June Flood

I hope everyone survived the floods with no major damages. We set very high, so if we start getting flood waters in our place, time to build another Noah's Ark.

I was in Greenwood yesterday to attend a graduation party. Originally it was to be a the Westside Park. Received a call that Westside was under water and most of Old Town Park was, but the shelter was dry. We met there and here are a couple of pictures I took of both parks. The other pictures are of my creek in back and my nephew in his boat in front of his house. He lives in Wakefield on Smith Valley Road. These are minor compared to further south.

Let's Take a Little Drive!

DDFF'ers... see if you recognize anything, early in this video:

DDFFer's, Take Note:

From the local newspaper, "The Destin Log":

DESTIN
Divers aboard the Sea Cobra on Saturday got a close-up look at the breaching humpback whale that was sighted about a mile off of Crystal Beach. "We got word that it was out in the Gulf" said Steve Powell, manager of ScubaTech, which ran the dive excursion. They spent the next hour and a half just tracking along with it. "Everybody was thrilled," he added.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said the whale was about 35 to 40 feet long, traveling east between the East Pass and Henderson Beach. The whale did not appear to be in poor health, according to FWC officers.
"That's kind of like a once-in-a-lifetime type of experience" Powell said.

Reports on TV news indicate the Humpbacks seem to have made a miraculous recovery from near extinction recently. Maybe we'll get a chance to see a few from the balcony in the future?
Wouldn't that be wonderful?
UPDATE-
Destin Humpback photos here.

DDFF 2008- At "Grazi's"

There were ten of us, so we were seated at two tables, as close to one another as possible. This is the upper, V.I.P. table.

The riff-raff was seated just below, where we could gaze in envy at our bettors.

This rude person got tired of the seating arrangement and decided to cause mischief.
He should have brought puppets, he could have expressed his displeasure with the seating arrangement with them.

Of course that's stretching the truth about as far as it can be stretched...
Food at the DDFF is one of the problems... there's too much of it and it is all wonderful. (You can see the take-home bags on the table in the middle picture above.) Grazi's starts your meal with roasted garlic mixed with Olive oil and fresh parmesan cheese, and fresh Italian bread to dip into that mix. I could make a meal on it alone!

And while I have your attention, I hope you'll remember on this special day that many have died to protect us and keep us safe to travel and meet like the folks you see in these pictures.
Please keep them, and our troops presently at risk, in your thoughts and prayers.

Life is a Beach

Miramar Beach, that is. Better known to the DDFF Trojans as Destin, Florida. With the gulf’s emerald green waters and white sand beaches and the hospitality of Greybeard and Sara Jean – Life was grand! At least for the week. Saturday and Sunday, we all headed home to the real world.

The beaches in the area are actually made of quartz sand eroded and washed down rivers from the Appalachian Mountains. Makes a perfect beach. Trouble with a beach like that – you want to spend all of your time there. Not unlike that Perfect Margarita that GoldenGirl and TwoDogs talk about. Hang around the beach or the margarita too much and you will get into trouble…..Different troubles, but trouble just the same!

This year, there were 10 DDFFers. Same number as last year. Flygirl and her Hoosier Boy were not able to make it this year. We missed them (so did our favorite waitress at Kenny Ds). Carol and Tracy took up the slack. Carol was not feeling well and that put a little damper on their stay. Hope Carol is feeling better. We enjoyed having them. Harry and Carol stayed at the complex this year instead of driving home every night. Harry even brought his Bass Cat (great fishing boat) with him. TC and Harry fished the rivers and lakes for 4 days. I’ll let them tell you how they did….

Cinders and I arrived on Sunday evening and made a bee line to Kenny Ds. Great Mahi Mahi. That night, we sat on the balcony, enjoyed the company and the conversation. It had been windy for a few day and the swells were really rolling in. You could hear the surf from the balcony. Really nice evening. The skies stayed clear for the next couple of days. Took in some sun on the beach the next day – Us Yankees couldn’t stay out in it long, though. Dinner for the group at Callahan's Restaurant & Deli Monday evening. Seems as if everyone had a great dinner. Desserts were too delicious!

Next day, another nice one. Guys got up early to go fishing again. Some of us hung out by the pool and in the afternoon, went to Destin Commons. Nice area – didn’t see it last year, but, enjoyed it this year. That evening, we all went to Grazi’s. Italian – pasta dishes w/seafood. WOW…. Again, all 10 went. Not sure Carol was able to enjoy it like the rest of us, though.

Wed., 5/14/2008. What happened 42 years ago? Happy Anniversary, Harry and Carol!
Day started like the others. Guys were gone fishing before the sun rose. Sara Jean made delicious breakfast sandwiches and then we all decided to head southeast to Seaside, a 45 minute drive from Greybeard’s Condo. The little village had something going on and there were tons of people milling around. Interesting layout of homes. Most of them hidden by lush foliage. Got out/milled around/got in and headed back. Stopped at the outlet mall for a quickie (remember, we are old – so it is either quick or not at all!) I’m talking about the shopping….. That evening, H & C, TC and Sharon and Carol & Tracy went to Baytown Wharf to help celebrate the anniversary. Greybeard, Sara Jean, Cinders and TwoDogs went back to Kenny Ds for some red beans and rice and that great Mahi Caesar.

Next day, Carol and Tracy headed to Ocala and Greybeard’s Mother and Sister arrived from Pensacola. For me, it was very nice to see both of them after such a long time. Both were Valley Girls. Nellie even worked at the Bee Hive for awhile. It rained on and off that day, so we spent the day visiting…

Friday, with time winding down, the groups split up. Some went to a movie and others went to Destin Commons. Consensus was that we would meet back at the condo and go to the Back Porch for dinner. Had a good dinner that evening and returned back to the condo to play Hand and Foot. The guys snookered me into playing (I had never played before). Played partners and Cinders and I held our own to the very end. Very enjoyable game. Lots of rules to remember, but, with 5 women helping???? me out – I made it to the end. 0030hours – time to hit the sack…

Saturday morning came quickly. We rose early and were on the road by 0645. Home 12 hours later. Reflecting back, the DDFF hosted by Greybeard and Sara Jean has been a great getaway for us. Fish or no fish, I’ll be back for more….

2008 DDFF

The 2008 DDFF is a memory. I think attendees would all agree, it's a great memory.
Once again, yours truly has proven to have the highest-mileage, least used camera in the nation. I took a few pictures, but not nearly as many as I should have.
Here are a few:

Again this year, Kenny D's was a magnet at mealtime. Ms. Gracie's Blackened Mahi-mahi, Shrimp, and Red Beans and rice with Andouille sausage make the two block walk to Kenny D's worthwhile. The ultra-casual atmosphere makes visiting easy. (But unfortunately Carrie-Anne, FlyGirl's scourge, was notably absent during our stopovers there.) This is the scene from the back corner of the cafe.


Lots of smiles to be had while catching up with one-another.


TC looks confused...
Just what is Sharon talking about?


Tracy... just bein' cool.



Sara Jean and Cinders at the Gazebo after dinner.
The sun was just setting and I was hopeful you could see the surf breaking behind them, but the flash wiped out the background. Too bad.

We had almost perfect weather again this year. Mother Nature complied one day with a little rain and cloudy skies, making shopping without beach-regret possible. Most mornings found Harry and TC scouting for good fishing spots for next year's DDFF. Isn't that a nice way of putting it guys? (Mostly they found places we shouldn't waste our time visiting... no fish!)

The absence of FlyGirl and Hoosier Boy was palpable. We missed you guys! But still, we increased our numbers from 8 last year to 10 this year. Plans for Trojans in Alaska and it's proximity to May and the DDFF 2009 are making us consider our options for next year, so we'd like to hear your thoughts along those lines. But as Carol indicated,
I think all would agree...
this gathering was relaxing and fun. If you can make it next year, let us know so we can start making plans.

WHAT A GET AWAY

What a Get Away –We had another super reunion with some of our classmates in Destin, Florida. Thank you David & Alona. This was the first time Tracy & I had been to Destin and words or pictures do not even begin to describe the beauty and serenity. Their condo is absolutely gorgeous; Alona has done a great job on decorating and making it feel like home away from home.Our trip started out leaving Indy and headed for Portland, Tennessee. Stayed with my cousin and her babies, bichon puppies. She talked us into stopping back by on our way home and taking back one of her babies with us, a new little boy. We visited with family and left Saturday morning for Destin. Arrived to find David & Alona setting on the balcony waiting for us (this is after we called when we were lost and they directed us to the condo). Alona fixed stir fry, we visited for a while with David, Alona and David’s mother Nellie. It was interesting to talk with Nellie and to go back to the 50’s where she knew some of my family. I had printed out a genealogy report that I have been working on for about 13 years. Sure enough, David, Patsy and I are all related.
Sunday morning started out as we did every morning there, coffee on the balcony watching the waves. It was windy so there were some good waves coming ashore. Afternoon went to Kenny D’s for lunch. I had the best shrimp I’d ever tasted. Everyone started arriving and after all was to Destin safe we all went back to KennyD’s for supper. They really do have a great Strawberry Daiquiri. Nice walk on the beach and back to the condo where we continued visiting till bed time.
Monday morning, coffee and balcony. Started off good but before long my right side of my face started going numb. Consciences was I was having an allergic reaction to the shell fish I had eaten on Sunday. Tracy went to Wal Mart and got some bennedryl. After a few hours all numbness was gone. Went to Callahan’s for dinner and food was excellent. Stayed away from the fish dishes.
Tuesday morning, coffee and balcony. Everyone went shopping at the consignment shops. WOW – they should have some of these in Indiana. David & Alona found a beautiful dining room set for the condo and the price, well lets just say you wouldn’t find anything like that in Indiana. Tuesday evening we went to another great restaurant, this time Italian. Sure glad David and Alona know all the good places to eat.
Wednesday morning, coffee and balcony. Wasn’t feeling the greatest that morning (hadn’t been to the bathroom since we left Indy). Tracy headed back to Wal Mart to get something to help with my problem. Didn’t work. David suggested he knew exactly what I needed. He and Tracy took off and came back with 30 Kastles. (they are like white castles, he called them sliders). After that Sharon came to the rescue with exactly what I needed. Thanks Sharon. Some of us went to Baytown Wharf to celebrate Harry & Carol’s 42nd wedding anniversary. Neat area with lots of shops and restaurants. Harry picked the place, setting outside to eat and listening to a terrific band. Ended by going by the ice cream shop for dessert.
Thursday morning, coffee and balcony. Alona had made peanut butter cookies on Wednesday so that’s what I had for breakfast with my coffee. What else would you have on vacation? The electrical company decided they would change out all the meters in all the condos. So about 8 AM we are without electricity. Tracy & I took our showers in the dark and had already planned to go to Ocala, Florida to see another cousin. We took off and headed Southeast. Got to my cousins and she had supper on the table. We ate, played a few hands of Euchre, set on their back patio visited awhile and then off to bed.
Friday morning, coffee and back patio. We hit a couple of flea markets and then met up with Kaye & Bill. They had bought a new camper and was trading their old one in. Helped transfer everything from one camper to the other. Had BarBQ Ribs and all the fixings for supper. Played some Euchre and then off to bed. Was up and down all night going to the bathroom. Didn’t turn the light on cause I didn’t want to wake up.
Saturday morning I finally, at 4 AM, turned the light on this time when I got up and there was blood. I told Tracy maybe we had better call the doctor. They told me to go to the nearest emergency room. I ended up in Munroe Regional Medical Hospital. They hooked me up to an IV, ran all sorts of test and a CT. I had a server Kidney infection. They filled me full of antibiotics, pain medicine and I’m not sure what else. Enough I thought that would get me home. Left Ocala about 1:30 PM. About 3 hours into the drive, I started getting sick. Tracy pulled over to get some gas and I barely made it out of the car when I lost it. Everything I had eaten for the day came back up. Got back on the road & Tracy drove till we got to Dalton, Georgia. By the time we got into our room I was in tears. The pain was so bad I was ready to dye. I tried to eat but was so tired just went to sleep. Slept for 11 hours.
Sunday morning, I had thought if I wasn’t feeling any better when I woke up I was going straight back to a hospital. Thankfully, Sunday morning was a much better day. Headed home. Stopped by Portland and picked up the baby, we have named him Sergio, arrived home around 9 PM. What’s the old saying “Back home again in Indiana” . Hopefully everyone else made their trip home safely. All in all, I was glad I went and able to enjoy the company with classmates, friends and family. I would post some pictures but I forgot my camera so I’ll have to rely on David for the pictures of Destin.

A Couple More Pics

Those of you that have not been back to Center Grove High School since the mid-60's would be in for the shock of your life seeing our old school today. The new school occupies the parking lot shown on the flyleaves of our '65 school annual.
Old football field... gone. Some of what we knew as fairly new structure was destroyed to make way for new, more usable construction... what we thought was a nice, new auditorium for instance, was destroyed and replaced with classrooms.

Hatchet knows his way around and volunteered to escort DJ, TwoDogs, and me around.

Hatchet, DJ or TD, correct me if I'm wrong on this... The main entrance to the school now faces Morgantown road as I recall, kind of across from where Fulmer's orchard was.
When you walk in the door you are greeted by this sign:


I'm told it was rescued from the entrance to our old middle building... A nice touch.

We walked around the hallways, old and new. At one point in the new part of the building I knew we were in trouble when I saw where we were... in the "Twilight Zone"!



Hatchet led us through the bowels of the building, and when we were thoroughly lost, he pointed out a stairway that used to lead out of the old tunnel on the East side of the High School. It was the spot where the old stairway was that we used to come in after football practice or Phys. Ed.. You'd pass the football team locker room on the right, then you'd reach a point where you had to turn right and the boys locker room was on the right there. I think Mr. L's first all boy class was located right in that area. A left turn then took you past the girls lockers where you had to make another right turn. Walking further led us out into the old gymnasium, now referred to as the "West Gymnasium".
What memories! There have been slight changes... the old overlook viewing area from the band room has been bricked over. My father volunteered to hang the first florescent lights from the beams in the gym... The long tubes he hung have been replaced by new, more efficient lights. The banners telling everyone how many Sectional and County championships we won are gone, and the walls look sadly bare. But the heart of the gym hasn't changed. The four of us were stirred to relate many memories of the place. We could have spent hours there reminiscing.

Hatchet, that tour is something I literally have dreamed about doing for years, and you made it possible!
I cannot adequately express my thanks.

Still Trojans!

Forty-one years of working in one of the noisiest environments known to man has taken its toll on my hearing. I'm nearly deaf in my right ear and I can't hear too good outta the left one. "Pardon me?" is something I find myself saying 963 times a day, (I counted)... and that gesture is accompanied with cupping my hand behind my left (better) ear while I look at your lips, hoping you'll be kind enough to repeat what you said.
It's frustrating.

I come to reunions to see and visit with people I haven't seen in years. That was the case at this year's alumni banquet too...
I haven't talked with Mr. L., one of my favorite teachers, since we moved from that radiator-hissing middle building. What I wanted most was to chat comfortably with him, NOT shout over the ambient sounds of some DJ playing "The Hustle" at warp factor 9.
So I'm here to tell ya, I've finally learned my lesson...
Next reunion/alumni banquet, while others shake their booties on the dance floor, I'll invite the object of my attention to join me, pick up my chair and move to quieter environs so maybe I only have to say "Pardon me?" 949 times.

He's looking well and happy, wouldn't you agree? And why shouldn't he? Have you seen his bride?


A cheeseburger, order of fries, and a Pepsi, please.
Those of you that came to visit me at the BeeHive while I worked there may remember the face of the owner, Ron D.:

He looks serious, Echo!
Did you do something that deserved detention?

The ever-smiling TwoDogs and his better, (and I can't stress that enough), half:

DJ and Shifty hold down the fort while the rest of us scramble for the last of the apple crisp:

You've seen several comments re. the performance the "CG Sound System" put on for us.
Wow.
It's just hard to put into words how wonderful these kids are. Memory fails me, but I think they've finished first in 7 or 8 National competitions.
Wanta see why?
The quality is not the best but you can get an idea here:



Do I need to say again?... if you missed this banquet, you missed a great time.
Make a mental note now for next year. And maybe you can join me in the "hearing disabled" area!

UPDATE:
This is one of the numbers these talented kids performed for us at the banquet.

Alumni Dinner

Some of us at the Alumni dinner Saturday. Another fantastic get together. The entertainment was terrific. Its come along way since I was in the Deb Tones.

The First of Many

Notice... it's got it's pointy little head up in the clouds there... Denali. Beautiful.

When we started talking about things we could do together to get reacquainted we tossed around several ideas... Hawaii, visiting Judy W. at her Dude Ranch in Colorado, an inland passage cruise of Alaska. Some of us have checked the Hawaii part of that dream off our "to do" list, but if others ever want to head that far West, certainly let the rest of us know 'cause we may want to return.

But now we've gotten the ball rolling on another of the checkpoints on that list... Alaska! You know you've wanted to do it for years, but for one reason or another you've put it off. I've done it too. And then it finally hit me: WHEN AM I GONNA DO IT?
Will I be another of those tragic souls that puts things off until later, only to end up sick, (or worse), before putting the "done that!" tick-mark next to those things I've always wanted to do?

So this will be "the first of many" notices for you to GET OFF YOUR BUTT! We're gonna do this, and you need to be with us.
Yeah, it's gonna take some $$$$. With fuel costs escalating daily, how much cheaper do you think it'll be in a year or two? If you start squirreling funds away now, you CAN do this, BEFORE you get sick, BEFORE you get shot by that jealous spouse!

More than a year away... June of 2009.
Lots of time for you to turn the sofa upside-down when the guests depart to find that extra change and add it to your Alaska fund.

Go here to see what we're planning, but be aware you don't need to do the whole trip... you can just do the boat part of the tour from Whittier to Vancouver if time OR money are a factor. Be aware also, you're probably gonna need a passport, so start on that task right away too.

Don't be one of those, when you hear the rest of us chattering away about what a great time we had and what wonderful memories we have made, that has to say, "Boy, I wish"....
You can do it if you start planning now. So start planning!

BobWhiteDan is doin' the coordinating.
Let him, TwoDogs, or me know your plans to attend.
You already know it, but I'll reiterate:
Let's do this while we're healthy... while we're ALL healthy.
Don't wait. Get rollin'!

The "Suds"

Bear with me please... I just got home from a night shift and I'm a little dangerous.
Nap time comin' just after I publish this post.

Suds...
Anyone remember a classmate with that nickname? I certainly do. (I'm bringin' the Tequiza with me, guy!)
If you've not been to Ron and Sheryl VanLandingham's Whiteland Barn site in a while, you've missed the fact that "The Suds" is up for sale. Go here and then click on the words
"Private Placement offering-Business Plan" at the bottom of the page for details. I have only taken a quick look, but it appears shares are being offered for $500, and the restaurant would be open on weekends for their regular cruises. Again, I'm speakin' off the cuff here, but if, (and that's a big IF), you are buying a share of the real estate there, wouldn't that property be of value to someone in the future? I think it might be a low-risk, fun way to participate and keep the place open just for the "Cruisers"! Take a look and see what you think.

Thinkin' about the Suds brought back a sad memory. Five or so years ago I came home and met Ron S. at the Suds Saturday night to "go amongst 'em" and enjoy the cars and participants. While we were walking around a guy came up and shook Ron's hand, then turned to me...
"You don't remember me, do ya?"
"No, I'm sorry... I sure don't"
"Well I sure remember you. I'm Alan Padgett."

Alan had built a neat roadster and was rightfully proud of it. The three of us walked around it, chatting about it's specs and how Alan had built it. When Ron and I walked off, I promised Alan I'd see him again in the future.

Later that week Ron called.
"I've got bad news."
Three days or so after our visit at the cruise, Alan had left the road in his hotrod and struck a utility pole... Just that quick, he was gone.
Another reminder that we need to be enjoying one another's company while we can, folks!

And while I'm at it, let me take you down another sad path...
When I got home from Viet Nam I was "up on two wheels" a lot. One of the first things I did when I got home was buy a new motorcycle, and I had to have the fastest bike being produced. I bought three new bikes in a row, ending up with a Kawasaki 750 that would go from Zero to 60 m.p.h. in 3.2 seconds! Scary as Hell... I loved the thing.

One weekend I was home from Savannah, GA on the bike and one of my sister's classmates, Gary Bailey, drove in on his bike...
a 750 Kaw. just like mine. He was proud of his machine, and like me, was thrilled with it's performance.
In a couple weeks he was dead. I don't know the details of his death except that he was killed on the bike. I'm hopeful that with this post someone might help fill in the blanks.

So today I'll sadly add two more names to the memorial:
Alan Padgett and Gary Bailey.
God be with them.

Charlie Bit Me!

Earth Quake

I'm sure we will all have many stories to tell about todays quake.
I was setting at my computer working when the earth quake hit. I've lived in CA. and have been through several so I knew what it was. No matter how many times you've been in a quake, its very frightening. My daughter in law came flying downstairs, first quake she had been in. Needless to say she didn't know what was going on, she thought she had been possessed with the shaking of her bed.
I called my brother who lives in Moorseville. He had just let his cat inside and went back to bed. He felt the shaking start and thought he had let in a racoon or something worse in stead of his cat. He stood up on his bed, grabbed his shoes and jumped about 5 1/2' to the hall. He ran down stairs to get something to kill it. After seeing the cat walk out from under the bed, he started to realize that it may have been a quake.
I have a Labrador and he was very restless last night and early this morning when I got up around 3 AM. My neighbors dog barked all night, which was very unusual. Guess I'll start paying more attention to my animals around me from now on. I think they have senses that warn them in advance.

Alien Song

You've probably seen this. For those of you that haven't, enjoy!



Now, it's Friday!
Share something with us.

What About You?

Just a month now.
Some of us are already signed up. We're wondering... you comin' too? If you are, ya need to make your reservation and let us know about it!
You can call 800 426-6196 and ask about "Gulf Winds East", or go to this link where you can select and reserve the unit of your choice.
The dates? May 11 through May 18.
Got questions? Email or call me, or ask them in comments here.

Drive 11 hours and plant your feet in sand that barks at you when you put your weight on it...
Sand so white it causes snow-blindness in those without sunglasses!
Mahi-Mahi sandwiches, Red Beans and Rice, or Gumbo at Kenny D's!
Sunset with the beverage of your choice on a balcony overlooking the Emerald Green Gulf of Mexico.

I can guarantee... you won't be sorry you came. So come!

Now... open forum time. It's been a while. Unload those thoughts!

Alumni Banquet Info From Hatchet-

Center Grove Alumni Dinner/dance
4/26/08 Doors open at 6 p.m. at the CGHS cafeteria.
$18/ person in advance, $20 at the door.
Catered meal by Ron Kelsey.

Entertainment by CGHS national award winning choir, robotics team.
Short business meeting and info sharing.
Photo gallery display and prizes.
Tours available of CGHS.

Honoring classes of 1943,48,58,68,83

Note: 2009 is the 125th anniversary of CGS.

Contact Jack (317) 635-2633 or Jeff (317) 422-9923 for more info.

Hope to see you there.

If you have contact with others of the class of 1968 or any other CG Alumni in general please have them send an email with their address to Vicky at VLBTUCH@AOL.COM

Dateline, Mesa Arizona, '08

That's Carol, Jack, and Greybeard in the parking lot outside "Chevy's" mexican restaurant in Mesa Arizona a couple weeks ago. Not yet Spring, the weather was pretty much as shown... nearly perfect. Similar to Carol's experience, we got on the jet at Phoenix with an outside temp. of 84, and arrived home facing 28 degrees F. and winds blowing 15 miles per hour. We wanted to turn around immediately. It's easy to see why so many Winter out there. Summers are impossible though... we saw 123 degrees on Big Bubba's car thermometer when we were there in July! Don't give me this "But it's a dry heat!" crap... 123 is miserable by anyone's standard, and in fact is deadly if you're not gettin' enough fluids!

Now, new business...
TwoDogs emails with news the CGHS Alumni Banquet
will be held 26 April this year. I'd like to reiterate how much I enjoy these banquets...
Good food, good entertainment, and they are a wonderful time to meet folks from classes just ahead and just behind ours. Go take a look at this list. Lots of names of people we all loved when we were young there, and we'll inevitably be adding to that list as time passes. The banquet makes it easy to get together so we can look back and say, "Didn't we have fun the last time we met!?"

UD&CS, Asoka, and those of you from other classes stopping in here to have a look...
PLEASE make note at your blogs and in your emails to classmates of the banquet. Let's all get face-to-face on 26 April!

I promise to be on my best behavior.

Back home again in Indiana

The pictures look great GB. I finally made it home from Phoenix yesterday - Didn't stay out there long enough, its still cold and snowing here.Went to see the Cubs and Angels play - Had a great time, great seats and Cubs lost :(. Had lunch with GB & SJ while they were there and it was good to see them. Looking forward to our next get together. Not sure if we are going to be able to make it to FL. We're gonna try but can't make plans just yet. Had a new great grandson born last night, he was waiting till I got back home before he decided to join this world.

Trojans In Paradise- '07

(You can click the photo and enlarge it.)
How much time ya got?
Big Bubba has come through with the pics, and there are a ton of 'em!
Take a look here, and take note of the right sidebar. There you'll find the photos divided into Hawaii Day 1, Day 2, etc.. Some of our Las Vegas pictures are also in an album there.

If you have time and want to see them all, there's a button to click to view them all in a slideshow, and you can adjust the viewing speed. I've looked at all of 'em... you can make the decision about how many and how quickly you want to view. (If you, like me, think photography is an art, you REALLY should take a look at all the pics when you have time... I think BB has a real eye to turn the normal into something special!)

Greasy Eyeballs, Ferengi Style

I don't blame him. I can't keep my eyes off her either.

Okay, where were we? I remember... on our way to Hoover Dam. The Dam is South and East of Las Vegas, on the road to Phoenix. In Boulder City, Nevada, we found ourselves in the wrong lane to bypass the business district, and since we weren't on a tight schedule, took the scenic route through Boulder City. It turned out to be a wonderful mistake. Leaving town on the East side we were thrilled at the views of Lake Mead. The road doubled back on itself several times, each view of the Lake as beautiful as the one before.
Mid-day traffic approaching the security checks was much worse than we experienced in the wee hours of Saturday morning, but it wasn't terrible. Big Bubba once again had to show Department of the Interior Officers what was beneath the tonneau cover, and in a few minutes we parked at the Dam to take the tour. I won't go into detail except to say I found it interesting and recommend it. The view from the overlook is worth the price of the tour, but if you have any interest in the extraordinary engineering involved in building the dam, you'll be doubly glad you stopped and took the tour.

Echo was right... we found ourselves saying, "Oh look this way!", time and time again as we drove Eastbound away from the Dam. The canyon views are indescribable.

Stressed and tired from two full days of walking and looking, my family went to sleep as I pointed the truck back toward Phoenix. I thoroughly enjoyed watching the already red hills turn the color of red wine as the sun got lower and lower... while listening to Big Bubba and Sara Jean snore and intermittently wake themselves with a snort. It's a good thing I love driving! We picked up Desi the Dachshund and made our way to BB's apartment, and in short order ALL of us were horizontal, snoring and snorting.

So now we no longer have to say we haven't been to Las Vegas. It's gonna take me a while to decide if I'd like to return... we dutifully followed Echo's instructions about the Dollar slot machine... money in, pull the lever... click, click, click... money gone. I guess I'm just too damn cheap... no kicks there for me at all. The mountains around Vegas are beautiful. There are other sights around town we'd enjoy seeing. By the time we drove by Fremont Street late Saturday night our "Dogs" were barkin' and we were too tired to enjoy it... we passed it by.

TC suggested a Vegas mini-reunion. I'd be up for that, simply because I'd like to see more of the Hotels... the Venetian, the Bellagio, and the Luxor, and I know I'd enjoy walking down Fremont Street. So if you think a Vegas mini is a good idea, say so in your comments!

All Your $$$$ Belong To Vegas!

That's the view from the overlook above the Hoover Dam from the Arizona/Lake Mead side.
Big Bubba took that photo late Friday night/early Saturday morning on our way to Las Vegas. It's an extraordinary place, and I recommend you check it out if you've not been.

After publishing my last post we set out to get a feel of what Las Vegas has to offer. We drove the strip from North to South, then turned around and drove back to our starting point. It was a chilly but sunny day with lots of folks out walking the strip, even at Noon-time in a city that doesn't really awaken 'til 3 P.M. Some were dressed in full Winter garb, others in shorts and short sleeved shirts....
An interesting mix.

The world we grew up in is full of images.
When I first went to Dealey plaza in Dallas I was amazed at the "been there already" feeling I had because of all the still and moving pictures we have been exposed to...
Same with much of Las Vegas... we've seen most of the images a thousand times, so it's odd to be lookin' at them in person. We really had no idea what to expect from the city, so it's impossible for Vegas to disappoint us. But I will say this- we saw Elvis, the Statue of Liberty, the Eiffel Tower, and lots of boobs.... all startling replicas of the real thing.
The thing that did surprise me on our drive, and for that matter the entire weekend, was the scale of the place... again, we didn't know what to expect, but the drive from one end of the strip to the other took 45 minutes. We had thought we might walk it... NOT POSSIBLE!

We drove back North to the Hilton Hotel, home of "Star Trek, The Experience", and went to "Quark's Bar" for a bite to eat. For you "Trekkies" out there, Big Bubba had a "HamBorger". Sara Jean and I shared "Leeta's Clam Chowder", and an order of "The Holy Rings of Betazed". After those appetizers SJ ordered the "Sulu Toss", while I ordered the "Warbird". A little pricey, I was surprised at the quality and content of the food... it was tasty and there was more than we could finish.

You don't have to be a fan of the movies/series to enjoy "The Experience". Admission actually gets you two experiences... a "Klingon Encounter" and the "Borg Invasion". Both were interesting and exciting, but my favorite was the "Klingon Encounter." Thirty or so of us "crewmen" were briefed on our mission, then seated in a shuttlecraft, where we were taken on an acrobatic flight to try to avoid being sucked into a Klingon "Bird of Prey". The shuttle craft had a great visual display and reminded me of some of the best flight simulators available today. I was actually slightly disoriented during the ride and felt I had gotten more than my money's worth.

As I have previously indicated, for the Greybeard family this was a "scouting mission" to see if we wanted to return to Las Vegas for a lengthier visit later. When we finished with our Star Trek experience, we purchased a ticket for the Las Vegas Monorail, a driverless, computer-operated tramway that runs most of the length of the strip. A 24 hour pass cost $9 and seemed like a bargain. We boarded the train at the stop just outside the Hilton and rode South to the MGM Grand Hotel/Casino. A quick note about the Monorail... I still think it is the most efficient way to get from point "A" to point "B" in town, but you need to be aware that getting off the train forces you to walk all the way through each of the Casinos in order to get to "Las Vegas Avenue" to continue your walk down the strip. Walking through each of the casinos is no small feat... it can take upwards of 15 minutes, and it's never a straight shot, so you can easily get disoriented and make the walk even longer.

And be advised... everyone in Vegas is an expert at separating you from your money. There are no water fountains... if you want a drink you'll have to pay for it. Kiosks are everywhere trying to sell you time shares, Las Vegas trinkets, photos, massages, you name it. Be ready to buck up and "Just Say No!"

We walked through The MGM Grand, Harrah's, Bally's, and The Venetian...
Wow... The Venetian!
A canal runs down through the center of the "street", leading to a town square. It's a sunny, gorgeous day, even when it's raining and 55 degrees on the outside. Gondoliers sing as they transport passengers in their gondolas... it's another wonderful, FAKE atmosphere!

We walked over to The Bellagio and watched "The Famous Dancing Fountains" put on their show to Aaron Copland's "The Gift To Be Simple". The fountains put on a show every 15 minutes to a different piece of music, and I think I could sit and watch them all day long.

At 11 P.M. our feet finally screamed loud enough to be heard above the din. We walked back through Harrah's to the Monorail and via the Hilton, made our way back to the car. Back at Nellis Air Force Base, it didn't take long for us all to be asleep. Our plan was to tour Hoover Dam on our way home.

That post is comin' up.

Las Vegas, Baby!

Isn't the desert supposed to be dry?
Yeah, I know, it's the total rainfall that determines what's desert and what ain't, but does the total annual rainfall in Northwestern Arizona have to fall on the night we're driving to Las Vegas?
Man, it poured!

We left Phoenix at 8 P.M., dropped Desi the Dachshund off at his dog-sitter's, and hit the road. It's a benefit to leave at that hour, 'cause traffic has diminished considerably. We encountered one accident that backed traffic up for 10 minutes or so, and then we were freewheelin' it outta town. Although it was dark outside, initially the clouds were broken and we could see hills in the distance... beautiful. I had forgotten what it's like to drive across the desert at night. It's sobering to drive for over an hour at 70 miles per hour and not see a town, no streetlight, no artificial lights at all... just open desert. We shared the road the entire trip with other vehicles, so Sara Jean never felt the onset of a panic attack, but my Chicago girl once again had her eyes opened about places she's never been.

I love the roads out here. Even the two-laners are well kept, and don't suffer the freeze/thaw cycles we experience back East, so they're mostly smooth to traverse. They seem to have done a better job of marking them so you know well ahead of time what lane to be in for a change of highway. Kudos Arizona!

Since 9-11 they have a security checkpoint you must pass through in order to drive across Hoover Dam. No commercial vehicles are allowed... I guess they have to cross the Colorado downriver and come up on the West side to approach Las Vegas. Anyway, we stopped and had to open the tonneau on Big Bubba's truck for the Federal Security guard to do a cursory inspection and tell us we were okay to get on our way. There were still showers in the area as we approached the Dam, so we didn't get a good chance to look around... it was dark anyway. But the showers stopped just before crossing the Dam and we had our breath taken away when we snaked our way down the hill to drive across. We stopped at one of the viewing areas and Big Bubba got a nice shot of the Lake/Dam at night. I'll try to post that for ya when we get back to Phoenix.

We gained an hour crossing the State Line into Nevada. The first real view of Las Vegas coming down out of the hills was awe inspiring. It's a bigger town than I expected... LOTS of lights in this valley! There was one cloud over the downtown area and the light on top of the Luxor hotel was illuminating the bottom of that cloud. It looked like a scene out of "Close Encounters of the Third Kind"... we joked that the Luxor probably paid a fortune to have the cloud moved there!

We rolled through the gate at Nellis Air Force Base at 1 A.M. local time and were in bed asleep by 2. Big Bubba snores worse than I do, but that didn't stop all of us from getting a decent night's sleep. We are headed out the door to drive the strip when I push the "Publish Post" button at the bottom of this page.

Stay tuned, more later!

Irish Dance Recital

February, 21, 2008 - Irish Dance Recital
Warren Performing Arts Center - Indianapolis, Indiana
It was a cold 16 degrees in Indianapolis last night, but it was warm and wonderful at the Richens/Timm Academy Irish Dance Recital. Irish dancers from 4 years to about 32 years were so enjoyable to see. The costumes were very beautiful and the fast feet amazing. World class dancers who will compete in Dublin to the 4 year olds brought the crowd of about 500 to their feet as well as squeals of joy and applause. The program lasted about an hour and a half, but seemed to go by quickly.
Our own class of '65 TPO did the sound for the entire program and did not miss a cue. Mrs. TPO co-chaired the recital with another lady. The program progressed without a hitch, and best yet was that every dancer had a great smile and seemed to be having the best time ever performing for us. When everything runs smoothly and seems to be fun for the performers, I think we forget that so many people work very hard to make this happen.
Carleigh, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. TPO, was amazing in 4 dances, Jury's Medley, Treble Jig, The Vikings in Ireland and Reel Around the Sun. She is a Junior in high school, but is in the senior dance division. She is an accomplished Irish Dancer of four years, as well as straight A student at Cathedral High School. She likes to ride horses, and gave up volleyball this year to concentrate on dance. Every time I have been with Carleigh she has been charming and so pleasant to be with.
The dancing was soft shoe and hard shoe, equally entertaining. Three of the dances were from the famous "River Dance" show with Michael Flatley. My favorite two dances of the evening were the Reel Around the Sun, hard shoe, and the Treble Reel, hard shoe. The Treble Reel, the last dance of the evening, included the dance school teachers led by John Timm, school owner and 1993 Senior Mens World Champion. This was so beautiful with seven dancers. The rhythm of the shoes was like a "machine gun". Every move and jump perfectly in-sync with the other dancers.
Indy’s Irish Festival is September 19th - 21st of 2008 at Military Park, downtown Indianapolis. Some of us had talked about attending this year. Irish Festival is dancing, food, music, and etc., but mostly fun.
Mrs. Hawkeye

Greetings. Wish You Were Here!

We're safely here.

I'm listening to my talk-radio station from home, streaming live
on the 'net, and they're talking about Sleet/Ice/Snow at home.
Sara Jean's best friend is headed home after a half-day's work because the roads are so terrible.
Looks like we picked a good week to come to Arizona.

If you've read the comments below, you know Carol and Tracy are also in town here. Turns out we may be separated here in the Phoenix metropolitan area by only ten miles or so. I had hoped we might meet for lunch at one of my favorite Mexican eateries, but Carol is dealing with vomitus emissions from one of her young charges and can't make it today. I'm disappointed, but we'll attempt another connection after we get back from Las Vegas.

I had hoped my mention of the DDFF would elicit a few comments from those of you with hopes of attending so we can begin to get a feel for what sort of group will be there this year. To TC and others with questions, click this link for further information. As previously stated, Units 1-10 are in the front of the complex and all have a view of the Gulf of Mexico. Again the dates, 11 through 18 May.
I can answer general questions, so feel free to email or comment here if I can help. For questions about availability or costs, check the link or call the toll-free number for help. And TD, the minimum allowable stay is three nights, but I hope you're not thinkin' along those lines!

And now I'll throw this open to you... Open forum time.
Time to unload your thoughts. Comment!

Slip-Slidin' Away...

....Into retirement mode.
(We don't want to jump into retirement so quickly that we have a negative reaction!)

Wednesday we'll once again be boarding the flying aluminum cylinder, destination Phoenix. Our plan is to spend Wednesday and Thursday night with Big Bubba, then when BB can get away from work on Friday we'll jump in his new-to-him truck and head Northwest five hours or so to Las Vegas.
I've never been to Las Vegas. When I was 16 our family made a road trip to California, and we drove down Reno's Main Street on our way to CA. But Reno ain't Vegas, and that was in '63 so neither town looks anything like it did then anyway!
Big Bubba's work requirements will have us back on the road to Phoenix on Sunday afternoon, so we'll call this a "scouting mission" to get a taste of what's available for a longer stay later. Right now we plan on visiting the Hoover Dam, and naturally, Sci-Fi nut BB wants to go see "The Star Trek Experience" at the Las Vegas Hilton. Other than that, we don't have a clue, other than walking/driving around to see the sights. If you have suggestions we'd love to get 'em!

I love road trips. I'm hopeful our trip back from Vegas will be mostly during daylight hours so we can see the scenery along the way. The majority of my life has been spent East of Kansas City, MO., so our trip from Flagstaff to Phoenix last year was breathtaking... snow and pines in the mountains giving way to warm temperatures and Saguaro cactus in the Valley.

Two more days with BB in Phoenix, then we'll be wingin' our way back home Tuesday afternoon.
I'm just lookin' forward to getting away from slushy snow and overcast skies for a week.

11-18 May!
A little over two months after we get home from this trip we'll be headed to Destin for the DDFF. May seems a long way away, what with snow and ice all around us here at home...
but it's not too early to begin taking steps toward meeting your schoolmates for some fun alongside the Gulf of Mexico.

I think all participants would agree... we had such a wonderful time last year! (More feedback about last year here.) I'm hopeful more of you will meet us for a week in paradise this May. You can go here to take a look at available condos and prices, and you can even take a "virtual" tour of some of the units. (Units One through Ten face the Gulf. Sara Jean, TD, Cinders and I will be in Unit 3.)
May is normally a quiet time in Destin, so condos will probably be available right up until the week we'll be there. But the units with a view of the water are most likely to be rented early, so if you dream of drinking your morning cuppa while watching dolphins ply their way across your front yard, you need to consider reserving your home-away-from-home soon, and you can also do that right on that website.
Two couples can stay in each unit and have more than enough room to be comfortable... and that brings costs down to less than what you'd pay staying in a motel room.
If ya need additional information/advice, you can either email me or leave a comment here and get your questions answered.

We've called and reserved our unit. Let us all know if you plan to join us!

For the Class of 1965, Where were you that night

This commercial ran at the conclusion of the 6th season of Bonanza, That night's episode, "The Hostage." This episode ran totally commercial free due to an arrangement with their longtime sponsors, Chevrolet.
It ran for 5 1/2 minutes, unheard of in today's world.
The date: Sept. 27, 1964.
So now, sit back, relax and enjoy.

Chevrolet Commercial of 1965 - Truveo Video Search

Signage requested

I received this from my daughter-in-law, Tami - Please keep it going.
Thanks - Carol


This is the petition we have created and will present to Congress (hopefully with 20,000 signatures) on March 6 in hopes of passing stronger laws to protect consumers from identity theft.

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/strikeback#signatures

Please have everyone sign and pass along to EVERYONE you know!!
Thanks!
Tami

Tami Nealy Director of Communications LifeLock® - Guarantee Your Good Name
PLEASE NOTE MY NEW PHONE NUMBER 480-457-2127 Direct 602-741-0145 Cell

STRIKE BACK - DEFEAT IDENTITY THEFT NOW www.petitionsite.com/1/strikeback

Another 61

You know him, you love him, you want him to eat Corned Beef and Cabbage.
I think today is TPO's big day.
Happy birthday my brother.

North to Alaska

"In all the 50 states you won't find a fun-filled adventure like it!"

"These were the adventures . . . fighting, laughing and brawling their way from Seattle to Nome!” Sam (John Wayne) and George (Stewart Granger) strike gold in Alaska. George sends Sam to Seattle to bring George's fiance back to Alaska. Sam finds she is already married, and returns instead with Angel (Capucine). Sam, after trying to get George and Angel together, finally romances Angel, who, in the meantime, is busy fighting off the advances of George's younger brother, Billy (Fabian). Frankie (Ernie Kovacs) is a con man trying to steal the partner's gold claim."
This was a promo for the movie "North to Alaska" Some of you ‘Old Timers’ may remember it.

Well, this isn’t exactly what we had in mind. I’m sure that the landscape has changed a little in the 50 years since this movie came out. And we are not as ‘frisky’ as we once were, we can leave out the fighting and brawling and I don’t know about Angel – but, I’ll bet that there will be big adventure with lots of laughing and we may find gold! Join us on a ‘Cruise and Land Tour’ of Alaska. We will begin talking about this at the end of February. Very little details yet. Summer months of 2009 or 2010. Probably +/- 12 days. Open to all. Input and feedback always welcomed and considered. Stay tuned……

passing of an upper classman

I just read in the paper today that Fred Kuntz (1964 CG grad) passed away on Tuesday, Jan 29. He was 61. I do not know the cause of death.
I knew of Fred Kuntz in HS, but only in passing. When I moved to Whiteland in the the late 80's, Fred and his wife Connie lived directly across the street from us.

Please Don't "Pay It Forward"

Please...
I know you mean well, and I do appreciate your thoughts.
But it's getting out of hand.

I've written before at my own blog about people sending me "forwards".
I almost never send them myself, unless I encounter something on the net that absolutely screams your name. Even then, when I forward the article it will generally be to you, and you alone, with an accompanying note explaining why it made me think of you.

This afternoon I checked my email:
Three "Forwards" from one friend...
Six from another...
Nine from another.
One was a triplicate... the same article from all three.
Two were duplicated.
The address line for all of these forwards looked like the telephone book for a small town.
I hate the idea of deleting these things unread, but it's getting to the point where I don't have time to read them all.

Can I make the most gentle of suggestions?
Instead of sending your good wishes out via email, why not post your thoughts here?
I've done it, as have others. That way we can check out your thoughts at our convenience, and if it's something we've seen before, we don't have to delete the same thought coming from three or four different friends/loved ones.

But thank you for caring and thinking about me.
I care about you too.

61

6 Degrees of Greybeard

Every Winter I wonder how I did this to myself...
Planted roots in a place where the temperature frequently drops into the single digits, like the forecast this weekend. Brass monkeys will be in big trouble.
When the temperature dips below 40 degrees Fahrenheit, this old boy takes up complaining about the weather as a full-time job.
But this weekend we're takin' action... we're headed South.
When I close up this laptop I'll load it in the car along with a week's worth of our "stuff", and we'll spend tonight with Nellie. Tomorrow night we'll be in Destin watching pelicans zoom from West to East, or vice versa. Don't be too envious of us... it'll be in the 40's in Destin and if the wind is blowing, brass monkeys will be seeking shelter there too!

Now, what about you?
Tell us your news!

Feliz Dos Anos!

Those of you that were with me in Mrs. V's Spanish class will have a clue. For the rest of you-
IT'S OUR SECOND VANDYVERSARY!

January 8 was the actual first post date, but life got in the way
and I let the 8th slip by without noting it here. When I realized I had missed it, I just thought I would mark it along with a "Friday Open".

Do you ever go back and review old posts here? The posts themselves are interesting... but the comments! Truly, there is two years of history there worth the time to review when you have it.

It's hard to put into words how I feel about all of you. Our communications here... the mini's... our outings together, big deal and small...
I think it was Joker that mentioned in some ways we are far closer than we ever were during our school years. And for me personally, that is wonderful.

We've started a new calendar year.
We are starting our 3rd year here at VK.
It's my wish that the upcoming year bring us all continued health, enough material wealth to keep us comfortable, the spare time to continue meeting as we have over the past two years, and the wisdom to find ways to add more CGHS friends to our numbers.
God Bless us all.

Now please....
Got news or thoughts to share?
So share!

Anon's Basketball Trivia:

A comment from below, worthy of its' own post:

Anonymous said...

You folks seem to like trivia, so here is a question about a little known fact concerning Johnson County basketball. Three young Johnson County boys graduated the same year from high school. Later these three would become NBA all stars. Johnson County is the only county in the country to produce three NBA all stars that graduated high school the same year. The three would also be inducted into the Indiana basketball hall of fame.

Part one: who were they and what year did they graduate?

A Centergrove basketball team won a tournament that included a team on which two of the above NBA all stars were members. They were defeated in the championship game. It so happens that Vandy was the presenter of the tournament trophy.

Part two: What year did a Centergrove basketball team trounce a team that included future NBA all stars.

Christmas Day 2007

The day was pretty much as shown in the picture... it was cool and clear.
In the morning I got the call to pick up the neonatal transport team in Cape Girardeau and go get a preemie somewhere down South. After the flight I landed at the Cape Airport and got fuel. The airplane you see pictured was sitting on the ramp there, shining and beautiful. I made note of the airplane's tail number... N1EB. It didn't strike a note at the time.
In the afternoon I got another call, almost a twin of the morning flight. Neonate team aboard, we flew over the Cape Girardeau airport as that Gulfstream taxi'ed for takeoff. Gleaming beneath us, the tower cleared him for takeoff to Palm Beach, Florida, and my Paramedic immediately identified the airplane's owner.
Got a guess?

For Sci-Fi Fans-

UD&CS and other Stargate/Science Fiction fans should go check out my son's latest work!

At Vandy's Gym

DATELINE: VANDEMIER GYM
FRIDAY, DEC. 28, 2007
Center Grove HS vs Perry Meridian HS

A week ago we went to Center Grove High School to witness our first basketball game in years. The teams were pretty evenly matched, except that their center was only 6 ‘ 5” and our was 6” 8’. Perry Meridian led the first quarter and CGHS led the rest of the game. The final score was CGHS 62 AND PMHS 51. It was a good game.

I noticed a change in what I was used to in the crowd, cheerleaders, and halftime show. The Perry Meridian students number nineteen. The rest of the PMHS crowd were people more our age. The CGHS students probably numbered about 250, sat at the end together, behind the basket. The gym was full to the first level with mostly people around our age.

The cheerleaders no longer stand in front of the “cheer block” and lead cheers. There were 6 cheer leaders and 10 gymnasts for CGHS and 6 cheerleaders for PMHS. The gymnasts for CGHS would do back flips the length of the basketball floor during breaks in the game. This was rather alarming to me, as I felt there would be a crash together of these many bodies flinging so fast together. No crashes or falls in any of the 10 gymnasts.

I was a member of the Decatur Central Cheer Block in 1964. We had weekly practice and wore a blue reversible to gold short cape. We had felt “mittens”, again reversible to our school colors, blue and gold. This was an all female group, we numbered probably 200 to 250. We were loud and proud and we had so much fun! Did Center Grove have a Cheer Block?

The halftime show last week was wonderful! It was a mix of “Dancing with the Stars” and Gymnastics and ballet. Guys and Girls did some neat dance moves in unison, jumping like splits in the air and pirouettes. The guys were just as talented as the girls. The guys wore Christmas sweaters and jeans. The girls wore the same red and white monogrammed “Center Grove Dance Team” shorts outfits. Center Grove has some very talented students who I am sure are headed for theatre and dance careers.

I was a majorette from 1965 to 1967 at Decatur Central. We did halftime shows for basketball and football games. We worked all week on a routine and the shows were so much fun. I guess batons and majorettes are a thing of the past for high school, but not at college level. I know Purdue still has the “golden girls” baton twirlers, and we see them every year in the 500 Parade.

Mrs. Hawkeye