Lander, Wyoming near where Mike Krall and his wife Sarah live.Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Harriet Evans Betts
Hi Debby:
Attached is a photo taken yesterday at our year end celebration for Motheread/Fatheread.
Motheread is a nationally acclaimed private, non-profit organization that combines the teaching of literacy skills with child development and family empowerment issues. Parents and children learn to use the power of language to discover more about themselves, their families, and their communities.
Each week we read and explore a new book. All of our books are bilingual so that the parents can take them home and read them again with their children. We never run out of issues to discuss and this year each participant created their own book; In My Family/En mi familia. As you can tell, I am loving this experience!
Bruce, Kristina and I are off to Alaska in late May for a week. I will send some news and photos once we return.
It is always a treat to hear from you-
Harriet
Attached is a photo taken yesterday at our year end celebration for Motheread/Fatheread.
Motheread is a nationally acclaimed private, non-profit organization that combines the teaching of literacy skills with child development and family empowerment issues. Parents and children learn to use the power of language to discover more about themselves, their families, and their communities.
Each week we read and explore a new book. All of our books are bilingual so that the parents can take them home and read them again with their children. We never run out of issues to discuss and this year each participant created their own book; In My Family/En mi familia. As you can tell, I am loving this experience!
Bruce, Kristina and I are off to Alaska in late May for a week. I will send some news and photos once we return.
It is always a treat to hear from you-
Harriet
Dan Sheedy
Hi Deb,
Not much to report. My eldest son Ben has been cast for the summer at the Renaissance Festival in Sterling (NY) near Oswego. I'll send you a link to the
website.
Jonathan just returned from a 4 day music festival in Virginia Beach and a side trip to Busch Gardens.
Our weather has turned unseasonably cool. We actually saw some snow in the air
yesterday. I can't tell you how much I despise this climate.
Dan
Not much to report. My eldest son Ben has been cast for the summer at the Renaissance Festival in Sterling (NY) near Oswego. I'll send you a link to the
website.
Jonathan just returned from a 4 day music festival in Virginia Beach and a side trip to Busch Gardens.
Our weather has turned unseasonably cool. We actually saw some snow in the air
yesterday. I can't tell you how much I despise this climate.
Dan
Duke Leonard
Hi,
You can remember who sat next to you in home room? That is pretty good, because I can't remember who I sat next to last night.
Not much going on here. I just relocated from outside Mosul to Erbil. We just rented a villa in Ainkow, a Christian suburb of Erbil and transformed it into office space on the first deck and living quarters topside. l will probably be working out of here for the next couple of months and transit each week to a job site just North of Diyala Province.
Lot of new construction and investments in Erbil. You would never know you were in Iraq. Much different than Mosul or Baghdad, no car bombs, mortars or IEDs. They say Erbil is the oldest, continuously living city in the world.
Weather is running about 103 F, but it is going to get a lot hotter. In 2004, we saw the temp hit 136 F and it was rough just trying to breathe.
Duke
You can remember who sat next to you in home room? That is pretty good, because I can't remember who I sat next to last night.
Not much going on here. I just relocated from outside Mosul to Erbil. We just rented a villa in Ainkow, a Christian suburb of Erbil and transformed it into office space on the first deck and living quarters topside. l will probably be working out of here for the next couple of months and transit each week to a job site just North of Diyala Province.
Lot of new construction and investments in Erbil. You would never know you were in Iraq. Much different than Mosul or Baghdad, no car bombs, mortars or IEDs. They say Erbil is the oldest, continuously living city in the world.
Weather is running about 103 F, but it is going to get a lot hotter. In 2004, we saw the temp hit 136 F and it was rough just trying to breathe.
Duke
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Sandy Jackson Epoch
Hi Debby,
I finally viewed your Blogger: FM Class of 1966 and enjoyed catching up on what some of our class is up to. Thank you for all the time you put into this. I am presently living in Georgetown, Texas just outside Austin. After my two daughters, Kirsten and Becky graduated from college they moved to Texas. So, after 30 years I retired from the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, I sold my house and contents , packed my two cats up and drove to Austin where I have been most of the time for the last three years. I say most of the time because my grandson is in Texas, The rest of the time I spend in San Diego with my brother, Ted. He and his son own a sports bar called JTS Pub and Grill and if anyone is ever in San Diego, they must stop in and say hello. I will be leaving for San Diego in May and will be celebrating my 60th at the pub on the 26th. Come on out and join us. I never thought I would ever leave the east coast, but now I feel I enjoy the best of two great cities beyond the Mississippi River. Have a great summer and I will try me best to continue to keep in touch.
Sandy
Penny Zimmerman Jackson
Hi and Hello ...
I had six solid weeks of dawn 'til dusk meetings from the middle of February until early April and am still trying to dig out while confronted with "budget season" (a real treat in a large organization) and with the (happy) prospect of leaving for Belize for a week on Saturday.
Neither you nor FM have been forgotten. So wonderful how much $$ people contributed for Dick Shanahan (I gave and ... quite frankly ... felt good.)
Am well, managing to squeeze in too-little-but-some exercise, and looking forward to leaving the office on Friday with 0 emails in my in box!
Hope you, too, are well and that life is engaging in the ways you want it to be ...
Best!
Penrose
I had six solid weeks of dawn 'til dusk meetings from the middle of February until early April and am still trying to dig out while confronted with "budget season" (a real treat in a large organization) and with the (happy) prospect of leaving for Belize for a week on Saturday.
Neither you nor FM have been forgotten. So wonderful how much $$ people contributed for Dick Shanahan (I gave and ... quite frankly ... felt good.)
Am well, managing to squeeze in too-little-but-some exercise, and looking forward to leaving the office on Friday with 0 emails in my in box!
Hope you, too, are well and that life is engaging in the ways you want it to be ...
Best!
Penrose
Click on Pictures
FYI, if you right click on any photo it will enlarge, then hit the back arrow to return to the current page.
Larry English
Well OK… I admit it, I have not looked at the blog in a while.
I did just now and you are doing an impressive job. Who would have guessed that a kid who had never even heard of a computer in high school could do so well in her “older age”. I guess it just shows you that we can STILL learn.
Working hard, our flooring business is establishing new shipment and production records weekly. We feel blessed, the rest of our industry is not doing as well. The hard part is that it requires constant attention and a lot of hours. I really did not expect to be working this hard at age 60. I had more envisioned sailing the Caribbean and drinking champagne, as a profession. Once we get ourselves into these leadership jobs it is not that easy to extricate yourself.
Yes 60… well, not news to the class of ’66 crowd, we could get a group discount on old age cards this year. Had a wonderful celebration in January with my family and friends. I try not to focus too much on getting older. I don’t feel 60… yet.
My son Justin is on a cruise this week to Mexico. He got accepted to several graduate schools, narrowed it down to Dartmouth and NC State at Chapel Hill. He wisely picked the warm climate of NC. He is planning to get engaged soon, to the girl that he has been dating since 7th grade! That doesn’t happen too often these days. My daughter is heading to Bangladesh this August to visit two friends from Ithaca College. I am not at all sure about this. Political unrest, flooding and half way around the world. She is an adventurer and nothing that I can say will stop her. Hope the cobra’s don’t get her!!
Our family is headed to Paris for 8 days on July 11th. We have rented a marvelous house just across the Seine River from the Louvre, should be a great location. We have a friend who lives in Paris, he is going to be our tour guide. Everyone is excited. I have been there 4 other times, but for the kids this is their first trip. Our friend Antoine stayed with us for the summer of 2001 and 2002, he is also excited that we are coming.
Went to Stuttgart, Munich and Salzburg last month, visiting equipment manufacturers for our new higher volume flooring line. Boy they drive FAST in Germany, I have been there twice in the last year and I just can’t force my foot down on the accelerator that far. You have to keep up, but when they get over 150 KH (93 MPH) I just can’t take it. Everything was passing me.
Looking forward to the warmer weather and getting back into the yard work.
Have a nice summer.
I did just now and you are doing an impressive job. Who would have guessed that a kid who had never even heard of a computer in high school could do so well in her “older age”. I guess it just shows you that we can STILL learn.
Working hard, our flooring business is establishing new shipment and production records weekly. We feel blessed, the rest of our industry is not doing as well. The hard part is that it requires constant attention and a lot of hours. I really did not expect to be working this hard at age 60. I had more envisioned sailing the Caribbean and drinking champagne, as a profession. Once we get ourselves into these leadership jobs it is not that easy to extricate yourself.
Yes 60… well, not news to the class of ’66 crowd, we could get a group discount on old age cards this year. Had a wonderful celebration in January with my family and friends. I try not to focus too much on getting older. I don’t feel 60… yet.
My son Justin is on a cruise this week to Mexico. He got accepted to several graduate schools, narrowed it down to Dartmouth and NC State at Chapel Hill. He wisely picked the warm climate of NC. He is planning to get engaged soon, to the girl that he has been dating since 7th grade! That doesn’t happen too often these days. My daughter is heading to Bangladesh this August to visit two friends from Ithaca College. I am not at all sure about this. Political unrest, flooding and half way around the world. She is an adventurer and nothing that I can say will stop her. Hope the cobra’s don’t get her!!
Our family is headed to Paris for 8 days on July 11th. We have rented a marvelous house just across the Seine River from the Louvre, should be a great location. We have a friend who lives in Paris, he is going to be our tour guide. Everyone is excited. I have been there 4 other times, but for the kids this is their first trip. Our friend Antoine stayed with us for the summer of 2001 and 2002, he is also excited that we are coming.
Went to Stuttgart, Munich and Salzburg last month, visiting equipment manufacturers for our new higher volume flooring line. Boy they drive FAST in Germany, I have been there twice in the last year and I just can’t force my foot down on the accelerator that far. You have to keep up, but when they get over 150 KH (93 MPH) I just can’t take it. Everything was passing me.
Looking forward to the warmer weather and getting back into the yard work.
Have a nice summer.
Larry
Monday, April 28, 2008
Bob Jacobson
Hi Debby,
It has been awhile. We are busy with family and the business. Lots of travel so far this year, Naples , Atlanta , Mystic, and Phoenix with more to come in the next six weeks – Reno , Chicago , Las Vegas & sailing in St. Maartens.
Our youngest daughter, Sarah, is engaged with a May 2009 wedding scheduled. Planning for that event is keeping Debbie and Sarah busy. Plus Sarah graduates this May, but has all ready started her job.
Bob
It has been awhile. We are busy with family and the business. Lots of travel so far this year, Naples , Atlanta , Mystic, and Phoenix with more to come in the next six weeks – Reno , Chicago , Las Vegas & sailing in St. Maartens.
Our youngest daughter, Sarah, is engaged with a May 2009 wedding scheduled. Planning for that event is keeping Debbie and Sarah busy. Plus Sarah graduates this May, but has all ready started her job.
Bob
Mike Krall
Here's a picture of me and my best buddy "bunny". She made 4 winters before she went missing... would come to a whistle for rabbit pellets as far away as she could hear me.
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Dave Vermilya
hey Debby......here are two bits that you might find newsworthy for FM blog. #1...the youth program where cheryl and i have worked for more than 37 years as co-directors was the recent recipient of "Oprah's Big Give CNY", not a huge amount of $ but worth a million dollars in good press. after more than 500 nominations we were one of 10 to be awarded. complete local television newscast can be seen on home page of Town Shop's website (http://www.camillustownshop.org/). #2 in the realm of "6 degrees of separation" and "it is really a very small world"......a young woman we have known named Katrina moved to southern California 6 years ago when she was 20. we have known her since age 13 as an active participant in the youth program where we work, and she continues to be a good friend. last summer Katrina began dating a young man named Jefferson, and from the start he raved about 2 people that he did research with and called his "mentors". not to be outdone, Katrina raved back that she has mentors too, dave and cheryl, back in her hometown of Camillus. finally in September Katrina was invited to a dinner party at the home of Jefferson's "mentors". over dinner the question was asked "where is everyone from originally" and when Katrina answered "Camillus, New York" the host responded "i know Camillus, i grew up in Manlius"........Jefferson's "mentors" were none other than Wayne and Sue Trivelpiece. even MORE amazing....when Katrina was 16 she and another teen volunteered to help my mom with yardwork on Eureka Drive in Manlius. my mom wanted to pay them but the girls said "we can't accept your money Mrs. Vermilya". while they were finishing up Martha Trivelpiece stopped by to visit my mom, and seeing the girls, queried "where did you find them Margaret and can i hire them too?". "Martha, they're from Camillus and they won't accept money." but they would accept lunch, and half an hour later we were all sharing Chinese food from Ling Lings' in Manlius. how remarkable is it that 10 years later Katrina would be dining again with Martha's son Wayne in southern California. .........hope all is well with you. we see and socialize often with Frank Carrol, and recently all got together with Carmen Coleman. dv
Mike Krall
Hello Debby,
When I think about the amount of time between then and now, the size of it seems pretty large... a lot of life... a lot of details. I don't think it's possible to tell the whole story well and it feels like giving you a synopsis will be pretty dry.I got out of Fayetteville because Pat Neary had been to Lander, Wyo. on a science trip in junior high school. Dave Neary and I put a lot of miles on his red Dodge van traveling the country after college and after Dave had connected into Lander, Wyo. through Pat. In the end, all three of us ended up in Lander because of the National Outdoor Leadership School.
I worked with NOLS for 11 years... living and working in the Rocky Mountains and surrounding region... teaching mountaineering, rock climbing, caving, desert living, a lot of other things. In part of 7 of those years with NOLS I worked horse packing... delivering re-rations to NOLS courses over a large part of the wild country in NW Wyoming. Through NOLS I met a fellow who had been to Antarctica working on the support side for National Science Foundation grantees doing scientific study there. For 20 years I did contract support work, 5 to 6 months a year, with the National Science Foundation in Antarctica. I've got good friends from "the ice" (Marylee Atkins and Tracy Stiehr) who worked with Wayne Trivelpiece out of Palmer Station (Antarctic Peninsula, below the tip of S.A.). That's thousands of miles from my part of Antarctica (Ross Sea, Ross Is., McMurdo Station).
I met Sarah in 1980... another NOLS instructor and horse packer, originally from Burlington, Iowa. Sarah worked with NOLS over 20 years. We were together in Antarctica for 18 years. Sarah still goes to the ice October through February. Sarah and I were married in 1987. The only kids we've had are horses and children of friends, informally adopted. To answer your question... "retired or still working?". I've never had what many consider a real job. Everything I've done in my life has been part time or short term. I "lived" NOLS for the 11 years but never put in more than 10 months in any 12. Since 1983, my first time in Antarctica, I've been semi-retired... some, Dave Neary for one, might say "semi-retarded"and that I've been that way for a lot longer. In February of 2003 I left the ice for the last time and became "fully-retarded".
Sarah and I have been building a house and shop, one peck at a time, as money allows, for years and still are. I'm building a custom rifle, forging and building damascus knives, talking to the wild bunnies that live in the piles of stuff around our place and wandering the country side looking to see what's there and how it feels.Do with this as you choose, Debby... post it all... "synopsize" the synopsis... whatever... Mike Krall
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Who Should have a Colonoscopy?
Anyone over 50 and now 60 should have a routine colonoscopy. I'm having my 2nd one tomorrow. Nothing is wrong. This is just a maintenance or preventative test. This may be more information than you ever wanted to know about me, but it is important for everyone to read and know about and consider if you have not heard so from your own doctor.
From Web MD/eMedicine
"A colonoscopy is a test to look at the inside of your colon. The colon is the large intestine and the last part of your digestive system. Its job is to dry, process, and eliminate the waste left after the small intestine has absorbed the nutrients in food. The colon is about 3-5 feet long. It travels from the lower right corner of your abdomen (where the small intestine ends) up to your liver, across your body to the spleen in the upper left corner and then down to form your rectum and anus.
The doctor will use an instrument called the colonoscope to perform a colonoscopy. It is a long (about 3 ft), thin (about 1 in), flexible fiberoptic camera that allows the doctor to visualize your entire colon.
Your doctor may order a colonoscopy to investigate many different diseases of the colon.
Colonoscopy is best known for its use as a screening tool for the early detection of colorectal cancer.
Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States.
Colon cancer develops from growths within the wall of the intestine such as polyps or tumors.
These growths often take 5-10 years to develop and may not cause many symptoms.
You may not have any symptoms of colon cancer, but having a close relative with the disease increases your risk for the disease compared to the general public.
Most people who develop polyps do so after age 50, so the American College of Gastroenterology (the digestive specialists) recommends screening examinations every 5 years for early detection and removal of these cancer-causing growths after that age."
From Web MD/eMedicine
"A colonoscopy is a test to look at the inside of your colon. The colon is the large intestine and the last part of your digestive system. Its job is to dry, process, and eliminate the waste left after the small intestine has absorbed the nutrients in food. The colon is about 3-5 feet long. It travels from the lower right corner of your abdomen (where the small intestine ends) up to your liver, across your body to the spleen in the upper left corner and then down to form your rectum and anus.
The doctor will use an instrument called the colonoscope to perform a colonoscopy. It is a long (about 3 ft), thin (about 1 in), flexible fiberoptic camera that allows the doctor to visualize your entire colon.
Your doctor may order a colonoscopy to investigate many different diseases of the colon.
Colonoscopy is best known for its use as a screening tool for the early detection of colorectal cancer.
Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States.
Colon cancer develops from growths within the wall of the intestine such as polyps or tumors.
These growths often take 5-10 years to develop and may not cause many symptoms.
You may not have any symptoms of colon cancer, but having a close relative with the disease increases your risk for the disease compared to the general public.
Most people who develop polyps do so after age 50, so the American College of Gastroenterology (the digestive specialists) recommends screening examinations every 5 years for early detection and removal of these cancer-causing growths after that age."
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
FM Alumni Site
These are the only people who have registered on the FM High School site. We should do better than this. Please go to that site and register.
Welcome to the Class of 1966's Alumni Section
Class Mates - Year 1966
Albig, Cheryl
Betts, Harriet (Evans)
Cottrell, Anita
D'Agostino, Linda (Badgley)
Davis, Judy (Spaulding)
Doolittle, Deborah (Larus)
Hutchinson, Joanne (DeMore)
Jackson, Penrose (Penny Zimmerman)
Jacobson, Robert
Levy, Maria (Pulos)
Lockwood, Melinda (Mussi)
Maguire, Charlene (Owens)
Revercomb, Gary
Revercomb, Pamela (Lipe)
Welcome to the Class of 1966's Alumni Section
Class Mates - Year 1966
Albig, Cheryl
Betts, Harriet (Evans)
Cottrell, Anita
D'Agostino, Linda (Badgley)
Davis, Judy (Spaulding)
Doolittle, Deborah (Larus)
Hutchinson, Joanne (DeMore)
Jackson, Penrose (Penny Zimmerman)
Jacobson, Robert
Levy, Maria (Pulos)
Lockwood, Melinda (Mussi)
Maguire, Charlene (Owens)
Revercomb, Gary
Revercomb, Pamela (Lipe)
People Heard from this Week
Gary Peterson
Jamie Steele
Dick Shanahan
Dan Sheedy
Pamela Revercomb
Rick Cook
Tad Collins
Jamie Steele
Dick Shanahan
Dan Sheedy
Pamela Revercomb
Rick Cook
Tad Collins
Grand TOTAL for Dick's Fund
The grand total so far for Dick's fund is $ 6,750 .
Thank you to everyone who so generously contributed.
Thank you to everyone who so generously contributed.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Gary Peterson
Debby,
I was just turning down an invitation to a class reunion at the high school that I graduated from (they are having an “age 60” class reunion). I had gone to the 30th reunion, they’re half a country away from where I live, and having gone to that school only for my senior year, I had no lasting friendships from that class. But as I was turning down the invitation, I started wondering about all the kids that I grew up with. That’s when I stumbled over your wonderful blog.
I must have spent a couple of hours going over names and being taken back in time. Thanks for the trip down memory lane. The only F-M class of ’66 person I’ve run across in 43 years is Tad Collins, and we only talked on the phone about 10-15 years ago.
I’ve lived in the Milwaukee area ever since college. Winters and springs are the pits, but summers and autumns are terrific. I’m an actuary at Northwestern Mutual Life. Maybe two years to go before retirement. Still married, a daughter (and two grandchildren) in Philadelphia and a son in Montana . Still love baseball and golf. Just getting too old to play.
I would be most grateful if you could send me a class directory. Perhaps there’s someone in the Milwaukee area that would like to chat. Or perhaps in Southwest Florida . I’m down there frequently to check up on my Mom.
Thanks again for all the work you’ve done. I know it’s a labor of love, and many of us appreciate it.
Gary
I was just turning down an invitation to a class reunion at the high school that I graduated from (they are having an “age 60” class reunion). I had gone to the 30th reunion, they’re half a country away from where I live, and having gone to that school only for my senior year, I had no lasting friendships from that class. But as I was turning down the invitation, I started wondering about all the kids that I grew up with. That’s when I stumbled over your wonderful blog.
I must have spent a couple of hours going over names and being taken back in time. Thanks for the trip down memory lane. The only F-M class of ’66 person I’ve run across in 43 years is Tad Collins, and we only talked on the phone about 10-15 years ago.
I’ve lived in the Milwaukee area ever since college. Winters and springs are the pits, but summers and autumns are terrific. I’m an actuary at Northwestern Mutual Life. Maybe two years to go before retirement. Still married, a daughter (and two grandchildren) in Philadelphia and a son in Montana . Still love baseball and golf. Just getting too old to play.
I would be most grateful if you could send me a class directory. Perhaps there’s someone in the Milwaukee area that would like to chat. Or perhaps in Southwest Florida . I’m down there frequently to check up on my Mom.
Thanks again for all the work you’ve done. I know it’s a labor of love, and many of us appreciate it.
Gary
Friday, April 18, 2008
Earthquake in Midwest
Was reading in bed this morning when the bed and house began shaking. My husband was getting ready for work at about 4:45 am when the earthquake took place. He is the News Director for KMOX Radio. He called the station and we soon found out that it was 5.4 quake that originated in Il. We both had experienced one other quake so we knew what it was. Pretty scary stuff.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Jamie Steele
Jamie is recovering from some pretty serious knee surgery. If you have the time you might want to send him a cheery get better card or email. He suffers from dial up so keep that in mind.
Stew Davis
It took several attempts with postcards, but I finally heard back from Stew Davis. All he gave me was his email address. No news. Here's hoping he might see the light and supply some photos and interesting stuff about himself.
Monday, April 14, 2008
People in touch with no news
Have heard from a few people recently but no news to report.
Phil Evans
Flip Benham
Dan Sheedy
Duncan Hamilton
Bob Jacobson
Stew Davis
Phil Evans
Flip Benham
Dan Sheedy
Duncan Hamilton
Bob Jacobson
Stew Davis
Mike Krall
Mike Krall lives in Lander, WY. So does Dave Neary. They ran into each other a couple of weeks ago. I have no idea what Mike is up to but I've been trying to find out. Have sent him a few postcards but no response. Dave is going to try and get an email address from Mike.
Mike and I were always in homeroom together. He called me Toots. To my dismay I found out that was not a special name for me, but one Mike used for many.
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Melinda Mussi Lockwood
Debby - Why am I so busy?
I get up at 5am each day and walk the dogs.
At 6 am I start my day by getting ready for work.
Either my husband or I take our granddaughter to school.
I work all day at the university organizing conferences, managing an office staff of 5 and a department of 27 faculty.
I go to the gym after work and get home about 6:30.
I make dinner. I finish all of my "housework chores" by about 8pm. I sit down and relax or maybe get on the web for a bit. I am helping edit a book and do some photo retouching as well. I go to bed and read before falling asleep. The next day I start all over again. I am also involved in church committees and that also takes some time. On the weekends I have errand to run, shopping to do, church, and some leisure time.
I think I am no more or less busy than anyone else. I have not had much time lately to work on the reunion stuff but it is always on the back of my mind.
I get up at 5am each day and walk the dogs.
At 6 am I start my day by getting ready for work.
Either my husband or I take our granddaughter to school.
I work all day at the university organizing conferences, managing an office staff of 5 and a department of 27 faculty.
I go to the gym after work and get home about 6:30.
I make dinner. I finish all of my "housework chores" by about 8pm. I sit down and relax or maybe get on the web for a bit. I am helping edit a book and do some photo retouching as well. I go to bed and read before falling asleep. The next day I start all over again. I am also involved in church committees and that also takes some time. On the weekends I have errand to run, shopping to do, church, and some leisure time.
I think I am no more or less busy than anyone else. I have not had much time lately to work on the reunion stuff but it is always on the back of my mind.
......I am so very glad that we have gotten back in touch - It is a very good thing!
Cynthia Morrissey Mann
Debby,
.......We just returned from a vacation in Mexico and are about to start a major renovation of our kitchen. Nate and I have been overwhelmed with all the decisions we have had to make. In two weeks we will pack up our cabinets and will be without kitchen facilities for the next 8-10 weeks. It is exciting! Also an ideal time to visit my Dad.
Cynthia
.......We just returned from a vacation in Mexico and are about to start a major renovation of our kitchen. Nate and I have been overwhelmed with all the decisions we have had to make. In two weeks we will pack up our cabinets and will be without kitchen facilities for the next 8-10 weeks. It is exciting! Also an ideal time to visit my Dad.
Cynthia
David Neary
Hi Debby!
You are truly generous to put in the time to help keep the blog going. Thank you for your effort. I've just finished three months on the Obama campaign in Iowa, South Carolina, Alabama and Wyoming. If you're following this pplitical season, you'll note we're four for four in those states!! Disappointed I can't help win Pennsylvania as well!
Just returned from a lobbying trip to DC to support arts in education issues and NEA funding for the Wyoming Arts Council. Our theater company is producing Shakespeare's LIFE AND DEATH OF KING JOHN this summer and THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST this spring for the local high school (I just finished building the sets yesterday).
Off today to deliver some very valuable paintings and sculptures to and from museums in Jackson, Cody, Steamboat Springs, Santa Fe, Ft. Worth, Washington, Pittsburgh and Cleveland. If I head back through Missouri I will try to call and look you up. Also, I've been invited by relatives of the original participants to join an expedition down the Mississippi this year to replicate Lincoln's 1830's flatboat trip down the river to New Orleans, and after that will also boat the Yellowstone River this fall, longest un-dammed river in the US. I built a high performance sea kayak, and plan to use it on both trips- if the whirlpools don't eat it!
Saw Wally (Mike) Krall two weeks ago. He promises to come to the next reunion! Keep up the good work and thanks again.
Dave
Friday, April 11, 2008
No Rain Today
Taken today, April 11th on my morning walk with the dogs. It's sunny but cool and no rain for the moment.
Missouri Floods
More flooding is set for the weekend in Missouri. It rained so much this week that all the rivers have risen and are about to over flow and flood. This is the gun club where my husband John shoots. The sporting fields were totally immersed. This was taken from the air while John was reporting for KMOX during the Easter floods.
YOU are Amazing
The people in our class are truly amazing. We are all turning 60 years old and should feel wonderful that we've made it so far in life. Each person has a story. I am fascinated to find out what everyone has been up to for the past 42 years. Please continue to visit the blog and share your experiences, thoughts and ideas. Whether you think it is news or not, please communicate
Duncan Hamilton
Greetings from Duncan who's hard at work at Welch Allyn.
He's so busy he barely has time for email but he says hi to everyone.
Kirsten Mackey Fleisher
Hi Debby, I was having my morning coffee around 6:30 AM today and browsing through the blog...so many classmates mentioned their parents.I thought I'd give an update about my mother. Mom lives on Perico Island, near Bradenton/Sarasota, FL. (Dad passed away three years ago.) Those of you who might remember her know that she used to be like the energizer bunny! At 85, she has slowed down a bit, but still lives on her own, goes out with her lady friends and is an avid reader. She continues to spend her summers at the cottage on Lake Erie, near her hometown of Ashtabula, Ohio. The photo is of Mom and me this past Easter.
Kirsten
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Camilla Zankowski Daniels
CONGRATULATIONS to Camilla who's going to be a Grandmother!
"Two items:
1. I'm going to be a grandmother come Columbus Day,thanks to my son, Ben and daugher-in-law, Gina.
2. I start temporary employment this next week. It's all about working in my English major from college."
camilla zankowski daniels
David Milan
Hi Debby,
No, I haven't fallen into the abyss. A new (to us) house that we've begun to remodel (painting, ripping out carpet and installing laminate flooring in the living room) plus a new car (BMW, of course) to sort out - making a lemon (not really) into Mikes Hard Lemonade - makes for very little spare time. I haven't even been able to ski as much as I want and the snow has been excellent. Hope you haven't been flooded out or washed away with the monsoons that seem to have gripped your area. Next is a little bit of snow if the forecast is right. Better stock up on provisions.
More anon. Dave
No, I haven't fallen into the abyss. A new (to us) house that we've begun to remodel (painting, ripping out carpet and installing laminate flooring in the living room) plus a new car (BMW, of course) to sort out - making a lemon (not really) into Mikes Hard Lemonade - makes for very little spare time. I haven't even been able to ski as much as I want and the snow has been excellent. Hope you haven't been flooded out or washed away with the monsoons that seem to have gripped your area. Next is a little bit of snow if the forecast is right. Better stock up on provisions.
More anon. Dave
Franklin C. Delong Memorial Service
I attended the memorial service for Frank that was held at the Onondaga County War Memorial on Friday, April 4, 2008. This marked the second anniversary of his death from heart failure in 2006. I anticipated perhaps encountering some members of the Class of '66 at the service and if any of you were there, my apologies, but I must say that my first thought upon arrival was, "Who are all these old people?" I really didn't know Frank all that well but to show you how small a town Syracuse really is, I've met his brother, Ed, at numerable places but never made the connection.
It was a nice simple service, not that one could hear much because of the bad accoustics and the jackhammers pounding away on the other side of the closed doors. Frank's other brother did a nice presentation and I made a new friend who is from Huntington Station down on Long Island.
I don't make it to the Blog very often but I'm impressed to see how many of the MIAs are becoming found again.
Lucinda, did you ever get the old class photos from kindergarten through sixth grade I posted to you in hopes you could fill in some of the missing names?
Anita Cottrell
It was a nice simple service, not that one could hear much because of the bad accoustics and the jackhammers pounding away on the other side of the closed doors. Frank's other brother did a nice presentation and I made a new friend who is from Huntington Station down on Long Island.
I don't make it to the Blog very often but I'm impressed to see how many of the MIAs are becoming found again.
Lucinda, did you ever get the old class photos from kindergarten through sixth grade I posted to you in hopes you could fill in some of the missing names?
Anita Cottrell
Monday, April 7, 2008
Frank Carroll
Frank is back home after spending some time in Florida. While there he visited Cinda Sutton and Tad and Jane Collins. Now he's with Dave and Cheryl Vermilya after visiting Bruce Coleman's mom Lois and wife Carmen.
Jack Mapstone
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Greetings from Jack Mapstone
Jack's busy enjoying the sun and grandkids in Florida and says he's almost a total southern gentelman now complete with southern drawl.
Saturday, April 5, 2008
Cinda Meachem Sutton
Hi Deb,
Scott and I will be driving up to Jane and Tad's for a surprise 60th birthday for Jane. A couple of weeks ago, Frank was here for a week and we had a great visit! He had come down to see the Dodgers for their last pre-season in Vero Beach, where they had held spring training for the last 60 years. I took him to see Wicked at our Broadway theater and to a St. Patty's party at a friend's house and we had an all round good time. ... After he left my house he went up to Jane and Tad's to spend Easter.
Scott is doing very well. He is surprising everyone....even the Doc's!
I'm very busy with my work, which is killing me! I hope I can make it the 2 years I need for a full retirement! And then we have Scott's Mom in an assisted living facility here with quite a bit of memory loss and my Mom in a retirement village with a sharp brain and a breaking body. Together, they require quite a bit of attention.
I just returned from Dallas where I visited my 2 grand kids (one year old Luke and almost 4 Madeline) My youngest son, Ryan and his wife are expecting their first in September. Happily for me, they live right around the corner and I'll get to spend more time with him/her. They won't find out the sex until it is born.
Debbie Goode will be coming here next week to go on a cruise with her sister. She'll be staying here for a night or two. Then we'll be taking her Dad out for dinner for his 95th birthday!!! He still volunteers 3 days a week, plays bridge, drives a stick shift car, goes to church at my church every week and is as sharp as a tack! He is my Godfather.
In February, my Mom had her 90th birthday and took her kids and grandkids on a cruise to the Bahamas. Meanwhile, I secretly arranged for my cousins, their kids and my Aunt to come also and surprise her. All in all, it was a wonderful tribute to her life and a huge surprise and success!~ There were 31 of us from as far away as Wisconsin, California, Utah, Maryland, N.Y. and France. Scott had T-shirts made for us all to wear and the joy it gave her (and us) was priceless.!!!
So, that's my life in a nutshell. How are things with you and anyone else? Thanks for keeping us together as a class! You're pretty terrific!
Cinda
Duke Leonard
Picture was taken about four months ago. You just want to see if everyone is aging gracefully. The second pic, guy with the beer is a buddy of mine named Dennis Chalker. We have been working together for the last twenty eight years.The Grand is the world's largest trap shoot. It takes place every August and lasts about ten days. I shot skeet for about a year and it was a lot of fun. I switched to trap because they pay you money vs the pins and trophies of skeet when you win. I got on the East coast circuit for eight years. However, I have not touched a skeet or trap shotgun in five years.Duke (Duke is the one without the stash)
Friday, April 4, 2008
Dan Sheedy
I'm in West Palm Beach. Spent the whole afternoon on the beach at Jupiter...I'm so relaxed. I may run away and live here forever!
Jim Earle and Kirsten Mackey Fleisher
It so happens that Jim Earle and Kirsten Mackey Fleisher live very close to one another in the Philadelphia area. I understand they are trying to work out a time to get together. They're both pretty busy right now but are trying to work out a date.
April is Hummingbird Month
April always mean the lookout for hummers has begun. I check an online migration map to see if they have made it into our area and they have despite the terrible weather and cold temperatures. I usually have between 8-10 feeders. At one time last summer there were over 2 dozen buzzing around one feeder. They seem to swarm before a rain storm. I have covers so they can get under the feeders when it rains. I love to watch them. We have ruby throated hummers in the St. Louis area.
If you're interested in more information go this web link:
http://www.hummingbirds.net/ click on this
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Mark Hooper
Debby, Good to hear from you, it would be great to see Rick Cook again, we both grew up out in the country. Since mid-February I have been fishing very hard for hard crabs and soft crabs, I fished at night during March and now I am working every day fishing peeler pots. I basically leave the land and immerse myself in this fishery. The soft crabs are shipped live to New York City, we send our product to one of the oldest seafood business there. My dog makes most trips, he doesn't like rain or real rough weather. This photo was taken by a young woman, Alison Ying as she spent about 3 days with me documenting this fishery. Hope all is well, thanks for communicating, Mark
MARK HOOPER
MARK HOOPER
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
April 2, 2008
Not much of a Spring yet here in the Midwest. Still more rain is predicted. Today we had a reprieve with some Sun yet still cool Temps. Things are starting to bloom. Actually picked some Daffodils from my garden. This is a snapshot of some pear trees just starting to produce leaves along the road where I walk my dogs each day.