Babysitting position available

Human jungle gym qualities and roping skills are a preferred but not required. Two of my favorite cowboys, Bruce Brock and Mike Spinden, are demonstrating the techniques involved in the above pictures.

Candidate forum at FHSU

Maddalena, Sebastian and I had a blast cheering on our favorite candidate but it was also nice to meet other people in the race and their families. Thank you to PBS and FHSU for putting together such a well organized and wonderful event. I am sure a lot of planning went into it. It will re-air on television Sunday May 9th at 5PM on PBS Smoky Hills Public Television. Also you can view it live streamed on their website at that time at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/smoky-hills-public-tv .

Article in Hutch news on the Rob’s race

Kudos to Mary Clarkin for her in- depth analysis that shows the goundswell of local Wasinger Supporters in Hutchinson. Thank you to all our friends there. Keep up your terrific enthusiasm! This is your race and I know Rob is humbled by your confidence in his ability to serve you and your community! 

http://www.hutchnews.com/Localregional/who-s-giving–2

Campaign finance reports reveal Reno County donors
By Mary Clarkin – The Hutchinson News – mclarkin@hutchnews.com

The open 1st Congressional District seat in this election year has produced a bumper crop of candidates – but not one hails from Reno County.

So, who are Reno County campaign donors backing
A check of itemized campaign finance reports for the six-month period from Oct. 1, 2009, through March 31, 2010, revealed State Sen. Jim Barnett, R-Emporia, and Rob Wasinger, the Cottonwood Falls Republican who was chief of staff for Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan., led the pack in Reno County donors.

Wasinger’s reports showed 25 different Reno County donors over the six months. Those individuals contributed, collectively, about $11,500 over that period. Barnett listed fewer donors from Reno County, but the sums added up to about $12,750 for the six months.

Barnett’s donors from Reno County listed in Federal Election Commission itemized reports were: Dave Claxton, Richard Briscoe, Stuart Conklin III, Dick Cooper, Tom Elliott, Allen Fee, Murray Holcomb, Bill Mason, Darrell McCool, Jim Peterson, Ronald Pfister, Gale Premer, Jay Schrock, Deanna Steffen and Mark Steffen.

Wasinger campaign donors with a Reno County address were: Bob Bush, Karen Drake, Barbara Nunns, Lynn Winegardner, Keith Hughes, Russell Reinert, Thomas Hymer, Robert Murdock, Jay Schrock, Clinton J. Lett, David and Karen Wierengo, Glenn Brummett, Lawrence Trimmell, Doug Ball, Leon Breitenbach, Rex Degner, Mark Fesen, James Kicklighter, C.D. Orwoll, James Ruhlmann, John Fan, Gary McKee, Richard Chambers, Daniel Friesen and Mark Gregory.

Schrock gave to both Wasinger and Barnett, and he was not the only area resident giving to multiple campaigns. Bob and/or Ann Bush of Hutchinson appeared on various reports filed by Wasinger and rivals State Sen. Tim Huelskamp, R-Fowler, and Salina Republican Tracey Mann.

The Bushes could not be reached for comment Friday. Schrock said his October 2009 donation to Wasinger was prompted by a request from Richard Chambers, the only Reno County resident who is a paid staffer on a 1st District campaign and serving as regional coordinator for the Wasinger campaign.

After taking a closer look at the field of candidates, Schrock found he especially liked Barnett’s background and his experience meeting a payroll for employees. Schrock has contributed more money to the Barnett campaign.

Barnett campaign spokesman Patrick Graham declined to describe its campaign strategy in Reno County, but noted there are 69 counties in the 1st District and “each one matters,” he said.

Chambers described Wasinger’s strategy as a grassroots approach. The candidate himself probably has been in Reno County “at least 80 times,” Chambers said, and Wasinger campaigners probably have knocked on 2,500 doors here, including one round conducted during the winter in 14-degree weather.

In addition, Wasinger has formed a steering committee, with more than 40 Reno Countians serving in that capacity. The campaign held eight fundraisers in the 1st District early this year, including one in Hutchinson, according to the campaign.

Hutchinson-area donors listed on Huelskamp’s reports for the last six months were: Bob and Ann Bush, Robert Field, Ellen Losew and Robert Rate.

Besides Ann Bush, Mann’s donors from Reno County were: Donald Macklin, G.D. Schrater and Robert Fee.

Mann pointed out only donors giving in excess of $200 to a campaign must be identified on the federal finance reports, and Mann said his campaign received numerous smaller donations that were not itemized.

There are seven Republicans chasing the nomination in the Aug. 3 primary. Republicans Sue Boldra, Hays, and Monte Shadwick, Salina, reported no itemized donations from Reno County during the last six months. Reports for Marck Cobb, a Galva Republican, were unavailable.

Salina Democrat Alan Jilka is facing an uncontested primary race, but is raising money. Over the last six months, the Jilka campaign collected more than $2,800 from Reno Countians. Contributing to the Democrat’s coffers were: Carolyn Anderson, Steve Lawson, Victor Moser, Kent Shank, Richard Shank, Judy Langley, Frances Garcia, David Inskeep, John Oswald, Betty Taylor, William Rogers and Mark Treaster.

Spring is in the air!

After a looong winter, the nice weather we had this weekend was a welcome relief. Even though Rob had a long day of campaigning yesterday, Rob still had enough energy to take all the boys to the park with Billy to play some baseball. I spent the day with my Maddalena and our friends, Bernice and Morgan. The big news is that both girls got their ears pierced!!! Nothing is more exciting to an eight year girl. We took them shopping afterwards and the girls took every opportunity to look into any mirror they could find. Just when I thought the day couldn’t get any better, we heard that our friends had two new foals. We spent at least an hour trying to convince mom to let us near her baby. In the end, just watching them nuzzle each other from the porch turned out to be a beautiful and peaceful ending to our wonderful spring day.

Happy Easter!

Mother-daughter getaway

Carolina and I decided to catch up on some girl time and do an overnight trip. Rob was a trooper and managed the other eight children just fine without me. It was like a bit of heaven to just be able to sit on the hotel bed and eat key lime cheesecake with my girl as we talked away into the night! I can’t say what my favorite age is because I savor all of them. Eleven-year-olds have to be on the top of the list though. They are independent but still like to cuddle. Their sense of humor really begins to develop and they start seeing the irony and humor in the crazy things adults do (especially their mother.) They start sampling different styles and tastes to see which ones they will make their own. The whole public is like a great big classroom to observe and learn from. If you have ever walked into a mall with an eleven-year-old girl, you already know this! My role as mother begins to change and I have to let her lead me a little and hold back on my own opinions, while at the same time gently guiding hers. If only I was as reflective as I am today, all the time but then I remember that nobody is perfect. My mother used to say that by the time you master a one-year-old, they are two! There is a lot of wisdom in that statement because time never stands still and the individual soul behind each child is an ever-unfolding mystery which a parent can never “master.” The little time away from our normal activities provides the necessary “quiet” in which we can get little snapshots into each other and ourselves and hopefully get closer to God as well.