December 8, 2021 Gathering Ground

GATHERING GROUND REPORT

Recognize these folks? 
Probably not, because they were the guys at the next table (HSD Engineering group)

Our group: Bill, Chet, Norm, Dave

 

Dave, Jerry, Bill

Chet was waiting in the parking lot when I arrived, we walked in together and were greeted soon by Norm, Bill, Dave, and JoAnn as we all gathered for a morning breakfast feast and conversation.

Lot of early talk about replacing joints, seems like we all know someone or are having our own joint in the throes of needing replacement..  Does this show we are living too long or we have been too active or we don't want to purchase that reclining rocker and sit for hours in our fav location in the home of our choice?

Jo is in the process of creating dehydrated meals for the next long trek on the AT.  Since she and Jim have sampled their own homegrown creations from the first half trip meals, I suspect the choices on the menu for creation for next year will be focused on the best of the best recipes from the first half of their trip.  I think my vote would be more of the same pizza I saw in the Instagram post that Jim was consuming after a milestone leg!  Maybe that was not dehydrated....hmmm.

Jo and I shared our electric bills after a long stint away  from our homes.   See photos attached for graphs of both.

Chet has a friend who has a brewery, so he is asking if anyone would like free beer.  Show up at the next January Breakfast and we can share!!

Report this morning on the news that an alligator was rescued from the Westfield RIver in Westfield Mass.   No details on where it was taken but it was alive and well at the time.

Chet also gave a tip to any Bourbon drinking reader, Basil Hayden small batch Bourbon.    Basil Hayden's bourbon whiskey is an artfully aged, light and easy to sip spirit that features a delicious and clean finish. It is a craft bourbon unlike any other.  JUST SAYIN...

Bill remembered one visit that Tom Timlin set up.   It was his neighbor's garage that housed several Ferraris, about a dozen, including an Enzo.   Can't give any more details just in case....

Bill also reported that last week, he golfed one day and had a ski day with Jerry.  It doesn't get much better!

Remember Dick Hughes at work.   An analyst in the department with a Dole background.

That's all the news fit to print

Your Scribe,

Jerry

COULD IT REALLY HAVE BEEN 40 YEARS AGO?

Following up to our front-page story - an article from ComputerWorld featuring our long-time NFTH editor Hal.   CLICK HERE FOR FULL STORY.

November 10, 2021 Gathering Ground

Bill Wills, Norm's chair, and Dave O'Leary
(also missing from picture but in attendance: Jo-Ann Smith)

NOVEMBER 10 GATHERING GROUND REPORT: 

(With Jerry Kimble vacationing in Utah, Bill Wills stepped in to scribe at November's GG)

Hi everyone,

Norm LaPointe, Dave O’leary, Jo-Ann Smith and Bill Wills were this months attendees.

Jo-Ann was just back from hiking the Appalachian Trail.  She has completed 700  of the 2100 miles of the trail.  She and her husband Jim, had to stop at this point due to a knee problem Jo-Ann developed. (Overuse!) They are both OK now and are hiking the trail piece by piece two days a week. Last week they did some of the trail in Connecticut heading northward to Massachusetts. The AT rules allow you to take breaks like this as long as you do the whole thing. They plan to return to the trail full time soon and hope to complete the whole thing within a year of starting.   Good Luck  Jo and Jim.

Somehow the conversation morphed over to bee keeping. Jo-Ann gave all of us a lesson on the subject. It turns out Jo-Ann and her husband Jim are bee keepers in Granby. Did you know that the female bees kick the male bees out of the hive at some point, and the just die!  Another group of bees are assigned the task of fluttering their wings next to the Queen, to keep her cool and healthy. That’s their job! (nature is strange)

We also found out that there is help from the state if you want to be a bee keeper. 

The conversation soon switched to mice.  Everyone had a story. We also discussed how to eliminate them. Call Jerry Kimble was the consensus. My cats do a good job of capturing them but I try to get them to drop it, and if they do, I set it free. It’s a 50/50 chance that they drop it. 

We talked about replacement parts (Shoulders, hips and knees) and how easy it is to get new parts these days.

I’ve been talking with Bart Nixon in Florida. He’s having a new knee installed this month and his goal it to play golf this spring.  If all goes well, he’ll get the other one too.

I mentioned that a play golf with a Pratt engineer who has two new knees, two new hips and a shoulder replacement. The bionic man. (I’m looking for a brain replacement.)

While we were there, eight men came into the restaurant wearing Roles Royce shirts and hats. They were part of the ‘RR on wing service group’.  I told them we knew they were coming, we would have worn our Pratt and Whitney hats.

Finally, this was not discussed at the breakfast, since I only found out after. Elaine Menthe celebrated her 85th birthday by riding a 15 mile UPHILL bicycle tour with her husband Bob. The event was a “George Hincapie Gran Fondo “  (?)  Lance Armstrong also participated but I don’t know who won.  I’ll attempt to attach a photo of the event. (Ed.note: see picture below)

Till next month - your temporary scribe - Bill Wills

ALUMNI NEWS:

(Folks, we're trying out a new feature here, and look forward to hearing from you - what's new in your lives?)

Elaine Menthe

Elaine Menthe
at the Gran Fondo in Greenville, putting the rest of us to shame!
For more about the race, CLICK HERE   Go, Elaine!  

 

Larry Quillen

Larry Quillen's latest novel   
More about the The Lost People at Larry's website HERE.  
Congrats to Larry for finding a creative outlet and the determination to see it through.

October 13, 2021 Gathering Ground

 GATHERING GROUND: 

Dave O'Leary, Bill Wills, Norm Lapointe, and Chet Biernat, 
deep in thought about how to solve the world's great mysteries
(also present, but missing from this month's pictures: Jerry Kimble)

When Chet and I entered the restaurant space, Bill was sitting at the table.   Not like Bill to be the first at Breakfast.   Norm followed shortly and then Dave O joined us for a 1/2 cup and Blueberry muffin.    Next to us in our somewhat private room, the Engineers formed for their weekly breakfast.  They soon numbered a similar five (5) at their table.

Since I was on the cusp of taking off for the wild west with my RV situation, Norm and I shared some RVing stories.   Not about destinations and the scenic National Parks that are Nature's Wonders but of all of the things that can go wrong with a mobile house traveling around the states over bumpy roads.   Norms story after story of things not going well quickly justified his dumping of his RV when he only had his Class A a short time.  His list of issues abounded on almost every trip.

Chet brought up deer strikes on the highway. Both he and I have had the misfortune of hitting a deer or a deer hitting us while driving.  I did trump the story of strikes when remembering my early years growing up in Pennsylvania(home of the whitetail deer), when my brother hit a deer and before he was able to make the auto repair appointment to fix that strike, hit another deer.   Lots of deer in the state of Pa.

JoAnn and Jim's trip on the AT was mixed with the other stories about the AT hikes including Bill Bryson's "A Walk in the Woods".  I don't remember Bryson's walk being nearly as wet as Jo and Jim's hike.  They are still at it and it can't be real fun some days with the constant wet.   BEST from the B'fast crew!!! 

I'll relay one story of hiking that Bill Wills had taken.   Back in the Vietnam era, Bill was in the bush during monsoon season, so it never stopped raining for days.  Many inches of rainfuall to the point of it was either walking in water or mud up to your ankles as you were hiking through the jungle.  Most GI's wanted to get back to the states to enjoy a night out or a hot home cooked meal, Bill was dreaming about dry socks on dry feet!!

Norm remembered a train ride from Florida to his home in Massachusetts.   Of course provisioning for the multi day trip was a priority so Norm procured a full case of beer and some chips.   That first day Norm was sitting next to one of the Florida Magistrates of the court(and an alcoholic) so the provisioning didn't last as long as expected.  Good news, the train added a club car about the same time the beer ran out so the rest of the trip was as good as the first.

Some talk of skiing this winter, Covid did change who and when people would hit the slopes.  One of the more significant changes  in downhill skiing was the concept of Skinning.   This is something that Gil had done his last few years on skiis and many of our younger skiers are taking up this technique of skiing.   Here is a link to show the concept   HERE.

See all next month

Your Scribe

Jerry

Dave, Bill, Norm, Chet, now smiling: 
nothing like a hearty breakfast with friends to solve all of those world's great mysteries!

September 8, 2021 Gathering Ground

 GATHERING GROUND: 

The cool of September was with the NFTH crowd, temps in the 50's for a change and the good possibility of more cooler weather mixed in going forward.    Chet, Norm, Dave, Bill, Fred and Jerry enjoyed another breakfast put on by one of Windsor Locks best short order breakfast cooks.   We did mask up (see photo's) ,as the large sign before entering did not give anyone a choice on wearing a mask or not.

I mentioned to Chet (who previously visited with his Son.) that I had visited Enders Island in Stonington Ct.   It is a Catholic Retreat Center that the grounds are open to the public.   A worthwhile visit if you are in the Connecticut shore area around Mystic.   See link to Enders Island here.

Jerry and Bill traveled to Hampton to visit Tim.   The Vietnam traveling Memorial Wall was set up not to far from Tim's house so we took some time to observe the presence of the wall.   Bill had one name that he wanted to recognize on the wall. We did find the name and according to Bill, that was the position that Bill was replacing in his new platoon when he arrived in country!

We also ventured to Plum Island to fish on the sea shores off of Parker River Nation Wildlife Refuge, link is HERE.   It is one of the more beautiful landscapes/seascape on the north eastern Atlantic shore.  Almost six miles of coast open to the public for a small donation or a senior National Park Pass.  Open unless the Piping Plover are nesting or raising there young and then closed to all for the several month process(typically in the summer prime times).   One for the birds, none for the humans...

The table brought up a very common issue on the highway.   With the lack of congestion on the highways, many drivers that are in a hurry and have ample room to speed and change lanes.   Zigzagging there way to there destination(heaven?).   The also seems to be a significant absence of law enforcement on the highways, like they have abandoned traffic monitoring task in the current social/political climate.  Keep your eyes in the mirrors and stay safe!

Some conversation about E-cars and if anyone was comfortable to purchase them at this time in their maturity.   The vote was mixed, many thinking OK for an around town car.   If traveling, extra planning and extra times seems to be an important part of the thinking.  No one at the table has taken the E-plug plunge.

Dave and Bill spent some time(again) strategizing on Bill's golf game.   Similar response from Dave, easy swing, good follow through and keep your eye on the ball.   OK!!

I was wearing a T-shirt from an auto show that I attended last year.  It was at the Mohegan Sun and both Ford and Chrysler were offering a free ride in there respective muscle car.   The Chrysler car was so power dominant that it was doing power drifts entering back into paddock to let out the ride passengers.    No one appeared to have wet there pants but some of the looks on their faces showed a great relief to be on Terra fir-ma once again..

As we were leaving, Norm was showing off his newish auto,it came with a 5 year bumper to bumper  warranty.   He purchased the additional 5 years thinking worry free until the time he doesn't have to worry.  Seems like some latest purchases I have recently made have that last time scope definitional also.??

~ Your Scribe

Jerry 

Bill Wills, Fred Goff, Norm Lapointe, Chet Bierniat, Dave O'Leary

Chet, Jerry Kimble, Dave, Bill, Fred

 

August 11, 2011 - Gathering Ground

 

GATHERING GROUND: 

Chet Biernat, Jerry Kimble, Dave O'Leary, Fred Goff

Welcome to our 2nd Wednesday Breakfast at the Gathering Ground restaurant in Windsor Locks, Ct. USA.   Norm, Chet, Dave O, Dave E, and Jerry made the 7:30 welcome time.   Our long lost wait staffer, Amber, was back and made sure we were greeted like we had been there many, many time.   Good to see Amber after her many month absence.   Some staff at the restaurant was still not filled, the kitchen staff but the wait staff seemed to be holding there own.

 Lot of discussion about weight, Fred had great luck with a WW diet and was aware that loosing/ gaining weight is just a math game.   He admitted that his  math was off over that past few months.   Norm was happy to report that he usually stays within a lb or two of his many years recording his visible weight on the scale. 

Dave O was having a difficult time trying to hit his personal goal of 8 glasses of water a day.  Many glasses  went down but the last few were often not recorded and not drunk in most days.   He remembers the same amount of beer was never a problem for him in his peak golfing days!!   lots of water will reduce Potassium in your body and this will interfere with muscle control, some marathon runners on a cool day will experience this when they think drinking lots of water is crucial to making to the end only to find that  when the brain no longer controls the muscles in the  body and they fall to the ground!    Quick fix, eat a banana and wait 10 minutes!

Chet did comment about a new beer he had found that hit the spot on his palette, a Water Melon Wheat, he did say somewhat under his breath that it sort of taste like tap water.   What town are you living in!!!

Fred is Tech lead in finding a security option for cameras at the airport his plane is parked at.   Evidence of some uninvited guest have show up, so with some donated monies from the owners of the various planes at the airport, Fred is on a mission to video any and all on the off hours activity.

Dave reports Brimfield to be a little less exciting this year.   Funny, for the couple of times Jerry has visited, that was the impression I had gotten also.

That is all of the news that's fit to print.   The health issues are not recorded to save my fingers from getting callouses trying to record the too many that were mentioned

Your Scribe,

Jerry 

Dave O, Fred, Dave Ewbank, Norm Lapointe, Chet

Dave Ewbank, with a shout-out to the "Canal du Panama"

PHOTO GALLERY: 

1. Jo-Ann and Jim's odyssey:

 

 

2. Jerry - Glacier National Park:

 

"Even though big brother is watching with our various electronic devices, once and a while one of these apps that reminded us that we are being watched also brings us back to a place that was spectacular memory in your life.   This pic came up today on the 5th anniversary of visiting this location, Glacier National Park.   Pic of the kids with a backdrop to keep looking at for a long time" ~ Jerry Kimble

3. Chicken Crosses Road:

Randolph, Vermont:
A chicken crossed the road in front of my car, but didn't stop to explain its motive.
~ Chris 

July 14, 2021 - Gathering Ground

GATHERING GROUND: 

Rein Pihel, Bart Nixon, Bill Wills, Norm Lapointe, Chet Biernat

The morning started slowly with Jerry and Chet entering before the rest of the crowd, Norm followed shortly and we had coffee and conversation before ordering.   Shortly after ordering, Fred enters and is then followed by Rein Pihel. With Rein our table was full and we proceeded to the closed room (still a limit on customers at Gathering Ground because of the new staff in training).  OK, then Bart and Bill, Bart was North for a few months for the first time since 2019, good to see you Bart.

We all seem to be involved with volunteer jobs but Norm is the king with many locations having his presence to help with tech issues or just to provide social company for an hour to folks in places that get little or very little visitation from their family.  Thanks Norm!!

The closed room also had six of the Hamilton Engineers for the first time since COVID, having their first post-COVID breakfast and enjoying the camaraderie and conversation.

Bill talked about some of the adventures of his recent trip to Arkansas.   The Wills clan met to enjoy the summer and participate in the lake activities that his nephew has found.  Bill found water skiing is now wake skiing and that was something that eluded his current capabilities so he quickly stated that he could easily get out of the water on water skis and ski around the lake.   Getting out of the water was the same with skis as it was with the wake board.  Bill decided to be the watcher in the boat that was cruising on top of the water and gave up the goal of standing on top of the water with skis or wake board.

As our senses become dull as we age, we contrast the odor of cigarettes today vs 40  years ago in vastly different environments.   To think that many of us had sat in meetings 40 years ago with 50% of the people smoking, and no one even commented on the blue haze and odor of the conference room.   Today, we catch a whiff of a smoker on an open beach and we glare to find the culprit and to move as far away as we can.   The nose does not seem to be as affected as some of our other key senses, don't you know....

We all shared stories and senior moments when recalling our stories, good to have company going down this road.

~ Your scribe,

Jerry

With your scribe Jerry

HAL'S NEW WHEELS: 

Picture copied from Amazon website

June 9, 2021 - Gathering Ground

GATHERING GROUND:  

 

 

The signage that greeted us all at the door  OK if vaccinated but eater beware if you expect typical service

Chet, after I mentioned that I've been spending some time in Mystic Connecticut, said that he and his Father/Son usually spend some time in Mystic and head to a location that is unique and special called Enders Island.   It is a Catholic Retreat and happens to be open to the public as well as being a retreat for many Catholic groups.   See more HERE.

Jo-Ann is  in the planning process to successfully navigate the Appalachian Trail.   Jim, her husband, decided in his recent late taken retirement that he would like to do the AT as an intro to his free time in his intro to retirement.  Jo-Ann immediately fetched the 8 books she had purchased and digested that covered how, where, what, when about the AT.   Jim very quickly realized that this could be a team effort and started an early plan with a couple's attitude about taking the trail.   Of course Jo-Ann has gear from many hiking adventures and so she brought out the ultralight tent that had seen many treks.   With a little research and a few extra dollars, it was being upgraded to a new Super Ultra light going from 7lbs to under 2lbs.   More to come when Jo-Ann gets closer, it sounds like Instagram will be the app used to follow the couple on the trail.   (You'll see "Jo-ann's Appalachian Trail Journal" further down in this MailChimp email).

Norm is not in the pictures as he had an appointment and left the table before the camera crew arrived.,

Your Scribe

Jerry   

PHOTO GALLERY:

Gathering Ground:

Jo-Ann Smith, Fred Goff, Chet Biernat

Your scribe Jerry: "All should remember, found this beauty to wear to Bfast"

 

 

 

Amazon Grows:

New facility (Windsor) starting to look really HUGE