It's going to be a cold, raw, rainy, maybe flaky Thursday January 10. The weekend will bring a new chill. We still have a good solid two months or so of winter ahead of us! So, how about this: FIGHT CABIN FEVER WITH THE WARMTH OF A GOOD BOOK! The Johnson County Library and Friends of the Library invite you to their Used Book Sale, through Saturday January 12, at the Antioch branch on Shawnee Mission Parkway. Where else can you travel the world, meet famous folks, think on important issues and be swept away to another time for fifty cents or a buck?

I get the word of these great library events from the library's Community Relations Manager, Marsha Bennett. Marsha's son, Bill, actually took a couple of my broadcasting classes at Johnson County Community College. Then, wisely, after a good look at what the industry has done to me, chose a different path. One of the highlights each subsequent semester has been sharing the mini-newscast that Bill and his group produced for their final class project. Bill was one of the anchors and looked very dapper in a Big Bird tie. He also did a cooking segment creating something called rum cake. By the end he looked more like Mayberry's Otis Campbell than Boston's Julia Child. Don't worry. He was only acting. I think.

Speaking of good books and Elvis Presley...the books are mentioned above, for Elvis you have to go back to yesterday's cyber screed...there's a new book out that takes you behind the scenes of good old rock & roll and show biz in general. It's called Was There A Band Here Tonight? written by local music legend, Lee Dresser. Lee, along with Willie Craig and Freddy Fletcher, make up the Krazy Kats! They have been playing great music for over 50 years now. Lee's book gives you a look at a childhood filled with tragedy transformed into a lifetime of making others smile. He talks about his many brushes with fame...Bob Hope...The Sinatra family...Dean Martin...many, many more. One of the best parts of the book is the backstage view of a working band. You can go to www.krazykats.00band.com for more information about the band and book.

I had the Krazy Kats on after*words quite a few times over the years and they always generated wonderful comments from viewers. Now 17, our son Taylor, took a liking to the group when he was just a kindergartner and fell asleep listening to their cds almost every night. I was honored to introduce them at the 40th and 50th Anniversary concerts. At that last one, number 50, they had to turn people away from the music hall. So many fans!

So, if you're looking for great ways to warm your heart and fill your head, check out the Johnson County Library's Cabin Fever Book Sale through Saturday and track down a copy of Lee Dresser's Was There A Band Here Tonight? As they used to say on the old commercials "You'll be glad you did!"