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On Watch:
Well, they are putting the buoys out in the harbors here on
Lake Michigan, which can only mean one thing--the lake is
ice-free enough for people to bring their hideously expensive
boats out of storage and back into view, where they will
torment me as I look out my window during the summer. I always
wonder what the people in the boats on the lake during the
week do for a living — those of you who are members of this
club, please feel free to drop me a line.
Technology Push: As part of your
humble scribe's efforts to improve the overall well-being of
the class, I am now providing you with a reason to learn how
to use Facebook — we have our own affinity group there. Look
under "USAF Academy Class of 1977" and register. We have
several ongoing discussions, lots of really interesting and
embarrassing pictures from then and now, and links to timely
articles, topics, etc. relating to class members and
activities. The group is open to class members and spouses /
significant others, so kick your kids (grandkids) off the
computer and check us out.
Bill Brandt (Susan) dropped some
pictures of his recent trip to the Philippines on the site,
and reported that he's got four grandchildren with number
five "on the way." Congrats, Bill, and I hope you are reading
Kipling to all of them. Tom Jones (Liz) put up a link to his
op-ed piece noting the problems with the current
administration's space flight proposals. Excellent analysis,
Tom, but I wouldn't hold my breath for new space funding or
jobs from the Chicago bunch. Paul Higgins (Nancy) caught up
with John and Kathy Burke in lovely Big Canoe, Georgia. Paul
and John were attack-jet types once upon a time, and got
reconnected after a thirteen-year hiatus. Dan Jarka (Pam)
shipped their son to basic training at Fort Benning. With any
luck, he'll be headed into Special Forces following
graduation. Good luck to you guys, all of you.
Jim McAnulty (Anna) wrote a nice message
outlining where he's been since we tossed our hats. He and
Anna have five kids, but are almost empty-nesters. They
currently live in Abuja, Nigeria where Jim is the political
counselor at the U.S. Embassy. He started with the Foreign
Service in October 1983 and his assignments have been
fascinating — Caracas, Mexico City, San Jose, Costa Rica,
Nassau, Brussels, and Nairobi, to mention a few. He served as
a regional refugee coordinator in Nairobi and as the narcotics
section director (interdicting narcotics, not procuring them)
at the embassy in Mexico City, among some of his other jobs.
Below is a shot of Jim with President Bush at the embassy in
Nigeria:
Thanks again, Jim, and nothing but my
best wishes out there.
Donna Clodfelter (Mark) dropped me a
line from lovely Chapel Hill where she is in mourning over
Duke's national title. Full disclaimer —I am a Duke Law alum,
and could not be happier over the results. And Donna got to
rub my nose in it last year. Anyway, Mark teaches at UNC and
was visited recently by Curt and Ina Bedke. Donna reports that
the highlight of the evening was Curt and Mark trying to
figure out how to use their iPhones to mutual advantage. And
how long did that take? There's a positive side of the story —
at least they weren't using Jitterbugs. |
San Antonio Rocks:
The gentlemen in South Texas are apparently ready to party
together at the drop of a hat (Stetson? Sombrero?
Ten-gallon?). Scott Harrod not only sent me this picture, but
wrote his own paragraph for insertion in the column! Now that
is what I call "scribe courtesy." Or maybe he just wanted to
make sure I didn't screw things up again. Mike Hainsey
(Brenda), who works as the airport manager at Columbus, MS,
was coming through Ran- dolph as part of an AETC commander's
list of civic leaders. News like that can't be kept under
wraps, and a group quickly formed up for lunch, as listed
below:
From left are Eric Treland (Margaret),
Scott Harrod (Anita), Al and Rita Becker, Dave and Rhonda
Swiger, Mitch and Sue Dodd, the guest of honor, Mike and
Brenda Hainsey, and Jim and Susan Darth. Eric handles the aero
club issues for Air Force Services, Al is working at AETC for
the F-35 training mission bed down, Dave is a regional
director for Boeing, Mitch works in strategic planning with
AFPC, and Mike, who started as a stimulator instructor at
Columbus, is now airport manager. The other noteworthy thing
about this gathering is that this marks Mike's first
appearance in Checkpoints. Jim is teaching high school and
college math courses in San Antonio. Thanks for the quick
pull-together of this group, Scott. My best wishes to all who
attended. Just to show you the interconnectivity of this
group, I then got a quick message from Bob Soucy (Vivencia),
noting that he and Mike had touched base in Vegas, where Bob
was temporarily residing, the week before. Bob splits his time
between the Philippines and Vegas on multiple business trips
running his own consulting company.
Dave Gragan sent me a quick link to a
press conference he did with the mayor of DC regarding
procurement issues for the District. Dave, along with all the
other class members in the DC area weathered a terrible
winter, which Dave thoroughly enjoyed, saying it reminded him
of some of the Zoomie snowstorms we experienced. Always the
optimist, that's Dave.
Doug Beason (Cindy) wrote me a very nice
message updating his activities. Doug has always had one of
the most esoteric set of interests of anyone I know, and his
update shows how. He retired from Los Alamos in 2008 after
serving as the Associate Lab Director running the threat
reduction part of a lab for the last four years. After
leaving, he and Cindy traveled through the South Pacific, and
ended up settling in Castle Rock where he has been doing some
more writing (science fiction, natch) and consulting for
Auburn University. At the end of last year he got pulled back
into public service and is now the Chief Scientist of SpaceCom
working directly for the commander. Doug reports that it is
about the most fun he has had on a job since he was a second
lieutenant. At this stage of our lives, may we all find jobs
that are more fun than work. Thanks, Doug, and congratulations
to you both.
Finally, I want to close with an update
from Gary Hamor (Ellen) who's living up in Meade, CO running
his own consulting and process improvement business. Here's a
shot of Gary with his grandson: on vacation at Glenwood
Springs.
Gary also reported that Ellen is working
as a flight attendant for Frontier. Thanks for the quick
update, and the great photo, Gary.
Off Watch: That's it from the
western side of Lake Michigan. Wear light clothing, use
sunscreen, and stay hydrated. Be seeing you.
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