In this smorgasbord of unrelated thoughts I discuss why I am practically giddy over the new area code, West Virginia’s latest blogger, State Auditor Glen Gainer, and my decision to run for the House of Delegates.

I’m glad the state may finally be getting a second area code. And my reasons are entirely selfish. Ever since I first started work at the Senate, it has been a pet peeve of mine when people, obviously from the Senator’s district, give me their phone number and begin with the area code. “Three-Oh-Foooourrr,” they say deliberately as though I have never heard the number combination before. Even to this day, nine out of ten callers give me their area code first.

Maybe I shouldn’t be bothered by such minutiae, but it somehow irritates me. With an additional area code, I just know I will live a carefree life.

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There has been a tremendous brouhaha in the capitol over State Auditor Glen Gainer’s decision to make the pay of every state employee easily accessible via the Internet. Some say it’s not the public’s business while others feel shame over their low pay. I don’t care either way. It’s the taxpayer’s money and I’ll tell you right now my pay stinks. Not only am I a state employee, I am a state Senate employee. The Senate’s payroll is notoriously anemic compared with the House’s; I’ll tell you why once I no longer work there.

Of course, being the supposed egomaniac the liberals say I am, I searched for my name first only to find there are two other individuals with my name on the payroll. One William Stewart received almost $135,000 and it wasn’t me! I regret to inform the state that they paid the wrong William Stewart. I’ll accept a plan of 12 easy payments of $11,215 and the state can keep the change.

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The general thought on the Ron Thompson debacle is pity for the ousted Raleigh County resident and headshaking over how the House leadership completely botched it. Some question whether the act was legal, but Larry Messina assures us it is completely constitutional.

If it is constitutional for the House to instate citizens to the legislature and bypass the Governor, I’m going to start lobbying the House Speaker today. Perhaps he will kick out Delegate Dale Martin, who is terrified to drive, and replace him with me. With only one person to convince, the campaign just got a whole lot easier.