BUENA VISTA DRIVE, Glenn Tugwell, Kathy Tugwell 707235-8233
CHIQUITA CAMINO, Carol Anderson 707-529-9244
PAS PAJAROS Sue Weingarten 707-938-4444
DEL RIO PASEO, Dee Weaver 707-332- 9253
CAZARES CIRCLE, Kathy Sandoval, Bruce Olsen 707343-1750
MANUELLA LANE, Jerrilyn Moorehead 707-695-1389
Mark: 707-980-2097
LA SERENA WAY, Carol Bojarsky 707-338-6742
JANERO PLACE, OPEN
EL CASTILLO VISTA, Lorie Granero 707-235-1101
Recent Board Members
Bonnie Joy Kaslan, President
• 707-695-7576
Jerrilynn Moorhead HOA Secretary
• 707-695-1389
Dee Weaver,Backup Secretary/ Director
• 707-332-9253
Kathy Sandoval, Treasurer
• 707-343-1750
Carol Bojarsky, Director
• 707-388-6742
KathyTugwell/GSMOL Rep, Whisperings Editor
• 707-235-8233
BIRTHDAYS
~ Franklin D. Roosevelt
As
The avian influenza outbreak has had far-reaching consequences: More than 120 million hens have been slaughtered, and egg prices have risen to record levels. Yet for some corporate egg companies, these are good times.
The nation’s largest egg producer, Mississippi-based Cal-Maine, announced quarterly profits of $509 million, more than three times what it made in the same period a year ago. It caps three years of extraordinary earnings, which have surged since the avian flu outbreak began in 2022. By wiping out millions of laying hens, the avian flu has slowed egg production for many companies. But the outbreak also has driven up prices enough for some companies to recover losses and, for Cal-Maine, to record exceptional profits. Cal-Maine has been able to more than triple its price for a dozen eggs while its feed costs for producing an egg have been relatively stable.
At the same time, Cal-Maine and other large egg companies have received tens of millions of dollars from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which has been doling out relief payments to help egg companies restock after the virus strikes.
Cal-Maine, which produces about 20 percent of the nation’s egg supply, has benefited from the government program twice. After the virus led to the slaughter of 1.5 million hens at its facility in Chase, Kansas, the USDA paid Cal-Maine more than $22 million, according to usaspending.gov, and outbreak reporting from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and after the virus led to the slaughter of 1.6 million hens in Farwell, Texas, the USDA set aside $21 million for the company.
As a result, even though the avian flu reduced the ranks of the company’s hens by about 4 percent, the USDA payments and higher egg prices sent its profits soaring.
Cal-Maine isn’t the biggest beneficiary of USDA payments. Hillandale in Ohio and Pennsylvania received $53 million. Versova, a family of companies with farms in Iowa and Ohio, has been allotted more than $107 million. Private outfits do not release profit figures. Neither does Iowa-based Rembrandt Foods which received $26 million in payments according to local news reports at the time.
“For those companies to be bailed out and then turn around and set exploitative prices, it just adds insult to injury for consumers,” said Thomas Gremillion, director of food policy at the Consumer Federation of America, one of several industry critics decrying government payments to big egg producers. “Absolutely, it’s unfair.”
While large producers with multiple far-flung locations like Cal-Maine may thrive during the outbreak, smaller farms stricken with the virus are far more likely to suffer because while prices may be high, their single location may not be producing any eggs. It can take months, even as long as a year, for smaller farms to restart production after an infection. The USDA payments defray the cost of the birds, but they do not pay for the down time in production.
While the USDA payments “do not come close to covering the financial toll when an egg farm must depopulate its flocks and rebuild its business, in many cases it means the difference between recovering or going out of business,” Emily Metz, president of the American Egg Board, said in
statement. “A larger egg producer with multiple locations is better equipped to survive the loss of a flock than a producer with a single location, but it’s important to know that regardless of the size of operations, a bird flu detection is absolutely devastating to any egg farm.”
Egg producers are poised to receive even more government relief. In a little-noticed move late last month, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced that compensation for affected egg farms would rise from $7 per lost chicken to almost $17 a huge increase for farms that count as many as 5 million hens.
Earlier this year, Cal-Maine President Sherman Miller said that “without question, we have recently faced significant challenges within our company and the entire egg industry due to the ongoing outbreaks.” At the time, he was announcing quarterly profits of $219 million, which dwarfed those of pre-flu times.
In the year before the outbreak, Cal-Maine’s quarterly profits averaged $5 million; over the last four quarters, profits have averaged $169 million. The number of eggs it produced rose less than 10 percent over that time, meaning much of the profit comes from higher egg prices and government relief payments.
The pace of henhouse infections stalled in the spring of 2023. But then it returned. The outbreak appears to be linked to the migration patterns of wild birds. The flu outbreak has been blamed for the huge price jumps. In the year before the outbreak, Cal-Maine’s quarterly profits averaged $5 million; over the past four quarters, profits have averaged $169 million.
Sebastien Pouliot, an agricultural economist and former Iowa State University professor who studied egg economics, said it makes sense that some of the large companies with multiple far-flung operations would be making money during the avian flu scare. Even if one of their facilities is temporarily closed by the virus, those losses will be mitigated by the government, and the eggs sold by their remaining facilities will fetch far higher prices. Whether a company benefits from rising egg prices also depends on how much of its production is sold under long-standing contracts at lower prices.
Regardless of farm size, the payments serve an important purpose, said Metz, of the American Egg Board.
“First and foremost, food security is national security. When you look at the indemnity [payment] programs, this is national disaster relief. While consumer frustration is understandable, egg prices are essentially a product of changes in supply and demand. This is an incredibly complex issue,” she said. But “if you are looking for a bogeyman, it’s the bird flu.”
Excerpted from source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2025/04/08/egg-prices-profit-increase-calmaine Updated 4/8/25 By Peter Whoriskey
NATO as of 2024
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization is a military alliance of 32 member countries from Europe and North America. It was originally established in 1949 with 12 founding nations to defend Western European nations against aggression from the Soviet Union. Its primary purpose is to provide a collective security framework, meaning that an attack on one member is treated as an attack on all.
Since the fall of the Soviet Union, NATO has broadened its membership and scope, covering around 10 million square miles and almost a billion people.
Origins
After World War II, the US and the Soviet Union emerged as the two global superpowers, each seeking to expand their influence ushering in a period known as the Cold War.
The US valued a strong, armed, and independent Western Europe. A Soviet-backed coup in Czechoslovakia and the Soviet blockade of West Berlin in 1948 prompted Western nations to seek a unified defense strategy with the US.
Twelve nations signed the North Atlantic Treaty in Washington, DC, on April 4, 1949, including 10 European countries as well as the US and Canada.
The dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 prompted questions about NATO’s necessity and purpose should it be dissolved and, if not, how should it address the newly formed Russian Federation?
Post-Cold War
NATO expanded its membership from 16 countries in 1991 to 30 by 2020, incorporating former Soviet allies such as Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic.
The strategic focus of the alliance shifted from deterrence to crisis management and cooperative security, engaging in operations beyond its traditional boundaries, such as its interventions in ethnic conflicts in the Balkans during the 1990s.
The 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine which is not a NATO member but shares borders with three alliance nations revived Cold War-era tensions between an enlarged West and an aggressive Russia.
NATO nations responded to the invasion by imposing sanctions on Russia and coordinating financial and military aid to Ukraine, with NATO allies providing approximately 99% of all military aid to Ukraine.
Finland and Sweden both joined NATO, breaking a decadeslong policy of neutrality in European affairs and doubling the size of the direct border between NATO and Russia.
Mutual Defense Clause
NATO's Article 5 mutual defense clause states that an attack against one member is an attack against all, requiring all members to assist the attacked member, including the use of armed force if necessary.
The only invocation of Article 5 came after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks against the US, leading to NATO’s military involvement in the war on terrorism.
Future
NATO is funded primarily by its member countries. Each country pays a percentage of its GDP, with top-payer Poland allocating 4.1% in 2024 followed by Estonia and the US (3.4%). Countries contribute directly (via budget outlays) or indirectly (through arms provisions).
Due to the size of the US economy, the absolute military and financial burden on the US would be significantly higher in the event of a NATO conflict. This disparity has led to disputes between the US and its allies. Source: 1440 Daily Digest <dailydigest@email.join1440.com>
A Combat Veteran’s Advice on Remembering the True Meaning of Memorial Day
By Lt. Col. (Ret.) Mark Leslie
For me, Memorial Day is difficult. It is a day filled with mixed emotions. I am not overly sensitive, but it upsets me when someone innocently says “Happy Memorial Day,” or thanks me for my service.
This day is not about me, or anyone else that served or is currently wearing the uniform. This day is to honor those that have perished in the service of our nation - those that have made the ultimate sacrifice; those that are no longer with us; those we were privileged to know.
I’m not one of the veterans that say “All the heroes I know are dead” because they are not. I know plenty of true-life heroes. I served with many of them; many of them are right here at Fort Polk while others are scattered across the nation and globe. They are very much alive. They are extraordinary human beings that perform incredible acts of selfless service and bravery, on and off the battlefield. I am honored and privileged to have known these soldiers it is one of the many blessings I have had in my life, and I reflect on them often. But they are honored on Veterans Day, not Memorial Day.
Memorial Day is for heroes no longer here with us. I share this only to help put this in context to the meaning of Memorial Day and why so many veterans feel the same ire when one wishes us a happy Memorial Day.
It is not necessarily a happy day, but neither is it a day filled with remorse. It is a strange mix of emotions that those not experienced with the bond that service builds, or the horror of combat and the loss that accompanies it, will ever understand.
I feel grateful for having known a few of those that have made this ultimate sacrifice, and I reflect on the time shared with them as some of the highlights of my life.
I feel I would have a much emptier life if I had not been given this gift of knowing them, their friendship and soldierly camaraderie. But then I feel deeply saddened that their family, and we as an Army and a nation, lost them so early and their full potential will never be known. Sometimes no, many times not just on Memorial Day, I am grief-stricken with thoughts of them. I feel that this grief is somewhat selfish, for what I feel can be nothing compared to what their family feels.
In my 30 years in the Army and several conflicts, I was considered rather bold and maybe even reckless with my own safety in dangerous situations. I don’t think it was brave, just fear cloaked in necessity, and the bravado and showmanship required of my position.
But those characteristics do not carry on in every aspect of life. Memorial Day 2019 marked the sixth anniversary of one of my close friends being killed in combat. As of 2019, I had yet to summon the moral courage to visit his final resting place and pay my proper respects, to share that final drink with him or tell him how much I miss him. I had refrained for many reasons, but I think that revelation alone should tell the uninitiated why I don’t want you to tell me, “Happy Memorial Day,” and I think many combat veterans harbor the same thoughts. So, on this Memorial Day, when you see your veteran husband, father, wife, mother, son or daughter deep in reflection, don’t wish them a “Happy Memorial Day.” Give them a moment, give them some space, give them some understanding and finally, just maybe, give them a hug. Let them know you understand. Listen to the stories they tell of their friends.
As the noted English novelist Terry Pratchett said: “Do you not know that a man is not dead while his name is still spoken?”
This quote aptly fits the stories told by a veteran of a friend no longer here. He is likely trying to keep his friend’s memory alive through telling of his exploits and contributions. A hero lives forever in the minds of many.
Today is not about the veteran or the active-duty soldier — it is about the men and women buried across this nation in countless veteran and local cemeteries. They are not faceless, they are our friends, and fathers, mothers, sons and daughters and we miss them. Honor them on this and every Memorial Day. SOURCE: https://www.uso.org/stories/2723-a-combatveteran-s-advice-on-how-to-remember-the-true-meaning-of-memorial-day
Dogwood in Glorious Bloom
by Glenn Tugwell 2025
Moon Valley – Look Up!
On Paseo Palencia
Photographed
Night Sky for May 2025: Planets, Stars, and the Moon
May offers skywatchers a delightful spectacle of celestial events! From dazzling planetary conjunctions to the vibrant Eta Aquarid meteor shower, this month has something for every astronomy enthusiast. Mark your calendars and get ready to witness the wonders of the night sky! Here are details from long-time Almanac astronomer Bob Berman.
May 1: Mars on the Move
May Day is the heyday for watching the red planet. From the beginning of the month until May 6, Mars will approach and pass through the gorgeous but faint star-cluster M44, which is known as “The Beehive.” On the 3rd, the Moon joins the fun, meeting up with Mars in the dim constellation of Cancer the Crab.
May 4: The Eta Aquarids
The Eta Aquarids meteor shower, dust and debris from Halley’s Comet, also occurs tonight during the predawn hours. According to NASA, “The Eta Aquarid meteors are known for their speed, with the meteors traveling at about 148,000 mph (66 km/s) into Earth’s atmosphere.” The Moon will only be in its first quarter phase, creating nearly optimal viewing conditions.
May 12: Flower Moon
On May 12, at 12:56 P.M. (EDT), the Full Flower Moon is on display at the horizon. Other names for this full Moon point full speed ahead to warmer weather, including the Budding Moon, the Planting Moon, and the Shedding Pony Moon (one of my personal favorites!).
May 15: Last Quarter Moon
On the 20th at 7:59 A.M. (EDT), the Moon is half illuminated to showcase a stunning Last Quarter Moon. This is one of the best times of the month for stargazing, with the Quarter Moon giving off just a tenth of the light that the full Moon does.
Also, this morning, Saturn will return to the sky as a morning star hovering to the right of Venus in the east. If you watch Venus, you will notice her noticeably higher in the sky each morning.
May 26: New Beginnings
You may notice that something is missing this evening the Moon! On May 26, at 11:02 P.M. (EDT), the New Moon makes its arrival. Depending on your geographic region, today may be a great day to begin seeding annual flowers, fruits, and vegetables that bear crops above ground. The Moon’s gravitational pull affects the moisture level in the soil, resulting in improved germination.
May 31: Mars, Leo, and the Crescent Moon
Tonight offers another peak of Mars. Back in the western sky at nightfall, Mars is in the constellation of Leo, fading to a magnitude of 1.8. You can see them both just over the slivery crescent Moon.
Enjoy the increasing sunlight! By the end of May, we’ll have 15 hours between sunrise and sunset! (It was 14 hours at the start of the month.) The days will get longer until the summer solstice on June 20.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Bob Berman, astronomer editor for The Old Farmer’s Almanac, covers everything under the Sun (and Moon)! Bob is the world’s most widely read astronomer and has written ten popular books.
Source:https://www.almanac.com/night-sky-may
MEET GENERAL SHERMAN, THE LARGEST TREE IN THE WORLD
by Great Big Story |
14 February
2024
The General Sherman Tree in Sequoia National Park weighs 2,000 tons. Located only a 90-minute drive from Fresno, California, it’s the largest, heaviest tree in the world, living off the moisture from glacier caps on the slopes of Sierra Nevada.
Scenic view of famous General Sherman Tree, by volume the world’s largest known living single-stem tree, Sequoia National Park, California, USA
The staggering weight is only the first impressive statistic. It stands 275 feet tall and measures 36 feet in diameter, and is believed to be between 2,300 and 2,700 years old.
General Sherman might seem like an unusual name for a tree, but you won’t be surprised to learn it comes from a very real person. General William Tecumseh Sherman was one of the Union Army in the American Civil War, and a man called James Wolverton fought under him. After the war, Wolverton became a park ranger in California and when the Sequoia National Park was established in the 1890s, the rangers wanted to name the tree after a person they considered equally great. Wolverton suggested his old general, Sherman.
Before that, a nearby socialist colony had given it a different name. Their reasoning can’t have been too far removed from the park rangers, because they also chose someone they admired – Karl Marx. The name General Sherman is now rather entrenched, however, and it seems fitting.
The park is named after the Sequoia trees that grow there, of which General Sherman is one. This kind of tree was once found across the North American continent, as well as in Europe, but since the end of the ice age, when the glaciers receded, the giant trees largely vanished with them. Now, California is the only place in the world with Sequoias, where they grow along the western slope of the Sierra Nevada range.
Unsurprisingly, General Sherman is a rather popular tourist attraction. Seeing people line up for photos in front of it gives context for just how ginormous this thing really is. It is about a half mile’s walk from the car park, during which you will walk past other trees that are likely the biggest trees you’ve ever seen, unless you’ve been to see General Sherman himself before.
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh oregano leaves, plus extra for serving
• 1 cup heavy cream
• ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, plus extra for serving Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Heat the oil in a medium (11 - inch) Dutch oven, such as Le Creuset, over medium - low heat. Add the onions and cook for about 5 minutes, until the onions are translucent. Add the garlic, oregano, and red pepper flakes and cook for just one minute. Add the vodka and simmer for 5 to 7 minutes, until the mixture is reduced by half. With clean hands, crush each tomato into the pot. Add 2 teaspoons of salt and ½ teaspoon of black pepper. Cover the pot with a tight - fitting lid and bake for 1½ hours. Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add 2 tablespoons of salt and the pasta and cook according to the directions on the package. Drain and set aside. Pour the tomato mixture into a food processor fitted with the steel blade and puree until smooth. (You can also use a blender.) Return the tomato mixture to the pot. Add the fresh oregano, cream, 1 teaspoon of salt, and ½ teaspoon pepper and simmer partially covered for 10 minutes. Add the pasta to the sauce and cook for 2 more minutes. Off the heat, stir in ½ cup of the Parmesan cheese and serve hot sprinkled with extra Parmesan and fresh oregano.
• 1 pound brioche, cut into 1-inch pieces (12 cups)
• 5 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 2 large Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 cup Calvados or other brandy
• 4 large eggs, beaten
• 3 cups milk
• 1 vanilla bean, split and seeds scraped
• Whipped cream or crème fraîche, for servingAdd toart
Directions
1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spread the brioche on a large rimmed baking sheet and toast for about 15 minutes, stirring once or twice, until lightly golden and dry.
2. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, melt the butter; reserve 3 tablespoons of the melted butter in a small bowl. Add the apples and 1/4 cup of the sugar to the skillet and cook over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until the apples are golden and softened, about 15 minutes. Stir in the cinnamon. Remove from the heat and add the Calvados. Return the skillet to the heat and cook until the sauce is syrupy, about 1 minute.
3. In a large bowl, whisk the eggs with the milk and the remaining 3/4 cup of sugar. Scrape the vanilla seeds into the custard (save the vanilla bean for another use). Add the brioche and apples and toss until evenly coated. Let stand for 5 minutes to allow the brioche to absorb the custard.
4. Brush an 8- x 11-inch baking dish with 1 tablespoon of the reserved melted butter. Add the bread pudding and drizzle the remaining 2 tablespoons of melted butter on top. Bake for about 50 minutes, until the custard is set and the top is golden. Let the bread pudding cool slightly, then serve with whipped cream or crème fraîche.
If you are on FACEBOOK, please join MOON VALLEY RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY.
We will share and update information about our park on our Facebook page. Join our community page to post to the group. Many thanks and please feel free to contact us if you have questions.
Please Note: The Moon Valley HOA operates independently of Park Ownership/ Management. We are not directed by nor do we receive monies from Park Ownership / Management regarding the business of the HOA.
Bonnie Joy Kaslan, President, BOD, De Anza Moon Valley HOA, Cell: 707-695-7576 / Bonnie@kaslan.com
HOSPITAL & RECOVERY SUPPLIES
Available for residents of Moon Valley
Phone Kathy Vick at 619-322-9246 for more information. Items available are free for 90 days (wheelchairs, standard walkers, bedside commodes (often in short supply), shower chair, crutches, canes, etc.
Puzzles and Word Games you can
Kitchen Gadgets
AIR FRYER
BLENDER
CAN OPENER
COFFEE MAKER
CUTTING BOARD
EGG COOKER
GRIDDLE
HAND MIXER
INSTANT POT
JUICER
KETTLE
MICROWAVE NINJA
PASTA MAKER
POPCORN MAKER
RICE COOKER
SCALE
SCISSORS
SLOW COOKER
TOASTER
Across
1.Not an orig.
Flying Helicopter Bug
4.Like some renewable energy
9.WWW address
10.Livid
11.Turkish title
12.Mutton or lamb leg
13.Lowers oneself
15.Northeasternmost st.
16.Drivel
18.Radio mode
20. Flowering plant with healing properties
23.Cousin of a raccoon
25.In support of
26.Moth-___
27.Freddy Krueger’s street
28.Cubic meter
29.Beam Down 1.Couple
2.Exhort
3.Kilt pattern
4.Italian unmarried woman
5.Prayer
6.Hang back
7.Proton’s place
8.Neural network
14.Kitchen gadget
17.Inmate who’s never getting out
18.Air force heroes
19.Castle defense
21.RC, e.g.
22.___ brat
24.Lunched
The headline is a clue to the answer in the diagonal.
April Wordoku
How to solve wordoku puzzles
You only need logic and patience to solve a wordoku. Simply make sure that each 3x3 square region has only one letter from the word JUDGMENT. Similarly, each letter can only appear once in a column or row in
the larger grid. The difficulty on this puzzle is medium.
TRIVIA TEASER
Only 17
1.Which special space appears exactly 17 times on a Scrabble board? a-Double letter score, b-Double word score, cTriple letter score, d-Triple word score.
2.Which family lived at 17 Cherry Tree Lane in Mary Poppins? a-Banks, b-Mitchell, c-Lancaster, d-Shaw.
3.Which pitcher struck out 17 Detroit Tigers in game one of the 1968 World Series? a-Sandy Koufax, b-Bob Gibson, c-Jerry Koosman, d-Jim Palmer.
4.In which year did 17-year-old Boris Becker become the youngest-ever men's Grand Slam singles winner at Wimbledon? a-1985, b-1989, c-1991, d-1994.
5.Eliza McCardle was only 17 years old when she married which future U.S. President? a-Grover Cleveland, b-Andrew Johnson, c-Herbert Hoover, d-Andrew Jackson.
6.Which group scored a pop hit in 1983 with (She's) Sexy + 17? a-Culture Club, b-Adam and the Ants, c-Georgia Satellites, d-Stray Cats.
7.A photo on the cover of Seventeen magazine is one of the prizes on which reality TV series? a-America's Next Top Model, b-Hell's Kitchen, c-Project Runway, d-Shear Genius.
8.Colonel Aureliano Buendia was the father of 17 sons, all named Aureliano, with 17 different women in which novel? a-Mona Lisa Smile, b-One Hundred Years of Solitude, c-Dirt Music, d-The Satanic Verses.
9.Which of the actors in the movie Stalag 17 served as the narrator of the events in the film? a-Gil Stratton, bWilliam Holden, c-Don Taylor, d-Harvey Lembeck.
10.Which female singer-songwriter had hits with "Society's Child" and "At Seventeen"? a-Kate Bush, b-Janis Ian, c-Suzanne Vega, d- Michelle Shocked.
QUOTES
The very essence of leadership is that you have to have a vision. You can't blow an uncertain trumpet.
Theodore M. Hesburgh
Your imagination is your preview of life's coming attractions.
Albert Einstein
Learning is about more than acquiring new knowledge. It is also crucial to unlearn old knowledge that has outlived its relevance. Forgetting can be as important as learning.
Gary Ryan Blair
Progress involves taking risks. You can't steal second base and keep your foot on first.
Frederick Wilcox
The more you seek security, the less of it you will have and the more you pursue opportunity, the more security you will achieve.
Brian Tracy
It is difficult to know what counts in the world. Most of us count credits, honors, dollars. But at the bulging center of mid-life, I am beginning to see that the things that really matter take place not in the boardrooms, but in the kitchens of the world.
Allen Sledge
A great attitude does more than turn on the lights in our worlds. It seems to magically connect us to all sorts of serendipitous opportunities that were somehow absent before the change.
Earl Nightingale
More people would learn from their mistakes if they weren't so busy denying them.
Harold J. Smith
When faced with a challenge, look for a way, not a way out.
David L. Weatherford
Answers to 'Only 17'
1-b,Double word score
2-a, Banks
3-b, Bob Gibson
4-a, 1985
5-b, Andrew Johnson
The Lighter Side
Inner Strength
•
• If you are always cheerful,
If you wake up without caffeine,
6-d, Stray Cats
7-a, "America's Next Top Model"
8-b, "One Hundred Years of Solitude"
9-a, Gil Stratton
10-b, Janis Ian
•
• boring people with your troubles,
If you can resist complaining and
• ones don't have time for you,
If you understand when your loved
• without resentment,
If you can take criticism and blame
• friend better than a poor friend,
If you can resist treating a rich
• medical help,
If you can conquer tension without
• pill,
If you can go to sleep without a
Then you are the family dog.
Communication Problem
A farmer went to the attorney's office and said he wanted to get a divorce. The attorney asked if he had any grounds.
"Yeah, I got about 240 acres," the farmer said. The attorney replied, "But, I mean do you have a case?"
"No, I have a John Deere."
"Well, do you have a grudge?"
The farmer said, "Yea, I got a grudge. That's where I park my John Deere."
"No, I mean do you have a suit?"
"Yes, sir, I got a suit. I wear it to church on Sundays."
Next, the exasperated lawyer asked, "Well, sir, does your wife beat you up or anything?"
"No, we both get up about 4:30."
The attorney finally asked, "OK, so why do you want a divorce?"
"Well," said the farmer, "I can't have a meaningful conversation with her!"
APRIL 2025 Calendar
ALCOHOL AWARENESS MONTH.
AUTISM ACCEPTANCE MONTH.
BEAVER AWARENESS MONTH.
DISTRACTED DRIVING AWARENESS MONTH.
GLOBAL ASTRONOMY MONTH.
NATIONAL CANCER CONTROL MONTH.
NATIONAL CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH.
NATIONAL DONATE LIFE MONTH.
PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS MONTH.
STRESS AWARENESS MONTH.
1, April Fool's Day.
4, ASSASSINATION OF MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR., 56th ANNIVERSARY. In 1968, the racial justice advocate was shot and killed in Memphis, TN. Assassin James Early Ray died in prison in 1998 while serving a 99year sentence.
5, GOLD STAR SPOUSES DAY. Since 2010, honoring surviving spouses of armed forces members.
6-12, NATIONAL CRIME VICTIMS RIGHTS WEEK.
7, INTERNATIONAL BEAVER DAY.
7-13, THE MASTERS TOURNAMENT. Augusta National Golf Club, Augusta, GA. Web: masters.com
10-13, FRENCH QUARTER FESTIVAL. New Orleans, LA. 40th annual. Concerts, food.
11, CIVIL RIGHTS ACT, 56th anniversary.
11, NATIONAL PET DAY.
11-13, COACHELLA VALLEY MUSIC AND ARTS FESTIVAL. Also 18-20. Empire Polo Grounds, Indio, CA. Music and arts festival. Web:
coachella.com.
12, DOGWOOD FESTIVAL. Camdenton, MO. Spring carnival.
12-20, PASSOVER begins before sundown on Monday, April 12 and ends after nightfall on April 20.
13, PALM SUNDAY.
13, PINK MOON. The April full moon.
15, INCOME TAX PAY DAY.
16, NATIONAL STRESS AWARENESS DAY.
17, BAT APPRECIATION DAY.
17, MGM STUDIOS FOUNDED: 100th anniversary.
18, GOOD FRIDAY.
19, OKLAHOMA CITY BOMBING REMEMBRANCE, 1995.
19-27, NATIONAL PARK WEEK.
20, EASTER.
*20-26, MERRIE MONARCH FESTIVAL AND HULA COMPETITION. Hilo HI. Honors King David Kalakauna.
*21, BOSTON MARATHON, 128th RUNNING.
21, AGGIE MUSTER. Texas A&M University, College Station, TX. Current and former students gather to honor fellow Aggies. Web: aggienetwork.com.
22, EARTH DAY
23, FIRST MOVIE THEATER OPENS. Apr 23, 1896, New York City at Koster and Bials Mustic Hall.
23, ADMINISTRATIVE PROFESSIONALS DAY.
*24-May 4, FIESTA SAN ANTONIO. Since 1891.
25, ARBOR DAY. Since 1872. Web: arborday. org.
25, WORLD PENGUIN DAY.
25, FIDDLER'S FROLICS. Hallettsville, TX. Since 1971.
