Memories of remodeling

 
I've enjoyed the Facebook photos of Keith Fernandes, a friend of our children, spending his vacation remodeling his bathroom. The work clothes and the exhausted look brought back the memories of our first home in Champaign, IL. Sometimes I say "we" remodeled it, however I don't saw, hammer, plumb or sweat because I watched my mother do that and swore I'd never do it. Bob did it all. One night (1962) there was a trip to the ER because something fell on his head. Then there was a truck borrowed from a construction site to haul away debris thrown out a 2nd floor window and the ex-con he hired to help with the heavy wall board and studs. Bob made the mistake of paying him in cash the first day and he didn't come back the second day. This was all done to make it into a working duplex. We lived downstairs and rented the upstairs. It is the only way to make money buying a house--rent it to someone else. When we bought a second house in a nicer area of town we rented out both units and that paid the mortgages on both houses. Years later after we'd sold it on land contract and moved to Columbus, a bank error was found and we were returned some money.

A re-run (no pun) about men competing against women

I wrote this Dec. 9, 2023, thus the reference to Harris and Biden. It's appropriate today because of what is going on in California (AB Hernandez of Jurupa Valley--a boy, posing as a girl). The nation is waking up to Woke, and it's about 90-10 against the trans movement. It's not about human rights, it's a political agenda.

"When the United States House of Representatives voted to pass the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act on Thursday, every Democrat lawmaker present — 203 in total — voted against protecting women's sports. CNN reported to its readers that Republicans had passed an anti-trans bill. Yet, most Americans support the values and benefits organized sports can provide all children even if they don't go on to compete for college scholarships or the Olympic gold. Most Americans don't want the 50 year old protection and encouragement for girls destroyed to assuage the angst and ignorance of a political group. So, are we really divided as a country, or is the Democrat Party lying about caring about women?
We have a Democrat vice president chosen because of her sex; the newest Supreme Court justice chosen because of her sex; and at least 3 unbelievably naive college presidents hired because of their sex (all 3 who testified evasively about hate on their campus for Jews this week). But putting 6 ft boys on a volley ball team against 5.5 ft girls and in their locker room risking assault--then it's OK for men to take away women's rights. It's the Democrat way.

If you are a registered Democrat, leave now. Flee the plantation. Throw away your crutches. Escape from the poor house. Break out of prison. Beat down the doors of that insane asylum."

Bud Light became the poster child of bad business

Recently I watched a book interview with Anson Frericks on C-Span Book TV, "Last call for Bud Light." It was excellent and I learned a lot about corporations, marketing, capitalism, and particularly ESG, DEI, and other European trends that affect our businesses in a global economy.

https://youtu.be/P1GfS4vo12g?si=Ke8AJeQ5HJoN7PsV

Tips about memory for the elderly, the senior citizens and old farts

I was about 50 when I began to notice it. More and more I was hearing people (my age and older) comment about their memory, recall, and old times. It would bring to mind my grandmother. Here's my advice.

1. If you can't remember a word, face or event, DO NOT SAY to yourself or others some version of "I can't remember." Do not make an angry or silly face or slap your head (it causes wrinkles). You're reinforcing the idea, setting it in cement. Pause, breathe and continue. If it was gossip, it's just as well.

2. DO NOT SAY to yourself or others, "Oh, this is so frustrating!" That will probably signal to your body that it should be alarmed and raise your blood pressure or start a headache.

Instead.

1. If you are writing, just make a small line to be filled in later. When the word or topic comes back (and it usually will), you've provided the context and you can continue.

2. If you are talking, move on to the next word, sentence or topic. The person you're talking to is probably also forgetful or distracted and may not notice unless you make it a big issue. If it was gossip or criticism, it's just as well because no one wants to hear it anyway.

 
Ascension Day is tomorrow or Sunday, June 1, depending on the tradition you follow. Think of that thought or idea as Jesus ascending into the clouds (or if you aren't religious, maybe THE cloud for computer storage), but soon the Helper, the Comforter, the Paraclete or the Caller-to-mind will descend, and you'll be filled with joy and peace.

Keeping in touch with the class of 1957

 I was talking to my brother in Illinois the other day while sitting in our driveway soaking up the beautiful weather. One of the advantages of our high-tech communication--cell phones. He mentioned that he and a few of his class members of 1959 had gathered recently--maybe 10 of them.  A few women from my high school class (1957) also met the week before for coffee.  An e-mail had gone out discussing some 1950s memories of the "campus" in our hometown.  It wasn't our high school campus, but the old college campus that our parents attended until it closed a year after a disastrous fire in 1930. It's still called the "campus."  One memory popped up of one of our more unusual classmates, Neal Johnston, who marched to a different drummer, and died in 2010. Here's his obituary from my class blog. MMHS1957: Neal Johnston, class member, dies May 24

My parents met on a "blind" date, but my Dad did change his school plans after that so he could attend Mt. Morris College after he and Mom met.  Today is her birthday.

Sell or donate your old books?

 I'll never do that again!

It seems we are always cleaning out books, but the shelves are always full. Books are like rabbits!! So this time I decided to try "Half Price Books" on Bethel Rd. instead of donating to the library, the VOA or the cancer shop. I think I got about $.25 a pound. I'd already checked the internet and knew what resale was going for--I sort of figured middle. My rare and unusual weren't prime--they definitely had been loved, and I'd bought them used maybe 10-15 years ago. Still, a vol 1 no. 1 of Atlantic. That was hard to give up (I collect first issues but no one else I know does). But I had looked up my Wenger genealogy volume from 1977, and it was going for $130 in even poor condition. I'm a descendant of Hans, not Chrisitan (both arrived in the colonies in 17th century) but it was still interesting if you are Mennonite or Brethren. He said, "Well, we don't have much market for genealogy. " But I'm sure they have "pickers" who do resale. So, it's back to the library next time. I'd rather donate for a good cause and get nothing. I had some massive, really interesting architecture books too, but I already knew they would not be worth much--even checking the internet they were only about $8. I had to make one trip to the car for each! We'll probably take our art books with us to Lakeside and donate to Rhein Center for classes.

Speaking of books, yesterday I found several articles about Books Within Books. It seems in many books when printing became profitable and affordable, many old and medieval Jewish manuscripts in Hebrew were used in the bindings, and now they are being "liberated" for their content and even Biblical stories. I plan to write on it soon. The databases were just created in the last 10 or 15 years.

Books Within Books

Books Within Books - Printed_MatterPrinted_Matter

Rural Free Delivery

 Until today, I didn't know the postal service had a podcast.  Very interesting. How Rural Free Delivery Changed America | Mailin’ It! - The Official USPS Podcast

The Hur interview with Biden has been leaked

Dr. Anna Loska Meenan reports: "The audio just dropped last night during Laura Ingraham’s show, and she played some of it. I had 2 reactions: sadness and anger. I was sad because Joe sounded so much like my mother did during the worst of her dementia, the way he drifted into imagined stories, and I wondered how people who supposedly loved him could put him through everything he was going through. Then I got angry, because this man who frequently couldn’t put a coherent sentence together was in charge of our country, and everyone around him knew he was not competent and covered for him anyway, telling those of us who saw it that we were right-wing conspiracy nuts who watched Fox News too much, and all along Fox was reporting the truth. They raided Trump’s home and arrested and prosecuted him for keeping documents he was legally entitled to have in secure storage, while declining to prosecute Biden for keeping documents he was not entitled to have in boxes in his garage, just because they claimed he was too mentally impaired to stand trial."

What to know about leaked audio from Joe Biden, Robert Hur interview

Do you shop at Costco?

Maybe you always knew this, but I didn't. Probably because I don't subscribe to a lot of things or buy in bulk. Costco makes its money from memberships fees, not from selling merchandise. It's like going to the movies (sort of). We spent about $8.15 on the early show last week, and the popcorn was $11 for a small bag (we said no to that). Or joining a health food co-op. You pay a membership fee and get food for less, but the owners may be making the money from your membership. Or maybe gift cards? Many people never use them, but the company has the cash. I'll have to think about it. They make their profit just by letting you in the door.

How Costco Makes Money

7 Ways to Shop at Costco Without a Membership (2025)

13 Things You Need to Know Before Buying A Costco Membership

Here's my take on the Qatar plane dust up

1. Democrats need an issue. Any issue. It's nowhere near what Biden accepted from Ukraine with Hunter's selling influence. We've even got him on tape. Now we've paid billions.

2. But put it in practical, easy to understand terms. Let's say your rich neighbor invites you to a back yard BBQ and says, casual clothes. But when you get there, the other neighbors knew the dress code and you didn't. The hostess takes pity on you and gives you something to wear from their closet, so you don't look like a loser.

Trump Administration To Be Gifted A Luxury Boeing 747-8 From The Qatari Royal Family

New outfits for Mothers' Day

On Mothers' Day we had a lovely worship service and Sunday School at a neighborhood school (UALC is being remodeled) and then went to The Avenue in Dublin, OH, for dinner. So much traffic! Not only was half the country calling their mothers, but the rest were on the road. Dinner was delightful. Then back home to open a present . . . it was a bit snug, so my son-in-law and I went shopping! I also had a Christmas gift card with me, and there were Spring sales, so I bought a summer dress, too. And here I am wearing the package ribbons.

ABCs of Corruption

Norma's ABCs of Democrat Corruption from January 20, 2023

I think I posted this, but can't find it, so here it is maybe again.

Abortion
Border
CIA censorship and collusion
Diversity Inclusion and Equity
Education, Department of
FBI
Green New Deal
Homeland Security, Department of
Interference, Election
Justice, Department of
Kerry, John
Laptop, Hunter Biden’s
Mail in Ballots
National Security Council, Biden’s
Open Society Foundation—George Soros’ grants
Perkins Coie
Questions, Biden answering
Russia, Russia, Russia
Surveillance
Transagenda
Ukraine—VP Joe Biden leveraged $1 billion in aid
Vaccine mandates
Woke
Xi Jingping
YouTube, Google, Facebook, Twitter collusion with gov't
Zuckerberg

So many fish stories

There are so many fish stories in the Bible. This morning, I was looking for some details about the fish that figures in the miracles in the book of Tobit. I came across again the wisdom the father Tobit gives to his son Tobias as he sets out for the journey with the angel Raphael (although he doesn't know he's an angel). 

"Revere the Lord all your days, my son, and refuse to sin or to transgress his commandments. Live uprightly all the days of your life, and do not walk in the ways of wrongdoing; for those who act in accordance with truth will prosper in all their activities. To all those who practice righteousness give alms from your possessions, and do not let your eye begrudge the gift when you make it. Do not turn your face away from anyone who is poor, and the face of God will not be turned away from you. If you have many possessions, make your gift from them in proportion; if few, do not be afraid to give according to the little you have. So you will be laying up a good treasure for yourself against the day of necessity. For almsgiving delivers from death and keeps you from going into the Darkness. Indeed, almsgiving, for all who practice it, is an excellent offering in the presence of the Most High." Tobit 4:5-11 

Because Tobit, who is blind, thinks he is dying (there is a prayer about that), this advice to his son Tobias is followed by instructions on marriage, treatment of others and seeking advice. We readers know that his future daughter-in-law, Sarah, who is depressed and wants to die, is also praying. 

Great story.

The first American Pope, Leo XIV

Yesterday May 8 was a BIG day. UK and US celebrated the 80th anniversary of VE day (Victory in Europe) with a trade deal and the world has a new Pope, Leo XIV. Many are claiming victory, many on the fringes are rioting just because . . . and experts everywhere are left stunned and speechless. President Trump had been floating a tease about a "deal" but I think this unexpected appointment took some of the glitter off his big announcement. And this all happened on the day India and Pakistan conflict of many decades got much worse. India is now the country with the most population--over 1.4 billion.

I watched 2 interviews with his older brothers. Their shock was awesome. He will always be their "little brother." It seems from a small boy he'd wanted to be a priest. Since he's been in Peru for 40 years and is also a citizen there, I'm not sure how "American" he is by this time. Missing the 80s, 90s and the first quarter of the century means he's missed a lot of the chaos and disruption in our culture.

And also I found out 2025 is a Jubilee Year in the Catholic Church. This jubilee was announced by Pope John Paul II at the end of the 2000 Great Jubilee and is celebrated from Christmas Eve (24 December) 2024 to Epiphany (6 January) 2026, lasting a total of 379 days.
The theme for the 2025 Jubilee is "Pilgrims of Hope."


Leo XIV is the new Pope - Vatican News

Fact Sheet: U.S.-UK Reach Historic Trade Deal – The White House

India Pakistan War Breaking News 5 Pakistani Jets Down, Over 50 Drones Hit: What Happened On Thursday Night (May 8-9)? | Times Now

China is not the biggest threat

This is my personal opinion, but China is not our greatest enemy. Radical, fundamentalist Islam is. And although Islamists kill each other in the millions with no thought of even their own people, and they are not united in one country or one theology, they hate Jews and Christians as much as they hate other Muslims. We see it now on our "elite" campuses. Infiltration. We see it in our Congress. Virtue signaling. They have a love fest with the Communists, Socialists and Progressives among us. Bad news. Obama and Biden were the worst of our leadership in being sucked into their plans, ignoring their nuclear threats, but it starts in the universities. Obama seemed full of spite and Biden full of B.S.

Democrats are losing their party, but some are loyalists. They are going against everything they used to say they supported in their 20th century campaigns. Patriotism, working class, merit, hard work, family, Christian values. Of course they were soft even then, so environmentalism became global warming became climate change. The Civil Rights movement was stolen from blacks and became feminism, gay rights, and then trans anything even animals. Even Transtifa.

America --home of the brave victim?

 https://www.city-journal.org/article/small-business-administration-federal-contracts-race-discrimination-essays?

"The Supreme Court’s 2023 Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard decision ruled that racial preferences in university admissions are unconstitutional. Since that decision, universities have used applicants’ personal essays about discrimination as a backdoor way to continue racial favoritism."

How to turn the application process into a fiction writing class.