Random thoughts over my 2nd cup of coffee...

Monday morning status report: Kids at school on time (that's always worth noting with our feet-draggers), husband's crutches delivered, work e-mail checked, two chocolate doughnuts devoured and one cup of coffee drank, with one more begun on my day off....

Saturday's Cinco de Mayo Celebration in Reagan Park
I don't know about you but I thought it was great to see the park filled with people enjoying themselves at a family-oriented festival Saturday. What a terrific idea, and implementation! I didn't bring my kids to it - I usually don't to events like this because it's much harder to do my job while worrying about who's wandered off where - but if I'm not covering next year's event, I'd love to bring them. The food looked and smelled great, the music was good and the elementary kids dancing were fun to watch. It made me wonder - why have we waited till 2009 to do this?

Saturday's scary roof collapse at the Cowboys' indoor practice facility
With the violent wind and hail storms they get in the Metroplex, you would think that something like this would have happened before now, not six years after this facility opened. I read the accounts on the Associated Press Saturday night while putting together the Sunday paper, and I just finished reading the Dallas Morning News' stories and blogs, particularly those by Todd Archer. Archer was the DMN staff reporter who was on the field when the structure collapsed, and was pinned to the ground under some of the door frame. It was interesting to read his first-hand account of what happened. It's amazing more people were not injured, or killed. Whatever your opinion may be of Jerry Jones' management style or draft day involvement, he stepped up to the plate Saturday, leaving the Kentucky Derby early to fly back and spend time with those hospitalized. From one report I read, he's expecting Rick Behm to continue on with the team once his recovery allows. Behm is the 33-year-old employee with the scouting and video end of the organization who was paralyzed from the waist down. Good for you, Jerry. That's putting the special in special teams.

From the "They don't make 'em like they used to" department:
Something our youngest daughter said this morning while getting ready for school reminded my husband and me of those old Joe Isuzu commercials from the late '80s. Remember him, the sleazy car salesman who'd tell lies about the products while the car company would put up "He's lying" across the screen? When we tried to explain to the child why we were laughing, she didn't get it, so I pulled up You Tube and found some of the commercials posted there. She watched while putting on her shoes and laughed as hard as we did, then asked why we bought an Isuzu pickup with that lying salesman on TV. Click the link above to watch some funny clips.

Extreme Makeover, Park Edition

With the economy as shaky as it seems to be nationally, it's really great to see so many people here open their wallets and give their time to help the Palestine Junior Service League purchase and install the new playground equipment at Reagan Park. Crews from the prisons did the pad work earlier in the week, volunteers dug holes and set equipment into position for assembly yesterday, and this morning a little army of blue-shirted volunteers has sprung into action to assemble everything and get it in its final position as the concrete cures. Junior Service League leaders estimated about 10:30 this morning that they'd had around 160 people working on the project, with more stopping by to drop off homemade cookies and treats, or to offer checks to buy pizza for those doing the work. They estimated between $225,000 and $250,000 has been raised for the project, and everything has been donations - money, time, materials, labor, etc. It's heartwarming to see a cross section of the community come out to do something that benefits all of the kids of the area. We have a story and photos in the Sunday paper and online, as well as a short video.

Coming this weekend

Reagan Park playground
As those of you who have driven past Reagan Park over the past week have undoubtedly noticed, the city's flagship park isn't looking quite the same. City workers removed most of the old playground equipment last week and prison work crews have been hard at work this week preparing the site for the installation Friday and Saturday of new equipment. This is the fruition of the Palestine Junior Service League's big fundraising efforts. The PJSL raised approximately $250,000 in donations to use to purchase new playground equipment, and around 150 volunteers are expected to turn out over the next two days to install it. Rather than toss away the old equipment, the city is planning to move it to a different park. No word yet on where it will wind up.

Classic Movies in the Park
Saturday marks the first Saturday of the month, which means it's Movie in the Park night. This month's feature is 1963's "Hud," which stars a young Paul Newman as a young man who's willing to cheat his way to whatever he wants, no matter who's in the way. The movie won three Oscars - one to Melvyn Douglas for Best Supporting Actor, one to Patricia O'Neal for Best Actress and one for Best Cinematography. Newman was nominated for Best Actor, Martin Ritt for Best Director, and the movie also earned nominations for Screenplay and Art Direction. The movies are free, but donations are taken for the Pleasant Hills Children's Home on U.S. 84 near Fairfield. If you go, take your own lawn chairs or blankets for seating.

Embrace the Arts
This Saturday is an "Embrace the Arts" Saturday. The Museum for East Texas Culture will be hosting an art exhibit entitled "Color Me Spring," featuring the work of local student artists. The "Embrace the Arts" reception will be from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday; the exhibit runs through the end of March.