I notice things.

Sometimes. I mean, I was shocked, I tell you SHOCKED when I read on Wikipedia that Paul Lynde and Charles Nelson Reilly were gay. Really? I could not tell that by watching “Hollywood Squares” and “Match Game” when I was a kid.

So, I do miss things. Occasionally.

But as the big city council election approaches — the consolidated election will be held April 9, so mark your calendars — the war of the yard signs in heating up.

I live in the 2nd District, so I see a lot of signs for that race. About a month ago, after the primary race, I started seeing yard signs pop up for the 2nd.

At first, I started seeing signs for the contender, Chuck Grayeb. That first week, I think that Grayeb signs outnumbered signs for incumbent Barbara VanAuken by about 10 to 1. There was a smattering of VanAuken signs, mostly along major roads and shopping centers, while signs for Grayeb were popping in front of homes, where people actually, you know, lived. I think I saw one for Barbara that was in front of a home that has been abandoned for 20 years.

Then I stopped counting.

Then, a couple of weeks later, while driving through the city, I turned onto West Florence Avenue from Sheridan and saw dozens of VanAuken signs, with nary a Grayeb sign anywhere. Except in one yard, which also had a Grayeb sign right next to it.

My views on the race?

I’m not going to make any predictions. First, I’m not an idiot. Second, I’m not going to make predictions. I will say that I’ve voted for VanAuken in the past. I’m not really all that happy with some of her votes recently though. I’ve seen Grayeb in action during his previous turn on the city council. he talks a good game (he’s actually quite good at that) but I’ve not really seen or heard of him taking action or working behind the scenes to bring his rhetoric to fruition. But he is a decent enough fella.

And the other races? In the 1st District, I predict that Gary Sandberg will continue to serve as a member of the Peoria City Council after the April election. Win or loose.

In the 5th District, I hope Dan Irving wins. I would hate to think that miserable hooker arrest hatchet job that former State’s Attorney Kevin Lyons tried to run on Irving was successful. Other than that, I have a hard time getting worked up about politics in the northern hinterlands of Peoria.

Are there races in the 3rd and 4th Districts? Not sure. Haven’t been paying attention.

And Mayor Jim Ardis hasn’t any foe in the race for mayor. That’s sort of sad. Someone needs to run against him because of the stupid “Don’t Shoot” poster campaign that has the City of Peoria begging gangbangers to not shoot us.

And despite the lack of opposition, there is a smattering of Ardis signs all over the place. Why?

You first, Gary

At the shovel turning ceremony for the Warehouse District last months, attendees amused themselves by trying to figure out how many people were actually Secret Service agents there to protect Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.

“Simple,” said Gary Sandberg. He suggested I rush LaHood and I’d find out.

You first, Gary.