Nomad Flats

Three Days in July, 1863 Laura tells me that my blogs should be more frequent and shorter. Bob tells me he likes reading these long things. Bob wins. Apologies to Laura. There's a lot here. I have no choice. So it all started when I was chatting with a colleague from the Sea Cadets in DC a few months back and learned  he had published a Civil War book, gives lectures, tours etc. Back of my mind for the last several years was a thought to someday take an over the top tour of a historical battlefield. I asked him what he knew about that. "Hands down", Rick said was the annual Civil War Institute summer conference at Gettysburg College.  Six days of classroom lectures and tours. I did more class time that week than Bob did at Saint Norbert. Obviously a liberal arts college as you can see from this parking lot shot below. Flew into BWI on June 14th, Flag Day, and headed in the general direction of Gettysburg PA using my phone as the GPS for the ...

Is anyone annoyed by the rant from the left on immigration? Every time I hear the horrible names they call conservatives I wish they'd just take a breath. I've been call a racist for being Republican. Really? So many thoughtful, considerate and balanced people have just come unglued with their words. I guess for no other reason than mental therapy, it dawned on me to go witness a naturalization ceremony, presuming it would make me feel good about American and what a great and welcoming country it is. As you might have seen in past blogs, it's hard to find someone to join me. Fortunately my friend Tommy is always available. He's a bagger at Fry's and off on Fridays. Here's Tommy with Mrs. Justice when we arrived at 9:30 Friday at the Sandra Day O'Connor Federal Courthouse in downtown Phoenix. Didn't know she was so tall. I haven't attended a naturalization since my friend Paul (God rest his soul) was naturalized from Canada 20 years ago, but I...

When I was a kid I remember that my 8th  grade gym teacher Mr. O'Connor wore shorts with the MAC logo. I thought it was some rogue Marquette team. Never hear of the MAC until post college when member Goober suggested I join. I did, maybe in 1980. Thought I'd share a life worth of great times at a club who's time has passed. A couple of guys who run parking lots in town have bought the MAC and hope to remodel and reopen in a year but, I'm done. I hope they make it but not holding my breath. The parking lot guys couldn't get the MAC's parking lot machines to work ever since they took over. So lets go down memory lane. The top two event in my recollection would be Chris Flood's bachelor party and a wrestling match in the ballroom. Lets start with the batch party. Held in the Wisconsin Room shown here in better shape than then. The night came apart when the entertainment arrived. Three nice girls. Best man Bob was kind enough to giv...