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Timothy Lavelle

I am wrong so often that I rarely take time to hope that my wishes could come true. Even as a child, when my parents told me there really was no Santa Claus, my only reply was "Figures".

I have in-laws who are very devout and rarely wasre time speaking with me. But I honor their decisin to go to their local thrift store to buy me a toy of some sort rather than a get well card. I received the toy in the mail yesterday.

The toy is pretty neat, if a little untimely. It is a cube, with photo scenes pasted to each side - a weird sort of rubik's cube that unfolds so that you can see many more than just six scenes. It is about the Amerian Civil War.

One of the scenes is a photo of U.S. Grant. Another is a photo of Robert E. Lee.

This morning I have twelve neo-Nazis and sixteen anti-neo-Nazi's marching in my yard, each with their point of view as to what I should do with this photo of Robert E. Lee. Late this morning, a Mr. Bannon showed up stating that he was free to take either side as long as he could, in his terms "stir up some $hit". Apparently he is looking for a job. I think he is just the latest burnt offering; the latest to be thrown under the bus to try to keep his ex-boss fixed in his seat of...I'd like to write "power" but I think that bird has flown; probably "confusion " or outright "lunacy" is more proper.

I know we don't do polirtics here. So why do some of you write me and tell me (on the side) how embarrassed you are for our country? Sad that you had to vote, not "for" but "against" someone.

Now people are saying that Big Phooey may resign. I'll say it again. I am wrong so often that I rarely take time to hope that my wishes could come true.

I promise that I won't do this, won't write politically again until the next time the President of the US makes it sound like people who fight against the KKK and noe-Nazi's - like we always said the Jews in Germany should have done - are wrong or just as bad as those hate mongering people.

Sure wish these marchers would get off my lawn...but they are keeping the moles down.

Janie Albright (Blank)

Tim, you put so much good humor into your writing that I hope those of any persuasion can enjoy. Like reading the Onion. Colleen posted this on Facebook today.

http://www.theonion.com/article/nation-rallies-around-ronald-mcdonald-statue-embod-56683?utm_content=Main&utm_campaign=SF&utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=SocialMarketing

Timothy Lavelle

Janie, many many years ago I met a young man in the Bay area and he asked me what it was I was carrying. As he put it "Are those the complete version of the Dead Sea scrolls?"

I had to answer in the negative and told him that it was, in truth, the very extensive scroll or list of people who I had insulted in my life to that point and that I felt it my duty to carry that huge thing around with me.

He offered to "invent a machine" that would be much easier to carry; that would keep all those names and also allow me to sort them, alphabetize them, and list them in order of the type of insult.

I'm pretty certain that Colleen's name was somewhere about mid-way down that list. I should add the guy said his name was Steve and then I think he offered me a job...not positive...seemed plural...weird.

Colleen had, and must still have, one of the most sparkling senses of humor on my "People Whom I have Insulted" list. I just heard of Onion because as you know the internet is considered a terrorist organization here in Kentucington. I followed the link and howled. No doubt the Neo's in the front yard believe I have joined their cause.

Party on.

James Hamilton, M. D.

Speaking of "party on" and to depart from anything political, let me bring up the topic of Monday's total solar eclipse. I suspect that there will be many, many eclipse parties. Here in Colorado the transportation (DOT) people and state patrol are warning drivers that Interstate 25 and other northbound arteries that go to Wyoming (where a 100% eclipse will occur at 11:47 AM) can expect extreme traffic jams this weekend and Monday afternoon. In fact there are some who predict that the population of Wyoming will DOUBLE for this rare event and that traffic jams from Colorado Springs to Ft. Collins will be equivalent to the emptying of six Denver Bronco games all at once. How can they know all this? After all, Monday is a workday for many and a school day for most kids.

This is lunacy (or should I say SOLacy)! 

We are supposed to drive up to Denver to visit our neice Monday and be on the road during the eclipse itself. If we go (depending on traffic cams from the internet) we will probably need to use our headlights. Hopefully, no idiots are driving, texting, cellphone photographing and wearing those totally darkened glasses while zooming along at 75+ MPH. The state patrol has banned vehicles from pulling off to the side of the road to watch the eclipse. I suspect there will be a lot of tickets issued anyway.

From a photograpic standpoint I have one word for solar (and lunar) eclipses - BORING! Also, possibly damaging to your camera unless one invests $$ for special filters which will probably be used only once in a lifetime.

From a scientific viewpoint, however, it is facinating. To observe a part of the sun - the corona - that can be seen only during an eclipse will possibly lead to some interesting astrophysical discoveries that will answer some questions that scientists have been pondering for years. I believe it was from an eclipse that Einstein's theory about the fabric of space and the bending of light waves was proven.

Do we have any astrophysicists, amateur or pro, in our class? And, no, being a "trekkie" doesn't count.

By the way, the warnings about viewing the eclipse without proper eye protection (and some fakes are being sold) are all correct. So don't even sneak a peek without them. Some damage is temporary but others are permanent.

Live long and prosper,

Jim

David Mitchell

You know Jim, if this silly communist plot (I know that's true cause I read it on the internet) about the moon passing in front of the sun actually happens, I think "Commander Crump" should fire his director of atmospheric research. What the situation calls for in these trying times is more Cowbells.

Could there be another in our midst who's "got a fever" ?

David Mitchell

NO MUSICIANS WERE HARMED DURING THE FILMING OF THIS SEGMENT.  

(cabinet members, maybe - but no musicians)

Donna Kelley (Velazquez)

We all read and suffer from reports of hate attacks around the world from Paris to Orlando, Manchester to Charlottesville.  I have discovered something this week.  When hatred hits your own city it strangely seems less real. The world stops spinning for a while.  There is a surrealistic phase of disbelief and incomprehension followed by fear for the safety of your loved ones and pain for the victims.

Little by little you receive reassuring news from your family and friends and then the pain for the victims grows even more deeply as their stories are told.  A tremendous sadness envelops you.  Suddenly you are jolted to the core by the countless acts of kindness and solidarity from the people of this city of diversity and good will.  The message of "I am not afraid" chanted in Catalan ("No tinc por") by thousands of locals and people from all corners of the world who gathered in la Plaza Catalunya yesterday uplifts your spirit and makes you all the more determined to fight hatred which presents itself in many forms and under many banners.

Another lesson has been to better realize and acknowledge how important family and friends are in our lives.  The many private and public messages of support received these past two days have filled my heart with love....and we all know that that is the way to get the world spinning again.

I woke up this morning with the resolution to take two steps in that direction. The first has been to call my Moroccan friend Brahim who has been living many years in Barcelona. I knew that he would be hurting deeply.  We will have dinner here together next week.  The second has been to write this  to you to say Thank You for your kindness and concern.  You mean more to me than you may know.

I have never been prouder of my city or more grateful for my friends.  Visca Barcelona! Visca Class of ´66!

Janie Albright (Blank)

Oh Donna, that was so beautifully written and so heartfelt. I'm sure you are right that your whole perspective changes when something so horrific happens in your own backyard so to speak. So tragic that the acts of a few can affect so many. Good for you to reach out to those who might be "painted by the broad brush" as we discussed recently. We all pray for you and your city and everyone affected by this hatred. 

Janie Albright (Blank)

Jim, your eclipse observations are quite interesting. I wonder how many eyes and iPhones will be ruined?! My oldest granddaughter who is 6 1/2 went to a week of camp at COSI this summer and learned quite a bit about it.  I guess her first grade class will have special glasses. I'm not sure how impressive it will be here in Bexley. I personally plan to pass on it. But it is an amazing event and can be checked off the bucket list of many. Good luck on your drive to Denver. Maybe you should go up the night before...

Michael McLeod

Donna: I absolutely relate to your experience. When the Pulse nightclub massacre happened a year ago life became so unreal and so tragic and then the other side of it kicked in, how beautiful people can be, how it can be so sad and yet you feel so uplifted when you see a stranger with tears in their eyes on the street and the next thing you know you are hugging each other.

Denise and I send our love. I'm having drinks with Billy Tuesday and I am sure he feels the same.

Mary Clare Hummer (Bauer)

Mike, 

When I read Donna's poignant words (Thank you, Donna--they were touching and dynamic at the same time), I immediately thought of you and the perspectives you had previously posted on this forum about your Orlando experience.  Cannot believe that the new world disorder continues to rant so seemingly out of control but I am comforted in both of your acknowledgements that in the face of such evil, goodness stays resilient.  Would that it could actually triumph once and for all and forever in THIS world. 

Clare

David Mitchell

Comforting to know that you are safe Donna. Beautful thoughts.

This past week I am moved to comment out loud just what a postive force education (based on truth) CAN be. And how frighteneing it CAN be if used without truth, without accuracy, or even without any positive intent. Isn't it amazing to witness how ignorance can be manipulated into such toxic anger. Like a garden where you can grow lies, distrust, division, scapegoating, and misguided blame - and all the anger and violence that follows.

I recall a few startling moments in my early days in the South - in Texas and Georgia in flight school. It was the first time I had ever directly encountered racism with such strong conviction. It occurred to me that three of my classmates in flight school (one, a "friend" from Atlanta, and two especially irritating jerks from Biloxi, Miss.) were blatant racists. But that is not the part that surpized me. What shocked me was the realization that they were specifially taught "not to think things through". There was simply no way to discuss things with them - no way to reason - impossible!  In fact, the two from Biloxy provoked me (a regular "goody two-shoes" most of my younger days) into starting the only fight I ever initiated in my entire life one morning in our barracks (and we were immediately pulled apart by our classmates). What put me over the edge was the fact that they were not dumb, but had been taught to refuse to listen to facts.  

I know we have been tip-toeing around politics this whole Forum (and I agree) but I see all this same distrubing trend now reaching new heights in our society (and our...ahem, "leaders"??? ) and its really testing me!

Joseph Gentilini

Happy Birthday, Jeff!  May you have many more!  Joe G

Linda Weiner (Bennett)

North Georgia is another favored place to be this week-end. Tomorrow, according to our zip code on Vox.com, we will "enjoy" a 99.7% eclipse of the sun! Such enormous crowds are expected that law enforcement is preparing, just in case our cell towers fail. As in other areas I'm sure, ham radio operators will be assisting first responders and law enforcement with communication issues. 

I think I will be sitting on my porch using some form of media and occasionally using a diy projector during this magnificent event. 

More importantly, I will be praying that no "terrorists" or other idiots will decide to take advantage of the congestion that alone will cause problems. 

Have fun and be safe wherever you are/will be. 

Here is just one website to check out the solar eclipse in your ZIP Code:

https://www.vox.com/science-and-health/2017/7/25/16019892/solar-eclipse-2017-interactive-map

Timothy Lavelle

"All I know for sure......

...is I need MORE COWBELL...!     Funny as hell clip Dave.

Message to the world: "Send more laughter" (not stupid stuff that people do, where we have to laugh to keep from crying but really funny stuff like Cowbells.)

For me, who writes too often, it sure would be nice to hear more from Debbie A., Alan S., Bob B., Linda, Dave D., Julie C., Vicki, Sue, Larry, Mark, and all of you who do not write as often. This is not a forum for just the few, right?? Where's Donna Bain, Don Holland, Don Ellerbrock?

Has anyone noticed that Dr. Jim H resembles the human ancestor of Spock, the part-human, part-Vulcan? ...and his logic can't be faulted.

Janie Albright (Blank)

I totally agree with you Tim (as I post again) that we both need lots more of you out there to post more and definitely we need MORE COWBELLS! 

Speaking of which I was a volunteer yesterday morning for the Bexley kids "Splish, Splash & Dash" kids mini mini triathlon. My post was the turn at the end of the biking portion and indeed we had COWBELLS that we rang incessantly as we cheered them on and tried to make sure they made the turn without hitting the curb and wiping out! A few near misses! My little 6 year old Hazel placed 9 out of about 100 6 and under and was so unhappy she didn't medal she was ready to throw away her participation medal  oh dear the good sportsmanship lessons we try and install in our youth.  

This is my still 4 year old Vivi with her training wheels on! I missed getting Hazels photo because a little one with training wheels almost turned over and I was busy with a "save" for which I received my own cowbell recognition. lol  

David Mitchell

Tim,

You left out a name I have been wishing would join us - Keith Groff.

I asked him about it a few moths ago and he was not even aware of this Forum. I think he could add some great stuff here.

I have to share this about Keith. We first met in first grade and I realized right away that he was a big sissy wierdo. He wore shorts till third grade, and glasses, and he took piano lessons over in the convent (yuck!) and had funny hair. But somewhere along the way "he changed" and became a really "cool" guy. (maybe it was when he invited me to his 9th birthday party and we laughed together at the same bathroom jokes - of course that would cement any meanigful friendship)

We just re-established contact again two springs ago in Columbus. I had been in Columbus for my oldest sister's funeral and was on my way out of town. Almost on a whim, I made a last minute decision to head back downtown to Franklin and see if I might catch the eminent Dean of the new Franklin U. School of Arts & Sciences (founded by him) in his office. I did. And our old friendship was rekindled immediately!

I think Keith is one of the most cogent thinkers I have ever had the privieldge to converse with. And he balances it with a wonderful sense of humor. We not only have many great childhood memories to share, but we enjoy serious current topics too - and we can really go at it!  I would like to say he is my favorite "sort-of- liberal" freind - and I think I can honestly say I am his favorite "sort-of-conservative" friend. But there is a problem with those labels. Keith and I just can't seem to disagree on anything anymore!  Damn it all - what's a person to do?

(but Keith still has funy hair)

--------------

I got to have one wonderful conversation with Donna Bain about 25 years ago while manning the class "phone-a-thon" fundraiser.  And she remembered the time I sent 16 roses for her 16th birthday and she told her sisiter to "tell him I'm not home" when I called. We had a good laugh about that one. Apparantly she was always coming to Columbus in July for her husband's U.A. reunion but felt no interest in ours - darn. Would have loved to see her.

------------------

** Also been meaning to ask this one for months now (but kept fogetting). Does anybody have any contact with Mike Del Bianco? He was at several of the last reunions, but not this one ???????? 

Or Mary Motil, or Carol & Allen Morse?  --- also at recent ones but not this last one.

David Mitchell

Speaking of more laughter -- another one of our icons gone. How he made us laugh!

Joseph Gentilini

  David - I agree with  you as Jerry Lewis now goes off into eternity.  Sorry to see him go.  I loved the clips you made of his professional life.  Thanks.  joe

David Mitchell

It's being reported today that the POTUS is attacking the media for its "very unfair" coverage of Monday's solar eclipse, because "the sun was equally to blame for blocking the moon." 

He went on to say that "The fake news is covering the eclipse from the sun's side instead of the moon's side, but if you look at it from the moon's side the sun is blocking the moon's side." He added that "There are so many sides you can't count all the sides." 

Trump angrily tore into the sun itself, calling it a 'showboat' for its role in the solar eclipse. "The sun thinks the world revolves around it," Trump said. It's really "Sad."

David Mitchell

Thanks Joe, but I didn't make the video - I just copied it off of You tube. But he sure was funny. 

Deborah Alexander (Rogers)

Hey, Tim,

That's the first time in my life anyone has accused me of being quiet!  I would write more often, but you guys are so erudite and funny, I'm not sure I measure up!  But my dad always said I was vaccinated with a Victrola needle because I never stopped talking!  So I'll try to do better.  Hope everyone had a great viewing of the solar eclipse.  It was pretty cool here in Columbus, though a little cloudy at times.  The schools all made a big deal of it and had eclipse glasses for all the students from grade school through high school.  Here's hoping that ALL of us will be here for the one in 2024.  I know I'm planning on it!  We'll only be 76 or so, and isn't 70 the new 50?  Lets hope so.  Love and best wishes to all of us for good health until the next eclipse and beyond!!!

Michael McLeod

Vaccinated with a Victrola. That's beautiful. Would love to use the line. Too bad none of my students know what a Victrola is.

Just wanted to point out that in a few years Columbus will be in the "totality" box seats for a solar eclipse -- I think 2024......

John Maxwell

Mark Schweickart

Joe G. -- Happy Birthday kiddo!

I say "kiddo" because I would guess at. least 50 percent of us are a good couple of months older than you.