After visiting with The Roses & Mills in Daytona, John Higgins made his way over Tampa Bay where we met for breakfast, twice! Had a good three hours of reminiscing and catching up by the time he he left. Understand John H's next stop was Barb Gray in Spring Hill. Did that ever happen? - John Winter

One if by land, Two if by sea

I feel as if I have been taken back in time and filled in for Paul Revere.

He said to his friend, "If the British march by land or sea from the town tonight, hang a lantern aloft in the belfry arch...

Dick Mills arrived by sea in the Tarwathie on Saturday and John Higgins arrived by land on Sunday. Dick, wife Libby and my wife and I, enjoyed the evening over dinner and renewing old friendships begun in high school. We caught up on the last 40 or so years ever so briefly. John and Marcia met up with the four of us for dinner on Sunday night and the memories of the fifties and sixties continued to abound. What one of us forgot another remembered and our time together went by very quickly. It is really a great feeling to go back in time with those you have known for so long.

John n Joyce...Alaska

John n Joyce are continuing their journey across our 49th state...

Moose in campgrounds in Soldotna, Alaska, They weren't that much help. JS

From John n Joyce, Valdez, AK

Heard from John this week as he travels Alaska...

This is Meares Glacier in Prince Wiliam Sound. It is only about 600' tall with 100' above the waterline, and 1/2 mile wide. Smaller than most up here. It is melting into the sea at a rate of 4 million tons a DAY!!!

John n Joyce

My Holiday Weekend

Hi, hope everyone had a great Independence Day Holiday weekend. I spent mine as I do many summer weekends on a 90 acre horse farm south of Watkins Glenn. I spend much of my time there mowing fields and lawns, here is a photo of me just starting out to mow one of several fields. I would rather be on the old tractor mowing or taking care of several flower gardens and a vegetable garden than just about anything. In my case life at 65 couldn't get much better. After a hot day there is a pool to relax in and for those cool nights a hot tub that helps relieve any aches & pains. Hope everybody is doing what they want these days.

Class of 62, junior prom committee

I know most of you will remember this, so I will let it speak for itself. KR

47 years ago...Where were you?

And where were you 47 years ago today? Time sure seems to fly and with our 5oth just a couple of years away, I thought you may appreciate this look backwards in time. Not too many of our lovely teachers who helped shaped our lives are with us but a few are still in the area. I thought you may enjoy this little bit of history. Click on picture for larger view. KR

FM Track

This link brings back memories of John Gunn, our track star.
Alex...
http://www.syracuse.com/today/index.ssf/2009/06/fms_alex_hatz_sets_state_recor.html

Retirement present

I was supposed to retire Friday but like probably some of you, I cannot because of the market. However, I did purchase my retirement and she is 5 months old. She is a 15/16 MacKenzie Valley Timber Wolf and is wonderful but a lot more work that a dog. That puts me at 24 critters - 11 goats, 5 horses, 3 dogs, 1 cat, 1 pot bellied pig, 2 macaws, and 1 wolf. That obviously means I am single and have been for quite a while. I never did well with people so I have created my own world which is filled with all sorts of adventures and experiences as one could imagine. I really am anxious to retire and spend all my days playing with my critters.

Remember those friends who are not with us....

Pictures from John and Joyce ...

Here are some photos from John and Joyce as they traveled from Arizona to Utah. Who could forget Davy Crockett's hotel, the Alamo. Then a giant saguaro cactus which as I remember only grows in the southwest after which is another Arizona favorite, Sedona. Then they traveled to Zion and Yellowstone for some spectacular pictures of wildlife there. Be sure to click on each picture to enlarge it for a great view of the country. And a fitting last picture brings us to "The End"! I'm still playing with the blog so the pictures may be reversed, sorry.

And the answers are...

Subject to correction...
Front Row:D. Barnum, B. Poune, C. Palmer, P. McDermott, J. Olson, M. Fardig, C. Milan, C. Vargo

Second Row: J. Bird, D. Nass, B. Reagan, J. Lindsey, B. Becker, Miss Trantum,teacher; L. Hanigan, M. Lyon, M. Wilkins, C. Gough

Top Row: W. Webb, J. Yavorsky, D. Weller, D. Huffaker, B. Schmidt, S. Nimmo, J. Scott, G. Aperans, S. Yeaton, G. Todd, G. Clark

How did you do?

FM 1957

Do you remember? Are you in the picture? Let me know!

John and Joyce head north...

John and Joyce have left Yuma, AZ on their long journey to Alaska. They were here in Daytona for a week in 2006 and they have finally begun the long awaited trip "North to Alaska..." They are in Utah and have visited Bryce Canyon and Zion National Parks. The next stop will be in Montana where they will meet up with friends for the long trip as soon as the weather cooperates. It recently snowed some where they are now but John states it is not too bothersome. It really brings contrasts to the country side.

American Field Service Students

Do you remember? Here is a news update on our AFS students...

(Click on the picture to enlarge)

Baseball fever

Well, spring training, the grapefruit league, is about over as major league baseball is about ready to begin. April showers bring May flowers and all the big leaguers head to their respective hometowns to begin their quest to play in the world series. So, loosen up the arm and stretch those legs and prepare to slide into second base. Oh, don't forget your hat!!!

Beware the Ides of March....

Would Miss Evans be happy to hear us discuss Julius Ceasar and the Ides of March. Just think, we had her teaching us all that latin before computers were in use as they are today. Here is a link that will explain the Ides of March in case you forgot all about those latin classes.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/03/0311_040311_idesmarch.html

Four years on the water and more to come...

March 5, 2009
Why is this such as special day. I have enclosed a link to Dick and Libby Mills blog site so you can all check it out.Click on the link...

http://dickandlibby.blogspot.com/

and you will see for yourself !

Florida tops Vanderbilt ...

I had the opportunity to watch the Florida /Vanderbilt game yesterday at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center (the O' Dome). I have bought tickets before from the Gator's ticket office so if any become available, they email with the opportunity to purchase them. I sat 10 rows from the court behind the basket. Really a great seat. It's about a 2 hour drive but well worth the trip. If you ever have the chance to eat at a McAlister's Deli, Please try it, you won't be disappointed. I stop when I go for football or basketball in Gainesville. http://www.mcalistersdeli.com/. With less than a month to go, college basketball is heating up as teams hope to go to the "big dance". Another thing I like about Florida basketball is when you leave the building, sort of like Elvis did, it's fairly warm as opposed to those northern cities. Upper 60's yesterday. Jack Youngblood, all pro NFL was also there yesterday. Send me some news, notes or nonsense.

The pictures above are the campus, basketball dome, and the student section waving their pom-poms.K

FM Basketball Coach

I just thought you may be interested in this article if you were a player or cheerleader or just attended the Friday night basketball games at the Manlius Military Academy back in the sixties. Or, perhaps you played a little "hall ball" at IC Church!!!

http://highschoolsports.syracuse.com/news/article/-461867094/f-ms-blackford-reaches-400th-career-victory/

Were You There???

The link below will take you to the inauguration on Jan. 20th. Use the scroll bar or your mouse wheel to move into a closeup and find yourself at the inauguration. Well, if you were there.

http://www.gigapan.org/viewGigapan.php?id=15374&window_height=720&window_width=1217

College football season ends...

Well, another college football season has ended and as I look back it was probably one of the best for me. It started when I saw Syracuse play Akron in the Carrier Dome followed by a visit to Memorial Stadium to watch Clemson host North Carolina State. Jay Adcook and I, along with our wives, attended the Syracuse-South Florida game in Tampa in October. I then journeyed to South Bend to enjoy Syracuse's win over Notre Dame in freezing weather. The University of Central Florida moved to it new stadium last year and I went to two games there this year. It is a good stadium which was built for a mild 55 million dollars. As I watched the Univ of Alabama- Birmingham defeat UCF, history in this new stadium was already being made in that it was the first game in the new Brighthouse Stadium where no touchdown was scored. That will be a trivia question in 2062!!!

As the season came to a close I enjoyed the Florida State / Wisconsin game in the Champs Sports Bowl in Orlando. The above pictures show the Florida State Seminole mascot as he and his horse roam the sideline. Next, Florida State throws a first quarter pass.

The final game for me this season was the Georgia / Michigan State Capital One Bowl on New Years Day. Pictured is "UGA" the Georgia mascot posing for pregame pictures and the Georgia "Red Coat" marching band. Another interesting trivia fact. The week before the Michigan State / Michigan game at E Lansing, several members of the marching band camp out at the Spartan statute to keep Wolverine fans from spraying it yellow and blue.

That's it for now, anyone with information to post send it along. Happy belated New Year to all.

On the road, actually water ways...

If you have been following Dick and Libby's blog, he mentioned going to the "Rod and Gun Club" to eat and I have a link posted here which will take you to the website. It also makes for interesting reading.

http://www.evergladesrodandgun.com/

this is Dick and Libby's blog: http://dickandlibby.blogspot.com/