caught THE wave today

Well, Insider has done it. The first audioblog. Hope you enjoy. This is sort of a test run. Let me know how it plays. Thanks everyone. Have a great day....and....catch a wave!

I feel it in my fingers, I feel it in my toes....

CZECH FUN PHRASE(S)—"Kdo jste?" "Jak se jmenujete?" "Kdy vás opût uvidím?"
Can you guess these three phrases. Hint—you would use them when meeting people. Also, they are titles of rock songs. POPPER—Can you guess the groups associated with these rock n roll song titles?



THURSDAY SWING—The 70th CSA Get-Together is just about one week away. It begins next Friday, August 4. It will be held at the Lisle, IL, Hilton Hotel. This is a photo of Michele Salkauskas, Miss National CSA, shown standing by the front sign at the entranceway for a photo shoot we did last fall. The photo was used on the front cover of the Journal's January issue.







As reported in the Prague Post yesterday, this coming Saturday, July 29, is the 150th anniversary of the death of Karel Havlicek Borovsky regarded by many as the first Czech journalist. Quote from article: "He established the first free newspaper in his country, independent from the government. He was the first person who really worked for freedom of speech in the Czech lands."




Top photo is his portrait. Above is his grave site in Prague where, ahead of this weekend's anniversary, a ceremony was held earlier this week.



GAMERS—anyone play the Flying Aces game on radicalplay.com. It is very tricky I am told. SPACERS—if you are the star-gazer type, or a backyard astronomer, or just appreciate great photography, check out the photography at hubblesite.org. Here is a couple of examples of the stuff you will see.

I'm not sure of the technical name but I think this one might fittingly be called the Green Lantern galaxy.










"A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away...."














Are you new here and want to leave a Comment below? Sit back and relax. Click on the word Comment. Write in the new window and click one of the buttons "Other" or "Anonymous" then click the "Publish" button. You don't have to be a member. Not sure about what to say? Here's a small piece of a conversation I had with an Insider faithful just recently about that very subject of writer's (blogger's) block....

Insider—"...so you've got writer's block. Congrats on that."
Arb—"Thanks....I just don't know what to type right now-"
Insider—"I know that feeling."
Arb—"I want to post something, I start writing, then I delete what I wrote, finally I give up. I don't like the way it sounds."
Insider—"I know. Then you just stare at the screen."
Arb—"So what do I do?"
Insider— "Asking me for a tip?""
Arb—"Yes."
Insider—"Ummm, smile! If you're upbeat when you write, it shows-thru."
Arb—"That's not always easy."
Insider—"I didn't say it would be. But all readers value hearing the writers real voice."
Arb—"I guess I'll give it a try but if I mess up....I'm blaming you. Just so you know in advance. (laughs)"
Insider—(laughing) "I think you've got the hang of it."


On that theme, I'll just wiggle my hand above my head ala Kramer leaving Jerry's; and pull it back before the door closes.

Tell The Tale

The fish were biting yesterday on Geneva Lake. The smell of motorboat gasoline and lake water was in my nostrils. The wind chased rain clouds away eastward. All was calm. Then....I felt a tremendous hit on the fishing line. I cranked in the line and the spinner made a loud clicking noise to indicate the fish's rebellion. The tip of the pole bent to the water and what appeared to be a gigantic fish flashed up just under the surface!...(Cue music from ' Jaws'..... read at bottom for what happened next....)




Our Join Hands Day friends in the links at right are already mentioning next year's event, to be held on May 5, 2007. They do a nice job of promoting all of those volunteers across the country who pitch in and help. CSA members were part of that experience. Below are a couple of photos of Lodge Christa members joining with high school students and resident of Redstone Highlands in Greenburg, PA on May 20th of this year to help make decorations for Memorial Day. Thanks to Peggy Holsinger, Lodge Christa Secretary for the pics.







ALSO, check out the CSA link at right for all of the investment opportunities there are available for you. Dave Gerard is the Sales Manager and you can reach him at 630-472-0500 or 800-543-3272. Here is his photo below so you know what he looks like as you are ordering lots of CSA products from him.






....Now, back to the fight! The monster fought with great strength from down there in the cool depths almost breaking the fishing pole. It was the ages-old battle between man and leviathan.....uh, well, it was actually just a moment or two and then I reeled in a small Rock Bass. It wasn't Billy Bass. It didn't turn and start singing. So I released it; soon it was time to head for the dock. So it wasn't exactly epic! But it was fun. My fishing pards all caught fish too. Jack snagged the biggest! And the burgers afterward were pretty darn greasy.

Got a fish story of your own to tell?

Hook, Line and Sinker

Do you have a fishy story....uh, I mean fishing story to tell? (There's really no difference between the two is there?) Insider will be away tomorrow on some R-and-R. I have managed to pick the lock that keeps me chained to my mac and will escape to the boat dock for some first-rate worm-flinging.





I will return Wednesday with the story of how I battled "ol fighter" and if I don't, I will still manage to tell you a whopper of a tale because I have quite a few I can pull out of my hat if I must! That's part of fishing. Do you have a fish story to tell? Tune in Wednesday and blog your best story and there may be a prize in it if you can top mine. Shadow? Buffy? Peaches? Big Bob? Redbird? Harry? Come one come all. We'll see....won't we???

LURING—Hey maybe CSA should start a fishing derby. Why not?....we have golf and bowling....let's add fishing. CSA members and friends could compete all summer on their own; photograph their biggest catch; submit the photo with details on weight, length, etc., and at summer's end the biggest fish wins a prize from CSA. What do you guys think? Might be fun.

See ya Wednesday.

Good Vibrations

Big, big posting today....


One could even call this blog....GIGANTIC!


(Insider—full of hot air....)


So, Insiderati..........take a deep, deep breath.... (c'mon, deeper still, get the H2O down there where it NEVER goes.)


Exhale!


That's it. Blow it out all the way.


Ready?




Let's start off with a photo of the entrance to CSA Fraternal Life, Oak Brook, Illinois, taken today at 11: 17 a.m. Isn't it peaceful looking? Is it any wonder we are located on Bliss Avenue? I kid not!






Blissful CSA. If you come to visit, this is the walkway you will take to our atrium doorway. Yes, we have an atrium! Take that Allstate! You got a blissful walkway leading to YOUR atrium? Huh?.....I think not.




Here is a photo I'm almost certain I've used before. Just seems to fit a Friday in summer. Some outtakes from a shoot I did last year for our Czech beer article. Kinda makes one thirsty doesn't it. Sorry I didn't take a pretzel shot to accompany it.







Instead of mail (like the ilk shown below) Insider receives mostly email, interrupted by the occassional phone call. Insider does not do text messaging.






EMAIL BAG OPENS— I'm pickin' up good vibrations....

A—Hi, I'm the "Anna" that blogged my answers to the questions in the latest CSA Journal. Hopefully I was correct. It was my first time blogging.
Insider—Hello Anna. Congrats Your shades are on the way!


K—Blog! blog! blog! what fun!
Insider—Keep on keepin' on K!


R—Don't you ever wonder what ever happened to the guy in Mad magazine? Just wondering.
Insider—Not until just now. Thanks for emailing me.


H—I was gunnery on a DE2 in one of those photos.
Insider—Wow. You R awesome. Not kidding. Thank you.


BD—We hope that all is well with CSA.
Insider—All....is.


L—Man, did you 'ear I fell out of a tree in Fiji da udder day? Landed on my noggin, not me bum like me mum always taught me. Ouch! -Keith
Insider—You make me laugh long time!


Kat—I noticed on Insider that you have a July Issue of the CSA Journal out. Does that mean that you will have an August issue also?
Insider— No. Should have read July/Aug....My bad!


M—It's too bad I don't know how to blog... I posted on the wrong day (But- I'm certain Anna beat me to it.).  Hope all is well! See you shortly- I can't believe the Get-Together is but a few short weeks away.
Insider—"Aaarrrr, short weeks too, m'lass. They've been compressed in Photoshop, meethinks!" (Had just seen Pirates 2.)


JP—I came - I saw - I blogged. I even blogged last week when I was stuck in a training class in Brown Deer (I'm not making that name up) Wisconsin.
Insider—That was blogging over state lines. I think's it's the Feds jurisdiction. But I won't tell anyone.


Insider—Hey R (at NFCA), thanks for the press release about Fraternal MVPs. Wondering, if anyone from CSA has ever won?
R—To date, no one from CSA has been selected as a Fraternal MVP.  However, the reason is that we have not received any submissions from CSA. The program is on-going, so it's not too late to submit names.  We are recognizing Fraternal MVPs throughout the entire year.
Insider—Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm mmmmmmmmmmmmm mmmmmmmmm


G—Apparently the most popular screensaver in the world is something called planetdan. Just thought you'd like to know.
Insider—TYVM


R—Thank you for letting us use your photos for our Consulate of the Czech Republic Chicago office website.
Insider—YVW


P— The colored picture on the cover of the July CSA journal is fantastic. We received copies of the journal Friday.
Insider—Glad you liked it.



Well....(have we set any records yet for longest blog, anyone know the phone number to Guinness Book?)
It's time to say "have a nice weekend" and "adieu". Besides I'm getting tired of patting myself on the back. My elbow is starting to get sore. It's known in the business as "egotist's elbow".

Have a great fun safe weekend and don't forget to post a lot of Comments to this GIGANTIC blog.

I've got to go now. "Good Vibrations" is starting to play on my iTunes.


Buh-bye!


So long!


See-ya!


Adios!


Ahoj!


Oh wait.... I almost forgot....SECRET DISH....Insider is thisclose to getting audioblog added to this blog. Then you can listen to music that I will post; or send me a request. I'll do requests. Sure. I just have to get a little tip jar setup on here somehow....

Axe Me and I'll Tell U

So as not to become mired in predictability, Insider is going to throw a proverbial blog changeup pitch right now. Here comes THURSDAY (NOT FRIDAY) SWING — — — dig the LA Czech/Slovak Community link at right and note August 13. The Lodge Los Angeles picnic and Sokol LA's first ever Youth Day will both be held on that day at Rush Park in Los Alamitos, California. ALSO....Jeannie at American-Sokol shared her online Prague Slet photo album with me and it was waaaay cool. She just recently returned from Prague. Tons of pics. Post that link for us Jean so we can all take a look. Check on her American-Sokol link at right often. FINALLY....CSA members are getting ready to kick-it Get-Together style. The big event is just two weeks away and will be held at the Lisle Hilton. Don't come a-knockin if this hotel's rockin!

REP-RE-SENT....Kathy gets big wahoo credits on account for those buttery adjectives a few posts ago. The Insider abides.

We got a little rock n' roll chit-chat going on the side today about greatest rock guitarists in emails from J, rt and p. We've been talking up the VH1 "I love the 70s part 2" guitar gods thing. Most of the usual suspects are given their due. Personally, I'm glad to see my boys Joe Walsh, Jimi Hendrix, and Pete Townsend all getting props. So who are your favorite masters of the axe?

We Baaad, and that's good....sooo good

Hiya Julyers, how's it been going for you? Hope you are having a nice Thursday and aren't caught in any of the rough stormy weather that has been visiting many parts of the country. Stay dry today, if you can. GAMERS—been over to coffeebreakarcade.com? Try it, you'll like it. Insider does enjoy a bit of Roulette now and then. How 'bout U?

TWO sharp-eyed bloggers named Anna and Michele were the only ones to correctly spot the fake lodge article in the July/August issue and blog it. Michele noted that it would be interesting to have "Brian Wilson as lodge president" (!) They scoped out "Lodge Hawthorne" from Garden Grove, California, as the suspicious culprit. It's on page 26. Nice going ladies! Insider gives a tip-of-the-hat to you both. BTW—If you see them cruising around town with csa sunglasses on you'll know they are flaunting it. (And they have that right.) Git on wit-ya-bad self! Your quick-draw on the blog was sick!

Note: "bad" is very, very good; and "sick" is, as always, awesome.

let's FACE it....immortality....ain't bad

The "Faces" keep a-coming to the Czechoslovak Heritage Museum. Call 800-543-3272 before you come. Try to show up on a day Paul Nemecek is there so he can give you the full monty....uh, wait a moment....by that I mean the full tour of the "best little museum in the world". Okay, Insider is boasting a bit right here but it's pretty darn special.

Coming later this year....an audio/video interactive thrill ride inside the museum that will take you to Prague and will be so realistic, you'll think you're in Old Town Square, and when you take a stroll across the Vltava river you think you can actually smell the eggs in the Charles Bridge on a hot summer day.

Again. boasting just a bit. But it will be interactive and fun for all visitors. And that will be a thrill! Am I wrong?


People stop by the Czechoslovak Heritage Museum from places near and far to check out the museum and library and sign our guest book. (Some have even shown up to be part of the Faces special feature.) Vaclav Klaus, President of the Czech Republic is one! You can be too. Stop in and be immortalized with a quick photo.

Here are some of those happy smiling faces you'll be seeing immortalized in the "Faces" series coming later this year in the pages of the Journal.

Just Being Cool

These csa cool cats know how to chill out in style. What better way than with shades on. I took these shots a few weeks ago and really didn't know where I'd use them. But since it IS Friday....

Catch A Wave is the song of the day. You can't go wrong with that. Aaaaand that's all I'm going to say.



Cy "Fast and Furious Oak Brook Drift" Barkauski



Lillie "Rock Around The Clock" Melton



Dave "Surfin USA" Gerard



Deborah "She's A Rebel" Zeman



Gerri "Twist and Shout" Romanelli



Roberta "Long Cool Woman" Jarosik



Paul "Mack The Knife" Nemecek



TG "Coming To America" Masaryk

It's A Twofer

We haven't done a CZECH FUN PHRASE or a POPPER question in quite awhile. Try to guess.

CZECH FUN PHRASE—Berete kreditní karty?
Hint: you'd ask this question at a restaurant or shop, especially if you are low on cash.

POPPER—Can you name the four countries that border the Czech Republic?
Hint: awwww, I'm not going to give you a hint. C'mon now! Guessing two or three shouldn't be a problem. It's that fourth one that might get you. (It got me.) No peekies on google. Use Comments below to make a guess.

If you've never left a comment before now is your golden opportunity. AND you have two items you can guess on. Double the fun.

Here Comes Your July/August 2006 Journal

GET HAPPY! The newest issue of the Journal is arriving at mailboxes this week (unless you already have it). Look for our first ever Summer Jingleer Beverly Stanislawski and her jingle starting on page 24. All of the jinglers names can be found on page 33. Thanks to all who participated. ALSO, thanks to PN for the kind words about the front cover. Glad you liked it!

There is a SECRET feature in the issue callled Find The Faker. Identify the fake lodge article, then blog here to tell Insider about it. The first dude and dudette to blog each win a pair of cool summer CSA sunglasses. And you can't beat that with a stick! (Can you?)

If you have a website to share with the Insiderati, please blog and let us know. Are you a newbie??? No worries mate. Just click on the word "Comments" below and share your thoughts. When you're ready to send the comment hit the "Other" button and "Publish" button. You don't have to sign up or anything like that.

SOME of you, like M and others, are having summer writers block. That's perfectly understandable. "Insider," you ask, "what in heavens name do I write about?"

WRITING TIPS....Tell us about a family secret. Reveal a skeleton in your closet. Dish on what that weird neighbor of yours is doing in their backyard every night around midnight....that's all good subject matter....want to be a little less controversial? Chat about the Get-Together, your lodge happenings, your summer vacation....you really can't go wrong here.

Summer jingles

The CSA Summer Jingleer's name is in the July/August issue of the Journal which will be hitting mailboxes this week. All of the other playahs are listed there as well. Check it.

....Hey, you....enjoying your summer?....I thought so. Anybody watching Reno 911's new season tonight? It was one of the shows that came up often in our "name your funniest shows" list from many months ago.