Ken Walsh - US News and World Report Writer - Spoke on Campus Tuesday - I Was There

Ken Walsh has covered the White House since Ronald Reagan was president. Last week - he had a cover article that he wrote from interviews with Dick Cheney. About 200 students and faculty attended his talk. Here are some pictures I took - also the address of the article.

Ken's Article

We Saw Cathy Rigby in Peter Pan Tonight

Cathy Rigby is 54 and Nancy and I watched her fly around stage at the Tallahassee Civic Center from the front row. She is truly amazing - I was dazzled. I got the tickets about 3 months ago - waiting in line as the box office opened - thus the front row for all of the shows - King and I - Will Rogers Revue - and Peter Pan.

When I told Nancy that Cathy Rigby has been doing Peter Pan for 33 years - as long as I was teaching - Nancy said, "Talk about having the same lesson plan." End of my Review.


Review in USA Today in 2004 - Cathy Rigby begins last hurrah as Peter Pan

LOS ANGELES (AP) — He's the boy who won't grow up — but the actress who has played Peter Pan for 30 years finally has.

Cathy Rigby was barely out of her teens the first time she strapped on a sword and flew off a stage to do battle with the evil Capt. Hook in James Barrie's enduring children's classic, Peter Pan.
She's 51 now, and although the trim, youthful Rigby can soar across a stage better than ever, she has decided the time is right to hang up her sword, say goodbye to the Lost Boys and leave Neverland behind.

Not that the ending will come quickly.

Cathy Rigby Is Peter Pan just opened at Southern California's La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts. It is scheduled to visit more than two dozen other cities before arriving on Broadway in time for the Christmas 2005 season.

Florida State Football Schedule 2006

Sept. 4 at Miami Miami, FL
Sept. 9 TROY TALLAHASSEE, FL
Sept. 16 CLEMSON TALLAHASSEE, FL
Sept. 23 RICE TALLAHASSEE, FL
Oct. 5 at NC State Raleigh, NC
Oct. 14 at Duke Durham, NC
Oct. 21 BOSTON COLLEGE TALLAHASSEE, FL
Oct. 28 at Maryland College Park, MD
Nov. 4 VIRGINIA TALLAHASSEE, FL
Nov. 11 WAKE FOREST TALLAHASSEE, FL
Nov. 18 WESTERN MICHIGAN TALLAHASSEE, FL
Nov. 25 FLORIDA TALLAHASSEE, FL
Dec. 2 ACC Championship Jacksonville, FL
8 home games - 4 away games
We really lined up the powerhouses this year - Troy - Rice - Western Michigan.

Three Amigos Do Washington

Yesterday Drew - Harry - Keith spent the day visiting museums in Washington DC. The above picture was taken on the porch of the new American Indian Museum looking east toward the Capitol. It was clear and sunny - about 40 degrees - not bad for January 22nd in DC. They also visited the Air and Space Museum and the Architecture Museum. After the museums- they had supper at Clyde's - a really neat sports pub next to the MCI Arena. After supper - they returned to their Grand Hyatt Hotel where they watched the UNC at FSU basketball game on TV. The Seminoles lost 81-80. This morning the party broke up when Harry flew back to Tallahassee and Drew flew back to Syracuse. Keith took the Metro to College Park.

The day reminded me of January 20, 1973 - 33 years almost to the day - when Nancy and I visited the Capitol for the swearing in of Richard Nixon as president. It was bitter cold that day and our Congressman Gus Yatron provided us tickets and entertained us in his office. Gus was a good representative and he is gone now. One year later Nixon became the first president to resign - caused by the Watergate Scandal. George Patton once said, "All glory is fleeting." You can be a hero one day and gone the next.

Lee Corso is in Tallahassee for Funeral of Tom Nugent

Lee Corso flew in to Tallahassee on my plane this morning at 10 AM. I did not pester him or ask for a picture. He carried his own bags - got a rental car - and drove in to town alone. Lee is here for the funeral of Tom Nugent - his former football coach at Florida State.

Good News - Sharon is Pregnant

Who is Sharon? Sharon is my sister Judy's daughter. She will be as big as a house when she graduates from the University of Florida in May with her doctorate in Audiology. We are all very happy. We plan to make it to her graduation in Gainesville. We love that Gator - but we hope the little one will be a Seminole. We hope that husband Vaughn is doing fine too.

Time to Reflect - Being Hoya and Dookie Parents

Frequent Flyer Ticket to DC - $60
Grand Hyatt Hotel Room - $99
Hoya Game Ticket - $30
13 Bagels - $6
The Look on Keith's after the Game of the Ages - PRICELESS

Well the partying is over. We went to a brewery across the street from our hotel. It was packed to the rafters with happy Hoya fans. After the game - some fans were holding up signs saying the Exorcism is over and the devil is gone. You could sense the relief on the happy faces - and Keith could have been the poster boy.

Keith wanted to go to Georgetown as long as I can remember - note the shirt picture above. When he finally got there after a year at FSU - John Thompson the Father - resigned as the coach which started a long period of dark ages. Now - John Thompson the Son has brought back the Hoya Spirit from the grave - and the DC Grind Faithful couldn't be happier. Everything seems possible now.

The party returned to our hotel room for a late pizza - and to watch all the other unbeatens fall. My Alma Mater put undefeated Pittsburgh on its back. I wish Nancy were here to enjoy this - but she is here in spirit. Here is a picture of Nancy and Keith walking on the Washington Mall about five years ago. Keith always wanted to be a Georgetown Hoya - after a strong year at FSU prepared him - he got his wish - he made it happen - and today - all of the Everharts are Hoyas.

"Hoya! Saxa!" - The Worm has Turned - Georgetown Knocks Duke Off - Makes Them 17-1

Click pictures to enlarge.
1. Storming of the court
2. Dancing in the street
3. Nate - Kate - Keith - Steve - Drew
4. Redick hits many 3's
5. Father and Son

If you are a Hoya - it was a game for the ages. If you are a Dookie it was just a speed bump - but the Georgetown led from bell to bell (except when Duke led 22-20) and beat a very good Duke team - 87-84. If you are Dad Everhart - it is one of the great moments of fatherhood - sitting at the game with your two alumni sons knowing you can't lose. Drew was as magnanimous in defeat as Keith was jubilant and courteous in victory. With about four minutes to go though - I think both of them thought that Duke was going to snatch another victory. At four minutes to go - I wanted to go down and get ready to storm the court - but I think Keith was afraid of some jinx.

JJ Redick of Duke is an inspiring young man to watch - he never gives up. But John Thompson prepared his team well. The Hoyas had a plan - something Georgetown hasn't had in years - and they followed through with it. They were able to break the Duke press with full court passes that ended up in easy dunks. Around the basket - they were able to hit the man taking the back door. I thought back to when I met John Thompson the father at the airport yesterday when he was on the way to the game. You could tell that in his heart he wanted this one badly. Well at least two fathers are having a great day today.

Our seats were in third deck behind the west basket. There is not a bad seat in the MCI Center - soon to be the Verizon Center. It is about 3 miles to campus from the arena - but the bus ride back for the team and students must have been spectacular - traffic was stopped in the streets. It is funny how an event like this makes a big city seem like a small town. The folks in DC will be rocking all night.

I sneaked back to the hotel room to turn in this report for my wonderful wife Nancy who planned this whole event. We wish she were here - but she enjoyed the game from a bar in Texas. Go Duke - Go Georgetown - Go ALA!

Keith was able to get six seats together - so we sat with Keith's work friend Steve - Nate (one of Keith's college roommates) and his girlfriend Kate - and the three amigos (Keith - Drew - Harry). Does it get any better for a Dad? Now it is off to the bar across the street before the party gets too far ahead of me.

Georgetown Hoyas Expect an Upset Over Duke

We are sitting in the Grand Hyatt Hotel in DC waiting for the 1:30 game between Duke and Georgetown - watching all the hype on TV. Supposedly the game is sold out - over 20,000 folks. The MCI Arena is two blocks away. It is sunny - blue skies - and about 60 degrees outside. We had bagels and orange juice for breakfast. Funny story - I went to a local breakfast shop that wanted $2 a bagel. I asked if there is a discount for 6 - they said that 6 would cost $12. Then I asked for the price of a dozen - they said $6! So I bought a dozen - the guy said pick one more because you get an extra bagel when you buy a dozen. Only in DC is one bagel $2 - and 13 bagels is $6. Just one of things that makes a Florida Coal Cracker smile. And us hillbillies are supposed to be dumb :-)

I predict the Hoyas win a close one. I plan to wear my Hoya sweatshirt.

Arrived Safely in DC - Grand Hyatt Hotel

I left the house this morning at 6:45. Buddy George took me to the airport. Tallahassee Airport is pretty nice - they have free internet there - making it convenient for "blog world." Several celebrities were getting on my plane. First - the women's softball coach was flying to Nashville for a clinic. Her name is Louie Brandt - she is the nice lady that walked up to me at Syracuse last year when I was looking for tickets and gave me free ones. Second - the track and field team was going to Lobos Invitational Meet in Las Cruces, New Mexico. The plane out of Tallahassee was full.

In Atlanta - I got to my gate and there was John Thompson - the former Georgetown Hoya coach - sitting there. I introduced myself and told him about Keith going to Georgetown and Drew going to Duke. I also told him we saw him in Hawaii at one of the basketball tournaments there in 1991. He did not remember me :-) But he was very cordial. When I got on the plane - he was in Row 1 Seat 1.

The plane from Atlanta was only half filled - we arrived 15 minutes early. In DC - the Metro comes right to the airport. For $1.35 on the blue line - I got right to Metro Center. Our Grand Hyatt Hotel has an entrance from the Metro Center - no need to go outide - the temperature is a frigid 48 here - but sunny.

We are in room 1167 - with a nice atrium view. We will be here for 3 nights. We are just a couple blocks from the Verizon Center - where the Duke/Georgetown game will be. Keith got six tickets together through his alumni thing - se we won't be ticket hunting. It will be Keith - Drew - Steve - Nate - Nate's girl - and me at the game.

Nancy got this hotel on priceline.com and did a great job - it is really nice. She also got the plane ride free using frequent flyer miles. Thanks Nancy - this is a great birthday gift.

Keith just called and said he is on the way. Drew is probably in the air from Syracuse.

I am looking forward to a neat weekend - no driving - lots of nice meals - watching games - a few drinks - and just a good time. Just do it.

Who do I root for? Georgetown? Duke? Half and half? Nobody? I did bring one sweatshirt with a name on.

I wonder if I see John Thompson at the game - will he remember me? John Thompson's son is the current coach at Georgetown.

Harry Going to DC to see "Everhart Bowl" with the Boys

Drew's Duke plays Keith's Georgetown tomorrow and I am sitting in the Tallahasee Airport with plane tickets and Keith has game tickets. We will be staying at the Hyatt in DC thanks to Nancy's planning. Drew is flying down from Syracuse and the three amigos will have a neat 4 days in DC. Got to go now - plane is boarding.

Nancy Flies to San Antonio for ALISE/ALA Convention

My lovely wife Nancy flew to San Antonio yesterday and will be there for a week. She will attend two conventions - ALISE and ALA. First - she will attend the Association of Library and Information Science Educators - where she will make a presentation about her new grant project. Then - the rest of the library world comes to town for the American Library Association convention. I do not know much more about what the conventions are about - it took all my effort to match names to those initials above. All I know is that I was invited to attend and after attending ALA conventions in Orlando, San Diego, and Chicago - I declined. The only way I plan to attend another ALA convention is if I have the exclusive rights to the "bun and bifocal" concessions. Nancy will return Monday.

Scamp Trailer Factory Burns Down - Fond Everhart Memories

I just read where the Scamp Trailer Factory burned down last night. It brings back fond memories for the Everhart Family.

In 1978 - we bought a Scamp new directly from the factory for $2200 cash. It weighed 950 pounds - and slept four - tightly.

It was delivered directly from Minnesota to Pennsylvania in March by a young man with a pickup truck - pulling a flat bed trailer with three Scamps on it.

The driver said we have a nice trailer with a good furnace because he spent that night in it and the temperature went down to 15 degrees outside - but it stayed toasty inside.

After a few local trips our first long range trip was a 30 day trip from Pennsylvania to the West Coast and back. We pulled that trailer roughly 7000 miles with a 1977 Chevy Chevette - with automatic transmission and no AC. My son was only six months old - my wife 24 - and my Dad was 62. Dad always wanted to see the Pacific Ocean and I was glad we took him because he died 4 years later - too young - with the dreaded Miner's disease - Black Lung.

The Chevette and the Scamp both performed flawlessly. We went to South Bend - Chicago - Mount Rushmore - Yellowstone - Salt Lake - Elko - Reno - SF - Morro Bay - LA - Disney - Vegas - Grand Canyon - Amarillo - St Louis - Indy - Pittsburgh - home to Tamaqua.

30 straight nights of four folks in that little fiberglass egg was a real test. On the second night of the trip in South Bend in July - we bought a little "carry cool" AC for the trailer window.

We have some absolutely fabulous pictures of my six month old son (now a doctor) - my 24 year old wife (now a professor type doctor) and my 62 year old Dad - now gone 28 years. Man RV's are great.

We Are Going on a Cruise

Nancy just booked a cruise. We are going to sail out of Tampa on Grandeur of the Seas - a Royal Caribbean Ship that we sailed on three years ago. You may re-call my "retirement cruise" in February 2003.

We will sail from Tampa to Mexico - then on to Grand Cayman Island - then Aruba - then Puerto Rico. Our boat cruise ends in San Juan where we will stay a couple of nights - then we will fly to Philadelphia - then spend a week in Pennsylvania visiting our friends and family - finally flying from Philadelphia back to Tallahassee.

If anyone is interested in going along - you can sign up here -

Our Cruise

More From Jim at the Alaska Volcano Site

In the 80s one of the other volcanoes blew and a KLM flight ran into the stuff at about 30K ft and flamed out all 4 engines. They coasted for 12 min before they got one engine started and then another and was able to make a safe landing at international.

Seems that the "Glass" stuff melted in the engines, coated some of the sensors and made it think the engines were over heating and shut them down. Most airlines just cancel their flights if a mountain is belching stuff over 10,000 ft anymore. Took $25 Mil to get that plane to fly again.

We had some visitors after the 1986 St. Augustine blow, and they were "Volcano Chasers". They bought gas for me to fly to St. Augustine. I was a little afraid of it, so I traveled at 10,000 ft so I could see it from a long way off. It is 180 miles from Anchorage, so it is a 3 hour round trip in my airplane.

The couple kept trying to see the mountain, and I kept trying to point it out to them. What I discovered was they were looking for the mountain to be at our level. Finally, when I told them to look down they saw it. It is only about 4500 ft, and it has made it's own island about 5 miles off shore. It is a classic cone with it's own island. Anyway, they were disappointed that it was so small.

I circled over it at 10,000 ft, and it looked pretty calm - just a few puffs of steam about every 3 or 4 min - so I decended until I flew around the top. We could even smell the sulfer at that level.

Bonus was we saw several bears on the shore just west of the mountain.

That is my "Visit the Volcano" story.

Jim

Jim Walton - My Bush Pilot in Anchorage - Reports on the Hot Volcano There

WOW!

Good Morning on Saturday. I guess I wasn't keeping up with the news yesterday. The volcano blew 5 times during the day including one about 7pm and the wind was more out of the North West. The Kenia was ashed! All night flights into Anchorage were canceled, because they can't see the ash cloud. Emma Lu was lucky to be on a flight that came in just at dusk or she might have been stranded in Seattle.

We will turn on the news at 5am here and see what it has done. Maybe Anchorage got sprinkled??

Volcanos can effect your life, it seems.

Jim

Augustine Volcano near Anchorage Alaska

Augustine is a young, active volcano in Alaska's Cook Inlet, where it poses a hazard to the city of Anchorage and the busy trans-Pacific air traffic around it. The Alaska Volcano Observatory has a special page reporting Augustine's current activity.