NICOLA LUVERA – HE SPOKE NO ENGLISH & I SPOKE NO ITALIAN, BUT WE COMMUNICATED ANYWAY

NICOLA LUVERA – HE SPOKE NO ENGLISH & I SPOKE NO ITALIAN, BUT WE COMMUNICATED ANYWAY

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My grandfather, Nicola Luvera died in Anacortes on Independence Day, July 4, 1956 after living more then ninety years. My chief regret is that he spoke no English and I spoke no Italian so we never had a real conversation – only through my father's interpretation. Dad believed our family should speak English because we lived in America so my sisters and I never learned either parent's native language. My grandfather's story is one of courage and determination. After working in…

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THREE THOUGHTS BY A MAN WHO THOUGHT HE WAS ABOUT TO DIE

THREE THOUGHTS BY A MAN WHO THOUGHT HE WAS ABOUT TO DIE

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The website TED is a one I enjoy visiting as often as I can. It features video talks by many different people on a variety of subjects. One talk I particularly enjoyed was by Ric Ellias Three things I learned while my plan crashed – http://www.ted.com/talks./ric_elias.html. He had a front row seat on Flight 1549 that crash landed in the Hudson River in January of 2009. He describes what went through his mind when he realized he might not survive….

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JUST CHECKING IN

JUST CHECKING IN

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A brief report as to my status. Lita and I had a flight booked home tomorrow only to have a slight reversal regarding infection monitoring. I had to have lab tests and it takes a couple of days for report so the trip had to be cancelled. If all is OK we will go home Wednesday instead. Otherwise progress in knee rehab is good. The bad news is that we have a 118 degree day tomorrow here in Scottsdale with…

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NO WHINNING. JUST A BRIEF UPDATE

NO WHINNING. JUST A BRIEF UPDATE

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This is our third, and hopefully final week in Scottsdale. With outside temperatures 113 t o 118 degrees one does not spend time outside.. I have another week of rehab before the doctor lets us go home. I am looking forward to our home and especially our dogs and cats which we have missed. Julie Harrison, our house manager has had the brunt of it taking care of her animals plus taking in our dogs as well. On this end, Lita…

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YOU DIDN’T ASK, BUT I’M GOING TO TELL YOU ANYWAY!

YOU DIDN’T ASK, BUT I’M GOING TO TELL YOU ANYWAY!

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You know how it it is. You meet someone you know. You ask, only to be polite, "How are you?" and to your surprise the friend launches into a detailed description of some medical ailment they have had or are going through. You aren't really interested because the only thing we really are interested in is talking about ourselves. But, oblivious to our non verbal language of not caring,  our friend launches into a detailed report of their medical problems with…

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REMEMBERING 1953

REMEMBERING 1953

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I graduated from Anacortes high school in  1953. I was 18 years old. As I prepare to fly to Scottsdale for my knee replacement surgery I've been reflecting on how life has changed since my high school graduation.  In 1953 the average cost of an automobile was $1850 and gasoline cost $.29 a gallon. The average cost of a house was $17,500. Postage stamps cost three cents, and a loaf of bread $.16. The average annual salary was $4700 and the…

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PHYLLIS DILLER’S HUMOR

PHYLLIS DILLER’S HUMOR

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Phyllis Diller wrote an autobiography she titled:  Like a Lampshade in a Whorehouse. In addition to describing a rather dysfunctional life while living as a famous comedian she wrote some humorous things. From one of her routines:  "Fang, the idiot, was watching television one night and guy was showing how to use a condom by putting it on a sock. Now Fang is carrying a sock in his wallet." She also said: "The contraceptive for old people is nudity…" In…

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THE GROWING TENDENCY OF “CREEPING INFALLIBILITY”

THE GROWING TENDENCY OF “CREEPING INFALLIBILITY”

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The Roman Catholic dogma of papal infallibility has been a religious hot point of controversy from the time it was first proclaimed. Articles about the pope's adamant refusal to even allow discussion of women priests have focused on what is being called an increasing problem of "creeping infallibility." What is meant in the Roman Catholic church by the infallibility of the pope? In it's simplest terms the dogma of the Church is that pope is preserved from even the possibility of…

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ANACORTES HIGH SCHOOL MEMORIES

ANACORTES HIGH SCHOOL MEMORIES

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I got started on a project researching information about a former star basketball and football player at Anacortes High School because I got an e-mail asking if I could provide it. In the process found year books on line. There is the high school building I remember. Then I found a picture of my favorite teacher Ferndand Kramer who used to let me out early on the day of a basketball game so I could go to the gym and practice. He…

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Huguette Clark THE BILLIONARE YOU HAVE PROBABLY NEVER HEARD ABOUT

Huguette Clark THE BILLIONARE YOU HAVE PROBABLY NEVER HEARD ABOUT

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Back in March of 2010 I wrote about William A. Clark and his daughter Huguette. It was a strange story: https://paulluverajournalonline.com/weblog/2010/03/multimillionare-william-a-clark-and-his-daughter-huguette.html Her father was a millionare and she inherited his money and then lived until age 104 after living as a recluse. She died this week and Bill Dedman of MSNBC has done a great job of describing this unique woman and her money http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39006900/ns/business-huguette_clark_mystery she inherited one of the great mining fortunes of the 19th century and was the…

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