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 Alumni Sandstorm Archive ~ July, 2008
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16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Richland Bombers Calendar website Funeral Notices website *********************************************** *********************************************** Alumni Sandstorm ~ 07/01/08 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 3 Bombers sent stuff: Ken Neal ('57), Pappy Swan ('59) John Campbell ('63) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: George "Pappy" Swan ('59) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Richard Anderson ('60) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Ken Neal ('57) Folks in the class of '58 may be interested in this eBay auction for a 1958 Columbian. -Ken Neal ('57) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: George "Pappy" Swan ('59) To: Nadine Reynolds Cochran ('61) Re: New Champion I feel like I'm in Arizona, too. Our temperatures have been running in the three digits lately. Nadine, congratulations to you and Shelby on your wins, I'm sure that you both will have many more. AlumniSandstorm.com/htm2008/Xtra/Any/080630-Reyn-dog.jpg That's a fine looking blonde and Nadine, you're, as always, looking pretty good too! Dave, you're a fortunate man! A lot of years have passed since we had some good times together. Now that we're more "seasoned" individuals and Jeanne, aka Mrs. Pappy, has her list of health problems, causing her to be up and down throughout the night, I sleep with a blonde, 120 lb girlfriend who has bad breath, passes gas, and eats cookies (dog lingo for dog biscuits) in bed, and she constantly pokes me with one of the big claws on her four feet, and flogs me with that big wagging tail. Hmmm, maybe ... I would get more sleep with Jeanne? I have included a link to the Tri-Cities Shooting Association's July '08 Gun Club monthly newsletter. My regular column, which, this month, touches a little on the "aging" of myself and my Yellow Lab, Darby, is at the end of the newsletter. Our Website can be accessed at: http://www.tcsa.info/news.htm Keep on doing well with Shelby, Nadine, and tell Shelby that Darby says, "Woof woof bark uhhrrennh err bark woof" which ... I think translates to, "Hi and congratulations, you go girl!" Glad to see that you folks are still doing your thing. At this stage of life, "doing anything" is much better than the alternative. I turn 67 today (July 1), which I think is about 483 ... in doggie years. I really don't care much about counting birthdays anymore. I'm just happy that I'm still here each year to see another one roll around. Nevertheless, Darby and I wait with drooling breath for September when hunting season begins, once again. BTW, for all dog lovers, my friend, Mary Rose Tansy ('60) tells me that a movie is being (or will be) made of "Marley and Me." Bomber Cheers, -George "Pappy" Swan ('59) ~ Burbank, WA where its hot and I think that the bird baths and the puddle in my driveway are also aging, as they have become active in AARP, "Atmospheric Acquirement of Residual Puddles." I no more than refill the bird baths with a hose and the puddle, from sprinkler runoff ... and they dry up, again, POOF, from rapid evaporation! Now, all of the birds from the nearby refuge, that stop by for a drink, look at the house, as if to say, "Where'd it go?" **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: John Campbell ('63) Re: Busy week It was good to see some old friends at Cool Desert Nights last weekend including the Brackenbushes and Wests. But it is the end of an era - I no longer have a '57 Chevy. I had 2 when I was young, and I sold the silver and white '57 last Saturday. I handed it over today to the new owners, Lionel and Patty from Finley. It was really strange selling the car I had for 21 years - it even won an award at Cool Desert Nights this year - which was unexpected, but nice. It was so hot today in Richland, I was hoping the '57 would keep it's cool the new owner drove away. We're now back in relatively cool Seattle, and I can start thinking about fixing up my Grandma's '50 Chevy coupe. We visited fellow classmate John Dale in Sandpoint this weekend - as did Perry Moore also of '63. John usually gets all dressed up in his starched white chef's outfit and barbeques a full pig around his birthday time for a throng of friends and relatives. I couldn't figure out why the meat looked so odd on the spit this year. Perry told me that it was because they had taken several huge beef roasts and put a Pig's head in the front - that's John for you. We'll all see you at the 45th reunion [September 5, 6, & 7, 2008]. -John Campbell ('63) ******************************************* ******************************************* 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 ~ 07/02/08 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 3 Bombers sent stuff: Millie Finch ('54), Patti Jones ('60) Brad Upton ('74) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Jamie Worley ('64) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Millie Finch Gregg ('54) Re: Red Wood ('54-RIP) Dear 1954 Classmates and all Bombers: I received a call today from Shirley (via Jim Mefford '54) saying Red had died this morning [/1] about 11:22 at the Hospice House. She wanted to let everyone know that his funeral will be Monday, July 7th at 11 a.m., at the Richland Baptist Church on GWWay. When I spoke with her on Friday she told me she was moving into their new home over the weekend. So......... she really has a full plate right now and I know could use lots of positive thoughts and prayers. Also for their children. These senior years aren't the easiest to get through, but boy they are sure made a lot better by having the friendship of classmates from so long ago. You know our memories that we share are the greatest and it so good that we can spend time with each other. Have a good day and thank you always for caring, -Millie Finch Gregg ('54) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Patti Jones Ahrens ('60) Marie Ruppert Hartman ('63) Re: All Bomber Luncheon Richland Reservations aren't necessary. Many Bombers do like to let us know they are coming so please email if you wish. WHEN: Saturday, July 12, 2008 WHERE: JD Diner, 3790 Van Giesen, West Richland, WA 99353 Used to be Coney Island (Light Grey building with red trim just past the Yakima River bridge heading west from Richland on the right side) TIME: 1:00 P.M. PRICE: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served all day. Prices range from $4.50 - $13.95 (add drink, tax, and tip) Bomber spouses and friends are welcome! Looking forward to also seeing out-of-town Bomber visitors. JD Diner has gotten a face lift. The building is now light Grey with red trim. "JD Diner" is on the front of the building. Looks outstanding with waterfall and Hannah the owners beautiful flower pots filled with flowers. Come and enjoy a break with Bombers, spouses and friends. Bombers Have Fun, -Patti Jones Ahrens ('60) ~ West Richland, WA -Marie Ruppert Hartman ('63) ~ Richland, WA **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Brad Upton ('74) Does anyone want to do the math for me on this one? Today, gas is selling for 1.55 Euros per liter in Livorno, Italy. I'm guessing that's pushing $8 a gallon. -Brad Upton ('74) ~ Livorno, Italia ******************************************* ******************************************* 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 ~ 07/03/08 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 7 Bombers sent stuff: Mike Clowes ('54), Joretta Garrison ('58) Dale Ennor ('59), Rich Greenhalgh ('59wb) John Browne ('61), Dave Hanthorn ('63) Robert Avant ('69) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Charlie Gant ('53) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Ray Hall ('57) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Bob Carlson, aka Mike Clowes ('54) Re: The "Number Crunching" collection Here's the latest. Get a few more and I may have to take my shoes off to count them. Class of '44 - 1 Class of '45 - 1 Class of '46 - 1 Class of '47 Class of '48 - 2 Class of '49 - 6 Class of '50 Class of '51 - 3 Class of '52 - 4 Class of '53 - 7 Class of '54 - 6 Class of '55 - 1 Class of '56 - 5 Class of '57 - 2 Class of '58 - 38 Class of '59 - 5 Class of '60 - 6 Class of '61 - 2 Class of '62 - 1 Class of '63 - 1 Class of '64 - 1 Class of '65 Class of '66 Class of '67 Class of '68 Did I mention, you guys from '68, if you join now, your dues are good through December '09. So, come on down and join the party. We'll be at the Clarion (aka Towers, formerly the Holiday Inn). Registration forms, schedule of events, and a look at who's coming to the party can all be found at http://richlandclub40.org -Bob Carlson, aka Mike Clowes ('54) ~ in warm and muggy Mount Angel, OR with lots of smoke haze coming up from the fires in California. **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Sue Pritchett, aka Joretta Garrison ('58) Re: Class of '58 reminder! A 50th Reunion planning meeting will be held next Tuesday, July 8th at 7pm -- Richland Community Center in the Lounge. -Sue Pritchett, aka Joretta Garrison ('58) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Dale Ennor ('59) Re: Brad Upton ('74) -- cost of gas in Livorno Brad: My calculation puts the cost of your Livorno gasoline at just a tad more than $8. $9.25 as of today to be exact. -Dale Ennor ('59) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Rich Greenhalgh ('59wb) To: Brad Upton ('74) Using current exchange rates, the gas in Livorno, Italy sells for $9.31 per gallon. Maybe we are not so bad off here in the good ol' US of A. -Rich Greenhalgh ('59wb) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: John Browne, Jr. ('61) Re: a liter o' vino (in a nutshell) To: Brad Upton ('74) aT 1.55Euros/liter it's closer to $9./gallon- a U.S. gallon... an Imperial gallon, now, THAT'S beyond the powers that Calvin Gentle instilled herein... but it's a Bigger number, dude!.. I mean "IMPERIAL" has gotta be BIG! chow ^..^ -john browne, jr. ('61) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Dave Hanthorn (Gold Medal Class of '63) To: Brad Upton (’74) RE: price of gas Brad, if my arithmetic is correct, at 1.55 Euros per liter, that Italian gasoline is equivalent to $9.30 per gallon based on today’s (Wednesday) exchange rate of $1.585 per Euro. Hope this helps. -Dave Hanthorn (GMC ’63) ~ from sunny Mercer Island, WA **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Robert Avant ('69) Re: Night Job To: Brad Upton ('74) Do NOT quit your night job! At the current rate, gas in Italia is about $6.72/gallon. In the UK, as I previously reported it is at about $10.00/gallon. -Robert Avant ('69) ******************************************* ******************************************* 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 ~ 07/04/08 ~ INDEPENDENCE DAY ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 9 Bombers sent stuff: Em De Vine ('52), Jim McKeown ('53) Martie Wade ('57), Rich Baker ('58) Steve Carson ('58), Tom Verellen ('60) Helen Cross ('62), Gary Behymer ('64) Robert Avant ('69) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Penny Mitchell ('71) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Gale Waldkoetter ('72) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Jim Rice ('75) BOMBER ANNIVERSARY Today: Ron Stephens ('56) and Jinnie Eckert ('58) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Marilyn "Em" De Vine ('52) Greetings and HAPPY 4TH OF JULY. By the time you read this, I will be in MUCH COOLER ALASKA... hurray!!!! I had to hire help to finish stripping 2 layers of vinyl down to the concrete in preparation for putting Pergo in the living room, dining room, and kitchen. Wow... those 2 layers of vinyl are really a bugger, but we are getting it. Compared to this, the carpet, carpet strip and padding were a cinch. Lowe's installation team will put in the flooring while I'm gone. I'm sure it will be a really nice surprise when I return in time for Club 40. Isaac Butts lives in Pasco but is a Bomber and will be a Senior this coming year. He is a good worker and strong. Some of you may recognize his name from the Football roster. I'll be watching him this Fall before I go south! If I'm going to be ready to leave for the Airport at 6:30 this evening (it's almost 11:30 am), I'd better get a move on. Bomber regards to each and all. -Marilyn "Em" De Vine ('52) ~ in hot and muggy Richland. Be safe this weekend and all of you: have a good summer wherever you happen to be. **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Jim McKeown ('53) Today, July 4th, marks the 75th wedding anniversary of our parents... Tom and Jeanne McKeown. They will celebrate the event in Walla Walla at the Odd Fellows Home, where they both are living now. Mom, who is 95, probably won't understand what's going on... she has Alzheimers... but Dad will, even though he celebrated his 100th in March. He's as sharp as a tack and has a better memory than Mike ('60), Tom ('53) or myself, Jim ('53). July the 4th was the only day he could get off in 1933... at the height of the depression, he was lucky to have a job. They both have been an inspiration, and true Bombers, green and gold, forever. We love you two, Jim, Tom and Mike. -Jim McKeown ('53) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Marian "Martie" Wade Jenkins ('57) Re: My geneology I know that many of the alumni have found various items in places you wouldn't dream of so I thought I would ask you to watch for the book "The Trueblood Family in America" by Bula May Trueblood Watson. There were 4 editions published by a company in Wyoming - the first in 1960 and the last being in 1970. The 1970 issue is the one I prefer but will take anything I can get. I have my name on the wish list of eBay, Alibiris, and Amazon and am going on to http://www.abaa.org/books/abaa/index.html and http://www.abebooks.com/ So if any of you know of any other sites I would appreciate hearing about them OR if you happen to come across the book in any of your travels. Thanks so much and have a HAPPY 4TH OF JULY! Let's keep our INDEPENDENCE! -Marian "Martie" Wade Jenkins ('57) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Rich Baker ('58) Re: Gas Prices I read with interest the entries relating to the price of gas in Italy. They brought back some memories. This disparity between the price of gas in the States and the price of gas in Italy, or most other European countries for that matter, is not new. I lived in Italy for 5-1/2 years working for GE in their reactor startup group from 1975 to 1980. During that time we were paying right at $4.00 a gallon for gas. The Italian government puts a high tax on gasoline. The story line goes that the Italians struck a deal with the government a long time ago. Tax our gasoline all you want, but don't tax our booze. You can buy all the beer, wine and hard liquor you want right out of the Italian Supermarkets for less than you would pay at the airport tax free shops. Some of the gas price disparity is eaten up by the fact that their cars are much more efficient than most U.S. gas hogs. I am currently living and working in Kobe, Japan where today, a gallon of gas is going for $6.43. I, however, rely completely on public transportation which is great in Japan. My daily commute from the apartment to work and back again in the evening totals $3.65 or $18.25 a week. -Rich Baker ('58) ~ Where the rainy season is quickly becoming the hot season. **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Steve Carson (Championship Class of '58) Re: Gas prices The single largest component of gas prices in Europe is taxes. They use price to discourage use. Works for them, is that what we want? -Steve Carson (Championship Class of '58) ~ Chicago where, in addition to our income taxes, sales taxes have just been increased to 10.25% **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Tom Verellen ('60) Gas prices: Mama Mia! No Costco? Froggy update: some are hoppers, some still have tails, many are large tadpoles and there are a whole bunch of very tiny ones. Tomorrow will be frog independence day for several of the hoppers and the larger ones. Going to a few of the wetland sites here in Thurston county. I don't feel it would be fair to put a country frog into the big city. I still haven't decided on the theme music for such and occasion; "Born Free" or "The 1812 Overture". And where can I find those little frog sized flags that would make the whole thing pop. So much to do, so little time. See photo of Ron and Larry. AlumniSandstorm.com/htm2008/Xtra/Any/080704-verellen-frog.jpg -Tom Verellen ('60) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Helen Cross Kirk ('62) Since you are discussing the price of gas which seems to climb steadily in our country, I thought I'd add a little fuel to the discussion. When we were on a bus tour in Turkey in April and early May of this year, the price of gas was equivalent to $12.00 a gallon!! I think we do need some alternatives... I must wish everyone a Happy Fourth of July today on our country's 232nd birthday. We've had monumental rain storms here about every week, so our lawns are green and our flowers don't need to be watered much. We are blessed not to be in a flood or a drought with the terrible forest fires... we've kept busy with church work and trips back to our other house in West Harrison and our little cat there. Sundays do come quickly and so does Vacation Bible School which I've inherited from a person whose has had personal problems come up, so we're learning songs and hand movements to them. (as I didn't have girls or sons who were into performing music, this is new to me) So Happy Blessed 4th of July, America! -Helen Cross Kirk ('62) ~ Grandview, IN on the river where it's been a cool 78° these last few days and nights, most pleasant and the fire flies are out. I remember when I first saw them in Cincinnati in l974, they reminded me of little Tinker Bells from Peter Pan... **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Gary Behymer ('64) Re: 4th of July Spotted this in a Seattle Times from October 2003 Fran Rish Stadium, Richland (Richland, Hanford). Old-timers still call it "Bomber Bowl" (Richland Bombers), but the fact Hanford has shared it since 1972 makes the name Rish Stadium politically correct. The grass used to disappear from too much use late in the season, but new treatments are keeping it green longer. One nice touch is a knoll on the visitors' side where families can spread blankets and watch the game. Let's change that last phrase to read, "...One nice touch is a knoll on the visitors' side where families can spread blankets... to watch 4th of July fireworks! Happy 4th of July to Ray Fisher ('63), Roland Snow ('61), Beth McKenna ('64), Jill Lange ('64), Verbie Jo Moss ('63) & Peggy Stull ('64)... friends from 1957 and earlier... -Gary Behymer ('64) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Robert Avant ('69) Re: Correction To: Brad Upton ('74) Correction to my price per gallon. At $1=1.585 Euros, 1 gallon of regular unleaded is about $6 even. Sorry, for the error. Bob Baranard at Chief Jo is shaking his head and wondering why God gave him fools to try to teach simple math equations to. -Robert Avant ('69) ******************************************* ******************************************* 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 ~ 07/05/08 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 6 Bombers sent stuff: Dick McCoy ('45), Curt Donahue ('53) Dale Ennor ('59), Paula Beardsley ('62) Bill Scott ('64), Betti Avant ('69) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Sharon Panther ('57) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Paul Tampien ('64) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Dick McCoy (The Tin Can class of '45) Re: Folks To: The McKeowns Seems like a great family to me. My heartfelt to your Mom... my Dad had the same affliction. Your Dad is remarkable. 75 and 100 years are incredible, but to one who is at 80 they are in sight. -Dick McCoy (The Tin Can class of '45) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Curt Donahue ('53) To: Tom McKeown ('53), Jim McKeown ('53) & Mike McKeown ('60) Congratulations to your parents. What a most unusual event in this day and age. They did a very good job of raising some real fine sons too! The best to your entire family. -Curt Donahue ('53) ~ Federal Way, WA **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Dale Ennor ('59) Re: Gas in Livorno To: Brad Upton ('74) Brad: Let's try the Livorno gas price one more time. If, as you indicated, the price of a liter of gasoline is 1.55 Euro, and the value of the Euro is $1.58274 (as of 4 July), then the cost of a liter of gasoline is $2.453247. Since there are 3.785411784 liters per gallon, the cost of a gallon of gasoline is $9.286. Am I missing something? (Not an impossibility) -Dale Ennor ('59) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Paula Beardsley Glenn ('62) Re: Gary Behymer ('64) 4th of July Entry Today (the 4th of July) is one of the days I really miss my Dad. I remember so many years of Dad getting up early, having breakfast with us and then heading down to Bomber Bowl to set up the fireworks and he was gone for the rest of the day. We didn't see him until we got to the stadium and the Beardsley girls were among the privileged few who got to go behind the roped off area so we could see Dad before the show... weren't we something special back then. Laying in the grass on the field and watching the fireworks fly into the sky surrounded by our family and friends, trying to guess what color the next one will be, our noses filled with that wonderful sulphur smell ...oh such memories fill my heart today. Tonight we will head to the river or over to our son's new place just across from TRAC where you can watch both firework displays. It will be nice..but it won't ever be the same.......Miss you Daddy.. -Paula Beardsley Glenn ('62) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Bill Scott ('64) I am sad to report that my father-in-law, Jack Tempero, passed away last Saturday night at the age of 82, barely two months after he was first diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor. I have no doubt many parents of Bombers knew him. He came to Richland in 1953 and worked at Hanford until he retired in the 1990s. He was known as "Mr. 300 Area" for his long and valuable service in that area. I was privileged to call him "Dad", and a more generous and giving man I have never known. He leaves behind his wife of 64 years, Wanda, and his two daughters. There will be a memorial service next Monday at the Richland Church of the Nazarene. -Bill Scott ('64) ~ on the road to Richland **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Betti Avant ('69) Re: Mr. Barnard My brother Robert ('69) mentioned Mr. Barnard teaching math. He had him for 1st period and I had him in 6th period. I remember that year because it was the year (8th grade) that we were introduced to square root problems. It made no sense to me whatsoever. Of course we had the "dreaded" homework. Robert explained the concept to my mother who in turn explained it to me and then it all fell into place. For many years afterward I could still do square root problems, that is until the advent of calculators that had that function on them. Such were the days when math was taught it was something that could be used later in life; fractions, decimals, percent, ratios, square roots, and the list goes on and on. -Betti Avant ('69) ~ Lacey, WA ~ where for now the temps have cooled down some ******************************************* ******************************************* 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 ~ 07/06/08 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 4 Bombers sent stuff: Laura Dean Kirby ('55), Ken Neal ('57) Cyndy Brooks ('68), Brad Upton ('74) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: David Barger ('72) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Laura Dean Kirby Armstrong ('55) Re: Fourth of July We spent the evening watching the fireworks with my daughter Brenda Belcher Ripplinger ('76) at the home of Jeff Leitenberg ('76), just off Canal Drive in Kennewick. From that vantage point we could see the displays from TRAC, Columbia Park and Edgar Brown, as well as a multitude of neighborhood smaller celebrations. It was a chilly evening with brisk "breezes" and I was reminded of 1977 when we had my daughter Shelly Belcher Sansaver's ('74), wedding reception followed by a family picnic on July fourth in Howard Amon Park. We had to wrap up in blankets to keep warm, and that was in the middle of the day. Brenda asked if I remembered the fireworks at Bomber Bowl. She recalled laying on the slabs at the shuffleboard court (I thought it was a tennis court) and watching the show when she was a kid. Does anyone else, besides Paula Beardsley Glenn ('62) remember those days? -Laura Dean Kirby Armstrong ('55) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Ken Neal ('57) Just a note to remind those needing an unused 1958 Columbian that the eBay auction ends Sunday, the 6th. You can find it at Link '68 Columbian on eBay -Ken Neal ('57) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Cyndy Brooks Cowman ('68) Re: Class of '68 Reunion ~ Aug. 1st - 3rd The time is short so mail your registration to Jeri Collins Sandberg for a fun 40th reunion weekend! They need to know the food count and information for publication in the class of '68 reunion booklet before July 15th. You can email your information to Jeri at JSandberg68@aol.com and don't forget to email a picture of yourself to her, too. -Cyndy Brooks Cowman ('68) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Brad Upton ('74) To: Dale Ennor ('59) Wait a minute, I didn't claim any kind of math knowledge or to know the price of gas. I just said that I was guessing, just guessing, it was around $8 a gallon. Several people wrote in and put the price of a gallon at $9.25 to $9.31 a gallon. I do know that they don't really drive like they're trying to save it though! -Brad Upton ('74) ~ Dubrovnik, Croatia ******************************************* ******************************************* 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 ~ 07/07/08 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 3 Bombers sent stuff and 1 Bomber funeral notice today: Diane Avedovech ('56), Denny McDaniel ('60) Mary Rose Tansy ('60) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Diane Avedovech ('56) To: Laura Dean Kirby Armstrong ('55) Re: Watching fireworks in the Bomber Bowl for the 4th In the early '50s my parents, my brother and I would meet my aunt, uncle and cousins from Kennewick and we would all go to the Bomber Bowl and sit out in the grass at one end of the football field and have a picnic dinner and then watch the fireworks when it got dark. The bleachers were always packed. On one 4th my cousin and I went to the refreshment stand for a hot dog and drink and when we got back we found that one of the fireworks had only gone up a short distance and came down unexpectedly and exploded on impact, right where my cousin and I were sitting. My mom, dad and aunt all had small burns on their arms, legs and face where pieces had hit them. Seems to me that we sat in the bleachers the next year. Side note: It seems that I've had several very close calls of one sort or another over the years, and it amazes me I'm still here! I think someone up there is watching over me. -Diane Avedovech ('56) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Denny McDaniel ('60) My wife and I had a chance to hear and see BB King Friday nite at The Northern Quest Casino. After the concert we went back stage and met him I asked him if he had herd of Larry Coryell ('61). He said he was the best jazz guitar player in the world... what a tribute! -Denny McDaniel ('60) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Mary Rose Tansy ('60) To: Laura Dean Kirby Armstrong ('55) I remember the fireworks in the Bomber Bowl very well. They were so much fun to go to and so beautiful. One year, probably 7th or 8th grade, I went with a number of girls and we were sitting on the floor of the Bomber Bowl being quite rowdy. They had a new firework (I think it was a flying saucer or something) that they fired and it went out over the crowd. We all started crawling away as it was coming right for us. Parts of it hit me in the "bottom" and also hit a couple of the other girls. I only remember Judy Parker ('60) being hit but know there were others. An ambulance came and took us to the hospital for treatment and tetanus shots (which I turned out to be allergic to). I remember they bought us new clothes for the ones burned. I also remember they did all of this without our parents consent as when I got home my father was very upset and surprised over what had happened. Anyway, it did provide a memory for the rest of my life of the Bomber Bowl fireworks!!! -Mary Rose Tansy ('60) ~ Centerfield, UT where I am enjoying watching my garden grow and anxiously awaiting my fall trip to see my grandson and daughters, and visit with my brother Glen Rose ('58) and his wife Carol (NAB) and my sister Ginger Rose Reed ('55) for Club 40 and Glen's 50th reunion. **************************************************************** **************************************************************** Funeral Notice >>Eugene "Red" Wood ('54) ~ 9/20/35 - 7/1/08 ******************************************* ******************************************* 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 ~ 07/08/08 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 3 Bombers sent stuff: Dick McCoy ('45), Helen Cross ('62) Betti Avant ('69) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Deanna Sue Lukins ('79) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Dick McCoy ('45) Re: the fourth Alas! the long 4th weekend is over. Mostly cloudy, with no rain, the boats were out in style with skiers and tubes covering the lake. Plus fireworks. What a show! This Big lake is the wildest anywhere. The 3rd is their pro big show, along with the shoreline pyros. Then on the 4th the shoreline puts on the biggest show of the weekend, lasting till 2 AM. I thought that was the end. No way. An Indian lives across the lake, and he operates a fireworks stand. On the day after the 4th, Saturday this year, he fires off all that he did not sell. Probably the loudest nite of all. I was exhausted Sunday morning. They do it up grand in this community east of Mt. Vernon, WA. Today finally we had a beautiful morning, and our neighbor, defense secretary Robert Gates and his Secret service guys took off in two float planes. Back to the war. Whatever. Thousands of $ in gas and fireworks, but what a party. -Dick McCoy ('45) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Helen Cross Kirk ('62) I too have fond memories of going to the Bomber Bowl to watch the fireworks with my extended family as I was a kid growing up in Richland. We'd sit with our cousins, Allan ('59), Bob ('62), Carol ('64), my brother, Roy ('65), and Maryjane ('68-RIP) -- Duane ('79) came too late to be included in these memories -- and our parents and watch the wondrous displays, especially the ground displays fascinated me. But as I had stepped on a sparkler with my bare foot as a kid when I was about 8, I never have liked home fireworks, and always worried about this with our kids, as my husband really likes fireworks and felt they were a normal part of July 4th celebrations. I really often miss my dad too, Paula Beardsley Glenn (fellow classmate of '62), how far do we go back? Somewhere in Spalding, perhaps kindergarten with was it Miss Stewart? My dad has been gone since '99 and as you say, some things just really bring his memory to mind... We attended some very good fireworks here on this July 4th, but in my way of thinking they can never be as great as what I remember of Bomber Bowl's fireworks.... Back to Vacation Bible School planning, -Helen Cross Kirk ('62) ~ in Grandview, IN by the Ohio River, where we have another big rain and it's a great 75°. We get a rain at least once a week and we are so blessed as to not be in drought with the fear of forest fires or floods with it's devastating loss of everything it seems. **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Betti Avant ('69) Re: 4th of July fireworks It seems when I was younger the fireworks on the 4th of July were at Howard Amon (Riverside) Park before moving to the Bomber Bowl. Am I imaging it? I know in junior high my dad joined the American Legion and some of them would help with the displays. At our house at Torbett and Thayer we could sit in our back yard and see the aerial stuff. The only things we missed were the ground displays but we also missed the noise. Friday night here in Lacey that's all I heard of the show was the noise as it was hazy from smoke in California so I didn't see any of the aerial things like last year. This morning I'm still hearing fireworks go off. -Betti Avant ('69) ~ Lacey, WA where it may warm up a bit this week ******************************************* ******************************************* 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 ~ 07/09/08 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 6 Bombers sent stuff: Dick Wight ('52), Mike Clowes ('54) Pappy Swan ('59), Patti Jones ('60) Nadine Reynolds ('61), Kathy O'Neil ('63) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Dick Wight ('52) Re: Independence Day fireworks All the nostalgic comments about fireworks displays in years past dredge up two specific memories: July 4, 1961: I was stationed in a small community on the Costa Brava of Spain, in charge of constructing and outfitting a Loran C transmitting station. I had about 25 guys there with me, ranging from 18 year old nonrated "kids" to "old timers" - several chief petty officers. We were there "unaccompanied" - no families allowed. Some of the guys were pretty homesick. We were billeted in a run down old hotel, eating in a couple little local restaurants. We also had about 10 American civilian construction foremen and a supervisor on scene, directing the efforts of about 100 Spanish construction workers building the new station. I came up with the idea of having an old fashioned hamburger/hot dog cook out on the beach, and the idea took hold. In the planning the event, Mike (the construction supervisor) told me he had a Spanish fireworks expert working for him as his demolition expert. He said he'd get him to make up fireworks for the event, and the company - a huge consortium called Brown, Raymond, Walsh Inc. (who built all the U.S. bases in Spain) would assimilate the cost. On Independence Day we set up a huge pile of wood for a big bonfire, and helped the demolition guy rig up a pretty sophisticated array down the beach. Then the 35 of us proceeded to have out cookout. Much to our surprise, as evening approached, hundreds and hundreds of Spanish people began to congregate along the edge of the beach - perhaps several thousand, many of whom had apparently walked or rode (if they could afford a vehicle) from miles away. The town of Estartit, where we were, had maybe 600 residents. Anyhow, at dusk we torched off the big bonfire and the crowd - very well behaved and very friendly - reacted visibly with anticipation. As full darkness arrived, our "powder monkey" started his fireworks show, with many kinds of rockets firing out over the Mediterranean. People oohed, aahed, cheered throughout. As our guy torched off his finale volleys, he lit off a static display of cascading sparkler-type pyrotechnics that cascaded red, white and blue and kinda' looked like a U.S. flag! EVERYONE cheered like crazy! It was some event. We later learned the Spanish people were just wild over fireworks, and the crowd that gathered was the spontaneous result of just plain word-of-mouth "spreading of the word" among local communities. July 4, 1983: I was stationed in New London, CT and the community there had a huge fireworks display shot out over the Thames River between Groton and New London. It was a perfect night - calm, the river waters were glassy and reflected the spectacular fireworks. My wife and I sat on a breakwater at riverside listening to a portable radio with rousing music synchronized with the fireworks, and patriotic readings being narrated by George Plimpton (of Paper Lion fame). Quite a dramatic event! -Dick Wight ('52) ~ near Branson, MO where a number of impressive fireworks display occurred as well! **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Bob Carlson, aka Mike Clowes ('54) Re: The "What? More Numbers?" Dept.: Like the "puzzler" on Car Talk, the source for these numbers will be on vacation until the last week of July, so don't look for any up-dates until then. Class of '44 - 1 Class of '45 - 1 Class of '46 - 1 Class of '48 - 2 Class of '49 - 7 Class of '51 - 4 Class of '52 - 4 Class of '53 - 7 Class of '54 - 13 Class of '55 - 2 Class of '56 - 5 Class of '57 - 4 Class of '58 - 45 Class of '59 - 6 Class of '60 - 6 Class of '61 - 3 Class of '62 - 1 Class of '63 - 1 Class of '64 - 2 These numbers reflect those Bombers who are attending the Club 40 functions on September 5th and 6th of this year. Check your class's web page for class specific events, locations, and who might be there. The names of those coming to Club 40 can be found on the Club 40 Web Site at: http://richlandclub40.org along with the schedule of events and registration forms. As a reminder, the Club's By-Laws require you to be a member in good standing to attend the Club's functions. So, until the end of the month, this is me signing off for the while. -Bob Carlson, aka Mike Clowes ('54) ~ Mount Angel, OR, where summer has returned for a few days. **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: George "Pappy" Swan ('59) Re: The Last 25 About twenty-seven years ago, on an early morning, I was sitting in a restaurant, in Wenatchee, WA. I was nervously sipping coffee and trying to eat breakfast, with great difficulty. You see there was this waitress that kept smiling at me and I could not help but return the favor. We were both just a touch over 40 and both going through divorces. I was a bit frustrated, as I had boldly stated that I would never marry again, and would stay single and become a mountain man. It was a time that tries a man's determination. Forever since, I am so happy that my determination faltered and flew out the window. You see, I married that waitress. Hey, a man's gotta do what a man's gotta do, and I was sorely afraid that I might never find another one like her. Today marks 25 great years with my friend and soul-mate, my wife, Jeanne. Sometimes, the second time around, really is better! I don't see how I could ask for anything more. Happy 25th my lady! You haven't changed a bit. http://AlumniSandstorm.com/htm2008/Xtra/Swan/080709-25yrs.jpg -George "Pappy" Swan ('59) ~ Burbank, WA where the weather is warm and so are the feelings... **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Patti Jones Ahrens ('60) >>From: Marie Ruppert Hartman ('63) Re: All Bomber Luncheon Richland Reservations aren't necessary. Many Bombers do like to let us know they are coming so please email if you wish. WHEN: Saturday, July 12, 2008 WHERE: JD Diner, 3790 Van Giesen, West Richland, WA 99353 Used to be Coney Island. Look for the newly painted Grey building with Red Trim. JD Diner on the front. TIME: 1:00 P.M. PRICE: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served all day. Prices range from $4.50 - $13.95 (add drink, tax, and tip) 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: Nadine Reynolds Cochran ('61) Re: 4th of July To: Betti Avant ('69) I also remember fireworks at what is now Howard Amon Park. My parents would take my sister, Carolyn Reynolds Fox ('69), and I to the fireworks. This was before my brother, Stan ('68), came on the scene, My favorites were the ground displays. There were usually some whirligig type that didn't go bang or boom. The ones that shot up into the sky terrified me with the loud noises but they were so colorful looking like an explosion of bright jewels. If my memory serves me correctly, at the end of the show there was always a red, white and blue display that was in the form of the United States flag. In a way that was a sad moment because it meant all the fireworks were officially over until the next year. This year we watched 5 different displays in the Tucson area from our front porch in Sahuarita. We had a monsoon storm blow through with its own fireworks just before the man made fireworks show time. However, the rain stopped and the shows went on. We have a fabulous view of Tucson, Green valley and the mountains from our little acreage. -Nadine Reynolds Cochran ('61) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Kathy O'Neil Childs ('63) Re: retirement and family reunion I want to congratulate my sister, Patty O'Neil Lopez, ('65) on her retirement after 39 years of teaching home economics in a San Jose middle school! Patty, you have taught and guided so many children throughout your career and you will be missed as a teacher, department chair, and mentor. I hope you enjoy your retirement, travels and time with your kids and grandchildren. We have just returned from a long weekend in Portland with over fifty O'Neil family members at our family reunion. Patty and I flew to Portland with our Dad, Pat O'Neil. Our other sister, Eileen O'Neil Hinch, ('73) and brother, Tim O'Neil, ('76) and their spouses, joined us in Portland. It was wonderful to have time to visit with family members from all over the U.S. The Residence Inn in Hillsboro was so accommodating and I'd recommend it for others who are planning similar events. While in Portland, I had lunch with Carla Stine McLaughlin ('63) and her husband at their lovely home in Vancouver. Tom Stine ('64), his wife and daughter joined us and we had a wonderful visit. Carla is a great hostess and her home is beautiful. She has done a great job landscaping and it looks like she hired professionals to do the work. I'd also like to congratulate Tim O'Neil ('76), on his recent appointment as a Vice President of GE Nuclear. He and his wife live in Williamsburg, North Carolina. Eileen O'Neil Hinch ('73), just sold her home in Puyallup, WA and moved to San Mateo, CA. She and her husband live about twenty miles from my husband and I and about forty miles from Patty, so we are really enjoying getting together often. -Kathy O'Neil Childs ('63) ~ Los Altos, CA. where all of the San Jose area is experiencing a heat wave and smoke from the fires ******************************************* ******************************************* 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 ~ 07/10/08 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 2 Bombers sent stuff: Roy Ballard ('63) Gary Behymer ('64) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Dale McLean ('63) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Bill Rulon ('64) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Judy Scott ('64) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Roy Ballard ('63) Way to go Pappy, Have a happy Anniversary, dinner, lunch and breakfast with your happy bride... -Roy Ballard ('63) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Gary Behymer ('64) Many many thanks to Kathy O'Neil Childs ('63) for her great update of the O'Neil "Kids". Someone please apply a little pressure so that we see 'today' photos of everyone. (Identified PLEASE!) P.S. Great Richland "Spudnut Shop" story in the weekend edition of the Pullman-Moscow Daily News -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 ~ 07/11/08 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 2 Bombers sent stuff: Dick McCoy ('45) Laura Dean Kirby ('55) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Rex Hunt ('53wb) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Larry Christenson ('54) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Janice Johns ('61) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: John Heffner ('66) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Dick McCoy ('45) Re: 4th To: Dick Wight ('52) I can't beat your Spanish 4th... Wonderful!! To: Pappy Swan ('59) Re: AlumniSandstorm.com/htm2008/Xtra/Swan/080709-25yrs.jpg Congrats on your 25th. Shoulda been a movie. I nominate you to take over my annual blather in the DustStorm. -Dick McCoy ('45) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Laura Dean Kirby Armstrong ('55) Re: Tastee Freeze I just drove down past Tastee Freeze yesterday and noticed that the name has been changed. The place is painted red, white and blue, but the new name is "Bomber Drive Through". Even the little coffee place next door is painted patriotically and says "Bombers" on the front! I was astounded that anything with Bombers on it could be a color other than Green and Gold. The new owners must not be Bombers. Maybe they are just trying to do what they can to gain business. I have great memories of running down the hill for a Tastee burger (basically a Sloppy Joe) for lunch, followed with a soft cone dipped in chocolate. At that time I think the people who had it were Parkers? He was a big red-headed guy. After that, Rich and Earlene Hollingshead had it. I don't know who the current owners are. I must be getting really old, because I hate to see the old things change. -Laura Dean Kirby Armstrong ('55) ~ Richland where we are gearing up for a big wind storm this afternoon. Imagine that! ******************************************* ******************************************* 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 ~ 07/12/08 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 3 Bombers sent stuff: Joretta Garrison ('58), Tom Verellen ('60), Gary Behymer ('64) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Debra Belliston ('74) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Sue Pritchett, aka Joretta Garrison ('58) Re: '58 input Class of '58 Registration Forms for our 50th Reunion are due in less than a month. Two items to report: 1. Glen Rose and wife Carol have planned the Jet Boat Tour on Saturday morning. There is only ONE seat left on that tour (as of 7/2 records). If there is enough interest, a second trip might be planned... for Sunday morning. So if you've been wanting to go on this great Columbia River trip, let your wishes be known on your Registration Form.. To secure a second trip, we must pay for it by August 6... so let Glen hear from you soon. 2. GOLFERS.. check this out! A few classmates want to play a round early Saturday morning. Dan Noble is coordinating the game. If you're interested, contact Dan directly. -Sue Pritchett, aka Joretta Garrison ('58) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Tom Verellen ('60) Re: Frog update The babies continue to thrive and grow their little legs. I feel I should get some video of them learning to hop because all too soon the pond will be empty. Then what will Gus the frog herding canine do in his spare time? Go back to herding flowers I guess. AlumniSandstorm.com/htm2008/Xtra/Any/080712-vere-frogs.jpg -Tom Verellen ('60) ~ sunny near Lacey Frog Adoption Center **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Gary Behymer ('64) Live Close to Colfax, WA? Join in the Colfax FFA sponsored... Colfax City Wide Yard Sale Saturday July 12th! 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Map at Rosauers located at the North end of town as you enter from Spokane. -Gary Behymer ('64) ~ somewhere near the Top Notch (Restaurant) ******************************************* ******************************************* 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 ~ 07/13/08 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 7 Bombers sent stuff: Em De Vine ('52), Pappy Swan ('59) Suzie Gunderson ('60), Mike Brady ('61) Barbara von Olnhausen ('62), Jim House ('63) Cathy Geier ('66) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Lorin St. John ('55) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Glen Rose ('58) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Terry Klute ('63) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Marilyn "Em" De Vine ('52) Hey, Tom Verellen ('60)... Those little critters really ARE little! Thanks so much for the update and photos. Your big-burley frog-guard, Gus, looks like he could ALMOST "take them on"! *GRIN* You've had a fun and rewarding experience and I thank you for sharing. -Marilyn "Em" De Vine ('52) ~ here in Anchorage, AK and enjoying sweatshirt weather. But I admit I'd like to see the sun a wee bit more often!!!!! **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: George "Pappy" Swan ('59) To: Tom Verellen ('60) Re: Frog update Tom, I have followed with great interest, your initial report and updates of your close encounters of the wiggly and hoppy kind. Since the days when I was knee "high to the proverbial grasshoppah," I have been intrigued by frogs and tadpoles, especially since they are honest and straight forward little critters. There was none of that, "which came first stuff, like the chicken or the egg stuff?" Momma nature presents the tadpole (alias: pollywog) for an extended period of time, for all to observe. If one is adventuresome, and lucky enough, even the egg masses may be found prior to "tadpole time." For a while tadpoles are like the "Baby Hueys" of the pond, but then like adolescents, they all develop little elongated pimples that seem to suddenly resemble little appendages. And, before you know it, they are sporting miniature hind legs, resembling tiny thighs and drumsticks, that would make any self-respecting "Tucky-fried Chicken" proud of a larger version. Soon the front appendages are well defined and, with a little imagination, one can see the likenesses of tiny little hands. The most miraculous transformation of all takes place as the fleshy tail gradually shrinks undergoing "resorption" and finally disappears, leaving a skinny little butt, and all that remains is a likeness of a tiny little "frogman." Do doubt about who came first there, as today, man's emulation has evolved to be known as a "skin diver." Oh, what weight loss clinic would not give a fortune to capture the secret of resorption and that shrinking tail? Tadpoles "morphing" into frogs have to be the original "Transformers." Today's kids just have to see the myriad movies and have their expensive hi-tech transformer toys, when all along there is a wondrous scenario played out annually by these little live transformers. One just has to periodically visit a local pond. Yet you, Tom, got to see the whole series free, right there in your own yard. I envy you, although on rare occasions, I get to see, in person (well make that "in toadon") an occasional Spadefoot Toad, right here on the "Settlement" (the name I gave this place after the divorce settlement with my first wife). Spadefoot Toads are active at night, but burrow backwards into the ground during the day by using the little black "spade" on their hind leg to dig their burrow. They are further unique in that the pupil of their eye is vertical or cat-like and they have a few other personal "identifiers." Nevertheless, your "little froggy guys" always fascinated me more, because of their little black eye-stripes, giving them a racoon-like, bandit, or Mask of Zorro-like appearance in a diminutive package. I suspect that they are treefrogs. AlumniSandstorm.com/htm2008/Xtra/Any/080712-vere-frogs.jpg I don't try to pin down the exact genus and species of critters anymore. At my age, who cares? Besides, like that old saying, "When I finally thought that I had learned all the answers -- Someone up and changed all of the questions." I finally grew tired of committing to memory the common and scientific names of creatures, only to find out that some "lumper or splitter," as taxonomists (the folks who deal with the identification, naming, and classification organisms) are known in the zoological world, decided that some critter was more or less similar to others in a particular grouping and therefore, the name had to be changed again. So, now I am content to just go with the common name that I can remember. Besides that, it just irritates people when one rattles off scientific names, anyway, so I leave that to those who are still in the business or just hoping to make an impression. Your entry of July 12 was very timely for me, as the day before, I decided that my best buddy, Darby, and I needed a break ... a little quiet time. So, we journeyed to the Blue Mountains in Lil' Ricky and paid a visit to one of the man-made ponds along the Tucannon River, in pursuit of the somewhat wily, hatchery reared, put and take, Rainbow Trout. No fancy fishing with lures or flies (no room to work a fly line anyway) and flipping spinners and spoons soon became nothing more than an unproductive arm-bending exercise. The algae bloom was on and the fish, lurking somewhere within the light green water, were remaining very quiet. So, I baited up and kicked back in the warm sun and cool breeze coming over the water to me. About that time, Darby decided that she needed to go swimming ... right where I was fishing. And, being a Labrador Retriever, she felt it her duty to retrieve anything that I threw out toward the water. So, after she was thoroughly cooled down, I "kenneled" her in Ricky, where he was parked in the cool mountain shade of a big pine tree where she could see me demonstrate my knowledge and prowess as a trout fisherman, to the tune of her occasional disgruntled woofing. A couple of hours and only a couple of trout later, I pondered one my own personal "life's greatest questions." How is it that a guy with thirty-some years experience as a fishery research biologist can sit near someone else who is constantly catching fish, and not get a bite? Painful memories flooded back of sitting, rocking in a sea dory, between two other guys in Alaska, as they boated numerous halibut while I ... got nary a bite. But, that was long ago and far away. After five or six other people caught their limits of trout and left, I was still there, pondering, alone on the pond. But, being a "The glass is half full" kind of guy, I contented myself by watching the hundreds of very large tadpoles (soon to be bullfrogs or Leopard frogs, I believe) that resembled the people in the movie "Wall-E" lazing about and inspecting my measly two fish on my stringer. Eventually, I caught one more trout and went home with the satisfaction that, although I failed to catch my limit of five ... I had caught four. Ah ha, you score keepers say wait a minute ... you only had three on your stringer! This is true. But, I actually and triumphantly had caught a fourth trout which ... I promptly lost as my arthritic fingers mis-manipulated placing it on the stringer. I watched Mr. Trout swim slowly away, "finning his nose" (okay, his nares on his upper mandible or maxilla for you scientific types) at me, as I sobbed loudly and Darby answered with a sympathetic wail. But I recovered quickly, reasoning that, "Oh well, that's one less to clean and they are good-sized, so three's plenty of eating for Mrs. Pappy and I anyway." You see, this proves that indeed, I am a "The pond's half full of trout that I couldn't catch kind of guy." -George "Pappy" Swan ('59) ~ where the days are warm (make that hot) and sunny near the Burbank Periodic Puddle and Spadefoot Toad Sanctuary. **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Suzie Gunderson Chiles ('60) I am so sad to inform you of the death of my sister, Jane Elaine Gunderson Jensen, class of 1964. She was born on May 28, 1945, and passed away July 11, 2008. She had been fighting multiple myeloma since Dec. 2005. She was in the middle of her second round of stem cell transplants, when her kidneys and liver failed. Patricia and I will miss her! With Bomber Tears, -Suzie Gunderson Chiles ('60) ~ in beautiful, rural Omak, WA **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Mike Brady ('61) Re: WNBA Basketball It's great to be treated special. As a Father's Day present, my son took me to a Phoenix WNBA professional basketball game. When we arrived at the arena we were greeted with valet parking. This convinced me something special was about to happen. As we entered the arena, we were greeted by a nice man who directed us to an area under the bleachers. Awaiting us was food and drink. Once we finished eating, the man showed us our seats... my feet touched the floor! We were less than 10 feet from the Phoenix bench. ABC and ESPN were covering the game so we got to see all the TV stuff up close. At half time there was more food and drinks plus half time stats. After the game we were directed to our car and offered cold drinks while we waited. I've been a WNBA fan for several years. I attended the Seattle Storm WNBA Championship game in 2004, but this topped it all! -Mike Brady ('61) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Barbara von Olnhausen ('62) To: Tom Verellen ('60) Your little frogs are almost the size of the finger-tip-sized tree frogs where I stayed in Bermuda several times. Do yours make lots of noise? Loved the sound of little frogs chirping in the trees at night. -Barbara von Olnhausen ('62) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Jim House ('63) To: Gary Behymer ('64) Thanks for the tip about the yard sale in Colfax. I scored major points with MY wife. We had a nice leisurely drive, she rooted in other people's stuff for two hours and spent no money. I tried to buy a "Cougar" chair for my buddy, but I knew he would have been reluctant to accept since I could not get the seller to discount it from $25.00 to $0.99. So I passed. Hopefully the thought is enough for him this time. Thanks for the treat at the Top Notch (again!). My wife and I really enjoy your conversation and are amazed that everybody in town knows Mr. B. -Jim House ('63) ~ Mead, WA (Considering a move to Colfax) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Cathy Geier ('66) To: Patti Jones Ahrens ('60) Hi Patti, I wish I were visiting you today at the Bomber Luncheon.. that would mean my last trip to Richland for moving purposes would be half over! And I would be visiting with an incredible array of friends and talent. Here I sit in SUNNY Seattle.. what a concept! I think I am safe in saying that we have had HOT days the last 3 days in a row. I am even sporting a burned nose from my time volunteering at the Wooden Boat Festival! The best news for me over here is that I am now undertaking a new activity.. working as a non-paid extra in commercials and for movies! I am in a Jones Soda commercial which will be shown at Seahawks games this fall. Now I just finished being in a movie which broadcasts sometime next year. Its called Northwest and is about a pilot's misadventure. I have a very exciting part: sleeping in a sleeping bag in a park. Yes I know! How good can life get! They fed us Pepsi (my favorite) and crackers and cheese. If I had chosen to stay after 4 hours I could have a hamburger and fries... YIKES Lying around in a park and then fast food.. what a kicker for the fight on fat I am experiencing! So in the topic of moving. It is going to happen soon. I have one truckload and a bit left in storage. There are 2 desks and a few odds and ends left over which may go to Goodwill or to YOU! Please contact me via email if you are free Tuesday and wish to help move or take things. Seriously! Since I have completely furnished my apartment here.. I don't need some things stored. This weekend in Seattle we can choose from the West Seattle Festival, the Chinatown Festival, and the Hippie Festival! Also there is a 48 hour film-making contest. I am on-call for a group in the competition to be an extra. They get their topic and site assignment last night and then had to write the film and plan everything out to complete the product within 48 hours! I'll let you know when I become a star! It's good to read the Sandstorm. I am in my place here in Seattle, but I shall never forget my friends and our healthy growth and education we attained from living in Richland. And all those hours of tennis and gymnastics. Thank you again Coach Davis! -Cathy Geier ('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 ~ 07/14/08 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 5 Bombers sent stuff: Tom Tracy ('55), Burt Pierard ('59) Mike Brady ('61), Jim Coyne ('64) David Rivers ('65) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Thora Metcalf ('59) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Tom Tracy ('55) To: Suzie Gunderson Chiles ('60) We share in your sadness in the passing of your sister, Janie ('64). You, Your Mom, Connie and Patty were treasured young girls and loved by a church-full of friends. Please be assured that those the good thoughts, care and shared concern for all of you continues. I still recall the Gunderson girls and their Mom sharing many Sunday dinners at the home of Fred, Lois, Wynell, Bob and Terrell Williams and our family. Everyone knew you would all grow up to be the fine women you became. You were fortunate to have many friends and neighbors whose best hopes and good wishes carry forward to you today as you and all of us remember the finest of times shared with Janie. -Tom Tracy ('55) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Burt Pierard ('59) To: George "Pappy" Swan ('59) Re: Unsuccessful Fishing next to more successful others Your account "triggered" an old memory of mine. During the big "Freeze-up" of the Yakima River in the Winter of '48-'49 (the same one where the Spring "Break-up" led to the blasting of the wood-pole bridge on the road to the "Y," but that's another story and I digress), the river froze solid, at least from the Hemminger City/Enterprise bridge to the Columbia. My Dad thought it would be a great idea to take our axe and chop a hole in the ice to try a bit of "Ice-fishing." I readily agreed and we drove out to an area about half a mile south of the bridge where there was easy access to the river. There were already about 10-15 holes chopped in the river with people huddled around them and holding their lines when we got there. We picked out a spot and I started out chopping but quickly gave up due to the thickness of the ice and my tender young age of 8 - Dad finished it off. We then baited our hooks (with marshmallows, I think - I have no recollection of what we were even trying to catch) and dropped them in the hole. After a few minutes, one of the two guys at a hole near the center of our large somewhat circular formation (about 10 feet from us), got a strike and pulled in what looked to me, to be a fairly large fish. Before he could get it unhooked, his buddy got a strike. They were then getting strikes seemingly almost as quickly as they were re-baiting and dropping their lines. They were laughing, whoopin' & hollerin', and carrying on while (to my recollection) NONE of the rest of us got a single strike. Dad walked over to them and asked what they were using for bait and they said they were using the same as us (one of the guys even bragged that they probably didn't even need to use bait). Anyhow, I don't recall anybody else catching anything that day - I know we didn't. Bomber Cheers, -Burt Pierard ('59) ~ Richland **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Mike Brady ('61) Re: Non paid Extra To: Cathy Geier ('66) How do you become a non paid extra? It sounds like fun. I have a friend who was a paid extra in Sleepless in Seattle. He was the elevator operator in the Empire State Building at the end of the movie. He was in the movie for less than 60 seconds and spoke one line, "ah hum." Just ask him, he's a major movie star! He still gets quarterly residuals of about $1500... not bad for 60 seconds. -Mike Brady ('61) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Jim Coyne ('64) To: Suzie Gunderson Chiles ('60) Susie, I'm really sorry to hear about Jane ('64-RIP). It's too bad when things happen at an early age. They say there is a reason for everything, but I have yet to figure that out. My thoughts are with you and Pat. All three of you girls are great people. I always remember the old days. -Jim Coyne ('64) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: David Rivers ('65) Re: Hello from Vegas This will be short... I started writing this sometime after I got back from the '65er gathering... I started right into trial mode when I got home and have been in that mode or some other similar since then... that was until last weekend I decided to stop in for a little Mexican food at one of the landmark places here in town... not too many old time places left... within a few hours (after wrestling several 4' X 8' signs in the wind and the 112° heat) I was in a total fever and was just exhausted... being the bright boy I am I chalked it up the heat and tried to watch some TV to take my mind off of it... It is now Sunday AGAIN! and I have had my first bit of real food... had no idea one could live on gator-aid and saltines for a whole week... not recommended by this boy tho... I missed Pappy's ('59) and Jamie's ('64) birthdays along the way... I really am sorry for not doing my normal recap of the '65er event as it was just great... special thanks to Ronna Jo ('65), Cecilia ('65) for allowing us to christen their new houses and to Gary Webb ('64) for taking over the cooking... The ballots have come out for the primary and my name is there so I'm still off to the races... I think one of my TV commercials and some of the radio spots are on my website for anyone who would like to take a peek... Well if you are concerned about the salmonella outbreaks you have reason to worry... I think my Doc should have reported mine but then I was so out of it he may have and I didn't know it... BE CAREFUL!!!!!!!!! -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 ~ 07/15/08 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 3 Bombers sent stuff: Pat Quane ('59), Marie Ruppert ('63) Linda Reining ('64) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Twins: Judie and Jackie Cole ('63) BOMBER ANNIVERSARY Today: Gary Davis ('77) & Karen Whitney ('76) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Pat Quane ('59) Re: more frog talk To: Tom Verellen ('60) and all the frog lovers I'm a big frog fan myself. I enjoyed the frog talk and the pics. I was fortunate to capture this picture of a poison dart frog while visiting Costa Rica. It couldn't have been larger than my little finger nail. My close-up lens had to be almost touching its head when I took the photo. They go by the nickname 'blue jeans'. AlumniSandstorm.com/htm2008/Xtra/Any/080715-quane-frog.jpg -Pat Quane ('59) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Marie Ruppert Hartman ('63) We had a Ruppert family reunion a short time ago and one of the things we did is drive around the area to the places we had lived. We started on Ruppert Rd. (named for our Dad) and ended on Casey Ave. We recalled the stream that ran behind our "B" house in the park. It's gone now (covered over, I presume) but we caught many tadpoles in that stream and watched them change into little frogs. Gene and his friends would go up to the Wellsian pond and catch bullfrog tadpoles. We were never able to keep them alive long enough to watch them become bullfrogs, but we always had a lot of the little guys to release back into the stream. We loved to lay out in the backyard on hot summer nights and fall asleep listening to the croaking of the frogs. One of the best memories of childhood. -Marie Ruppert Hartman ('63) ~ in hot, dry Richland **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Linda Reining ('64) so sorry to hear of Jane Gunderson's(class of '64)passing. I remember her and Pat from Health class in 9th grade---we had to feed the white mice that were in cages at the back of Miss Olney's class. fed one a healthy diet and the other a nutrition- deficient diet--kept charts(I think we even had to give them shots of some kind). "funny" the memories that "trigger" when a name or event is brought to mind. Bomber hugs go out to the Gunderson family. Linda Reining(Boomber Bomber class of '64), Bakersfield, CA.....we are still having "bad air" days(which is making breathing difficult for those with asthma(two grandsons have it) or other lung/health problems and causing eyes to constantly "water" and itch) from the fires in and around us. the Piute fire in the Lake Isabella area is 60% contained, but rains have caused flash flooding and parts of the town had to be evacuated---water 100' wide and 6' high in places! we are in no danger, as Lake Isabella is about 40 miles Northeast(?)of Bakersfield. ******************************************* ******************************************* 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 ~ 07/16/08 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 7 Bombers sent stuff and 1 Bomber funeral notice today: Karen Cole ('55), Burt Pierard ('59) "Pappy" Swan ('59), Patti Jones ('60) Ann Engel ('63), Mary Ann Vosse ('63) Mike Dalen ('72) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Barbara Isackson ('58) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Margo Compton ('60) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Scott Hartcorn ('67) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Karen Cole Correll ('55) I goofed! I didn't get my birthday wishes in for sisters Judie and Jackie Cole ('63) I have a good excuse, five teenage grandkids, plus four teenage visitors with us this week. Anyway, I hope your day was a great one. So looking forward to our annual "Sister trip" where the five of us get together and act silly. We love you. Barbara ('50), Patti ('52), Karen ('55), Johnny ('66) -Karen Cole Correll ('55) ~ Nine Mile Falls, WA Great weather and fun times **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Burt Pierard ('59) Re: The "Golden Spike" at the Richland Theater Attached pic shows Lorin St. John ('55) nailing in the last cedar shake (assisted by Glen Rose ('58)). The troops then switched into their "painting mode" and primered about 1/2 the West Side. After primering & two coats of the "Richland Players White," I'll send pics of the finished product (except for some "window work" I initiated on my own), along with the list of contributors (money and/or labor). AlumniSandstorm.com/htm2008/Xtra/Pier/080716-spike.jpg Bomber Cheers, -Burt Pierard ('59) ~ Richland **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: George "Pappy" Swan ('59) Re: Fishin' and doin' stuff with grand kids About this time of year, a common complaint when we were kids was, "Mommm (or Daaaaddd), there's nothing to do!" I know, because I whined those very words many times in the summer months of growing up in Bomberville. But, eventually we were old enough to be allowed of venture out on my own. So, often I and my buddies would wonder "down back," as we referred to the area that lay between the bypass highway and the Yakima River. There, we prowled, explored, camped, fished, and hunted (when old enough to take on the responsibility of taking a firearm out on our own). We also studied the local wildlife with great intent, such as the currently discussed life history of tadpoles and frogs. And, we found bird nests and watched with periodic curiosity as the baby birds grew and eventually took wing and left the nest. Perhaps, without even realizing it, we were watching an accelerated version of what was to come for each of us. In a nutshell, having a close place like "down back" was a good thing and ... it was good for us. Today, there are so many more things to occupy a kid's free time (some good and some bad). So, when I can, I try to introduce our grand kids to the "Great Outdoors." Moms and dads are busy making a living and most try to do stuff for and with their kids, but I figure that by being, so far anyway, a fairly physically active "Gramps," it is only a part of my responsibility to introduce my grand kids to nature's wonders in a first hand manner. Okay, I freely admit, its one of my things, and I like doing it. So here is a tip for any of you locally residing Bomber grandparents. There are many great one day trips or overnight camping ventures (within a 1-2 hour drive) right under our noses. One can head west to the Cascade Mountains, north into the Columbia Basin, south to Oreeegon, or east to the Blue Mountains. One of my favorite "Kid outings" is to take visiting grand kids to the Tucannon River Canyon, east of Dayton. Dayton is a little over an hour's drive from the Tri-Cities on Highway 124. From there, another half hour of driving puts you in the Tucannon Canyon. Turn off of H-124 to the right on the Patit Creek Road on the east side of Dayton and proceed to where it ends with a right or left choice and turn left to take the Hartsock Grade Road downhill until it runs into the Tucannon Road. Turn right and drive south, past the "Last Resort" to the Wooten Wildlife Area. There are several man-made Lakes/ponds that are stocked with trout from the local hatchery. A map showing the locations and names of the small lakes should be available at the Last Resort store and at the Wildlife Area Headquarters (unmanned office with pamphlets and maps available), a little further up the road. Big Four Lake is restricted to artificial lures/flies only. Bait or lures may be used while fishing the other lakes. If you plan to fish, check the fishing regulations, available wherever you purchase your fishing licenses. Fishing regulations and catch limits vary for the river and the lakes. Fishing licenses are not required for Kids, 14 years of age and younger. Information, supplies, and prepared camping sites are available at The Last Resort. There are other campgrounds and "day use only" areas further south (into the mountains). Even if fishing is not of interest, there are a lot of neat things to see and experience. A couple of weeks ago, I took one of my grandsons, Buddy, to this area for a day trip. On the way we visited the historical site about 2-3 miles out of Dayton on the Patit Creek Road where the Lewis and Clark party camped on their way west. Cutouts of the people, animals and equipment provide a sense of what the encampment might have looked like. We enjoyed good fishing for rainbow trout in Spring Lake. On this trip, we saw deer, elk, pheasants, quail, wild turkeys, coyotes, and a variety of tweety birds. A high point of the trip was seeing about a half dozen species of butterflies holding a convention on the remnants of a mud puddle near one of my favorite secret hunting spots. The accompanying picture only shows a small portion of the little critters remaining on the mud, as the rest of the butterflies ... fluttered by. It was good fun for kids of all ages (13 to 67 in this case). alumnisandstorm.com/htm2008/Xtra/Swan/080716-00.html Yesterday, July 14, two old Bomber/Marines, Tom Mattis ('66) and myself, reclaimed our youth for the day as we fished Spring and Rainbow Lakes in that area. The fishing was slow, but so are we ... and patient. Eventually we limited out, proving that sometimes I do get lucky when fishing. -George "Pappy" Swan ('59) ~ where the days are still hot here and so they are in the mountains, but there is nothing like a cool breeze blowing off of a mountain lake. **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Patti Jones Ahrens ('60) Re: Dupus Boomer The following article was in the Tri-city Herald Sunday 7/13/08. http://www.tri-cityherald.com/901/story/238059.html Looks like it will be a fun place to eat for the Bombers visiting WSU. Can't wait to get a T-shirt when they are open. Re: All Bomber Luncheon - Richland alumnisandstorm.com/Lunches/Current-ALL/00.html Another great luncheon. Not big with all the summer events going on but cozy. Always full of chatter. In attendance: George "Pappy" Swan ('59) and Jeanne Swan (spouse - '62 Fairbanks, AK), Glen Rose ('58) and Carol Rose (spouse - '62 Sunnyvale, CA), Marie Ruppert Hartman ('63), David Rhodes ('52) and Alice Rhodes (spouse - '57 Colville, WA Hi), Lorin St. John ('55), Fred Klute ('58), Duane Shults ('70), Burt Pierard ('59), Missy Keeney ('59) and me Patti Jones Ahrens ('60). More birthdays then usual and they were "Pappy", Lorin and Glen. "Pappy" and Lorin and their wives also celebrating Anniversaries. Quite a few years between them of marriage. Made for quite a celebration during the luncheon. As pie was being delivered to the birthday boys a "first" happened during the three years we have had the luncheon at JD Diner. (June marked the end of our third year there.) The JD diner kitchen staff (and maybe a couple of more) came out singing singing Happy Birthday. I was laughing so hard did not catch who all it was but two of the cooks. As they sang instead of using names they were singing "Y'All" in very southern voices. Glen being from Arkansas, "Pappy" from Kansas and me from Missouri. Everyone got a good laugh out of it. There might have more who were from the south but we moved on with Missy singing her version of Happy Birthday. Black Balloons and more for the aged. What a hoot. Must have been a lot of conversation through the early years of Richland from our parents as well as the students by asking the question "Where are you from"? Glen's wife Carol kept listening to our conversation about where we were born over the last few years. She finally got out her Road Atlas and told us she had discovered we were born 25 miles apart. An aside, Mary Judd Hinz ('60) was born 45 miles north of where I was born. Also, a much older cousin who is into genealogy tells me we had Judds in the family chain. Maybe there is much more relation in the Bombers than we know. All the reunions, luncheons and catching up with are Bombers friends sure leads to a lot. Thanks always to Maren Smyth ('63 and '64) and Richard Anderson ('60) who have brought us all together through the years and kept us together with our great Alumni Bomber website. Dave and Alice are finally moved into Richland. Not without boxes yet but getting there. For those of you wondering what happened Lance Hartman ('60), I don't think I have ever said or seen anything about him in the Sandstorm. He is Marie Ruppert Hartman ('63) husband. Lance plays golf and works at the golf course (not sure which one so we do not get to see him at the luncheon. I know Bombers you have seen her name in the announcements, is always there to help me. Especially if I go away at luncheon time. There isn't much to do to make a luncheon happen but it is great to have a team of two. THANKS MARIE! Glen and Carol have put off a trip to Reno so Glen can help finish the refacing of the Richland Theater. Burt, Glen and Lorin have done such great work that it will be finished soon. Seems to be doing the windows will take some time. If any Bombers want to see the difference in the refacing drive south down GWWay. Right after you pass the entrance to Howard Amon park, look to the right. The rest of the building shows the outstanding difference. Duane Schultz ('70) came for the first time. Every time I tried to talk to him but he was in good conversation with someone so I don't have a lot to say about what they were talking about. Didn't hang around to find out. Did get a moment to find out that he knew my cousins, Glenna ('66), Marilyn and Cindy. Do not know their years. Too much family to remember all of the years. The All Bomber Luncheon in September is not until September 13. It has been suggested that Marie I have the luncheon on the Saturday of Club 40. September 6. If I get enough interest from all the Bombers I will move the date until then. Please email me. Pictures done by Jeanne great as always. There are always many more stories at each luncheon but time to wrap until next month. -Patti Jones Ahrens ('60) ~ West Richland, WA where the kids and adults walk freely on the walk ways. Sun was an orange glow last evening from the Mt. Adams fire. Hope that fire doesn't continue to spread. To many around the state already. No frogs in my pond yet but four KOI that are continuously growing. Crickets do have their lulling sound with the waterfall. The Hummingbird Moths are getting full every night on the flowers that grow in my back yard. Standing right at the flowers they do not mind, they just keep feeding. **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Ann Engel Schafer (Gold Metal Class of '63) Re: The twins birthday To: My bridesmaids, the twins Happy Belated Birthday. Jackie and Judie Cole ('63) were very special people in my life and I hope I will see you at our 45th class reunion. -Ann Engel Schafer (Gold Metal Class of '63) ~ From partly sunny Vancouver, WA with a nice breeze blowing. **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Mary Ann Vosse Hirst ('63) Re: Frogs With all the talk about frogs, I had to share my story. Three years ago a small bright green tree frog came to live on our third story deck - he stayed there for two years, then disappeared. Keep in mind that we have an indoor cat, but our third floor deck does not have stairs going down, so we let her out on that deck. One day, Lizzy the cat discovered the frog in her pot of grass. The frog made a jerking movement which scared Lizzy and wouldn't go near a food dish for two days. Gradually she got back to approaching her grass pot, cautiously approaching it and looking to see if there was anything that was going to jump out at her. When nothing was there, she started looking around all the pots for the frog. When she finally spotted it, she laid down and watched, with full attention and ears forward. She did not try to get it. Well, this routine started to be an every day occurrence, and over two summers they actually became so used to each other that the frog would approach Lizzy as she lay there watching, and they would sit and lay side by side in the sun for long minutes at a time. The next summer the frog disappeared and it took Lizzy the full summer to finally stop looking for her "friend". I'm attaching some pics of the typical encounters. alumnisandstorm.com/htm2008/Xtra/Any/080716-vosse-00.html -Mary Ann Vosse Hirst ('63) ~ At the beach in Ocean Park (Surfside), WA where we finally have summer and I am going to have my first golf lesson! **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Mike Dalen ('72) I've been a Sandstorm Alumni voyeur for a couple of years now, but the stories and photos about back yard frogs have given me the itch to contribute. Been living in Huntsville, Alabama for more than 20 years now; we’re in the far north end of the state, in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains. We have a great diversity of wildlife, much of which finds its way into my back yard (see pic). AlumniSandstorm.com/htm2008/Xtra/Any/080716-dalen-Mama.jpg It's months before I can get my wife back to weeding the garden when I catch one of these timber rattlers. Or copperheads. Or water moccasins. Roll Tide! -Mike Dalen ('72) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** Funeral Notice >>Jane Gunderson Jensen ('64) ~ 5/28/45 - 7/11/08 ******************************************* ******************************************* 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 ~ 07/17/08 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 5 Bombers sent stuff: Bill Berlin ('56), Helen Cross ('62) Carol Converse ('64), Gary Behymer ('64) Lynn-Marie Hatcher ('68) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Denny Lytle ('66) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Bill Berlin ('56) Re: Pappy and the Grandkids Pappy, glad you reminded me of why us old guys do this stuff for the youngsters. My daughter, husband and two grandsons (aged 8 and 10) from Houston are up at our cabin on San Juan Island for a month and the boys get a little bored on "the rock," as they call it, so I took them boating and fishing last week. I am in partnership with another guy in a 26 foot Sea Sport replete with a head (toilet), galley (kitchen) and a pair of V-bunks (beds in the shape of a "V"). Filled it up with about $500 worth of diesel and the five of us were off. The Grandkids, which we will call Cole and Charley because that is what their names are, were a bit worried that Papa had finally lost it and was going to keep them crowded in about fifty square feet of space. Actually that WAS my plan but it turned out that they really did not want to leave the water when it was over. We anchored up every night, cooked simple meals on the alcohol stove, did a little beach combing, played games at night at the galley table/single berth (bed), learned how to pump the head when finished, went in to Ganges, B.C. for supplies and the odd Molson, saw a bunch of Orca whales, caught crab and generally had a great time, all in fifty square feet. NOTE: I put the shoreside terms in ( ) after the nautical names so that if this message is read by anyone in Pasco, Prosser or Pullman, they will not feel left out. We did not sleep well the first night because, as any of you boaters know, a boat in the water creates all kinds of weird noises, bumps, clanking, wave slapping on the hull, etc. I told the kids not to worry that boating, unlike camping, you don't have to worry about snakes, bears, cougars (unless the guy in the same bay is flying a WSU flag and then be very worried) and other considerate campers playing boom boxes until the wee small hours. I guess the best lesson was teaching them some basic navigation and chart reading. I have both charts and an electric chart plotter but teaching is much better with paper charts so the get the hang of what lies in the water below that can cause you some problems. All of us had a great time and the boys are ready to go again in a New York minute. Where was wife Sandra (Franklin, Seattle, '57)? At home in Anacortes with her King sized Tempur Pedic bed, long showers, a big kitchen and shopping. Her motto is "the family that camps together, hates each other." Nuf said. -Bill Berlin ('56) ~ in Anacortes, WA where we are having fog until 10:00 AM and then the temps get up into the mid to upper 70s and that is just right for me. Off to the Porsche Private Jet Show tomorrow at Boeing Field. Get to rub elbows with some big time money, both planes and buyers. **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Helen Cross Kirk ('62) I have to add my congratulations to Mark Markel for investing in Washington state's future, especially at WSU by building a restaurant there in the new CUB, student union building. I remember the good ole' days when he was growing up in a prefab and was a friend of my brother, Roy ('65), and I could drive them places after I got my license... Hope we do get back there to try it out... We just are in the midst of Vacation Bible School here with 21 sweet children. I guess why I love working with these little kids is that I still don't have any grandkids of my own. So all of you who do, give them a hug for me... It's been in the 90s here, but thankfully our humidity hasn't been as high as usual... And to Mike Dalen ('72) You would never get me back to weeding in the garden if I found anything like what I saw in the picture in our yard... Give my best to your wife. She is very brave... to ever go back to your garden if snakes like that are around there. Maybe I'll see some of you in Washington State in August when I'm out for the Cross Reunion. -Helen Cross Kirk ('62) ~ Grandview, IN on the Ohio River where the living is easy, and I don't really know or care to know about the fishing... **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Carol Converse Maurer (Magic Class of '64) Re: Fishing and Grand kids To: George "Pappy" Swan ('59) With your colorful description, I felt as though I was along for the trip also. In my former younger days, I remember camping along the Tucannon River. It was great fun. I also remember camping up at American River close to Yakima. You're right, there are loads of places to show and things to do with the grand kids still in Bomberville. I'm looking forward to having our granddaughter down for a couple OF weeks visit in August. This may be the last year as she is looking forward to getting a 'real' job so she says. Also, she will be learning to drive this next year. They don't stay little for long. To: Patti Jones Ahrens ('60) I enjoyed reading all about the latest All Bomber Luncheon. I felt as though I was there having lunch also. Makes me want to move back to Richland myself. My husband and I are talking about places to move to after retirement in 4 years. I just need a bit more heat and sun than here on the coast of Northern CA. I'm thinking that Richland would be a great transition as all the Bombers are so great and would make a person feel welcome. Moving to a new area and not knowing anyone would be hard at our age. To: Mary Ann Vosse Hirst ('63) Re: Frog pictures They are really cute pictures. I'm not surprised that it took so long for Lizzy to get over her friend. -Carol Converse Maurer (Magic Class of '64) ~ Eureka, CA The smoke from all the fires have been with us for over a week now. It's not as bad as inland though. We did have a fairly nice week a couple weeks ago, but are in winter mode once again :( **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Gary Behymer ('64) Re: Greg Markel - Dupus Boomer - WSU How about a 'heads-up' on the 'Grand Opening' so that Bombers may be the first there? -Gary Behymer ('64) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Lynn-Marie Hatcher Peashka ('68) Re: Adult kids moving back in - does it ever work? I wondered if any Bombers had experience with adult children moving back in with them when the parents were still middle-aged, working, in good health, etc. (In other words, not moving home to take care of ill or dying parents.) Adult kids moving back is such a common phenomenon these days per sociologists ... but for some reason, outside of my psychiatric practice, I don't know of anyone who has ever experienced this on a permanent basis. Would be interested to hear stories about situations that worked out, ones that didn't, and relationship damage repair after the fact in those latter cases. Thanks -Lynn-Marie Hatcher Peashka ('68) ******************************************* ******************************************* 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 ~ 07/18/08 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 7 Bombers sent stuff: Steve Carson ('58), George Swan ('59) Nancy Mallory ('64), Joanne Boyd ('67) Ken Staley ('68), Betti Avant ('69) Liz Trujillo ('70) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Denny Lytle ('66) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Steve Carson (Championship class of '58) To: Bill Berlin ('56) Really a great story of your adventure with your grandsons. There is a big world beyond the X-Box, getting them there is the challenge. -Steve Carson (Championship class of '58) ~ Chicago, IL **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: George "Pappy" Swan ('59) To: Bill Berlin ('56) Bill, I love it when you talk naughty ... I mean ... nautical. That brings back memories too. When I came home from the Marines, I had to, not only clean up my language, but gradually revert back to calling things by their civilian labels, otherwise no one knew what I was talking about, such as the floor rather than the deck, the ceiling rather than the overhead, a door rather than a hatch, etc. You know what I mean. Speaking of air shows, I'm going to the one at McCord Air Base this Saturday with some fellow airplane buffs. Re: Showing grand kids how, "We uuused to..." When it comes to grand kids, I think one of the best, of the many positive joys of being a grandparent, is showing grand kids how something used to be done (what I call the rapidly diminishing of lost arts). I can remember my grandpa in Kansas (who was born on a wagon train coming from Iowa), showing me how some genuine old- time things used to be done, like sharpening knives and tools on a vertically rotating grinding stone that one sat on an old tractor seat and was operated by a foot treadle. He, my dad, and my uncles taught me a lot of "good stuff" like fishing, hunting rabbits, catching grasshoppers for fish bait, and catching lightening bugs just to look at, in a fruit jar, on the front porch of his farmhouse, in the dark of the evening. As a result, I was most appreciative, and today I have most fond memories of him. It is in that spirit that I attempt to pass "good stuff" on to my grand kids. One example is building a campfire. Camping is always more enjoyable when we can have a campfire. On the shelf or rack, in any sporting goods or outdoor store can be found a variety of convenient fire starters (solid, liquid, or jell) that one just needs to light, be it with a match or lighter (cigarette or barbecue-type). And, there is always "instant fire," commonly known as "Coleman fuel," but kids definitely should be taught, at an early age (and some adults re-taught), the inherent dangers of that method. Consequently, the satisfaction that comes from mastering the fine art of laying, lighting, and enjoying a good campfire is lost to many modern campers. Many of those fire starting items and waterproof matches have a very important place in survival kits for outdoor folks and travelers. But what happens if one finds themselves in a situation without them? And, worse yet, what happens when one has those modern conveniences, but little or no experience (or common sense) to accompany them? Just a couple of years ago, I was turkey hunting in the Tucannon River Canyon. The turkeys had bred and dispersed and the hunting had wound down for the spring and was poor, so I decided to salvage my trip and go fishing. I quickly caught a couple of trout and was in the process of cleaning them for my dinner, when I was approached by a man and woman in their early twenties. They had a stringer of fish, but did not have a knife, nor did they know how to clean the fish. I showed them how to do that and let the man use my knife to clean his fish, a fairly noble gesture on my part. Little did I know, then. Then, they asked me how to cook them? A few questions later, revealed that they were "camping," but their "cookware" and "staples" consisted of a sauce pan and some salt and pepper. Hmmm, this was becoming a challenge. There was a store nearby at the "Last Resort," but they did not want to spend any money as they were there to, "live off the land" ... for two weeks. "Ohhhh, um hum..." I gave them some cooking oil and pancake flour and suggested that they could fry the trout in their pan. "No spatula." "Well, you could whittle a flat stick or sharpen a stick to use as a fork." "No knife." "Hmmm, kind of a survival training exercise, huh?" Later, as I walked through the campground to my pickup, I noticed the young man, feverishly going through his box of matches as he attempted to light off his jell fire starter, which he had applied to his campfire wood. The wood that he had gathered for his cooking/campfire was composed only of fresh green, six inch logs, about six to ten feet long. I still don't know how he acquired the logs, as he had no axe or saw, either. He further revealed that they had no tent or tarp, just a cotton comforter. I quickly looked about for the camera crew, as I was sure that I must be on "Candid Camera." But, it was unbelievably ... for real. Since the campground was just off the paved road, about a quarter of a mile from the resort, the date was in late May, and the weather was warm, I surmised that they should be in no real danger ... other than whatever they created for themselves. Blessed are the meek and misguided, and apparently, God had looked out for them so far. So, I decided that it was time for me to seek a campsite farther up the river. It looked to me like they were in for a long two weeks, ... if they lasted another day, before going home. Teaching kids to "make fire" as part of the camping experience can not only entertain them and make camping a more enjoyable experience. It can also teach them a valuable outdoor skill, as their very life could be dependent upon it, should they ever find themselves in an extreme situation. We often hear of hunters, hikers, and even travelers who become stranded and suffer hardships or even death. Yet, everything that they needed to build a fire was right there, all around them. When camping (or even at a back yard fire pit), we can practice, teach kids, and the inexperienced how to gather fuel, prepare it, and ... make fire ... even in a rain-soaked outdoor situation. Space here prohibits going into the details of all of the possible ways to make fire. However, if you want to entertain and reap the satisfaction of teaching kids something highly useful, teach them how to gather appropriate fuel and how to make a good campfire. If you do not have the experience ... no problem! Get a good book on camping or survival, study it, practice some the old techniques, like flint and steel, drill and bow, and ... impress your grand kids. Then, show them how easy it is to use the modern survival-type fire starters, and the importance of being prepared by having them make up their own personal survival kit to carry with them when in the outdoors or traveling. Okay, I admit that I was once an instructor at the Marine Corps Survival and Mountain Warfare Training Center in the Sierra Mountains of California. But, that was about fifty years ago ... last century. So, even I need to review and practice once-in-a- while! But, my grand kids love it. To: Carol Converse Maurer (Magic Class of '64) Re: Fishing and Grand kids I too am fond of the outdoor possibilities up at the Bumping, American, and Naches River areas close to Yakima. And, you are absolutely right, "they don't stay little for long." Just look at us. Seems like only yesterday, I was little, but then, I'm still a kid, at heart. The only down side to aging for me, so far, is that the time seems to race by faster than ever and there is still so much to do. -George "Pappy" Swan ('59) ~ where the days are still hot and I'm barbecuing again and ... "Hey, Jeanne, its been a while, so tell me again, how do I light this modern contraption? **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Nancy Mallory Johnson ('64) To: Lynn-Marie Hatcher Peashka ('68) Both of my kids have or do live with me. My son was a teenager in HS when his Dad passed away so of course he lived with me. My daughter and son-in-law also lived with us for a while two or three years after t hat. That worked out fine. I think you have moments when you get frustrated, but it can be worked out. My son (single) lives with me now. He does his thing and I do mine (somethimes together, sometimes not). He is also available to do stuff I can't (or don't want) to do. My daughter and son-in-law and granddaughter have lived about 150 ft. behind me for about 7 years but have now moved 45 miles away. The closer distance was very good, near, but each had their own space. The 45 miles I don't like, but could be much farther away (good for grandaughter as she has playmates -- something she hasn't had before. Guess I like them close as I moved 2000 miles when I got married. -Nancy Mallory Johnson ('64) ~ in hot west TN -- rains keep going around us. **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Joanne Boyd ('67) Re: Karen Bustad - ('67wb-RIP) Karen attended Chief Jo and moved our sophomore year, I think. She died in Africa on a Lutheran Church mission when she was 33. Her parents published a small book of her writings, "Dancing in Africa". It was published at PLU. I have one copy and several classmates were looking for a copy. Does anyone know if there are more copies of this around? Also want to extend kudos to Marsha Hopfinger Sork ('67), who has single handedly put together biographies of many members of the class of '67--AND sent copies to all of us. She continues to make requests of those who have not written in and gives updates of new bios she gets thru email. She has had contact with all but about 100 of the class of '67. She has done an amazing job. Also to all those in the Tri-Cities who are helping with organizing our 60th "birthday celebration", it sounds like it'll be a LOT of fun!! Those of us who live "away" really appreciate your effort! -Joanne Boyd ('67) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Ken Staley ('68) To: Lynn-Marie Hatcher Peashka ('68) Re: Adult kids moving in! My oldest son decided after he left college that HE was moving back home. GREAT! Here's your part of the rent son... and the utilities... Oh, yeah, your mother and I sat down and made out these rules as well... It took him 10 days to find another place! -Ken Staley ('68) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Betti Avant ('69) Re: kids moving back in with parents To: Lynn-Marie Hatcher Peashka ('68) Lynn-Marie, I haven't had kids move back home as adults but I did it. Just before I was to be discharged from the Army, my father passed away. Up to that point I was considering reenlisting but opted not to. I moved in with my mother who was still working. I paid half of the month's utility bills and groceries. She lived in a mobile home and our bedrooms were separated by the living and dining rooms. My younger brother came home about a year later and the 3 of us lived together for the next couple of years. My brother moved elsewhere but I continued to live with my mother for the next 8 years and sure we had a spat or two but nothing major and it worked out well for both of us. I guess it just depends how well it'll work on the way things go for both parties. I'd do it again, too, as before my mother passed away I invited her to come live with me if she ever wanted to. I hope this helps. -Betti Avant ('69) ~ Lacey, WA **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Liz Trujillo Cooper ('70) Re: Lynn-Marie Hatcher Peashka ('68) I have had children return home several times. When our two oldest sons finished college, they returned home. We told them they immediately needed to get jobs and pay rent. Our son, Chris' ('90 Kennewick), job required more schooling. Since he had to pay cash for grad school we did not require him to pay rent. Our other son, Bryan ('91 Kennewick), got married a year later. All the rent we collected was saved for his honeymoon. We have let different sons stay 6 months after getting married to save for a down-payment on a house. After my husband (Pat Cooper '69 Ki-Be) had surgery, he needed someone to stay with him at home. Our son Scott ('94), his wife and two children moved back from Iowa to care for my husband. They have stayed with us several years while they rebuilt their lives here. Over all, their stays have been successful. I get frustrated sometimes when I can't find things but I have learned to look at the bigger picture. What is more important, having things put away where I want them or maintaining a good relationship with my son and daughter-in-law? If you are a laid-back person, you have better chances of succeeding. I had to learn to let go and not be controlling, believe me that was not an easy task. I've grown a lot in that area of my life. It was great sharing the cooking tasks with my daughter-in-law and getting a little spoiled. All I can say is, at my house you better have a job, or I will find a lot of work you can do around the house. And yes there still are rules and this is my house, if you don't like the rules, move out. Good luck on your new endeavor. -Liz Trujillo Cooper ('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 ~ 07/19/08 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 5 Bombers sent stuff: Wally Erickson ('53), Tom Verellen ('60) Alan Lobdell ('69), Melinda Killmer ('86) Ron Brown ('88) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Karla Snyder ('69) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Wally Erickson ('53) To: George Swan ('59) and Bill Berlin ('56) I enjoyed reading your emails on spending time with your grandkids. There is no way to express the satisfaction, or rewards in spending a "one on one" time with your grandkids. I have great memories camping with my grandsons on Washington's coast, the Cascade Mountain Range and of course the "Panhandle of Idaho" Priest Lake. There are so many beautiful spots in the Northwest, it would be hard to explain them all. The memories of teaching them the importance of setting up camp and building a safe fire. Those are memories that will carry on with me and them till the end of our time. I feel very lucky that I have my health to be able to continue to do this with them. Three of them are now on their own; but there are still younger siblings to follow the same footsteps. It was an great experience for each of us. One of the grandsons joined the Navy; (he wanted to be a "Navy Seal", but was offered a "Corpsman" position). He'll be training with the Navy Seals and Marines. We're very proud of him! I still see them helping set up the tent, hauling wood for the fire, using the water filter (out of the lake) for cooking and us setting out on a small hike into the unknown. What a great time of sharing!! It goes without saying... there is nothing like taking the time to spend that "one on one" with them sitting by the fire talking about their future; they sometimes have questions about your past... UHHHHHHHmmm! Now, that's another story... grin. I feel some sadness I wasn't able to do this with my older grandkids; so there is sadness there. They know I care about them and love them, and that's important to me!!!!!!!! Also having a great time with them on biking trips... we have beautiful biking trails here. We've biked the Centennial Bike Trail between Spokane and CD'A. This year we plan to do some biking on the CD'A and Hiawatha Bike Trails. Again... I enjoyed reading your emails about your time with your grandkids... just wanted to let you know you hit "HOME"!! Yes, there are other things besides the "X-Box" and "TV". Remember when we played outside?? -Wally Erickson ('53) ~ We've been having some beautiful weather here on Lake Coeur D'Alene. Been busy with chores; who said they didn't know what they would do if they retired????... Grin again. **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Tom Verellen ('60) Re: Entry with pics alumnisandstorm.com/htm2008/Xtra/Any/080719-verel-00.html -Tom Verellen ('60) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Alan Lobdell ('69) Re: Adult offspring moving back in with you!!! I have that situation at this time with my youngest (27). He graduated from college back in Savannah, GA at the end of '07 and I helped him move out here in April of this year. The deal is that he will live with me until he completes a film he is working on for a couple film festivals. It should be done by Dec. of this year. He will then be leaving for work I'm guessing in California. It has actually been fun having him around and has been a help whenever grandkids are over since they adore their uncle. It's interesting how a 27 year old guy can take his 7 and 9 year old nephews somewhere for dinner and end up with two dates. He does even better, as he calls it, when he takes his 5 year old niece with him. I've heard him ask his older brother to let him borrow one of his kids for the day. This is not something I would have ever thought of when I was his age. I guess I'm just lucky because when I get home from work the house is clean and dishes are done, etc. So, from my experience having an adult offspring at home has been good however I hope it stays that way and doesn't last too long. Re: Camp fire starter To anyone who elk hunts, camps, fishes, etc. during rain, snow, wind etc. the following is the best camp fire starter I have ever used. Take a gallon plastic tub of some sort that has a lid and fill it up with wood shavings. I use the sawdust from my chain saw. Pour into it enough gas or diesel to soak the shavings. Pour off the excess and cover with lid. When needed, put a scoop of the shavings on your firewood and light. It will not flare up or explode but will burn very easy and stay burning to start your camp fire in any weather. Of course this is all based on having matches that will light at the time. I suggest always having waterproof matches any time you are in the woods. -Alan Lobdell ('69) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** From the new ALL Bomber Alumni GuestBook From: Melinda Killmer Brown ('86) Entered: Friday 07/18/2008 0:06:58am COMMENTS: I'm married Ron Brown ('88) and we live in Richland. I am a medical biller and work in a family doctor's office in Kennewick. Love to hear from any old classmates! -Melinda Killmer Brown ('86) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** From the new ALL Bomber Alumni GuestBook From: Ron Brown ('88) Entered: Friday 07/18/2008 0:10:20am COMMENTS: I live in Richland and married Melinda Killmer ('86). I am a Marine Technician. Ron Brown ('88) ******************************************* ******************************************* 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 ~ 07/20/08 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1 Bomber sent stuff: Dick Wight ('52) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Geoffrey Rothwell ('71) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Dick Wight ('52) Re: fire starter Alan Lobdell ('69) commented that a good campig fire starter is to have a bucket full of wood shavings that have been soaked in gasoline or diesel fuel. THAT probably has my father, Milt Wight, rolling in his grave! He was Richland fire chief way back when... Gasoline in particular is a highly volatile and unstable fuel. NEVER use it for a fire starter, and carrying a big tightly- closed container of gas-soaked wood chips around is like carrying a bomb! If ya gotta do something like that, why not use MAGIC FIRE WATER (aka charcoal lighter)! -Dick Wight ('52) ~ back in Arkansas where some folks think we still rub sticks together! ******************************************* ******************************************* 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 ~ 07/21/08 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 4 Bombers sent stuff: Bill Berlin ('56), Alan Stephens ('66) Alan Lobdell ('69), Margaret Gilstrap ('74) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Phil Groff ('58) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Bill Berlin ('56) Re: Doesn't get much better than this On Thursday last I was invited again to the Porsche Private Jet show at Boeing Field (BFI). I selected a Gulfstream 7 for myself and then ran home to get the $18.0 million. Later we visited, privately, a hanger there where some of the Pacific Northwest heavy hitters had their planes and it was more of the same, great aircraft. Then my business associate asked me to come over to a Cessna Caravan, kind of a single engine commuter aircraft, that was sitting on the tarmac and he introduced me to Harrison Ford, who had just flown into BFI in his Cessna Citation and was going to take off for British Columbia on Friday in his Caravan. We sat around the Ready Room and drank coffee and swapped airplane stories for nearly an hour and Ford has some good ones. He is a pretty regular guy, or as regular as a guy who flies around like a bird can get. You know pilots... pilot it here and pilot there... if you get my drift. Keep the windows open too to let it run out. Then on Friday I got a call from a Linfield College and fraternity brother of mine from Tucson and he and another frat brother were in Coupeville, WA, about a forty minute drive from our place in Anacortes so we had lunch with those two guys. I had just gotten home when Gus Keeney ('57) called and he and his friend were in town so we met at Chez Bowling Alley for coffee, actually Gus and Bud had dinner but we had a great conversation there too. It was super to see all of these guys and I am blessed that they still want to see me. I guess that is one big asset to being older, you have met a lot of friends over those years and it seems the cream rises to the top when you get to meet those who want to stay in touch with you. I don't know of any other high school with that kind of connection than Col-Hi/RHS, do you? Linfield was different because we lived, breathed, played sports and socialized more in a close quarters event but Richland really stands out when it comes to getting connected and STAYING connected. I am going to try to get to Club 40 this year but China beckons too so I am not sure. Seeing Gus again really wants me to do it. On Saturday morning we went to the Anacortes Shipwreck Day... ten blocks of organized yard sales... and I wore my USCG Veteran hat. I could not believe all of the guys who stopped me that had been in the Hooligan Navy as well as other services. Just seems to be a strong link between folks who have served this great country and are proud of it. Semper Paratus. Semper Fi. -Bill Berlin ('56) ~ in Anacortes, WA where we cleaned out our freezer of meat from 2004 and 2005 and then got the hot tub running for the Grandkids. Actually Thursday and Friday were much better days... no work and all play. **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Alan Stephens ('66) School mates that I have emailed have told me to put this in the Sandstorm, so here goes. My small claim to fame was operating on and with the PBRs in the Mekong Delta, Viet Nam in '69 and '70. These are the green, river gun boats featured in the movie Apocalypse Now. I have the proud honor to bring a piece of history to the Water Follies. I am part of a Vets group that is restoring the last Navy Viet Nam era, operational PBR. Thursday I will be escorting it from Everett Naval Station to Columbia Park. It will be on display Friday through Sunday by the Veterans Memorial. Hopefully we will be able to give tours on board. If you served in Operation Gamewardens/Sea Lords please come see the boat and talk with us. For more info about us go to gamewardensnw.org. We can thank Bill Didway ('66) for sparking the interest in this boat. We are also invited to be in the Fair and Rodeo parade in August. Alan Stephens CPO (SW) USN Retired Kent, WA -Alan Stephens ('66) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Alan Lobdell ('69) Re: Camp fire starter To: Dick Wight ('52) Gas by itself in a plastic container is safer then in a metal container as per fire codes. You cannot even put gas in a metal container anymore at a gas pump if they are watching you. Gas soaked wood chips will not explode even when you light them on your camp fire nor can they explode within the container. They are a whole lot safer then using any liquid such as lighter fluid, gas by itself, diesel, camp stove fluid etc. These liquids when poured out produce gas fumes that are highly flammable. When lit both ignite violently. The soaked wood chips do not do that. It is the safest way to start a fire I have ever used. -Alan Lobdell ('69) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Margaret Gilstrap O'Hara ('74) Re: Fire Starter Frito's are the best fire starter. No kidding. Put some Frito's in a coffee can and throw a match in. I carry snack pack Frito's in my snow machine. One never knows when they are going on a "10 minute" ride or when one might become "temporarily disoriented" caused by the "10 minute ride". Remember one is never "lost" until one runs out of gas. I have been on several "10 minute" rides that lasted way into the early morning hours. Frito's are part of my survival kit. I can either eat them or start a fire with them. I quit eating Frito's when I saw how quick they caught fire, however if ever I am in a survival situation and I must eat the Frito's... I will be hoping someone else thought to bring the bean dip. -Margaret Gilstrap O'Hara ('74) ~ Crooked Lake, AK not far from Big Lake... where for the first night since October I did not need to build nor stoke a fire in the wood stove before going to bed. ******************************************* ******************************************* 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 ~ 07/22/08 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 3 Bombers sent stuff: Dick Wight ('52), John Adkins ('62) Dennis Hammer ('64) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Chuck Crawley ('67) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Paula Vinther ('69) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Dick Wight ('52) Re: Coast Guard To: Bill Berlin ('56) I wander around the Branson area from time to time with my Coast Guard ball cap on, plus license plate adornments on the car. Even back here in the "heartland" there are quite a few ex Coasties. I'm a member of two chapters of the Military Officers Assn. (Branson and Harrison, AR) and am the only Coastie in either! Ha! But remember this, Bill. Popeye was a Coastie! -Dick Wight ('52) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: John Adkins ('62) Re: Fire starters I agree with Margaret Gilstrap O'Hara ('74), it generally takes a Pepcid AC Complete to get over and visit to a Fritos Package. -John Adkins ('62) ~ Richland, it's gonna hit 95 here today - but the air conditioner is doing it's job. **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Dennis Hammer ('64) To: Alan Stephens ('66) Re: Viet Nam era PBR I find it interesting that the last Navy Viet Nam era operational PBR is located in the Northwest. It seems quite a coincidence the last World War II operational PT boat is also located in the Northwest. The PT-685 was restored over thirteen years ago by a group of PT boat vets in Portland, OR. http://www.geocities.com/pentagon/4017/ If you check out the pictures of the restoration you can see that it was in terrible condition when they acquired it. I guess there are a few other remaining PT boats in museums but they are not operational. Some have had the sides cut open so visitors can see what is inside them. (Most PT boats were hauled up on the shore and burned after the end of the war.) After watching the DVD on Dr. Robert Ballard's search for JFK's PT-109 I did some research on the Internet and found that the second boat that Kennedy commanded finished her days as a fishing boat in Manhattan. It would probably have been saved but had been listed as formally PT-95. So it seems that an artifact of historical significance was lost due to a typing error. You're looking good in that picture, maybe working on the PBR is bringing back your youth. -Dennis Hammer ('64) ~ U.S.N. 1968-1972 ~ I was on a heavy cruiser and occasionally one of those small boats would come out to where we were and tie up alongside. Seems like we gave them a bunch of ice cream once. I do remember that one had a dog on top the boat--I took a picture, but with so many slides in boxes could not find it. ******************************************* ******************************************* 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 ~ 07/23/08 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 5 Bombers sent stuff: Michael Ragland ('57), George Swan ('59) Patti Mitchell ('64), David Rivers ('65) Robert Avant ('69) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Jerry Evans ('64) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Peggy Adair ('72) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Aric Buck ('95) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Michael Ragland ('57) Re: Locate missing person I would really like to touch base with Ginger Gibson ('57) and Pat McMannis DesChane ('57). If anyone has a snail mail address or e-mail address for either or both, please ask them to contact me via e-mail. Ginger's e-mail address in the website doesn't work nor does the last known address that I have for her. -Michael Ragland ('57) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: George "Pappy" Swan ('59) To: Margaret Gilstrap O'Hara ('74) Re: More On Fire Starter I am always on the lookout for new survival techniques and training ideas. Your "Frito Fundamental Fire Starter Idea" has captured my attention for it's multi-purpose value. I also watch for ideas that can help to lighten the load in my backpack by acquiring and carrying multi-use items when venturing into the wilds, such as multi-tools and Preparation H. Yep, "Preppy H" (a suitable applicant for insect bites and itches, lubrication for armpits and other areas for hikers, bikers, and hunters, and ... well ... you know...). But, "Fritos" a fire starter that I can also eat! Wow, how clever? The only potential drawback that I see, is that I will have to practice great self-restraint to resist eating my emergency fire starter and watch out for wandering "Frito Banditos" (there's an age dating phrase). Seriously, I am going to town today to deliver prescriptions and other items to my mother, so I am going to pick up some "Fritos" and test this fire starting quality for myself. If it works, "I like it!" It will be yet another lightweight idea for the survival kit. If it doesn't ... I can always devour the test materials. Another fire starting idea that I picked up through my association with Hunter Education classes is to make fire starters with cardboard egg cartons, lint from our clothes dryer, and old candle stubs or paraffin wax. As you periodically clean the lint trap on your dryer, save the lint in a "Zip Lock" bag until you have enough to fill each pocket in an egg carton about halfway (lint from belly buttons also works, but takes much longer to acquire and some family members may fail to cooperate). Melt the candles or wax in a pan or coffee can and pour some into each lint filled pocket in the egg carton. After it cools, cut the pockets apart and you have a dozen fire starters (more if you use larger egg cartons and are able to harvest more belly button or dryer lint). Carry some of the fire starters in a zip lock bag for emergency or quick fire starting use. Being a fan of Copenhagen "Snuff" chewing tobacco, I went one step further and saved my empty cans which (in the U.S.) are made of cardboard with wax sealant lining the inside. So, placing some lint into them and pouring the melted wax over them also renders a compact fire starter. Discarding or keeping the "tin lid" is optional. Copenhagen purchased in Canada (and other brands of "chew" in the U. S.) come in all plastic containers, which do not work well for fire starters, but do make nice waterproof containers (for matches, etc.), if you apply some electrical tape around the seam where the lid closes. An additional survival kit idea is to include an old "mirror finish" CD or DVD for use as a signal mirror. They are light weight and by positioning yourself at an angle to the sun and looking through the hole at an airplane or search party and tipping the mirror side up and down or sideways, attention getting flashes of bright reflections can be directed toward the searchers. Someone will surely question, what if the sun is not showing. That's where your ability to start a fire comes in. When lost or stranded, the first thing to do is admit to yourself that you have a problem and stay put. Always collect fuel (a lot of fuel -- wood, brush, grass, etc.), build a fire, and keep it going. A fire will keep you warm, make you feel better, help to keep your spirits up, and is also a signaling tool. A bright fire at night and a smokey fire during the day will help to attract attention to you. -George "Pappy" Swan ('59) ~ Burbank, WA where I am back and finally rested up from an intense weekend of air show, air museum, and a tour of the Cabela's Store at Lacey, WA and today it is hot, but actually cloudy and threatening with the possibility of thunderstorms for today. **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Patti Mitchell Sanderson ('64) I personally have never sent an entry like this before or even knew this Alumni Sandstorm web site existed until Barbara Miller Marshlain ('64) told me about it on the phone last week. After reading several of the entries I decided my love and admiration for Jane Gunderson Jensen ('64-RIP) was well worth the effort. (I’m really a big chicken!) I experienced a wonderful opportunity in attending the funeral services for Jane on July 16th in Provo, UT. Jane lives two blocks from my home in Provo. She truly was a remarkable daughter of our Heavenly Father and an example to me. Her children and their spouses are beautiful young people and her 10 grandchildren are a legacy to her life. I was able to reminisce with Pat ('64), Jane’s sister and my old best friend for a short amount of time. Pat lives in Lake Oswego with her hubby, 10 children and many grandchildren. What a blessing to have great memories and "old friends". My life was, and always will be, enriched by the Gunderson girls! -Patti Mitchell Sanderson ('64) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: David Rivers ('65) Re: Vote Early and Often Ohmygoodnessgracious... landsakealive... it's almost here... early voting starts Saturday for my Primary... about 600 of my 1000 signs are now in Utah, Arizona and California thanks to the Vegas winds... much like Richland winds... my radio ads have been running about 3 weeks and my TV ads started yesterday... my stomach is getting queasy again but I haven't eaten and Jalapenos since my bout with the tainted little suckers couple of weeks ago so it must be nerves... While I was down living on gator-aid I had no coffee so I thought it was a good time to cut back... not a good idea... I had two migraines within two days... haven't had one in about a year or more so I guess drastic cut back on caffeine is not a good idea... so don't try this at home... oh gads... if only the '63 reunion was the 4th of August instead of September it would give me something else to keep my mind occupied... my dreams at night have all been related to the election but not in any rational way... I mean during the dreams they are related but when I wake up I realize that whatever I was dreaming has no true relationship to any kind of election I've ever seen. Had an interviewer ask me yesterday what made me want to become a politician... I NEVER wanted to be a politician... I just think I'd make a very good judge and would like to serve a term or two... I mean it sure isn't for the money... right now I arbitrate many cases at my hourly fee... as judge I gotta do the same thing and more of it at the Gubmint rate... but I really have decided I want to do it. Now all my nightmares of rejection are honing right in on me... I feel like Terry Davis (Knox '65) on steroids... I used to like myself pretty much... now I can hardly find a good thing to think of myself... what if the "people" don't want me... heck... the 'people" for the most part don't even know me... they are just picking a name... Judges are the last people they think of until they appear in front of one... this is worse than "American Idol" or whatever that show is called... only we all KNOW I have no talent... all I do is write and talk... if only I had a skill... I could find a nice job and fix stuff for people... as a judge you can NOT fix stuff or you get in big trouble... there's that awful word... trouble... do you know we have been afraid of that word all our lives... ok gotta think of something else... hmmmmm... a strawberry milk shake sounds nice... a trip to the moon on gossamer wings... now we're cookin'... let's see... how do I work that into my dreams... oh well... if you have any feelings for an ol' Bomber at all you will all move down here right now and vote early and vote often!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! -David Rivers ('65) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Robert Avant ('69) Re: Fire starting When I lived in Alaska in those years past I made sure that whenever and wherever I travelled I carried a belly bag (fanny pack) that contained enough stuff to allow me to survive up to 2 weeks by myself. Since Jack London's "To Start a Fire" I knew that was the overriding need if you wished to stay alive in any kind of rescueable shape. To that end I carried three items that 100% guaranteed a fire regardless of wet wood or not. 1.) A vacu seal bag with 100% cotton balls to insure they were dry. 2.) A block available at any good camping store with one side flint and the other side magnesium. 3.) A steel knife. With those three items you could start a fire with even the wettest wood. If you wished to eat you carry a two sided razor blade. That is especially good in deep winter if you need to hunt. The whole idea of the cotton balls, small block and the knife was space, weight, and efficacy. If you are lost, are three are of concern. -Robert Avant ('69) ******************************************* ******************************************* 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 ~ 07/24/08 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 6 Bombers sent stuff and 1 Bomber funeral notice today: George Swan ('59), Patti Jones ('60) Carol Converse ('64), Betti Avant ('69) Bruce Strand ('69), Margaret Gilstrap ('74) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Elva McGhan ('50) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Barb Crawford ('55) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Pete Hollick ('55) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Rick Allen ('67) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Kathy Hartnett ('69) BOMBER ANNIVERSARY Today: Gene Keller ('50) & Pat Badger ('53) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: George "Pappy" Swan ('59) To: Robert Avant ('69) Re: Fire starting Robert, like birds of a feather, when it comes to "survival kits," our minds seem to run down the same trail. Water repellant fanny packs are a perfect container for assembling and carrying survival and first aid items. The important thing about personal survival/first aid kits, is that once they are purchased or assembled, they will still do us no good, in our time of need, if they are back home, in the vehicle, or back at camp. I try to make sure that I have such a kit with me, whether going into the outdoors or traveling, and the size, contents, and additional items in my kit, backpack, or vehicle may vary with my activities and the seasons of the year. I also echo your accolades for Jack London's short story, "To Build A Fire." It should be a reading or re-reading requirement for every outdoor enthusiast or traveler who ventures away from "the beaten path." The mental image of the dog gazing at his lifeless master, who managed to finally start his fire, but in the wrong location, only to have it snuffed by a load of falling snow, due to the heat that his warming fire created, leaves a very lasting impression about the need for heat and the ability to build a fire in severe wet and cold conditions. Of course there is a lot more to that story, but that is beyond the scope of this discussion. And, I could not agree with you more, for survival in the outdoors, "Fire can be very good! Actually, it can be of utmost importance!" There are many items that one may choose to put in a survival kit. But, I agree with the importance of your four items for inclusion of 1.) Cotton balls in a vacuum-sealed bag to insure their dryness, 2.) A block available at any good camping store with one side flint and the other side magnesium, 3.) A steel knife, and 4.) a two-sided razor blade would have many uses. You and I know how to put this type of fire starter to use, in a survival situation, but we should point out that some people acquire a "flint and magnesium stick" block and are quite fascinated with scraping it and watching the sparks fly. Yet, how many of them actually take the time to practice starting a fire with it, before carrying it into the wilds, where their very life could depend upon it? Scraping magnesium shavings and particles onto a cotton ball with the steel knife and then scraping sparks from the flint bar onto the cotton ball will definitely ignite the cotton. But, in a survival situation, we should hedge our bet, even more, in getting a fire started, and keeping it going, whether with cotton balls or other types of "tinder" (the initial fuel composed of fine material such as grass, wood shavings, or shredded inner bark from dead trees, etc.). We can do that by first collecting and stockpiling an adequate supply of tinder, kindling and firewood. Once the tinder is burning, we help it along by adding successively larger sticks, "kindling," until we have a sustainable campfire, and then, we keep it going with the larger wood. It could be very nerve wracking, depressing, or possibly even fatal, for one in a serious situation, to get a fire started, only to have it go out for want of appropriate or adequate fuel. I know ... who wants to think about keeping warm at this time of year? -George "Pappy" Swan ('59) ~ Burbank, WA **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Patti Jones Ahrens ('60) To: Carol Converse Maurer ('64) RE: All Bomber luncheon - Richland Really appreciate what you said in the Sandstorm about my writing after the luncheon making you feel like you are there. When I began doing the writings I had to great intention of what it was to be. Now it is really fun trying to listen to enough conversations, and chatter to write about. As much as I have done the writings the Bombers do not get quiet when I come near. I have been told by many Bombers that they really enjoy the writings. Sometimes in hosting the luncheon is not easy to get around to hear enough conversations. Always looking for ways to hear more. Many of the Bombers who are there monthly are what Nick Nelson (RIP '56) said one time "are the glue that keeps the luncheons going". Many of them are Bombers who have moved back to Richland after years of living other places. They all have a story about what got them to move back here. Here's My story: I moved to San Jose with my brother Joe Jones Winterhawk (RIP '58) and his then wife Nancy Burnett ('58) in September 1958 to get out into the world for a couple of years. Took me 22 years after a marriage and having four children (twins) to get to Federal Way, WA. Still wasn't Richland. Close so I could get here when I could. Then another 20 and I finally told my children and grand children enough, I was moving back to Richland. I love it and could not ask for a better place to be. I may gripe a bit in the cold of the winter but all the rest of year makes up for it. There is endless sunshine and so many places to go visit, (don't quote me but I have been told the sun shines here about 300 or more days per year, have not kept a calendar to see how true it is). (The mid-Columbia magazine always comes up with great places to visit on the East side of the mountains in Washington and Oregon. Some of the places I have heard of some not). Lora Homme ('60) said to me after I moved back here "the Government knew what they we're doing when they built Hanford and Richland here". So true. I thought I would miss my great view of Commence Bay but found not true. I can go there any time and do a couple of times a year. Always visit Browns Point where I lived. alumnisandstorm.com/htm2008/Xtra/Any/080724-Jones-00.html I have also lived in Pacific, CA right below San Francisco for about three years. I lived three blocks from the beach. The constant fog was too much. I was really glad when we moved back to San Jose. There is nothing better than a day that I can escape from work and grab a Subway sandwich and go sit at Howard Amon park on Dona McCleary Belt ('54) and Larry Belt's ('57) swing on the walk way. Watching the people walking with their dogs, skating and biking or turning to watch seagulls fly along the Columbia with the boats beneath them. A never ending changing painting of good things to look at. Not to forget the Seagulls who sit in front of me waiting for a hand out. The friendship here has been so much easier than any place I have lived because of the continuous Bomber Alumni get togethers. There always seems to be a commonality amongst the people who live here also. One lady I met told me her story which is: Her husband said "they were going to Washington", she thought he meant Washington D.C. (common mistake). When she got off the plane in Pasco a huge wind storm was going on with the dust flying. They have been here over 20 years and she said "she loves it here". Hope what I have written here will help entice you and your husband to come. Bombers are still moving back and I do believe it will continue. House prices are also still good here in comparison to a lot of the towns and cities. Plenty of good shopping and the list goes on. Good luck in your decision. You said retirement will come in four years. About four years is what it took me in the decision. When I decided I bought my house and was moved in about six weeks. To: Gary Behymer ('64) Re: Dupus Boomer restaurant at WSU I had the thought of a Bomber day at Dupus Boomer restaurant would be fun when I sent in the entry from the Tri-City Herald. Have not had the time to search for the website to find out if there is an exact day of when it will open. Mid to late August would be a good time if they are open by then. Put in a Sandstorm entry if you find out when it opens and I will also. Then we can pin a date. I haven't been on the campus since my brother Joe Jones Winterhawk (RIP '58) graduated in 1962. Going there with the restaurant there would be lots of fun. Already cooking some interest here with Bombers I know. -Patti Jones Ahrens ~ West Richland, WA where there is a slight breeze cooling everything down for a couple of days. Heading for the park tomorrow with Carol Rose wife of Glen Rose ('58) with Subway in tow before an appointment. **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Carol Converse Maurer (Magic Class of '64) To: Patti Mitchell Sanderson ('64) Welcome to the Sandstorm! Over the many years, we have all enjoyed each other's memories, sad and happy. We've been able to keep in contact with our fellow classmates and have made new friends with those of other classes. Hope to see you on again, now that you know about us. Your tribute to Jane Gunderson Jensen ('64-RIP) was wonderful. Thank you for sharing. To: David Rivers ('65) Slow down, slow down there! We all love you and wish you the best of luck on becoming the GREAT judge! We would all come to Vegas to vote, if we could. Hey, I have a friend that will be going there in a couple weeks. I'll have her put her vote in :) -Carol Converse Maurer (Magic Class of '64) ~ Eureka, CA The smoke is really getting to a lot of people with allergies. We are wondering if the smoke is affecting our weather. We have had very little sun and the temps are only in the low-mid 50s. The 'seasonal' depression is starting to really set in with most people. And just think... the fire season has just started for California. **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Betti Avant ('69) Re: Cabela's To: George "Pappy" Swan ('59) Hey Pappy, I was wondering if you were going to visit Cabela's while in the area over the weekend. I've been meaning to get out there and take some pictures but haven't gotten around to it. -Betti Avant ('69) ~ Lacey, WA where it's been cloudy, cooler, but no rain **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Bruce Strand ('69) Re: Alaska To: Robert Avant ('69) Robert -- When were you in AK? You may have said before, but I forget now. I was there for 17 winters (as you know, that's what really counts) from July, 1977 to May, 1994. -Bruce A Strand ('69) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Margaret Gilstrap O'Hara ('74) Re: Fire starters To: George "Pappy" Swan ('59) Really, truly it works. Put your Fritos in a can, or out in the open. Light one on fire and drop it in with the rest. Trust me they will light up. I also carry first aid gear to include pain pills, leather man, hand held saw, hand warmers, flash light, water proof matches, various nuts, bolts, little socket set, etc. Oh and ... a wine bottle opener. Really and truly you never know when one of those will come in handy. If I had known you were a Copenhagen Snuff fan I would have asked you for help about six weeks ago. One of my son's Marines asked for Copenhagen Silver Tin in a card board box and not more than a month old, for shipping reasons. You would have thought I had asked the distributor in Alaska for his first born son along with the sun, and the moon. I finally had to climb the chain of command (my son calls it "moms rocking the world") and was able to get the snuff, fresh, and within two days, from the CEO of the company out of Seattle. This young Marine is stationed in Rawah, Iraq and is a bomb dog handler. I told the CEO... one would think if these young men could fight for my freedom and yours... we at the very least could get the one thing one of them asked me for. Not only did the CEO ship it... he shipped it free of charge. I am told the young Marine received his snuff last week and I am to get a kiss the next time he sees me. The distributor in Alaska??? ... not very happy with this Marine Mom and called me to say as much. The CEO... .will get a big thank you as well as a picture of this Marine and his dog. Sooooo Pappy... if I am in need of another batch will you be able to help me out? -Margaret Gilstrap O'Hara ('74) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** Funeral Notice >>Mabel Alder Miller ('54) ~ 2/2/35 - 7/17/08 ******************************************* ******************************************* 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 ~ 07/25/08 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 4 Bombers sent stuff: Steve Carson ('58), Carol Converse ('64) Dennis Hammer ('64), Robert Avant ('69) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Deanna Case ('55) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Wayne Campbell ('55) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Pam Buckner ('62) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Betty Noble ('63) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Steve Porter ('69) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Mark McAllister ('74) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Steve Carson (Championship class of '58) Re: Woolworth Menu 1950s I remember this very well. We used to leave Chief Jo and walk to the Woolworth's in uptown to "dine" at the lunch counter. I am sure my Grandkids will enjoy this. [No. No. No, Steve... it was NOT Woolworth's that you remember... It sounds like what you remember is J.J. Newberry's -- so where'd ya get the menu??? Richland never had a Woolworth's. -Maren] http://AlumniSandstorm.com/htm2008/Xtra/Any/080725-carson-menu.jpg -Steve Carson (Championship class of '58) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Carol Converse Maurer (Magic Class of '64) To: Patti Jones Ahrens ('60) Once again, I was drawn into your story telling of Richland. Even though my daughter and grand kids live in Wenatchee, it's become way too congestive, traffic wise, for me. My son lives in Spokane, but, again, it's too large for me. So, Richland would be a good compromise. Living in California is very expensive and I don't relish the idea of a huge earthquake either. My husband wants to be able to work part time after retirement perhaps. A Lowe's or Home Depot perhaps. My 45th class reunion is next year and that will give us a chance to really look around, both Richland and West Richland. -Carol Converse Maurer (Magic Class of '64) ~ Eureka, CA You can still smell the smoke. So far the fires have surpassed a million acres in the whole state. It's a very slow process to contain all of them. **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Dennis Hammer ('64) Re: "To Build a Fire" Does anyone remember? Was that short story in one of our High School Literature books? It seems to me like that is where I read it. It is the only time I have read it, but I do remember it better than anything else I read in Literature classes. I also remember thinking at the time that if I spit in the air and it freezes before it hits the ground, I turn around and go back inside. I found the complete text of the story online: http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/To_Build_a_Fire I'll have to read it again in a day or so. Apparently it was originally published in 1902 and revised in 1908; I don't know which version this is. -Dennis Hammer ('64) ~ From a Bomber outpost in Lion Country, (Kennewick). **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Robert Avant ('69) Re: Alaska To: Bruce Strand ('69) I was in Alaska from 1988 to 2000. I started out as one of the few "permanent" residents of Dutch Harbor (Unalaska for the literati) and moved on to Wasilla. I actually voted for Sarah Palin as mayor in her first run after talking to the incumbent. I loved Wasilla. You could come home, change clothes and ride your snow machine down to the Mug Shot; a fine family bar, for a beer. Yet there were two full super markets and a Wal*Mart. Who could ask for more? -Robert Avant ('69) ******************************************* ******************************************* 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 ~ 07/26/08 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 6 Bombers sent stuff: Steve Carson ('58), George Swan ('59) Michael Waggoner ('60), Helen Cross ('62) Gary Behymer ('64), Margaret Gilstrap ('74) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Gloria Falls ('58) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Barbara Sharp ('62) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Judy Moyers ('67) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Steve Carson (Championship Class of '58) Re: Woolworth's in Richland Ouch, I stand corrected and must use one of my Senior Moment cards. -Steve Carson (Championship Class of '58) ~ Chicago, where we still have a few Woolworth's but they don't have a snack counter, **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: George "Pappy" Swan ('59) To: Margaret Gilstrap O'Hara ('74) Re: Fire starters Margaret, you are right, it really, truly it works. I put some Fritos out on the ground, in my back yard, and lit up. Almost instantly, I had "flaming filet of Frito" or "Frito Fricassee." It must be the oils in them. Also, I'm with you. Every person's preferences and situation dictates various items for a survival kit. I would rate the wine bottle opener, high on the list, but a wine boda bag eliminates that necessity and is unbreakable, perhaps not as romantic, but functional. Eventually, I will send a recommended list of basic items to include in a survival kit, to which each person can add their personal preferences and special needs. Also, I am pursuing possibilities for the Copenhagen Snuff for our Marines. Re: My buddy, Chief Alan Stephens ('66) and his special project, restoring the last operational PBR. Today's (July 25) Tri-City Herald featured a big picture and story about my buddy, Chief Alan Stephens ('66) and his special project, restoring the last operational "PBR," which stands for Patrol Boat River. This afternoon, I got the Retired Navy Chief's tour of his "Pride" where it is currently on display next to the Veteran's Memorial in Columbia Park, through Sunday. A few pictures are included. alumnisandstorm.com/htm2008/Xtra/Swan/080726-00.html My respect for Alan's devotion to this project grew as I watched him patiently providing descriptions and explanations and helping kids in and out of the forward gun turret and showing them how to crank the twin fifties about. He was doing all of this despite the fact that he was "cooking" in today's heat, wearing his tiger stripes and beret, for authenticity of the display. Eventually, he allowed this old Marine, really a kid at heart, to climb in and spin the guns, although he pretended not to know me when I added the sound effects of, "Blap, Blap, blap, blap, blap..." "Enough Pappy!" "Oh, okay." Alan said other Bombers came to see him and his boat, including Dennis Hammer ('64), Roy Ballard ('63), and several others. If you would like to visit with this fellow Bomber and tour his group's PBR, especially if you served in Operation Game wardens/ Sea Lords, go see the chief and his boat, this weekend. Alan thank's Bill Didway ('66) for sparking the local interest in this boat, and if you miss Alan and the boat this time, they are also invited to be in the Fair and Rodeo parade in August. For more info about his group of veterans who are restoring this boat and the history of these boats, of the "Brown Water Navy," go to gamewardensnw.org. Thanks Alan and Semper Fi. -George "Pappy" Swan ('59) ~ Burbank, WA **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Michael Waggoner ('60) Re: Pappy Swan's July 23 posting, on signaling aircraft with CDs I read that during World War II rescue aircraft were signaled using a mirror with a hole in it. You looked at the aircraft through the hole in the mirror, and you lined up the sunspot on your cheek with the hole in the mirror. Then the mirror would be reflecting the sun at the airplane. I do not know whether this works. -Michael Waggoner ('60) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Helen Cross Kirk ('62) To: Steve Carson ('58) I remember when my friend, Carol Rice Forister ('62) worked at that J.J. Newberry's lunch counter, as we were trying to earn money for college. I hope to meet up with Carol and her husband, Gary in Branson, MO over Labor Day. Sorry I can't make the Bomber picnic down in the Portland area. I'm glad I will make the Cross reunion the Saturday before in the Battle Creek area. Happy Birthday early to my dear older cousin, Allan Cross ('59) on July 30th. I'll be traveling next week, on to Boston, Maine before I get to beautiful Washington state on August 3, so I wanted to get this in early. -Helen Cross Kirk ('62) ~ Grandview, IN where we've enjoyed a few cloudy days in the 70s and 80s after last week's 90s and no rain every day of our Vacation Bible School. **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Gary Behymer ('64) Re: For What It's Worth Category... As more and more us 'become our parents', Janis & I have/are doing the following for our 'only child'. Mom died in September of 1993 and was buried in Richland. Dad died in June of 1994 and was buried here in Colfax, while my Father- In-Law died in April of 1993 and we put him to rest in Walla Walla. All 3 were cremated. In 1995 we made the decision to 'move' my Mom's cremains to Colfax. (One gives up the grave site to the cemetery.) I went down and picked up the container after making arrangements with no hitches. Walla Walla was a different situation. I HAD to have my local funeral home director pick up the 'cremains' in his hearse. The cost to me was $1,000.00. (I won't get on my soap box about that one...) The story continues with the death of my Mother-In-Law in 1996. She was buried in a 'plot' with the other 3 parents, with room for myself & my wife, at some future date. With all of that said, our daughter Sarah and her family can 'visit' but one grave site if/when she decides to... Bottom Line... is that when you live in paradise (Colfax) it's great to do it together... but I must admit that there are no Spudnuts here (;-) Salute! -Gary Behymer ('64) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Margaret Gilstrap O'Hara ('74) Re: Spitting in the air and fire starters To: Dennis Hammer ('64) Every year we do the "Trek Over the Top" snow machine poker run. We leave Tok, AK headed for Dawson City, Yukon Territories no matter what the weather or temp. Last year the temp on the morning we left was -52. No kidding. I can tell you not a single one of us thought as we were trying to start sleds and get them packed for the trip that morning, to spit in the air to see if it froze before it hit the ground. Upon arrival in Dawson it was -43. A few tried but could not tell if it worked or not. I will tell you this... shortly after we hit the half way mark headed for Dawson the one cup of coffee I had that morning caught up with me. There was absolutely no way I was going to find out if that froze before hitting the ground so after much discussion the decision was to pick up the speed and get me to Dawson before I was sitting on an iceberg. At one point I looked down to see we were traveling over 90mph. When a girl's gotta go, a girl's gotta go. Bill, myself and his doctor friend were 3rd, 4th, & 5th into town much to everyone’s amazement because we left 3 hours behind the first 2 in. You absolutely have to talk with customs before you do anything else upon arrival in Dawson or can face deportation. I hit the door in a dead run. Upon entering I ripped my helmet off, followed by my coat, was unzipping my frozen snow pants as I was running for the ladies room, all the while telling the customs guy who I was and what I had not brought with me and added if he wanted he could follow me on in, but I was going and right now. Alas I was not deported. To: Robert Avant ('69) We were practically neighbors. You can still do the same in Wasilla today. We ride to the Tug Bar from our home on Crooked Lake. Have you heard Wasilla is getting a Target? It will be up and running just in time for the permanent fund checks to come out. -Margaret Gilstrap O'Hara ('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 ~ 07/27/08 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 5 Bombers sent stuff: Curt Donahue ('53) Dave Cochran ('61) and Nadine Reynolds Cochran ('61) Dennis Hammer ('64), Fran Teeple Wolf ('68) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Max Sutton ('57) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Ellen Bohringer ('66) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Curt Donahue ('53) Re: USA Today Article Am I the only one who read in last Wednesday's USA Today the blurb about the "B" Reactor's status under the headline "Yakima"? Since when did Yakima ever lay claim to anything on the Hanford Project? Bombers everywhere ought to rise up and blast USA Today editors. -Curt Donahue ('53) ~ Federal Way (Home of the Space Needle)!!!!! **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Dave Cochran ('61) and Nadine Reynolds Cochran ('61) Re: George "Pappy" Swan ('59) and Wine Boda Bag Ah yes, the wine boda bag. I remember skiing with you in our youth. Suddenly the rest of us would realize George was not to be found. A short search would find you pulled off the ski slope into the trees to have a conversation with the boda bag. We did have some fun times didn't we? -Nadine Reynolds Cochran ('61) and Dave Cochran ('61) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Dennis Hammer ('64) Re: Alan Stephens ('66) and last operational PBR I went to the park Friday where Chief Stephens' took me on a tour of the last operational PRB. I mentioned to him, as I did in my Sandstorm entry of 07/22/08 that sometimes those small boats would come out to the ship I was on, and that one time one of them had a dog on top of the boat. I had taken some pictures of it, but I have thousands of slides, two boxes full of round projector trays, several slide file boxes that hold 150 slides, but I double up on a lot of them so that could be as much as 300, but most in the boxes they came if after being processed. Would you believe . . . They were in the very first round projector reel; I found them in less than 2 minutes. I was not sure it was a PBR until I found the pictures. I was on a heavy cruiser engaged in NGFS (Naval Gunfire Support) and most of the time we were off the DMZ. But this does not look like the DMZ so it must be somewhere else in Vietnam. The pictures were taken sometime from May through August of 1969. AlumniSandstorm.com/htm2008/Xtra/Any/080727-Hamm-00.html I am not sure but I think we may have given them some ice cream; we did give a bunch of ice cream to someone. -Dennis Hammer ('64) ~ Radioman 3rd Class, U.S.N 1968-1972 ~ Tonkin Gulf Yacht Club **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Fran Teeple Wolf ('68) Re: More for the "For What It's Worth" category All this talk of survival supplies got me to thinking of all of you who travel a great deal. My husband and I used to do a lot of traveling by car, staying in motels (I like room service!). Invariably, we would get to the first stop over, unload the car, and settle in. Then I'd start finding small, inconvenient things I didn't bring. And the "Dammit Bag" was born. It's grown over the years and here's the list now in the duffel bag: Everything is stored in Ziploc baggies or vacuum sealed 1. Office supplies - stapler, pen, notebook, paper clips, flat staple remover, permanent marker, scotch tape and duct tape and binder clips (all in miniatures), wall night light, book light, deck of playing cards, 6 inch metal ruler, matches and lighter, mini Mag light and replacement bulb and batteries for each. 2. Clothing - small lay flat iron & ironing cloth, sewing kit with miniature spools of thread, needles & needle threader, safety pins, iron-on fabric tape, embroidery scissors and a seam ripper. 3. Kitchen - sheathed paring knife, a box of plastic forks, spoons and knives, salt, pepper and sugar packets, regular and herbal tea bags, rubbermaid with snapping lid of Cremora & dishwashing liquid and paper napkins, a half a roll of paper towels, plastic bowls that also snap together to form a top and bottom (for later storage in the cooler), small paper plates, Ziploc bags and a bottle opener. 4. Bathroom - favorite shampoo & conditioner, Dove soap, shaving foam, toothpaste and 2 folding toothbrushes, deodorant, Keri lotion, baby powder, sun screen. comb & brush (all these in miniatures), a pill bottle with aspirin, ibuprofen, Excedrin PM & Tagamet, tiny bottles with a dose of PeptoBismal & Mylanta, small tubes of Icy Hot & Cortizone 10, a Chapstick, floss and small snapping plastics boxes with bobbi pins and Q-tips, tweezers and a shower cap. 5. A miniature (4 cup) coffee pot (for hot tea and brewing coffee) 6. A tiny hair dryer. 7. Curling iron. 8. Tools - 1"-handled straight and Phillips screw driver, and (medical) forceps. All of this takes up about 2/3 of the duffel bag, so if I know we are going to eat breakfast or lunch on the road, or the motel room, I'll add other stuff as needed. But I think this list covers everything I've gotten on the road and said "Dammit - I wish I had brought X, Y, or Z. And the bag STAYS in the trunk of the car. -Fran Teeple Wolf ('68) ~ "The Year That Made Us Who We Are" (see Newsweek cover November 19, 2007) Spokane, WA ******************************************* ******************************************* 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 ~ 07/28/08 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 7 Bombers sent stuff and 1 Bomber funeral notice Today: Dick Wight ('52), Mary Beiers ('56) Betty McElhaney ('57), Steve Carson ('58) George Swan ('59), Derrith Persons ('60) Linda Reining ('64) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Laura Dean Kirby ('55) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Sharon McDermott ('63) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Mark Gerken ('77) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Melanie Lee (’93) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Dick Wight ('52) Re: Dime Stores in Richland I think Maren is correct. Downtown there was a dime store called (I think) Diamond Variety Stores. It had no lunch counter. I worked there in '50 and '51. Neat ole gent by the name of Joe Perrier was manager and part owner of the company, which had other stores in eastern Washington. A buddy of mine worked uptown at Newberry's. We used to get sent to spy on the competitor's prices, which was how we met. We joined the Coast Guard together in '52. His name was Marvin Gray, not a Col-Hi kid, but from Benton City. He passed away this past May. Gad, these memory exercises are stimulating for us "geriatric set" folks! -Dick Wight ('52) ~ staying in the shade in northern Arkansas! **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Mary Beiers Glendinning ('56) I'm sad to write that my brother, Tom Beiers ('59) passed away on July 19 in Redmond, WA. His funeral and burial were on Saturday, July 26 in Redmond. I thought the obit would be in the Herald but it apparently didn't make it in. There is an on-line obit at flintoffs.com if any one is interested. -Mary Beiers Glendinning ('56) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Betty McElhaney Hudspeth ('57) To: Dennis Hammer ('64) Thank you for the pictures. But a word of warning, I would suggest you transfer those to discs. We have a lot of slides and my husband, Jon ('52) transferred ours and in doing so found that quite a few had already disintegrated, so they are lost forever. -Betty McElhaney Hudspeth ('57) ~ warm, sunny Richland **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Steve Carson (Championship class of '58) To: Fran Teeple Wolf ('68) The Dammit Bag, what a great idea. Just add Cheetos and a hatchet and it becomes all purpose. -Steve Carson (Championship class of '58) ~ Chicago, IL where the CUBS may even have a chance at the World Series **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: George "Pappy" Swan ('59) To: Michael Waggoner ('60) Re: Pappy Swan's July 23 posting, on signaling aircraft with CDs Michael, it works, if the sun is out to produce a reflection. Sighting the aircraft through the hole in the mirror (or CD) helps to align the reflection toward the aircraft, produced by positioning yourself at the appropriate angle to the sun. If your position is between the sun and the aircraft, this is a little more difficult to achieve (as the sun will be to your back), and you may have to tilt the mirror back more or tilt it back and forth to cast a reflection toward the aircraft. Or, holding the mirror level, shiny side up and tipping it back and forth toward the aircraft can produce favorable results also. All of this is dependent on the aircraft crew seeing the reflection, so keeping the mirror handy and having a good open location to be seen in is important. As with most other survival tools and devices it is best to practice before hand. Standing in one's yard and practicing casting a reflection onto trees or the side of your house lets you discover how to achieve the best angle for holding the mirror. At night, the use of a bright flashlight and a mirror can cast a flash from the reflection also, but obviously not as intense. Another useful survival tool to consider is one of the compact strobe lights that use one D-cell battery. These can be purchased at boating equipment suppliers for attaching to personal flotation devices (PFD), what most of us call a "life vest." There may be some more compact strobes on the market now and there are a number of "nifty" electronic locating devices out now, if one can afford them. The small hand-held Family Channel Radios are good tools also, but are pretty much limited to short range and line of sight to another radio. And speaking of aircraft reminds me: On July 19, my friend, hunting buddy, and fellow aviation enthusiast, Vinh Nguyen (also a Bomber Dad) and I traveled to see the Air show at the McCord Air Force Base. Vinh's father flew the Douglas Skyraider for the South Vietnamese Air Force. When Vinh was 15 years old, he and his family immigrated to the U.S. As with most any air show, it was ...WOW! There were numerous static displays of aircraft on the ground, vendors and military recruiters. The Air Force Recruiters had a "nice little jet powered (simulated) hunting rig). And the Marine Recruiters said that I was too damned old to re-enlist, but gave me a cool "Old Breed" poster, anyway. An exciting variety of military planes (old and modern) flew, even a P-51D Mustang and an AD-3 Douglas Skyraider, and skydivers flung themselves out of perfectly good airplanes. The Air Force Reserve jet powered car roared and smoked as it shot a long streak of flame out behind it and did about 400 mph down the runway and then release a drag chute to get stopped. Batman and Robin must have taken part in the show as I was sure that their Bat plane made several passes, although I heard the term B-2 Spirit Bomber thrown out. And always a crowd pleaser, the Thunderbirds did their thing. But, what I found most exiting, was the mini reenactment of the attack on Pearl Harbor, "Tora Tora Tora," flown by members of the "Commemorative Air Force" and billed as a living history lesson. Seven restored Japanese fighters, torpedo bombers, and dive bombers came in to attack a point in front of the audience, out beyond the parked Thunderbirds and the runway. It was wonderfully choreographed with pyrotechnics and sound effects (to simulate machine guns, exploding bombs, and the resulting smoke). The pilots must have each had their own pattern to fly as I was in awe that they avoided running into each other as they swooped, dove, and careened about in the simulated attack. This act must have lasted for a good 15 minutes. I was too captivated to even think of looking at my watch. Vinh and I spent the night with Cousin Buck, our other hunting buddy, who is a chef, so we had a great meal, a couple of Heinekens, and planned our hunts for this fall. The next day, after a nice Cousin Buck breakfast, Vinh and I toured the Museum of Flight at Boeing Field, which I had never done before. All I can say is, "Pappy, what took you so long?" But, here's a question for any of you military history buffs, especially those who know about foreign military aircraft. In my accompanying pictures, shot at the museum, there is a Chinese (Communist China, I believe) Mig 15 with nine little red stars under the canopy. Usually, the number of enemy planes shot down by the pilot of an aircraft is represented by a small enemy flag for each. So, did the pilot of this Mig shoot down nine of his own countrymen or did they have a different system of showing their "kills"? We finished up with a visit to the relatively new Cabela's store at Lacey, WA and then drove home over White Pass, where we saw a lot of elk and deer. My little digital snapshot camera does not do all of the sights and action at the air show and museum justice, but you'll get a sense of what we saw and what took place. alumnisandstorm.com/htm2008/Xtra/Swan/080728-00.html To: Betti Avant ('69) Re: Cabela's I have now visited three different Cabela's Stores, and I have to say, to see one Cabela's, is to see them all. However, I never tire of wondering through a Cabela's store, just looking, but they always tell me to stop whining so loudly and make me carry a roll of paper towels, as I cannot stop drooling on the floor. Incidentally, I have noticed that each Cabela's Store has it's own mini air museum, consisting of one aircraft each, which I think is a Piper Super Cub, complete with "fat tires," for bush operation, the obligatory moose antlers suspended from the struts, and a Cabela's Outfitters sign on the fuselage. I keep wondering if each store has its own plane or if that pilot just flies around to each store and is just arriving when I walk in. His prop is always free-wheeling as if he is just coming in for a short field landing. But, he is always in ultra slow flight. To: Fran Teeple Wolf ('68) Re: More for the "For What It's Worth" category Your note strikes home as I too traveled a lot on my job as a fish biologist, spending nights here and there in motels, bunkhouses, trailers, campers. tents, on boats, etc. I know exactly of which you write for the need of your, "Dammit Bag." You are more gracious than I, as I referred to mine as my, "Oh S---! Bag." I was always ending up somewhere without something that I really needed or would have been really nice to have with me. Unfortunately, my "Oh S---! Bag" evolved into my "Oh what the Hell" Bag, as I began to find myself saying, "Oh what the hell, I'll probably be needing that," as I threw another item into the "Insert preferred name here" Bag. Now friends and fellow Bombers, this is a most benevolent undertaking in order to make your traveling stays more comfortable, but I must caution you that it can get way out of hand. Today, I find that when I travel, hunt, fish, even backpack, I am in a constant fight with myself over what to throw in and take with me vs. what to take back out and leave behind. But, I always liked that saying of, "Never leave home without it!" consequently, I always take too much stuff. But, this is not all bad, as when in camp, I am always hearing my outdoor buddies muttering, "Oh Dammit or Oh S---!" and then someone invariably whispers, "Ask Pappy, he always brings ... everything." Oh the joys and strained backs of being a camping buddy hero! Seriously Fran, I subscribe to the concept of your "Dammit Bag." We have ours too, and the contents are similar to those on your list. And finally to my old friends, fellow outdoor enthusiasts, and ski bum buddies: Dave Cochran ('61) and Nadine Reynolds Cochran ('61) Re: George "Pappy" Swan ('59) and the infamous, "Wine Boda Bag" Ah yes indeedy, the old wine boda bag (BB). I too remember skiing with both of you in our youth. As I recall, somehow, I was always elected to carry said BB, thus I found myself the designated mobile refreshment stand, which had to make frequent refueling stops for the rest of you "downhill shooshboomers." So, like "meals on wheels" I became "the main squeeze on skis" (under a different connotation, of course). So, in order to preserve some "Annie Bedsprings (Green springs?), Mad Dog, or whatever the "afforded" wine of the day was for myself, I had to shoosh off down the trail ahead of you two, in order to get a couple of hits from Ol' BB, before the rest of you came in for a "top off." It was a good thing that we only filled BB with wine, with my limited downhill skiing abilities, any high test fuel of a stronger nature would surely have caused me to launch into a tall pine tree. Yes, we did have some fun times, even though we were all broke and going to school. Those were not only the days of cheap wine and roses stolen out of a park or someone's yard now and then, but I still have fond memories of our "afforded" choices of beer, Reinlander because it made us yodel on the slopes, and Dave and I always chose Buckhorn, or Schmidt (animal beer -- with animal pictures on the cans) for around the campfire after a day of fruitless hunting or fishing, so we could at least see critters of some kind. Those were the days my friends ... I thought they'd never end ... But, then we make it out of college and wander our separate ways. But, the memories stay forever. -George "Pappy" Swan ('59) ~ Burbank, WA where the weather is again hot, the boats are running, with an occasional flyby of an aircraft, but I'm recovering from topping my dead birch tree yesterday, to leave a monument adorned with bird houses, and squirrel and bird feeders for Mrs. Pappy. **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Derrith Persons Dean ('60) It's Lunch time again!! Class of '60, family and/or friends. If you're in town or from out of town, come on, we'll have a good time!! When? - Saturday, August 2nd Time? - 11:30 am Where? - 3 Margaritas, 627 Jadwin, Richland Come on. . . . lets talk! -Derrith Persons Dean ('60) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Linda Reining ('64) re:survival bags I am not a "camper", prefer the "creature comforts", but when Fran Teeple Wolf('68)wrote in about her "dammit bag", it reminded me of the bag that we carry when we go out of town. my daughters always take duffle bags with toys, games, crayons, markers, paper, cards, and other "kid-friendly" things in them---they are left in their vehicles at all times---they both have SUV's, so lots of room. *grin* we also carry(and leave in the vehicles) blankets, pillows, beach towels, paper towels, and a bottle of windex. we also take plenty of snacks---"finger foods", sodas, water, bags of pretzels, and jerky. *grin* we also keep a small duffle bag of toiletries, all inside ziploc bags, too. makes it much handier for taking a trip, on the spur of the moment, or planned. thanks, Fran, for your "dammit bag"---am going to add the sewing kit and the small screw drivers to our bags. Linda Reining(Boomber Bomber class of '64)......Bakersfield, CA, where we are still having smokey skies from all the fires---the two in the Lake Isabella area are 78% contained, so keeping fingers crossed that those don't "flare up", again, especially since our fire season is just starting! also getting humidity from "Dolly"---CA "can't win, for losing". *grin* **************************************************************** **************************************************************** Funeral Notice >>Aletha Davis ('05) ~ 6/25/87 - 7/17/08 ******************************************* ******************************************* 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 ~ 07/29/08 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 5 Bombers sent stuff and 1 Bomber funeral notice today: Marilynn Working ('54), Lenora Hughes ('55) Patti Jones Ahrens ('60), David Rivers ('65) Nancy Nelson ('69) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Vern L. McGhan ('49) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Tom Hughes ('56) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Marilynn Working Highstreet ('54) Re: Millie Finch Gregg - class of 1954 Of all people to have to say goodbye to is my special friend and all of class of '54's friend. Millie has but days left to live. She is suffering with fibrosis of the lungs and it seems can no longer go on. She is under Hospice care at home with her dear husband, Glynn, and they say it is now a matter of days, not months. Millie has put up a great fight and with all of her suffering the last few years she has always been the bright spot to all of the other classmates who have been ill. Include Millie in your prayers and also keep Glynn and their family close to your heart. We love you, Millie!!! -Marilynn Working Highstreet ('54) ~ Pasco, WA where it has cooled down to the 80s and feels wonderful. The weather was kind to the Water Follies this past weekend. **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Lenora Hughes Bejarano ('55) To: Tom Hughes ('56) Happy Birthday, brother! Re: Vegas Bomber Lunch Bomber friends! Just a reminder that we will be having our next luncheon WHEN: Saturday, August 2nd TIME: noon WHERE: Marie Callender's, 8175 W. Sahara Please come if you are able to. I look forward to seeing many good Bomber "buddies" in attendance. Bomber Cheers to all! -Lenora Hughes Bejarano ('55) ~ Las Vegas, NV where it is warm to say the least. Light breeze blowing but temps around 106° today. Humidity is high too, so it is uncomfortable. Wish it would rain but we just get a "drizzle" now and then **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Patti Jones Ahrens ('60) To: Carol Converse Maurer ('64) Re: Richland and area I'm happy that I have enticed you to take more of a look at this area. One of the things that I have always enjoyed about living in Washington State is that there is so many cities and towns that are not to much of a drive to get to. The passes in the winter are the only problem. With your children living on the Eastern side of the state it should be fairly easy most of the year. I have also learned the trains and greyhound bus are good to get around the state no matter what time of the year. The train is my favorite. Relax and enjoy those riding around you they can be talkers and very interesting people. The scenery is outstanding. Saves a lot with the gas prices the way they are now. Where I go I don't need a car which helps. Traffic is such a piece of cake here in comparison to where I have lived. So much slower pace of life than where I have lived. Being from your years in Eureka it would be an interesting life for you here. When I moved to California my ex-husband taught me all the back ways. Through the years there I learned why. Now I take a lot of back ways around the Tri-Cities unless going to Pasco, which I do not do very often. No need to. I wish you good luck in you and your husband's decision. Don't forget there are lovely little towns also very close to Richland. Prosser, Finley, Hermiston and many more. The wine country has grown here so much over the years it has taken up a lot of the land around certain towns, even the Tri-Cities. I wish you luck in your decision! You or any Bomber are welcome to email me with any questions. If I don't know the answer some Bomber will. Keep in touch and I will look forward to meeting you next year. By the way there is a Lowe's, Home Depot, Wal*Mart super mart and many other stores. Re: Hanford Workers Money It had been recommended quite a few times by different people here for me to put in for the Hanford money because of my dad's death. I did do this recently with agreement from my sister. As I was leaving the lady who helped me is a Bomber. Since I talked about The All Bomber Luncheon at JD Diner each month, she asked me to make an announcement at the luncheon. Decided to go one step further and put it in the Sandstorm. We Richland people won't know unless we put in for it. I have stories of those who have been turned down and those who have received money. The address and phone number are: Hanford Resource Center 303 Bradley Blvd. suite 104 Richland, WA 99352 509-946-3333 Re: Refacing of the Richland Theater Project is winding down. Burt Pierard ('59) is doing some finishing of the windows then it will be done. Dedication of Burt, Lorin St. John ('55) and Glen Rose ('58) has been tremendous through the whole project. Not to forget those who gave a day here and there during the project. when Burt finally gets time to do a write up, all the names should be there. Right Burt? The three mentioned put up with weather that some days seemed beyond them. Heat, wind and long hours, especially when recently someone threw can of red paint on one side of the building. Paint steps to the garbage can and the side cleaned up by the merry three after the Police were called in. Thankfully whoever did it didn't do much damage. The play now running is "Never Too Late". I walked in with fantastic pride knowing our Bombers did the refacing and contributed enough money to do the project. So many memories in the little theater built in 1944. There is talk of the sides and the back that need to be done may be started on soon. I won't go any further with the conversations right now. Be ready to contribute again Bombers. -Patti Jones Ahrens ('60) ~ West Richland, WA where the heat of summer has slowed down. The weather people are saying it is unusual for this time of year. We will see when August gets here in few days. Best go check on where my little Pomeranian Gunny is. When I go to bed too late for him he goes in and out the doggie door checking to see if I am off to bed so he can climb up on the bed with me. He has so much hair that he likes to be outside at night as much as he can. **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: David Rivers ('65) Re: Happy Birthday to a really big kid Growing up in Richland, I had several baby sitters at various locations. Before we got a house we lived with some people over by Layman Powell ('65) and Jo Marie Roberts ('65)... during that time, the birthday boy's sis babysat me a lot. Now, this big kid is having another birthday which just goes to show that we Bombers enjoy wonderful longevity... despite what the up winders, down winders, over winders and under winders might say about us... so I gotta say HAPPY BIRTHDAY on the 29th to Tom Hughes ('56)... wow...double wow! -David Rivers ('65) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Nancy Nelson Wyatt ('69) To: Betty McElhaney Hudspeth ('57) Please send me information on how and where to put slides onto discs. I have all of my dad's slides from the time I was little in 1950 to 2005. These are precious to me and would like to preserve them for my daughters and grandchildren. Many trips to Texas and every state west of the Mississippi river except Hawaii. Many vacations every summer. Also I remember the soda fountain that was in Uptown right next to the theater. It was also in the back. {Thrifty drugs] Then small world, my ex' husbands brother was the territory manager for JJ Newberry's. He remembered the Richland store very well. Many found memories of Richland and the many wonderful friends there. I can't say I will never move back but I do come visiting my mom. It is so peaceful and small here in Colville, WA... the mountains are beautiful... only 26 miles from Lake Roosevelt so we can go fishing and boating all the time...the wild turkeys just came down my driveway to the trees for their food. They now have babies with them. Couldn't see that in the cities. -Nancy Nelson Wyatt ('69) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** Funeral Notice >>Tom Beiers ('59) ~ 4/1/41 - 7/19/08 ******************************************* ******************************************* 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 ~ 07/30/08 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 3 Bombers sent stuff: Mike Clowes ('54), Betty McElhaney ('57), Robert Avant ('69) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Allan Cross ('59) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Gregor Hanson ('65) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Marti Jo Drewery ('71) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Carol Boyd ('72wb) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Diane Hartley ('72) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Bob Carlson, aka Mike Clowes ('54) Re: the "This Just In" Dept. Yes, herebe the latest set of numbers for your interest and edification: Class of '44 - 1 Class of '45 - 1 Class of '46 - 1 Class of '47 - 1 Class of '48 - 3 Class of '49 - 8 Class of '50 Class of '51 - 5 Class of '52 - 6 Class of '53 - 9 Class of '54 - 13 Class of '55 - 6 Class of '56 - 7 Class of '57 - 6 Class of '58 - 60 Class of '59 - 7 Class of '60 - 12 Class of '61 - 3 Class of '62 - 1 Class of '63 - 1 Class of '64 - 3 Class of '65 Class of '66 - 1 Class of '67 Class of '68 To see the names behind the numbers just go to http://richlandclub40.org Scroll to the proper list. You can also find a registration form there also. And, as a reminder, as the month of July draws to an end, there is really not much time left to get your entry in. The polls will close at the end of August. Hope to see more of you at the annual meeting of Club 40. -Bob Carlson, aka Mike Clowes ('54) ~ Mount Angel, OR, where it is cooler and cloudier on Tuesday, but promising to warm up by the week-end. **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Betty McElhaney Hudspeth ('57) To: Nancy Nelson Wyatt ('69) We bought a PrimeFilm 1800u Scanner at Costco in 2005. It was around $100.00. It is for PC or Mac. He scans to the computer and then to disc. You can scan slides or 35mm film. It came with a free PhotoShop Album. -Betty McElhaney Hudspeth ('57) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Robert Avant ('69) Re: Wasilla, AK To: Maggie Gilstrap O'Hara ('74) Glad to know there are still Bombers in the Wasilla area. As to the opening of Target. My personal belief is as follows. Wal*Mart is proof that there is a God; Target, is proof that there are still unbelievers. Regards -Robert Avant ('69) ~ cloudy Lake Stevens, WA where we flew out on Saturday to avoid Aquafest this past weekend. BTW, the sun 90s - 100s was just fine! ******************************************* ******************************************* 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 ~ 07/31/08 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 2 Bombers sent stuff: Larry Mattingly ('60) David Rivers ('65) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Jerry Boyd ('52) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Stan McDonald ('53) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Marilyn Stewart ('62) **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: Larry Mattingly ('60) To: Pappy and all the other alumni with the various named bags Not counting trips by plane I find myself running up 60,000 miles a year, more or less, by vehicle. Along with pyro gear I have what I call my "possible bag", like what might I possibly need? In the winter it is a box with 5-6 MREs (Meals Ready to Eat), good flashlight, trenching tool/shovel, sleeping bag, flares, 2 sets of chains for the van, first aid kit, an axe and small saw. I am not always on freeways and sometimes in quite remote areas at night so sometimes I add a .357 Sig and a couple of clips. I have a concealed carry permit. If I am hunting, fishing or hiking away from the van I have a small possible bag with energy bars, one of the old "Space Blankets", a bottle of pure Deet for skeeters, collapsing cup, and water filter, a small compass, good knife, a candle, mini-light, and my version of fire starters, an aspirin bottle filled with wood matches dipped in paraffin and some cotton balls. Of course you have to be prepared for the fire beforehand as Pappy so ably pointed out. A very good pyro friend of mine by the name of David Allen has a company called Laughing Rabbit, Inc. or LRI. They are in Blatchly, OR and make a variety of LED lights. David was a pioneer in the LED light field and holds one of the first patents on LED lights. His "Photon" light is about the size of a quarter, can be seen for nearly a mile, will automatically flash SOS, and lasts for hours on the 2 CR16 batteries. They sell for $8.95. You can order them on the internet or many marinas and outdoor stores carry them. Many federal agents carry them, along with astronauts, and other branches of the federal government. We use them in the pyro business all the time and they come in several colors. They are great for any time you need a compact bright light. I have one on my key ring. Bought in case lots at a discount they could have the Bomber emblem on them. Well I survived another trip to Dutch Harbor. I fired the display at 11:58 PM on the 4th so we could say we did it on the 4th. It was not dark yet but even in the twilight the citizens of Unalaska and the boats and ships in the harbor enjoyed the display. Lots of car horns and ship whistles along with the cheering. As with the last couple of displays up there, a guy who won't tell me his name shows up after the show with a cooler of cold Bud Lights and we sat on a rock watching the Northern Lights. Not very big or bright that night, but they served. Those folks are some of the nicest I have ever worked for. They greet me on the street and in the grocery store and even when I am hiking on the mountains. I climbed to the top of Pyramid Peak and then was afraid I could not get down as it was very steep. But I made it. No I did not go up alone. There were 2 others with me. I have sent Maren some pictures from the island, and they should show up here. But while I was on the top I noted the volcano a couple of islands over to the west about 30 miles, was blowing steam. Everybody said it smokes like that all the time. I said it's not smoking, it is BLOWING steam hard. Shrugs were all I got. My plane lifted off at 6:40 PM. It was the last plane in or out for a couple of weeks. The mountain blew early the next morning filling the air around Dutch with ash. A small triumph for me personally. After over 25 years of trying hopelessly, we finally got the Capitol Lakefair display in Olympia. Quick story here... I was in Honolulu for Hawaii OSHA to certify their licensed pyrotechnicians last December. It was not a task I relished, but they were persistent in their request for me. So I flew over one evening did the certification the next day and was off to home the next day. A little less then 60 hours, my shortest trip to the islands in the 30 some times I have been there. Here is where the catch comes, and it depends on what you believe in. Devine intervention? Karma? Fate? Or was the Force with me? I sat down in the plane and found myself next to the President of Lakefair. I had a great 5 hour flight. We got the contract a few weeks later. Being our home town Hallmark display, we did it up right Sunday July 20th. Depending on who you ask in Olympia it was somewhere between "blow-me-away" and fabulous. We felt it was a very good display, better then average. It is on the net at: http://www.olyblog.net/tags/lakefair It can also be found on You Tube at Capitol Lake Fireworks. The first site shows the patterns better but the camera person chases sparks too much. The You Tube site is a view from "end On" But the video technique is much better. This one is in two pieces. And yes we have been told the show is ours next year. Last Saturday My twin brothers Mike and Mark Mattingly ('77) threw a party to celebrate their 50th Birthday... a couple of months early but the weather was nice. It was at Mark and wife Stacey's home. They have a couple of acres of yard. Over 100 were there including a live band. And of course the boys got on stage, picked up instruments and did what they have done so well for many years. See pictures with this posting. I will be in Richland this Friday the 1st to meet with city officials about the anniversary display December 13th. I always enjoy going "home". I will be in Houston, AK for the Founders Day show Saturday, August 16th. I am told the Governor will be there for the kick off display for the 50th anniversary of Statehood. We have received some very special shells for the occasion. It is not my show. I will be doing some wiring and technical work. I am just there to help because it will be automatically fired by the new Firelinx Omni, a wireless system of which I am proud to be one of the developers. We have 42 systems in use around the world now, operating with great success. We also have orders for many more. The military loves them. Not for fireworks, they are controlling machine guns in training exercises. My specifications to my partner the engineer have made the system so versatile and capable that there are already 4 other uses for it in totally unrelated fields. In two of those fields the market could be many times that of fireworks. So the guys in the lab are working late to get models into Beta test format. alumnisandstorm.com/htm2008/Xtra/Matt/080731-00.html -J Larry Mattingly ('60) ~ From home south of Tacoma. The rains are back. **************************************************************** **************************************************************** >>From: David Rivers ('65) Re: Raaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaats Gregor Hanson... the hardest working '65er there is had a birthday yesterday (30th) and I have my cheat yellow sticky sitting right here in front of me and I blew it... I am soooooo Sorry... there is nobody who works harder for our class other than maybe Steve Upson ('65... the guy who keeps our web page alive) than Gregor... If ya got his number and you blew it too give him a ring and let him know what a goof I am. Thanks Gregor for always being there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and HAPPY BIRTHDAY! A DAY LATE AND A DOLLAR SHORT! (don't worry Anne ('63) and Dennis ('66) your names are on the yellow sticky right next to Gregor's!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! David Rivers ('65), Dufus Bomber (little play on words there) ******************************************* ******************************************* 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 June, 2008 ~ August, 2008