WILLIAM H. TAYLOR ANACORTES COACH AND MENTOR 1922 – 2002

WILLIAM H. TAYLOR ANACORTES COACH AND MENTOR 1922 – 2002

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On January 24, 2002 William “Bill” Taylor died in Anacortes. He was one of Anacortes’s most successful basketball coaches. He also was a positive influence in so many young men’s lives, including mine. He was a great coach and mentor to me. I’ve published a full account of my high school relationship to this great coach and his profound influence in my life: https://paulluverajournalonline.com/weblog/2013/01/william-taylor.html . In addition, I published a background of this unique man who was so important in guiding…

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PHYLLIS MARIE LUVERA ENNES 1928 – 2013

PHYLLIS MARIE LUVERA ENNES 1928 – 2013

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My sister Phyllis Luvera Ennes died on January 7, 2013. She was the oldest of the three Luvera children, Anita Mayer and I as the youngest. For my previous post about Phyllis see  https://paulluverajournalonline.com/weblog/2013/01/phyllis-luvera-ennes-1928-2013.htm  Born to Paul and Mary Luvera in Anacortes January 29, 1928,  she graduated from Anacortes High School in 1946 with honors and attended the University of Washington where she obtained a degree in English and in 1953 a teaching certificate from Western Washington University. She completed…

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RAMBLING THOUGHTS & QUOTATIONS

RAMBLING THOUGHTS & QUOTATIONS

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If you want anything said, ask a man. If you want something done, ask a woman.” Margaret Thatcher “I would like to point out that the first time Adam had a chance, he laid the blame on a woman.” Nancy Astor In 1976 the late Walter Mondale was campaigning as a vice president candidate. In Lewiston Maine a huge crowd came to see him off. As he boarded the plane, he said to the local politician who accompanied him “I’m…

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REMEMBERING FILLIPA LUVERA 1870 – 1946 & ELIZABETH “BETTY” BARNETT 1910 – 1985

REMEMBERING FILLIPA LUVERA 1870 – 1946 & ELIZABETH “BETTY” BARNETT 1910 – 1985

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My grandmother, dad’s mother,  died on December 20, 1946 in Anacortes. She was an Italian grandmother who looked like an Italian grandmother.  She was an outstanding cook with many talents. She spoke only a few words of English, but visiting Nonna and Nonno Luvera was an adventure because she was always feeding us children wonderful food or treats whenever we visited. In the photo is Nonna, my sisters Phyllis, Anita, me and my grandfather Nicola Luvera.  this is in memory…

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ARE YOU “MAD AS HELL AND NOT GOING TO TAKE IT ANYMORE”?

ARE YOU “MAD AS HELL AND NOT GOING TO TAKE IT ANYMORE”?

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A friend sent an article “The Bitter Heartland” by William Galston https://www.americanpurpose.com/articles/the-bitter-heartland/ who sees the dissent and protests of today due to a toxic class resentment. He writes: “They” see “us” as presiding over a long-term decline in their quality of life without lifting a finger to help. Blue-collar wages have stagnated for decades; good jobs for which they are qualified have evaporated. Their suffering went ignored by elites in both political parties until Donald Trump emerged as their champion. They…

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COMPLAINING IS BAD FOR YOUR BRAIN, BUT I’M GOING TO DO IT ANYWAY

COMPLAINING IS BAD FOR YOUR BRAIN, BUT I’M GOING TO DO IT ANYWAY

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Not only is complaining terrible for your brain, it is also bad for your health according to research https://m1psychology.com/complaining-is-bad-for-your-brain/ In spite of that, I have some really annoying life events I want to share. To start with, why do the internet company websites have to be so inaccessible to phone contact, cancellation and complaints to customer service? Email is most often not an option or involves a format that doesn’t allow you to discuss your problem. Dealing with a robot…

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REMEMBERING FRIENDS IN NOVEMBER: MICHAEL SCHMITT, JOE VOEGTLIN, JACK DEIERLEIN & JOHN WILSON

REMEMBERING FRIENDS IN NOVEMBER: MICHAEL SCHMITT, JOE VOEGTLIN, JACK DEIERLEIN & JOHN WILSON

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November is a time the Catholic Church remembers the dead with a celebration on November 1st and November 2nd. It’s a fitting to remember good people who are no longer with us. Here are a few of these special people who died during this period and who played a role in my life.  The reverend Michael J. Schmitt was born in 1929 in Port Angeles. He died at age 58 on November 10, 1987 in Auburn, Washington in an auto…

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PAUL NICHOLAS LUVERA, SR 1898 – 1990

PAUL NICHOLAS LUVERA, SR 1898 – 1990

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Today is the anniversary of the death of my father, Paul Nicholas Luvera Sr. He was born on March 25, 1898, he died in Anacortes, Washington on November 4, 1990 at the age of 92. I’ve published details of his extraordinary life many times. See https://www.paulluverajournalonline.com/weblog/2013/11/dad-1.html for a complete history of his life. Dad was born in Reggio Calabria, Italy, the son of Niccola and Fillippa Luvera. His father and oldest brother left for Canada where they worked for the…

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WHAT COULD YOU ACCOMPLISH IF YOU DIDN’T KNOW IT’S IMPOSSIBLE?

WHAT COULD YOU ACCOMPLISH IF YOU DIDN’T KNOW IT’S IMPOSSIBLE?

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The late Robert H Schuler, a pastor and motivational speaker, once asked “What would you do if you knew you could not fail?” In fact, there’s a real life example of the answer to that question. It’s the true story of mathematician George Dantzig who died in 2005. The incident in question resembles a scene from the movie Good Will Hunting with Matt Damon and Robin Williams. There is a famous scene, early in the film, when Damon’s  character, working…

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THE GIFT OF WORKING ON SALMON PURSE SEINE BOATS

THE GIFT OF WORKING ON SALMON PURSE SEINE BOATS

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There are some specific events in my life which have played a significant role in how my life has been lived. In addition to having the extraordinary parents I had and the great variety of things which  I didn’t earn  but were gifts, some events were of particular importance. My high school basketball coach, William Taylor, was a huge influence for teaching me character and moral conduct. The priest at Newman Club at the University of Washington, Fr. William Dooley…

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