Three Cheers for Freedom Field

CYP,

If you haven't made it to Freedom Field, you are missing out. Even if you don't have kids, it is quite the spectacle. We will warn you that there are no trees around and lots of white playground equipment; therefore, on a sunny day it is very bright and very hot!

From the playground,

The Local Drafts

Cheers from Columbus

Dear Columbus citizens,

The Local Drafts enjoyed holding our mugs to the sky and greeting folks into Columbus. We all agree that our welcome was "unexpected and unforgettable." We also thought that the greeting was "different by design." We also proposed a new slogan for our town, "Meet me at Columbus.....Bar."

Cheers,

The Local Drafts

Where's Isaac?

CYP,

See if you can spot Isaac Rippy Riddle in the Great Gatsby photo. What a kid!

Cheers,

The Local Drafts

Smith's Row Thank You

CYP,

We meandered down 4th St. to our friends at Smith's Row were we presented a handwritten note of thanks to the manager. We all agree that this is further evidence that the downtown restaraunts are all cooperating to make for a friendly, cooperative atmosphere.

There are sustainable food menu items at both Smith's Row and the Columbus Bar. Come downtown and enjoy the great night life that the Local Drafts have come to appreciate over the last two months.

Cheers,

Eric Riddle

Flowers replace mop job

Flood Survivors,

Through his work at the Long Term Flood Recovery Team, Eric thought he had lined up work for the Local Drafts. Unfortunately, his client was not home on the night that Eric had told the homewoner we would arrive. We had planned to mop the muddy remnant from her basement floor and put together a couple of book shelves. Instead, we performed our "random act of kindness" by buying flowers from Marsh and leaving them at the foot of her door.

While we were at the flower store, Ben and Jon went ahead and bought flowers for their wives. We all agreed that they are amazing men.

Cheers,

The Local Drafts

Paying Tribute to Old Elvis

CYP,

Patrick decided to join us in between his trips to Colorado, the Adirondacks, England, Japan, and Fort Wayne. We were on a tight schedule so we regrettably did not stay for a piece of Apple Pie at Sadie's.

Elvis really was a hunk of burning love.

Cheers,

The Local Drafts

We the People

Fellow Citizens,

Before Tuesday's city council meeting, the Local Drafts met with Mrs. Scalf, Myers, and DeVore, and Mr. Armstrong. After a bang of a gavel and a prayer, we heard a lengthy discussion about whether to take an agenda item off of the agenda, tabling the agenda item, or voting on the agenda item in agreement with the way the Planning Commission voted on the agenda item. We never quite understand what they were voting on, but in the end, they voted to reject the agenda item.

After that, we heard Jeff Bergman on the Planning Dept. discuss turning a bit of property to the NW of Cummins plant one into a parking lot.

Also, the council decided to not increase the salaries of city employees in 2009. However, councilperson Joe Richardson did confirm that council could still vote to increase salaries by bringing the salary ordinance back to the council before Dec. 31, 2008.

Cheers,

The Local Drafts

A story from Asbury United Methodist dinner

CYP,

Ben, Jon, and I went to our home church of Asbury UMC were were we helped pass out dinner trays and fill up water, coffee, and milk. At the dinner, a deaf man (pictured) from North Vernon asked us if we could assist him with his truck. Through a series of writings, he told us that he could smell when his truck was out of gas. Even though his meter showed that he had a quarter of a tank left, we decided that his olfactory sense rings true and we led him to the Chevron on 25th St. He made it all the way there until he officially ran out of gas as he crossed the threshold into the gas station. We pushed his truck the rest of the way to the pump and gave him $10 worth of gas.

Sincerely,

The Local Drafts

Mickey Mouse greets us on the way to the toilet

CYP,

The Patriotic Mickey Mouse was actually outside Montage, whose furniture is going for reasonable prices as they decide to depart from their downtown location. He got us excited as we made our way for the toilet.

Ben and Eric were so impressed by the KidsCommons that we picked up some brochures on birthday parties. Our sons, Cavan and Isaac, are only 2 days apart in age and will be turning 3 in February.

Cheers,

The Local Drafts

If it's not Scottish, it is crap

CYPers,

The Bruce Clan taught us that all Scottish are Brits, but not all Brits are Scottish. The Welsh, English and Irish are all Brits to. The Scottish Flag has a big red dragon on it. It's really cool looking.

Cheers,

The Local Drafts

River Rats

CYPers,

In the month's following the flood, there has been word on the street that the river rats are an actual creature that find their way on the banks of the local waters as winter approaches and the poor things get cold.

In the case of the social organization, the River Rats, there is a memorial at the entrance of Mill Race Park thanking the River Rats for helping develop the park into the lovely space that it is today.

We all agree that it would be a curious occassion to see a river rat crawling from the Driftwood River upon the shores of Mill Race Park.

Cheers,

The Local Drafts

Buy Low, Sell High

For those 30 or more years away from retirement,

Ben and I were particularly interested in the idea of purchasing index stock any day that the market drops 8% or more. This is not an event that happens often, although it did happen yesterday. Unfortunately, none of us had a significant amount of money to invest today.

Of local interest, we suggest investing in Irwin Union Bank stock. The IFC stock is currently trading at $4.22 off of a 52 week high of about $12. After a big of reorganzing, we feel like this Columbus banking institution will bounce back strong in the long term.

Cheers,

The Local Drafts

Outnumbered

Dear orange and blue,

I must say I enjoyed attending the Colts/Bills opener with Ben a bit more than sitting in the East stands as my alma mater North High was crushed. This pic was the highlight of the game, getting to hang with the super fans of East. After this, it was five touchdowns to a field goal. I had to go back to the CB with Jon and Ben after this one.

Cheers,

The Local Drafts