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Stories
FOR THE WEEK OF May 28, 2018
"Be Kind! Work Hard! Stay Humble! Smile Often! Keep Honest! Stay Loyal! Travel When Possible! Never Stop Learning! Be Thankful Always! AND LOVE!
Those who were present on Thursday, May 24
Doug Balkman, Chester Banks, Del Brown, Frederick Case, Randy Cook, Pam Cook, Moe Johnson, Lon Shell, Charles Walts, Rhonda White, Ted Breihan, Beverly Crumley, Andrew Gary, Francis Mendez, John Polk, Merwin Richards, Glen Rydl, (17) Guests: Jean Balkman.
"Here is the list of Greeters for the month of MAY, 2018
If you are scheduled to be Greeter for a particular Thursday, try to arrive at Grins by about 11:30am, put on the special Greeter's badge and then greet each and every member and visitors as they come in.
May 31, 2018.................Rhonda White
Week of May 25th - May 31st
May 25, 1787 - - The Constitutional Convention began in Philadelphia with delegates from seven states forming a quorum.
May 26, 1940 - - The Dunkirk evacuation began in order to save the British Expeditionary Force trapped by advancing German armies on the northern coast of France. Boats and vessels of all shapes and sizes ferried 200,000 British and 140,000 French and Belgian soldiers across the English Channel by June 2nd.
May 27, 1937 - - In San Francisco, 200,000 people celebrated the grand opening of the Golden Gate Bridge by strolling across it.
May 28, 1961 - Amnesty International was founded by London lawyer Peter Berenson. He read about the arrest of a group of students in Portugal then launched a one-year campaign to free them called Appeal for Amnesty. Today Amnesty International has over a million members in 150 countries working to free prisoners of conscience, stop torture and the death penalty, and guarantee human rights for women.
May 29, 1453 - - The city of Constantinople was captured by the Turks, who renamed it Istanbul. This marked the end of the Byzantine Empire as Istanbul became the capital of the Ottoman Empire.
May 30, 1922 - - The Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. was dedicated. The memorial was designed by architect Henry Bacon and features a compelling statue of "Seated Lincoln" by sculpture Daniel Chester French.
May 31, 1862 - - During the American Civil War, the Battle of Seven Pines occurred as Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston's Army attacked Union General George McClellan's troops in front of Richmond Virginia and nearly defeated them. Johnston was badly wounded. Confederate General Robert E. Lee then assumed command. replacing the wounded Johnston. Lee renamed his force the Army of Northern Virginia.
And the Winner was....Lon Shell....and he didn't have his pin on. Sorry Lon.
Last Week's Program, May 24th.
As per usual, as we have done every year, it was a true pleasure to have Susan Smith back with us, not only to have her tell about all of the wonderful things that is going on at the San Marcos Public Library, as well as presenting her with our annual check for $2500.00 to use as she sees fit to further the wonderful programs she has going at the library.
Just to mention a few of her accomplishments this year; Children's Book Circulation from June 1 -August 15 2017 = 48, 907 books. That was a 1% increase for children and teens. She issued 2,734 Children's reading certificates, 266 teen reading certificates and 226 adult reading certificates.
This last summer was a great summer fille3d with 167 events, to include, story times (36 sessions) Puppet Shows (14 sessions) Arts & Crafts (12 sessions; awesome activities & other events (61 sessions), Outreach visits to Parks Summer Fun (12 sessions) all for a grand total of 13, 192 adults and children and teens. That was a 9% increase in event attendance & 14% increase in number of events. Tremendous! By the way, the $2500.00 we give the public library each year comes from our flag program and is paid for by all of the businesses in San Marcos who want to have flags put up in front of their establishments for about 8 patriotic holidays throughout the year, beginning with Memorial Day.
Program for this coming Thursday, May 31st
I think that we are all aware of our changing health care situation. I won't begin to try and explain the various changes that are occurring in our hospitals, our physicians care and everything else that often will leave us all in a lot of confusion. Gary Nelson is bringing the program this coming Thursday, and he will be addressing this issue of what is happening in health care from one who has spent much time in our hospitals and in general getting the feelings from all sides of how health care is changing. Don't miss this program. We know that Gary has kept up with changes and can address them as they are.
Memorial Day Flags Put out in honor those who have given their lives in American Wars
The custom of honoring ancestors by cleaning cemeteries and decorating graves is an ancient and worldwide tradition.
In early rural America, this duty was usually performed in late summer and was an occasion for family reunions and picnics. After the Civil War, America's need for a secular, patriotic ceremony to honor its military dead became prominent, as monuments to fallen soldiers were erected and dedicated, and ceremonies centering on the decoration of soldiers' graves were held in towns and cities throughout the nation.
After World War I, the day expanded to honor those who have died in all American wars.
Thanks to the members of our San Marcos Kiwanis Club for getting out early Monday morning and distributed flags on businesses who have pledged their allegiance to all patriotic days in our country by putting out flags. Those who put out and took in flags for this Memorial Day were Glen Rydl, Frances Mendez, Randy Cook, Randall Grizzel, Gary Nelson, Del Brown, Frederick Case, Lon Shell, Moe Johnson, John Polk, Doug Balkman, James Collier, Charles Johnson, Garry White & Ted & Stacy Breihan.
Terrific Kids Day...…
What a tremendous turnout for another Terrific Kids expression of appreciation. Again, Pam & Randy Cook really went all out in getting donations from the city and then handing them out to our Terrific Kids. You can see by the photograph, that we have some fantastic Terrific Kids at DeZavala Elementary School.
Thanks again to Pam & Randy for your hard work in getting together all of the donations.
Also thanks to the 11 Kiwanis members that faithfully showed up to hand all of those wonderful donations. They were Kelli Whigham, Pam Cook, Randy Cook, Jeanne Balkman, Chester Banks, Frederick Case, Rhonda White, Doug Balkman, Del Brown, John Polk and Francis Mendez. Thanks again for making this a very memorable event.
.........Well, I can tell that the riddles thus far have been way too easy, so here is one that might given you a challenge!
"
Riddle last week: "If you have me, you'll want to share me. But if you share me, I will no longer exist: (SECRET)
Riddle this week! What is it that no one has ever seen, which never was, but always will be.______________
"Running Amok!"
"Running amok" is commonly used to describe wild or erratic behavior, but the phrase actually began its life as a medical term. The saying was popularized in the 18th and 19th centuries, when European visitors to Malaysia learned of a peculiar mental affliction that caused otherwise normal tribesmen to go on brutal and seemingly random killing sprees. Amok - - derived from the "Amuco," a band of Javanese and Malay warriors who were known for their penchant for indiscriminate violence - - was initially a source of morbid fascination for Westerners. Writing in 1772, the famed explorer Captain James Cook noted that "to run amok is to....sally forth from the house, kill the person or persons supposed to have injured the Amock, and any other other person that attempts to impede his passage." Once thought to be the result of possession by evil spirits, the phenomenon later found its way into psychiatric manuals. It remains a diagnosable mental condition to this day.
"Jim was invited to Buckingham Palace. He wasn't familiar with royal etiquette, so he decided to simply follow the Queen's lead and hope for the best. When tea was served the Queen removed her cup from her saucer. Jim nervously mimicked her. She poured some milk into the saucer and Jim did likewise. When she put the saucer on the floor, he was surprised. Then she called, "Here, kitty....."
1.....Does killing time damage eternity?
2.....If swimming is good for you shape then why do the whales look the way they do?
3.....Why do bathroom stall doors always open inwards?
4.....Why did you forget what you were looking for as soon as you leave the room?
5.....How come wrong numbers are never busy?
6.....If cats and dogs didn't have fur, would we still pet them?
7.....Why do PAT chance and SLIM chance mean the same thing?
8.....How could there be self-help GROUPS?
9.....If time stands still, how would you know if it is time to return?
10....Why is there an expiration date on sour cream?
(all the answers in this quiz contain the consecutive letters "oy"
1...To bother or pester.__________
2...A person who works for, and is paid by, a company__________
3...An entrance hall____________
4...A carved figure projecting from the gutter of a building___________
5...A mollusk___________
6...1960's band with the California sound._______________
7...An anchored float to makr location or aid in marine navigation__________
8...A long journey, often on a ship._____________
9...A thick cotton fabric with soft ribs.______________
10..Slang term for a person who smuggles undocumented immigrants into the United States____________
11..Exceedingly sweet_____________
12..To refuse to buy goods as a punishment or protest_____________
America The Beautiful....Rainbow Bridge National Monument...Utah
Rainbow Bridge National Monument is administered by Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, southern Utah. Rainbow Bridge is often described as the world's highest natural bridge. The span of Rainbow Bridge was reported in 1974 by the Bureau of Reclamation to be 275 feet. Two other natural arches, Kolob Arch and Landscape Arch, both also in southern Utah, have firmed spans several meters longer than Rainbow Bridge, but by most definitions of the terms they are considered to be arches rather than bridges. With a height of 290 feet, Rainbow Bridge does indeed stand taller than either of its longer competitors, but it is outdone by Aloba Arch in Chad at 394 feet The world's tallest (though less easily accessible) arch is Toshuk Tagh, better known as Shipton's Arch, in China at an estimated 1,200 feet.
America the Beautiful - UTAH
1...Completion of the world's first transcontinental railroad was celebrated at Promontory where the Central Pacific and Union Pacific Railroads met on May 10, 1869. It is now known as Golden Spike National Historic Site.
2...Levan is 'navel' spelled backwards. It is so named because it is in the middle of Utah.
3...Utah is the site of the nations first department store. Zions Co-operative Mercantile Institution was established in the late 1800's. It is still in operation today as ZCMI.
4...The Mormon Temple in Salt Lake City took 40 years to complete. The Moron temples in St. George, Manti and Logan Utah were completed before the Salt Lake Temple.
5...The Great Salt Lake covers 2,100 square miles, with an average depth of 13 feet. The deepest point is 34 feet.
6...Utah mountain peaks, on average, are the tallest in the country. The average elevation of the tallest peaks in each of Utah's counties is 11,222 ft. higher than the same average in any other state.
7...During World War II Alta ski center became involved in the war effort when paratroopers from the 10th Mountain Regiment trained on its slopes.
8...Annual precipitation varies from less than five inches in Utah's and Great Salt Lake Desert to more than 60 inches in the northern mountain ranges.
9...Beaver is the birthplace of two very famous individuals of the past, Philo T. Farnsworth, the inventor of television and Butch Cassidy, the notorious western outlaw.
10..Utah is the only state whose capital's name is made of three words. All three words in Salt Lake City have four letters each.
"My Final Thoughts!, Life's Little Instructions" (taken from a little book,"Life's Little Instruction Book by H. Jackson Brown, Jr."
1........Commit yourself to constant self-improvement.
2...…..Drink eight glasses of water every day!
3...…..Learn to show cheerfulness, even when you don't feel like it.
4...…..Never overestimate your power to change others!
5...…..Don't leave a ring in the bathtub!
6...…..Never underestimate the power of love.
7...…..Never underestimate the power of forgiveness!
8...…..Live your life as an exclamation, not an explanation!
9...…..Instead of using the word problem, try substituting the word opportunity!
10...….Regarding furniture and clothes: if you think you'll be using them five years or longer, buy the best you can afford!
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Last Week's Program, May 24th.
.........
"Running Amok!"
"Jim was invited to Buckingham Palace. He wasn't familiar with royal etiquette, so he decided to simply follow the Queen's lead and hope for the best. When tea was served the Queen removed her cup from her saucer. Jim nervously mimicked her. She poured some milk into the saucer and Jim did likewise. When she put the saucer on the floor, he was surprised. Then she called, "Here, kitty....."
(all the answers in this quiz contain the consecutive letters ".jpg)
America The Beautiful....Rainbow Bridge National Monument...Utah
"My Final Thoughts!, Life's Little Instructions"