Huckleberries Online

MikeK: Establishing Bladder Control

March 5, 2009 8:11 a.m. • 55 comments

RE: DanG’s criticism of Councilman MikeK’s coffee break

More than a year ago, the LCDC installed an elaborate catheter and drainage system for me under the desks in the Council Meeting Room. It was expensive, but it allows me (with my admittedly small bladder) to drink more coffee than any small army could consume without having to get up and use the bathroom, thus ensuring I don’t fall asleep, and to solve another problem which I’ll also share in a moment. The problem we didn’t foresee is that the coffee intake system they installed doesn’t have near the capacity as the discharge system, so I have to continue to get up in order to keep the equilibrium of the coffee in-to-out ratio/Councilman MikeK, Huckleberries Online. Full post below.

Question: Do you have a problem with a council member leaving the chambers briefly to grab a cup of coffee and return?

Everyone, please, do me a favor and don’t share what you are about to read with Mr. Gookin. I think he would be very upset with what I am going to disclose to all of you here.

The problem we didn’t foresee is that the coffee intake system they installed doesn’t have near the capacity as the discharge system, so I have to continue to get up in order to keep the equilibrium of the coffee in-to-out ratio. I would chalk this unfortunate error up to the Engineering department, but since I’m the liaison to the Engineering department, that wouldn’t reflect well, so let’s just move forward.

Now here’s the kicker: the discharge system drains directly below the library, under McEuen Field, the resort, NIC (and the future Education Corridor) directly into the recently opened Riverstone Pond in the urban renewal district using high-tech wastewater “purple pipe”.

So now it can be made public - though I modestly didn’t want to have to take credit for this before - I am personally and singlehandedly responsible for keeping the water level high at Riverstone Pond. I’m not drinking coffee because I WANT to, it’s because I HAVE to. I’ve been ordered to do so by the LCDC Board.

Again, please don’t tell anyone. While my “contributions” in this area would likely be regarded as noble by most, it’s also sort of embarrassing. As a side note, this should help explain to those who wondered why there is a “no swimming” policy at Riverstone Pond.

Thanks for letting me clear the air on this.

55 comments on this post so far. Add yours!

Transplanted_Texan on March 05 at 8:22 a.m.
As Gookin himself said, “and returned a moment later”.

So what’s the issue?
Cabbage Boy on March 05 at 9:18 a.m.
Whew, For a minute there I thought he was gonna mention the notorious “poop plant” near the education corridor. What a mistake that would have been.

Well done Mike. Good use of humor to subtly mock someone who is making an arse out of a molehill.
tarynahecker on March 05 at 9:38 a.m.
Very nice, Mike.

I’ve got a big thermos if you want to borrow it for the next council meeting.
MamaJD on March 05 at 9:58 a.m.
Per usual, the CAVErs only offer criticsm instead of solutions. I suggest that anyone who has a problem with MikeK getting up to refresh his coffee cup should be the first one to bring a box coffee dispenser for Mike to utilize during his meetings. These can be purchased through any Starbucks store. Preferably the one in Riverstone because we need to keep the business traffic in that area.

Or maybe if we ask nicely, Keith can provide Mike with a large mug that the truckers use. It’s about finding solutions, people!
nic on March 05 at 10:13 a.m.
DanG’s complaint against MikeK = sour grapes.

Message to DanG: You lost the election. Get over it. If you don’t like it - run again. You’ll lose but you’re more than welcome to run!
clerkofthecity on March 05 at 10:53 a.m.
Mr. Gookin wrote: …”(Kennedy’s Response) - I can’t recall one single solitary instance when I or another council member has ever stepped away during public comment - I can’t remember one.

Well, I remember one, and it was from last night’s council meeting.

During the presentation by the Technical Rescue Team, ..”

I feel compelled to respond to another inaccuracy made regarding our CIty Council.

If you notice that Concilman Kennedy said “during public comment”. Mr. Gookin is insinuating that Councilman Kennedy is not being honest - but if you look closely even Mr. Gookin noted that Mr. Kennedy’s very brief departure was during a “staff presentation”. I will let the community in on a secret - generally staff presentations that are done at a Council meeting as a means of sharing information with the public than the CIty Council - generally because the Council hears most of these presentations at a number other subcommittee/ committee meetings prior to them being presented during a televised City Council meeting.
GaryIngram on March 05 at 2:56 p.m.
Clerkofthecity should continue, “at which time the decisions made out of the public view are announced.”

Isn’t that the way it used to be done before the Open Meeting Law prohibited such behavior.
Kage_Mann on March 05 at 3:10 p.m.
I think it’s very rude to get up for a cup of coffee, while someone is speaking.That tells me they don’t care what the public thinks.
DFO on March 05 at 3:17 p.m.
>I think it’s very rude to get up for a cup of coffee, while someone is speaking.That tells me they don’t care what the public thinks — Kage Mann.<

Sorry, Kage, I had to grab some soup out of the office microwave. What were you saying?
Cindy_H on March 05 at 3:19 p.m.
Now, quit that. Made me spill my soda :-)
Kage_Mann on March 05 at 3:24 p.m.
Sorry, Kage, I had to grab some soup out of the office microwave. What were you saying? DFO on March 05 at 3:17 p.m.

Dave, just a minute,I have to get a cup of coffee. ;-)
Dennis on March 05 at 3:28 p.m.
>That tells me they don’t care what the public thinks — Kage Mann.<

The voice of experience???

;-O
Joker on March 05 at 3:28 p.m.
Kage,

In the immortal words of Forrest Gump, “I gotta pee.”

Anybody who harps on Mike Kennedy for quietly getting up to go to the bathroom is a few tacos short of a combo plate.

Maybe somebody can watch Mike Kennedy relieve himself to make sure that’s what he’s really doing in the bathroom. I’ve often suspected he and charlie Nipp are parcelling up the city for their own personal gain while sitting on the can.

What’s that foul smell coming from the bathrom, it’s not irritable bowel syndrome, it’s corruption.

I have an idea. maybe the Cave Gang can chip in and buy MikeK some Flomax.
Cabbage Boy on March 05 at 3:33 p.m.
Cindy H on March 05 at 3:19 p.m.

Now, quit that. Made me spill my soda :-)

Cindy, go ahead and grab another one, we’ll wait…
Joker on March 05 at 3:36 p.m.
If Mike really needs coffee, he should put on one of those beer hats you see at sporting events. The kind that dispense golden goodness through plastic tubs to the thirsty individual’s mouth.
He can borrow mine.
Kage_Mann on March 05 at 3:43 p.m.
“Anybody who harps on Mike Kennedy for quietly getting up to go to the bathroom is a few tacos short of a combo plate”.Joker on March 05 at 3:28 p.m.

Joker, I thought we were talking about MikeK getting up for coffee.Going to the bathroom would be different and if that’s the case he needs to ask the mayor for a recess.Wow,your starting to sound like some other regulars around here.Maybe,
your a few fries short of a happy meal. ;-)

Dennis,hold on, I have to get another cup of coffee and a donut. LMAO ;-p
JeanieSpokane on March 05 at 3:48 p.m.
Well, Kage, he has to go to the bathroom because he kept going and getting coffee. There’s just so much room in that bladder. :) Speaking of which, gotta go. See ya!
Dennis on March 05 at 3:57 p.m.
<wow,your starting=”” to=”” sound=”” like=”” some=”” other=”” regulars=”” around=”“ here.=”“>Kage

Actually KM, your harping on MikeK is starting to sound a lot like “Charlie Browns Mother”.

;-P
Kage_Mann on March 05 at 4:00 p.m.
Jeanie,justa minute,I have to get some sugar cubes and swing by the commode. ;-)
JeanieSpokane on March 05 at 4:02 p.m.
All this bathroom humor! Is anyone working or are they all on a break?
Kage_Mann on March 05 at 4:09 p.m.
Dennis, if I went to a CDA city council meeting and Mikey,gets up to get some coffee, while I’m giving my public comments.I’m going up there to get my cup of coffee also.Heck, my taxes paid for it anyway. ;-)
toadman on March 05 at 4:16 p.m.
MikeK left to get a cup of coffee while someone was talking?

ZOMG! STOP THE FREAKIN’ PRESSES!! CALL THE NATIONAL GUARD!!

The pettiness of what offends some people surprised me to no end.

Wow.

Mike, next time bring a coffee maker and put it next to your chair…and bring a bucket to pee in…. still, that would probably offend someone also..

sheesh..
Dennis on March 05 at 4:23 p.m.
<heck, my=”” taxes=”” paid=”” for=”” it=”” anyway.=”“> Kage

You got your nickles worth then!

:-)
Kage_Mann on March 05 at 4:30 p.m.
Toadman, before I read your comment, I have to go to bathroom. I hope your not offended! ;-p
Kage_Mann on March 05 at 6:00 p.m.
“the CAVErs only offer criticsm instead of solutions”.MamaJD on March 05 at 9:58 a.m.
MamaJD, what are your solutions to the problem? Alot of good solutions have been mentioned by these so-called Cavers but,
your just trying to play to the HBO crowd. Give me a break,
MamaJD.
Dennis on March 05 at 6:31 p.m.
<”your just trying to play to the HBO crowd.”>

Sounds kinda like the game you’re playing over at the opencda site.

By the way,,,,when you say “a lot of people” that want MikeK gone, does “a lot” mean you and the other 4 CAVE’rs that hang out at the Dan & Mary show???
Escapee on March 05 at 9:11 p.m.
I never thot I’d see the day when getting a cuppa coffee was Politically Incorrect. I say, better for someone to have coffee than to just sit there, fall asleep, their head hitting the table (BONK), snoring so loudly that they drown out the speaker…
Transplanted_Texan on March 05 at 10:04 p.m.
“If Mike really needs coffee, he should put on one of those beer hats you see at sporting events.”

Joker! What an amazing idea! Seriously, filling one of those things with coffee… I’ve got to try that at work, when I’m chained to a library desk for work study. Brilliant, thank you!

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D.F. Oliveria is a columnist and blogger for The Spokesman-Review. Huckleberries Online was judged the best 2008 Idaho newspaper blog by the Idaho Press Club. And the best 2007 news blog in the Pacific Northwest by the Society for Professional Journalist. Print Huckleberries is a past winner of the Herb Caen Memorial Column contest by the National Association of Newspaper Columnists. The Readership Institute of Northwestern University cited this blog as a good example of online community journalism.