Jay Kersting's Blog

Well, this past weekend was quite interesting for me. 

Starting on Thursday, four of us went to take part in my new "hobby" of target shooting.  Now, at this point, I am not that good, but getting better quickly.  Mike, Richard, Ryan and I headed up to the indoor range and did our best to injure some paper.  In fact, my paper has a hundred holes in it.  It was pay day.  Last payday, Mike and I went.  Richard has just gotten to town and Ryan missed out last time and wanted to join in.  We all had a blast.  In fact, I suppose several blasts from each of us.  This time I shot a Glock 34, which is a 9MM pistol.  It is a lot of fun, but it is not cheap, so this hobby may end quickly.  We will see.

Friday night, my friend Jon took me to the Capital Plaza Hotel for "Ballroom Boxing".....it may have had a more formal name, but that is what everyone calls it.  It is professional boxing and it takes place in a ballroom.  In fact, a few weeks back, the annual Jefferson City Chamber of Commerce Awards Gala was held in the exact same room.

So it was a really cool event.  Tables are laid out around the room with the ring and the ringside seats in the middle, obviously.  It was four fights of four (scheduled) rounds each, then an intermission where they gave away several prizes.  Then four more fights before the six round main event.  Half of the card featured boxers from Jefferson City and they fought the other half from other places, mainly from Kansas City but some from Illinois and Tennessee. 

I am no boxing expert, but the quality of boxing was not like what you would see on HBO ro Showtime.  Who would expect it to be?  But overall, it was pretty good and very entertaining.  Even had one female fight.  That was a complete mismatch and you could tell when they were introduced.  That one lasted about 30 seconds.  The rest consisted of a few knockouts and the rest were decisions that were pretty clear.  The night was a lot fun.  And apparently, I sent some pretty funny text messages to a couple of people that night.  Like I said, I was having a good time. 

After the fights, Jon took me to a local Irish pub, Paddy Malones.  Nice place, really enjoyed that and wanted to go back the next night when they a musical act from Kansas City down.  BUT, I was otherwise committed.

You see on Saturday, I was asked to help co-Emcee the silent auction at the American Heart Association's annual Heart Ball.  That a lot of fun.  Mike (who goes by KC on the air), Richard and I would walk around and talk to people and then turn on our microphones occasionally to mention that some of items up for auction needed a little more attention.  And the three of us would take jabs at each other, all in good fun.  Like when I told Richard, here is a martini set for you.  And when he said back to me, here is a basket of wine and cheese.  And it went like that for a couple of hours. Got to meet some folks from here in Jefferson City and give them a chance to get to know us.  Dinner was nice.  The only real negative for all three of us, we did not have our significant others there with us.  I am sure that Kathy is upset that she did not get to see me in a tuxedo. 

Then again, maybe she isn't.  She has seen me in one several times, and at least one of those did not go so well for her.  You see, she ended up married to me. 

Oh, and you may find it interesting that the Heart Ball took place in the exact same room as the ballroom boxing from the night before.  They did a great job removing the cigar smoke from the place.  Because that would have been a bit awkward.  The American HEART Association having a ball in a smoky room????  Bravo to the hotel staff on that one.

Sunday was the day to simply take it easy.  I went shopping for some basic groceries.  Watched some TV, made some phone calls.  Thought about doing laundry.  Then I thought better of it.  Maybe today.

Work continues to go well.  Nothing else huge to note at this point.  If you have questions or comments, post them below or hit me with an e-mail.