Responding to your 4/16 message, Pat, I'm here this morning, but I haven't visited in quite a while as you must be aware. Let's see, June is just two months away............do we have another reunion coming up? Oh, yeah, that was just ten months ago, wasn't it? I saw Gayle at a St. Anselm College hockey game in a very cold ice arena in Hooksett, NH in mid-February. Her freshman son Jesse was a starter for that game and unfortunately suffered a knee injury in a collision with a Norwich U player about in the middle of the game. He was on crutches and in pain afterwards. I need to check on his progress sometime. I'll check in again. I was checking my sign-in ID for joining another Yahoo group. Bye for now.

Hello all.........Happy Easter and Passover to everyone!! It is finally nicer here, we have daffodils growing and almost in bloom! I heard that the former POWs are coming home, I hope they can be here for the holiday and be able to spend it with their families, as well as some of the other troops...........my girlfriend said her husband may be home soon, but there are still a great many over in Iraq and the surrounding areas that won't be spending the holidays with their families...................my thoughts and prayers go to them and you all.........................have a great time with your loved ones.

Things are chilly here this morning but we're all excited because we're expecting a high of 44!! The tulips planted along the back side of my grage are coming up nicely. There's enough heat from the house's foundation to bring them along. It's a sure sign of hope for us.

Roland I'm glad you're feeling better.

Happy Passover to you and your's Lori! We have a service at noon today for Good Friday but I don't imagine I'll make it. Dave usually goes. It's easier for him to take time off in the middle of the day than it is for me to leave school. Happy Easter folks! Whatever God you worship, may his love shine on you all.

What trip? You must mean Karen's trip. I haven't gone anywhere. We were at a nice Passover dinner, though, last night at Avi's sister's house. There were about 24 of us. I was glad she wanted to have the holiday at her house. She's one of these people who has no problem cooking for big groups. I was starting to have a nervous breakdown until it became clear she was doing the dinner!

Glad to finally see ya'll are thawing out. Mom said it was near 80 yesterday in CT. She was out planting and finding spring bulbs etc. I however had to find out what great medical plan I have. Woke up with the side of my face swollen. It wound't have bothered me so much but it was growing and getting closer to my eyes. I went to the net and found a doctor I could use as mine had retired. He was great. he is an osteopath but combines modern medicine when needed. Which in my case I needed some antibiotics. I am much better today and have learned much about osteopathy. Setting off for Fl tomorrow and hope to spend Easter on the beach with my friends. Course this medication says to stay out of the direct sun or use strong protectant. With all this talk about bio war fare and new diseases I just wanted to be safe. I am not one to go to the doctor unless its critical. On the up side he said that I have the general health of an 18yr old. Hope ya'll have a great Easter and I know you will Pat with your boys home now. Hope your trip went great Lori.

Welcome home Karen! Things have been rather quiet actually. Not sure where everyone is these days. Richard is apparently away on safari. No word from his corner for some time now. How's the patient? Recovering nicely I hope.

I'm BAAAAACK! And freezing my butt off! Had a pretty good time though. What's new around here?

I got out of my car in the driveway this afternoon and I could clearly hear the stereo playing in the livingroom. Yup, the boys are back!

Yes, it must be nice to be together again. It's hard to let them go. Two of mine are out of the house, but they're not far away and they come by a lot, so it's not so bad.
Glad you liked the glima site, Patti.

I forgot to mention that both of our sons have moved back home. I'm a little confused and my gracery bill is HUGE. But it's sorta nice all the same to be together.

Lori I went to glima this morning! It's a well done site. Easy to use. Good visuals.

Spring is finally starting around here. Dave went out on his mountain bike a few minutes ago despite the 32 degree temps. Later it will be in the 40's so we'll continue to melt gradually. A quick melt would cause flooding in too many places so we need to be patient. But I can finally see most/some of my gardens and that's a great sign of winter's end.

Okay, so we can't compete with Florida! I'm sure the sea is also much warmer there. Here it's like ice.

Hey Pat, I went back and saw your note. I posted one earlier tonight and it dosen't show on my screen but at least I can click on a date and get the posts now.... electronics I guess.......

Lori, you do have mucho sun there but most of CA isn't as warm as FL most of the winter. As I recall when I lived in Marina del Rey it stayed about 65 on a good winter day. I do need to get out there and get to our plant in Rancho Cucamonga some one of these days.

IOk, haven't been able to post and couldn't figure it out so I emailed Blogger and looks like this might work. Oh joy, I get to spend about amonth in Jackson, Ms doing a logistics thing with new products and hiring etc...... Think I'll leave via Bilouxi and do some RnR too. Fl should be nice about now Karen. I hope to spend Easter with my VT friends in Deland and also tend to my aunt grave. (an annual thing). Hope to get posts from others soon.

O.K. here's a thought starter. Toby Keith's "Courtesy of the Red White and Blue" (The Angry American) Pro or Con

I'm not sure what's going on with Roland. For some time now he's been under the impression that his postings are not posted. I guess he can't see it. I haven't noticed any problems for a long time.

This is still down??????

Hi guys. I got a message from Sue Goding Cass this morning. Said she saw an article in the Eagle Times that mentioned Wendy Sanderson Murphy's son Ryan being a Marine in the Bagdad area. She'd like to get a message to Wendy to lend her some support. I did a search on the internet and came up with a possible match in Kennebunkport, ME. If any one knows Wendy's whereabouts could you please send Sue the information?

I would imagine we have a number of classmates in the situation Wendy is in. What can we do I wonder to find out and send our support? Whether we agree with the war itself or not, the men and women fighting there and the families here at home deserve our best thoughts.

This little house is sugar.
Its roof with snow is piled,
And from its tiny window
Peeps a maple-sugar child.

What's this with Florida? Can't any of you come to California for sun? Have fun, Karen!

Now its my turn...........leaving on Thu. for 10 days in Florida. Talk to you then! Pat, I won't be near MTV stuff.........its more like G (geriatric)TV. But there is the Wed. crowd, when the ferry doesn't run across the inland waterway........the S Venice Assn. beach is frequented by gays, dressed and not. Did I mention we don't go to the beach on Weds.??????????? Happy Spring!

No sorry Lori, I don't think I'll be showing up on MTV real soon! It was fun though to watch from the beach side.



Things are finally melting here. Lots of grass on the rod sides at long last. If we get the rain this weekend that's predicted it will make a HUGE difference. I can't wait to walk barefoot in my yard. I long for the site of tulips.

Karen I hope Richie's rotator cuff heals quickly

test, test, try, try, to post......

test test, seeif I can post.......

Sounds pretty painful. Guess you'll be playing nurse for a long time!

Lori, its the shoulder socket.........ligaments had to be reattached to the bone and a bone spur shaved off. The orthopaedic surgeon said it is the most painful orthopaedic surgery there is. Six to eight weeks of immobility is followed by at least three weeks of therapy. His dexterity with his left hand has improved considerably. Nothing new here........I am just enjoying my oldest son being home from college and the warmer weather.

There were Canadian geese flying over head when I was out running this morning. They too are returning from the beaches of Florida and they were still topless as far as I could tell. On my way to work, there was a huge block of ice resting near the road in a corn field at a bridge where I cross. More blocks of ice were piling up in the river and I'm sure the road will be closed sometime soon. It's an annual occurence. I hope it doesn't get the little bunny that brings me jelly beans.

Sounds great, Patti. Are we going to see you on MTV?!! With the college students?

Hi Karen. Good to see you here again. What's rotator cuff surgery? Sounds more like something on a car. Richard, doesn't look like you got an answer to your connection questions. Guess the blog is the only answer we have.

Hi Guys! I have been dropping in here but have been busy since Rich had rotator cuff surgery last week and my daughter Ashlyn was home for springbreak. She was sick and so between the two of them I really played nurse. Having lived in KY for almost 8 years before moving to MI, we are big UK basketball fans and so the tournament and the war are all that is on our TV these days. Tonight my son Nolan will be home from the Univ. of Cincinnati, so it will be a family weekend with two whole nights that all six of us are in the same place. The snow is gone here and the temps have been in the 40's and 50's in Grand Rapids. There is hope......... Have a good weekend.

Dodging the tornadoes down here this week. Weathers more like fall but with summer humidity and heat. Been in the mid 70s to 80s. Natives say they've never seen so much rain. Feast or famine I guess. Went and had a great prime rib and bloomin onion tonight. Much too much, don't usually eat that much wanted the key lime pie but passed for a glass of white wine in the lounge. Hope ya'll have a great w/e. Spring Breaks coming to an end.

Hi folks, I'm home again in this winter wonderland. tonsof snow everywhere I look but some gentle melting each day. We need to go slow with it or we'll need an ark to survive the flood waters. Dave's canoe won't hold all my"stuff" if the waters rise and we take to the boats!

Miami was wonderful, just what I needed. Warm and sunny. The ocean was a beautiful shade of turquoise and very swimmable. We were delighted to find the beach "clothing optional" ! Many bosoms were viewed. The good, the bad, and the oh my! We also found ourselves just down the beach from MTV's Spring Fling. that was really very interesting. It all takes place in a courtyard and pool behind a hotel. Not on the beach at all. Very tight security for the kids tying to get onto the set. You have to be chosen, found worthy, by the screeners to be allowed in. There was a camera mounted on a wire that rode out over the beach to a tower erected at the shoreline. It was filming to give the illusion that the program was in fact on the beach.

I'm well rested and back to school. However, we're taking off tomorrow for Sunday River to meet some friends of Dave's from MA for some skiing. Did I ever mention that I don't ski?? Ah well. G'night all.

Oh by the way, our son Colin has moved back home. My how things do change.

Good morning global Sprigfield Class of '72. I'm drinking Columbian, smokin' nuthin, listening to Texas country & western music on my headphones, and looking out the window at the 1st day of spring in VT 2003. I just got off a conference call with a person in China, France, Germany, Sweden, Switzerland, and me in the US- all speaking English. The French accent was the hardest for me to disect but charming in its undecernable way. The man in Shanghai wanted to go home to bed and it was so early in the morning for me that my eyes were propped open with toothpicks. For two hours we were very connected and happily interdependent. None of this could have happened 30 years ago and it strikes me as funny that we connect now on Blogger- 30 years after connecting last. Back then white was the color of the big boss man, a woman's place was in the kitchen, and everything else was "different"! So I dig the conversation on food, wine, etc. (and amply partake in it). I'm also interested in what has changed for you. How do you connect in a way that never would have happened in Springfield back then? How do you wish that you could connect? I am bugged that travel is becoming more difficult and dangerous- I hope that gets better. I wish I could time-travel back to dinners with Gloria Brancaleoni (the K thru 6 Springfield art teacher in 1970). She had friends from around the world that would visit and I could at least connect with them for an evening. . . . I'm just a poor boy, I like to have fun, I know a pretty girl when I see one. I've seen the real thing, the imitation too. And, I also wonder what's cool for you- global Springfield!?!??!! (Is the Texas C&W getting the best of me?)

Nobody talking this week yet eigh? All thawing out and tingly feeling........hmmmmmm. No its not frost bite its just a good case of Spring Fever folks. Got my sales people stomping the New England terf so maybe I'll get to visit some of you this year sometime.

Actually, we do have a jacuzzi at home, too, in our backyard, but somehow we almost never end up using it--except when Amy, my sister, was here. She loves it, so we sat in it every night while she was here. But usually we seem to have something better to do than boil ourselves. I guess it's a matter of priorities!

It does seem quiet out there. Simmering in Palm Springs must have been great. My older son decided last night that we need a hot tub on our deck. He's pretty sure we could build one next summer. His final words were, "So is that a definite NO?" There sure have been some days this winter when we have wished that we had one.

Hi everyone. Where are you all? No one has been on the blog for a few days. We were in Palm Springs for the weekend with Avi's sister and her husband--and also their son and a friend of his. Their son's 11 and pretty wild, but as long as it's not my kid doing the whining it doesn't bother me. We went to the hot mineral springs there. We've been in Palm Springs before, but never at the hot springs. It was kind of cold and windy that day, so it felt great sitting in that hot water. Sounds like most of you could use some nice hot water!

I have been looking at gardening books and catalogs...........time to get into the swing....still way too much snow here, but it will melt soon with some warm days that are coming.............can't wait for the spring...........I guess that is why I like 4 seasons so much, you have something to look forward to...........

I too like the Rhine wines. There is a brand of German Liebrfaumilch that I like also. Forgot about that till you mentioned them Nancy. I'm told I make a great salsa. I use celentro in it and a touch of anise. One of the local bars wanted me to bottle it and we'd sell it. Never did, too much of a good thing sometimes becomes bitter. Been gardening these past few days when I get home. Weeks are already popping up in my herb garden and here if you don't get an early start at keping them out you never do.The Chinese Magnolia is blooming and smells great, hope we escape our usual one March ice storm and it dies back.

Yes, I could go for some real good peaches..............and tomatoes...........I got hooked on the ruskins when I was in FL and haven't had any good ones since............guess I need my own garden..............more motivation. My sister makes her own salsa and tomato sauce...............I was stationed in Germany for 2 years, so my high school german was worthless...........we learned what they call "high" german and the germans for the most part speak a slang type like our english to most people just learning english. the village our base was near had its own brewery..........Bitburger Pils was good for beer, but I like home brew better. They do export it, but it isn't the same as what you can buy in country. Fischer(sp) is another one made in France I believe, that Lou really liked..........but I stuck to my wine..........mostly rhine........even though we were closer to the mosel, the rhine was good...............not into the Eis wine, much too sweet for me............you can see the sugar in most of the bottles.............I prefer the Spatlese or Kabinett..........which is their "table" wine........but it is good..........I could go on, but I am pretty bummed, the UCONN women lost the Big East title against Villanova(14th). We had a 70 game streak there for a while...........but you have to lose sometime. Both teams didn't look that great on the court, I think UCONN was tired.........this was their 3rd game this week.........tends to take some spark out of you. Oh well.......they still are #1 in CT.

Richard, thus far I've kept things simple. Hotels I just plug in and earthlink does the rest as far as a local # . When delayed or laying over I use my cellphone in terminals or via air I use Sprint phone provided by the airline. You see, I was never one to like all that complicated math when they first came out. I only started to use a puter when I found the Mac and quickly moved to PCs for price etc. I am a located and icon or pic and clikd person. Things have really improved within the last 8 years. Back in 96 when I first started traveling alot it was rough but its getting easier and easier as you know. Any ideas I'm open to learn about though.

Back ro food......ha ha. When I was in Germany briefly I got hooked on their real cheap dark beer and haven't been able to drink the carmel falvoured and coloured junk we produce here. We made our own one winter while in VT but drank it as soon as each batch matured. It was fun. I have a real god recipie for Dandolion (ha ha) wine. It has a real kick. My Gram used to make it and store it. My mon makes some pretty good Kahlua. I have a fig tree here that produces profusely and I found an awesome recipie for figs that are all natural using unbleached flour. It takes alot of sugar but they really aren't that sweet. I'm allergic to peaches but the ol lady up the road makes great fried peach pies. (southern thing) We Yankees call them turnovers and do them in an oven.

Hi Gang, I am a certified wino...........got hooked on German wine over in Germany at all the winefests we went to.............they clear out the wineries for the new stuff and have a huge party..........every weekend it was a new village.............then there was the Whitlitch Pig fest................supposedly a pig ate the carrot that held the gate to the village closed from invaders and the pig gets its dues every Sept.............great with the wine and beer................they know how to throw a party for sure...............why do we seem to be talking about food and drink all the time? (wink)..............

I get to travel south this week but only to Danbury CT. Roland, what are the key issues with being connected remotely from hotels- like having a local dial-up number for the Net, etc.? Do you connect into WiFi networks in airports and what do you use for that? Hope that all is well out there ?!?!?

I prefer Smugglers white snowfundell. It's my anti-drug. Still ripping some good snowboarding runs here. A little wine may make you live longer, though. Just to be on the safe side, I wear a helmet for both.

John, sounds good. I keep Berringer white zinfandel as my house wine but a good merlot would be good. Hopefully we'll get more people envolved in the future. I found it by going to classmates and Patti invited me. Mom emailed me and says some of the snow is leaving as you are having warmer weather but she lives in CT. The cherry trees are now blooming here.

Ah yes a little Merlot and I am doing fine. I will drink to the anniversary. As we look back and fro and say a few words to keep in touch, let the wilderness keep it silent since there is no reason to get loud.....Cheers to you all..... c[_]~~ c[_]~~~ c[_]~~~~

Ah yes, the subject of food always gets everyone talking and sharing. The universal language. I love to learn more about food and food prep and if you go authentic you also learn culture. Although I always liked asian, chinese, and japanese I never cooked it much. So...thats one of latest projects. They are a bit like the French cuisine that I mastered long ago while in Paris. You get to "fool" with the food alot except the saucier woulde tend to differ with me. Lazing around today. Guess I might hit the flea market up in Athens and take a Cantwonese dinner. Athen reminds me very much of B town as its the home of UGA and full of restaurants and boutiques until you get on the out in what might be refered to as the burbs. Nancy, HR........don't think so there but then again the optomistic Roland says why not.

Happy Anniversary Everyone! Make mine something with an umbrella in it! Non alcoholic of course. I have sworn off for a while.

This (March 3rd 2002 till now) is our first Blogger anniversary. Maybe I will have Karen's romaine, feta, and craisin salad for lunch to celebrate. That Cuban still sounds good though.

Yes, those were the good old days...........I am trying to convince a co worker to apply for a job down Jacksonville way.....her husband bought a motorcycle (Harley) last summer and it is sitting in the garage........I told her that you can ride it practically year round down there. There were a few weeks when it was too cold, but it was nice to do on a sunny day.......those were my younger years. I never wanted to learn how, I enjoyed the freedom.............it is quite an experience if you haven't tried it. Yes, it is nice to look forward to the nice, warmer weather. I guess that is why I like the 4 seasons........you always have something to look forward to in weather change. Oh well.....we just got 10 inches, so I have to go on....................supposed to be nice today and even better tomorrow. I didn't watch the President, I listened to the "rehash" afterwards, and that was enough to get the message. Hope you all have a great weekend.....have a safe trip, Pat, enjoy the beach...................

I got out my shorts and bathing suit lst night to think aboutpacking. I'm practicing being warm. Still frigid and snowing here. The longest winter on record. Miami beckons.


Dave and I belong to an investment group and we own stock in Harley. That's as close as I've gotten to having one. It's a good stock to own. They always have more orders than they can immediately fill. I think I'd like to own a motorcycle but Dave always reminds me of the time we rented mopeds on Martha's Vineyard I couldn't make this wide sweeping turn in the road so I drove right across someone's lawn. Then I ran into a parked car later in the day. What a disaster! That was twenty some odd years ago but he does love to tell the story. I was really pitiful, but I had a wonderful time!!

Here in Burlington, we call a Cuban (sandwich)- a panini and I love 'em! Now, y'all got me thinking about lunch (and it is only through personal will power that I am not thinking about riding Harleys, and drinking beer).

Yes, they have muffalatas(sp) in the Miss area and FWB that are huge!!! It is a meal for a family.......we got our Harley from the Dothan Harley Davidson dealer there............Lou refused to buy his bike from the one in FWB.............it was a nice ride on the bike there and we did a few runs with the group there. Plus on Sunday, in the next county over you can buy beer on Sunday. Ft. Rucker was pretty active during the Gulf war.........Rhonda Corum came from there, I believe, she was one of the POWs during the Gulf war, her husband worked at Eglin and they lived half way between both jobs...........I believe he was a flight physician...............triva for the day................Roland, do you do HR work then? I guess you seem to get around a bit, not sure I would like to do that all the time. I did alot when I was in the AF, to St. Louis and Minn. most of the time...............but it got old unpacking and repacking and taking off the next week.

Nancy, I'll bet you got rede in the face, ha ha. Down miami way they have what they call a cuban. Its a grinder basically but heated and pressed on a grill. They are really good if you get an authentic one.

Yes, I interviewed prospective employees there. We had a suite. It was nice. Been to different hotel each time I was there. I don't have to go that far down anymore as we've got a dude out of Orlando that goes there. I like it but it IS a ride if you are driving. Have fun. I'm in Dothan AL tonight and its very humid and at 8:30 still 75. Hope you take some of that back with you,ha ha. Yes, I believe when moving around you pronounce things the way the natives do and learn the local lingo. Interesting how that develops but its being modified some by the mobility of our society these days.

Lori, that is one thing I learned when I was in NJ and moved to VT..just like Roland said about Pop and soda.......same things called different names in the regions of the US...........sub (grinders) are called Pore boys in the south (LA - Miss area). I'll never forget when I was first in the AF, I asked for a grinder and this guy sort of looked at me strangley, later on I found out he thought it meant quite another thing (so I learned to watch what I said-was my face red). Pat, youhave a great time in FL, I just got an email from my cousin who lives in NJ and she just bought a second home in Ft. Meyers........she has been down there the whole time we have been having all this nasty weather. Yes, the KKK is alive and well.........we get bouts of it here as well. Wallingford was (until a short while ago) the only town that I knew in Ct that didn't celebrate Martin Luther King day.............so it was a platform for all kinds of groups...I believe they have now started to celebrate it. Take care, all.

Lori, quite the contrary. They are white arian based thinking. I grew up not knowing much about them except when we threw them out of VT one time. The Guard met them at the border for a planned rally and turned them around. Yeah, Mardi Gras, Wow. I forgot that its Fat Tues and rain, snow, whatever they still parade and PARTY. They close schools, banks and most businesses don't open till 2 pm. The colours are awesome but guess I'm getting older and the crowds don't do much for me. Like Times Sq. I prefer to watch it on TV. We got hit with rain yesterday, just misted today. Never seen so many beads in one place and each day or theme they throw stuff, almost like Rocky Horror show. Sorry, bad analogy. The food is wonderbar!!!!!! Back to FL tomorrow but thats ok as its in the 80's. Oh, a grinder is a sub and thats not really a VT term mostly a lower New England term and I was born and have family in CT. Mom still lives there. Wish I could purchase a big ol Inn and invite ya'll down here. That weather sounds awful and is still coming. Well, got out of doing the trade show in Vegas this year as had to be here and thats ok. Have a great time Pat. You picked the dates well. Got to go to South Beach!! Its the traditional blast, a bit pricy but fun. ciao.

Mardi Gras? Miami? Sounds great!!!

Morning all........Cold as the dickens here but at lest the wind has calmed down. No school yesterday because of wind. Not cold or snow but wind. Visibility was nil. It's a very eerie sight looking out the window and nothing but white everywhere you look, not even seeing the house across the street some of the time.


I'm sure looking forward to Miami on Monday! Warm weather, warm sand, warm me. Yum!

Nancy, thanks for the info. I saw Nicks but didn't stop. I really like McGuires and a few others. I know how the 'beach crowd' and brekers are as I lived in Daytona for awhile. Its not quite as hot there in the summer as I was beachside in what they call So Daytona. Traffic you just have to know the hours and try and work around it. Its the price gouging I can't see. I thought that that bridge was new. Its nice and the waters are great. Oh yes, southern people don't know what 'grinders' are and we Yanks don't generally know what a pop or sack is to say nothing about a buggie. (soda, grocery bag, and grocery cart). The Clan IS active here. Hey, they are indorcing the CC in Augusta so as not to let people in they don't want, what a hoot. Such a prestidigous place and such the opposite stigma endorcing!!!!! I myself believe that the governments place is to educate and advise and let us make our own decisions and not force ideas onto anyone whom dosen't want them. Afterall, what IS freedom. Its just as bad as the 'crunchies' trying to force their ultra liberal attitudes on the conservative rights. Like a marriage (except no sex ha ha) be it a business or family, one needs to respect and understand but not always agree with the other. Thats what makes this country so great, diversity. Iam liberal in my thinkings but my friends call me a conservative bohemian (did I spell that right?). Back to New Orleans on monday. Hey, I get to do Madi Gras on someone elses dime this time, ha ha.

Hi Gang..................Roland, I know Destin quite well..........I lived in Niceville many moons ago..........long before they finally built the mid-bay bridge...........there is a really nice community beyond Destin on the way to Panama City called "Seaside". It is one of those planned communities and very well laid out..........right on the coast............we used to go snorkeling near the Destin Bridge...........that was in the 80s-early 90s........I left there in 91 and came back once in a while to visit. Lou was there until 94. we rented the house out for a while and finally sold it in 97. boy, that seems like such a long time ago. I still have friends in the area and some are retired and living there now. The water is awesome, but the traffic can be a pain..........we had a ski-sport boat so Lou could do his bass fishing and we could go skiing with the "gang". There used to be a seafood place on the road from Niceville to Freeport called "Nick's Seafood". It has the nice down home cooking and very friendly people. There is another truck stop place we used to go to in a small town called "Bruce", I believe it is the Cafe...............great biscuits.............all homemade..........we went there all the time with our group when we went motorcycling...............that was another time.........too hot for me in the summers, but I really liked the spring, winter and fall...........we were far enough away from the beach crowd, and spring breakers to have a nice time. Guess alot of the "tourist traps" are closed still for the winter............oh well. Have a nice time there..............yes, they burned a cross in my neighbors yard one time..............it never changes there, guess that is the scary thing............the area we lived was commonly called LA......for "lower alabama". You guys seem to keep pretty actibve with the site, I get on through the web as well, Pat. Sorry, I didn't get to see your pictures yet, John.............sounds like they are a hoot. I guess with all the traveling that I have done, the south have the friendliest people, but I really am happy to be home in NE>>>>>>>>>>>miss the "grinders".............no one knew what I was talking about....oh well........have a good weekend..........may miss the snow. I think I am ready for some spring like weather now............