When you get older, the necessities of life are more important than what is in the Neiman Marcus Christmas Catalog.  Although, fun to look at.  I steer toward the ever more affordable Land's End catalog, myself.  After a year or two of well meaning Christmas presents from some now deceased relatives, it was thought that everyone make a list of what you need and folks can pick and choose, just like a Bridal registry.   Make the dollar stretch.  Plus, get someone what they need and/or want.  I love receiving Gift Cards.  Whoever thought that one up gets the Nobel Peace Prize.  I mean really.  What is better than getting what you can REALLY use.  Who needs three red sweaters at the same time....albeit, different designs.

Our Ohio River Region is gearing up for a neat 2008 year with all sort of boats visiting us.  It is remarkable how the timing is such that it is expected to bring in a river boat or yacht, and when can you get that here versus, some small men throwing darts trying to stir up controversary.  What is controversial about a river boat coming.  Never have figured that out.  I'm sure those handful of men must know, the rest of us just aren't as smart as they are.  Nor, do we follow their lead, anyway.  We all Love riverboats.  So, they are coming to town, baby!!

Since starting a company to bring river boats to our area in December 2004, I've learned a lot, I mean a lot.  Got more to learn.  I've met some of the most remarkable folks in this industry.  And, from all over the country, and some contacts from Europe.  What excitement.  It is coming full circle the excitement I felt then to bring river boats, gone through some 'interesting' patches of differences with a handful of sorrowful men,

and now, back to what the rest of us want---some great amenities for our Ohio River, put our river to great use as it is an asset, and build upon that for making our nation aware of our Ohio River Heritage.  The folks and cities are on board.  Yee ha!  As our river fronts, our new docking designs unfold in several cities, you'll see a more vibrant river.  Development for a broader use on our River is happening.  It is behind two years or so, but we'll make up the difference in a short period of time.  I projected our area to already be in place....but, it is evolving.  The smaller towns are coming in and stepping up to the plate.  I'm proud of them.  They know a good thing.  They are the leaders.  I applaud their insight they have--WE HAVE A RIVER, SO LETS USE IT.   Now, the finishing touch is having that Delta Queen come here to roost, not retire, but to roost.  Nothing more fabulous than having a Queen come to roost in our area.  You'd think it was Elvis, Elton John, or Captain Crunch. Nothing brings a glow and a smile to our citizens as such as a Queen series in the area.  We don't have controversary on River boats.  Our citizens along the river love Riverboats.  So, Santa, put on my list, whether the Delta Queen gets the Exemption vote or not.  I'll take care of her, our public area will take care of her, and our many guests will too.  She'll shine like you won't believe.  We'll share her with everyone as it is like having the Statute of Liberty here.  What would become of her, a museum, a Hotel, or floating wonderment.  Who knows.  All I can say, is that I'll take care of her.  Our public will take care of her.  And, our many guests will take care of her.

Santa, could you place my order in my stocking this year.  I place a request for the Delta Queen.  How or when she gets here, is all right by me, just have her come, no wrapping paper needed.  I'll add some lights.

Put in a tree, add some mistletoe, and carolers and feel right at home.

I'll even put on my fluffy house slippers on a toasty magical night.

I'll hang that stocking, Santa, so come this way, got some Christmas treats on a plate and some milk for ya'. Hope to see ya' Santa!! 

Merry Christmas.  Mary 

Howdy!  It is a brisk morning and a great day to sit inside and enjoy some great brewed coffee, keep nice and toasty, and write to you today.  The title of this blog is the title used in the Evansville Courier and Press newspaper about a neat project the folks from Rockport, In, chiefly the Spencer County folks.  See story at www.evansville couirer and press online with the title "Flatboat to Carry Lincoln's Indiana Heritage Downriver".  You'll see a neat picture of this flatboat I'm telling you about today.

The Spencer county folks are celebrating past President Abraham Lincoln's two year Bicentinneial.  It is a journey of his life while living for 14 years in Indiana.  They did something like this at the 150th anniversary.  In September of 2008, A 60 foot flatboat will travel down the Ohio River and the Mississippi River all the way to New Orleans, LA.  It recreates a flatboat journey Abraham Lincoln took in 1828 as he was delivering produce for a local merchant.  It will take 26 days to 18 cities and called the "Lincoln's Journey of Remembrance".  The reason for the cruise is to promote the Spencer County, where Lincoln grew up before moving to Springfield, Illinois.  This county also has a Lincoln Amphitheatre that the state pays for a musical depicting the life of Lincoln. 

This flatboat is donated by a Ron Drake, a Washington, D.C. attorney who came from Sullivan, Indiana.  It weighs 43,000 pounds, made of Indiana poplar--of course it has be something from our state---limestone is too heavy---will be lifted by a 120 ton crane from a truck and placed on a site to increase the size from a 48 foot vessel to the proposed 60 foot flatboat, plus adding twin outboard motors. 

The hope is it have the Governors from all eight states greet them along the parth to help celebrate with local cities coordinating thier special events with the boat.  Our area cities involved will be Evansville and Mt. Vernon, Indiana, and Henderson and Owensboro, Kentucky.  We are a tight river region.   If you want to learn more about the project you can c go on the web at www.thinklincoln.org or www.lengendaryplaces.org to learn about the bicentinneal Lincoln events.

Or, contact the Spencer County Visitors Bureau at 1-888-444-9252.

Believe it or not, this Spencer county prides itself on supporting Lincoln and Santa Claus.  Yep, I send my Christmas postcards every year to the Santa Claus, Indiana, post office to get the famous postmark.  It is a neat touch to a bunch of Christmas cards.  I get more comments about that than the cards.  It is a fun way to make your cards special.  You can send your cards in a large envelope to the Postmaster's attention, place in a note to add a Christmas postmark to your cards.  It is free.  Your family and friends will enjoy seeing the postmark that changes each year.  It is just a part of Christmas to me.  Something simple but what a classy touch. 

Enjoy the crowded malls, the carolers, the snow, I'm sitting inside with a cup of coffee, some sugary treats and enjoying the moment with some great newspapers and a Donald Trump book..."Think Big and Kick A--".

Where is the pecan pie.  Mary

Howdy, the sunshiny day today is crisp, leaves are in splendor, TV Food Networks having Thanksgiving shows with the Christmas Food shows following....I'll be in a sugar buzz til mid January. 

Great news.  Just found out from Ted Seger of the National Turkey Federation yesterday that the Ten Ranch Farm in Jasper, Indiana, was chosen to provide our nation's turkey to the Capital on next Tuesday.  At the news conference even Mickey Mouse was there from Disney World, in Florida.  This BIG white Gobbler, two will be there to chose best one for camera, will be pardoned by President Bush in Washington, D.C.  Jasper, Indiana, is a 45 to one hour drive and in our media viewing area. 

After the Presidential pardoning.  The National Turkey goes to Orlando, Florida, and is the Grand Marshall of the Walt Disney World Thanksgiving Parade.  How's that.  Afterward, the prized Turkey goes to rest his remaining days at the Mickey's Country House, and enjoys life in Florida.

What a life.  A Pardon, a parade, and retire to Florida.  This is the FIRST turkey the state of Indiana has provided to our nations capital.  We've got a bunch here, but, the National Turkey Federation wanted the ones you actually eat at Thanksgiving.  Gobble, gobble.

Our media viewing area provided the famous Milk that is sipped at the Indianapolis 500 race this year, Cannelton, Indiana, I believe.  We're on a roll.  We aren't in the running for the Nation's Christmas tree. 

Port of Evansville My realtor states I'm still in the running....someone in government wanted to create some buzz they'd all of sudden be interested in it from not being interested in it months ago....but, I knew that I'd have the best product and project going and stood up to them.(plus the part of   "I can do this project here or in Tell City, In, or Owensboro, Ky" helped also. I don't cave in to thug politics.....got rid of threatening phone calls one time years ago by letting others listen to the recordings.  That got that stopped pretty darn fast.)

I've got a great team....some from here, some from Indianapolis, In, and some from another state.  I keep in there.  Build up in phases how many docks can be there.  Concrete floating dock with heavy sunk pilings is what I'd like to see.  May have to add two cells, don't know.  So much to see, yet.  Got a company already in line for that project.  Top notch company.  They have worked witht the US Army Corps of Engineers from all over.  I'm pleased with the folks on each part of this.  Have to see what all happens in negotiations.  I keep in there. 

Well, have a great Thanksgiving and enjoy all the fixings....I'm waddling to a movie after we eat.  Great Fun!  Enjoy family and friends!   Mary

Howdy, Happy Thanksgiving!!  Go to today's second main editorial, "Delta Queen" at  www.evansvillecourierandpressonline and you hit "Opinion" at top of page, then look down to 'More Editorials' and see the great story on our main editorial page of the "Delta Queen".  It is a great story that our new Newspaper Editor, Mizell Stewart, did.  He rocks.  He has been a great cheerleader for River boats as he came from Ohio and remembers why river boats and other boats are important to our economic development, to our economy, to our job creation base.  Our Ohio River region gets the Queen series a lot and we most certainly appreciate it.  They come because those towns do a great job and don't get in their way, and treat them real well. 

We all know a "star" when we see one.  Our politicians in my town are realizing slowly, that it is all about the boat, not them.  It's about the boat, stupid. 

Our newspaper editor, touched on the Union issue with the Delta Queen.  They wanted to wait and see what was going on with that, as folks get touchy with union issues, and you don't want folks to sue.

It is a great article for support of the Delta Queen, not only on the HR3852 issue, but as a boat in general.  I've been preaching for the past three years, the Queen series helps folks with economic development, with job creation, with the economy.  The lights are now turning on the Demo party in our town, that if you snooze, you lose.  It took three years.  So, the Editor is doing a great service in rounding up the folks and lets all together celebrate the greatness of river boat traffic.  That is great.  Now, to embrace it.

On election day, I got another note from House Rep. Brad Ellsworth stating he's still working on HR3852......on election day.  Nonetheless, at least he's thinking about this issue.  So, if the vote gets to the house floor, then we can possibly pull out some stops on the political front with his help....he was listed number one on the House Magazine......Roll Call, is it, that he was the most interesting over five notches of Nancy Pelosi.  Some call him 'dreamy'.  I just want some production from the guy.  Less whack and more smack.  SO, I have to wait til the vote time to THIS TIME, see what help he can do.  Because of the DEMO stance on river boats, I didn't ask him to write up a bill for support of the Delta Queen.  I'm guessing now he doesn't want to be left out of the action.  He could have made history on this and didn't.  Well, we'll be watchful and help how we need to.

So, things may be perking up a tad on the riverboat and letting me bring in the boats that could have already been here from the past three years, already.  Geez. 

There is hope, Mizell.  Also, the Port of Evansville has been for sale and this coming week we'll see if we can agree on a price.  It is listed too high, in my opinion, and others, so we'll see.  I've got a great team started to help me on this and the cost.  I hope to have some other folks on board for this project this week.  It is an exciting project proposed, with a neat two tiered decking restaurant overlooking the river, a new boat dock for ALL YOU SORTS OF RIVER BOATS and YACHTS!!!!

And, a few other businesses and eateries.  Have some outlet stores or neat shops and a night scene.  A Disney along the river for our sized town.  An old brick warehouse building to use for some businesses or possibly a boutique Hotel or Flag Hotel.  It is exciting.  In an industrial area, but lots of river frontage to help that issue and some tall trees and landscaping will help.  SO, I'm going for it, with gusto, some business partners to make it happen.  I do hope the lender can do this size of a project like they state they can.....we'll see.  When you talk millions of dollars, all of a sudden the politicians change their song and dance and it clicks in their heads, 'Oops, we better be a part of this, or else'.  The land is two down from the Casino Aztar and near the riverfront bend in the river....at downtown.  Lots of new buildings for quaint cruise.

HOORAY!!  Things are going to change along the Ohio River region and Evansville, Indiana for river boating.  Yee ha!  HOORAY, can't let up, now, got lots to do and plan....got to reload, load, and keep going forward.

I'll just go do the project and hope it works.  Got the team, now to make it work.  Now, is the time!!  Mary

Howdy, y'all.  It is a crisp Autumn day and the leaves this past week and this week were at a peak.  Even with no rain that was around this fall.

Just thought I'd share a note paraphrased by our Indiana Senator Richard Lugar.  He is widely  respected in our nation and in the world.  I asked if he'd think about sponsoring the bill in the Senate.  He's aware of the exemptions in the past and had this to say dated October 25, 2008:

"Thank you for contacting me.  I appreciate your support for H.R.3852, which would extend the fire-retardant materials construction exemption from 2008 to 2018.

'While the U.S. Coast Guard is the federal entity that is responsible for issuing safety and operating permits for commercial vessels traveling o our nations's waterways, Congress has provided a waiver to permit overnight cruises on the Delta Queen since 1966.  The current waiver expires November 1, 2008.

'H.R. 3852 has been referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.  The Senate Committee on Commerce, Transportation and Science has not yet held hearings on the Coast Guard Reauthorization bill.  I will be mindful of your thoughts should this bill be considered by the full Senate.

'Again, thank you for contacting me". 

Richard G. Lugar/United States Senator

I contacted our Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels and Senator Richard Lugar.  Our Governor did send my informtion to the Senator.  So, kids, the first thing is to see if the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure does anything or if it is needed to get a lot of co-sponsors in the House.

After talking with our country's Department of Commerce it is in their eyes a US Coast Guard issue.  So, at least our state has some interest and just waiting from the Senator what the House does.  It seems to be  a waiting game til November 2008.  Senator Lugar evidently feels that this issue is the same in years past.  But, in today's times you can take things for granted.  Just thought I'd share his letter with you.

Well, that is all I know for the moment.  Hope everyone can enjoy some great weather, yep, some getting snow already, but bundle up and have some great coffee or cocoa.  It's almost Thanksgiving, and good turkeys need to enjoy a good hot drink with some great hot brownies or some great dessert.  You can't change the weather but you can still enjoy your surroundings.  Have a good one!  Keep up the work and faith.  Mary