IT'S STILL DARK IN PACIFIC BEACH and think I can hear it raining.  Nancy and I visited Mom yesterday in the Alzheimer's facility.  Nobody is getting any younger in those places -- or anywhere else.  I hadn't been to Anthony's Fish Grotto in quite a while, so we headed down to the waterfront.  They asked me if I wanted my usual table, but we sat by the water.

Jo Milazzo Block '63 forwarded this photo of the business opened by her dad and two uncles in 1952.  Do you recognize the locale?  Click HERE to check out a 9 x 12 enlargement and informative caption.

Ann Roskos Roffelson '63 shares the 1961 Prom and After Prom bids this week.  It would appear that a cluster of Colts got all dressed up and drove to the Hotel del Coronado on June 9, 1961 -- traveling across the bay by ferry -- then dined and danced from 8 to 12.  Apparently still bright-eyed and bushy-tailed they hopped back in their cars, took the ferry back across the bay, and delivered themselves in front of the U. S. Grant Hotel, where the party continued until 6 AM.  It's making ME tired just writing about it.  I wonder if anyone lived to tell the tale.  Click HERE to check out the bids and menu.  Hope you speak French.

I'm pretty sure that's a new masthead (Oh, God -- I hope that's called a masthead) atop the January 24, 1963 Pacer.  Why yes, that IS 50 years ago.  Lotsa fun stuff, including a group photo of the Kiwanis Basketball Champs.  I liked the Earl Scheib ad.  He'll paint any car for $29.95.  You'll have to drive to 3145 Frontier Drive to get the work done.  Call AC 2-7744 if you have any questions.  Click HERE to read all four pages.

This story is a week late, because I forgot.  You can still read Fred Dickey's article in the January 14, 2013 UT San Diego about Teri Hunter Burg '64 and her work with Stand Up For Kids San Diego.  Click HERE.

Sam Zolezzi '67 passed away January 4, 2013 and was laid to rest at Miramar National Cemetery.  Click HERE to read Sam's memories of his flying career and its effects on his health.  Click HERE to sign the on-line guest book.

George Sorenson '69 thinks you might enjoy an article in the current New York Magazine on the "corrosive, traumatizing effects" of high school.  I was more interested in "Back to the Future", Argentine photographer Irina Werning's attempt to stage reenactments of old photos, such as those above.  Click HERE to read the article.  Click HERE to look at Irina's first collection.  Click HERE to check out her second collection.

OH, MAN -- that cold spell finally ended, although it's a little brisk in Pacific Beach this morning.  I actually left the front door open yesterday.  The days are getting longer, so summer can't be too far off.

Karen Conley Brockman '72 called me to task for not keeping her abreast of my Fry Day brunch schedule and Mom updates.  Just between you and me, Nancy and I often don't end up at our initial destination.  Last Friday traveled to Pine Valley and had breakfast at Major's, which hadn't been our original plan.  Mom's hanging in there, thank you for asking.

Mary Gale Rogers has traced former Latin and French teacher Pierre Pingitore to Maryland, where he recently married.  He is 84.  She can't find an address or phone number, but says he is listed on Facebook.

Richard Cloward '60, owner of Pacific Shores Maps, "saw" my 1920 Auto Club Map and "raised" me a 1917 Auto Club Map and a 1930 Auto Club Strip Map.  Click HERE see all three.

And to think it's been sitting in my bookcase for a month.  I finally got around to opening the memorabilia on temporary loan from Ann Roskos Rofflesen '63.  Bob and Susan Roskos Mardon brought it by over a month ago.  Click HERE to check out an Aunt Emma's Pancakes menu.  Note there were three locations.  The one in Pacific Beach became Uncle Susie's, then Krishna Mulvaney's, then was dozed to become part of the present day Promenade Shopping Center. 

When did THAT happen?  The January 21, 1972 Pacer has an ad for "Swap A Tape".  I suspect ten years earlier, when I graduated, we might have tried to "Trade a '45".  The student paper also has an article listing the 81 girls and 30 boys who were planning to graduate at mid-term.  I liked what Robyn Goldenstein had to say:  "I don't know what I'm going to do, but anything's better than staying here."  You GO girl!!!  Click HERE to read what some of the others had to say.

John Ricci '73 died of cancer on January 11th.  Services will be held at 10:30 AM, on Saturday, January 19th at Foothills Christian Church, 365 West Bradley in El Cajon.  Click HERE to read an obituary and sign the guest book.

Steve Keller '65 checks in from Concord, CA and also shares the email address of his sister Kathleen Keller Tab '69.  Thanks to Mary Gale Rogers '67 two BFFs from the Class of '75 are reunited.  We'll see if Jill Root Burbank or Paula Summit Newton get back to us.

Sharon Culver Considine '60 wonders what became of her Latin teacher Pierre Pingitore.  I traced him to Pennsylvania but the phone number listed was "no longer in service".

Someone asked me about a concert held during the Summer of '68, or perhaps '69.  I've lost the email so I hope they'll try again.

My Pacific Beach pal Willie Skinner loaned me an undated San Diego street map put out by the Automobile Club of Southern California.  He thought it might date to 1915.  I'm guessing 1920.  Click HERE to do your own research.

Click HERE to look at the KDEO "Fabulous 40" list for the week of January 5-11, 1962.  You might not even need your glasses.

I had hoped to share the December 17, 1971 Pacer somewhere around December 17, 2012, but it didn't happen.  Click HERE to read all six pages.

OH MY!!  it is really cold in Pacific Beach (don't bother to email if you live in Buffalo).  If there's a parking spot at the Green Flash Nancy's gonna want to stop in for her favorite Eggs Benedict.  Then it's off to the Midway Post Office to mail newsletter renewal forms to the Class of '67.

Let me correct some of my recent errors.  Lenny Como is Class of '70, not '69.  Ed Kessler is Class of '64, not '72 -- although he enjoyed the brief spell of feeling younger.  Doug Glass is Class of '72, not '64 -- and wasn't enjoying the added years.

Auto Shop Teacher Jim DeVore married Polly Schunert '59 and they now live in Prospect, Oregon.

Lynn Routt Swanson '62 shares this photo of the original Nicolosi's Pizza House on El Cajon Blvd.  It was razed to make way for the I-15 freeway.

Speaking of restaurants on El Cajon Blvd., Ken Kramer finally aired the piece on James Daigh's 1963 photo of JFK in front of Rudford's Restaurant.  It'll repeat on Sunday at 11 AM on KPBS.  Click HERE to read the back story.

Bill "Cappy" Paxton '66 emailed this 1968 photo of San Diego State a while back.  I think he said it was part of a class assignment and that he'd send the rest when he could figure out his new scanner.  That apparently hasn't happened.  Click HERE to see the shot enlarged, and to read about the mystery solved.

Steve Brownell '64 sends word of the passing of his mom Frances Brownell on Christmas Eve at age 101.  You might have known her as Spanish teacher Senora Brownell or Senora Archibald.  Click HERE to check out photos from the Mariachi Party celebrating her 100th birthday.  Click HERE to read what some of her former students had to say on the occasion of Birthday #97.  Click HERE if you'd like to email Steve with condolences.