Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
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I told a friend why I decided on a new personal effort called Facebook-Free Friday. "It feels like the site is 90 percent bumper stickers, horizontal praying (praying at people and not to God) and people still trying to revisit the election," I said. I got a nod and, "Yeah, pretty much." Then on Thursday, an old high school acquaintance used the poke feature on me. I responded in kind. After this process repeated a few times, I sent a message inquiring if there was a reason for the initial poke. She blew up, said Facebook sug... Full story
It was a dark and stormy night … followed by a bright and stormy day, with a blizzard that summoned Alice Cooper and belted out, "Schools … out … for … Monday." I was set to go into the office, where hot chocolate and coffee were already available, but I needed more. The restaurant had two customers at 12:01 p.m., clear evidence of the stormy day and its ability to keep people at home, but that just meant a clean griddle for the only food that brings heat to the equation. I arrived in the office, unpacked the plain white b... Full story
Until last week, I'd never written down the word combination, "Dog The Bounty Hunter." Never watched it, never wrote about it, never thought about it until last week, when Clovis residents went crazy when Duane "Dog" Chapman arrived to help a retiring area bail bondsman and film for his upcoming series on Country Music Television. Throughout the time the crew was in town, Chapman's people had mostly told reporters to go away, or would tell us to be somewhere and not be there. So at 4:30 p.m. Saturday in the Clovis High... Full story
This is more rambling than most of my ramblings, so please forgive me. But Friday's shootings in Newtown have left me unable to keep a straight thought. I can't imagine how it is for parents, and I'm glad I only have to imagine at this point. I've heard a lot of reactions to the shootings, and some I just want to dismiss as quickly as possible, so here goes. n Trust me, we ARE blaming the shooter. We don't want to enable another one. n If we wait for the people pushing a status-quo agenda to say today's the right day to...
Rick Reilly did a great piece this past week on Gerry Sandusky. No, not that Jerry Sandusky, which is kind of the whole point of the news piece, which I highly recommend you catch on ESPN's website. There's a Baltimore broadcaster named Gerry Sandusky, who constantly gets hate mail and second looks from people who think he's Jerry Sandusky, who was convicted of 45 counts of child sex abuse. Gerry Sandusky noted that he wasn't a victim, like the abused children and their families. He was inconvenienced, and it was a huge...
This was supposed to be a column where I remembered the late Bill Nye. I was going to talk about seeing him on TV when I was a kid, and how I will still chant to myself, "Bill Bill Bill Bill Bill Bill Bill Bill BILL NYE THE SCIENCE GUY," whenever he'd come on places I wouldn't expect, like news commentary shows and ESPN Radio segments. I was going to tell you he was the only man who could still pull off a bow tie after his 21st birthday. I was going to tell you about the amazing shortcuts I still use via baking soda and... Full story
This was supposed to be a column where I remembered the late Bill Nye. I was going to talk about seeing him on TV when I was a kid, and how I will still chant to myself, "Bill Bill Bill Bill Bill Bill Bill Bill BILL NYE THE SCIENCE GUY," whenever he'd come on places I wouldn't expect, like news commentary shows and ESPN Radio segments. I was going to tell you he was the only man who could still pull off a bow tie after his 21st birthday. I was going to tell you about the amazing shortcuts I still use via baking soda and...
They don't overwhelm my day, but a lot of random thoughts never leave my mind: - Had the NCAA handled Melky Cabrera's failed drug test on behalf of Major League Baseball, would it follow precedent by vacating the National League's All-Star Game win, but not award the American League the victory and give us the first World Series that nobody gets to host? - I bet some people illegally download movies because they can start the movie without being forced to sit through warnings about the dangers of illegally downloading...
They don't overwhelm my day, but a lot of random thoughts never leave my mind: - Had the NCAA handled Melky Cabrera's failed drug test on behalf of Major League Baseball, would it follow precedent by vacating the National League's All-Star Game win, but not award the American League the victory and give us the first World Series that nobody gets to host? - I bet some people illegally download movies because they can start the movie without being forced to sit through warnings about the dangers of illegally downloading... Full story
They don't overwhelm my day, but a lot of random thoughts never leave my mind: - Had the NCAA handled Melky Cabrera's failed drug test on behalf of Major League Baseball, would it follow precedent by vacating the National League's All-Star Game win, but not award the American League the victory and give us the first World Series that nobody gets to host? - I bet some people illegally download movies because they can start the movie without being forced to sit through warnings about the dangers of illegally downloading...
It was three Fridays ago, and I was just pulling up at the Clovis Civic Center. I'd been there numerous times before … for an empty building, for a full building, and all points between. This morning was a lot closer to the empty designation as I made my way to the manned table. I signed in, "Kevin Wilson, O-positive." Joining me were a few Civic Center staffers, and a five-person crew with United Blood Services of Lubbock. They don't know Clovis streets, but they know enough local restaurants to get through the city w... Full story
It was three Fridays ago, and I was just pulling up at the Clovis Civic Center. I'd been there numerous times before … for an empty building, for a full building, and all points between. This morning was a lot closer to the empty designation as I made my way to the manned table. I signed in, "Kevin Wilson, O-positive." Joining me were a few Civic Center staffers, and a five-person crew with United Blood Services of Lubbock. They don't know Clovis streets, but they know enough local restaurants to get through the city w...
The good memories come and go, but the great memories need the bad ones to elevate them. The girl you marry makes up for the bad relationships before. Beating the video game makes up for all the times you threw your controller in frustration. And the best baseball game you've ever seen makes up for the rollercoaster it took you on. I rode it last Wednesday night in Arlington, Texas. I was there for my first Rangers series, a four-game set against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. I'd sat in various sections during the... Full story
Tennessee tycoon Jimmy Haslam III is interested in buying the Cleveland Browns. Normally, a rich guy trying to buy a pro football is a news item without snap. But there aren't many instances where the guy is a rival owner, who claims high loyalty. About the time word of Haslam's interest to buy the Browns came up, a quote from Haslam's time as a minority owner with the rival Pittsburgh Steelers came up. "I am," Haslam said in 2010, "1,000 percent a Pittsburgh Steelers fan." Never mind how you become a 1,000 percent fan. His q...
Tennessee tycoon Jimmy Haslam III is interested in buying the Cleveland Browns. Normally, a rich guy trying to buy a pro football is a news item without snap. But there aren't many instances where the guy is a rival owner, who claims high loyalty. About the time word of Haslam's interest to buy the Browns came up, a quote from Haslam's time as a minority owner with the rival Pittsburgh Steelers came up. "I am," Haslam said in 2010, "1,000 percent a Pittsburgh Steelers fan." Never mind how you become a 1,000 percent fan. His q... Full story
So, the Muppets aren't eating at Chick-fil-A anymore? That was my reaction Monday, when I read the Jim Henson Company cut its ties with Chick-fil-A, with whom it had partnered with this month to release make-your-own-puppet kits as the toy given with kids' meals. Companies sever ties every day, but this one got national attention because it involved religion. A few days prior, Chick-fil-A officials were asked if the company was against gay marriage, and president Dan Cathy said, "Guilty as charged." Cathy noted that Chick-fil...
So, the Muppets aren't eating at Chick-fil-A anymore? That was my reaction Monday, when I read the Jim Henson Company cut its ties with Chick-fil-A, with whom it had partnered with this month to release make-your-own-puppet kits as the toy given with kids' meals. Companies sever ties every day, but this one got national attention because it involved religion. A few days prior, Chick-fil-A officials were asked if the company was against gay marriage, and president Dan Cathy said, "Guilty as charged." Cathy noted that Chick-fil...
While I was on break Saturday night, I got a bite to eat and couldn't help but overhear a brother-sister conversation that went like so: Little Brother: "Hey, I'm thirsty. Buy me a drink." Older Sister: "You've got money. You buy it." LB: "No, I'm saving my money." OS: "Well, I'm not using my money." LB: "Quit being stingy." The little brother wasn't old enough to understand the irony of the situation, but adults do it too. I'm saving, you're stingy. I need help getting back on my feet, you're living off the government....
While I was on break Saturday night, I got a bite to eat and couldn't help but overhear a brother-sister conversation that went like so: Little brother: "Hey, I'm thirsty. Buy me a drink." Older sister: "You've got money. You buy it." LB: "No, I'm saving my money." OS: "Well, I'm not using my money." LB: "Quit being stingy." The little brother wasn't old enough to understand the irony of the situation, but adults do it too. I'm saving, you're stingy. I need help getting back on my feet, you're living off the government....
While I was on break Saturday night, I got a bite to eat and couldn't help but overhear a brother-sister conversation that went like so: Little brother: "Hey, I'm thirsty. Buy me a drink." Older sister: "You've got money. You buy it." LB: "No, I'm saving my money." OS: "Well, I'm not using my money." LB: "Quit being stingy." The little brother wasn't old enough to understand the irony of the situation, but adults do it too. I'm saving, you're stingy. I need help getting back on my feet, you're living off the government....
Making statements is one thing. Living up to them while you're getting soaked is quite another. The extremes of summer heat in eastern New Mexico have been discussed in detail here before: - I've contended you haven't gone through a hot day until the deodorant stick melts in the car trunk, turning gym clothes into a fresh-smelling mess. - I've also detailed a killer recipe for dashboard cookies on 95-plus days (parchment paper on the dash, bake store-bought cookie dough for three hours). Extreme heat doesn't just lead to...
My name is Kevin, and I've got a thing for gambling. I'm not trying to be a Gamblers Anonymous member, as I'm pretty bad at anonymity. Nor am I trying to make light of people who have serious gambling problems and need all the help and self-control they can get. I think my attitude on gambling was formed because I had my first Las Vegas trip when I was 18. When you can't gamble, you notice the lavish buildings, the homages to ancient architecture and the warm, inviting ambiences ... and you realize they weren't funded by the...
My name is Kevin, and I've got a thing for gambling. I'm not trying to be a Gamblers Anonymous member, as I'm pretty bad at anonymity. Nor am I trying to make light of people who have serious gambling problems and need all the help and self-control they can get. I think my attitude on gambling was formed because I had my first Las Vegas trip when I was 18. When you can't gamble, you notice the lavish buildings, the homages to ancient architecture and the warm, inviting ambiences ... and you realize they weren't funded by the...
Somebody teaches you early, and life gives you constant reminders, is that there's no such thing as a free lunch ... or much of anything else. But given the chance for free baseball, I somehow forget everything I've ever learned. To set up the story, I was in Albuquerque over the weekend for a wedding. Out of respect for the couple, the only detail I'll add is that it wasn't mine. I got a surprise Monday scheduled off, meaning I just needed to book an extra hotel night and make a weekend of it. The Albuquerque Isotopes were... Full story
I've never purchased something purely to be a conversation piece, but it often seems to turn out that way regardless. Case in point, the last few weeks. I had a birthday, and a few people sent me some gift certificates for an online place that may or may not have something to do with a rainforest. Gift certificate money is different from actual money, in that you're more willing to go all out with it. Kevin's money will go to a nice shirt, or a few mp3s. Kevin's gift certificate money will go to some shoes with the toes...
