Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Sommers' update
Hi there everyone. Seems like more and more folks are posting as the New Year gets going so I’ll join in. Nancy and I are doing just fine and recently celebrated our 40th anniversary. Our kids put on a surprise party for us with all our dear friends in attendance --- yes, the Milams drove all the way down to Carlsbad from LA and were there with smiles. After that, Nan and I took off for a short driving trip up the CA coast to the San Simeon area (Hearst Castle). Stayed in a nice beach-front motel and did the obligatory visit to Hearst Castle (neat place, but William Hearst must have been a tad bit off center to build it in the first place), but the highlight of the vacation was watching the elephant seals do there thing right there on the beach just up the road from where we stayed. Let me tell YOU, we got the full show from these seals. Two beta males chased each other, neck wrestled, and the weaker one was finally driven out into the ocean! His pursuer was not about to give up. Then periodically we’d hear some female yelling her lungs out as some big, 5000 lb alpha galoof, with the weirdest nose, hauled ass up the beach and jumped her bones. He would pin her down with one of his front flippers and let me tell you, it was quite a show. Ha She’d screech and he’d sort of make this whinny sound (not unlike humans, ha). They’re not a very family oriented lot. The male doesn’t care who he fools around with, doesn’t know her name, wouldn’t recognize her face later. The females give the pups one month to chow down, get it together, and then hasta lavista baby, she’s off to the ocean. Pup is left to learn to swim and fend for himself. As for the pup, he’ll nurse at any port in the storm, so to speak. He’s not particular and it doesn’t seem like the mothers are, although we did watch one mother protect her pup when another female was trying to take her pup. The pups also got an up close and personal x rated movie during all of this. The pup would attempt to stay near the mother, hoping to continue nursing, but it was clear he was left out in the cold while “dad” got his jollies. They looked sort of forlorn and befuddled by the whole event. So there, have I given you enough details to satisfy your curiosity?? This is a "must see" for OATers; so be sure to plan a trip that direction one of these days. Big trip planned for us this year is not an OAT one --- we are going to do a six-week driving trip around the US, first going up north to Idaho and Montana, and then back east as far as Saint Louis before coming west via Colorado and all places in between. Should be fun. All for now. Cheers, Tom and Nancy
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Hello from long lost Carolyn
Hi from Texas, India and Thunder Bay Ontario-the FROZEN NORTH!!!!!!!
Glad to see you guys are still having fun!
Bob finally got back from India - was at the Taj the week before the bombing-had moved from his hotel to an apartment because he had been saying it was just a matter of time before the big hotels were targeted.
We spent our first christmas in 3 years together but not on the same time zone!!!
are getting good at shovelling snow in tandem!!
Are off to a hockey game tonight then he gets on a plane to TX in the morning. I will head out to Vancouver to see my parents when the thaw hits there!!!
May in France is sounding very good right now!!
Take care and keep those pictures coming!!
Love,
Carolyn (& Bob)
Hey, Carolyn. It is good to hear from you via Chuck and Marilyn. I am glad that your Bob was safe wherever he was. Somehow the world is not as safe as I assumed it to be.
My Bob and I drove to San Jose del Cabo, Mexico at the bottom of the Baja peninsula for Christmas, and spent New Year's Eve in Loreto, Baja del Sur, Mexico. It was quiet in our hotel and especially in our room. I am sure we were asleep before midnight.
Happy New Year, and keep on having fun traveling. Love,
Dottie
Glad to see you guys are still having fun!
Bob finally got back from India - was at the Taj the week before the bombing-had moved from his hotel to an apartment because he had been saying it was just a matter of time before the big hotels were targeted.
We spent our first christmas in 3 years together but not on the same time zone!!!
are getting good at shovelling snow in tandem!!
Are off to a hockey game tonight then he gets on a plane to TX in the morning. I will head out to Vancouver to see my parents when the thaw hits there!!!
May in France is sounding very good right now!!
Take care and keep those pictures coming!!
Love,
Carolyn (& Bob)
Hey, Carolyn. It is good to hear from you via Chuck and Marilyn. I am glad that your Bob was safe wherever he was. Somehow the world is not as safe as I assumed it to be.
My Bob and I drove to San Jose del Cabo, Mexico at the bottom of the Baja peninsula for Christmas, and spent New Year's Eve in Loreto, Baja del Sur, Mexico. It was quiet in our hotel and especially in our room. I am sure we were asleep before midnight.
Happy New Year, and keep on having fun traveling. Love,
Dottie
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Topical comment by Dottie via Lee Iococca's Where Have All the Leaders Gone?
This was forwarded to me by my sister-in-law in Wisconsin. Since Lee Iacocca is one of my favorite people of importance, I simply HAD to send it on to everyone on my email list. I think he's soooooo right!!!! Love,
Dottie
Remember Lee Iacocca, the man who rescued Chrysler Corporation from its death throes? He's now 82 years old and has a new book, 'Where Have All The Leaders Gone?'.
Lee Iacocca Says:
'Am I the only guy in this country who's fed up with what's happening? Where the hell is our outrage? We should be screaming bloody murder! We've got a gang of clueless bozos steering our ship of state right over a cliff, we've got corporate gangsters stealing us blind, and we can't even clean up after a hurricane much less build a hybrid car. But instead of getting mad, everyone sits around and nods their heads when the politicians say, 'Stay the course.'
Stay the course? You've got to be kidding. This is America , not the damned, 'Titanic'. I'll give you a sound bite: 'Throw all the bums out!' You might think I'm getting senile, that I've gone off my rocker, and maybe I have. But someone has to speak up. I hardly recognize this country anymore.
The most famous business leaders are not the innovators but the guys in handcuffs. While we're fiddling in Iraq , the Middle East is burning and nobody seems to know what to do. And the press is waving 'pom-poms' instead of asking hard questions. That's not the promise of the ' America ' my parents and yours traveled across the ocean for. I've had enough. How about you?
I'll go a step further. You can't call yourself a patriot if you're not outraged. This is a fight I'm ready and willing to have. The Biggest 'C' is Crisis ! (Iacocca elaborates on nine C's of leadership, with crisis being the first.)
Leaders are made, not born. Leadership is forged in times of crisis. It's easy to sit there with your feet up on the desk and talk theory. Or send someone else's kids off to war when you've never seen a battlefield yourself. It's another thing to lead when your world comes tumbling down.
On September 11, 2001, we needed a strong leader more than any other time in our history. We needed a steady hand to guide us out of the ashes. A hell of a mess, so here's where we stand.
We're immersed in a bloody war with no plan for winning and no plan for leaving. We're running the biggest deficit in the history of the country. We're losing the manufacturing edge to Asia, while our once-great companies are getting slaughtered by health care costs.
Gas prices are skyrocketing, and nobody in power has a coherent energy policy. Our schools are in trouble. Our borders are like sieves. The middle class is being squeezed every which way. These are times that cry out for leadership.
But when you look around, you've got to ask: 'Where have all the leaders gone?' Where are the curious, creative communicators? Where are the people of character, courage, conviction, omnipotence, and common sense? I may be a sucker for alliteration, but I think you get the point.
Name me a leader who has a better idea for homeland security than making us take off our shoes in airports and throw away our shampoo? We've spent billions of dollars building a huge new bureaucracy, and all we know how to do is react to things that have already happened.
Name me one leader who emerged from the crisis of Hurricane Katrina. Congress has yet to spend a single day evaluating the response to the hurricane or demanding accountability for the decisions that were made in the crucial hours after the storm.
Everyone's hunkering down, fingers crossed, hoping it doesn't happen again. Now, that's just crazy. Storms happen. Deal with it. Make a plan. Figure out what you're going to do the next time.
Name me an industry leader who is thinking creatively about how we can restore our competitive edge in manufacturing. Who would have believed that there could ever be a time when 'The Big Three' referred to Japanese car companies? How did this happen, and more important, what are we going to do about it?
Name me a government leader who can articulate a plan for paying down the debit, or solving the energy crisis, or managing the health care problem. The silence is deafening. But these are the crises that are eating away at our country and milking the middle class dry.
I have news for the gang in Congress. We didn't elect you to sit on your asses and do nothing and remain silent while our democracy is being hijacked and our greatness is being replaced with mediocrity. What is everybody so afraid of? That some bonehead on Fox News will call them a name? Give me a break. Why don't you guys show some spine for a change?
Had Enough? Hey, I'm not trying to be the voice of gloom and doom here. I'm trying to light a fire. I'm speaking out because I have hope - I believe in America . In my lifetime, I've had the privilege of living through some of America 's greatest moments. I've also experienced some of our worst crises: The 'Great Depression,' 'World War II,' the 'Korean War,' the 'Kennedy Assassination,' the 'Vietnam War,' the 1970's oil crisis, and the struggles of recent years culminating with 9/11.
If I've learned one thing, it's this: 'You don't get anywhere by standing on the sidelines waiting for somebody else to take action. Whether it's building a better car or building a better future for our children, we all have a role to play. That's the challenge I'm raising in this book. It's a "Call to Action" for people who, like me, believe in America '. It's not too late, but it's getting pretty close. So let' s shake off the crap and go to work. Let's t ell 'em all we've had 'enough.'
Make your own contribution by sending this to everyone you know and care about. It's our country, folks, and it's our future. Our future is at stake!!
Dottie
Remember Lee Iacocca, the man who rescued Chrysler Corporation from its death throes? He's now 82 years old and has a new book, 'Where Have All The Leaders Gone?'.
Lee Iacocca Says:
'Am I the only guy in this country who's fed up with what's happening? Where the hell is our outrage? We should be screaming bloody murder! We've got a gang of clueless bozos steering our ship of state right over a cliff, we've got corporate gangsters stealing us blind, and we can't even clean up after a hurricane much less build a hybrid car. But instead of getting mad, everyone sits around and nods their heads when the politicians say, 'Stay the course.'
Stay the course? You've got to be kidding. This is America , not the damned, 'Titanic'. I'll give you a sound bite: 'Throw all the bums out!' You might think I'm getting senile, that I've gone off my rocker, and maybe I have. But someone has to speak up. I hardly recognize this country anymore.
The most famous business leaders are not the innovators but the guys in handcuffs. While we're fiddling in Iraq , the Middle East is burning and nobody seems to know what to do. And the press is waving 'pom-poms' instead of asking hard questions. That's not the promise of the ' America ' my parents and yours traveled across the ocean for. I've had enough. How about you?
I'll go a step further. You can't call yourself a patriot if you're not outraged. This is a fight I'm ready and willing to have. The Biggest 'C' is Crisis ! (Iacocca elaborates on nine C's of leadership, with crisis being the first.)
Leaders are made, not born. Leadership is forged in times of crisis. It's easy to sit there with your feet up on the desk and talk theory. Or send someone else's kids off to war when you've never seen a battlefield yourself. It's another thing to lead when your world comes tumbling down.
On September 11, 2001, we needed a strong leader more than any other time in our history. We needed a steady hand to guide us out of the ashes. A hell of a mess, so here's where we stand.
We're immersed in a bloody war with no plan for winning and no plan for leaving. We're running the biggest deficit in the history of the country. We're losing the manufacturing edge to Asia, while our once-great companies are getting slaughtered by health care costs.
Gas prices are skyrocketing, and nobody in power has a coherent energy policy. Our schools are in trouble. Our borders are like sieves. The middle class is being squeezed every which way. These are times that cry out for leadership.
But when you look around, you've got to ask: 'Where have all the leaders gone?' Where are the curious, creative communicators? Where are the people of character, courage, conviction, omnipotence, and common sense? I may be a sucker for alliteration, but I think you get the point.
Name me a leader who has a better idea for homeland security than making us take off our shoes in airports and throw away our shampoo? We've spent billions of dollars building a huge new bureaucracy, and all we know how to do is react to things that have already happened.
Name me one leader who emerged from the crisis of Hurricane Katrina. Congress has yet to spend a single day evaluating the response to the hurricane or demanding accountability for the decisions that were made in the crucial hours after the storm.
Everyone's hunkering down, fingers crossed, hoping it doesn't happen again. Now, that's just crazy. Storms happen. Deal with it. Make a plan. Figure out what you're going to do the next time.
Name me an industry leader who is thinking creatively about how we can restore our competitive edge in manufacturing. Who would have believed that there could ever be a time when 'The Big Three' referred to Japanese car companies? How did this happen, and more important, what are we going to do about it?
Name me a government leader who can articulate a plan for paying down the debit, or solving the energy crisis, or managing the health care problem. The silence is deafening. But these are the crises that are eating away at our country and milking the middle class dry.
I have news for the gang in Congress. We didn't elect you to sit on your asses and do nothing and remain silent while our democracy is being hijacked and our greatness is being replaced with mediocrity. What is everybody so afraid of? That some bonehead on Fox News will call them a name? Give me a break. Why don't you guys show some spine for a change?
Had Enough? Hey, I'm not trying to be the voice of gloom and doom here. I'm trying to light a fire. I'm speaking out because I have hope - I believe in America . In my lifetime, I've had the privilege of living through some of America 's greatest moments. I've also experienced some of our worst crises: The 'Great Depression,' 'World War II,' the 'Korean War,' the 'Kennedy Assassination,' the 'Vietnam War,' the 1970's oil crisis, and the struggles of recent years culminating with 9/11.
If I've learned one thing, it's this: 'You don't get anywhere by standing on the sidelines waiting for somebody else to take action. Whether it's building a better car or building a better future for our children, we all have a role to play. That's the challenge I'm raising in this book. It's a "Call to Action" for people who, like me, believe in America '. It's not too late, but it's getting pretty close. So let' s shake off the crap and go to work. Let's t ell 'em all we've had 'enough.'
Make your own contribution by sending this to everyone you know and care about. It's our country, folks, and it's our future. Our future is at stake!!
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Happy New Year from The Sommers and The Milams
To our fellow travellers on the OAT New Zealand Adventure trip:
HELLO TO THE FOUR OF YOU.
Happy New Year!!I just got back from an OAT trip to Egypt and Jordan. My youngest son, Andy went also and we had a wonderful time. Life is good and I thank you for your good wishes. I love to hear from you and appreciate that you include me. Love and Hugs,
Mary
What a nice toast. Here's best wishes back to you all too. Love,
Dottie Erdman in Arizona
To the crazy Californians from one New Yorker:
Happy New Year to the four of you. Nancy must be agog with the decisive USC win. I am a Florida fan (got to go to the Florida- Alabama game that sent them to the championship game) and intend to rah rah galore. Cath and Kate and Claire and I and another pal returned in mid- November from Patagonia. I recommend that trip, even though it is Grand Circle 37 fellow travelers). My best to you all in 2009. Drop by Central New York if you come this way. We all have lots of room.
Hetty
Glad you enjoyed what Chuck sent out. You’re right; we are good friends and we do always have fun together. You have to remember, we go back a loooooong way…to college days. J At this time of all of our lives it’s good to make time for as much fun as possible. We sure enjoyed the OAT trip where we got to meet YOU!! Tom and I have thought back on that trip and commented how much fun it was in good part due to the great people on the trip with us. We just had a terrific, amiable, fun loving group. Sure would be good to travel again together. Hopefully, one of these days.
Hope the new year is getting off to a good start for you. We’re in the process of having work done to replace our patio and walkways. It sure needed it and I have high hopes for the outcome. I’ll let you know! ‘til later, thanks for the note and you take good care.
Xoxo,
Nanc
HELLO TO THE FOUR OF YOU.
Happy New Year!!I just got back from an OAT trip to Egypt and Jordan. My youngest son, Andy went also and we had a wonderful time. Life is good and I thank you for your good wishes. I love to hear from you and appreciate that you include me. Love and Hugs,
Mary
What a nice toast. Here's best wishes back to you all too. Love,
Dottie Erdman in Arizona
To the crazy Californians from one New Yorker:
Happy New Year to the four of you. Nancy must be agog with the decisive USC win. I am a Florida fan (got to go to the Florida- Alabama game that sent them to the championship game) and intend to rah rah galore. Cath and Kate and Claire and I and another pal returned in mid- November from Patagonia. I recommend that trip, even though it is Grand Circle 37 fellow travelers). My best to you all in 2009. Drop by Central New York if you come this way. We all have lots of room.
Hetty
Glad you enjoyed what Chuck sent out. You’re right; we are good friends and we do always have fun together. You have to remember, we go back a loooooong way…to college days. J At this time of all of our lives it’s good to make time for as much fun as possible. We sure enjoyed the OAT trip where we got to meet YOU!! Tom and I have thought back on that trip and commented how much fun it was in good part due to the great people on the trip with us. We just had a terrific, amiable, fun loving group. Sure would be good to travel again together. Hopefully, one of these days.
Hope the new year is getting off to a good start for you. We’re in the process of having work done to replace our patio and walkways. It sure needed it and I have high hopes for the outcome. I’ll let you know! ‘til later, thanks for the note and you take good care.
Xoxo,
Nanc
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Greetings from Ken and June
Better late than never, I guess. We have been busy helping with the new addition to our family. Mia is now 5 1/2 months and growing like a weed. Her new skill now is blowing raspberries. I don't remember all the things that Mia is doing, from when our daughter was a child. Being grandparents is a whole new thing. We are enjoying it.
We will continue traveling. Feb is patting the whales off of Baja with the Cabrillo Aquairium Museum and in May/June we are off to Greece and Turkey. Traveling with our timeshaes in the US the rest of the year.
Hope all of you have a Happy Holiday.
Ken&June
Well, woe is me!
I wrote a reply and sent it to kandjwata2@juno.com (the address I have for Ken and June) but it was rejected by Google.
I refuse to be made a Scrooge by this and shall continue to keep contact.
Claire
We will continue traveling. Feb is patting the whales off of Baja with the Cabrillo Aquairium Museum and in May/June we are off to Greece and Turkey. Traveling with our timeshaes in the US the rest of the year.
Hope all of you have a Happy Holiday.
Ken&June
Well, woe is me!
I wrote a reply and sent it to kandjwata2@juno.com (the address I have for Ken and June) but it was rejected by Google.
I refuse to be made a Scrooge by this and shall continue to keep contact.
Claire
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Greetings from Dottie in response to greetings from the Sommer's and Milam's
One day at a time, I think, Chuck. Sounds to me like you are doing wonderfully well.
I'm off to teach a class for Northern Arizona University--- in Maricopa, AZ--- to teachers hoping to certify for reading specialists. So I am busy too. I have two classes I'm currently teaching and three student teachers. Next semester I have 12 student teachers all over Pinal County, so have turned down any other teaching engagements. But since I still love my teaching life, I guess I'd better do it while I am able.
What extra things are Marilyn and Nancy doing while you are swimming, etc.? I hope they are having fun too. Dottie
----- Original Message -----
From: Charles D. Milam
To: dottiebob76@msn.com
Sent: Thursday, November 13, 2008 1:15 PM
Subject: RE: [oatnewzealand] 11/12/2008 06:27:00 PM
Great to hear again from you Dottie. I will add your email to the blog if you have not already done so. It really is amazing how OAT gives you the travel bug. It is my hope to keep the blog alive with current events, weddings and other trip pictures welcomed since the blog is a living blog for our group. Please pass on the word to the others so that we can build the blog. And the weather here is like Arizona weather, 80 degrees at our house and into the 90's inland. A friend and I are still ocean swimming with the ocean temp at 60-63 degrees. Life is good even though the economy is going bad......
Chuck
From: dottiebob76@msn.comTo: cdmilam@hotmail.comSubject: Re: [oatnewzealand] 11/12/2008 06:27:00 PMDate: Wed, 12 Nov 2008 21:20:12 -0700
Thank you all so much for this wonderful message. The view is spectacular and you all look healthy, happy, and as if you are having a great time.
We, here in sunny southern Arizona, finally got a few cool days, but it is supposed to go back into the high 80's tomorrow and for the rest of this week and weekend. Sunny, clear, and warm. Nights are lovely, however.
My husband, Bob, and I plan on leaving the 15th of December for San Jose del Cabo, Mexico. Our middle son is getting married on the 26th there on the beach.
Mary Seal and I, and Muriel Cronkhite, are headed for Copper Canyon, Mexico in February for 12 or 14 days--- I can't remember exactly how many. Mary and her youngest son are going to Egypt the first part of December for three weeks, I think.
Claire and the New York gals just returned from Argentina and Chile. They had a lovely trip.
Best wishes to you and here's hoping you have wonderful holidays and a blessed New Year!
I'm off to teach a class for Northern Arizona University--- in Maricopa, AZ--- to teachers hoping to certify for reading specialists. So I am busy too. I have two classes I'm currently teaching and three student teachers. Next semester I have 12 student teachers all over Pinal County, so have turned down any other teaching engagements. But since I still love my teaching life, I guess I'd better do it while I am able.
What extra things are Marilyn and Nancy doing while you are swimming, etc.? I hope they are having fun too. Dottie
----- Original Message -----
From: Charles D. Milam
To: dottiebob76@msn.com
Sent: Thursday, November 13, 2008 1:15 PM
Subject: RE: [oatnewzealand] 11/12/2008 06:27:00 PM
Great to hear again from you Dottie. I will add your email to the blog if you have not already done so. It really is amazing how OAT gives you the travel bug. It is my hope to keep the blog alive with current events, weddings and other trip pictures welcomed since the blog is a living blog for our group. Please pass on the word to the others so that we can build the blog. And the weather here is like Arizona weather, 80 degrees at our house and into the 90's inland. A friend and I are still ocean swimming with the ocean temp at 60-63 degrees. Life is good even though the economy is going bad......
Chuck
From: dottiebob76@msn.comTo: cdmilam@hotmail.comSubject: Re: [oatnewzealand] 11/12/2008 06:27:00 PMDate: Wed, 12 Nov 2008 21:20:12 -0700
Thank you all so much for this wonderful message. The view is spectacular and you all look healthy, happy, and as if you are having a great time.
We, here in sunny southern Arizona, finally got a few cool days, but it is supposed to go back into the high 80's tomorrow and for the rest of this week and weekend. Sunny, clear, and warm. Nights are lovely, however.
My husband, Bob, and I plan on leaving the 15th of December for San Jose del Cabo, Mexico. Our middle son is getting married on the 26th there on the beach.
Mary Seal and I, and Muriel Cronkhite, are headed for Copper Canyon, Mexico in February for 12 or 14 days--- I can't remember exactly how many. Mary and her youngest son are going to Egypt the first part of December for three weeks, I think.
Claire and the New York gals just returned from Argentina and Chile. They had a lovely trip.
Best wishes to you and here's hoping you have wonderful holidays and a blessed New Year!
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
News from Sue on behalf of David Hill
Kia ora Chuck and everyone else:
This is David's wife, Sue, here. David is in Australia with another group so he won't have seen your video - since his computer skills don't amount to reading his emails every day while he is away. However, I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed seeing you all and, especially, hearing your advice to David that I would be able to help him contribute to your blog! I will definitely get onto him to make a contribution when he returns (mid-December)! But you're right, his skills do not lie in technology.
Congratulations on the election result! That Obama sign worked a treat! We've just had an election here, too, and a change of government. However, we have moved to the right, while everyone else seems to have gone to the left. Oh well, that's NZ, always going against the flow!
My best wishes to you all - I will alert David to your message but I'm sure, in the meantime, he would want to say "Hi" and send you his best, too.
Arohanui, Sue
This is David's wife, Sue, here. David is in Australia with another group so he won't have seen your video - since his computer skills don't amount to reading his emails every day while he is away. However, I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed seeing you all and, especially, hearing your advice to David that I would be able to help him contribute to your blog! I will definitely get onto him to make a contribution when he returns (mid-December)! But you're right, his skills do not lie in technology.
Congratulations on the election result! That Obama sign worked a treat! We've just had an election here, too, and a change of government. However, we have moved to the right, while everyone else seems to have gone to the left. Oh well, that's NZ, always going against the flow!
My best wishes to you all - I will alert David to your message but I'm sure, in the meantime, he would want to say "Hi" and send you his best, too.
Arohanui, Sue
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)