My new thingee

 Here's my new thingee.  Not the stapler, that's just to give you an idea about the size.  Actually it's a microphone.  Really small and light.  Unobtrusive.  The problem is that I'll lose it!

I have found that I'm not understanding the professor in my class especially when she gives side comments.  And I couldn't understand a lot of a lecture I heard.  My access buddy told me that I could do something about it.  If nothing else, I am eligible for disabled student services (which I already knew).  I talked to the 'hard of hearing' guy and he told me about these little microphones.  I went to the audiology people and bought this device.  For $350.

So, I give it to my teacher and I can hear everything she says!  It comes directly to my hearing aids via blue tooth.  During my small group discussion, I handed to the student speaking and I could hear them.  If I have trouble hearing the TV, I put it down next to it and I can hear it so much better.

Just working on strategies to not lose it.  Dennis put a label on the side with my name and phone #.

I think it's good!

Simon and Frank

We went to Indiana earlier this month to visit our daughter Ilana, her husband Matt and their two little boys, Frank 4 and Simon 2.  A great time and VERY busy.  A lot of the time when they were home, Frank and Simon were doing this, chasing each other in the family room and kitchen making lots of noise and having a gay old time.  Frank loves having a little brother and he looks forward to a future together (When I grow up, I'm going to have a house so Simon can live in it)  Of course, Simon thinks everything his big  brother does is very important.  But Simon has his own mind about things.  He feels that he is the one who decides what he does.  And he doesn't miss a thing.  A great joy for everybody to see given his birth injuries. 

ICE leaves 2 year old in car for 40 minutes

 Last Sunday, ICE arrested a man in Shoreline WA.  He was going to work on his way to daycare for his 2 year old child.  ICE detained him at 163rd & Aurora,  They left the 2 year old in the car.  For 40 minutes.  Finally, the owner of the place he works rushed over and rescued him.

Who does that?  Leaves a 2 year old child abandoned?  Apparently without any concern.  Like 5 year old Liam the week before?  With the bunny hat and the Spiderman backpack?  I heard that a congressman visited Liam in the detention center in Texas (with his father) and reported he was in poor shape.  Not talking.  Not eating.  He's asked for his hat and backpack but he has not received them.

The weekly protest we attend is at 205th & Aurora.  The Cuban sandwich shop is at 199th & Aurora.  So this is close.  I had heard that there was ICE action around 160th.  But I never heard what happened until this story appeared this morning.  On the front page above the fold.

We will be patronizing this sandwich shop.

Another story that escaped national attention...Parents of a 7 year old girl were bringing her to an emergency room in Portland.  She had a nosebleed that wasn't stopping. ICE arrested them in the parking lot and detained them.  She didn't get to see a doctor until the next Wednesday.  They were legal immigrants from Ecuador.  They have filed an asylum claim with a court date.  I don't know what happened with her.

Picture from Seattle Times used without permission.  Shows the sandwich stop owner taking the 2 year old out of the car.

UPDATE: We went and bought cuban sandwiches at the shop. We picked up some menus and I will hand them out tomorrow at the demonstration which is right nearby.  The owner was working making the sandwiches; she's the one taking the two year old out of the car.  They said that the worker had ALREADY been deported to Mexico.  I'm sure they were missing their coworker.

Cubano To Go on Aurora Ave in Shoreline.  We have to take care of our brothers and sisters.

A cute kid!

 Here's a cute kid, almost two.  The repeated joke and toddler humor!

Asking the Red Cross

I just found this letter in the Arolsen Archives, a major source of Holocaust information.  I hadn't looked at it too directly before.  An American soldier, Alfred Schwab wrote a letter to the National Tracing Bureau, an agency working with the Rec Cross looking for displaced people.  And there were a ton of them.

But, if you were looking for somebody, you contacted the Red Cross.

This soldier is another of my mother's second cousins.  His letter dated June 1945 asks about the whereabouts of his uncle, aunt and cousin, David, Marta and Lothar Baumann.  Last address 6 Sloestratt Amsterdam.  He has not heard from them since late 1941.

Yes, the same family that we placed with stolpersteine memorials in 2022.  

The Red Cross replied about a year later saying that the members of this family were transported from Westerbork (the transit camp) to Sobibor and Auschwitz.

So they knew.  David Baumann's siblings and their families knew.  But not clear if the information got to the cousins. Or they listened.  If they knew.

But it's getting closer.
 

Christmas brunch

Ilana was in charge of the annual Christmas brunch at the day homeless shelter in Bloomington.  For about 100.  Her synagogue puts it on and Ilana has had a great time in the past.  First she had to fund-raise.  Ilana never minds fundraising.  So she raised $400.  So should she buy turkeys?  She did help from the other ladies.  Turkey or turkey breast?  She was going to buy it from Sam's Club.  I suggested that she go to Sam's Club early just to check out what they had.  She does that and discovers they have NO turkeys, none, zero.  What to do.  Ham was out.  Brunch panic ensues.  Then she goes to her local Krogers and finds they have 11 frozen turkey breasts.  She buys them all.  "I realize that I've created a problem for somebody else.." she muses.

But all the other ladies come through.  They put together the green bean casseroles.  Some bring pies and cookies.  Ilana had bought some pies at Sams Club.  They have canned cranberry and gravy.  They also have the center's professional cook to makes sure it happens.

So it all got put together.  Those turkey breasts from this morning look good.  If they have leftover, they can use it on Friday.

Frank and Ilana at IU basketball game

Ilana took Frank to an Indiana University Women's Basketball game.  He loved it!  He also got to meet the Bison mascot (not shown).  They both had a great time (according to reports).

 

Phil and Dennis

Dennis with his birthdad Phil on a recent visit.  They live on a huge bluff overlooking the Auburn Valley including the Emerald Downs Racetrack.  Much of that is flooded but not where they are.

And not where we are either in Lake Forest Park, just north of the Seattle City Limits.  But it's cold and nasty.

Phil's stepdaughter decorated the antlers with lights.  I like it!

They do have a cool house but they really shouldn't live there,  They are on a waiting list for a senior living place.

Subsequently Dennis and Susanna went down there and Susanna took a lot of the kids from the basement.

2025 Thanksgiving

 

Our Thanksgiving dinner this year.

And thankful I am for family members and our ability to gather around a feast.

Naomi and Stephen hosted.  Stephen especially was eager to put on a big family event.  In their (new to them) house.  I think setting up the two tables in their living room worked just fine.  The host couple are in the foreground.  The guests were Naomi and Stephen's immediate families plus Papa, Stephen's grandfather at the end,  Their house is great because it's level entry.  The empty chair was where I was sitting.  Stephen insisted on two turkeys though it wasn't necessary.  We brought over boxes of serving dishes, a full stuffed turkey, a pan of gravy, gravy, a flower arrangement (thanks to my neighbor), one of the main tables, a smaller table with an electric knife and cutting board, tons of stuff.

We had a lot of food, no question.  Then we had to break it down, figure out what to do with the food, help clean up and bring all of that stuff home.

But the families get along great (give thanks, that is not always the case)  Everybody came.  The hosts did great!