THE LAMORINDAN 8-6-10

STAND DOWN AND SALUTE

Mike Edwards magnanimously gave Shakespeare due credit for the Thought for the Day: "Cowards die many times, the valiant but once." But he admitted he was really thinking of the veterans at Stand Down, some of whom were coming back from the dead. Stand Down, for those not aware, is a major biannual event at the Alameda County Fairgrounds helping veterans whose adjustment back to society is dysfunctional, with everything from making legal problems disappear to getting a decent haircut. Besides Mike, our representation there includes Brad Davis (who explained the nature of the event - for all his blarney, that man sure is great at getting us involved in worthy projects), Col. Patti Witalis (Ret.), Roger Witalis, and Ken Thomas, who isn't even a member (yet) but has been hanging out here. They were headed back there after the meeting. To all, a 21-gun salute of gratitude for "being there" literally and figuratively.

GUESTS

Patti Brennan, also hanging out here
Maggie Kurimai (we can't say Dennis is a guest any more)
Jackie Welles, still hoppin' around
Carol Chaffey, award-winning spouse
Ken Thomas, see above
Roger Witalis, also (Ret.)
Bill Marquand, architect, Fulcher Friend
Regina the mother, Ashley the daughter, dolphins the adopted

IT'S ABOUT TIME, DENNIS

Although by this time Dennis Kurimai hardly needed an introduction (lotta freebie meals there, Dennis!), those honors were handled by Messrs. Brad Davis and sponsor Hays Englehart. The pair appeared to derive particular pleasure in introducing Better Half Maggie Kurimai. It seems the happy couple have two kids, Alex, 4, and Thomas, 21 months. Dennis is in computer sales at Oracle, and, not parenthetically, was a professional soccer player. Maggie undoubtedly has many other honors, but what could be better than being a product of Camp Royal. After Brad's impressive presentation of the New Member Kit, the club rose as one for the congratulatory handshakes. So now, Dennis has gone from pampered honored guest to a low-rung red badger.

THE WAGES OF HAPPINESS

Honorable President Thomas Peeks, stung by prior comments he perceived as accusing him of being a softy (really?), is starting to get into the spirit of Recognitions.

Al Sevilla had a nice birthday Sunday with three kids and 35 guests at a party. After exhibiting what our esteemed leader deemed backtalk; for the wallet pick was bumped five bucks, $30.

Similarly, John Linneman admitted to his and Connie's 35th anniversary, and tried to get by with the standard $35 but the boom was lowered, lightening John's money clip by $50. Think of it, John in these terms: Only a few gallons of yacht fuel.

Chuck Bove celebrated a sixth anniversary of marriage and a first anniversary as a member of the world's best Rotary club, ours. Knowing he was big-time vulnerable, he took the preventive route and tossed in a quick $40.

Meanwhile, David Waal spent his 24th anniversary at Tahoe. The Prez only hit him for $30, probably assuming that Tahoe was a bigger hit.

Thomas is even getting into Anticipation Recognitions. Hays Englehart parted with $20 in anticipation of becoming a grandparent about in nine months or so. And Don Reichert already celebrated, with the appropriate amount, his 60th wedding anniversary, next January.

Don wasn't through stimulating the economy. The Prez smugly showed a picture from the Lafayette Sun revealing that Don had been in Croatia. No one else in the whole club had seen it. That meant $20 from Don for again being in the limelight, and $1 per member for being caught napping.

GIRLS ARE SUGAR, BOYS ARE SPICE

Mr. Garden Park Apartments, Brad Davis, and Mr. Bicycle, Rich Shearer, combined their talents for a Garden Park event on a bike trail in the wilds of Pleasant Hill. With Brad as lead dog and Rich bringing up the rear, six girls and two boys set off, lured by Carol Davis's ice cream bars at the end of the ride. The girls stayed perfectly aligned, focusing on the task at hand. The boys were at the opposite extreme. It ended with the boy on the bike knocking over the boy on the scooter, and the latter lifting the scooter above his head to administer a little retaliation. Fortunately, no need to summon peace officers or EMTs as Rich, who has a slight weight advantage, was there to restore some semblance of order. Everyone apparently survived. Just another LSR contribution to the community.

ASHLEY, THE DOLPHINS AND PRINCE CHARMING

First of all, Steve Ware handled the introduction of our guest speaker. Unlike some members in the past who shall remain nameless, Steve finessed a very brief intro. He proudly introduced "Ashley Hays", which, of course, was a tongue-in-cheek sequel to his unforgivable "Yolanda Thomas" gaffe last week.

Ashley apparently bears no grudge against Rotary, although as a woman she was barred from the Dubai Rotary Club and is still trying to purloin one of their banners for us.

As most of us recall, Ashley works at the Atlantis Hotel. She does rather specialized work. Her responsibility is to handle Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins, which average 8.5' long, 510 lb., lifespan of 25 to 30 years in the wild and 50+ years in captivity. Her special "pets" are eight (yes, eight) dolphins, ranging from 4.5 to 20 years old. Denita is the youngest, likes ballplaying and rubdowns, is a flirt, and is not crazy about fish. Pefeld, estimated at 15 to 18 years old, protects Denita, likes chin rubs and is built for them because of a pronounced underbite. Lisa, 18 to 22 years old, is the "mother" of the group, is big, likes to mess with trainers, play hide-and-seek and jump on fitness balls. Ini, eight to 10 years, is blind and goes for hula hoops and buoys on a hose. Blindness is not uncommon among dolphins, said Ashley, but not as great a handicap as you might think because of their extraordinarily sensitive feeling.

Hotel guests meet, interact with and are educated about the dolphins. Choices: Atlantis Dolphin Experience ($115) in shallow water for small kids or non-swimmers, allowing close and personal experience. Atlantis Dolphin Adventure ($245) in deep water, in the dolphins' environment. Atlantis Royal Swim ($265) is the most advanced program. Favorite activities are the Double Dorsal Ride, the Boogie Board Push, and a bunch of people lifting the dolphin clear out of the water after being appropriately trained (the humans, not the dolphin). The dolphins are very powerful, swimming at 22 mph, or at 15 mph even when two of them are pulling a person, holding each by a dorsal. Some impressive pictures revealed Papa Hays being tossed around like a veritable rag doll.

Special activities include autistic kids' programs wherein the kids spend 15 to 20 minutes with a dolphin, and the Atlantis Aqua Kids' Camp, one week with a different activity each day. By the way, the dolphins can sense the difference between an autistic and a normal child, and act accordingly. More than can be said of us quadripeds.

Ashley has conducted research, including what dolphins find rewarding. Others have gone farther, even trying to train a dolphin to use an I-pad. Although dolphins) can't speak, they can sense body language as well as moods. However, they can't unconsciously breathe, therefore they can't sleep as we do, but rest by turning off half their brain, with the other half making sure the breathing continues.

On a non-dolphin note, Ashley continues her search for Prince Charming. Hopefully, she won't get into trouble for saying this, what with this world-wide publicity - but although she has met a number of princes, there's never been one she has really liked.

CALENDAR

8/10:    Board Meeting 7:00 a.m.
8/13:    Teddy Roosevelt, father of the National Parks
8/27:    Thomas & Tamara Raeth, TGITLFOTM/Dictionaries
9/10:    Beth Lee, Aviator
9/14:    Board Meeting
10/2:    Ken Kosich, TGITLFOTM, Sonoma
10/12: Board Meeting
10/15: Josh Cooley, Pixar
10/22: District Governor

FUTURE HOME TEAM WORK DAYS

September 18, November 13, January 8, March 5, April 30, June 25