Since leaving the Gazette to follow other pursuits, I have to admit I'm a little out of the loop on political issues,

There are a few things I do know. Ben Nelson doesn't like Pete Ricketts, and Pete Ricketts has very little use for Ben Nelson.

There are about 12 initiatives I should vote in favor of for one reason and the same 12 I should vote against for another. The Gazette published six pages of them a few days ago. I tried reading through them and now I'm more confused than ever. They included gambling issues, which I will vote for. I've already given enough money to Iowa and South Dakota to keep the next generation of children in school for the next eight years and I will vote against allowing District I schools to reorganize. What's done is done, it's time to move on.

I know that Adrian Smith, a former Nebraska Legislator, is running against Scott Kleeb, whom I've never met, but who I've been told to vote for since he looks good in a pair of Levi's.

There's a group of candidates running on the same platform for the Middle Republican Natural Resources District, who say they'll make things right in the Republican River Valley, but let's face it, I'll be lucky to remember one of their names by the time I get to the polls.

Locally, I can't tell who is going for the four year term for city council and who's going for the two year term left open by the resignation of Jim Kenny.

There's a bond issue (or is it two -- or three) that needs my vote so the city, and or county, can spend millions of dollars to build a new jail site -- or a new jail site with city offices, fire, and police station attached. I'd prefer to stick to paying for our new water and sewer plants and the new school -- not paid for by money raised at any casino in Nebraksa.

My head is spinning from the enormity of it all.

All I know for sure is there are 20 days left to election day and 23 days till deer season opens. I'm not sure what I'm looking forward to most. Getting it over with and shooting myself in the foot no matter how I vote on Nov. 7 and finally seeing an end to the political commercials that are splattered all over my mailbox, the television and the radio -- or risking the possibility of actually shooting myself in the foot when deer season opens on the 11th.

And speaking of deer season -- and since one of my readers has requested I change the subject and quit talking about my husband so much -- I just wanted to point out that about the time you read this, my son Jeremy, myself, and a close companion who shall remain nameless, will be on a ranch near Devil's Tower, Wyo., hunting antelope -- seven of them to be exact. With my new gun in hand, I may end up shooting myself in the foot before I even make it back for the election. Which would, in the end, give me a good excuse to miss the election this year, and get rid of this headache I've been suffering with since the May primaries.

Personal to carolcox@bornblonde.com: Actually my hairdresser has referred to me as everything from a dishwater blonde to a mousy brunette. It's been so long since I've seen my natural color I'm not sure what I am. Personally I prefer dishwater blonde -- it just sounds cleaner. It's too bad people can't take a joke when they hear one. And I have been the butt of several jokes.

Whether natural, bleached or highlighted, people need to take life a little less seriously. I did not refer to anyone in my article but myself. I made no blonde jokes, such as "What do you call a blonde skeleton in the closet." I talked about my own experience. If you found offense in that, then maybe it's time to "lighten" up.