By Richard Cason

What does it take to stir-up some controversy around here?

I thought that in this conservative area, the hate mail would've been pouring in after my column concerning flag burning!

I didn't get so much as note tied to a rock thrown through my window at home -how disappointing. I guess it shows that there are more people who think like me than I'd thought; not that it's a good thing.

"OFF" not only printed my article, but they found a nice photo of a flag being torched. The folks at "OFF" know a good column when the read it. Now if only the bosses at my full-time gig could show the same level of support.

Anyway, summer is winding down and I am bracing myself for the six months of depression that usually hits me right...about...NOW.

I hate winter. I absolutely hate it!

What good is it? There are no leaves on the trees, the lawns are all dead, there's very little sunshine, you can't stay outside for too long or you'll get sick...

I know that you're probably thinking, "winter is beautiful! Look at the snow rolling along the hills as far as the eye can see! Look at the way the ice forms in the trees", etc.

Eventually, though, you have to venture out and then what happens? Well, after a while you get snow blinded. Then you decide you need to go to town only to find that under all of this beautiful snow is all of this beautiful ice preventing you from driving.

No matter, you'll just walk. After all, it's not that far! It's not very far to the ground either. You'll know it once you slip and crack your head on that beautiful ice. As you're blacking out you can enjoy the wintertime novelty of watching your blood actually bounce on the ice!

A few hours later you're back home from the ER with your head wrapped-up, looking out your window at this winter wonderland...and then it'll dawn on you: Winter sucks!

A couple of days later, there's still snow on the ground, but not that pretty snow from the first night. Oh, no. Now it's slush, polluted with road grime, mud, and fumes from car exhaust and there you'll be - laid-up with head trauma wishing to God that summer were here.

Wish all you want, pal, but unless you move somewhere warm, you're screwed! We're all screwed! Even still, all that happened to you in just week one! You've still got 5 months and 3 weeks to wish you were on a tropical beach with some hot chick serving you drinks all day.

Every winter I always say, "this is the last one." I'm off to Arizona, California, Cuba, somewhere.

The tears are forming in my eye at the thought of summer ending so I guess that means it's time for me to wrap this up. I hope you have a happy fall/winter but I warn you: Brace yourselves for this column all through the winter months because my mood will be about as dark as that four day old snow.

Did I mention that winter sucks?

Richard Cason can be heard Monday through Friday from 7-Midnight on 100.7 KGMO