[Captain Eddie]

Perhaps those (probably few) of us who are there Friday can meet at the P-38 at 10:00 am. I'll be there, so I'll be looking for all of you at the P-38 on Friday also. How about it, rdenham? Anybody else? I believe Jim will be there, and I'll be in touch with him, so I'll let him know!

[Captain Eddie]

It's Thursday, September 27! TODAY'S THE DAY!!!!!!!!!

[parsig9]

Originally Posted by Captain Eddie

It's Thursday, September 27! TODAY'S THE DAY!!!!!!!!!

Some of us have to work today and Friday! So knock it off.

[Captain Eddie]

Originally Posted by parsig9

Some of us have to work today and Friday! So knock it off.

I asked for the two days off earlier this year. I did go down early this morning, but it was raining cats and dogs. As my feet were soaked, I left around 11:00 AM. It's brightened up nicely now, but I'll not be heading down untill tomorrow, going to provide a ride for Jim, Lorraine, and their son. If anyone is not aware, the weather is supposed to be great the rest of the week, mostly sunny and in the 70's.

Ps. seeing all of those Mustangs lined up was amazing!

[STARMAN 352ND]

My brother and i will not be able to attend this event due to a family emergency that came up this evening..
I will be giving my tickets for 3 days and 2 nights to my buddy next door.
Make sure you guys take lots of pictures to post on the forum for all to see and have a fun weekend and be safe.
JP

[Captain Eddie]

Sorry to hear about that, STARMAN. Hope everything ends up OK.

[Captain Eddie]

I went the the Airport Marriot yesterday around 5:30, picked up the book "Bluenoser Tales." Looks to be a great book, and very good quality. They have them for sale there also, and apparently will be there today, and I gathered also tomorrow, to sell them. I got a number of signatures there, including Bob "Punchy" Powell." The Mariot is at 1375 N Cassady Ave. If interested, call (770) 289-3858.

Also, my wife and I had Jim, Lorraine, and son James over for dinner last night! I believe a wonderful time was had by all. Jim and Lorraine told us, in person, the story of the bat in their Flat (kinda rymes, doesn't it. If anyone does not know, a flat is a home), and about the time they got drenched in cow pee while driving behind a truck. I'm sure some questioned Jim's veracity on this, but Lorraine, a licensed psychologist, confirmed the truth of the story!

I was able to pick up the aforementioned book for Jim, also, and this even though I had forgotten my wallet! I was told to just take care of it tomorrow! As Old Crow previously mentioned, they are great people!

[duxford]

Oh, how sad I am. But I can bear it.

Here is my sad story that I sent to Louie and to Graham and to Paul and to DGGerry. I am ill and I won't be able to come--but I will there is spirit--and I will be able to get a signature or two I am sure later. I am doing all right now. The Delta Airlines gave me all credit. Take good notes. TAKE GREAT PICTURES FOR ME/US. Thanks.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Gall Bladder Greetings to All!

What a surprise!

Tuesday night during teaching class, at 6:30, I received a pain in the gut like never ever before. I sweat and then dismissed class.

Trying to decide a heart attack or a bad candy bar, I weighed the decision to go to the hospital, home, or the nearest fire station. I chose home.

I did not make it. I then chose the emergency room, by now practically holding my ankles near the gas pedal from pain. It was 7:30

I called my wife to meet me. A paramedic helped me into a wheel chair. I was rushed into an exam room, stripped of all but socks and undies and wired to every machine available. High blood pressure, intense pain, no heart attack. Ulcer? "A little Dilaudid, please." AAHHHHHHH....

Then a CT Scan,

By 11 pm the ER doctor decided to call the surgeon, having ruled out an aneurysm. I was moved to a room at 2:15; Sue left, and I was morphined...again at 4...again at 5...once more at six.

"Surgery at 9. Gall stones for sure."

"Take a deep breath..." At noon I was back in the room, and was told all went well. I would be able to leave after 5!!!

At 7:30 I was home with the cats and my sweetie, and weighing a bit less. Twenty-four hours! I have a reamed out belly-button (bandaged, of course), and three neatly spaced slits for the instruments.

So, here I am, feeling no pain (Darvocet helps). I will not teach glass class tonight, I will not fly to Pittsburg tomorrow, I will not attend the P-51 Mustang Gathering in Columbus, Ohio, on Sunday--nor will I have four days at the cottage. I will be vacationing here at home, with me cats and me Darvocet and me TV/DVDs--and me Sweetie.

Plans change. But I am certainly lucky.

Of course, I was chided by the paramedics. "Call 9-1-1 (or IX-I-I in Roman numerals from the movie Hercules). "Yes, you'd find me by the side of the road, by my car. What would happen to my car?"

All's well that ends well.

I did learn from the surgeon that my great loss of weight (35-45 pounds) in such a short period of time may have been a contributing factor. My knee surgeon was certainly elated with the weight loss. No, I attribute it to statistics: 1 in 10, over 40, obese, wings and ribs--a ticking-gall stone, ready to lodge....

Keep those cards and letters coming. Just kidding. I am fine. And I will spend Sunday with my wife, probably making airplane sounds and blowing on propellers.

Regards to you all.

Duxford

[Captain Eddie]

Got back from the airshow a while back-GREAT airshow!! To see all of those P-51's together, not to mention a couple of B-25's, B-17's, P-38's, and a P-39. I was also very excited to find a Lancaster there! Paid $5 for a tour, well worth the money, had never seen one before!

There is also a drop-dead gorgeous P-40. Absolutely beautiful. But there is a sad story to go with it, unfortunately. You see, Jim (who, by the way, has had a number of flying lessons), was arrested trying to steal it! Last I saw of him was his saaad face looking out the back of the paddy wagon!

I've really enjoyed getting to know Jim, Lorraine, and his son James. Jim is a true gentleman, a real class act! Hope the courts go easy on him!

I did not, however, enjoy the modern jets always kicking in their afterburners. For a few hours there, they were really making a racket, makes it hard to talk to people. I did, however, really enjoy the show the F-22 put on, it was truly amazing, not too sure I could even describe it.

Looking forward to the show tomorrow, and meeting more of you then (I'll bet few if any of you who will be there tommorow will be reading the beforehand, however.)

[bsmith13]

Originally Posted by Captain Eddie

Got back from the airshow a while back-GREAT airshow!! To see all of those P-51's together, not to mention a couple of B-25's, B-17's, P-38's, and a P-39. I was also very excited to find a Lancaster there! Paid $5 for a tour, well worth the money, had never seen one before!

There is also a drop-dead gorgeous P-40. Absolutely beautiful. But there is a sad story to go with it, unfortunately. You see, Jim (who, by the way, has had a number of flying lessons), was arrested trying to steal it! Last I saw of him was his saaad face looking out the back of the paddy wagon!

I've really enjoyed getting to know Jim, Lorraine, and his son James. Jim is a true gentleman, a real class act! Hope the courts go easy on him!

I did not, however, enjoy the modern jets always kicking in their afterburners. For a few hours there, they were really making a racket, makes it hard to talk to people. I did, however, really enjoy the show the F-22 put on, it was truly amazing, not too sure I could even describe it.

Looking forward to the show tomorrow, and meeting more of you then (I'll bet few if any of you who will be there tommorow will be reading the beforehand, however.)

I look forward to more posts and PICS!