4/25: 52nd reunion of the class of '61 will be held at Decatur's pond on Saturday, July 20th, beginning at 3:00 p.m. Bring your own beverage, and a dish to share. Hope to see you there. Yes, there will be a campfire. Rain date will be Sunday, July 21. Ace Schaiewitz told me that July 20th will be the 44th anniversary of the 1st lunar landing. He also informed me that the moon will be 90% full, and that he plans on doing some howling. Not something I want to miss!
5/1: Dot (Stolzenberger) and Walt Pritchet are up north, so we got a group together for lunch at Daddy-O's in Hopewell Junction. We enjoyed a good lunch, and the company even more!
First row: Rosemary Decatur, Diana Woermann, Dot Pritchet, Chris Dugas
Second row: Bob Decatur, Alan Woermann, Walt Pritchet, Dave Dugas
5/16: After many months, Rose and I got together with Dan and Nilda.
Things were going very well until Dan spotted a piece of aluminum foil in his wine glass (most likely placed there by him). See pic below:
Would you believe that he got on his phone right then and there, and called his attorney? Can you believe the nerve of this guy?
6/6: I've been neglecting the website, and missed some important days in May.
Both John Roger, and Kathy (Scanlon) Smith celebrated entering into their new decade. Congratulations!
During the month of June, Leah McIntyre, Joe Mantovi, and Betty Jo Montgomery will celebrate birthdays. Charlie and Sandy Van Riper, Mike and Ethlyn Finnerty, and Charlie and Linda Patterson will celebrate anniversaries.
Congratulations to all!
6/7: Playing golf with Leah and Jim McIntyre yesterday, we came upon an insect that I haven't seen since 1964 when I was a junior in college in West Virginia. It's a 17 year Cicada (sometimes referred to as a locust). We're all familiar with the annual Cicada that marks the nearing of Labor Day, and returning to school. This one has a very unusual life cycle in that it spends 16 years under the ground as an immature larva. The 17th year, it emerges from the ground by the thousands (or even millions) as a nymph, and then goes through final molt to the adult stage. It has no digestive tract, so it doesn't eat. It's sole design as an adult is to mate. It's adult life is only 2 - 4 days. When I used to relate this to my students, I would always get remarks such as "that's stupid." or "why should they exist?" They certainly are a phenomenon of nature. I was glad to see, and hear them. As so much of the land here in the northeast has been farmed, or developed, there are no where near the numbers as in the past.
By the way, also came upon a Black Racer* (at least I think it's a Black Racer - help me out, Charlie) on the golf course. I haven't seen one since I was a kid. Always good to see a reptile or amphibian, as those populations have also taken a beating.
Sorry, but couldn't help but report our findings - guess it's the old science teacher in me.
Double click here to add text.
Cicada (and Jim McIntyre's finger)
Black Racer - notice that Jim's finger is NOT
in this picture.
*After further exploration, this might be an Eastern Black Rat Snake. Not sure at this point.
Checked with D.E.C. biologists, and turns out it's a Black Rat snake.