TomPeashey

OT of course (sort of as the pic is of drums) seeing these civil war pics is fantastic but sad... often the drummer and bugler were mid to early teens and were always at the point... many were the first to fall... I'm contemplating a Civil War Novel loosely based on the 4 year career of my Great Grandfather who died in the Confederate attempt to retake Nashville... Yes he was a Johnny Reb... the facts are pretty interesting to begin with and could really be developed in to an interesting story... he fought up and down the Mississippi - into Atlanta and back home to Tennessee... he was a POW for many months... After 4 hard years of war, he died in the battle of Franklin just a few miles from his home and children in Dickson TN Where's Ken Burns when you need him?

be sure to say hello Gary... long time no see

wow is right... that's a heck of a staff to start up with...

normally Ray Upstate NY wins... we won't beat Buffalo this year... but got more than our share... oh and it's about 90 out just off the Virgin Islands today headed for a day in St. Maarten tomorrow... I must apologize to Freddie but his place was with his father...

hope everyone is enjoying the winter... all's well here as we await another storm tomorrow into Monday... fortunately, late tomorrow morning Karen and I will be heading south in advance of the storm and escaping for a couple of weeks - celebrating our 46th Anniversary... (yes, she's a saint for putting up with both me and drum corps) Cruising thanks to Bob Cardaneo's Cruise One and good buddy Ken MacLean... see you all after the 15th...

All of us in the Drum Corps community send our condolences to the Kausch family. Dave Kausch passed on a short time ago and had been a well-known member of Rochester Crusaders, Rochester Phoenix and the Hawthorne Caballeros. His 45 year old son Benjamin (Benji) was riding his bike on the shoulder of RT 1 near St. Augustine, FL when he was struck and killed by a car that swerved onto the shoulder. The driver fled the scene. Special prayers go out to Dave's wife Lynn on her loss.

Have a warm time Ray... I'll be hitting that area soon myself... really looking forward to a break from the cold and snow of Rochester...

the sea of black in the audience at the Dream was a sight to behold... I do believe they all worshipped at St. Caballero's

Jolly Jesters did wear the pointy clown hats... one could argue that Les Troubadours hats were pointy also... certainly one of the most unusual in drum corps history

Fran... no argument on '72 being the best top 5 in DCA... certainly the most competitive... anyone of the 5 could have won... To all of you HAPPY NEW YEAR - keep safe

"Whatshisname?" well let's see... 65 Wayne was still in diapers... so "Whatshisname" must be the one and only Frankie D.

you in a cowgirl outfit... now that's a picture I'd pay for Merry Christmas EVERYONE especially the Queen and her Mom...

since there's no way for me to know the other 2... that appears to be a young Duke Duscharme of Springfield Marksmen fame - late great HOF member and drum corps historian...

from Donnie: "Good news - they are going to pull the tubes out of Bonnie today, and if there are no problems, and they don't foresee any, she'll come home tomorrow. Then the long journey or home recovery starts. and the home recovery starts and we don't know how long that will be. but she's on the mend and we thank you for all your prayers and support. It was greatly appreciated. Now I have to figure out how I'm gonna carry the load for a while. but I'll figure it out. Ya all know me, I'm determined."

I think it's a DUKE and I only know two Dukes in drum corps... and it's not Tommie Argy ... so that leaves a fairly young version of our Massachusetts friend...

he may not be an Earl but he sure is drum corps royalty... and I'll bet they speak with the same Massachusetts accent as the Kennedy's too

picture link not working Nanci?????

quote the Queen! I'll never live this down, will I? NOPE

Donnie sent an update... Surgery for Bonnie went according to plan... removed a diseased (emphzima) portion of the lung and repaired "leaks"... it should inflate now... but she is in a lot of discomfort and still in ICU - all to be expected... A full recovery will take several more days... and hopefully she'll be home soon - where they can take care of each other...

Don asked me to thank you guys for your best wishes and kind words... Bonnie has surgery at 8 AM... I'm out of town during the day tomorrow, but will report in tomorrow evening... Off to my hometown - Oswego

speaking of ... Donnie won't post but his wife Bonnie is having a hard time... been hospitalized for a few days with a collapsed lung... tomorrow they will operate to try and correct whatever the problem is and re-inflate the lung... our best to them both... Geesh... all she's put up with with Donnie and now she goes and gets sick... go figure... hang in there buddy... she'll be fine...

Who else? Kenny never stopped displaying his "unique" self... I wonder if he remembers one year at some show he needed a place to stay after the party and I offered my hotel room... even though there was an available bed, he slept all night in a yoga position, sitting on the floor... I just shook my head and went to sleep - comfortable in my bed... Unique is an understatement - but pure musical genius... Remember that Ken?

lol Yes Ken, but you taught EVERYONE at one time or another... Even I got to work under your baton... and it was a treat...

suck up? You bet... always been a sucker for tiny feet...

I'm with Nanci