Where Have All the Flowers Gone?

Fall has arrived in full force...the strong winds over the weekend took care of much of the color from the trees locally, a color that lasts just a short while, and with a bit of rain, and some strong winds, it is gone in an instant.

On Saturday I dragged myself out of bed, after a late Friday, where Nick, Tom, and I, had a few brews at C-Town Wings in Celina.  Nick and I downed more than a couple 22 oz Oktoberfest Drafts...but I felt pretty good Saturday AM despite it all.  Tom wanted to go with me, not so much to watch a JV game between Cory-Rawson and home standing Leipsic, but to take a side trip to Deshler to check in with his old horse training friends, to say good-bye before he heads for Florida next week for the winter.

 The game was played in cool and windy conditions, but we finished it up before Noon{after a 10am start), and were on our way to the Corn City Bar in Deshler.  We each had one beer and a Texas Tenderloin...then headed to visit Tom's friends, before stopping by the Stables to check in with one of the horses that he worked with..."Holiday Shopper", a four year old Filly has had a successful career, and Tom was a big part of running and training her.  Done there we headed back to Celina....

When I got home, I watched Ohio State "upset" Illinois...hardly an upset, the Illini were overrated from the get-go, and despite completing only one pass, OSU and it's defense dominated the 17-7 game.  In other sports, Texas and the hated Cardinals both completed their respective American and National League crowns, and will meet in the World Series beginning Wednesday.

Sunday, Sam, home from Columbus, and I worked a youth league tournament double header...a couple of upsets, and it looks like the teams from Celina, may be done....I know the Green and White teams all lost, meanwhile the Celina Black team won, so we will have a final double header on Sunday.   Football for me is winding down for sure....games tonight and tomorrow at Celina, Thursday at Paulding, Saturday at Lima Perry, and finally next Monday here in Celina, are all I have left on my schedule....then some rest, a trip to Wisconsin, then it will be time to get ready for Basketball season, and that first Grandson, who is scheduled to be born in late November.

The Garden's Last Gasp____

Cut off the few remaining Sunflower heads on Saturday...the Squirrels had already taken care of most....which just means less for them this winter.  Although I'm sure that they have been storing my stock for a month or so already.  The Moon Flowers were going great guns, until this last week, and now they appear to be spent as well....despite hundreds that bloomed this summer and fall, I think we will change their location next spring, to take advantage of the fast growing productive vines.  About the only things still blooming are the Marigolds, which are tough as nails, and will likely keep producing until the first hard freeze...and we may have one or two more lawn mowings left in the Toro before the lawn gives it up for the coming winter.  

Have I said "I hate Winter"?  As much as I enjoy fall weather, I am not looking forward to the long cold winter ahead....but then again, I am no fan of hot and humid summer conditions either....

back later>>>>

photos-The Flowers of Spring and Summer are but a memory...and Tom with one of the fillies, and one of his favorites "Manny Shuffle" from the Suggs Stables...

End of Week, Cleaning out the files

 Most of the past week has been spent recovering from the Vietnam Security Police Association's 17th Annual Reunion, and getting out doing some football, some fall weather enjoying, and "borrowing", cropping, fixing, etc, the photos from the reunion.....time for some relaxation..or not.

Football last night under the lights at Spencerville, lucky the rain missed us both east, west, north, and south...tomorrow I will rise early, and head north, taking the place of a young official who needed to beg out...not much profit in driving that far for a JV game, but, I figure, he will need to pay me back some time, since he also works baseball, and basketball....always good to have something to fall back on.  Sunday a double header, as the Youth Football League takes to tournament action.....then next week I will clean out some of the photos etc from the past reunion, and do some more cropping, and "fixing"...amazing what you can do with photos these days, as compared to only a decade or so ago....even the worst photos can be made viewable....

In the meantime, here is what I leave you with this week, as I file the VSPA Memories away...The Bench that was dedicated next to the Defender Statue at the Air Force Museum...borrowed from The Rameys...(2) A fall shot of "Whiskey Run" near Montezuma, Ohio, where I spent the winters of my high school years, learning how to master ice skating in those long ago and long winters of the mid 1960s....(3) And the photos of my Nha Trang Law Enforcement Buddies from 1969 with the 14th SPS....(a) Harry Bevan and me, photo by Tony Niemotka, and (b) Harry, me, and Tony, taken by Harry's wife Anna....enjoy the weekend, back later:
 

October 12, 1969...Nha Trang Rocket Attack

I was checking out the Vietnam Security Police website tonight, and noted a date...October 12, 1969:

http://www.vspa.com/aspprotect/vspa-nav-index-menu.asp

It said "Nha Trang AB, 0550 hours, Rocket Attack, 3 Rockets, No Injuries, No Damage"  Or something like that...I remember that morning well.  I and the rest of A Flight Law Enforcement with the 14th Security Police Squadron, usually woke up, showered and dressed in no particular order, and we at Guardmount, and on duty sometime before 8am...truth is, 42 years later I don't remember the exact time our shift got underway.  But I do remember that morning.

I had been in country about 3 1/2 months, so I wasn't exactly a rookie, but other than a few alerts, I had not seen much action either.  In LE, especially day shift(A Flight), we were usually watching entry control points to the base, or riding around in Jeeps, giving the guys on the LE posts breaks for lunch, or latrine breaks.  Frankly it was not hard duty....and as I've posted many times on this blog, that tour of duty at Nha Trang, was my absolute favorite of my nearly 4 years in the Air Force, nothing else comes close.  War Zone or not, Nha Trang, at least for Security Police was prime duty.

That morning however, just before dawn I, and the rest of our concrete barracks, were awakened by the sound, all too close, of something hitting the base.  As it turned out the radar or TUOC Building next to the barracks was hit, as was the outdoor movie theater, located right across the street.  We were out and about pretty quickly, and our Law Enforcement duties began a couple hours early.  As for the "No Injuries, No Damage" line...maybe no injuries, but I  can attest that there was damage...and pieces of the rocket, called shrapnel lying around...I grabbed a couple of pieces, put them in my foot locker, and still have them today...along with a few other pieces of memorabilia.

There were only a few of us, maybe a dozen, working A Flight Law Enforcement....the late Phil Lange was our NCOIC, as for the rest...I have contact with at least a half dozen, and three of us got together last week at the VSPA Reunion in Dayton....Harry Bevan, Tony Niemotka, and PRH....it brought memories flooding back, as did the mention of the rocket attack that occurred 42 years ago today.

back later>>>>

Photos-from Harry's Collection from the VSPA Reunion....left to right: Harry Bevan, Pat Houseworth(PRH), and Tony Niemotka, all three of us worked A Flight Law Enforcement and we in the barracks when the rocket hit....a piece of Shrapnel from the rocket attack at Nha Trang 42 years ago today...and the Base Outdoor Theater, right across the street from our living quarters...it, along with the Radio/Radar TUOC Building both took direct hits.

Back to Normal....after the Reunions, Bonding, and Sunshine!

The Daily Routine, the weather, whatever, things appear to be sliding back into the normal realm, for the semi-retired.

The VSPA Reunion in Dayton is but photographs and memories, as is the Kokomo Vietnam Vet Reunion. The 10 straight days of outstanding weather, with temperatures running from the low 70s to low 80s, without a cloud in the sky, are also coming to and end.  High School Football, while the playoff season will stretch into December, is winding down, as the regular season has but 3 weeks to go...time flies this time of the year, but it will surely drag come winter.  As for me, today at least, is a day of rest....

After two straight days of football officiating, I get today off...I lifted weights and mowed mom's yard yesterday, so today, I can drop those off the agenda as well.  My lawn will need one more mowing at least, sometime this week, but for today, other than a good long walk, perhaps uptown or to the fairground, rather than the treadmill is probably in the works.  My desk is a cluttered mess of ball caps, pins, and other memorabilia from the VSPA get-together, so I will clear that off, and perhaps, if the sun appears, get some final photos of the leaves turning around Grand Lake, before they are gone until next May...but in general, the agenda is free and clear.  I believe Patricia told me she would be at school late, so I'll fix a late supper of Rib Eye Steaks, Baked Potatoes and some Green Beans...and that will be my day.

I have sorted through and sent out some of the photos from last week at Dayton...the collection is not as varied in number or quality as I would have liked...but some of that comes from me not being used to the indoor functions on the Nikon, and from the folks I gave it to to take photos, only doing what I showed them...thus, despite some great outdoor shots, the indoor photos left something to be desired.  I do have some requests out however, and expect Al, Tony, and Harry, my Nha Trang cohorts to feed me some good quality shots, in the next days and weeks....

So we head towards the late fall and early winter...my football will end in a few weeks, then basketball beckons.  I've got a State Meeting to attend on-line, I may do that today, then again, I might not...the Van Wert Rules Meetings for roundball begin October 26th, then my first scrimmage comes sometime in mid November.  After the banquet circuit, I hope to lose the 8 to 10 pounds I have gained since last season, before the tip off of the 2011-12 basketball campaign.   Sure I'm still down 25 or so from the Summer of 2009, but want the basketball outfits to fit nice and loose.

First though I finish up football....and although being off tonight, tomorrow I work a game under the lights at Spencerville...a JH game, and it appears the rains may have an effect on that one.  The weather and time will tell...

Speaking of sports...oldest son Sam, majoring in Actuarial Science, continues to work for the Big Ten Network and OSU.Com....yesterday he was working the color for the OSU/Northwestern Men's Soccer game...after all the years broadcasting I never worked a nationally televised game on TV or Radio...  here Sam has already worked a few national games, plus got a Big Ten Award last season for Student Production.  Not sure what he plans on doing after he graduates from Ohio State next spring, but with the Act-Science degree and broadcasting as a side lite, he has a couple of options.

back later....

Photos-The sun over Grand Lake, having shown for the past 10 days or so, is covered with clouds.  My Antique desk is a cluttered mess of Reunion Memorabilia....back to English Muffins with my morning coffee, now poured into my new Nha Trang 14thSPS Mug, purchased at the reunion...Basketball is just around the corner....seems like football just kicked off yesterday.  And finally Sam's award from last season at the Big Ten Network, for Sports Direction/Production....

After the VSPA Reunion....part 2

Another great early fall day is at hand...last night we were still wearing shorts and short sleeve shirts officiating the JV game here in Celina...the Bulldogs came out on top 33-14 over Lima Shawnee, thus making up in small part for the 63-20 ass whooping they received from the Indians on Friday night in the Varsity game....some of the visiting fans had their fine "whine" on during the game.  It never ceases to amaze me how utterly clueless some fans are, and that goes for quite a few lower level coaches as well.   They really don't know a damn thing about the game....any game, name your game!

Today, we are scheduled to reach 78 for a high and the forecast looks good, albeit a little more cloudy, for tomorrow, before rain moves in late week.  Tonight I stay in Celina, for a Junior High contest....

VSPA Reunion Friday October 7th_____

Friday was basically an off day at the reunion.....it was everybody on their own.  Most headed to the Air Force Museum at Wright-Patterson.  Patricia had a dermatologist appointment about 20 miles north of Dayton, in Troy, Ohio...and it was at 6:30 in the AM.   We got up at 4:30 or so, and headed the Nitro out on the Interstate...done with the routine appointment, we headed back to the Holiday Inn in Fairborn, and grabbed a buffet breakfast at the Hotel...after that we packed up before heading out....I managed to get some quality "war stories" in with several of the guys, before we finally called it a day.  I had a football game to officiate Friday night at Allen East, near Lima...and also to deliver a friend of Hal's car back to Celina.  Matt had loaned Hal one of his vehicles, while Hal's was in the shop getting the Hail Damage repaired from last Summer....some $6100 worth of work, that the insurance company took care of.

So that was it for Friday...the game went off, and despite the poor records of the two teams, it was a pretty well played contest which the home team won 33-22.  The crew headed for the Beer Barrel in Lima after the game....where we dined on Wings and drafts....I, still exhausted from the week to date, finally fell into the sack about 1:45 in the morning.

Saturday October 8th______

Patricia and I had already decided to save a few hundred bucks and spend only two nights in Dayton....Wednesday and Thursday.  With the games and her doctor's appointment, there was no reason to lay down cash for Friday and Saturday....the drive is only 80 minutes or so, so once the Saturday night banquet was done, we would head home.

Plenty of small talk and small war stories were to be had once we arrived back in Fairborn at 4pm....the banquet was a couple of hours away, so we took the opportunity to get into some discussions with the other guys, and some "Old Timers" as well.

There were three reunions going on at once at the Holiday Inn...among those were a group of World War II flyers of the 13th Air Force....these guys spent the war flying in Burma, and despite many in their late 80s and early 90s, they were a treat.  One spry 86 year old in particular, named Glenn, wove some stories for us young guys(in our 50s through 70s).  After the war, Glenn went on to become a teacher, then principal, and finally a school superintendent....like me, he refused to wear a necktie to his banquet, saying "I wore one of those damn things for 48 years, and no longer have to, and don't own one"....being one of a half dozen or so not wearing a coat or tie to our banquet, I could see Glenn was a pretty sharp guy....and like I said, pretty damn entertaining.

Our banquet saw plenty of speeches, plenty of raffle door prizes,(Patricia and I were shut out, dang!), and plenty of awards, which seem to get recycled each year among many of the same people....dang shut out again, Sam Lewis and I joked about needing a truck to haul all of our awards away....trouble makers we are.  

Patricia and I sat with some of our Mini-Reunion co-horts, Bob Griffith, Sam and Ruth Lewis, Doug Davis, and Tommy Webb...I mingled back towards the back tables where the gang from Nha Trang were seated, and also got to visit with my old hometown, Scott, Ohio, buddy Bill Marshall and his wife Karen, who also hails from Van Wert County...I know her brother Doyle well.   The event ended close to 11pm, and we said our farewells and got some final photos with the Nha Trangers.....before making the drive back to Celina...arriving just before 1am...it had been an exhausting 4 days.


All-in-all it was a great time...frankly I still like Kokomo and our Mini Reunions in Dayton, but this was a chance to see folks like Harry Bevan, whom, although we had corresponded over the last decade, I had not seen since he headed home in November 1969.......and that in itself made it all worthwhile.

We are planning a mini-reunion in March of 2012 back at Wright-Patterson, but first I will enjoy the memories of this big reunion(some 135 Sky Cops were on hand with 100 or so wives and guests)...


back later>>>>


Photos-(1) Some of the pins, collectibles, and mementos from the reunion, I also managed to grab the last of the Nha Trang Coffee Cups, and some decals which I placed on the rear window and bumper of the Van, when I returned home.


Three Air Force and Army Air Corps groups were holding their reunions at the same time...the interaction was pretty darn neat...Glenn, the former school teacher/principal/superintendent entertained us "younger" guys and wives, before he left for his banquet.  Other photos, include me and my Scott, Ohio hometowner Bill Marshall at the Memorial Dedication.  Doug Davis a Sky Cop K9 handler who was stationed at Wright-Patterson and Vietnam, Doug traveled all the way from Traverse City, Michigan...Sam and Ruth Lewis, and Tommy Webb pins a Life Membership pin on Bob Griffith....Bill and Karen Marshall awarded Bob his LM pin....he joins 700+ of us now calling ourselves Life Members of the VSPA.
 

After the VSPA Reunion....

Gotta say the time since Patricia and I left for Dayton and the Vietnam Security Police Association Reunion last Wednesday, most of the time has been a blur....the one constant was the weather, which turned out picture perfect for the time of year, in fact, anytime of year.  The sun was a constant, with high temperatures rising to the middle 70s early on during the reunion, to the lower 80s by the end...lows overnight were pretty much in the middle to upper 50s.  No rain, no clouds to speak of, and the humidity was pretty darn near perfect as well.

Wednesday 10/5/11

I picked up Patricia at about 3pm from school, and we made the 75 mile trek in about an hour and a half....checked into our room on the fourth floor, and headed down to the Holiday Inn lobby.  Didn't take long for people to stop by and greet us...seems more people know me, or at least my radical right rantings on this blog and the VSPA Bulletin Board, than I know.  But it soon became apparent that many of the readers of both were in Dayton for the reunion.

Bill Harris, Bill Ramey, Bob Gephart, Howard Yates, and my old buddy Sam Lewis, were the first folks I saw...by the time the first night's buffet dinner got started, my Nha Trang pal, Harry Bevan, whom, while I had conversed with via e-mail, Blogger, and Facebook over the past decade, I had not seen in 42 years walked over and gave me a big handshake and hug....he took me to his table where another half dozen or so Nha Trang guys from the Philadelphia area were seated with wives.  Al Gerard, who was on B flight at Nha Trang and Tony Niemotka, who was with Harry and me on A Flight Law Enforcement, were there with several other guys that were at Nha Trang at various times in the late 60s...also George Maag, a friend of Harry's from Philly, who while not at Nha Trang(he was a SP at Da Nang in 70-71), had traveled with the group.  

We shared BS throughout that first night, while we lost more than a few folks as the hours passed, George, Harry, me, and my old Mini-Reunion co-hort, Mike Tillman, a retired State Police guy from Kentucky, managed to hold guard on the beer and booze table until well past 1am Thursday morning....I would feel it the next day at Wright-Patterson AFB.

Thursday October 6th_____

I was just a bit hung over when, Harry, George, Harry's wife Anna, whom although I had never met, I knew her from Harry at Nha Trang....they had married just a month before Harry was deployed to Vietnam in late 1968, Patricia and I ate the buffet breakfast at the restaurant at the hotel.  Then we headed to the AF Museum for the dedication of the VSPA Bench next to the Defender Statue in the Memorial Park on the grounds.

After that it was lunch with the new crop of dog handlers and Security Force men and women(something there were none of when we served), of the 88th Security Force Squadron.  We were then treated to a show of the dogs working....back to the hotel to rest up, then the Nha Trang group headed out for a Mexican meal, at a restaurant not far from the Holiday Inn....youngest son Hal, and his wife Lisa, joined the group, for drinks and a heavy meal.  By the time we were done there, we were pretty much gassed.  Most headed off to bed, but Harry, George, and I, head out until about 10 or later, before giving it up...I had to get up early, Friday was going to be a travel day, starting very early, so the second day ended, with me hitting the sack, trying to catch up with my lack of sleep.

More Tomorrow.....

back later>>>>>

Photos-Howard Yates from Orlando played the Bagpipes at the Memorial Bench Dedication on Thursday.  Geogre Maag, Harry Bevan, and Mike Tillman, BS during the early morning hours at the Hospitality Room.  Tony Neimotka, and me, Tillman and Rick Adams at the dedication Thursday...on opening night, George Maag, Al Gerard, me, and Harry....and finally the SF Dogs put on a show, taking down a "victim" at the demonstration on Thursday at the base.

VSPA Dayton Update

Back for the day/night from Dayton and the VSPA Reunion...taking a break to officiate football tonight at Allen East tonight with Garry and his crew....will work as Back Judge.....tomorrow we will head back to finish up the 17th Annual Reunion with the Banquet at the Fairborn Holiday Inn at I-675.

The photos added to the header at the top and of me and my old Security Police LE Buddy from Philly, Harry Bevan....as we looked yesterday at the Memorial Bench Dedication at Wright Patterson and the AF Museum....and how we looked 43 years earlier on duty with Law Enforcement at Nha Trang Air Base South Vietnam, in late Summer 1969.....more photos and stories over the weekend and early next week....

back later>>>>

Photos-In addition to the updated photos of Harry and me, we took a few dozen others at the Bench Dedication at the Defender Statue....top is me and Bill Marshall, the only two members from Scott, Ohio, probably the smallest of the towns(about 250 people) represented....then the in back of the bench that was unveiled yesterday stands our small group of Security Police that served at Nha Trang, that are gathering this week at the VSPA Reunion in Dayton.   As before, more stories and photos coming....

Live from Dayton, Ohio...what's the Rabid Left to do?

Harry Bevan, George Magg, Mike Tillman, me and a few others closed down the Hospiltality Room...at 1AM , and I can feel it at 7.....Palin not running for Prez...tbe morons on the left will probably give themselves credit....meanwhile Sarah is laughing all the way to the bank....what or who will the Socialist loons go after next? 

More from the VSPA later....lap top computers suck.....off to have lunch/watch demostrations with the Air Force Security Forces(formerly Security Police/formerly Air Police) after a hang over curing breakfast....

back later>>>>

Vietnam Security Police Association (VSPA) 17th Annual Reunion Dayton/Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio Oct. 5-9, 2011

Will be back and forth between Celina and Dayton over the next few days....photos, stories, and BS in the days to follow:

http://www.vspa.com/aspprotect/vspa-nav-index-menu.asp

back later>>>>>

Fall In....The Glory of October!

October is usually my favorite month weather wise....most years there is plenty of sun, temperatures in the 60s upwards towards the low 80s, with low humidity, not a lot of rain, and night time temperatures in the 40s and 50s...evenings where you can open your windows, without needing the A/C or furnace on.  This coming week to 10 days, at least in the forecast, are primed for those picture perfect conditions...

The weather for the VSPA Reunion, officially beginning tomorrow, looks to be outstanding...the Dayton area will have highs in the upper 70s to near 80 for the rest of the week, and lows in the low to mid 50s...with plenty of sunshine.

The leaves are starting to turn...the crop of Sunflowers I planted back in May, are about exhausted...I cropped some, but the squirrels have taken charge of most....perhaps preparing for a long winter, and only a few heads have many seeds left....it could be a long winter indeed.

Yesterday I noted the Japanese Beatles(Lady Bug lookalikes) are out in full force...they attached themselves to our back door, and the amazing critters can swarm into the smallest openings....the next few weeks will likely see many of them work their way into the house.

The weather for last night's JV game at Celina Stadium was nearly as good as it gets....a welcome change from the rain, winds, and muddy fields of last week....Celina defeated Van Wert 50-0....I was home by 7, and spent a few hours flipping the remote between the Baseball Playoffs, games won by Detroit and Texas, both now with 2-1 leads in their respective best of five playoffs with New York and Tampa Bay.  I checked out Monday Night Football, only for it's value for my fantasy points, and to check out the controversy from ESPN for canceling Hank Williams Jr's opening song, for daring to make light of the Kenyan Messiah, Barry Obammy, and Speaker John Boehner playing golf together....calling Obammy and Biden the Enemy and saying it was like Hitler playing golf with the current Israeli leader.   Comparing Obama with Hitler?  Who would ever think that?  Hell some might think that was an insult to the dead former German leader.

Anyway, no game tonight, but I will attend the final rules meeting in Van Wert....before that, I will get my stuff and notes I need together in preparation for the next few days....it will be back and forth between Celina and Dayton/Wright-Patterson.  I guess that is the advantage/disadvantage of living close to the Reunion site....you still have work to do near home, so you really don't get a chance to relax like you should....Friday night I will return to work a game with the Mosier crew at Allen East...then back to Dayton for the big reunion ending banquet on Saturday night.

The busy week continues...back later>>>>

Photos-Leaves and trees change, Japanese Beatles swarm, and the seeds missed by marauding Squirrels , dry from the heads of Sunflowers...yep, it is fall, my favorite time of the year.

The Weekend Past, The Week Ahead, Searching for a Winter Idenity(brew/booze)

Friday was another in a string of miserable September days this year in Western Ohio....October had to be better I thought, as I looked out the living room window at the showers coming down overnight Friday.  Saturday, the first day of the new month, dawned cold, cloudy, and windy...not much of an improvement...but things would get better as the weekend progressed, and the next 10 days, if the Weather Channel can be believed, appears to be looking much better.  For the most part, after the few showers clear the Central Ohio area, the WC is calling for dry and sunny conditions.  Highs in the low to mid 70s beginning tomorrow, with lows in the lower 50s...it looks good, almost perfect weather, for the VSPA Vietnam Reunion in Dayton this week.

As it was, September set a record for rainfall....but at least the heat and major humidity are gone until sometime late next Spring...say mid June?

As the seasons change, so do my alcohol consumption habits....I will be the first to admit, I drink too much....not an alcoholic{?}, more simply, I just like a good beer, and on occasion a drink of liquor.  In the Summer months, especially after working a baseball game or two, I usually stick with the good old American Larger, Miller Lite, usually the 12oz long neck bottle variety.  On occasion during the warm weather I will switch to a darker larger or stout beer...but usually Miller is my beer of choice during the Summer.  Not so much as the weather changes....

I usually gravitate from lite beers to Stouts and darker brews...and even the harvest and Oktoberfest beers during the early fall months.  As Christmas approaches I partake in the Winterfest and other seasonal offerings.  This Friday I went up to the Celina Wine Store and selected a few different types from the Guinness line....all pretty average to above average in alcohol content, for a domesticated Irish brew.

The new Black Larger by Guinness is hardly the same strength as the Stouts from the same brewery...but the cost, much less that the Stouts, make it palatable none-the-less.  It runs about $1.50 for a single, as compared to $2.55 for the Foreign Extra Stout, and the $1.85 for the bottle of regular Extra Stout.

Being a connoisseur of Beer, I seldom drink alcohol(aka Hard Liquor) by itself...although on occasion I will try a Jack Daniels with Club Soda, a glass of Brandy, and once in a blue moon, my favorite, Drambuie on the rocks....This weekend I had a burr, and purchased my first bottle of Drambuie since last October, when Nick and I each bought a bottle for our Michigan Salmon Fishing trip....not much Salmon on that trip, but we did down enough beers and Drambuie to make it a trip of sorts.  Anyway, I purchase a bottle after my Saturday morning game, and with a nip in the air, and Ohio State getting clobbered by Michigan State in football...I proceeded to drink enough that the pain of watching a sorry Buckeye performance was hardly noticeable by the time the game ended in a 10-7 MSU victory.  The cool weather choice of brews and booze was off to a fine start.

Yesterday, Sam, home from working the OSU/MSU game, and I worked a Youth League double header.  By that time, the sun and a bit warmer temperatures had arrived on the scene, and we worked the 4 hours of football in short sleeve shirts....I limited myself to a couple of Miller Lites after those games, as Sam headed back to Columbus with classes in full swing at Ohio State.

The Week Ahead_____

This week will be spent back and forth between here and Dayton....

Tonight I have a JV game between Celina and Van Wert....Celina won the varsity game between the two schools on Friday at Van Wert, 28-18.  The Bulldogs first win of the season, while the Cougars remain winless...two schools with many wins and championships throughout their respective history, are the cellar dwellers in the WBL this season....hopefully better things are on the way, both for my Alma Mater(Celina), and the school in the city where I was born, and did it's play-by-play on Cable for many years, Van Wert.

Tomorrow I will get one final rules meeting in at Van Wert, no game on the agenda....then do the final packing for Wednesday and the VSPA Reunion at Dayton/Wright-Patterson.  After that it will be back and forth between Celina and the Reunion.   Friday, Patricia will work a day at school, and I will return to Celina, working a Varsity game Friday night, filling in as Back Judge on Garry's crew, at Allen East(outside Lima)....Saturday, Patricia and I will head back to Dayton, and attend the final banquet at the Holiday Inn 675 in Fairborn, before saying our good-byes, and returning home to rest up.

Not sure how much posting I will do this week, but should be back tomorrow at least...back later>>>>

Photos-Damn!  Never ceases to amaze me how quickly I age with every passing photograph and week...(2) The Guinness Line that I sampled over the weekend...(3) Along with a bit of Drambuie on the Rocks...(4) And the VSPA Reunion is set to kick off what will be a busy week, starting Wednesday afternoon.