Empire Wild at the Estates (aka The Forum)

Tonight, at the Forum (aka The Estates) we enjoyed the music of https://www.empirewild.com/ Empire Wild, 60 minutes of 2 cellos and a pianist. Ken Kubota now lives in NYC, but grew up here in Columbus (Worthington) and also Michigan. Here's his bio https://www.kenjameskubota.com/bio He has a large social media (YouTube) following. He also has a video series. Check it out.

The old home town--Mt. Morris, Illinois

J. J. Slayback posted his travels in northern Illinois on Facebook, including Mt. Morris, Oregon and Byron. Here's the piece on Mt. Morris.

"The clouds had thickened into a dull gray blanket as raindrops began to pepper my windshield. I flicked on the wipers, smearing the drops with the dozen or so bugs that had comicozied themselves against the glass during the long drive into Ogle County earlier that day. Running low on daylight, I came to a complete stop that my drivers ed techer would be proud of at the crossroads of Illinois Route 2 and 64. I nudged my friend Dave awake and fished a quarter from the cupholder, the one usually reserved for a rickety Aldi cart

“Heads, Mount Morris. Tails, Heyworth.”

The coin shot off my thumb, ricocheted off the cloth ceiling, and disappeared into no man’s land between the seat and console, where most fast food french fries go to die. After retrieving it, I made sure not to muff the next flip. With the concentration of a receiver on special teams waiving for a fair catch in the Super Bowl I caught the quarter. Flipping it over to reveal the results. Tails it was. Ignoring the Father of Our Country’s advice to head home, I cranked the steering wheel right and drove toward Mount Morris.

When I pulled into town, the aura was the complete opposite of the one I had left behind [Oregon], where the sounds of celebration of Byron still faintly echoed in my ears. Mount Morris was silent with the hush only interrupted by the late fall wind rustling leaves on the ground. I felt a bit like Burgess Meredith in that Twilight Zone episode where he's the last man on Earth, except here there was no ruin, no fallout, just a stillness that felt otherworldly.

The towns square layout was unlike anything I had seen yet, especially for a village of barely three thousand. Where you would expect a gazebo, or a rusty teeter totter, there stood a cluster of distinguished old brick and stone buildings, the remnants, as I soon learned from a plaque, of an old college. Not just any college, either, but the first institution of higher education in northern Illinois, founded in 1839.

Ivy had conquered the limestone, red and deep green leaves clinging stubbornly to the façade, holding out hope for one last day of summer, like we all do this time of year. Standing there, I felt like my lone semester at community college had not earned me the right to admire it, as if I needed a master’s degree just to qualify to look at it. Locals still call it “the campus,” and it was not what I expected from a non stoplight town, but I have learned to never underestimate a place where life doesn't hold itself in such wreckless abandoned of "maybe I should speed up on the yellow turn of the light." Each building stood as beautiful as the next, almost begging students to return for one more semester that would never come.

Walking back to Wesley Street where the businesses made their home, I found a small town history buff’s dream, plaques. One after another. I could barely take thirty steps without sliding my reading glasses down from the top of my Red Sox cap to absorb the next free history lesson.

There was a bandshell just off the road, the back of the stage reading “One Nation Under God.” A plaque on it honored Warren G. Reckmeyer, director of the Kable Concert Band from 1957 to 2015, a band that, in fact, will be celebrating its 130th year in 2026, covering everything from pop and classical to, my favorite, big band. I have been a swing nerd for over thirty years, so I pursed my lips like a trumpet out of tune and hummed a shaky version of The Band Played On. Most folks prefer the Stones or the Beatles. Me, I am a sucker for Guy Lombardo.

Mount Morris did not just host one of the oldest colleges in northern Illinois, it also printed its way into American history. The Kable brothers built a publishing powerhouse here in the early 1900s, and at its height the presses roared day and night, turning out magazines, catalogs, and books that ended up on kitchen tables across the country. So much so that during the 1930s, it was one of only two towns in the United States that did not feel the weight of the decade. Hershey, Pennsylvania, had chocolate. Mount Morris had ink, paper, and the relentless rhythm of a printing press. While the rest of the country tightened its belt, this little village kept the lights on and the presses rolling, proof that sometimes a small town with a big idea can outlast the biggest storms, even one as menacing as the Great Depression.

Where most towns I visit celebrate the trails of the 16th President, here I stumbled across the 40th. Ronald Reagan was in Mount Morris on a cold day in 1963 for the dedication of the Freedom Bell. He was closer to Bedtime for Bonzo than ending the Cold War at that point, but that doesn't hinder the town from proudly displaying a jacket in its museum that he borrowed from a local on that blustery April day. Point blank‐ all towns have history, but I’ve never been a fan of chasing it on my phone or sitting in an old dusty library. I prefer to see it celebrated openly, just as Mount Morris does. From its ivy clad halls of higher learning to the enduring power of the printed word, to a Freedom Bell rung by Ronald Reagan himself. The band still plays on in Mount Morris Illinois - And to think i almost took the advice of a shopping cart quarter.

Did you go to the polls?

Tuesday was election day. Sure, you've heard a lot about Zohran Mamdani and NYC. He wasn't on your ballot, although Communism was--subtle, but it was there. There were many local issues and candidates in Columbus, and it was our first time to vote here--we'd been living in the suburbs about 1/2 mile from here. But the critical issue on our ballot and yours was the school board. It was not the zoo, although I did vote for that renewal; it was not the roads, which are awful. I don't know anything about the Columbus school system (shame on me for thinking it didn't matter) but I had seen what was happening in our suburb--moving to the left and costing us more for the slippery slope to progressivism. This is not an accident; there is a plan and it is very well-funded by people, non-profits and foreign actors--specifically China. The candidates may not even know they've been ensnared in a plan to collapse the USA. You start with the children.

Mamdani is an immigrant with inherited wealth from his Indian parents (one Hindu one Muslim) who was born in Uganda and grew up in Cape Town, South Africa. He's had no employment experience but did begin his career just a few years ago as a volunteer in a senate campaign. Not a school board, but small. Someone knows the funding source, but not me.

The importance of education to fight Communism

How important is K-12 education? Very. Extremely. Critical. We've got citizens under the age of 40 who didn't live during or learn about the Cold War and never learned about Communism, or the 100,000,000 citizens of Europe and Asia who were killed by their own socialist governments. Symbolically the Iron Curtain fell in November 1989. Thirty-six years ago.  We've got 3 generations who had DEI/multiculturalism/gender confusion stuffed down their throats. They are now educated to be stupid and ignorant and voted for a Communist Islamist in more than one "blue" city. There are not enough homeschooling parents or Charlie Kirks to match the power of the leftist teachers' unions and funding by Soros.

The under 40 products of the schools don't see one of the major parties of the U.S. going under and drowning in lies because they have never learned the truth about Marxism. They wave their tiny, itsy bitsy American flags and salivate over words like Democracy and Justice, and yet have no understanding, no learning, no wisdom and no experience.

Gracious, did you hear the latest insanity of Nancy Pelosi. Sure, she's old and maybe demented, but I think she's also addled by Trump hatred. They blather on about Nazism and Hitler and don't realize those are socialist roots. That's why it's called National Socialism, aka Nazi. They scream about intifada and Palestine while we (sensible, conservative, wise) were naive enough to believe anti-Semitism in the U.S. had died with the KKK and Jim Crow, other scourges rooted in the Democrat party. The Democrats have gone from Cancel Culture to Assassination Culture, and the ignorant voters went along with it. Marxist playbook all the way. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/pelosi-rants-about-trump-calling-him-vile-creature-calls-republicans-puppets-of-trump/

Communists, thugs and radical Muslims have taken over the Democrat Party

Why are Obama and Politico defending or endorsing Democrat Jay Jones? Saying "sorry" just doesn't cut it when he fantasized about killing his opponent's children. Yes, he should be sorry, should apologize and should never, ever run for public office. And shame on Politico. Mentions the scandal but doesn't say what it is. "Jones fantasized about shooting Todd Gilbert, the Republican who was then-speaker of the Virginia house; talked of pissing on the graves of Republican officeholders if they predeceased him; and expressed his belief that Republicans would only change their views if they experienced personal pain, and allegedly gave as an example the wife of Todd Gilbert watching her child die in her arms.

Rather than slinking away somewhere upon the revelation of these disqualifying messages, Jones responded with defiant misdirection.

“Like all people,” he said in a statement, “I’ve sent text messages that I regret.” Yes, who among us hasn’t hoped to see people we disagree with get shot or suffer the loss of loved ones via text message? . . ." Virginia: The Jay Jones Misdirection | National Review

No, "all people" don't fanaticize about killing children or pissing on graves. What a ghoul. A disgrace to his party. Virginia Democrats should be ashamed, as should NYC Democrats and Democrats all over the country be ashamed of running a Communist as Mayor of the so-called premier city. Democrats are afraid of their Leftist base (aka foundation) and Muslims. Fear has driven them to cowardness. They can't even kick these guys out, they only know how to gaslight and lie. 

E. T. phone home

Tonight's movie, E. T., was originally going to be outside--sort of a Halloween treat--but it was too cold and rainy. So, we gathered in the "living room" of The Estates (aka The Forum) with popcorn. I was apparently the only person in the world who'd never seen it when it came out 43 years ago, because only two of us showed up! I won't go through it since you've all seen it, but as I was watching it, I wondered what the writer's real motive was. I rarely watch or read science fiction--I tend to live in reality. Immediately I noticed the family divorce was essential to the story. Even before the fantastical extraterrestrial part starts the atmosphere of the film is eerie and morose. As the little boy Elliott (played by Michael Taylor) develops a relationship he was going to lose I kept wondering if this story was about him and his "lost" father. There's a very moving scene where he and his brother reminisce about playing ball with their dad, but knowing he isn't coming back. When I returned to my apartment, I looked it up and sure enough it was inspired in part by Steven Spielberg's parents' divorce. He wasn't the writer but was working on something and turned his ideas and emotions over to the writer, Melissa Mathison. She developed it into a wonderful science fiction tale. Much later Spielberg did a movie about his parents called the Fabelmans (2022).

A (too) sweet breakfast

Bob and I both had oats for breakfast. I had a bowl of Kellogg's low fat granola with raisins, and he had oatmeal with a few raisins made in the microwave.

His oats had one ingredient--whole oats. Mine had whole oats, sugar, brown rice syrup, rice crisps (made with sugar) and molasses (aka sugar). Mine was 28% sugar (32 grams) and his was 0% (1 gram). Mine had 3 grams of fat and so did his. Mine had 115 mg of sodium and his had 0 mg sodium. Mine had 6 grams of protein and his had 5 grams. Mine had 4 grams of fiber and his had 6. Mine had 240 calories per serving and his had 150 calories. Serving sizes (in grams) were not the same probably because my serving size (larger) included raisins and he added raisins to his, so some of the nutrients were hard to compare.

But still, what part of my cereal was low fat, the most prominent phrase on the box? Compared to what--a candy bar? Who needs that much sugar on/in their cereal? US population consumes more than 300% of the recommended daily amount of added sugar. Since 2000 the rate of consumption of sugar is actually slowing down as is the increase in obesity. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6959843/

Julia Danison, founding member of UALC

We sat behind Julia for many years in the early service at UALC.  Also we used to see her in Lakeside where she and some lady friends would visit in the summer.  She also enjoyed winters in Florida.  In 2009 we traveled together to Israel in a "Steps of Paul" tour. A fun lady and a strong Christian. Today at her memorial service we saw many old friends and met her grandchildren. I have a 1976 church photo directory that shows Julie, her husband Don and youngest son Doug (then a little guy) who spoke at the service sharing many memories.

"Julia A. Danison, age 94, passed away peacefully on Sunday, October 5, 2025 with family at her side. She was born on November 6, 1930 in Thornville, Ohio to the late Fred and Esta (Helser) Edmund.

Born and raised in Thornville, Julie was the youngest of three children and the only girl. Julie worked in the local pharmacy and had fond memories of watching an owl that lived outside her bedroom window, leading to a lifelong love of owls.

Julie met Don Danison of Glenford, Ohio, and they were married on June 10, 1951. They moved to Columbus, Ohio, where Julie graduated from Capital University with an Associates Degree in Secretarial Studies. Don’s career took them to Dallas, Texas, and Durham, North Carolina before settling back in Columbus to raise their family.

Don and Julie were charter members of Upper Arlington Lutheran Church. They built deep and lasting, lifelong friendships at church and in the community. Julie loved going to Fort Myers Beach, Florida, where Don and Julie bought a condo. She knew everyone by the pool, and everyone knew Julie.

Julie loved her family. She invested everything she had into being an amazing Wife, Mom, Mom-Mom, Grandma, and Great-Grandma. Even as her memory was failing in her final years, she would regularly say, “I loved being a Mom,” with a bright smile on her face and a glow in her blue eyes.

Julie lost Don in January 1997 and lived for nearly 30 years as a widow. Beneath Julie’s friendliness was an incredibly strong woman who endured despite the loss of her father, a brother, her best friend, and her husband all at young ages.

Julie will be greatly missed by her three children and their spouses, Deb (Bill), Dean (Tracey), and Doug (Joy), along with her eight grandchildren Samantha, Jacob (Jennifer), Zachary (Allie), James, Andy, Naomi, Saideh, and Matthew; and her five great-grandchildren Brooklyn, Ethan, Owen, Hunter, and Brayden.

A memorial service for Julie will be held at 1 p.m. October 28, followed by a reception, at Upper Arlington Lutheran Church, 2300 Lytham Road, Columbus, Ohio 43220. All who loved Julie are welcome to attend. Private interment will occur at a later time at UALC Columbarium, where Julie will be laid to rest alongside her beloved Don.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Upper Arlington Lutheran Church. Julia Danison Obituary - Columbus, OH

My new church lady dress

PRODUCT DETAILS:

Light, breathable chiffon
Ruffled mandarin collar with picot edge
Keyhole neckline with self-covered button and elastic loop
Long sleeves with shirring at the shoulders
Elastic waistband with self-tie belt
Tiered maxi-length skirt for effortless movement
Pullover style for easy wear

That's what it said in the review, and it looked blue so I thought it might be nice.  However, it was very sheer and the weather had turned cold.  I looked for a jacket, but instead of blue, it really looked dark gray. My solution was to wear a very dark gray, long sleeve t-shirt underneath it. I was nice and toasty, and no one knew the difference since it was exactly the color of the dress. It's definitely a "maxi," and goes to the top of my shoes.  But I look about 20 lbs. heavier.

  

Fried Green Tomatoes redux

The film at The Estates (formerly the Forum) on Sunday was Fried Green Tomatoes, a very popular 1992 retelling of Fannie Flagg's best setting novel (1987). All four of the women who star in it are winners--Kathy Bates (as Evelyn), Jessica Tandy (as Ninny), Mary Stuart Masterson (as Idgie) and Mary Louise Parker (as Ruth). It takes place in two eras, the 1920-30s and 1980-90s. Ninny tells Evelyn the story about Idgie and Ruth, thus bonding them as Evelyn slowly gathers the strength to become as strong as the two women in the story

 
It was funny in a sly way. Maybe more relevant in the 80s. In some ways it was a bit off putting because the story telling takes place in Ninny's residence--a nursing home, and Ninny is 83. It reinforces the image of the elderly--need I tell you what that image is? Or the image of blacks being victims, who rise up and destroy the dim witted, nasty white men. And women can't be real women with authentic friendships unless they are lesbians or brow beaten closet feminists with stupid, bumbling husbands (named couch).

I'm not playing the victim here, but the book is almost 40 years old and the movie almost 35. No wonder generations have grown up with this vision of race relations in our country. It's been a theme in their culture.

The White House Ballroom

" . . . But the biggest White House remodel to date started in the 1940s. That's when President Harry S. Truman fully gutted and rebuilt the interior in response to concerns about severe structural damage. When the Trumans moved into the Executive Mansion in 1945, engineers warned them that the building was on the verge of collapse. His family relocated to temporary quarters nearby during construction, which took around three years.

 
Other presidents have directed smaller projects, like President Barack Obama. He adapted an existing tennis court so it could be used for basketball. In his second term, President Trump has already undertaken several projects — including an entirely remodeled Rose Garden. That feature was first added by First Lady Edith Wilson in 1913 and updated to its most iconic form during the Kennedy administration." (WPTZ)

And here's what Teddy Roosevelt did to it.  https://www.whitehousehistory.org/theodore-roosevelts-white-house?  

And because of the hissy fits, the WH put out a complete list.  https://www.whitehouse.gov/articles/2025/10/white-house-ballroom-proud-presidential-legacy/?   

Let's face it, folks, If President Trump had regrouted the bathroom tile, the Demikratz would have been screeching because this is about hate, not remodeling, not even money, They stomp on the unborn, mutilate children, import sex slaves, allow thousands to be poisoned by drugs, ignore terrorists crossing our borders, and elected an auto-pen to lead us. Do you really think they are bothered by some bricks and mortar?

Market Outlook, October 2025

 From our broker's report. "U.S. stocks extended their rally into the third quarter, led by strong recoveries in technology, consumer discretionary, and communication services-sectors previously pressured by tariff concerns. The S&P 500 has surged over 30% since the April 8th low, highlighting the resilience of markets and investor confidence amid ongoing uncertainties like tariffs, Federal Reserve scrutiny, cooling consumer spending, softening job growth, and the recent government shutdown.  Despite volatility, our strategy remains anchored in broad diversification, deliberately avoiding overconcentration in any one sector or stock, while hedging against inflation and stagflation risks."

Then says Yahoo. S&P 500 INDEX (^SPX) Historical Data - Yahoo Finance

Then says U.S. Bank:  "President Donald Trump has prioritized domestic manufacturing while extending key tax cuts from the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, leading investors to question the stock market’s direction. After the inauguration, President Trump announced and implemented numerous tariffs, causing the S&P 500 to drop nearly 20% in just seven weeks. However, the market rebounded strongly; after reaching its lowest point of 2025 on April 7, the S&P 500 has surged more than 34% and remains near all time high."  Stock Market Under the Trump Administration | U.S. Bank.