Faces here, faces there – loud music, images on a screen – I had to catch my breath as I recognized the people, the time, the moments. I attended an event celebrating the 50th Anniversary of a radio I had worked for – perhaps more importantly the place where I not only held my first job – but the job of my dreams. Thirty years ago the radio station was a giant – it held immeasurable status and those who worked there had instant celebrity status. The 70’s were heady times – headier still for a young girl of 18 with no life experience. I was propelled into the world of adulthood – unprepared yet willing, excited even. Parties by the dozen and so many rules that were being gleefully broken. The “adults” in charge were mere kids themselves – my bosses were probably all of 25 at the time….men – I giggle at that now – 3o years later.

My stomach had been in knots all day as I wondered if anyone would remember me. I had only been there for a year and had not been in the forefront. I scanned the room, glass in hand to keep my hands seemingly poised. Then it happened  – almost in a ripple effect. As I began to tap people on the shoulder in an attempt to re-connect, our  eyes would meet, genuine smiles followed and time just seemed to fall away. Lines faded, long hair grew back and it was as if we never left our youth. I saw the beautiful young people we had always been shine through and I felt my own light begin to shine too.

We laughed about the times long since passed, from hair to fashion to the now out-dated ways of doing business that at the time had been so high-tech…God! We were so cutting edge back then….we were “it”. We were so hot and untouchable little celebrities swimming in our own private ocean. We were going to change the world….or at least the music  world – and in many ways we did….we did.

We fell into each other’s arms, wrapping ourselves in warm embraces as we snapped countless pictures in an effort to hold onto this moment. We reminisced about the people we had been, about the people who could not be there, about the people who has passed on…and some of us found the words to express the feelings we had always felt about one another…

As I later stepped out into the cold November night I was hit by a blast of cold winter air and yet – my coat was open – my heart was open….and I felt pleasantly warm…

Photos prises par Pierrot RINALDUZZI 
Cliquer sur le lien

Photos prises par Bruno BRIAN 
Cliquer sur le lien

The band Ganderfolk, which formed yesterday and was declared the best band in the world on nme.com at 10 this morning, became addicted to heroin over lunch, got in a big fight at 12:41 and broke up just after 1. Lead singer Liam Chelwick was living in a van by 2:34, when he decided to look up long-lost bandmates around 3:02 for a reunion tour. The band announced at 4:43 that they will release a retrospective box set, composed of demos, outtakes, alternate versions and sketches of the songs they had hoped to record, in anticipation of a tour. “If all goes well, we’ll be able to pay off our debts. After that, who knows?” said guitarist Rickie Sheln.

In related news, Ganderfolk cover bands “Demofolk,” “Outtakefolk” and “Alternateversionfolk” announced two minutes ago they will reform to take advantage of the sudden renewed interest in Ganderfolk, before it dies out again, some time after supper.

El proper dimecres 3-12-2009 reunió de la plataforma

ICI   les photos prise par Danielle Vasselon

A la sala Blanca de l’Ajuntament, el dijous 26 a 2/4 de 9 del vespre, Olvan Decideix  celebrarà la propera reunió per anar enllestint els preparatius per la consulta del dia 13. La reunió és oberta a tothom, no hi falteu,  ja sigui per formar part de l’entitat o per informar-vos.

Ordre del dia:

* Faltaran 16 dies per la consulta. Parlar de què s’ha fet i què  falta fer.

* Nomenar i assessorar els 3 presidents i els 6 vocals de mesa, els membres de la mesa es repartiran en tres torns.

* Data de començament de la campanya, a partir del 28 de novembre. L’entitat Olvan Decideix només farà campanya a favor de la participació.

* Organitzar la penjada de cartells, pancarta i altres.

* Debatre com i qui farà el porta a porta.

* Mòdul per fer la votació, quan arribi, s’haurà de netejar i condicionar pel dia de la votació,  portar-hi llum per posar una estufa i el que faci falta.

* Altres

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There are a magnitude of unique and interesting historical sites, museums and cultural events to enjoy in Prince George’s. Go back in time and visit the Surratt House, home of Mary Surratt, the first woman to be executed by the United States government after being found guilty of conspiring with John Wilkes Booth to assassinate Abraham Lincoln. The museum presents a variety of programs and events, recapturing the history of mid-19th century life and focusing on the fascinating web of the Lincoln conspiracy.

Check out a performance at the incredible Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, take in a professional sports game, or spend a day exploring Fort Washington and it’s 341-acre park offering an assortment of recreational opportunities, including hiking and biking trails and a playground.

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Avui a les 8 del vespre a la sala Blanca de l’Ajuntament s’ha celebrat la reunió d’entitats, veïns i veïnes del poble, en la qual s’ha constituït com a entitat Olvan Decideix, que és la que organitzarà la consulta popular al poble d’Olvan el 13 de desembre de 2009.

D’aquesta reunió n’ha sortit la junta formada per: Sebastià Prat president, Laura Casas secretària i Ruben Díaz tresorer i també s’han designat 4 comissions:

Comissió coordinadora de mesa: Lluís Fernández i Anna Batlle

Comissió informativa: Sebastià Prat, Laura Casas i Àngel Àrias

Comissió econòmica: Ruben Díaz

Comissió de logística i infraestructures: Pere Arias

També s’ha decidit que les votacions es faran en un mòdul que s’ubicarà a la plaça de Sant Sebastià, d’aquesta manera només haurem de demanar permís per ocupació de via pública.

La propera reunió d’Olvan Decideix es celebrarà al dijous, 26 de novembre a les 20:30 hores a la sala blanca de l’ajuntament d’Olvan. Aquesta reunió continua sent oberta a tota la gent del poble, tant si vol col·laborar com si es vol informar.

A falta de saber que hi diu el grup del PSC, la despesa que representa organitzar aquest esdeveniment s’han ofert de pagar-la els grups d’ERC i CIU que al mateix temps formen part d’Olvan Decideix.

Saturday, the alumni association at my alma mater hosted a reception/tailgate of sorts at a Georgetown hotel for UR alums who wanted to watch the Georgetown/UR football game.

It was ______ to see so many familiar faces.

1. weird
2. fun
3. amusing
4. nerve wracking
5. exciting
6. nostalgia-inducing
7. uncomfortable
8. sad

Overall, great time. But then again, when was the last time mimosas, football, and day-drinking were involved that you didn’t have a great time? Richmond won 49-10 (and the number of Richmond fans outnumbered the Georgetown presence at least 10-1), I drank for 12 hours straight and had some interesting experiences with 5-Hour Energy (and by interesting, I mean amazing), and saw someone challenge the same 3 people to at least 19 different dance-off and push-up-off contests in the period of 2 hours.

It was just that kind of day.

That kind of awesome day.

I saw my old friend Allan last week for the first time in nearly forty years. We had gone to the same university in the sixties…he was two years my junior. I was an officer in one of the national fraternities, and he was a pledge. Everyone loved him. He was funny, kind, and humble. In those days it seemed that nearly everyone got a nickname. I gave him his, and I knew that it was going to stick…not because people used it when referring to him, but because he started using it instead of his real name when he introduced himself to others. It got to the point where some of the newer members that followed him into the fraternity never even knew his real, given name, or that he even had a real, given name for that matter. To us, he was always “Slouch.”

Since I attended a large private university, the members came from far and wide, and following graduation, returned, for the most part, to their original hometowns. Slouch returned to New York. When the call came about a reunion, I asked the organizer of the reunion, Jim, one of Slouch’s classmates and another fraternity brother, whether Slouch was going to attend. Jim said that he had spoken to him, but Slouch was unsure. I got his phone number from Jim, and called right away. Slouch was shocked to hear my voice after all these years (as I was shocked to hear Jim’s). We chatted for a while, and I insisted that he attend the reunion. He said that he’d try, and according to Jim, my call seemed to tip the balance. I was so happy to see him.

When we arrived at the home of one of the members, less than five minutes from my house, I was amazed how little time it took for the years to melt away. All of us old guys were twenty again…and fun…and funny…and lively…and crackling with the same energy and enthusiasm that many of us…myself included…thought had been all but lost these many years ago. There were old pictures of us passed around and conversations with wives, and girlfriends, and still more pictures…current pictures of children, and grandchildren. Some of the grandchildren were university students themselves. How could that possibly be? There were discussions of some of those not in attendance because of distance or illness, and phone calls to and from some of them.

We mourned some of our brothers who had died…our sadness mingling with the cold comfort of being those who mourned rather than those being mourned. Jerry and Dale and Bob and so many others unable to share in the day or in days to come. Jerry had made a nice living playing poker in the dorms. Dale was a bodybuilder long before it was fashionable. I never met anyone who loved their rescued dog more than Bob loved his.

The career paths we had taken were diverse to say the least. Some followed typical professional tracks, some not. Some had gone to Vietnam, and not all had returned. Two had served serious time in federal prison. And then there was Slouch. We always knew what he was going to do, and so did he. No one at the reunion really bothered to ask what he was doing…all of us knew then…all of us know now. He took over a small, well established family business, and runs it to this day.

My father was a businessman. He started out as a buyer of ladies wear for a major New York department store, and went on to manufacture clothing. He had a second life as an importer of building materials. Both careers were successful. He met my mother at work…she was also a buyer, but for another department store. In addition to being a buyer, she taught “textile science” part time at a vocational school. She always loved being a teacher, and spoke about it often, seeming to prefer it to her primary occupation.

I had always planned to take over the family import business, and as an only child, that was what was expected of me. My father really enjoyed that business, with all of the travel and the excitement. When he died unexpectedly during my senior year of high school, I was devastated. I loved him very much. My mother ran his business for about six months until she could find a buyer, and that was that. Although I missed my father more than words can say, his death gave me something I never foresaw…options. I considered all kinds of career paths…some sensible and mundane (Law, Accounting), some outrageous (don’t ask), some in between. My mother suggested a career in education, since as a young woman she had enjoyed her teaching responsibilities so much. It sounded good to me.

With some minor variations I had pretty much the same job at the same college for thirty years, and every day of it I silently thanked my mother for her guidance. Of the limitless choices available to me, I can’t imagine having chosen anything more satisfying. I loved being a teacher, and for decades I looked forward to getting to work every morning. What more can someone ask of a professional life? I met my wife through my work, as well as making many friends whose paths would have otherwise never crossed mine.

Life turns on a dime. When I looked at Slouch, and when we talked about his family business, I saw an alternate reality of my own life. My future, like his, had been preordained, and only random, tragic circumstance had caused the roads that we traveled to diverge so very much. I’ll never really know what my life would have been like if I, as a young man…a college student, had the rock-solid certainty of that family business. And Slouch will never know a youth filled with possibilities.

L’assemblée générale 2009 aura lieu le mardi 1er décembre au

Centre Alain Savary (salle du syndicat), à 18h.

Il est demandé de répondre avant le 27 novembre pour prévoir le nombre de présents et surtout le nombre de convives au repas qui suivra l’assemblée (participation au repas : 7 €).

Réponse directement à André ou au secrétariat.

Cette année encore, et suivant l’avis  des participants à l’AG consultés, il avait été convenu de  retourner au restaurant de l’hôtel des Isles  à BARNEVILLE qui avait été apprécié l’an dernier.Ce sont donc 53 convives qui se sont retrouvés à partir de 19 heures dans le salon pour se saluer joyeusement, trouver son badge  et prendre l’apéritif. Nous avions envisagé de constituer des tables  mais finalement nous avions  préféré demander que français et britanniques se placent par affinités mais en partageant les nationalités ce qui semble avoir été respecté. Cette année nos tables étaient toutes dans la même salle ce qui est préférable pour ne pas gêner les clients du restaurant. Pour les entrées, le buffet en self était bien garni. Pour le choix viande ou poisson, Chris avait encore prévu des gommettes pour faciliter le service (ce qui a été bien apprécié des serveurs). Le buffet des desserts était aussi bien pourvu.Si on se fie au brouhaha, les conversations étaient animées, la bonne humeur régnait et  tous semblaient heureux de se retrouver.
Michèle BONNUIT Secrétaire

Happy times . . . sadly, only two of these classmates are still living.  We have the memories . . .

Two sneaky gals interrupted the perfect lineup!

Margaret Drabble, The Sea Lady, 2006

The novel begins well, sharply, at an award-winning ceremony that the heroin of the novel is presenting. She is naming the winner for the marine literature prize of a large company. And from then onwards, the novel plunges into the abyss of boredom. The thing I find the most tedious: adults reminiscing about their ordinary childhoods. Even worse: a marine biologist going on and on about his childhood passion for fish. To me, it just sounds like a reconstructed a posteriori fantasy.

So for the next 150-odd pages, we are told the story of poor Humphrey’s childhood and of his sea-side holidays. And of his memories of Ailsa (what a strange name, sounds like an illness) and her clean white cotton knickers. And of the grotto, and the fish, and more grotto, and more fish.

It is only about half way into the novel that one actually reaches their adult lives. The part that we had been waiting for. The part that is supposed to make sense of the childhood memories. How Ailsa and Humpy Humphrey became lovers. The reader was expecting something cynical from the past. But no, even the most perverse childhood memory remains quite normal.

Every so often, the “orator” keeps intruding into the story-telling, to add his own bit of information. It’s very strange, as though metafiction was poking fun at metafiction, stating the obvious. I’m sure Margaret meant something by this but even by the end of the novel I was not convinced by the external voice.

So over 200 pages into the novel, I was still waiting for something to happen, for Mrs Drabble to make ends meet. I had no doubt that she was going to manage, because the novel is written with a strong command and a fair amount of insight. I just hoped that it would be worth the wait.

***

At the end of the novel, one is a little more content. Margaret Drabble manages to draw all of the loose strings together. In the final 100 pages, she tries to build up a climax to the reunion of the previously married couple, now that they are sixty, at a university award-giving ceremony (talk about boucler la boucle). The only problem is, that she completely misses her climax. The reader is expecting a machiavellian outcome, a nasty revelation brought on by the clever Sandy (the one person we had been waiting to appear). But no! Nothing happens! Even at the table, as they drink their sherry and eat their mouldy cheese, all they do is reminisce about the past.

This novel has all of the typically positive and negative aspects of the contemporary erudite novel. On the positive side, the depth of character portrayal and the subtlety of the emotional insight. On the negative side, the portraying of a handful of academics, and all the clichés that generally accompany them. A passing reference to the gay poets of France, to Delacroix, to latin quotes, or to Robert Graves. The “wannabe” unconventionality of the heroin, who is nothing more, nothing less, than the epitome of the intellectual free-thinking women of the 1960s.

The world of academe appears as a sickly, moribund world of necrophiliacs. Hence the name chosen for the heroin of the novel?

***

L’s book-rating criteria

Characterisation: 17/20

Credibility: 12/20

Plot: 11/20

Feel-good factor: 10/20

Subjective opinion: 13/20

Total: 63%

So you’ve been crowned organizer of your reunion. Sure is different from hosting a small dinner party for a couple of friends, isn’t it? Don’t get overwhelmed; we can help ensure a successful reunion for all!

Reunions are a time to celebrate life’s milestones, achievements and renew old acquaintances. It’s also time to start losing the pounds, covering the grays and getting ready for some serious fun!

ReunionCapitalUSA.com is rich with resources and information that will help any Reunion Rookie plan an event to remember. Your reunion should be a fun, special event for all attendees, so here are some of the key points that will help you host a reunion like a PRO:

1. The first decision you’ll need to make is who to invite, and forming a reunion committee will certainly be helpful. The planning committee works as a team to make sure that all aspects of the reunion are taken care of, and that no details are left out. (It’s very hard for one person to be responsible for such a large task!). For more information about forming a reunion committee, please click here.

2. Develop a detailed budget. You’ll need to figure out how much each attendee will pay in order to cover the venue deposit, printing and mailing of invitations, long-distance phone calls, and any unexpected expenses you may come across. For more information on developing and sticking to a budget, please click here.

3. Start the search for a location as early as possible for the best rates and most choices. Deciding on a location can depend on group size, budget, time of year, geographic location, and the type of activities best suited to attendees. Select a date and start publicizing the reunion as early as possible so attendees can make travel plans. For more info on dates & location, please start here.

4. Stay in the loop! When the location, date, and facility have been confirmed, send out invitations to your reunion members. The invitations can be a simple e-mail, plain letter, or fun creation that goes along with a party theme. Ask attendees for information about their lives (including updated contact information). Compile it all into a booklet and mail this out to reunion attendees before the reunion, so they can be ready to pounce on family and old friends as soon as they walk through the door to catch up.

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I treasured friendship a lot. Whenever I bumped into a person, I considered him/ her a gift from God. Because I believe that everything’s happen for a reason and the more you get to know the person, indeed that person will teach a great lesson in life. And sooner or later, God will let you see clearly the reason behind that meeting.

I met Joyce when we’re in grade school. I, Joyce and Faith Hope were for me one of the greatest barkada I had during my elementary days. We always hang-out and share thought even answers to the quizzes and exams. We even wrote each other a letter every weekend then gave it to each other every Monday. But it stopped since my family had to transfer to the province of my parents. When we we’re in high school, we still keep in touch with each other but eventually it stopped. There comes the social networking called Friendster back at 2005, I tried to search for her but I couldn’t find her, I was thinking she’s using other code names. I tried Facebook after but I couldn’t find her also. Until that fateful day when I opened my email and read her invitation on Facebook. I was really delighted and hyperventilated upon reading that I literally jumped for joy as if I won the lotto jackpot. Funny but it’s true. I hope that we’ll continue to keep in touch with each other as time goes by.

El proper dijous 13 de novembre a les 18′30 hores de la vesprada tindrà lloc la primera reunió amb els pares, mares o tutors dels xiquets de cinquè de primària. Serà a la mateixa aula on es fan les classes (posarem les indicacions oportunes).

Espere la assistència de tots, qualsevol dubte estic a la vostra disposició,

moltes gràcies,

Laura

Since this is our first day back in nine months, why not start with one of our favorites? Regular readers may remember our bizarre obsession with Paulie, that pioneering Elderfrink and enthusiastic supporter of KC nightlife. Not long before we departed, Paulie quit the Ink world and went into the silver-haired underground. But let all Kansas Citians rejoice this day, for he is back — and he’s reviewing things over on Yelp. This should be fun.

Paulie has never been one to withhold his passion for a) emoticons, and b) things he loves — though this also applies to things he hates (see, e.g., “ex-wife, Paulie’s”) — so it makes perfect sense that, of his 16 reviews, he’s issued 5-star ratings to… 16 of them. He does not spare the enthusiasm in this case. Some excerpts from his well-reasoned, finely crafted reviews:

Regarding PBR Big Sky: 3 full bars to fill your cup, half a dozen shot girls to keep ya entertained (especially when dancing table-top, happy hour specials, after work specials, VIP seating and gooood music:)  to boot.   If you can’t have a good time here, ya just don’t know how;)

Regarding The Jones, P&L’s hyper-fratty herpes bath rooftop pool: Saturdays are packed in cozy…  The place is gorgeous!  I went to one event/fundraiser on a Thursday evening and ended up on NightlifeKC…hehe.

Regarding Margarita’s North: I’ve outlasted a wife of 15 years and a 5 year LTR with Margarita’s being our fav place…but have the memories of long talks and good times and GREAT FOOD! Luvin the Margarita dip!  woot woot!

Regarding, oddly, the Sprint Center: My only drawback to the set-up is that they funnel ALL patrons who smoke (aka me) into two doors on the main level outside.  The fix?  If ur gonna do it, do it right!  There were 6 doors available.  Use them.  Other than that…nice place!

Regarding Stroud’s, which he admits he hasn’t visited: Actually, I was married in the little church on the grounds adjacent to the restaurant.  A long time ago…

Ah, Paulie. We can always count on you for bastardized spelling, all-or-nothing positivity, and odd digressions into your relationship history. Must say, we also love these gems from his profile:

Things I Love
…to smoke. DEAL with it.

The Last Great Book I Read
He’s Just Not That Into You…also a great movie:)

Welcome back, old friend.

Recordeu que les reunions son obertes a tots aquells membres de l’AMPA que hi vulguin assistir

La reunió es farà a la nova seu de l’AMPA (al costat del gimnàs) i s’entra pel carrer Frederic Soler

Robbie Williams has confirmed that Take That will reunite again. Last Friday Williams appeared on UK’s chat show Friday Night With Jonathon Ross, and he spoke about how he & his fellow band mates have been in the studi recording “bits & bobs” and that very shortly we will be seeing them on the stage together. Although the band made their come back a few years ago the world noticed that the band was missing a member, that member was Robbie Williams and many critics said that Williams claimed he was going to make it on his own and that he didn’t need the band. Looks like Robbie needs them now!