There I was in all my glory: blowing balloons at the Austin Home and Vacation Show.

Thursday, March 29, 2001

There I was in all my glory: blowing balloons at the Austin Home and Vacation Show.

At least one visitor to the Austin Daily Herald’s booth at the show said I was working up to my limitations.

He’s the same comedian who said I would make a great proofreader after my vision problems.

The nerve of some people.

It was Friday night and the crowd was large and the aisles full. I brought the grandchildren along and they had free run of Riverside Arena.

Before the night was over, they filled plastic bags with all sorts of freebies and registered me for every free gift there was.

I just know it’s going to be aluminum siding.

It was fun talking with so many nice people and at least one or two stinkers who had complaints. I should have given them a snort of the helium we were using to blow balloons and listened to them talk funny the rest of the night.

It was a blast and I still say I’m the luckiest man alive and that Mower County is the best place to live on God’s green earth.

When I returned to the Austin Home and Vacation Show Saturday afternoon, it was all business.

I was there to cover the Austin Jaycees VIP Fishing Challenge.

The competition was to begin at 1 p.m. and everyone was there early except Fire Chief Dan Wilson.

In addition to Wilson, the VIPs included Wayne. P. Goodnature, an Austin City Council member; Amy J. Baskin, an Austin School Board director; Capt. Curt Rude of the Austin Police Department; Richard P. Cummings, a Mower County commissioner; Mayor Bonnie Rietz, George Brophy of the Development Corp. of Austin and Peter Christopherson, an Austin City Council member.

The Jaycees held the contest in a room with a fish tank full of trout. I kept waiting for the mayor to embarrass County Commissioner Cummings and announce this was the city’s own multipurpose fish tank and, no thank you, we don’t need any of the county’s money, but she didn’t.

A lot of fans or people with nothing better to do rimmed the tank. I am referring to the spectators in this instance because most of the VIPs couldn’t catch a fish.

Mayor Rietz was resplendent in authentic fishing gear. At least that’s how she described herself after no one seemed to notice the mayor was wearing hip boots, a vest, flannel shirt and funny hat with fishing lures pinned to it.

The DCA’s Mr. Brophy wore an "Austin First" cap to protect his job.

Mr. Christopherson had a cheering section of his own, wife and children, including the couple’s new baby.

Capt. Rude brought a son along – or he had somebody in custody.

Mrs. Baskin’s husband waited patiently for his wife.

Mr. Goodnature had his fans, too.

But oddly enough, when her husband started fishing, Mrs. Cummings left the room only to return when the competition was ending.

Bob Riege, who knows a thing or two about fishing and other outdoor sports, attempted to coach the competitors.

Duane Germain, KAUS radio personality, attempted to do the same.

Then, it happened and the spectators awoke from their naps.

Mr. Goodnature, a former Mower County sheriff, caught the first fish and promptly threw it back in the tank; probably recalling the "catch-and-release" program of the court system.

When Austin Jaycees President Karen Diaz declared time expired, there was a tie between Goodnature and Baskin. That meant an overtime and when that was over, Goodnature had caught another and claimed the VIP fishing challenge championship.

Every left in a hurry afterward.

Mrs. Cummings consoled her clearly embarrassed husband, Mr. Baskin had his wife in tow, Mr. Christopherson and his wife, Diane, carried their new baby, Mr. Brophy had his cap and Mr. Goodnature had the plaque.

Nice job, Austin Jaycees! Everybody had fun.

Call Lee Bonorden at 434-2232 or e-mail him at newsroom@austindailyherald.com.