Stars of Washington

THE STARS OF WASHINGTON

Friday, April 21st, 2006

HE WHO GROWS A GARDEN

He who grows a garden,

Never mind how small it is,

Is sure of backaches, calluses

And lots of rheumatiz.

But he who grows a garden is

An eternal optimist,

His aches and pains are minor things,

He'll triumph when it's harvest.

Last season's troubles don't deter,

Would label him a quitter,

A knowing smile is on his face

He's certain this year will be better.

-- Ralph McCormick, Chewelah, Washington

AND NOW FOR CLUE NUMBER 5

We're off across the mountains as far east as we can go

another star you'll need to know.

The place to find is on the NORTH side of town,

not down in the valley but on a HILL.

See you Tues. April 25th @ 7:30 p.m.

** Joanne Clark, AGM

MESSAGES FROM MY MAIL BOX

You may want to try Roasted Asparagus.. I usually put a piece of foil in the bottom of a cookie sheet to ease cleanup. Spray a thin coating of Olive oil (or Pam) on the foil. Wash the asparagus and break off the bottoms. Place them on the cookie sheet. Spray the asparagus with olive oil and season with a little salt and pepper. Roast in the oven at 450 for about 10 to 15 minutes. It is done when just showing a light brown from the roasting. Absolutely delicious. Every once in awhile, take the cookie sheet out of the oven and shake it to roll the asparagus over.

** Wayne Smith (RW ... Senior Grand Warden, GL of WA)

I did try this for Easter and it was wonderful! Thanks, Brother Wayne!

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Viceroy butterflies' orange wings with heavy black veining look very similar to the coloring of the monarch butterflies. Why do these butterflies mimic monarchs? ANSWER: Monarchs are toxic to predators. Therefore, butterflies that look like them aren't likely to be eaten.

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Alpha Chapter, Cle Elum, extends an invitation to all to our Friendship Night, May 2 at 7:00 p.m. We are celebrating our Centennial year this year, by honoring our history and looking to the future. Come one & all; Come for the fun and stay for the treats.

** Jeanine Baunsgard WM Alpha Chpt.

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. . . . . Bro. William A. Thompson P.G.P. of the Grand Chapter of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island and a Past Patron of Westville Chapter No.24, Westville, Nova Scotia. Bro. Bill will also be installed in Minneapolis this November as Chairman of the Eastern Star Journal for the 2006-2009 Triennium. Needless to say our Chapter Members are very proud that he has been chosen for this position. He is also Webmaster for our Grand Chapter Webpage which you will find at http://www.oesnspei.com/ .. Hope everyone will have a look!!

Fraternally,

** Sister Diane Hayman PGM; NS. and PEI; Past Matron; Westville Chapter No.24; Westville N.S. GGC

Great website!

MASONIC MESSAGES

Brothers,

North Hill Lodge #210 will be conferring the 3rd Degree on Brother Keno DeVarney this Saturday, April 22, 2006. Lodge will open at 9:00 am (that's in the morning).

Worshipful Master Jerry Braun welcomes you all.

(Please Park in the North parking lot.)

Fraternally,

** John Wyman, Secretary

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Fraternal greetings,

Corinthian Lodge #27, at Trail BC, will be conferring the 3rd degree on Thursday evening, the 27th of April. Lodge tyled at 7:30. All Brethren are invited. Come up and see how the N.O.B.s {North of the Border} do the degree.

Fraternally,

** Lowry May, Immediate past secretary (thankfully)

MASONS FALL ON HARD TIMES

Maybe something like this should go to ABC and the news media in general.

** Billy Langfeldt, Queen Esther 5, Boulder, CO

Masons fall on hard times

Once a bedrock of U.S. culture, group faces aging, declining membership 05:23 PM CDT on Saturday, April 15, 2006

By HOLLY LEBOWITZ ROSSI / Special Contributor to The Dallas Morning News

In a long-in-the-tooth corner of downtown Dallas, between the Farmers Market and the Stewpot, sits the solid, well-maintained -- but largely vacant

Masonic Temple.

The 65-year-old landmark has been on the market since October. (Asking price, $3.6 million.) Like the organization it represents, the temple has seen better days. The old Masonic Temple in downtown Dallas, once a hub of activity, is on the block.

The Freemasons were once a cornerstone of American society, counting among their members nine signers of the Declaration of Independence,

14 presidents, and 42 U.S. Supreme Court justices.

The organization is a fraternity, social club and "brotherhood" that, using the ancient craft of stonecutting as a metaphor, seeks to instill morality and upright

behavior in members. At monthly lodge meetings, Masons perform rituals to induct new members, attend classes on what they call "the craft," and organize

charitable activities in their communities.

But the organization is in serious decline -- and, looking at the downtown temple, one might even call it an institution of generations past.

That assessment, however, doesn't take into account the building directly across Harwood Street from the Dallas temple. The Dallas Scottish Rite

Cathedral, run by a subgroup of the Freemasons, recently underwent a significant renovation and is an active center for the charitable work and ritual ceremonies that epitomize Masonry.

Any close look at the centuries-old Masonic fraternity reveals more than a dying group with a mysterious past.

Freemasonry today echoes questions that are being asked in churches and other religious institutions across the country. How do we recruit new

members? Should we change to fit modern social conventions? How do we overcome biases against us?

To be sure, Freemasonry is at a crossroads. Popular with the World War II generation, the Masons hit their peak in 1959, with more than 4 million U.S. members. Now, membership is around 1.5 million.

Ward Guffey, president of the Masonic Temple Corp., which owns the downtown Dallas temple, said it was once home to nine lodges with a combined membership of roughly 10,000. Today five lodges, with a total of 2,000 to 3,000 members, meet there.

"Modern-day people, especially younger people, just don't have as much time to devote to social and fraternal organizations," he said. He added that

many Masons in days gone by were downtown businessmen -- and many of those downtown businesses have moved or disappeared entirely.

At the same time, though, Masons do seem to be making a cultural splash. The May release of the film version The DaVinci Code has piqued interest

in secret societies and ancient rituals. DaVinci author Dan Brown's next book, The Solomon Key, is rumored to be about Masonry and the Founding Fathers. Masonry also figured prominently in the 2004 Nicolas Cage adventure film, National Treasure.

Many Masonic leaders see the spike in interest as an opportunity to re-energize Freemasonry and its various subgroups -- which include, in addition to the Scottish Rite, the York Rite, the Order of the Eastern Star, and the Shriners.

The fraternity has a lot of history on its side -- and legend, precisely the kind that is so fascinating to eager consumers of tales like The DaVinci

Code.

There are different theories about the origins of the Masons. In the most popular narrative, the fraternity looks back on two historical moments in

particular.

One is the building of King Solomon's Temple, which Masons say was completed in the 10th century B.C. by stonemasons of three skill levels-

entered apprentice, fellow craft, and master mason.

The second dates to medieval times, when a group known as the Knights Templar, or the Poor Knights of Christ, was sent to protect Crusaders on

their way to Jerusalem. Legend has it that the Knights were actually on a different mission, having learned that treasure had been buried by the

builders of Solomon's Temple, which was destroyed in 587 B.C.

Many historians are skeptical of a direct link between the Knights Templar and Freemasonry. But scholars do agree that around 1717, Freemasonry

emerged in England as a fraternal order, distinct from the medieval craft guilds. (Starting in that period, working as a builder was no longer a criterion

for membership in the Masons.)

Masonry arrived in America by 1730, when Benjamin Franklin became a member in Philadelphia. In 1733, the fraternity's American presence became

official with the establishment of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts.

Freemasons today view the tools of the Masonic craft as metaphors: They see their lives as "spiritual and moral edifices," and they try to fulfill the

fraternity's motto, "We make good men better."

Masons advance through the ranks by "degrees." To move up, a participant must undergo a ritual in which he learns secret handshakes and words, as

well as moral and ethical lessons.

The first three degrees bear the same names as those of Solomon's era. To move beyond those three, a candidate joins either the Scottish Rite,

which awards degrees 4 through 32, or the York Rite, which includes the degree of Knight Templar -- the only Masonic degree that requires Christian

faith.

Knights, secret rituals, and treasure aside, Masonry is, its leaders say, fundamentally about giving back to the community and being a force for

good in the world.

"If everyone lived in the world based on our teachings -- not what we preach, but what we actually do -- the world would be much better off," said Jeffrey

B. Hodgdon, grand master in Massachusetts.

Although Freemasonry requires a belief in God or some higher power, the fraternity is adamant that it is not a religion, and it welcomes members of all

faiths.

"To be a religion, you have to have some form of a means of salvation. Masonry doesn't touch that -- that's the church's job," said Brian Dodson

of Sugar Land, grand master of the Grand Lodge of Texas.

However, Steven C. Bullock, a historian at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Massachusetts and an expert on American Masonry, said the organization,

with its rituals and almost ecclesiastical leadership structure, does function somewhat like a religious body.

"Masonry is not a religion, but it's religious in all sorts of ways," he said.

Some religious groups, leery of the Masons' focus on rites, vows, and rituals, warn members to steer clear. In particular, the Roman Catholic Church has

famously objected to Masonry since the 1730s.

A 1983 Vatican declaration, the most recent reiteration of the church's position, said: "Catholics enrolled in Masonic associations are involved in

serious sin and may not approach Holy Communion." Freemasonry, according to the Catholic Almanac, is "a naturalistic religion, active participation in which is incompatible with Christian faith and practice."

No one, however, questions the Masons' devotion to charitable works.

In most states, Masonic charities fund hospitals, old age homes, and other philanthropic activities. Mr. Hodgdon, from Massachusetts, estimated that

nationwide, Masons spend $3 million a day on charitable projects.

This dedication only heightens the urgency brought on by the decline in membership -- having fewer members means less in dues to be used for

charitable purposes.

But like any organization where each branch governs itself -- there is no national Masonic body; each state or "jurisdiction" sets its own bylaws -

there is disagreement about how the fraternity can best attract new members.

Several jurisdictions, including those in Massachusetts, Ohio, New York, Oklahoma, and Washington, D.C., have greatly streamlined the initiation

process. They have introduced one-day programs through which men can perform the necessary rituals to become "Master Masons" in a single day,

rather than over several months.

The program has brought in new blood in Massachusetts, including an 82-member lodge near Harvard University. For that lodge, Mr. Hodgdon

granted a special dispensation, exempting several young men from the minimum age requirement of 21.

Besides Catholics, other faith groups have raised eyebrows at the Masons. In the early 20th century, Scottish Rite Masons, concerned with "Americanism"

as immigrants poured into the country, stirred suspicions among Jews that the fraternity might be anti-Semitic. But Jews have historically been able to join,

Dr. Bullock said. Indeed, the grand master of Massachusetts during the Revolutionary War was Jewish.

And some evangelical Christians are put off by Masonry's non-Christian rituals, or by its prohibition against religious proselytizing among members.

"That would cause strife," said Mr. Dodson, the Texan. "We're looking for a brotherhood."

Mr. Dodson, an Episcopalian, said Texas lodges have lost some members in recent years when the men learned that Masons can take their vows by placing

their hands on any holy book, including the Hebrew Bible or the Quran.

"The reason that type of Christian leaves Masonry is because of our tolerance," he said.

That tolerance -- and the fraternity, charity, and community that the Masons represent -- will keep the group strong, said Frank Brown of Dallas, a highly

degreed Mason and Knight Templar who is also a Son of the Republic of Texas.

"It's something I would recommend to anyone who is striving for relationships with people who they know they can trust -- and who they want to be trusted

by," he said.

NOTED MASONS

Presidents(chronological)

George Washington

James Monroe

Andrew Jackson

James K. Polk

James Buchanan

Andrew Johnson

James A. Garfield

William McKinley

Theodore Roosevelt

William Howard Taft

Warren G. Harding

Franklin D. Roosevelt

Harry S. Truman

Gerald R. Ford

Politicians / Statesmen

William Jennings Bryan

Robert Byrd

Winston Churchill

W.E.B. DuBois

Benjamin Franklin

John Glenn

John Hancock

Paul Revere

Strom Thurmond

Businessmen

Henry Ford

Andrew Mellon

Dave Thomas

Athletes

Jack Dempsey

John Elway

Scottie Pippen

Entertainers / Artists

Irving Berlin

Mel Blanc

Nat "King" Cole

Cecil B. DeMille

Roy Rogers

Leonardo DiCaprio

Duke Ellington

John Wayne

Clark Gable

Rudyard Kipling

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Michael Richards

Peter Sellers

Red Skelton

John Philip Sousa

Mark Twain

Florenz Ziegfeld

Texans

Stephen F. Austin

Gene Autry

Bob Bullock

George Bannerman Dealey

James Fannin

Sam Houston

Thomas Rusk

Juan Seguin

William B. Travis

Lorenzo de Zavala

Others

William Clark

Meriwether Lewis

Charles Lindbergh

Douglas MacArthur

Thurgood Marshall

Booker T. Washington

Earl Warren

Brigham Young

SOURCES: Freemasons for Dummies; Freemasonry: A Celebration of the Craft; 10,000 Famous Freemasons; The Grand Lodge of Masons in Massachusetts

WHICH MOVIE STAR ARE YOU??

Thanks to my friend Glynis Tucker for this one!

Ever wonder which movie star you are most like? Don't read ahead please!

Well, a team of researchers got together and analyzed the personalities of movie stars. The gathered info has been incorporated into this quiz.

There are only 10 questions so it doesn't take long. Answer each question with the choice that most describes you at this point in your life, and then add up the points that correspond with your answers. Send this to all of your friends (including person who sent it to you) with the stars name in the subject line. Don't look ahead or you will ruin the fun!

1. Which describes your perfect date?

a) Candlelight dinner for two

b) Amusement Park

c) Rollerblading in the park

d) Rock Concert

e) Have dinner & see a movie

f) Dinner at home with a loved one

2. What is your favorite type of music?

a) Rock and Roll

b) Alternative

c) Soft Rock

d) Classical

e) Christian

f) Jazz

3. What is your favorite type of movie?

a) Comedy

b) Horror

c) Musical

d) Romance

e) Documentary

f) Mystery

4. Which of the following jobs would you choose if you were given only these choices?

a) Waiter/Waitress

b) Sports Player

c) Teacher

d) Policeman

e) Bartender

f) Business person

5. Which would you rather do if you had an hour to waste?

a) Work out

b) Make out

c) Watch TV

d) Listen to the radio

e) Sleep

f) Read

6 Of the following colors, which do you like best?

a) Yellow

b) White

c) Sky blue

d) Teal

e) Gold

f) Red

7. Which one of the following would you like to eat right now?

a) Ice cream

b) Pizza

c) Sushi

d) Pasta

e) Salad

f) Lobster Tail

8. Which is your favorite holiday?

a) Halloween

b) Christmas

c) New Year's

d) Valentine's Day

e) Thanksgiving

f) Fourth of July

9. If you could go to any of the following places, which would it be?

a) Reno

b) Spain

c) Las Vegas

d) Hawaii

e) Hollywood

f) British Columbia

10. Of the following, who would you rather spend time with?

a) Someone who is smart

b) Someone with good looks

c) Someone who is a party animal

d) Someone who has fun all the time

e) Someone who is very emotional

f) Someone who is fun to be with-

Now total up your points on each question:

1. a-4 b-2 c-5 d-1 e-3 f-6

2. a-2 b-1 c-4 d-5 e-3 f-6

3. a-2 b-1 c-3 d-4 e-5 f-6

4. a-4 b-5 c-3 d-2 e-1 f-6

5. a-5 b-4 c-2 d-1 e-3 f-6

6. a-1 b-5 c-3 d-2 e-4 f-6

7. a-3 b-2 c-1 d-4 e-5 f-6

8. a-1 b-3 c-2 d-4 e-5 f-6

9. a-4 b-5 c-1 d-4 e-3 f-6

10. a-5 b-2 c-1 d-3 e-4 f-6

NOW, take your total and find out which Movie Star you are:

(10-17 points) You are MADONNA: You are wild and crazy and you know it. You know how to have fun, but you may take it to extremes. You know what you are doing though, and are much in control of your own life. People don't always see things your way, but that doesn't mean that you should do away with your beliefs. Try to remember that your wild spirit can lead to hurting yourself and others.

(18-26 points) You are DORIS DAY: You are fun, friendly, and popular! You are a real crowd pleaser. You have probably been out on the town your share of times, yet you come home with the values that your mother taught you. Marriage and children are very important to you, but only after you have fun. Don't let the people you please influence you to stray

27-34 points) You are DEBBIE REYNOLDS: You are cute, and everyone loves you. You are a best friend that no one takes the chance of losing. You never hurt feelings and seldom have your own feelings hurt. Life is a breeze. You are witty, and calm most of the time. Just keep clear of back stabbers, and you are worry-free.

(35-42 points) You are GRACE KELLY: You are a lover. Romance, flowers, and wine are all you need to enjoy yourself. You are serious about all commitments and are a family person. You call your Mom every Sunday, and never forget a Birthday. Don't let your passion for romance get confused with the real thing.

(43-50 points) You are KATHERINE HEPBURN: You are smart, a real thinker. Every situation is approached with a plan. You are very healthy in mind and body. You don't take crap from anyone. You have only a couple of individuals that you consider "real friends". You teach strong family values. Keep your feet planted in them, but don't overlook a bad situation when it does happen.

(51-60 points) You are ELIZABETH TAYLOR: Everyone is in awe of you. You know what you want and how to get it. You have more friends than you know what to do with. Your word is your bond. Everyone knows when you say something it is money in the bank. You attract the opposite sex. Your intelligence overwhelms most. Your memory is the next thing to photographic. Everyone admires you because you are so considerate and lovable. You know how to enjoy life and treat people right.

Now put your Movie Star in the subject line, then forward and share with your friends! HMMM! I am a KATHERINE HEPBURN!!!

LOWRY'S HINTS

HINT 1: What can I do about ants? You can sprinkle talcum powder along the ants entry-ways. Ants will not cross the line. Not only is talcum powder harmless to children and pets, it deodorizes your home and can be vacuumed up when you no longer need it.

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HINT 2: Earwigs: To deter these creepy little insects, crush bay leaves along baseboards and along window and door sills.
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HINT 3: Packing Your Suitcases: When packing clothes in a suitcase, don't lay them flat, roll them instead. they take up less space and should

be wrinkle free.

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HINT 4: Keeping Track of Hangers: To avoid searching for hangers every time you need one. Discipline yourself that when you take an item off of a hanger, put the empty one at the end of the closet rod. Then you will always have easy access to them and know where they're at.

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HINT 5: Making Your Own Ice Packs: Pour 3/4 cup water and 1/4 cup rubbing alcohol into a zippered storage bag and close. Put the bag into another bag, seal, and freeze. Because the alcohol doesn't freeze, you will end up with a nice flexible, slushy ice pack. (Be sure to label the contents clearly so that no one will try to use it for anything edible.) Double or triple this recipe as needed to make the correct size to fit the area needing the ice. Works Great!

Another idea for an ice pack is using a cheap bag of frozen peas or corn they also shape around the area nicely. A friend did this for her husband

when he had Knee Replacement Surgery. Worked Like A charm.....

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HINT 6: If you have a sleeping bag with a broken zipper, don't throw it away. Replace the zipper with a strip of Velcro. Either sewn or self adhesive. It will be cheaper than a zipper and you won't have to throw it away

RECIPES

Rhodes' Famous Butterscotch Bubble Loaf

24 Rhodes™ Dinner Rolls, thawed but still cold
1/2 box butterscotch pudding mix, non-instant
1/2 cup pecans, chopped
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup butter or margarine

Thaw rolls until soft (about 2 hours at room temperature). Spray bundt pan. Cut dinner rolls in half and dip in dry pudding mix. Arrange rolls in pan, alternately arranging and sprinkling pecans. Sprinkle remaining pudding mix over the top .

Combine brown sugar and butter. Heat together until butter is melted and a syrup is formed.(microwave about 1 1/2 minutes). Pour syrup over rolls. Cover with sprayed plastic wrap. Let rise until double in size or even with top of bundt pan.

Carefully remove wrap. Bake at 350°F for 30-35 minutes. Cover with foil the last 15 minutes of baking. Immediately after baking, loosen from sides of the pan with a knife and invert onto a serving plate

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Paprika Chicken with Sour Cream Gravy

from Campbell's Kitchen

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

2 tsp. paprika

1 tsp. garlic powder

1 tsp. ground black pepper

1 tsp. ground red pepper

4 boneless chicken breast halves

1/4 cup butter OR margarine

1 can (10 3/4 oz.) Campbell's(R) Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup OR 98% Fat Free Cream of Chicken Soup

1/4 cup sliced green onions

1 container (8 oz.) sour cream

Directions: MIX flour, paprika, garlic powder, black pepper and red pepper on plate. Coat chicken. HEAT butter in skillet over medium heat. Cook chicken 10 min. or until browned. Set chicken aside. ADD soup and green onions. Heat to a boil. Return chicken to pan. Cover and cook over low heat 10 min. or until chicken is done. Stir in sour cream. Serves 4.

TIP: Serve with a rice blend, steamed cut green beans and carrot slices. For dessert serve your favorite fruit and gelatin combination

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Veggie Fajitas

>From Taste of Home's Simple & Delicious

For scrumptious and super-healthy party fare, Sarah Mercer suggests her colorful, hearty fajitas packed with crisp-tender veggies. “My husband prefers these to chicken or beef fajitas and I serve them for dinner often,“ says the Wichita, Kansas cook

1 small zucchini, thinly sliced

1 medium yellow summer squash, thinly sliced

1/2 pound sliced fresh mushrooms

1 small onion, halved and sliced

1 medium carrot, julienned

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

1 tablespoon canola oil

8 flour tortillas (8 inches), warmed

2 cups (8 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese

1 cup (8 ounces) sour cream

1 cup salsa

DIRECTIONS: In a large skillet, sauté the vegetables, salt and pepper in oil for 5-7 minutes or until crisp-tender. Using a slotted spoon, place about 1/2 cup vegetable mixture down the center of each tortilla. Sprinkle each with 1/4 cup cheese; fold in sides. Top with sour cream and salsa. Yield: 4 servings.

HELOISE

Taming Smelly Garbage: Soak a cotton ball or two in an essential oil, like orange or eucalyptus, and place these in the garbage bag to mask the stink.
Delicious Cinnamon Butter: Mix 1/2 pound of butter or margarine, 3 tablespoons of cinnamon and 1/2 pound confectioners' sugar. This tastes so yummy on toast or rolls.
How to Use a Ladder Safely: Position the ladder so the distance from the ladder's base to the wall is one-fourth of the ladder's extended length. This will ensure that it won't fall backward or forward

SOME JOKES

    A man follows a woman out of a movie theatre. She has a dog on a leash.
    He stops her and says, "I'm sorry to bother you, but I couldn't help but notice that your dog was really into the movie. He cried at the right spots, he moved nervously in his seat at the boring parts, but most of all, he laughed like crazy at the funny parts. Did you find that unusual??"
    "Yes," she replied, "I found it very unusual .because he hated the book!"

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I was inspecting communications facilities in Alaska. Since I had little experience in flying in small planes, I was nervous when we approached a landing strip in a snow-covered area. The pilot descended to just a couple hundred feet, then gunned both engines, climbed, and circled back. While my heart pounded, the passenger beside me seemed calm.

    "I wonder why he didn't land," I said.
    "He was checking to see if the landing strip was plowed," the man said.
    As we made a second approach, I glanced out the window. "It looks plowed to me," I commented.
    "No," my seat mate said. "It hasn't been cleared for some time."
    "How can you tell?" I asked.
    "Because," the man informed me, "I'm the guy who drives the plow."

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A guy asks a clerk in what aisle could I find the Polish sausage. The clerk looks at him and says, "Are you Polish?"

The guy, (clearly offended) says, "Well, yes I am. But let me ask you something, if I had asked for Italian sausage would you ask me if I was Italian? Or if I had asked for German bratwurst, would you ask me if I was German? Or if I asked for a kosher hot dog would you ask me if I was Jewish? Or if I had asked for a Taco would you ask if I was Mexican? Would ya, huh? Would ya?"

The clerk says, "Well, no!"

"If I asked for some Irish whiskey, would you ask if I was Irish?"

"Well, I probably wouldn't!"

With deep self- righteous indignation, the guy says, "Well then why did you ask me if I'm Polish because I ask for Polish sausage?"

The clerk replies, "Because you're at Home Depot."

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A Mafia Godfather finds out that his bookkeeper has cheated him out of ten million bucks; his bookkeeper is deaf. It was considered an occupational benefit, and the reason he got the job in the first place, since it was assumed that a deaf bookkeeper would not be able to hear anything that he'd ever have to testify about in court.

When the Godfather goes to shakedown the bookkeeper about his missing $10 million bucks, he brings along his attorney, who knows sign language.

The Godfather asks the bookkeeper: "Where is the 10 million bucks you embezzled from me?"

The attorney, using sign language, asks the bookkeeper where the 10 million bucks is hidden.

The bookkeeper signs back: "I don't know what you are talking about."

The attorney tells the Godfather: "He says he doesn't know what you're talking about."

That's when the Godfather pulls out a gun and points it at the bookkeeper! "Ask him again!"

The attorney signs to the underling: "He'll kill you for sure if you don't tell him!"

The bookkeeper signs back: "OK! You win! The money is in a brown briefcase, buried behind the shed in my cousin Enzo's backyard in Queens!"

The Godfather asks the attorney: "Well, what'd he say?"

The attorney replies: "He says you don't have the guts to pull the trigger."
Don't ya just love lawyers?

AND A WORD FROM YOURS TRULY ...

You know? I lost my train of thought on the last STARS! Sorry about that! We were speaking of wind and I was going to relate how badly the wind blows in the Mojave Desert. I remember it coming in under the front door in little drifts!!! I thought ... WOW! If this was snow I would really be happy! We were stationed at Edwards AFB for approximately 7.5 years back in the early 1970's. Ted was with a special project ... located on a special part of the base ... You know! One of those super-secret projects. It was the best assignment we ever had ... even if I didn't get overseas! There was a reason for that, you know. Since Ted was off sailing the seven seas, I had to stay home and watch the youngun's ... cook ... clean house ... mend clothes, iron clothes, and do laundry! Now I sail the seven seas with him, and nothing gets done!

Our Wood Ducks are busy, busy laying eggs in the wood duck houses that Brother Bob Hill made for us many years ago. In fact, there is a waiting line for the nest. We noticed that three ducks went into the same box the other day ... one right after another! I guess there is room for all of them, but boy howdy! I betcha it gets pretty crowded down in there ... not to mention HOT! We have a total of four houses ... and about 4 times that female ducks. I remember when we moved up here and I saw a duck fly into a tree! I thought ... GEE! Nearsighted duck! But later I saw that a woodpecker had pecked out a hole in the side of the aspen ... and that is where the ducks went in and laid their eggs. Needless to say, during the first big windstorm, the tree would snap off at that spot! Later, when we cut down all the aspens in our yard, we had to do something so that is when Brother Bob made us cedar Wood Duck houses. They must be 3 feet high and about 18 inches on both sides. I had to lift Ted up in the bucket of the tractor so he could mount them onto the cottonwood trees. Inside the houses, Ted put some mesh wire from the floor to the hole in front. When the babies hatch, they have webbed feet so they climb up that wire and go out the hole! AIRBORNE all the way from that point in time! They flutter down to the ground and mama is standing by calling them to her! It is a sight to behold. Once, a duck got stuck in a pen that we had around our tulips (to keep the deer out) and I had to retrieve it; take it to the river via the docks, and let it go. I watched and the mama came finally and got it! You know? They don't weigh anything!

Better get busy. See some of you in Shoreline on Saturday!

Star hugs and happy thoughts. AND REMEMBER: Friends are always there to pray for you, to comfort you, to share your sorrow, and to celebrate your success! A true friend is someone who knows you're a good egg even if you're a little cracked!

** Connie

Remember to send me your Ode Cards when finished!

Remember! Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once.

Star hugs and God Bless America!

Connie

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Email articles to:

Connie Shrum, PM,
Conductress, Zillah Chapter #111, Newport, WA

Martha, Bethlehem Chapter #87, Deer Park, WA
GGC Triennium Committee - Eastern Star Journal

GC 2006 Session - Registration Co-Chairman

Email: starsofwa@washingtonoes.org
Creator & Editor: 'Stars of Washington' Newsletter

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Newport, WA 99156

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