A Winter Prelude

(Makes no sense as a poem ... but one can relate ...)

The countryside is peaceful now

Beneath the snowy arena

On this January day

Nature bestows its vibrant dreams.

Nurturing the tender nodes

That are anxiously awaiting the arrival of spring

To burst forth in glorious bloom

With the aid of my aching back and hoe

What beauty Nature bestows with my willing help. 

• Alderwood Chapter, Everett ...  Stated Meeting; Chapter Memorial; File for Office ... 'Dare to take the step!'; Valentine's Day Dress.  Refreshments:  Sheryl & Jennifer Acord.  Greeter:  Sheryl Acord.  Time:  7:30 PM. 
• Analia Chapter, Edmonds ...  Dinner for a donation:  6:00 PM.  Stated Meeting; Official Visit with Rada Uphus; Chapter Attire; Long Form.  Refreshments:  Deborah Swenson. 
• Crown Chapter, Seattle ... Stated Meeting; Long Form; Red Attire (Baskets & Aprons); Celebrate Valentine's Day; Honor 5 year PM & PP Lori & Bruce Johnson.  Letters of intent due.  Refreshments:  Sue Gibbs.  Time:  7:30 PM. 
• Delta Chapter, Tukwila ...  Stated Meeting; Filing for Elective Office; Long Form; Chapter Dress.  Time:  7:30 PM. 
• Pilgrim Chapter, Sequim ...  Stated Meeting; Valentine's Party; Reveal your Secret Pal!  Read filings for office.  Serving:  Mary Norton & Lessie Auletti.  Time:  7:30 PM. 
• Sunshine Chapter, Prosser ...  Stated Meeting; Happy Valentine's Day; Men's Night.  Refreshments:  Men serve.  Time:  8:00 PM. 
• Tyler Chapter, University Place ...  Stated meeting; Short Form; Honor Secretary & Treasurer; Dress of Choice.  Time:  7:30 PM. 

Maple Chapter No. 218, Castle Rock, Washington

 Cordially invites you to

attend the Honor Night for

DALE ASHLEY

Dandy Diplomat Deputy Instructor

Wednesday, January 31, 2007 ... 7:30 PM

A special invitation is extended to:

All past Deputy Instructors 

All Former Grand Representatives

Worthy Matrons & Patrons of

1980-81, 1983-84, 1985-86,

1986-87, 1988-89, 1989-90,

1992-93, 1996-97, 1999-2000, 2001-02

Members of

Centralia Chapter, Henry Wentworth Chapter,  Montesano Chapter and Pacific Chapter

Africa, PBS
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/africa/

            Here's your opportunity to explore the dark continent of Africa with PBS as your guide.  You can research the different regions, tour 43 separate countries, groove to African music, take a taste of African food and even go on an African Safari.  After your exploration, there is an Africa Challenge that includes a history game, a Photoscope, an Africa for Kids section and Teacher Tools.  There is so much to learn, see, and do in Africa; you'll want to spend days on this continent in the various sites! 

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Animated Atlas: Growth of a Nation
http://www.animatedatlas.com/movie.html

            The Animated Atlas is a moving map of the United States, beginning with the growth of the country from the original thirteen states in 1789 through the present.  Listen to a short movie, stopping to click on individual states for more information.  The submitting subscriber highly recommends the site, explaining, "It includes the acquisitions from England and Spain, the Slave states, the Free states, a segment on the Civil war, and has some mentions of Central and South America, etc.  The Indian Nations are shown as they were during the Indian Wars... This is a must see, even if just the map part."  After your first peek, you'll have to agree with this subscriber's statements, "This is the best history lesson you've had in a long time - maybe the best ever!  Save and enjoy all year!"

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The Medal of Honor
http://www.medalofhonor.com

            "The Medal of Honor, established by joint resolution of Congress, 12 July 1862 (amended by Act of 9 July 1918 and Act of 25 July 1963) is awarded in the name of Congress to a person who, while a member of the Armed Services, distinguishes himself conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while engaged in an action against any enemy of The United States. . . .  The deed performed must have been one of personal bravery or self-sacrifice so conspicuous as to clearly distinguish the individual above his comrades and must have involved risk of life."  This site profiles all 3,460 individuals honored beginning with the Civil War through April 4, 2005.  Here's an excellent resource for researching medal recipients as well as other military matters, from the various insignia to historical facts dealing with the United States military.

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Project Gutenberg
http://www.gutenberg.org/

            The Gutenberg Bible was the first book printed with movable type around the mid 1400's.  Technology has certainly advanced publishing techniques since that first Gutenberg printing!  The next generation of publications is aptly termed Project Gutenberg, "the oldest producer of free electronic books (eBooks or etexts) on the Internet."  The collection contains over 15,000 eBooks, most of which "are in the public domain in the United States.  All may be freely downloaded and read, and redistributed for non-commercial use."  Here's a great library that you can visit without ever leaving your home!

Included:

·        Superbowl on Huge Screen

·        Appetizers

·        All you can Eat Classic American Food

Menu:  http://franksland313.com/superbowlmenu.doc

·        3 kinds of FSL Home-Brewed Beer

o       Stalin Stout

o       Hefeweisen

o       Summer Blonde Ale

·        Wine and Soft Drinks

·        Pre-Game Events

·        Youth Activities

·        Just pure fun!

When: Superbowl Sunday…February 4th, 2007, Party begins 90 minutes before Kick-off

- Kick-off is at 3:25 PM, so doors open at 2 PM

Where:  Tacoma Scottish Rite, 817 South Vassault St., Tacoma, Link to Map:  (cut and paste into Brower)

http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?address=817%20S%20Vassault%20St&city=Tacoma&state=WA&zipcode=98465%2d2046&country=US&title=%3cb%3e817%20S%20Vassault%20St%3c%2fb%3e%3cbr%20%2f%3e%20Tacoma%2c%20WA%2098465%2d2046%2c%20%20US&cid=lfmaplink2&name=&dtype=s

Price for tickets:  Only $20 for Adults ... $7.50 Children 11 and younger

Tickets are available on-line with a credit card at:  http://www.franksland313.com/online_purchase.htm

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District Meeting

Subject:  District No. 7 Meeting

Date:  Saturday, February 3, 2007

Time:  6:00 PM

Place:  Bellevue Masonic Center, 16229 Northrup Way, Bellevue

    You and your lady are cordially invited to join the members of District 7 to receive our Grand Master MW Charles W. McQuery.

    The reception and greet/meet is from 6:00 PM to 6:45 PM with dinner to follow.  Cost of the dinner is $7.00 per person.

    Please RSVP to:  William G. Werner, 1104 Lewis Lane SE, Issaquah, WA 98027 or email:  bigwer1@hotmail.com.

Fraternally,

** Bill Werner, Deputy of the Grand Master, District No. 7

NOVEMBER:

Waitsburg ... Tom Baker        Alki ... Kent Osborne

Everett ... Bliss Settergreen        Bethel ... Frank Pascoe  

Tyler ... Kenneth Estes        Corinthian ... Edward Croft

John Rex Thompson ...   Ross Goedge           Greenwood ... Bill Shortt Jr

JANUARY:

Tyee ... Gene Gregory        Century ... Carlmer Sorensen

Laurel  Gerald Barnes        Maple Leaf ... Gary Pitcher    

Olympic ... Herb Farman        Poulsbo ... Earl Whittaker        

Ferndale ... Earl Granger    Golden Rod ... Durwin Moore       

Floral ... Jack Estes            Occidental ... Joe Ostby

Reliance ... Tom Addy        Waconda ... Tom Schenerwerk

Belfair ... Don Daly         Vida ... Larry Todd       

Cedar  ... Cappy McIntire

Centralia

Chehalis

Fern

HINT 1:  Making Use Of Empty luggage:   Use empty luggage to store blankets, seasonal clothes, or   gift items purchased in advance during sales.  

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HINT 2:  Making use of old Christmas Wrapping...   Save old Christmas paper and shred for use in gift bags &stuffing around packaging

            * * * * * * * *  
HINT 3:  Repair the mesh screening on playpens. Try Sewing up the rip with dental floss.  
            * * * * * * * *  
HINT 4:  Clean hands after pumping gas or changing oil. A box of baby wipes left in the trunk of the car will prove a handy grease-cutter.  

            * * * * * * * *  
HINT 5:  To deodorize and sanitize your garbage disposal, turn on the warm water and pour a 1/2 cup of baking soda down the drain. Works Great!  
            * * * * * * * *  
HINT 6:  Safer Produce...   Instead of buying vegetable wash, scrub the outside of your fruits and vegetables with a mixture of water and baking soda then rinse.   
 

    TIRED FROM WAITING for their overdue baby, my daughter Margaret and her husband Dave broke the monotony one night with a trip to the movies. Margaret went inside to get seats while Dave bought popcorn and drinks in the lobby.
     Paying for the refreshments, my son-in-law knocked over his soda. The clerk mopped up the mess and refilled his cup. Rattled, Dave then joined his wife. Talking over the background music, he dramatically described his embarrassing episode. One of his expressive gestures upset the bucket of popcorn. Dave sheepishly headed back to the lobby.
     When he was out of earshot, the woman sitting next to my daughter turned and said, "You're not going to let him hold the baby, are you?"  --Contributed to "Life In These United States" by Cynthia Holmes

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   Working as a court reporter, I listen to a lot of testimony that you won't hear on Law and Order, including the following give-and-take between the judge and a mother during a paternity suit. Judge: Was the child born out of wedlock? Mother: No, sir, just outside of Louisville.  --Contributed to "All In a Day's Work" by Mary Gale

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   MOTHER had decided to trim her household budget wherever possible, so instead of having a dress dry-cleaned she washed it by hand. Proud of her savings, she boasted to my father, "Just think, Fred, we are five dollars richer because I washed this dress by hand."
     "Good," my dad quickly replied. "Wash it again!"  --Contributed to "Life In These United States" by Mary L Bounds

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    A PASSENGER on the bus I drive was telling all the other riders how proud she was to finally be getting her driver's license. "No more waiting in the cold for buses!" She proclaimed. "No more being late!" Then she leaned over and asked me to please let her know when we reached the stop for the department of motor vehicles. "I hope you don't mind," she said, "but my vision isn't good enough to read the signs."  --Contributed to "All In a Day's Work" by Paul Solem