Greg Cook

Mitch, retiring to an area famous for its wines that's a wonderful idea. You've inspired me! I've narrowed my search down to two areas: Boone's Farm and Annie Green Springs. Not sure yet if I'll need a passport.

Doug Bell

Hey guys,

I stopped off in Bakersfield on my way to Irvine last week and had dinner with Paul Sackewitz.  He's email and computer challenged, so isn't ever on the website.

He's healthy, happy and as nutty as ever, and wanted me to say hello to everyone. So "Hello Everyone".

If you're in or near Bakersfield, drop in and see him.  If you want contact info (phone), email me through the message function here on the site.

Mitch Wise

Greg,  go with the Annie Green Springs,  not shots required.

Mitch Wise

Thanks for the update Doug,   Glad he is doing well.  Really liked the custome Rebel Footjoy Golf Shoes he had  at the reunion. 

Richard Maurer

Bobbi and I visited the Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm in Woodburn, OR, yesterday.  They have acres and acres of tulip plants and most of the tulips are blooming right now.  It is just an incredible display of vibrant colors.  Looking across many rows of tulip plants:

A different angle looking more or less parallel to the tulip rows:

Mitch Wise

Wow, really special

Michael Elliott

Dazzling.  No point in going to Holland now.

Joan Elliott (Euans)

Linda Marks (Bird)

Mitch Wise

A few of you have asked about our adventures in France.  I write TravelWiseEurope.com to keep family aware of our activities over the years.  If you find yourself with some free time feel free to google my site and scroll around  Lots of photos.

Jerry Labuda

It's breakfast tiome again. We're meeting at the famous Keno's restaurant at 2661 LaPalma near Magnolia at 9:30 AM on Tuesday April 30th. Come on down and join the fun. See you there.

Greg Cook

Not sure when it will be but found our retirement home in Hilton Head. Imagine how crazy it will be with hundreds of Parrotheads in the same spot 24-7. I just hope SC doesn't declare Prohibition again.

Mitch Wise

sounds perfect and there is just a few places to Tee it up in the area

Richard Maurer

Greg, I have never been to Hilton Head, but from the little I know it is a special place.  From your profile, I wouldn't guess a connection to Hilton Head, South Carolina.  I guess we can all be connected to Hilton Head as Jimmy Buffet Parrot Heads in the Margaritville neighborhood.

Greg Cook

Yes Mitch the golf courses are amazing and there are hundreds of them. I'm a little fuzzy on the rules however. Not sure if it's an unplayable lie or in a hazard when a golf ball lands close to an alligator.

Richard you're so right. Being a parrotthead is a state of mind and we can take it anywhere. Latitudes is an amazing concept and homes are selling quickly. Not the right thing for a SoCal boy however. The Low Country is a swamp which means mosquitos that actually fly in formation.

Mitch Wise

The first time I visited HH Island I was playing golf with a friend.  On a short par 3 my shot landed just a few feet from the pin, so I was really enjoying the scenery, decided to go look at the lagoon close to the hole.  There was a "log" in the water that was moving, without any current.  So the log turned towared me and I realized it was a very large alligator.  My friend was laughing his head off as I ran back up the embankment to the green.  He was lying three still not in the hole.  I conceded, and headed for the golf cart.

Michael Elliott

I think I'll take my chances with the odd rattlesnake or cactus in the the AZ or So Cal.

Greg Cook

Mitch, On our first visit to HH, (even though I didn't play golf at the time), as we were leaving we saw a very large alligator sunning himself in the middle of the green on a long dogleg par 5. The golfers who were on that hole wouldn't be able to see him until they made the turn. Like you, I think they would have picked up, taken the 5 and moved on.

Mike, I've played in AZ a few times and left a lot of balls in the waste areas because of the presence of snakes.

Greg Cook

A lesson for all of us:

Richard Maurer

Great story.  Of course it is only recently in many, many years of human history that people actually have their "own" teeth into their senior years.  Because most of us don't have dentures, the ending of your story comes as a surprise.  All of my grandparents had dentures.  So they possibly could have shared "teeth", although in reality, one persons' dentures are unlikely to fit another person.  Dentistry has changed immensely in the last 50-100 years and now most people have their "own" teeth into old age, although their teeth may have been repaired with fillings and crowns.  And the children and grandchildren of our generation have benefited from more advances in dental care so that they are still more likely to keep their own teeth.  So the good news is that your story indirectly points out with humor, some of the changes in health care that have improved our situation.  

Greg Cook

Richard thanks for the insight. My dad shared his teeth with his pet Chihuahua (not intentionally however). He would leave them on the bookcase and the dog would climb up, grab them and then runoff.

It's actually a funny sight seeing a dog running around with human dentures in its mouth.

Richard Maurer

I love the image of a little Chihuahua running off with someone's teeth.  Naughty dog, but very funny.

Jerry Labuda

Doug Bell

I've been reading and watching the coverage of the incredible devastation caused by tornadoes across the midwest and south.  We have many classmates in those states who I hope have stayed safe and without damage.  My best wishes are with you all.

Tom "Skip" Johnson

Doug, thanks for your concern.  The tornado outbreak this season is absolutely unprecedented.  So far, Nancy Madeira, her family and friends and me and our family and friends throughout Kansas and Oklahoma have only been mildly affected and, at times, displaced (ie heading for tornado shelters).  The floods, on the other hand, have been far more widespread and devastating up to this point.  Farms, ranches, rural, suburban and urban homes, cars, equipment have been buried under mud, water and debri and there is more to come.  Reservoirs and lakes in the plains are at their maximum and the only thing that the corps of engineers can do is release the water if more rain falls or risk the collapse of the damn walls.  The volume of water that will need to be released will bring about even more havoc downstream for those who, still, cannot get back to their homes or lives.  You might think that the farmers will benefit from the water in the fields.  However, those fields are totally saturated and any more rain, heavy or not, will keep the farmers from planting so their prime growing season might be a total bust.