Kathy Ann Jentelson (Cole)

Hi Judy, my old friend from grade school. Thanks for noticing my post. I'm going to have fun writing this book, and you can finally find out how "Hairy Sue" got her unusual name. Looking forward to chatting with you. Kathy

Paul Simons

Yes let us know about the book Kathy. Now and then I come across a really good one. Not so long ago "The Plot Against America" by Philip Roth. He published it in 2004. Today we don't have to read it - it's happening, you can watch it on TV. But let us know when yours comes out.

Stephen (Steve) Dixon

Good work Gail, Sally, et al. We all owe you a debt.

This stuff, this every-busy Covid organism is looking more and more like a truly long-term siege.

Stephen Collett

 In some cases in life it is a blessing to not be able to turn back, that is not an option. My most important life decisions have been that way. Actually, not decisions, but something you slide into and then realize that it is right.    It may be this way with our erstwhile reunion. For I had already made plans, including other business in Ohio. Is it possible that a couple of Covid-sensitive arrangements could be made? At least for those in the vicinity?  I like Si´s suggestion of Coney Island!

Paul Simons

Thanks for actually considering it Steve. I was half serious, half joking but the idea opens the door to other possibilities like Ault Park. Eden Park, although on a nice day or evening it's crowded. I don't live in Cincinnati anymore but on a couple of trips back have found that the Covington waterfront has been commercially expanded, summa-cum-gentrified, meaning lots of outdoor dining where you can get a $6.50 cheeseburger for only $18.75, that's a shot as well. There's a bridge across the Ohio River that has been painted purple and made pedestrians only. And, good news, the $6.50 will get you a glass of Schoenling. Go Bengals.

Nelson Abanto

It is a shame that we have to cancel again.  I have come to the conclusion that the CDC, QAnon and Nelson Abanto don't seem to have a good understanding of how this virus mutates.  The only thing that I am sure about is that there are quite a few letters left in the Greek alfabet.  We are not out of the woods yet.

Dale Gieringer

     Following up on Paul's idea, it's also possible to book outdoor party spaces at Mt Airy Forest and Winton Woods  (we once held a Gieringer reunion there).   If others were already planning to visit Cincinnati this summer, and IF the covid situation improves, I'd be up for an informal class gathering.  

(On the other hand, if this pestilence drags on another year, we should schedule our reunion for the total eclipse of the sun that will visit Cincinnati on April 8, 2024).

Philip Spiess

I went to watch a total eclipse of the sun once, but I didn't see it -- it was too dark out.

Paul Simons

One request- if there's an ad hoc no-shirt-no-shoes-no-problem reunion can it be END of June rather than early June? For one thing swimming pools don't have full schedules or close to that until end of June and Cincinnati can be a hot humid place. 
Eclipse - I was lucky enough to observe one right on the beach at Wildwood Crest NJ. I had the very dark glasses needed to look right at the sun as it went away and came back. The day went from a sunny to very grey, the wind came up as the air cooled. Very strange feeling. Worth taking the time and trouble to observe.

Steven Levinson

WHO DEY??!!!

Richard Murdock

What a game !   Joe was spectacular  !!   Cincinnati's first visit to the Super Bowl since 1988.   Long overdue.  CONGRATS !!

Laura Reid (Pease)

WHO DEY!  UNBELIEVABLE GAME!!!  OUR BOYS PULLED ANOTHER ONE OUT AND WE ARE HEADED TO THE SUPER BOWL AFTER A LONG DRY SPELL!!!

Judy Holtzer (Knopf)

Hi all. Sorry for this non sequitur, but does anyone have experience with the Sonovia Mask? So far, I've managed to stay well, but then, I hardly go out. I read reviews that were critical of the fit, so I'm hesitating. Can anyone advise me?

Gene Stern

When Cincy drafted Joe Burrow, I told my brother that they have the next Tom Bradey-I think I was right!!

Dale Gieringer

   Go Bengals indeed!  

    While I was rooting for the 49ers too, I'm kind of glad they're not going.  They beat Cincy this year and in two prior Superbowls.

Paul Simons

At least if we lose it wouldn't be to the Niners for the THIRD TIME But we aren't going to lose. Maybe LA can hire Andy Reid away from KC so we can win for sure. I know it's sour grapes - he was here in Philadelphia before KC. He had some tough breaks.

Ann Shepard (Rueve)

WHO DEY indeed. The Bengals are a team of destiny. 
For further reading:

https://www.wvxu.org/local-news/2022-02-01/year-of-the-tiger-cincinnati-bengals-super-bowl

Barbara Kahn (Tepper)

Judy, I looked up Sonovia Masks and they are very expensive. I don't know if it's necessary to spend that much. I have KN95 and N95 masks and feel protected with them. We only stay local here except for doctor appointments and are not exposed to crowds of people.  We're home a lot too, like you are. 

Judy Holtzer (Knopf)

Barbara - Thanks much for your input. I asked at a local Superpharm, and they did not have N95, but they offered me a box of KN98, which is very comfortable. I think it's the same technology, more or less, as the KN95. Every day I get up and wonder how much longer I will succeed in dodging this bug - - - or the next Covid mutation to come down the road.

Barbara Kahn (Tepper)

As long as we're smart, Judy, and limit ourselves to places we think are safe we'll continue to be fine. Only one member of my family was positive after being vaccinated and that was a teenager in High School with no symptoms but she had to miss some school.  The little ones with no vaccine were exposed at school/daycare but didn't ever test positive and had to stay home too.  I am one of their babysitters and I never got it either after 3 shots. 

We are having out first family celebration in a restaurant this weekend to celebrate a 16th birthday. We haven't done that for at least 2 years. I lose track of time. Hopefully everyone will be ok.  We are all still wearing masks but the littlest ones won't keep them on. The adults now have the higher quality masks. 

Paul Simons

I'm not an expert on this but I am a buyaholic so I have various masks. The main thing about the straight N95 is that the elastic straps go all the way around your head. All the rest go around your ears. That's more comfortable and easier to deal with if you wear glasses but not as tight fitting. These round things are very effective but you can't put them in your pocket - they don't fold up. But they work.

William (Bill) Waxman

Last Sunday my son, grandsons and I flew into Kansas City for THE GAME. My son has cursed me for making him a Bengals fan; too many years of disapointment and frustration. The noise in Arrowhead Stadium was deafening, and we were disheartened for most of the first half until the Cincy touchdown followed by the defensive stop.But in the second half all those years of disappointment vanished. Chiefs' fans were very nervous. Only when the Chiefs won the overtime coin toss did the the KC fans seemed to breath easier. The Chiefs' fans emotions reverted to unease, then acute concern when the Bengals intercepted and marched down the field. The decibel level on the final kick was the highest of the day as the Bengals lined up for the winning field goal. When the kick went through the uprights, there was a collective groan from the Chiefs' fans.  In contrast we Bengals fans were at first incredulous, then euphoric, not quite believing what we had just witnessed. Great day, and on to the SB. Maybe I will go. Who Dey!! 

Laura Reid (Pease)

What a great recap Bill Waxman!  We long suffering Bengals fans are euphoric, amazed and so happy for our City.  My husband, Chip, and our two boys went to Nashville and had a great experience as you did.....on to the Super Bowl!!  Who Dey!

Allen Fisher

Go Bengals!! Proud of Joe and those young men. One more to go

Philip Spiess

So (as everyone seems to start their statements these days) I have been cooking today in preparation for tomorrow's Superbowl game.  What else but Cincinnati chili?

Now, ordinarily, I would make my Grandmother Goepp's recipe for "Cincinnati Chili," which from time immemorial we ate often at a Sunday night supper, and which I've made, to great acclaim, for numerous work and church pot-lucks over the years, though, were I in Cincinnati, my commercial choice would be Skyline Chili, BUT --

I found, to my astonishment, in the 2006 edition of Joy of Cooking (compiled by Cincinnati folk, if you didn't know) the recipe for the original "Cincinnati Chili," i.e., Empress Chili (founded 1922), and called "Empress" because its first storefront restaurant was housed in the "Empress Burlesk Theater" building, which was exactly what you think it was (i.e., striptease).  Although there for many years, Empress Chili eventually moved to Fifth Street across from the Art Moderne Greyhound Bus Terminal in order to expand, whereas Empress Burlesk, in a reduced portion of its building, became the Gayety Burlesque Theater (1940; torn down in 1970), which some of us may remember.  And the result was that the site of the birth of Cincinnati chili is now the central library of the Cincinnati and Hamilton County Public Library system (yes, you do remember the Gayety next door, don't you?).

But I digress.  So (that opening again) I am making the recipe for Empress Chili (created by the Kiradjieff family, formerly of Macedonia and then of Cincinnati), which all histories and recipes claim to be "the original," despite how much it has gone through small alterations over the years; nevertheless, it is the one which introduced chocolate into Cincinnati chili (which many non-Cincinnati recipe books claim is what makes Cincinnati chili "Cincinnati Chili"; Skyline Chili, to my knowldege, does not include chocolate; it emphasizes cinnamon as its "secret ingredient").  Said Empress chili sits overnight to "mature," and we hope to eat it during a victory tomorrow.

I have also made "Louisiana Peanut Pie," a Cajun dish, to go with it as dessert -- but that's another story.