New Book on Blue Angels

Click here: A Unique History - Phantoms and Angels: Blue Angels F-4 Phantom Teams

http://www.phantomsandangels.com/a-unique-history.html

Hi Guys,

Noel Rodriguez the author sent me my signed copy the other day. He did leave a T out of my name on the acknowledgements page but did get it right further on in the book. It was a lot of fun interviewing and emailing with him for the project.

tiny dancer

THIS IS ONE TINY ENGINE:

http://www.wimp.com/tiniestengine/

Pete's article about my 164B

Peter Vack interviewed me back in 2005 about my beloved Alfa Romeo 164B so here is a link to the originale article:

http://www.velocetoday.com/cars/cars_74.php

I still have this car I bought new in 1991. Have a couple more, too.

Tis the Season again and still

Interesting article in December Forbes: Not really just Customer relationship management (CRM)

http://www.forbes.com/sites/greggfairbrothers/2011/12/17/this-is-the-season-3/

Where has the time gone?

Winter and spring gone since I last wrote. Now we are in a summer heat wave with the 4th of July just around the corner. Afternoons are now tropical hours here in VB and time for doing some reading.

Recent June 19, 2011 Parade Magazine featured an article by the late Tim Russert's son Luke.
http://www.parade.com/celebrity/2011/06/luke-russert-lessons-from-my-father.html

Sunday at church I just happened to see a copy of Tim Russert's book Big Russ & Me in church library so it is my first summer reading program book.

I remember back in the 50's as a preteen how many times I went to library during the summer to get books to read. Russert's book about him and his date growing up brings back lots of childhood memories.

Third Places

Been awhile since I last posted. Recently got to thinking about those "Third Places" in my life. Everybody should have some even if it is the barber shop. I have been going to mine since 1980 or so with a 5 year break when I lived in Florida and found another one there that had all lady barbers so that was interesting.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_place

Barber shops aren't quite the third places they used to be. Sports bars may fill a similar role but usually to noisy and they may not even know your name.

I have found church men's clubs/groups actually a better third place. My first one of note was known as Ascension Construction Crew (ACC) and we even had official ACC hats. I belong to that group for maybe ten years until I moved to FL.

In Florida we actually had a co-ed third place called Choices where we were group of Christan book reviewers/reading/social club.

Now I am in a 7 a.m.Thursday morning men's group once again reading and studying Christan books. Some of us have also joined an 8 a.m. Sunday morning group again studying Christan books and scripture.

The fellowship you can get from a third place where you meet weekly can be very satisfying.

I am also in a car club where we meet for dinner monthly and plan events for our club such as car shows and wine tours.

Another venue is lunch bunch with car folks usually on Thursdays and Saturday afternoons.

You can't hardly have to few Third Places. I may have a few to many but variety is nice.

True Grit with true grace

My bride and I went to see this new Coen Brother's version and found that Jeff Bridges did a admirable job portraying Ruben "Rooster" Cogburn but, Hailee Steinfield stole the show playing Mattie Ross. Matt Damon played such a good part as the Texas Ranger I didn't even realized he was in the movie!

Charles Portis wrote the novel in 1968 and John Wayne played the part in 1969 and won an Oscar.

I had read a review of this new movie by Cathleen Falsani entitled "Coen Brothers Strive for Simple Decency" beforehand and decided to give it a go.

We enjoyed the movie and the time together for a lazy Sunday doing things together.