THE LAMORINDAN 10-30-09

WAKEUP SCENE

Mike Edwards, who had been reminded only about 5 times, forgot he was the Thinker today, and paid for the privilege of getting another chance to be profound in the future. Stepping in was Buddy Burke, who felt sorry for people that don't drink - when they wake, it's as good as they feel all day.

Whether folks felt good, or sane, looking around at our early morning gathering is perhaps questionable. To see a frightening sight such as Joanne Luscher as the Wicked Witch of the West (who completely outshone Glenda the Good Witch of the East in the costume department) casting a spell on poor Paul Fillinger, is something of a jolt any day. Add to that Steve Ware the Grim Reaper, George the Horrible Viking, Gillett Johnson looking a bit untrimmed, Bob Riegg and his beauteous girl friend, Chuck Yeager looking to run you over in his Richard Petty car, and the glamorous Patti Witalis with most of her bells on, and you have a scene rivaling the Addams Family.

And of course on front and center stage were our leader, the lovely Princess Faisal, and our resident celebrity, Elvisyic. Elvis modestly declined to sing "Love Me Tender", but devoted his usual attention to education, saying there was no school today because he'd rather hang out with other rockers and rollers from the Rotary Exchange Student ranks.   Turning his fame into fortune, he said he needed $20 for a purpose he couldn't remember but knew it was "something good". The hat was passed, and Elvis watched carefully to make sure it didn't go over $20.

WELL, ACTUALLY IT'S POSSIBLE TO FEEL GOOD

Mike Edwards felt better, recovering from his slow start, when he reported that in a contest with 70 wineries and 300 varietals, the anonymous Edwards Wines won Best Zin In Show and the Grand Prize in the whole thing. Feeling magnanimous, he threw in $20 for that confession, and another $20 for Buddy's helping him in the Thought for the Day. (Whether this amount went to Buddy or today's Sgt-At-Arms was unclear.)

Everyone felt good about the Great Pumpkin Carving at Garden Park Apartments. Well, actually, we don't know how Brad Davis felt, because he wasn't here. (Me-thinks Brad has cause to dispute this claim). But everyone else was pleased with the havoc wrought by 16 members, some of their kids, and the residents, miraculously with no injuries reported. Rich Shearer seemed to take particular satisfaction in getting the Garden Park kids all sugared up and leaving the parents to deal with them. More details on this wonderful event coming next week.

Princess Faisal felt good dunning $2 from each member who was NOT wearing a costume.

Jim Brencic felt good in announcing that the Christmas Party will be the first week in December, Wednesday or Thursday or something like that, at Frank's Church (Orinda Community).

And who could not feel good about the Holiday Gift-Giving Program at Acalanes. The sparkplug for this is Blair Howard, daughter of PDG Brad Howard the Paul Harris guru. Blair was deeply moved when she went with her dad to Africa on one of his projects, and has teamed with the Salvation and InterAct to produce a list of families needing gifts, which will be carried out in due course.   Volunteers to help are certainly encouraged.

Dave Isenberg had some minor surgery, and Pat Flaharty produced something for Dave and asked that everyone sign. We can't tell what it was, because that would ruin the surprise, since Dave is always an eager reader of this rag. But everyone felt good signing it.

And there are other opportunities to feel good. Storage space is needed for Crutches to Africa. The Danville and San Ramon clubs could use help delivering wheelchairs to Mexico.

And then there are birthdays:   Tay Wheeler, with Kira coming home this weekend. Paul Fillinger, kicking in $20 because he feels 20 rather than 77. Hays Englehart for daughter Ashley who is 24, joining this discount program at $20. A.J. Brencic, 6 years old, with father Jim joyfully anticipating entertaining 32 kindergarteners. And Bob Riegg, who didn't even know he had a birthday of sorts, started his Rotary life exactly 16 years ago.

EXPOSURE OF SELF, AND MORE EXOTIC THINGS

What with his fine for wearing no costume, and an attack of The Lamorinda Sunrise Curse delaying his slide show for 59 minutes, Hays Englehart was not having his finest morning. But he more than made up for all that by eventually getting to the ultimate self exposure. This is where words fail us. Hopefully the Head Publisher, whoever he may be, will contrive to spread Hays's exposure on these sanctified pages. (If not, well, you'll have to just rely on your memory bank, or let your imagination wander.)

Probably few people remember the other details, but essentially things all started when Daniel Hays arrived in Indiana in 1850 and married the cheerful Mrs. Hays. Some time later, our Hays grew up with 3 sisters (was he bullied or coddled?), then got married to the really cheerful Regina and had daughters Ashley and Erin. He's passionate about motors and long rides, has had very long and very short cars as well as his motorcycles, and idolized Parnelli Jones and Mario Andretti. He has himself raced over the infamous Corkscrew at Laguna Seca, as he graphically showed us on the screen. When he has to, he takes a break from his vehicles and performs financial services.

Enough of that. Bring on daughter Ashley, who has more exotic things to tell. She works for Atlantis Hotel in Dubai. Dubai has the tallest building in the world, if it can ever be used. It also has a Bellagio bigger than the real thing. But the country needs a few of Hays's financial services right now. There are a lot of abandoned BMWs near the airport.

The focus of Ashley's activity is Dolphin Bay, with three lagoons. She got deep into research on what kinds of toys dolphins like. The dolphins are trained with Operant conditioning, which essentially is awarding good for doing good. The rewards are most often toys. Among the favorites are coconuts (which they shove deep into the water and watch them shoot up), hoops, balls, and hoses. Older animals tend to latch onto one type of toy and rarely if ever interact with others. The conditioning is especially effective with blind dolphins, of which there are quite a few. The blind dolphins are happy because with their sonar they are capable of enjoying toys and a lot of other activities. Their eye conditions such as cataracts probably are operable, but putting them under anesthesia would risk their death from inability to breathe.

In the wild the dolphins who escape natural predators live around 25 to 30 years. In captivity, they can reach 50 or 60.

Her studies in outdoor recreation and resource management at Indiana University obviously helped prepare Ashley for all this, but she had no idea at that time that this was in her future. It will probably be difficult to find a job that is more exotic or more fun.

THE ROTARY HALLOWEEN DAY ENDS

It was TGITLFOTM time again, and the Chaffeys were less demanding than the Powers that Be at the club. Instead of demandimg entire costumes, they only asked that everyone wear appropriate hats. Not everyone did, but there were enough bizarre lids for a Halloween flavor, and George the Viking became Black Bart from top to toe. The view from Chez Chaffey was magnificent in glorious weather, the stream in back was flowing merrily, and yes, the wine also flowed and was magnificent. And the conversation flowed, sometimes more magnificent than others. Visitor Robbie Kunkel was told more about Denmark than she ever expected to hear. Ashley Englehart accepted more kudos.   The TGITLFOTM is a great invention, and should be enjoyed by everyone every month.

GUESTS

Donn Black, younger than Don Reichert
Regina & Ashley Englehart
Robbie & Caroline Kunkel
Glenda Fillinger

CALENDAR

Friday, November 6 - Weekly meeting at Postino 7:00 a.m. Global Heating program.

Tuesday, November 10, Board Meeting, 7:00 a.m.

Friday, November 13 - Weekly meeting at Postino 7:00 a.m. Mr. EBMUD, John Coleman

Friday, November 20 - Joint meeting with the noon club at the Verteran's Center 7:00 a.m. John Chiang, State Controller

Thanksgiving weekend, November 28, DARK! Happy Holiday

Friday, December 4 - Weekly meeting at Postino 7:00 a.m., Ray Welles revelations.