I've written about Insurance Continuing Education before as I really don't think it does much good to stuff hundreds of people in a room to tell them they have to follow ethics to be honest agents. I don't know if anyone really believes that an unethical agent will be "saved" by 50 minutes of training (10 minutes for break)? That's just me.

I will say the two instructors that I had this year were more than a little entertaining. First of all, Samuel T. Bennett, of Columbia, Mo., had a Drew Carey-like delivery and kept his students entertained. At one point, he asked his captive audience for our definition of E & O coverage.

Of course, anyone in a service industry knows that stands for Errors & Omissions Insurance. Bennett informed us attorneys refer to E & O coverage as "Excitement & Opportunity." I'm telling you, that there's funny; well kind of.

The next day, Patrick Deem Sr. of Austin, Texas, was our instructor. His down-home Jeff Foxworthy-like delivery was well-received by his students, as he regaled us with information about some policy that 95 percent of us will most-likely never sell. But that's what continuing education is all about; we need the hours.

I already was feeling pretty old looking around the room realizing I had been selling insurance before some of the other agents in the class were out of diapers. At one time, I was eligible for the Young Agents group, and now I'm 13 years too old (age limit for "young" agents is 40). So, Deem asking me my age for an age discrimination example, it was just icing on the cake. Later, he used the word "old" again as he looked at me.

I said, "Hey, man. You just called me old twice." He looked at me and said, "I'm nine years older than you. Quit your whining."

All in all, the classes were educational and entertaining; so I guess, I'll quit my whining.

* * *

Some of the most die-hard Republicans went on record saying they were wishing President Barack Obama the best of luck and hoping his administration would be successful in pointing our great nation in a new direction, both in foreign and domestic policies.

Rush Limbaugh would not be counted in that group. The Viagra-smuggling, Oxycotin- guzzling windbag was quoted as saying he "hoped" President Obama would fail. I think I heard "I'm proud to be an American" playing in the background.

The President's successes could make the over-sized Limbaugh even more of a non-entity.

* * *

A great big "best of luck" and "thank you" to two of the most talented people I've met in politics. Nicole Corcoran, spokesperson for Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, and the governor's policy advisor, Jeremy Anderson, will be starting new careers this week.

As insurance commissioner and governor, Sebelius always has surrounded herself with the best and the brightest. And Corcoran and Anderson are two of the best.

* * *

I hope to play a little more golf than I did last year (I didn't pick up a club in 2008). Little did I know when I started reading Carl Hiaasen's book, "Downhill Lie," that I would find the perfect description for my golf game and my frequent playing partner, Apt Wylor.

Wylor and I both tend to be a bit inconsistent, although I more than him. Hiassen describes our golfing abilities as "Ray-Ray Golf." One hole like Ray Floyd. One hole like Ray Charles.

* * *

Our state Sen. Janis Lee is the early leader for quote of the session. After hearing of the Republican leadership's plan to cut $100 million in court-ordered promised funding to schools, she said, "The school districts were just beginning to believe they could trust us. Now, they know we won't love them in the morning."

And it would be even funnier if it weren't so sad.

* * *

I'm hoping someone will explain to me how the price of gas works. It seems when a barrel (42 gallons) of crude oil raises a dollar or two in the market, the price of gas raises about 50 cents. At some point, gas was around a buck fifty nine a gallon. Then, the price of barrels of oil started going down and gas went up to $1.79 a gallon and held steady even as barrels of oil fluctuated between 37 and 46 bucks. I just don't understand.

I guess I should stop whining, as I can visit the gas pump and $20 nearly pegs my Buick's fuel gauge.