Guest Book

HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!!! 2000 WOW !!!!!

Have any rednecks out there heard the Hank Jr. remake of "Country Boys can Survive...Y2K" with George Jones? "If the bank machines fail we'll be just fine, cause country boys can survive." Some country boys must have doubts, cause the grocery stores are already out of bottled water down here! Ya'll got snow yet????

Frank - David and I have "Grandma got run over by a reindeer" on our juke box. We can hear it every day of the year if we so choose, lucky me!!

Say "It's all right," Curtis.

Well the tree is trimmed, presents are wrapped and stacked, kids full of anticipation and it's cold outside. The neighborhood is quiet, but the malls were packed yesterday. It doesn't look like we'll have snow for Christmas in Northern Virginia. The only thing that is missing besides the snow is "Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer" - which I'm sure that I'll hear a few times today. Happy holidays everyone!

Ruth -- nothing garish enough for you darling. And nothing that gobbles. However, if we all try hard enough we MIGHT be able to come up with something ... SOMEWHERE. I do have several rolls of TP left in the shed (since SOME people have refused to give us their new addresses since we started storing it up). Some plaster of paris or whatever that gooey crap was they gave us in art class ... a few rolls of chicken wire (turkey wire in this case) and possibly some fool thing from Spencer's that gobbles ... we could make this work. Yup Jackie ... looks like I'm going to have to violate my rule against mall shopping for those tootsie warmers. Honestly ... why can't kids just go barefoot like Abe Lincoln did. After all ... he walked twelve miles to school in the ice and snow and still lived to be President !! Sue -- not sure the Virginia stations play Jeff ... but the D.C. and Baltimore stations sure do ... go figure !! Maybe it's for Bubba?

Sue, I must be a Redneck!

We'll it's that time of year when the radio stations in Georgia play Christmas oldies but goodies such as Blue Christmas by (you guessed it) Porky Pig and the Redneck Twelve Days of Christmas (originally by a local unknown), this year by Jeff Foxworthy. I'm assuming these don't get air time in Virginia. I know many of you must be asking the burning question, "What does a redneck want for Christmas?" Well ... 12 pack of Bud, 11 wrastling tickets, tin of Copenhagen, 9 years probation, 8 table dancers, 7 packs of Redman, 6 cans of Spam, Fiveeeeeee flannel shirttttts, 4 mudgrip tires, 3 shotgun shells, 2 huntin dogs, and some parts to a Mustang GT........Merry Christmas from north Georgia and Happy y2k!!!!!

Janine, The important thing here is that the hat needs to meet certain quality standards. As you consider the candidates for selection, ask yourself these questions: (1) is the hat sufficiently garish? (6) Does it "gobble" or make other appropriate noises? (3) is it large enough for others to notice from great distances without their glasses? (4) does it inspire derisive comments (5) is it likely to cause a fight? (6) would it cause the wearer to suffer endless and sincere remorse for having ever supported a sorry team like the Seminoles? If you can answer yes to all of these questions, buy the hat. I will pay the price (in more ways than one -- the bet is with my boss)

Frank-..I'm at the same place...if you want to see what I'm dealing with ... my baby is top9.com .... a nightmare in progress!!!! Janine, already been to the almost defunct "Just for Feet". Now, I guess we've got to go to the mall for shoes!!!! Bummer ......Jackie

OK Ruth ... I'll find a way to cough up a Tech hat .. how much do you want to spend?? There's yet another store near me going out of business (Hey Jackie --- Just for Feet in Beacon Mall is closing down and has ALLLLLL those wonderful, normally high priced treads that these teenagers love to hit us up for). ::::::: Anyway ... Ruth's hat. They're bound to have one in there and last seen they were darn good quality at a low price (explains the going out of business problem then). On the fundraising --- yup -- we're doing the Giant Fundraising certificates -- it's a great deal and you aren't out anything extra and you aren't buying all that fudge, wrapping paper, etc. I'll have to check out the Nissan thing. Merry Happy Ho Ho Ho Everyone !!!!

Sorry Steve, but I don't think that's what they mean by a "computer virus". ;^) ..... I watched some of the Skins game on the jumbo-tron at Mile High Stadium today. It was 5 degrees with the wind-chill. The Broncos almost did the most impressive "defeat from the jaws of victory" I've ever seen. They had a TEN POINT lead with less than TWO MINUTES to go and Seattle with NO TIMEOUTS. Seattle got the ball, scored a TD in THREE plays, recovered the onsides kick and made a field goal with 9 seconds left to tie the game. In OT the Broncos won the toss but went 3 and out. Seattle was driving and was at midfield when a blitz sacked the QB and knocked the ball loose. It was scooped up and carried in for the Bronco win. Man! Happy Holidays, everyone!

John - The web site's alive. Everyone else feel free to check it out at http://www.kistnercpa.com. I've put up an early peek at the tax rates that will be effective for 2000. Yes, I know...you haven't even started thinking about 1999. Too bad. There's not a lot that you can do between now and the end of the year. *But* I have 10 year end tax tips. Email me at fkistner@kistnercpa.com if you'd like them. Some are especially useful for sole proprietors. Gary - The Skins are as fragile as an uncooked egg in its shell. They actually could have won today but for some poor late-game play calling by Norv (Come on - a shuffle pass on 3rd down near the opponent's goal line?? They were lucky it was called an incomplete pass.) And how about that mediocre series to end the game after they recovered the onside kick? And Brad Johnson??? Hot and cold. Not a big play guy, not mobile. The only reason why they even have a chance at the playoffs is because everyone else in the NFC East stinks too. They should get some good draft picks in the upcoming draft. Now if they could just get some coaching...

Just wanted to "chime in" and wish everyone a safe and joyous holiday !! I hope Santa Claus is good to all you good little boys and girls. I have to run out to the mall. I should be back by Tuesday...It's a bear out there. I love this time of the season. I actually saw two women almost get into a fist fight over a pair of overalls at the Old Navy store the other night. They were going at each other like they were the last pair on earth (maybe they were). Oh Well....Tis the season. Ya'All Take Care and hope to see some of you in 2000! WOW !! 2000 !! I'm not supose to be working now. I just checked my "Big Game" tickets from last night....Won a dollar.. But tonight it's The Virginia Lottery...someteen million prize tonight..Well gotta run..One last thing. HOW ABOUT THEM 'SKINS !!!! Still first in the division !!

Thanks Frank. I've got plenty. Just haven't the time. BTW, don't see anything at www.kistnercpa.com yet. ;^)

So John, do you want some MIDI holiday tunes? I can email a bunch to you. Jackie - where are you working? Are you working as an employee or a contractor?

Sorry Jackie, for the mistaken assumption. Close but not close enough. Dewey, Did you pass your flu bug to me? I feel like yit!

Steve...yes..same family....I married the oldest brother (we met in college)...Mike. He went to Bishop Ireton. Dave and Carol are my in-laws. Small world, huh? I've got a daughter, Meghan, at Mount Vernon High right now, and a son next year. REALLY small world!!!!

Thanks for the concern, Sue. I'm pretty much over the flu thing. Still a little coughing here and there, but not too bad. Maybe you can blame my silence on the fact that it's football season and right now being a Gator fan and a Bronco fan isn't working out real well. ..... It's Christmas time, and you know what that means: It's time to figure out what computer stuff to get to put on the '99 taxes!

Lets see. DBA? Data Base Administrator. The wife is a DBA Jackie. She's been wondering where the big bucks are also! JHSable. Hmmm. Is that David Sable? Sister, Carol Sable and I have been good friends since high school.

Jackie: What's a DBA?? I think the secret of high pay in your area is to keep changing jobs often, or let them know you got a better offer. Keeps 'em honest.
I did hear about the Hot Shoppes closing. The Oldies station had a guy out there in Rockville on the closing day. That wasn't a caferteria, though, like the one in Crystal City that closed the previous month. I went there on the last day. One of the waitresses had worked there every since I started working in Crystal City (right after college). She told me she'd been there 29 years! I was surprised, because I thought she was younger than us. She didn't know what she was going to do now. She said her parents hadn't found her a job, yet. (She is apparently mildly retarded.) Got a little choked up. Just had to give her a big tip. Hey, the site is up for lease. Good site for the Pig!!!

John...Hechinger's closing is bad...but did you read where the last Hot Shoppes closed last month? Almost as bad as the Dixie Pig. FYI...I'm a full-time DBA now...so, where are the big bucks?

Life's tough, ain't it John.

Turn out the lights...the party's over. Hechinger is caput, except for the shelves. Got my $0.15 Hechinger painter's hat for a momento (of the only place I spend more time than commuting) today. Oh well, now comes the maintenance on all the things I didn't expect to have to fix when everything was 90% off! Dang. Now I gotta go Christmas shopping!

Fluey Dewey, are you not over that disease yet? I,m worried about the little gator keeping his mouth shut for 7 days! I hope you will soon be back in the pink!(Or should I say, green?) Have you tried all of the home remedies? Should you consider "turkey soup?" Please respond before we run out of spunk!!

Okay you Hokie aficionados, I need a favor: I've made a sporting wager on the outcome of the Sugar Bowl game with a die-hard FSU maniac and I need a VPI hat to fulfill the bet. It has to be a REALLY GOOD hat. Obviously there is no Hokie paraphernalia available down here so can someone out there track down a Turkey hat for me?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SUE!!! Remember when we were kids...trying to figure out how old we'd be in 2000. The thought of being in our forties seemed soooo old. Geeezzz, time flys! Anyway, have a great one.

Thanks, Ruth, so Smooth issss really 2mints-in-one! I asked daughter Mel if she could tell me who sang that song and she did say something about Rob Thomas and Matchbox 20. I insisted that that music was clearly the work of Carlos Santana. Little did I know that we were both right! Yesterday was such a beautiful Saturday in Georgia. I spent the afternoon under still, clear blue skies, 68 degree temp, and did the windows and interior of my car. Where I live, it is not unusual to see rare birds occasionally. I seached the tall pine tree above me for the source of the birdlike beep that I heard periodically. The pine trees here are reallly tall, so I stepped in the clearing to get a view of the top. When I heard it this time, something told me that I wasn't looking high enough???? I looked straight up as if searching for an airplane and found it, something I may never witness again! Approximately one hundred birds the color of polished aluminum circling above me in what looked like a round skating rink with birds so tightly conformed that their wingtips appeared to be touching! How many of you have ever seen Canadian geese in this configuration? The leader, I presumed, was the only one to utter, and that was only intermittently. This circle-flying must have gone on for 10 minutes, and as they flew, an outsider would fly in and join them from east, west, and north. Then, without warning, as if of one mind, the leader took off to the south and the others followed casually spreading out into 2 of the typical V's we would expect to see fly south. No one ever told me that about geese before, but seeing is believing. They were circling clockwise; well clockwise for me, counterclockwise for the geese!! This reminded me of a kids movie that I recently saw with my daughter. It is autobiographical about Marty Stouffer and his kid brothers and the first homemovie expeditions they took into the wilds of North Dakota. The scenery is excellent, the story cute, Devon Sawa and Jonathan Taylor Thomas play the little brothers. The wildlife interaction is unpredictable, so for all of you who have preteen boys, or have ever grownup with a brother yourself, you may find this comical and entertaining during the long Christmas break. It's probably in the kid's section of the video store and it's called Wild America. Sue

Sue, if you're referring to "Smooth" off Santana's Supernatural CD, the entire planet has heard it -- SEVERAL times. It's a great tune, though it's actually written and sung by Rob Thomas of Matchbox 20 -- one of my daughters' favorite groups. I love to yank their chain by telling them that, like ALL their beloved bands, Matchbox 20 would never make it without an assist from the pros from our era. As for the Supernatural CD, it's a really interesting blend of old, new, latin, soul, rock, rap and the kitchen sink. And, while "Smooth" will probably walk away with best song of 1999 honors, the REAL best song on the CD is the last cut which features Eric Clapton and Carlos Santana doing a guitar thing that reminds us all what really fine musicians can do. Of course, that's just my opinion. I could be wrong.... (but I'm not).

Has anyone heard the new Santana song?

Steve, Tony is a fellow alumni, circa 1978 or so. He was on the local news as a weatherman, but recently graduated to the national big time. He is now weatherman for Goodmorning America, I believe on ABC. BTW, send me your address and phone # for our database. Others do the same, please, to make it easier for the next reunion committee. This includes you, Howie!

Would someone please explain to me who Tony Perkins is!

Hi Sue, Hi all, Sorry it's taken so long to reply, but as you might imagine I'm a bit busy this time of year (Santa's right hand man, you know!) You inquired about Pokemon, here's the straight scoop on the Pokemon 'Epilepsy Episode'. In late 1997, an episode of 'Pocket Monsters' (aka Pokemon) aired on Japanese TV (came to US TV in 1998). Pikachu attacked another pocket monster with an explosion of flashing red and blue lights that did in fact send some 700 Japanese children to the hospital with seizures. My understanding is that this episode was never shown again in Japan and was never released in the US. From this infamous episode on, parent groups as well as the religious right have attacked Pokemon often and vigorously. The advent of the Pokemon Trading Card Game has taken things to new heights (any one with kids in the 6-14 age group probably has some of these cards in the house). The fact that Wizards of the Coast, same folks that make Magic, The Gathering developed this game has increased the belief by some that Pokemon is of the dark side. I have daily discussions with parents in which I must reassure them that buying their kids Pokemon cards will not result in anti-social, trench coat wearing, facial pierced teens. (hey, I've been listening to Ozzy for 30 years now with no ill effect, even though my mother was convinced he was the devils spawn) Any way...I plan to enjoy 10 days scuba diving and kite flying in Micronesia this summer thanks to the profits from those cute little pocket monsters so let the controversy rage! Hope this answers your question.

I have no idea, Linda. I have no idea. Actually, that's pretty literally true, 'cause I had the flu or some close relative to it over the weekend and even watching TV took too much energy. (You know I'm sick when I won't watch a Gator game!) I dragged myself out to turn on the TV in the 3rd quarter and saw 12-7 'Bama. I watched half a quarter until it was 22-7. Gators didn't even look like they belonged on the same field with those guys. They were really stinkin' up the place. I turned it off and trudged off to bed. It's possible I actually caught my bug when I was still in Florida. So maybe the Gators did, too. ..... As for the FSU-Tech match, I think I have close to equal shares in my brain rooting for both sides so either way I should be happy. ...... Meanwhile, Colorado is making up for the late start on winter weather. More snow coming tomorrow. ..... My latest theory: The Mars Polar Lander was scarfed up by the Martian Santa Claus to be a present to some good little Barsoomian.

The class of '74 was the first senior class to graduate from the new school; however, we voted to continue holding graduation at Constitution Hall. As I recall, the administration would have rather had it at the school. . .and I believe graduation at the school began the following year! Janine, speaking of fundraising, have you ever worked the Nissan concessions? They contract out to non-profit groups. My daughter's gymnastics booster club works there every summer. It raises a lot of money; however, it is not everyone's cup of tea!! My first experience there was serving beer at the OzFest...whoa!!!! I did survive and managed to also work the Jimmy Buffet, Cher, and Kenny G concerts. We also make EASY money thru Giant's Fund Raising Gift Certificates. The club receives 5% of all certificates sold. All that fundraising may pay off this year, as Sarah's coach feels she may go to nationals this year. . .in Florida."We're going to Disney World!!" Speaking of Florida, Dewey, WHAT HAPPENED??? And by the way, I'm thinking (and hoping) that turkeys DO fly!!!

Nope Dewey ... they stopped National Cathedral and Constitution Hall somewhere around 1974 or just a tad later. It's in the field house now and certainly doesn't have the pizzaz nor pomp and circumstance that ours had. However, the band and color guard do goes on far better trip now than they used to. Each class makes it to Florida sometime in their 4 years there and does all the theme parks. During the last trip they were a special filming at Plant Hollywood Orlando and were used in the commercials and whatever those films are they show during visits, and manage to compete at the Orange Bowl and Festival of States thing. Other trip I can recall have been to Bands of America Regionals in Morgantown WVA followed by Nationals at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis, Myrtle Beach, the usual Hershey Park or Dorney Park and Williamsburg Festivals and usually do Va and Presidential Inaugural Parades -- sometimes Apple Blossom in Winchester just for the hell of it. Chorus travels too -- places like the festivals above for overnight trips as well as Knoxville, Florida, and New York. Drams does one or two trips to New York every year for two - three days complete with broadway productions, backstage passes and theatrical workshops. Art and video production do a New York Trip. Fashion merchandising and sports marketing do some unusual field trips too. Obviously, there's alot more fundraising done these days too than back in our day in order for these kids to be able to pay for the trips. My neighbors run when they see me know and family members are known not to answer their phones during band season. Since my daughter was in color guard, drama and chorus ... I think she drained all our sources years ago.

Hey John! Should anyone tell Ms. White she's not the fairest in the land? Your wife is more photogenic and lovely!...Maybe I should keep my mouth shut and hope I look that good when I'm pushin' 70 yrs old, especially after living with 7 old coots for 60 some odd years!... And they were some of the oddest years.....as Groucho would say!

Steve: I seem to remember us taking a vote on whether we wanted to bother having our graduation at Constitution Hall. I couldn't imagine anybody not wanting that! More appreciation when I went to college and met so many people who had "Baccalaureate in the gym, graduation on the football field." Special occasions indeed. Does MV still do it there? Janine? .... Frank: Twice. Found out that the wait in the "singles line" was only about 10-15 minutes. My dad lives in Melbourne so I was there for two weeks. As for a 2002 reunion in Disney World: Not in JULY!!!! You thought D.C. was hot and muggy in the summer. That's got NOTHIN' on central Florida. ..... My New Year's Resolution, ..er... New Decade Resolution,.... er... New Century.... aw hell: NEXT YEAR I'M GONNA GET A FLU SHOT! *sniff* hack! cough!

Ruth, correct again! Still look really young, don't I? The furry faced guy with the MV shirt is "Beast", the hero in the next Disney movie, also starring Beauty, Snow White, and Pocahontas (not yet rated). My brother Matt, MV '75, is sitting in the front, and his daughter and my son are the little ones. My wife, Huong, is on the right, and Matt's wife is next to her.

Hey, John. So who are the others in the picture besides you and Snow White? Just the ones with the little heads - I already the guys with the big heads.

"Test Track" is the "roller coaster" of Epcot. It is partially inside and outside the GM building. The motif is automotive testing - you do a hill climb, a bumpy road test, heat, cold and "corrosive" testing. Then you do some cornering tests and a "crash" test (I'm not going to spill all of the beans). Finally you exit the building and go for a couple of loops around the building - including a couple of steeply banked turns. Robert and I rode three times :)

So John, is that you, front row, left? (You KNEW I couldn't resist!)

MVHS Alumni sighting at Epcot!

Ok,what is "test track?" Give me a break, I haven't been back to Disney in 5 years! So Frank, how many times did you ride "test track?" Did any one see the big Pokemon spread in Time magazine this month? Apparently there are a couple hundred cartoon critters. Either they have a huge staff of animators, or a couple of very overworked artists! I have a question for Steve Hall if he's listening...A few years back, there was a Japanese Anime cartoon series on the tube that was blamed for causing seizures in preschool aged children. Multiple instances were cited while one particular episode was airing. None of the children investigated were known to have epilepsy or any previous history of seizures. Rumour has it that the Pokemon Cartoon show was the culprit! I thought that the Pokemon show was first aired this year. Who is right?

Gee, lets see here, where do I start...OK. Sue - my Son's name is Robert. He just turned 10 on the 23rd of November, so he has a few years to go. He's not that interested in football as a player. He likes basketball, tennis and rollerblading. He likes them Hokies. He's almost 5 feet tall already - I'll be looking up to him in a few years if he keeps growing. Dewey - I missed you by a day at Epcot. We spent 4 days in Melbourne (near Kennedy) and didn't check in to the hotel at Disney until the afternoon on Thanksgiving. How many times did you ride "test track"? John - I didn't catch up with Rob Casassa. Our schedules just didn't work. Coming back here two days ago to 36 degree weather was cruel. Maybe we should have the 2002 reunion at Disneyworld.

Yeah Dewey, but how many of the kids these days get to have their class Baccaluareate at the National Cathedral or their graduation ceremony at Constitution Hall? I'll never forget those experiences.

Gee Sue, it seems like the kids these days get to do all kinds of neat things we didn't get to do when WE were in high school. (OK, so the Hewlett band trip was pretty neat.) As for Good Morning America: These days I very RARELY stay up that late....

Janine & Ruth, what an unexpected pleasure it must have been to see the old alma mater on TV!! Wish I had not missed that..but I leave the driveway at 5am, so I miss all the Good Morning news shows. I really don't even know who this Tony Perkins is. What bothers me, though, is that I have no recollection of a Mrs. Wilson at MVHS at all! Uhoh..oldtimers' strikes again. Ruth, my youngest, a freshman in high school will head down to Disney on Dec 3rd. The Woodland High School chorus auditioned (via cassette)and is one of the high schools selected to sing in the next Candlelight Processional in the Magic Kingdom. That's a nice way for the kids to usher in the millennium! It should make for some fond memories when these kids graduate, don't you think?

So I'm sitting in my hotel room getting ready to be thoroughly brilliant at my conference presentation and, since the newspaper that's delivered to my room is USA Today -- which I can't stand -- I switch on the TV to get weather and to find out if we bombed anybody during the night. Up comes Good Morning America (which I haven't watched since before David Hartman left) and I hear that Tony Perkins is returning to his northern Virginia high school to track down his "crush". I wandered away from the TV set and the next thing I hear -- as I'm struggling with my panty hose -- is "Mount Vernon High School ..." Naturally I'm trying to hop over to the TV and see what's going on -- wound up on the floor with a minor contusion and a run in my brand new hose. Still, it was very cool to see Mr. Kerlin and Mrs. Wilson even though Tony did graduate from the new building that used to be Walt Whitman. Tomorrow we get to see Diane Sawyer's high school. I think I'll pass or I'll run out of panty hose before I run out of conference....

OK ... so ... I open my peepers this morning! Let out a great big yawn (so -- which of us COULDN'T have used just ONE more day to this holiday break from work?) ... stumble to the coffee pot .... stumble down the one stair to my family room and hit that magic power button. On pops Good Morning America -- with Tony Perkins -- on site -- at MV -- dedicating the media center they've named after him and interviewing some of his classmates and ... would you believe .... 20+some years later (I quit counting) ... there I am ... still waking up to Mr. Kerlin and Ms. Wilson staring me in my mug. The only odd part about aging gracefully (as we all have done) is seeing that your teachers have aged even MORE gracefully. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Only in the currency of "fond memories", Sue, only fond memories. I went to Universal about 4 years ago, too, but I was with my brother and his kiddlings so hanging out for the Blues Brothers was not really an option. Besides, I was more interested in "The Pagemaster" at the time. (I DID get paid for THAT!)

Dewey, although you speak the truth about Constitution Hall, I'm guessing you didn't get paid for this service! Since the class of 72 seems to be flocking to Florida over thanksgiving break, is it save to assume that you guys also frequented Universal Studios? When I was there 4 years ago, they had the DeLancey St. set, roughly a city block, set up for the Blues Brothers concert! It started in front of the diner that Aretha Franklin co-owned in the original movie, but got so wild that it spilled out onto the street with Jake and Elwood forming the head of an audience-participation conga line!! It really got everybody movin and shakin, young and old alike. I'd like to think they still have that, but I know they have to keep puttin new movie sets and rides in to stay on the cutting edge.Thought John would enjoy this..!

Constitution Hall. I played there a few times.... ;^) (Sounds like a great show, John.)

Pretty close, Tallahassee Lassie. Put yo' flat feet on the ground, gerl!
Actually, the show was really POORLY promoted here, and was poorly attended; but I still have no idea how we got tickets that close (considering we bought the tickets only 4 days before the show). It was like a reverse Bob Ueker(sp?) move. The attendant showed us to our seats, which were really good seats -- then went "oh no, these aren't the seats," and then took us to the third row! Good thing it wasn't closer, or I might have had the embarrassing reality of trying to sing on stage with Wilson (as opposed to the most excellant fantasy). It was really cool hearing the horn section (and seeing them do their little dance!) like you don't see elsewhere, these days. I just couldn't stop thinking about the glow around John Belushi in the Blues Brothers movie when he first walked into the hall and heard the message from God. In fact, Betty Wright, one of the performers, made fun of Rap after telling a story about winning a copyright suit against a Rap artist. In the middle of her song/story, she broke into a Rap routine about making them give her song back. Roy C was the other performer. Never heard of him, but he was really raunchy (and funny). These people know how to have fun! Y'all ought to take some lessons from these guys, you ... you ... you ... grownups!

Wow John! Third row center??!! Do you have great connections at the box office, or were you just the only one at the concert? (Just kidding out of envy. Would have loved to have been there. Alas, no performer with any heart or soul or character ever finds their way to Tallahassee.)

Well, while you guys were talking turkey and paying bills, I was third row center for Wilson Pickett & The Midnight Movers, Clarence Carter and others' at Constitution Hall! What a trip! Although he was under the weather, the Wicked one, sporting a sky-blue silk suit, was lookin good as he sang "In the Midnight Hour", "Funky Broadway", "Mustang Sally" & others. He even brought some people up from the audience to compete with him. I hear he's also going to appear in the new Blues Brothers movie.
But Clarence was really special, too. Flashing his canary yellow duds, he sang "Patches" (#33, 1970) and "Slip Away" (#44, 1968). He also sang "Baby, Shake that Thing" by Ray Charles after a funny lead in, in which he made reference to being blind himself. What a raunchy show! Learned some great new lines (that won't be repeated here). Glad I didn't take my kid!

I am reminded of a classic episode of "WKRP in Cincinatti". In the words of Mr. Carlson, "As God as my witness, I thought turkeys could fly."

Some more famous quotes....? I"m familiar with "the eagle has landed." Am I now witnessing a "turkey that has launched?" If so, watch out for falling debris! Linda, Linda keep your eye on the ball, dear. Big bad ole' UVA and its scholar atheletes is no threat to you now! What a feather in FSU's hat it would be to beat the tar out of some hokie yard birds.

Susan, have you heard this one? "Women at VMI??? What next...Men at UVA?!

Dewey: The tune is/was "Thanksgiving", from George Winston's "December" album. Gobble. But timeout for the Wicked One!

I certainly can't dispute your logic there, Linda. And I confess, part of me is going to be pulling for you guys on New Millenium 2nd. (Let's hope society hasn't crumbled from Y2K madness before the game is settled!)..... I find I don't recognize the song playing on the Guest Book (reading) page. Any help? Meister?

Ahhh, what better day for a little "turkey trivia"! Imagine this: 2 college football teams play the SAME 3 teams. Both teams win all 3 games...however...the first team wins by a combined score of 105-28 (77 point difference), while the second only wins by a combined score of 83-45 (38 point difference). Which team has the most impressive record? If you picked the first team, you picked Va Tech's record against Miami, Virginia and Clemson! The second team is FSU...and their record against these 3 teams. So, comparing apples to apples, it certainly seems that "strength of schedule" doesn't prove much. GOBBLE, GOBBLE! Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Just wanted to chime in and wish everyone a Happy and Safe Thanksgiving. I'd like to stay and chat but I must get back to the kitchen. I have to help the wife load up the car with the food that she prepared and take to a friends house..Take Care All...Gary

Ah, thank you, Sue, for reminding me of one of my favorites. I heard it many years ago as "FSU: Where the women are women and the men are too!" And, of course, we often refer to that school has "HAU". (Half-a** U Sounds the same. Means the same.) Roscoe: Always nice to hear from fellow Majors but don't confuse this marvelous Class of '72 website with the MV alumni registry. We have more fun here, but more of your classmates may check there first. And they'll let you post a description of what you've been up to as well. Webmeister: I like the cartoon. (For those days when this is in the archives: It shows the Sesame Street characters gathered around the Thanksgiving table getting ready to dine on one really "big bird", if you catch my drift.) To everyone else, lurkers and writers alike: Happy Turkey Day! (No, that's not "Virginia Tech Day".) Spent the day at Epcot with my brother and his family. Bought German and Norweigan chocolate bars. Yum! Ate in France. Yum too! Learned about a "MIDI drum 'guitar'" called a Zendrum. Must learn more. I've always wanted to be able to stand out there with the guitar players.

I am now married and have two daughters and live in Stafford, Virginia.I graduated from Mount Vernon High in 1976.

May your Bird be BIG and juicy! Happy Thanksgiving all!

After Dewey's weekend in college football hell, maybe this isn't the right time to recall an old FSU adage and chant. But what the heck, I can't resist..."FSU-FSU where the girls are girls, and the boys are too." (No, I didn't make it up) Have a good Thanksgiving, all!

Happy Thanksgiving to the Class of 72!!!

Ruth: Don't tell Dan Adkins I'll be pulling for the 'noles. He'd shoot me. He's one of those "My two favorite teams are the Gators and whoever's playing FSU" kind of fans. (BTW, I got quite a kick out of the fact that you tracked me down at Don's. Be careful. I've been known to watch much of a game with a fellow fan on the other end of the line. As you say, the period of enjoying that lead was all too brief. I was hoping for a momentum shift but it looked more like a fluke. After all, the offense STILL hadn't managed to put the ball into the end zone at that stage.) ..... In other football news few Majors care about: My brother and his family are down here (in Florida) for the annual Thanksgiving visit, staying in a condo on the beach. I was over there when the Monday Night Football game began with Denver hosting Oakland. But before I could make a polite suggestion as to what we might watch on TV, someone found "Lady and the Tramp" and so the kiddlings (and mom) all watched that. Grady and I went for a walk. Found a bar with a TV at 10 pm. They were closing. (What kind of bar closes at 10 pm?) Around 10:45 "Lady and the Tramp" was over and I managed to get the channel changed in time to catch halftime. Then around 11 we all went outside to watch a rocket launch. (The condo is about 10 miles from the KSC launch pads.) It was an Atlas-Centaur so it wasn't as impressive as a Space Shuttle, but still neater than nothing. Then back inside in time to see the Raiders go ahead of Denver by a field goal late in the 3rd. But it was clear it was late in that household and I would be overstaying my welcome to hang around. MNF is just on TOO LATE in the Eastern Time Zone. In Denver it's a perfect prime-time show: 7-10 or so. Anyway, I returned to the apartment my Dad uses as an office and guest room. (He lives elsewhere.) Since it's only an office, THERE'S NO TV! How could I find out what's happening? And here, the wonderful world wide web came to my rescue. Since it's an office, there IS a computer and so I dialed in, connected to the ABC Sports page and dowloaded updates until the end of regulation (tie score). Then I tried their "enhanced TV" application to see if that was any better for OT. More current. I got to watch the score update to the Bronco's victory (yay!). I wonder how many people have had to use the internet as a replacement for a TV? .... BTW, I see Denver just got walloped with snow. Looks like I picked a good week to be in Florida!

(Darn it. I hate it when my rants turn ridiculous from typos.) The previously mentioned "GAUL" is a French/Belgian fellow who supplies Dewey with the annoying, brazen impudence -- or "GALL" -- to root for the Seminoles.

Okay Dewey, you are in really deep yogurt with me -- and Don may need to eat the fruit on the bottom. After I tracked you down at Don's house and CALLED you (long distance!!) during the UF/FSU game to offer congratulations and support when UF was ahead (for an embarrassingly brief period of time as it turned out), you now have the GAUL to tell me you will be rooting for the 'Noles???? DAG!!! You're a brave man.

Don't you be dancin' the hokie pokie just yet, Linda!

The problem is apparently that more Gators read this web site than Seminoles. A while ago I made some comment (in here) about the Gators beating FSU the weekend AFTER Thanksgiving. Apparently many Gators read that and didn't show up for the game this past Saturday. Certainly REAL college football players know not to LINE UP offsides when you're team is about to score from the 1 yard line. Unfortunately none of the Seminoles read my comment and so they were all present and accounted for. Actually, given how poorly the Gators played, I'm surprised the game ended as closely as it did. So now it's that danged tomahawk cheer that will be heard in New Orleans, as Virginia Tech tries to prove that it's NOT just a light schedule, but real talent that puts them in the bid for the championship. And at this stage, I'm afraid my allegiance will have to shift to the 'noles. I'm sure you Virginia-ites will be pulling for the turkeys, but I was too long in Florida to not pull for the more "local" team. Besides, it makes the Gators look better to have lost to the National Champs. And for those of you who don't follow college football: Hey, the 'skins beat the Giants today!

Dewey, Dewey, Dewey! Those 'Noles will be drinking Gatorade all the way to New Orleans. . . .

Dag Dewey! I was counting on your boys. Now I've got to listen to that stupid, endlessly repeating, Indian chant all the way up to the Sugar Bowl. My last hope is that some stray turkey will finally silence these fools.

Gotta feel real sorry for those bonds, Ruth.

John, Dewey and Don (and all the other guys from the endless summer of '72): Do you know the difference between men and savings bonds? .... Bonds mature.

....however, I STILL don't get that POKEMON thing! I am convinced, though, that there is some kind of subliminal messaging going on there.

Don, after almost a week at Disney World, I couldn't agree with you more! I just HAD to get my picture with Snow White!

After watching the latest Bond film tonight with Dewey and my 14 year old son I've reached the conclusion that we don't really grow up we just get older. Dewey's eating fortune cookies so I thought I should say something profound. Good night!

Just thought I'd poke in and say "Hi" from Don Woods' house in South Florida. I'd like to say something witty and clever but as you can tell from the time stamp, it's pushing 3. And there's no 2-hour time difference on this! (I'm keeping Don up WAY past his bedtime. Let's see how witty and clever HE can be....) (I'm now going to make HIM make an entry!)

Ruth...Very sorry to hear about your loss...You have my deepest sympathies...I will include you in my prayers this evening...Gary

Gang, I received word today that Ruth's mom just passed away. Since some of you knew her, I thought you'd want to know. Very sorry for your loss, Ruth.

OK.

Dear Uncle Meister, Sue does not think the muzak bad.....In fact, I've really enjoyed reminiscing with your website tunes to date. Carry on! Frank, would your son's name be (appropriately) Thom....?When will he be old enough to go play football at Tech? And Richard, I did not go to the prom our junior year. As I recall, no one asked me. I did, however go to the prom when I was a sophomore as Mike Pickwick's date. We double-dated with Sandee Flores and Dave. Didn't you take Debi DeForest to the prom in our junior year? Consult with your memory once again, and let me know who the lucky girl was?

Whoa! I go to Disney World for a few days to contribute heavily to Ruth's retirement fund, and come back to find y'all gettin' downright chatty! I'll have to go to Disney World more often, right Ruth? ;^)
Well, it looks like Cindee is the only one left with a functional monkey bone. Cindee, if you or anyone else need tickets to the Wicked, E me with your requested number and I'll try to pick some up. I think they're around $26. The concert is at 7PM, so you STILL have time to get home and fall asleep during the 10 o'clock news, you slouches!
Sue, your's is the first music request since this web site opened. Generally, I try to put on music before graduation, unless there is some special occasion that begs otherwise. I also try to put on music that is tolerable to listen to long enough to get it on the site, which really limits the available music. As bad as some of the organ-grinding songs are that I've put on this site, they are the least worst I've found. Some of the better songs just don't lend themselves to being recognizable via the MIDI format. Anyhow, having a request line is not one of the functions I intended for this page. I just put it on for a little "atmosphere". So stay "tuned", maybe you'll hear that "special" tune some day.

Well Susan and Linda - My son likes Monticello (he asked if we could *buy* it last year when we took him on a tour), but he likes the Tech football team. And he *would* be a "turkey" kind of guy, since he was born on Thanksgiving day. Glad to see that lurkers are coming out of the woodwork. It must have something to do with the cold weather.

Sue, Then I will ASS-UME that you attended our junior prom, where the band played a good bit of 3 dog night! (my memory isn't as good as yours, but it still works)

Beavis, is that you? No, seriously this is a cool web site! In fact, will the webmeister ever permit the organ-grinder to play, perhaps, something appropriate like Elton John's "Rocket Man?" What about "Levon," or better yet 3dognight "Joy to the World" or"Eli's Coming"? I saw the original Three Dog Night(minus Chuck Negron) in Rome, GA Mayfest on the River 1998 and they're still awesome!

Your site rules

Once again present and semi-accounted for after surviving yet my eighth band season with MV's marching troop. Kathie: Travelled to Cary with them but didn't check in before departure with all the comings and goings and trying to get the lovely little cherubs ready for their trip. Wish I would have -- would have been great to sneak out of the hotel and have a ... hmmmm... coca cola after that late evening. Lois: I too have joined the ranks of you and now Judy in being called by that wonderful name of "Gramma" and "Grammy" (I've found as long as no one says "Granny" it seems a bit more palatable). Robert Daniel finally managed to grace us with his existence this past August 25. Such a cutie! (But don't all grandparents say that about their own?) Actually, I think I kinda like this Grammy thing -- spoil them rotten and send them home. In keeping with the musical talent that seems to have sprung up in my family (although I'm still not sure from where), I think next year will be the perfect Xmas for Santa to bring him .. ummmm.. a set of drums and a toy trumpet. ((Gotta go straighten out my innocent look and angelic halo)). Take care all.

Another Woodlawn/Mount Vernon lurker checking in.... Sue really brought back some early memories. The only teacher I remember from elementary was Mrs Stalnaker (6th). The 5th grade was only rememberable because that was the year I missed the first couple of months due to a hospital stay with a bone infection in my right knee and left ankle. Then having to walk to and from school with one leg in a cast to my knee and the other to my hip. Well.... back to lurking.

Linda: Given the Gators' recent lackluster wins over weenie teams, I'm thinking that really would be an upset. But that's my plan! ;^) I'm off to Florida for a couple weeks of Thanksgiving and family-seeing. I'll poke back in December. (I now have cable modem at home and MAN is it fast! But the installation of new software (e.g. their own version of IE) has completely trashed the audio playback on these web pages. Sounds like hardware fighting over whether it gets to play back or not. C'est la vie. Or is that C'est la CPU?)

Geezzzzz! Ruth, you may have been dissed by your daughters, but I think my Wahoo of a sister is trying to insult me: "Turkey lurkey" indeed! Dewey, CBS Sportsline predicted a while back that Florida would upset FSU, resulting in VT (BCS#1) and Florida (BCS#2) meeting in the Sugar Bowl. Gobble, gobble!!!

You better watch out, Dewey! Linda's memory has always been much better than mine, and likewise her football team. Wahoo!

43-10!! Holy cow, Linda. Looks like VaTech might be in the running for #1 after all. After those Arkansas Razorbacks dispatched Tennessee, that should put Tech (Doesn't anybody call it VPI anymore?) in #2. After Thanksgiving, the Gators should take care of FSU and then we might just find Gators and Hokies squaring off in January for the big one. (For those of you who don't follow college football, I'm sorry. That's not an apology. I'm actually sorry for you! ;^) )... Steve Hall: What's Pat Wallace up to? I'm sure she wouldn't know me from Adam but I'm sure Dan Adkins would love to know how she's doing. For a brief time they had a musical trio with Mike Pickwick on trumpet. My recollection is that they were gonna give me a try on drums about the time the group broke up. I would have liked that. Apparently they didn't! ;^)

Intimidated former Concert Choir and Madrigal lurker checking in. For the former Louise Hopkins disciples out there, I have been in touch with Carla Hall ('72) Pat Wallace ('71) and Joe Moore ('73) all former Concert Choir and Madrigal members. Interesting that so many have continued with the musical interests evident in high school. Not in my case, couldn't sing if my life depended on it. (some would say nothing's changed there) Got to run now, busy poisoning the youth of Northern California with the evil Pokemon!

I'm still here too.It's good to see all the activity of late. My husband is in China for 6 weeks, so it's good to know where to find some good conversation! Will be coming to Va. for Thanksgiving if anyone's up for coffee (or Wilson Picket!) I'll see if I can round up a few folks. Well, take care all.

Sue: HOLY SMOKE! And I thought I was doing good when I was able to remember my MV class schedules. I think this beats that by along shot!

present.........and a less frequent lurker!!!! I started at Woodlawn in Oct of 3rd grade.........does Mrs. Sage ring a bell.......anyone? By the time I was in 3rd grade I'd been in 4 schools, in two countrys.......all the teachers seem to run together!!!! Or maybe it was just killing too many brain cells in high school!!!!

Richard & Ruth, thanks for the info and the memory jog! Please mention to your Mom that we do remember her! I just wish I could forget Miss "Meanie" Moore! I thought about becoming a first grade dropout, ya know... If Richard will help me to fine tune this, I think I can come up with the correct Roll Call for your Mom's class. In addition to the 5 of us mentioned; Susan & Bettie Byrd,Debi DeZulovich,Dinah Ditton,Kent Donovan,Pat Tester,Joan Withrow,Hugh Williamson,Donna Post,Jeff Cook,Jeff Bigler,John Allison,Beth Grant,Mark Hasty,George Bolton,Danny Post,Ken Vestal,Dannie Compton,& probably Alicia Bibber & Alan Scarce. ALL YOU GUYS ANSWER THE ROLL CALL IF YOU'VE GOT YOUR EARS ON!!!!!

Richard and Sue: my Mom taught 3rd grade at Woodlawn. I wasn't in her class -- I had Ms. Whitman (I think??)-- but I remember that Gayle Shelton was in her class with you guys, too. It's sort of interesting and neat that my mom would come to your mind just now. Her health is rapidly failing and I doubt she'll be with us much longer. It's very nice for me to come to this web page and find other people thinking of her in her more robust years. Don't mean for this to be a downer -- she's had a full and happy life and is resting comfortably now -- but I know she really loved teaching that year and she'd be so pleased to know that you were thinking of her.

Sue, Didn't Ruth's mom teach us in 3rd grade? I moved on to Washington Mill after that year. I remember she started as a sub then stayed on. About the only thing I remember from that experience is the slides from a grand canyon trip or something out west. Ruth probably has first hand experience. She must have shown them for a couple of days. Terry Oxendine was in there too.

Hey Ruth! ya listenin? You must remember the year your mom taught the 5th grade at Woodlawn. And if so, I have no doubt that you remember the time that she scared the bejesus out of us by unloosing a thundering stack of books. The sound spoke volumes, and quieted a rowdy room full of howlin' banchees! I'm sure you were there. I realized immediately that she was a substitute teacher not to be fussed with;not a pushover, and nobodies fool. As I recall, she started that year as a substitute, but was asked to stay on all year. She was an excellent teacher and a lot of fun. I guess you could say she made a lasting impression on me! but I never turned my back on her or her books again! Sue

Hey all you whitebread out there! Your monkey bones still functional??? I SAID, the WICKED Picket is coming to town. I don't hear you!

Present....I mainly just lurk, I'm very interested in how everyone's doing. Don't write much as you know - don't have too much to say. But congratulation's Lois on the grandkids, and Judy too. With my oldest son 21 1/2 and my youngest son almost 19 I wonder when all that will happend to David and I. Hopefully they will be married first - but you never know! - Please all take care.

Ruth: What do you expect when you raise children in such a bad environment? Tallahasee, indeed! Congrats on the store and the grandchild, Lois. And keeping with the theme of all these good-lookin' grandparents, I'll sneak in the announcement that Judy (Fortney) Fortineux has just become a gramma.

It's been a year full of change for Chip and I. We are now the proud owners of our own jewelry store - Diamond State Jewelers! I left my job in 'corporate-ness' to join him in this endeavor. So far, we're still married! We'll see how we do getting through the Christmas rush... As some of you know from the 25th reunion, Chip and I are grandparents, but we now have granddaughter #2 - born in July. How boring life would be without change!

hI TO ALL UNDERCLASSMEN

Hey! What do you call a VPI grad that may or may not be hangin' out on this website?....Turkey lurkey. Hi Linda!

Dewey, get a grip fella! These delusions are beginning to control your life. As for you Hokey High grads, congrats on having a decent team and no hard feelings from this Wahoo -- I mean, you all have to be good at SOMETHING, right? Besides, I'm counting on you to whip FSU. What may have been the absolute nadir of my existence occurred October 30, when, in my own home, and in front of witnesses from the enemy camp, my two daughters totally DISS-ed both of their parents, three of their uncles, one of their aunts AND their brother by rooting for the Crimi-Noles (I'm told that only the strongest among us are tested in this way). Anyway, my money's on Tech -- and my comfort is that at least a Virginia team will rise and rule over this tawdry bunch of hatchet-men.

Hey, Linda, good to hear from you. But let me set something straight: I do NOT - repeat DO NOT - have an FSU NECK! My neck is green and scaley and pure GATOR. My words of "praise" for the FSU team was merely in the context of U.Va. I see that VaTech has certainly made an impressive showing this year. (And we should both be thanking Minnesota today.) I'm sure y'all will be quite pleased when the Gators knock FSU out of the #1 spot right after Thanksgiving. But don't expect that spot for yourselves. I'm sure the Gators will settle in there once the bowls are done with. ;^) We may have to beat Tennessee to do it but we've already done that once this year. We can do it again. And that would let you guys be ranked #2! ;^)

...And the South shall Rise again! Now that the proposed Mag-Lev (magnetic levitation) rail system will connect Atlanta and Chattanooga, commuters will be flyin' at average speeds of 300-400 mph! Take that, Metro!...

I visited with Mr. and Mrs. Kaz not long ago. They're doing great. Found out Mr. Landes is back in the area. Mr. Landes, Kaz, Skinner and Johnson all get together a couple of times each month. Also found out that Mr. Dash (band director 1973/74 til 78?) recently died... Mr. Kaz didn't know the details. Hey DEWEY, the hot air you may be feeling on the back of your FSU neck is that of VA TECH!!! My husband and I met in the Tech marching band, so we, of course, have brainwashed our kids: Our 8th grade son is on the right track... he plays tenor sax and has been converted from an FSU to a VT football fan. Fifth grade daughter is too busy with gymnastics for band, but is a Hokie fan. And even at five, our youngest daughter loves to go to Blacksburg.

PRESENT!! John, went to school with Ronn McFarlane at Shenandoah. He operates out of Baltimore, I can't remember which college he is associated with. He sometimes appears in Winchester to do a recital or something along those lines. I'll let you know if I see anything. I do have an album that he plays on ....the bawdy song one. BMG Classical has several early music Ronn selections. ====There's another band person...Sue Atkinson Later

Anyone in town over Thanksgiving?? Wilson Picket and Clarence Carter will be in concert that Saturday night at Constitution Hall.

John, I'll have to check out your recommended CD. The husband of a former high school student of mine (in Houston) is a professional lutest and accompanied Zephyrus on the theorbo a few years ago - although before I became a member. . . a "small world" experience! Too bad you missed the National Cathedral concert. I remember singing Randall Thompson's beautiful "Allelujah" there for MVHS Baccalaureate services. (We were *so* lucky to have them there). Although the piece is not "early music" it has the same type of polyphonic harmony and was incredibly suited to that accoustic space. If you are interested in Early music in the DC area, there is a link from the Zephyrus site I mentioned before. Or (shameless plug coming) come to a Zephyrus concert. Too bad the web site is so out of date. We will be singing in Williamsburg on Dec 4 (a Xmas program), and also in C'ville at the First Night celebration on New Years. There are also other concerts in C'ville. Email me if you are interested. Sandy

Daughter #2 is a Freshman in high school! Now that really takes me back! Greetings from Atlanta to all mvhs72!

I have just read in our local Raleigh, NC paper that MVHS Marching Band will be traveling to Cary, a suburb of Raleigh, on Saturday for Cary Band Day. This is a large competition of approximately 40 bands.The whole community comes out for this one. Oakton and George Washington High will be participating also. Sounds like the MVHS marching band is pretty good. Good luck to them. If anyone out there will be attending I'd love to hear from you.

BTW, everyone talking about music reminded me. The band I do live sound and recording engineering for (sometimes bass and guitar), just got a web site. It's not much but it's a start. www.mamasaid.net

Lurker from 73, present and accounted for.

HA! That cheer is GREAT, Steve!

<................Present. I might actually categorize myself as a Contributor verses a Lurker. But, a contributor is considered by many to be one who adds value, either real or perceived. So, another Lurker present and accounted for. Dewey and Ruth, About this FSU/UVA scholarly athletics thing: I attended one of my nephews basketball games last year where the Thomas Jefferson High School (gifted and talented magnet school) fielded the visiting team. The hosts or home crowd was loaded for bear. They dressed and paraded around as nerds, and performed all these nerd-o-phobic chants in an attempt to intimidate their scholarly visitors. They failed royally. Not only did the TJ team kick their butts but the TJ crowd fired back their own rather unique counter chant: "THATS ALRIGHT, THATS OK, YOU"LL BE WORKING FOR US SOMEDAY".

<---------- PRESENT and turning into a lurker

Ruth, you used that "Scholar-athlete" thing on FSU FOOTBALL fans?!?! HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA. Oh, you crack me up, you really do. HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA. Oh please... Maybe more later. I have to go catch my breath. HA HA HA HA HEE HEE HEE HA HA HA....

Sandy: I must admit a liking for early music, myself. I've been listening to recordings from the Dorian label for several years, now. They do a lot of early-type of music, and they do a FABULOUS job of recording. I especially like Julianne Baird, a soprano, and Ronn Mcfarlane on the lute. I wanted to see Julianne at a Christmas concert at the National Cathedral a couple of years ago, but couldn't swing it. The lute is a nice, soothing instrument. Plus, I like to say the word, "LUTE". Both of them play/sing together on the same CD, titled The English Lute Song. It ain't rock and roll, but I like it!

<~~~~~~~~ PRESENT !!!!!

Two of my favorite lurkers have checked in! This has made me really curious about something else. I have a feeling there is a fairly large contingent of folks who regularly check out this site but, upon discovering the intimidating level of intellectual discourse taking place here, they prudently conclude that they had best not attempt to enter the fray for fear of getting side-swiped by a band bib or stray roll of Charmin. I guess that's fair enough, but, as I say, now I'm curious. How many mystery guests/lurkers are out there? I think what we need here is a Roll Call.

Hi Kathy, Here's one Concert Choir member for you! I am a perpetual lurker on this site, generally finding that there's not much to add to the indepth discussions of toilet paper that take place here. I am sorry we didn't get to chat more at the reunion. I am still singing; currently a member of Zephyrus, an 18 voice early music ensemble (there is an out of date web site that describes the group at http://monticello.avenue.org/zephyrus/). It is an incredible experience. I thought I knew a *little* about early music, but compared to the folks in this group, I know NOTHING!! But I'm learning - slowly. The music is surprisingly challenging, harder than any great choral work I've sung. Cheers! Sandy

Hello to Everyone from Raleigh, NC. We are still trying to pick up the soggy pieces of the lives in eastern NC. The flooding of Floyd has caused many friends lives' to be permanently altered. My sons live in Wilmington, NC and were evacuated from their apartments and it was a full week before they could get back to a soggy mess. Luckily, they are college kids and most of their possession were a mess to begin with. I have been in NC for 20 years and this year has been the worst year for hurricanes and the rain keeps coming. Life goes on. I enjoy browsing the discussions that are carried on. It brings back fun times of the 70's. Are there any Concert Choir members browsing? Sounds as if the Marching Band members are the only ones who had a good time and I know differently!

Dave who?? If you send me jokes also Ruth I will respond in kind.

Just a quick hello, have be doing some real interesting work the last year. Just now getting back to normal back here in the area. Dave

All together now! Repeat after me: I am a scholar-athlete. Winning isn't everything. In fact, there's honor in losing (Yeah! That's the ticket...). I have the intellectual capacity to understand that other football teams that are NOT comprised of scholar-athletes -- indeed, cannot even spell scholar-athlete -- can only excell at head butting, brain bashing sports because their craniums are otherwise useless. (Oh well, it didn't work Saturday night either.)

Ruth. Give it up. You can defend the honor of U.Va. in many areas, but FOOTBALL is NOT one of them. Certainly not against the likes of FSU! It takes a REAL football team to beat the likes of them. You might find such a team down in Gainesville.

Typically I'm not a particularly attentive college football fan -- though on general feminist principals, I DO occasionally get a kick out of watching men find joy in beating the tar out of each other. Tonight, however, I have been called upon to defend the honor of the University of Virginia amid a crowd of FSU fans. Please bear in mind that this is the moral equivalent of David (me) and Goliath (them). In short, I am taking my life in my hands. Think of me.

Santana. Some of the music that makes me most happy I'm a drummer. And it looks like my attempt to fix my computer speakers (Unscrew the case. Shrug. Put it back together.) worked. It's stereo again! Speaking of computers, my friends have finally convinced me: Next week I call for a cable modem. Tryin' to do work (notably X Windows) over a 56k phone line is for the birds! Sorry to hear about Mr. Miller. Never had him for anything but he always was MV football to me. Not much else to say. Weather's been great here (clear blue and 70's) for weeks. Spending time readin' in the sun, riding my bike around the neighborhood and running around without constrictive clothing. Oye como va!

Well John, it looks like it's just you and me, kid. I've been meaning to tell you -- again -- how much I (and I'm pretty sure a lot of other folks) appreciate your ongoing efforts on this web page. You're a prince. By the way, once in a while, it would be nice if you included your email address after one of your tirades so I don't have to go hunting for it when I want to send you jokes.

Gotta tip for you, Ruth: Guys hate panty hose, too! Once, an even older guy at work confided that he felt sorry for guys my age. He said they didn't have panty hose when he grew up. ;^)

You may have a point there John. I DO find that my hearing improves the further away I get from panty hose.

Sounds like ya got a little GO-GO left in you, Ruth! Not a new version of our house, though. Maybe it just sounds better without constrictive clothing.

New Tunes!! Santana substantially enlivened my daily "Shed-All-Contrictive-Clothing-Immediately-Upon-Returning-Home-From-Work" ritual. And is this a new version of "Our House" or have I just inadvertantly jiggled a wire that has improved the performance of my speakers?

Well Janine, now that homecoming got rained out, I don't feel so guilty about going to "Midnight Madness" at the Hechinger bankruptcy sale. I kinda have mixed feelings about them going out of business. My grandfather got his Sears kit home delivered through Hechinger's in the 1920s in Arlington -- but on the other hand, after shopping there the last few years, it's also good riddance. BTW, those "XXX% marked off the lowest marked price" is FALSE ADVERTISING from the liquidator. The lowest marked price is the lowest price in their computer. Keepin them busy taking stuff back to the shelves.

Gang-Just received word that John "Jack" Miller's obtituary appeared in the Washington Post today. He died October 16, at age 75, after living the last year in a nursing home in North Carolina. He had Parkinson's disease. He retired from head coaching in 1972, and from teaching in 1981. No word of him going to Shepardstown "On the Potomac", though.

We're all laying low Janine, because for one reason or another non of us can make the Homecoming this year. I suspect the real reason is because you have declined to offer the incentive of brownies and hot chocolate this year :(

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm..... awfully darn quiet around here.

The Official Published Homecoming Schedule is as follows:

October 22 Friday 60th Homecoming:
• Odd Block Pep Rally: Period 7, Field House
• Basketball Study Hall: 2:15-3:00pm, D111-112
• Open Gym: 3:00-5:00pm
• Homecoming Parade: 4:00pm
• Tailgate Party: $5 per car, 4:00-7:00pm, Parking Lot
• Senior Recognition Night: TBA, Stadium
• Varsity Football vs. W-L: 7:30pm, Home

October 23 Saturday:
• Tour the School: 12 noon
• Homecoming Dance: 8:00-12:00pm, Cafeteria

Ruth, you give band members grief for having big egos and then Gary goes and says something like "I'm the best man." Geez, talk about ego! ;^)

Hey Gang !! Just checkin in to see what's up. I wasn't sure I wanted to get in here with all the "band fights" going on. Any way, I wish I could make the "BIG GAME" next weekend. But, unfortunately, I'll be in Georgetown at a buddy's wedding. I'm the best man. BUT...with the holidays coming up, I'm certainly game on getting together for a meal or coffee somewhere close to my house....kidding...I hope all is well with everyone...Take Care All...Gary

But I wasn't in the.... Ohhh! I get it. That was a joke.

Ruth: I didn't know you were in the band!

How about "Band members have vivid imaginations and inflated egos"???

Janine: Sounds like you need a set of mannequins for displaying all those uniforms. Do you even have that ugly grey thing we wore back in the 60's? ....... As for the line, how about "Band members do it over and over again..... until they get it RIGHT!"

Dewey???!?!?! ----- "And here come the mighty Marching Majors, trying hard not to spill their Gerber's!" ----- And this would be why band members are NOT permitted to eat while in uniform?!?!?! I kid you NOT! As to doing it at halftime -- NOT ON MY WATCH! And John? I'm not EVEN going to touch that one with a ten foot pole -- better authority that I can either confirm or deny.

Welp .... found those pants -- there would only be one pair left I believe for prosterity sake. We actually have on hand one complete uniform of every uniform ever worn by the members of this organization. I think I'd cause havoc if I tried to make off with that ONE pair of pants. (Actually . . . no one would probably ever notice -- I think these MIGHT be looked at all of once a year.) As to the spats hun -- I think those might be lost forever.

Dewey: I thought it was "Band members do it IN half-the-time".

Janine, what a couple of great finds! But, please, we referred to them as "overlays", not "bibs"! "And here come the mighty Marching Majors, trying hard not to spill their Gerber's!" Now just find me the pants and spats and I can go out on the town in STYLE! "Remember, baby. Band members do it at halftime."

Ummmmm... yeah ... I thunk. Steve? I'll upload a crowbar to ya! And ... nope .. you aren't next on the list. You've moved into first place darlin'

Not true Ruth! I actually talked with a couple of those Tropicana Girls at the Canadian Grand Prix up in Montreal a couple years ago. Maintaining eye contact was a bit of a problem and my french has suffered over the years but I gathered that they were aspiring models - however, way too young for this old married fart. Janine, I'm still trying to pry my foot out of my mouth. Forgot the reason for your late arrival last year. I guess I'm next on the TP list. John, I acquired a great bumper sticker while I was out in Ohio last week: "BINFORD TOOLS - REAL MEN DON'T READ INSTRUCTIONS"

It's inspiring to note that I can still inspire fear in the hearts of some. Charmin anyone?

Ya think????

Hmmmmmm.... John ... hesitant to give out the new address since I told Ruth I still had the TP ??? Silly me .... I REALLY should have waited after asking the address.

Pit bunnies? Tropicana ads? OY !!! I think Ruth probably said it all. (I'll go hide again now)

Dewey -- would you believe it?? I actually found tucked away last night that "bib" that covered the jacket and turned it into a marching uniform !! AND .... Sandy's old drum major uniform!! For you old time drill teamers -- guess who found a couple of sets of those earmuffs!! (We won't even talk about the condition they are in now). YES STEVE -- I admittedly wasn't not at the game until the 4th quarter -- but ... huny bunny ... what you seem to forget is that I was at my grandmother's funeral in Western Pa until about 4:30 that afternoon and then beat feet to get to you guys -- only to find out that you all were NOT staying to watch the band after homecoming game. (((AHEM )))

Steve, have you suffered some kind of head injury? Or is it the drugs? The closest YOU will ever get to pit bunnies in open weave bikinis is in your dreams. Get a grip, guy. You're starting to worry me...

Nothing like having a couple of women fighting over your valves and rubber eh guys! By the way Janine we actually had 7 people show up for Homecoming last year and you were not one of em. Unless of course we count the millisecond hug I get from you as we're leaving and you're arriving - that was mid way through the 4th quarter as I recall! And no Janine, you may not make up for you miscue a year ago by posting seven near-simultaneous entries into the guestbook. Slick Willie has been behaving himself lately Ruth. Gore the bore and Billery must be keeping him in a box so he doesn't screw up their respective campaigns. Actually girls, maybe I'll leave the mechanical stuff to the guys. What I could use is a couple pit bunnies. You know, kinda like the open weave knit bikini clad Tropicana Girls on the Formula One circuit. Whadya think?

The MV band is doing Emerson, Lake and Palmer? Cool! ;^) ....... Gee, if I was still in the neighborhood, maybe I'd see if I could sneak into the Homecoming game by wearing that nifty band jacket!

Dag Janine! Making up for a long silence with a spell of eclectic chatter? Welcome back (I think). Now you just HAVE to stop being jealous about me and Steve and the pit crew -- I can't help it if we bonded in your absence (must have been that meeting of the minds over Bill Clinton, right Steve????) It ought to teach you not to wander off and leave me unattended with these guys.

Dayum, Janine. You been eatin all those brownies from last year??
Thanks for the offer, but everythin's cool right now with the web site--at least until Feb.

"park your buns on the 30/40 yard line" --- that would be on he RIGHT side of the press box as you face it. Hey -- what do you expect from someone who goes to the football games to see the band? You REALLY think we know there are TWO thirty and TWO forty yard lines?

Hmmmm... ok .. can we install an "UNPOST" button. Teehee -- sorry Deb -- couldn't resist !! :: putting on stupidest angelic face I can find and adjusting halo:::

STEVE?????!?!??! "What kind of operation are you running down there Ruth? Maybe you should come work for me. I could use another person on my pit crew - are you any good at changing tires or adjusting valves? I thought you were holding that position open for me dammit anyway!!! I'm not too sure if I could switch that rubber in the required amount of time but I'd adjust your valves any old day!!

Hey John? I sat down and wrote you out a check to help contribute (albeit a small amount) for the upkeep on this site since I've been remiss in sending anything since the last reunion. Ya think you can e-mail me a current address? I know you've moved since the last address I had for you -- and so many seem to enjoy the site, I still figure that every little buck helps somehow.

and .. OHHHHHHHHHHH Ruthhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh !!! (I still have the TP -- so you show up too -- ok?? ((wink wink))

ON ANOTHER NOTE --- The Mount Vernon Marching Band Classic is this Saturday, October 16 from 2:00 in the afternoon until approximately midnight. (YES !! I said midnight) We're having 24 bands perform from all over the state and surrounding states this year (22 in competition and 2 in exhibition). After the opening ceremonies, the first band to compete (out of order of their AAA Class) will be West Potomac, followed by "A" and "AA" bands before a short intermission. Followed by the AAA and AAAA bands. Our very own Marching Majors will then perform in exhibition to be followed by none other than the Royal Dukes of James Madison University. If you're into bands and haven't seen the Dukes, you have TRULY missed an experience. They'll perform twice (once to each side of the stands) before the awards ceremony. Unfortunately, it looks like Rich Colella and his Herndon crew won't be with us this time -- you are competing WHERE instead, Rich??? HUMPFR !!! On this same day there are the anniversary celebrations going on at the Mount Vernon Estate. Military, I'm told, are free to enter the ESTATE (not our Classic -- cost for the Classic is $5/a head). The estate plans to have various things going on for the kids as well as one of the military air teams performing. Those of you who have read the Mt. Vernon Gazette will know more about this than I. SOOOO -- if you can't make it to homecoming this year -- you have two chances to get together -- October 16th for the Classic and the following weekend is homecoming. Our band is truly awesome this year, have some unique effects going between the music, the guard uniforms and the flags. And ... this year's show is proof positive that these girl's will twirl anything! The band performs excerpts from five pieces in Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition. In fact, come out both weeks -- see the band in their competition best this Saturday and in their tri-cornered hats and colonial uniforms at Homecoming. OK John ... I think I've managed to fulfill this assignment on updating everyone but .. hmmmmm... I'm STILL working on that other assignment you gave me. Been chased away by large barking dogs the last trip I made -- you think maybe they don't want to be bothered up there? ::::::::: running off to don protective gear and make my way back up that hill :::::::::::: Love to all you guys !! And ... Steve ?? Happy belated birthday -- I skipped it myself hun! Glad to hear you did so well in the car tho --- YOU GO GUY !!!!!

OK OK OK ... I knoooooooooow ... I know .... I haven't been around much. I knoowwwww... I've neglected my duties on keeping you all apprised of important dates --- like ... where there several screaming for my attention on the homecoming date?? Here ya go: Homecoming Game: October 22, 1999.
Where? Oh come on ... this you HAVE to figure out on your own.
When: Game starts around 7:30
vs??? Does it matter?
Gathering Spot? As you FACE THE PRESS BOX -- park your buns on the 30/40 yard line and pray that this year more than 4 people show up.
Yes -- They are planning some unique festivities -- or at least revisiting the "homecoming parade" venue. I believe the parade is scheduled to begin at 6:00 (if what I hear tonite differs, I'll let you know). Sooooo .... Parade at 6:00 -- Pre-game activities at approximately 7:00-7:15 -- halftime as soon as the football team lets us -- and ... your very own Marching Majors will perform either at halftime after the crowning of the Homecoming Court or after the game -- don't leave before you see them -- they are truly a sight to behold this year !! (OK -- so I'm biased, partial and anything else you can think of ... but -- they're ours!!).
And no ... I'm not baking brownies and getting out the 30 gallon coffee pot again -- it took me a month of sunday's to get rid of the last 12 dozen brownies !! I hear there's some great hot chocolate and BBQ sandwishes at the concession stand tho !!! All kidding aside folks -- let's see if we can't have SOME kind of showing this year?

Ruth, Ruth, Ruth...You've just GOT to get out to the submarine races more often!
And don't forget, Christmas is coming.
Those demands weren't for you, they are for you to negotiate for us. I thought you'd rather do that than the actual leaf raking.

John, a tempting offer, but unfortuately it's no dice. I could handle the meals, the beer and the nagging moratorium. The insurmountable hitch is that I'm rather particular about whom and what I'm willing to massage.

Ruth-I've got the job for you, too! You can be the organizer for a new Leaf Rakers Union. All we demand is a warm meal, a cold beer, and not to be reminded of the other things we haven't done after we get done raking...and, well, maybe an occasional massage for the ole bod now and then.

Ruth - I think I *found* the job that you want, but I'm not going to let you have it. ;) It's called "Internet/E-Commerce consultant." The only problem is that working from home makes my kids believe that I have nothing to do but send them off to school and wait for them to come home from school. This is the first time in months that I've had time to check in here. Life's much busier that it was in "corporate life." Surely there are enough associations, consulting firms, etc. that you could find something to keep you busy if you moved back to VA.

Say Dewey, was that a time signature of 05:13? as in 03:13 your time? as in 0DARK:13 by any standard? Glad to see you're back in the Moon-Howling business!

Issue 1: T.C. Williams. I do remember, after leaving NoVa, hearing that TC Williams took district and then I guess state in football. And no wonder! My recollection was that in the merger of schools TC Williams became JUST 11th and 12th graders and the other schools got the 9th and 10th graders. That gave TC twice the talent pool for a football team. Hardly fair to the other schools in the district. As I recall, they rotated what district they were in just so the other schools could have a chance at district champ. .... Issue 2: The Bedroom on Gateshead Road. Well, I can't recall EXACTLY Ruth, but I'm sure that as a nice high school kid I was probably listening to some great music. And reading. Books. And magazines. Magazines with pictures. That I hid in the closet. I must have. I do remember adamantly claiming that I read the articles! .... Issue 3: NOVA accents. Our senior year the band had an exchange concert with Hewlett High School on Long Island. We took a bus trip up there on a Friday, spent Friday and Saturday night there staying at Hewlett band members' houses and we played a combined concert on Saturday night. Two weeks later, they came down, stayed at our houses and we did the same thing. Saturday daytime was spent being "touristy". We toured the UN when we were up there and we went to the Smithsonian when they were down here. It was a great experience and we all made great short-lived friendships. But, my GAWD, the way those people TALKED! They actually gave us lessons on the accent: "No, it's 'Long Gye-land'. The 'g' carries over." We had great fun trying out their accent. Then it occurred to someone to ask THEM what OUR accent sounded like to THEM. I'll never forget this one Hewlett girl taking a second to think about it and then saying, sweetly, "Is this how ah should tahk?" And she did it in a VERY southern accent. Something I would have expected to hear in Alabama. We were all horrified. We realized that to these "extreme" northerners we were a bunch of rednecks from Dixie. Not the image we had of ourselves living in the shadow of the nation's capital. .... Issue 4: Conservation of R's. The rule in Boston is that the "r" dropped from "pahking the cah" is recycled in words like "saw" which are pronounced "sor". That's such a weird thing to do with those words it almost sounds made up. Who would do that? But I heard it. One of my favorite lines about the Boston accent I heard was: A Bostonians definition of "khakis". "It's what ya use ta staht ya cah." As someone who has done voice-over, I actually TRIED to learn the Boston accent while I was there. (uh, "while I was theah.") It ain't easy. If ya want proof, watch "Goodwill Hunting". Matt Damon and Ben Affleck had great accents. But that's where they're really from. Robin Williams, who has such a great ear for accents TRIED a few times to sound like he was from Boston, but his attempts failed. That made my failed attempts not seem so bad. "If Robin Williams can't do it, how can I expect ME to do it?" OK, the answer is "Ya lived theah for TWO YEAHS! Weren't ya LISTENING?" ..... Bye Bye!

Either you're not paying attention OR nobody wants me to afford to move back to Virginia. So, what's it gonna take for all you accent aficionados to keep your yaps shut while I negotiate with Disney? 10%?

It is funny that you all mention "Virginia accents"....When we moved to Denver, everyone asked if we were Canadian. It also happened when we moved here to North Carolina. Seems like native Virginians have a tendency to say words like "out", "about", or any words that contain that o-u-t sound, like people from Canada. I notice it on NHL hockey games on TV where the analysts are from Canada. Curtis Strange, the PGA golfer from Virginia Beach, also does it alot when he is analyst on a golf tournament on TV. I'll also be curious to see the movie about the T.C. Williams football team. My grandfather was on the Alexandria City School board during that time, and I remember him being on the part of the board that fought hard against it. About the only thing I remember from it is that it was being done without keeping in mind the best interests of the kids. Most of it was politics and personal agendas....he spent many evenings and weekends behind closed doors arguing back and forth on the issue.

Ruth, You have hit on something that is a hobby, so to speak, for me. Since I talk to people from all 50 states and Canada day in and day out I've taken to picking out accents and dialects. NOVA does have an accent all it's own, actually it is more the DC Metro area say from Fredericksburg to Baltimore. That would be Ballmore to a native. It is most noticeable in the letters O and I and the word "water" is distinctive to the area. Now the thing that I have noticed is the number of consonants used in "American" English remains constant. For example, I think Dewey can back me up on this part, When a Bostonian says "Paak the Ka" the dropped r's will migrate down to Texas, where a Texan will say "I'm gonna warsh my truck and change the iryl" Therefore maintaining the integrity of the language.

Well I have found out that Alexandrian's must have "an accent" because I've travelled around some and I've been asked where I was from because of "my accent." I was asked in Oregon, Washington State, and believe it or not in Georgia and Alabama.

I've considered many factors and weighed all options Ruth. Based on the criteria you have set forth I think that you would be a fine addition to the ranks of government employment. I'm off to Ohio. Will be just outside Columbus and what a great place to be for Columbus Day. Take care, Steve

I'm still trying to figure out what a Northern Virginia accent sounds like. You'd have to go at least as far south as Richmond before you get into serious "y'all" territory, inner city patois is certainly not solely indigenous to the DC area, it's too far south for that Northeaster dialect that drifts all the way down to Maryland and it's too far west to take on that eastern shore mumble. I seriously doubt that there's any such thing as an Alexandria accent. HEY, maybe this is the entrepreneurial job opportunity I've been looking for to get me back home. I'll come up there and create a NOVA dialect for the movie mogels. I mean, it's pretty obvious, judging from the Jamestown waterfall, that the Disney guys don't know squat about authenticity and are likely to believe any drivel that's dished out by someone who acts like they know what they're talking about -- I'm REALLY good at that!!Hmmm.... Maybe I should get a realtor to start house hunting for me.

Don't worry John - not enough power! Ah Ruth, I'll get back to you on that.

Steve, I'll be your grease monkey any time. Actually, it has always been my ambition to return to live in Virginia. If you do happen to hear of a job that requires absolutely no skills beyond an abundance of charm, operates on a three day work week and pays an obscene amount of money, you'll let me know won't you? Oh, and I'll need a cook/housekeeper and Redskins season tix. (Come to think of it, this sounds just like my Congressman's job description. Yeah, that's the ticket....)

Forget it, Steve. You're NOT getting the engine and turbine off of my Binford!!! Arrr-arrr.

No dental?! What kind of operation are you running down there Ruth? Maybe you should come work for me. I could use another person on my pit crew - are you any good at changing tires or adjusting valves? If that doesn't suit you maybe I can find you a position here a DARPA. We could use some quick wit around here. And then of course there are the leaves. Yes, it is that time of year again. I'm sure John could use your help this fall also. John, I figure if you had Ruth working for you, you wouldn't need that fancy leaf blower anymore.

Jeez, Steve! Do you want to come work for me? I've got medical, but no dental. If not, shut up. I'm trying to earn a living here.

No comment relative to goings on in a bedroom on Gateshead Rd. However, just a couple more tidbits on the T.C. Williams situation 30 years ago (info. the vaunted Melton Consulting failed to provide). The two other schools involved were the former Hammond High in the west end of Alexandria and the former George Washington High in central Alexandria. Labeling these schools as diverse respectively is an understatement. Forcing those communities, the schools and their kids together was near the equivalent of a merger of MVHS and D.C.s Anacostia High during that same timeframe. The resultant outcome at T.C. is perhaps better appreciated given that analogy. About the only factor the cut through the racial, socioeconomic and political strife surrounding T.C. Williams back then was the success of the football team.

And Dewey: If nobody questioned all the flaws about the ASTEROID, why would the bridge suspending their disbelief collapse over a little thing like the Rocky Mountains? The only lesson here is that the TV/Movie industry doesn't lose any sleep or money by underestimating the intelligence of the average viewer. (And, what ELSE were you doing in your bedroom on Gateshead Road?)

The TC Williams "strife" was a function of TC being a replacement school that combined two (or three?) existing high schools. Ordinarily, this would not give rise to cinematic drama, but the student bodies were rather diverse. It's interesting to note that, in reality, the "strife" had less to do with integration and much more to do with haggling over who got to be principal, which teachers got to be the department heads, and other administrative turf battles. Meanwhile, the students did pretty well, particularly in sports. BTW, the reason this never entered our radar screens back then is that we didn't play TC during our tenure there. (This information provided courtesy of RHMelton Education Consulting Services, Inc. Can you believe that people actually pay me for this kind of thing?)

Dewey: That movie senario is not as bad as Palm trees in Crystal City, Va. on JAG, or mountains and waterfalls in Jamestown, Va., in Disney's Pocahontas, where they had to draw the mountains in to teach the kids "history". Sheez.

Atlanta. Alexandria. At least they both start with "A". Movie makers never want to shoot in the original town unless that original town is NY, LA or some neat place in Europe. When NBC made the TV movie "Asteroid", they shot much of it here in Denver, which was supposed to be Kansas City at one point and Dallas at another. They didn't bother to address the question of why there were MOUNTAINS in the background of these cities. I don't remember the racial strife at TC that would have interfered with a football championship. But then, I didn't pay much attention to anything outside our neighborhood back then. ..... "Riders on the Storm": Another song that takes me back, but this time, to my bedroom on Gateshead Rd. some afternoon, lyin' on my bed listening to the radio. (WEAM? WPGC?) ........ NASA's new motto: "An ounce of prevention is worth a kilogram of cure." Doh!

aaarrrooooo, y'all.

ATLANTA??!! You NO.VA.s need to get on your Economic Development Council for letting the motion picture industry DIS you like that.

I read here in my morning paper -- and this may be old news since the folks at the Tallahassee Democrat, that bastion of American journalism, often take a while to wake up from their naps -- that Denzel Washington (who remembers him from St. Elsewhere?) "will star in a movie about a 1971 high school football team that overcame racial strife to win the state championship. Remember the Titans, based on T.C. Williams High School in Alexandria, Va., will be filmed in Atlanta...." The story goes on to say that Disney Films WILL be coming to Alexandria to recreate details like Virginia accents. That should be an interesting process. All you moon-howlers should brush up your resumes.

Ruth, I saw one entry of yours timestamped 0:14 so it looks like you at least made it past midnight. These days that's hard to find amongst my friends who all act far more responsibly than that. As for howling at the moon: Arrroooooooo-ooo-eck-hack! cough! cough! Just a *hack* minute while I get a drink of water.... Ah, better. Now as for the moon, is that it over there? I better get my glasses...

aaaaaruuuuuuullllll

I'm really starting to worry about you guys if you think I've stayed up WAY past my bedtime by signing on at +/-10:00 p.m. Obviously you boys are so OLD that you've lost the ability to howl at the moon (you've probably even forgotten why anyone would want to....)

Thanks Dewey! Get some sleep Ruth!

I always thought it was ironic that the only actor from "Taxi" that didn't go on to have a big career in show business was the guy playing the struggling actor. I actually saw him on an info-mercial many years ago. I got used to him in B5. But he was no Andreas Katsulas (sp?). I have all of B5 on tape. The thing about B5 is that it's got a long story arc to it and you really have to watch it all from the beginning. It's not something you want to come in on the middle of. (Actually, come to think of it, Judd Hirsch, the nominal "star" of Taxi - you can tell by the way his name was in the credits - didn't have much of a career afterwards. I think he was in some TV movies but he didn't "hit" the way Tony Danza, Christopher Lloyd, Danny Devito or even Marilu Henner did.) Ruth, glad to see those post-midnight timestamps. Now that I'm back in Colorado my entries will a) be at night instead of the middle of the day and 2) have an additional 2-hour time difference. So it only LOOKS like I was up at 4:30 a.m. writing in the guestbook. I watched a little of the SNL 25 show. Saw some good "Jane, you ignorant slut" stuff. Steve, Congrats on the win. Ya make me pine for my go-cart days. Hope you all aren't getting too soaked with all the rain. That stuff was snow when it came through Colorado on Tuesday.

Ruth: BTW, that last BTW is in reference to B5

Don't forget Puppy Uppers and Doggie Downers. Ruth: DS9 will be missed. If only Voyager could live up to it's potential. BTW Bill Mumy or Billy as we knew him from Lost in Space plays an alien (Minbari). Jeff Conaway, Bobby from Taxi is also in the cast.

Chocolate babies?

Steve: Congrats Big Guy! WHAT did you win? Brad: Though I never watched B5, I am a SF fan. Dare I think that I may not be the only person on the planet who misses DS9? Speaking of TV, did anyone catch the 25th Anniversary of SNL? I'd forgotten about Bass-O-Matic and a few other gems. Woke my kids with my laughter.

I just got out of my car Ruth. I won on Sunday!!!

Steve, get back in your car, babe.

I took Dewey's bait. Just here to listen to "Our House" - "is a very very fine house, with two cats in the yard, life used to be so hard. Now everything is easy because of you...". One of my favorites. Hope all is well with everybody.

Anyone know the date for the homecoming game? I drove up for it last year but ended up having to leave before game time.

Ruth, B5 is Babylon 5, a VERY GOOD SF show that ran for 4 years in syndication and was pick up by TNT for the 5th and final season. If you like SF shows, TNT runs 2 episodes back to back on Sat mornings at 7:00 am. VCR's are great :) Dewey, I thought Crusade was excellent and has potential. The original plan was for a limited summer run. The TNT web page lists 11 episodes, but I have 12 on tape, The final one is not on the web page. I hope that they decide to continue it. If interested in the web sites, B5 is http://tnt.turner.com/babylon5/ and Crusade is http://tnt.turner.com/crusade/

B5?

Dewey, you are correct. "Eli's Coming" I am not able to blame the spell checker. I was singing it in my head while I was typing it and read it twice. I think I'll blame it these glasses I had to start wearing last week. Perfect vision for 45 years then wham overnight I need reading glasses. I just hope nothing else gives out with no warning.

Brad, funny you should mention Windows crashing. I had just finished sending Kyler an email with Outlook Express and went to the check this site in Explorer and crasho-boomo. And that's all that was really happening. Not too complicated a task, I wouldn't have thought. Oh well. Joy to the World also does the MV thing for me, too. And I think that's "Eli", not "Ali". ;^) "Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee!" As for B5: It was SO GOOD for almost 4 seasons, and then..... I haven't pursued the spinoffs.

Dewey, you must be referring to me when you mention lurkers since I check the guest book daily as part of my morning startup ritual. Then again you could be referring to the people that reside in Downbelow on B5. Aha, the jukebox... there are two Three Dog Night tunes that always bring back memories of the cafeteria, Ali's Coming and Joy to the World. Speaking of Bill Gates, what if he gets a nickel for every time WinDoze crashes... Do you think?

Ah, "The Summer Knows". Theme song from Summer of '42. Very memorable. Hi everybody! I've been out of touch a while. My gig in Boston ended and I was pretty busy wrapping things up there before heading back to the wonderful west. I'm settling back into my house in Colorado. Feels good. I took a little time in Virginia on the way back, visiting with my brother, Grady(MV '69) and Rich Colella and Judy (Fortney) Fortineux. Quite fun. I'm still doing a little remote work for the folks in Cambridge from home now. That should last a couple months.... Sorry, Tom, I don't remember you. And I can't even go look in the yearbook for your picture. (But I see your name in the index with no page numbers.) Linda Atkinson, I definitely remember YOU! (Let's hear it for them band days!) Good to hear from you. Get Susan to write an entry! So, Jody, are you going to encourage Brittny to try out for Drill Team? ;^) ..... Hope you all handled Floyd OK. My Dad got stuck in the evacuation traffic in Florida but that's as much impact as it had on me. Not a lot of hurricanes in Denver. Gee, 2 a.m. and no entry from Ruth? What happened, girl? Start going to bed at reasonable times? .... BTW, for those lurkers out there who don't write entries, right now the music on the Guest Book entry page is "Our House" by CS&N. That song ALWAYS takes me back to the MV cafeteria when we got the jukebox in there. (Something I've missed for the last two years: In Boston I'd check this page from work while waiting for some software to build. I never got to hear the music there. Now I'm back in the Bill Gates world. "Resistance is futile. You will be assimilated.")

Hi All - I know it's been at least a year since I've written. My Agency merged with 2 other agencies and moved to Dulles. So I have all new everything and new email also so it took me awhile to write again. Well Jody I can relate about kids starting high school, except both of mine are graduated - out - done. My youngest son graduated last June from Woodbridge. It really goes fast - be prepared. I can't believe I turned 45 yesterday. All is well with me. Floyd didn't get us bad, but my sister (1977) who lives in NC lost a tree in her back yard. Did anyone else fair OK? - Beth -

Just re-reading my last entry. I have to learn to type using all my fingers and just not my thumbs. You'd think that a guy that just turned 40 should be able to type and spell a little better.

Good morning gang ! Just checking in. It's been a while. I hope everyone is doing fimne and that if you were / are in "Floyd's Path" that you are ok. well, I'm sittng here this morning watching the rain and getting ready for work. Have to be there between 8:00 am and somrtime before close of business an Friday. AHHHHHHH Sales Management, what a gig !! Anyway, I just wanted to get back on the page and say hey to my "peeps of 72". I think I read somewhere up the page about a reunion of some sorts during the homecoming game this year? Hopefully a few more classmates can show for this one. Take Care and keep it real....Gary :-)

Hey all of you old codgers from 1972! I'm just a spring chicken from the class of 1974; however, I do have a geriatric sister who graduated from MV in '72. . . Susan Atkinson Vosburg. She is married to Dave Vosburg ('70??) and living outside Atlanta. I'll be sure to let her know about this web site. In the meantime, I'm sure she'd love to hear from you. Her e-mail address is: alfalfa72@aol.com

Hi. Thought I'd check in again. I know a lot of you have been through this already, but my daughter starts high school this week! And since she's going to Oakton in Fairfax County it's bringing back all sorts of memories. I sat in their gym for a volleyball scrimage and saw the MV flag on the wall. Watched the football team and band practice. Wow! I was so excited when she tried out for the volleyball team just because she had the chance we didn't have back then. (Of course when I tell her that she looks at me like I'm a dinosaur). Other news...my sister (class of 69) just received notice about a 30 year reunion on 9 October in Springfield. I know lots of you have siblings from that same class so pass the word. Last news...I start job hunti