August 1, 2014

UESS WHO NANCY AND I MET last night at the Amigo Spot.  Barbara Zaitzow, that’s who.   She and her husband were fresh off the plane from North Carolina, in town for the Class of ‘74 reunion.  She was of the opinion that San Diego was a lot hotter and muggier than North Carolina.  Nancy and I should have got a room, ‘cause I suspect we’re headed back to the King’s Inn this morning for a late breakfast at the Waffle Spot.

Next Thursday is First Thursday at the Amigo Spot.  Members of the Class of ‘59 may or may not be in attendance to check it out as a venue for the 55th Anniversary of their Graduation.  Nancy and I will be there for the food (Oh, the irony — the Amigo Spot has one of the best burger and fries combos I know of) and to hear Paul Caston on the guitar.

Did you happen to watch the 2014 Baseball Hall of Fame induction on MLB?  Tony LaRussa’s induction was preceded by a nice video talk from Dave Duncan ‘63.   Click HERE if you'd like to watch it.  Make sure you're sitting down -- Dave's grown a goatee.

Bob Mardon ‘64 is getting rid of his Horace Mann Cougars from 1959, 1960, and 1961 (I put up Bob Richardson's 1958 Cougar just to get your attention).  If you’d like them, contact him at 619-461-1677 or rgmardon@cox.net

Friends for over 50 years, and 1964 classmates, Janie Newberry Smith, Meri Pierce Knight and Laurie Koosed Ratner celebrate Meri’s birthday on July 18th at the home of Janis Irvine Ricards.  I’m pretty sure Janis prepared the meal — and took the photo.  Click HERE to find out what they’re eating and view a much larger photo.

Phillis Dudick ‘60 let me know last week that her sister, Mary Ellen Dudick Cagan ‘68 (above), passed away April 11, 2001.

July 25, 2014

IT MUST BE SUMMER VACATION.  I haven’t heard from anyone and have little to share.  Nancy spent much of Monday in the Emergency Room after stumbling and breaking the fall with her left knee. She says the swelling has gone down and she should be able to drive down from Escondido. I’m not sure how that’s gonna affect our Friday brunch.

If you’re a San Diegan you must have noticed the painted utility boxes all over town, some of them quite clever.  Nancy and I stopped to pick up some chicken pies at — you guessed it — the Chicken Pie Shop and she spotted THEIR utility box.   Looks like a Chicken With An Attitude to me.  You can check out some of the other utility boxes at Urban Art Trail and  Utility Box Art

The Class of ‘69 Colt 45 (Get it -- 45th Reunion?) is less than a month away and, despite the fact that I’ve posted the information on the Class of ‘69 Missing Page, the Class of ‘69 Email Page and the Reunion Page of my Crawford High web site, George Sorenson says a lot of folks are confused about things like the date, time and location.  George reminds you (“Shut up in the back or I’ll keep you after school!!”) that the event will take place on August 23rd at the Mission Valley Buffalo Wild Wings at 5 PM.  If you’re still confused call George in Oregon 818-472-8966 or email him at george.sorensen@me.com 

Frank and Patty Mendivil were in town from Scottsdale last weekend.   They are old friends and musical partners of Doug Kvandal ‘66, keyboard player for Live Jazz, which plays each Saturday night at the Amigo Spot.  Patty sang a few numbers with the band Saturday night and the next day at the upstairs 65th birthday party for Gail Schindler Fogelman ‘67.  I had a chance to chat with Patty and learned she was a Crawford Colt.  Turns out she is Patty Knudson ‘71 and was stunned and delighted to learn I knew her brother, the late Pete Knudson ‘61.  It’s a small world I guess.

I’ve got a lot of left over stamps, but none from 1958.   These came affixed to a Class of ‘61 newsletter renewal envelope.  Speaking of which, Barbara Cagley Thomas and Edward and Walter Pease, all from the Class of ‘64, are first-time subscribers to the 12-page quarterly publication.  Deanna Darlene Dean Vogel is no longer missing.  She’s living in Yakima, Washington and is now on the Class of ‘67 Email page.

July 18, 2014

I SUSPECT NANCY AND I will brunch at the Waffle Spot, then spend the rest of the day doing nothing.  I’m tired already.

Tom Cassie ‘62 forwards a “Remember the '50s” video with an East Coast slant (White Castle and Esso Gas).  It’s still fun to watch.  Click HERE to check it out.

Services for Merrill “Mac” McLaughlin will be held a week from today — July 25th — at 2 PM, Fletcher Hills Presbyterian Church, 455 Church Way, El Cajon, CA 92020.  Daughter Carol McLaughlin Bachman looks forward to meeting you.  Mac was an original member of the Crawford faculty, finally leaving in 1980.

Anybody want the June 12, 1969 10-page Graduation Issue of the Pacer?  Perhaps it could be raffled off at the August 23rd reunion.  Email ME if you're interested.

July 11, 2014

NANCY AND I ended up in Julian last Friday after breakfast.  The town was all gussied up for the annual 4th of July Parade, which was cancelled because of the nearby fire.  We may have BEEN the parade, although a large group of mariachis marching down the sidewalk was getting applause.

Apparently the folks from the Class of ‘72 are turning 60 this year.  I doubt many of them will dance the Tarantella and be serenaded with “That’s Amore”.  Giovanna DeSanti Medina (that’s her on the left) was the recipient of all that and has the pictures to prove it. Click HERE to see more hot babes — and a couple of guys who wormed their way into the party with a guitar and an accordion.

Gary Juleen ‘64 forwards a photo of Rolando Park Principal Dr. Hawks, a song (to the tune of “Two Sleepy People” about the 1958 6th grade graduation, all three 6th grade class photos and the names to go with them.  Click HERE to check out the BIG pictures.

July 4th, 2014

Enjoy your weekend!! Wear sunscreen!!

Debbie Nichols Poulos ‘63, poses with hubbie John in front of some of the 18 quilts she has on display at University Retirement Community, where they live in Davis, California.  The show continues through July 31st.  Debbie would love to have you stop by.  Call her at 530-747-6326 or email her at dnpoulos@urcad.org

David Keller ‘68 shares a TED talk given by his classmate Louie Schwartsberg last March in Vancouver BC.  Click HERE to watch this spectacular display of nature photography.  That’s not really what it is, but it’s as close as I can get.

I’m pretty sure Kris Pruski Wood ‘70 is the person who sent me a copy of the June 12, 1969 Pacer.  The package was sealed so well I nearly needed a jackhammer to open it.  There are still pieces of the envelope in the corners of my office, but not the return address label.  Anyhow, it’s the 10-page Graduation Issue and you can read all of it HERE.

The Jameson twins — Marilyn Schupp and Carolyn Alford '61 —  have forwarded news of the death, on February 22nd, of “Cowboy Bob” Urbach ‘62.  In his retirement, Bob opened “Hats by Bob” in Ramona.  Click HERE to sign the guest book.