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Kitch Shatzer led the discussion at the October meeting of the Book Club. Seven members had a good time talking and laughing about The Woman in Cabin 10, a mystery by Ruth Ware. Mary Atwood told some interesting things about the author. November's book will be The Maze Runner by James Dashner. It is a science fiction novel about a community of young men chosen by intelligence to live in a community surrounded by a maze. The dynamics of the group change when a girl appears. In December each person will suggest a Christmas book they have enjoyed. The meeting will be a week early on December 18, 2019 due to Christmas on the fourth Wednesday.

Halloween was celebrated this week with parades and parties. Up with Day Care children were delighted to show off their costumes as they paraded the halls and enjoyed Halloween treats Thursday morning. Residents enjoyed seeing the youngsters dressed as fairies, princess', a cowboy, ballplayers, witches, green monsters and a shark. Employees of the Health Center dressed in 70s costumes, most of which were Hippy style conjuring up many memories.

An adult Halloween party was held later in the day in the Moore Family Dining Room. It was a large crowd of party goers dressed in costume with witches outnumbering the Orangutan, cats, baseball players and furry monsters. Two scary dudes crashed the party roaming through the crowd. Everyone enjoyed the Monster Mash music before telling Halloween stories from their past. Many residents, including some who would surprise you and whose names we won't reveal, told stories of tipping outhouses as pranks when they were youngsters. If they didn't like a certain individual, the outhouse was tipped with that individual inside. Following the party, residents welcomed trick-or-treaters with mounds of candy. Residents were excited to see the youngsters in costume and the kids were excited to showcase their style.

Residents on the third floor of Kerr Hall organized their own neighborhood gathering to celebrate Halloween with cider and doughnuts. There was much laughter as one party goer dressed as a monkey got into character. Others showed their spirited side dressed as a black cat, a witch and other fun costumes signifying the season.

David Draheim and Linda Boston attended the Democratic Liberty and Justice Celebration in Des Moines on Saturday where they spent the night. They enjoyed breakfast with their oldest son Brian Sunday morning before returning home.

Classics Et Cetera for November 7, 2019 included 'Young Henry's Hunt” by Étienne-Nicolas Méhul; 'Addio del passado” from 'La Traviata” by Giuseppe Verdi; 'Toreador Song” by Georges Bizet, a piano study; Meditation from 'Thaïs” by Jules Massenet; 'Trouble” from 'The Music Man” by Meredith Willson; 3rd Movement of Clarinet Concerto in A Major by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart; 'Festive March” from 'Tannhäuser” by Richard Wagner.

Young piano students are often assigned musical pieces to learn as a study. Some of those pieces were composed for that specific purpose, while others are simplifications of tunes from well-known works, usually written anonymously. The latter may have the advantage of the tune being already familiar to students, helping them know when they make mistakes. One example is a simplified 'Toreador Song” from Georges Bizet's 1875 opera 'Carmen.” The 'Toreador Song,” a piano study, is included in this week's program above. Even the writer as a child knew the tune as 'Toreador-a, don't spit on the floor. Use the cuspidor, that's what it's for.”