ANOTHER YEAR, ANOTHER THANKSGIVING DAY

LOTS OF THINGS FOR WHICH TO BE THANKFUL

Here we are, on Thanksgiving Day, 2018, and I’ve decided to write another entry on this blog.  I have more to say than I feel comfortable trying to squeeze into a Facebook post, but my Facebook buddies can read this because I’ll link to it. As an old coot, I’ve seen many of these Thanksgiving Days and every year I am, indeed, thankful for the wonderful things I have in my life.  I’ll list a few for you and maybe it will stir some memories of your own.

THANKFUL FOR MY SWEET SUSIE

Right at the top, I’m grateful for my sweet, loving and VERY patient wife, Susie.  We’ve been married for 51 years - and counting - and through it all she has been at my side, supporting me as we waded through five relocations, a couple career changes and, for the last more than 15 years, as I tried to enlighten the public with my political (and other) observations.  She’s been there as health issues slapped me around.  She is the BEST thing that ever happened to me in my life - and I’ve had a LOT of great things happen to me!

THANKFUL FOR MY PARENTS

I’m thankful for my family.  My parents, Bob and Dorothy West, were both hard-working people who did everything within their power to create a loving home for my two sisters and me.  Through their example we saw good, caring people.  Through their simple lesson of kindness and friendliness to others we learned a lesson that cannot be acquired through a costly education.  We learned how to treat people.  I learned to read sitting on my Mother’s lap at a very early age and that became foundational for everything I’ve done in life.  While working with my Father I saw, through his example, that through hard work, honesty and fairness a person  CAN succeed in business.  Although never wealthy, they found ways to permit us to do things that interested us - to help us to spread our wings.  I’m not sure we fully understood the sacrifices they made on our behalf until much later in life.  I miss them every day.

THANKFUL FOR MY SISTERS

I’m thankful for my two younger sisters, Linda and Cheryll.  I’ve learned a lot as I watched them navigate life, though the good and bad times.  I admire both of them for their steadfastness, the choices they’ve made and their accomplishments wives, as single Moms and as mothers to three wonderful children and grandmothers to a half-dozen lovely grandkids.  I’m thankful for my elder step-sister, Margaret, but have lost touch with her and her boys.  Things happen like that.

THANKFUL FOR AUNTS, UNCLES AND COUSINS

I’m thankful for my aunts and uncles, all of whom have now passed, and for their kids - my cousins.  They all have played a major role in my life and I’m happy some of us still remain in contact.  I love them all.

THANKFUL FOR SUSIE’S FAMILY, TOO…

I’m thankful for the wonderful family I became part of when I married my sweet Susie.  Her immigrant parents showed the world what newcomers to this country can accomplish.  They were smart, hard-working, kind, genteel, people who knew how to laugh and spread love to all around them.  Her three brothers are wonderful, successful men, who married wonderful women and who have become parents of nine great children and are now grandparents to eleven terrific kids.  I love them all.

THANKFUL FOR FRIENDS, OLD AND NEW

I’m thankful for old friends and new.  As we have traveled through life we’ve met some wonderful folks, many of whom have become not just correspondents, but good friends. I still meet a few high school classmates for lunch quarterly, but those numbers are dwindling.  I still have lunch most weeks of the year with a man I’ve known since the first day of kindergarten.  We share great childhood memories and a love of sports, so there’s never a loss for things to chat about.  We will celebrate our 60th high school reunion next year, when we will gather with many of our classmates to, once again, share wonderful stories of our lives.  I’m very lucky to have remained in touch with so many of those folks who helped shape the early years of my life.  Sadly, there will be many fewer this year than in years past.

THANKFUL FOR LARRY MOORE

I’m thankful for those friends who have passed on.  Life and circumstance takes its toll… sometimes much too early.  Those of you who have followed this blog know that I lost my best friend for 57 years, Larry Moore, 15 years ago when he succumbed to injuries from a motorcycle accident.  As I sat at his bedside for the six weeks he was in the Trauma Intensive Care Unit in that Las Vegas hospital, trying to help the doctors attending him to make the decisions that would return him to us, I spent a lot of time contemplating our lives together.  I almost always smiled - sometimes laughed out loud - as I thought about our adventures together.  It was almost like a Tom Sawyer/Huck Finn story.  And, of course, there were times when I had tears running down my cheeks, too.  Not a day goes by that I don’t miss my friend.

THANKFUL FOR OTHERS, TOO…

And, there were many others who were part of my life that have left us.  Each of those, whether friend or family, made an impression on me and my life and I’m thankful for them.

THANKFUL FOR MY MILITARY BUDDIES

I’m thankful for the men with whom I shared a service commitment during the middle 1960’s, when the Vietnam War was heating up.  Some, like me, were draftees - summoned to serve due to the pending escalation of that war.  Others were volunteers, most of whom had signed up before Vietnam began to boil.  Together we shared the obligation of military service, even though it was not popular at the time.  I’m still in touch with some of them, or their surviving families, and am grateful for those relationships.

THANKFUL FOR MY BOSSES

I’m thankful to those men who helped nurture and shape my life in the business world.  Most of them are now gone, but certainly not forgotten. They saw things in me that I did not, and advanced my career much more rapidly than I could have expected.  They taught me to trust my gut in many circumstances, just as they trusted theirs when it came to opportunities made available to me.  When I leaped, head-first, out of a safe business nest into the world of consulting, it was due  in great part, to the confidence they had in me.  It turns out they were right.

THANKFUL FOR THE EDITORS

I’m thankful for those editors of local newspapers who published my early submissions and encouraged me to write more.  Many of them offered me a column, for which I have always been thankful, but always chose to respectfully decline.  I didn’t want to write on assignment.  I may occasionally submit something for them to consider and I’ll always be thankful if they print my thoughts.

THANKFUL FOR THE KIND WORDS

I’m very thankful for the kind words and encouragement of those who felt my contributions to the community were worthy of recognition.  It’s heady stuff when the blog, the work product of a simple, old guy with too much time on his hands, is recognized as the best in Orange County - twice - and when the editors of the Daily Pilot chose to include my name of those 103 individuals they felt were “influential” in the community - several times.  

THANKFUL TO THE CITY STAFF

I’m thankful to the men and women who work for the City of Costa Mesa - many of whom have become my friends - for, not only their professionalism and steadfastness in bleak times, but for their recognition of my support for their efforts.  A high point of my life was the day they presented me with a plaque of gratitude.

THANKFUL FOR YOU, TOO

I’m thankful, of course, for those of you who have read this blog over the years.  I’m thankful for those who chose to participate in the discussions here, to keep the dialogue going on important issues.  We’ve had some interesting discussions, where some of you tried to show me the error of my ways - usually unsuccessfully.   I will always be thankful for those discussions.

THANKFUL FOR MY DOCTORS

In recent years I’ve been very thankful for the doctors who now attend me more often than I would like.  I’ve worn a couple of them out and had to replace them with new guys.  Still, now that I’m well into my seventh decade of existence, it’s not unexpected for joints to need lubrication, critical parts to need tuning up and more attention paid to this old carcass in general.  I’m thankful for their patience as I ignore too many of their suggestions.  I’m working on that.

THANKFUL FOR FACEBOOK, TOO

On that note, I’m thankful to still be here, pounding on this keyboard, sending my thoughts to you all.  I’m thankful for you and my Facebook buddies - I hesitate to call them “friends” because darn Mark Zuckerberg has actually diluted what that word once meant!  Still, I’m thankful for his creation, which allows me to stay in touch with friends and relatives who live far away - to share their lives on an almost second-by-second basis, with photos of personal and family triumphs (and tragedies, too).

YOU WON’T SEE MUCH FROM ME

Now that this election is over and, for all intents and purposes, the races are decided, it’s very unlikely that you will see much more from me here.  I’m generally pleased with the outcome and look forward very much to watching Mayor Katrina Foley and the new team that will join her on the City Council dais next month begin to re-establish the goals of our city to conform with the wishes of the voters, so clearly stated in the last two elections.  Although there will always be something to write about in my town, I’m going to try very hard to let someone else do it.

ENJOY YOUR LIFE - JUST THROW THAT BALL!

And now, Susie and I want to wish you all a VERY HAPPY THANKSGIVING.  I have been, and continue to be, thankful for the part you’ve played in my life.  I hope you find ways to share your love over this holiday.  You just never know what kind of a curve ball life will throw you - like our 4 year-old great-nephew, Chase, who was diagnosed with leukemia last week and faces years of chemotherapy ahead - so be sure those you love know it.  If there are things you want to do, do them.  Play this game of life like you’re the Rams and Chiefs last Monday night - just get out there and throw that ball!  We love you all…

Happy Thanksgiving...

 ONCE AGAIN...
As has become a tradition here at A Bubbling Cauldron, before we turn the fire down to simmer for the holiday, today I write to you with thoughts about Thanksgiving, and what it means to me.

LOTS OF WORDS...
Since I began writing this blog the first week of July, 2005 hundreds of thousands of words have come sputtering out of my skull and found their way to this site.  I've worn out two computers and changed blog hosts along the way.  Some of you have been loyal readers since day one, and for that I'm VERY thankful.

LOTS OF NUMBERS...
When I changed platforms the new technology afforded me the chance to observe the traffic on this blog.  While we were in the midst of the election wrap up last week we blasted right past the 2,500-post milestone on this site.  And, we also passed 2,000,000 page views on this site about the same time.  While those numbers are small potatos compared to big web sites, they still make my head hurt.  The number of page views on this site is increasing and I'm thankful to those several thousand of you who read the thoughts presented here each month.

COMMENTS... A MIXED BLESSING
I've gone from a site that didn't permit comments to one that did - much to my chagrin.  A while back, after dealing with some of the unpleasantness associated with the comments, I decided to try to rein-in the vitriol and require anyone who wishes to comment to register, confidentially, before posting their thoughts.  That little bit of accountability seemed like a good idea at the time, but I'm not so sure now.  Too many folks with opposing viewpoints refuse to register, so the comment threads here have become distilled into mostly opinions that agree with mine.  That was never my goal.  I'm thankful for those who still choose to participate, but miss the others very much.

WEDDINGS AND SPECIAL PLACES
Last year I wrote about a couple weddings we attended and our adventure getting snowed-in on our vacation and subsequently missing our first chance to see Yellowstone National Park.  This year we attended yet another family wedding, when nephew Evan and the lovely Vanessa tied the knot this fall.  As I type this they are honeymooning in the South Pacific.  And, this year we managed to finish that vacation adventure which included not only Yellowstone, but the Grand Tetons and Glacier National Park, too.  I'm thankful for the opportunity to have seen those very special places, although being ten feet from a 2,500 pound moose did manage to tighten up the old sphincter a little.

AND, OF COURSE, SWEET SUE...
And, as always, by my side in these adventures is my lovely and very patient wife of more than 47 years, Susie.  As each year passes I'm more and more thankful for her presence in my life - for the love she brings to our life together and the gentle nudge she applies to the tiller of our lives when necessary.

FOR MY FRIENDS...
I'm thankful for my friends, past and present.  In 2007 I wrote about my friend, Larry Moore, and how each Thanksgiving since 2003 I recall being at his bedside in the hospital in Las Vegas as he tried to recover from injuries caused by a motorcycle accident.  You can read about it HERE.

AND NEIGHBORS...
This year has seen an unusual turnover of homes in our neighborhood, which makes me even more thankful for those neighbors who have shared our lives here for more than four decades and those who have either moved on or passed on.  Each of them have made our lives rich and full, for which we are very grateful.  And, we're looking forward to our new neighbors as they fill the spots along our lovely streets.

AND THE ACTIVISTS AND VOLUNTEERS...

The recent election has reminded me of how many wonderful people contribute positively to the lives of all our residents through their tireless activism and volunteerism.  Groups like Costa Mesans For Responsible Government (CM4RG), the Eastside Costa Mesa Neighbors Group, the grass-roots group Take Back Our Neighborhoods (TBON), which formed to battle rehab homes in our community, and so many other individuals unaffiliated with a specific group, all of whom took time out of busy lives to focus on issues in the city and present their opinions to officials when they thought it was appropriate. 

HOPING FOR HARMONY
This past campaign season is unlike any in my memory and I have no idea what the future holds for my city as a result.  While we hold out hope for a more conciliatory, positive governance, early results lead me to believe it's going to be more of the same kind of divisive, polarizing experience we've endured the past four years.

AND THE LOCAL MEDIA...

Although I don't contribute as much to them as I once did, I'm still VERY thankful to the fine local newspapers that serve our community.  Our newspaper of record for more than a century, The Daily Pilot, continues to provide accurate and timely news for us.  The Orange County Register, struggling to stay alive, covers the broader region - for now.  I'm thankful for them and their contributions to the community.  And, I'm thankful when they consider something I submit to them worthy of publication. 

AND THE EMPLOYEES...
As always, I'm very thankful to the fantastic employees of my city, who protect us and serve us.  Their numbers have diminished and their spirit has grown slightly dimmer because of the events of the past four years, but their service to the community has never wavered.  They continue to try to provide the best service possible, and for that I am very thankful.  I chose this image of award-winning Brad Long and Dane Bora of Costa Mesa Television to represent all the rest.

AND OUR MEN AND WOMEN IN UNIFORM

I'm always thankful to the men and women who serve our country in the armed forces, for their patriotism and dedication as they defend the freedom that permits us to celebrate this day.

AND FAMILY...
And, I'm thankful for my family, who tolerate me and support me as we trundle down this road together.  They are the best...

AND YOU...
And, finally, I'm thankful to all of you who take the time to read this blog and, hopefully, find value in what appears here.  Yes, even those who disagree with me... I'm thankful for your attention, too.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO YOU ALL

It's Thanksgiving Again...

TIME TO BE THANKFUL AGAIN
Once again it's time for us to rock back, take it easy, surround ourselves with those we love and consider the things for which we are thankful - unless you're a turkey, that is.  In that case, well - you know...

MY WIFE...
And, as always, right at the top of things for which I am thankful is my lovely and patient wife of more than 46 years.  I know - some of you are sitting there reading this and thinking, "How does she do it?!"  Me, too.  I don't know, but she does and is the best thing that has EVER happened to me.

...AND OUR FAMILIES
We are both thankful for our loving and supportive families, too.  They make our days bright and full of encouragement.

WEDDING TRAVELS...

I'm thankful for a couple wonderful events in our lives this year - two weddings of young folks close to us.  Our nephew, Doug, married the amazing Kayle in Omaha the end of September and our journey to the wedding and back resulted in us being caught in a record snow storm that killed over 100,000 head of cattle and sheared off over 1,000 power poles.  We survived, and we're thankful for that.

...AND MORE WEDDING TRAVELS
The second wedding was more recently, when we traveled 300 miles to attend the wedding of a young man, Gavin - who grew up fifteen feet from our house - to the lovely Alicia.  Somehow that doesn't seem right, does it? ;-)  It's really no big deal when you consider that his paternal grandmother, uncle and aunt traveled from England and his maternal grandparents and aunt traveled from Washington. Both the bride and groom attended Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo, hence the remote wedding.

FULL OF PROMISE
Both of the weddings were fun and full of promise.  Watching those two happy couples take their vows and then celebrate their unions was uplifting, inspirational and a lot of fun.  All is well with the world with great young people like that poised to keep my Social Security checks coming.

THE NEWS MEDIA
I'm thankful again this year for the folks who provide us with the news we need - the hardworking reporters, editors and other staffers on both the Daily Pilot - our newspaper of record for more than 100 years - and the resurgent Orange County Register.  Without them and the excellent work they do you'd be left to get your "news" from crotchety old geezers like me and a couple other old fellas here in town, and THAT certainly cannot be right!

THE ACTIVISTS
I'm thankful for the friends, old and new, I've made among those folks on both sides of the political aisle who care enough about our city to be active in identifying problems and finding solutions, even in the face of arbitrary and  vindictive opposition by some currently in power.  The hours they sacrifice away from their families to attend meetings, volunteer at events, participate on committees,  assess issues and present potential solutions is awe-inspiring.  

FINALLY, THE CITY EMPLOYEES
Finally, I'm VERY thankful to those talented, professional and loyal employees of the City of Costa Mesa for their dedication to our city and the residents and visitors to it, who have continued to provide the best service to us that is possible under the most trying of circumstances.  When I think back on what the past nearly three years have been like for them - with a council majority apparently intent on forcing every single one of them out by creating nearly unworkable situations - I sadly shake my head in disbelief.  They've endured the departure of friends; have been treated as the enemy by those in power; some have been sued by their elected leaders and all have been forced to persevere in a toxic work environment.  As this year rolls to the end there will likely be opportunities for us to interact with many of them.  I, for one, am going to do my best to let them know just how thankful I am for their continued diligence despite all the travails they face every day.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO YOU ALL
I hope all of you enjoy your holiday.  For the first time in a long, long time we will celebrate it at home and we're going to make the most of it.  Turkey, football, family and friends... here we come!

Snoopy's Lookin' For Help

WE'RE BACK...

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving Day and have survived Black Friday with your sanity, if not your wallet, intact.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR SNOOPY HOUSE

In the spirit of giving that marks this holiday, The City Of Costa Mesa needs your help.  Here's the text of a press release recently issued requesting help from the community with the presentation of the Snoopy House event early next month.  If you're in a position to provide some time or some of the materials they're looking for, please step up and assist with this very worthwhile event.

MEDIA RELEASE

CONTACT

Christine Cordon, (714) 754-5121

christine.cordon@costamesaca.gov

www.costamesaca.gov

www.facebook.com/CostaMesaCityHall

Twitter @CityofCostaMesa

Volunteers and supplies needed for annual Snoopy House holiday event

COSTA MESA, CALIF.—For the second consecutive year, Costa Mesa City Hall will be home to the 46^th annual Snoopy House holiday display from Dec. 14 through Dec. 25 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.  The iconic display was originally hosted by the Jordan family in Eastside Costa Mesa for 44 years before City Hall became its new location last year.

Volunteers are being sought to assist in various stages of the event to ensure its continued success:

• On Nov. 30 and Dec. 1 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Dec. 2 from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., volunteers are needed to assist with moving, setting, and assembling display pieces. 
• From Dec. 6 through Dec. 9 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., volunteers are needed to assist with painting, trimming, and other maintenance of the display pieces.
• From Dec. 14 through Dec. 25, volunteers are being sought to work at the community booth from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. nightly.
• From Dec. 26 through Dec. 29 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., the display will be disassembled, and volunteers are needed to assist with moving display pieces.

Please note that heavy lifting will be required for those assisting with moving and setting display pieces. Time slots are flexible, and large community groups are welcomed to volunteer. To volunteer, contribute items, or obtain more information, contact Jim Jordan at (714) 556-3036 or snoopyhouse@gmail.com. 

In-kind donations of supplies are also being requested and contributions may be made in whole or part.  Monetary donations toward the purchase of supplies are also welcomed. Some of the items needed include:

• 12 rolls of LED light strands in C7 or C9 lamp size. Rolls are approximately 65’.
• 50 sleeves of tinsel garland in mixed colors.
• 10 assorted wreaths in 12” to 24” sizes.
• 12 Santa hats.
• 12 cans each of black and white spray paint.
• Epson Artisan 725 printer ink in all colors.
• Matte finish photo paper and photo sleeves to accommodate 2,500 to 3,000 prints.
• 3,000 6” red and white candy canes.
• Apple cider and 6 oz. cups.

For a complete list of supplies needed, please visit the Snoopy House page on the City’s website.  To make a monetary donation toward the purchase of supplies, please make checks payable to: City of Costa Mesa Snoopy House.  Checks may be dropped off or mailed to: City Hall, Finance Department, 77 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa, CA 92626.  A donation drop box will also be available at the community booth during the event.

Christine Lam Cordon

Special Events Coordinator

City of Costa Mesa

City CEO Dept. | Communications & Marketing Division

Phone: (714) 754-5121 | Fax: (714) 754-5330

christine.cordon@costamesaca.gov

Happy Thanksgiving

HERE WE ARE AGAIN
Well, we made it to another turkey day but I can't say the same for that little bird in my refrigerator.  For the first time in more than 3 decades my sweet, lovely and VERY patient wife and I will be home for Thanksgiving.  Yep, we're actually going to cook the smallest turkey we could find tomorrow and just relax and enjoy the holiday.  We hope you all do the same.

HOPING...
During the last city council meeting Mayor Pro Tem Jim Righeimer sounded like he was offering up an olive branch.  He implied that he had seen the error of his ways over the past two years and wanted to take a mulligan and start over.  Well, in the spirit of the season, I'll give him the benefit of the doubt until he demonstrates, once again, that he is not to be trusted.

LOOKS LIKE IT'S OVER
I just checked the Registrar of Voters site and it looks like the counting is finished.  At the top of the page it says "Official Cumulative Results".  None of the local numbers have changed since yesterday, so we'll just have to assume (dangerous practice) that what we saw yesterday is the final tally.  If the numbers do change later tonight I'll update you.  So, congratulations to Sandra Genis, Steve Mensinger and Gary Monahan for their victory.  And congratulations to John Stephens and Harold Weitzberg for running a clean, professional campaign.

SHE'S MY NUMBER 1
I have many things for which I'm thankful again this year.  First, of course, is the woman who has been at my side for 45 years.  Without her love and support over all these years my life would have been much, much less enjoyable.  She, and our cadre of wonderful family and friends, make our lives full every day.


HEROES
I'm thankful that my grandnephew, Nathan, made it back from his first deployment in Afghanistan this fall without physical injury.  I'm thankful for him and all the other young men and women who have volunteered to serve this country and do it proudly even though many back home feel this conflict is not worth the loss of any of our young folks.  This has a very familiar ring to it - that was the attitude many people had about MY war - the Vietnam conflict - more than a generation ago.

MORE HEROES
I'm thankful for all the employees of our fine city who have had to endure so much over the past two years.  Many have departed, but the more than 450 who remain continue to soldier on, working hard and completing their jobs that keep our city safe, secure and a wonderful place to live.

TIRELESS VOLUNTEERS
I'm thankful to the folks who formed Costa Mesans For Responsible Government to fight the good fight on our behalf to keep our city from being overrun by the barbarians.  Thanks to Robin Leffler and her merry band of hard-working folks for all they've done for this city.

WENDY
I'm thankful for Wendy Leece for enduring the barbs, epithets and general disrespect and unpleasantness as the lone voice representing ALL the people of the city on the dais for the past two years.  Despite being outnumbered she held her ground and did her very best for us. 

AND YOU...
And, finally, I'm thankful for all of you out there who read this blog.  Even though many of you don't agree with what you read here, you just keep coming back.  I appreciate every one of you for your interest and participation.  I don't always like the comments you write, but I try to post most of them to keep the debate spirited.  Those of you who attempt to post just plain nastiness have found out that they don't make the cut.  To the rest of you, please just keep those comments coming and try to enhance the discussion.

THE BOYS ARE BACK...
Back by popular demand, one of my favorite Thanksgiving video clips to put a smile on your faces.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO YOU ALL!