Large file downloading - Please be patient!
Click a date to go to that day's Alumni Sandstorm.
Use your browser's back button to return here.
 Alumni Sandstorm Archive ~ November, 2011
01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15
16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 Richland Bombers Calendar website Funeral Notices website *********************************************** *********************************************** Alumni Sandstorm ~ 11/01/11 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 3 Bombers sent stuff: Diane AVEDOVECH ('56) David RIVERS ('65) Mike FRANCO ('70) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Judy WILLOX ('61wb) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Micki LUND ('63) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Pat THRAPP ('71) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Diane AVEDOVECH ('56) Maren, I have signed programs of the 2 concerts we performed with guest soloist, Rafael Mendez. The first concert was on April 3, 1954 and the second concert was on April 4, 1956. I have scanned these programs onto my computer. How do I send these to the Sandstorm for our interested alumnae? -Diane AVEDOVECH ('56) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ [Scan and send to pix@richlandbombers.com -Maren] **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: David RIVERS ('65) Re: November already!!!!!!!! Good ol' Jimbeaux ('63)... his "have a happy birthday to everyone in the world on the appropriate day" plan is pretty good. Don't miss nobody no how. I knew I shoulda taken lessons from him way back then when he caught the every lovely Miss Nancy ('65)... but no... I hadda do things my way... well, we can't all be the Oracle, I guess so I'll just hafta be happy with bein' that skinny kid with the rolled up cut offs, converse and the toothpick... hey could be worse... I'm sure it could... well I think it could... maybe... anyway time to wish another couple a Bomber-babes an HB even tho Jimbeaux has already one upped me... but hey... Bomber- babes can't get too much adoration... I mean... that's why they're Bomber-babes insteada Bulldogs... right? So HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Judy WILLOX ('61) and Micki LUND ('63) (love those glasses... and they are totally back in style at car shows and Rock-a-Billy shows so don't throw them away!) on November 1, 2011!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! -David RIVERS ('65) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Mike FRANCO ('70) To: Judy STEIN Mitchell ('71) Judy, after 40 + years you are referring to me as an "upperclassman"?!?!? Regarding Kellen Moore for Heisman and my including WSU in there with BSU, your point is well taken. I of course was taking a cheap shot at my Coug pals. Reality is that both Bledsoe and Leaf were PAC-10 Offensive Player of the Year winners. One was a great college and pro player as well as a successful businessman and charitable leader in his community. The other was a great college player who went on to become an idiot. I will let the readers figure out which one was which. My point really is that both of these Cougs had that success against teams like Arizona State, USC, UCLA, UW, Stanford, CAL, etc. Kellen Moore is a great QB and will be a finalist but won't win because BSU plays one top ten team per year and MAYBE two top 20 teams. Teams in major conferences play 2-3 times that many ranked opponents. And trust me, I was NOT disparaging the Cougs. I killed a few (a lot) of brain cells at Martin Stadium back in the days! And... I am still trying to recover from Judy STEIN sliding down the slippery slope to Blue Devilism! -Mike FRANCO ('70) ******************************************* ******************************************* That's it for today. Please send more. ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø **************************************************************** Alumni Sandstorm ~ 11/02/11 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 6 Bombers sent stuff and 1 Bomber Memorial today: Phil BELCHER ('51), Mike CLOWES ('54) Marilynn WORKING ('54), Barbara SESLAR ('60) Jim HAMILTON ('63), Gary BEHYMER ('64) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Norma LOESCHER ('53) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Tom BEAULIEU ('59) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: David DOWIS ('64) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Rita JOHNSON ('64) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Chris ROE ('71) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Rich JACOBS ('75) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Phil BELCHER ('51) I had many replies from my fellow Bombers concerning locating a 'handicapped' van and should have no problems locating one. My wife is not completely sure if she wants to go that way or not so we will wait and see how she fares with her next round of Doctors. Again, many thanks for all the help. -Phil BELCHER ('51) ~ Pasco where it is currently 31° at 7:43am **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Bob Carlson, aka Mike CLOWES ('54) Well, boys and girls, it's time once again to bust out the ol' propeller beanie so that it might be given the usual tip on this day of days. This time in direction of some one who was not a classmate, but who, in her time, served as an editor of the "real" Sandstorm. I came to know her through this endeavor until I got the olde heave-ho from writing a column which appeared in one or two issues. We also did some time on the old auditorium stage where we appeared (not necessarily together) in "One Foot in Heaven." Despite all that, she remains a friend. So, without further ado: Have a very happy birthday Norma LOESCHER ('53), and I hope Charlie takes to you somewhere other than MacDonalds for your dinner tonight. -Bob Carlson, aka Mike CLOWES ('54) ~ Mount Angel, OR, where the fog has yet to lift. **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Marilynn WORKING Highstreet ('54) Re: Mary Ellen BEIERS Glendinning ('56-RIP) My condolences go to a classmate, Finis GLENDINNING ('54), who lost his wife, Mary Ellen, on October 25, 2011. Her obit was in Herald on Sunday, October 30th. Their family lives in Palo Alto, CA and services will be on November 5, 2011. -Marilynn WORKING Highstreet ('54) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Barbara SESLAR Brackenbush ('60) Re: Class of 1960 Bomber Luncheon DATE: Saturday, November 5 TIME: 11:30 a.m. WHERE: 3 Margaritas in Richland Spouses and friends are welcome! Please join us first Saturday of each month. -Barbara SESLAR Brackenbush ('60) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Jim HAMILTON ('63) Now for something entirely different. Commencing on 8 November, and for the two nights following, the History Channel will be broadcasting a series on the Vietnam War in HD. http://www.history.com/shows/vietnam-in-hd/videos#vietnam-in-hd-preview You're on your own time, smoke'em if you gottem, if you're taller than the man in front of you, move up, 5 mph in the motor pool, knock and remove headgear before entering and who wants to trade their John Wayne bar for this can of ham and #&*#@!$#%s. -jimbeaux -Jim HAMILTON ('63) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Gary BEHYMER ('64) Re: Salute to "Bix" ('64) "Sky River Rock Festival and Lighter Than Air Fair opens a three- day run near Sultan, WA, on August 30, 1968" or "Piano Falls out of the Sky" http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&File_Id=5425 -Gary BEHYMER ('64) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** Bomber Memorial >>Ruth Ann PRICE Kirk - Class of 1953 ~ 1935 - 2011 ******************************************* ******************************************* That's it for today. Please send more. ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø **************************************************************** Alumni Sandstorm ~ 11/03/11 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 3 Bombers sent stuff: Jim McKEOWN ('53) Diane AVEDOVECH ('56) "Pappy" SWAN ('59) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Marlene LARSEN ('56wb) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Jesse MALLORY ('66) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Jim McKEOWN ('53) Happy one day late to Norma LOESCHER Boswell ('53). Edna and I wish you a great either 75 or 76th Birthday, and know that Charlie will probably do something fantastic for you... maybe even cook you something... on second thought, scratch that idea, and insist on a grand meal someplace expensive... which I know you won't. I any event, enjoy every day. On another note, how sad to see the passing of Ruth Ann PRICE Kirk ('53-RIP). Ruth Ann was a super lady and good friend and it seems like too many are leaving us recently... Again, enjoy every day. -Jim McKEOWN ('53) ~ sunny Sacramento **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Diane AVEDOVECH ('56) Re: Rafael Mendez programs from 1954 and 1956 http://AlumniSandstorm.com/htm2011/Xtra/Any/111103-Ave-00Mndz.htm I found both copies of my signed programs for the 2 concerts we had with Mr. Mendez. I remember how awestruck Mr. Pappas seemed to be when he first arrived - and that was totally appropriate. This was an incredible experience to participate in a concert with Mr. Mendez. The people who did the program for us made some mistakes in spelling, etc. but that doesn't take away from the wonderful memories that these programs can bring to those who love music and especially for those who were a part of the Col-Hi concert band. -Diane AVEDOVECH ('56) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: George "Pappy" SWAN ('59) To: Bonnie STEEBER Frasca ('57) Re: Still Around Hi Bonnie. Yep, I'm still around and thank you for asking. I just went low key for awhile. And, other than being an active participant in the aging and wrinkling process, I'm doing fine. That TIA or "mini-stroke" a year ago, slowed me down a bit, or the combination of it and the resulting medications. And, my legs "ain't what they used to be," but I'm making the best of it, with a partial knee surgery scheduled for sometime in February, between hunting and fishing seasons. So, I still have my priorities right! My hips were protesting, but a shot of cortisone in the right one seems to have miraculously helped both. Perhaps it was just sympathy pains in the left one, or favoring the right one tended to make me walk with a list to one side. Whatever! Other than those "Sick Call Complaints," life is good ... just a little slower. To prove that I'm still here, kickin' ... well at least wigglin,' I'm enclosing a copy of a recent piece of writing to friends, describing my latest "low key - clandestine mission:" "I wanted one more shot at the Tucannon Lakes, before they closed to fishing for the year on October 31, and a chance to get some grouse. I finally made it ... last Sunday. I hoped to shoot some grouse and catch some trout, as I have done for years, as an autumn ritual. Armed with "Old Bent Barrel," my trusty old Remington 870 Twelve Gauge Shotgun, and this time, only a fly rod to force myself to stick to fly fishing, I set out. I took Me'a (aka, Mimi, Bubba Lump, Goofy Girl, Teddy Bear, Yoda, or Happy Dog), my other yellow lab, so that she could have her day with Dad, since Bella recently had a week in the Okanogan with me. The day dawned clear and crisp, and we hit the road about 8:30 am, and reached the Tucannon River Canyon about 10:00, mid-morning. I drove upstream (to the south) and then went up the Panjab Creek Road to my special, secret (I could tell you but then...) "grouse-honey hole." I have taken grouse there, every year, for too many to count. Damn it! Apparently a wind storm created a major "blow down" right smack in the middle of the south end of "my special spot" precluding hunting any of that part (especially for an old guy with bad legs). And, a bunch of college kids were camped out in the middle of the north end. Crap! So much for grouse hunting. Well, we were off to a less than great beginning. I drove back downstream and checked out Big Four Lake (The one that is "fly fishing only"). The river was easily "wade-able," to reach the lake, but there were four vehicles parked there. Since I had my dog, which might offend any fly-fishing purists, I decided to go on down to Deer Lake, which usually has good-sized, hatchery-stocked, holdover trout in it. This is probably due to having to walk in, behind a closed gate, about a quarter of a mile to reach it, so it gets less fishing pressure. But it's flat walking, and that lake is "catch and keep," if so desired. And, I usually have it to myself. We had tried it last spring, but the water weeds were so thick that it was difficult to fish. This time, like last fall, the aquatic vegetation had died down and was gone and the water was clear. But, the sky had clouded up and the rains were coming ... on a stiff wind. A husband and wife were trying to fly fish in the wind, but they too had dogs. So, all was well in the canine tolerance department. The guy had fished both Big Four Lake and Deer Lake recently and said that the fish in Deer Lake were running bigger. Ah ha, something was again going in my favor. But, then he said that they had been fishing for a couple of hours and had not had any strikes. Hmmmm, now, this was beginning to sound reminiscent of my grouse hunt. Bummer. I went around to the far side and worked my way through several different patterns (red flies, flies with some red, brown flies, black flies, muddler minnows, wooly boogers, dry flies, terrestrials, wets, etc. Nuttin" Honey! By then, it was getting late, the wind was blowing the rain sideways like a gale, the other fly fishers had long since given up and left, and a wet Me'a and I were thinking that we'd about had enough of this "fun." What a day! The hunting sucked, the fishing sucked, and the weather sucked! My long-anticipated trip was, well ... sucking. However, in every cloud there is a silver lining, or so I've heard. It wrapped itself around me that day, probably because, I decided to try one more thing. I tied a plain but small, off white nymph (or what ever they call those little maggot-looking things), on about a #12 or 14 hook, onto what remained of an original 6 ft, 2 lb tippet, with at least one "wind knot" in it ... and waited. I was waiting for one of the occasional drops in the wind, when it would go calm for a bit, before springing up again, and changing directions. These lulls, allowed an old guy, if quick, to cast for some distance. Finally, it calmed for a bit, but just as I cast, it immediately sprang back up, in my face, so my fly landed an astounding distance of ... about five yards in front of me. "S**T!," was all I could screech to the wind. But, mid-word, my reference suddenly changed from referring to a bad cast, to a startling successful turnabout. No more had my little "whitish grubby thing" hit the water (actually way harder than it should have) and sunk, when there was a big boil around where my fly had disappeared. With a quick flash of a huge silvery, rainbow- streaked side followed by a large spotted fishtail, suddenly there ... and gone, in the middle of it all, the fish rolled and sounded. Miraculously, even on the edge of the onset of a sudden overwhelming personal state of panic, I managed to perform the "Bill BYRD ('59) School of Fly Fishing" technique of merely lifting my rod up and the fish was hooked ... and the fight was on. Hallelujah! As my 5 WT Eagle Claw combo spin/fly pole bent over, near double, my line took off cutting a big V in the rippling water like the periscope of a nuclear submarine. And then ... the submarine ... I mean the fish, erupted through the surface about three feet into the air, thrashing violently in a shower of spray. (Expletive deleted!). But, it's ok, it's ok, it was ok ... he was still on. Yee haw! I'm excited, Me'a's excited, the fish is excited, and we're all wet and cold from weather and water. But, the fish was so excited that it was taking out one heck of a lot of line. Now friends, neighbors, and fellow classmates, I was purely dumbstruck for what seemed like a century ... frozen in time. Probably two seconds later, my next realization was that all slack line ... is gone, out, and for the first time in my meager fly fishing career, I found myself on the reel immediately, and frantically trying to remember how to adjust the drag and keep the backwards spinning reel handle from banging my thumb and fingers. Then, like back in the military, many years before, training took over, and I vaguely remembered something about palming the reel with an open hand under it, which soon became very much of an "ouch-like" episode, as the friction and heat on my cold hand built up, as the reel was making a sound that sounded like, "zzzzzziiissssszzz!" The fight lasted a good five minutes with the fish cutting this way and that and back and forth and up and down and back to square one ... and then doing it all over again, with at least two more jumps inserted, all designed to test the heart of this old fart. How I never lost that fish ... escapes me, even though it was on a barbed, but tiny hook. The big bow took a long time, but finally began tiring, and I smugly figured that I had won, but "it ain't necessarily so," as it wasn't done yet, and it only took me three tries to finally get it into the net. Another Fly Fishing Lesson Learned: Never gloat too soon! Finally, I got to christen my new "shake to open" collapsible for compact package, fish friendly, landing net, complete with extendable handle, and possibly manufactured by "Captain Billy Whiz-bang." Even at the age where I am no longer able to leap tall buildings, this net enables me to reach over the tall grass along the edge of the water, and also helps keep an old guy from getting his feet wet, or more than likely ... toppling into the water ... face first. But, Old Guys Rule, and I finally stood gazing into the net at the object my success! Suddenly, things had gone from "S**t, what a day!" to "Oh Sh****t, Oh what a day!" Right then and there, Me'a and I, dripping wet from weather, lake water, and fish slime ... danced together, all alone at lake side in the blowing rain! "Ain't nothing as much fun as having a good time!" Not only was it exciting, but that fish was my new personal record for a trout caught on a fly casting outfit. Even for a bumbling seasoned old guy, I'll take the joy! It measured 17 inches and weighed 2 lb. Not a huge fish, but for me it was another rung in my quest to become a fly fisherman ... I'm working my way up from the smaller 11-13 inch trout, what the WDF&W calls "catchables." Normally, I catch and release trout, even in catch and keep waters, but this one would provide for a quiet celebration banquet! And, it did. Included are a couple of self-posed pictures, with my fellow uncooperative model and fishing companion refusing to stop admiring said fish. http://AlumniSandstorm.com/htm2011/Xtra/Swan/111103-00.htm It was a good ending for what has been a good trout fishing season, in my effort to relearn fly fishing, something that a young Marine had dabbled with on the banks of the Walker River many years ago, while stationed, at the Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center. I wonder if all of those leaders and flies, that I lost in my original learning effort, still adorn the trees and bushes along that river? So, Me'a and I rode home in Ranger Ricky (my little Ford pickup that like me, also ages), wet, but happy. Well, I like to think that my dog was happy for me ... and not just because of the extra dog biscuit I gave her in celebration. As the 2011 trout fishing season draws to a close, I'm kinda liking this fly fishing stuff ... even when the days are slow and wet and windy and cold and... Well, you know what I mean. "OGR!" -George "Pappy" SWAN ('59) ~ Still here in Burbank, WA, on a crisp sunny day, where home is where he heart is... ******************************************* ******************************************* That's it for today. Please send more. ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø **************************************************************** Alumni Sandstorm ~ 11/04/11 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 7 Bombers sent stuff: Bonnie STEEBER ('57), Patti JONES ('60) Marie RUPPERT ('63), Gary BEHYMER ('64) Linda REINING ('64), Rick MADDY ('67) Betti AVANT ('69) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Paul WEICHEL ('51) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Karyn GROB ('66) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Twins: Betti & Robert AVANT ('69) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Darren McINTYRE ('82) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Bill Dunton (Teacher) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Bonnie STEEBER Frasca ('57) Re: George "Pappy" SWAN ('59) Aaah Pappy! You made my day when I opened up the Sandstorm today. I knew you’d come through. It was good hearing that you are still kickin’ (wigglin’?). I really enjoyed your latest adventure into the wilderness in search of that elusive fish. I agree with whoever said that getting old is not for sissies... and as for getting more wrinkles, just gain a few pounds... it helps to smooth them out and is more fun than Botox! Good luck with your upcoming surgery and please, keep your adventures coming. I’m sure there are many other Bombers who are entertained by your (mis)adventuresSmile. This one was a long time coming! Re: Dave HANTHORN (‘63) Thank you for your email concerning the flooding in Thailand and your compliment for my daughter. I hope you and your wife’s family and friends are faring well under the circumstances. -Bonnie STEEBER Frasca ('57) ~ Oro Valley, AZ - Sunny and warm but expecting cooler weather one of these days. **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Patti JONES Ahrens ('60) >>From: Marie RUPPERT Hartman ('63) Re: All Bomber Luncheon Richland Build old/new friendships. Reservations aren't necessary. Many Bombers do like to let us know they are coming so please email if you wish... OK if you don't. WHEN: Saturday, November 12, 2011 WHERE: JD Diner, 3790 Van Giesen, West Richland, WA 99353 Used to be Coney Island Heading west from Richland on Van Giesen JD's is on the right side just two buildings from the river. Building with Maroon lettering says "JD Diner". TIME: Lots come around 12:30pm Luncheon time: 1pm. This helps the restaurant if they are crowded. PRICE: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served all day. Prices range from $4.50 - $13.95 (add drink, tax, and tip) Invite family and friends. Bomber spouses and friends are welcome! Looking forward to also seeing out-of-town Bomber visitors. Bombers Have Fun, -Patti JONES Ahrens ('60) ~ West Richland, WA -Marie RUPPERT Hartman ('63) ~ Richland, WA **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Marie RUPPERT Hartman ('63) Re: Welcome back George "Pappy" SWAN ('59) I was delighted to read Pappy’s fishing trip this morning. I had been wondering how he was doing. Now I know and am glad he’s back! A two pounder is just the perfect size for a lovely meal. I hope it was as tasty as it looked. -Marie RUPPERT Hartman ('63) ~ in cloudy Richland **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Gary BEHYMER ('64) Need help... Searching for any Richland Bomber who may have been born at Greenwood Maternity Hospital (Aurora District in Seattle). -Gary BEHYMER ('64) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Linda REINING ('64) To: George "Pappy" SWAN ('59) Woohoo! I'm so happy to see that you are, once again, contributing your stories to the Sandstorm! Been way too long! Although, I am not a fan of fishing... to me, it’s just too boring, sitting in a boat or standing on the shore, waiting for a fish to bite the worm or bait or whatever is dangling from that hook... I LOVE reading about your adventures... always brings a laugh and I can actually "see" what you are writing about. Now, you need to update us on the adventures of the gnomes/elves that occupy your abode. -Linda REINING ('64) ~ cooler temps are arriving in Bakersfield, CA and I am a "happy camper". **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Rick MADDY ('67) Re: Aches and Pains To: George "Pappy" SWAN ('59): The Veterans Administration Option I (We, I suppose) were wondering what was up with you. I can see the flood of entries coming in. I keep hearing people talk about this "new normal" and I am beginning to get the picture. Now, if I could get my mind out of the 18 gear and put it into 62 gear, I could move on gracefully. The aches and pains are coming on strong. About a year and a half back I called the VA and told them my son had moved away, which is true, and I needed help, don't we all. I was frustrated, getting depressed more than usual because I was having troubles doing anything and not sure how much longer I could go on like this. Well, that got that familiar notso lucky VA ball rolling on their Vegas-type roulette wheel. The VA starts tap dancing with the word depression and I use it often. They put an order in for me to see a psychiatrist and while I'm there... one of those contracted VA joints in Los Angeles... have nineteen x-rays of my body taken. I have never seen an x-ray of mine that did not have shrapnel in it. I used to think that was a good thing. I told the x-ray tech I would like to see the snap of my low back after he finished up. He said it was getting late and my amount of photography was going to put him into overtime and he didn't think there would be enough time for... blah blah blah. So be it. After all was said and done, I'm buttoning up the threads and the tech walks in, puts the low back snap up in the lighted box, steps back into attention, salutes me like I was a general and says, "You have a nice evening, sir." A rare occasion of getting a little respect for being foolish enough to get blown up by a booby-trap and not surviving the war like I had hoped. We all know that getting anything from the VA, as far as the big bucks, but more importantly that lowly category 8 rating, or did they remove that one, for those coveted doctor appointments is also like that roulette wheel. Now at my age, of course, the doctors are usually younger than my children and paying off a government loan they used for doctor school. Rarely do I see the same doctor twice other than the initial, the buck stops here, doctor/nurse. And besides almost having to have a hole blown in your head a beer can fits into to get anything from the VA useful, the quality of doctor you get that day is like... well, that roulette wheel again. I go through my daily routine for almost a year, waiting for bad news, and now thinking the VA has not only denied me, they have forgotten about me... probably hoping I have jumped off a local bridge... and have forgotten to send me my denial "what letter, sir" letter. On top of it all, I told them I was not going to go to one of their shrinks because I am a first responder and first responders are not supposed to be crazy and own a gun... well, not in California, anyway. Almost makes me want to move back to Washington state. Time just moves on and after having had enough of delay, I'm in the phone book looking up lawyers names that deal with Veteran's issues, eating another bowl of instant mac and sleaze, when my letter arrives. I had just chalked the whole process up as another governmental conspiracy SNAFU. And BINGO, they actually found me again. I am fortunate to be an American. Actually proud to be an American. Not quite as inclined to take a chance of giving up my life for her as I was in my youth... particularly after looking around and seeing who I am giving it up for... and 'they' are on the beach... but, that is another subject and I digress... I was awarded another 40% in compensation and now I was 200% disabled. Nevertheless, they denied me my PTSD because, as they put it... I failed to show up for my appointment. I celebrated the good news buying a gun cleaning kit. I can now afford a house cleaning lady who comes every two weeks to help me. I have a nice little Vietnamese lady over there in Little Saigon about five miles from here that does my laundry for me riki tik. I have embarked on pressuring the VA for one of those chairs that stand you up and sit you down... and threw in an order for an all day college student, hoping she needed some cash to help pay off that exorbitant college loan, to write these sort of things for me, but I was told I might be pressing my luck. Whatever goes down, Pappy, I wish you all the best. Nice to see you are still among us. There are alternatives out there for medical problems and if you find one please write! I want the same medical insurance and doctors as those that sent me to Vietnam have. You know, that fish got a lot bigger when you zoomed into it. Semper Fidelis, -Rick MADDY ('67) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Betti AVANT ('69) Re: BD wishes Happy birthday to my twin brother Robert AVANT ('69). I hope your day is a good one. -Betti AVANT ('69) ~ Lacey, WA where it has cooled way down but warm enough for rain rather than snow ******************************************* ******************************************* That's it for today. Please send more. ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø **************************************************************** Alumni Sandstorm ~ 11/05/11 Dateline: Richland ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 3 Bombers sent stuff today: George SWAN ('59) Carol CONVERSE ('64) David RIVERS ('65) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Charles COX ('56) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Judy CAMERON ('60) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Curtis GUNTER ('61) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Gerald STEIN ('66) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: George "Pappy" SWAN ('59) Re: Welcome back... My thanks to all who welcomed me back via email and the Sandstorm, although I never really left, and have just been quietly monitoring the Sandstorm, because I shut up for a while. However, I must admit that I do take great pleasure in making stuff up and writing self-deprecating stories about the bumbling antics of an aging, but shrinking, old Bomber who enjoys the company of furry friends and wee people. The same one who continues to measure his aging process through the enumeration of passing garbage days. Thus, if the Bomber Community can stand it, I would enjoy trying again to offer up to the Sandstorm an occasional product of the wild "fig newtons" of my imagination which, at times, may possibly be, even partially, based upon some thread of truth ... And to: Rick MADDY ('67), my fellow K/3/5 Marine. Hang in there buddy and I render my most crisp salute to you! Oorah, Semper Fi, and we have a birthday coming up in a few days, November 10 ... our 236th, I do believe! And, Veteran's Day backs it up on the 11th. Remember, even though you carry unwanted, extra metallic freight, the body will shift down to the 62 gear thing on its own, anyway. But I too, find that within the inside of my head there has always been a functioning on the order of 18 gear. I just have to remember that now that pulling life's hills, just takes the body a little longer in 70 gear. So again, I'm slowly learning to try to not let my mind write checks that my body can no longer cash! And, "graceful" was never one of my finer points. But hey, you just gave away one of my old guy secrets for photographing fish. So, I might as well "fess up". Yes, you can make any fish look bigger in a picture if you zoom in on it or ... by holding it at arm's length ... toward the camera! -George "Pappy" SWAN ('59) ~ Burbank, WA where the sun, again, also shines. **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Carol CONVERSE Maurer (Magic Class of '64) To: Rick MADDY ('67) I'm sorry to hear of all your troubles with the VA. In my husband's case I can't say enough good about the VA hospital in SF! We were both getting discouraged about the length of time to have him go from the clinic here in Eureka to the hospital in SF though. BUT, once there, they took very good care of him. Perhaps it's because of his heart .... he sees the same cardiologist, but I think they only have one. They've called to see how he is doing in between times. He went down there initially with another mild heart attack though. Just got back from his one-month check-up and will go back down again next month for an echo gram of his heart. Most all the doctors there are from Stanford Medical Center. To: George "Pappy" SWAN ('59) So glad to hear from you again in the Sandstorm! I loved hearing about your fishing adventure and, like Linda REINING ('64), I could picture you doing all this. Please keep up your stories for us. -Carol CONVERSE Maurer (Magic Class of '64) ~ Eureka, CA -- I think we are very very close to selling our house. About time! **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: David RIVERS ('65) Re: Younger Bror's and just Bro's We gotta "younger bro" birthday on the 5th and I try never to miss him. In his class, his bro was his "older bro" so he wasn't the younger bro to his clasasmates (got that?)... but I had onea my Bro's do a pretty compelling post yesterday (or will it be two days ago? Like crossing the international date line... I'm easily confused) I've heard my Bro's story many times in person and in his posts... the in person has always been more graphic. I have avoided mentioning my woes much to him because compared to his I got no freaking problems to speak of. I once told some of the girls ('63 and '65) how lucky I was to not know how badly I was hurt till I left the Marine Corps. You see, unlike my Bro's (all of them... too many to mention here) I was told by all the Military Docs and many Civilian Docs that the mass in my neck (nobody noticed the breaks in my lower back) was due to calcium deposits from early arthritis (I'd say 21 was pretty early)... it wasn't till all the broken bone gave way and I woke paralyzed above the waist that I was able to pretty much diagnose myself... my family Doc pretty much summed it up when he gasped "Oh God David You're Fu- -ed!" The magic man who put me back together, though he couldn't do anything about the spinal damage, found the lower break. Why am I lucky? Because I can call Corey, my friend and my Doc and have everything taken care of in a flash. I don't make appointments for some time in the future, he says "get over here" He did the same for Jimmie ADAIR ('65-'67) several years back with just a phone call from me... If my meds need adjusting I call him and it is done over the phone. My Bro's on the other hand have to wait forever to have their meds changed increment by increment... I don't hafta use the word "depression" to the gubmint so that they can worry about my competence to carry a concealed weapon in most of the CONUS. In fact, I don't tell the gubmint nuthin'. But my Bro's gotta spill their guts to someone who puts it in a little file to use against them later. I've had severe pain since I was 21 and just live with it, just as my Bro's do, but I haven't had to suffer the indignities of being treated as tho I was asking for something for nothing. Ellen WEIHERMILLER ('63) and Mary Lou WATKINS ('63) wanted me to make sure and give all the Marines a shout on the 10th and the Vets on the 11th. But I want my Bro's to know that all the Bomber-babes out there are in awe of what you went through and grateful for all you gave so I'm just gonna do it today and on those other days. You all know who you are. Some of you I have tried to keep in touch with but you have left too much of yourselves on the fields of foreign places to allow yourselves to return home. So I love you Bro's and believe me, the whole Bomber community feels the same. Now for the b-day boy, I hope you will forgive me with spending so much time on our Bro's out there... but Buddy, I dug ya when we wuz in school and I still do! HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Gerald STEIN ('66) on your special day, November 5, 2011!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! -David RIVERS ('65) ******************************************* ******************************************* That's it for today. Please send more. ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø **************************************************************** Alumni Sandstorm ~ 11/06/11 Dateline: Richland ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 3 Bombers sent stuff today: Jim BOBO ('56) David SHINE ('58) Tom HEMPHILL ('62) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Ron SHELBY ('59) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Becky RULON ('66) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Jim SCHILDKNECHT ('66) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Jim BOBO ('56) Re: Medical Update Hi there, just a quick note on my recent surgery. Been home a week now and am receiving care from my favorite nurse and friends. Will start 6-8 week rehab in a couple of weeks. So far all is well!! I'd like to thank all of you for your thoughts, concerns, emails, facebooks, phone calls, etc. Special thanks to Class of '56 Lunch Bunch. Love ya gals!! -Jim BOBO ('56) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Rev. David "Spike" SHINE ('58) Just inquiring if anyone knows how to get in contact with David "Butch" BLACK ('57) or information as to what happened to him after high school. Thanks! Rev. David "Spike" SHINE ('58) ~ Ushering in the season's first snow in Saint Maries, Idaho. **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Tom HEMPHILL ('62) Re: Portland/Vancouver Holiday Social PLEASE PUT THIS DATE ON YOUR CALENDER: Saturday - December 3 - 11:00 - 2:00 (or longer if you wish) Beaches Restaurant on the Columbia River in Vancouver, Washington PLEASE JOIN US -Tom HEMPHILL ('62) ******************************************* ******************************************* That's it for today. Please send more. ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø **************************************************************** Alumni Sandstorm ~ 11/07/2011 Dateline: Richland ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 2 Bombers sent stuff today: Larry MATTINGLY ('60) David RIVERS ('65) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Marilyn "Em" DeVINE ('52) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Dan HAGGARD ('57) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Jim WEAVER ('64) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Julie SMYTH ('69wb) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Larry MATTINGLY ('60) Re: Mattingly family notes Former Beatle George Harrison will be at the Triple Door theater on Pike Street in Seattle next Saturday, November 12. Both my younger twin brothers, Mike and Mark Mattingly ('77) will be on stage in the band. Mike on guitar and Mark on drums. Then they are off to Finland next month to play at an event there. I have not heard the details yet. I know that Mike goes to Copenhagen, Denmark every so often to play background for some corporate event. Mark is still with a small programming company and Mike is teaching music. Last Saturday I was the required WA Licensed Pyro assisting with the special effects for Judas Priest at the WAMU Theater. We did lots of flames with 6 flame units, laser fog, pyro effects, and CO2 fog spray. It was loud but the crowd of over 7000 loved it. These fellows have been around a long time and the mosh-pit front line was full of elderly with gray and white hair. I enjoyed it except for the volume. I have a sound meter app in my I-phone. 110 db a good portion of the time, that is backstage, NOT in front of the speakers. They were excellent showmen. The lead guitar player sat next to me at the dinner table in the catering room. We had an interesting conversation about road show travels. Five to 8 nights in a row is tough on anyone in road show work. They had 2 nights off in the next 20 days from Seattle. They get to bed around 3 AM after a performance traveling in a $400,000 motorhome. They were going to Vancouver, BC for a performance the next night. They had the night before Seattle off as they were traveling up from Bakersfield, CA. James, the roadie pyro, and the lead guitar guy, were telling me Bakersfield seemed like the worst gig they had worked on the tour. Small crowd and not a very good facility. I told him in my experience there were worse. We had a good laugh at each other's tales of road shows. This was their final road show forever. They are retiring from show business and music completely. I have mentioned this before, but I have a satellite TV antenna and 2-receiver set-up that if no one says they want it, I will drop it in the recycle bin at my office as I am tired of moving it out of my way in my shop. It is free! I also have 10 galkibs of premium grade exterior paint. It is fresh, mixed last week. I bought it for our new row of storage sheds at the fireworks facility and it was just too bright a shade of blue (our original building is blue). Rather than throw it away I would sell it for half price. That is $7 per gallon. I will be off Decwmber 22nd to Anchorage for Christmas and fly out to Dutch Harbor, AK the morning of the 27th for their New Year's fireworks. Note to other alums ... everybody enjoys reading the Alumni Sandstorm ... But you don't have to be a prize-winning author to write in here. There are a lot of subscribers out there. We are all still friends after all these years. Drop a few lines to the Sandstorm once in a while and let us know what is going on in your lives. And last, I am waiting for two more great-grand-children to be born. They should arrive after the first of the year. That will make 7 direct, and 4 more from my son's wife from a former marriage. "Happiness is the sky in bloom" -J Larry MATTINGLY ('60) ~ From home, south of Tacoma, where I took advantage of a sunny day to mow the lawn for the last time this season. **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: David RIVERS ('65) Re: All roads lead to Bomber-Babes Wow... today I've got an HB for a Bomber-babe I met thru a Bomber-guy and a Bomber-guy I met thru a Bomber-babe... no matter how you slice it, there's always a Bomber-babe involved for us guys... no no no... it's not just me... works this way for us all... I mean I don't make this stuff up... Like this morning, I was doing some work on a car and I heard one chord to a song... one single chord to a song made in 1959 and I knew exactly what it was... it wasn't some Big hit by Elvis or anything either... but it brought on big memories... in those days I was gaa gaa over the b-day guy's younger sister ('65)... I was gaa gaa over Patty WATERS ('65)... I was gaa gaa over Gretchen GRIFFEN ('65) and I was gaa gaa over April SNOEBERGER ('65)... guess I was just kinda gaa gaa... the song was called "Three Stars" by Dicky Dee and the Teenagers (almost as creative as when Johnny Burnett and his bro Dorsey called themselves the Rock 'n' Roll Trio)... and of course it was about a plane crash we all remember and even if yer not old enough to remember it you heard of it thru a song called American Pie... What an impact that day made on me... and the song has stayed with me ever since... I was kinda surprised I could call that song with a single chord tho... thank goodness I still got some memory... now if only I could get on name that tune... so anyway, I guess it's not fair to say I knew this guy thru his sis cuz we did play on the same little league team... in fact little league is how I learned I needed glasses... I was better at striking out than Babe Ruth (NAB)... but I did meet the b-day girl thru my Pal Gus KEENEY ('57)... so I guess my theory isn't a total flop... well I sure do hope that my friends Marilyn "Em" DeVINE ('52) and Jimmy WEAVER ('64) have a wonderfully HAPPY BIRTHDAY on their special day, November 7, 2011!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Check out the song too: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cw6B7tiadDA&feature=related -David RIVERS ('65) ******************************************* ******************************************* That's it for today. Please send more. ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø **************************************************************** Alumni Sandstorm ~ 11/08/11 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 3 Bombers sent stuff: Mike CLOWES ('54) Helen CROSS ('62) Rick MADDY ('67) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Dona McCLEARY ('54) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Spencer HOUCK ('71) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Bob Carlson, aka Mike CLOWES ('54) Time to break out the ol' propeller beanie again. This tip is in honor of Dona McCLEARY ('54). Now that was terse statement. I did it because if I had listed alllllll the things to say about Dona, this entry would be longer than one of Papa's stories. Not that she doesn't deserve it; we'll just leave more room in the pool for others. So, let's have a big birthday cheer for "Big Red" (and she has a mountain named for her). On another note, my memory may be failing, but I thought I heard sometime back (previous century no doubt) that there were only two remaining Beatles and George Harrison wasn't one of them. Come to think about it, since the death of Yassar Arrafat, haven't seen much of Ringo. -Bob Carlson, aka Mike CLOWES ('54) ~ Mount Angel, OR where the leaves of the walnut tree are clinging valiantly to their limbs. **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Helen CROSS Kirk ('62) in Gardnerville, NV with my only grandchild and his parents.... I am so ready to move out here to be a permanent part of this little guy's life... at 7 he is so cute... I won't babble on anymore, as we all think our grandchildren are the cutest, smartest, etc. but I do so enjoy being with him... On a more serious note, Carol RICE Forrister ('62) - I knew I was forgetting something - called to let me know she has just found out she has multiple myoloma cancer and will be having a biopsy this week. Please keep her in your prayers, I know she would appreciate any prayers in her behalf. She is just starting to research it... Her father died of some type of cancer when we had just graduated from high school and he was in his early 60s... She is just learning about stem cell transplants and remissions... As soon as she gets the stage she will find a local chapter of CA support I hope. She is living in Kansas City, MO now. I just enjoyed a short visit with her and her husband in late October as I was driving out here with my oldest son. We try to stay in touch, Carol and I, but we haven't done very well in that we've rarely seem each other over once a year.. Greetings to all, and to all in our class of 1962, hope to see you at our reunion next September, 2012, who knew it would come so quickly... -Helen CROSS Kirk ('62) ~ enjoying the wonderful weather of this area... we had a little snow up in the mountains, great to look at, glad I didn't have to drive in it coming back from seeing friends in Sacramento on this past Saturday **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Rick MADDY ('67) Re: VA Care To: Carol CONVERSE Maurer (Magic Class of '64) Carol, I hear a lot of good things from vets about the Veterans Administration hospitals, believe me. You are certainly not the first to tell me. Myself, the issues are more about apples and oranges in an imperfect world. Maybe my entire forty-three years experience with the VA should be chalked up as a so-so. I will mention the good doctors to you, because I have seen a lot of them, but on the most part they do not stick around. Not long after I had called on the horn I needed help... and the VA wrote to me and asked me what I needed help for... I was sent to this x-ray dude in Los Angeles... the Veteran's Administration had the wound on my low back, left side, which has been bothering me a great deal for forty-three years now... and is actually on my right side... and apparently, not until a year and a half ago, did they realize, at least on paper, the wound was on the right side... because I pulled my trousers down and took a photo of it for them, and corrected the wounds location... which I get 40% disability for (photo). http://AlumniSandstorm.com/htm2011/Xtra/Mad/111108-VA-disab.jpg Just another humiliating experience with this administration. This is the apples and oranges I was alluding to with Pappy SWAN ('59). This is the sort of care I am talking about. This is what an Iraq, Afghanistan or future veteran should expect. And there will be more war. This goes beyond whining. I am still alive, but the older I get the more concerned I get with these people because who I get for whatever reason in a veteran's hospital is a roll of the dice. Saving my life is one thing. Death due to incompetency because the VA does not pay doctors well enough to keep the majority of the best is another. Nor have enough doctors, period. Jack, Ron, Mac, Rod and Basteeeen, as we call him, are Marines I was with in Vietnam and I talk to them on a fairly regular basis. Three are 100% PTSD, one 30% (diabetes and hearing loss) now and being eval'ed as we speak for 100%, which I cannot imagine him not getting. Basteeeen has never walked into any VA facility of any sort. His wife did not know he had even been in the military after twenty years of marriage until Rod showed up at their house one day eleven years ago with a water softener and Basteeeen asked him about a USMC sticker on his truck. So, not all of us fit the mold. They all have a Combat Action Ribbon. They all have a Presidential Unit Citation. They all have a Vietnamese Unit Citation with Palm. Rod has a Purple Heart. Mac is a recipient of the Bronze Star. They are all combat veterans. When I first came into the VA system at nineteen in 1969, the VA was taking care of approximately 2.5 million disabled veterans, mostly WWII veterans. Then, sometime in the late '80s(?), the government decided it would be more fair to care for the 25 million veterans that had been in the military at anytime and anyplace, and added eight categories defining who, what, where and why. One does not have to reflect on this long too realize what happens to the combat veteran coming home and needing a lot of help, whether they believe that or not. The combat veteran does one of two things; go home and try to survive the depression or get in line with the masses. Apples and oranges in an imperfect world where improvement is always something that can happen for the betterment of those coming in the future and still here from the past and present. I believe this is a better representation for the reason I said what I did. I could not be happier to hear that a San Francisco VA is getting the job done right. The VA is the model of government health care that is here and soon to stay for most in the high-mid-low middle class, the poor, Medicare and the disabled, or not, veteran. Now, if we could only get those Americans that sent their company to the commies in China that sat around getting a good laugh at the gooks killing us, India and any other place that has no child labor law or union, or anything but hordes of really cheap labor, to bring our jobs back home so we can pay for all of this... would be good. -Rick MADDY ('67) ******************************************* ******************************************* That's it for today. Please send more. ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø **************************************************************** Alumni Sandstorm ~ 11/09/11 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 2 Bombers sent stuff: Gary BEHYMER ('64) David RIVERS ('65) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** Seen on Facebook: http://AlumniSandstorm.com/htm2011/Xtra/Any/111109-Smy_DST.jpg ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Mary Lou DeMEYER ('59) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Dick BOEHNING ('63) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Kandy SMITH ('63) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Dick PIERCE ('67) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Tom SCHILDKNECHT ('70) BOMBER ANNIVERSARY Today: Bill SCOTT & Cherrie TEMPERO ('64) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Gary BEHYMER ('64) Re: Small World Isn't It? The grain company that I work for in Colfax, WA has their Annual meeting on the 1st Monday of November each year. While the Company has had 92 annual meetings it was my 38th. One of the stockholders sent their son to represent their stock. That representative was Dr. Benno MOHR ('89), MD, whose practice is in Pullman, WA. His parents are Chuck & Linda Mohr of Richland. (They are originally from Colfax.) Re: Carolyn Lutton ~ 1308 Mahan? I spotted this photo in the Tri-City Herald 'on line' 'Photos of the Week' of Carolyn Lutton who along with her husband and family lived at 1308 Mahan during the 1950s. Luttons lived across the street from the Lange Family. They moved to Kennewick at a later time and the house was purchased by the Moss Family. Luttons eventually returned to Richland after their family was grown. http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2008/03/12/115765_a1709046/week-in-photos.html -Gary BEHYMER ('64) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: David RIVERS ('65) Re: How the big boyz have birthdays Yup... here it is again... time for one a them big kids to have another birthday. We just became friends on facebook a while back... yeah I'm bad... I'm bad... did you ever in your wildest dream think UNIVAC would be sitting on our desks, in our laps or in our (not mine) phones? That we would be posting pictures and stuff on something called facebook and interacting at the touch of a button? I just sent a card to one of my former partners for her b-day... she was supposed to get a billboard with a baby picture on her 65th b-day but the economy saved her little bottom... I reminded her that just yesterday we were waiting for 1984 to see how much of the book came true! When I turned 50 she plastered my face on the front page of the local paper from the firm archives, taken during an all-nighter during the 1984 Culinary strike... I'll see if I can find it and send it with this post... not at all flattering and it appeared right under the story of the implosion of the Sands Hotel... each year we got worse and this year I was gonna drop the big bomb on her... sorry Charlie but no moola for such an extravagance... rats! Well when this big kid was grageatin' I was a little twerp watchin' him and the other big kids actin' so growed up and all... they painted the handball wall with their class year in green and gold and then used the same thing for a t-shirt for their 20th reunion... I have Freddie SCHAFER's ('63-RIP) that Ann ('63) was sweet enough to give me cuz I used to beg to borrow it alla time... it has gotta be the all time coolest reunion shirt but I gotta say that the classes of '66 and '61 pull a close second. (maybe '66 only had hats?)... I think the b-day boy's class may have been the last to have the Sr. Lot in front of the school but it may have survived until the next year, as I recall. All I know is that if one of us punks parked in the lot our cars could be found after school somewhere around the big pool or worse... Anyway, I'm glad to be pals with this guy and his lady ('63) (no not just cuz she hangs with the most lovely and darling Ms. HOFF ('64) either... tho I guess that is a nice perk)... so a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Dick BOEHNING ('63) on his special day, November 9, 2011, one day before the Marine Corps 236th b-day!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! -David RIVERS ('65) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ [Oops! No picture attached, David. -Maren] ******************************************* ******************************************* That's it for today. Please send more. ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø **************************************************************** Alumni Sandstorm ~ 11/10/11 ~ HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MARINES http://AlumniSandstorm.com/IMAGES/Nov10_USMC_Birthday.jpg ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 8 Bombers sent stuff: George SWAN ('59), James JOHNSON ('60) Patti JONES ('60), Dennis HAMMER ('64) Jim HEIDLEBAUGH ('65), David RIVERS ('65) Shirley COLLINGS ('66), Brad WEAR ('71) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Gene CONLEY ('48) http://bioproj.sabr.org/bioproj.cfm?a=v&v=l&pid=2733&bid=1202 BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Bill JOHNSON ('57) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Carl DVORAK ('58) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Mike ROWE ('64) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Dee SHIPMAN ('72) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Fred MEEKS ('73) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: George "Pappy" SWAN ('59) To: All Marines and our beloved Navy Corpsmen Re: Happy Birthday! I received the attached tribute to the United States Marine Corps, as a reminder on the observance of our 236th Birthday. It was compiled by a retired Army officer, and sent to Marines from Lieutenant General Gregory S. Newbold, Retired. I received it by way of The Richland Bombers, General James MATTIS ('68), through his brother Tom MATTIS ('66). [NOTE: This tribute is a HUGE file. -Maren] http://AlumniSandstorm.com/htm2011/Xtra/Swan/111110-Marines.pdf About halfway through this tribute, you will see, two previous quotes by one of our own outstanding Richland Bombers, Marine General James MATTIS, still serving, and now the head of Central Command in the Mid-East. General Newbold states, "I like the way I feel when I read this -- great pride in our Corps and our band of warriors -- and I think it's very appropriate for a reminder on our Birthday. You will note that a good number of the quotes come from some of our close comrades. Long live the United States and success to the Corps. Semper Fi, and Happy Birthday, Greg Newbold" And for tomorrow, Veteran's Day [11/11/11], we Marines thank their own veterans and those of the Navy, Coast Guard, and Air Force for providing rides to our work sites, and occasional support, and the Army for standing beside us. Semper Fi Vets! -George "Pappy" SWAN ('59) ~ Outpost Burbank, WA **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: James JOHNSON ('60) Re: Bill JOHNSON ('57) and Joyce GREEN Johnson's ('57) grandson Conner Johnson, has developed into quite a quarterback while at University High School in Spokane. He is 6'5" and weighs 220#. Click here to read about this kid To: Jim BOBO ('56) Glad to hear your surgery went well. Care to play some fast-pitch softball? -James JOHNSON ('60) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Patti JONES Ahrens ('60) >>From: Marie RUPPERT Hartman ('63) Re: All Bomber Luncheon Richland Build old/new friendships. Reservations aren't necessary. Many Bombers do like to let us know they are coming so please email if you wish... OK if you don't. WHEN: Saturday, November 12, 2011 WHERE: JD Diner, 3790 Van Giesen, West Richland, WA 99353 Used to be Coney Island Heading west from Richland on Van Giesen JD's is on the right side just two buildings from the river. Building with Maroon lettering says "JD Diner". TIME: Lots come around 12:30pm Luncheon time: 1pm. This helps the restaurant if they are crowded. PRICE: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served all day. Prices range from $4.50 - $13.95 (add drink, tax, and tip) Invite family and friends. Bomber spouses and friends are welcome! Looking forward to also seeing out-of-town Bomber visitors. Bombers Have Fun, -Patti JONES Ahrens ('60) ~ West Richland, WA -Marie RUPPERT Hartman ('63) ~ Richland, WA **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Dennis HAMMER ('64) Re: "... to the Shores of Tripoli." For the 236th Birthday of the U. S.Marine Corps. I thought I would do again what I did last year and post a few tidbits of USMC history. The United States was involved in an attempt to overthrow the ruler of Libya, . . . NO . . .I am not talking about 2011, I am talking about 1805. Today we know the Korean War as "the forgotten war," but even more forgotten is the War of 1812, and more forgotten still are the wars with the Barbary Pirates, one before the War of 1812 and another just after. On the northern coast of Africa were the Berber states of Morocco, Algiers, Tunis and Tripoli, as Libya was then known. The rulers of these states had for hundreds of years sent their corsairs out to capture ships from other nations, selling the people aboard into slavery or holding them for ransom. We called them the "Barbary Pirates." Countries would often pay tribute (protection money) to them to leave their shipping alone. After the Revolutionary War the US lost the protection of the British flag and they began to prey on our ships. In response Congress reestablished the Navy and Marine Corps, which had been disbanded after the Revolutionary War, thinking we did not need them and could protect ourselves with the state militias. We did however negotiate with them, ransomed our people, and started to pay tribute. Then the ruling pasha of Tripoli decided he wasn't getting enough and declared war on the US. In June 180l President Jefferson sent a squadron of Navy ships to the Mediterranean. After two years of not much results a man of action, Edward Preble, was put in charge. He attacked the harbor of Tripoli several times, but in October 1803 the USS Philadelphia, a 38-gun frigate built by the city of Philadelphia and presented to the U. S. Navy, ran aground while blockading Tripoli. Unable to re-float or bring its guns to bear, the ship and crew of over 300 sailors and Marines were captured. A few days later the Tripolitans were able to re-float the ship and brought it into Tripoli harbor. Feb 16, 1804 Lt. Stephen Decatur led a crew of 60 to 80 sailors and U. S. Marines, all volunteers on what could be a suicide mission to destroy the Philadelphia. A captured Tripolitan ketch renamed the Intrepid was used. They timed it so as to arrive as it was getting dark, with most of the Americans crowded below and the few topside disguised as locals. With a Sicilian pilot who spoke the language they approached the Philadelphia, said they had lost their anchor in a storm and asked to tie up alongside. When a line was thrown to them, they stormed aboard, took the ship, set fires throughout the ship, and escaped with only one wounded. British Admiral Horatio Nelson called it "the most bold and daring act of the age." For this action 25 year old Stephen Decatur was promoted to captain, the youngest person to ever hold that rank in the U. S. Navy. The crew of the Philadelphia were still held captive in Tripoli. William Eaton, consul to Tunis, got approval from Jefferson for his plan to depose the pasha of Tripoli Yusuf Karamanli and replace him with his brother Hamet Karamanli, who was supposedly more sympathetic to the United States. In Egypt William Eaton, the self-appointed general, raised an army of about 500 Arab, Greek, and Berber mercenaries. Included were eight US Marines led by Lieutenant Presley O'Bannon. With Hamet Karamanli they started a 500 mile march through the desert. The plan was to first capture the city of Derna, then on to Tripoli to free the American prisoners and reinstall Hamet as the pasha of Tripoli. April 27, 1805, with the support of two Navy ships they attacked the city of Derna. Naval gunfire directed at the fortifications was so severe that the defenders left their cannon, but then reinforced those fighting Eaton's men coming from the other side. The Americans were pinned down and the only options were to stay there and be killed or charge. Lt. O'Bannon and the Marines led the charge up the hill, quickly took the fortifications, and raised the American flag. They never actually made it to the city of Tripoli, with slow communications of the day, Jefferson did not know how well we were doing and settled with Yusef, ransoming the prisoners for $60,000 and no tribute. This battle led to two traditions of the Marine Corps. One is the line form the Marine Hymn, ". . . to the shores of Tripoli." The other is the Marine Corps officer's dress sword. Hamet never regained the thrown of Tripoli, but in appreciation of his bravery he presented Lt O'Bannon with his own Mameluck sword; a scimitar looking sword. That sword was the prototype for the Marine Corps officers sword still being used today.. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:USMC_Marmeluke.JPG Presley O'Bannon has had three destroyers named after him, the DD-177, DD-450 and the DD-987. The DD-450 O'Bannon was the ship involved in the famous incident where the crew threw potatoes at a Japanese submarine, which submerged thinking they were hand grenades, later to be sunk by depth charges. I am almost certain I read several years ago that they were making a movie about the march through the desert. I have checked the Internet from time to time, but found nothing. Maybe it was canceled due to a case of PC. There was a highly fictionalized movie called "Tripoli" staring John Payne and Maureen O'Hara, not to be confused with "To the Shores of Tripoli," which is a WWII flick also staring John Payne and Maureen O'Hara. The History Channel had a good documentary, available on DVD, which mostly shows the events acted out by actors while being narrated, and with clips of historians. Happy 236th Birthday to the USMC. -Dennis HAMMER ('64) ~ USN (1968-1972) ~ Once a Bomber, always a Bomber. **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Jim HEIDLEBAUGH ('65) Happy Birthday MARINES. SEMPER FI, Jim HEIDLEBAUGH ('65) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: David RIVERS ('65) Re: 236 years of tradition untouched by progress! Because there are far too many of my Brother and Sister fellow Marines out there, let me send this to all of you! From the halls of Montezuma, to the shores of Tripoli, We fight our country's battles in the air, on land and sea. First to fight for right and freedom, and to keep our honor clean; We are proud to claim the title of United States Marine. Our Flag's unfurled to every breeze from dawn to setting sun. We have fought in every clime and place, where we could take a gun. In the snow of far off northern lands and in sunny tropic scenes, You will find us always on the job, the United States Marines. Here's health to you and to our Corps, which we are proud to serve. In many a strife we've fought for life and never lost our nerve. If the Army and the Navy ever look on heaven's scenes, they will find the streets are guarded by United States Marines. Eternal Father, strong to save, Whose arm hath bound the restless wave, Who bidd'st the mighty ocean deep Its own appointed limits keep; Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee, For those in peril on the sea! O Trinity of love and power! Our brethren shield in danger's hour; From rock and tempest, fire and foe, Protect them wheresoe'er they go; Thus evermore shall rise to Thee Glad hymns of praise from land and sea. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MARINES AND GOD BLESS OUR CORPS! Ellen WEIHERMILLER ('63) Mary Lou WATKINS ('63) David RIVERS ('65) Re: Sometimes I'm just a little scatterbrained! http://AlumniSandstorm.com/htm2011/Xtra/Riv/111110-50thBdayDR.jpg -David RIVERS ('65) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Shirley COLLINGS Haskins ('66) Re: Hope Solo & Dancing With the Stars from 11/9/11 T-C Herald "Richland native Hope Solo has boogied her way into the Dancing With the Stars Semifinals. Solo, the U.S. women’s national soccer team goalkeeper, and pro partner Maksim Chmerkovskiy will compete next Monday against actors J.R. Martinez and Ricki Lake, and TV personality Rob Kardashian for a spot in the finals. After the top three are announced next Tuesday, they will dance for the mirrorball trophy November 21-22. Solo impressed the judges with her quickstep and jive, receiving a 52 out of 60 for the night and tying with Lake for second place behind Martinez’s 60. TV host Nancy Grace and pro partner Tristan MacManus, were eliminated after receiving the lowest combination of points and viewer votes." Re: Bomber parent passes Also, Marian Merker passed away October 10 at the age of 92 in Vancouver, WA. She worked at Columbia High School from 1962 until 1973. My condolences to her family, one of which is Phyllis MERKER Hill ('65). -Shirley COLLINGS Haskins ('66) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Brad WEAR ('71) Re: Happy Birthday Happy Marine Corps Birthday to all my Marine and Navy Corpsmen brothers. Ya'll know what I'm talking about. 236 years of tradition unhampered by progress, the most destructive fighting force known to man. Hoist a beer was the order from General Jim MATTIS ('68) so I guess we all have to carry out General Orders. Happy Birthday!!!!! -Brad WEAR ('71) ******************************************* ******************************************* That's it for today. Please send more. ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø **************************************************************** Alumni Sandstorm ~ 11/11/11 ~ VETERANS' DAY http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFeURcM73xw ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 12 Bombers sent stuff: Dick McCOY ('45/'46/'02), Dick WIGHT ('52) Mike CLOWES ('54), Bill BERLIN ('56) Diane AVEDOVECH ('56), Ed QUIGLEY ('62) John ADKINS ('62), Jim HAMILTON ('63) Peg SHEERAN ('63), David RIVERS ('65) Jim HEIDLEBAUGH ('65), Shirley COLLINGS ('66) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Bev COATES ('52) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Jack SINDERSON ('53) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Ted NETH ('55) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Don BRACKENBUSH ('63) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Don ECKERT ('64) BOMBER ANNIVERSARY Today: Jerry BOYD ('52) & Patsy McGREGOR ('54wb) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Dick McCOY ('45/'46/'02) Happy birthday Dona McCLEARY Belt ('54)... those 39th are difficult, yes? -Dick McCOY ('45) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Dick WIGHT ('52) To: "Pappy" SWAN ('59) and the other Marines out there Best Wishes! The Marine Corps was established in 1775, "decommissioned" in 1783, then re-instated in 1793... so I guess it is fair to say The Corps dates back to 1775. The Coast Guard was established by Congress in 1790 (called Revenue Cutter Service back then) and has served in about every war or conflict involving our nation since. So the USCG predates the Army, Air Force and Navy... and arguably is the oldest uninterrupted Commissioned Service of the U.S. Yep, the Coast Guard is proud to have provided "occasional support and rides" for the Marines. I remind all of First Class Petty Officer Douglas Munro of Cle Elum, WA who while commanding a landing craft in WW II in the Pacific, maneuvered his boat in between Marines trying to wade ashore in withering gunfire... took enemy fire... saved a platoon of Marines... was killed by the enemy fire during his effort to save those valiant Marines, and was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. Just part of the story about providing "rides" for the Marines. Sempere Paratus and Sempere Fidelis... and Hats Off and Bowed Head to all the veterans of all services who served our nation over the past 235 years or so! -Dick WIGHT ('52), retired Coastie...celebrating Veterans Week in Branson, MO **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Bob Carlson, aka Mike CLOWES ('54) To all Bombers who have served or are serving, on this Veterans' (nee Armistice) Day, let me say thank you. Even if your service was only your annual two weeks at the 4093rd Underground Messkit Repair Battalion at Twentynine Stumps, CA. Late greetings to the Marines in our midst. To paraphrase "DugOut Doug": the Marines have enough birthdays all ready. (The hardcorps will understand that one.) -Bob Carlson, aka Mike CLOWES ('54) ~ it is sunny today (10th) in Mount Angel, OR, but the weather guessers promise a wet weekend. **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Bill BERLIN ('56) Re: Veterans' Day Here is to all of you Vets, whole or in part. We forget how many came back from the various wars and conflicts injured, many for life. We really don't do enough and that is why I give money to help rehab Vets, put food on the table of Vets' families and just think about them a lot. I see great stories of guys who are double leg amputees out playing golf or running. Several have gotten over these injuries and now coach various sports but there are also those who are not physically damaged but mentally. I guess you really have to go through a situation like war to fully understand these mental afflictions that effect many Vets and for most of their lives. Drugs, booze, a life on the street or murder and suicide are all the results of these mental injuries suffered as a cause of war. A guy once told me that these former GIs who live on the streets and usually drink themselves to death, or worse, were really just cowards to his thinking but before I cut off our friendship, I asked him if he had experienced war and all of the awful things that occur in them and he said he had been 4F. He didn't know anything and he never will. It is pretty mental knowing that at any given time you could be shot or blown up, killed or maimed badly or burned nearly beyond recognition and it weighs on both men and women on duty. The mental issue is just as bad, just as demeaning and is usually fatal but for some reason these folks are not heroes but are figured to be cowards. I don't get it but if you know of someone like this, for God's sake give them a hand. At ease. -Bill BERLIN ('56) ~ Anacortes, WA where I will go to our local graveyard and watch the local American Legion carry the colors, fire a salute and then pray as you will. I will remember my father (USA-RIP) and brother (USN-RIP) in my thoughts tomorrow and every day. **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Diane AVEDOVECH ('56) Re: Veterans' Day Every Friday I fly the American Flag from my balcony but this Friday is of course special, Veterans' Day. I served in the Army Reserves in 1956 and though I didn't participate in a foreign war or go overseas as a Reservist I have always supported those who fought and died for our right to the life we have. There is always a special sadness in my heart for the mothers, wives and family who have lost their sons or daughters in conflicts as necessary for those conflicts were. May God bless those who serve both afar and at home and the families left behind. The attached picture perhaps says it all! http://AlumniSandstorm.com/htm2011/Xtra/Any/111111-Ave-eagle.jpg -Diane AVEDOVECH ('56) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Ed QUIGLEY ('62) Re: Veterans' Day Every year, I send out a "thank you" note to my friends who have served our country, but this year, it has become just a bit more personal. One of my good friends, over the last 35 years, who was in the "thick of it" during the late '60s and early '70s, in Vietnam, has had a major setback in his delicate equilibrium in the last 3 months, necessitating involuntary commitment at rehab facility. It has REALLY brought home to me the value of what each and every one of you chose, or perhaps were "persuaded" to do, and the cost involved. None of us who were not involved will ever be able to understand what you went through, but this has served to make me even more appreciative of what you all did, and so I offer up an even more sincere "Thank you for your service!" than I ever have before. -Ed QUIGLEY ('62) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: John ADKINS ('62) Re: Veterans' Day For those Bomber men and women who were and are members of our military - Thank You We are a very real brother and sisterhood. Freedom is not free. -John ADKINS ('62) ~ Richland **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Jim HAMILTON ('63) Recently at a neighborhood soiree, I was asked when I had gotten out of the Army. I had to mull it over for a bit and came up with 40 years and some small change since I'd resigned my commission. But in actuality I won't be leaving the Army until that last shovelful of dirt covers my box. We who've worn the uniforms are all bound by ties of Duty, Honor and Loyalty. Never again in our lives will we share that special bond, shared only by men who bear arms together. On my commissioning day, one of our Cadre at then EWSC gave me a note with these lines by Runyard Kipling: When you are first under fire and wishful to duck Don't look nor take heed at the man that is struck Be thankful you're living and trust to your luck And march to your front like a soldier To all the veterans on this Veterans' Day, I salute you and raise my glass to the fallen. -jimbeaux -Jim HAMILTON ('63) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Peg SHEERAN Finch ('63) It's 44 years old, but here's Mike SHEERAN ('66), Peg SHEERAN Finch ('63), and Pat SHEERAN ('48-RIP), Lackland AFB. Maybe it's too fuzzy to see. http://AlumniSandstorm.com/htm2011/Xtra/Any/111111-She-1967.jpg -Peg SHEERAN Finch ('63) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: David RIVERS ('65) Re: Welcome Home! Not much to ask, I would think. A simple Welcome Home and maybe Thank you for your Service thrown in for good measure. The WWII Vets got that. I'm not sure what the Korean Vets got. There was a time when Me 'n' the boyz ('n' girls) wuz the newest vets... now we are the old timers. Went to Marine Wedding last Saturday and I must say there wuz some real Gung Ho goin' on in that group... high and tight was the style of the day... but I'll also say that the young enlisted Marines were all wearing Corfam shoes too... when I was getting out, some Officers were wearing Corfam but for us snuffies it was spit shined leather... in fact, I remember in boot camp, the guys who had tiny or huge feet got the old rough- out leather that had to be spit shined just like the rest of the boots (as in foot wear not recruits)... I remember when Terry DAVIS ('65) was invited to speak to the group that he played in the "Tour of Duty" show, he was terrified he would not say the right thing... I said "begin and end with welcome home and thank you for your service and ya can't go wrong"... he did and the applause was deafening... Well, we may be the old guys now and there may be a whole slew of new vets coming up... but to all of you I say: "Welcome home and thank you for your service!" Ellen WEIHERMILLER ('63) Mary Lou WATKINS ('63) -David RIVERS ('65) (I told you I would, girls and I did... both days! **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Jim HEIDLEBAUGH ('65) Re: Veterans' Day A salute to all the bomber Veterans. Thank you. -Jim HEIDLEBAUGH ('65) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Shirley COLLINGS Haskins ('66) Re: Veterans' Day We honor all military personnel who are currently serving and have served the United States in all wars. We especially honor our '66 classmates. See our military site below: http://richlandbombers.1966.tripod.com/66military.html This film was made by Lizzie Palmer who put this YouTube program together. She is 15 years old. It is a wonderful tribute to our military. http://www.youtube.com/v/ervaMPt4Ha0&autoplay=1 May God bless all Veterans on this their special day! -Shirley COLLINGS Haskins ('66) ******************************************* ******************************************* That's it for today. Please send more. ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø **************************************************************** Alumni Sandstorm ~ 11/12/11 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 5 Bombers sent stuff: Richard ROBERTS ('49), Stephanie DAWSON ('60) Donna BOWERS ('63), Joe FORD ('63) Shirley COLLINGS ('66) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Arlene HORNE ('71) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Rick MORRELL ('71) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Duane CROSS ('79) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Richard "Dick" ROBERTS ('49) Re: Coast Guard I liked Dick WIGHT's ('52) Coast Guard story. My trusty ukulele and I lead the singing at our monthly Retired Active Men (RAMs) meeting and each Veterans' day we sing all of the military songs, including both verses of the Coast Guard song even though we only have one Coast Guard veteran. By now all 85 of us know the song pretty well and sing it out with great gusto. SEMPER PARATUS! Aye! Coast Guard, we fight for you. -Richard "Dick" ROBERTS ('49) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Stephanie DAWSON Janicek ('60) Re: Teacher obit Watch for more info later. I knew her as Hazel Duncan, my 4th grade teacher at Jefferson. I just loved her. She didn't stay long and I've since learned via the Sandstorm that she went on to teach for many years at another Richland school---maybe Jason Lee? Gertrude Hazel Duncan, 99, of Kennewick, died Nov. 9 in Kennewick. She was born in Rose, Okla., and lived in the Tri-City area since 1944. She was a retired teacher. Mueller's Tri-Cities Funeral Home, Kennewick, is in charge of arrangements. -Stephanie DAWSON Janicek ('60) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Donna BOWERS Rice (Gold Medal Class of '63) It was wonderful of all of those on the Sandstorm remembering Veterens' Day yesterday. Mike RICE ('60) and I had just spent the 2 days prior to at our local Jr. High and Grade School being honored by our grandkids. Am wondering if other Bombers got to have the same experience!! Breakfast, then all kinds of speeches and music and Memorials for a good hr. after. It is very moving to see people in walkers, wheelchairs, and every age and uniform being honored. I met a 92 yr. old WAVE with her Air Force daughter in fatigues. When they show the most recent grads from the local high schools who have lost their lives, then all the Kindergarten through 5th graders sing "American Tears", it is almost overwhelming. In fact there were many with tears in their eyes. Does my heart good to see that the Viet Nam era veterans are at last being thanked!!!! But the thing I wanted to emphasize is that whoever wrote "American Tears" wrote the most powerful, beautiful song, and hearing all those little voices singing it, it really makes you proud to be an American. We need more of this in our lives and I hope that all schools are doing this!! -Donna BOWERS Rice (Gold Medal Class of '63) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Joe FORD ('63) Re: Hero nurses Nice to see the admittedly fuzzy picture of one of my nurse heroes, Peg SHEERAN Finch ('63) in today's Alumni Sandstorm. I'll never forget the courage and skill and tenacity of the military nurses. Thanks, Peg, for posting the photo, and for your service. Warmest regards to all, and particularly to Peg. -Joe FORD ('63) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Shirley COLLINGS Haskins ('66) Re: Veterans Day Special in the 11/11/11 TC Herald "We Salute our Veterans" What a wonderful Veterans Day Special in today’s TC Herald. It is too bad it is not online. Several RHS graduates were featured. I saw John ATKINS ('62), Jim ADAIR's ('66), write-up Donnie DEAN ('66), Mike TESKY ('67), Gary CLARK's ('66) dad, Perry BUSHNELL Jr. ('67) and his dad, Mr. Piippo and lots of others. There are 14 pages! Re: Tri-Cities Memories Book, Volume II: 1940s, '50s & '60s in the Tri-Cities 'The Tri-City Herald has teamed up with Franklin County Historical Museum, East Benton County Historical Museum, Benton County Historical Museum, Columbia River Exhibition of History, Science and Technology (CREHST Museum), Washington State Railroads Historical Society Museum, and you, our readers, again to publish the second volume of the "Tri-Cities Memories" collection. This heirloom-quality "keepsake" book will feature hundreds of nostalgic images of the rich history of the Tri- Cities during the 1940s, '50s & '60s.' Order your copy now for only $39.95 plus tax for $43.27/book If you pick up the books at the Tri-City Herald. Or you pay a total of $49.22 to have the books shipped to you. Easy online ordering available at: tricities.pictorialbook.com Peace ~ -Shirley COLLINGS Haskins ('66) ******************************************* ******************************************* That's it for today. Please send more. ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø **************************************************************** Alumni Sandstorm ~ 11/13/11 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 5 Bombers sent stuff and 1 Bomber Memorial today: Tom MATTHEWS ('57), George SWAN ('59) Linda BOWMAN ('59), Tedd CADD ('66) Betti AVANT ('69) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Carol CARSON ('60) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Marc FRANCO ('66) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Sue DIX ('72) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Tom MATTHEWS ('57) Re: Hazel Duncan (RIP) Hazel was my 4th grade teacher also, and she did move to Jason Lee after teaching at Jefferson. She started at Jefferson after the school was completed, in the Fall of 1945. Besides being a good educator, she was a very caring and supportive person. She is one of the reasons I became a teacher. I kept in contact with her, last talking to her on her 99th birthday last year. I also had the privilege of taking her to visit to the new Jason Lee school building where my grandson was attending at the time. She would have reached 100 on the 14th of this month. There are some good photos of our 4th grade class in the Grade School Pictures section of the All Bomber Alumni Links website. -Tom MATTHEWS ('57) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: George "Pappy" SWAN ('59) Re: Approaching the end of an era... I seem to be approaching the end of an era. Just a couple of years ago, I could tromp all over mountain and valley, hill and dale, and wade river and creek in pursuit of elusive Elk, wily Deer, and challenging game birds. Perhaps, not as fast as in my much younger years, but, I got around. However, about a year ago, I began to notice a developing hitch in my "get a long." This year I reached the milepost of 70 years, and for the first time in most of those years, I did not buy an elk tag. I did buy a deer tag and tried, but had no success. A few days ago, my two girls (my nearly three year-old Yellow Labs, collectively known as "Bella Me'a") and I tried pheasant hunting on a clear and crisp afternoon. My dogs, well ... Bella, anyway, put up about 20 roosters, throughout the afternoon, but I only got off one shot, which I precisely missed. My once agile legs are changing on me. It seems that I have a harder time each year in keeping up with Bella, the "huntress," when she gets on the runners, so I'm invariably, always just behind a tree or not close enough, when the birds flush. Me'a, my other Yellow Lab, my goofy girl or happy dog (with what resembles a perpetual smile on her face and tail constantly wagging) always just along for the walk, and always nearby, consoles me when I miss a shot (if she really understands what is going on). But, she is indeed a fishing buddy! So, all we got was great views of pheasant butts disappearing over or through the trees, a lot of exercise, a very good night's sleep, and a whole bunch of sore muscles and joints. And anymore, if I hunt just one day, it takes me dang near a week to recover. But, always looking at the positive side, I believe that good news comes in twos. The first was that I didn't have to clean any birds. So, now I'm thinking that perhaps the "end of days" is nigh. No, not in the sense of the Da Vinci Code, but more along the line of "humping the hills" as in years past, when I wore a younger man's clothing. Nowadays, I just like "lose fitting, baggy, and comfy," but I digress. I am beginning to recognize and admit to the fact that, "I'm not as young ... as I once was." In other words, I am approaching the end of and era (or my days), in this case, the years of my own active hunting era, that I before and still ... so dearly love. But, "I ain't down for the count," no sir ... not yet! There will still be some sitting or short walkabout hunts on more or less flat land for deer, birds, or ducks. But, I think that I really am transforming from a die-hard hunter to an avid fisherman. Ok, I admit it! It's a little easier on theses old muscles and bones. Nevertheless, through the wisdom of age and seasoning, I sit and think, a lot, but mostly, I just sit. So lately, I have been thinking that maybe I should get one those Segway things, and add a luggage rack or little trailer for my gear, so I could zip around between the fishin' holes. But, their not cheap and for twice what they cost, I could buy a Smart Car, one of those big roller skates covered by the cockpit of a small aircraft, minus the propeller. Anyway, I'm already eagerly anticipating fly fishing for trout and other finny critters, next year. But, as soon as I recover from that last "bird watching" walk, I am going to try to do some fly fishing for Steelhead at Ringold, soon. The second chunk of good news (at least for me) is that I haven't completely thrown in the towel yet, and am still perfectly capable of getting a little "wild and crazy," once in a while. About the middle of October, I was in the Okanogan area, trying for three point bucks which are apparently ... non-existent. So, late on a Friday afternoon, my hunting buddy, Cousin Buck, our neighbor, JW, and I were sitting on our deck, "sippin' and talkin'" (but, not much thinkin' was happening that day"). Around sundown, somebody got the bright idea (no, this time it was not me ... I swear!) to take a spin around the area (all private land behind a locked gate) and say, "Hey there!," to the neighbors ... all three of us on JW's quad runner. Now, I carry way more belly than necessary, but I rationalize that fact by referring to it as "survival rations" in case I get lost and need to survive. Cousin Buck (about 63 years old) is a "Big Ol' Boy, and JW (the youngest .. about 58) is beginning to sport a bit of a paunch. So, collectively speaking, the three of us constituted a distinct "load." Picture Buck on the back, JW driving, and yours truly perched (like a hen trying to lay an egg) on a plastic milk case (redneck cargo carrier) tie-wrapped in front of the handle bars. And obviously, none of us are spring chickens. We went calling on the neighbors, havin' a sip here and a sip there. We finished up at Ol' Bob's place, our resident bachelor, who lives on the hill. Somewhere about "O dark thirty," we said our goodbyes. And then we headed back down to our place, through the dark of a full moon, dodging pine trees and deer (obviously ghosts as, remember, they were non-existent during the day). We made it home safe and sound. The next morning, JW, stopped by and over coffee, we reminisced about the night before, deciding that doing such a crazy thing had to have been in observance of my 70th year. So, we decided to do it all over again come the year that I turn 80 (2021). But come that next time, we would streak ... at least I think Buck and JW agreed, as JW mumbled something in the middle of his laughter about "nothing but ball caps and hunting boots," as he rode off, leaving Cousin Buck shaking his head. Well, imagine my surprise when this morning, I see in the newspaper that someone already tried to steal our thunder and get "one up" on us. Salem police arrested a naked man up a "nut" tree (seriously), clad in nothing but tennis shoes, in Salem. It is the full of the moon, and I think that Salem is in the Liberal side of Oregon, but If it makes any difference, it was ... a filbert orchard. I had begun to suspect my old classmate and fishing buddy, David MANSFIELD ('59) (who lives in Eugene), until I read that the man was a mere 28 years old, and was from Silverton. So, David Earl, you're off the hook and no longer a suspect. The man said that he had been drinking the night before with friends and didn't know how he got there. Hmmmm, brings back memories from my much younger days, but again, I ... digress. He was jailed on public indecency charges. Well, not to worry, when I turn 80, and we make our midnight streak, at least it will be on private property. However, I have a sneaking suspicion that JW and Cousin Buck are secretly hoping that I kick off before I reach 80, so they don't have to strip down to ball caps and hunting boots and once again ... race through the night. Still ... "There ain't nothing as much fun as having a good time!" For as long as I can... -George "Pappy" SWAN ('59) ~ Burbank, WA where no quad runners roam free, nor were harmed during the telling of this story. **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Linda BOWMAN Warren ('59) Re: Journey's End I wanted to let you all know that Jim WARREN ('59-RIP) completed his journey on November 3. Our family was all here and we were with him as he passed on. Our hearts are heavy but we are thankful that he is no longer having to suffer the effects of his cancer. I can't express how much we appreciated all the messages that were sent our way. It was such a blessing to feel the connection. There is good that can come from everything. Although Jim's journey was a difficult one and I wouldn't wish it on anyone, we felt that he was very lucky to be able to hear what his life had meant to others. He received letters, cards, e-mails and phone calls from all over the country telling him what he had contributed to other's lives. Usually one never hears these words for they are spoken at the funeral. In Jim's case, he was able to feel a peace knowing that he had made a difference. I thought perhaps you would like to see the article that was reported on Patch.com. I think the reporter did a fine job with the information. Thank you for all the comforting and kind messages you have been sending. I really feel a warmth coming across the miles and appreciate your supportive spirits. -Linda BOWMAN Warren ('59) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Tedd CADD ('66) In my years in the USCG, I learned a great respect for the US Marines. But I also discovered that there is the same sort of heroism in this, the smallest of the Armed Forces. As was said, the USCG has served in every conflict. There are Coast Guard units serving as the defensive forces in the harbors in the conflicts in the mid-east as well as in other capacities in that region. The Coast Guard has two primary functions: Law enforcement (civil and criminal) and Life saving. Both of these carry inherent dangers in our daily duties. Consider, for example, when our rescue efforts are typically initiated: We're called when somebody got in trouble because they were out on the water when they shouldn't have been. So our boats go out in horrible weather because that's what we do. Life saving: I've seen a helicopter flying sideways to prevent the lift on the front of the rotor from tipping the rotor so that the back part is too close to the tail section. Why? They were flying in wind speeds that were above the design limits. People needed help. Or Law enforcement: The sea-going tug had already rammed one of our ships. The captain set the tug on fire and opened the sea cocks to begin scuttling the boat. Our team went aboard, and arrested the crew (the captain thinking the evidence was on it's way to the sea bed). One of our team went to the forward hatch (through the fire on the bridge) and opened that hatch. Then the team and the tug's crew waded (yes the vessel's rear deck was already partly under water) to their boat and pulled away. When the tug sank, the bales of marijuana started popping to the surface. The services have official mottoes and unofficial mottoes. The Coast Guard's official motto is Semper Paratus, Always Prepared. The unofficial? "You have to go out. You don't have to come back." It is an honor to have served both in the USAF for several years (Vietnam Vet) and to be able to retire from this great service. I'm grateful I had the opportunity to be a part of it. -Tedd CADD ('66), LCDR USCGR **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Betti AVANT ('69) Re: Mrs. Duncan I had Mrs. Duncan in 4th grade at Jason Lee and she definitely was one of my favorites. I had my appendix out a few days prior to Halloween and was still in the hospital. She stopped by after school that day and brought me a box of candy as I was in Kennewick General Hospital and she lived in Kennewick. I ran into the mother to some Bombers back in the early '80s where I worked. Her oldest daughter did her student teaching under Mrs. Duncan and having had her listened to what she told the kids the first day of school. It was the same speech she had heard all those years before when she was a new 4th grader. -Betti AVANT ('69) ~ from a wet Lacey, WA **************************************************************** **************************************************************** Bomber Memorial >>Jim WARREN - Class of 1959 ~ 1941 - 2011 ******************************************* ******************************************* That's it for today. Please send more. ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø **************************************************************** Alumni Sandstorm ~ 11/14/11 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 3 Bombers sent stuff: Bill BERLIN ('56) David MANSFIELD ('59) Shirley COLLINGS ('66) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Ken NEAL ('57) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Lorraine WARD ('63) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Shirley COLLINGS ('66) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Michael West RIVERS ('68wb) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Mary Jo GARRISON ('69) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Terry DELSING ('71) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Bill BERLIN ('56) Re: My bucket list I am working on my bucket list, maybe not as fast as Pappy but I nailed another one this weekend. I guess it depends on how big your bucket is. I made mine from a 55-gallon oil drum so I can get a lot in it and take much more time to "git 'er done." I am sitting in my favorite chair on Thursday evening reading the local rag when I pick up the entertainment in Skagit County section, all half page of it, and what do I see... Brad UPTON ('74) performing at Max Dale's Steak House in Mt. Vernon on Saturday night November 12. I ran, not walked, to the phone and got two tickets to the show for my lovely wife Sandra (Franklin HS of Seattle '57) and I took her out for dinner and real deal entertainment. Never seen Brad before but had tried in both Bellingham and Seattle and missed him by one port on a cruise we took so this was perfect. Again run, don't walk, if you get a chance to see him. Sandra has sore ribs today (Sunday) and said that she had not laughed that much for years. Brad is good, very smooth and whilst it was not the best venue, he performed like the pro he is. I have to see him again. I did introduce myself after the show and it was good to meet a fellow Bomber. He mentioned in his presentation about playing baseball in Eastern Washington and being a center fielder, it was so hot that he could not see home plate for the mirage raising from it. That brought back a lot of memories for me playing down below GWWay and Brad reminded me that we were wearing wool uniforms too. Great memories. -Bill BERLIN ('56) ~ Anacortes, WA where we were only 34 miles round trip to see Brad. **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: David MANSFIELD ('59) Re: nude tree climber To: George "Pappy" Swan ('59) I do apologize for the recent newspaper article regarding the nude tree climber in Salem. As Most High Potentate of Eugene Local #28 Nude Arborist Climbing Brotherhood and Voting Director of "Buns on High-R-Us (limited)," I shall endeavor to correct the "yellow journalism" that appeared in your paper. First off, the 28 year old male is not and was not ever a member of Local #28. True, he was an apostolic candidate vying for an advanced degree, but rest assured he will never achieve the coveted 16½ Degree-Charter Membership of Local #28. All of our apostolic candidates and members do adhere to strict rules regarding our safety and the safety of others while climbing. Tennis shoe climbing is not permitted. Only OSHA approved climbing shoes, hard hats and full face shields are acceptable on any sanctioned nude climb. Further, just wearing tennis shoes is ... so ... so ... gauche. Secondly, the young man in was not under the influence of alcohol. It was something far worse. When the phlebotomist drew the blood sample he noticed an unusual color and odor. A subsequent chromatograph scan revealed the presence of chocolate in his blood. The young man had been main lining and was hipped up with 0.83% Hershey’s Chocolate Syrup in his veins. A blood count of 0.05 is considered Chocoholic and requires immediate detoxification, followed by six months Carob Therapy. So again I apologize for the miss handling of the nude tree climber incident by the media in Salem. By the way, there will be a nude tree climb demonstration by the Eugene Chapter of "Buns on High-R-Us" next Saturday right after the USC Oregon football game. For those of you interested, it will be at the East Goal Post. This will be our second climbing attempt. Last year our climbing demonstration literally never got off the ground. Some Yahoo had greased the goal post. This year, however, we will be using OSHA approved climbing spikes. Bring it on! -David MANSFIELD ('59) ~ The Cougs won yesterday! I wonder if we will break into the top ten in tomorrow’s BCS rating? **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Shirley COLLINGS Haskins ('66) Re: Area swimmers bring home state titles 11/13/11 Tri-City Herald Re: The first volume in the series, Tri-Cities Memories, The Early Years: 1890s – 1939 ...was published last year and featured Tri-City photos spanning 60 years. It is also available for mail order for $39.95 plus tax and shipping through tricities.pictorialbook.com. Fewer than 50 copies remain. -Shirley COLLINGS Haskins ('66) ******************************************* ******************************************* That's it for today. Please send more. ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø **************************************************************** Alumni Sandstorm ~ 11/15/11 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 5 Bombers sent stuff: Lois WEYERTS ('56), Helen CROSS ('62) David RIVERS ('65), Rick VALENTINE ('68) Brad UPTON ('74) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Janet TYLER ('61) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: John CAMPBELL ('63) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: John Owen PERKINS ('63) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Chris STADE ('66) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Maureen BARBER ('66) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Mick HEMPHILL ('66) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Barbara MAFFEI ('71) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Greg McELROY ('71) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Greg ALLEY ('73) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Lois WEYERTS Harrold ('56) Re: Hazel Duncan (RIP) It was sad to read of Hazel Duncan's death. She lived a long and good life. She was my fourth grade teacher at Jefferson and was one of my favorites. I think I counted 40 students in our class picture! A favorite memory was the musical play we put on called "Hansel and Gretel". Barbara GRAHAM ('56) was Gretel, Robbie HATFIELD ('56) was Hansel, Morris MACK ('56) was the father and Joan BRANDS ('56) was the mother, and Gayle RYALS ('56) was the witch. They are all in the class of '56. My best friend Sylvia Lowe and I were guardian angels. Many others had parts but I remember these the most. It wasn't until many years later after I met my husband, Larry HARROLD ('56), that I found out that Hazel Duncan was Tilbert NEAL's ('56) aunt. Tilbert was our best man at our wedding and a very good friend of Larry's. The last time I saw Hazel Duncan was at the reception after Tilbert's death. She was alert and looked about 15 years younger than her age. Two other special teachers at Jefferson were Mrs. Clarkston (2nd) and Mr. Lindemuth (6th). I have so many wonderful memories from Jefferson, Chief Jo, and Col-Hi. Richland was and is a great place to live! -Lois WEYERTS Harrold ('56) ~in breezy, cool Richland **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Helen CROSS Kirk ('62) Re: Jim WARREN ('59-RIP) To: Linda BOWMAN Warren ('59) Dear Linda, While I did not really know your husband, Jim, as you and he were much older (I laugh now, as 3 years seems nothing) than I was while growing up in Richland, as I was raised in Central UProtestant church, I knew the Warrens well, especially, Mrs. Warren to me, often my Sunday School teacher, and I knew Dave ('61), as he is only 1 year older than I am, and years later I learned that a PEO sister of mine is related to your family as well,and she had been to Richland, as she is one of the boy's cousins. I want to extend to you and your children my deepest sympathy on the loss of your husband, father, and grandfather, and to Dave, also my sympathy on the loss of your brother... It is never easy to lose a loved one, but it is easier for us who know that our Savior is waiting for us in Heaven. -Helen CROSS Kirk ('62) ~ Memphis, TN on the way to Branson, MO for a ministers' conference with my husband. **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: David RIVERS ('65) Re: I don't make this stuff up! OK... so on the Marine Corps Birthday I spent the entire day in another attorney's office defending depositions. Of course, I did not make my mirror Weekends yellow stickie before I left. Naturally I did not make one when I got home either but had my secretary email me a note telling me to wish Shirley COLLINGS ('66) an HB on the 14th... now the thing about emails is they are not plastered on your mirror so they only help if you open them and read them... Nuff said... Sorry, Girl... Hope you hadda great special day! By the way... I hear thru the Richland grapevine that several Bomber-babe sisters from a certain famblie with a last name beginning with "W" ('63, '66 and '67) met up in Richland to party hearty and were caught dancing with complete abandon at a local night spot... I also hear that a certain Bomber-babe from the class of '65 caught them on film... I have managed to obtain the evidence and am very tempted to post it on face book... I am sure I can be persuaded to refrain for the right price... on second thought, I just realized that such an improvident move on my part could jeopardize the possibility of my receiving a Gold Star for 2012 so... "never mind". Besides I gotta portant HB to send out today for an ol' pal a mine so I need to keep focused. Hope I'm not tied up on the 15th so I can make my yearly call as well. Speaking of calls, gotta call from Terry DAVIS ('65)... well not one... several... but the funny one was when I answered and he said in his best husky voice: "Rivers, this is Keeney"... it was right on... However since I had just talked to Jackson a few minutes before and since the phone number showed "Terry" on my screen I was not so easily fooled... he then went on to do a perfect imitation of each and every member of the "Sorry Seven" and then half a dozen more... he was spot on! Well now to wish my pal Mick HAMPHILL ('66) a VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY on his special day, November 15, 2011!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! -David RIVERS ('65) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Rick VALENTINE ('68) Re: The final Spokane Bomber Lunch of 2011 WHEN: Sunday, November, 20th TIME: 11:30 coffee 12:00 lunch WHERE: The Northern Quest Casino Woodlands Restaurant family section of the Casino The casino is located in Airway Heights, about one mile north of Wal*Mart at 100 N. Hayford Road. Woodlands Restaurant serves Breakfast and Lunch any time, good food and great service. Come and join us for lunch... all Bombers their families and friends are welcome... the more the merrier. Lunch and Slot Machines... Out Of Towners welcome... See You There... Any Questions or need directions contact Me... -Rick VALENTINE ('68) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Brad UPTON ('74) Such kind words from Bill BERLIN ('56)! It was a pleasure meeting you! Yes we did play baseball in temperatures well over 100 in wool uniforms! Back then there was also some kind of macho attitude that only the weak needed to drink water... so that was avoided. Do you remember what else we used to do after sweating excessively? Salt tablets!!! Brilliant! If you do want to run, and not walk, to come see me I'll be at the Tacoma Comedy Club on November 25-26th. I'm with Johnny Mathis in Cupertino, CA on December 23rd and at the Chumash Casino in Santa Ynez, CA on January 26th. I'll be at Laugh's in Kirkland on February 16-18th as well. Benaroya Hall with Joan Rivers on February 29th (it's a leap year)! I love meeting Bombers! -Brad UPTON ('74) ******************************************* ******************************************* That's it for today. Please send more. ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø **************************************************************** Alumni Sandstorm ~ 11/16/11 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 4 Bombers sent stuff: Betty BELL ('51), Doreen HALLENBECK ('51) Tommy HEMPHILL ('62), Gary BEHYMER ('64) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Wally ERICKSON ('53) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Linda LARSEN ('60wb) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Patti McLAUGHLIN ('65) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Melissa CANTRELL ('71) BOMBER ANNIVERSARY Today: Duane LEE ('67) & Valerie NIELSEN ('69) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Betty BELL Norton ('51) The EASY SWING BAND will be playing for the Richland Seniors Association's Third Friday Dance on Friday, November 18th from 1:00 to 4:00pm at the Richland Community Center. Cost is always $5 and pre-packaged finger foods are welcome but not required. We are having great turn-outs but always have room for more! Hope to see you there! -Betty BELL Norton ('51) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Doreen HALLENBECK Waldkoetter ('51) Re: Cemetery Spaces We have been living in southern Arizona for over fifteen years and have decided we no longer need our two spaces in Sunset Memorial Gardens, Resurrection Section, Spaces 3 & 4, in Richland. We would like to sell the two spaces together, not individually. If anyone is interested in purchasing these, we would welcome an e-mail from you. -Doreen HALLENBECK Waldkoetter ('51) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Tommy HEMPHILL ('62) Re: Happy Birthday Brother Mick Another year goes by, and my little brother Mick HEMPHILL ('66) is having Birthday today - November 15th. Happy Birthday, Bro. Mick is officially the CEO of Hemphill, Doolittle and Fishmore, Retirement Consultants. -Tommy HEMPHILL ('62) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Gary BEHYMER ('64) Re: Spudnuts and the like... Spudnuts are the hot item these days or should I say 'Spudnut Memorabilia'! In the past two weeks, on eBay, a "Vintage PLATE from the old SPUDNUTS Chain of Donut Shops" sold for $260.01 while a "SPUDNUT DONUT antique clock" sold for $350.00. -Gary BEHYMER ('64) ******************************************* ******************************************* That's it for today. Please send more. ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø **************************************************************** Alumni Sandstorm ~ 11/17/11 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 4 Bombers sent stuff: George SWAN ('59), Marilynn WORKING ('54) Donna BOWERS ('63), Shirley COLLINGS ('66) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Kim MOORE ('66) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Tom STORMS ('69) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Barb HOGAN ('72) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Brian HOGAN ('74) BOMBER ANNIVERSARY Today: Ron HOGLEN & Pam BUCKNER ('62) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: George "Pappy" SWAN ('59) Re: Change of Plans To: Bonnie ALLEN ('59) Bonnie, a while back, you sent to me, via email, the following little story and pictures: "Saturday morning was opening day of Deer Season, and we already had the area scouted and our trees stands mounted in place, so we got dressed, painted up with camo paint, and drove to a point close to our tree stands. We were ready to rock! As I approached my deer stand, just after daylight ... I decided to go back home... and rake the leaves..." Author Unknown http://AlumniSandstorm.com/htm2011/Xtra/Swan/111117-00.htm My response: Oh Bonnie, bear season was closed, but deer season was open, and that was just me ... trying out a new idea for an alternative camouflage. Ha! However, I came down after about an hour, as sitting that way brought on a lot of stiff muscles, really quick! And, in spite of the cool weather, the bear suit got hot, and I was afraid that I might get sleepy, think of hibernation and fall out of the tree stand. So, I just went fishing (in regular clothing) where I could stretch out on the bank ... and hibernate ... in peace. Pappy P.S. During this recent deer season, on the afternoon of opening day, I actually tried out a tree stand (just like the one used by the bear in these pictures) owned by Brad WEAR ('71), one of my hunting buddies and fellow Gyrenes. However, I found it to be more suitable for a much younger man's derriere (like Brad's, who is 12 years younger than I) and found it to be quite offensive to a seasoned old sergeant's muscles, joints and bones. And, the fact that the tree it was in, leaned slightly forward, brought on the overwhelming feeling that I definitely had to stay awake and focused or I could easily just, pitch forward into space and find myself dangling at an altitude of about 30 feet, at the end of my safety line. Just picture me swaying back and forth in the gentle breeze ... as a big buck walked by ... looking up and wondering who put that old fart "pinyatta" up there? But, that was during the afternoon of opening day. The day before, we had constructed different tree stand in another tree, that I used on opening morning. It was more spacious with a plywood platform to support a stool or tall bucket with a padded seat to sit on while surveying the surrounding river bottom. Well, constructing it was interesting. Since Brad had been an officer "and a gentleman" and therefore knew what he was doing (and 12 years younger), he scurried up the tree and built the stand with his prefabricated materials, as I performed the important job of staying safely on the ground, tying things onto a rope for him to pull up and put together. He also installed foot and handholds ... which I promptly bent when climbing into the stand on opening morning, since he forgot to use "Fat Guy-rated" spikes. We were unsuccessful in our deer hunt on that opening day, but I was encouraged, since I had five deer walk by me, four very close (20 yards from the base of the tree) that I could see, and could have easily shot, but they were does. I could only take a three point or better buck, so they were safe. However, I really think that the fifth was probably the legendary elusive big bruiser 8-pt buck of campfire hunting stories, and "Brad WEAR hunting tales." That fifth deer never revealed itself, and stayed just out of sight .. in the thick brush. But, that's the stuff that hunting stories (and sea stories) are made of, and when an experienced and seasoned old hunter is unsuccessful, he always has a good story, to make up for it ... sort of like fishing stories. So, the next weekend, at the end of the deer hunting season, I went in quest of more material for good fishing lies. Brad went back to the same area, deer hunting, and got his buck, but not out of the tree stand (a mere 100 or so yards from his car). No, being "12 years younger" and still spry and able to leap tall buildings, he hiked back into the surrounding hills and gullies and got his buck ... about a mile away. Then, he had to drag it down to the river, and quarter it in order to get it across the river and through the thick brush to his vehicle. Hmmmm, hey, I'll bet he could have used my thick plastic deer sled to drag it out on. Sorry Brad, I should have left it for you. Good thing you're still a youngster! Anyway, I'm already starting a personal fund for next year, because I'm thinking of purchasing a commercially made, industrial strength, complete with big ol' boy-rated ladder, spacious tree stand (built for two people, but will be occupied only by me). It will have a dumbwaiter to hoist me into and out of it, a comfy butt and back pad, footrest, coffee table, and enough extra room for a large refrigerator, a small range, a microwave, and alarm clock with snooze alarm, but nothing fancy, of course. And, for power, I will run a really, really, really long extension cord from one of the many windmill power generators in the area, as I did not see any "current bushes" around there. The outdoors stuff, despite the aches and pains, just keeps getting better, the older we get, whether we get anything or not. Well, that's not totally true ... we always get memories. -George "Pappy" SWAN ~ Burbank, WA sitting here staring out of the window, and trying to remember things, while watching snow falling softly on a cedar tree, a willow tree, some bushes, and wondering ... what the hell happened to Fall? **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Marilynn WORKING Highstreet ('54) Re: Lunch with class of '54 gals We will be meeting again for lunch at Rosy's in Richland this Friday, November 18th at 11:30 a.m. Come join us and have a fun time bringing everyone up on our lives. -Marilynn WORKING Highstreet ('54) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Donna BOWERS Rice (Gold Medal Class of '63) This is to all who know Perry MOORE (Gold Medal Class of '63): Tomorrow November 19th, 2011 he will be getting married for the 1st and last time to a beautiful lady, who was a college sweetheart) by the name of Linda Darlene Edwards in Bellevue, WA at 1:30pm. Mike and I are thrilled beyond measure as Perry has always been one of the "nicest" guys in the Class of '63, and we knew he would finally find the woman of his dreams, just didn't think it would take 48 years. All good things come from those who wait on the Lord. This is a very special time for him and I hope everyone in the Class of '63 sends him their best wishes!!!! I have always loved his Mom and Dad and know they will be looking down from heaven with unbounding joy!!! So Congratulations to the entire Moore family and to my neighborhood brother Perry!! Love: Donna and Mike Rice -Donna BOWERS Rice (Gold Medal Class of '63) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Shirley COLLINGS Haskins ('66) Re: Hope SOLO ('99) and Dancing With the Stars Soccer star and Richland native Hope SOLO has been kicked off of Dancing With the Stars. Solo was eliminated from the ABC ballroom competition Tuesday after finishing in last place during the semifinal performance round. Judges' scores are combined with viewer votes to determine which contestant is sent home each week. Actor and Army veteran J. R. Martinez, TV personality Ricki Lake and reality star Rob Kardashian will compete for the show's coveted mirror ball trophy on next Monday's episode. Re: Leroy Marvin SURPLUS ('61-RIP) Leroy Marvin SURPLUS, 68 years old and class of ('61) died November 14 at home in Richland. He was born in Twin Falls, ID and lived in the Tri-City area 63 years. He was a retired metal fabrication foreman. Einan's Funeral Home, Richland, is in charge of arrangements. Peace ~ -Shirley COLLINGS Haskins ('66) ******************************************* ******************************************* That's it for today. Please send more. ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø **************************************************************** Alumni Sandstorm ~ 11/18/11 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 5 Bombers sent stuff: Dick McCOY ('45), Mike CLOWES ('54) Jeanie WALSH ('63), David RIVERS ('65) Shirley COLLINGS ('66) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Nancy RIGGS ('51) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Barbara CROWDER ('55) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Peggy HARTNETT ('72) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Lynn SCHILDKNECHT ('74) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Dick McCOY ('45/'46/'02) Re: Hope SOLO ('99) As not much as been said in these pages regarding Hope during her run in "Dancing with the Stars", I thought I would like to know more about her soccer accomplishments, so I googled her. Her career has been astonishing. She is certainly the best female athlete Col-Hi has ever had, and I believe her to be the best of any gender. As a Bomber, she played forward, and scored 109 goals in four years. That has to be a state record. She helped her team win 4 league titles, and a state title in her Senior year. She made Parade magazine All American twice. She then went to the UW, and was moved to goalie. She was four-time all Pac Ten, and three times all NCSCAA, national honors. She set UW records in saves and shutouts. She then went on to become a star in the national and international circuits. She holds a gold medal from the 2008 Olympics. She is currently a member of the US team and is preparing for the 2012 Olympics. She does have something of an attitude, which showed up in the TV show, and which got her kicked off the 2007 team. As for the males, the best, Gene CONLEY ('48), has all those basketball and baseball rings, however, his high school and college records were very good, but not spectacular. -Dick McCOY, from the Tin Can Class of 1945 **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Bob Carlson, aka Mike CLOWES ('54) To: George "Pappy" SWAN ('59) Jorge, did you ever consider the fact that on the opening day of hunting season all the trophy bucks are down at the motel enjoying a few "cold ones" and watch The game on television? They are also chortling about the stupidity of huming beans wandering about the hills looking for them. On the other hand, perhaps it is for the best that you are thinking of giving it up. There are many hunters out there who have been trained in the jungles of Yakitat to shoot at anything that moves whether they can see it or not. Got me out of the woods long before The 'Nam. -Bob Carlson, aka Mike CLOWES ('54) ~ from windy and wet Mount Angel, OR, where thinking of you description of the hunting stand sounds more like the ice fishing shack of someone's dreams. **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Jeanie WALSH (Gold Medal Class of '63) Re: Perry MOORE ('63) Well I sure want to join Donna BOWERS Rice (Gold Medal Class of '63 and the entire class of '63 along with all Bombers to wish Perry MOORE and his new bride the best wishes for a lifetime together... -Jeanie WALSH (Gold Medal Class of '63) ~ Simi Valley, CA Home of the Ronald Reagan Library **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: David RIVERS ('65) Re: Gettin' hitched First Donna BOWERS Rice ('63) introduces me to American Tears, then she tells me that our boy Perry MOORE ('63... I think he'll still be Moore afterward) is gettin' hitched to his beautiful sweetie... Wow... ya see I am still always amazed and really proud of all my buds who have been with their loves since way back when... I think it's really great that Perry is taking the plunge and wish them all the best in the world. I, myself, was a frequent flyer on that plan... kinda like everything else I've stumbled into in my life... didn't give it much thought... as when HEIDLEBAUGH ('65) and I got our Bomber tattoos, just wuzn't doin' nuthin else at the time... Kinda like Crazy Googinheim, I guess... "Whatcha wanna do now? Ion't know... let's get tattoos"... funny how much of that changed when I put the plug in the jug... As the Big Fat Liar always says: "Who knew?"... not that we were hammered when we got those particular tattoos... we weren't... we were just bored and we'd already been to the Octopuses Garden... I mean it was a Friday morning in Richland and most of the guys were at work... what were we gonna do... go to tastey freeze? Already been up and down the dike and made three passes up and down Lee hill and thru Zip's... toolin' the Uptown has sorta lost it's appeal over the years so there we were... Anyway just wanted to give Perry a shout and acknowledge all the rest of you long term one time married folks! Hip Hip Hooray! -David RIVERS ('65) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Shirley COLLINGS Haskins ('66) Re: Chelsea McCLAMMER (2012) Re: Snow in the Tri-Cities Last Thanksgiving we had a ton of snow. It was so dreary. I sure hope that doesn't happen this year. Re: Leroy SURPLUS ('61-RIP) My condolences to Laurel NEPTUNE Surplus ('64) in the passing of her husband, Leroy. Laurel's parents used to babysit my brother, sister and me when I attended Spalding in part of 1st grade plus 2nd through 4th grade. Peace ~ -Shirley COLLINGS Haskins ('66) ******************************************* ******************************************* That's it for today. Please send more. ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø **************************************************************** Alumni Sandstorm ~ 11/19/11 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 3 Bombers sent stuff and 1 Bomber and 1 Bronc/Beaver Memorial today: George SWAN ('59) Tom HEMPHILL ('62) Jim HAMILTON ('63) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Don EHINGER ('55) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Mary ROSE ('60) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Richard TRUJILLO ('62) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Bill WILSON ('63) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Mike LAHRMAN ('63) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Mike Doan ('71) BOMBER ANNIVERSARY Today: Gene BARFUSS ('53) & Treasure ELDER ('54) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: George "Pappy" SWAN ('59) To: Bob Carlson, aka Mike CLOWES ('54) Re: "To: Jorge, did you ever consider the fact that..." "Si! I no never find thee really beeg "seniore deers," even though I leave the cerveza and tequila all alone until after the hunt ees over. I find senorita y senora deers all over thee plaza, but have for long time theenk that seniore deers must have cantina somewhere by their vacation home on the range, where they play with thee antelopes. I theenk eet is a "Hombre" theeng!" So, over thee meenie years, I wear out mi hunting zapadas for nathing. And, I try to hunt weeth the bow and arrow, but only steek sharp steeks in beeg trees. So, I geeve up, take siesta, an' then go have a cerevaza weeth mi new amigo deers, down at the cantina, an tell ol' hunteeng storiees, on each awther." -Jorge "Papa" de Beeg Blanco Birdo, aka George "Pappy" SWAN ('59) ~ Burbank, WA, where no deer were harmed this year during the gathering of material for this tall tale (nor was spelling verified in the telling of it). **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Tom HEMPHILL ('62) Re: Hope SOLO ('99) Linda and I enjoyed watching Hope progress up the ladder on "Dancing With The Stars". She did an excellent job and we are very proud of her. She made it to the semi-finals, which is quite an accomplishment. However, three other contestants had higher scores overall, so Hope went home this week. She should be very proud of herself. -Tom HEMPHILL ('62) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Jim HAMILTON ('63) Many of us have had an opportunities to play Flat Stanley and Where's Waldo, but how many have played "Where's Woodrow"? Keeping an eye out for GMC63's Bundes Billy is a full time job, what with him, his progeny and his grandchildren occupying at least a pant load of time zones. Der Kaiser is tough to keep up with, what he needs is one of those Santa websites that keep the cherubs occupied on Christmas Eve. After trying to find a Rosetta Stone Program of German/Okie so I could understand him, I've had to resort to watching reruns of Gomer Pyle and Seargent Schultz. We (Mike BRADY ('61), Kurt JOHNSON ('63), Dave HANTHORN ('63) and I) have found a common phrase that both Fritz and we can understand, and that's when Woodshed says, "Let's us meet at Redhook in Woodinville". Then after a couple of hours and werfer ein Überfluss we're laughing and playing with the pencils on the Group W Bench, oops that's Alice's Restaurant not HIgh Tea at Redhook. Never mind. So to one of the South End's finest and a fellow alumni of Rex DAVIS's ('49) Troop 38, Glücklicher Geburtstag to Bill WILSON ('63). Here's hoping they give you a Wagnerian worthy party, y'all. We look Forward to you darkening the door at the GMC63MCCS Christmas Gala in Olympia on the 12th of December. Jimbeaux p.s. Now it all makes sense how he was always wanting to change the Fight Song to Richland Uber Alles. Me thinks it was Ellen, Carole and their cabal that gave it twelve or so thumbs down because "It's sooooooo haaaaaard to daaaaaaaance toooooooooooo". -Jim HAMILTON ('63) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** Bomber Memorials >>LeRoy SURPLUS - Class of 1961 ~ 1943 - 2011 >>Marian FALLNESS Burnett - Class of 1944 ~ 1927 - 2011 ******************************************* ******************************************* That's it for today. Please send more. ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø **************************************************************** Alumni Sandstorm ~ 11/20/11 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 4 Bombers sent stuff: Gloria ADAMS ('54), Jim HAMILTON ('63) David RIVERS ('65), Shirley COLLINGS ('66) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Mike McKEOWN ('60) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Vernona CHAPPELLE ('64) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Laurie FRASER ('79) BOMBER ANNIVERSARY Today: Ron SHELBY ('59) & Lorraine WARD ('63) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Gloria ADAMS Fulcher ('54) Are there any other Bombers out there who are caretakers of spouses with dementia? It's a very long road and difficult to handle at times. -Gloria ADAMS Fulcher ('54) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Jim HAMILTON ('63) While I might resemble the remarks of Marshall McLuhan when he said, "I don't necessarily agree with everything I say". I have to in all honestly blame Herr Woodchuck for my incorrectly stating that the GMC63MCCS Christmas Gala and Red Sweater Cotillion was to be held on the 12th of December, when in fact it is scheduled for Saturday the 10th of December at 10am. It is so difficult to translate the Chicashaw dialect of German, he being the only person in this or any other cosmos who uses it in normal conversation. Well, there are two if you include the cigar store Indian for sale at Ye Olde Curiosity Shoppe down my Ivar's. The diffy betwixt ten and twelve in "OkiedDeutch" is a guillemet, two circumflexes, a bunch of da^'u ho?i left over from Vietnamese language school and after one or two at Red Hook a Polish cedilla. I had a pocket full of umlauts after Woodshop had tried to tip with them and I deftly replaced them with three shiny nickels to keep the server coming back, and I must have used one or two irresponsibly. All this being said, the Class Clambake is in Olympia on December 10th at Rivers Edge (riversedgetumwater.com) at the Tumwater Golf Course. I repeat the 10th of December. Mary Lou will bring her interminable perkiness and again will be regaling us with quips and anecdotes about her last four (4) appearances on The Jerry Springer Show. Mary Margaret will have her broken foot on display, she being IR since demonstrating an arabesque and brisé on a North Beach sidewalk and never spilling a drop. And Pitts will be bringing his Power Point Display and will again be asking for donations to help make "The Gator", Washington's official folk dance. Again, it is the 10th at 10:00am, and don't make me repeat myself. -jimbeaux -Jim HAMILTON ('63) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: David RIVERS ('65) Re: Nuther Spalding Hero BD Before I get started talking about this Spalding guy and repeat what I always say about how much I admired him I thunk I'd better give Bill WILSON ('63) a little heads up... first hope your Bday was great... second be careful of taking any... repeat any instructions from Jimbeaux ('63) the "Oracle"... If you show up in Olympia on December 12th it may be just you and Ellen ('63) tho I guess ML ('63) could still be there... I think the 10th would be a better bet... that said... DO NOT take any driving directions from Jimbeaux... just humor him and say stuff like "yes dear" only for guys... I think "sure, man" is appropriate... "cool" always works in a pinch... so now lemme wish a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY to a kid who made a huge impression on me during my Spalding days, Mike McKeown ('60) on Nobember 20, 2011!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! -David RIVERS ('65) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Shirley COLLINGS Haskins ('66) Re: Chelsea McCLAMMER ('12) 11/19/11 TC Herald article plus pictures from 11/18/11 TC Herald on-line "Chelsea McCLAMMER, 17, of Benton City, a senior at Richland High School, races for a win during the Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico, this week. She flies home today with five gold medals and one bronze. She won gold in the T53 division for the 100 meters, 200 meters, 400 meters, 1,500 meters and 5,000 meters. She earned bronze in an open class 800-meter race, which combines the T54 and T53 divisions. Chelsea, whose legs became paralyzed after a car accident near Benton City when she was 6, raced in Mexico every day this week." Herald pictures of Chelsea We are VERY proud of you, Chelsea!! Peace ~ -Shirley COLLINGS Haskins ('66) ******************************************* ******************************************* That's it for today. Please send more. ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø **************************************************************** Alumni Sandstorm ~ 11/21/11 ~ NOT ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Not enough entries for a REAL Alumni Sandstorm. We do, however, have birthdays today: BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Rosemary QUALHIEM ('63) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: John CRIGLER ('64) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Deanna FULCHER ('72) ******************************************* ******************************************* That's it for today. Please send more. ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø **************************************************************** Alumni Sandstorm ~ 11/22/11 ~ JFK Assassination - 1963 http://AlumniSandstorm.com/htm2003/Xtra/1963-12-09SSpg1.htm ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 2 Bombers sent stuff: Nadine REYNOLDS ('61) Mike FRANCO ('70) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Ellen SPITALERI ('65) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Sandi CHERRINGTON ('66) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Dawn BELL ('67) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Jo CLARK ('67) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Brad WEAR ('71) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Brent CHRISTI ('71) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Nadine REYNOLDS Cochran ('61) Re: Shelby the Mastiff's Puppies Shelby's puppies, Diva and Duke, participated in their first dog shows this weekend and last. They have 15 blue ribbons and 1 red one for 2nd place in their class. They both showed very well. Dave COCHRAN ('61) showed Diva and Nadine REYNOLDS Cochran ('61) showed Duke. They probably will need to be a few months older before they will win Winner's Dog or Winner's Bitch to earn points toward their Champion titles. The main thing is that we all had fun. I sent some video of the event to the picture address. Hopefully they came through ok. Re: News Flash Update We are so excited. Today our little 7 month old puppy, Duke, won Winners Dog at the Tucson Dog Show beating out 3 other dogs that were older than he is. By winning, he earns his first point toward his Championship. Here are some pictures that we took when practicing at the park. -Nadine REYNOLDS Cochran ('61) ~ Sahuarita, AZ where it is still nice enough to wear shorts **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Mike FRANCO ('70) I noticed that Walt Hazard former Sonic coach and player for John Wooden's first national championship UCLA team passed away over the weekend. This brought to mind one of the very best ever sports trivia questions. This NEVER failed to win me a beer (pay attention Boog ALLEY ('73)): Name three super stars who came from Overbrook High School in Philadelphia. Answer: Wilt Chamberlain, Walt Hazard and of course Gene Turping Walt and Wilt were both of course Hall of Fame basketball players. Gene Turping was one of many Hall of Fame Bomber fathers, father of Peter ('70), Rob ('65) and Paul Turping. C'mon Boog, no way did you get that one! -Mike FRANCO ('70) ******************************************* ******************************************* That's it for today. Please send more. ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø **************************************************************** Alumni Sandstorm ~ 11/23/11 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 5 Bombers sent stuff: Bernie QUALHEIM ('56), Jim HAMILTON ('63) David RIVERS ('65), Shirley COLLINGS ('66) Greg ALLEY ('73) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Roberta KIRKWOOD ('58) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Terry JONES ('64) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Gayle DAWSON ('65) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: John KENITZER ('71) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Karen Elaine MARSHALL ('82) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Bernie QUALHEIM ('56) Re: My Granddaughter Heather is Playing for Whitman!! -Bernie QUALHEIM ('56) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Jim HAMILTON ('63) There are good friends and then there are old friends, rarely will one luck out and have a good old friend. Back in my chemo days, when the phone rang about 9:30am on a Saturday, I knew it would be Terry JONES ('64) checking on me. For 50+ years Terry’s calls usually start out with "Whatcha Doin'", not "what are you doing", but "Whatcha Doin'". Hence the nickname Whatcha Doin' Jones. Happy Birthday Terry, who woulda thunk that we'd be amongst the last men standing. -jimbeaux -Jim HAMILTON ('63) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: David RIVERS ('65) Re: $%^%&^%^%$&*^&&^%^*&%^!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Leave it to me. Didn't look at my yellow stickie at all yesterday... There in nice large letters appeared the names of Sandy CHERRINGTON ('66) and my great bud Brad WEAR ('71) at the VERY TOP of the new list... not somewhere in the middle... the top! Oh the shame of it! Well HB to both of you on the 22nd anyway! (My gold star collection is really suffering)... Guess I was thinking too much of Lyman POWELL ('65) and Ricky WARFORD ('65) out on the cruise after Lyman "gave away" one of his beautiful daughters (nobody told me which one and I sure didn't get no invitation)... I hadda learn it from Terry DAVIS' ('65) calls and an inquiry from Kenny DAME ('68) who hadn't seen Lyman and was concerned... but I did learn that Warford was actually wearing white pants on the cruise... .White pants! Nobody wears white pants except Carl "Beaver" BEYER ('65) and I'm sure it's his lady, Jane (Stones circa '66), who dresses him! Now there are two kinds of white pants for men... Sonny Crockett pants, that nobody wears any more (there's a story there if I remember to tell it) and Chatsworth Osborne, Jr. pants that sailing types and prolly Jimbeaux ('63) wear... well maybe wore... can't see the Oracle in them these days... would clash with his madras jacket and tie... well maybe not... I must admit that I did wear Sonny Crockett pants in my other life... funny... on the 20th, I realized I had outlived my good buddy Bo Belinsky by a week (at that time)... seems so strange that he's been gone for 10 years on the 23rd. He died two weeks before his 65th birthday. I thought long and hard about Bo's life and mine. Bo lived a hard fast life and was the King of the H-wood crowd for a few exciting years... He had it all and died young leaving a not-so-well-preserved corpse... I wondered if I would be willing to die as young if I had done all the things that Bo did... I have the watch Mamie VanDoren gave him as an engagement present... Bo drank and drugged himself out of the Angels and the Phillies... but he did have a blast doing it... or so it seems... then I recalled I had drunk my self out of the largest law firm in Arizona... (the white pants story follows)... for the '65ers' 20th reunion I flew into Pasco barely able to walk or see my way across the bridge... I checked in and continued to drink with one of the guys from my class... when the gang started gathering I made them agree with me that we would all show up to the mixer in very casual dress (me in my Sonny Crockett pants, pink shirt and off-white, canvas deck shoes with no socks)... well, when it was time for the evening mixer, everyone else was in nice slacks and shirts and I was in my costume... at the time I was in the process of drinking my way out of the largest law firm in Nevada, though I was oblivious to it all... I mean I was a brilliant lawyer ya know... at the 20th reunion people still carry their grudges and have the need to show how successful they are... thank God for the 25th when we can all go back to 3rd grade and just be pals once again... so there I was in my sleazy little costume and as I walked in there was an old flame dressed in a beautiful party dress... .we embraced and the rest is history (as it was her anniversary the rest of the weekend I would be stalked by the Hubby she stood up... armed and dangerous)... As I sit back and think of the "glory dayz" I realize there was nothing glorious about them... would I change my life for Bo's and die young? Hell no! I am so grateful for every moment I have had with all you, my dear friends. I am grateful for all the times we have left together. I sure hope Warford looks better in his white pants than I did at that 20th reunion! -David RIVERS ('65) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Shirley COLLINGS Haskins ('66) I want to wish everyone a very happy Thanksgiving. I am thankful for God, family, friends, health, food, veterans and all those serving in the military. Here is a Thanksgiving card for you to view to help you remember things we all need to be thankful for this Thanksgiving: Re: All-Area Cross Country from 11/22/11 TC Herald 1st Team are Lindsey BRADLEY ('14) and Lauren PERRY ('13) 2nd Team is Sidney BULLOCK ('14) My sympathies and prayers to the family of Mary Katherine Clossey who passed away November 15, 2011 at the age of 91. Also to the family of Thomas D. McLerran who passed away November 17, 2011 at the age of 88. Einan's Obits Check out this video about the kids at Lewis and Clark elementary. The school has the children from the worst home lives in the city, but they received a state award for the highest achievement scores! Our daughter, Lindsay, teaches 4th grade there. She is very proud of her students! Peace ~ -Shirley COLLINGS Haskins ('66) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Greg ALLEY ('73) To: Mike FRANCO ('70) I guess you got me on the Gene Turping trivia. Being a hoop fan all my life I got hooked with John Wooden and his 1964 team with Walt Hazzard and Gail Goodrich. Sorry Coug fans, I was a sucker for winners as I was a Bomber fan and I liked the Celtic teams with Russell and Havlicek. Went right to losing with the Sonics in 1967 but stayed faithful until some rich guy from Oklahoma stole them away. Walt did convert to a religion and a name Mahdi Abdul Rachman (spell check), and then back to Walt Hazzard when he coached. Re: Boise State Your earlier argument for and against Boise State was valid as they are building a heck of a program but are not an elite team quite yet. This year for trivia Tom Moore, Kellen Moore's dad, helped the Bombers out and added some offensive knowledge to the team. The Bombers just missed out on playoff action though. After that game a few years back when Boise threw in the hook and ladder and statue of liberty and any other tricks they had at the end of the game and beat Oklahoma, the whole country kind of jumped on the fan wagon. I see Boise hats and shirts all around the Tri-Cities. I just happened to be in the T-Room that night. Don't know why but it made the place exciting for a couple hours for that game. Bomber Leon RICE (forgot class) is starting to build a winner for Boise basketball also. -Greg ALLEY ('73) ~ In windy Richland where the winter is coming on a little too fast for me with short days and dark nights. In my crystal ball I do see 4 days off in my future for a real holiday. ******************************************* ******************************************* That's it for today. Please send more. ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø **************************************************************** Alumni Sandstorm ~ 11/24/11 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 5 Bombers sent stuff: Maren SMYTH ('63 & '64), Carol CONVERSE ('64) David RIVERS ('65), Shirley COLLINGS ('66) Gary SCHAUER ('84) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Nola DAVEY ('56) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Darla WISE ('60) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Gary CHRISTIAN ('67) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Nancy MIDDLETON ('67) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Twins: Terry & Linda HUTSON ('74) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Maren SMYTH ('63 & '64) Re: This came from a non Bomber friend. Let's Create a New American Christmas Tradition As the holidays approach, the giant non-American factories are kicking into high gear to provide Americans with monstrous piles of cheaply produced goods - merchandise that has been produced at the expense of American labor. This year will be different. This year Americans will give the gift of genuine concern for other Americans. There is no longer an excuse that, at gift giving time, nothing can be found that is produced by American hands. Yes, there is! It's time to think outside the box, people. Who says a gift needs to fit in a shirt box, wrapped in non-American produced wrapping paper? Everyone - yes EVERYONE - gets their hair cut. How about gift certificates from your local American hair salon or barber? Gym membership? It's appropriate for all ages who are thinking about some health improvement. Who wouldn't appreciate getting their car detailed? Small, American owned detail shops and car washes would love to sell you a gift certificate or a book of gift certificates. Are you one of those extravagant givers who think nothing of plonking down the Benjamins on a non-American made flat-screen? Perhaps that grateful gift receiver would like his driveway sealed, or lawn mowed for the summer, or driveway plowed all winter, or games at the local golf course. There are a bazillion owner-run restaurants - all offering gift certificates. And, if your intended isn't the fancy eatery sort, what about a half dozen breakfasts at the local breakfast joint. Remember, folks this isn't about big National chains - this is about supporting your home town Americans with their financial lives on the line to keep their doors open. How many people couldn't use an oil change for their car, truck or motorcycle, done at a shop run by the American working guy? Thinking about a heartfelt gift for mom? Mom would LOVE the services of a local cleaning lady for a day. My computer could use a tune-up, and I KNOW I can find some young guy who is struggling to get his repair business up and running. OK, you were looking for something more personal. Local crafts people spin their own wool and knit them into scarves. They make jewelry, and pottery and beautiful wooden boxes. Plan your holiday outings at local, owner operated restaurants and leave your server a nice tip. And, how about going out to see a play or ballet at your hometown theater. Musicians need love too, so find a venue showcasing local bands. Honestly, people, do you REALLY need to buy another ten thousand non-American made lights for the house? When you buy a five dollar string of lights, about fifty cents stays in the community. If you have those kinds of bucks to burn, leave the mailman, trash guy or babysitter a nice BIG tip. You see, Christmas is no longer about draining American pockets so that other countries can build another glittering city. Christmas is now about caring about the US, encouraging American small businesses to keep plugging away to follow their dreams. And, when we care about other Americans, we care about our communities, and the benefits come back to us in ways we couldn't imagine. THIS is the new American Christmas tradition. Bomber cheers, -Maren SMYTH ('63 & '64) ~ Gretna, LA **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Carol CONVERSE Maurer (Magic Class of '64) To: Shirley COLLINGS Haskins ('66) I can see why your daughter would be very proud of her 4th grade students. That's really a great achievement for Lewis & Clark Elementary School. But, it does sound weird that the school is a low income school now. We who went to school there were all from the south end of town and weren't considered low income at the time. -Carol CONVERSE Maurer (Magic Class of '64) ~ Eureka, CA Winter has arrived with the rain! **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: David RIVERS ('65) Re: Yellow stickie at the ready Well, today is the birthday of my almost first ex... that prolly sounds a bit strange... it gets stranger because beyond being the love of my life during my Sr year, she could also have almost been called my sister since her family became very much my family during that time frame. I lived at her Mom's house much to the displeasure of her step dad off and on. (displeasure constant... residing off and on) Her brothers and I were very close and I called her Mom "Mom2" right up until her death. She treated me as a son as well. So ya can see it was a little different sitchashun. I've told the story about us running to Ideeho with Jackson KEENEY ('65... funny... Terry DAVIS ('65) called from KEENEY's while I was writing this) as our "best man" on the 4th of July to get hitched in the style of Rick NEIL ('61) only to find that Holidays are not the optimal days to try and accomplish such acts in a tourist town... longest ride home in my life with the exception, maybe, of when our old timey all powerful former Sheriff insisted on me getting the gaming license for his two kids... the kids forgot to mention their constant use of mind altering substances which were well known to the Gaming Control Board... got them licensed with the stipulation that they pee in a bottle upon returning to Vegas from Carson City... when I arrived back in Vegas, the story had already hit the front page of the newspaper and the Gaming boyz were on the phone to my partner asking if I was "mad at them"... uh no... not at you guys... Ralph was fit to be tied (he had had the veins stripped from his legs and left the hospital for the trip to Carson... the week before however he had been bulldogging steers... what a guy)... I waltzed into the office of the head of the Gaming Commission (the big big boss) and presented a hypothetical of applicants who just might want to withdraw their applications after having been granted the license... their applications were lost somehow... wheeeeeeeeew! That ride from Carson may well have been the longest most silent ride of my life! Well, to make a long story short, the birthday girl's oldest brother died in a horrible car crash around Christmas 1965 and she never recovered from his death. I joined the Marine Corps but have always been able to brag that Kent Morrill was her next brother's best man at his wedding... When George KELLY ('64) and I came home on leave we went to our next duty stations by way of Puyallup with brother Stanley MIDDLETON ('64-RIP) in tow... we all headed to a Tacoma tattoo parlor ta get tattooed (this time we were all hammered to the gills)... mine took so long that the other two got bored and found a party somewhere... they did come back to retrieve me tho... thank goodness... I woke up on Jean DEMITER"s ('62) couch with a huge bandage on my arm and Mrs. Middleton demanding to know what I had done... uh oh George and Stan were unmarked... When I came home from Vietnam I thought I would be getting off at SeaTac and Jean was going to pick me up... We landed but didn't get off... the B-day girl and I have remained very close over the years, but have lost touch in the last few... I have heard but have not confirmed that she has been ill for a while... the last time I recall talking to her was the day they buried her mom... I hadn't talked to Mom2 in a while and was concerned... I called the house and the b-day girl answered... I asked what she was doing there... she said something made her stop at the house on the way to the funeral and heard the phone ringing... she said the last thing her mom said was "tell David I love him."... now that's a sobering set of facts if ever I heard any! So HAPPY BIRTHDAY Nancy Chere' "Dancy Jerry" MIDDLETON ('67) on your special day, November 24, 2011!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! -David RIVERS ('65) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Shirley COLLINGS Haskins ('66) Re: All-Area Soccer from 11/23/11 TC Herald Katherine VIRDEN ('14) and Andes ARCHIBALD ('14) made the All-Area Soccer team. The second team includes forwards Kirsten CALMUS ('13), and Allison Boynton ('12), midfielder Jill CHERRY ('12), and goalkeeper Shelby LONG ('12). Congratulations girls!! Happy Thanksgiving everyone ~ -Shirley COLLINGS Haskins ('66) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Gary SCHAUER ('84) To: Greg ALLEY ('73) Greg, thanks for the trivia. Leon RICE is from RHS class of '82 (a year ahead of your brother John ('83) and two years ahead of Kathy ('84)) and is doing Richland proud with his quick success as Boise State's basketball coach. He paid his dues, sitting alongside Mark Few at Gonzaga for 11 years, and just waiting for a good opportunity. Looks like he's found it at Boise State and is doing well. For those interested: Leon RICE ('82) Bio -Gary SCHAUER ('84) ******************************************* ******************************************* That's it for today. Please send more. ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø **************************************************************** Alumni Sandstorm ~ 11/25/11 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 4 Bombers sent stuff: Don LYALL ('52), Janet TYLER ('61) Leoma COLES ('63), Shirley COLLINGS ('66) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Dennis SCHODT ('63) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Charles SOLOMON ('64) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Fran TEEPLE ('68) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Jim CANTRELL ('69) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Gary TURNER ('71) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Debbie NELSON ('77) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Leon RICE ('82) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Shelly STREGE ('98) Cinnamon Bear - Audio CD: http://www.radioarchives.com/Cinnamon_Bear_p/ra031.htm Cinnamon Bear - Listen online daily starting 11/29 http://www.radiolovers.com/pages/cinnamonbear.htm **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Don LYALL ('52) Re: Razorbacks/LSU GO HOGS -Don LYALL ('52) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Janet TYLER ('61) Re: Let's Create a New American Christmas Tradition Thanks Maren for the wonderful request and many ideas. These are marvelous ideas for those of us who are 'finished' with the constant need for acquisitions! My family members are all open to new ways to honor one another and began following these practices several years ago to the delight of us all. It is amazing how the younger generations pick up on these ideas gradually by about age 10 or 12 (as long as they are not 'forced' to do so before they are ready). May the holidays bring all Bombers and their families peace and love. -Janet TYLER ('61) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Leoma COLES ('63) Maren, In response to your message about buying American Made, I totally agree! There are also great mail-order businesses in the states. I have worked at and so love Harry and David [http://www.harryanddavid.com]. They have a wonderful catalog with great fruit and candies that come from Southern Oregon. They ship direct to customers and have many famous customers from all over the world! Then I also buy from Figi's catalog [http://www.figis.com/] for cheese and sausages that are truly the best! They even offer a no-interest payment plan! Soooooo, I think this is the way to go, and we can truly help keep jobs in America!!! I hope all have a Happy Holiday season. I am doing a progressive dinner today... my family is all gone from the area and I am alone for the first holiday... so, several friends invited me to join them for Thanksgiving dinner and I am going to three different friends and joining them for salad, dinner and dessert! Sounds like fun... take care all!! -Leoma COLES ('63) ~ in Salem, OR with a little sun peeking out today between raindrops!! **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Shirley COLLINGS Haskins ('66) Re: All-Area Swimming from 11/14/11 TC Herald The coach of the All-Area Swimming team is Kathy Piper who coaches the Richland and Hanford teams. Lisa BRATTON ('14) made first team. Sarah OLSEN ('13) made second team. Re: Dancing With the Stars finals Tuesday, November 22 The finals were held on Tuesday for Dancing With the Stars. Ricki Lake came in 3rd, Rob Kardashian in 2nd, and J.R. Martinez came in 1st place. In the judges voting Rob was ahead of J.R. by one point, but the audience had a 50% count which put J.R. as the winner. Peace ~ -Shirley COLLINGS Haskins ('66) ******************************************* ******************************************* That's it for today. Please send more. ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø **************************************************************** Alumni Sandstorm ~ 11/26/11 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 6 Bombers sent stuff: Mike CLOWES ('54), Larry MATTINGLY ('60) Mac QUINLAN ('62), Donna NELSON ('63) Jim HAMILTON ('63), Maren SMYTH ('63 & '64) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Roberta ADKINS ('52) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Bill BERLIN ('56) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: John FLETCHER ('64) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Eleanor ATTWOOD ('65) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: CB LIH ('67) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Jill WALSER ('81) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >> From: Bob Carlson, aka Mike CLOWES ('54) Trust one and all did not overeat yesterday, and had a good time with family. And I hope no one stayed up late to participate in the shopping madness that follows Thanksgiving. -Bob Carlson, aka Mike CLOWES ('54) ~ the wind and the rain have subsided for a while in Mount Angel, OR **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >> From: Larry MATTINGLY ('60) Re: Alaska Fireworks I hope everybody had a nice Thanksgiving with friends and family. We got to Anchorage in time to have dinner with friends who are next door neighbors to Jackie. We spent the last 2 days in preparation for a large fireworks display in Palmer, AK Saturday Evening at 7:15pm. The display is in the Palmer Library parking lot. We were working at a remote location north of Big Lake. AK at temps of 10-12 below zero. I have the right clothes for it but the cold still soaks into my arthritic joints and that is no fun. Any Bomber Alums in the Palmer-Wasilla area can enjoy a very nice display with hundreds of items fired. It is "Customer Appreciation Night" from Country Cutts Salon. And owner Stan Gutherie goes all out. Alaska is easier to like in the summer than in winter. We will be doing the Tri-City New Year's display this year, more details later. I will be at my normal display at Dutch Harbor, AK again this New Years Eve. I recently wrote a paper on troubleshooting and avoiding problems with electrical firing systems. The International Symposium on Fireworks (on the Island of Malta this next April) has invited me to present it at the technical conference. And yes I accepted the invite, as Malta is the last place on my "bucket list" of places I need to visit before my departure from this earth. Getting there is expensive, but an opportunity I cannot pass up. Malta has been glaring at me from the list for many years. And an invitation from one's peers like this cannot be ignored as I have many friends in that august body. This will be my second appearance at ISF. I presented another paper years ago at the ISF conference in Orlando, FL. To be honored by one's peers is perhaps one of the best things in my life. (Along with my family of course). "Happiness is the sky in bloom, and a warm place to get in out of the cold)" -J. Larry MATTINGLY ('60) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >> From: Frank Quinlan, aka Mac QUINLAN ('62) Re: Buy American It's sad to say, but in my line of work the quality of parts made in China are becoming better than the parts I get from this country. In the high performance racing industry this country was way above all other countries when it came to quality... by a long shot. Don't get me wrong, there are exceptions, but for the most part, items I get from China appear to have gone through a better QC process than things I get from this country. I am forced to dissemble everything I get, remove the burrs, flush out the metal chips and check for proper tolerances. Are American workers saying to themselves, "Why should I care, it's all going to China anyway", then later on they smugly say, "See I was right, my company did move to China." I hope this is a facetious approach to a serious problem, but in my business quality is more important than price. Now days it's fairly common to build high performance engines in the range of $20k for a small block or $70k for a big block. If I have to pay $40-$60 for a higher quality part, no matter what country it was made in... I buy it. I don't have a clue as to the actual reason for the loss of quality in my industry but if the quality came back I would be right at the front of the line to "Buy American". -Frank Quinlan, aka Mac QUINLAN ('62) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >> From: Donna NELSON ('63) Great suggestions and ideas Maren. Here's another one: type "battle saint" in google and you'll get a website showing $5 bracelets and the money goes to support our troops. It's another way to support my grandson Keaton and all the other men and women who I'm very grateful for. -Donna NELSON ('63) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >> From: Jim HAMILTON ('63) A very Happy Birthday to my long time friend and former neighbor Bill BERLIN ('56). We should be pulling up in Cousin Eddy the first part of March, and don't try the silly French accent from behind the closed door, it won't work every time. -jimbeaux -Jim HAMILTON ('63) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >> From: Maren SMYTH ('63 & '64) To: Don LYALL ('52) Re: Tigers vs. Hawgs HA! Bomber cheers, -Maren SMYTH ('63 & '64) ~ Gretna, LA ~ 70° at 1am ******************************************* ******************************************* That's it for today. Please send more. ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø **************************************************************** Alumni Sandstorm ~ 11/27/11 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 6 Bombers sent stuff: Don LYALL ('52), Mike CLOWES ('54) Jim HAMILTON ('63), Mary Lou WATKINS ('63) Jim HEIDLEBAUGH ('65), Shirley COLLINGS ('66) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Andrew ECKERT, Jr. ('53) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: David RIVERS ('65) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Pat FUNK ('69) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Don LYALL ('52) Re: ARK/LSU Maren, I must eat some crow. There is no question who is the best team in college football. The tigers controlled the line of scrimmage and their defense has never seen better. They just wooped us. We do enjoy quality football here in he SEC, to have 3 teams from one division in one conference ranked the top is really something. One must remember that a fourth team in the same conference (Auburn) was last years National Champion. One wonders how old Bomber grads end up here in the South - Maren in LA, Dick WIGHT ('52) in Branson, MO (about an hour North of us) and Jim BLAKE ('52) in Ft Worth. I am sure there are others. [Yes, there sure are! -Maren] We all still love the Bombers, believe me. Got a nice note from Joe WEBB ('52) after my last entry, thanks... We wish everyone a Happy Holiday Season. Maren, go Tigers!!!! -Don LYALL ('52) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Bob Carlson, aka Mike CLOWES ('54) To: Don LYALL ('52) I second Maren"s motion. Could it be retribution for hiring an NFL quitter as head coach? On another note; the Bomber calendar indicates that today (Nov 27th) we are supposed to celebrate the birth of some obscure ambulance chaser. Does he really need another birthday? Oh, I know, he'll just use it as an excuse to try to sit at the big kids' table. Besides, doesn't he have enough to do in trying to remember every one else's? -Bob Carlson, aka Mike CLOWES ('54) ~ it was so nice in Mount Angel, OR on Friday... I was able to mow all the leaves in the yard. There's only 20-thousand or so left to fall. **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Jim HAMILTON ('63) I've got one for you. Who still wears rolled up jean cutoffs, rolls his heaters up in his tee shirt sleeve, can entertain all the other children eating with him at the card table with his toothpick tricks, might well be facing an intervention on the evening of December ninth for posti-note abuse, is a Marine anomaly needing a size 7 hat and size 38 coat (as opposed to the recruiting norm of size six hat and size 44 coat) and is often seen in his Bomber Themed Terry Ball low-cuts but never in the state of Nevada. Oh, you guessed our Birthday Boy, David RIVERS ('65), I guess it was too easy. Happy Birthday David, see you in a couple of weeks, Bomber jammies and all. -Jimbeaux -Jim HAMILTON ('63) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Mary Lou WATKINS Rhebeck (Gold Medal Class of '63) This Birthday Boy is turning 65... and he is from the Cute Little Class of '65 (the members being definitely cute)... this (65 for a '65) must be an omen that he will have an amazing year. We Bomber Girls certainly hope he does! He is our main boy cheerleader (not that he was a cheerleader... and even though we never really liked boy cheerleaders... well, maybe Cecilia ('65) did... since she is also from that Cute Little Class)... . but we love this guy! He always strives to make us feel young, pretty, fun, and popular. He remembered every birthday of every Weihermiller sister... (and that's a lot of birthdays)... and in return, received a "Gold Star" from Ellen ('63)... (hmmmm... some of us are wondering what that entails... but another time). He keeps tabs on the "Oracle", aka Jimbeaux HAMILTON ('63), and occasionally can help him along... and in turn, is under the watchful eye of another great '63er... David HANTHORN, who keeps us all in line. I think the moral of this is that the AWESOME Gold Medal Class of '63 has close and crazy ties with the Cute Little Class of '65... (hey, we're going to need someone younger to help us along... they might as well get in the groove) He has proven himself to be a great friend to so many of us... flying up to Olympia last June to the memorial of a much beloved husband of a Bomber; already packed to come back to the cold, icy northwest for the annual '63 Clambake (he and Cecilia have their jammies ready for the slumber party); he is a loyal member of the Sorry Seven, which I believe is made up of more cute little members of the Cute Little Class of '65... and has ties throughout the hot rod community and legal eagles of Las Vegas. He is a true patriot and Marine... served us all in Vietnam... for which we thank him. Those of you who know him, know you can count on him... Saying all this good stuff... he is still kind of a perv... which makes him all the more fun! All and all... we are proud he is our friend. We three Bomber Girls wish him a Happy Birthday... and a wonderful year! We're part of his fan club... and one of us even invites him to Thanksgiving every year (the brat never comes)... and another invites him to Cool Desert Nights' parades (he is always there!)... and another to her slumber parties (it's not as weird and perverted as it sounds... well, we will see this year). We love you David RIVERS ('65) and send our best Birthday Wishes! The two Dancing Queens of Washington and the exile in the OC -Cecilia BENNETT ('65) -Ellen WEIHERMILLER Anderson ('63) -Mary Lou WATKINS Rhebeck (Gold Medal Class of '63) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Jim HEIDLEBAUGH ('65) Happy birthday David RIVERS ('65), celebrate, eat cake... don't try to light all the candles. -Jim HEIDLEBAUGH ('65) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Shirley COLLINGS Haskins ('66) Re: Dancing with the Stars article in 11/26/11 TC Herald Panetta Invites "Dancing" Champ to Pentagon "Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has invited soldier-turned-actor J.R. Martinez, winner of this season's Dancing with the Stars competition, to meet him at the Pentagon. During a telephone call Friday, Panetta told the dance champion he demonstrated the strength and resilience of wounded veterans. Pentagon spokesman Capt. John Kirby said. Martinez, 28, was severely burned over more than 40 percent of his body when the Humvee he was driving for the Army in Iraq struck a land mind in 2003." Peace ~ -Shirley COLLINGS Haskins ('66) ******************************************* ******************************************* That's it for today. Please send more. ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø **************************************************************** Alumni Sandstorm ~ 11/28/11 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 4 Bombers sent stuff: Dick McCOY ('45), Dick WIGHT ('52) Jeanie WALSH ('63), David RIVERS ('65) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Howard MADSEN ('70/'71) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Dick McCOY ('45) Re: BCS To: Don LYALL ('52) Whadya mean 3 teams in the top 3? Didn't your team just get mauled? There are a flock of non-SEC teams with 1 loss. Why Alabama? Why not Stanford? Actually there is another non-BCS eligible team that could clobber any of them... USC, who is on probation. Someone tell me why the great SEC teams are playing such a tough schedule this time of the year such as Georgia Southern, Citadel, Furman, etc. Hot Dog!! -Dick McCoy, from The Tin Can Class of 1945 **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Dick WIGHT ('52) Re: Arkansas Hogs, etc. To: Don LYALL ('52) I watched the Hogs game... had some hope for a while when they got ahead 14-0... oh, well! Yeah, some of us did end up down that way in the middle southern states Dick MEYER ('51) is in Austin, I know... The Ozarks of No. Arkansas So. Missouri offer a lot... good schools, good medical, good fishing and great scenery. All said, my wife Ruth and I miss the west and want to move back... but it is hard to sell property these days!!! -Dick WIGHT ('52) ~ near Phoenix visiting kids and grandkids... whiling away the winter in AZ and Texas **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Jeanie WALSH (Gold Medal Class of '63) Re: David RIVERS ('65) I can’t believe I missed saying Happy Birthday to David RIVERS.. I must really be losing it! So, David... A very Happy Belated Birthday... Bomber Cheers, -Jeanie WALSH (Gold Medal Class of '63) ~ Simi Valley, CA Home of the RONALD Reagan Presidential Library where the wind she be a blowin' today! **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: David RIVERS ('65) Re: Dang me! I am so giddy over all the wonderful birthday wishes from all the Bombers in the world it seems... Took me till almost noon just to open all the mail and facebook wishes... Bomber babes galore... wow if I was 16 (which I am in my mind) steada 65 I'd be "slippin' and a slidin' peepin' and a hidin'"... oh yeah... woo hoo what a day... "Ohhhhhhhhhhhh what a niggggght..." ... "Goodness gracious Great balls a fire..." ... "Boppin at the high school hop"... "ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh baaaaaaaaaaaaby you know what I like!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Those three Bomber-babes in the Sandstorm had me tearin' up from the sentiments... I love being a Bomber... have I ever mentioned that before? I may still wear rolled up cut offs but I ain't about to grow up! I can't even begin to imagine life without my Bomber friends... I pity da fool what ain't got Bomber friends... with the long holiday weekend I had several jobs all planned out... naturally they were hour long jobs each... so I managed to get one or two done each day (hour long jobs are never an hour long)... only one involved cars... mostly stuff I've been meaning to do but have always managed to find something else that just absolutely hadda get done... on a car... my only one on a car was to hang a heater in my '55 gasser... while it does get cold here I haven't had heaters (or air) in most of my rides until the last few years... a couple of years ago it just got too cold heading to the donut shop at 6:30 without heat so as I would drive them I'd put in a heater... the '55 shoulda got heat a while back but I put it in a friend's car instead and just never got around to it... so I finally ordered another one... but by golly I was a good boy and did the not so fun jobs first... the last one was to repaint my railroad sign... now I can't tell ya where it came from cuz I'm not sure the statute of limitations ever runs on the very last original sign at the entry of the RR turn around area in a rather major city ... I stalked this puppy for about 5 years before it landed in my back yard... my buddy and I would go out on little sorties to check it out... once we took a saw with us and were stopped by the police... missed that chance... then I noticed it was held up at the base by these huge bolts and nuts... penetrating oil was applied for several visits till I could remove the bolts easily... then, worried that if we did it ourselves it might get damaged if we couldn't catch it as it fell, we called our old pal, Steve SIMPSON ('65) and told him how much we missed him and that if he flew down from Seattle we would treat him to a fine meal and a trip to Muscle Beach (Simps is a pushover for a trip to Venice)... he did... we wined and dined him then after dinner we pulled out "the rope"... Steve queried why we would need a long rope to go to Venice... he also asked why I gave Erin a credit card in case we needed bail money... but the last straw was when we took him to the Railroad yard and threw the lasso around that huge sign... no way was he gonna take part in any of our leftover "kids from Richland shenanigans..." hey... it's just like we were 12 or 16 again... no way... he was a growed up and wuzn't goin' to jail for us no way no how... arrrrrrrrrrrrgh the boy hadn't changed a bit! A few dayz later Terry DAVIS ('65) called me and said a garbage truck had hit my sign and it was in Terry's back yard waiting for pick up... I jumped in my little '52 F-1 and headed for this untold town and Terry's place... well the sign has been in my back yard ever since and the rest is history... Funny... Terry is about the only Bomber who hasn't contacted me today (yesterday for you readers)... he called yesterday tho to complain that Jackson KEENEY ('65) has a picture of me on his wall but has NONE of Terry... "I don't understand it, David... he has your picture on his wall but no Terrence Knox... I just don't understand it..." I guess some things will never change... it took me 50 years to have him tell me we were in "competition" all our lives and I was the last to know... Even my Mom told me that but what do moms know... I am the luckiest kid on the planet and I just love being a Bomber (have I ever mentioned that before?) Thanks you guys for a wonderful birthday! -David RIVERS ('65) ******************************************* ******************************************* That's it for today. Please send more. ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø **************************************************************** Alumni Sandstorm ~ 11/29/11 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 4 Bombers sent stuff: Mary TRIEM ('47), Dick PIERARD ('52) Jim McKEOWN ('53), Tom HEMPHILL (’62) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Janis ERVIN ('49) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Denny DUNCAN ('66) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Joe CAMPBELL ('67) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Mike HOWELL ('68wb) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Blaine HOPKINS ('69) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Rick POLK ('70) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Dan VACHÉ ('71) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Roger MEADER ('73) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Mary TRIEM Mowery ('47) To: David RIVERS ('65) Although I have never met you, I do enjoy reading your messages in the Sandstorm. I really appreciate your enthusiasm for our common heritage -- being a Bomber. Hope you and your classmates are members of Club 40 and so can get together once a year to celebrate our history as Bombers. -Mary TRIEM Mowery (a '47 Bomber) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Dick PIERARD ('52) Re: Bombers in the South I an in Hendersonville, North Carolina. -Dick PIERARD ('52) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Jim McKEOWN ('53) Re: Sacramento Bomber Luncheon We are a little late with this notice, but we are having a Bomber luncheon in Sacramento on December 2nd. Again we are fortunate to have a Bomber, Sandy FINNEY Harvego ('60), and her husband who own the Firehouse Restaurant in Old Town Sacramento, the premier spot in this area. The time is 11:30am for the gathering, with lunch being served around Noon. Let's have a great attendance, since we do have some Bombers from Richland in the area and planning to attend. Sooooooo, mark your calendars, one and all and bring your green and gold. -Jim McKEOWN ('53) ~ from foggy Sacramento, CA **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Tom HEMPHILL (’62) Re: Portland Vancouver Area Lunch/Christmas Social PLEASE JOIN US!!! WHEN: Saturday – December 3, 2011 TIME: 11:30 AM - 2:00 PM WHERE: Beaches Restaurant – on the Columbia River 1919 S.E. Columbia River Drive - Vancouver, WA 98661 Located just one mile east of I-5 on Highway 14. Take Exit #1 – Drive straight to the river and into the parking lot. It’s very easy to find. ALL Bombers and their friends and family members are Welcome. Your lunch is your choice from the regular menu. We meet in the Sun Room. PLEASE RSVP -Tom HEMPHILL (’62) ******************************************* ******************************************* That's it for today. Please send more. ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø **************************************************************** Alumni Sandstorm ~ 11/30/11 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 2 Bombers sent stuff: Barbara SESLAR ('60) Mike DALEN ('72) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Jeanne TURNER ('63) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Jan KLUSMAN ('66) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Sandy CLARK ('71) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Barbara SESLAR Brackenbush ('60) Re: Class of 1960 Bomber Luncheon Date: Saturday, December 3 Time: 11:30 a.m. Where: 3 Margaritas in Richland Spouses and friends are welcome! Please join us first Saturday of each month. -Barbara SESLAR Brackenbush ('60) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Mike DALEN ('72) Re: Bombers in the South Huntsville Alabama - going on 26 years. Temp was sunny 75 Saturday; today we had snow. Almost forgot - Roll Tide!!! (They win a lot more than my alma mater, U-Dub). -Mike DALEN ('72) ******************************************* ******************************************* That's it for the month. Please send more. ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø October, 2011 ~ December, 2011