running around out there, but there is one big problem. I know that dealing with wildlife comes along with getting out of town. Even people in town have the occasional raccoon in the trash can, a flower eaten off the porch at night, or a jack-o-lantern gobbled down before Halloween. As crazy as it may sound, the deer in my neighborhood have taken things to an entirely different level; they are in my yard all the time. The fence does nothing to stop them, they're not scared of people and you have to get close enough to touch them before they will move. Now, I don't want to seem like I'm complaining too much because the deer are cute and they sure are quiet. My cousin in Alaska has to carry a rifle with him when he goes for a walk because of grizzly bears, so I could have it a lot worse. The only problem is the mess. I need at least a 30 minute of notice before the wiffle ball game starts so I can walk around the yard with a shovel, cleaning up after the extended-deer-family trespassing on the property. In the summer, my daughter likes to run around outside barefoot and it's like dodging landmines. Given how many deer there are around the Ohio Valley, I can't be the only one with this problem. I would think that a dog would help, but I would hate to bother my neighbors with a dog barking at deer all night. There are other possible solutions that are more, well, extreme, but I don't think things like that are even legal in my neighborhood; despite how satisfying they might be to me personally. Does anybody have an efficient solution to this problem? I know that the City of Baltimore converts waste to electricity, but that technology seems a little out of my price range. To tell you the truth, I'm hoping that you can tell me that purchasing a dog is the right answer. I really want a dog and this will help my arguments at home. Even if you don't think a dog will work, please tell me you think it will so I can get a dog. Other non-dog suggestions are also appreciated. Thanks.

Those of you who have known me for more than a few years have undoubtedly been exposed to what my wife likes to call "one of my political rants." She swears that she can tell when I am making a political post to my Facebook page simply by watching how I hit the keys when I am typing. I suppose that is the result of my frustration with what the political process--one that I will be entering in a few months--has become. No one will dispute the fact that the process has undergone dramatic changes in the past few decades. There was a time when courtesy, dignity and compromise ruled the day, but those days are long gone, having been replaced by hostility, partisan rhetoric and gridlock. Public confidence in our leaders is at an all-time low, and it seems as if the only thing coming out of Washington these days is more of the same regurgitated garbage telling us why everything we are unhappy about is the other guy's fault. To make matters even worse, while our political leaders sit in their offices trying to come up with newer and better ways to attack one another, "we the people" sit back and point the finger of blame back at them. "Corrupt politicians. The only thing they are concerned about is getting re-elected. They're all in somebody's pocket." It's a vicious cycle that some are convinced is unbreakable. While it is certainly more comfortable for us to place the blame for an increasingly dysfunctional system at the feet of someone else, I would like to make a suggestion that, while uncomfortable, I believe is a much more accurate conclusion. I believe we have no one to blame but ourselves. Politics is, at least in today's world, as much about marketing as it is about anything else. The parties "market" their candidates and their philosophies to the voting public, primarily through TV and talk radio. Rather than presenting issues and information in a neutral, balanced fashion, we get Fox News and MSNBC. Instead of presenting us with all of the facts, pro and con, and allowing us to make an informed and reasonably intelligent decision, we get Rush Limbaugh vs. Chris Matthews. The result: instead of a reasoned debate about contraception in health care, we hear that a woman who thinks birth control should be covered by insurance is promiscuous. Instead of an objective discussion about whether the country can afford to further expand entitlement programs, we hear that conservatives are rich, heartless elitists who don't care about children living in poverty. And the saddest part is, we eat it up. If we of the voting public are so disgusted with the lack of civility in our political process, why do we give a moment of our time to those who simply perpetuate the problem? Politicians see millions of voters tuned in to Rush Limbaugh every day, and the inescapable conclusion they reach is that he gives the voters what they want. The end result? The candidates spew out the same type of trash. The bottom line is that if it didn't work, they wouldn't waste their time doing it. Politicians will give us exactly what we have shown them we want. Nothing about our system will change until we do something to show our political candidates that uncivil, hateful bombast will result in our votes being cast for the other side. Until then, we are condemned to suffer through more of the same. From the standpoint of the candidates, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it." Another way we contribute to the ongoing political dysfunction is by failing to educate ourselves on the issues presented. I recently read a very depressing study that was published as part of a report put together by a bipartisan commission titled "Governing in a Polarized America: A Bipartisan Blueprint to Strengthen Our Democracy." The study, commissioned by USA Today, sought the opinion of those polled on a certain proposal to improve public education. When those polled were told the proposal was made by Democrats, 75 percent of Democrats agreed with it, while only 13 percent of Republicans agreed. However, when the identical proposal was later advanced as a Republican plan, only 12 percent of Democrats supported it, while Republican support ballooned to 70 percent. Nothing in the proposal had changed; only the party with whom it was associated was different. Consider those results for a moment. When I first read about that study, I was as frustrated as I have been for a long, long time. Have we, as a people, completely lost the capacity for independent thought? Are we such sheep that we will blindly follow wherever our party leadership takes us, regardless of the facts? Have we become so apathetic, so downright lazy that we refuse to educate ourselves about issues that can affect our lives every single day? Sadly, it would appear to be so. The people of our great nation are nearly unanimous in our frustration with what our political system has become. However, it seems to me that the key to changing the system is entirely within our control. Up to this point, politicians have continued to give us more of what has worked in the past. Until we demand change by refusing to reward the conduct we abhor; until we take the time to educate ourselves so that we can make up our own minds about the candidates and policies we will support, nothing will change. Remember Einstein's definition of insanity: "Doing the same thing over and over again, and expecting different results." It's time we do something differently.

The weekend that Ohio Valley football enthusiasts look forward to all summer is finally here. Yes, the OVAC Rudy Mumley All-Star Charity Football Classic and all its exciting festivities have arrived once again. While I love football just as much as the next guy, Sunday night's Ohio vs. West Virginia matchup (O-H!) isn't what I'm most looking forward to. No, my sights are keenly set on this evening's Queen of Queens competition as 25 young women vie for the 2014 crown and title. Why am I so interested, you ask? My little sister, Halli, is one of the 25. I may be biased, but Halli is without a doubt one of the best people I've ever known. She is more calm and level-headed than every other member of our family combined and we are all thankful for the lessons and advice she never seems to runs out of. Her faith in the Lord and all He has in store for her is unfaltering and unwavering and perhaps what I admire most about her. It's remarkable how much my family and I look up to someone so much smaller than us. "So much smaller than us." Did I mention Halli stands at only a scant 4'10"? Don't let her petite stature fool you, though; she has one of the best and most powerful voices I've ever heard. She'll take the stage tonight, with dozens of friends and family members supporting her and cheering her on from the crowds below, and belt out a piece that describes her beliefs and perspective on life perfectly. I've never been so excited and nervous for a performance that isn't even mine in my entire life. I'm sure that every single one of the contestants, Halli included, is moderately scared to death of what tonight has in store. However, like I've been telling my little sister since she won her high school's installment, this is meant to be a fun yet competitive way to showcase even further the immense amount of talent this Valley continues to produce. Try to look past the nerves and jitters and cherish the awesome opportunity at-hand and the lifelong memories this weekend will undoubtedly generate. Although I'll be rooting for the tiny girl representing St. John Central High School tonight, I wish all the Queen candidates the best of luck - you will all be wonderful. Lastly and most importantly, GO BUCKS!