Lakeside Women's Club, 2019

Last week I was a hostess at the Lakeside Women's Club program "A Photographic History of Knitting: 1900to 2019" presented by Gretchen Curtis, LWC President. Gretchen used to be the Heritage Museum archivist and always presented such interesting programs.  She was also one of the Porch Stories presenters its first year.  This week's program was "Here comes the bride and bridesmaids, 1940s - 2010," although one dress was from 1909 and one was from 2018.  It was a fun program, and one woman who talked was 100 years old.  Made me think I should go back to coloring my hair, because she looked terrific--not a day over 80.

I did feel sad knowing my wedding dress, made by my mother in 1955 for my sister, had been given to the Discovery Shop (cancer) when no one in the family wanted it.  I was trying to pare down our stuffed closets, but I wish now I'd kept it--maybe for a style show to be used one more time.

One woman modeled her "mother of the bride" dress from 1984, and it was lovely--could go anywhere today, and she said she bought it for $1.00 at a resale shop. Several women in the audience were married 60 years or more, and they received a small gift.

The photo is my co-hostess Barb Hoffman and I on June 18 although she brought some lovely little fruit snacks on skewers which don't show, and all I did was open two packages of sandwich cookies and make the ice tea.  In the background is the LWC library, which I've been using this summer to do some porch reading--just about finished with "Nomadland: Surviving America in the 21st Century by Jessica Bruder" which will be reviewed on Friday by the ladies who run the bookstore.

Book review “Nomadland by Jessia Bruder

This Friday the Lakeside Women's Club book review is "Nomandland; surviving America in the 21st century" by Jessica Bruder. (2017) I'm about 1/3 finished, but I get the drift. Convince the readers there's something terribly wrong with the USA instead of the poor decisions, divorces, childhoods and investments of selected people interviewed for the book. So far, although the "great" recession of 2008 is noted as a cause for the white collar workers, the underlying factors in many of these cases are divorce, and/or an unhappy, abusive childhood that also included divorce, disruption, and frequent moves. I've been skimming or reading books like this for 4 decades. And since the so-called War on Poverty and the disintegration of households of married couples and families, the discussion doesn't get more positive, but the journalists/fabulists don't seem to catch on.

We first met nomad retirees in 2003 in Glacier Park. They were quite happy with their lives, moving with the tourism industry, northwest in the summer and south in the winter. According to Bruder, this movement has drastically increased as boomers hit retirement age, the internet glamorized it, and Amazon and other suppliers began to encourage a new migrant class of elder workers in RVs, vans and campers.

However, since the 1950s, our culture has glamorized the freedom of the open road, living off the grid, and personal liberty without family responsibilities in our films, theater, TV, literature or even neighborhood gossip. We shouldn't be surprised if a tiny percentage tried to grab this fading brass ring on a merry go round and found it a struggle of clunker RVs and difficult physical labor in warehouses.

So readers have a rich stew of anecdotes sprinkled with statistics about the history of retirement (it's a relatively recent concept). The reader can blame evil capitalists, bad government programs, Amazon, shrinking pensions, and overall malaise.

I'm shocked, shocked that aliens are flooding our borders. They need to read sad best sellers and then they would stay home.

Democrats espousing socialism, guest blogger

"I have seen some pretty strange things in my life and travels but nothing so blatant as Democrats openly and directly campaigning against the rights of American citizens, openly espousing socialism, flagrantly conspiring with illegal immigrants by teaching them how to evade arrest and so openly making common cause with the sworn enemies of America.

I mean they have done a little of each but never all at the same time and so arrogantly in the run-up to a presidential election year.

I haven't seen anything like this since the anti-Vietnam ethos of the 60's. Democrats say the GOP wants to take America back, but it appears they want to go back to the Fritz Mondale era.

This is on what they are going to run. This is their platform.

I don't want to jinx this but this is beginning to feel like 1984 (the year, not the book) when Reagan beat Mondale like a red-headed stepchild."

Michael Smith

I don't own this t-shirt, but I should

Bernie's immoral theft

Ilhan Omar needs to resign

Minnesota media and Democrats have failed miserably in uncovering, or reporting on Ilhan Omar's illegal behavior and tax evasion. It appears she may have married her brother, and then later filed income taxes with a man not her husband.   Not only does she hate the country that gave her refuge, she is in Congress making decisions about how the rest of us are allowed to live.

https://pjmedia.com/trending/new-documents-released-regarding-rep-ilhan-omars-possible-bigamy-and-incest/

Although with Democrats changing all the rules and then promoting reparations, perhaps incest, polygamy and filing as as household could become retroactively legal.  Elizabeth Warren wants gay couples to get reparations, although since so many never took advantage of the laws to protect their partners, don’t see that as anything other than to get more votes for Democrats.

https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2019/06/20/warren-introduces-bill-to-allow-wedded-gay-couples-to-amend-tax-returns/

When Mark walked away, guest blogger

“So, I walked away in the 80s. Before, I had been a raging liberal. Born and raised in DC, so politics was in my blood. What caused me to question the Democrat party was that I had a small screen printing business in college. Printed a lot of local band shirts as well as some political shirts that I sold during rallies at the mall. Mostly conservation stuff as I was deeply involved in Sierra Club. I printed "Flaming Liberal" shirts for the DNC and printed shirts for the National Coalition to Ban Handguns. One of my shirts even made it into People Magazine. (see below). So, I had just printed a bunch of shirts for DNC rally and went into their office to get paid. The director at the time, I forget his name, Michael something or another, asked me if I wanted to donate the shirts to the "cause". I said, "I already do 'em cheap, and I need to eat, so not really."

He then told me that my contribution would be greatly appreciated by not only them, but by other organizations in town.  I got a little nervous. Asked him what he meant, and he said that the DNC has long fingers in the lobbying groups in DC and it would be a shame if I found myself without clients. I asked him if this was a threat, to which he denied. I asked him how I was supposed to eat and he said that I could make more money off social services than printing shirts.

Well, I told him no, and that I had delivered 250 shirts and expected to get paid. He had someone write me a check and I left. The whole thing unnerved me. The next day, the director of the National Coalition to Ban Handguns called me and said that my services were no longer needed. I also had a bunch of shirts for sale at a local liberal bookstore and was told that I couldn't sell there anymore. At the time, I was also doing all the design and layout for the Sierra Club's Legal Action newsletter, which ended just as abruptly. I was creating posters for a group called "Liberation Graphics", mostly pro PLO stuff and pro Sandanista stuff. Yeah, that ended too.

The next day I went back to the DNC and asked what the heck they were doing to me and why? I was told to leave or they'd call the police. I was told that I couldn't be trusted. I remember so clearly the following week was the Rock against Reagan at the Washington monument. I was into punk (still am), so I wanted to make a statement. I first sent a certified letter to the DNC stating that any images of mine were not to be used in any print or video publications. This included my Flaming Liberal shirt. I then printed a bunch of them and overprinted "Destroy" in bright red. Took them to the rally and sold them to the "other side". I was amazed at how accepting Reagan supporters were to me when I told my story.

I lost a lot of friends that day, but made even more. I realized that the "cause" of the left wasn't anything more than money and an agenda. It took me a few years to fully embrace the right, but that day in the DNC opened my eyes. It was actually heart breaking to lose so much, so many friends, and to realize that I had basically been taken by the Democrats because I was young and stupid. I walked away and never looked back.”

Democrats—destroy small businesses before they can become capitalists.  Look at the larger scene and it’s done with regulations and taxation.

Summer school of Faith, 2019

I've been following Charles Craigmile's  summer lectures for 5 or 6 years. This summer's program will address many of the issues facing us in our culture. He's interesting, has a sense of humor, and is well prepared. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AcS6WXVr6GU  He's not a priest, pastor or professor, and instead is a businessman. I've watched the first lecture--outstanding, and the 2nd is on line, they will be off during July 4 week.

Saying good-bye to Joe Schappa

We returned to Columbus on Sunday for a memorial gathering in the ballroom at the Southern Hotel for Joe Schappa, who died in Florida in March.  He was my husband's partner when he was an owner at Feinknopf, Maccioce and Schappa.  Bob was with the firm for 18 years and left in 1994 to being his own practice, so we had an opportunity to see many old friends and colleges--and especially enjoyed seeing again Joe's wife Ruth, and his sons Noah and Caleb who were just little boys the last time I saw them. Now we saw them with Joe and Ruth's grandchildren.  What a delight. When enjoyed hearing the memories and eulogies.

I remember when my parents were in their 80s and their social life seemed to revolve around going to funerals and memorials.  There was no spiritual component to this event, but seeing the photos, his friends and family were worth the trip.

https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/thisweeknews/obituary.aspx?pid=193152836

Lakeside 2019, Week 2

This morning on my 2 mile walk I was counting bicycles—0ne house had 13—all sizes and colors.  That must have been a challenge to load and haul here.  Then I also counted Canada geese—36 in one area, but in 3 groups.  One group of 10 or so was parents (and maybe aunties) with adolescents.  It’s always fun to see them upside down having an underwater snack.

The first two morning lectures (Monday and Tuesday a.m.) are about my nemesis—EMR or EHR. Ever since they were foisted on us during the Obama years with promises of both improving outcomes and reducing costs they have been shown to be neither.  The topics are “Using big data from Electronic health records for clinical discovery” (the primary use of them so we pay so they can mine our health records), and “Personal electronic Health records; advantages and concerns.” Two years ago my husband’s medical records—all on line--in Columbus were hacked—God only knows who now has his social security number, mother’s maiden name and next of kin.

Wednesday and Thursday morning programs are on Lake Erie. Unless you get someone who wants to get spiritual about climate change, these are usually interesting. There are also afternoon programs on Lake Erie—something about Mayflies on Tuesday at 2 p.m. at the pavilion.  I crunch those underfoot on my morning walks—they only live a day, but reflect the health of the lake.

Afternoons we have an author visit by Scott Longert, and the women’s club is having a “Here comes the bride” program with Polly Albrecht.  I think it features wedding gowns from 1940-2010. It grieved me to give up the lovely dress Mom made for Joanne in 1955 and I wore in 1960 (and used at our 50th celebration at Phoebe's on a mannequin, but no one in the family wanted it, and Julie who had stored it all these years didn’t want it back.

It looks like the Herb group which I enjoyed for about 10 years has finally folded its tent and put away the gardening tools. We had some fabulous times either down by the lake or at the train station.  In its place there is a gardening program.  That ship has sailed for me.  I was never a gardener, and never will be.  Even flowers started and planted by someone else don’t flourish for me.   And I see there are some Wellness seminars, but I think I know what is needed, “Eat less, Move More,” or ELMM.   Friday there is a seminar I think I can use—“Organizing 101: Simply Our Stuff.” Maybe it will tell us how to say "good-bye" to junk we don't need.

I used to take advantage of the 3 p.m. Friday seminar on World Affairs, but that became a chore with the various problems being discussed on TV and social media.  Families and best friends are taking sides and accusing each other of being racists or communists and anarchists.  It’s just too painful to witness.

Argument with a liberal--Turning Point USA

Lakeside 2019, week 1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=22&v=I1ZgaQNp4Is  Gary Lewis and the Playboys was our Friday night program at Lakeside.  This clip is from 2016, and the band looks the same, and he sounds much the same.  He’s just as skinny as he was in his 20s.  He was born in 1945, so he’s up there in years for live performing.  When his career was going strong in the 1960s he was drafted during the Vietnam War, and the career never really recovered, and for the teen market, you can’t let them forget you.  According to several bios I’ve read, singing wasn’t his strength even in the 1960s, and he started performing as a drummer. Most of his performances today are for the nostalgia market.  We noticed a number of boomers really enjoying themselves.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAf3VavcVj4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XXIJx4HmnY

Jerry Lewis, his father who died in 2017, disinherited all his children from his first marriage. Gary mentioned during the show that is mother is still alive and he dedicated a song to her.

Special treatment for illegals with gender dysphoria

Thanks to an Obama policy continued by the Trump administration, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) gives transgender illegal aliens special treatment, including their own detention center in New Mexico that offers hair and makeup classes, a recreation area, gym, television rooms, a lab and pharmacy. Also free hormone therapy and legal services. Does this sound like a concentration camp? 
https://www.judicialwatch.org/blog/2019/06/transgender-illegal-aliens-get-special-treatment-hormone-therapy-under-policy-issued-by-trumps-border-czar/

Lakeside 2019, week one

Yesterday and today's programs in Lakeside are on the Little Free Library movement, begun by Todd Bol and now international. I think there are at least 4-5 in Lakeside, but not sure I've seen any in Upper Arlington. https://littlefreelibrary.org/ On my way to yesterday's lecture by Margaret Bernstein a Channel 3 Cleveland reporter I stopped at one and picked up a Jessica Fletcher mystery and replaced it with an Agatha Christie.

Tuesday’s Lakeside Women’s Club featured Gretchen Curtis on the History of Knitting in Photography, and I was the co-hostess providing and serving refreshments. That evening the Patriots Symphonic Band performed “Sounds of Summer.”  The band members are drawn from more than 25 communities across northeast Ohio, and I think this was their third performance in Lakeside.

Wednesday evening was the opening of the weekly community picnic, and we had a day of glorious weather, which has been in short supply this week.  Same menu as the previous 26 years--hot dogs, baked beans, macaroni salad, potato chips, water melon, and sandwich cookies. This year there are many new picnic tables in the park, so we finally left the lawn chairs in the car.

Janet Whitlatch, Lakeside neighbor

Janet, my neighbor on Oak St., died recently.  I didn’t know her well, having met her maybe in 2017 or 2018.  We walked to some programs together, both belonged to the Lakeside Women’s Club, both attended herb group.  She was 77.
https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/newarkadvocate/obituary.aspx?pid=191305926

Democrats’ tiresome Hitler theme

In my opinion, referring to one's enemies and petty crimes as "Hitler" or "Holocaust" or concentration camps as AOC did recently and Democrats do very often in referring to Trump is a subtle but noticeable form of anti-Semitism. It's a tiresome way to both diminish the pain of European Jewry in the 20th century and to enlarge one's outrage footprint in the 21st.

A very successful animal rights magazine "Animals Agenda" (published for 22 years) died in 2002 after it superimposed a photo of a "final solution" concentration camp with a chicken farm on its cover. But in those days, I suppose it was considered bad taste. Today, if the Left didn't have bad taste it would have nothing in its lunch box of bigotry and hate.

Communism is another terrible evil, one which the Left proudly extols even though that political/economic system killed 100,000,000 of its own citizens in Russia, China, Vietnam, Cambodia in the 20th century and is still making headway in Latin America. AOC and her ilk are silent. Like socialism, its daddy is Karl Marx. Communists had concentration camps, killed Jews, Christians and Muslims, starved people to death, destroyed cultures and economies, and turned churches into government buildings, warehouses or morgues ( Церковь Спаса на Крови), but when do Democrats call an opponent Marx, Stalin or Lenin? It's always their fallback, Hitler.

Oddly, they are obsessed with Vladimir Putin.

American citizens. . .

A lively blind rescue

I've been on two lakefront walks this morning, so I'm 4 miles good for the day. Noticed a lot of toxic white masculinity--roofers, carpenters, heavy equipment operators. Thank God for men doing the jobs women don't want. That wage gap is a total myth--feminists like to whine and compare salaries of part time baby sitters with engineers. Suing is a cottage industry in the grievance groups. Men had to give up private associations, but women didn't.

Also, stopped to talk to a woman walking a cute little white fluff ball dog--not a poodle, but the dust mop style. We stopped to chat and she told me the dog is a rescue. Her husband had died, and then later her dog. Because this adorable little piece of fluff was blind she was considered unadoptable, but the woman's other dog had been blind, so an exception was made. She's very lively--and although blind, she certainly can smell another dog and keeps her new owner on her toes. I think she said the rescue was Safe Harbor  https://islandshas.wixsite.com/ishas/large-grid

Our Lakeside stove

About 5 years ago our 20" electric stove at our lake house, probably 50 years old, went ka-boom and died. We went shopping in Sandusky and bought the cheapest possible model (about $370, and in 2019 it's $450) at ABC Appliances we could find. An odd size appliance like 20”  always costs more than standard and this one was a little like our 1963 Plymouth that had no radio and no AC. We were cheap then too.

So I've been shopping for something like I should have bought then--glass window in the oven door, drawer for storage and oven light. In 2013, I could have had all that for an additional $25, and now I'll shell out close to $600 for a 24" with delivery, cord and installation. Or, if my math is right, about $1,000 to replace my little old stove that came with the cottage in 1988. We went to Lowe's, Home Depot, ABC Appliances, and Frank’s. I finally ordered on-line from Sears.

To forgive myself for my foolish mistakes in money, I always reflect on the time we bought a lot about 30 years ago next to my sister in law when they lived on a lake in Indiana for $10,000 and sold it the next year for $20,000.

I’ll check around here and see if anyone in Lakeside has a small apartment and need a 20” stove, or when our niece and nephew come to visit in July, I’ll see if they want to take it back to Indianapolis.

An Illinois Catholic on the new abortion bill—guest blogger

“Our priest spoke about it numerous times, as did others. . .  The diocesan office encouraged everyone to pray, fast, and act.  For those who were able, many trips were taken to Springfield to protest this hideous legislation.  We were encouraged to spread the word about these bills.  Many wrote letters, many called. . . .  The judicial process allowed us to protest the bills via an online vote. 

It's saddening to realize we have people who do not value life.

In the recent newspaper from our Diocese, a priest has made it known that all legislators who voted for these bills and reside in his deanery will be denied holy communion (I believe it was a priest, might have come from another Bishop) . . .  until that person has made his/her confession.  And interestingly, both Madigan (Speaker of the House) and Culverton (Head of the Senate) are both Catholic.  The denial of holy communion is powerful.”