HAPPY NEW YEAR, BILL!

Stop by the house by midnight for some champagne and a New Year's kiss.

Twas the Night After Closure. A New Year's Poem.

Twas two days before New Years,
and all through the hotel,
not a creature was stirring,
not even the town dumb bell.

Despite numerous whines,
and bogus legal pleas,
the police easily escorted out the guests,
a few happy to leave.

The surrounding neighborhood sighed with relief,
happy that the City at last had paid heed to their beef.
Relief did not lead anyone to gloat,
as the media could not get from any neighbor
a single quote.

Bewildered, ashamed and afraid to show his face,
away stayed Mr. Chase.

Lesson learned,
or just a pause in the action?
I would wager that for Ingersoll,
silly suits are still the preferable fashion.

For today at least,
and hopefully tonight,
Prospect Point residents can take a break from the fight.

As the police padlocked the doors
with a happy, clanky clatter
I heard City Attorney Randy Ray
mutter,

"I may not be sly.
I'll never be slick.
Justice, I've learned,
tends not to be quick.

Nonetheless, to every slumlord
notice I give:
The City will is coming for you,
this purpose is why I now live."

So, Happy New Year,
Welcome 2006!
The City of Peoria
its problems it WILL fix!

Scarlett says, "The holidays just exhaust me."

It's okay, Sweetie. Get some rest. New Years is just around the corner.

This just in from Chase Ingersoll (or, as he prefers to call himself: The Village Idiot):

Just received by e-mail from Chase himself:

The Court has granted the City's motion.

Now the question is: Does the City have the Cahones to make its move on The Grandview, and roust the residents from their homes and chase them back to the ghetto neighborhoods on the East Bluff and Valley, while Chase is out of town?

I'm certain that everyone is on the edge of their seats!

See you all Sunday night.c

Uh-huh, so, Chase, this is like the THIRD judge in a row who has ruled against you. Are you any closer to taking the hint? Declaring bankruptcy didn't work either. What will it take for you to get the message? You lost and you will continue to lose.. BECAUSE YOU HAVE NO CASE!

Edge of my seat? Not so much. I'm willing to wager the City is going to bootkick residents out sooner rather than later, with or without you present, and if anyone is shoved into homelessness it is because they believed your LIES i.e., "Appealed filed, appeals take approximately one year," "I am being denied my constitutional property rights," "Bankruptcy would provide an automatic stay." Chase, I saw you on the news announcing your fraud bankruptcy filing. I got a hearty chuckle from your statement,"They can take away my law license (re: your disbarrment) but they can't take away my law degree or education." Doesn't seem you learned much in law school, Chase. Some top notch education there. God, how did you even get admitted? Pass the LSAT? The Bar? Maybe that was all before your apparent psychotic break. Anyway, I hear McDonalds is looking for fry cooks.

My deepest sympathy to those hotel residents conned by Ingersoll into believing that they would not be forced to move. If it is any comfort, you are far from the first to be duped by the Village Idiot. In the future, it might be wise to get your legal counsel from someone other than a disbarred attorney.

So, once the hotel closes what next? My guess: Ingersoll won't be able to pay the light bill without residents and will forfeit the property back over to Jain.

There's something about Mary.

As a Christian, I am most appreciative that God sent his only son to die a horrible, miserable, painful death in order to pay for my numerous sins. I am thankful and humbled by the sacrifice made for me, and amazed that forgiveness is mine for the asking. Jesus is the reason for the season. Actually, he is the reason for the whole religion.

But there is something about Mary. I think Christianity doesn't give her sacrifice near the recognition it deserves.

Imagine. You don't get to enjoy a satisfying roll in the hay with the love of your life, but you wind up pregnant anyway. Some selfish king couldn't give a rat's ass that you have just entered your fourth trimester of pregnancy. He wants your name on his tax rolls, no excuses. During a long, miserable donkey ride your water breaks and strong, painful contractions begin. You are a very young woman with no access to medical care, or even your mother. What woman wouldn't be terrified? You can't get a hotel room anywhere in town, not even the Grandview! You wind up in a dirty stable where you labor for hours without the benefit of a doctor- let alone pain medication. At last, while amused farm animals look on, you give birth to a healthy son.

Relieved and exhausted, you are now expected to entertain. Hours ago, you were an inconvenience. Now that you have given birth to the Son of God, angels sing, and a huge star is placed in the sky so that the king's men and all the townfolk can come take a look. They don't care that you haven't even had the chance to bathe. I love the fact that every artist paints Mary - just hours after giving birth - as both beautiful and serene. And the "Wise Men!" Ha! Don't get me started! These guys learn of the birth of the Messiah and what do they do? Bring impractical gifts for the baby! Gosh, guys, don't you have enough pull to at least get this family a room at the Ritz? A Motel Six? At least bring a casserole.

The birth of Christ was difficult enough, but can you imagine what his death must have been like for his mother? I've always thought losing a child would be the hardest burden to bare. The only thing worse would be to helplessly witness your son tortured and slowly put to the death.

There are a few things about being Catholic that trouble me, but IMHO, it is the only sect of Christianity that even comes close to paying Mary the respect and admiration she deserves. At every Mass, Catholics recite in unison:

Hail Mary, Full of Grace,
The Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women,
and blessed is the fruit
of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary,
Mother of God,
pray for us sinners now,
and at the hour of death.
Amen.

Today is put aside as a day to celebrate the birth of Christ, but I always want to shout, "What about Mary?!" This may strike some as blasphemy, but I'd be willing to wager that Mary was not the delicate, petite flower of womanhood portrayed in paintings. I think Mary was probably one tough cookie. She would have to be, which is why God chose her to birth his only son.

So, Happy Birthday, Jesus! And to the new Mommy, Mary, thanks and well done. There will always be a soft bed, clean sheets, and a hot casserole waiting for you at Polly's Place.

For those of you expecting family this holiday...

(This was originally written last Thanksgiving, but it got a lot of hits, so I thought I would re-post it.)

Hey! It could be worse, this could be YOUR mother-in-law.

The holidays are a reminder that we leave home and become independent, free thinking, capable adults for a good reason. The holidays also serve to keep us humble. How great can you be if you share DNA with a guy who undoes his pants at the dinner table in order to make more room for seconds? If you're snickering because you don't share DNA with such people, smack yourself. You willingly married into this family of freaks.

Ladies, don't be control freaks. You want people to have a good time right? Let the guys watch football. No one wants to play charades. Everyone hates charades, and they roll their eyes at you when your back is turned. Turn off the tube for dinner and then let folks do what they want. Better memories are made when folks are happy. Keep the prayer short, and for the love of God, don't make us go around the table and share what we are thankful for. (Real answer: At some point this torture will be over and we can go home.)

Guys, when dinner is served, get your ass to the table. Don't wait until half time or the moment suits you. People worked while you sat around and scratched yourself all so that you could stuff your face. Here's a thought... since the ladies have been working all day, how about the men do the dishes for a change? Fair is fair.

Guests, unless asked, don't give advice. The dining room was painted green because your host/hostess likes green. Please don't go on and on about how lovely a pale yellow would look in a home where someone else pays the mortgage. Your host/hostess knows that you believe a stuffed turkey stays moist, but your hostess believes said stuffing had her stopping to puke at every rest stop on the journey home last year. This year, it's her house, and she's gonna do it HER way. Let go, make yourself useful, and offer to peel the potatoes. Do not, I repeat, DO NOT offer to dust using a comment like, "Clearly you have been too busy for thorough housekeeping, Dear." Your hostess also does not want to entertain your views on disciplining her children, thank you, you old bitty/hag.

Kids, don't gripe about having to sit at the kiddie table. I finally got a seat at the grownup table last year -at forty something- when someone died. It isn't all it's cracked up to be, trust me. Everyone notices when you don't eat Aunt Suzie nasty candied yams. The only thing that makes the grownup table tolerable is the wine.

Speaking of wine, liquor is to flow freely during the holidays. You should definitely bring a bottle. Or two. Skip the flowers and bring three. Jesus turned water into wine for a reason. To prevent us mere mortals from taking our kin too seriously and strangling a relation in lieu of the bird. My holiday commandment is to keep a sense humor by always having a glass of liquor in hand. Burnt bird, a little broken china, an over flowing toilet... all humorous when combined with the proper amount of liquor.

God speed, and remember, if they behave in a particularly evil manner, lace their pumpkin pie with a few drops of raw turkey juice. Works like a charm. Trust me. Heh. Heh.

IT'S A BOY!!!

Mother, (exhausted from long arduous travel on donkey, drug free labor in a dirty manger, next to farm animals) and baby doing well.
Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas Prego Man.

Per your request, here is a little Ms. Fonda for you.



Now, for my Christmas present, I would like you to explain your handle.

A special Christmas decoration for Bill Dennis

I think Scarlet has actually decided to be the tree this year. Works for me!

Achoo... Bless you... and get @#$%*! off my flight!

I hate to fly. Absolutely despise it. Unlike most people, the thought of plummeting to the ground to my death with 200 screaming strangers isn't a problem. Frankly, should such an event take place I most certainly will soil myself, and I prefer my last few moments of shame not be witnessed by those people who know, love, or respect me. My hatred of flying comes the knowledge that I am breathing the recirculated air of 200 or so strangers. Flying in an commercial aircraft has a lot in common with being stuck in an elevator for hours on end. You are inhaling the noxious gases of fellow passengers, along with any other bacterial or virus vermin they may care to share. Because Polly has been an extra good girl this year, she was stuck on a holiday flight to Florida sitting next to a guy with a cold. A bad cold. Worse than a cold. Hell, this huge mucus membrane posing as a human being may have been sporting the latest mutation of the avian flu.

Forget terrorism. Forget the security checks. Body cavity searches? Useless. Instead of just checking for weapons the TSA needs to be checking for illness. Everyone should have to have their temperature taken before boarding an airplane. While waiting at the gate, any passenger who sneezes should be booted off the flight. There should be sensors to detect any personal gas emitted from passengers waiting to board. If they can put smoke detectors in aircraft bathrooms, they ought to be able to put fart detectors in the cabin.

I have been sick a few times in my life. I do have compassion for the ill. Except for when they try to fly. You see, I do not appreciate the hassle of modern travel, some of it rather humiliating (hell, if I want some "action" these days, I only need to go through airport security) only to arrive two flights, numerous delays, lost luggage, and a piece of crap rental car later at my destination SICK because some inconsideration nimrod didn't want to change his plans. Yeah, ruin it for the rest of us, you ASS.

So, for the snotball who sat next to met on United Airlines flight 268 to Fort Lauderdale yesterday, I hope Santa brings you JACK SQUAT!!!

Scarlett and I were going to invite Bill over to the dorm after tonight's City Council meeting....

but then he got mean and blew it (Scroll down to Bill's comment. Skip over Ingersoll's typical tirade of crap.) Just to give you an idea of what you're missing, Bill, here is the first frame of the video we are shooting.



That'll learn ya!

This just in: Ingersoll gives the gift that keeps on giving.... Homelessness

The Grandview Hotel is going to close any moment. The latch ditch effort to get another day in court failed.

I watched. It was painful. Horribly, terribly, painful. Think root canal. Peoria City Attorney, Randy Ray, was his pathetic self. I would have been concerned, but an even more pathetic attorney represented the Grandview Hotel residents. Judge Barra was stuck. It was obvious that Barra didn't want to evict the hotel guests, but simply put, THEY HAD NO CASE. As an act of charity, Barra gave them another fourteen days to file, but could not find any valid cause to stay his order closing the hotel. Barra stated the residents case didn't come close to showing any property rights, let alone a violation of due process.

IMHO: The sad excuse for a lawyer representing the hotel guests led his clients down a path he knew he was going to lose, he didn't even put forth much of an effort. (The guy didn't seem prepared, let alone capable of passing the bar exam.) Barra even tried to help him out by attempting to clue him on the very basics of law. I'm telling you. It hurt to watch.

I wonder if this whole drama would have concluded differently if either side had semi decent legal representation. If The City had been more legally aggressive, the hotel would have been shut down sooner. If Ingersoll, Jain, or the hotel residents had been able to exploit The City's inadequate legal representation with a half way decent lawyer of their own, they could have probably kept this in Court for years.

So, it's all over. The only thing left to do is wait for the Red Cross van to show up and watch for the next sad stunt Chase will try. Chain himself to the doors perhaps? Declare all hotel residents live in employees? Declare the purchase invalid and turn the property back over to Jain? Whatever comes next, you can count on it to be feeble, transparent and useless.

It ain't over until the disbarred attorney sings.

President Bush takes it on the chin.

"There seems to be an epidemic of honesty coming from Washington today." -Bob Schafer, commenting last week on the Bush Administration's confession that the Federal Response to Hurricane Katrina was lousy, the intelligence information used to justify the Iraq War was faulty, and approximately thirty thousand civilians have been killed in the conflict thus far.

Wow. They say the first step to recovery is admitting you have a problem. We might actually have something to work with now. We can only hope. And pray. Hard.

Bush is on the road to redemption. Giving the people what they want. I admit, The President did very well in his PBS interview with Bob Leher last Friday. The results of an uninterrupted interview vs. a major network news nanosecond sound bite is profound. President Bush intelligently explained his reasoning without stuttering or flubbing up once. I almost believed he made it through Harvard Business School without cheating. Much.

Tonight's speech to the nation was a bit of a let down. Clearly, teleprompters make Bush uncomfortable. Nonetheless, the message was clear. We are making headway in Iraq. Yes, the road to victory has been more difficult and painful than anticipated. Yes, it was my decision to get into this war and, yes, the intel sucked. It is taking longer to train Iraqi Police Forces than we had planned. However, Iraqi elections have been successful. The end is in sight. A little more patience please. We are getting there. God, Mr. President, I hope so.

It is refreshing to hear something other than petty excuses and false promises come out of D.C. Having a President admit he made a mistake and is working to rectify it sits well with me. No! Clinton's confession of having sex with an intern doesn't count as a "mistake." Mistakes are unintended actions with unforeseen consequences. The pain that results from accidentally stepping on someone's toe, for example

It's Christmas. Tis the season for contrition. But not contrition for contrition's sake. George W. might have been wrong about a few key things, but he isn't signing up to play the role of Whipping Boy. Yeah, I might have authorized NSA to listen in on a few domestic phone calls made to the Middle East right after 9/11, what of it? Wanna take it outside?" I'm on Bush's side on this one. Remember how you felt watching the Twin Towers fall? Whatever it took to find who was responsible, I wanted it done. Whatever it took to make sure it never happened again. Do it. I would have willingly submitted to a body cavity search before boarding a city bus, let alone a commercial airplane. It was the early days of war against an unknown enemy. A few civil liberties were bound to be dented in order to discover just what we were up against. The Administration didn't trust a Judge to know what was best during war time. Fine by me. Puhlease. I've overheard the conversations of stranger's telephone conversations through my niece's baby monitor. In this modern age of poorly aimed satellite beams and radio waves, I'm not sure why anyone would have an expectation of privacy when using the telephone. It's a fine line between being a just, intelligent individual (conservative) and a doomed, naive twit (liberal).

I also thought tonight's Tom Brokaw's Special was good. He followed a group of young soldiers who had recently returned home from combat duty in Iraq. Some of the young men were seriously wounded. Adjusting to civilian life after combat is as much of a feat now as it was for previous generations. I was angered to learn of yet another area where our Government inexcusably does not have its shit together. The treatment of wounded soldiers after they return home is pathetic. Yes, they receive medical care, a purple heart, and a declaration of gratitude from a thankful nation. All which does Jack to pay the bills. Lose a leg in Iraq? In between the pain, physical therapy, nightmares, and flashbacks, you will be forced to sit around indefinitely while some dorkwads at the Pentagon exchange paperwork and guess your level of disability and corresponding disability pay. Moreover, while said dorkwads are trying to figure out what your blown off leg is worth, you are still considered Active Duty. Meaning you are not allowed to attend college or get a job. You are stuck. Required to steep in misery, planted in the past, not knowing when you will be allowed to seek a future.

Hey, President Bush! So, now that you are all about embracing responsibility, how about a little support for our returning troops?

Russell Crowe

Are you not entertained?

Because I'm too lazy to post, my significant other wants to use the computer, but I want to keep my hits up....

Nice, huh?

How do you define FLUFF? You decide.

Fluff as in propaganda. As in all style, no substance. As I in I really want to be smart, rich and beautiful but I have no real plan or expectation of ever getting there. In an attempt to disguise my inertia I offer the following.

Personally, I thought Ran$burg's Vision 20/20 Plan (or as I lovingly refer to it, Hallucination 20/20) was a pathetic re-election ploy. Basically, it was as if Davie was saying, "I know I haven't done anything in the last four years, but I'm gonna. See?!"

PeoriaDad disagrees. So go to the link and decide. I stand corrected - twice in one day no less. The Hallucination 20/20 booklet was funded by the Peoria Civic Federation (BTW: Does that sound communist to anyone else or is it just moi?) not The City. Of course, where exactly does The Federation get its funds?

Gary? A little help here?

Bill Dennis caught playing with his thingy again.

Thank goodness, because I must say, his last blog format did not thrill me. The Peoria Pundit is back to it's old self, except with a swank new picture that is quite refreshing. Good job! Now will you leave the dang thing alone?! I swear you are going to go blind one these days young man!

Bill also writes about not writing much lately. Dr. Polly thinks Bill might be a little depressed. Holidays got you down, Bud? I know you've had a tough year with the job situation and all. It happens to the best of us. Just remember you have lots of folks who adore you, even when you are really, really, really wrong (ahem). Not a lot of people can say that, you know.

You have a blogger family that loves you, and wishes only for your happiness. If I could do it anonymously, I'd drop by and give you a big hug. As a feeble substitute I will make a commitment to post more Scarlet in as little clothing as possible until the prozac kicks in.

I took this pic last night at the Sorority panty raid. Hope it helps.

Go ahead. Let the door hit you in the ass on the way out.

Might knock some sense into you.

Big surprise. Not. The Federal Judge didn't think Chase had a case either. According to this morning's Journal Star, the Grandview Hotel will close Monday unless Judge Barra thinks hotel residents have a right to be heard. Guess what, and I'm purty damn sure greater legal minds are going to agree with me on this one, THEY DON'T. This is clearly another feeble attempt to delay the impending closure, annoy City Hall, and piss off the Judge.

Chase, you have lost at EVERY turn, EVERY level, and you will continue to. Ya know why?! IMHO, from the very beginning you didn't act in good faith. You knew what you were buying. You exploited the closure for a cheap price. Now you are playing the whiny victim. Any judge can see through that. Judges tend not to appreciate those who think they are moronic. Had you played nice, the property would have only been closed for a month instead of three.

From the article in yesterday's paper it appears "the gentleman's agreement" between lawyers involved in the Grandview Hotel Psychodrama agreed to a delay in order to give enough time for the Homeless Coalition to prepare to clean up Ingersoll's mess.

It is Christmas though, and to prove I don't hate you Chase, I did some research and I found a judge who might be sympathetic.

It isn't a horseshoe anymore, it's a flip flop!

Kerry isn't the only one. It happens in local politics too. Ambition breeds dishonesty.

Gary Sandberg left a really interesting comment on my last post. The fluff piece City Hall sent to every Peoria household (and some in East and West Peoria too) cost taxpayers $80,000.00. Yeah, I know, sick eh?

I'm not a big proponent of term limits for politicians. I'll impose my own term limit by voting, thank you very much. However, what I would like to see from the next group of City Council candidates is a sworn, signed, notarized statement that they have no other political agenda/goal than to represent the constituents they are currently trying to sway.

Peoria City Council has just passed another crappy budget, one that does nothing to restore the basic services cut by the previous "progressive" pigs. Nor does it eliminate the double tax on garbage collection. I wonder, however, if Gulley, Spears, Nichting, and Morris didn't have higher political aspirations if the story and budget would be much different.

Spears used to do what was best for the Fourth District. In the past, Spears seemed truly concerned about Peoria's disintegrating storm sewer system (think New Orleans)and adamant that monies be used from the upcoming budget to begin solving the problem. Spears previously favored buying the water company. Restoring Station 11 was a priority. Guess what? Wanna see a politician flip flop? Take a look at Spears since announcing he is running for Schock's 92nd District seat. He isn't fighting for the Fourth District anymore, he is running a campaign from the Council floor. What is good for the 92nd District isn't what is right for the Fourth District. Residents in Rolling Acres would probably more than willing to cough up a little more money at tax time to prevent their basements flooding once again come spring thaw.

Morris, who I swear thinks he is a Kennedy, has always been about pleasing Republican conservatives. That is, Peoria's far North. Would someone from Republican H.Q. please sit down Johnny for a heart to heart and let him know that he has gone as far as he is going to go. IMHO, no at-large seat is more up for grabs than Morris'. The guy is condescending as hell and typically doesn't know what the frick he is talking about. Yet, he continues to talk and talk and talk and talk about it. Frankly, Morris doesn't have the I.Q. to go farther. It was pretty obvious to me who Bob Manning was referring to on "Around the Horseshoe" last week when he revealed that some of his colleagues hadn't even read the budget and therefore couldn't cast an educated vote for or against it. My guess: Morris still reads Dick and Jane books at home.

That Gulley was toying around with running against Aaron Schock was the comic joke that keeps on giving. A snowflake has a better chance in hell. Will someone at Democrat H.Q. clue Clyde in that he, too, has reach the pinnacle of his political career? If the vote hadn't been split by five pissed off candidates fed up with Gulley's stupidity, Clyde would be looking for an unemployment check in the mail about now.

One only need to look at who funds Nichting to know who he is trying to please. Take a look at his campaign disclosure financials and then take a gander at his votes. Pat loves developers and developers love Pat. In all honesty, I believe District Five residents are paying more than their fair share of taxes (and, no, I don't live in the Fifth). Remember, there are folks in Weaver Ridge forking out $15,000 grand a year in property tax and still don't have public schools that are worth a damn. Nichting's No New Taxes votes don't bother me. However, Nichting did vote to support the Heart of Peoria Plan and yet no one has done more to undermine the plan and encourage suburban sprawl than Nichting. There will be no "smart growth" while he sits around the horseshoe. Under his continue reign, look for the Fifth District to go from cornfields to a sea of strip malls and asphalt. Remember, this guy supported a taxpayer funded parking garage for Dunlap Doctors and Enterprise Zone status for Menards on Pioneer Parkway. Nichting wails of weeping could be heard throughout town when LaHood decided not to run for Governor. Nichting was panting for Dave Leitch's seat (who wants LaHood's).

If you have higher political aspirations and want to start at a local level, fine. As a voter, I would just like to know about it. Signing a pledge saying that you don't have any desire for a bigger title wouldn't be a binding contract, but it would let us know where your heart really lies. Just might make for a few more honest politicians. Imagine that!

Was that so frickin hard, Mr. President?

It grew chilly in Hell today when Bush admitted that he alone was responsible for the decision to invade Iraq. Like we didn't know. It's good to know that he knows that we know. I think the "faulty intelligence" he relied on was his own.

I was even more amazed yesterday when Bush conceded that 30,000 Iraqis had died since the U.S. invaded. Didn't know anyone in the Bush administration could count that high. Lets see, we left Vietnam after we lost 50,000? So when does Iraq have the right to decide it has had enough?

Oh! And to all those enemies out there in the Axis of Evil reading this, well, Stop It! Stop It! Stop It! Go back to your cave Osama, we're going to get you any day now you, you, you crusty little maggot.

So, Mr. Mayor, how much did this cost me?!

Has everyone received and read their copy of the River City Review? The Review eight pages of fluff printed on swank, slick, full glorious color, glossy paper stock mailed at - I assume- tax payer expense to every household in Peoria. My highly anticipated booklet arrived yesterday. Very nice. Informative too! Please, take the time to read it and you too will learn the following:

"Peoria is Winning the Battle Against Crime." Nice photo of Chief Settingsgaard at a podium. Very official. Chief looks good in suit and tie. Sarcasm aside and in attempt to be fair, some impressive accomplishments are cited. "There has been a 93% increase in number of nuisance violations handed out in the month of September alone. Drug arrests are up 17% from last year, and miscellaneous arrests were also on the rise."

Next, we have a pic of CAT equipment performing demo on the Sears Block. Didn't Ran$burg rename that Museum Square? Ooooh! The next headline is a doozy. "NEAT Improves Peoria Neighborhoods." Now I find this hard to believe. "The team inspected 11,350 properties in 2004 - 3,818 had no violations, and 7,532 had violations and enforcement taken." (Looking at the East Bluff, I'm thinking those violations must have been for stray gum wrappers, because it is looking as foul around here as ever.) Also, you gotta love this nugget of info... "The NEAT concept is a popular one with Peoria residents and has received accolades from cities throughout the United States." Who knew?! I bet Hawaii is jealous as hell.

Next we learn "Census Generates Dollars for the City," followed by, "Peoria Directs City Growth" and then, "City Is Dedicated to Neighborhood Improvement." Whoo hoo!
Turn the page, and look at the purty a half page photo of snow plow trucks under the caption, "City is Tough on Snow Removal." Wow. Good to know.

And for the three of you who were lying awake at night wondering... Yes, "Wisconsin Avenue Improvements Are Completed." Got to admit, I have serious sidewalk envy.
Flip to the next page, and we learn gosh goodness golly, there is an "Ordinance to Protect Against Stream Erosion."

C.J. Summers will be relieved to discover "Bike/Walk Trail for Growth Cells One, Two and Three" is underway. "Over 28 miles of trail are planned, with approximately 1.8 miles completed to date." I shiver at the progress.

Next we learn, "How Your Dollars Are Spent." Cute graphic of a checkbook register and everything! "An owner of a $100,000 home only pays $273.75 for City Services." 'Only' huh?

Peorians should be elated to know "Customer Service is One Call Away." Yup. Whoopee twang ding dong, they want you to know their number. 494-CARE.
On the back we have full color pictures of all our beloved councilfolk. Good looking group too. Hey, Sandberg, what is up with the bow tie? That isn't a clip on is it? Chuckie Grayeb looks strange, to say the least. Little Bobby Manning on the other hand, can you say cutie pie? He has those cheeks that Aunty Polly just longs to pinch!

Citizens can go to bed at night knowing the home addresses and faces of all the council members, the City Assessor, the City Clerk, and the City Treasurer. City Manager Randy Oliver, CPA, PE takes a nice picture, but interestingly enough gives City Hall as his address. Hmm... you really don't think Chase already knows where you live?

I now know from this piece of fluff that I pay Elected Officials and Commissions -on average- $4.33. That's a crapola statistic. Commissioners are volunteers, I believe. What I want to know is how much did this fluff/campaign piece cost the average property tax payer? There isn't anything particularly informative about it, most people probably threw in the garbage on site with the rest of the junk mail, and yet, it apparently qualified as a NEED. Another something our elected officials can't bare to cut. I would be willing to wager these mailings would easily pay for a block of shiny new sidewalks, easy.

I also received a copy of Peoria's Annual Report a month or so ago. It too is a very expensive, glossy, colorful booklet. It is not a report, however, but an advertising piece, aimed at some unknown entity who apparently doesn't live here. Why they sent it to me, I have no idea. It is nearly as glossy as Ran$burg's hallucination 20/20 campaign book put out during the last election at taxpayer expense. Mayor Ardis would never do such a thing. This fluff piece at least brags on Peoria, not some far fetched plan that took four years just to dream up. However, I did see that Ardis felt fit to put his campaign slogan, "A New Generation of Leadership" on the bottom of every page of Peoria's Annual "Report."

Federal Government spends $3 million on a toilet seat. State Government spends gobs of cash touting Gov. Chicagovich back and forth. Working diligently to keep up with this trend of "Waste First, Want Later" local government prints and sends material tooting its own horn that few read or want.

I hope this doesn't mean that this new generation of leadership is as wasteful as the last one.

Dorkiest Russell Crowe Picture EVER.

Thinks he's James Dean or somethin'. Well, I still wouldn't throw him out of bed for eating crackers.

Scarlett waiting patiently for Bill to call...

I know you're busy with City Council coverage and all tonight, Mr. Dennis, but give the girl a break. Besides, some of the other sorority sisters would like to use the damn phone!

Who says politics can't be entertaining?

I typically watch City Council meetings the day after when they re-run on Cable Channel 22. Therefore, I usually miss WCBU's program "Outside the Horseshoe" with Jonathan Ahl. Lucky me -and you- I just paid a visit to the WCBU web page, and guess what?! Those of us suckers with crummy work schedules can now listen to Outside the Horseshoe on-line. Can I tell you? Last week's program was a doozy! Third District Bob Manning told the whole truth and nothing but about Peoria's 2006 Budget, and some of his colleague's inability to properly prepare and make edcuated decisions as councilmen. Hey! It's one letter grade off for each day you come to class unprepared, Gentlemen. Yes, you have to actually read the budget.

Despite Manning's push to buy the water company, I'm beginning to like this guy more and more. He doesn't come off as another professional political hack, simply a guy who wants to fix what's broken and then go home. Imagine that!

Anyway, even if you don't give a rat's ass about City politics, take fifteen minutes to listen to the segment. I promise you will find it both enlightening and entertaining. At least you'll know who not to vote off the Council next time District elections come around.

BTW: You will most likely need to scroll down to the end of the WCBU News page to hear the segment. (Linking issues.)

IMHO: Chase Ingersoll is God's Joke

Like most practical jokes, it isn't very funny, just annoying.

As we wait with baited breath to see if the Grandview HOtel closes tomorrow, we get more of the same old, smelly, fermented, crap du jour from Ingersoll:

"They (HOtel residents) had no-where to go before I came along, so I don't know why you think I am all of a sudden responsible when the City Ordinance says that the DEFENDANT to the action is suppose to be paying for them to be moved. You'd think the City as the Plaintiff, if they really cared....Would actually be applying that part of the statute to Jain, but I guess the Judge doesn't give any more of a shit about the people than Jain did."

WHY DO YOU THINK I THINK YOU'RE RESPONSIBLE?! Because YOU (not Jain) assured paying guests that there would be no closure! Since Judge Barra doesn't think your legal stunts have any merit, it is certainly within the realm of possibility that Judges higher up the chain of command aren't going to think much of them either.

So, Chase, when and (BIG) if The City makes good to shut down the HOtel tomorrow, and tells the residents to pack their bags and move along, WILL YOU BE GIVING REFUNDS?

The line "they had no where to go before I came along" is bullshit. Yours is not the only low budget hotel in town. It isn't even the cheapest.

BTW: I hear there were more Grandview antics scheduled for Court today. Can anyone out there fill Polly, who is chained to her desk for the foreseeable future with a boss -who has really bad breath- continually breathing down her neck, in on what happened? My bet: Judge Barra told Chase to go stand in the corner and then sent him to bed without any dinner.

Slouching towards a banana republic.

No. I don't mean the overpriced retail clothing store.

I mean Banana Republic. The real kind. Where, if you get pulled over by a cop, you simply offer cash and get on your way. Where, if your corporation wants to pollute by dumping tons of cancer causing crap into the rivers and streams, the company pays off a politician and proceeds as desired. Want to be president? King? Pay off a band of militants, overthrow the current government, make sure someone else test tastes your food for you, and then torture, terrorize and humiliate citizens into supporting you.

Couldn't happen here, right? Land of the free! Home of the brave! No! Of course not! Our government is generally good, we elect our leaders, voter fraud is rare. The press is everywhere. You can't get away with anything. Moreover, this is the richest nation on earth! You pay taxes out the whazoo! What is really broken gets gets fixed.

Then you watch and learn.

You find out that all that security at airports was just window dressing. A couple of religious kooks with box cutters can bring a superpower to its knees.

You discover that you live in a country that allows levees to rot, putting million of its own citizens in death's way, so that pork projects can have proper funding.

You learn that government agencies like the FAA have known damn well for decades that the archaic, too short runways at airports all over the country are disasters begging to happen. The richest nation on earth ignores the impending disaster (well, maybe some bureaucrat rubbed a rabbit's foot), waiting for the snowy night when a huge 737 aircraft skids off an inherently inappropriate runway and crushes a little kid singing Christmas carols and eating a Happy Meal in the backseat of the family car.

So much attention has been given to how we treat citizens of other countries. Were there really CIA torture camps in Poland? Nah! What about those guys held without trial for years at Quantamo Bay? Had to be done. The inexcusable treatment by American soldiers of Iraqi prisoners at Abu Ghurayb? A terrible, but one time only event. The Patriot Act, which suspends basic constitutional rights in an effort to prevent terrorism? A reasonable and necessary measure in war time, yes?

These days, I'm not feeling so confident getting in an elevator (is anyone really inspecting those things regularly?), driving under or over a bridge (Chicago has at least one motorist a year creamed by a huge chunk of aging overpass concrete), or even buying a steak at Kroger (do you really believe the USDA has the technology and drive necessary to know of the existence of every cow in the land, let alone the proper science to find the one bovine with Mad Cow's Disease?) Proper fire protection in Peoria? Frivolous. Civic Center expansion, muni band, flower baskets... Need. Lately, it seems that American government at all levels isn't merely unable to protect its citizens, it simply doesn't seem to give a shit.

The whining accusations of other countries against America gain merit when our government places so little value on the well being of its very own citizens. So, how long until the stars on Old Glory are replaced with a banana?

"The Retreat and Defeat" Video

There is nothing more American than dissent. Nonetheless the Republicans have come up with some powerful stuff. Watch it here.

Tonight's Bedtime Story: The Little Red Hen, Modern Version

Brought to you from an anonymous e-mailer.

The Little Red Hen-Modern Version

Once upon a time, on a farm in Texas, there was a little red hen who scratched about the barnyard until she uncovered quite a few grains of wheat.

She called all of her neighbors together and said, "If we plant this wheat, we shall have bread to eat. Who will help me plant it?"

"Not I," said the cow.
"Not I," said the duck.
"Not I," said the pig.
"Not I," said the goose.

"Then I will do it by myself," said the little red hen. And so she did. The wheat grew very tall and ripened into golden grain.

"Who will help me reap my wheat?" asked the little red hen.

"Not I," said the duck.
"Out of my classification," said the pig.
"I'd lose my seniority," said the cow.
"I'd lose my unemployment compensation," said the goose.

"Then I will do it by myself," said the little red hen, and so she did.

At last it came time to bake the bread.

"Who will help me bake the bread! ?" asked the little red hen.

"That would be overtime for me," said the cow.
"I'd lose my welfare benefits," said the duck.
"I'm a dropout & never learned how," said the pig.
"If I'm to be the only helper, that's discrimination," said the goose.

"Then I will do it by myself," said the little red hen. She baked five loaves and held them up for all of her neighbors to see. They wanted some and, in fact, demanded a share. But the little red hen said, "No, I shall eat all five loaves."

"Excess profits!" cried the cow.
"Capitalist leech!" screamed the duck.
"I demand equal rights!" yelled the goose.
The pig just grunted in disdain.
And they all painted "Unfair!" picket signs and marched around and around the little red hen, shouting obscenities.

Then a government agent came, he said to the little red hen, "You must not be so greedy."

"But I earned the bread," said the little red hen.

"Exactly," said the agent. "That is what makes our free enterprise system so wonderful. Anyone in the barnyard can earn as much as he wants. But under our modern government regulations, the productive workers must divide the fruits of their labor with those who are lazy and idle,"

And they all lived happily ever after, including the little red hen, who smiled and clucked, "I am grateful, for now I truly understand,"

But her neighbors became quite disappointed in her. She never again baked bread because she joined the "party" and got her bread free.

And all the Democrats smiled.

'Fairness' had been established.

Individual initiative had died, but nobody noticed; perhaps no one cared.....as long as there was free bread that "the rich" were paying for.

Hey Boss, I'll pick my own charities, thank you.

I want to be careful here. Yes, Polly is going to make a rare attempt to be sensitive! I like charity. Well, I like some charitable organizations, that is. Some charities have the ethics of Enron. Anyone remember a few years back when it was discovered one huge charity's CEO not only reaped a fat salary but was driven to meetings in a limo at the Charity's expense? I give my money to those causes that touch my heart, meet my required ratio of dollars spent to benefit those in need vs. Administration costs, and those charities that support causes I find moral and just.

So, this is Christmas. Everywhere I go, there seems to be a cover charge. Some poor freezing soul ringing a bell is standing outside the door of every nearly every retail business, soliciting our spare change, each and every time we need a gallon of milk from the grocery store, a prescription from the pharmacy, a new coat for junior at the mall. Fine. But has anyone else noticed that these folks are getting a bit aggressive?

Yesterday I went to the grocery store with only a twenty dollar bill, fresh from the ATM, for the sole purpose of paying for my purchase. At the entrance stood Mom and teenage daughter vehemently/obnoxiously ringing the bell. It was my intention to hit the kettle on my way out with change left over from my purchase. However, after failing to donate on my way in, I received a very loud and sarcastic, "MERRY CHRISTMAS!" Okaaaay. There is a difference between charitable giving and extortion, right? I was entering a grocery store and not Neiman Marcus, who is this person to assume I am even in a position to donate? What does she know about my personal financial situation?

I can forgive because I know I would be a bit cranky if I was stuck outside in the freezing cold ringing a bell for hours. Although I do love (insert sarcasm here) when corporate departments announce the fact they are out ringing the bells or doing the good works. Lately I've seen banners propped over the kettles that read, "The Service Department at Joe Blow Automotive and the Salvation Army want you to know that need has no season." Ah, we must have public credit and accolades for our charitable works now (otherwise known as advertising). Can anyone say, TACKY?

Another annoying tactic of charitable giving is at the office. My office is filled with crap, some of it expensive, that I don't need or want. All because co-workers have kids who are forced into fund raising. If you want to leave your kid's brochure soliciting a $12.00 1 ft x 1 ft roll of wrapping paper on the bulletin board in the cafeteria, fine. Actually going from desk to desk, co-worker to co-worker is inappropriate, even if you are doing it on your lunch hour. Frankly, how about you don't force me to donate to your kid's school and I won't force you to donate to my kid's soccer team? After all, don't our donations cancel each other out? It is my tradition to throw this un-used crap out at the first of the year in my annual office clean up. Typically I add at least one big, green Hefty size trash bag to the landfill of non-biodegradable crap I felt forced to buy. This year's eco hazard will include a case of popcorn, a roll of hideous wrapping paper, a tin of stale chocolate, an un-used sappy calendar, some smelly candles, a butt ugly poster of a puppy, a really stupid booklet of inspirational quotes ("The shortest distance between two people is a smile!), a faded ribbon magnet, two boxes of cookies -which I thought I would actually like but tasted like chemicals mixed with plastic-, and my personal favorite - a mug which states, "I support Jerry's Kids every day in every way." If I slurped my coffee from that mug at the office, wouldn't it be bragging? Why not just wear my tax return around my neck which sites all the causes I've supported throughout the year?

I'm sure all of these causes are worthwhile, but do I have to purchase crap instead of just handing over a few bucks? Since when did we send our kids to school in order to sell stuff instead of learn? Have no doubt, most of this is crap is forced on kids, who force it on parents to sell. Why not pay $45.00 bucks to join the soccer team instead of $20.00 and then send Junior out door to door to raise the rest? When I told an assistant that I really didn't have a need for more chocolate, as my ass is the size of Texas, but said, "I'd be happy to give money instead", she broke into a sweat and replied, "I don't think I'm allowed to do that."

I absolutely despise forced giving by my employer. If the corporation I work for wants to make a corporate donation to a cause, dandy. Matching gifts? Okay. What I find despicable is the practice of circulating sign up sheets to ring bells next to a kettle, help build a house, or an appeal to donate cash along with a memo from the boss, saying something to the effect of, "Our department has long been a generous supporter of X Charity. Please join me in continuing this tradition." You know your boss is going be looking at the list and checking it twice. The subliminal message, "Support my cause if you want me to support your career."

I go to work in order to do my job and make money. It is my employer's right to tell me what and how to do my job. It is completely inappropriate for my employer to even suggest how I should spend or donate MY money. It is a private matter. I'm sure my company would retort, "We are just trying to make it convenient for our employee to give to good causes." Yeah, thanks Boss, but you thought I was competent enough to hire, don't you think I can find the address for March of Dimes in phone book if I want to send them a check?

One big company in town has a long standing relationship with one big national charity. This charity has been taken to the mat in the past for overpaid executives. The charity also supports some controversial causes and neglects others. Regardless of your beliefs, should you feel that your career may suffer because you don't want to donate to a cause that supports Planned Parenthood but not the Boy Scouts? Maybe you want to give all you can to the Alzheimer's Association. The point is, how one chooses to spend and donate their time and money should be a private matter, not a career move.

Charity should be a heartfelt gift, not a bribe.

My Christmas present to Gary Sandberg.

Giselle and I thank you for not making this Tuesday night as painful as last Tuesday.

Something yummy to warm up the ladies...

I know, MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Oh Baby, It's cold outside!

For my male readers, I found a nice snow bunny for you...

This can't be good.

When I was a young girl I thought Shaun Cassidy was cute. Now that I am a middle aged woman, Shaun Cassidy looks like a young girl. Someone call Freud.

IN MY HUMBLE OPINION: CHASE INGERSOLL IS AN EVIL BASTARD

I just received a very informative e-mail that has incensed me beyond belief. Per a Judge's order, The City has posted signs at the Grandview Hotel stating that the property has been legally deemed a chronic nuisance and will be closing at 12:01 a.m. on December 14th. The City's post also advises guests to find other accommodations before that time.

Chase Ingersoll, an arrogant twit who thinks himself both witty and clever, posted his own signs next to The City's. Ingersoll's signs read: "No Worries. No closure. Appeal filed. Appeals take about one year. Enjoy your stay at the Grandview. Merry X-mas. Chase Ingersoll."

Even the disbarred Ingersoll must know that filing an appeal by no means guarantees that a closure won't take place. Judge Barra would have to stay his own order to close the hotel and Chase would have to post bond while the appeal is pending. Of course, as always, greater legal minds (and there are many) may disagree. For those of you on Chase's side and believe Ingersoll to be the injured party in this whole mess, remember, NOTHING IS CERTAIN WHEN IT COMES TO THE LEGAL SYSTEM. If justice was certain, and the law expedient, O.J. Simpson would be rotting in a prison cell at the moment instead of playing another round of golf in Malibu.

"So," you say, "What is the big deal? So these folks get evicted? There will be some social service agency out there to take displaced Grandview Guests in." Don't be so sure. My source says that the American Red Cross will not be picking up the slack should these thirty or so people be evicted into the freezing cold a few days before Christmas. Why? The American Red Cross is for disaster relief. Think fire, flood, hurricane, earthquake and so forth. Being conned out of your last dime by an arrogant wannabe lawyer/landlord apparently doesn't count. (In all fairness to the American Red Cross, if it had to pick up the slack and provide shelter for every financially irresponsible citizen in this country it would cease to exist as a relief agency after about five minutes.)

So you say, "Well, they can go to a homeless shelter, right?" Wrong. I am told that due to the extreme cold, shelters in the area are filled to capacity.

Ingersoll has convinced some Grandview residents that they have legal protection that may or may not exist. He has told them "not to worry." He has stated, in writing, there will be "no closure." Ingersoll's fall back should he be proven (once again) wrong? Blame the City. Blame the neighborhood.

Ingersoll has been afforded due process. He was put on the stand and cross examined. The Judge found Ingersoll was not the clear owner of the Hotel, and even if Ingersoll is able to prove just ownership at some point, the Hotel must still close. You can disagree with the Judge. It doesn't change the fact that Ingersoll feels he is apparently above the law, has the power to ignore a Judge's order, and if a few folks freeze to death under a bridge in Peoria (yes, it has happened here in the past) all so that Chase can "prove" himself right, so be it. Keep in mind, Ingersoll has filed a number of motions regarding the Grandview. Thus far, he has lost all of them.

Ingersoll is by no way an innocent party. He knew he was buying a Hotel that had been declared a nuisance and ordered to close. He was happy about it. He stated numerous times to the media that the City's legal pursuit and victory had allowed him to buy the property cheap.

The City, Neighborhood, and Judge are in an impossible situation. If the Hotel is not forced to close, the message to every single slumlord out there will be, "Don't worry about that silly chronic nuisance ordinance. If you are found guilty, just quick claim the property's deedt over to your wife, crack whore, dealer, or dope buddy and fill the joint with poor people in the middle of winter. No worries, Dude."

Seemingly this is all a game to Chase. Chase Ingersoll is trying to game the system. A commenter wrote that Ingersoll was going around City Hall yesterday with a Grinch doll calling City Manager Randy Oliver, "The Grinch who stole Christmas." Ha. Ha. Very clever. Your superior intellect astounds us all.

You want to sink your own ship, Chase? Fine. Take thirty or so folks who don't know any better down with you? In my view, that more than sucks. It is evil.

Merry Xmas, to you too, you stupid, arrogant ass.

Nope. No money worries here folks. Nothing to see. Keep on moving.

Blago should be in jail for this stunt alone. Rod just approved a raise for non union state workers. This raise will cost you and me $14 million and, of course, it is NOT in the budget. This group had a raise in 2002 and now another one in an election year, of course.

Rod says the State can afford to do this now. The budget is balanced, after all, and Illinois financial condition is "improving."

What Blago really means is, "GUYS, RELAAAAAX! I STOLE ENOUGH MONEY FROM THE TEACHERS PENSION FUND FOR TWO WHOLE YEARS, not just one!" Yup. The State has plenty'o money in its coffers for this year and next because of Rod's foresight to steal enough money to cover his ass this year and next (election) year.

Kids, time for a pop quiz. The following question counts for 100% of your grade.


Former President Bill Clinton is a womanizing pig as Gov. Rod is to....

a. A lying sack of crap.

b. A thief and a lying sack of crap.

c. Chicago's favorite political whore, a thief, and a lying sack of crap.

Think of her at tonight's City Council meeting, Bill.

Poor Mr. Dennis. He will be up late again tonight, covering yet another round of Budget woes at City Hall. Look for more whining from Grayeb. Pray for more sarcastic wit from Ardis. Nichting will want everything but oppose any honest method of paying for it. Spears will be dreaming of Springfield. Gulley will be dreaming of a new tricycle for Christmas. Turner will be talking out of both sides of his mouth, hoping to keep his seat alive in the next election. VanAuken has learned to keep it short, smart,and sweet (yes, I noticed), Manning will continue to shine as Mr. Productive, Jacob will keep it all to himself, Morris will talk about everything, and as always stand for nothing, and Sandberg will play himself as a wildcard. Really, Bill, why go? It's cold outside. Scarlett wants to keep you warm at home.

Michael Jackson and Tom Cruise. Separated at Birth?

I mention the possibility because they both seem pretty damn crazy. Hide-the-kids and-lock-up-any-sharp-objects type of crazy. Cruise doesn't believe in anti-depressants for post partum depression. Well, of course, Tommy has never lived through an episiotomy. For those of you males out there who remain in blissful ignorance, an episiotomy is when they cut a woman from, well, "stem to stern" shall we say in order to make room for baby to emerge. Why do they do such a thing? Some doctors are psycho, they do them almost automatically now days. Remember when C sections were automatic a few years back? To be completely fair to the medical profession, in this country, episiotomies are frequently required because babies are simply too big for the birth canal. Better nutrition, or something. Ahem!

Anyway, Tom won't allow Katie to take Prozac after labor and delivery, but Tom likes to look at baby daily with his personal ultrasound machine. Huh, nice guy. Help tired, sore, hormonal, mother of your child alleviate emotional pain by picking up a perscription, no way! Nuke unborn child with unnecessary radiation daily, you betcha.

I used to think Tom was a nice guy. After seeing Top Gun, Tom became one of the first men I ever loved. He followed Shawn Cassidy and Christopher Reeve. Now I think Cruise has completely flown off his rocker.

As for Katie Holmes, well, can you say KID? I know she is twenty-six and their union isn't legally perverted, but still... I don't have a problem with older men and younger women or vice versa. But, come on, LOOK AT HER. Every picture I've seen of Katie - even the ones where she tries to play sex kitten - I still just see a girl. Besides, what grown woman allows herself to be called "Katie?"

Well, nothing like childbirth to make a girl grow up fast. That, and a shot gun marriage. Followed by a quickie divorce. Sigh. Kids these days.


Take two of these and call a real shrink in the morning, Katie.

Who is the Grinch here?!

I've been receiving some very interesting e-mails from friends at City Hall, Chase Ingersoll, and people who work for Chase regarding the Grandview Hotel situation. Chase has taken to calling City Manager, Randy Oliver, "The Grinch" as The City asked Judge Barra to uphold his order to close the problematic hotel.

Not surprisingly, Judge Barra agreed. Judges tend to expect that their orders will be obeyed. The smart way to do business with The Court would to have been to close the place and then ask that the Hotel be allowed to stay open due to new ownership.

Chase says he is the new owner. The old owner was the problem, the cause of the numerous crimes and police response to the property. Judge Barra, who recently entertained a plethora of motions from Chase decided that the issue of ownership would be decided in a separate trial. "Old" owner, Krishan Jain now says that the sale between he and Chase is null and void, as Ingersoll did not make necessary mortgage payments. Chase says Jain committed crimes on the property and that the $9,000 mortgage payment is being held in escrow.

What we do know for a fact is this: Chase knew he was buying a Hotel that was slated to close. At the time of purchase Chase stated that he was happy the Hotel was closing and that he planned to use that time to make much needed renovations. He even stated that he would like to close the Hotel sooner than required in order to get started on repairs. Didn't happen.

Chase was also happy about the closure, he said, because he was able to purchase the property at a rock bottom price, and actually thanked the City for its legal pursuit against "old" owner Jain.

Ingersoll then decided the closure order didn't apply to him. Next, Chase started taking in guests. If news reports are to be believed, there are more people living at the Grandview Hotel now than in years. Thirty or so.

Whether Chase Ingersoll is legally correct or not will ultimately be decided by The Court. He has lost all of his latest battles in front of Barra. Who knows if a higher court will entertain his next round of paperwork?

Nonetheless, Ingersoll needs to take some responsibility. He knows enough law to know that victory was by no means a sure thing. In fact, considering that Judge Barra is an elected official living on the North end of town, and has been presiding over a case in a courtroom filled with fed up, angry residents for months, well, the outcome was fairly foreseeable. Some how, some way, that hotel is going to close... at least for a little while. From here, it looks like Chase attempted to pack the Hotel solely to try to make closing the place that much harder for the City and the Judge. A risky game. Too bad Chase isn't the only player.

IMHO City Manager Oliver isn't the Grinch here. I truly hope that in the long run, Chase is the guy to turn the property around. According to my sources, police calls to the property are way down. However, Ingersoll set a lot of people up for a very hard fall. These folks are not loaded with cash (or they wouldn't be living at the Grandview) and some are likely social services cases. The fact that such people are likely to be homeless during the holidays falls squarely on Ingersoll's shoulders.

Russell loves me no matter what.

After all, he has been known to get a bit testy himself at times.

For my Significant Other, because I've been a bit cranky...

...and I don't forsee the situation improving anytime soon. My S.O. likes Jennifer Connelly, a lot. Merry early Christmas, Honey. I'm trying.

Merry Christmas from Ray LaHood

I received my annual Christmas Card from Ray last week. Thanks to Willy Nilly, much has been made of Ray's son, Darin, seeking a U.S. Attorney post in our region. Some believe that Darin was somewhat of a trouble maker in his teens. He may have even broke into some Park District property- Oh! The horror!- although I couldn't get that confirmed. You know what? SO WHAT? But for the grace of God go I and anyone else who is mildly worthwhile. The teen years are filled with stupid pranks and mistakes for most of us mere mortals. Lucky are those who didn't pay a high price with their lives. Anyone out there drag race? Speed? Have unprotected sex? Try a hit of marijuana? Drink a beer before their 21st birthday? Cheat on a test? Cheat on a girl/boyfriend? These would be the more mild of poor choices made by some teens. My question: Did you grow up? Did you stop acting like an ass? Did you get a job and make something of yourself?

From Ray's Xmas Card:

"The LaHood Family 2005

The year began with Ray considering a run for governor of Illinois. After six months of traveling the state and thorough consideration, he listened to his consitiuents >(Insert Polly's take here: YEAH, RIGHT. Even I can't keep my mouth shut on this one. What you really mean is that Jim Edgar took too long on the pot and you couldn't raise enough money.) and is continuing his service in the U.S. House of Representatives. Kathy left her job in Washington and is now the Finance Director for Goodwill Industries in Peoria.

Darin and Kristen will be moving their family to Peoria after four years in Las Vegas. Darin has accepted a position with the law firm of Miller Hall and Triggs. We are thrilled that McKay and Luke will be coming home.

Amy and Kevin continue to practice family medicine in Indianapolis. Amy is a faculty member for St.Vincent residency and Kevin teaches at Indiana University. We enjoy visiting with Ella and Henry as often as possible.

In September, Sam accepted a special assignment at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad and will be there until the end of the year. He is excited by the challenges and opportunities of working in Iraq. We pray for his safety every day. >(Polly says: Yeah, NO KIDDING!!!)

Sara and Brian continue their academic work at Purdue University in Lafayette, Indiana. By next summer, Sara will receive her teaching certification and Brian will complete his work in Business Administration.

We wish all God's blessing to you and yours during this holiday season."

Okay, so, unless you and your offspring are as successful and you are willing to prove it... STEP OFF. (Ahem, Willy!)

I like Aaron Schock

Hat tip to Bill Dennis. I emerged out of my migrane stupor WAY too early (6:00 a.m.?!) Sunday morning. Just in time to listen to Bill Dennis interview Representative Schock on 104 FM. Schock was amazing, and I gotta say, Spears has his work cut out for him. Intelligence mixed with energy is a hard combo to beat. Schock eloquently blasted Gov. Chicagovich as a crummy leader who has neglected any needs that lie outside Chicago. Aaron mentioned that our beloved Governor loves the T.V. cameras, but as for spending the time and doing the work required in Springfield to lead, build alliances and convince legislators that Blago's agenda is worthwhile... Nope. Ain't happening.

Case in point, the new School Construction Fund, dormant now for three and half years. In the past, new schools have been built in areas with the fastest growing populations. No surprise, that means the collar districts surrounding Chicago. Now that Chicago has what it needs, what are the chances that our Gov is going to ask that we begin replacing crumbling ancient schools built in the 19th century here in Peoria? Nope. Ain't happening. What an ass.

Bill's entire interview with Schock was educational and entertaining. Which I had the ability to link it. AHEM!!!

What? No Tee-Hee Hee?

This morning's Word on the Street Column lacked the hormonal gossipy tune of late, but provided a sardonic, sarcastic, cruel and cutting wit that I very much enjoyed. (Merry Christmas, BTW.)

Councilman Chuckie Grayeb had a hissy fit regarding an idea Councilman Manning had for trimming the budget - eliminating longevity pay for non union City Employees. Chuckie thought the idea was heavy handed and whined that proper notice wasn't given to the proper people regarding the idea. Mayor Ardis, in a rare display of sarcastic humor replied, "In other words, doing our jobs." Ardis' serene "We-are-the-World-We-Are-The-Children-Michael-Row-Your-Boat-Ashore-I'd-Like-to-Buy-the-World-a-Coke" attitude went out the door at last week's testy City Budget Council Meeting.

Don't worry guys, most couples fight over money. Maybe counseling would help?

At least schedule another prayer furnace.



Now boys, play nice, or I'll hafta call Santa...

SEPARATED AT BIRTH?!?!?!

PJ Star editorialist Shelley Epstein....




....And Saturday Night Live's "Annoying Man"


I couldn't find a pic of Epstein wearing his birth control glasses or a bigger pic of Annoying Man, but I'm telling you, dead on!

Not tonight Dear, I have a headache.

No, not Scarlett, me. My brain seems to be trying to escape from either my left eyeball or left nostril, I'm not sure which, but the pain is freakin incredible. However, I just want everyone to know I have not forgotten them, nor have I ignored your emails for fresh Scarlett eye candy, commentary on the latest STUPID anti-Fire Department editorial from the wieners at the Journal Star, or the numerous demands for commentary on the newest episode of As the Grandview Hotel Turns. (Hey, Chase, I don't think Barra likes you very much...)

Also, I've been told to give Bill Dennis hell for changing his site AGAIN. Duh! Peorians HATE change! Dude, when will you learn?!

Anyway, I'm going to crawl back underneath my bed now, desperately insulate myself from all light and sound, and debate the merits of overdosing on Excedrin Migraine vs. a self administered frontal lobotomy using a fork.

In the meantime, I leave my numerous fans (up to six now!) with the above eye candy.