What Amarillo needs

[petiepanzer]

I think Mr. Alexander jumped the gun a little bit on the horse track. Horse tracks are going broke all around the country. Remington Park in OKC has had a ton of trouble.

Regarding casinos, the casinos in Texas would never be able to compete with the casinos in places like Vegas and Atlantic City. The only money they would be making would be from people that already live in the state. Most of the casinos in the surrounding states are able to operate because they are doing so on tribal lands. Texas has very few Indian reservations, so that is going to be a significant challenge. The various religious elements operating within the state have too much power and would never allow gaming to become legalized. Heck, half the counties in the state are still dry because of power wielded by religious leaders. I don't see it ever happening.

[jdnat]

I remember when it was said that there would never be horse race betting and there would never be a lottery. The same people opposed it.

[karenew]

Okay.. to answer the question of what the status is of saddlebrook park, I asked the "You asked for it" section of the paper. Hopefully soon the answer will be in the paper for all to see.

[karenew]

The answer to Saddlebrook Park is in today's paper.

[catsmeow]

I saw that, too!

[gitpikker58]

I thought the menopause palace was for the specific crowd ;D

Seriously though, with having kids, grandkids, dead in the middle of the mortgages, bills exactly equalling the income, getting to that point in the mountain (or hill) where the climb has almost stopped and just about to plateau to coast down the other side, I think we (I'm 48 and 7/8ths) are pooped ready for that restful retirement to spend time with the wife, hubby, grandkids, etc, and going out means the bathroom is occupied.

I think music, especially acoustic, seems to calm the nerves of us middle to older aged people. And Church seems to fit the bill of wanting to have a gettogether. We find others with the same interests, especially at larger Churches, and we can find things to do that don't involve barrooms, smoke, foul mouths, etc, and can actually enjoy ourselves.
I'm not ready to settle down, but I've had my fill of smoke filled meathouses. I like experiencing the music, different bands, but why does it allways seem that a guy is looking to get laid and a gal is looking to get laid, why isn't it about the music?
Anyway if we get more involved in Church activities and the groups formed from them we wouldn't be needing to find other things to do.
Great thread btw.

[petiepanzer]

Git,

1) In a sense, you are already retired, aren't you? I mean, you are not currently employed anywhere, you are not actively seeking employment, and you are not currently in any type of educational training that would help you to find another job, are you? Welcome to retirement.

2) "Looking to get laid" as you so eloquently put it, is just a natural part of life, similar to breathing or eating. I have never understood why so many people have problems with what 2 consenting adults do behind closed doors. It is a life affirming experience and we shouldn't begrudge anybody for engaging in something in an act that does no harm to anyone else. For some reason, Americans have all kinds of hang ups concerning sex that makes us the laughing stock of the civilized world. I suppose it has something to do with the puritanical origins of this country.

3) While simply attending church may be a viable option for you, there are many people out there that need more than what a church has to offer. I, for one, have never felt comfortable in them and need more intellectual stimulation than a church is capable of providing. Now, if you think people at churches are not looking to "get laid", you are fooling yourself. THere have been numerous sex scandals at churches across the country and right here in Amarillo. There are numerous children across the country that have been sexually abused by clergy, the pastor at First Baptist before Howard Batson was asked to step down for having affairs with several of the female members, and there was a youth minister at First Presbyterian that was let go for some questionable relationships with a couple of the kids at that church.

[princessbaybay]

The casino deal is a WAY uphill battle....

www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,181230,00.html

For the short time the casino was open outside of Livingston...there were a bunch of jobs created and they paid relatively good considering the area... which is one of the poorest in the state...with welfare case after welfare case... some of the people working there were finally able to get out of the system and on their own.... until it was shut down. It had the ability to bring some extra money to the community also... plus...there were fewer illegal 8 liner dives around.
Legalizing gambling may be one of the only things that saves us from a state tax... the baptists need to get up off that crap.... if they don't want any part of it...then stay away from it.
Legalized gambling would be good for Texas.

[karenew]

hey.. don't blame all baptists please.

[princessbaybay]

LOL karen I was born and raised baptist...
And honestly...it is the hardcore baptists down there that are SO opposed to the casino deal. And they beat down anyone that goes against their opinion on the issue. So I'm not blaming all baptists....just the ones in SE Texas.

[bag from canyon]

tigerlily said:

Drew Alexander tried for a horse track. It was gonna be called Saddlebrooke. But Texas has that no gambling law so he has not been able to open it. He his still trying to get threw though.

Horse racing is allowed in Texas. It's the slot machines that's the problem. Dog racing is allowed also. I can remember when Umbarger had a horse track.