April 29, 2016

Ay Caramba!!  If my calculations are correct, next week's Colt First Thursday Fiesta will take place on Cinco de Mayo.  That's May 5th, by the way.  No matter how early you arrive, there will be Crawford people already chatting and dining.  Amigo Spot • King's Inn • Mission Valley

Dave Palmer was looking for information on the Class of '66 Reunion and found my website.  He's now listed on the Class of '66 Email Page.

Renewal notices for the quarterly 12-page alumni newsletter have gone out to those who subscribe from the Class of '71.  Click HERE if you'd like to subscribe.

Here's the April 28, 1966 issue of the Pacer.  Click HERE to read all six pages.

George Sorensen '69 was Huck Finn in the 1966 Horace Mann production of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.  Apparently he forgot to return his 56-page songbook.  I've excerpted the first five pages.  Click HERE to check them out.

Johnny Long '61 passed away April 21st, says his sister Barbara Long Van Pelt '64.  You can sign the Guest Book via the Class of '61 Obituary Page.

Rona Goldfarb '62 died April 23rd in Los Angeles from leukemia.  

April 22, 2016

It's Earth Day.  I'm not sure what to do today.  Not like the olden days when I led my students at Hale Junior High on protest marches and ended up in the principal's office.

Elaine Robinson Davis ’61 will be the featured artist in Gallery 23, Spanish Village, April 16th to the 30th.  She will also be in booth 381 and 383 for Art Walk, Little Italy.  She would love to see old friends and classmates.

Larry Okmin '64 was "in the house" at the Amigo Spot last Saturday night.  He brought in the Little League Program above, which he found at an estate sale, to share with George Fogelman.  I snagged it before George could get it.  I had hoped to share it as a Picasa file, but I guess my Mac has gotten too old.  In the meantime, I'll post it on Facebook so some of you can read it.  You'll recognize a lot of names, if you're my age, and get a kick out of the advertisements.  Oh, by the way, Larry Okmin brought his sax and sat in with the band.  Very nice.

Julie Eskew Daniel '64 forwards a BEFORE picture of the Helix Theater (above) and an AFTER photo of downtown La Mesa.

Owen Western '63 shares a fabulous 78 record by Smokey Rogers.  Click HERE to read the back story, and listen to "No Vacancy" and "I Let My Wife Support Me".   I am stunned at the quality of the writing and singing.  "No Vacancy" is about returning WWII veterans trying to find a place to live.  It should be in the Library of Congress.  If you, like Buddy Rich, dislike only two kinds of music -- country and western -- my apologies.

April 15, 2016

THE SKY IS GETTING light in the East and a beautiful day is forecast for Pacific Beach and San Diego.  Nancy and I will try to fight through the construction to breakfast at the Waffle Spot -- or not.

I wonder if Sandy Shapery '61 played Monopoly as a youth.  I remember all-day games on my block, interrupted only by a quick lunch.  I got to thinking about all this when I spotted a photo in the Union-Tribune of what some of us, and Sandy, call the Gas and Electric Building.  Turns out Sandy owns the building, wants to remodel it, and is interested in your suggestions.  Click HERE to read all about it.

Class of '64 grads, or at least the ones who bought an annual, will recognize this photo from the yearbook's frontispiece.  I've tried to blend the two pages into one for your viewing pleasure.  Click HERE to see an enlargement.

This superb photo of downtown La Mesa and the Helix Theater showed up this week on Greg Mays' Vintage San Diego Facebook page.  I liked it so much I enlarged it and put it on my web site.  Click HERE to check it out.

April 8, 2016

New technology provides new humor.  Here's a Bizarro cartoon from Tuesday of this week.

Yippee!!  J and M's is featuring Pork Chops as one of its April Specials.  Now all I need is a ride to Escondido.  Oh, wait -- what does it say in fine print?  "Served Anytime During March".

Tom Clancy and I both wrote military books.  He used his royalty checks to buy part of the Baltimore Oriole baseball team.  I may cash my $25 check and head out to the Wrangler Barbecue in El Cajon. Turns out George Glover '73 is part owner.   George got his start at a barbecue place in the shopping center at 63rd and El Cajon.

Click HERE to check out the "Boss 30" top hits on KGB 1360 for April 9, 1966.  Gee, that's almost 50 years ago!!

Jim Kermott '67 shares a classic photo of Colts and Cardinals from the "Colt Country Club".  Jim says that was any bar in Tijuana on a Friday or Saturday night.  Click HERE to see what they're drinking.  Must've been something special 'cause at least two of the couples got married.

John McGuigan '64 poses with Trooper, in a photo taken earlier this week in Squaw Valley.  Trooper is the newest Squaw Valley Avalanche dog, also known as Squawdogs.  John is in his 13th year as a Volunteer Ski Patroller.  

I've just learned of the passing of Wayne Morgan '64 on March 14th in Bullhead City, Arizona.  Click HERE to read an obituary.