Hello Pine Oaks book readers!
It�s time once again for a Pine Oaks Book Club update! We had a rousing meeting last month during our discussion of the memoir �Keep Off the Grass.� I say �rousing� because my oh my, everyone has such interesting stories about growing up! So many, in fact, because we never got around to discussing the book. It was almost as if everyone read the back of the book and not the book itself, and wanted to distract from discussion of what some of us actually read. But I would never accuse Book Club members of anything like that.
I just want to remind everyone that this month is our annual sign-up meeting. It�s a chance for continuing members to demonstrate their commitment by hosting or leading a discussion, as well as an opportunity for new members to join in the fun! The annual sign-up meeting has historically not done well, but I�m sure we can turn that around this year! And if not, then perhaps next year we�ll schedule the sign-up meeting for a month when everyone isn�t on vacation, and perhaps not warn everyone so they can�t �be out of town.�
August also marks the end of the �It Pays to Read� program, our partnership with the James R. Nock Regional Library to encourage summer reading among schoolchildren. As I understood it, no money has been rewarded for reading, but there appears to have been some misunderstanding with that. Though the library has explained it, I�d like to clarify further that reading should be an experience that rewards itself, and that anyone who is interested in continuing the joy of reading should come on over to our next Book Club meeting.
This month�s book is a foray into American history, with the biography of Pierre L�Enfant, the man who designed Washington, D.C. I will be hosting the discussion, which will be lead by Terry Otter. While I�m a bit apprehensive about this, Terry has promised to keep his personal life out of it and instead stick to showing pretty pictures of our nation�s capital.
So join us, won�t you?
Julia Schaun
Chairwoman, Pine Oaks Book Club
By Tony Daniels
Hello.
I�m dispensing with the pleasantries for the moment because we have serious issues to discuss. Safety-related issues. You see, we�re in the dog days of summer now, and every safety enthusiast knows that crime increases dramatically during the summer. Whether it�s the fact that ruffians aren�t in school, young toughs have their good senses fried by the sun, or no-goodniks think it�s too hot for anyone to put up a fight, the level of crime increases across the board once the calendar says �June� or �July� or �August,� but also �February,� which is a separate issue.
So how can you protect yourself from increased levels of crime? Why, with increased levels of safety, of course! Everything you currently do to keep yourself safe, ratchet it up to summer levels. Do you have home burglar alarms? Buy another one! Or just make the first one really, really loud. Ladies, do you carry pepper spray with you in case of a mugger or attempted sullying of your virtue? Bump that up to WD-40, and your attacker won�t be able to see for a month � or ever! Do you keep a stockpile of food and arms in your basement in the event of an attack on your home, family, activities club or political belief system? If so, then I shouldn�t have to tell you that it�s time to invest in the book �A Hero�s Guide to Vigilantee-ism.�
Now because of space considerations here, I can�t go into too much detail about all the ways you can make yourself safer in the summer. So why not come by the house and take a gander at my newest pamphlet, �The Summertime is When You Are Most In Danger, Unless You�re Being Chased by a Lion or Raccoon in Some Other Season.� Unfortunately, home printer issues mean I was only able to make one copy. As such, I ask anyone who would like to read it to do so in my ante-foyer, then replace it on the table in the foyer so that others may read it.
Enjoy, both the pamphlet and your increased safety.
Neighborhood Watch...p. 2
Message from the President...FRONT
Pine Oaks Book Club...p. 2
Fighting Spirit...p. 3
Welcome Wagon...FRONT
This Month in Pine Oaks...FRONT
Young Person's Perspective...p. 4