Howdy y'all and a Happy New Year.  Loved Shipyard Sam's unique card for the new year and the steamboat.  What a neat guy.

So, much going on and I've been trying to tie up loose ends.  Newburgh, In, after two years of planning is now going to have designation to collect funds/grants to finally start redoing their river front and damn site.  Now, that is impressive as this burgh is really a dynamite town of high incomes.  Million dollar houses lines the river front....and, most run out of the houses to wave at the Queen series or any other boat that passes by.  They love to watch the tow boats---heck, it is a river boat, and as boats wait in the damn site folks comment how they love to hear the calliopes.  Love to sit on their porches and hear the calliopes with their friends and drink.....I think it was lemonade and tea....could have been vodka.....but, some refreshments.

So, our river region in two years will be awesome, come bring the kids, the boats, barges, linemen---hey, those New Orleans Saints and the LSU Tigers were something this year!!! Hooray for them.  And, we all like it up here that the trolley cars are up and running in New Orleans, LA, so proud.

I've been shopping.  Yep.  Going to purchase some river boats.  Got near a closing and just not ready yet.  SO, I'm reloading this week.  I have to wait til monies from a closing happens and use that client money for down payments on boats.....going to send up loan, if near Letter of Committment, then get some down payment money to the boats, and get the final purchase agreement done this time.  Geez.  Was so close on two boats.  Now, I have to strategize better.....working on getting client money and their closings to have the down payment money.  I'll get there.  My region is waiting for me so I have no choice.  A boat it is with a red ribbon right on top.

Our great Executive Director of our CVB, Marilee Fowler, has worked with our Indiana State Tourism Department, our Lt. Governor who is great, Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman, and Marilee has gotten them to put some signs up in our part of the state denoting "Ohio River Scenic Route".  Now, we're talking.  So, this part of our state is cooking.  We're slowly getting the jet packs on and the burners are at Mach 7 speed (?) and we're going to cook.  You'll see within two years that we'll get this part of the state roasting------it's an ELECTION YEAR and last election we cleaned house, one more election to gooooooo!!! yeah, Baby!!  Anyway, Marilee Rocks and in two years time you'll see our region the way it is suppose to be.  You watch.  We're going to cook, roast BABY!!!  Hopefully, we'll have the same Governor and they like river stuff.    Infact, in a year or so even the Casino boat here,  (Casino Aztar) which whom in the past wasn't a river boat fan, is going to redo their river boat up stairs and will redo the lower deck into a bar/restaurant to over look the river.  Now, we're talking, they want to be a part of the new river traffic that in time will be here.  Now, we're talking.  Times are chaning.  It took WWWIII, but, heck, things are changing even if it is for a tad here.  So, my strategy is up and down the region, and pick up Evansville, In, when time.  Even Mt. Vernon, In, is now doubling its amount to redo its river front, possibly add a new Marina to its master plan, and I've seen the presentation picture boards, and Henderson, Ky, has also started to clear out some land to add to their river font project.  In this part of the country we're cooking. 

From this summer onward you'll see hints of jet packs....then for 2008 it will be the jet packs working.  Full Throttle, BABY!!!! VROOOOMMMMM!!!!  (I love election seasons.....)  Well, hang in there y'all.........I do.  It has been something, but these past two years have taught me a lot.  I owe it all to you all for your help every so often.....your messages have helped me a lot.  Keep the faith and our Ohio River Region will rip up a storm....everyone is excited and waiting for the boats.  I'm working on bringing river boats here and purchasing one or two myself.  Got to keep sraping up those pennies.  No extra Pepsi for a while.    Got to keep at it and GET TO A CLOSING.  I'll keep you posted......Got to close on a river boat. HAPPY NEW YEAR to all.  Mary