Book Review & '50 class 60th Reunion

 

              
Jim Regan's                                      
Book Reviews
    jjregan55@cox.net

Jim wanted me to replace his pix on the left with the one on the right. I  will leave both up for a few just so you know it is still JR.  Gary

I NOW HAVE ANOTHER EMAIL ADDRESS SINCE I AM IN THE PROCESS OF DROPPING AOL. PLEASE NOTE: jjregan55@cox.net  

Independence Day, 2009 Review

 

Sidebar: July 4^th remains our country’s most important date. It commemorates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence and the end of being under the rule of Great Britain, and it is generally thought to be July 4, 1776. Scholars have shown this date to be inaccurate but, with time, it is no longer an issue. Of interest, two of our founding fathers, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, went on to become President, 3^rd and 6^th respectively, and later died on the same day July 4, 1826, the 50^th anniversary of United States.

The genius of those who formulated the Declaration of Independence has stood the test of time, at least until now! Some have run with the word independence like it’s a floating game where rules do not always apply, and change is deemed necessary. Independence means freedom. It’s what we stood for then, and let’s hope it is here to stay.

 

BOOK TIME

Patricia Cornwell’s second novel in her Win Garano series, The Front (2008), is this week’s featured review. Considered by some as America’s #1 best selling crime author, I found The Front a little off of her usual good mark. You can breeze through this 180 page book in one setting. The plot takes on numerous twist and turns and it some times leaves the reader lost as it dwells on distractive character interactions. Cornwell’s center-court hero, unmarried-mixed race-motorcyclist Win Garano, continues his role as a Massachusetts State police detective assigned to the D.A’s Office. He is given an unusual assignment by his attractive boss, Monique Lamont, a Boston area District Attorney, who is demanding, conniving, cold and aloof. Monique’s outward behavior stems from problems that she has internalized from being raped a year ago. Her actions have earned her a reputation of being a hard-bad-kick ass - one who would do just about anything to gain notoriety and acceptance! Win is put on a special case assignment to resurrect a forty year cold murder of a blind British woman, Janie Bolin, in the small town of Watertown, Middlesex County. Monique thinks by linking the 1962 murder to the famous Boston Strangler that she can reap favorable publicity by using this investigation as a diversionary tactic - one that is really a public relations campaign for dealing with declining neighborhoods. Confusing? You bet! Win soon learns that there is a loose “Front” (“Friends, Resources, Officers Networking Together”) consisting of municipal police department members who play by their own rules and cooperation with the State Police is not in their vocabulary. Another returning member of Cornwell’s cast is lead detective “Stump”, a leg amputee. Like Win, she draws the wrath of D.A Lamont, but not for the same reasons. Stump and Win treat each other as adversaries, continually engaging in some smart-mouth conversations that often skirt the real issues, and not without sexual overtones. The case takes on a whole new issue when Scotland Yard becomes involved, not because of Bolin’s murder “across the pond,” but because of terrorist’s connections that lead to Lamont! This is when things really get murky as the FBI and Raggedy Ann enter the investigation.

Despite the demands of his work, Win always takes time to visit and care for his aging superstitious grandmother, Nana, as they share the spotlight with their humorous interludes, along with, of course, Win’s sexual escapades.

The Front really comes together rapidly in the back stages of the book. Did the Boston Strangler really start his string of murders with Bolin? Is Lamont really involved in supporting terrorist activities? Is anyone the winner? Read on……

JR

 

 

 

REVIEW FOR JUNE 20, 2009

 

Sidebar:  Summer has arrived in full swing and by the looks of my tomato plants, we should have a bumper crop. For me, there is nothing more rewarding than to put on my farmer clothes and grub around in the good old earth. One of things I have on my “bucket list” is to cut a field of alfalfa. So, if anyone out there knows of some one who needs a free helping hand, please pass the word that I am ready, willing, and hopefully, able.

 

Book of the Week

 

If you are a Dismas Hardy fan, like me, then John Lescroart’s (less-kwah) latest Bestseller, Betrayal (2008), is a good read, not his best, but worth the time (550 pp.). Unlike his other books in the series, Dismas and his police buddy, Abe Glitsky, have late appearances, once the plot has been set in the first half of the book. The title, Betrayal, stems from a relationship that goes wrong between a 27 year old 2^nd Army Lieutenant, Evan Scholler, a San Francisco Bay area cop, serving his country in Iraq, and a smooth talking Ron Nolan, an ex-Navy SEAL working as a highly paid and ranking employee for a military contractor, Allstrong Security, headquartered in the Bay area, also. Lt. Scholler and his 8 man squad arrive in Iraq and fall victims to an administrative foul-up in assignments. Instead of serving in a support capacity, they end up being assigned to high risk convoy duty protecting Allstrong as it carries out its contractual assignments headed-up by Ron Nolan. Evan and his men are co-opted by Nolan into participating in shady activities while risking their lives. The money hungry Nolan befriends Evan during serious bouts with alcohol. Evan pours his heart out to Nolan about his ex-girlfriend/ school teacher, Tara Wheatley, who has not responded to Evan’s correspondence because she is against the war and Evan’s involvement. On one of Nolan’s trips back to the Bay area, Evan asks Nolan to hand deliver a letter to Tara in hopes of reactivating his relationship with her. It proved to be the wrong move. Ron finds Tara so attractive that he begins to pursue her with a passion. “Lonesome Dove” Tara, responds to Nolan’s advances positively and further complicates the situation. Once he is back in Iraq, Nolan attempts to keep Evan in the dark regarding his new-found love, Tara, while maintaining the need for Evan’s squad to keep him secure in his money grubbing endeavors. While performing a risky convoy protection duty, everything goes sideways when “trigger happy” Nolan fires on a crowd of Iraqis and jeopardizes Evan’s squad. All hell breaks loose resulting in the loss of most of his squad. Evan suffers a near-death head wound from an explosive device and ends up in the hospital. The physical and psychological damage to his head and brain rendered the outlook for his recovery doubtful. No one seems to know if it was “mind over matter,” or, “matter over mind,” but through long extensive treatment, Evan eventually is able to return home to the Bay area, to his job with the police department, but not to his former girlfriend, Tara (her choice).

Suffering from PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder), alcohol abuse becomes part of his daily life in order to cope with his failed romance and fragile physical and mental condition. Eventually, Evan learns that Nolan is romantically involved with Tara and that he has misrepresented himself, as well as Evan. This results in a vicious triangle of love. Jealousy and booze leads to a confrontation with Tara, and ends with a “knock down drag out fight” between Nolan and Evan. Soon after, Nolan is found dead and Evan is hauled off to the hospital and jail to be tried for murder.

The plot is squeezed with Courtroom Drama as Scholler is tried and convicted for killing Nolan. Here is where Lescroart shines. His courtroom drama combined with new evidence uncovered after Evan has been in jail several years, sets the stage for Dismas to enter the fray. Hardy inherits the case from a new defense attorney working on an appeal for Evan, but unfortunately, he suddenly disappears. Hardy agrees to pick up the pieces and pursue the appeal. Things really get fishy as Hardy, with the help of Abe Glitsky and his police resources, dig into the case. Coincidently, Abe uncovers a double homicide that is tied into Hardy’s proposed appeal. Putting the pieces of the puzzle together – ones that will allow Dismas to file and be granted the appeal for Evan, becomes a 24/7 obsession.  The entanglement in Iraq between Evan and Nolan become key issues in the case, and the FBI and Allstrong Security find itself right in the middle of the appeal due to the exploitation of federal funds. I liked the author’s conclusion as it takes many twists and turns. The entire story tends to drag out too long, but the ending makes the trip worthwhile. I hope Dismas and Abe get more of a front seat in the next book in the series, if and when, that is, there is a next one.

JR

 

REVIEW – 6/13/09

 

Author Stuart Woods keeps grinding out bestselling novels featuring Cop-turned lawyer-and-investigator, Stone Barrington. HOT MAHOGANY (2008) is #15 in the series and probably the weakest one! I found the plot dull and disjointed. Woods has several of his usual characters helping Stone solve a theft of an antique mahogany secretary. It all starts out at Elaine’s, of course, Stone’s favorite Manhattan restaurant and hang-out. Stone’s long-time CIA buddy, Lance Cabot enlists Stone to look out after Lance’s brother, Barton, who is suffering some memory loss after being a victim of crime. Barton deals in antiques and is a master craftsman in restoration of old furniture. With the help of another of Stone’s pals, policeman Dino Bacchetti, they try to unravel who is behind the switcheroo leaving Barton with a duplicate secretary. The plot is further expanded when Barton lets it be known that the theft may be linked to a bunch of double-eagle gold coins that they heisted out of Vietnam when he was in command of a Marine regiment. Looking for the “hot mahogany” takes Stone back and forth between New York, New Hampshire and Connecticut. And, as usual, Stone takes advantage of any good looking female who is willing to jump in the sack! The reader can get a little confused as to “who is on first.” If you’re anything like me, you will not even be sure how the whole story ends.

I have reviewed several other books by Woods and I really like his writing style. Hot Mahogany does not seem to fit into his “winners”category. I bought the book at the LA Airport when I flew to Africa. An act of desperation, but it did occupy my time enroute. So, if you need a quick read and have access to a used copy, borrow it.

JR

 

OUR SOUTH AFRICAN EXPERIENCE, MAY 2009

 

Forward: South Africa is on the continent’s southern tip and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean on the west and the Indian Ocean on the South and East. Namibia lies to the Northwest, Zimbabwe and Botswana to the North and Mozambique and Swaziland to the Northeast. About 45 million people live within the country’s 471,008 square miles. There are 11 official languages spoken in South Africa, English being the only non-indigenous one.

 

A JOURNEY TO REMEMBER

Our journey to South Africa began months before the actual trip. It all started several years ago at a USO auction in San Diego. During the bidding process, I made the mistake of excusing myself to go to the bathroom. When I returned to our table, I learned that my dear anxious wife had made the winning bid to go on a safari to Zulu land in South Africa. Now I know why many people wear Depends during auctions. Live and learn…..

Once I made computer contact with the people who run the safari operations in Africa at Zulu Nyala and confirmed our reservation, I needed to commence the administrative task of creating and completing a “to do” list. Note: any one reading this story can google Zulu Nyala and get a written and visual picture and description of the lodge and its accommodations. Back to the basics….Going to a far-away place for a week does not do justice to the expense of getting there, nor does it give you a chance to gain a broader experience and appreciation for the area, country and its people. So, after reading about things to do in South Africa, I settled on the idea of combining the safari with a land tour by driving the “Garden Route” from Port Elizabeth, located on the Indian Ocean, westward to Cape Town. Again, I researched the places along the way that I thought would be special and of interest. The thing I did not know was where to stay. There are many travel groups that can arrange accommodations for you. I contacted the Zulu Safari people and they said they could take care of my reservations, or I could contact a USA company that they would recommend, Wilderness Safaris, and it could handle the task. I elected to use the U.S. Company. After extensive conversations with a Wilderness Safari representative, I settled on places to stay along the way. I always like to know where I am staying before I get there. I guess I would not have been a good Nomad. We contacted our doctors regarding medical questions related to the trip and made sure our passports were in order. We made our flight schedules through United and South African Airways in order to reach our designated destinations. Finally, our departure date rolled around and we were off and running, or flying for the next 23 days.

After a long flight to Johannesburg we checked into the Intercontinental Hotel adjacent to the airport for a quick over-night stay. Early the next day we had a short flight east to Richard’s Bay on the Indian Ocean where we were transported to The Zulu Nyala Game Lodge, a private game reserve located between the Mkuze, Hluhlue and the St. Lucia reserves. Zulu Nyala became a household name during the planning stages and now it had become a reality. Zulu Nyala stands for Zulu as in Zulu land and people, and Nyala is the Swahili name for a South African antelope. We saw an abundance of both.             The architectural design and location of the Lodge was stunning. The natural stone walls and yellow wood floors, combined with thatched roofs, natural landscaping and beautiful interior decorations captured the ethnic heritage of the region. With a swimming pool, tennis court, curio center, bar and restaurant and yes, internet access, the lodge has all the comforts of home, and then some. It rests on a hilltop overlooking the reserve and offered spectacular views. Sunrises and sunsets were daily memorable events, as well as the wart hogs and monkeys running around on the lawn in front of our room . We, along with six other guests, were assigned to one of the Lodge’s Zulu Rangers. Our Ranger, Sofito, was in charge of our daily safaris. Well educated and personable, Sofito made each day’s trips both interesting and informative. We traveled in an open Toyota three-seater 4 wheel drive Landcruiser, the boxy kind you see in most safari pictures, behind our driver/guide and his tracker. There were watering holes scattered around the reserve, natural spots to see the birds and animals. Africa has coined the phrase, “the big five”, i.e. lions, elephant, rhinoceros, buffalo and leopard. We saw the big five, and then some. Monkeys, baboons, impalas, three types of antelopes (oryx, springbok and red duiker), wart hogs, giraffes and a wide variety of birds added to the daily attractions. One day we took a hike through the bush looking for rhinos. Sofito was in the lead carrying his rifle. After about an hour of trekking, we returned to our truck. No luck!  We were warned that the bush is loaded with ticks so we had to shower and examine our bodies, daily. While sitting beside the pool that day, I discovered one munching on the inside of my leg – Ouch! So much for using “Off”.

Sofito arranged several night safaris. Since hippos only come out of the water at night to graze (they get easily sunburned in the sun and their skin cracks), we set out in search for these animals with the “big buns”. We ran into two, and believe me, from behind, they looked bigger than the wide bodies of an airbus! Our second night excursion took us to an old rock quarry. There we watched baboons roosting in the rocks while we enjoyed a big fire and a few glasses of the grape. Another day excursion took us to St. Lucia for a cruise on its river and surrounding estuary where alligators, hippos and numerous birds were observed in their natural habitat. After the cruise, we took a short trip to the beautiful shoreline of the Indian Ocean where we dipped our toes in the water and walked barefoot in the white sand, reminiscent of Bill and Hillary dancing on the Sand in the Caribbean!

After 6 days of safaris, we left Zulu Nyala and were transported (about 4 hours away) to Durban, the 3^rd largest populous city (3 ½ million) in South Africa and the largest seaport in Africa. From Durban, we flew south along the Eastern Cape to Port Elizabeth, another major seaport, adjacent to Nelson Mandela Bay. Six islands are off the coast of the harbor city of Port Elizabeth and have caused many shipwrecks. The city stretches about 16km along Algoa Bay and is approximately 770 km east of Cape Town. We picked up a Hertz VW Polo and, of course, the steering wheel was on the right side. South Africa requires foreigners to hold an International License in addition to your state license. Triple A will issue you one for fifteen bucks. Driving on the right/wrong side of the highways is an adventure in and of itself. Vangie’s shouts and expletives helped remind me to look both ways! The first night on our driving tour along the Garden Route (N2), we stayed at the Hacklewood Hill Country House in Port Elizabeth, a beautiful old manor built in 1827. Each one of the eight en-suite bedrooms were individually decorated and had large Victorian bathrooms, private balconies and verandahs. Before dinner I had a special tour of their underground well stocked wine cellar and I selected a special South African wine to accompany our gourmet dinner. After dinner drinks were served in front of the fireplace in the Lounge and needless to say, we had a good night of zzzzzzzzs.

On The Road Again….The next day we headed out bright and early for a three hour dive westward through Knysna to Plettenberg Bay. Lush farms located on rolling hillsides, interrupted frequently with deep gorges and valleys, were dotted with numerous cattle, pine and eucalyptus tree farms. The coast line was always in sight to our left. We reached our destination, Hunter’s Country House, located in an indigenous forest framed by the Tsitsikamma Mountains, 10 km west of Plettenberg Bay. The thatched homestead is surrounded by 21 luxury cottages and garden suites. Our large villa, built off the ground on wood pilings, was complete with a separate living room with a fireplace, floor to glass windows with an outside deck, large bedroom with its own outside deck, a 20’ x 10’ bathroom with heated floors and towel racks, a solid rock tub and a 6’ x 10’ pool/spa planted in the outside entry deck. We were warned to keep our windows shut when we were not occupying our room due to the invasive nature of the local monkey and baboon population! The following day we had a local guide pick us up and we toured the town of Plettenberg (population +- 40K) and the greater bay area. The bay is a popular resort for fishing, hobie cat sailing, surfing and whale watching. Beacon Island stands alone next to the mainland and is its central landmark. Growing and harvesting yellow wood is the main .industry. After our two day stay at Hunter’s House we continued driving west along the N2 to George which was about an hour away. From George, we headed inland and north on the N12 through spectacular rugged mountains for about another hour to Oudtshoon, the ostrich capital of the world and home of the famous Cango Caves. Here we stayed at Rosenhof Country Lodge, another old (1852) manor with twelve en-suite double rooms built around an open courtyard with gardens filled with roses and herbs. The highlight of our visit while in Oudtshoon was a visit to the Cango Caves, considered one of the seven wonders of Southern Africa. The caverns began forming 20 million years ago when acidic ground water chemically eroded the 100 million year-old limestone rock. Reportedly, about 3 million years ago when the water which once filled the caves drained away, the formation of dramatic stalactites and stalagmites began to form. South Africa’s earliest people (the Bush People) found shelter in these caves more that 80,000 years before the caves were discovered by the Dutch Colonists in 1780. Our tour took us about 600 meters into the caves and through 5 atriums. If you are skinny and adventurous, you can travel on your tummy through small openings for another 600 meters! No thanks! Oudtshoon is the location of a British military training base – one established during WWII, and now is used for training soldiers heading for Iraq.

After a one night stay, we left the Lodge and headed west and south on R62 through an ostrich filled valley 400km long and 80 km wide, bordered by the Black Mountains on the west, to Ladismith and Barrydale. We joined the N2 for a ways and then branched south to Hermanus where we enjoyed a delicious lunch at the Maritime Hotel overlooking the bay. While in Hermanus I filled the car up with gas. My credit card was rejected and I didn’t have enough Rand to pay cash. I told the attendant I would return in a few days and pay him cash. Trustingly, he said ok! I gave him my name and cell phone number to post on his most wanted list. Leaving Hermanus, we drove 20km southeast to Grootbos, a private nature reserve with two lodges. We stayed in a luxury suite in the new Forest Lodge overlooking the expansive sand dunes and Walker Bay. Each suite is a private stand-alone dwelling with winding paths to the main lodge. Grootbos is dedicated to the concept of fynbos, the relationship between insects, birds, mammals and flowering plants which comprise the local ecosystem. We took a two hour four-wheel drive throughout the 1,750 hector reserve. The highlight was seeing the spectacular flowering Proteas, the National flower, all over the hillsides. 

Wine Country, here we come:  The next leg of our journey took us back west through Hermanus (and yes, I paid my debt and a tip to the smiling gas station attendant as he gave me a high-five) and then north crossing over the N2 to Elgin and Grabouw and into the Franschoek Mountains. We couldn‘t believe that the scenery could keep getting better, but it did. I felt like we were in a fairyland. Orchards, vineyards, filled the lowest valleys to the highest mountain tops. Every place looked like it had been laid out by a surveyor. With only 30 km to go to our next stop, we encountered a “road closed” sign. We had two options, either turn around and go back where we came from, or ignore the sign. I chose the latter. We had not traveled ¼ of a mile when we ran into a crew of men replacing a large section of the highway. I tried to communicate with one of the workers that we needed to get through the pass to Franschoek. He pointed to a temporary bypass carved out below the construction project for their use. I elected to go for it. It was muddy, and filled with rocks and boulders. I inched the VW along the cut in the hillside for about 200 yards. The end was in sight, but the exit was steep and uphill. I tried three times to engineer making it to the top, but each time the wheels would not take hold, so I had to back down to a level area. I told Vangie to hang on because I was going to “punch it” and try to use the portion of the road that was less traveled. We lunged forward and began to “fish tail” as the mighty roar of our German engine was saying “I think I can.” It did. Once on top and back on the paved road, we gave each other a high five and proceeded through the rest of the pass without having to change our pants! We soon realized that it was worth the risk to proceed through the construction project when we got our first glimpse of the picturesque village of Franschoek nestled in the valley below us.. The view below reminded us of Switzerland. The village was situated in a valley surrounded by green mountains with orchards and grape vines blanketing the hillsides. Winding down the mountain we entered Franschoek, founded by the French Huguenots in 1688, to our next home away from home, the boutique Franschoek Country House & Villas just on the outskirts of the village. Although the smell no longer lingers, the Manor House was a former perfumery dating back to 1890. Our accommodations were in one of the newly built 100 square meter luxury villas that gave us an outlook from two balconies. Their famous Monneaux Restaurant is among South Africa’s finest. Sightseeing and shopping in the village took up most of the next day. A good friend of mine from the U.K. had told me about a one-of-a-kind restaurant, La Petite Ferme located on a hillside just outside of town. Its legendary lunches are served from noon to 4:00 PM. We did it justice over a two hour lunch of calamari and Baboon Chardonnay. The food, wine and views were unsurpassed.

Onward to our last destination: Leaving Franschhoek westward on the R45 route, we took a leisurely one-hour drive through Stellenbosch to Cape Town, the oldest city in South Africa (established in1652), and our final destination. The 122 room newly decorated Cape Grace Hotel would be our last stay for four nights. It is situated on its own private quay on the vibrant Victoria & Alfred Waterfront. Our room was on the back side and looked out over the yacht marina. The front side of the hotel faces the working harbor. After checking in our rental car to Hertz, we wandered along the waterfront about 200 yards from the hotel to one of the world’s largest malls. We had arranged to have a guide takes us on a tour of the area for two days. The first night we finally had our first rain storm, including thunder and lightening. The next day it remained overcast but nice enough to travel. Cape Town’s most popular landmark is Table Mountain (1,087 m). It towers over the town to the north, and like its name, it is flat like a table. After several attempts to build a rail system to the top in the early 1900s, a local group of businessmen formed The Table Mountain Aerial Cableway Company and a cable car system was finished in 1929. With recent upgrades, the new cable system provides visitors with a 360 degree revolving views as visitors ascend and descend the mountain. Although there are several routes to the top, climbing Table Mountain can be dangerous. One experienced climber fell to his death while we were there. The mountain is part of the greater Table Mountain National Park. After a trip up the mountain, we turned south and circled the peninsula which culminates at the Cape of Good Hope. Contrary to thought, The Cape of Good Hope is not the most southerly tip of Africa. It is about 90 miles southeast of the Cape.. We crisscrossed the peninsula as we traveled the coast lines enjoying the many scenic views and the upscale homes belonging to the upper-crust. A large portion of the Lower Peninsula has been set aside as a National Nature Reserve. Baboons, zebras, élan, ostrich and other animals and birds live in this protected reserve. A towering monument to Vasco de Gama, the Portuguese explorer who first rounded the Cape, stands in his honor near the tip of the Cape.  Leaving the Park we headed north towards Simon’s Town on the eastern side of the Cape where we stopped at Seaforth for lunch. Afterwards, we walked about 200 yards to a protected area where a large colony of penguins resides. Here, white sharks, seals, fish and penguins claim each other in the food chain.

The following day was dedicated to touring the city. It has substantial downtown financial, commercial and retail centers. After a quick tour of the inner city, we drove around the Victoria & Alfred shopping centre near the Waterfront Hotel. Sea walls built in 1869 line and maintain the integrity of the coastline and provide the backdrop for the new soccer stadium under construction for the World Cup matches in 2010. Looking out westward a mile or so from the wharf is Robben Island. It houses a prison and was once the home for Nelson Mandela. We wanted a feel for the residential parts of Cape Town. So, our guide took us through the low and high end neighborhoods. Places like Greenpoint, Bantry Bay and Clifton provide the rich and famous with vistas beyond compare. The poor areas reminded me of Caracas in Venezuela where Blacks still live in small “shanty huts” made out of everything from cardboard to tin, and they are without water, electricity and indoor toilets. I kept asking myself if these conditions will ever change. I reaffirmed my belief that such conditions will not improve significantly unless the inhabitants use their educational system as a means for improving their own intellectual skills, especially a command of the majority spoken language. Currently, mandatory school attendance is not in effect. Furthermore, the African government provides free hospital care and a stipend each month for those below their poverty level. Women are rewarded with additional money for each baby they produce. If any part of this cycle is not broken, then upward mobility is close to impossible. Enough pontificating…..

Signal Mountain overlooks the downtown and wharf area. On top, an artillery battery was installed many years ago for defense purposes. Today, it no longer functions as a military installation. Its history has been maintained, however, as a cannon is fired at noon each day, except on Sunday. We went to the top of the mountain to observe the firing of the cannon. A member of the South African Navy sets and fires the charge each day. The timing of the charge is electronically synchronized so it goes off at the exact time of 12:00 noon. Only two other cannons in the world are fired to keep time this way, one in Edinburgh and the other in Hong Kong. Our last day was spent packing and doing last minute shopping at the V & A Centre. Cape Town International Airport is northwest of the city. Along the way we passed the University. The airport was a mess due to the massive construction under way in preparation for the 2010 World Cup soccer matches, probably one of the most significant events ever to be held in South Africa. It is already a sell-out.  Our flight to Johannesburg had been cancelled so we were put on another flight just in time to catch our 10 hour across-the-water flight to Washington, D.C. One of our bags did not arrive so we returned to California light handed. A quick flight from LA to San Diego brought us home 10,000 miles later.

Anyone who reads this account and wants more information about our trip can contact us directly. If you have not traveled to South Africa, then maybe, after reading this account, you will be able to vicariously identify with our adventure. We believe that our journey brought an added dimension ino our lives – one that was filled with 23 days of sunrises and sunsets, and lots between…...

JR 6/8/09

 

 

June Review

A time when spring ends and summer begins; A time for rose flowers; June gems: pearl, alexandrite and moonstone……

 

Sidebar:  We returned from our trip to South Africa. I can’t think of a word that aptly describes this country. It is so varied in cultures, flora, fauna and landscape that it’s like moving from the known/unknown to another known/unknown. As expected, the safari part of our escapade was filled with an abundance of animal and bird life. Daily, we saw (up close) the big five – elephants, lions, leopards, rhinos and buffalo along with many other indigenous species. The cheetah turned out to be my favorite animal. It is the fastest animal on this planet and its sleek body puts other pussy cats to shame. After a week of two-a-day safaris, we flew to Port Elizabeth, an eastern seaport on the Indian Ocean, and commenced our driving tour west along the southern coastal Garden Route to Cape Town. From Port Elizabeth we headed west to beautiful Plattenberg Bay. Heading west to George, we turned north and inland traversing through winding mountain passes to our next destination, Oudtshoon , the ostrich capital of the world. There, we visited the famous Cango caves, one of the Seven Wonders of Southern Africa. The Caves, discovered by the Dutch in 1780, began forming 20 million years ago when acidic ground water chemically eroded the 100 million year-old limestone rock. Stalactites and stalagmites began forming about 3 million years ago after the water drained away. The caves were once inhabited by the bush people. We only penetrated these caves about 600 meters. Hardy souls, especially the skinny ones, can continue for another 600 meters if they are willing to crawl on their stomachs. No thanks! From Oudtshoon we headed south and coastward to Walker Bay near Hermanus, where whales were migrating from the Antarctic, colonies of seals were lounging everywhere and white sharks were cruising through the waters. Heading back north again, we traveled through high rugged mountain passes to Franschhoek for a grand taste of the famous South African wines. Here, the Dutch initiated the wine industry some 350 years ago. Vineyards dominate the landscape from the valleys to the higher slopes of the surrounding mountains. The area reminded me of Switzerland with its picturesque villages. Visiting South Africa this time of year has its benefits. It is the start of winter so there are fewer tourists and the countryside is in full autumn color. Leaving Franschhoek we went southwest to our final destination, Cape Town, the oldest city in South Africa (established in 1652).

It is a vibrant city situated right on the coast and is the locus for commercial shipping to all parts of the world. The most visible landmark is Table Mountain which provides an impressive back drop just north of the city. Along with Johannesburg, Cape Town is another site for the 2010 World Cup Soccer matches. A huge stadium is currently being erected next to the downtown wharf area. Just south of the town is The Cape of Good Hope and its National Reserve. Technically, the Cape is not the most southern tip of Africa. The real tip is about 90 miles southeast. A backdrop of interesting mountains surround Cape Town aptly named Table Mountain National Park.  The 10,000 mile journey back to San Diego pales when I think of the first explorer, Vasco da Gama, sailing from Portugal to India in 1497. An impressive monument stand tall at the Cape of Good Hope.

 

Review Time

 

I know many people are up to their ears hearing about what is going on in Afghanistan. But, I urge you, the reader, to put aside your political beliefs and follow a Navy SEALs team of four through their unbelievable training program in Coronado to the towering mountain peaks of Afghanistan. This week’s review is a true story entitled, Lone Survivor, written by the lone survivor, Marcus Luttrell, along with Patrick Robinson (2007). It is an eyewitness account of a covert operation aimed at capturing or killing Ben Laden’s right-hand man. Initially, about one-third of the book is devoted to learning about the four team members, their background and training and the mission of Navy SEALs. The name SEALs is derived from the elements in and from which they operate (Sea, Air, Land). Being a SEAL requires a mental and physical commitment- one that transcends all other military training programs. A blow by blow description of what it takes to become a SEAL will leave the reader in awe and exhausted. Marcus and the rest of his squad were among the 30 recruits out of 180 who completed the program. Tough? You better believe it! After their graduation and deployment, the story shifts to the Northeastern Areas of U. S. Military Operations in the Hindu Kush Mountains, land of the Taliban. In June 2005, the four men known as SEAL Team 10 was sent on a clandestine mission north near the Pakistani border. Their mission was jeopardized when the team ran into some local tribesmen who relayed word to the Taliban of the SEALs presence. What follows became known as the battle of Murphy’s Ridge. Against all odds, Marcus and his buddies engage the Taliban in a vicious fight that killed many of them, and resulted in the largest loss of SEALs, to date. In just a 24 hour period, Marcus became the “Lone Survivor”. What went on is described in uncompromising detail by the authors. Robinson and Luttrell have codified an event in military history – one that exemplifies the ultimate sacrifice and survival of men who know no ends to patriotism and love of country. It is no wonder that it is written in the official philosophy of the SEALs that “We train for war and we fight to win.”

JR

 

 

MOTHER’S DAY REVIEW. 2009

 

Sidebar: Ok, I said I would be off to Africa for the rest of the month. Well, I couldn’t resist giving our readers a last minute quip before I left about someone so dear to our hearts, mothers. I suspect that nary a day goes by that some thoughts about our mother doesn’t invade our mind. This Sunday, May 10, is Mother’s Day. It is a celebrated on many different dates around the world due to its different origins. But, here in the U.S. in 1912, Anna Jarvis is credited for establishing a day that each family could honor its mother. Note: she was adamant that the location of the apostrophe was singular possessive. This bit of trivia should make every mother happy….

End of sidebar

 

Special Tribute

 

This week’s review pays special tribute to mothers. They are in an elevated class by themselves. As I look back on the days when my mother was alive, I sometimes feel remorseful and guilty about how I responded to my mother’s care and guidance. I don’t know how many times she told me “that she should have given me back to the Indians!” Mothers may be universal in name, but they ultimately have provided each one of us with a breath of life. One of my favorite songs sung by Eddie Arnold and written by Walter Goodwin and Clyde Hager is That Wonderful Mother Of Mine. It says it all…..

           

            The moon never beams without bringing me dreams

                        Of that wonderful mother of mine

            The birds never sing but a message they bring

                        Of that wonderful mother of mine.

            Just to bring back the time, that was so sweet to me

            Just to bring back the days, when I sat on her knee.

                        You are a wonderful mother,

                        Dear old Mother of mine.

            You’ll hold a spot down deep in my heart,

                        ‘Till the stars no longer shine.

                        Your soul shall live on forever,

                        On through the fields of time.

                        For there’ll never be another to me.

                        Like that wonderful Mother of mine.

                        I pray ev’ry night to our Father above,

                        For that wonderful mother of mine.

                        I ask him to keep her as long as He can

                        That wonderful mother of mine.

                        There are treasures on earth,

                        that make life seem worthwhile,

            But there’s none can compare to my mother’s smile.

                        You are a wonderful mother.

                        Dear old Mother of mine.

            You’ll hold a spot deep in my heart,

                        ‘Till the stars no longer shine.

                        Your soul shall live on forever,

                        On through the fields of time.

                        For there’ll never be another to me,

                        Like that wonderful Mother of mine

 

Thanks Mothers for making our lives possible even though I was impossible!

 

JR

 

MAYDAY REVIEW, 2009

 

Sidebar:  For those of you who read this stuff, please note that this review will be my only one this month. Vangie and I will be traveling in South Africa checking out the pirate situation. Not really! We will be on a safari in Zulu land and then drive the garden route along the southern coast from Port Elizabeth to Cape Town.

 

REVIEW

 

Recently, Bob and Genelle Cox gave me a book, Follow the River (1986), written by James Alexander Thom. I have previously read and reviewed one of his other books, From Sea to Shining Sea, an account of the Lewis and Clark expedition. Thom is a distinguished writer of American Western historical novels. He is an author who literally “walks the walk,” having traveled the paths of those he writes about. His thorough research of people, places and events, combined with his powerful literary skills, have produced some of the best accounts of real American history.

Follow the River is a riveting inspirational story about a married 23 year old pregnant woman, Mary Ingles, who survives an ordeal as a captive by Shawnee Indians. The reader will find some of the thoughts and actions so vivid that they will linger in your mind after you turn each page. Mary is a surviving witness to a tragic massacre when a band of Shawnee Indians invade her remote settlement in the mountains of Virginia in 1755. She, her two sons, sister-in-law, Bettie, and one male hunter- neighbor are taken on a forced journey to unknown territory. Initially, their husbands were away for the day tending their fields so they were unaware of the tragedy. Thom vividly describes the mentality and brutality of the Shawnee and the rationale for their behavior. Even their most savage acts are contrasted to their more human side. The band is led by a Chieftain named Wildcat. He takes an eye to Mary and her sons and gives them special treatment. Their forced trek takes them by way of the Ohio River. Mary remains observant and searches for landmarks along the way in case she can escape and needs to find her way back to her husband, Will. Day after day their journey takes them farther away into an unknown wilderness - one that holds beauty, danger and uncertainty. The ordeal is further complicated when Mary gives birth to a baby girl on the trail. Eventually, they reach the Shawnee camp and a new life in captivity begins. There are other prisoners in camp, including an old Dutch woman, Ghetel, who have been victims of the Shawnee’s harsh treatment, the same the newcomers are about to experience. This real life story tests the strength of the human spirit. The author is able to describe the raw and bare feelings of his characters with clarity and understanding, to the extent that romance, pity, perseverance and hatred are allowed to surface. Mary’s practical side and her desire for daily survival are not always in concert with Bettie’s beliefs, however. Sometimes, at the expense of alienating Bettie,  Mary is willing to sacrifice her dignity for practical results. She puts her sewing skills to work in a partnership with two French traders who run a trading post in the village. Knowing the Chief still keeps her in high favor, and that an overture of comportment is forthcoming, she continues to struggle with her inner emotions. Once the Chief confronts Mary with his desire to make her his squaw, she can no longer stay on the fence. She promptly rebuffs the Chief’s offer and her life becomes more complicated and edgy as she is no longer afforded special treatment by the Shawnee leader.  The author skillfully keeps his readers engaged as life in the Shawnee camp seems to take on a never ending saga of twists and turns, some expected and some unexpected, some good, and some bad.  With lingering thoughts of Will and home, and the growing unwanted advances by one of the French traders, Mary hatches a plan to escape with her chubby friend, Ghetel. The last half of the book is devoted to their escape as they begin their 1,000 mile journey homeward “Following the River” to freedom over unforgiving terrain. Like the Donner Party, each day became “an ordeal by hunger,” as they struggled to live off of the land, knowing that each step would take them closer to home in Draper’s meadows. The reader is aware that Mary made it back. But, I will leave her reunion to those that have the tenacity (like Mary) to stick it out to the last chapter.                  .Thom’s research of other kidnappings and the ordeals suffered by white settlers during the French and Indian War have been well documented by him and other historical novelists. The story of Mary Draper, however, stands out as a pinnacle of the Westward Movement. Follow the River is one GREAT testimony to “how the west was won.”.

Hint! Mother’s day is just around the corner

 

JR (back in a month)

 

REVIEW FOR APRIL 25, 2001

 

Sidebar:  With all the turmoil seen and heard around the world, our country’s southern border has become increasingly important as we address the social, economic and political impact of such weighty issues as illegal immigration, smuggling of guns and drugs, kidnapping and violence. Some might say that these crimes have reached epoch proportions. Here in San Diego, hardly a day goes by that multiple murders don’t take place just fifteen miles south in Tijuana. Beheading, as gross as the act is, is common. The reason I bring this matter to your attention is to create a “lead-in” to this week’s review. The timeliness of what is going on now, as it relates to the book I am reporting on, may give the reader a wider background and understanding of the past and present “South of the Border Down Mexico Way.”

 

Disclaimer:

The language in this travelogue may be offensive to some readers. Read with caution, but try to understand that such communication really takes place. My review does not support it, so read on with warning…..

 

REVIEW

The title alone will cause you concern, GOD’S MIDDLE FINGER: Into the Lawless Heart of the Sierra Madre (2008). Written by an English journalist based on his own experiences, Richard Grant takes the reader on a perilous journey into the vast and dangerous Sierra Madre Mountain Range, a rugged 900 mile long range that begins about 20 miles south of the Arizona border. The landscape consists of mountains that tower up to 11,000 feet and canyons that are deeper than the Grand Canyon. The more Grant learns of these mountains and its history, and despite the warnings of others, he is drawn into an inescapable reckless journey – one where he soon learns that murder is part of living! “ It is to please the trigger finger.” How’s that for an oxy moron?

The book is parceled into vignettes that capture the historical backdrop of the Sierra Madre, including its early inhabitants, their customs and mores, and how they have influenced this part of Mexico, then and today. It opens with a chase that puts the author on the run. At least he learns early on that the warning signs were justified. You will have to wait until the last chapter to find out what happened to Grant and his fascination for the Sierra Madre.

The range has been home to Indians, ranchers, miners, Mormons and other who sought seclusion from the outside world. Even Poncho Villa claimed it as his hideout. Bribes are common place and corrupt law enforcement personnel vie for a piece of the action. This behavior, of course, makes life difficult for those who do cooperate. Each chapter is a stand-alone story - a series of hair-raising vignettes. Through the use of his contacts and referrals, Grant manages to survive one adventure after another, but only at great risk, sometimes sprinkled with Mexican humor. His adventure is like a human safari as he seeks out the origin of Indian myths and the lifestyle of those that claim the mountains and valleys as their home. Today’s major dilemma is related to the drug culture. It affects our border and beyond, including its horticulture. It reminds me of what is going on in Afghanistan, where life is just a bowl of poppies, and anything, or anyone who gets in the way, is sacrificed for the end result - money.  

The author’s writing style is clear and disciplined. Although the book is only 277 pages, I found it a bit long. After all, once you have read about rape, murder, and drugs, it is hard to rehash the same behaviors in succeeding chapters. Grant’s humor and colorful characters, however, kept me engaged.

JR

 

A GOOD FRIDAY REVIEW

 

This week I literally pulled one of Vangie’s books off of the shelf. The author’s name caught my interest. I learned that the book was given to Vangie’s late husband, Dick Burt, by a close friend and who, coincidentally happened to be the author. Madmen Must (1978) by William Jovanovich, is a classical story of a young man who wrestles with every phase of his life with no end in sight.

Before I launch into my brief review, however, I want to plant some background of William Jovanovich. He is one of the deserving literary giants whose vision has made a lasting impact on our educational system and literary circles. First of all, his name may be familiar to some of you. He was President, CEO and Chairman of the leading textbook publishing company, Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Inc. (“HBJ”). His name was added to the company’s title by the shareholders in 1970. Starting as a textbook salesman in the late ‘40s, he became what some called a maverick manager of this diversified company at the early age of thirty four. He continued in these positions until his retirement in 1990. He died in 2001.  During his tenure, the company more than doubled in size and revenue.  It went from an $8 million dollar company in 1954 to $1.3 billion in 1999. Of special and local interest, “HBJ” spurred by William Jovanovich interest in education and entertainment, purchased Sea World Marine Parks, including the one here in San Diego. Mr. Jovanovich was well known in the literary world and is credited with championing some of the most influential writers during his career. Having authored seven books and numerous essays, his autobiography of Charles Lindbergh stands as one of the beacons of his colorful career.  In 2005, thanks to my wife to be, Vangie, I was fortunate to meet William Jovanovich’s widow, Martha. I was immediately smitten with a secret love for her. She is one of the loveliest, articulate and astute ladies I have ever met. It is a double bonus when I get to visit with her in her beautiful home and browse her world-class library.

Back to Madmen Must….

Most of this novel takes place in California, namely San Diego. The reader will recognize many of the names and places of local interest. The lead character, John Sirovich, driven by his intellectual and social curiosity, uproots from his eastern Serbian ways of life after attending college, and rides the rails westward. He knows that he has to make some future choices, to either return to the University for further study, or to seek out another avenue of pursuit. John is never sure what lies ahead of him. He seems to be like a whale taking in its never ending daily supply of plankton, hoping that the nourishment will keep him moving to the next phase in his life, hopefully higher. His upbringing, education and physical strength are in place, but he is unsure where his interest will take him. He finds a job as a waiter in the major hotel on Coronado Island (we know it as The Hotel Del Coronado). The author’s use of certain words will drive you to the dictionary, somewhat like Bill O’Reilly’s pronouncement of a daily word as he signs off on his O’Reilly Factor show. John is constantly wrestling with his thoughts and actions – ones that might move him towards greater insight and enlightenment. His intellectual curiosity is constantly challenged as he seeks out the limits to what is. He soon learns that all steps do not go up, however! Madmen Must takes place in the 40’s when there is international chaos. And, amidst this backdrop, the reader can decide whether one can, or cannot, dream beyond the limits of one’s thoughts or actions. Could it be that the author has relived some of his life through John Sirovich? You decide.                                                                                                                 Thanks Mr. Jovanovich for your contributions to the literary world.

JR

April Review

 

Sidebar 1:

Sometimes I don’t know where to start, but I have to start somewhere. So here I go, once again. Now that April has arrived my mind is fast forwarding towards spring and summer. I even planted my tomatoes this week. Vangie and I will be in South Africa the month of May. After a six day safari, we will be driving the Garden Route from Port Elizabeth located on the south-east coast (Indian Ocean side) to Cape Town on the south-west coast. Enough of Africa, I better tend to my review chores now before I get side tracked.

 

Two Books to Ponder

 

First one

For some reason, and I think I know why, I have been on a Korea kick. The current events that surround North Korea have refocused our country’s interest in national security issues. I know it has mine. The Head of State, dictator Kim Jong Il, has long been considered a tyrant with an attitude. His forthcoming missile test should make every country sit up and take notice. Recently, I wrote a review about USMC Tanker’s Korea. This week’s book is another “blood and guts” story about the U.S. Marines in combat, specifically what took place on Fox Hill near the Chosin Reservoir in late 1950. Entitled The Last Stand of Fox Company by Bob Drury and Tom Clavin (2009), it is an account of courage and determination by a group of marines who were given the task of keeping an opening in the Tuktong Pass in order to protect the movement of our troops into and out of the Nanguin Mountains.  Tough conditions and tough men don’t even begin to describe the ordeal that the 246 men of Fox Company experienced. Outnumbered 40 to one in sub-zero temperatures, this small group of marines withstood four days and five nights of abandoned assaults by the North Koreans and Chinese Red forces. Frozen guns, frozen feet, frozen rations and terrain that would not even suit a mountain goat were impediments in keeping Fox Hill, but not enough to keep the men of Fox from holding their position on this strategic rugged mountain top.

Through their thorough research and applied literary skills, the authors have done a magnificent job of assembling personal accounts of what transpired at The Last Stand on Fox Hill. Unquestionably, they have documented a military event in time that has reinforced the legend of the U.S. Marine Corps. Let’s hope we never have to revisit this Country again under similar circumstances.

 

Second one to ponder 

Climbing mountains is not for everyone. Reading about those that have done so, however, may appeal to a wider audience. Last Christmas, my son gave me the National Bestseller, No Shortcuts To The Top by Ed Viesturs (with David Roberts) (2006). It is an actual account by the author about climbing the world’s 14 highest peaks. I found that I did not have to race through the book from one peak to another. The reader might enjoy taking on one climb at a time, also. Too much climbing, either directly or vicariously, can get boring and exhausting if you don’t take time out to rest the mind and body. So, I won’t dwell on each one of his adventures. Rather, I will let you, the reader, experience some of his climbs, including Everest, Rainer and Annapurna. Viesturs, by the way, is an interesting character. His skills, stamina and outlook reveal a man of courage and strength of purpose, even when things go wrong. Tenacious beyond a doubt, but always thinking of safety for himself and his companions, Ed will put the reader on a path where few have been. Onward and upward…..

 

JR 

 

REVIEW FOR FIRST WEEK IN MARCH, 2009

 

Sidebar #1:

Well here it is the month of March, one of the 7 months which are 31 days long. According to Wikipedia, the name comes from the ancient days of Rome when it was the first month of the year named Maritime after Mars, the God of War. If you look around you in the warmer climes you will see daffodils in bloom. They are the birth flower for March. Easter, St. Patrick’s day and March madness are just a few of the recognized events this month.

 

Sidebar #2:

Reminder. Daylight-saving time begins tomorrow, Sunday, so set your clocks ahead one hour.

 

Another Book To Read  

As teenagers, we felt the effects of WWII. Our high school years were peaceful and were occupied with fun-filled activities. Remember Easter week at Balboa and Laguna, sports, social events, Carpenters, assemblies and the seemingly endless schedule of classes? Our personal and national peacetime was soon broken by the so called “Korean Conflict.” I, like many others, prefer to recognize it as the Korean War. The draft soon hit home, or many MAD students pre-empted the draft and enlisted. This week I read USMC TANKERS KOREA, The War in Photos, Sketches and Letters Home by Roger “Rog” G. Baker (2001, 167 pp). The reader can identify with many aspects of the author’s early life while growing up in Culver City, Ca., some good, some not so good, but most so true. His accounts from enlisting in the Marine Corps in 1951, receiving basic training in San Diego, to fighting in the rugged terrain of Korea, are embellished with his letters, sketches and photographs while in the line of duty. Some might call Rog a grunt, but no one can call him anything less than a man who served his country with honor. Whether he was loading ammunition, maintaining his tank, serving as a 90MM gunner or standing guard, his performances brought out the best in him. Simple, straight forward, revealing and honest, Roger takes the reader on many excursions in his tankers as he unveils the perils of fighting the Chinese Communists in conditions that tested the heart and soul of every serviceman that fought in Korea. His memoir does not always paint a pretty picture. Through his naked eye, his sketches and pictures capture the essence of fighting in the rugged mountain valleys and ridges of Korea. The effects of Rog’s experiences took a toll on him, however. He carried the memories of his buddies and the devastating results of doing battle with him long after the war ended. In fact, he didn’t complete the first draft of his memoir until 1997. Fortunately, his mother saved his letters, pictures and sketches which enabled him to tell his straight-forward story about the USMA Tankers Korea. The reader may gain greater knowledge and appreciation from Roger’s accounts of what went on in “American’s first war against communist expansion. I did.

Note of Appreciation: To guys like tanker Bob Humble, and all those classmates who served their country, thanks. And, as my kids used to say, “you done swell.”  

JR

REVIEW FOR LAST WEEK IN FEBRUARY, 2009

 

Sidebar: Gravity has its ups and downs depending on which way you’re headed…...

                        So if you lack direction, get a GPS!

 

BOOK TIME:

About the author….

I have not reviewed a book by noted English master storyteller, Jeffery Archer, for a long time. The colorful past of this popular novelist could provide a good landscape for a book or movie. As an author, playwright and former politician, controversy has followed him throughout his careers, even to jail for “perverting the course of justice!” After attending Oxford, his interest and political views brought him into Parliament at the early age of 29. In 1985 he was appointed Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party by then Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, later he was anointed into the House of Lords in ‘92, and did some personal and political time with John Major. After writing his first book, Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less, Archer went on to pen international best sellers like Kane & Abel which gave birth to a CBS television mini-series in ’85.

About the book….

As The Crow Flies (1991) is a beautifully written novel that spans the time from the early 1900’s to 1970. Although lengthy (almost 800 pages), the reader will enjoy a fluid story that traces the life of Charlie Trumper, “the honest trader,” from his early life of selling fruits and vegetables to becoming a department store magnet. As I mentioned in the Sidebar, Charlie may well represent those that know and practice their mission in life - to set sail towards upward mobility through personal sacrifice and hard work. Charlie will grow on you as he pushes his barrow (English word for wheelbarrow) from the East End London town of Whitechapel to the retail district of Chelsea. His work ethic and interest in peddling fruits and veggies started at an early age through the influence of his Grandpa Charlie, the bread winner for the Trumper family. Charlie’s dad was a dock worker who spent most of his non-work hours away from home drinking in the local pubs. His mother died when Charlie was born, so Grandpa provided the family glue for Charlie and his three sisters. It was a glue that was to stick with Charlie for the rest of his life. When his Grandpa died, Charlie took over his barrow business with a passion and fervor that launched his escalating career – one that had more “ups” than “downs.” It didn’t take long before his business began to thrive, thanks to the teachings of his Grandpa, and the help of Becky Salmon, his childhood friend and the daughter of the Whitechapel baker. He soon began a program of business expansion, only to be interrupted when his father joined the Royal Fusiliers and died fighting the Germans in WW1. The loss of his father prompted Charlie to enlist in his father’s footsteps. He too, became a Fusilier and fought with dedication and distinction. But unlike his father, he managed to survive the “end of all wars.” During his absence, Friend, Becky, held his business together.

Charlie immediately returned home to his fruits of labor (pun intended) and never looked backward. As his hormones matured, he found the lovely Becky more than just a former childhood friend. Her business acumen along with the financial help from her best friend, Daphne, enabled Charlie to diversify and grow. But Becky became involved with a deceptive son of a wealthy family, Guy Trentham, a military officer who was not a gentleman and was about to embark to India. After pledging his heart and soul to her before his departure, she soon found herself an expectant mother. With no intention of ever marrying Becky, Guy leaves her and never acknowledges her letters. Her previous introduction to Guy’s parents was a disaster, so she knows they will never be involved in her life, either. Charlie steps up to the plate, however, and covers-up Becky’s mistake by marrying her. Their marriage injected new life (no pun intended) into their relationship and son, Daniel, was born legitimate. The story takes many twists and turns as Charlie attempts to buy up a series of storefront shops in his quest to become bigger and better. Another interruption, WWII, takes the aging Charlie on an assignment that brings him greater distinction when he is called upon by Prime Minister Winston Churchill to ply his skills and oversee the military’s food program. After the war and upon his return to his shops in Chelsea, he soon learns that Guy Trentham’s wealthy and snobbish mother is a vindictive and devious person as she sets out to roadblock Charlie from fulfilling his dreams of developing a department store. As Paul Harvey always says, this saga will play out only if you “know the rest of the story.” So, I will leave the ending on the table.

As The Crow Flies is skillfully written. Archer chronicles Charlie triumphs and tragedies from multiple viewpoints. That is, what happened is reenacted through the words of each major character. By doing so, each person’s motives are explicated so the reader can understand both sides of the story.

I guarantee Charlie will make a lasting impression on you. So much so, that the next time you push a wheelbarrow around, you will remember the “honest trader” from the East end.

JR

 

REVIEW FOR JANUARY 31, 2009

 

Sidebar: It’s tough to compete with the Super Bowl this weekend. It definitely has become an eating, drinking and viewing experience. The order of importance of these experiences is not always determined, however, by the outcome of the game! Enjoy. I will.

 

ONE NEAT BOOK TO READ

Forward: Recently, while exchanging pleasantries with one of my medical doctors, I mentioned that my granddaughter would be marching in the presidential inaugural parade. He responded by asking me if she was interested in science. I said I am not sure, but I am sure that she likes music. I went on to say that my 9 year old grandson, Tyler, is really into science education. The doctor obtained a new paper back book from a large box in his office and proceeded to write the following message inside the cover page. “To Tyler, Set your Goals High,” (signed) Dr. ,,,,,,,,,,

Last week, I flew to my home in the Bay area. While in the air, I took advantage of the time by reading the book the good doctor had given to Tyler, OCTOBER SKY, by Homer Hickam. What a neat story. It is one book of his memoirs in the Coalwood Series, formerly entitled ROCKET BOYS. It was so well received that it was made into a movie (my note: read the book first). Homer Hickam was born in 1943 in a small coal mining town in Coalwood, West Virginia. Homer recaptures his boyhood dreams of going to work some day for/with Werner von Braun, the famous NASA rocket scientist. He shares his vivid observations of his home town, Coalwood, school, family, friends and foes, while coming of age. Reportedly, his family was very disjointed. His father was in charge of the local mining operations which consumed him both day and night. His brother was a high school football star and received the majority of his parents attention, except when Homer was blowing up his mother’s fence in her rose garden, or causing his father other forms of grief. His mother recognized that Homer marched to a different beat and encouraged him to look beyond a life in the mines. Like many mothers, she was devoted to her family and could manipulate the rest of the family into seeing her side of most equations.

It was Sputnik time in the late 50’s when Russia surprised the rest of the world with its mastery of rocket science. This, and a series of related events, sparked (pun intended) Homer into a lifetime dedicated to rocket science. During his years in junior and senior high schools, he demonstrated his interest by forming a rocket club. He and his buddies, with the help of some of his teachers, spent weeks experimenting with the design and materials necessary to construct rockets that would soon take them on a journey to the National Science Fair. Homer and his friends literally ignited (another pun intended) the town of Coalwood with their launching shows. They became a main source of entertainment for the town’s people. Out of self-preservation, Homer’s father set aside an area on the mine’s property called the Coalwood Firing Range in order to protect the rest of the town from the sound and danger of being a surprise target!  October Sky is more than about a young boy’s dream of “shooting for the moon.” It is a lesson in growing up – a story laced with humor, sadness and sense of purpose. Today, many schools are using

October Sky in the classroom as a means of developing motivation, cultivating interest, building self- esteem, promoting problem solving and accepting responsibility for one’s actions. I would say the Hickam’s book(s) would appeal to those age groups starting in junior high school and ending with us old codgers. I did, and you will. I promise.

Homer went on to live out his dreams from a Rocket Boy to a successful NASA engineer. Thanks Homer for sharing your dream. Our dreams are important, also. So keep dreaming Cats….

JR

 

REVIEW FOR JANUARY 17, 2007

 

Sidebar: Next week marks the inauguration of our 44^th President, Barak Obama and I have to share this one tit-bit with you. My 13 year old granddaughter called me a few weeks ago and informed me that her school, Redwood Middle School, was the only school from California and the only middle school in the country selected to march in the inaugural parade this coming Tuesday. Wow!! I think I am excited as she is. So if you happen to be watching the big parade on television, and you want to be a part of this historical event, then look for one of the drill team members carrying the second “O” (next to the “D”) helping to spell out her school’s name, REDWOOD….

 

BOOK TIME

 

I have previously reviewed several of Bill Bryson’s books, namely A Walk in the Woods, Notes From A Small Island and A Short History of Nearly Everything . This week’s review is entitled “The Lost Continent: Travels in Small-Town America (2001).

First, a word about the author. Bill Bryson has enjoyed a great deal of success in his literary career. Born in Des Moines, Iowa in the fifties, he became a transplant back to the States after living in England for many years. Now a resident of New Hampshire, he continues to ply his writing skills with a humor that keeps a smile on his reading audience faces. With a minute mixture of “Travels with Charley” and tales by Charles Kuralt, Bryson has developed a unique and descriptive writing style – one that concentrates on his observations and experiences in a variety of environs. He can describe people, places and events with vivid imagination and use witty analogies to drive his point home. The Lost Continent is a travelogue that starts in De Moines. Bryson describes his motor trip to 38 states in his Chevette in search of who knows what?? I am not sure he knew.  As he wanders from town to town, or to big cities, he criticizes and laughs at the people that have allowed their landscapes to change for the worse (his emphasis). He does recognize, however, that what he sees as the good life may very well be the opposite view of others. Eating in diners, wandering around towns to take the sights in, constantly looking at women’s’ rear ends, and visiting museums and points of interest, are not always rewarding, however. Being a grumpy writer with a cynical attitude, Bryson undertakes his travels as if he can never be satisfied. I found that I got tired of his disparaging remarks even though they were overdosed with humor. His childhood memories of being on the road with his parents during vacation times serve as constant reminders that life was not always good, at least for him. Maybe his jaunt was an attempt to confirm or dispel his previous experiences.

One of his last paragraphs in The Lost Continent (299 pp) pretty well sums up his trip.

Well that was my trip, more or less. I visited all but ten of the lower forty-eight states and drove 13,978 miles. I saw pretty much everything I wanted to see and a good deal that I didn’t. I had much to the grateful for. I didn’t get shot or mugged. The car didn’t break down. I wasn’t once approached by a Jehovah’s Witness. I still had sixty-eight dollars and a clean pair of underpants. Trips don’t come much better than that.

If you decide whether you want to take this trip, then just give me a call or e-mail me and I will send you my book, free of charge, of course.

I’m off for a week, so I will be back under our next president.

JR

 

 

BOOK REVIEW FOR JANUARY 10, 2009

 

Sidebar #1:

As Louie Armstrong (aka: Satchmo) once sang “what a wonderful world” we live in. Where else can one sit back and be entertained by people who believe they engineer our economy and drive our political system so skillfully. With this kind of self-imposed leadership, an unusual relationship has been created – one that promotes symbiotic back scratching between those that give and those that take! I don’t believe that we seek these kinds of laughs, however. Or, how about back in ’55 when Tennessee Ernie Ford voiced a different kind of world when he sang                                                                                                     “You load 16 tons, what do you get?

Another day older and deeper in debt.

Saint Peter, don’t you call me, ‘cause I can’t go,

I owe my soul to the Company store….”

These lyrics were meant for our listening pleasure, not for all of us to practice….but then again, there are some leaders (?) that believe that these words are “living words” to abide, or not abide by (a term that has grown familiar when dealing with the tenets of the constitution or the creation of rap music). Where do we go from here? Who knows, but I’m in for the long haul. So, don’t be mad. Be a MADite and hang in there…..

 

Sidebar #2:

A historical event is in the making this Sunday. GO CHARGERS!!

 

Review Time

Probably no other author has brought legal thrillers to the forefront like John Grisham.

Dating back to his first books starting in 1988, A Time To Kill and then The Firm, he started a run of twenty novels. A few of his books have strayed away from the legal genre, but not many (remember Bleachers and Playing for Pizza?). I have selected one of his latest books, The Appeal (2008), because it has some contemporary political overtones, and not unlike what is going on in Chicago today, it feeds on the notion of “pay to play.” It is about the law, politics and big business. The case in question pits a 34 year old widow, Jeannett Baker, against a giant chemical firm, Krane. Having lost her husband and son to cancer, she alleges that Krane dumped carcinogenic chemicals into the ground and water in and around Bowmore, a small town in Mississippi. The town becomes a disaster environs when the drinking water becomes contaminated and many of its citizens are stricken with cancer and related illnesses. Baker, represented by the Paytons, a small time husband and wife legal team, file a lawsuit against Krane. They sweat through 71 days of trial, and finally with a split decision of 10 to 2, the jury finds Krane guilty, and Baker finds herself on the winning side of a forty one million dollar verdict. The Appeal is not so much about the trial, but about what goes on behind the scenes during the appeal process. Krane is run by a ruthless money-hungry CEO, Carl Trudeau. He and his team of legal and political hacks have one mission in mind – to overturn the verdict by orchestrating a political campaign - one that would replace a sitting liberal State Supreme Court judge with one who would be pro-business and sympathetic to upholding the Krane appeal. With few exceptions, Grisham’s characters fit the plot. The plaintiff’s lawyer team, the politicos running the campaign, the money-hungry Senator, Trudeau and his trophy wife, the soon to be ousted Supreme Court Judge, and the soon to be new Judge and his family, all carry out their roles as if they were playing a routine game of checkers, with each trying to out maneuver the other.

The Appeal is a somber story and lacks any sense of humor and the reader has to bear through 482 pages to see who remains “down for the count.” You will find the book an easy and entertaining read, but you will probably not want to keep it on your shelf…..

JR

 

LAST REVIEW FOR 2008

 

Sidebar:

For those of you who may read this stuff, well, we made it through the year! We can’t say that our lives were unblemished as we stumbled through the maze of economic, political and social turmoil, but the fact remains, we can still find Amazing Grace…

Yes, we lost some dear family members, classmates and friends, but the sanctity of life remains in tact. I extend my best thoughts and wishes to all of you in 2009 as we leave behind the Year of the Rat and enter the Year of the Ox.

Remember, our 60^th Reunion is in October, 2010, aboard the USS Aircraft Carrier Midway in San Diego, so hang on and take your daily dose of Metamucil. Also, as a reminder, the Reunion is for all former classmates and their significant others and/or spouses who attended “the high school in the valley” under the banner MAD….

 

Review:

 

Controversy is his middle name. He regularly calls people pinheads and patriots. Described by some as abrasive, a bully, self-centered and righteous; and by others as the “truth doctor,” fearless, focused, and a survivor. You probably guessed the name of this best selling author and his latest book, A BOLD FRESH PIECE OF HUMANITY. You’re right if you answered Bill O’Reilly. His popular television show, “The O’Reilly Factor, aired each weekday night on Fox News at 5:00 PM (PST), is seen in many parts of the world and is considered by his many viewers as a no-holds barred quest for the “real”  story about people, places and local, national and world events, and touted as news that is “fair and balanced.” (Note: this is not a commercial for either him or his book). It’s a review, so loosen up….

The book is, as entitled, bold and fresh as O’Reilly shares some descriptive stories about his (humanity) background, both personal and professional. How he came to be “A Bold Fresh Piece of Humanity” did not occur overnight. His family, the Catholic Church, friends and foes, combined with his extensive experiences as a news correspondent are linked together as he describes his evolution from early childhood into his present state of thinking and corresponding behaviors. The reader will be entertained by his early rascality and you might find some likeness in comparing your life to his. The reader may get the feeling that “Big Bill” (all 6’4”) is on a crusade against evil and evil-doers (just ask Politician Barney Frank, Professor (?) Ward Churchill or GE’s CEO Jeffery Immelt). His bold and unrelenting approach to news casting has gained a world-wide audience as he strives to cover and uncover noteworthy events. The author is not afraid to examine his own strengths and weaknesses, and how they came about. You may not like his style, but you must admire his grit and his generous financial contributions to worthy causes.

Some of his other runaway best sellers are The O’Reilly Factor: The Good, the Bad, and the Completely Ridiculous in American Life; The No Spin Zone: Confrontations with the Powerful and Famous in America; Who’s Looking Out for You?; The O’Reilly Factor for Kids: A survival Guide for America’s Families; Kids Are Americans Too; Those Who Trespass: A Novel of Television and Murder; and, Culture Warrior. All good reads, but some better than the others….

JR

 

Review For First Week In December

 

Sidebar #1

Well, we have entered the last month of the year. As the saying goes, “much water has flowed over the dam” during the past eleven months. Damnations and jubilations!  Births, deaths, turmoil and blessings have all penetrated our lives and helped shape our behaviors and our outlook on the world around us. But hasn’t this always been the case? Each one of us experiences our own “wins and losses”, some overlapping those of others, and they all help form our outlook on life, as it goes on…..

Traditionally, and regardless of your religious leanings, December is a designated time to celebrate the holiday season. For some (especially the young), it is a time to receive. Likewise, and maybe more important, it is a time to give, by both young and old. Gifts or thanks can be expressed in many ways. They may be material, verbal, or simply thoughts and random acts of kindness.

Regardless of the avenue one chooses to demonstrate his or her gratefulness to others, and even though it may not be directly related to the “receiver”, the “giver” voluntarily reaches out to share something deemed important. This message is not a solicitation for gifts. It is meant to remind us (and yes, me, too) that the time is upon us to look back, look forward, and then reflect on our many blessings. Giving can become contagious. So watch out….

 

This Week’s Review

Some authors are prolific in their output. They can churn out books like bunny rabbits have litters! This week’s author is an exception to quantity. Selden Edwards spent over thirty years (1974 – 2007) to complete his first novel, The Little Book. Yes, it is the title of this very unusual story. Wrapped in the genre of time travel, the writer takes the reader back and forth between the golden age of Vienna (circa 1890’s) to almost one hundred years later (1988) in San Francisco, as told by the main character’s ninety year-old mother, Flora Burden, as she recalls the life story of her eccentric son, Frank Standish Burden III, more commonly called Wheeler. Through believable, and some unbelievable, series of vignettes, Flora begins her tale about her son who finds himself in Vienna in the year, 1897! How he got there is a mystery to Wheeler. Being in a strange city for the first time, yet seemingly no stranger to it, he is able to recognize important landmarks like the Ringstrasse, thanks to his prep school history teacher, Arnauld Esterhazy, whose love for Vienna was legendary in Boston’s premier prep school, St. Gregory’s, where Wheeler’s father and grandfather had preceded him in attendance. Esterhazy was called the Haze behind his back by his pupils. His teachings of his native land, Austria, was always embellished by his readings from The Little Book, a compilation of notes he had written about his observations while living in Vienna before migrating to the U.S. Wheeler’s father and grandfather were St. Greg legends , as was the elite Burden family. From Boston, his well known grandmother, Eleanor Burden, engineered Wheeler’s acceptance into St. Gregory for his last two years of high school, and then later into Harvard. Having grown up in the Sacramento Valley where he learned to throw a mean baseball, Wheeler found the eastern landscape quite different from those of his rural roots. He soon learned that his grandmother was providing him with the love, resources and inspiration to round-out his growth and development. The author’s portrayal of Frank Standish Burden III combines the characteristics of a hero who can do just about anything, with someone who possesses a sometimes flaky attitude hidden behind an unusual intellect that can only be unleashed, if motivated. As the story unfolds through his mother’s words and the use of her son’s journal, the reader will be taken, along with Wheeler, through this time travel into the lives of a wide variety of famous personalities, including Buddy Holly, Freud, Winston Churchill, Mark Twain, and many other artists and political leaders. It is a lesson in comparative literature. Sometimes it is hard for me to separate fiction from history. Where do all these people, places and events fit in? And, how did they occur? You will have to sort them out for yourself. So, I will let you, the reader, be the judge of the events in Wheeler’s life. The title may be deceptive in name and size, but I assure you it will provide you, in time, a BIG read.

JR

 

A REVIEW AND Tid-Bits for the first week in November

 

The Election is Over, Finally

No matter whom you voted for, its time to move forward. Keep your cool and think positive. Let’s enjoy the remaining years in our lives. We only pass through it once!

And thanks canine, Barney, for an early Christmas present. After all those years of careful training, you took a big bite out of the media for all of us!!

 

How Sweet It Is….

 

Like many folks, we bought a mixed bag of candy at Costco for Halloween. Whoever decided the variety of goodies that went into the bag did a good job. I am not a big fan of sweet stuff, but handing out the treats to the “tricksters and treaters” brought back some tasty memories. Remember Baby Ruths, Mars Bars, Abba Zabbas, Mounds, Hershey Bars, Snickers and Three Muskateers? It was fun sampling each one – so much for my sugar level…

My favorite remains the Abba Zabba. It is considered a West Coast tradition that dates back to the 1920’s and is made of Chewy taffy with a peanut butter center.

Which Brings Me To This Week’s Review, The Emperors of Chocolate, by Joel Glenn Brenner ( 1999). This National Bestseller gives the reader a behind-the-scenes look at the two giants of the chocolate industry, Hershey and Mars. Brenner’s thorough research of the industry chronicles the origin of these two secretive companies and their clandestine operations. Unlike their products, the story is anything but sweet! Forest Mars and Milton Hershey hold the key rolls in the dueling confectionery business. Dating back to the early 20’s, the personalities of these two men shaped their companies, and their legacies live on today. The characters are real, and their stories almost unreal….

Brenner undertook a routine assignment while working for The Washington Post – “to write a feature story about Mars, Inc., detailing the company’s response to Hershey’s emergence as the nation’s No. 1 candy maker.” As a result of this assignment, the author decided he needed “the rest of the story.” So he spent the next several years researching the Hershey Company. Of historical interest, Mars is a closely held private company. Hershey, on the other hand, is a publicly owned company. At one time, these two giants made 18 of the top 20 candy brands. This unique story looks into the secret world of candy making, including historical and financial facts, along with the personalities of the Emperors. Forest and Milton practiced there trade differently. Reportedly, they behaved at opposite ends of the spectrum. Forest Mars commanded his operations in an autocratic manner. Milton Hershey was known as a sensitive and caring person. He shared his dreams of success by supporting the world’s richest orphanage. The town of Hershey, Pa. is named after him. Rich in taste and tales, Benner will help you unwrap the secret world of sweets…..

JR

 

Veterans Day

 

In a few days it will be Veterans Day. Traditionally, it is a special day to honor those who have served in our armed forces. Note: the government has declared that the attributive  (no apostrophe) rather than the possessive case is the official spelling. This annual American holiday (both State and Federal) is usually celebrated on November 11^th, depending upon which day of the week it occurs, i.e., if it occurs on a Saturday, then either Saturday or Friday may be designated; if it occurs on a Sunday, then it is moved to the following Monday. Originally it was celebrated as Armistice Day and marked the anniversary of the signing of the Armistice that ended WWI. According to Wikipedia and historians, “major hostilities of WW I were formally ended at the 11^th hour of the 11^th day of the 11^th month of 1918.” President Woodrow Wilson was the first official to proclaim Armistice Day in 1919. In 1954, President Eisenhower changed the name to Veterans Day.

Veterans Day is more than a day off. It is a time to pause and reflect on where this great country has had to do battle, and to thank those men and women who have protected this Nation from its enemies. Many of us have served this country in ways that helped us grow up. One of the most revealing thoughts came out of my 48 year old son’s mouth a little over a year ago after touring the USS Midway Museum. He said, “dad, I really think I missed something by not serving in the military.” Deep down in my heart I knew he was right, but I was also glad that he never had to taste war. The love and respect he voiced for his country and the people who defend it brought tears to my eyes.

This week I had the pleasure of attending the United States Marine Corps 233^rd birthday cake cutting ceremony on the parade grounds at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot here in San Diego. The event was highlighted by a pre-ceremony concert, presentation and retirement of colors, national anthem, several birthday messages, including the Depot’s Commanding General, Brigadier General Angela Salinas and a colorful uniform pageant that featured the uniforms worn by marines since its inception. It was an inspiring program and helped me focus on the true meaning of “Old Glory.”

Thanks to all veterans. Not only have you helped make this day, but my life, also.

Semper Fidelis!

 

 

News and Review for the last week in October, 2008

 

Reunion News

Many classmates have registered their interest in attending our 60^th/All MAD class reunion in 2010. If things continue to progress in the right direction, we should have a great crowd. Please continue to express your ideas with us. They can help shape the event. Stay tuned……

 

 

Review

Thanks to my brother-in-law, Larry Larson ’50A, and his delightful daughter, Linda, they introduced me to this week’s book, Creature From Jekyll Island (Fourth Edition, 2008; 600 pp). Sounds weird, but don’t let the title turn you off…

First, the author needs some introductory comments. He is a prolific writer who delves into some pretty weighty topics with unusual clarity. For example, he has dealt with the Supreme Court, the United Nations, taxes and international banking, just to mention a few topics. Griffin, himself, can be considered an intellectual libertarian who has aligned himself with such organizations as the John Birch Society. His literary talents have also been used to produce notable documentary films.

This week’s book has political overtones, but I wanted to capitalize on the timeliness of the subject, our monetary system, especially in light of our current global financial crisis. It reads like a novel, but is based on fact. The author G. Edward Griffin walks you through the creation of the Federal Reserve and how our banking system operates. He documents his research using Federal and Congressional records, United Nations documents and commentaries from leaders in the worldwide financial community. It is a narrative of how the banks have become the controlling entity in our daily lives and how they got there.

Disregard your current tax bracket, this read is for all of us. It’s scary enough to qualify for a Halloween gift. The focus of Griffin’s research is not so much to make the reader an expert in banking theory, but to shed some light on those individuals and groups that have brought us to our current financial condition.

My review outlines below the assertions used by the author to abolish the Federal Reserve System. They are his, not mine. It is up to you, the reader, to weigh his historical findings as you test the accuracy of his assertions:

          -It is incapable of accomplishing its stated objectives.

          -It is a cartel operating against the public interest.

          -It is the supreme instrument of usury.

          -It generates our most unfair tax.

          -It encourages war.

          -It destabilizes the economy.

          -It is an instrument of totalitarianism.

The Creature From Jekyll Island was established in the early 1900’s by a super-bowl of wealthy men:  Nelson Aldrich, Abraham Andrew, Frank Vanderlip, Henry Davison, Charles Norton, Benjamin Strong and Paul Warburg. As the old saying goes, “just follow the money.” Griffin’s account is one of the best history lessons I have been able to absorb.

JR

 

 

Reunion News as of 10/21/08

Our 60^th reunion has taken on a new look. We hope you will agree with this bold move. We would like to invite ALL classes who attended MAD prior to the opening of Arcadia High School to join us aboard the USS Midway Saturday evening, October 2^nd, 2010. Let me set forth the logic behind this change. When we attended Monrovia-Arcadia-Duarte High School (MAD), the school was fed by three cities. Many of us had younger and older friends who walked the same MAD halls before and after the class of 1950. Many of us even married some of them. Now that our reunions are dwindling in number and attendance, for reasons obvious, why not hold an ALL MAD reunion aboard an aircraft carrier that is identifiable with our era? (It’s better than a submarine!) The Class of ’50  is not abandoning its 60th get-together, rather, it is opening the reunion to other MAD classes for one giant social event. Your comments are invited……

More to come…..

 

Tales and Travels in Ireland and Scotland, September, 2008

 

Around the Emerald Isle

I guess it is our Irish and Scot (not Scotch) heritage that drew us to these two beautiful places recently. With names like Regan and Bruce (the maiden name of Vangie’s mother) gin our heritage we yearned to wandered where out ancestors once roamed.

Day 1 & 2: San Diego, Dallas, Dulles and Dublin was the route of our American Airlines flight. We arrived the next morning around 7:30 . Our game plan was to rent a car (small 5 speed SUV) and circle the Island heading South and clockwise. When I was planning our trip, I knew the areas we wanted to visit. What I didn’t know was where we would stay along the way. I found a website named Irish Tourism. Com, a group dedicated to helping visitors organize their trips. They helped us reserve a mix of recommended B&B’s and hotels, directions to each destination and sights of interest along the way. After missing a few turns on several round-abouts, we drove South on the M5 freeway and then East towards Enniskerry where one of the great world gardens, Powerscourt, is situated in the foothills of the Wicklow mountains (the largest national park in Ireland – 65,000 acres). Nearby, is Powerscourt Waterfall, Irelands’s highest waterfall.  Ashdene B&B was our first stopover in Avoca where Ireland’s oldest (1723) working weaving mill is located.  Ashdene is nestled in a classic setting near the Avoca River and surrounded by sheep roaming the hillsides. We had dinner in a wayside pub at the Meetings of the Two Rivers. Vangie , always on the alert for any gambling device, spotted a lottery machine next to the bar. She gambled one Euro and recouped the price of our dinner and reinforced my belief in the “luck of the Irish!” The next morning before shoving off, I checked the tires and found a large bubble on the left front tire. Fortunately. There was an old established tire shop, Brady’s, in the nearby village of Arklow. They had us back on the road in minutes. “Big 0” should take a lesson from Brady’s….

Day 3: Leaving Avoca, we traveled Southward towards Enniscorthy, Wexford and New Ross,  home to the Dunbrody Famine Ship and the Kennedy homestead). Having previously visited the Waterford Crystal Factory, we bypassed Waterford going South to the coastal fishing village of Dunmore East and to our second stopover at the four room Brookside B&B. We dined on a delicious baked seafood pie in the village at Spinakers by tournament. The rain pounded us at night, but it didn’t dampen our spirits, nor those of the golfers who were also staying at Brookside.

Day 4: Next stop on the schedule was Bantry. Entering County Cork and just  East of Cork city, was the resort area, Youghal (pronounced “Yawl.” The film “Moby Dick” staring Gregory peck was filmed here in 1956. Youghal has a fine beach and is located at the mouth of the River Blackwater. Nearby, the Cobh Heritage Center is situated on one of the world’s largest natural harbours. It was the last port of call for the ill-fated Titanic in 1912. Cobh was one of the main ports of immigration from Ireland to the U.S. during the famine of 1847. We bypassed “kissing the Blarney Stone” in Blarney because of having been there and done that before, but more importantly, for sanitary reasons! It’s gross!! Vangie wanted to spend some time in Kinsale , and locate  a restaurant she remembered from her previous visit. She found it – the Vintage. It was closed and “for sale.” We wandered the streets and had lunch at JJ Edwards, a local hang out. Another winner!!  All of our accommodations included the typical Irish breakfast of hot or cold cereal, toast, fruit, eggs, bacon, sausage, cheese, tomatoes, beans, tea or coffee, milk, light cream or heavy duty cream. Our  third stop was at the Maritime Hotel by the bay in Bantry. the The tide was out and several boats rested on the mud and kelp. Dinner was just down the street at O’Conner’s, more salmon….One of the main attractions in Bantry is the Bantry House and Gardens. It is the annual site for the West Cork Chamber Music Festival. Megalithic monuments and ancient standing stones are numerous in the area.

Day 5 & 6:  Killarney. The route to Killarney took us around the south-west corner of the island as we headed north through the villages of Glengarriff and Castletownbere. We left the main highway and drove along the South coast of the Beara Peninsula, a route called the Ring of Beara. Since it was Irish coffee time we stopped in a little fishing village called Castletown Bearhaven. A film was just made there this summer, “On Dine.” We traversed over the mountains to the north coast of the Peninsula following the Kenmare River into Kenmare which is located at the point where the River Roughty opens into the estuary of the Kenmare River. Killarney is about 40 scenic miles north of  Kenmare where we located our B&B, The Alghret House (named after Alan and Ghreta, the owner/operator.

The next day we visited The Killarney National Park with its three interlinked lakes, Muckross House (a restored stately 1843 Victorian Mansion) and Ross Castle (15^th Century). There are many other beautiful areas to visit in and around Killarney, including the famous Ring of Kerry.

Day 7: County Clare, Dromoland Castle. From Killarney, our travels took us again north  towards Tralee, Newcastle and to the charming village of Adare, Sitting at the top of the village is Adare Manor, former residence of the Earl of Dunraven and now a 5 star hotel and golf resort where the next three Irish Open Golf Championships will be held. We bypassed much of Limerick and headed Northwest towards Bunratty Castle (1425) and the village of Ennis. Bunratty is a popular tourist attraction with a neat collection of furniture and where you can even enjoy a medieval banquet, or just drop in to the popular pub next door, “Durty Nelly’s. On to Newmarket-On-Fergus, the home of our next overnight, Dromoland Castle (16^th century), situated on 375 acres. It is considered one of Ireland’s premier hotels. The woodlands, lake and golf course surrounding the castle provide guests with unparalled beauty and leisurely pursuits.

Day 8 & 9: Galway was the next stop for two nights. Leaving Dromoland, we headed out to the coast through Ennistimon to the magnificent Cliffs of Moher overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. They are 8km long (from Hag’s Head to the south to Obriens Tower (1835) to the north) and 214 m high. On a clear day you can see the Aran islands. We did. At the northern end of the Cliffs of Moher is the small coastal village of colorful Doolin, home to many music pubs where music festivals, some spontaneous, attract many crowds. The houses were all painted bright colors as they dotted the landscape. The ancient and famous caves of Aillwee are just north of Doolin located in the Burren, a mountainous limestone region that stands apart from much of the typical Emerald Isle. About one-half hour from Galway is Dunguaire castle in the village of Kinvara. “A.B.C.”, Another Bloody Castle was not on our list of things to do, so the last stop of the day was The Menlo Park Hotel, near the River Corrib in Galway. When I asked the bartender at the hotel where to have dinner, he responded “don’t eat dinner here. Go downtown to McDonaghs,” We were glad we did. The fish and chips were outstanding. On the way back to the hotel I got in a heated argument with a Nigerian cab driver. He started to tell me the virtues of voting for Obama. Needless to say, I didn’t tip him The next morning we took a bus west to the beautiful Connemara region to board a ferry (45 minute ride) to the largest of the Aran Islands, Inishmore.  It was about 6 miles long and 2 miles wide. We hired a tour guide, Diane Flaritty, who was born, raised and lives on the island. She drove us around most of the island to historical sites, including the grounds of the seven churches where her relatives were buried, and to a mile-long footpath leading to an old fort on the highest hill on the island. We could look across Galway Bay and see the Cliffs of Moher on the mainland. The ferry took us back to Galway where we returned to the Menlo Park Hotel. Curious about the origin of the hotel’s name since Menlo Park is a city located just South of San Francisco, we were told by the restaurant manager that two wealthy men started it and later moved to California in the Bay area where the city, Menlo Park,, was named after them - small world.

 Day 10 & 11: County Donegal, Donegal Bay and the Sandhouse Hotel. Still heading north, we left Galway heading towards Donegal Bay, a 3 to 4 hour drive depending on what you wanted to see along the way. Near Sligo, the Ancient Tombs of Carrowmore, the Yeats Memorial and Donegal Castle remain popular attractions. I had told Vangie that we would be staying two nights at one of my favorite hotels right on a sandy beach overlooking Donegal bay. Enroute, we stopped in Bundoran for an Irish coffee (what else?) at the Great Northern Hotel, a destination resort surrounded by a challenging golf course overlooking the ocean. Just before reaching the Sandhouse Hotel, we stopped close by at the Smugglers Creek Inn for lunch. Nestled on a cliff and hidden from the main road, the Inn provided great food and views, and, of course, Guiness. The Sandhouse Hotel was just as I remembered it. Situated on sandy Rossnowlagh Beach and surrounded by rolling hills, this charming manor house (originally a fishing lodge) dates back to the late nineteenth century. Our third floor bayside suite was spacious and individually decorated in classical style. We slept to the rhythmatic sounds of the waves as they were pushed and pulled by the tide. The following day we explored the Galway peninsula following the southern coastal villages of Donegal and Killybegs (a fishing port where the largest blue fin tuna ever caught in European waters in 2001–968 lbs!) and then continuing on to Rossan Point. We took a one-lane mountainous road back to Donegal by way of Ardara, dodging sheep all the way….

Day 12: Belfast.  On the way to the north coast Giant’s Causeway we crossed the border into Northern Ireland through Londonderry, a walled city completed in 1618. The walls (26’ high and 30’wide) have served their protective purpose well since they were never breached. Also known as “Derry,” this city is best seen either with a tour guide, by taxi or on a river cruise. I found many street signs interesting since taggers had crossed out the “London” part of Londonderry. About a mile before the Causeway is the Old Bushmills Distillery, the world’s oldest licensed whiskey distillery (one of my favorites). There are many sites to see along the coast, one of the most popular being the Carrick-a-Rede-Rope Bridge which spans a wide chasm to the tiny Carrick Island. Turning the corner from the north Antrim Coast we headed down the north-eastern coast through the villages of Cushendun, Cushendall and Glenarm. These areas are filled with natural beauty and one can find many historical monuments dating back to the Stone Age. After a long drive, we arrived in downtown Belfast at the Jury’s Hotel. Taking advantage of the daylight, we took a “hop on- hop off” city sightseeing tour of the city. Evidence remains of the turmoil between the Catholics and the Protestants as seen in the murals, statues and monuments dedicated to the “freedom fighters.”

Day 13 Dublin:  The two hour drive to Dublin on the freeway M1 was uneventful and culminated our circle tour of Ireland. We stayed in Bewleys hotel near the airport in preparation for the next leg of our journey - to Scotland.

 

The Highlands of Scotland: River Cruise – The Caldonian Canal From Inverness to Fort William

Day 14: Inverness

A one hour flight via Air Arann took us from Dublin to Inverness. We were to meet our tour director at the Glenmoriston Hotel at 4:00 PM for transport to the barge, the Scottish Highlander. So, with several hours to kill, we roamed around the town of Inverness which is situated along the beautiful River Ness. At the appointed time we met the other six guests and the tour guide and drove to the Scottish Highlander moored at nearby Dochgarroch and received a champagne welcome. The barge was built in 1931 for grain transport. It was converted into a hotel barge in 2000 and refitted in 2006. It has accommodations for up to 8 passengers  in three staterooms (11’6” x 10’) and one suite (12’ x 12’ 4”). We had the suite and it was spacious, clean and comfortable.  Each cabin had a private shower, basin and toilet and were fully tiled with a heat radiator. Towels, washing gel, hand soap, shampoo, hair dryers and bathrobes were supplied daily.

Here are some of the barge’s specifications: Dimensions – Length 117’; width 16’6”

Generators – two, heat and power; Maximum speed : 10 knots

Water and fuel capacity: 8 tons of water and 3 tons of fuel

There were 4 crew members: Captain, Chef, Hostess and Tour Guide

The Saloon/Dining room is 20’ x 12’ and finished in yew and Brazilian mahogany with a Walnut dining table seating 9. The bar was fully stocked and open 24/7 and all drinks were included in the cruise price.

The Highlander accommodates all guests at a single sitting for each meal. The cuisine was excellent and bountiful. The wine varied and complimented the food.

Day 15: Dochgarroch to Fort Augustus

Our tour guide took us by van to the 14^th century Cawdor Castle, immortalized by Shakespeare’s Macbeth, and contained a superb collection of tapestries, pictures and furniture. We roamed the beautiful landscaped gardens, including a maze created with a trimmed hedge. We also visited Culloden Moor, an open battleground where the MacDonald and Campbell clans clashed in the 13^th century. It was here that the Jacobite army fought to reclaim the throne of Britain from the Hanoverians for a Stuart King. Over 1,200 died in just one hour. Culloden was a short and bloody battle – the last to be fought on British soil. After lunch back on the barge, we cruised Loch Dochfour to Fort Augustus passing Urquhart Castle and the south shore of Loch Ness. The barge had six mountain bikes on board. Several of us rode from one lock to the next one (s) following the same route as the Highlander.

Day 16: Fort Augustus

After breakfast we cruised up the staircase of 5 locks through the village of Fort Augustus. We moored close to the village and roamed around the town on foot until lunch. In the afternoon we went by van to Urquart Castle which is nestled along the shore of Loch Ness. Returning to the barge, we visited Invermoriston Falls and saw the local heather-laced golf course, where the official green keepers are sheep! I had some delicious venison for dinner at a local restaurant behind the former Abbey which is being converted into a hotel.

Day 17: Fort Augustus to Cullochy Lock

Our next early morning cruise took us to Cullochy Lock by way of Kytra. After lunch we drove through Glen Moriston, a stunning highland countryside, to the romantic medieval Eilean Donan Castle, setting for the film Highlander. The castle has an idyllic island setting with multiple views of three sea lochs. After being abandoned for 200 years, the castle has been completely restored. I tried my hand at fishing, but no luck for the Irish.

Day 18: Cullochy Lock to Gairlochy

This morning we left Cullochy and cruised through two locks at Laggan and through Lochs Oich and Lochy to Gairlochy. The early afternoon was spent riding a cable car up the highest ski mountain in Scotland in the Nevis Range. We hiked up another mile and absorbed the surrounding beauty of  the highlands and its lakes. On the way back to the barge we visited the World War II Commando memorial (the first Green Berets) and the woolen mill at Spean Bridge. Unfortunately, credits cards can be used in most places, and I soon learned that I am married to a shopper!

Day 19: Gairlochy to Banavie/Fort William

From Gairlochy we drove south and parallel to Loch Linnhe to the battlefields of Glencoe and its museum. The ruggedness of the highlands can best be seen along the Glen Coe Highway (A82) at the foot of Ben Nevis, a mountain climber’s paradise. The cascading water falls amidst the heather and rocks are numerous while the sheep move unattended on the hillsides. On the way back we toured the Ben Nevis distillery and tasted a wee dram or two or three…The last leg of the cruise was to Banavie and Neptune’s Staircase, a flight of eight locks – a  magnificent engineering feat that connected the Atlantic Ocean (to the West) to the North Sea (to the East). Tonight we were treated to a special farewell Captain’s Dinner. Our modest and competent Captain said a few words, but the best remark was that we the guests) had just experienced the best weather all summer during our week on the Caledonia Canal

Day 20, 21: Port Appin, Argyll, and The Airds Hotel

I thought it would be a good way to wind-down our lengthy trip by staying in one of my favorite hotels, The Airds, for three nights, just 27 miles south of Fort William. The hotel faces Loch Linnhe, the Isle of Lismore and the Ardgour hills. Originally an 18^th century ferry inn for passage to Lismore island, the Airds has eleven bedrooms which have been artistically designed and decorated in a variety of styles from sophisticated country house to contemporary and fresh. The two lounges with fireplaces provide relaxing moments to chat with the other guests, read or sip your favorite beverage. Reputed to be one of the best restaurants in Scotland, guests can enjoy a dinner menu that changes daily with fresh seasonal ingredients using local produce. The wine list is impressive and varied. Nearby, there are many places to enjoy either walking and/or cycling. One trek took us out to the end of the road on the peninsula along Loch Linnhe where we had unobstructed views of the islands Mull and Lismore. Circling back on the inward side of the peninsula we skirted along a path through farm lands where Highland cattle grazed against a landscape of dense trees, ferns and brush.

The next day we took a one-half hour drive to the scenic seaport town of Oban where you can take one of the ferries to the Hebridean islands, or like us, shop and have an Irish coffee. On the way back we visited an old abandoned castle and had fish and chips by the dock at Port Appin. It was time to pack our stuff and prepare for the next day three hour journey to Edinburgh to catch our Aer Lingus flight back to Dublin.

Day 22: Edinburgh to Dublin 

The drive to Edinburgh was spectacular. We headed south towards Oban, then east at Connel. It seemed like we were always beside a lake, river or stream. The countryside grew from rolling hills to heavy forests as we passed through Tyndrum and the Trossachs National Park. At Killin we went south to Stirling where we picked up the M9 freeway and drove east to the airport where we returned our rental car and flew back to Dublin. Arriving late afternoon in Dublin, we checked into the Clarion Hotel next to the airport. The game plan was to tour Dublin the next day.

Day 23: Dublin

We took the city bus to Dublin and then hopped on a double decker tour bus to see the rest of the city. Starting on its main street, O’Connnel, we saw the out-of-character Millenium Spike, Trinity College, shopping district of Grafton, National Library, Museum and Gallery, St. Stephens Green, Temple Bar, Castle, City Hall, Christ Church Cathedral, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Guiness Storehouse where they make 10 million glasses of beer each day(!), Heuston Station and the 1,750 acre Phornix Park. Whew!! It was time for a  pint and a late lunch at Mulligans. Back to the Clarion for our last night in Ireland.

Day 24: Back to San Diego

We never saw the darkness of night on our American Airlines flight home. We left Dublin at 10:30 AM and arrived in San Diego by way of Chicago at 7:45 PM (there is a 7 hour difference in time). Thanks to Michael Connelly writing skills, I was able to read one of his latest thrillers, The Overlook, during the flight.

 

 

 

Review for October 4, 2008

 Gary,
Thought you might like to view the barge we were on in Scotland. We cruised the Caledonian Canal for 6 days.

The other picture is one of the classic restored castles in Ireland. 700 acres  - the castle is surrounded by a great gold course and lake. We stayed there one night.

 

Sidebar #1

Vangie and I returned from our trip to Ireland and to the highlands of UK/Scotland last night. The last time I visited these countries was in 1994. Some things have changed, some have not. There have been noticeable economic advancements in Ireland, especially, but the people remain the same, friendly and loveable. You would not have expected the highlands to change much. They haven’t. The beauty of these two places remains imbedded in the landscape and the people. We drove over 2,000 miles around Ireland mostly following its scenic coastline. Driving on the left side of the narrow roads remained a challenge, but having a wife that kept saying “stay on the left, dummy,” kept me alert! In Scotland, we took a six day barge trip from Inverness to Fort William along the Caledonian Canal. With only seven people, plus a crew of four, on board, we traveled at a slow pace and enjoyed the many side trips to historic sites and walking in the highlands.

 

 

Book Reviews   

During my recent trip, I had a chance to read several books. The following brief reviews should give you a flavor for their contents:

 

            The Dive (a story of love and obsession) by Pipin Ferreras (2004): For those who like the challenge of holding your breath under water and to see how deep you can dive, then this true story is for you. Simply put, how deep can one dive on a single breath of air without the use of any breathing apparatus. Throughout his career, Cuban born Ferreras reclaimed the world championship free diving record several times each time his records were broken. His life took on a new meaning when he met Audrey Mestre, a French Marine biology student. Like Pippin, she became obsessed with free diving and learned the sport under Pippin’s tutelage. The strategy of reaching deeper depths took on a new dimension when “no limits” became the answer. “It was based upon the concept that the faster you can reach your targeted depth, then the sooner you can turn around and come back for air without going through decompression.” This concept was enhanced by having the diver ride a weighted sled down to a specified depth, and then shoot back to the surface through the use of an inflatable device. Pippin’s obsession for diving was only matched by his love for Audrey. His life was crushed, however, when she suffered an untimely death while attempting a world record of 170 meters off the coast of the Dominican Republic.  The Dive could be a story of life, itself, which has its ups and downs. The downside (literally) is that if you don’t come up for air, then its adios amigos! 

 

            The Overlook by Michael Connelly (2007). Connelly remains one of my favorite authors. I have previously reviewed some of his other books, most recently, Echo Park (2006). They are well written, easy to follow and contain some of the best characters found in any literary series of this genre. As a former police reporter for the Los Angeles Times, Connelly knows the ins and outs of how the LAPD operates. It is also fun to read about familiar landmarks in and around the Los Angeles area. His lead character is legendary Hieronymus “Harry” Bosch, a homicide detective who seems to be constantly struggling with the world around him, especially his superiors. His strong sense of what is right and what is wrong often puts him at odds with others. Bosch’s new young partner, Iggy Ferras, soon learns that his mentor is a man with uncanny intuition as he turns a crime scene upside down in order to get the correct results.  

The title, The Overlook, refers to a place on Mulholland Drive that overlooks the city and where a man, Stanley Kent, is murdered, execution style. Harry is called upon by the Homicide Department to run with the case. The crime takes on an unusual shift when he learns that cesium, a radioactive material, had been removed by Kent from a nearby hospital prior to his death. Kent had been authorized to control the use of the material for medical treatments of cancer patients. Prior to his death, he learns that his wife is being held captive by people who want the cesium. With his wife’s life at stake, the abductors arrange to meet Kent with the radioactive material at The Overlook. The case takes on two dimensions, homicide and national security. The FBI enter the investigation like a heard of stampeding buffalo and much to his chagrin try to “take over” Harry’s homicide case. FBI Agent Rachael Walling, Harry’s one-time lover (Echo Park), is put on the case and the wrong kind of sparks begin to fly as the Feds maintain that national security issues supersede the murder case. They have strong evidence that links the murderers to an international terrorist group who might want to use the cesium for wide-spread destruction. Additionally, Iggy, the junior partner, becomes uncomfortable with his senior partner’s behavior as he circumvents the conventional ways of performing an investigation. So Harry is faced with the usual downtown politics, an arrogant FBI, a disgruntled partner and an ex-lover who are all causing great turmoil for Bosch. The reader can’t help but support Harry’s tenacious behavior as he goes about unraveling the case. The book is not lengthy (just under 200 pages) so you can enjoy a fast read with a super-sized surprise ending.

JR

 

Review For August 31^st, 2008

 

Sidebar

Vangie and I will be traveling to Ireland and Scotland in September so I will give you time off from my ramblings. We will toast you each day with some Bushmills as we circle the Emerald Isle and visit the Highlands.

 

Reunion News:

 

Last Wednesday, your humble co-chairs and spouses held a special reunion planning session at the Del Mar Race Track Turf Club. Don Cottle and I felt the need to keep in close touch with each other in an equestrian backdrop, just like Santa Anita loomed in our backyard years ago. In between races we reminded each other that our upcoming 60^th reunion needs a special “punch” – one that will provide some fun and stimulation to the Class of 1950.  Here are our thoughts. Everyone out there feel free to give us some of yours…..

 

Some Thoughts about MAD 60^th Reunion

          (As discussed by Don Cottle and Jim Regan on 8/27/08)

 

Against the landscape of the Turf Club at the Del Mar Race Track, D.C. and J.R exchanged some thoughts and ideas (not necessarily in the order below) about the MAD Reunion to be held aboard the USS Midway Museum on October 2, 2010. Here is a recap of their discussion*:

 

1.0             Reaffirmation of the location on the hanger deck; estimated attendance @ +- 100; adults only (no children nor grandchildren)

2.0             Reviewed Paulette’s Committee mission

3.0             Inclusion of other classes, namely ’49 and ’51: handle on a case by case basis, but not extend open-ended invitation

4.0             Physical layout of stage, tables, buffet and bar area

5.0             Check do-ability of having Marine Corps Band for opening ceremony and Miss California singing “opener”

6.0             Main Program – speaker, entertainment (magic show?); slide show; instead of self introductions, prepare and distribute in advance, a book similar to the one used for our 50^th reunion with a page for each classmate, including space for a current photograph

7.0             Special recognition for those “Gone But Not Forgotten”

8.0             Develop a quality souvenir program, including pictures and personal bio. (Bob Scharr art work). Hire videographer to record reunion events for DVD to send to all participants

9.0             Inclusion of special guests, e.g. Principal, teachers ?

10.0        Dinner menu – a buffet with lines on both sides of the tables

11.0        Pre reunion hosted get-together @ the Regans; valet parking

12.0        Post reunion get-together? Group breakfast meeting? (TBD)

13.0        Weekend events (optional), e.g. zoo, tours, museums, etc.

14.0        Places to stay in and around San Diego. We will provide a list of hotels and rates. Attendees will be responsible for their own reservations

15.0        Name tags with 1950 class pictures (designed by Bob Scharr)

16.0        Decorations – tables, placemats,

17.0        Things to do aboard ship – tours, simulators, etc

18.0        Music (canned or live) and dancing

*This list is not meant to be all-inclusive

 

                                                                                                                                       Book Review For 8/31:

 

Remember Superman? Faster than a speeding bullet; more powerful than a locomotive; able to leap tall buildings….

Clark Kent (a.k.a. Superman) was one formable guy, humble, intelligent, clairvoyant - a cross between Hercules and Sampson.

Dean Koontz in one of his early bestsellers, COLD FIRE (1991), created a super-hero, Jim Lionheart (you got to love the name), and like Clark Kent, Jim possesses a psychic ability to foresee people in distress. Unable to explain the origin of the transmission and reception of these signals, he is driven to believe that he is on God given missions – to save lives.

            …..I always had trouble accepting that it was God working through me, it seemed like such a crazy idea. But I lived with it just because there wasn’t any better explanation.

 

I am not a sci-fi fan, but Koont’s writing skills kept me fully engaged as he details each episode using a unique landscape of words and ideas along with a great deal of suspense. Jim’s travels have no geographical boundaries. His divine “callings” seem to emanate from a built-in GPS (my emphasis) as he finds himself traveling anywhere on a moment’s notice to practice his humanitarian feats.

One such mission finds him going to Portland Oregon. He rescues a young student while he is crossing the street in front of his school from a speeding truck driven by a drunk driver. Coincidentally, the incident is witnessed by a local newspaper reporter, Holly Thorne, who wants to interview Jim. As Jim is rapidly leaving the scene, she finagles driving him to the airport in order to obtain enough information to write a story. He is not about to reveal any thing of substance, however. After her strike-out with Jim, she has frequent flashbacks of this mysterious man. Frustrated in her job as a reporter, Holly stumbles upon other rescues made by a mysterious person who fits Jim’s description. Unable to get him off of her mind, she takes some time off from her reporting duties and sets out to find him. She soon learns that tracking him down does not lead to immediate friendship. The former teacher, Jim, is not about to exit his shell in favor of sharing his life with a stranger, especially a reporter. Certain weird events occur that bring the two together. As the story unfolds, the reader will struggle, along with the main characters, about who is directing Jim’s actions. Is it God, or is it through some other intervention?

Enter “The Friend” and “The Enemy” from his forgotten past. Jim’s past is riddled with questions that need to be resurrected. The rest of the story shifts to his early childhood and the places he grew up. Haunted by the death of his parents at an early age…he submerged himself in a world of fantasy and developed a multiple personality.

“The Friend” helps him understand that each person he has saved is special and “if allowed to live, will make a major contribution to the betterment of mankind.”

Follow the two “past busters” as they encounter good and evil. Things get pretty far out, but Koontz will hold your attention (maybe not your imagination) to the end.

 

JR (on my 76^th birthday)

 

Saturday, August 16, 2008

 

Reunion News and Review

 

60^th Reunion Update:

Saturday, October 2, 2010

 

Without fanfare, your committee is actively going about its duties laying the groundwork for our reunion in 2010. The end product may seem like a long ways off, but believe me, if the wheels were not in motion now, we would not be able to pull-off the best reunion, ever.

For those who like to mess around on your computer, you might want to tap into the Midway’s website in order to become better acquainted with the ship:        www.midway.org

One of the reasons we have chosen this noteworthy ship for the site of our 60^th Reunion is that it represents our era - one that circled our lives, then and now. It was commissioned during our high school years and subsequently became a beacon for international service. Likewise, the Class of 1950 reached out into the world and set an example for those that followed in its wake, also.

 

Review:

You don’t have to be a jock or a sports’ nut in order to enjoy one of John Grisham’s latest novel (2007), Playing For Pizza. Unlike his legal thrillers, this New York Times bestseller is a lighthearted fable about professional football, Italian style. The reader is not required to have a technical pigskin background in order to follow and appreciate the story. Rick Dockery, the third string back-up quarterback for the Cleveland Browns, has never been able to climb out of his lackluster career. He has bounced around between teams like a squib kick sends a football on an unpredictable pattern down the gridiron. Its show time and Cleveland is in the AFC Championship game. Up 17 points with minutes to go, the #1 and #2 quarterbacks are sidelined due to injuries. Rick is suddenly cast into the limelight and proceeds to lead (?) his team to a defeat that would even surpass the Battle of Waterloo….Overnight he became known as a national “loser.” In addition, to finding himself in the local hospital nursing another concussion, he finds out from his slick talking agent, Arnie, that he has been cut from the Brown’s roster. He was even named by a local sportswriter as “the greatest Goat in the history of  pro football.” Arnie, sees the handwriting on the wall when other teams would not return Arnie’s calls in his attempts to find Rick another backup QB spot for Rick.

Italy is know for many things, its art, cuisine, music, landscape, but American Football?? Arnie suckers Rick into continuing his fading career in Parma, Italy by playing for the Parma Panthers, a semi-pro team with a hodgepodge of characters who love the game and were willing to “Play For Pizza!” Note: the author visited Parma and based this novel on his observations and experiences - real football, real life, but fictional characters.

Grisham has developed a flaky character in Rick. His lack of purpose other than playing football, chasing women and living the high/low life of a bachelor leads to a plot marked by self discovery. His loyalty to the Panthers is tested when Arnie finds a Canadian team that is willing to offer him a contract. His response may be the turning point in his career. The reader may enjoy the historical tidbits of Italian culture, especially the many food scenes. Parma, like so many other Italian towns and cities, is noted for its parmesan cheese, good vino and pasta dishes.

Playing for Pizza, although an accurate title, is really about a bunch of maverick players whose careers run from blue to white collar jobs. Their love for playing football is almost as great as their love for food and drink.

The Italian Super Bowl becomes the focus of the story. The Panthers have never been to the Super Bowl, and Rick has been hired to fulfill the mission.

Rick’s love life provides little stimulation to the story. It does give the reader more historical perspective of the countryside rather than focus on his sexual conquests.

The book is a fun and fast read. Caution: be prepared to call Dominos Pizza while trying to decide whether the Parma Panthers will win the Super Bowl.

JR

 

 

July 26, 2008

Reunion News:

 

Now that we have locked on to a date (October 2, 2010) and location (The Aircraft Carrier Museum in San Diego), our “Ponderings Paulette” is moving ahead with a “search and find” committee currently made up of Paulette and her husband, Don, Elsa Siefert, Joretta, Darrel Jeffries and Mary and George Russell. Their first official meeting is next week (see her website for more details). They have taken on the task of rounding-up our lost mates so that every living classmate knows about our 60^th Reunion well in advance. It is a big job and they will need your help. So step forward volunteers and put a smile on the Committee’s face. Maybe each person from our class could send the names, addresses, phone numbers and e-mail addresses of other class member that they stay in touch with to the committee. Duplicate submissions will be welcome for cross-check purposes.

That’s it for now folks. Plenty more to come…….

JR

 

On Thu, Jul 10, 2008 at 11:01 AM, jim regan <jjregan55@cox.net> wrote:

JULY 11, 2008

 

REUNION NEWS

 

Ahoy ship mates!!!  Welcome Aboard!!! On behalf of your 60^th Reunion Committee we are pleased (maybe even elated) to announce that our reunion will be held aboard the USS Aircraft Carrier Midway #41 (now a museum) ported here in San Diego Harbor. The date of the reunion is Saturday, October 2, 2010. Get-togethers before (the 1^st) and after (the 3^rd) will help us tune up and wind down, so mark your calendars now. There will be no excuses accepted since you are receiving a 28 month advance notice.

 

About the Midway:     With an unmatched naval history, the Midway had a 47 year career-longer than any other carrier- one that began at the end of WWII and ended with the liberation of Kuwait. “An odyssey that was shared by 225,000 Americans, most of them only a year or two out of high school.” We were just 9^th graders at MAD when the Carrier was commissioned. So it is an important part of our generation.

            In 1946, Midway was the first carrier to deploy in the winter into the Artic Ocean.

Ultimately Midway aviators taught the rest of the Navy how to fly among icebergs. A year later, Midway was the only ship to launch a captured German V-2 rocket. It became known as the dawn of naval missile warfare.

            Midway, too, was known for its humanitarian missions. In 1975 on what became known as the Night of the Helicopters, more than 3,000 refugees were flown aboard when Saigon fell. Only 16 years later, Midway again came to the rescue when Mt. Pinatubo erupted in the Philippines, the largest volcanic eruption of the century. More than 2,000 lives were saved by Midway crew.

            Today, Midway has embarked on its final mission as a flagship naval aviation museum. It is the most visited floating naval ship museum in the world.

Note: We will have special docent led tours arranged for reunion attendees

 

Now that the date and location have been determined, everyone has a special assignment.

Stay alive. Why?  Because you will not want to miss our 60^th.

Much more to come…….

JR

 

Hi Gang,

We did it!! We can now officially place October 2, 2010 aboard the Aircraft Carrier Midway on our calendar for our 60th Reunion. This is really going to be neat. I will take some pictures and post them on our website. Now it is up to all of us to spread the word. I will continue to provide updates as the days, weeks, months and years go by.....

Welcome aboard mates......

JR

 

60^TH REUNION NEWS AND REVIEW

      Fourth of July, 2008

 

Sidebar 1:       As you can see by the title of this webpage, I will be reporting on the progress of our forthcoming MAD 60^th Reunion in 2010. A committee is being formed and we are looking for more volunteers. Please take a look at the attached committee list and see how you can donate your talents. Even though we have 28 months until show time, certain things need to get firmed up now (like dates and location). Next week, hopefully, I will have a firm commitment for the dates and location. In the meantime, take good care of yourselves so you will be around come 2010!

 

Sidebar 2:       The Fourth of July (Independence Day) is a time to take pause and reflect on its meaning. It is more than hamburgers, hotdogs and fireworks. It is an annual celebration of our independence from Great Britain as codified in the Declaration that was signed July 4, 1776. Happy 4^th…….                    

 

Review for the Week:

Many of my reader friends told me to read Greg Mortenson’s and David Relin’s New York Times Bestseller, Three Cups of Tea. So, I did. It is a captivating and moving real- life story about a mountain climber, Greg Mortenson, who became obsessively motivated with the notion of building schools in remote areas of Pakistan and Afghanistan, especially for young girls. In 1993, after being rescued in a failed attempt to scale K2, the second highest mountain on earth (28,251’) located in the Karakoram part of the Himalayan range between North Pakistan and China, Greg soon discovered a whole new world-one depicted by a mountainous landscape filled with unparalleled beauty, yet basked in a culture very different from his own. A place where political turmoil, economic and social poverty, religious freedom, age-old cultural mores and values, all seemed to run against the grain of Western Culture. But beneath it all, Greg found the people, although lacking in formal education, to be firmly ensconced in their way(s) of life. It was as if they possessed a tribal gene that brought simplistic fulfillment to their daily existence. It was against the shadow of K2 in the Katakortam mountains in a small Pakistani village called Korphe that Greg soon learned that he had a mission in life – to reach out to these people in a way they had never dreamed – to help them improve their children's education and to gain literacy. His premise being that education is the cornerstone for improving one’s quality of life. He was a man with a mission, and his mission was to build schools, especially for young girls. Three Cups of Tea is a story about one man’s commitment to help a group of people help themselves. Over many cups of tea, Greg learned that the first cup was an act of courtesy and a time to talk business. If a second cup was offered, then it meant that you had moved to a higher level of friendship. The significance of having three cups was to indicate that you are now considered part of the family. Many times while drinking tea, it came to pass that Greg made promises to build schools in remote villages. His interaction with the leaders of each village provides a never ending story of promises and fulfillment. He did, in fact, build over fifty schools during a ten year period. Each project was unique and took on a character of its own. Back in the U.S.A., funding each project became a never ending and consuming task Through the course of his work he established the Central Asia Institute in Bozeman, Montana, and with the help of donations from others, he continues to live out his humanitarian dream.

Greg’s personal life was hard, not only for himself, but for his family. As the reader is introduced to his personality, it becomes apparent that his adventurous spirit, although dashed by his failed attempt on K2, never really left him. His tenacious efforts lifted him to the highest heights of humanitarianism, just like his idol, Mother Teresa.  

Kite Runner, A Thousand Splendid Suns and Three Cups of Tea have a common thread, they all give the reader a better understanding of the people and lands of Afghanistan and Pakistan, along with a greater appreciation for our country.

JR

 

60^th REUNION COMMITTEE

                                      (as of 7-4-2008)

 

THE FOLLOWING PEOPLE HAVE VOLUNTERED TO HELP OUT: (Good start, but we can use more mates)

Don Cottle, Paulette Dunn Smith, Darrell Jefferies, Mary Rector Russell, Joretta Griffin Bunyard, Gary Dayton, Larry and Marjean Brownwood Larson, Rich Humble (no dogs allowed), Ian and Harriett Campbell, Elsa Seifert and Bob Schaar.

 

REUNION CHAIR(S):        DON COTTLE AND JIM REGAN

Don.Cottle@Vistage.com; jjregan55@cox.net

 

DATES & LOCATION:     OCTOBER 1, 2, 3 – 2010 (pending)

 

THEME: Submit selection process and suggestions to ?

 

PROGRAM

          MC FOR MAIN EVENT

          MENU

          PUBLISHED PROGRAM

          AUDIO/VISUAL EQUIPMENT & SHOW

          MUSIC:     (how about a commemorative music disc?)

          DECORATIONS

          RESIDENT ARTIST:            BOB SCHAAR

 

SPECIAL EVENTS:

PRE-PARTY (Friday): REGAN RESIDENCE 1300 W. Walnut  POST-PARTY (Sunday A.M.): TBD

PERSONAL TOURS AND ACTIVITIES

 

WORTHY EXCHEQUER:         ELSA SEIFERT

 

HEAD VITICULTURIST:           GENE CAMERON

                                                          AWESOME WINES CO.

 

ACCOMMODATIONS:  Google it or call/email Regan

 

MAILING LIST:   PAULETTE SMITH, MARY RUSSELL,   

& PUBLICITY       ELSA SEIFERT AND DARRELL JEFFERIES

 

RESIDENT PHOTOGRAPHER

 

 

6-29-08

Subject: 'Tis a great Sunday

 

Good news from the Northwest Territory. Gene, our Head Viticultrist for the Reunion, and Fran Cameron will be sending "us" 60 bottles of wine for our bash! Just one more reason to attend,,,,

Thanks Gene and Fran.

The MAD '50-'60 Committee

 

 

6-28-08

Hi Everyone,

Just thought I would let you know what is going on.....

I have received numerous positive responses from our mates regarding the dates and location for our 60th Reunion. 100% of the respondents said that San Diego would be great and that either the first or second weekend in October was ok. A final decision will be made shortly. In the meantime I contacted the Aircraft Carrier Midway Administration about availability, cost, etc. They sent me a ton of info to mull over. I will be meeting with them next week. Paulette, Mary, Elsa and Darrell have taken on the BIG assignment of putting together a master list of our mates and they will spearhead communications with them. They will need everyone's help in searching for lost souls.

I have asked Gary to change my Book Review Page to "60th Reunion." Hopefully, it will give us a better line of communication with everyone (not that everyone reads my page).

Vangie and I, and with your help, will host the PRE-Reunion party (friday evening) at our house. We can accommodate at least 100 mates. Plans are to use the inside and outside areas of our house. For now, we will have a couple of bars set up, lots of finger food and a buffet table. Dress will be casual, of course (come as were when the ship went down!).

I will compile a list of hotels in the area. Not Priority now, but I will have it done in the next couple of months.

I was wondering if we should create/have a theme?? It might be fun for someone to coordinate the origination of a title for our Reunion. We could even turn the task into a contest.

Bob Sharr should fit into our Committee somehow. He is so talented. I will e-mail him and ask him point blank what he would like to do for the Reunion ( e.g., posters, placemats, a cover for the program, or ???).

Co-Chair, Don Cottle, has some great ideas. And, with his contacts, he will most likely pull a rabbit out of his hat. His enthusiasm has been quite evident, right from the start.

One pitfall that I want to mention is time. It is important that we ALL keep moving ahead. It will be easy for us to slide back into our easy chairs thinking that we have plenty of time to accomplish our goals. After all, it is only 28 months until October 2010!! WRONG! We really have so much to do in so little time. And who knows what roadblocks may come our way??

So long until next time.....

JR

 

Review for June 1, 2008

 

First Sidebar:  We have just recognized one of the most important dates in our Country’s history, Memorial Day. Formerly called “Decoration Day,” this Federal holiday was previously held on May 30^th, but was changed to the last Monday of May by Congress in order to facilitate a three day holiday. Reportedly, Memorial Day was first held in Boalsburg, Pennsylvania in 1865 to honor Union soldiers who last their lives during the Civil War. It was, of course, expanded to cover all those U.S. men and women who have since died while in the line of duty. In addition to individual and group observances held throughout the country, this day of reverence has become a three day time to party, barbeque, watch the Indy 500, and you name it. End of Sidebar

 

Second Sidebar:  Many of our classmates have served our country while in military service, especially in WWII, Korea and Vietnam. The service and contributions of our mates will never be totally known. Periodically, stories of their military and civilian careers surface. This week, Gary Dayton has featured one of our deceased classmates, Chuck Hoggatt. I thought I knew Chuck fairly well since we were on the track teams at MAD and at Occidental College. Wrong! I had no clue about his service to our country. His son, Greg, sent me the Eulogy he delivered at his service. I thought it would be appropriate to share it with our website readers. So here it is. End of Sidebar

 

Eulogy For Charles Vernon Hoggatt (delivered by Greg Hoggatt)

 

Charles Vernon Hoggatt was born November 10, 1932 and passed away February 28, 2008.

Son of Vernon and Edith Hoggatt, both school teachers and administrators.

 

Military Man

Raised in Southern California and after a brief attempt at college, joined the Air Force Reserves. Commissioned a 2^nd Lt. in Feb. 1955. Attended flight school and obtained his wings and eventually rose to the rank of Captain and Aircraft Commander of the C130 Hercules. Served several tours of duty in Vietnam, flew countless missions around the world and received a multitude of flying commendations from the Air Medal to the Bronze Star and others. He was ultimately a casualty of the reduction in force and forced to take a rank cut and lost his flying status. He went into ground safety and served out his career, and retired after 22 years of service at the rank of Major.

 

Husband

 

Chuck was fortunate to find his life partner and soul mate in 1974. He married Ethel in July of this year and was able to live a long and happy retirement with her here in Palm Bay (Florida). Together they traveled, lived and loved.

 

Father

 

In May of 1961, in his first marriage, he was granted a son, who was able to carry on the family name as he was the only son of an only son. Even as a victim of divorce in the late 60’s he strived to be a good and loving father, instilling good morals and character in me. Chuck took on the role of Step Father to Ethel’s children and even helped raise them with the same ideal of good morals and character.

 

Grandfather

 

Two grandsons and numerous step grandchildren were his reward with time, and again, he tried to instill the same morals and good character in them as they were truly his beliefs.

 

Mason

 

Masonry was a part of his life as passed to him from his father and father’s father. Initiated in May of 1958 in LaSalle Lodge #1049 in Niagara Falls New York, passed to the degree of Fellowcraft in November, because of the war, he would have to wait till May of 1967 to be raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason. He would have completed 50 years of Masonry this May. He did not stop here, he further went on to join the Scottish and York Rite, Royal Order of Scotland, and would like his father join the Shrine. It was here that he really enjoyed the service to others. He joined the Legion of Honor in the Shrine and would be the first elected Commander of the New Azan Legion of Honor. Taking pride in his military service and pride in other members of the Shrine who had served in the military, he began to venture out to Shrine Legions and rose to State Commander and even created new and lasting friends in the Southeast as well as in the International Legion of Honor.

The annual wreath laying ceremony was his greatest joy. This event held at Arlington every Veterans Day, was a particular solemn and Honorius occasion. It was 25 years ago that the International Legion of Honor began its official participation in this event. This last year was the 25^th anniversary of this event. My father being frail and sick from his illness wanted so bad to go and be the first person, who would complete 25 consecutive years of attendance, I knew that he would not be able to make it unless he had help. In November of last year I assisted him with going and he received an outstanding award and recognition of being the first and only 25 year consecutive year participant.

 

The Man

 

Opinionated, proud, honorable, strong morals, excellent character, stubborn, kind, caring, compassionate, all words describing the man, the husband and the father. But words cannot effectively tell you who Chuck Hoggatt was. This was done through his actions towards all mankind. It seemed that in his retirement years, he was always taking care of others, first both his parents. First his father who suffered a debilitating stroke and later his mother who required constant care until she passed. He even took care of his mother in law who lived with he and Ethel till she passed. He never faltered or complained about this self obligation as he felt it was his duty to take care of them. His greatest fear was that someday family would have to see him in dire need of care and he could not stand the thought of having to have someone take care of him. Thus many of you may not know just how sick he really was, for his pride was that of not wanting those of you who knew him to feel sorry for him.

 

My Memories

 

While being raised in both an active military as well as a divorced home, I only spent time here or there with him. It was not like the today’s children of divorce, every other weekend at a different house or seeing the parent at activities, but I only saw my father at limited times. He was either stationed overseas, or on the other side of the country and weekends just were not possible. However, there were times we spent together that shaped me and made me who I am. The one summer I spent with him in California, he signed me up to play Little League baseball. I arrived and joined a team that was already in progress, but he worked with me and taught me how to play and make friends in a new and strange place. As the summer closed we took a trip south to LA, enjoyed the typical things a kid wants to know, Disneyland, Universal Studios, and my first Professional baseball game, thus, that’s why I am a Dodger Fan. Our trip continued across to Vegas, Hoover Dam, down to Arizona, where he stopped the car alongside the road and just had to have a picture of me standing by one of the large cactus in the desert. I slipped on a rock and gouged my leg pretty good, but I don’t know what hurt him more, seeing me hurt, or performing the field sterilization of the wound and using his good Scotch and wasting it upon my leg. Our trip continued through the Grand Canyon, Carlsbad Caverns, and eventually ending up in Kansas, the home of my Grandparents and the Hoggatt families. There he taught me to fish, rabbit hunt, all about the Hoggatt Family history. I to this day can vividly see these memories and still miss these times and places of our heritage.

Eventually, I moved to Florida and upon his retirement, he moved here also. This was a time in my life as a young person that I became interested in other things than spending time with Dad. Summer jobs, football and friends all seemed to take precedent over making up lost time with my father. But he was an understanding father who knew these things were (in my mind) important to me, and he was patient and let me do them. I remember one time he came to town and picked me up after school. It was the night of a football game and he was here to see me and watch me play. I never knew at the time what it meant to him, but the coach let him ride on the team bus with us both to and from school.

There were many more conflict in schedules between my teenage life and spending time with him, but it was not until after high school and in my young adult life that we actually grew closer to each other. At my first marriage, the birth of my two sons, his grandsons the heirs to the family name, my second marriage, my promotions within the Fire Department and finally my want to seek light in the Masonic Lodge. I have had the proud privilege to have my father raise me both in Masonry and in life.

My stories can go on and on, but finally, prior to him succumbing to his illness, I was able to tell him this:

            While he was so proud of me and told every one of my accomplishments, I was the one who was actually prouder of him. His accomplishments in life, Military, Masonic and who he was and what he instilled in me are greater than anything I could ever achieve. My memories of all the things we have done will live with me forever. I only hope that I can give a fraction of want he has given me to both of my sons.

Goodbye Dad, as I know you are in a better place

 

 

Review For May 10, 2008

 

Sidebar:  Sometimes visitors to our country are fascinated with what makes the U.S. tick.

The growth and development established by our forefathers through “The Pilgrims’ Progress”, though often taken for granted by us, provide those from the “old countries” with an enviable glance of just how a young (relatively speaking) country has been able to become the world’s leader in so many areas. Recently, some of our good friends from England spent a few days with us. The wife of my friend asked me several questions about the westward movement. I soon learned why she was so interested. She was reading Stories of Young Pioneers In Their Own Words by Violet T. Kimball, an anthology of events that took place as immigrants from around the world and American families ventured west via the overland Trail in the mid-nineteenth century to Utah, California and Oregon. Emanating from as far away as Europe, thousands of individuals, families and religious groups, e.g., Mormons, usually began their foot, horse or wagon (even wheelbarrow) journey west from such notable places as  Independence, Missouri and Council Bluffs, Iowa. These hearty souls were lured by the thoughts of freedom and independence, the offer of free land and the opportunity to live in a healthier environment with abundant resources.

End of Sidebar

 

The author, Violet Kimball, has assembled some sensitive and captivating writing by some of the young folk who participated in what some call the greatest test of physical and mental courage, the Westward movement. She backs up these tests of courage from written journals and records made along the trail, and some recorded years later. Walking barefoot over 1,000 miles across desert sands dodging thorns from prickly pears, bearing freezing temperatures (sometimes below zero), facing starvation and diseases along the trail were just a few of the hazards and conditions that faced these hearty souls, both young and old. The author has skillfully categorized this trek by using a narrative approach to back up her research. All of the written observations were made by persons nineteen years of age and younger. Adult diaries were also used to further explicate their earlier experiences. For example, one chapter is devoted to Daily Life on the Trail. Here is one quote from Eliza McKean, age 13 in 1847:

            I can still see the plains with the shimmering heat waves, the dark masses of buffalo moving over the rolling hills toward the Platte, the campfires of buffalo chips and later sagebrush…I walked most of the way across the plains, as did many other young folks.

Each chapter contains a profile of one youth – one that supports the theme of the topic.

Another chapter’s topic supports Romance and Marriage. Although moral attitudes were reflective of Victorian times, adults realized that they did not control the flow of hormones! Catherine Thomas, age ten in 1851 recalls:

            I certainly can remember vividly the skylarking (flirting) and good times the young folks enjoyed around the campfire…Our play games…”drop the handkerchief” and post office,” and other kissing games were innocent. (Note: even spin-the-bottle)

The lure of the west was not confined to the Northwest. Oregon was only one locus of attention. One Splinter group diverted its route to Utah to establish Mormon Zionism - the Promised Land, while others headed to California in search of gold. Regardless of their final destination, the Westward Movement expanded this Country’s frontier as never before.

Kimball, herself, has traveled all of the trails in her book in order to establish her own sense of the landscape. Combined with autobiographies, records, and over 500 diaries of young persons, and with some back up by adult diaries, she has, in my opinion, made a significant contribution to unveiling a special group of young heroes… “Wagons Ho”

I plan on giving my grandkids a copy of her book. Maybe they can relate to the words of their own age group since mine are categorized as being from the Dark Ages…..

JR

 

 

Review for April 12, 2008

 

Sidebar #1:  With the upcoming elections, war in Iraq, global unrest, the summer Olympics under siege, illegal immigration and a host of other issues, I often wonder how we keep our sense of mental balance. It is so easy to whine, bitch and moan about everything going to “hell in a hand-basket” that I find myself trying to control my feelings as these happenings surround me and invade my daily life. The reality is that life has always been a living landscape of strife, turmoil and unrest- never ending ups-and-downs depicted by divergent views, some pushing the very limits of our zones of tolerance.

Fortunately, there are good things that also affect our lives. Like the genetic makeup of chromosomes, they have the potential to ooze the “good, bad and the ugly.” Unfortunately, we cannot take time-off to escape this bombardment, so we need to put everything in perspective. As Bill Gates once said in his speech on Entitlements, “life is not divided into semesters. You don’t get summers off and very few employers are interested in helping you find yourself.” So where do you find the “good side” of life? I believe it is already there. It is up to each one of us to put things into perspective while uncovering the love and beauty that surround us.                                                                        End of Sidebar.

 

Which takes me to my first book this week…..?

Lately, I have taken on a new path of indulging in the works of authors who not only can write effectively, but back up their words with the art of painting. Recently, my son, Rich, gave me a book named Paintings and Poems of Ireland by Phillip Terry (2006). He and his wife met Terry while staying in a bed and breakfast on the Mendocino coast. Over a glass of wine, they soon learned of Phillip Terry’s passion for painting and writing about the Emerald Isle. Knowing my affection for Ireland and its people, Rich knew that I would enjoy Terry’s book. After all, aren’t all Irishmen alike? The book became a jump-start to my every-day reading schedule. Like most new books, I first check out the cover, both front and back, and then read the Introduction as a prelude to getting into the story. After realizing how the book’s content evolved and how it was laid out with original paintings accompanied with a poem about the scene shown on each page, I began a whole new adventure in literature. Over the years as Terry journeyed throughout Ireland, he soon realized that his camera and corresponding paintings did not capture the sounds and history of each of his subjects. So, he combined his pen with his brush and explicated the beauty and background of each setting. On page one I started out looking at the two paintings entitled “Wild Ireland” and read Terry’s interpretation of the two scenes:

            In a mystic land called Ireland

            Wild skies and dark green eyes

Wet sand and wind swept land

Beer darkly brewed and clouds multi-hues

The Emerald Isle and the sweet shy smile

The bright red hair and the county fair

The wandering sheep and dark night sleep

I turned to the next painting and poem, Across Lough Corrib, and then on to the next. My attempts to digest the visual with the written word came to a halt! I could not continue reading my usual way as if each page depended on its predecessor. These were stand-alone experiences and consumed a story in and of itself. Like eating a rich dessert, I could only absorb so much before my “cup runneth over.” So, rather than relying on an author to feed me the total content of his story, I found myself combining my visual and written senses in order to grasp the “whole picture.” This is going to be fun, I said to my wife.

Each day, I pick up Terry’s book and experience a few more pages. It has given me an added dimension to my usual mode of reading. I will return to the Paintings and Poems of Ireland again and again since Terry’s works allow the reader to appreciate an open-ended-never ending story. P.S. I find that my travels through Ireland, also, have given me a leg-up in relating to the author’s selection of people, places and things - those that represent the total landscape of the Emerald Isle.

 

Review #2: Not long ago in the San Diego airport, I found myself without any reading material. I should know better. The choices are always limited and the prices are always higher in an airport, just like the beer. I hurriedly selected Tom Clancy’s EndWar written by David Michaels (2008). Clancy has enjoyed tremendous popularity over the years. His military action novels have been among the best. But EndWar may have ended my long-standing appreciation for his stories. Created by Clancy and written by David Michaels, the plot skips around the world from the Mid-East, Russia, Europe, the Caribbean, U.S. and Canada. Tipped off by the European Federation that Russia is about to launch an aggressive plan to regain its superpower status, a special U.S. Special Force team is sent into Russia to kidnap Colonel Doletskaya, the brain behind Russia’s mega-aspirations. Operation 2659 is the key name given to the crafty surprise Russian invasion of Canada in order to gain control of its oil reserves, and Doletskaya is not about to reveal the details of the plan. In disbelief, the Canadian Prime Minister is totally unprepared for any military action due to his country’s passive stance on any international conflict. As the invasion unfolds, the President of the United States is not about to allow the invasion without a military response. After all, the Canadian oil reserves are near and dear to the American people, also. Michaels’ writing reflects advance knowledge of the military, its jargon, weaponry and capability. I found his descriptions sometimes an over-kill. Except for female fighter pilot Major Stephanie Halverson and a couple of other characters, Michaels does not provide the reader with much in depth character analysis. The ongoing interrogation of Doletskava seems to be going no where and he is proving to be one tough cookie to break. So, without the benefit of Russia’s battle plans, U.S. air, ground and water forces are deployed to Canada in a defensive attempt to stop the invasion. Edmonton, Calgary, Fort McMurray are under siege as the Canadians sing “oh Canada.” You will have to read 400 pages to see who prevails. EndWar does give credence to the importance of who controls the world’s oil resources.

Next time I am in an airport without a book I think I will write something, or get something to eat….

JR

 

 

REVIEW FOR 3/2/08

 

Sidebar: This week marks the 36^th anniversary of the running of the Iditarod Dog Race in Alaska. It is one of my favorite events. I reviewed the history of the race in a previous edition (January ’08) entitled Winterdance. To recap, the race was first held in 1973 to commemorate the delivery by dog sleds of life saving diphtheria serum in March 1973 to the people of Nome, Alaska. Aptly coined, the “Last Great Race on Earth,” the Iditarod signifies the ultimate challenge between man, dogs and the environment.  I subscribe to the “Insider,” a publication that keeps subscribers informed about the race – its mushers, and every thing associated with the event. If interested, you can “pull up” the website on Google  at Iditarod.com for a full account of the race, its history and the progress of this year’s race from Willow to Nome, some 1150 miles.

End of Sidebar

 
 

A Word About Books….

By word of mouth, through publications, and a variety of other sources, we become acquainted with books. Sometimes the interest of others does not match our own. But the pursuit of reading really becomes a case of trial and error. I try to read as many different landscapes of stories that I can. Some do not always meet my interest or expectation. So, it is often hard to satisfy our readers.

Disclaimer: Books may be for everyone, but the content may not! This week I present you with a book (not one that I elected to buy) but one that I found on my shelf (how it got there remains a mystery). THEY WHISPER (Winner of the 1983 Pulitzer Prize), by Robert Olen Butler, is the most sensuous book I have ever read. Readers Beware: this book contains explicit words and descriptions that are not used in my normal – every day language. They are Butler’s, not mine. His words are considered literary art and focus on the world of heterosexuality.

THE REVIEW (rated XXXXXXXXXX)

Robert Butler is no newcomer to the field of writing. His other novels, including The Alleys of Eden, Sun Dogs, Countrymen of  Bones, On Distant Ground,  Wabash, The Deuce, and A Good Scent From a Strange Mountain have gained him considerable fame in the literary world.

They Whisper examines one man’s, Ira Holloway, inner most thoughts of his sexuality. From childhood to his mid thirty’s, Ira wrestles with himself as he literally undresses every woman that he meets or views. His catalog of encounters and what transpires thereafter, are “whispered” to him as re recaptures every escapade in his mind from his early daily life as a growing youth, husband, Viet Nam soldier, father, and public relations executive. From the time he worked at an early age in his uncle’s shoe store viewing Karen Granger’s feet in an X-ray machine, Ira, himself, became his own X-ray of  women without the use of Roentgen rays! The author helps Ira (and the reader) relive his moments of intimacy with all of his “loves” as he whispers back and forth, to and with them, as he attempts to keep each moment of ecstasy alive as he goes about his daily life.

I did not find the story challenging or productive. The sequence of Ira’s thoughts bounce back and forth without continuity. The book’s 333 pages is folded into one chapter – and it seems like it is never ending. Ira’s convoluted marriage to Fiona, her struggle with her religious beliefs, and the birth of their son, John, become the focal points of the book. But, it does not stand in the way of his “whispers” with the past, even though Fiona drifts towards insanity.

I’m not sure if They Whisper provides a clear message for the reader. For me, it reinforces the notion that life is not all about me, nor my past….but it can explain one’s behavior.

Again, for those that read the book, the vocabulary may be unacceptable.

JR 

 

SOME HEARTFILLING THOUGHTS

                                                FEBRUARY 15, 2007

                        (THE DAY OF, AND THE MONTH FOR ROMANCE)

 

SOME THINGS NEVER GO AWAY, LIKE VALENTINE’S DAY. THE ORIGIN AND MEANING SOMETIMES NEED TO BE REFRESHED. SO HERE GOES…….

SCHOLARS (EXCLUDING ME) HAVE ATTEMPTED TO REACH BACK IN TIME IN SEARCH OF THE GENESIS OF VALENTINE’S DAY. BELIEVED TO HAVE ROOTS IN ANCIENT ROMAN DAYS (+- 270 AD). ITS ORIGIN STILL REMAINS SOMEWHAT ALOOF AS LEGENDS HAVE EVOLVED. VALENTINE’S DAY, AS MOST HISTORIANS REPORT, HAD ITS START FROM A DECLARATION MADE BY THE ROMAN EMPEROR, CLAUDIUS II. HE DECLARED THAT SINGLE MEN MADE BETTER SOLDIERS IF THEY REMAINED UNMARRIED (I GUESS IT HAD SOMETHING TO DO ABOUT DISTRACTION). FEBRUARY MARKED THE BEGINNING OF SPRINGTIME –A TIME FOR PURIFICATION. HOUSES WERE CLEANED AND THE ROMANS CELEBRATED THE FOUNDING OF ROME WITH A PAGAN FESTIVAL, LUPERCALIA. IT WAS A FERTILITY FESTIVAL DEDICATED TO THE ROMAN GOD OF AGRICULTRUE, LUPERCALIA, AND TO ROMULUS AND REMUS, THE FOUNDERS OF ROME. THE LOCAL PRIESTS SACRIFICED GOATS (FOR FERTILITY) AND DOGS (FOR PURIFICATION). STRIPS OF THE GOAT HIDE WERE USED BY THE YOUNG MEN TO GENTLY SLAP THE WOMEN AND FIELDS IN HOPES OF PROMOTING GROWTH AND PROSPERITY. ONCE SLAPPED, THE YOUNG WOMEN PUT THEIR NAMES INTO AN URN TO BE USED FOR A LOTTERY. THEIR NAMES WERE DRAWN BY THE CITY’S BACHELORS. AND, ONCE DRAWN, THEY BECAME JOINED WITH THEIR SUITOR FOR A YEAR. THIS PRACTICE BECAME LABELED AS ANTI-CHRISTIAN AND SOON WAS OUTLAWED. VALENTINE, A THIRD CENTURY PRIEST, DID NOT AGREE WITH CLAUDIUS’ DECREE. SO, HE CONTINUED TO MARRY COUPLES IN ‘TRUE’ LOVE. REPORTEDLY, HIS REBRELLIOUS ACTS, INCLUDING HELPING CHRISTIANS ESCAPE FROM ROMAN PRISONS, LED TO HIS INPRISONMENT AND SUBSEQUENT DEATH. ONE LEGEND RELATES THAT VALENTINE, WHILE IN JAIL, FELL IN LOVE WITH A YOUNG WOMAN (PERHAPS THE JAILOR’S DAUGHTER). HIS CORRESPONDENCE TO HER WAS SIGNED “FROM YOUR VALENTINE.” NOTE: THIS IS AN EXPRESSION STILL USED (BUT, I HOPE, NOT ALWAYS FROM JAIL!).

AS THE YEARS MOVED FORWARD, THE LEGEND OF VALENTINE WAS INCORPORATED INTO MIDDLE AGE LORE.

FRANCE AND ENGLAND ALIGNED VALENTINE’S DAY WITH THE BEGINNING OF BIRD MATING SEASON IN FEBRUARY, A TIME FOR ORNITHLOGICAL ROMANCE. THE FIRST KNOWN VALENTINE GREETING WAS WRITTEN BY CHARLES, DUKE OF ORLEANS IN 1415 WHILE IMPRISONED IN THE TOWER OF LONDON. VALENTINES’S DAY BEGAN TO ESCALTE IN POPULARITY IN THE 17^TH CENTURY AND BY THE MIDDLE OF THE 18^TH CENTURY IT WAS A COMMON OCCURANCE TO EXCHANGE HANDWRITTEN NOTES AND TOKENS OF AFFECTION TO FRIENDS AND LOVERS. CATHOLICS AND CHRISTIANS ALIKE HAVE SAINTS NAMED VALENTINE. LIKE ANY MIGRATION, VALENTINE MESSAGES WERE EXCHANGED IN AMERICA IN THE EARLY 1700’S. THE FIRST COMMERCIAL CARD WAS PUBLISHED IN 1840 BY ESTHER HOWLAN, KNOWN AS THE MOTHER OF OUR CURRENT VALENTINE CARDS. TODAY, ONLY CHRISTMAS SURPASSES THESE LOVE/FRIENDSHIP MESSAGES..

WHETHER CARDS OR TOKENS ARE EXCHANGED THIS DAY, THE MEANING REMAINS THE SAME. YOU ARE IMPORTANT AND YOU ARE SPECIAL. THERE IS SOMETHING IN MY HEART THAT SAYS YOU ARE A PART OF MY LIFE. HOW YOU GOT THERE IS IMPORTANT, BUT WHAT IS MOST MEANINGFUL, IS WHY YOU REMAIN A PART OF ME. I KNOW, AND YOU KNOW, ONLY……

HAPPY M.A.D. SAINT VALENTINE TO YOU AND YOURS,

JR

 

 

 

REVIEW FOR FEBRUARY 10, 2008

 
 

Sidebar:  Did you ever wonder what it means when a book is labeled “bestseller?”

I did. So I nosed around and found out that reaching such a status is not based on the number of copies sold, only (what a discovery!). However, the volume of sales certainly helps.

Actually, there are numerous bestseller lists. These lists are generated, usually on a weekly basis, by such newspapers as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, LA Times, Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, Dallas Morning News, Detroit Free Press, Houston Post and the San Francisco Chronicle (partial list). Each reporting source reviews data from its survey of mostly chain bookstores (Barnes and Noble, Borders, etc) thereby identifying the leading bestsellers in these stores. For instance, the Times selects 36 titles each week from 3,000 bookstores across the U.S., while the Journal polls 2,500 stores for their 15 top selling books. The challenge for every author is to achieve “bestseller” status if he/she expects to become a successful writer. There is no magic number of sales that results in being recognized as “bestseller.”

A book that sells 5,000 copies a year, however, is usually considered successful, vis a vis a book that sells 5,000 copies over a ten year period may not obtain this label.  Most never reach it.  Generally speaking, books fall into four categories: hard cover and paperback fiction and hardcover and paperback nonfiction. The genre, or distinctive type of category of literary composition varies according to the author’s interest, eg., Stephen King – science fiction, David McCulloch-historical novels. Specialty lists, including religious and educational books, do not often appeal to a wide reading audience. There are exceptions, however, like Rick Warren’s “The Purpose Driven Life.” The key to promoting a book rests with the author. He/she needs to create a marketing strategy – no easy task. Publicity helps sell books and how it is spread depends on contacts, exposure, money, and naturally, content. Breaking into the literary field is not unlike becoming a movie star, painter, or architect. Ultimately, the content of any book will decide its fate.

end of sidebar….

BOOK TIME

Last November I wrote a review for Kite Runner, a fiction novel by an exciting new author (my emphasis), Khaled Hosseini. My friend and former classmate, Ian Campbell sent me this book. And just last week, he sent me Hosseini’s latest book, A THOUSAND SPLENDID SUNS (2007). (Thanks Ian for your gift of friendship.)

I won’t compare the two books, but if you haven’t read either one, it is like going around with one shoe on, and one shoe off. Hosseini’s literary style erupts such emotion in the reader’s mind that even the portrayal of living in squalor can bring forth the warmth and understanding of how precious life is, not only to his characters, but to the reader, also.

The setting, like Kite Runner (in part), is Afghanistan. The story’s 30 year time frame starts in the early ‘70’s when the country was ruled by a king. His reign soon ends when the Soviets invade Afghanistan. The following years showcase the rise and fall of the Taliban in a country filled with conflict and turmoil.

Miriam, one of the main characters, is a “Haami”, or illegitmate daughter of a wealthy businessman, Jalil, and one of his housekeepers, Nana, Miriam’s mother. Her life begins as an outcast with her mother. She soon learns that her destiny, like most Afghan girls, is

not always under her control. The customs and mores practiced by the Afghagan people are derived from their religious backgrounds. Muslims, Hindus, Islamists share a country that demand strict adherence to doctrines. Hosseini skillfully identifies these practices and their effect upon daily life. Examples of food sources and preparations, pre-arranged marriages, the rights of men and women, the caste system, laws and the judicial system are woven throughout the book. His real life characters bring out the best and worst of human behavior. A Thousand Splendid Suns is more than a study of the interpersonal relationships of the Afghan people. It is a historical backdrop for the most recent thirty plus years of upheavals, beginning with a monarchy, then Soviet rule, to the take-over of warlords (mullahs), the Taliban, and most recently the intervention of the UN and United States. Note: a recent movie “The Private War Of Charlie Wilson” (a book I previously reviewed) gives added meaning to these warring factions in Afghanastan and the effects upon its people.

Sad, but true… The depiction of the thoughts and actions of parents, children, friends and adversaries unleash the deepest love, hate and gut wrenching feelings, so powerful that I found myself unable to apprehend just how life can be sustained under such dim rays of hope. And where did the title of the book come from under this backdrop? You will have to read 367 pages to find out. And by the way, don’t bypass reading the Afterword.

I now know (and you will too) why Hosseini’s books have earned the recognition of “Bestsellers.”

JR

 

REVIEW FOR 2/3/08

 

Sidebar: Well the party’s over but the memories linger on….I want to extend a hearty thanks to all of you who came to Palm Springs and joined in the festivities. I cannot speak for everyone, but Vangie and I had a great time. Here’s to many more!

 

BOOK OF THE WEEK:

 

You don’t have to be a woman or a sailor to enjoy this true adventure story. I found MAIDEN VOYAGE (1987) by Tania Aebi and Bernadette Berennan an unusual first person account of a young girl’s two year journey around the world. Tania had grown up as a troubled teenager in and around New York. Her family is described as affluent, eccentric and dysfunctional in many ways. Her father, Ernst, is an adventurer himself, traveling by land and water to all corners of the world. Her mother is mentally imbalanced but manages to still exude some motherly instincts towards her offspring. Ernst has many dreams for himself and his children. The reader soon discovers, however, that his greatest dream is to see Tania sail around the world by herself. You will get the impression that the voyage is born from Ernst’s marching orders. Once Tania establishes a personal commitment to fulfill her father’s dream, “to be the first youngest American woman to circumnavigate the globe, alone,” she begins to prepare for the journey of her life, and maybe her last! Varuna, a 27 foot sailboat, is chosen to lead the charge.

Tania’s sailing skills appear to be marginal. In fact, she almost didn’t make it out of New York harbor. The description of the adventure is sometimes technical, but I did not find it distractive. Breakdowns, navigation issues, weather conditions, and many perilous dangers, plague her from start to finish. How she handles these things help the reader become better acquainted with the world of sailing, its do’s and don’t’s. Maiden Voyage is not just about sailing, it is about the people she meets along the way, and the emergence of a new life in the making-one that started as an apprentice and ended as a journeywoman Maiden from New York. 

JR

 

Hi Mates,

It's show time mates!! This is my last message before the big weekend. I leave tomorrow for Palm Springs

so, if you need to contact me, call my cell phone @ 408-221-5663. I checked with the Follies and the dinner at the Spa/Casino hotel and everything is set. All you need to do is show up! Remember, lunch at Ruby's if you can make it. Don't worry about wearing any depends, cause there is an intermission. The excitement has been growing for several weeks, so bring your smile and good cheer. We have to be the greatest school on earth, so let's relive it once again. Green and white is in, so drag out your old/new dress.

On a sentimental note, I want you all to know that I have received many responses from our classmates who are unable to attend our weekend of fun and folic. They ALL want us to know that their hearts our with us.  They wish us well, and hope we will remember them, because they will be with us in spirit.

I dedicate this prose to all of you:

    There is a high school in the valley

    That is lacking not in friends.

    Our past is not forgotten

    No matter where our life has been.

    What matter most is we care,

    For each other's lives to share.

    Friends, like flowers, sometimes fade.

    But a lasting friendship we have made.

    As the days go by, some high, some low,

    Words and thoughts, for each to know.

    Times of joy and sorrow, laughter and grief

    A relationship so special that's beyond belief.

    So bring on Palm Springs, the city in the sun,

    MADcats from Monrovia  are ready for some fun

    To celebrate a bond that's still alive,

    A past unsurpassed for those who have survived.

    With gray hair and wrinkles, we are still in our prime

     a spirit still lives through the test of time.

    MADCATS we remain, lacking not in fame,

    United once again, in body and name.

JR

 

 

 

 

 

REVIEW FOR JANUARY 19, 2008

 

Sidebar #1:  This will be my last review for January due to our reunion in Palm Springs on the 26^th. I have just discovered that many of our mates have tried to e-mail me using my address on our web page. It is the correct address; however, when you punch it, it comes up incorrectly! This problem was fixed this week, so now you can sound off at will.

 

Sidebar #2: Warning for those that use AOL. I upgraded to 9.1 last week. It has caused nothing but problems. After spending several hours on the phone with technicians in India, I was told that the 9.1 program has flaws. My problem is that my printer is activated every time I start to browse, so it runs continuously. At one time, I had over 100 documents in queue to be printed! So, BEWARE…..

 

REVIEW: My book of the week is a whopping 600 + pages. Long on word, but worth the read. Most of you remember highly decorated Marine Lt. Colonel Oliver North and his military background. His books have received favorable recognition from literary critics. Like Clancy’s novels, North, with the help of co-writer Joe Musser, has written some of the best military thrillers that mirror the world of international conflicts, especially about what is going on in Iraq, today. His first hand military experience brings reality to his plots, sometimes scary, and sometimes difficult to discern between fact and fiction. He served time in Washington during the Reagan administration as a member of the National Security Council coordinating Counter-Terrorism from 1983-86. His involvement in engineering the rescue of U.S. students on the island of Grenada, capturing the hijackers of the cruise ship Achille Lauro and helping plan the raid on Gaddafi’s terrorist bases in Libya earned him a position on the terrorist’s most wanted list! “MISSION COMPROMISED (2002) is a story of intrigue, espionage, and military adventure drawn from North’s own experience.” His first two books in this trilogy, Under Fire and One More Mission were also international best-sellers.

The Plot: Major Peter Newman, a highly decorated Marine hero, is the main character. And, somewhat like North, he is appointed to a clandestine job as the head of the White House Special Projects Office. After his appointment, he soon learns that his job will be to head-up United Nations secret covert teams who will be sent into “global hotspots” for purposes of assassinating terrorist and their leaders. Coincidently, one of the targets is Aidid, the guy who was behind the Mogadishu disaster (remember “Black Hawk Down?”) – a massacre that took the life of Newman’s brother. Peter smells revenge in his new assignment..

The reader becomes suspicious that things are not all right in Washington when Newman’s boss, Dr. Simon Harrod, the President’s National Security Advisor, in cahoots with the Deputy Secretary General at the UN, have their own agenda – one that spells betrayal and failure for Newman and his teams. Together, they are involved in secretly selling nuclear weapons to Iraq for huge profits. Their greed takes precedent over the success of Newman’s mission as it becomes Compromised. The result is political corruption at its highest level. (No finger pointing, but doesn’t this sound familiar!)

North’s personal knowledge of government and the military cannot be disputed and adds depth and clarity to the plot, and its sub-plots. His descriptive writing using military terms is sometimes overwhelming, but his glossary helps when the reader’s memory fails. A rather unique feature in this novel is the actual use of North, himself, as a key character who aids and abets Newman in his endeavors.

Another unique feature is the religious undertone that surfaces throughout the book. Christianity permeates the lives of Peter’s wife, Rachel, and the colorful characters that play key roles in Newman’s covert mission in Iraq. There are several instances when Peter finds himself faced with “come to Jesus time.” The use and advocation of some of the basic tenants of Christianity penetrate the plot and are used to explain the practices and behavior of its diverse characters. Offensive? I didn’t think so!

North and Musser take you on a roller coaster mission filled with enough suspense, excitement, romance and factual/fiction (oxymoron?) to explicate how and why the Mission was Compromised. Getting into Iraq is one thing, getting out proves a challenge that will keep you hunkered down to avoid any stray bullets…..

JR

 

 

 

REVIEW FOR JANUARY 13, 2008

 

I just finished reading a book someone gave me for Christmas. Coincidentally, like last week’s review, the locus of the story takes place mostly in Alaska. WINTERDANCE (1994), by Gary Paulsen, is a true story about himself as he becomes obsessed by the idea of running the “Last Great Race on Earth,” the Iditarod, an 1150 mile dog sled race. The name “Iditarod” (meaning “clear water”) was coined by the Shageluk Indians for the Iditarod River. The first race was in March, 1973 to commemorate the 1925 delivery by sled dogs of life saving diphtheria serum to the people of Nome. Since then, such notable names as Dick Mackey, Susan Butcher, Rick Swenson, Martin Buser, Doug Swingley and Jeff King have led the pack with their championship runs. The fastest time recorded was 8+ days. The slowest exceeded 30+ days!  Because the actual race takes place in the wilderness, an 11 mile pre-race (for public relations purposes) is staged in downtown Anchorage so spectators can participate in the festivities prior to the “Winterdance.” The actual start begins 30 miles north of Anchorage at Willow. From there, it zig-zags north through some of the most rugged environment on this planet and ends in Nome, next to the Bering Sea. This year the race is scheduled to start on March 1^st. It will be number XXXVI. This year there are over 100 entrants (each use +- 12- 16 dogs). For those readers who would like to expand their knowledge about “The Last Great Race”, you can Google-up the website “iditarodsledrace” and scroll to your hearts content.

Now, back to Paulsen and the actual account of his adventure…. The author’s style of writing is very parsimonious, but colorfully descriptive, as he literally “mushes” the reader from the time he hatches the notion to enter the Iditarod, while living off of the land in Minnesota, to the time he shoves-off in the actual race to Nome. Paulsen’s sense of humor abounds throughout the book and I found myself chuckling to myself frequently as he goes about learning about dogs and what make them tick. With no previous experience in racing dogs, he soon discovers (mostly by trial and error) that  running a team of dogs is no easy task. I won’t take you on Gary Paulsen’s roller coast ride in the Iditarod in this review. Rather, I hope to leave the reader with enough interest to pursue this dogged course of events - one that verge on the impossible. Sub-zero temperatures, 50+ mile an hour winds, white-outs, sink holes, encounters with wolves moose, equipment breakdowns and a hostile terrain are just a few of the hazards that are common to the race. Fortunately, you don’t even have to leave the warmth of your arm-chair as “Winterdance” takes you on one of the greatest outdoor adventures through the Alaskan wilderness without having to say “Gee,” or “Haw!”.

JR

 

 

BOOK REVIEW: JANUARY 8, 2008

 

My first book review for ’08 is a National Bestseller, Into The Wild (1996), by Jon Krakauer. You may remember some of his other books: Into Thin Air, Under the Banner of Heaven, and Eiger Dreams, several previously reviewed  by me. Like The Kite Runner, Into the Wild  has been made into a movie.

A nomad can be described as one who wanders from place to place, usually aimlessly, and does not have a fixed residence. Christopher Johnson McCandless, must have had some nomadic tendencies during his early life – one that set him on an adventurous itinerant course throughout the U.S. and which eventually ended his life in the Alaskan wilderness in an abandoned school bus near the northern shadow of Mt. McKinley in the summer of 1992. After his death, Outside Magazine commissioned Krakauer to write a story about this odyssey. The author became so struck by McCandless, his education, background and beliefs and death-defying life style, that he decided to write a book (Into The Wild) in an attempt to fill in the missing pieces of “what happened.” He traces his travels and highlights the observations recounted by people he met during the course of his travels.                                                                                                                   Reportedly, from an early age, McCandless was drawn to the works of such writers as Tolstoy, Henry David Thoreau, Jack London, John Muir and Louis L’Amour, just to mention a few. To him, life was not to be lived in a conventional way, but to see, hear and feel what existed “outside the box.”  After his graduation from Emory University in Atlanta in 1990 with a background in anthropology, and much to the dismay of his parents, Chris renounced his previous life and… “he even adopted a new name. No longer would he answer to Chris McCandless, he was now Alexander Supertramp, master of his own destiny.” Like Horace Greeley, he headed West. Krakauer spends much of the book tracing his travels and his thoughts as Chris crisscrosses back and forth across the country in search of uncovering the true meaning of life (his emphasis).  McCandless’ ultimate fate is compared to other outdoor adventurers like Jack London, Everett Ruess, Gene Rosellini and John Waterman. Their feats in mountain climbing and survival brought them such labels as hero, stupid, idealistic and sometimes wacko….

Alaska always lurked in the back of McCandless’ mind. To him, it would be the ultimate adventure to disappear into the wilderness and live in a symbiotic relationship with nature. His dream came true, but sadly, it turned out to be his last adventure.

I hope I have given the reader a taste for reading about the travels of a young man who was hell-bent on bringing his life to full circle. I can’t help but think that there is a little (sometimes a lot) of the wild side in all of us. What drives us, or pushed Chris McCandless, will remain a product of our/his being, both nature and nurture.

 

 

UPDATE AS OF 1/5/08

 

KITE RUNNER:  I reviewed this book last year and said it was a winner. At that time, I also announced that there would be a movie made about the story. Well, Vangie and I just saw it today. It, too, is a winner. You might enjoy viewing this moving story on film. The film follows the book closely. Powerful and moving in every respect…. and thank God we don’t live in Afghanistan.

 

 

 

 

 

Buy Tickets Here: WWW.PSFOLLIES.COM	Vol. XVII, Issue V NOVEMBER 2007
Darlin's, Our all-new Follies opened on Tuesday, October 30, with an explosion of sequins and confetti, and the great songs of Tin Pan Alley! The enthusiastic opening-day audience rewarded us with most welcome howls of laughter, cheers and a standing ovation. I won’t say it’s easy to top our previous efforts, but I do believe we’ve done it. I’ve included a few photos, but you can best judge for yourself in person, when next we welcome you to the historic old Plaza Theatre. Speaking of recent events, California has been very much in the news of late. But if I may paraphrase Mark Twain, reports of the state’s demise have been greatly exaggerated. Over the years, our beloved Golden State has survived earthquakes, mudslides and oil spills. The Donner party, the Zoot Suit Riots and the Summer of Love. We specialize in “recovery.” In fact, we have any number of clinics and halfway houses devoted to it! And to us in the Desert, Mother Nature was kind this year. (As she almost always is, except in midsummer, when she vacations elsewhere.) The Palm Springs area is bustling beneath sunny skies as snowbirds and tourists make their annual return for the “Season.” It’s rather like the swallows returning to San Juan Capistrano. But with a lot more feathers! Be well and we’ll see you soon at the Follies! Riff Markowitz "The Follies Man" For a fascinating glimpse "behind the scenes" of the Follies, please click here to view a brief video. The Desert Sun Newspaper's Matt Wolfe is given a backstage tour by Follies Assistant Director Amy Sand as she readies the show for its 17th season premier earlier this week.     We partner with over 35 restaurants, hotels, attractions, retailers and special services to assist in making your visit to Palm Springs and the Follies even more enjoyable. Please browse the "Visitor Information" page of the Follies website or click here for a complete listing plus additional helpful details. Some vendors even make special offers exclusive to Follies patrons, so please check with them before your next Follies visit. This page also includes parking information and street directions to make getting to the Follies as easy as possible!   The Follies box office is open Monday through Saturday 10:00AM-5:00PM an agent can be reached from 9:00AM-6:00PM by calling (760) 327-0225; Sunday hours are 10:00AM-4:00PM or you can purchase tickets online 24 hours a day at www.psfollies.com and see your exact seat location at the time of booking. The Follies physical box office, located at the entrance to the Historic Plaza Theatre, is open on the same days.

128 South Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs, Cal

 

 

 

                                                       DEDICATED

                                                                TO:

EARL MORTENSON

 

                            “THE LAST CATCH BY A SILENT GIANT”

                                               A WILDCAT TRIBUTE

 

            YOUR DAYS HERE ON EARTH ARE OVER, BUT NOT FORGOTTEN.

FROM BIRTH TO DEATH, YOU HAVE LED A PRODUCTIVE AND DIGNIFIED LIFE. YOUR CLASSMATES RECOGNIZE, RESPECT AND CHERISH YOU AS A HUMBLE PERSON –ONE WITH BASIC TRUE GRIT. THE LOVE YOU GAVE AND RECEIVED, FROM FAMILY AND FRIENDS, WAS UNCONDITIONAL.

AT OUR 55^TH REUNION YOU MADE YOUR “LAST CATCH” THROWN BY YOUR TEAMMATE, GENE CAMERON.  

MAY YOUR ASSENT GRANT YOU EVERLASTING PEACE AS YOU CROSS OVER HOME PLATE.                                                                                         YOU WILL ALWAYS REMAIN “A SILENT GIANT.                                          WE SALUTE YOU, DEAR EARL, AS A MIGHTY WILDCAT.

 

                (Reflections from your classmates by JR)

           

 

REVIEW FOR 8.19.07

 

EXCUSES, EXCUSES, EXCUSES…..

My absence has been obvious. There is not much I can say except being a newly-wed brings certain responsibilities and commitments - ones that I should have not put in my pre-nuptial agreement! We just got back from Alaska this week. Great trip!! Traveling allows me to do some long awaited reading. So I’m back, but not with a vengeance.

 

FORWARD:

My review this week is not timed with the recent bridge tragedy in Minneapolis. It was a coincidence that I started reading TRAIN MAN (1999) by P. T. Deutermann before the collapse. The major difference between the real-life disaster in Minnesota and those in Deutermann’s novel is that the outcomes resulted from differing acts, unintentional versus. intentional.. Simon and Garfunkel’s song about “Bridge Over Troubled Waters” could very well apply to the mission of the bad guy, Train Man, - to get even with the railroad system for wrecking his life. A vendetta with a cause…

    “Death was not something he feared anymore. He’d treat them just like those     locomotives had treated his family: like a machine, without compunction, without     mercy.  All he had to do was to close his eyes, summon the scene at the crossing,  and all sense of fair play and responsibility drained right out of him. He was        determined. He was implacable. And he was winning.”

 

THE PLOT:

Assistant FBI Director Hush Hanson is selected to coordinate the investigation of a series of bridges over the Mississippi that are being destroyed (all, or in part)  Note: there are six bridges over the lower Mississippi. Hush’s past follows him everywhere. Early in his career, he saved his two captive partners by shooting four drug dealers without warning, earning him a “don’t mess with Hush” reputation. His experience in the field elevated him to a desk job in Washington until he was assigned to solve the bridge dilemma, along with the responsibility (almost equal in magnitude) of having handsome Agent Carolyn Lang  as his assistant. Lang has a reputation among her peers as a snitch and untrustworthy team player. Hanson and Lang are embedded in political infighting with the FBI, police, military, political, and railroad players as they go about trying to catch the person or group who is trying to cripple the railroad system. Captain Mike Powers from the Missouri Highway Patrol teams up with Hush and Carolyn as they try to outmaneuver, not only The Train Man, but their own crime fighting colleagues who are more interested in salvaging and furthering their political careers.                                                                               Dubbed the Train Man, the perpetrator sets out to raise havoc with the railroad system by putting bridges out of commission. Rail shipments, both east and west of the Mississippi, are clogging the staging yards on each side of the river. The pressure to move goods by rail necessitates diverting shipments to other bridges that are still functioning along “The Old Man River.” The Train Man, however, manages to stay one step ahead of the “good guys.” as he utilizes his special knowledge, skills and strategies in his attempts to destroy each of the six bridges. Initially, the true identity of the Train Man is unknown; however, mid-book (much too soon, in my opinion), the author will get you on board with a stunning surprise.                                                                                                 SUBPLOT:                                                                                                                                  It is bad enough that the destruction of bridges is taking its toll on the railroads, but Deutermann introduces a subplot that converges on the necessity to unplug the movement of shipments east and west of the Mississippi. Enter the Army….The Army’s task is to transport a load of nuclear waste from captured Russian torpedoes with nuclear warheads from Alabama to a disposal site in Utah. The waste material must cross the “Big River.” How and when to move the dangerous material result in an internal political struggle - one that pits those responsible to physically get the job done, with the chain-of-command, all the way to Washington. The Army wants to keep this dangerous shipment a secret from the public and railroad system, yet it wants priority treatment. With the remaining bridges in jeopardy, the special “hot” rail cars need to get across the river before all east-west movements are ground to a halt, even if certain risks are taken. The reader is kept in suspense with a possible double disaster in the making.

Ride the rails with Hush and his counterparts as they slowly play catch-up with the Train Man as he plays out a personal vendetta with potentially enormous consequences.

 

If you enjoy Deutermann’s writing, then you might want to read some of his other novels, Zero Option, Sweepers, Official Privilege, The Edge of Honor, and Scorpion  In The Sea. He has been widely acclaimed by the literary world for his unique and inside knowledge of the military (emphasis Navy) and the Washington political scene. A combination of naval politics and murder make for an interesting new genre.

JR

 

                                                                                                                                                MONROVIA HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION SPEECH – CLASS OF 2007

                                                            JUNE 14, 2007

 

TODAY IS NOT TOMORROW, AND YOU CAN’T GET TO TOMORROW WITHOUT GETTING THROUGH TODAY!   SO, LIVE TODAY FOR WHAT IT BRINGS,  IT CAN MEAN A LOT TOMORROW

 

I EXTEND A SINCERE AND WARM WELCOME TO ALL SCHOOL AND

COMMUNITY LEADERS, FAMILIES, AND FRIENDS, AND ESPECIALLY TO

YOU, THE GRADUATING CLASS OF 2007  WE ARE HERE THIS EVENING TO HONOR YOU.

                                                                                                                                           AS A FORMER SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT IN THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA AND A GRADUATE OF THIS HIGH SCHOOL, I EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION TO YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK TO YOU TONIGHT;  MY WIFE AND I SAT IN YOUR SEATS  OVER 50 YEARS AGO IN THE CLASSES OF 1949 AND 1950. AFTER A BRIEF COURTSHIP IN HIGH SCHOOL, WE EACH GRADUATED AND WENT OUR SEPARATE WAYS.  NOW, AFTER THE RECENT DEATH OF OUR SPOUSES AND AN ABSENCE OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN US FOR 56 YEARS, WE  REKINDLED OUR FRIENDSHIP THROUGH THE ENCOURAGEMENT OF FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND THIS SCHOOL’S ALUMNI WEBSITE  I GUESS THE MORAL OF MY STORY IS BE MINDFUL OF THOSE YOU HAVE CHOSEN FOR FRIENDS BECAUSE YOU MAY MARRY ONE SOME DAY. I DID!. I HOPE YOU WILL MAINTAIN CONTACT WITH YOUR CLASSMATES IN THE YEARS AHEAD. YOU MAY NOT REALIZE IT NOW BUT WITH AGE, COMES AN APPRECIATION FOR THIS WONDERFUL SCHOOL AND FOR YOUR CLASSMATES. YEARS FROM NOW YOU MAY NOT REMEMBER WHO WAS SITTING NEXT TO YOU AT THIS EXERCISE, OR WHAT BECAME OF YOUR FRIENDS. SO, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO, ESTABLISH ON ONGOING ALUMNI  COMMUNICATION LINK BY JOINING OUR ALUMNI WEBSITE.

           

WHEN I WAS ASKED TO SPEAK AT THIS COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY, I WANTED TO SHARE A MESSAGE OF ENCOURAGEMENT - ONE THAT WOULD HELP YOU CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD IN LIFE.

 

SEVERAL THOUSAND YEARS AGO, THE MIGHTY ROMAN GENERAL JULIUS CAESAR ONCE UTTERED THE FAMOUS LATIN WORDS, “VENI (WENI),  VIDI (WIDI),  VICI (WIKI) (I CAME, I SAW, I CONQUERED). I FIRST HEARD THIS PHRASE IN MISS DRUMMOND’S LATIN CLASS HERE AT THIS HIGH SCHOOL WHEN I WAS IN THE 9^TH GRADE.. THESE WORDS HAVE NEVER LEFT ME, REPORTEDLY, CAESAR USED THESE THREE WORDS WHILE ADDRESSING THE SENATE, THE GOVERNING BODY OF ROME, AFTER SUCCESSFULLY ENGAGING IN A BATTLE.   TONIGHT I WOULD LIKE TO USE HIS WORDS, BUT WITH MY INTERPRETATION

 

VENI…..I CAME =  HE ARRIVED, HE WENT SOME PLACE

VIDI…..I SAW =  HE OBSERVED AND LEARNED WHAT HAD TO BE DONE

VICI…..I CONQUERED =   HE MASTERED, AND ACHIEVED HIS OBJECTIVE,

 

NOW JULIUS MAY HAVE UTTERED THESE WORDS BACK IN 47 B.C., BUT THE MEANING BEHIND THESE THREE WORDS HAVE BEEN PRACTICED BY MEN AND WOMEN THROUGHOUT THE AGES.  AS I DEFINE HIS ACTIONS,  YOU MUST FIRST GO SOME PLACE AND LEARN,  BEFORE YOU CAN ACCOMPLISH THE IMPORTANT AND PERSONAL MISSIONS IN LIFE -ONES THAT MAY NOT ONLY CHANGE YOUR LIFE, BUT MAY CHANGE THE LIVES OF OTHERS …

FOR EXAMPLE: GALILEO WAS MOTIVATED THROUGH SCIENCE, SPECIFICALLY ASTRONOMY;  MOZART CREATED MUSIC,  HEMMINGWAY- LITERATURE,  JOHN WAYNE BECAME A GREAT- ACTOR,  MARTIN LUTHER KING –FOUGHT FOR CIVIL RIGHTS, TIGER WOODS- THE ICON OF GOLF,   BILL GATES – COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY , AND MOST RECENTLY THE 17 YEAR OLD SINGER,  JORDAN SPARKS, WHO SPARKED HER WAY INTO BECOMING AN AMERICAN IDOL.  YOUR LIVES ARE TOO IMPORTANT TO DISCARD ANY NOTION THAT YOU CAN’T ACHIEVE MORE THAN YOU HAVE, TO DATE.  YOU HAVE ARRIVED HERE TODAY NOT BY ACCIDENT, BUT THROUGH YOUR TENACITY AND TRUE GRIT.  THAT IS WHY WE SALUTE YOU TONIGHT.

 

BUT WHAT ABOUT TOMORROW, AND WHAT LIES AHEAD?  WHERE WILL YOUR ROAD ALONG LIFE’S HIGHWAY LEAD?

IF YOU EXPECT TO ACCOMPLISH SOMETHING, YOU MUST FIRST REACH OUT AND APPLY YOURSELF.  THEN YOU CAN SAY “BEEN THERE, DONE THAT.”  THE RESULTS WILL TELL YOU WHETHER YOU WISH TO CONTINUE  DEVELOPING A PARTICULAR SKILL OR INTEREST.   IT IS THROUGH YOUR INITIATIVE ONLY, THAT YOU WILL BE ABLE TO DO THE VERY THINGS YOU WANT TO DO.  NOW IS THE TIME TO LOOK FORWARD AND DEFINE YOUR MISSION IN LIFE, BOTH PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL..

 

TODAY, MARKS A POWERFUL FULFILLMENT IN ONE PHASE OF YOUR LIFE’S JOURNEY. .YOUR PRINCIPAL, MR. ZEPEDA TOLD ME THAT 87% OF YOU WILL BE CONTINUING SOME FORM OF HIGHER EDUCATION. THIS IS AN IMPRESSIVE AND ADMIRABLE STATISTIC – ONE THAT SIGNIFIES THAT YOU ARE A CLASS OF DOERS...

 

ALL MY LIFE I HAVE LOVED THE OUTDOORS. I HAVE TRAVELED ON MANY MOUNTAIN TRAILS  TO PLACES WHICH HAVE GIVEN ME A BETTER UNDERSTANDING AND APPRECIATION FOR OUR VAST WILDERNESS AND UNIVERSE.  I HAVE LEARNED THAT SOMETIMES THERE WILL BE INTERRUPTIONS IN MY DAILY LIVING PATTERNS.  AND, WHAT I AM ABOUT TO SAY WILL OCCUR TO YOU. ALSO.  FOR CERTAIN INTENDED OR UNEXPECTED EVENTS WILL OCCUR THAT WILL BRING ROAD BLOCKS, SLOWDOWNS OR SPEEDUPS IN YOUR LIVES..  MARRIAGE, BIRTH OF OFFSPRING, DEATH OF FAMILY OR FRIENDS, SICKNESS, PROMOTIONS, OR EVEN CATASTROPHIC EVENTS LIKE INTERNATIONAL CONFLICTS, OR NATURAL DISASTERS, ALL OF THESE CAN AFFECT  DAILY LIVES. AND BELIEVE ME, THEY WILL.

 

SEVERAL YEARS AGO, MY FIRST WIFE PASSED AWAY FROM CANCER. WE HAD BEEN MARRIED FOR ALMOST 50 YEARS. HER ILLNESS AND UNTIMELY DEATH BROUGHT FEELINGS OF UNCERTAINTY INTO MY LIFE. I WASN’T     READY TO SAY GOODBYE. AND THE MANY THINGS THAT I WAS DOING, OR WANTED TO DO, WERE PUT ON HOLD DURING HER ILLNESS. I LEARNED THAT THROUGH HER DEATH MY MISSION IN LIFE WAS NOT ALWAYS ABOUT ME AND MY PERSONAL PURSUITS.  BUT IT WAS A TIME TO REACH OUT TO HER AND TO MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS. AFTER HER PASSING, I SOON REALIZED THAT ALTHOUGH THERE HAD BEEN A TEMPORARY DIVERGENCE IN THE DIRECTION OF MY LIFE,  THERE WAS STILL TIME FOR ME TO REMAIN PRODUCTIVE AND BRING NEW MEANING TO MY EXISTENCE.  I COULD STILL GO PLACES AND LEARN NEW THINGS  AND TRY TO ACHIEVE THE THINGS I WANTED TO DO.

 

WE ALL HAVE ACTIVE FORCES WITHIN US THAT DRIVE US FORWARD, AND MAYBE FOR SOME, EVEN BACKWARD.  ONE OF MY LIFE’S AMBITIONS WAS TO CLIMB MT. KILIMANJARO, IN TANZANIA AFRICA,  ONE OF THE SEVEN  HIGHEST SUMMITS ON THE CONTINENTS OF THE EARTH. IT IS THE HIGHEST FREE-STANDING MOUNTAIN ON THIS PLANET.   AND, WHEN I MADE THE DECISION TO MOVE FORWARD WITH MY QUEST,  IT BECAME CLEAR THAT I NEEDED TO LEARN AND TRAIN MY 74 YEAR OLD BODY AND MIND ONCE AGAIN. AFTER MONTHS OF PREPARATION, I REACHED THE TOP ON JUNE 25, LAST YEAR WEARING MY MONROVIA HIGH SCHOOL -SHIRT AND BALL CAP.. OF SPECIAL INTEREST, I ATTRIBUTED MUCH OF THE SUCCESS OF MY CLIMB TO MY OLD HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL COACH, BOB BLACKMAN. HE TAUGHT ME “NEVER GIVE UP” AS LONG AS I COULD FIND MERIT IN WHAT I WAS DOING.  THE ECHO OF HIS WORDS WAS WITH ME ALL THE WAY TO THE TOP TO 19,340 FEET.   YOU, TOO, CAN REACH OUT AND ATTAIN NEW HEIGHTS, BUT NOT BEFORE KNOWING WHAT YOU ARE REACHING FOR.

                                                                                                                                          WE HAVE ALL HEARD OF SOMEONE WHO HAD AN INNOVATIVE IDEA OR NOTION  - ONE THAT LED TO THE CREATION OF A NEW GADGET, A BUSINESS, OR A PERSONAL PURSUIT.. THESE PEOPLE, HOWEVER, HAD FIRST LEARNED TO UNDERSTAND ENOUGH BASIC SUBJECT MATTER IN ORDER TO TRANSLATE THEIR THOUGHTS AND ACTIONS INTO NEW IDEAS AND TECHNOLOGIES..  HOW MUCH EDUCATION, THEN, DOES ONE NEED?  THAT IS FOR YOU TO DECIDE.  WHAT YOU HAVE LEARNED, TO DATE, IS IMPORTANT. HOW YOU WILL ADAPT TO THE FORTHCOMING FREEWAY OF INFORMATION, AND HOW YOU WILL USE IT, WILL DEPEND ON YOUR WILLINGNESS TO CONTINUE TO GROW.  SOME OF YOU MAY ELECT TO LET LIFE JUST HAPPEN AND RETIRE TO AN EARLY ROCKING CHAIR AND “ROLL WITH THE FLOW”  AND WATCH THE WORLD GO BY.  IT’S YOUR CHOICE. WE WILL ALL DIE SOME DAY, BUT YOU DON’T HAVE TO LIVE ON A DEAD-END STREET. SO ASK YOURSELF IF YOU WANT TO BE A PERSON THAT MAKES THINGS HAPPEN,  OR ONE WHO WATCHES  WHAT HAPPENS, OR JUST ONE WHO NEVER KNEW WHAT HAPPENED!!

 

            TODAY, IS THE DAY YOUR HAVE ALL WAITED FOR. YOU HAVE NOW EARNED THE RIGHT TO HANG YOUR HAT ON THE HOOK OF YOUR CHOICE. MANY CHALLENGES WILL BE THROWN IN YOUR DIRECTION. HOW YOU MEET THEM WILL DEPEND ON YOUR FUTURE ASPIRATIONS AND EXPECTATIONS.  MOVING FORWARD MAY COME AT VARYING PACES. IT WILL REQUIRE PATIENCE AND THE WILLINGNESS TO PUT FORTH A SOLID AND FULFILLING EFFORT SO THAT YOU CAN  “BE ALL THAT YOU CAN BE.”

 

YES, “THERE IS A HIGH SCHOOL IN THE VALLEY THAT IS LACKING NOT IN FAME” AND YOU, THE CLASS OF 2007 HAS BROUGHT GREAT CREDIT TO ITS NAME.

 

 I WILL CLOSE WITH THESE WORDS THAT I WROTE JUST FOR YOU TONIGHT

 

            YOUR LIFE HAS ATTENDED DOWN MANY PATHS

            IT TWISTED AND TURNED, ITS DIRECTION NOT ALWAYS CLEAR.

            EACH HAS GROWN IN BODY AND MIND

            TO CAST NEW LINES INTO WATERS UNKNOWN

            AS YOU REAP YOUR HARVEST AND YOUR MISSION BECOMES  
            CLEAR

            THINK NOT OF SELF ONLY, BUT OF OTHERS IN PEACE AND          
            PROSPERITY

            STEP FORTH WITH DIGNITY, STRENGTH AND HUMILITY

            AND GIVE THANKS TO THOSE WHO HAVE BROUGHT
            YOU OPPORTUNITY

            NOW TAKE THAT PATH, THE ONE YOU DEEM RIGHT

            IT’S THE WILDCAT TRADITION, IT’S GREEN AND WHITE..

 

AGAIN, I EXTEND MY CONGRATULATIONS ON A JOB WELL DONE.        NOW GO FORTH AND FIND YOUR OWN MOUNTAIN, THEN CLIMB IT!!

 

jr

 

6/14/07

 

 

 

OVERVIEW:  MAY 3, 2007

MONROVIA HIGH SCHOOL TODAY, MY OBSERVATIONS

 

Note:  I hope this edition will prompt some of you to visit our old/new school during the upcoming Monrovia Days Celebration and All-Class reunion the weekend of May 19^th

One week ago I visited what used-to-be-known-as our MAD campus. I had a scheduled meeting with Frank Zepeda, the current principal. Here are some observations that surfaced in my mind…..

                As I looked at the buildings and campus from Colorado Blvd., although old in architectural style, the school still stands tall and beautiful like the Statue of Liberty.

                The surrounding neighborhood has been, and continues to be, in a state of restoration. Many older homes have been “fixed up” and reflect pride of ownership.

                If I wanted to use one word that depicted the students as they went about their daily routines, then I would select the word ORDERLY. I did not see any one who seemed out of character. But then again, I did not see everyone.

                My first steps onto the campus bisected the middle of  the giant front lawn. It was the shortest and fastest way to the front entry.  The same U-shaped  sidewalk pattern still exists, however, and encircles the lawn. I thought to myself that my rogue entry might be against school rules, but I managed to cut a straight path across the lawn as if “it was the green-green grass of home.”

                The front entry lobby still looks the same. Looking straight ahead stood the tall entry doors into the auditorium. Immediately to my left I saw the first office with the notation over the door, “Principal’s Office.” Familiar? Yes. I can still remember it when it housed Stan McClintock and Max Forney. Unfortunately, my visits to their office was not always for positive reasons! Two ladies occupied the outer office. I was asked to take a seat until Frank could see me. I sat down next to a male student who was serving some time until the bell rang.

As I sat there recalling school days of old,  in walked Bruce Staller (’54).  We “Let the good times roll” as we shared news, both old and new.

                Showtime! Frank opened his door letting out a few people from his previous meeting and then headed directly for me. We greeted each other and I immediately knew he was the right person for the job.

His dark (slightly graying) hair, rugged brown face, and green Wildcat polo shirt, adorned  his six foot frame. His family roots are in El Monte where he once plied his athletic prowess against MAD. His academic background as an English major, business and administrative skills, combined with a warm and sensitive personality have become his “calling cards.” to success

                Bruce joined us and we shared a lot of small-talk before settling down to business.

With a true sense of pride and accomplishment, Frank spoke of “his school” as if it is his family. It is. He shared the organization and administration of Monrovia High School, the make-up of its 1850 students, and what makes it tick. For instance, every administrator has an assigned role in discipline. Frank’s responsibility is for the senior class. Every senior must sign a contract concerning what is expected of him/her in order to graduate and participate in school activities. His no-nonsense approach has been very successful. The school had just finished going through the Western States’ Assessment Program (WASP) and it was given flying colors (that’s a good report for those in Rio Linda). Today, eighty-seven percent (87%) of the graduating class will go on to higher education. This is a remarkable number considering less that half of the senior classes continued their schooling twenty years ago! Under Frank’s guidance, Monrovia has been awarded a monetary grant to pursue the teaching of a multi-disciplinary approach to science. The school believes that physics, chemistry, and math do not have to be taught as separate subjects. He believes that much of the content of these classes can be collectively taught through an inter-disciplinary approach.

The community, I learned, is very supportive of its school. Last year a $57 million dollar bond issue was approved and many projects have begun, or will soon be underway. The quad is scheduled for extensive upgrades, as is the cafeteria, Kitten Koop, and library.

The grounds appeared clean (except for the usual gum on the sidewalks). Noticeable attempts have been made to make the campus safe. Jim Browne(’50) and Bob Humble (’47) have previously reported on the successes of the activities and athletic programs. Of particular interest, girls athletics have made noticeable strides. Remember our GAA program? It was good for some, but not for a lot….  As I walked around the campus with Frank, I couldn’t help but be affected by his enthusiasm and sense of purpose. A visit to the library (it is now in a separate building just north-east of the quad was an eye-opener. It is large, well equipped and filled with students. The school has recently added an observatory and a bonafide astronomy teacher to its curriculum and staff. Talk about reaching for the stars…..

 

Disclaimer: The observations in this report are mine only. Any story of MAD will be incomplete and will remain a product of your own experiences, then and now. I just found this opportunity to share my visit with you fun and memorable. I still consider MAD “the high school in the valley that is lacking not in fame.”

 

Graduation is June 14^th, 2007 at 7:00 PM on the football field. Last year Bob Packer was the keynote speaker, This year I have been asked to deliver the commencement address. I look forward to being there. Here are my closing words for the graduating class:

               

                Your life has attended down many paths

                It twisted and turned, its direction not always clear

                Each has grown in body and mind

                To cast new lines into waters unknown.

                As you reap your harvest and your mission becomes clear,

                Think not of self only, but of others in peace.

                Step forth with dignity, strength and humility,

                An give thanks to those who have brought your opportunity.

                Now take that path, the one you deem right,

                It’s the Wildcat tradition, It’s Green and White.

 

Like our days at Monrovia, don’t forget Monrovia Day.

 

JR

 

 

 

REVIEW FOR MARCH 25, 2007

 

Amidst “March Madness,” a volatile stock market, and explosive world conditions, I often find that my mind doesn’t take time to nurse the “other” things in life. I can remember just sitting on a swing moving forward and backward, or parking my body supine on the green grass lawn looking up at the sky, and letting my mind wander with no true sense of direction. We can still, I believe, meander into our own inner worlds despite our aging age….

This week I returned to my home in the bay area, Monte Sereno, to be with my 97 year old mother-in-law and to cut my lawns. Yes, I still do my own yard maintenance. As I left San Diego and my better half, Evangeline, she gave me an old and moving letter sent to some of Coach Bob Blackman’s friends and family by his wife, Kay, and daughter, Julie after his sudden and untimely death March 17, 2000. As I was cutting my lawn today, I thought about Coach Blackman and the influence he had on my life and, I’m sure, on many others. At his parting directions, Kay shared some of his last words with his family and friends. I realize that some of you may have read this epistle, but for those who have not, it will be a moving experience. Kay, by the way, passed away several years ago. Bob Blackman will be remembered by all of us classmates who knew him as a positive influence, both on and off the field. His lengthy and illustrious coaching career promulgated a lasting “touch” - one that belongs in our website column “Gone But Not forgotten.”

 

            From Kay and Julie….

                        Unbelievably Bob wrote this long letter while waiting in our hotel in Singapore for our flight home. On our flight he became ill again and the plane made an emergency landing in San Francisco with an ambulance waiting to take him to the hospital where he passed away a day later. He even wrote a list of people he wanted me to send it to. So we are forwarding it to you.

 

            From Coach Blackman….The Saga of “An Unplanned Trip” (Unedited)

                        Since we feel some of our relatives and close friends may be curious as to exactly “what happened?” on our recent trip, we hope you won’t mind this joint message since there isn’t time to write the details to each of you.

                        When we write our annual Christmas Letter we try to emphasize the good things that have happened to us during the past year, rather than mentioning the infirmities that people our age are bound to have, - and anyway who really wants to hear about someone else’s aches and pains? I’m afraid, however, to fully explain why an old coach spent a week in a hospital in Singapore (of all places). I will have to go into some of the gruesome details.

                        Since our retirement we have had the very good fortune of traveling to just about every place in the world and have enjoyed seeing new and interesting things as well as places of historical significance. The trouble was we had about run out of places to go, so we were looking for something “a little different”. We receive at least a dozen travel advertisements each week, but it suddenly piqued our interest when we received a brochure entitled “Wonders of the East” from Grand Circle Travel, which featured a beautiful old sailing vessel on the cover. The tour included 3 days each in Hong Kong, Singapore and Bangkok. We had been to these places before, but since they are the most exciting cities in the world, we knew we would enjoy visiting them again. What intrigued us about this trip, however, was that from Singapore we were to board a four masted clipper ship that would sail up the west coast of Malaysia and Thailand, visiting such exotic ports as MELACCA, PENANG, LANGKAWI, AND KO DAM HOK; then sailing around the SIMILAN ISLANDS that are supposed to have the clearest waters for snorkeling and scuba diving. The thing I most looked forward to seeing was the Bay of Phang Nga where, along the beautiful beaches, there are odd shaped limestone formation rising 90 feet or more from the sea, many caverns and underground springs, and one even with a four foot reclining Buddha. This is where several James Bond’s earlier movies were filmed. We were to disembark at Phuket and fly to Bangkok for three days before flying home. What made the trip sound even more romantic is that we were to depart on March 3^rd, the date of our 56^th Wedding Anniversary.

                        When playing golf the last few weeks before leaving on the trip, I experienced the strange sensation of extreme fatigue when walking up to even a slightly elevated tee or green. After resting momentarily, the feeling would disappear and I was able to go ahead and hit the ball. I attributed this to “advanced old age” so didn’t even tell my golfing buddies about it. Of course if I had any brains I would have discussed it with our family doctor, but since I didn’t have any feeling of sickness, and I wanted to go on the ship, I chose to ignore it.

                        On March 3^rd and 4^th we flew from Savannah to Atlanta, to Detroit, and then to Tokyo before finally disembarking at Hong Kong’s huge and very impressive new multi-billion dollar airport built out over Lantau Island. We had passed through 13 time zones and the combined flights had taken over 36 hours; but I didn’t feel any more tired than was to be expected from a trip of that length. As soon as we got off the plane, however, I discovered I couldn’t walk 25yards without a feeling of total exhaustion coming over my legs, hips, arms and shoulders. Again, however, I didn’t feel any illness and seemed to recover quickly enough that I could go on a short distance before having to stop and rest again. The next morning, stupid me insisted that we go along with our tour group to see the usual Hong Kong tourist sights: Victoria Peak, Aberdeen fishing village, Repulse Bay and, of course, a little shopping at the Stanley Market place. I was so tired that we didn’t do much the next couple of days except ride the famed “Star Ferry” across busy Hong Kong Harbor between Kowloon and Hong Kong Island. (You couldn’t beat the price, it is free for senior citizens). When we left Hong Kong I again had a very tough time, I felt ok on the plane, but had to rest several times just going up the ramp from the plane into the terminal at Singapore. It was then that our very efficient and helpful Grand Circle Tour Director, Phil Sheldon, insisted that I see a doctor as soon as we arrived at the hotel. The doctor then insisted I get to the hospital as fast as possible.

                        Singapore is the largest port in the world, is undoubtedly one of the world’s most attractive and best landscaped cities, and is perhaps the world’s cleanest city. (You can go to jail for dropping a gum wrapper in the street.) The very large and modern Mount Elizabeth Hospital is probably the best place to be if you have to be hospitalized. The staff is a combination of nationalities including primarily Chinese, Indians, Malaysians, and Indonesians. They were all good in their respective jobs and all very nice people; although I could only catch a small portion of what was said to me because I had trouble understanding the various accents. The individual who examined me first was Dr. See Hock Chuan, but he quickly turned me over to their senior Cardiologist, Dr. Philip Koh Siam Soon and senior Hematologist, Dr. Ronda P. Ng. They were all very intelligent and knowledgeable gentlemen who inspired confidence and showed great compassion. I couldn’t have done better! They put me through a battery of tests; blood samples, electrocardiograms, chest s-rays, etc. The only one that was painful, but also very funny, was when Dr. Ng was having a difficult time trying to push a hollow needle through my hip bone to take a bone marrow sample for a biopsy. The three little oriental nurses in attendance couldn’t help breaking into giggles watching him struggle. He said in his long experience he had never before encountered such hard bone (and to think all those years people told me it was the bone in my head that was dense!).

                        My case was diagnosed as “Extreme Acute Anemia”. This came as a shock to me as in my mind I had always pictured a guy with anemia as a very slight, pale looking person; and since I have always been stocky with a ruddy complexion, I hardly fit this description. It seemed I had only about half the normal amount of blood, with a very low corpuscle and hemoglobin count because of some type of “anti-body” that had invaded my system. My problem was I simply wasn’t getting enough oxygen. They said for a man going on 82 years of age in this condition, the worst thing that I could do was make long walks through large airports and lifting heavy luggage off the carousels. They said it was remarkable that I hadn’t dropped dead with a heart attack and probably the only thing that saved me was I had always had a strong heart with lower than normal blood pressure and pulse rate (lucky again!). Although my case had been easy for them to diagnose, they had trouble trying to figure out what the “anti-body” was in my blood stream that was killing off the “good guys”

                          To cure me enough to ship me home, I had four 7 hour long blood transfusions (they had to be slow to gradually accustom my heart to carry a normal load again), numerous injections of what I take it was “good stuff”, and as many as eleven pills of different sizes and shapes at a time. When I learned that some of the pills were a form of steroids, my doctors thought I was funny when I said I hoped they realized this knocked me out of the next Olympics since steroids are considered a performance enhancing substance that are banned from sports.

                        All of this had to be much harder on my poor little wife than it was on me; but in her usual way Kay was always cheerful and never complained. She sat beside me most of the day in the hospital and then took a cab back to the hotel, which had to be very lonely particularly after the rest of our tour group departed on the cruise. Over our 56 years together, whenever I have told Kay how sweet she was, her standard reply was always “no I’m tough, I’m even tougher than your are!” I’m finally beginning to realize she has been right all this time.

                        On all of our trips we have always taken travel insurance and I’ve even read the fine print about “Emergency Medial Evacuation”, but thank goodness we had the insurance this time. I wanted to get out of the hospital and get home the fastest way possible.

                        Since I wanted to get this little epistle out as soon as possible to answer our friends’ questions, most of it is being written in the hotel while awaiting our trip back to the States. It is my hope that daughter Julie will type it up and have copies made for me as soon as possible. (Incidentally poor Julie was very scared when she learned her Dad was in the hospital on the far side of the world.)

                        When we reach home on Hilton Head, I hope to recover my strength quickly and be back playing golf in a few weeks. We will continue our love for travel but think we will now pretty well confine it to our own country. There are some trips in the United States we have always wanted to make (such as a steam boat cruise up the Mississippi) but kept putting it off as we felt we could always do that “when we get old”. Perhaps it is time to admit we have reached that stage.

                        At any rate we have had a great life and count our blessings.     

                        My apology for allowing this to become so lengthy. Kay joins me in sending our love.

                                                            Sincerely,

 

                                                            Bob

 

Some After Thoughts……

            Bob Blackman’s moving letter reveals the kind of man he truly was (and in my mind still is). He was sensitive to life, family oriented, and never forgot the purpose of reaching the goal line. His professional record speaks for itself. If any man has achieved the ultimate Roman expression, “ I came, I saw, I conquered,” It is Coach Blackman

He belongs in our website column, “Gone, But Not Forgotten.”. 

 

JR

 

REVIEW FOR MARCH 11, 2007

 

Sidebar #1:       My absence from writing reviews has been obvious. I will try to get back on track even though the pace might be a bit slower. “Playing house in an old house with a new wife” has occupied most of my time these days. I should have realized that these two ingredients bring forth high maintenance issues!

 

Sidebar #2:       I recently wrote some prose for a good friend, Wayne, upon his retirement. He represents, I believe, the true meaning of being a motorcycle enthusiast. He has been a “biker” most of his life and plans to spend his remaining days on the highways.

Upon reflection, I thought the words could just as well pertain to true friendships, in general. I would like to share them with you. Maybe, they represent your feelings, also.

 

                        My Way, Is The Highway

           

            Friendships are made, not born.

            Friendships are reciprocal, not one-way.

            Friendships begin without fanfare

            They develop over time and they are not forced.

            They are measured by thoughts and actions.

            And, they never seek retribution, or equality.

            Wayne’s way, has always been the highway.

            He speaks it, he lives it, and he dreams it.

            I have sensed it, honored it, and yield to his wanderings.

            Always seeking the unknown, both close and afar,

            He is destined to unveil the obvious, and even the obscure.

            Wayne’s world is sensitive to all those in close quarters,

And appreciated by friends who have been fortunate to have shared

“His Way, The Highway.”

JR

 

A SPECIAL REVIEW

It is not often that I receive an opportunity to share an authorship by one of our fellow classmates. Edgar “Ed” Losee (’49) is well known for many things. His gregarious and infectious personality, a sharp mind and superb athlete skills are just a few of his traits you may recall from our MAD days. Ed is presently a member of the prestigious The Fortnightly Club of Redlands, California. The Club was founded in 1895. Its members are called upon to deliver oral and written presentations on noteworthy subjects and causes. Last year, Ed rendered a scholarly and well-documented paper entitled “ELIAS J. BALDWIN.” Upon my request, he graciously sent me a copy. It proved to be a neat and enlightening read.                                                                                                           Most of us who grew up in Southern California, and in particular the Arcadia-Monrovia area, are acquainted with the name Baldwin, A.K.A, “Lucky Baldwin.” The Lucky Baldwin Estate, Baldwin Avenue, Baldwin Park, are just a few notable and familiar landmarks that bare his family name. But as Ed points out in his paper, Elias had his hands in more ventures (really adventures) than “Carter had pills.” Baldwin’s life is traced from his beginning roots in Ohio (1828) to his death at his Santa Anita Ranch in 1909. And, what a life he led! His business acumen began at an early age on an Indiana farm, and soon turned to other pursuits as he made his way West in 1853. Ed traces Elias’ family and business life, including vignettes about…….his marriages and affection for the opposite sex (a true MADite in the making); his love of horses, horse breeding and horse racing; entrepreneurial investments such as  in the Comstock gold and silver mine (where he coined - no pun intended - the name “Lucky”); the Baldwin Hotel in San Francisco, The Tallac Hotel at Lake Tahoe (named after Mt. Tallac), and the Oakwood Hotel in Arcadia. His acquisitions of various land sites, especially to the east of Los Angeles County, most notably in the San Gabriel Valley and the 8,000 acre ranch  known as Santa Anita Rancho, a part of which is now the site of the Los Angeles County Arboretum. “Today the communities of Arcadia, most of Baldwin Park and El Monte, City of Industry, Monrovia, Sierra Madre, West Covina, La Puente, and much of San Gabriel occupy the former Baldwin properties.”

“Lucky” was not always lucky, as author, Ed, points out. His amorous ways led to four known marriages, and not without considerable cost! Furthermore, during the depression in the late 1800’s, he suffered financial problems because of his many debt-ridden properties. Although his holdings diminished, he managed to stay afloat, even after an unsuccessful business venture into Alaska around 1900. So, he returned to his beloved Southern California home where he began to actively manage his properties as the surrounding areas began to grow. He carved a political life in hopes of fostering his investments through the promotion and establishment of rail lines, new land subdivisions, and, of course, the Santa Anita Race Track. Appropriately, he became the first mayor of Arcadia. But time was running out at the age of eighty-one for this colorful character, as he died from complications of pneumonia in 1909.

A BIG THANKS go to our fellow classmate, Ed Losee, for this spirited paper on Elias J. Baldwin. This review does not do justice, or come close to explicating all of the information, contained in Ed’s paper. For those mates who would like to pursue further reading about Baldwin, I have posted below Ed’s bibliographical notations for your reference:

            Glasscock, C.B., Lucky Baldwin: The Story of an Unconventional Success.

            Newmark, Maurice and Marco, Sixty Years in Southern California, 1853-1913.

            Scott, Edward, The Saga of Lake Tahoe.

            Silverberg, Robert, Ghost Towns of the American West.

            Snider, Sandra Lee, Elias Jackson “Lucky” Baldwin.

            Carew, Seth, History of Pasadena and the San Gabriel Valley.

            Grenier Judson, A Guide to Historic Places in L.A.

            McWilliams, Cary, Southern California: An Island on the Land.

            Robinson, W. W., Ranchos Become Cities, Pasadena

 

For those interested in contacting Ed his e-mail address is:  edglos@aol.com

 

May the luck of the Irish and Elias rub off on you….

            JR 3/11/07

 

 

     SOME HEARTFILLING THOUGHTS

                                                FEBRUARY 14, 2007

                        (THE DAY OF, AND THE MONTH FOR ROMANCE)

SOME THINGS NEVER GO AWAY, LIKE VALENTINE’S DAY. THE ORIGIN AND MEANING SOMETIMES NEED TO BE REFRESHED. SO HERE GOES…….

SCHOLARS (EXCLUDING ME) HAVE ATTEMPTED TO REACH BACK IN TIME IN SEARCH OF THE GENESIS OF VALENTINE’S DAY. BELIEVED TO HAVE ROOTS IN ANCIENT ROMAN DAYS (+- 270 AD). ITS ORIGIN STILL REMAINS SOMEWHAT ALOOF AS LEGENDS HAVE EVOLVED. VALENTINE’S DAY, AS MOST HISTORIANS REPORT, HAD ITS START FROM A DECLARATION MADE BY THE ROMAN EMPEROR, CLAUDIUS II. HE DECLARED THAT SINGLE MEN MADE BETTER SOLDIERS IF THEY REMAINED UNMARRIED (I GUESS IT HAD SOMETHING TO DO ABOUT DISTRACTION). FEBRUARY MARKED THE BEGINNING OF SPRINGTIME –A TIME FOR PURIFICATION. HOUSES WERE CLEANED AND THE ROMANS CELEBRATED THE FOUNDING OF ROME WITH A PAGAN FESTIVAL, LUPERCALIA. IT WAS A FERTILITY FESTIVAL DEDICATED TO THE ROMAN GOD OF AGRICULTRUE, LUPERCALIA, AND TO ROMULUS AND REMUS, THE FOUNDERS OF ROME. THE LOCAL PRIESTS SACRIFICED GOATS (FOR FERTILITY) AND DOGS (FOR PURIFICATION). STRIPS OF THE GOAT HIDE WERE USED BY THE YOUNG MEN TO GENTLY SLAP THE WOMEN AND FIELDS IN HOPES OF PROMOTING GROWTH AND PROSPERITY. ONCE SLAPPED, THE YOUNG WOMEN PUT THEIR NAMES INTO AN URN TO BE USED FOR A LOTTERY. THEIR NAMES WERE DRAWN BY THE CITY’S BACHELORS. AND, ONCE DRAWN, THEY BECAME JOINED WITH THEIR SUITOR FOR A YEAR. THIS PRACTICE BECAME LABELED AS ANTI-CHRISTIAN AND SOON WAS OUTLAWED. VALENTINE, A THIRD CENTURY PRIEST, DID NOT AGREE WITH CLAUDIUS’ DECREE. SO, HE CONTINUED TO MARRY COUPLES IN ‘TRUE’ LOVE. REPORTEDLY, HIS REBRELLIOUS ACTS, INCLUDING HELPING CHRISTIANS ESCAPE FROM ROMAN PRISONS, LED TO HIS INPRISONMENT AND SUBSEQUENT DEATH. ONE LEGEND RELATES THAT VALENTINE, WHILE IN JAIL, FELL IN LOVE WITH A YOUNG WOMAN (PERHAPS THE JAILOR’S DAUGHTER). HIS CORRESPONDENCE TO HER WAS SIGNED “FROM YOUR VALENTINE.” NOTE: THIS IS AN EXPRESSION STILL USED (BUT, I HOPE, NOT ALWAYS FROM JAIL!).

AS THE YEARS MOVED FORWARD, THE LEGEND OF VALENTINE WAS INCORPORATED INTO MIDDLE AGE LORE.

FRANCE AND ENGLAND ALIGNED VALENTINE’S DAY WITH THE BEGINNING OF BIRD MATING SEASON IN FEBRUARY, A TIME FOR ORNITHLOGICAL ROMANCE. THE FIRST KNOWN VALENTINE GREETING WAS WRITTEN BY CHARLES, DUKE OF ORLEANS IN 1415 WHILE IMPRISONED IN THE TOWER OF LONDON. VALENTINES’S DAY BEGAN TO ESCALTE IN POPULARITY IN THE 17^TH CENTURY AND BY THE MIDDLE OF THE 18^TH CENTURY IT WAS A COMMON OCCURANCE TO EXCHANGE HANDWRITTEN NOTES AND TOKENS OF AFFECTION TO FRIENDS AND LOVERS. CATHOLICS AND CHRISTIANS ALIKE HAVE SAINTS NAMED VALENTINE. LIKE ANY MIGRATION, VALENTINE MESSAGES WERE EXCHANGED IN AMERICA IN THE EARLY 1700’S. THE FIRST COMMERCIAL CARD WAS PUBLISHED IN 1840 BY ESTHER HOWLAN, KNOWN AS THE MOTHER OF OUR CURRENT VALENTINE CARDS. TODAY, ONLY CHRISTMAS SURPASSES THESE LOVE/FRIENDSHIP MESSAGES..

WHETHER CARDS OR TOKENS ARE EXCHANGED THIS DAY, THE MEANING REMAINS THE SAME. YOU ARE IMPORTANT AND YOU ARE SPECIAL. THERE IS SOMETHING IN MY HEART THAT SAYS YOU ARE A PART OF MY LIFE. HOW YOU GOT THERE IS IMPORTANT, BUT WHAT IS MOST MEANINGFUL, IS WHY YOU REMAIN A PART OF ME. I KNOW, AND YOU KNOW, ONLY……

HAPPY M.A.D. SAINT VALENTINE TO YOU AND YOURS,

JR

 

 

 

REVIEW FOR FEBRUARY 10, 2007

 

Sidebar #1:       I know it has been several weeks since my last review. My schedule seems to have taken on some new assignments now that I am a married man, once again. For instance, Vangie’s birthday was last week and I took her to Catalina for three days. She had never been there!  We stayed in a delightful place called the Avalon Hotel just off the main drag. Marjean and Larry Larson joined us for a few days, also.  Just 26 miles off of the coast of the Southland, Santa Catalina, the “Island of Romance,” has a unique history that dates back to early Indian/Spanish days.

Here are a few tid bits to chew on …

            Thanks to William Wrigley, after spending some time trying to entice people to buy soap by giving away his chewing gum, he decided that it was more profitable to peddle chewing gum than soap.  Behind his bubble, lip smacking product, the Wrigley family today remains the Island’s dominant name. They still own 11% of the island, including the Casino and Rancho Escondido where Arabian horses still proudly strut their stuff.

            The Conservancy owns and controls (thanks to the Wrigley’s donation) 86% of the island

            The Banning brothers (yes, the city of Banning was named after them) also help spawn the island’s early growth, including the transportation system to and from the mainland.

            Many U.S. Presidents have visited Catalina, including Ronald Reagan, Herbert Hoover, Calvin Coolidge, and Richard Nixon

            As the owner of the Chicago Cubs, Wrigley brought his World Champion team each year to Catalina between 1921 and 1951 for their annual training camp.  Adjacent to the Island’s golf course about ¼ mile inland from the harbor, you will find the remnants of the baseball field. It is still a beautiful grass area but it is now used for many other sporting events. Ronald Reagan’s movie career was launched while he was announcing the Cub’s games during this era.

            The famous Casino overlooking the clear waters of Avalon harbor remains a magnificent architectural structure. For years, most Big Bands have and continue to play in the grand ballroom. Built by the Wrigley family, the ground level is primarily made up of a refurbished 1000 seat theatre.  High up above the theatre on the top (10^th) floor is the  Ballroom consisting of  the stage, dance floor and bar. It has an outside balcony that encircles the ballroom. - one that can accommodate several thousand pairs of dancing feet. Remember those weekly radio programs broadcasted from the Avalon Ballroom?        

            Touring Catalina is a must if you want to get a better idea of the layout of the island. Several tour companies will take you on 1 to 4 hour inland isle tours.

            Currently, there remains about 1,600 bison on the island (I even tried a buffalo burger at Erick’s on the pier). Originally they were imported for the filming of a movie. Sheep and pigs once overran the island, also, but they were removed due to environmental impact reasons.

            The Wrigley family maintains Rancho Escondido on the north-west side of the island and a recent venture into growing grapes is underway.

            Catalina can be reached by air or water. The most popular daily mode of travel is by ferry from Long Beach, Newport Beach or Dana Point. The ferries can travel around 25 knots per hour- so the trip is a little around one hour and 15 minutes. Many people make the trip to Catalina a day’s adventure.

 

BOOK TIME:

Remember the Cold War? It was not a pleasant time. In fact it was sometimes scary. NELSON DeMILLE’S books have been used in some of my previous reviews. You might remember Gold Coast, Word of Honor, Plum Island and By the Rivers of Babylon?

I have selected THE CHARM SCHOOL (1988) for this week’s topic. DeMille has skillfully woven history, mystery and espionage into his plot. The book has a quick launch when Gregory Fisher, a young American tourist traveling in his Trans-Am, takes an unauthorized route from Smolensk to Moscow. Fisher’s desire to see some out-the-way places along the way leads him to a secured area called The Charm School where he encounters U.S. Air Force Major Jack Dodson in the woods. Dodson was previously presumed dead as a result of being shot down over Vietnam. Fisher knows this encounter can only bring him problems. His decision to not follow the approved route of travel is about to backfire on him. As he races to get to Moscow before dark (travel is not permitted at night), he becomes the target of the KGB after contacting the American Embassy (the phones are bugged, of course). After notifying officials what he has just experienced, he pleads for protection and sanctuary in the embassy compound. Too late. Fisher ends up dead, the victim of his own car crash!! Sam Hollis, an Intelligence official and Lisa Rhodes, an embassy press attaché, need to uncover the facts about the Charm School. At a time when the political relationships between America and the Soviet Union were at an all-time low, Sam finds out that his curiosity is about to blow the lid off of any attempt(s) to maintain a warm and fuzzy feeling between the two governments.

DeMille keeps tension on all parties even with some romantic interludes. His portrayal of life in Russia is about as dismal as it can get. Brainwashed and without the incentive to endure, he brings to front the long and continuing harsh and rigorous life of the Russian  peasant workers.

As Sam and Lisa continue to pursue the secrets of the Charm School, they are confronted with some unbelieveable findings. Charm is just another name for Spy. It is a spy school run by the Soviets utilizing unwilling American missing-in-action military personnel for purposes of training their KGB agents to act, speak as Americans. The plot takes on more mystery as the American agents pit their best skills against the KGB. DeMille keeps your attention as his characters utilize some fancy maneuvers in order to keep their exploits from becoming an international incident. I found the outcome not too distant from today where we find ourselves struggling with other countries, their past and their future.

JR

 

REVIEW FOR JANUARY 7, 2007

Sidebar: Greetings to all, as we slide into the New Year.  I reckon most of us (the class of ’50, that is) will be turning the ¾ century mark this year. Looking back we should be thankful to still be around, and as we look forward, we should be hopeful that our lives can continue to be filled with love and prosperity. Of special note, I really enjoyed reading Don and Diane Cottle’s Christmas newsletter. If you have not had the chance to read it, then go to Gary’s web page this week. Their outlook on life during our senescent years is enviable and provides good food for thought.

 

THIS WEEK’S BOOK

 

In my opinion, there are few authors who can develop a plot and capture the reader’s

imagination by serving up a main character that brings out his or her most inner thoughts with vivid complexity, yet understandable passion. As a former crime reporter, MICHAEL CONNELLY certainly ranks among those few. His latest (12^th) novel in the “Hieronymus” Harry Bosch series not only takes the reader to a familiar Los Angeles area referred to as Echo Park, but it is also the title of the book. Now in his sixties, Harry has decided that retirement is not for him. So, he returns to active duty with the L.A.P.D.’s Open – Unsolved Crime Unit where he delves into “cold cases” with hopes of warming them up. Connelly’s description of Echo Park (an area that Bosch had lived when he was a boy) gives the reader a sensitive backdrop to Harry’s investigative work.

 

            In the shadows of downtown’s spires and under the glow of lights from Dodger Stadium, Echo Park was one of L.A.’s oldest and ever-changing neighborhoods. Over the decades it had been the destination of the city’s immigrant underclass – The Italians coming first and then the Mexicans, the Chinese, the Cubans, Ukrainians and all of the others…….

These days Echo Park was also a favored destination of another class of newcomer – the young and hip. The cool. Artists, musicians and writers were moving in……

A wave of gentrification was washing across the flats and up the hillsides below the baseball stadium. It meant the character of the place was changing. It meant real estate prices were going up, pushing out the working class and the gangs.

From time to time, the focus of Harry’s work takes him back to 1993 when a young equestrian woman disappeared enroute to a riding stable. Her car was found with her clothing in it,but her body was never found. His tenacity in going over every detail of the case always leads him to a dead end until a couple of cops stop Raynard Waits, a self proclaimed window washer, while driving his van at 2:00 AM in the Echo Park area in the company of some female body parts. Waits finds himself behind bars with a death sentence looming over his head. He sees the handwriting on the wall and pleads guilty to a string of murders, including Marie Gesto, in hopes of exchanging information for a life-behind-bars sentence. His strategy is simple. If he shows the police where the bodies are buried, then he could avoid being greeted by “old sparky.” Bosch, however, is not convinced that Raynard’s approach to “quid pro quo” is for real. Harry steps up the investigation and uncovers some interesting new facts. But just when things are heating up, he is confronted by an aspiring young attorney, Richard “Ricochet” O’Shea who has his eyes on becoming the next district attorney and he wants to take over the Waits case in order to gain publicity for his campaign. A quick closure to the case might give Ricochet the political edge since he cares less about circumventing the death penalty. Connelly has honed Harry’s persona, both inside and outside. Always a loner, he never hesitates to cross the invisible boundaries of his adversaries when they are willing to compromise the truth for their own political gains. Another nemesis - one from previous novels, Captain Irving, surfaces to further complicate Harry’s life. Also, his younger partner, Kiz Rider and former FBI Agent, Rachael Walling provide added depth to Bosch’s life as an investigative assistant and part-time lover, respectively. Then the unexpected happens when Harry is faced with every detective’s nightmare. He learns that O’Shea and his slime-bag lawyer find out that Waits may have acted under another name, something that Harry and his partner had missed back in ’93. The agony of knowing that he could have found Marie’s killer and maybe prevent subsequent murders is about to tear him apart. In the meantime, Kiz continues to do Bosch’s back-up work and Rachael lends a hand in helping to profile the killer and add a little romance into Harry’s Spartan life. Connelly has the ability to work through a complex crime scene as well as any other author. Echo Park combines the best of plot and characters, and the reader never gets lost in unwanted detail. And, unlike other authors who keep using a “cookie-cutter” approach to keeping their hero alive, Connelly has managed to keep the aging Harry Bosch in step with his audience. Now it is up to you to find out how this one unravels as crime marches on…..

 

Sidebar: Nancy Dayton from Imperial Beach was the early bird who contacted me first after my last review. She was sent Robert Parker’s latest book. There really is a book fairy!

 

JR

 

 

REVIEW FOR DECEMBER 24^TH, 2006

 

Sidebar:

REFLECTIONS ON CHRISTMAS

As I went about my chores this week, my mind kept wandering and wondering about the events of the past. Childhood, school, family, marriages, births, deaths, and worldly events. Thinking can be rewarding, even dangerous. Here are a few of my thoughts.

This time of the year can bring many fond memories of the past. We all have special memories of Christmas. Finding and decorating the tree, giving and receiving presents, attending family gatherings, drinking eggnogs (sometimes spiked), hanging mistletoe, burning yuletide logs, listening to music like Silent Night and O Come All Ye Faithful, and anxiously awaiting the arrival of the great-bearded one, St, Nick, as he makes his annual excursion from the North Pole. Old fashioned? Yes. But these activities, I deem, are just as important today, as yesterday, to young and old alike. Each person, whether they realize it or not, brings selective meaning to the word Christmas. Too often we (myself included) neglect the foundation of this joyous occasion as we tend to focus on the outcome of present day events, rather than try to understand the origin and meaning of Christmas  Regardless if you are a practicing Jew, Christian, Muslim, or whatever, I believe there can be profound significance in recognizing your Almighty at the time, and under the terms and conditions, that coincide with your beliefs. We all spout words like love, rejoice, peace, and good-will. Ultimately, it is “how we practice  what we preach.” If there is one word that is common to us all and underscores the true meaning of Christmas, or its equivalent, then it is the word THANKFUL. To be a living part of this universe and experience its daily wonders, even without a full understanding or explanation of its beginnings, we have come to accept  our destiny as we guide ourselves through the maze of life trying to engineer ourselves and others in the so-called right direction. The basis for defining “right” has been cast upon us by our parents and leaders who have passed on their collective wisdom throughout time. Even evolutionists cannot deny the existence of the world as they see it. Being thankful is a thoughtful and meaningful word that has no ownership. In fact, you don’t even have to be thankful for anything. Some have chosen to thank only themselves, usually when things go right. To think that anyone can live in thankless isolation in this day and age is beyond my realm of thinking.

Who put order into the universe, anyway? Do we need to understand and subscribe to an organizational theory? To a certain extent, yes. Our answers to these questions, although varied, may help each person get over the hump of trying to fit everyone into the same mold, so we can focus on the doughnut and not the hole. Being thankful that we have choices to live and learn should not be assigned to Christmas time, only. From birth to death we should recognize and salute the world we live in as we attempt to give back to our progeny and friends. We should be thankful each day to those who have given us the opportunity to continue to experience our own world, and the one that surrounds us. Christmas is a worthy annual reminder. It helps us better understand what makes “Heaven and nature sing.”. I’m thankful.

Merry Christmas, and to all goodnight until 2007.

JR

 

 

REVIEW FOR DECEMBER 17^TH, 2006

 

Sidebar: Well, it’s only eight days until Christmas and time for the Regan’s Christmas story – 2006.

            ‘Twas 57 years ago in high school we first met.

            Sweethearts we were once, lest we never forget.

            Soon parted as friends to go separate ways,

            To meet life’s challenges for the rest of our days.

            College and careers brought new families in time

            Some days had peaks of joy, others valleys of sorrow.

            Acknowledging His hand and to bring us tomorrow.

            When our spouses departed, it brought sadness to all,

            Out families and friends helped us to recall

            Fond memories of dates, close pals, even football.

            Our past and the present were linked in time

            As if they, too, were destined to rhyme.

            Thou “Oldsters” we’ve become, new sparks have arrived

            By the return of our love and the will to survive.

            So, we tested the waters in two thousand and five,

            And a commitment was born to become man and wife

            As we offered our vow by the Harbor for life,

            We give thanks to the Almighty for His guidance so clear

            His love we acknowledge, along with special events this year:

                        In May, the loss of Bruce Brownwood, Vangie’s brother

                        In May, the loss of Marci Burt Hayes, Vangie’s step-daughter

                        In June, Jim reached the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro

                        In September, the birth of a grandchild, Lily Grace, to Mary and Steve

                        In October, our wedding

            It’s been a year filled with travel galore,

            Maui, Las Vegas, Canada, Washington, Oregon, Arizona, Yosemite and more.

            Frequent trips to our homes in San Diego and Monte Sereno logging miles,

            Keeps us on the move as we adjust to our new lifestyles.

            We celebrated thanksgiving and soon Christmas with two feasts,

            Which help keep Southwest Airlines busy, at least.

            This message we send is filled with love and good cheer

            As we whish you a Merry Christmas and a prosperous healthy New Year.

            We remember our brave military who defend this great country each day,

            To help keep us a free nation, in God we pray

 

            Bless you and you house,

            Jim and Vangie

 

BOOK TIME…..

I can never pass up an opportunity to read a good ROBERT B. PARKER book.With over fifty to his credit, HUNDRED-DOLLAR BABY (2006), is his latest (#34) in the popular Spenser Series. Sharp and witty dialogue are Parker’s trademark, especially between Spenser and Hawk, e.g. Hawk tells Spenser he had better stay and guard the whorehouse so he can get better acquainted with the workers!!

Hundred-Dollar Baby marks the return of April Kyle. In Ceremony (1982) April was a runaway teenage who Spenser helped by finding her a home and job with Madam Patricia Utley, the proprietor of New York’s upscale answer to the Mustang Ranch. In Parker’s book Taming a Sea Horse (1986), April returns to be rescued by Spenser once again, this time from a love affair gone South.  And now, for the third time, April seeks out Spenser to help her salvage her Back Bay bordello. She has been elevated from “call-status”in New York to managing  Madam Utley’s “field office”in Boston. Reportedly, business is booming, except someone is trying to muscle in on April’s operations. Spenser and Hawk soon learn that April’s problems are more than “turning a few tricks.” They have several bruising confrontations with Ollie DeMars and his boys in their initial role as the security force for the whorehouse. Their job requires off-site work, however, as they try to uncover who has hired Ollie to intimidate April. Tedy Sapp, a gay tough guy from Georgia, is called up to beef-up Spenser’s side. While Hawk takes on the role of defending the work force, Spenser and some of his trusted contacts do the sleuthing and uncover another side to April’s dilemma. With the help of NYPD detective Corsetti  and his old Boston buddy cop, Frank Belson Spenser learns that there is a link between one of April’s former New York regulars, Lionel Farnsworth, and Ollie DeMars. They had spent several years together in Allenwood prison. April’s snow job turns out to be bigger than most of the snow storms that hit the Boston area.  Ollie is forced to reveal that Lionel is behind the harassment. After a brief visit to New York, Spenser learns from Lionel that he and April are in cahoots with each other. They have devised a scheme to take over the Boston operations with the ultimate goal of franchising high-class prostitution sites throughout the U.S. Talk about an ambitious and tricky goal….

So, now that we have learned that April has deceived Spenser, and that she just doesn’t want a “laid back” job of administering to the “needy.”, I will leave the rest of the story for you to read, but I hope not in bed.

Hundred-Dollar Baby is about a two to three hour read. It’s worth the time, but not the price of a hardback. I will mail my copy to the first person who contacts me. I just want to learn if anyone reads this stuff.

Cheers and another Merry Christmas, and to all goodnight….

JR

 

 

12-11-06

"Whatever Became of ....?", the third of Richard Lamparski's books written in a  series of vignettes dating back to the 60's, brings back a special history of "the story behind the stories" of famous people. This type of light reading will occupy some of your leisure time and give you some answers to questions related to people in the public eye, past and present -ones you may have wondered about. The Andrew's Sisters, Hoagy Carmichael, Jerry Colona, Lorraine Day, The Dionne Quintuplets, Ralph Edwards, "Henry Aldrich,", "The Mad Russian," Arthur Murray, Will Rogers, "Stella Dallas," "Tokyo Rose," "Tonto,", et. al. Lamparski has recreated an anthology of stories that bridges the past to the present.  

My mission in this review is not to bring you up-to-date with those that had illustrious careers, but to give you a source of answers regarding their background and fates. If interested, you will find this series enlightening and informative, and maybe fun, also.

JR

 

 

REVIEW FOR DECEMBER 3^RD, 2006

 

Sidebar 1:  It has been several weeks since my last review. There have been a few interruptions, so I ask for your forgiveness. I know, weddings parties, travels, etc. should play second fiddle to book reviews, but somehow I can’t seem to get much sympathy from my other three-quarters!

 

You probably have read some of STUART WOOD’S books. He now has 33 to his credit. His Stone Barrington novels are probably the most well known. His latest, SHORT STRAW (2006) is another mystery novel, and like so many other of his stories, contain settings and characters referenced in an earlier book (Santa Fe Rules, 1992).

Did you ever play the game of chance with others where each player was given a length of some stick or similar object and the person who drew the “shortest stick” either won or lost (depending on the predetermined rules)? Well, I won’t tell you what the outcome of this cleverly titled book is all about, but I will suggest that the exercise is germane to the plot.

Super lawyer, appropriately named Ed Eagle, opens his peepers the morning after his 50th birthday with a glorious hangover. Ed imbibes on a regular basis, but not to the extent of feeling the way he does. Moreover, it is not the time to be ailing from the wine flu since he is hosting the grand opening of his new legal-Beagle offices in downtown Santa Fe. And futhermore, his colorful second wife, Barbara, is nowhere to be found in the house and her car is gone. Oh! Oh! Woods takes no time launching into a fast and humorous story that pits husband against wife, or visa versa, depending on who you side with. Ed’s love of his life has appeared to have pulled off the unexpected when he learns that Barbara has disappeared with five million bucks of his money. She has attempted to wipe out his fortune by issuing orders to sell his stocks and transfer money from his bank accounts to the Cayman Islands and other parts unknown. The fast moving Eddie uses his reliable P.I sleuths, ex-LA cop Cupie Dalton and Apache Indian Will Vittorio, to go after his wife and retrieve his money.

Even though Ed’s total existence is on the line as he tries to match wits with his run-away wife, his life is further complicated when a local judge “dumps” an unwanted triple homicide case on him. Ed agrees to defend Joe Big Bear, a local auto mechanic who can fix just about anything that moves.

The plot moves back and forth between the chase and the legal maneuvers to free Big Joe. The resolution of both do not come easy, however. Cupie and Vittorio seem to be outsmarted by the fast-moving Barbara each time they think they have her in their grasp, and, Joe Big Bear’s case takes some surprising twists and turns, also. The reader will have empathy with Ed as he tries to save his money, avoid be assassinated, and  launches a new love life. Woods has created another enjoyable fast read with entertaining surprises. You will not need your GPS to follow this one. It’s worth a couple hours of your leisure time.

JR

 

 

 

This Week’s Special Honeymoon Edition (10/28/06)

 

 

The Winds Have Changed

 

Last Saturday brought a new beginning to my life. The Winds shifted and they were at my back, just like the old Irish wish goes. The wedding went off as planned as we were greeted by 400 guests at the Admiral Kidd Club in San Diego. Both Vangie and I want to extend a special note of “thanks” to our classmates from MAD that attended the ceremony and reception. Your support made our day.

Many of you have asked us where we are going to live. The answer is that we will be coming and going between San Diego and Monte Sereno for awhile. I have a 97 year old mother-in-law to care for, so it is not easy to just pack my bags and head south.

We will be traveling a bit for the next few weeks so my weekly reviews are at a stand still. Las Vegas for the reunion, Palm Springs to attend the Follies, and on to the Flying E Dude Ranch will keep us occupied.

Today (Saturday), we are hosting another reception in Northern California for our family and friends. I have included a few pictures of our yard just before this afternoon’s event. We are firmly convinced that this is our last marriage! Why, one might say? Answer: at this pace we could run out of gas, let alone money….

We can’t begin to tell everyone just how much our MAD days have meant to us. Over and over, we have returned to thoughts about our younger years, and the good times that seemed to have affected us, all. We realize you can’t live in the past. But, this does not prevent us, or anyone for that matter, from digging out our/their historical roots in order to help us understand what made us tick then, and now. Although we are closing in on life’s timeline, we are living proof that “it ain’t over, ‘til it’s over.”

The winds may be at our back now, but they can shift. And they will. What matters most is to face the good times and the bad times with an outreach of faith and a spirit of giving, so that life in general maintains a worthwhile purpose – one that fulfills the mission for which we were planted on this earth.

Our fortune is that we were fortunate to have a past that includes such “winners” as you,

and a future that we can continue to shape and mold with a smile on our face, along with some genuine love in our hearts. Yes, the Winds Have Changed, but life goes on.

See you in Las Vegas…..

JR and VR

 Pictures will be published when received. Jim said he will send some  of their reception at the Northern  homestead. G

 

REVIEW FOR 0CT0BER 15, 2006

 

Sidebar #1:  This will be my last review as a single person. You might say, “so what.” Well I am just alerting you that if you detect any changes in my behavior, then I will have an excuse! It has been said by some people that others can influence one’s mind. No kidding Sherlock….. Who knows, I may still want to end a sentence with a preposition.

 

Sidebar #2: I have it through the grapevine that there will be a cadre of MAD cats at our wedding on the 21^st at the Admiral Kidd Club in San Diego. And now for a note of caution – Please! Please! Don’t get carried away so I have to spend my honeymoon in the brig. I’m looking forward to more than “three hots and a cot.” And don’t forget, we are having a second reception following the first reception at Vangie’s house where food, drinks and old war stories will abound. Hope to see you all there, providing, of course, I’m not in the brig…..

 

Story Time

 

Move over Dan Brown. Another plot involving symbology has entered the arena. Written by two first-time authors and long-time friends , Ian Caldwell and Dustin Thomason, THE RULE OF FOUR (2004), combines some interesting history with mystery and intrigue. The plot evolves around an actual 15^th century manuscript, disguised as a novel, entitled Hypnerotomachia Poliphile. The pronunciation of Hypnerotomachia Poliphile may be as difficult as reading the original manuscript. Try Hip-ner-ah-toe-mak-ee-a-poh-li-fi-ly! Written in first person, the book centers on four Princeton University roommates (Tom Sullivan, Paul Harris, Charlie Freeman, and Gil Rankin) who in addition to exhibiting typical college antics, become involved in murders, sexual exploits, and harrowing moments of danger. Tom is the narrator of the story. His father, a Renaissance scholar, had fostered his interest in the Hypnerotomachia. Paul, too, becomes fascinated by the book to the extent that he writes a final paper for a seminar class with the intent of proving it’s author, a monk named Francisco Coloma, did not write the manuscript. Rather, he sets out to prove that it was penned by an upper class Roman. While in the process of doing his research, he uncovers secret codes buried within the text that could lead to the locations of buried treasures.

Sidebar #3: For over 500 years scholars of the Renaissance period have tried to unravel the hidden secrets disbursed throughout the book. A full English translation was finally done in 1999 by Joscelyn Godwin, a professor of music at Colgate University. Until then, many attempts were made by other scholars to interpret Coloma’s writing, but to no avail. Like Shakespeare’s plays, his authorship is still a question mark. Written in Italian and influenced by Greek and Latin, the writing is complex due to the use of a hybrid of languages. The word Hypnerotomachia has ‘Greek roots for “sleep” as in hypnotize,” love/lust as in “erotic" and struggle/strife as in “naumachia”, the mock sea-fights held by ancient Romans.’ end of sidebar

Like the DaVinci Code, Paul’s discovery of the hidden codes puts him and his roommates in harms way. Even murder and threats do not deter him as he pushes forward to unlock the puzzle. Caldwell and Thomason have created a strange cast of classical and Renaissance characters where they outweigh the plot. The Rule of Four is pregnant with obscure illusions and offers the reader bits and pieces of information (some true and some false) just about everything, including history, literature, art, psychology, architecture, symbols, and religion. The leading characters described in the text are Poliphilo (“lover of many things”) and the woman of his dreams, Polia (“many things”). Poliphilo spends his life searching for Polia as his mind wanders in and out of a mystical dreamland. Coloma, or whoever authored the manuscript, is fascinated with details and illusions. But, the real story is how, and if, the Princeton foursome can manage to solve the Hypnerotomachia puzzle and at the same time, stay alive. You might even want to join them as they go to Rome for “the big dig.”

 

P.S. Don’t forget Las Vegas – hope to see you there…

JR

 

 

REVIEW – 10/1/06

You may think that a book review is forthcoming. Well think again. It’s not.

This week is just one big sidebar about our upcoming ALL-CLASS REUNION.

Last week I wrote a blurb using Simon and Garfunkle’s song “Fifty Ways To Leave Your Lover.” I would like to take-off on their hit piece by changing the title to “Fifty Ways You Will Want to Attend Our Reunion.” (all rights reserved)

Just to set the stage, you should know the following:

           

ALL CLASS REUNION -  AKA, DENNIS SELLECK MEMORIAL REUNION

 

DATES:          NOVEMBER  6^TH THRU  8^TH, 2006

PLACE:          GOLD COAST HOTEL, LAS VEGAS (888) 402-6278; $55/night

RECEPTION: MONDAY, NOON TO 7:00 PM

                        TUESDAY, 9:00 AM TO 5:00 PM., FOLLOWED BY DINNER

Send dinner reservations ($35/each) no later than 10/5 to Marilyn Humble: 305 S. Cedar Drive, Covina, CA 91723

CONTACTS:  PAULETTE @           PndrPSmith@aol.com

                        ELSA @                     eseifert@ pacbel.net

                        MARILYN @                        Greatma92@verizon.net

                        BOB HUMBLE @     (626) 966-6897

 

And now, the fifty reasons to attend (not in order of importance).

 

1. Because as Steve Brodie once said, “I will always cherish the memories of that incredible time.”

2. Because we need to find out why truant officer, Van Helen gave Dick Mountjoy a free ride to school.

3. To find out why Barbara Stuart liked to practice with the varsity tennis team.

4. How those trash cans got on top of the flag pole.

5. What did Janice McCaughna do at Laguna Beach that was so much fun!

6. Who claimed to run the mile faster, Jim Ames or George Russell?

7. It’s a time to recall your “blasts from the pasts.”

8. To remember evenings at Gwinn’s with friends, fries, hamburgers, and shakes.

9. To recognize the achievements of classmates, then and now.

10. To recall nights at Chantry Flats with a special someone!!

11. You might come home from Vegas a big winner, even if you lose!!

12. To meet our Webmaster, Gary Dayton, and all of our editors: Paulette Smith, Marjean Larson, Gene Cameron, Jim and Alice Browne, Pat Johnson, Bruce Staller, Hank Morris, Harriett Cravens, Gary Freeman, Joretta Griffin, Kathi Henry, George Harpole, Suzanne Bornt, Donna Smith, and maybe a few I have missed….

13. To recall our favorite, and not so favorite, teachers.

14. To discuss life then, and now, and maybe debate the differences.

15. To find out what Bill Hatch’s secret is to keeping in shape and looking young.

16. To learn how Don Cottle outsmarted Max Forney?

17. To see if Janet Anderson will wear her short shorts again!

18. To recall what went on on the train to and from Santa Barbara (CIF playoffs)!!

19. To ask Jim Greer what it was like to work for King Hussein of Jordan.

20. Because our time is running out and it could the last goodbye, for some mates.

21. To find out why Eddie Losee had so many kids!

22. It’s Catch 22 time….it’s either wear depends and frequent the pit stops along the way, or ride the busee…..which will it be?.

23. Because it’s kick ass and take names time, and you don’t want Mary Rector turning yours in on the absence list. (she collected the lists for Van Helen)

24. To understand why and how Boone Owens developed a rechargeable battery for  hearing aids.

25. It might help stimulate your memory and ability to recall events (good and bad).

26. To meet, greet, and congratulate Ian Campbell and Harriett Heisler on their recent marriage.

27. What led Orel Bender to lead a life of fighting crime as a prison guard/administrator and Sheriff?           

28. Because everyone wants to cuss and discuss their kids and grandkids (bring pictures, not the kids).

29. As Simon and Garfunkle once sang in their catchy tune Kodachrome/Maybellene, “to look back at all that crap that I learned in high school.”

30. To create an excuse to get out of the house and ride the “busee”, once again. (call Paulette to reserve a seat) and, don’t forget the name of the bus if you get off….

31. To ask Genelle Cox  what being a Daughter of the American Revolution (DAR) means, and what Bobby thinks being married to a Daughter is like?

32. To share aches and ailments, remedies and prescriptions. (ouch!)

33. To hear Carolyn Foddrell play the piano, and Stan Denburg play his trombone, once again.

34. What was better, being on an A Schedule, or a B Schedule?

35. To see if Beverly Gould can still dance on stage.

36. To recall the time that the chemistry lab caught on fire…

37. To find out what being in a submarine is like. Just ask Larry Larson.

38. To have big Chuck Hoggatt explain what it’s like to be bathed by Margaret Clark’s mother?

39. Remembering those early 9^th grade days and those in your senior year, and all the in-between times.

40. To hear some real war stories from guys who served our country like Bob Humble, Ray Peel, Walt Shaw, George Wagner, Jim Weaver, Bill Akin, Hal Beers, Steve Brodie, Jim Browne, Jerry Carlton, Ian Campbell, Gary Freeman, just to mention a few…..

41. It’s a chance to break some bread, have an adult beverage, and be with some mates from our generation, the best ever.

42. Because your old levis and t-shirts are still in style, and it’s back to basics.

43. It’s a chance to compare body parts, hair-style and color, and the wisdom to know and see the differences.

44. To discuss that ticket you received from a Commissioner and your appearance in student court.

45. To see if Judy Draper remembers riding around in a blue and white Model A?

46. To compare the food that was served from the Chicken Koop to cafeteria cuisine.

47. To recall the words while singing the MAD fight song and alma mater.

48. To reflect on those classmates that are no longer with us.

49. As written in the foreword of our ’50 yearbook, to weigh “the shifting sands of the hour-glass having reached the midway mark…..The next fifty….? We can only guess what scientific magic will be performed.” Vegas in ’06 is a chance to figure it all out now that the hour glass needs to be turned over.

50. And last, you might want to ask Vangie Brownwood  what it’s like to become a bride again at 74!

 

I know there are more reasons, but if these aren’t enough, then I give up.

See ya all there. Be there, or be square…..

 

JR

 

 

This is a special bulletin from the MADCAT'S United Nation Headquarters. We are about to blast off for Las Vegas to play, party, and renew old friendships. Since Iran and Venezuela are not invited, there will be no grandstanding or threats to worry about. Just a chance to catch a glimpse of, and chat with, the remaining lot of us who are still in a vertical position. Think about it. We spend most of each year in our little (some big) holes worrying about either catching a cold or getting constipated! Isn't it time to be like Punxsutawney Phil and climb out of your hole and catch up on the rest of the world? If you are like me, I have found more warmth and friendship being around my old class mates than spending time in church. And I justify saying that because the mission is the same - to reach out to people that have influenced my life, whether they know it, or accept it, or not.

Now for the sales pitch: As Simon and Garfunkel once sang in their popular song "Fifty Ways To Leave Your Lover (not that I'm advocating that)," "just hop on the bus Gus, slip out the back Jack, no need to be coy Roy......" JUST CALL PAULETTE AND GET YOUR ELEGANT BUNS ON THE MAD ALL-CLASS REUNION BUS TO VEGAS ON NOVEMBER 6TH FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS OF FUN AND FROLIC. Just think, you won't have to do the driving and be subjected to significant other's telling you which way to turn, or slow down.

Also, you could be prolonging your life and saving the lives of others!

Hope to see you on the 6th. So does the new Mrs. Regan

 

Books are for everyone, but not everyone likes to read. Most persons have some time during their busy schedules to read a good book. I never realized how much time I wasted each day until I decided to carry some reading material with me no matter where I went. I was reading about one book a week 5-10 years ago, but I am now averaging three books a week. And, I do not classify myself as an avid- academic reader with a great deal of time on my hands. Many of us thought that a good way to find something of interest to read would be for classmates to recommend good books.
So, if you think any of us would like to read a book that you have personally enjoyed, send me an e-mail at jjregan55@aol.com with a brief review and we will spread the word in the weekly edition. I'm sure Emroy Walker would be pleased!!
 

Hi Gary,

 

 This notice was sent to me from my retired Deputy Sheriff sister-in-law.  Jim allows that he would like to check it out but is a tad busy right now.  He suggested that I send it to you to tack on to the book review page

Paulette  9-25-06

Wanted to let you know about a great book written by my friend Dianne Emley.  It is the first in her new thriller/suspense series with Detective Nan Vining of the Pasadena Police Department.  It’s available through Amazon (www.amazon.com/-First-Cut-A-Novel/dp/034548617X/ref=sr_11_1/002-4766348-7120020?ie=UTF8), Barnes&Noble.com, and bookstores everywhere.  It's published by Ballantine, a Random House imprint.

 

You can get more info including the great reviews she’s received (Kirkus, Publishers Weekly, Michael Connelly...) on her website http://www.dianneemley.com/ which also includes Chapter One to get your interest up. 

 

Hope you try it, like it, tell your friends and other lovers of suspense, and don't hesitate to pass this on!  If you have a chance, post a review on Amazon.com and B & N.com.  The second book in the series will be out in 2007.  Enjoy and a big THANKS.

 

 

 

 

 

 

REVIEW FOR SEPTEMBER 23, 2006

 

Sidebar: How many of you, dear mates, remember when you first decided to get married? Well, it’s been so long for me that I can only recall a few facts and figures about my first big event. Now, I am about to embark upon my second marriage. It’s an eye opener. And, to think that my new spouse is a fellow MAD CAT – one that rang my bell back then, and now, now! I’m not trying to be smart or smug, I’m just expressing a sentimental thought that life isn’t over ‘til it’s over. Evangeline Brownwood (’49) and I will become “conjoint wild-cats” on October 21^st. Join us in San Diego, if you can. It’s a good excuse to party.

 

Book Time

 

Frank Sinatra sang “I Did It My Way,” not unlike LEE CHILD who has written (not sung) THE HARD WAY. I think he may have had Sinatra on his mind. It is his tenth novel (May, 2006) in the popular Jack Reacher series. For those who might have read his last book, “One Shot,” you will, once again, enjoy his super hero, Jack, in his finest role, to date. He is a hard guy to describe. Hero, loner, self-assured, perceptive, charming, intelligent, appealing, tenacious, mercenary, are just a few descriptive words that characterize “Big Jack.” As a former ex-military intelligence officer, he answers to no one. (Something we all probably long for).

The ever observant Jack, is the sole witness to a car being stolen while drinking an expresso in a local New York sidewalk café, one of his favorite pastimes The car jacking was part of a kidnapping plot involving Lane’s trophy second wife, Kate, and their daughter, Jade. He soon finds himself involved with a group of ex-military mercenaries led by an ex-army officer, Colonel Edward Lane when Lane learns that Jack observed the event. Lane is no stranger to abduction since his first wife was a victim of a kidnapping and murder. Lane informs Jack that he had placed one million bucks in ransom money in the car in an attempt to meet the kidnappers’ demand. Reacher finds fault in Lane’s course of action and predicts that his first ransom payment will not be the last. Although Lane and his squad of tough guys have experienced violence all over the world, they don’t have the “street smarts” that Jack possesses. “But Reacher had never been mistaken for a cop. There was always something phony about a cop who dresses down. Reacher was the real thing.”  He is hired for a big fee to track down the bad guys and get Kate back. His pursuit takes him from New York across the Atlantic pond to England, and back. 

Lee Child has not only created a wonder sleuth in Jack Reacher, but he has a unique writing style that keeps the pace of the plot moving with surprises and entertainment. The reader will be amazed at the detailed, but not boring, interaction that takes place, not only in one man’s mind, but between the characters. “Cell phones made Reacher nervous. He came from a world where a sudden dive for a pocket was more likely to mean a gun than a phone. Every time it happened he had to endure a little burst of unrequited adrenaline.” 

Follow Jack as he deploys his unique talents in a hairlifting hunt that will hopefully rescue Kate and daughter from the same fate as Lane’s first wife. Will The Hard Way be the right way? Reach out for Reacher, you will enjoy his style of action.

 JR

 

 

Review for September 17, 2006

 

Sidebar: I know. It’s about time I got back to my task of reviewing books. I must plead guilty to being preoccupied, but then again, who can’t? I think I own a piece of Southwest Airlines with all of the back-and-forth travels between San Diego and Monte Sereno this past year. Thanks for your patience.

 

Review Time

If you have not tried to read Jonathan Kellerman’s Alex Delaware novels, then climb aboard for a quick review. GONE is his latest (March, 2006) in the series. Rage was his last one (2005). His first one dates back to 1985. You may remember that his wife, Faye is also a noted writer. Together, they co-authored the bestselling thriller, Double Homicide. Jonathan has put to good use his background as a clinical psychologist. And, in addition to writing over twenty crime novels, he has demonstrated his writing skills through children’s books, scientific articles, essays, and technical books on psychology.

Gone is precisely how the plot starts out! Two young aspiring thespians, Michaela Brand and Dylan Meserve are apparently abducted after their weekly session at Nora Doud’s acting school. They are found naked and alive in Latigo Canyon in the hills above Malibu. Alex is asked to interview Michaela and he soon uncovers evidence that their disappearance was staged in order for them to gain attention. After all, isn’t that what Hollywood is all about? A little publicity can go a long ways in fostering an actor’s career. But just when Alex thinks he is beginning to understand Michaela’s behavior – one marked by early childhood neglect by an estranged abusive alcoholic mother, leading to a life of loneliness, she is brutally murdered. Enter Milo Sturgis, Alex’s long time LAPD detective friend. Like in Kellerman’s other novels, Milo and Alex team up to pursue her murderer. The case does not proceed in a fast moving manner as the duo can’t seem to fit the pieces of evidence together. And to further complicate matters, other similar killings occur that are seemingly linked to Nora’s acting school. The author does a good job building motives for the various suspects, and there are a few. In fact, there are so many characters in the plot that the reader may get confused “who is on first base.”

Amidst Alex’s efforts to help Milo in his pursuit of justice, there are the usual back and forth sexual pursuits between Robin (she restores musical instruments) and Allison (a psychologist). These trysts never seem to go anywhere and only promote more loneliness.

I always enjoy the dialogue between Kellerman’s characters, especially the comments by Alex and Milo, as they pass digs, as well as kudos, back and forth. For me, Gone was too slow and it did not have the hair-raising excitement found in the author’s other novels.

Identifying and catching the killer is like a moving target. Suspects like Michaela’s boyfriend, Dylan (who disappears after she is murdered), a pervert janitor, Mr. Peaty, and Nora and her weird brothers, all become targets of the investigation. The reader will, however, identify the culprit early on in the plot. You will like the geography of the story since it takes place in and around Los Angeles. A City that is not always filled with Angels!!

Glad to be back…..

JR

 

 

REVIEW FOR AUGUST 26^TH, 2006

 

 Sidebar:         It seems that I always have something extra to say. My reviews do not always satisfy me, or for that matter, others. So, I often divert from my primary assignment and focus on something that creeps into my mind. This week I will deal with numerous issues, some personal, some obvious. When this website started, the genesis of the idea came from Jim Browne (a.k.a. #35), I believe. Jim initiated the idea to create a link between the “old world” and the “new.” I believe that our website has accomplished exactly that. Each week our editors look back and forward to bring to you stories of our classmates, friends, and families, then and now. Recently, I sent an e-mail to Pat Johnson (editor of the ’49 page) indicating how special our high school years were, the people, the events, and the what evers. I just want to acknowledge those diligent contributors that have taken the ball and have helped us run towards our inevitable and collective finish line. Some, unfortunately, have already crossed over into the end zone and have scored eternal peace, hopefully. But, in the meantime, and not to say we need to bide our time until we check out of this MAD world, we need to especially express our gratitude to Gary, Paulette, Gene, Marjean, Bruce, Hank, Harriet, Joretta, George, Kathi, Alice, Jay, Suzanne, Dick, and another Gary, and all of the others that keep this communication machine in operation. It is fun to log on and read what is being reported. I know I’m not alone. Just check the hit count! But, I hope you all recognize that the site has to be maintained if our class(es) expect to stay in touch. And that requires an ongoing commitment by your editors in order to keep you attention. Sometimes the reporting may seem too slanted – or one sided. So what! The entire reading audience has always been invited to put in their “two cents worth,” whether warranted or not. We have always strived to focus on a variety of events, not just the obvious. You could help us shed some light on the past, the interim, and the present. Why not give it a shot? Who knows, it could be heard around the world.

So, I just wanted to say (probably in too many words), just how fortunate we are to have an on-line space to perpetuate or (maybe dispel) the stories that provide the foundation for the legend of a MADcat World.

 

ON WITH THE NEXT REVIEW

My last book review featured Robert B. Parker’s latest Jesse Stone novel, Sea Change. Let’s go for a “two-fer”. He is so prolific that it’s hard to keep up with his latest book(s), (over fifty, in all). I no sooner finished Sea Change than I began reading BLUE SCREEN, his latest Sunny Randall novel( June, 2006). Parker’s forte is his ability to present a terse, yet identifiable dialogue, and stand alone characters that are distinct and representative of his plots. Who can forget Spenser, Hawk, Jesse Stone, Sunny Randall, Rosie, Susan, etc. Another fast moving read, Sunny teams up with Jesse Stone to solve a murder. But, the reader will clearly uncover some romantic interplay between the two sleuths, both rebounding from failed marriages. Does Parker have another book with these two in mind?

The central figure in the plot is a filthy rich and greasy Hollywood  B rated film producer, Buddy Bollen. Known for his wayward antics in the film world. He also owns a major league baseball team. Buddy hires Sunny to protect his superwoman live-in girlfriend and actress of questionable ability, Erin Flint. Erin has played Amazon parts in Buddy’s films and he is about to introduce her into the world of baseball as the first female major league player. Always thinking about his pocketbook, Buddy can see a lot of green stuff coming from Erin’s attempt to play ball and his release of her latest film - kind of a symbiotic play on the two upcoming events which should produce big bucks. Protection becomes a major issue, but not at Erin’s expense. Her younger sister, Misty, becomes the first victim of murder in Buddy’s palatial abode. Since the victim is in Jesse’s Paradise (the name of the eastern town he ploys his sheriff’s skills), and Sunny is employed by Buddy, the two join forces to track down the killer. The trail takes Sunny to Hollywood where she succeeds in renewing some sexual encounters with an old movie industry agent and friend, Tony, while at the same time uncovering the bizarre background of Erin, Misty, and their family. I will leave the rest of the story for you to read. It’s typical Parker. Certainly not his best, but lighthearted and entertaining, at best. Where else can you find a movie star trying to break into the major leagues? Will she make it? Read on…….

JR

 

 

REVIEW FOR AUGUST 20, 2006

Side-Front-Back bars: Well I am back to my old tricks of reporting on something other than a book. This week features The Change of Command at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot (MCRD0. I had the privilege to attend this impressive Ceremony on August 4, 2006 in San Diego.

 

“Attention” mates. Our military has served this country well, both in peace and war. The well known words from the Marines’ Hymn “First to fight for right and freedom and to keep our honor clean. We are proud to claim the title of United States Marine” was recited and demonstrated at the recent Change of Command Ceremony at which Major General John M. Paxton, Jr. relinquished his post to Brigadier General Angela Salinas (yes, a woman!). The event was held outside on a grassy area adjacent to the General’s quarters under sunny skies and in front of about four hundred invitees. The following events took place in this sequence:

                                    Pre-parade Concert

                                    March On

                                    Strike Seven Bells

                                    Invocation

                                    Attention

                                    Adjutant’s Call

                                    Dressing Sequence

                                    National Anthem

                                    Sound Off

                                    Reporting Sequence

                                    Officers Center

                                    Publication of the Orders

                                    Honors to Major General Paxton

                                    Transfer of the Organizational Colors

                                    Honors to Brigadier General Salinas

                                    Remarks by the two Generals

                                    Pass in Review

Lineage

The Marine Corps Recruit Depot/Western Recruiting Region, San Diego, CA was activated in 1914 at Balboa Park and named Marine Barracks. It was relocated to the present site in 1921 (adjacent to and north of Lindberg Airfield). In 1924 the name was changed to Marine Corps Base, Naval Operating Base, only to be redesignated in 1948 as Marine Corps Recruit Depot. Today, and since 1976, it is known as Marine Corps Recruit Depot(MCRD/Western Recruiting Region(WRR).

 

About General Paxton

Ending a three year stint as Commanding General of MCRD/WRR, the colorful and highly decorated outgoing General has been assigned as the Commanding General 1^st Marine Division, Camp Pendleton. A graduate of Cornell University with Bachelor of Science and Master of Civil Engineering degrees, MajGeneral Paxton was commissioned in 1974. His commanding experience ranges from platoon, company, battalion, regimental to division levels. Among his varied assignnments, he commanded special operation forces in Boznia-Herzegovina and Mogadishu, Somalia. His enthusiasm, vitality and intellect will, I’m sure, maintain the highest standards as he marches north to Camp Pendleton

 

About General Salinas

A First! On August 4^th, 2006, Brigadier General Angela (“Angie”) Salinas became the first woman and the 48^th Commanding General of  the MCRD/WRR. She began her military career when she enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1974. She was commissioned a second lieutenant in 1977. Since then, “she has commanded at every rank and has served in a variety of staff positions. In 1989, General Salinas became the first woman to command a Recruiting Station Charleston. In 1992, she became the first woman assigned as a combat service support ground monitor responsible for the assignments of over 1,000 senior officers. She was the first female assigned as a plans and policy officer for a major combatant command in 1999 and in May 2001 when she assumed command of the 12^th Marine Corps District, the first woman to serve as a recruiting district commanding officer.” Small in size (about 5’4”), but large in capability, she left no doubt in my mind that the MCRD will be in good hands. General Salinas graduated from Dominican College of San Rafael, Ca.in 1976 where she received her Bachelors degree in history. She holds a Master’s degree from the Naval War College.

 

Pass in Review

Change of Command Tradition:         “Each organization is honored with a national flag and an organizational flag. When carried by an individual or displayed from a fixed location, the national flag is called the “National Colors.” The unit’s organizational colors are the pride of the unit. The battle streamers attached to the organizational colors are the honors which the unit has been awarded and represent the human sacrifice of Marines and Sailors past and present to ensure our country remains a place of freedom for all generations of Americans. The transfer of the organizational colors is symbolic of the transfer of command from the outgoing Commanding General to the incoming Commanding General.” As the ceremony came to an end, all of the staff cadre Passed in Review before the two Generals as the Marine Corps band played an impressive array of marching music. If it wasn’t for my age, I think I would have enlisted…..

 

Semper Fi

From the Halls of Montezuma to the Shores of Tripoli, from Guadalcanal to Inchon, the United States Marine Corps has served this country with great honor and distinction. I came to the realization that the Change of Command was not just about outgoing and incoming Generals, but it represented a group of men and women who subscribe to their motto, “forever faithful.” The ceremony prompted me to reflect and give thanks to our military, past and present, and to especially acknowledge those who have made the ultimate sacrifice so I, and others, can live in a free society.

 

JR  

 

 

 

Review For August 13^th, 2006

 

Opening Sidebar: As a lot of you know, I have been to Africa and Canada during the past two months. My task of reviewing books has been disrupted and put on the shelf (where else), obviously (I hate this word). So now I am back in the saddle, at least for now, with a review, long overdue (it rhymes).

I want to acknowledge and thank those mates who have written to me about “My Story” of Kilimanjaro and the trip to the Canadian Rockies and the Calgary Stampede. So, “thanks.” I appreciate your responses, both good, and even those not so good.

 

Back To Business

My book selection this week is written by our ever popular author, Robert B. Parker, entitled SEA CHANGE (2006). He has authored over 50 books!  If you enjoy a sexually transmitted discourse on the kinky side of life, then you will relish in this plot’s escapades. The title, I found, a little vague and misleading. The story is Parker’s fifth in his Jesse Stone series. Jesse, to refresh your memory, is an ex-LA divorced cop who serves as a small town chief of police in a sleepy coastal New England town, Paradise. Every year there is a summer Race Week when sailboats and their masters converge to ply their skills, both on the water and at party events. The race is partially interrupted when a woman’s body is washed ashore. Identified as Florence Horvath, a wealthy divorced Floridian, her death becomes the focus of Jesse’s attention. Two prominent  yacht owners from Florida become prime suspects during Jesse’s investigation. No one seems to know anything about Florence, or the suspects. In the meantime, Jesse is renewing his one-time lost relationship with his former wife, Jenn. Things seem to be moving in the right direction as the two attempt to reconcile their differences. The interplay between Jesse’s and his assistant, Molly, provide an ongoing entertaining dialogue.

The sexual exploits by the suspects is sometimes overwhelming, but the conclusion will put closure (another phrase I hate) to the sad state of the art(?), of what, I’m not sure….

Parker, once again, calls it as he sees it. Vivid, simple, and easy to follow….

JR

 

 

JULY 29, 2006

 

ON THE ROAD AGAIN….

I don’t seem to be able to read while I ride, so this week’s review takes on the form of another travelogue.

After returning from Africa, Vangie and I headed out to Alberta, Canada to attend the Calgary Stampede and surrounding area. After Calgary, we flew over to Victoria, B.C., and then drove south through Washington, Oregon, and Northern California. Here is a recap of the trip.

San Francisco to Calgary and Lake Louise: After a quick 2-½ hour flight via Air Canada, we arrived in Calgary. We rented a car and drove straight to Lake Louise on Highway 1 (West). From the air, we could see that Calgary has become a major sprawling city. We shall return to it after four days of sightseeing in the Canadian Rockies. On the outskirts of Calgary we encountered miles of green farmland with cattle, horses and sheep, and fields of alfalfa, wheat, and rape (canola). Some of these crops are exported as far away as Japan. The site of the 1988 Winter Olympics is only an hour out of town at the gateway to the Rockies. Much of the highway is divided and in good condition The Bow River follows it as it runs south towards and through Calgary. The speed limit hovers around 90 K/hour. Note: (1K=1,000 meters and is approx. equivalent to 0.62 US mile). Of interest, the Canadian Pacific Railway follows the same route. It doesn’t take long before you see the jagged. steep, and snow capped slopes of the Rocky Mountains, similar to the formation of the Swiss Alps, and somewhat like the east side of our Sierra Nevada range. With the farmlands behind us, we entered dense forests of pine and fir as they extend upward toward the tree line where they give way to rocks and glaciers. Elk, sheep, goats, bears, motorcycles, and other wildlife, may be found along the highway. After 2 and ½ hours we passed Banff and continued heading west for another hour to Lake Louise. There are many historic sites to visit along the way, so your time allotment to reach your destination(s) may vary.

 

 

 

Lake Louise

The first chalet on Lake Louise was built in 1890 in support of a group of outdoor alpinists with a love of mountain climbing. Swiss guides were imported to conduct mountaineering classes and to lead climbers on their ascents. The Fairmont has revived these mountain adventures through its Heritage-Guiding Program. The Fairmont’s Chateau Lake Louise is the only hotel on the lake. It is a magnificent 10 story structure that fronts on the eastern end of the lake. The full views of the lake and the surrounding glaciered mountains are incomparable to anything I have ever seen. The color of the water is an emerald (blue-green). Canoes and kayaks are available for rent. Walking paths extend from the hotel’s doors to the end of the lake and up the mountainsides. Using the hotel as our base, we spent a day driving westward towards Jasper National Park where we encountered numerous waterfalls, including Yoho National Park’s Takakkaw Falls –(a Cree Indian word for “magnificent)” and, reportedly, the highest in Canada- 1,248’), lakes, streams and rivers, and, of course, the continuing rugged formations of the Canadian Rockies. Lunch overlooking Emerald Lake and a stop at natural bridges on the Bow River kept us fully occupied as we “oohed and awed” along the way. On return, and about a mile from the hotel, we took a cut-off and visited Moraine Lake. Nestled at the base of ten peaks, it almost rivals the views at Lake Louise.  

 

Banff

Heading back towards Calgary, and only an hour away, was the next location of our journey, Banff. The concierge suggested that we to take the old highway because of its scenic nature. We were not disappointed. An elk with its giant antlers was grazing along the road and posed for a few pictures. The town of Banff, like Lake Louise, is just off Highway 1 and is serviced by the Canadian railroad system. The size and architecture of the Fairmont Hotel overshadow all other buildings in the area. There is a picturesque and well know championship golf course along the Bow river just below the hotel. The course will be the site of a televised golf “skins game” in August when Jack Nicholas and a few other pro-golfers will compete for big bucks. Sulfur Mountain towers high over the valley below and a gondola ride to the top will keep you clicking your camera as you look out over the entire landscape of Banff, and, if you are lucky, maybe you will see a few wild long-horn sheep dotting the mountain side. Again (as we did at Lake Louise), we checked out the surrounding area the next day zigzagging our way back and forth across Hwy. 1. Following the Tunnel Mountain Road east of the downtown area, we viewed the Bow River falls, the Hoodoos, and Moose Meadows. To the north and east of Banff, we were rewarded by a visit to Lake Minnewanka nestled at the base of another unbelievable mountain backdrop. We received another bonus when we spotted a wild goat near Johnson Lake on the way back to Banff. The downtown area has many shops and restaurants. Gas was only $2.37 (CA) a liter! A pub lunch at Tommy’s and dinner at Castillos capped another perfect day.

Calgary: It’s Stampede Time

 

We said goodbye to the Rockies as we headed back southeast to Calgary for the Stampede, touted as The Greatest Outdoor Show On Earth for ten days. The Stampede is really a Rodeo Tournament with over $1.6 million in prize money to be awarded to professional competitors - cowboys & cowgirls, through a daily elimination process in the following events: saddle bronc, bareback bronc, bull riding, tie-down roping, steer wrestling, and ladies barrel racing. Stampede Park is a short-walking distance from downtown Calgary. An efficient light rail system serves the area. Each night starting around 8:30 PM there is an outdoor show that starts with chuck-wagon races, followed by featured singers, dancers, musicians, and a host of support characters, including Indians and youth performers. There were several acrobatic teams that were especially noteworthy. Even the famous Budweiser Clydesdale horses attend the event and occupy their own building. Each night, the show lasted until almost midnight. It was capped with a grand finale of fireworks that would rival any Fourth of July event I have ever seen. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the other numerous events that support the Stampede. Agricultural and animal exhibits, sheep dog competition, novelty shops, food booths, Coney-Island type fun rides and games of all kinds, and yes, even a gambling casino to help you satisfy the urge to get rich. After three days, we were ready to move on to our next destination – Victoria, B.C.

Victoria, British Columbia

A crazy, but humorous thing happened to us in the Calgary airport. While checking in, with the West Jet desk attendant, she asked us a few questions since we were traveling under separate names. Also, some reference to my recent trip to Africa was noted when she inspected my passport. This conversation led to an expose of our background dating back to our MAD days, including our pending marriage, and the fact that I had climbed Kilimanjaro. Once we had checked in and had passed through security, we settled down at the boarding gate with a cup of coffee. Without advanced notice, “our story” was broadcasted over the terminal public address system as if it was some sort of entertainment. When prompted by the announcer, many travelers acknowledged us with “high-fives” and a resounding note of applause. With much embarrassment, we managed to survive the fun and waved back to the crowd. But, that was not the end of the episode. Once we had taken off for Victoria, a flight attendant repeated the story prompting another round of applause by the passengers, along with free drinks.  I was ready to parachute out of the plane except I didn’t want to miss the drinks….

After a quick 1-½ hour flight to the Victoria Airport, we rented a car and headed to the Fairmont Empress Hotel on the harbor in downtown Victoria, Western Canada’s oldest city. It was originally settled in 1843 as Fort Victoria, a regional outpost of the Hudson’s Bay Company. Today, it is know as the “City of Gardens.” A fleet of ferry ships connect it to the mainland. The Fairmont’s Empress is the premier hotel. It has been around long enough to sport Queens of England, Presidents of the U.S., and many other dignitaries. Noted for it’s traditional “high-tea” every afternoon, the hotel maintains an unparalleled ambiance of traditional excellence in service. Our room overlooked the busy harbor. The highlight of our stay was a trip to the Butchart Gardens, about 13 miles hour north of the downtown area. It encompasses about 55 acres. Originally a limestone quarry, the Butchart family created this world famous sunken garden utilizing rare and exotic shrubs, trees, and flowers, and waterscapes. Touring the grounds, day or night, will satisfy anyone who has any level of interest in ornamental horticulture. The Caesar salads, oysters, salmon, and halibut at the Blue Catch and at the hotel still linger on my mental taste buds.

Whidbey Island

 

One of the highlights of the trip was an overnight stop at Bob (’51) and Dorothy (’53) Packer’s delightful two-story home on Whidbey Island. The ferry from Victoria carried us to Port Angeles. It was an hour drive to Port Townsend where we ferried to Port Casey located at the south and westerly side of the island. Whidbey is one of the longest islands in the USA. Densely wooded, we followed Highway 525 south to the Packer’s beautiful home site overlooking the sound. The evening was filled with old war stories - memories from our MAD days - as we dined outdoors at their favorite local restaurant next to the water. After a hearty breakfast, we bid our friends goodbye and caught the ferry to the mainland just north of Seattle. Bob and Dorothy represent two of MAD’s finest examples of married partners, and with great kids to prove it. Neat people….

The Columbia River

Our next stop was on the Columbia River, the dividing line between Washington and Oregon, a three-hour drive from Seattle. Turning east at Vancouver, we drove along the Washington side of the river following the Lewis and Clark Trail. The route is slower than the highway on the Oregon side, but it is just as scenic. Several people had mentioned to us to us that Washington has the finest blueberries and cherries. We bought some in the small town of Washougal. They remained fresh for five days and were truly delicious. We crossed over the river to Oregon at the “Bridge of the Gods” and traveled eastward towards Mt. Hood stopping near Hood River at The Columbia Gorge Hotel. Voted the “Best Romantic Hotel in the Nation” two years in a row, it sits on an 11 acre site at the top of a 208 foot waterfall that cascades down into the Columbia River. Built in 1921, this historic 40-room hotel has hosted movie stars, presidents, and thousands of travelers. An outdoor wedding was taking place just outside our window on the cliff overlooking the river while para-sailors skimmed back and forth across the water. If the afternoon champagne and caviar social hour is not your cup of tea, you might find their “World Famous Farm Breakfast” a gustatory delight. Starting with some champagne and orange juice, you can leisurely work through the following: fruits and berries, Grandma Lallah’s Baked apple, hot apple fritters, old fashioned oatmeal served with brown sugar and sweet cream, fresh eggs, crispy bacon, country-style smoked pork chop, apple and maple flavored pork sausage, or fresh grilled Idaho mountain trout, served with browned potatoes, home style biscuits with honey (poured from 3 feet above the table), buttermilk pancakes, and hot coffee. What a way to start the day…..no wonder I had a heavy foot!

The Oregon Coast

 

Next, we followed Horace Greely’s advice and headed west through Portland on Highway 6 towards the beautiful Oregon coast. Tillamook valley was an interim planned stop to test the cheese and wine. A roadside picnic made us as contented as the local cows. We connected with Highway 101 just south of Tillamook and reached our next destination, Salishan Lodge, in Gleneden Beach. Overlooking a championship golf course with nearby trails to the beach, Salishan is nestled in a woodsy setting and enjoys the cool breezes from the ocean across the highway. The rooms sport fireplaces and small decks overlooking the fairways. If golf is not your sport, then day trips (either north or south) will produce rewarding travels. Just south in Depoe Bay we had a great breakfast at the Whale Watch Café overlooking the bay. My pancake (just one) filled the entire plate! Further south, we visited Cape Foul Weather and the Yaquina Lighthouse (Oregon’s tallest at 162’) discovered by Captain Cook in 1823. Huge offshore rock formations provide a home to thousands of birds and seals. Back at Gleneden Beach we took a leisurely stroll on the beach and picked up some neat pieces of driftwood. Max, an Australian German Shepard dog sniffed us out while his owner proceeded to give us his autobiography and the local news.  We drove back to Depoe Bay for some fresh oysters and a little vino. That night, we took the advice of some locals and dined at the Bay House, just north of Salishan in Lincoln City …. Salmon again. It was a good call.

South to Shakespeare Country

We left Salishan and headed south on 101 to Newport enroute to Ashland, Shakespeare country. Again, the 300 mile drive was spectacular along the tree-studded highways with the rugged coast on our right. Breakfast at Cook’s Chasm in Yachats was another winner. At Florence, we turned eastward towards Eugene (about 60 miles), home of the University of Oregon (one of my alma maters). I lived there for two years while doing some work at the University. From Eugene, it was about a three-hour drive south to Ashland through towns such as Cottage Grove, Roseburg, and Medford. The forests gave way to rolling valleys supporting spacious farms. One can’t help but feel the presence of the lumber industry in the Pacific Northwest as logging trucks continually rumble along the highways. Ashland is a quaint town and home of Southern Oregon College and the famous Oregon Shakespeare Festival. As reported, “The mission of the Festival is to create fresh and bold interpretation of classic and contemporary plays in repertory, shaped by the diversity of our American culture, using Shakespeare as our standard and inspiration.” There are many things to do and see in and around town. A stroll through Lithia Park reminded us of a mini Butchart Gardens. Ashland creek winds its way down from Mt. Ashland through the park and the city and serves as its major water source. We had tickets to the play, Two Gentlemen From Verona, which was held on/in the Elizabethan Stage/Allen Pavilion. This open-air facility has been constructed much like the Globe Theatre in London. This year’s Festival features Shakespeare productions of The Winter’s Tale, King John, The Merry Wives of Windsor, and Two Gentlemen….., along with other plays in the Angus Bowmer Theatre: The Winter’s Tale, The Importance of Being Earnest, Intimate Apparel, and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde; and, Bus Stop and King John in the New Theatre. Several offstage offerings allow patrons to take backstage tours, hear festival stories, visit the other three unique theatre auditoriums, and attend lectures and concerts. I must admit, with some reluctance, that I had a hard time getting with the program. I found it difficult to follow the play. The actors’ words were hard to understand and my eyelids seemed to drift together. I now realize I should have paid more attention to my English teacher, Emroy Walker, and her words of wisdom.

The Benbow Inn, Garberville

The mountainous drive south to Yreka, Weed, Dunsmuir, and Redding took about three hours. The snow capped Mt. Shasta loomed to the east in all of it’s splendor as I recalled climbing it over ten years ago. Leaving I5 we turned west on 299 following the Trinity River through Whiskeytown and onward to Eureka, a long but scenic drive, where we joined up with The Redwood Highway – 101. Some of the largest redwood trees in the world grow along the route. Numerous camping sites are nestled in the shade of these big giants. Garberville is about one hour south along the Eel River and is home to the historic Ben Bow Inn. Like the Royal Gorge Inn, Ben Bow has hosted Presidents, movie stars, and strays, like us, since the turn of the century. You can chose between indoor or outdoor dining overlooking the river. A fine menu compliments either choice. The Inn has its own airstrip and golf course. Visitors can enjoy the river or a variety of other outdoor activities. Our Victorian room was huge and sported a four-poster bed, fireplace and a view of the river. The room was stocked with complimentary champagne and sherry. It didn’t last…..

The Last Day

As Gus said looking back on his life in the movie Lonesome Dove. “It’s been some ride.” The last day of the trip back to my home in Monte Sereno was still scenic. Miles of grape vines covering the valleys and hillsides of the northern coastal towns of Cloverdale, Healdsburg ushered us into Santa Rosa. Never wanting to miss an opportunity, we left the freeway and drove east to Tiburon and had some oysters and a burger at Sam’s Place on the water overlooking the San Francisco skyline. The trip across the Golden Gate Bridge is always impressive, especially on a clear day. After traveling over four thousand miles, we arrived home to the heat wave that had been sweeping the western states, thinking when will we be on the road again?

JR and VB

 

 

 

THERE ARE FEW DOORS, BUT MANY WINDOWS TO THE TOP OF AFRICA’S HIGHEST MOUNTAIN. CREATED BY A FORCE , AS IT REACHED FOR THE SKY A REMINDER THAT WHAT WE SEE IS BEYOND OUR CONTROL

                                             J.R. 6-25-06

 

 

                                               

 

                                                                                                                                               

 

KILIMANJARO, TANZANIA, MY STORY                                                                  

 

Sidebar: My Story was not written for purposes of self-aggrandizement. I just wanted to recapture the moments of my journey to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro. My observations were prompted by strong feelings of fulfilling a dream, and now that I have, I hope you, too, will find substance in my story.

 

Forward: The “Dark Continent” known as Africa is divided into more nations than any other continent – 47 on the mainland, and 6 offshore. The boundaries of these nations ignore the myriad of ecosystems that transverse Africa’s land mass, including swamps, desert, forests, farmlands and savanna – each possessing its own rules for survival. One of these is Tanzania, the largest country in east Africa covering an area of 364,929 square miles. It was created in 1964 following the take over of the Arab government. It is bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north; Rwanda and Burunda to the west; Zambia, and Mozambique on the south; and, The Red Sea to the east. The name, Tanzania was derived as a portmanteau (blend) of Tanganyika and the island state of Zanzibaar. Mount Kilimanjaro is located in the north-eastern part of Tanzania overlooking the plains of Kenya’s Serengeti and is considered a part of The Great Rift Valley.

 

Many years ago, say twenty, I thought about climbing the world’s highest free-standing mountain peak, Kilimanjaro. Like most of us, I got caught up in other pursuits, usually dictated by family matters, which, of course, came first. So, my desire was put on the “some day” shelf. Throughout my lifetime, I have trekked around many places in the Sierra Nevada mountains, including the tallest in the “lower 48 states,” Mt. Whitney (14,481’), and Mt. Shasta (14.162’). Then, after my son and I climbed Mt. Rainier (14,491’) in 1984, the most glaciated mountain in the lower U.S., I knew I wanted to expand my climbing experience to more challenging peaks. Everest, K-2, Mckinley, and Kilimanjaro, became targets of my attention. About ten years ago I decided that a trip to Nepal and, at the least, a climb to the Everest base camp would be a worthwhile venture. Again, my plans went dormant when family obligations took precedence over my personal pursuits. When my wife died last June, I realized that I did not want to hibernate, and that I could now bring to fruition some of the dreams that I had harbored for many moons. Africa’s Kilimanjaro became the focus of my attention. I said to myself that it was “now or never,” so last November I began to formulate my climbing plans. And, it was not too soon. Who to go with and when to go became the first items on my agenda. After I had decided that a well established company called REI’s (Recreational Equipment, Inc.) Adventures’ Group offered what I thought was the best program, it became “put-up or shut-up time.” Paper work like obtaining a Visa, arranging air travel, and fulfilling basic travel requirements took several months to complete. Before entering Tanzania, I had to receive vaccine shots for typhoid, hepatitis A, polio, diphtheria, tetanus, and yellow fever, in order to obtain an International Certificate of Vaccination. In addition, a travel specialist doctor recommended taking prescribed drugs to combat malaria (it only takes one bite), diarrhea, and high altitude sickness. Altitude illness is not predictable and depends on each person’s ability to cope with a reduction in oxygen. It can range from acute mountain sickness (AMS) to more severe and progressive and life threatening conditions called high-altitude cerebral edema (HACE), and high-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE). I knew that additional training for the climb was a must even though I have never stopped living an active lifestyle. My daily routine consisted of running, walking, lifting weights, and watching my food and drink intake. Selecting the right gear to wear was of paramount importance in making my climbing preparations. The weather on Kilimanjaro can range from the 70’s and 80’s at the bottom to well below zero at the top. There are four distinct climatic zones on the mountain beginning with the rain forest, then opening up to hillsides of heather and temperate forests. The third zone is depicted by high moorlands which blend into Alpine desert. Afternoon rains are common in the moorlands.. The last zone (alpine) consisted of a barren landscape with unique rock formations, all the way to the top of “Kili.” And, as reported, we were to meet fields of rocky ridges, snow and ice at the top. Some of the glaciers, I estimated, loomed upward at least 200 feet. Layering your clothes was most important because you did not want to get damp and cold. You learn to add or subtract layers as you go, depending on the variance in climatic conditions. Here are some of the more important gear and essentials I used (not all inclusive): waterproof boots, thermal underwear, synthetic long-sleeve shirts and hiking pants, wool sweater, wool socks with liners, waterproof breathable jacket and pants, insulated synthetic filled jacket, gaiters, wool gloves with liners, wool hat, sunglasses with dark lenses, sun block, first aid kit, two 1 quart water bottles, headlamp and a rated sleeping bag for temperatures to minus 10 degrees F. And, last but not least, a roll of toilet paper. After months of planning and preparation, the day for departure was rapidly approaching and my excitement level began to escalate.

 

Chronology of Events:

Saturday and Sunday, June 17^th and 18th

The journey began when my daughter dropped me off at the San Jose Airport at 5:30 AM. I left San Jose at 7:00 AM via United airlines bound for Dulles Airport in Washington D.C. The next leg (8 hours) brought me to Amsterdam @ 6:30 AM where I switched to KLM airlines on a 777 at 10:30 AM for an 8 ½ hour flight to my final destination. After flying approximately 11,000 miles, I arrived at Arusha/Kilimanjaro airport, Tanzania at 8:00 PM, June 18th (there is an 11 hour time difference) and, for the first time, I met the other 15 members of the climbing team and an REI representative. Safari type Toyota Landcruisers took us to the Moivaro Lodge about two hours from the airport. The Lodge is a low-profile working coffee plantation estate owned by a Dutch family, and located on the outskirts of Arusha town, known as “little Geneva of Tanzania,” a town of about 300,000 people. It was established in 1900 as a German garrison town. The plantation was under tight gated security due to the high crime rate in the area. The main lodge and dining room was surrounded by thatch-roofed cottages scattered throughout the lush grounds consisting of bamboo, hibiscus, philodendrons, bougainvilleas, and many familiar flowering plants like vinca, geraniums, day lilies, and jasmine. I was assigned a room with a fellow climber from Maryland. Mosquito netting hung over our four-poster wooden beds. The water was undrinkable due to typhoid bacteria! After the climb, however, the beer was…..

 

Monday, June 19^th

Today was a rest and organizational day. Since we would be leaving for the mountain the next morning, we had to organize our packs. Non-essentials were to be left behind at the Lodge during our absence. In the afternoon and evening we were briefed by our head guide, Peter Mato. With over twenty years of guide experience, Peter, a life-long resident of Tanzania, had summited Kilimanjaro over 500 times. I had previously learned about Peter’s extensive background and experience through REI. He was the main reason I chose to go with REI. About 40 years in age, standing about 5’4” in height, Peter is built with sinewy type features and he immediately made a lasting imprint on my mind. His seriousness combined with a sparkling sense of humor, captured my immediate attention. He reviewed the plan of action and the strategy involved. I knew I had made the right decision to take on the mountain under his leadership. I did not sleep well that night. My mind was racing back and forth in anticipation of the journey ahead as I reflected on my life to date, and those that have helped shape it.

 

Tuesday, June 20th

From Moivaro Lodge it was about a three hour drive to the Kilimanjaro’s Park Headquarters at Marongo gate where we registered. Meanwhile, the guide hired the porters who would make up the support team. At the time of registration, each member had to declare his/her age. I soon learned that I was fifteen years older that the next oldest climber. Most members were in there 30’s and 40’s. In addition to the 15 climbers, the support team consisted of 45 registered local Tanzanian natives, including cooks, dishwashers, food and equipment carriers, etc. After introductions, the support group sang several lively songs about Kilimanjaro and the lore surrounding its origin. Note: the porters carried everything on their heads, usually in large waterproof sacks. We were issued an additional roll of toilet paper which was added to our packs. You never know when you have to leave “a message” somewhere along the way!                                                          Just after noon, the hike began at the Park gate, elevation 6,000’. Our first destination was Mandara Hut at 8,800’, about six miles through a lush rain forest marked with bamboo, ferns, eucalyptus and various tropical plants. The red cinder trail was very wet and muddy due to the constant rainfall. Whenever we ran into other porters on the trail, we were greeted by the soon to be familiar word, “jumbo,” meaning hello. Mandara Hut, named after a native chief, consists of several wooden A-frame huts that sleep 4 to 8 people. Our hut accommodated two women and four men in bunk beds. After a late dinner featuring tough chicken, rice, vegetables, tomatoes, cucumbers, and fruit, we buried ourselves into cold sleeping bags. The sounds of snoring and “other noises” permeated our coed domicile. I drifted off to sleep as I relived the first day and thought about the next leg of my journey to Horombo Hut.

 

Wednesday, June 21^st

We were given a 6:00 AM “knock-knock”wake-up call by two porters who served hot water for tea, coffee or chocolate. We were cautioned that the caffeine in coffee may not be compatible with our body’s chemistry at high altitudes. So, I became a fan of hot chocolate, echoing the phrase, “more Ovaltine please.” Breakfast consisted of a hot drink, porridge, sausage and bacon, bread and eggs. Most of the group started taking diamox pills in hopes of avoiding altitude sickness (previously discussed). It was a bright sunny morning, unlike yesterday’s rainy start. Our destination was Horombo Hut, named after a city in Tanzania, a cluster of small A-frame wooden structures situated at the 12,340’ level, about 10 miles above Mandara. The trail started to get more strenuous as we passed through the end of the rain forest into high moorlands, where reportedly, elephants , eland, and buffalo used to roam before a devastating fire cremated the area many years ago. As suggested, I drank 2 to 3 liters of water each day. The landscape changed, I found myself, with interest, looking at the different plant and animal life, some recognizable, some not. Kilimanjaro trees related to the Juniper family dotted the hillsides. Some plants were familiar, like the Red Hot Poker. The popular African violet is not found in this region. It grows mainly in the eastern mountains and coastal forests. Mice were in abundance everywhere and were often seen darting across the trail. Huge black and white ravens (about three times the size of the ones we have in the US) followed in our footsteps scrounging for food. I observed beautiful bronze sunbirds with blue and green plumage which extended into long twin fuselage-like tails.  Along the way, we took a side trip to Maundi Crater and circled it’s rim We arrived at Horombo just before darkness set in under misty skies, and very tired. A late dinner was served around 8:30 and consisted of fish, potatoes, vegetables, tomatoes, cucumbers, and avocados. I found my appetite dwindling as the altitude increased. On the way back to my hut I was hit with a sudden bout of diarrhea. It was the last thing I needed to happen. Thank God for the magic of cipro pills!  That night I bunked with six male climbers. The stars appeared late at night looking down on us as we made frequent trips to the outside to “leave a message,” a side effect of taking diamox (acetazolamide) pills. The barometric pressure had dropped below 20, no wonder our breathing was labored.

Each night before drifting off, I fell into a routine of psyching myself up for the next day. I tried to keep my focus on the immediate tasks, rather than the end result. For Fathers’ Day, my son had given me a passage written by Teddy Roosevelt. I read it each night with great emotion:

                                    It is not the critic who counts;

                                    Not the man who points out

                                    How the strong man stumbles,

                                    Or where the doer of deeds

                                    Could have done them better.

                                    The credit belongs to the man

                                    Who is actually in the arena,

                                    Whose face is marred by dust

                                    And sweat and blood; who

                                    Strives valiantly; who errs,

                                    Who comes short again and

                                    Again, because there is no

                                    Effort without error and

                                    Shortcoming; but who does

                                    Actually strive to do the

                                    Deeds; who knows great

                                    Enthusiasms, the great

                                    Devotions; who spends

                                    Himself in a worthy cause;

                                    Who at the best knows in the

                                    End the triumph of high

                                    Achievement, and who at the

                                    Worst, if he fails, at least fails

                                    While daring greatly, so that

                                    His place shall never be with

                                    Those cold and timid souls

                                    Who neither know victory nor

                                    defeat.

 

Thursday, June 22^nd

Today was considered a lay-over day in order to get better acclimated. I woke up to sunshine and got my first glimpse of the top of Kilimanjaro peeking over the nearby mountains. After the usual breakfast, we hiked about six miles to the base of Mawenzi, elevation 14,260 ‘. Mawenzi, meaning “stone with a fly,” is one of the three volcanoes that make up Kilimanjaro. The day hike took us through some unique landscape marked by the odd-shaped giant groundsel, and flowering cinecio, and stoebe plants. At the higher elevation we were rewarded with spectacular views of both Kibo summit and Mawenzi. After a short rest and some snacks of power bars, we headed back down to Horombo. Again, the purpose of the day’s exercise was to help us get acclimatized. The night sky was clear and filled with stars that seemed extra close. It was fun trying to pick out the big dipper, and other constellations. The nighttime temperatures dropped well below freezing and I was glad to have my long underware. Tomorrow we would be at the base of Kilimanjaro.

 

Friday, June 23rd

The familiar “knock-knock” hit our door at 6:00 AM. After breakfast, we were on the trail by 8:00. Kibo Hut (elevation 15,520”) was the last base camp destination before attempting the summit. The hike took 7 to 8 hours to cover about 5 miles. It was a slower pace due to the increasing steepness and higher altitude. An expression that was voiced many times was “pole, pole,”(pronounced po-lee), which rhymes with, and means slowly-slowly. The trail passed through a wide plateau known as the saddle with full view of the peaks of Kibo and Mawenzi looming overhead. Parkas became necessary as we encountered gusty winds. The alpine landscape was like a high desert, barren and with many interesting rock formations. Kibo Hut, named after a native tribe, is nestled against “Kili”at the end of the plateau. Built of stone, the sturdy Hut has rooms that sleep 10-15 people. I felt the tension really building as we were given a light supper consisting mainly of carbohydrates. Afterwards, Peter, our guide, gave us a pep talk and pre-climb instructions. I assembled my gear carefully before heading to bed at 7:00 PM knowing that our “knock-knock” would be at 11:00 PM. As I lay in bed, I reclaimed the reasons I was there, the people in my life, both past and present, and yes, even my old football coach, Bob Blackman. Somehow I had a swelling feeling that I was going to make it. Tomorrow was soon to come. The preliminaries were over. It was now show time….

 

 

Saturday, June 24th

Our 11:00 PM wake up call seemed matter-of-fact. I could sense a somber mood taking over the group. I had some hot chocolate, pineapple, and a little porridge. I rechecked my clothing and headlamp and the team hit the trail around midnight. The stars were out in full bloom and it was bitter cold as we started the six hour ascent to Gilman’s Point. It is a unique sight to see fifteen climbers with their headlights on ascending a mountain in total darkness. The steep trail was composed of loose scree, i.e., small rock and sand, and it was often hard to maintain your footing. After a while, we began to negotiate a series of 95 switchbacks that averaged between 30 and 45 degree angles upward - “pole, pole,” slowly, slowly. The black sky overhead listened to the heavy sound of our breathing as we placed one foot in front of the other. I remember looking out over the African plains below and seeing the lights of several towns and villages. It felt like I was separated from the rest of the world. As planned, we arrived at Gilman’s point, elevation 18,685’ at sunrise. The sun was peeking upward over the horizon as I tried to drink it all in. Actual drinking became a problem since our water had frozen. Several climbers in the group decided that they could go no farther and began an immediate descent.back to Kibo. The rest of us were determined to make the true summit, Uhuru Peak at an elevation of 19, 340’ It took about two more hours to travel the two miles along the rim of the crater to Uhuru. It was worth it.

 

I passed glaciers that had vertical faces towering more than 200’ feet upward. I was reminded of the reported global warming effects on these formations. Looking down into Kilimanjaro’s crater reminded me of pictures of the moon. The reddish smooth cinder dirt on the crater floor was home to some giant boulders, seemingly awaiting for the next eruption. I donned a Monrovia Wildcats’ green and white hat which I had brought with me to the summit as a tribute to my alma mater, Monrovia-Arcadia-Duarte (MAD) High School.

After taking some pictures, a brief rest, and another power bar, I was ready to head back down to Kibo Hut, and then on to Horombo, a distance of fifteen miles. The temperature on top was between minus 10 –20 degrees F. I discovered that not only was my water bottle frozen, but so was my beard!! The barometric pressure now measured around 13! Guide Peter took us on a short-cut down the mountain through a long trough of loose scree. I was able to literally slide/skate down a distance of about 1 mile thus avoiding the switchbacks we used on the ascent. Once I was back at Kibo Hut, I rested for a short while and then I started the long trek back to Horombo. Needless to say, my buns were really dragging by the end of the day. But the euphoria of having summited, brought tears to my eyes and a source of satisfaction that will stay with me for the rest of my life. I kept saying to myself, “I made it, I made it.” Happy members of the climbing team that made it to the top passed out kudos to each other knowing that they had “been there, and done that.”

 

Sunday, June 25^th

Our “knock knock” call came at 6:00 AM. Many of us had developed a strange cough and nose bleeds, while others still were experiencing diarrhea. I thanked God again for Sipro….

With the summit behind me, I was prepared for the long downhill hike back to Marangu gate at the Park’s headquarters.

I was moving along at a good pace keeping towards the front of the pack. I took a short rest once I reached Mandara Hut where I knew I was over the half way mark to the entrance gate. And, once again, I felt the presence of coach Bob Blackman pushing me to put it into high gear. Being the oldest climber, I wanted to finish somewhere near the front, not the back. I worked my way up to number three from the front and decided it was now or never. As we neared the gate, the front two guys had to stop and rest from cramps. I blew by them and sprinted the last 100 yards to the end. The clock read 2:00 PM.  It was a true Wildcat finish!                                                                   

After registration and payment to the guide and porters, we thought we were headed back to the Lodge. Wrong! Our guide’s 12 year old daughter was having her confirmation and reception in the courtyard of a catholic church in Arusha town. We were invited to attend despite being dirty and wearing our smelly old clothes.

The event turned out to be a huge bonus. It was a fun filled three hour celebration with music, food and drink. It was like a scene from a fairy tale and seemed incongruous with Tanzanian life. His daughter, Scolla Peter Mato, dressed in a beautiful white lace dress, was the most sophisticated 12 year old girl I have ever observed. She had several younger attendants who sat with her on an elevated center stage throughout the ceremony. A 14 all-male member khaki uniformed band played a variety of popular songs. It reminded me of music played by the Tijuana Brass. I can still hear and feel the beat. You couldn’t help but move your feet and sway to the music. All of the family and friends (about 300) danced throughout the ceremony as they paraded to and from the stage bearing gifts, to the toilets, and even through the food line. We took up a collection and gave Scolla $275.00 towards her future education. Just when we thought the affair was about to end, Peter called out our individual names and we went center stage to receive our certificates signed by our guide, the Park Warden, and the Director General of Tanzania National Parks, certifying that we had successfully climbed Mount Kilimanjaro.  It was after 9:00 PM when we headed back to the Lodge, dirty, tired, yet happy, knowing today was a very special day.                                                                                                                         On a financial note, the exchange rate in Tanzania is about 1,000 shillings to one American dollar. One of the porters who was married and had two children told me he could live three months on the pay he received for being on our support team. His pay for the week’s work was $14.00!! We were cautioned not to overpay the porters because of the potential for future conflicts in compensation by future groups. I compared our standards of living to the native Tanzanians and concluded that happiness and prosperity do not always go hand in hand.

 

Monday and Tuesday, June 26^th & 27th

The following day most of the group headed out for their wildlife safari week, the second part of their planned trip. Since I was not going, I was able to stay at the Plantation and organize my gear for the long trip home. I boarded a KLM plane at 8:00 PM  for an eleven hour flight to Amsterdam where I transferred to a United 767 enroute to Chicago (another 9 hours), and finally to San Jose (3 ½ hours). All in all, it took me thirty-two hours get home. Between flights in Chicago, and for the first time since I left home, I was able to make contact with Vangie signaling that I had a successful climb and that I was on my way to San Jose. She, in turn, alerted my family and a few friends.

 

Postscript

I was six and one-half days on the mountain. I lost ten pounds. Other than losing a few toenails and having my new IC recorder stolen, I feel fortunate to have come through the experience without incident. At this moment I am trying not to look too far ahead to my next adventure. But, I know there is something out there waiting to capture my attention. Evangeline says it’s our wedding, stupid! I look forward to seeing as many of my family and friends as possible in the days, months, and years ahead. I have learned that we all have separate interests, some overlap. But one thing for sure, if we don’t remain proactive, the world isn’t going to come to us, “in victory or defeat.” Our endeavors require effort, and I promise to keep on “chuggin.”

.

 

Acknowledgements:

It’s easy to say “I did it my way.” But, one thing for sure, is that my way evolved from the love and support of others. I would like to recognize and thank a few important persons in my life:

-          my 97 year old mother–in–law, Elizabeth Proctor

-          my son, Richard Regan and his family

-          my daughter, Anne Hirokawa and her family

-          my beloved wife-to-be, Evangeline Brownwood Burt

-          and all of you who gave me strength and encouragement to follow a dream

 

Final Prose

                                    A mountain so majestic

                                    with wonders to tell,

                                    transcends the earth

                                    as it’s legend lives on.

                                    Mighty Kilimanjaro

                                    Looms high above,

                                    Each day returns

                                    As if it’s tomorrow.

                                                            J.R.

                                   

                                   

 

                                    A DAY TO REMEMBER, THEN AND NOW

                                                                        By

                                                            James F. Regan

                                                     Monday, May 29^th, 2006

 

            MY WORLD IS YOUR WORLD, BUT THEN AGAIN, IT’S NOT.

            THE FACES OF OUR WORLD ARE THERE FOR ALL TO SEE

            YET, WHAT IS SEEN, HEARD, AND FELT REMAIN IN MY WORLD.

            WHAT TRANSPIRED IN THE MINDS OF THOSE WHO FOUGHT TO

            PRESERVE MY WORLD, I WILL NEVER KNOW.

            BUT I WILL REMEMBER. AND I AM THANKFUL.

            TODAY IS BUT ONE DAY IN MY LIFE, BUT WHAT ABOUT THE             OTHER DAYS?

            I THINK, I ACT, AS IF MY JOURNEY HAS NOT BEEN AFFECTED            BY THOSE WHO GAVE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE. I’M WRONG.

            I CAN’T SHAKE HANDS WITH HEROES, BUT I CAN GIVE            INTERNAL

            THANKS THAT MY WORLD WAS THEIR WORLD, AND THEIR            DEEDS

WERE FOR THEIR COUNTRY, AND FOR THEIR FELLOW MEN AND WOMEN, AND FOR ME.

NO ONE’S LIFE IS TOTALLY FREE, BUT I CHERISH THE FREEDOMS I DO HAVE. THEY HAVE BEEN EARNED BY THE DEEDS OF OTHERS, AND WE SHOULD STRIVE TO MAINTAIN THEM.

TODAY, LIKE THE DAYS BEFORE, ARE DAYS TO BE REMEMBERED. TO OFFER BLESSINGS, AND TO REVERE OUR PAST WILL HELP KEEP THE BRIDGE TO THE FUTURE SECURE AND LASTING….

AND WITH GREAT APPRECIATION, TODAY AND FORWARD, I WILL CONTINUE TO SALUTE OUR FALLEN HEROES.

 

 

                                               MEMORIAL DAY

                                                                 MAY 29, 2006

 

Nothing describes Memorial Day better than a poem penned by Morina Michael in 1915:

           

                                 WE CHERISH TOO, THE POPPY RED

                        THAT GROWS ON FIELDS WHERE VALOR LED,

                        IT SEEMS TO SIGNAL TO THE SKIES

                        THAT BLOOD OF HEROES NEVER DIES.

 

The origin of Memorial Day dates back to the Civil War (1861-65).  Although the origin remains elusive, the purpose has been made clear. Today, it is a legal Federal holiday set aside in 1971 to recognize those that have died in any war. In 1966, President Lyndon Johnson declared Waterloo, New York, the birthplace of the holiday. In addition to his declaration, many states have established their own dates and traditions for observance. Some of us still remember wearing red poppies, a tradition that started at the end of WW I, referred to as Poppy Day. During the next three days there will be memorial programs held all across the country. It is a time to hang your “Old Glory” in full view for others to see. It is one important way to acknowledge those who have given the ultimate sacrifice.

 

 

 

REVIEW FOR MAY 27^TH, 2006

 

Sidebar #1:  From time to time I receive book recommendations from mates. I do not have time to read them all, but I try. So, I thought I would dedicate a special section in my reviews identifying those books that others have been found interesting and informative to others.

I will note these recommendations in a “Readers’ Suggestions” section. Just send me a title or two, and a sentence about the content. We can’t read everything, but we can sure benefit from the minds of others.

 

READERS SUGGESTIONS:

 

The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors : The extraordinary World War II story of the U.S. Navy’s finest hour (naval battles in the Philippines for the Leyte Gulf) by James Hornfischer (2004). Recommended by John Burt (’56).

                       

Sidebar #2: I have visited the island of Maui many times. I was not aware of the theatrical performance called Ulalena that plays in Lahina. My attendance sparked these observations and you might find them of interest: 

 

ULALENA

 

Many residents and visitors refer to the Island of Maui as the “Garden Isle.” Long ago, however, inhabitants from the far-off Tahitian Islands sought new frontiers. One group of these islanders migrated by canoe and uncovered an island paradise in the blue Pacific Sea they named Ulalena, the island of wind and rain. Today, it is known as Maui.  With their Gods in hand, they ventured forth to seek a new and better life. This story has been recreated in a professional musical production, appropriately named Ulalena. Residents of the town of Lahina have built a state-of-the-art theatre in downtown Lahina, just off Front Street. The play is about one and one-half hours long. The scenes are colorful and original in creation, and some call for voluntary audience participation. High up on the right side of the auditorium is a unique balcony that houses the musicians (mainly percussion with a few strings) who, along with the stage cast, bring alive the history of Maui. Young and old alike can enjoy this event. Even my six year old grandson was totally engaged in the play as he sat on the edge of his seat clapping his hands when prompted and impromptu. If you get a chance to visit Maui, then you might want to consider spending an evening viewing Ulalena. It starts at 6:30 PM. Tickets can be purchased directly at the theatre, or through your hotel’s concierge. I recommend that you eat an early dinner at Longhi’s, Kimo’s, or Bubba Gump’s (best for kids) on Front Street. They are within a short walking distance to the theatre. Don’t hold your breath if you think the production will come to your area. It was tried in Washington D.C. and deemed impossible due too the need for the use of a customized and sophisticated electronic stage and props.

 

THIS WEEK’S REVIEW

 

Some readers may remember several of the books I have reviewed by the noted author, Bill Bryson, and the accounts of his travels. This week I would like to introduce you to another meandering and prolific author, PAUL THEROUX. Like Bryson, he injects a sense of humor into his works. Unlike Bryson, he offers critical observations of the people and places he visits, to the point of possibly alienating the reader. He has written over forty books, both fiction and non-fiction. You might recall two of his popular books, The Mosquito Coast (f) and The Great Railway Bazaar (nf). He is best noted for his wandering ventures throughout the world. A New York Times bestseller, DARK STAR SAFARI, Overland from Cairo to Cape Town (2003), is an actual log of his safari from the top (Cairo) to the bottom (Cape Town) of the second largest continent in the world, Africa. Note: the word safari means journey. It has nothing to do with animals.

Having served in the Peace Corps and taught school in Uganda and Mawali during the ‘60s, Theroux, forty years later, decided it was time to revisit the Dark Continent. His general observation now, without regard to the political left or right, is that Africa then, was better off than it is today.

He notes that civil unrest, population growth, crime, terrorism, illiteracy, diseases, have all increased and have led to a downward spiral in the standards of living. The reader will find his narrative consuming and informative as he “tells it like it is.” He does not hold back in expressing his viewpoints about the politics, progress, and the people of Africa. Most critical of the way Western and International aid programs have and continue to operate throughout the country, he documents along the way the filtration process of such programs and how the self-serving administrators and workers have managed to elevate their living standards at the expense of the poor and oppressed. One example he cites is what happens to the second hand clothing that “we” send to the “poor”. Apparently, most of the goods are confiscated by merchants. It was not unusual, he found, to find foreign governments who had “come and gone” with little success or positive impact. It is no wonder today, that one of the biggest industries is making coffins!!

The route he took is well documented on a map at the beginning of the book. I found it useful in following his travels. It was not your typical tourist route. From Cairo, he meandered through the Rift Valley to South Africa With light humor, he often lampoons tourists and tourist traps found in Cairo and other popular areas.

He deployed a cunning tactic in order to avoid trouble by asking the locals what he could expect along the way. They often identified “hot spots” to be avoided. He was not always successful, however, when he was shot at and faced a holdup in Kenya. Despite some delays and confrontations, Theroux found a beauty and warmth in many villages. Ironically, he discovered that the most productive villages were those not served by a government or aid workers programs. There are too many entertaining accounts of this provocative travel to relate in this review, plus I may not do them all justice. So, if you are so inclined, you can take a vicarious journey with Theroux. Dark Star Safari is not a big game hunt or for the light hearted. But, I guarantee that you will become more familiar with Africa’s past and present.

JR

 

 

REVIEW FOR MAY 20^TH, 2006

 

Sidebar: After a ten day stint on the island of Maui and five days in San Diego, it’s time to get back to work. In between jaunts, Vangie and I had the pleasure of attending the wedding in Monrovia last Saturday that bonded Ian Campbell and Harriett Eichmeyer. It was a beautiful service in a memorable setting (The Episcopal church that they attended many years ago). Like the energizer bunny, there is something about MAD cats that keep this great world turning….

 

My Latest Review

If you are a STUART WOODS fan, and if you enjoy his Stone Barrington series (now 11 books), then you will find his latest novel  (2006) DARK HARBOR, an easy (292 pages) read. The setting is New England. Dark Harbor on Islesboro Island, Maine, to be exact. Stone Barrington learns from his friend, CIA agent Lance Cabot, that Stone’s cousin, Richard Stone is dead. Presumably, he had murdered his wife and daughter, then committed suicide. Lance has been assigned the case since Richard was a State Department employee and former CIA agent. Stone, by recent correspondence from Richard, had been appointed Dick’s attorney and executor of his will. The bulk of the estate to be left to a Foundation that supports families of Agency officers killed or disabled in the line of duty. Caleb, Dick’s brother, and his family, also residents of the island, for reasons unknown, were excluded from the will. Oh, Oh!!  Guess who is the first suspect?

So, Stone with the help of his long-time buddy and ex-NYPD partner, Dino Bacchetti, head out to Dark Harbor to administer the estate and to assist Lance in the investigation of the murders. Stone has inherited the use of Dick’s home during his lifetime. It becomes the central locus of the story. While Stone and Dino are using their sleuthing skills to uncover the details of the tragedy, they run into an unhappy group of island inhabitants who have become increasingly alarmed due to the murder of several other residents. Stone, with the assistance of Lance and Holly Baker (you may be familiar with her – she was a former police chief of a small town in Florida and now works for Lance), Ed Rawls and his “Old Farts” mercenary group, and State trooper Sergeant Young, set out to interview everyone on the island. The killer is squeaky clean. He/she penetrates highly secure homes and crime scenes leaving a vacuum cleaner as a sign that all evidence has been “sucked-up.” Note: a teenager, two housewives and an “old fart” fall prey to the killer, also. To make matters worse, agent Holly is kidnapped while jogging. And, if the reader has read other books in the series, you will recall Ham, Holly’s father, a retired Master Sergeant. He joins in the hunt.

The pace of the investigation finally picks up steam towards the end. Will they find Holly alive? Or, will she become another victim. The killers are eventually identified through the tenacious efforts of the legal and crime fighting team. Be prepared to go airborne for the dramatic ending. I even had to check my seat belt twice.

Woods has maintained his simple writing style using short chapters, so, if your reading is interrupted, fear not….

By the way, if you are not a Stone Barrington fan, then try the author’s other books.                                                         JR

 

 

 

REVIEW FOR APRIL 30^TH. 2006

 

Sidebar:  The flag is up, the flag is waving, commence firing. It’s not Maggie’s drawers I’m referring to, it’s a distress signal sent to me by Jean Butler, Monrovia High School’s choir director. She sent me an e-mail indicating that some of the families of her choir members cannot afford to buy a choral costume for their kids. The cost is $36.00 apiece.

Jean has brought back the Chet Ullom tradition of excellence and the choirs are in high demand. They are aggressively becoming involved in outside performances, and they need to have a good appearance. I am asking all of you loyal alumni to consider a donation to help them out. Bruce Staller has agreed to keep track of the donations for tax related purposes. So, Make your checks out to the Monrovia Schools Foundation, P.O. Box 2447, Monrovia, CA 91017 and earmark them for the choir. My mother would thank you (if she was still alive), Chet would too, and the world will be a better place for your contribution. Just remember, there is still a “high school in the valley.”

 

THIS WEEK’S REVIEW

 

BALANCE OF POWER BY JAMES HOUSTON  (’99) takes this week’s spotlight. Don’t confuse Houston, or his book, with Richard North Patterson’s book (’03) with the same name. The plot seems appropriate today, because it pits the United States Congress against the president in a waging political struggle for power during a time of military crisis. Houston has carefully crafted a plot that is based on a terrorist action when a U.S. “state of the art” commercial freighter, the Pacific Flyer, from San Diego, carrying Ford motor vehicles to Jakarta, is hijacked. The crew is killed and the captain is taken hostage. What ensues next is a military and political struggle that tests “The Balance of Power.” U.S. President Manchester is portrayed as a weak “left” pacifist, while the Speaker of the House, Stanbridge, is an avowed conservative who is not about to roll over to the terrorists. Meanwhile, one member of the Speaker’s legal staff, Jim Dillon, discovers a latent  passage in the constitution (Article 1, Section 8) that enumerates congressional power, called Letter of Marque and Reprisal, which grants Congress the ability to direct certain military action.

It reads: Among the powers granted to Congress is “ to declare war, grant letters of Marque and reprisal, and to make rules concerning captures on land and water.”

Stanbridge engineers congress to send a letter of marque to the commander of the carrier battle group Admiral Billings, in the Sea of Java, authorizing him to attack the terrorists.

President Manchester reacts by sending his order to disregard the congressional letter of Marque and to follow his orders - to do nothing, and to let the Indonesian government handle the problem. Who prevails?

The story goes back and forth, from heated political interaction to military response aimed at the terrorist. But, the theme wrestles with the notion that the president may not always control, or have the decision making power in certain circumstances, to have the last word. In addition to the entanglement of legal maneuvers, the author presents some great military action that would put James Bond to shame. Houston has obviously capitalized on his vast military experience.

I found myself focusing on the political battle, more than the military action. I think that is what the author wanted to do - challenge the reader to see “whose on first.” Supposedly, We are a nation based on checks and balances. What our forefathers intended to establish seems to be subject to challenge and interpretation. Some like to use the phrase “we have a living constitution.” I like to think that we should live by the constitution!! You decide…..

JR

 

 

REVIEW FOR APRIL 23, 2006

 

Sidebar:  Ok. I missed a week! Blame it on the Easter Bunny, the rain, or the full moon. Truthfully, I was just to damn busy preparing a super-Sunday for my family. I had twelve family members (including my favorite song leader) here for dinner consisting of some starters, including shrimp, California rolls, nuts with cracker jacks, three cheeses and crackers, scoops and guacamole, champagne and wine, and of course, some Easter candies and eggs; the main course featured a honey baked ham, stuffed potatoes with sour cream and bacon bits, fresh fruit (pineapple, strawberries, raspberries, bananas, cherries, and grapes), rolls, oven roasted asparagus and green beans, and some more colored Easter eggs; lastly, an 8 lb. chocolate cake with mint chocolate ice cream filled the remaining gaps in our abdominal cavities!! Needless to say, cleanup took another day before I could return to a good book.

I know. I know. Excuses, excuses, excuses…..

 

Review Time

 

Reportedly, issues related to legal and illegal immigration are consuming today’s political scene. And, as we tout this great country as the land of opportunity, it seems appropriate to review a group of people that have helped shape the cultural, political, and sociological face of America, the Scots-Irish. Note: to label the people of Scotland as Scotch is considered irreverent. Scotch is a drink! This week’s author, JAMES WEBB, in his non-fictional work entitled BORN FIGHTING (2004), details the history of these fighting people, the Scots-Irish, dating back two thousand years to Hadrian’s wall (Note: the similarity of the proposal today to construct a 700 mile wall along the Mexican border). James Webb is no stranger to the military, literary and political worlds. In addition to his writing talent, some readers may remember him as a highly decorated marine who fought in Vietnam, and his political career as Assistant Secretary of Defense and Secretary of the Navy during the Reagan administration. His other notable books include, Fields of Fire, Lost Soldiers, and the Emperor’s General. As an award winning journalist and filmmaker, Webb received an Emmy for his film work, Rules of Engagement.

There is no other way to describe the Scots-Irish (my emphasis and opinion) but as a patriotic and iconoclastic group, who through their history of continuous warfare, earned a reputation for demonstrating a fierce fighting spirit –one that depicted a life of resistance and has stood the test of time. Webb takes liberty to weave some of his own Scot/Irish background into the book to illustrate the character of his kin and people. Unlike countries that became unified under a monarchy (e.g. Romans, British, Spanish, etc.), the Scots-Irish with their dislike for aristocracy, elected to maintain a localized and decentralized sense of loyalty through their clans and leaders. One of the best noted figures that emerged from this feudal-like system, was Henry Wallace, a warrior/patriot who led his people against the British in 1296/7 AD. Anyone who saw the movie Braveheart (Mel Gibson) will remember the passion and spirit of an outnumbered group of fighting men who were dedicated to their communal way of life. They were the “kind of People who would die in place rather than retreat.” And, it was charismatic leaders like Wallace that promoted the spirit of a “brave heart.”  In a free easy reading style, Webb walks you through these battles as the British, under King Edward I, attempted to take over Scotland (north of Hadrian’s great wall) and Ireland (Ulster Plantation).            The last two-thirds of the book are devoted to the exodus (estimated between 250,000 to 500,000 in the 18^th century) to America, and to the impact of their lifestyle and contributions on the “new world.” They first took up residence in Appalachia, subsequently spreading south to Virginia and Kentucky, and then later to the west. Like life back in their native homelands, the Scots-Irish continued their resistance in America against the body politic, especially towards those who promoted a class of “leftist elites,” often referred to as WASPs. They were not about to be subdued by another aristocracy! Unknown to many and of special interest, the Irish comprised forty percent of the Revolutionary Army, performed stalwart service during the civil war, and have served in large numbers in every military conflict to this present date. Some historians have labeled them as an invisible group. Even today, the Scots-Irish still retain a blue-collar label despite their many advances into political, literary, musical, military, and cultural arenas. The author has attempted to dispel such stereotype names as “redneck and hillbilly” by identifying the Scots-Irish many contributions marked by hard work, faith, and love of country. Such presidents as Reagan, Clinton, Wilson, Roosevelt, and Jackson proclaimed their Scots-Irish heritage. And, where would this country be without such frontiersmen as Boone, Crockett, Lewis and Clark, or writers like Mark Twain and Poe, and military leaders such as Stonewall Jackson, Ulysses Grant, George Patton, and Audie Murphy, just to mention a few…..And for those music lovers, I have to share my favorite CD (disc) by The Furey’s and Davey Arthur featuring such Irish songs as Maggie, When You Were Sweet Sixteen, I’ll Take You Home Again Kathleen,  Just A Song At Twilight, Goodnight Irene, Beautiful Dreamer, Scarlet Ribbons, When I Grow To Old To Dream, I’ll Be Your Sweetheart, Bless This House, and The Last Rose Of Summer. These oldies but goodies will take you back to your roots.  Talk about nostalgia….

You, the reader, may see the likeness of yourself in Webb’s grand historical journey through time. I did. The Scots-Irish, along with other ethnic groups have made their mark(s) on America. After all, isn’t that why it is so beautiful.

Disclaimer: This review does not deny the contributions of other groups. Amen.

Look at history this way. We did not always get the “full story.” I believe James Webb has written this book, not to settle a score, but to inject another historical dimension into out past and present.

Bless you and your house, even if you’re not Scots/Irish.

JR

 

 

 

 

REVIEW FOR APRIL 9^TH, 2006

 

I ran into a new author, DAVID HEWSON. At least, he is new to me. He has been a weekly columnist for the Sunday Times, and has written several noteworthy books: A Season for the Dead, The Villa of Mysteries, and Lucifer’s Shadow. His latest publication, THE SACRED CUT (2005), is the subject of this week’s review, and it is his third and latest novel featuring Roman detectives Gianni Peroni and Nic Costa. To me, the title “Sacred Cut”, with its symbolic representation, presumably a construct based upon ancient Roman architecture, made me think about Dan Brown’s Da Vinci Code. The plot deals with a series of revenge murders when the so-called Sacred Cut, a symmetrical geometric pattern utilizing squares and circles, is carved on the victims’ bodies.       The story begins in Iraq, when a young girl, Laila, and her family become victims of Saddam Hussein’s regime. Left to fend for herself, she seeks a better life outside of Iraq. Her nomadic wanderings take her to neighboring countries, and eventually, she ends up on the streets of Italy where she plies her pickpocket trade for survival. It’s almost Christmas and a severe snow storm has blanketed Rome – one that is about to bring Rome to a standstill. In order to keep warm, Laila seeks shelter in the famous Hadrian’s Pantheon, a temple like structure built to memorialize the Gods of the people. While inside the open dome structure, she witnesses a murder and the killer’s act of performing The Sacred Cut on the victim! Enter Peroni and Costa, as they are called out to investigate a routine complaint by the caretaker who believes that a vagrant is camped out in the Pantheon. What is thought to be a routine call soon erupts into an ambush and a shooting match when the two discover the body of an American woman sprawled on the snow covered floor in a symbolic position. While Laila is watching, the killer (who is still in the temple) unloads his gun on Gianni and Nic killing a photographer who just happens to be accompanying the two detectives detailing their lives. A chase ensues, and by accident, the killer and Laila collide with one another as they flee the scene. The two get a glimpse of one another as the temple’s cameras capture some blurry photographs of the incident. Hewson does a creditable job entangling the Rome police buracracy as they, like most canines, try to mark their territory. To make matters worse, U.S. agents, led by the acostic Joel Leapman, lay claim to taking over the investigation since the victim was a US citizen, and they have knowledge of several similar murders that have taken place in other parts of the world. But, even though the crime took place in Italy where the local law is not used to taking second place, the Americans prevail.  Throughout the story, every faction continues to be at odds with one another as they attempt to identify the victim and find the teenage girl and the killer. The reader soon learns why agent Leapman deploys rough shod tactics over his own agents and his Italian counterparts as he attempts to cover up a covert action that took place during Operation Desert Storm – one that links the killer to the father of one of his subordinate agents, Emily Deacon. Information surfaces that sheds light on a secret group of U.S. mercenaries, including the killer and Deacon, who operated out of an abandon desert ziggurat (an ancient temple in Iraq). Rookie agent Emily Deacon’s earlier training in architecture helps to decipher the background and meaning of “the cut.” Having grown up in Italy, she becomes instrumental in trying to bridge the communication gap between the Americans and the Italians. The group soon learns, however, that one Sacred Cut is not enough when other victims are claimed by the killer.  The reader’s mind is stretched to learn who is behind the murders, and what is the motive. As they seek to find a common thread that links the victims, Deacon and her Italian counterparts find key clues that are embedded in secret coded messages and literary passages. Hewson has flooded the story with a myriad of colorful characters and noteable historical facts about Rome, both past and present.

Once street-smart Laila has been located by Nic and Gianni, a friendship develops and she supplies them with evidence about the killer (you will be amused how she does it….just remember her trade). As the case comes into focus, the author uses subplots involving the interrelationships of several key characters as they wrestle with their sexual emotions; however, these romantic interludes do not detract from the chase. In fact, they even help in the investigation. Who said that hormones get in the way?

The conclusion almost turns explosive (literally) when the killer surfaces. Both sides offer “quid quo pros” in order to resolve all of the past and present issues, including  the murders. Will it be a merry Christmas in Rome? Find out who the survivors are, if any.

Hewson is slated to have his next Gianni and Nic novel ready in 2007.

Arrivederci!

JR

 

 

REVIEW FOR APRIL 2, 2006

 

Last week we reviewed David Baldacci’s Camel Club. This week we visit another club, THE HUNT CLUB by JOHN LESCROARTH (2006). The author currently resides in Northern California where many of his plots take place (San Francisco area). The reader may remember some of his other books, especially the series that featured his two crime fighting heroes, Dismas Hardy and Abe Glitsky. The Motive, The Second Chair, The First Law, The Oath, The Hearing, Nothing but the Truth, The Mercy Rule, Guilt, A certain Justice, The 13^th Juror, Hard Evidence, The Vig, Dead Irish, Rasputin’s Revenge, Son of Holmes, and Sunburn round out this talented author’s literary repertoire.

 

In The Hunt Club, Lescroarth introduces two new main characters, maverick private investigator, Wyatt Hunt, and ace homicide detective, Devin Juhle. Like a quarterback handing off the football to a halfback, the author uses Dismas and Abe in several cameo appearances in supporting roles as they pass the ball off to Wyatt and Juhle. The new duo combines their friendship and talents to focus on the murder of a Federal judge, George Palmer, and his young mistress, Staci Rosalier, and the disappearance of Andrea Parisi, a lawyer and court/TV celebrity. Wyatt lives a solo life in a “cheapo” industrial warehouse south of Market Street, that he has subdivided into a living/kitchen area, a bathroom, a bedroom, and a half basketball court. There is even room for his car, a Cooper. His ten-year-old career with Child Protective Services suddenly comes to a halt when his boss reassigns him and sets him up for an unwarranted disciplinary action. Refusing to accept a letter of reprimand, he resigns. He finds himself kicking around wondering what to do, when some of his friends throw some investigative work his way. And shazam, The Hunt Club with private investigator Wyatt Hunt at the helm, is born. Devin Juhle, Wyatt’s best friend, is considered one of the best homicide detectives on the SF police force. Despite his popularity, Juhle wrestles with his past marked by a shootout that left his partner dead. Juhle’s boss, along with political voices from above, wants quick action in solving the murder of the judge and his unknown girlfriend. Juhle and his new righteous, and most of the time pain-in–the-ass partner, Gumqui Shiu, are given the assignment. The investigation commences in the home of Judge Palmer’s home – the place where he and Staci were murdered. The judge’s wife and the prison guard’s union, known to be at odds with the judge, become the obvious suspects, but for lack of evidence, all of the leads hit dead ends. To top matters off, Andrea Parisi, an aspiring lawyer, TV/court personality, and known business associate of the judge, disappears.                                     Wyatt’s tenacious sleuthing pays off when he uncovers several links that help identify mistress Staci. Reared in Pasadena, her behavior during her early childhood days provides new wrinkles to the case. Lescroart does a good job describing the investigative skills deployed by Wyatt and Devin in their symbiotic relationship. The investigation flounders, however, when their path of personal and professional interests diverge. Wyatt realizes he has become emotionally attracted to Andrea, and his attention is focused on her fate, rather than on the murder. He soon learns that she has been pursuing a story that may underlie the judge’s death, as well as explaining her disappearance. Reportedly, the mighty political machine behind the prison guard system had been at odds with the judge who has threatened to federalize the prison system. Could this conflict be the genesis behind his death, and the cause of the death, intimidation and disappearance of others? So, it’s back to square one with the paid employees and volunteer members of the Hunt Club as they try to brain storm “who done it.” Phone records and interviews help to identify the last individual(s) who had contact with Andrea and the case begins to come together. So, be prepared for a wild ride and some serious wine tasting along Napa’s  Silverado Trail. Lescroart comes up with a vintage ending, with grapes and all….It’s a harvest worthy of satisfying your literary taste.

I’m sure we will see a sequel utilizing these new characters, but I hope Abe and Dismas will remain a part of the team, on the playing field, or on the bench.

JR

 

REVIEW FOR MARCH 26, 2006

 

 Sidebar #1:  This week marked the first day of spring. The occasion prompted several discussions among my friends about the weather, bugs, summer plantings, vacations, etc. One question that arose made me stop and stretch for an answer. How does an insect breathe? Since I am not an entomologist, I couldn’t remember the answer, or for that matter, the last time I addressed the question.

I know that insects do not breathe the way humans do. So, after some minor research, here is a recap of my answer. Knowing that insects have outer skeletons for protection and to keep them from dehydrating, I remembered that these tiny creatures breathe through small port holes (called spiracles) on each side of the abdomen. Each segment of the abdomen has a pair of spiracles. Insects do not have lungs or red blood, like you and me. So, if you have ever squished an insect, then you might have seen some watery-yellow liquid, not unlike our blood. Air enters through the spiracles into a system of tubes called tracheae which further branch into smaller tubes, thus bringing oxygen to the body tissues (note: this process is very much like the bronchioles that feed into our lungs). In a reverse manner, the same tubes remove the carbon dioxide back through the outside ports. Of special interest, larger insects can accelerate this slow moving process by literally pumping their abdomen. Some body parts, such as the wings, do not require any oxygen.

Here ends this sidebar……(now take a breath)

 

Review Time:

DAVID BALDACCI is back with his latest (2005) novel, THE CAMEL CLUB. Just to refresh the reader’s memory, Baldacci’s ten previous novels were #1 international bestsellers (some previously reviewed): Absolute Power, Total Control, The Winner, The Simple Truth, Saving Faith, Wish You Well, Last Man Standing, The Christmas Train, Split Second, and Hour Game.

 

 

My first impression of the plot was to throw up a red flag. It is easy to get caught up in a “bash America” theme, so I (your ever loving redneck) caution you, the reader, to roll with the flow and join The Camel Club, as its members (all four) seek “truth, justice, and the American way.” Baldacci succeeds in developing some of the strangest, yet captivating characters and events, in this whirlwind conspiracy - one that threatens the whole world over. Four iconoclasts, each possessing a special expertise, have dedicated their mission in life to act as political watchdogs for purposes of keeping government on the straight and narrow (at least the way they think it should act). Unexpectedly, while conducting their weekly meeting on Roosevelt Island, they witness the murder of Patrick Johnson, a secret service/National Intelligence Center employee. The NIC’s mandate is to keep the country safe, at home and abroad, thereby necessitating the operation of clandestine operations, world-wide.  Here is where the plot takes off when the killers discover that someone unknown to them (the Camel Club members) has witnessed their carefully orchestrated life-ending deed. Initially, the foursome eludes them. At least, they think so, for now! Soon afterwards, they learn that Johnson’s death is reported as a suicide. Enter Alex Ford, a savvy and experienced secret service agent assigned to the Washington field office. His boss assigns him and an aspiring rookie agent with high level connections, Jackie Simpson, the job to investigate Johnson’s alleged suicide. The whole case takes on a chilling twist when Alex, with the help of his old friend and Camel Club leader, Oliver Stone, along with his three buddies, uncover a conspiracy that could rock the security and foundation of the nation, and the world, also! Baldacci challenges the reader through his myriad use of characters and subplots featuring terrorists, politics, and a smidgen of romance, while capitalizing on current world events. Each character seems to have his/her “own cross to bare” as they relive and unveil their past. U.S. President James Brennan and his intelligence chief, Carter Gray occupy the major portion of the political scene. Brennan is up for reelection and soon becomes the target of a kidnapping that threatens the stability of the world. Agent Alex, having been removed from the Johnson case after he challenged his boss, finds himself assigned to the “ho-hum” duty of protecting dignitaries. Little did he know that that he would soon be thrust into a nightmare filled with kidnapping and violence.

A group of mid-eastern Muslim guerrilla members, fedayeen (men of sacrifice), led by an American, are out to assassinate President Brennan when he attends a ceremony in a small town in Pennsylvania. The kidnapping preparations are detailed and take up a major portion of the plot. And, you will not want to miss following these details. The reader is challenged to uncover the bad guys since they seem to turn up in every nook and corner. Political leaders, CIA insiders, a nanny, Captain Jack (the head of the terrorist cell) and others formulate a plan that, in their opinion, can’t fail. Sometimes it’s hard to follow the subplots, but I can assure you that they all come together when the clock runs out. President Brennan’s kidnapping threatens to throw the world into chaos when Al Jazera announces that a Syrian group called Sharia lay claim to the capture and lists a set of demands and a timeline that can’t be ignored. The stage is set for nuclear exercise. But, can it be avoided? I will leave it up to the reader to discover the outcome of this international blackmail. Alex’s failure to protect the president drives him into depression and seclusion. But, due to the tenacious efforts of his old camel driving buddy, Oliver, and his friends, the countdown to disaster can’t be ignored. Together, they use their expertise to shed new light on who the culprits are behind the plot, and the whereabouts of the president.

Join the rescue and take a trip to “Murder Mountain.” where “The Club” finds where the west meets the mid-east, and the far-east!! Now how does this happen?

 

Sidebar #2: We started this review with some information about insects. So, let’s end this review with a tid-bit about camels (makes sense?). “Scientists believe that ancestors of the modern camel lived in North America at least 40 million years ago, wandering across the Alaskan ‘land bridge’ to Asia and eventually Africa. In Asia, two groups separated to become the two chief types of camel known today: the dromedary and the two-humped, shorter legged Bactrian camel.”

 

JR

 

 

REVIEW FOR MARCH 12, 2006

 

Sidebar:  Last weekend I had the privilege of attending the United States Marine Corps BATTLE COLOR Ceremony held at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego (MCRD). Talk about a rush of patriotic adrenalin….I was tempted to re-up right on the spot! This unique age old ceremony combines three elements of  “The Proud and the Few,” the Battle Color Detachment, the Drum and Bugle Corps, and the Silent Drill Platoon. With over 400 recruits and 1000 invitees in attendance, each component performed with the precision of a Swiss clock. The Drum and Bugle Corps, comprised of 80 outstanding musicians dressed in their traditional red jackets, marched and played songs ranging from contemporary to the traditional, never missing a beat…Not to be outdone, enter the 24 man Silent Drill Platoon with their M-1 rifles gleaming in the sunlight. With, and without bayonets fixed, each marine, without verbal directions, performed a synchronized series of drills that not only saw their rifles spinning like well-working propellers, but gave new meaning to close-order routines where bayonets flashed by each marine’s face so close that shaving was not necessary! After the posting of the colors, the ceremony was concluded with the Pass in Review led by the Detachment Commander and his Guidon Bearer, then the Drum and Bugle Corps, the Color Guard, and the Silent Drill Platoon. I left the parade grounds thinking how great it would be if every person, sometime in their lifetime (hopefully, sooner, rather than later) could witness this Battle Color Ceremony. And now, your dismissed…..

 

Review time…

Master detective novelist, Michael Connelly, returns to my review column once again. I have presented several of his bestsellers over the past few years, the latest being The Lincoln Lawyer. THE CLOSERS (2005) marks the return of Detective Hieronymus “Harry” Bosch (a former Viet Nam tunnel crawler), after a three year lay-off from his retirement. Called back to duty by the Police Chief of Los Angeles, Harry is given a special assignment in the Open-Unsolved Unit (OUU) – to reinvestigate a 17 year old kidnap and murder of a mixed-race teenager, Rebecca (Becky) Verloren. Teamed up with one of his former partners, black lesbian Kiz Rider, the savvy duo commence their assignment by mulling over the “murder book” and its corresponding evidence box. Much to their dismay, but not unheard of in the LA police world, they soon learn that there are missing pieces of evidence, e.g. Becky’s journal and the suspected murder weapon. Backtracking through the files and interviewing Becky’s parents, friends and the former detectives assigned to the case, they encounter nothing that uncovers what happened the night of July 5, 1988, when Becky was taken from her home and murdered on Oat Hill behind her house. They soon learn that Becky terminated a pregnancy six weeks before her death. And, was this connected to her demise? The plot soon takes a new turn when Bosch traces down the murder weapon and discovers that the shooter left traces of blood and tissue on the hammer, probably due to a “bite”from the weapon. For those readers that can’t envision this phenomenon, getting bit by a gun results when the trigger finger gets caught in the hammer as it discharges, and leaves the shooter with a sore and bloody digit! Ouch!! With the benefit of some slick forensics using the DNA from the tissue (note: DNA testing was not in effect back when the crime was committed) , it is identified and traced to Roland (Ro) Mackey, a dyslexic tow truck driver with a criminal record. Kiz and Harry think they are on the road to solving the case if they can prove Ro was anywhere near the murder scene. Here is where Connelly shines. He not only knows and describes the Southern California area with ease and familiarity, but he is a adept at giving the reader great insight into the political, judicial, and police arenas in and around Los Angeles. From Chinatown to North Hollywood, You will identify with most of the landmarks as you ride the 405, the 210, and the adjoining freeways. Just when you think Kiz and Harry are converging on solving the 17 year old murder, the case takes some weird and surprising turns. Join them as “Closers” as they spend tedious hours of interviews with Becky’s family, friends, and former investigators. Learn the latest wire tapping techniques deployed in the stakeouts as they walk the thin line of invasion of privacy. As in other books in the Bosh series, Harry wrestles with his past, but not at the expense of overshadowing his mission – to solve an open case. Hopefully, Connelly will continue to keep Harry from going back to retirement. We need more of them, both. 

JR

 

 

REVIEW FOR MARCH 5, 2006

 

Can you believe it? It’s already March and the count-down to summer is just around the corner. Winter rains, taxes, and the super bowl, now past, I hope. With the blossoms appearing on the trees, along with Gene’s daffodils, it’s almost time to fetch the sunscreen.  Remember when we used to run through the sprinklers? It won’t be long….

A Word About The MADCATS MULTI-CLASS DENNIS SELLICK MEMORIAL REUNION, NOVEMBER 6^th @ THE GOLD COAST HOTEL IN LAS VEGAS…..

What better way to keep the vibes going than to indulge yourself in a little fun and frolic in “The City That Never Sleeps”, Las Vegas. Check out Paulette’s “Ponderings” or Gary’s 50’s page for all of the details. You will be a guaranteed winner, but only if you attend.

 

What’s New In The Book Review Column?

 

Read on….I try to render reviews that are main stream, but once in awhile I go off-beat and present a topic that may have a limited audience. This week may be one of those eclectic episodes. We all know that the world is round. But, do we all know who goes around? Well, two actors, Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman, chose to do the “Long Way Round”, by motorcycle, no less. “Beginning in London, Ewan and Charley chased their shadows through Europe, the Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, and Russia: across the Pacific to Alaska, then down through Canada all the way to New York.” The reader does not have to be a motorcycle fan, however, to enjoy this journey encompassing 20,000 miles, 108 days, and 19 time zones.

What was just a dream, became a reality. As most journeys begin, it’s the preparation that

gives way “to the best laid plans of mice and men.” And, it all started in a London warehouse. The most important decision after gaining their families support, was to select a bike that was best suited for the ordeal ahead of them. Next in line was to chose the best route. Eventually, the BMW prevailed over the KTM, but not without some reservations. A support team was deemed necessary if the trip was going to succeed, including finding a photographer to film the trip, and, of course, obtaining a sponsor.

The day arrived when Ewan and Charley entered the chunnel (note: if you haven’t taken this tunnel under the channel, then put it on your “to do” calendar) to France where they claimed their bikes and headed for Belgium. With I-Pods and GPS systems in working order, they proceeded east towards Prague. Throughout the book, their travels are enhanced by colorful photos captured by Claudio, their ace cameraman. Their entire adventure would someday become a documentary film. After their first night in Belgium, they headed out towards Germany, enroute to Prague, where they experienced the first of many problems associated with border crossings. Each check point was like a mini-embassy, and delays became as common as the guards who demonstrated their skills at collecting fees. The path through the Ukraine was an eye opener as they viewed poverty everywhere. Charley and Ewan soon learned how well off they were living in their respective homelands. Overnights in small villages, befriended by colorful characters with a penchant for consuming large amounts of vodka and eating strange food ranging from dishes of goat to caviar from the Caspian Sea, tested their gustatory senses and survival skills! They will never forget Igor and his pals. It was a night to remember (or forget). In Kiev, our bikers visited a UNICEF children’s project (one of several), housing victims of the Chernoble nuclear accident. Kazakhstan lived up to its reputation, as the home of oil and camels, and gave new meaning to the game of polo. Two teams of four players on horseback trying to hurl a headless goat into a goal stationed at each end of a field. They soon learned that the “M” in Mongolia brought new meaning to the word – MUD! The duo was faced with a terrain that slowed down their progress. Non-existent roads, just tracks, put their GPS in constant use. Having  previously traveled 200-400 miles a day on the tarmac, they were now lucky to make 30 miles. The BMWs earned their coveted reputation of reliability, but breakdowns did occur. The landscape gave way to roaming yaks, or domesticated ox. A highlight (or lowlight), depending on one’s sense of taste, was a special Mongolian soup made of lamb’s, bull’s, and goat’s testicles!! (puke)….On to Chita, Tynda and Yakutsk and the “Road of Bones,” a place where prisoners once trudged to their death. Mud was not the only problem. Water crossings proved challenging and accidents happened. June 25^th brought them to the “mother of all river crossings”. Finally, they reached Magadan and a view of the Pacific Ocean. Once across the water from Siberia to Alaska, Charley and Ewan indulged themselves in a four day sojourn in Anchorage. On July 5^th they set out to New York via Fairbanks and the Canadian Highway to Montana, North Dakota, Wisconsin, Chicago, Indiana, Ohio, and at last, New York, where they were reunited with their families.

The journey was over, but their love affair for bikes was not. Looking back on a dream come true, both Charley and Ewan have pondered their next venture. But, could any place be “so hard, so good, and amazing and magical as Mongolia?” Maybe some day we will see….

I have purposely left out many of the escapades along the way. Like the book, “Travels with Charlie”, Long Way Round is more than a physical ordeal. It is an exploration of varied environments, combined with the interaction of the people who inhabit the near and far corners of our planet. Who knows? You might even want to become a biker …..

 

JR

 

 

 

REVIEW FOR FEBRUARY 29th, 2006

 

JAMES PATTERSON is no stranger to my reviews. He is considered one of the foremost mystery writers today. In 2005 alone, he had five consecutive #1 New York best selling hardback novels –“ a record held by no other author!” With over thirty books to his credit, ranging from murder novels to children stories, he has, needless to say, captured a wide reading audience.  His latest, the 5^th Horseman, a women’s murder club novel (a series previously reviewed), almost wants you to join the club….But before you get any equine jitters, let’s turn to this week’s mission – to find a bloody (and I mean bloooooody, serial killer in his upside-down mystery, Mary, Mary.

 

MARY, MARY (2005), the last novel in his Alex Cross series, featurers none other than Alex and his troubled relationship with his wife (soon to be ex), Christine, his kids, a few potential lovers, and a load of crime stoppers. If I found fault with the story, then I would single out Patterson’s penchant to dwell too much on Alex’s personal life. His dedication to his three kids, along with various women in his life, although not unexpected, keep his pot boiling in three dimensions. Patterson is a master at leading the reader down a certain trail, only to bisect the reader’s thinking with multiple motives and suspects. The name Mary is used in the context of a Hollywood stalker – one who seeks out high profile people who become victims of serial murders. Each murder is forecasted by e-mail to a LA Times newspaper reporter. They come true, and, they are not pretty. Shootings are one thing, but mutilation becomes the trademark. FBI special agent, Alex, is called in to assist the LAPD in its quest to solve the killings. Typical of governmental authorities, the LAPD and the FBI wrestle with jurisdictional issues. And, just when you think you know “who dunnit”, the plot takes on a different twist. The author seeds a plot of diversion. And, the reader will take the hook as he/she swallows what logic should dictate. But, don’t be surprised if logic takes a second seat to surprise.

JR

 

 

REVIEW FOR FEBRUARY 19, 2006

 

Sidebar:  Yes, I have been on a toot these past two weeks. San Diego, Palm Springs, Solvang, Pismo Beach, San Luis Obispo, Yosemite, and finally back home to Monte Sereno. It goes without saying that books have not been foremost on my mind! So, blame it on a certain lady from Arcadia. She (at least, she is not a he) has preempted my time. One thought before I move on….Once again, I was taken by the majestic beauty of our great state. The desert, the coast line, the mountains, and all that is in between. We are fortunate to live in California, a place with many faces. I know that many of you have traveled the wide-world over, but it’s hard to top the “Golden State”, even thought it’s called the land of “fruits and nuts.” Any mate(s) out there that wants to head north, just give me a call and a bunk, or two, will be reserved in your name.

I apologize for the interruptions in my reviews, so let’s get on with some literary business. End of Sidebar

 

Review Time (overdue)

About a month ago, I reviewed a book named Rampart Street, by David Fulmer. This week I would like to introduce you to another of his mystery novels entitled, JASS (2005), featuring his ace creole detective, Valentin St. Cyr. So we don’t get off on the wrong foot, the word/title Jass gave birth to what we now call and spell jazz. Then, “the music and the men who played it were cursed roundly by preachers and politicians,” which of course, made it all the more enticing. Jass, then, was blamed for some raucous events. It was promoted by a bunch of “no account niggers and dirty wops raising hell from dusk until dawn. They were rough Joshuas who blew their horns, so walls came tumbling down.” The sounds of jass brought forth a new beat and sounds to American music. It is against this backdrop that Fulmer has captured his reading audience in his Valentin St. Cyr mystery series.  His latest novel, Jass, depicts “the Big Easy” at its best. Rumble back to 1908 in New Orleans and its notorious red light district called Storyville, with its saloons, bordellos and seedy boarding houses. The plot is submerged into this period. The Creole detective is called upon to track down a serial killer who is behind the deaths of four musicians from the same jass group. Fulmer does a great job in not only weaving a good plot, but acquainting the reader with the historical backdrop of early New Orleans. The “king of Storyville,” Tom Anderson, the sporting girlfriend, Justine, and the former police boss Lt. Picot, play their usual colorful roles as they interact (sometimes friendly, and sometimes not so friendly) with the ace P.I., Valentin St. Cyr. Wander the banquettes and back streets of New Orleans with him as he performs his usual methodical mission of unraveling the course of events.

JR

 

I have not been able to do a review this week. Since last sunday, my/our travels took me to San Diego, Palm Springs, Solvang, Pismo Beach, San Luis Obispo, home in Monte Sereno, and tomorrow, to the Awahnee Hotel in Yosemite.

BUT, I wanted to repeat what I deem the three most important messages I heard this past week. They were spoken by our President, George Walker Bush, during the State of the Union speech last tuesday evening.

   

"THERE IS NO PEACE IN RETREAT"

 

"SECOND GUESSING IS NOT A STRATEGY"

 

"HISTORY IS WRITTEN IN COURAGE"

 

To me, the intensity of these words were powerful and meaningful. Regardless of your political leanings, our troops, their families, and those that support "the cause", deserve our best thoughts and prayers as we strive for a more peaceful world.

JR

 

REVIEW FOR JANUARY 29, 2006

 

Carl Hiaasen is in a league by himself. His writing is often irreverent, off-color, tasteless and raunchy, but  always witty. If the title, SICK PUPPY (1999), is not enough for you, then read on…

The plot revolves around a greasy lobbyist, Palmer Stoat, who is called upon to practice his political magic for a greedy South Florida land developer, Robert Clapley. What is at stake is Clapley’s development project on Toad Island, a planned upscale residential development surrounded by golf courses. And, he is faced with numerous issues, mainly environmental. A new bridge to the island needs to be built. Endangered wildlife and plants will be threatened which could turn this sleepy little island sanctuary into an ecological nightmare. Hiaasen cleverly pits the eco-terrorists (led by Twilly Spree) against the proposed project, Shearwater. His characters, as expected, are colorful, representative, and depict the sick side of the political arena, somewhat like what is going on in Washington, today. Palmer may even seem pale when compared to Jack Abrahamoff!!

The novel challenges the reader to find out which character is the “sickest puppy.” Wives, friends, relatives, and hard-core criminals could all be nominated for the title.

The story is pushed along when Twilly kidnaps Stoat’s black labrador dog, Boodle. The canine helps to shape the entire story. And, staying true to the breed’s characteristics, Boodle demonstrates his talents, including a few kinky ones. Similarly, the Governor, an ex Toyota car salesman, finds himself in the middle of the struggle and at the mercy of some of his biggest financial supporters. Author, Hiaasen, portrays his players in a down and dirty business, only matched by their own down and dirty actions. I recommend that you don’t read the book if you are turned off by explicit sexual content.

The dialogue is always witty, even when the chips are down. So, if you want to learn who wins out in the end, the environmentalists, or the developers, you will have to wade through 341 pages of shaded humor, or maybe you don’t care and just want a different kind of entertainment,,,

JR

PS  It has been said that “the Great Flood was sent because of the large number of dirty people.”

      

 

REVIEW FOR JANUARY 22, 2006

 

Sidebar:  Books have no end. They are like the energizer bunny, they just keep going, going, going….And, one of the benefits of reading is the fact that there seems to be no limit to the subject matter, a little of something for everyone. I don’t know about you, but I sometimes get burned out (at least temporarily) reading about the same old topic, e.g. westerns. But, once in awhile, along comes an author with a different perspective of a familiar topic, and in this case, history - one that sheds new light on what happened then, and why things appear as they are today. Read on….

 

Thomas Cahill is known for his scholarly literary work, especially his series of books, Hinges of History, including The Gifts Of The Jews, Desire Of The Everlasting Hills, Sailing The Wine Dark Sea. Reading one of his books is an entirely different experience. Most historians take the reader on a jaunt through a specific period by focusing on the usual notable events germane to the time (wars, religion, literature, etc.). Cahill, however, “cherry picks” the actions and reactions of notable figures from the past in non-traditional ways by using bits and pieces of their thinking, often times inspired through poetry.

Disclaimer: This week’s review, HOW THE IRISH SAVED CIVILIZATION (1996), was not inspired by my Irish background.

This is a captivating story (more like a historical review) about how the Irish scribes and monks preserved our threads of Western Civilization. Going back to the Greeks and Romans, the author unveils his thoughts about why the Romans went from “peace to chaos”, and how Ireland went from “chaos to peace.” And, without the influence of men like St. Patrick and the Irish monks who translated thousands of manuscripts, thereby preserving early European history, our world today might “hinge” on conflicting views.

Without a doubt, the Irish “Saints and Scholars” put their “spin” on the Greek and Roman manuscripts. As conservators of civilization, however, I guess they were entitled to place their personal stamp on Western culture.

How The Irish Saved Civilization is not just about preserving the written word. It gives the reader a feel for how “these words” evolved and how they were spread. Literally, through the Christian invasion of Europe, and later the Western World, by the “men of cloth,” a new civility emerged - one never before heard nor seen.

Yes, Thomas Cahill is of Irish descent. But, if you delve into his academic background, you will find his qualifications are beyond reproach. Me, my Irish eyes are smiling….

JR

 

 

REVIEW FOR JANUARY 15, 2006

 

Every once in awhile a friend exposes me to an author who “turns me on.” A beautiful and gracious southern lady, Martha Javanovich, the widow of former book publisher William Jovanovich (you might recall his company, Harcourt Brace Jovanovich), recently gave me two books, both written by David Fulmer. This unusual author has written articles and books with special background and attention to New Orleans and its musical world of blues and jazz. His noteworthy documentary, Blind Willie’s Blues, and his mystery series featuring Creole detective Valentin St. Cyr, have earned him literary acclaim, including a Shamus award. How many authors can say they have been a bartender, welder, musician, teacher, and sports car racer? His first novel, Chasing The Devil’s Tail (2002), his second book, Jass (2005), and now RAMPART STREET (2006) are all worthy reads.

Anyone who has visited New Orleans will recognize such names as Canal Street, Bourbon Street, Lake Pontchartrain, Brennans, and, of course, Rampart Street. It is against the backdrop of this colorful and historical city, known for its corruption, blues and jass music, prostitution, saloons and dance halls, that Fulmer has created another 

“who-dunnit” mystery filled with intrigue and suspense. The setting takes place in the early 1900’s, and like in his other St. Cyr novels, in Storyville, a sinful section of New Orleans, where anything goes. Unlike other authors, Fulmer has created a lead character, Valentin St. Cyr, a unique (almost nondescript) figure, that allows the reader to uncover for him/herself, the detective’s strength and weaknesses as he goes about his assignment, thereby allowing the reader to classify him as a goat, or a hero. Being of Creole background, he is often relegated to second class treatment, especially by those who occupy the power structure of New Orleans. After an eighteen month absence from the city precipitated by his successful resolution of a string of murders, Valentin returns to his roots, Storyville, to work for his long-time friend and mentor, Tom Anderson, the so-called “King of Storyville.” Tom is, literally, the director of all social activities that transpire in the red-light district, and nothing goes unnoticed. Quite a job, when you think about all of the ramifications! The crux of the plot centers around a murder of a wealthy businessman, John Benedict, on wayward Rampart Street. Anderson, after being confronted by a local politician who wants the case to be glossed over, refers the investigation to his friend, Valentin. Valentin, soon learns, however, that there is more to Benedict’s murder than just a common act of violence. Even the victim’s daughter, Anne Marie, thinks so. And, she hires Valentin to dig into her father’s murder. What began as a perfunctory assignment, however, soon turns into something more complex and challenging to the Creole detective. Warnings and threats face him at every corner, and it becomes apparent that his continuing investigation is not welcome by some in important political and business circles. The reader will enjoy how author, Fulmer, develops and utilizes his characters. The descriptions and actions of prostitutes, politicians, lovers, tough guys, or just a 15 year old harmonica playing street kid named Beansoup, bring out the best of the high, and of the low life, in New Orleans.  

Five murders later, the message becomes quite clear. There are more important motives associated with Benedict’s death than just being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Valentin uncovers a business partnership scandal that has gone sour – one that is not clean or pretty, and reeks of social and economic injustice. Follow Valentin as he dodges threats on his life as he tries to resolve who is behind the demise of Benedict and the other four victims. The plot unveils the lust for greed and power by those who use the waterfront, dark alleys and back streets of New Orleans for their own purpose. Rampart Street brings more to life than just a classic case of corruption. Yes, it is a great plot, but, it also brings out the magic of the city known as “The Big Easy,” and a cast of colorful characters, led by the demure one and only, Valentin St. Cyr.

JR

 

 

REVIEW FOR JANUARY 1, 2006

 

Sidebar 1:   “Ring Out The New Year”

Well mates, the year 2005 has come and gone. Looking back, it was marked by many notable events.

To name a few, war in Iraq, death of Pope John Paul, tsunamis, floods, hurricanes, the marriage, death and birth of family and friends, and, of course our 55^th reunion, these and many others have left lasting impressions – ones that will stay with us for the rest of our lives. But, we must not just focus on the bad, or sad side of life. There is too much good in this world to be thankful for as we close out our days. To me, life is like a relay race where one member hands off the baton of life to those who make up the next generation. As Denny Selleck used to say, “the last guy left turns out the lights.” I like to think that the lights will remain on if we endeavor to promote “the good life” to those around us. After all, didn’t we learn from others, including our parents? I am thankful to our military and those who support it, to family and friends, to those that effectuate the rule of law, and lastly, to the class of ’50.

May the new year bring you peace, prosperity, and good health. Oh, and by the way, I did Ring Out The New Year by presenting Vangie with a yellow diamond ring!! And, yes, I was on my knees….

 

Sidebar 2:  The World Burns Club has addressed the meaning of Auld Lang Syne. I thought it would be interesting to share its findings. These three simple words are from the old Scots dilect. But, what does this expression mean? “Some consider it to be an international expression of friendship, fellowship and hope. Others perceive it to be a simple song, presented at the conclusion of a social gathering, remembering the past and re-affirming the importance of our future, and those important to us.” The words now sung emanate from the poem written by Robert Burns based upon an old ballad written before his time. He supposedly took the ballad and tacked on a few more verses. At least, that is how the story goes according to the Burns Club. Here is a comparison of the popular version of Auld Lang Syne and Times Long Gone by Robert Burns.

 

Auld Lang Syne                                            Times Long Gone (translation)

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,              Should old acquaintances be forgotten,

And never brought to mind?                          And never brought to mind?

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,              Should old acquaintances be forgotten,

And days o’ lang syne!                                               And days of long ago!

 

Chorus:         

For auld lang syne, my dear                            For old long ago, my dear

For auld lang syne,                                          For old long long ago

We’ll tak a cup o’kindness yet                                    We will take a cup of kindness yet

For auld lang syne!                                         For old long ago.

 

We twa hae run about the braes                      We two have run about the hillsides

And pu’d the gowans fine,                             And pulled the daisies fine,

But we’ve wander’d mony a weary foot        But we have wandered many a weary foot

Sin’ auld lang syne                                          For old long ago.

 

We twa hae paidl’t in the burn                                   We two have paddled in the stream

Frae morning sun till dine,                              From noon until dinner time,

But seas between us braid hae roar’d             But seas between us broad have roared

Sin’ auld lang syne.                                         Since old long ago.

 

And there’s a hand, my trusty fiere,               And there is a hand, my trusty friend,

And gie’s a hand o’thine.                               And give us a hand of yours,

And we’ll tak a right guid willie-waught                   And we will take a goodwill draught (of ale)

For auld lang syne!                                         For old long ago!

 

And surely ye’ll be your pint’ stoup,              And surely you will pay for your pint,

And surely I’ll be mine!                                              And surely I will pay for mine!

And we’ll tak a cup o’kindess yet                  And we will take a cup of kindness yet

For auld lang syne!                                         For old long ago!

 

And Now It’s Review Time….

 

Over the past several years I have written reviews about the mystery novels penned by popular and award winning author, Jonathan Kellerman. As a clinical psychologist, he has incorporated the strength of his academic expertise into his best selling mystery-suspense books. His Alex Delaware novels have been at the top of his writing list. Also, he has ventured into other academic and non-academic areas through his essays, children’s books, and scientific articles. His expertise and versatility are used to unfold tales that give the reader, not only an education, but entertainment, as well. And, yes, his wife is the “other” Kellerman, Faye, a respected writer.

TWISTED (2004) is a long (400 pp.) sleuthing story written just after Cold Heart (2003). It features Petra Connor, a Hollywood Homicide Detective. Your might remember her appearances in the Delaware series. This time she is center stage. She is called upon to investigate a drive by shooting at a dance club parking lot which left four dead teenagers. You know she is up against the wall when she begins to interview those who witnessed the shooting. No one knows anything!! The identity of three of the victims is soon learned, but the fourth, a young girl wearing pink shoes remains unclaimed. To top it off, Petra cannot uncover the motive for the murders. She hits dead ends at every corner. Her professional life consumes her daily routines, and it is probably just as well, since her lover, Eric Stahl, is out of the country on a special ops mission. With frustration mounting, Petra’s problems are compounded when she is assigned an LAPD part-time intern, Isaac Gomez. Isaac is a twenty two year old boy genius who until recently aspired to be a doctor. His intellect is off the charts and his klutzy manner is obvious. But all is not lost, as he uses his computer skills to build statistical models based on previous unsolved murders. He uncovers facts that link certain murders over the past six years. All of them occurred on June 28^th, and all were done by the same method. At first Petra, is skeptical about Isaac’s findings, but she soon becomes a believer. And, the month of June is upon her, and with the new found data, she is faced with the necessity to uncover the murderer before he/she strikes again. Her investigation picks up steam as it takes her to former police colleagues in hopes of obtaining new information. She soon learns that all is, or was, not well in cop kingdom, also. And, do the little pink shoes fit into the picture? You can always depend on Kellerman to lead you one way, and then to spring a surprise conclusion. Start the New Year right by reading TWISTED novel, it’s worth the read.

JR

 

REVIEW FOR 12-25-05

 

Sidebar:  Well mates it looks like we have just about closed out this year. And what a year it has been….The war in Iraq, deaths of love ones, marriages of new and old friends, the birth of more grandkids, and, of course, our 55^th reunion. As Denny Selleck used to remark, who will be last one to turn out the lights? When we stop and think about it, our departure from this world is like a relay race. Some things cease to exist, but the baton is passed on to, and for, future generations. I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a healthy and rewarding New Year. It is, indeed, a MAD wonderful world.

 

MICHAEL CONNELLY’S latest book, THE LINCOLN LAWYER is my choice for this week. I have previously reviewed many of his books featuring Harry Bosch. This popular series has earned Connelly recognition as one of the top authors of criminal justice. The Lincoln Lawyer is a departure from his previous works and gives the reader a top notch story of the ins and outs of the legal world. Once again, the setting is in Southern California where criminal defense attorney Mickey Haller practices his trade with a new twist. Working out of the back seat of his Lincoln town cars (he has three), he races around the LA area as if there is no tommorow. Always looking for a “Franchise Client”, one who has a big name and can pay big bucks, Haller has managed to cultivate a colorful reputation through his successful representation of drug dealers, prostitutes, and other wayward souls. His outlook on the criminal justice system is unique. A master at neutralizing harmful evidence against his clients, he focuses on loopholes in the law as a means to prove their innocence. My first impression of Mikey was not good. But as he goes about his legal routines, I guarantee the reader will find his antics humerous, challenging, and worth the read. His marital world is as colorful as his legal maneuvers.

He maintains daily contact with his two ex-wives. One is his office manager, and the other is an ambitious assistant district attorney. Their interaction is almost as good as the plot. Haller is hired by the mother of Louis Roulet, a wealthy real estate broker, to prove his innocence of an assault charge on a prostitute. With dollar signs in his eyes, he envisions a lucrative case – one that just might give him some financial independence. But just when the sharp-shooting Mickey thinks he can wiggle his client’s way out of the charge, the case becomes slippery when he finds out that Roulet has not been forthright in his plea of innocence. It becomes a moral dilemma for Haller when he finds out that he has been duped by Roulet. With the assistance of  Raul Levin, a private detective who helps Haller in some of his cases, the evidence piles up against Roulet when Mickey discovers a connection between the wounds inflicted on the prostitute and a previous murder case. To compound the problem, Haller had represented Jesus Menendez, now serving time in San Quentin. Jesus, on Haller’s recommendation, had pleaded guilty in order to avoid the needle. Mickey is now faced with the dilemma of helping a former client (who may be innocent) at the expense of hurting his present one. And, “the answer may squeeze the vodka straight out of his liver.” Part two of the book deals with the trial of Louis Roulet. The courtroom scenes are some of the best deliveries you can find. This fast moving legal thriller will entertain you from start to finish. So move over Harry Bosch, Mickey may take over your dominance in legal matters.

And, be prepared for another surprise ending ….It’s Connelly’s trademark.

Jim

 

 

 

REVIEW FOR DECEMBER 18, 2005

 

C MINUS 14 !!

 

If you like quick reads, and especially a mystery series filled with everything from love to murder, witty dialogue, and main characters with strong personalities, then you have to rate author ROBERT B. PARKER somewhere near the top of the list. His latest book, SCHOOL DAYS (2005), carries on the long standing tradition of his popular series ( I think about his 33^{rd book),} featuring super sleuth and “smart-ass” talking( excuse the expression), PI Spenser. And, as expected the story unfolds in Boston, and its surrounding area. This time the locus of the story takes place in Dowling, a small town just west of Boston. Similar to the Columbine shooting incident, Parker starts out with a big bang. Only this time, the bang comes from two teenagers who shoot up their own school, Dowling, leaving five students, the Assistant Dean, and a Spanish teacher dead, and wounding six other students and two teachers! Not good….  What seems to be an open and shut case of premeditated and straight forward cold blooded murder, turns into a convoluted case of sexual coercion mixed with weird interpersonal relationships between teenagers and several “kinky” adults. Their actions are not only labeled as psychopathic, but criminal. Spenser is hired by Lily Ellsworth, the wealthy grandmother of Jared Clark, one of the shooters, to prove his innocence. Both Jared and his “rat fink” counterpart, Wendell Grant, have confessed to their crimes making Spenser’s task look like a losing cause. Cowling’s residents, police, and legal authorities have, at least in their minds, already convicted the two teenagers. In School Days, Parker has featured Spenser in a refreshing solo role, devoid of his lover, Susan, sidekick, Hawk, and the other usual supporting characters (like Vinny and Belson). After running into adult stone walls in his investigation, Spenser turns his thoughts and actions to the students at Dowling. Tag along with him as he uncovers who are Jared’s and Wendell’s friends and enemies. At times, he finds it necessary to “kick some butt” in order to foster his inquiry. Not always on the giving end, the big bad P.I. becomes a receiving target - one that needs to be silenced. What were the motives behind the shootings, and what can Spenser do to prove Jared’s innocence? Or, can he? The plot becomes the survival of the fittest.  Parker has penned a fast moving and engaging story, and I think it is one of his best. I don’t recall my “school days” being marred by gun violence. There were other ways to settle a score, usually off-site or in the parking lot. Remember?

Sorry that this review is a late arrival, but I had school business from the past to attend to that affects my future….

JR

 

 

 

REVIEW FOR 12.4.05

It’s C minus 22

 

A Redneck Sidebar: A friend of mine from the South asked me to take the following exam last night. I thought you might enjoy the challenge, also. It was developed by some Southerners who got sick and tired of hearing about how dumb people are in the South.

So here is a challenge for all Yankees. If you pass the test, then I will buy you dinner any place of your choice.

1.      Calculate the smallest limb diameter on a persimmon tree that will support a 10 pound possum.

2.      Which of these cars will rust out the quickest when placed on blocks in your front yard?

(A)  ’65 Ford Fairlane

(B)   ’69 Chevrolet Chevelle

(C)   ’64 Pontiac GTO

3.      If your uncle builds a still which operates at a capacity of 20 gallons of shine produced per hour, how many car radiators are required to condense the product?

4.      A woodcutter has a chainsaw which operates at 2700 RPM. The density of the pine trees in the plot to be harvested is 470 acres. The plot is 2.3 acres in size. The average tree diameter is 14 inches. How many Budweisers will be drunk before the trees are cut down?

5.      A front porch is constructed of 2x8 pine on 24 inch centers with a field rock foundation. The span is 8 feet and the porch length is 16 feet. The porch floor is 1 inch rough sawn pine. When the porch collapses, how many dogs will be killed?

6.      A man owns a Georgia house and 3.7 acres of land in a hollow with an average slope of 15%. The man has five children. Can each of his grown children place a mobile home on the man’s land and still have enough property for their electric appliances to sit out front?

7.      A 2 ton truck is overloaded and proceeding 900 yards down a steep slope on a secondary road at 45 MPH. The brakes fail. Given average traffic conditions on secondary roads, what is the probability that it will strike a vehicle with a muffler.

8.      With a gene pool reduction of 7.5% per generation, how long will it take a town which has been bypassed by the Interstate to breed a country-western singer?

 

I betcha thought that this test was gonna be an easy one, didn’t ya? It’s okay if’n ya didn’t do all that well. Just goes to show ya…

There’s a whole heap of things that big city book-learning don’t prepare ya for in this life.

And, as an added bonus for taking this “REDNECK CHALLENGE”, here’s some southerly advice that may come in handy down the road a piece…

            Next time you are too drunk to drive, walk to the nearest pizza shop and place an order. When they go to deliver it, catch a ride home with them.

 

Now on to some serious review business…

If you like the outdoors, then you will surely find The Thousand Mile Summer by Colin Fletcher (1964) a unique, fun and short read (232 pp.). It is a close-to-home true tale of the author’s account of a walking journey from California’s southern border to it’s northern end, i.e from Mexico to Oregon. It is a story especially for those who would like to, or perhaps already have, escape the day-to-day routines that have infiltrated our lives. After being in the States for just two years, Fletcher is overcome with the idea “to see America,” and what better place to start, but in his own backyard, California. After some hasty logistical planning in his San Francisco apartment, he leaves his stop-gap job as a hospital janitor and embarks upon a predetermined route. After being dropped off by his friend along the south-eastern border near a customs checkpoint, he dips his foot into Mexican soil, and after his quick sojourn below the border, waves goodbye and launches his six month trek northward ( March 8 to September 8). The beauty and beast of his walk are translated through descriptive details that he captures along the way. The record of his travels was later carried by the San Francisco Chronicle. The journey starts out in Yuma and follows the Colorado River north to Blythe, Earp and the Parker Dam, Needles, Death Valley, Monument Mountains, Mono Lake, Bodie, Markleeville, Lake Tahoe, Ravenndale, Altura, and finally finishes along the spine of the Warner Mountains at the Oregon border. .

Here is an example of how he described one area of his great outdoor adventure:

 

            “At every turn I met not monotony but vivid contrast. A chocolate rock face sliced off to startling red. The crest of the ridge, planned flat as if by a giant carpenter, dropped sheer into a sandy wash. The wash was rich with bushes and flowers, and a few indomitable trees clung to life with knotted roots. Beyond, a pale green plateau bumped and buckled into minor peaks, some bare and round as buttocks, some pointed and tipped with brown, like conical coconut cakes that had been slightly overdone.”….

 

One of the most challenging parts of the journey was his passage across the Mojave desert and Death Valley. While enroute to the starting place on the Mexican border, and knowing he would need extra water, he stashed three 5 gallon cans of drinking water in the Valley of Death where temperatures can reach well into the 3 digits. His plans called for him cross the Valley by May 1 in order to avoid the unbearable summer heat. Like the author, the reader will enjoy meeting the people and places along the route. Can Fletcher’s thirst for adventure be satisfied after his long journey? Well, whether you like the outdoors or not, you will enjoy this travelogue. So, pick up your walking stick and travel along side him as he lives out his quest to find out what the “Golden State” is really like. At least you won’t have to face off with a diamond back rattlesnake like Colin did, or go scrounge for food and water.

Which reminds me of an old saying by my old pal Texas Bix Bender –

            No matter where you ride to, that’s where you are.

JR