Colony Club

Ending on a Positive Note is the brainchild of our

newest board member, Phil Kauble, who suggested it

to me on July 9, 2011.

The encouragement and kind words of these Colony

residents in response to my efforts on your behalf are

appreciated and acknowledged.

Lie Mine Gea - Wyeth

Osami Martin - Matisse

Kent McLain - Matisse
Chung and Christa Lau - Saarinen
Douglas and Bonnie Friedman - Klee
Stanley Alsko - Utrillo
Indira Devalraju - Utrillo
Andre & Sakae Attai - Carmel
Pamela Barton-Erdahl - Carmel
Ted Tishinski & Cynthia Phillips - South Mall
Suresh Lohiya - Saarinen
Gary Thompson - Scottsdale
Heather & Craig Moothart - Scottsdale
Michael, Rosemary, Eric Kievit - Scottsdale
Maggie Valdespino - Miro
Marilyn Kaptyn - Klee
Jim & Roberta Mladenik - Wyeth
Erwin & Eleanor Eissing - Marin
Juan Gobel - Marin
Gene Paul - Gibralter

David & Sue Chang, Majorca
Barjor Alamshaw - Carmel
Sung Han - Carmel
Dahyabhai Patel - Capri
David Roblyer - Capri
Brahna Nudell - Klee
Livia Morse - Capri
Elaine Chang - Carmel
Tricia & Arnaud Poissonnier - East Mall
Miguel Rodriguez - Sausalito
Ann Gerber - Scottsdale
Tanalie Banawa - Carmel
Dan Khorsandi - Wyeth

George McFadden - Wyeth

Jack Pavlu - Wyeth
Qc Tran - Wyeth
Dante & Estelita Guillermo - Provincetown
Eric & Terri Liao - Chagall
Cliff Drown - Hemingway
Ladonna Bornzin - Duchamp
Marianne Thawley - Duchamp
Phil Kauble - Scottsdale
Mary & Richard Kerns - Utrillo

One of the sweetest compliments I received was from a

lovely lady in a dark blue pickup truck as I restored the

Colony signs on The Mall in 2018. I do not know her name, but

I wish I did.

________________________________

We fight not for glory, nor for riches, nor for honour, but

only and alone for Freedom, which no good man lays down

but with his life. --Declaration of Arbroath, Scotland, 1320

In the end more than they wanted freedom, they wanted

security. When the Athenians finally wanted not to give to

society but for society to give to them, when the freedom

they wished for was freedom from responsibility, then

Athens ceased to be free. —Edward Gibbon (1737-1794)

- Member of Parliament, English Historian and author of

The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire

___________________

September 2024 "As usual JJ, you’re a rockstar with getting things done in the neighborhood.

Thank you for all that you do for the Colony. You are an unsung hero." - Dan Khorsandi

"John, you are the best. An easy job well done." (Saving the Colony $11,800) - Kent McLain, Board President, 2009

August 5, 2024 Driving in on Scottsdale today, I saw another stranded motorist

and stopped to ask him if I could help. "I need water." I'll be right back. His

hood was raised. I brought back two gallons and put it in his reservoir and he

was on his way. "John, you're awesome!" - Mitch from Huntington Beach

Why does nobody else in the Colony ever stop to help someone

stranded on Scottsdale?

"You are Irvine's Chief Safety Officer." -

Mayor Stephen Choi, PhD (2016)

"We will support you forever and ever.

May God bless you and your family." - Barjor Alamshaw, Carmel

"You've been so helpful to us." - Mary & Richard Kerns, Utrillo

"Thank you for helping reduce our dues. I want to

give you a flower in appreciation." - Chin Hsiao, Carmel

"I saw you and Christi picking up litter on Walnut.

I want to thank you with this $50 gift card." -

Michael Kievit, Scottsdale

"Beholden to none, accountable to all. That's you.

You're a winner!" - Gary & Sue Thompson, Scottsdale

"Thank you for all you've done. Please count us in

on the 'encouragement and kind words' list on the

blog page. We'll stand with you." - David and Sue Chang, Majorca

"John, What a great idea.

(http://colony-club.blogspot.com) It is faster and

cheaper for you. You deserve a big ATTA BOY

keep up the good work and the great ideas." -

David Roblyer, Capri

"Over the last 2 years you have gone out of your

way ...(to help make Girl's Volleyball BBQ and

Tournament a success). You're a big reason for

our big day! Thank you." - Craig Moothart, Scottsdale

"Keep up the good work." - George McFadden,

recent Colony Board Member, and the gentleman

who recruited me to help turn things around in

2008. George did a fine job for the Colony.

"John you are to be congratulated for the new crape

myrtles going in on both sides of The Mall."

[And raised sidewalks causing tripping hazards,

which sections were replaced by the city which

removed root invasive trees, all at city expense.]

- Phil Kauble, newest Colony Board Member

After I watched Betty Chang mixing it up in doubles

tennis with three men, all good players,

I complimented her on her game. "When did you

start?" I said. Betty replied "2006." Incredible.

"It's in her genes," said another player. Joe

Chang returned from his car where he had gone

to retrieve the shirt I am wearing in the photograph

below. Joe thanked me for complimenting his

wife on her tennis game by giving me the shirt.

Their son, Michael,age 17, was the youngest man

ever to win a Grand Slam singles title when he won

the French Open in 1989.

This prototype I made in my garage is what I consider to be an improved method of stringing tennis, squash, and racquetball rackets.

It has a Provisional Patent No. 17/706,841, filed on March 29, 2022, to hit strings instead of the frame.

____________________
"Cliff Drown told me how you stepped up and took

care of his bees infestation. You are truly one in a

million." - Gary Thompson, former resident of Scottsdale

"Hi John,
Please accept this belated congratulations on

your splendid election by the Colony members

who have again reposed trust in you to look

after their best interests. We look forward to

your efforts for the betterment of the Colony

and will surely assist you. Thanks for your

goodness and service to the Colony."

- Suresh Lohiya, Saarinen

"Thank you John! As a resident homeowner,

I appreciate your work on my behalf." -
LaDonna Bornzin, Duchamp

"You are very erudite." - Marianne Thawley,

Duchamp, Professor at Saddleback Valley College

Jack Pavlu, Wyeth Ave

"I just want to say thank you for what you have

done for our community..." - Eric Liao, Chagall

"Our community needs more people like you.

Great job! "- Estellita Guillermo, Provincetown

"Thank you for getting Hemmingway (sic) changed

to Hemingway on Google and Mapquest." - Hemingway resident

________________________________________

Tennis Families, Gea and Lau

"John, you have my vote for Colonist of the Decade."

- Chung Lau (second from right)

"This is real progress; very gratifying.

Thanks for your initiative." - Gene Paul, Gibralter

"Thank you for swimming with my son to help

him get his Boy Scout swimming merit badge

thirty years ago. I never did thank you then."

- Gene Paul, 2008

At a board meeting, Former Board Member,

Arnaud Poissonnier, presented me with a bottle

of red wine and a box of chocolates in appreciation

for my assistance in helping him solve his water

leak in his living room.

While I was a board member, I worked about 40

hours a week on Colony business, assisting

residents and supervising the landscape crew,

having lunch with them almost every day.

After cutting surface tree roots with my

double blade ax for four hours with the crew to

prevent kids from falling on them and getting hurt,

I sat down next to Jose for lunch and said, "Not

too bad for a gringo, eh?"

He looked at me and said, "You no gringo."
_________________________________________________

I print out forty of these on one page at a time

and pass out the slips to strangers I befriend every day.

"It ain't braggin' if you really done it." - Hall of Fame Pitcher Dizzy Dean (1910-1974)

"The universe is full of things patiently waiting for our

wits to grow sharper." - Eden Philpott

_______________________________

Bedtime story to read to your children, grandchildren, nephews

and nieces. I uploaded James Thurber's delightful short story.

Don't read it in advance! Let it surprise you with everyone else.

Many Moons by James Thurber

Fun For Kids

Math Proves God

Retired Irvine dentist, Mike McCartney, read my book published

in 2022 and said, "This book should be required reading for all

teenagers. The book itself is a brilliant creation."

"I have now purchased and given away six of your books.

Well done, sir!" - Earl Carter

BrilliantCreations

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