Some people think that doing weather would be great training for being an auctioneer: speaking quickly and using what sounds like double-talk. Also, in both areas you are dealing with numbers...for the auctioneer you hope they are always going up, up, up. Well, let me just say, auctioneering is yet one more talent I lack. (I believe that brings that particular list to...uh...infinite.) However, it was great fun to be a small part of the auction for St. Patrick Catholic School in KCK. They called it "Raisin' the Roof on the Ol' Red Barn," since it was held in their "red barn" of a gymnasium. At first, I thought I'd have to find something to wear that featured dried fruit...because of the "raisin" part of the night, but my children explained that was not the theme so, instead, I wore a tie with roosters all over it...however, as one attendee told me, considering what I do for a living, a shovel may have been more appropriate. I was greeted at the door by two "sheriffs," guns-drawn...later these two morphed into nuns...but remained armed! Turns out they were among the many dedicated teachers in attendance. All the classes donated wonderful hand-made items to be auctioned off. All were listed as 'priceless' in the program and they certainly are just that!

The host for the night was Monsignor Mike Mullen. You couldn't ask for a better person to provide warmth and good fun for such an event. More than once, he was the one getting the bidding going! Speaking of bidding, the auctioneers were the Nigro Brothers who do an awful lot of great work for charities all year long. I had two main jobs...well, three if you count staying out of the way of the bidding. First, I did the initial drawings for a game called Lucky Numbers. I never really understood what I was doing. Again, much like being at work. The best I could tell, if you heard your number called, you were out of the running for the cash prizes. That may have explained the low hiss and growl each time I read a number. My other job involved reading the list of items up for bid. There were over 40 items, including those class projects I mentioned, trips to places like Colorado and Las Vegas, artwork, entertainment items, wine tasting, a live Christmas tree! One of my favorites was the chance to buy your child an opportunity to be Principal for a Day! Oh, the things I would've done! Maybe allow the water coolers to be filled with chocolate milk...make M&M's an official lunchroom menu item...replace the rope climb and 600 yard run in gym class with the "living room dash" seeing how fast you can get up off your dad's Lazy Boy, to the TV, change the channel, and get back to a lounging position. (Of course, we didn't have channel changers.) Well, as great as being Principal for a Day sounds, I suspect I would have ended up being sent to my own office at some point during the day, anyway.

It was a wonderful evening of fun and fundraising for a great school. I was part of the festivities when they first kicked it off 12 years ago. It only took them a dozen years to get over that visit and have me back!

Saturday night brought another auction: This one to benefit the Epilepsy Foundation of Kansas and Western Missouri. The gala was called Bluejeans, Boots and Salsa at Mission Hills Country Club. It was a room of great people all in western wear there to have a terrific time and help an important cause. A few years back, when my children were still too young to realize that being seen in public with me could cause irreparable damage to their reputations, they all came along to this event. When the program and auction were over and it was time to dance, the floor remained empty for a time...until our daughter just couldn't let the music go to waste. She hit the dance floor with gusto. Eventually, encouraged by the pint-sized Ginger Rogers, the crowd got moving. So, when I got there Saturday night, the main question for me was "Where is your dancing daughter?" I explained that she was babysitting and couldn't attend. Despite that, they let me stay.

After an inspiring message about living with epilepsy from Bryan Griffin, auctioneer Travis Wheeler took it away. I mentioned to him that my mother's maiden name is Wheeler and he, immediately and assuredly, denied any possible family connection. Very similar to the way the Nichols family of JC fame have made it clear we are not just from different branches of the family but entirely different trees planted in entirely different ground! In any case, the celebration was a glittering success, full of fun, and I appreciated being a small part of it, as well as the St. Patrick's night. Thank you all for the good times and goodies!

While I'm at it, I want to thank the staff, students and parents at Montrose School for their kind hospitality when I visited last Wednesday. In the one building, they have around 92 students, kindergarten through 12th grade. I got to visit with grades 3-6 and we had a great time. It is a wonderful school, filled with energy and ideas. Thanks for having me!

Now that I'm thinking about it, I just might incorporate auctioneering into my weather forecasts. I'll just start saying numbers and let you, the viewers, bid on which temperature you want. Sure, it may not always work out...but, really, how unusual would that be!