It was a gold medal morning and thanks for riding along.  Joey started off our day by checking in on his 2nd official day at school...and won 2 free movie tickets from River Cinema 12.  Judith checked in to tell us she is allergic to mornings after having her summer off. 

BACK TO SCHOOL...I can hear the screams of joy from moms across the city.   

Jean is a member of our CAT COUNTRY CLUBand is celebrating her birthday today!  Congrats to you, Jean and enjoy your presents from EG Floral and Dakota Harvest Bakers.  Also, congratulations on being a big loser!  We're proud of you.

Today it's "at the movies with Big Sid".  Sid had another famous movie line with his famous dead-pan delivery and Mark was a winner at 7:35.

Where you shop determines who you vote for!  New research shows if you like to shop at Wal-Mart and JC Penney, you probably support John McCain for president.  If you plunk down your cash at Macy's and Target, then Barack Obama is your man. 

Michael Phelps is going to be loaded.  Not just loaded down with gold, but with hard cash.  The number crunchers say he will make at least $30 million off endorsement deals and sales this year!  Speedo is one of his sponsors, plus he has a website that sells stuff like "Michael for President" tees!

We are enjoying the Olympics and are surprised at some of the sports involved.  Cheryl was telling us she watched Olympic ping-pong the other day.  I didn't realize that kayaking is also in the summer games. 

Should the drinking age be dropped down from 21 to 18?  A bunch of college presidents say "yes".  They say dropping the drinking age will help ease the binge drinking that goes on at college when kids turn 21.  Won't that just make it a problem for high school administrators?  I think SHOTS should be outlawed. 

Many, many, many thanks for your school donations!  We stuffed the bus with school supplies and as always, are overwhelmed with your generosity.  No child should have to head back to school without the needed tools to get the job done!  Looks like the weather will be HOT as classes start this week.

CLUE is getting a face-lift.  No more Mr. Mustard, did it with the lead pipe in the billiard room!  They are removing some of the old rooms and replacing them with a spa, and home theater room.  The new Clue board game rolls out this fall, just in time for your Christmas shopping!

Whew, made it back from vacation and had a grade A+ time with the family.  Must recommend Ely, Grand Marais, the North Shore and a tour of the Soudan mine at Tower.  We went 1/2 mile down and then 3/4 mile underground to tour Minnesota's oldest and deepest iron ore mine.  What a ride!  Very informative and sort of spooky.  I can not imagine how the miners maintained their sanity, working underground, in the dark, ALL THE TIME.  Also, when you are passing thru, tour the HIBBING HIGH SCHOOL.  Incredible.

And now, for my Ashlee Hewitt update.  Ashlee DID hit the stage at We Fest.  She was invited up by Billy Ray Cyrus and sang harmony.  She also spent some time on stage with 32 Below and sang "mike's hard lemonade".  Ashlee is also gearing up for Kick'n up Kountry.  Here's what she has ahead in the area...she'll play in Red Lake Falls on August 24th, and will perform in Grand Forks at the Empire Arts Center on Tuesday, August 26th and at the Crookston American Legion Club on Thursday, August 28th.   For more on Ashlee and her amazing race to stardom, go to: www.hewittsisters.com

Thanks to Amy, for sending us this awesome photo of Ashlee and her sister, Katrice, performing in her hometown of Lancaster.  The benefit concert was for a family friend who needs a kidney transplant.  Lots of money raised and tons of great music and fun. 



Big movie of the weekend...Tropic Thunder with Ben Stiller...knocked The Dark Knight down to the #2 slot over the weekend.    I recommend "SWING VOTE".  It is a great movie!  It pokes fun at our political system and the media frenzy that follows the candidates.  It also includes a sweet story between a dad and his daughter.  Plus, humor...and KEVIN COSTNER!
Our lucky Penny will be along on Friday to tell us about new movies.  She joins us Friday at 8:35 from River Cinema 12 in EGF.

The Minnesota State Fair is coming up August 21 in St. Paul.  Food on a stick from A-Z...they even sell stick on a stick!  Brad Paisley will perform at the fair this year along with Toby Keith, Dierks Bentley and Miranda Lambert. 

Thanks to Mark the movie man for joining us and sharing highlights of his vacation?? to New Orleans.  Mark and 22 other kids from his church worked in the Big Easy for a whole week.  Some of the group members did painting at a half-way house.  While others, including Mark, washed trolley cars still filthy from Hurricane Katrina.  Mark also met a new lady on his journey!!



What's in a name?  A lot, especially if you don't want your child to be subjected to ridicule their whole lives!  A judge in New Zealand has ordered the parents of a young girl to change her name and find something more suitable.  The judge believes the name Tallulah does the Hula will set the girl up for a life of teasing.  


 It's a baby girl for Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban.  Her name is Sunday and she was born Monday morning!!! Congrats to Sharon Lunski our Cat Country "one's on the way" contest winner.  Sharon had the most correct guess on baby's arrival and wins our grand prize, a $100 gift card from Suite 49.