We remain hopeful that a variety of classmates will contribute to this new GreenieGusherOnline so that the burden of production will be shared.  We want to share not only news, but also things like SPHS stories, profiles of classmates, photographs, and features that pertain to South Park.  We will try to be as professional as we can, so send us your stuff and we will make every effort operate privately and confidentially to get your ideas and your stuff into the GreenieGusherOnline.  When John Watson and I decided on a new GusherOnline, it was our idea that we should get into a routine of a monthly edition so that folks would know what to expect.  So, this is our second month.

Write to me at dcmarshall@eee.org or to John at JLWMIL@aol.com.

As you will see if you keep on reading, I have had a lot to take my mind off the terrorist news and its effect on us all.  My best to you as you try to reshape your lives in light of current conditions.  In addition to having a number of things to divert my attention, I find myself in denial.  I did my best to avoid watching the scene as it happened on TV and I saved the headlined news for reading at a much later date.  Avoiding reality is, not easy for me, however.  Maybe you have been shocked by the same type of experiences.  I had seen "Working Girl" way back when but decided to rewatch it the other night.  And, what did I get but scene after scene featuring those wonderful Towers.

Last month I mentioned that Ann and I had cancelled our trip to the Mediterranean but we have trips coming up to Branson and NEW YORK CITY.  We have not been to Branson since its predevelopment days when our oldest, Melissa, went to school in Springfield.  It will surely be fun for a family gathering but we are not looking forward to New York.  We were last there in May when we showed all of the sights to some friends who had never visited there.  But for our timeshare we would surely postpone.

As fate would have it my personal life has been filled with fun events to write about.  I guess it is all associated with becoming an editor.  I hope that you all have some things to write about that aren’t quite so fun.  My plan was to write about a rotor tiller accident in which I escaped death four times but for which I still might go to jail.  However, I think it best to wait until after my next court date.  The story will be greatly enhanced if I am writing from my cell.  How about a termite tale?

Did you know that there are lots of termites here in the desert?  They came with irrigation and the orange groves.  Right after the beginning of last century this valley was orange groves from here to LA.  The oranges came and went but the termites came and stayed.  In my neighborhood.  I have tried most everything since we moved here in 1987 (almost exactly one hundred bug years too late) but this time, in desperation, I resorted to tenting (Diversion Number One).  You have always known that two moves are equal to one fire.  Now add to that "one tenting is equal to one move."  Does that tell you anything?  After an exhaustive preparation, we moved to the mountains for four days to avoid getting gassed, and, on the fourth day I got a call from Terminix.  "Come on home."  An hour later I was there.

There. There in the kitchen standing in an inch or so of water (Diversion Number Two). Try to imagine wading around trying to salvage things while trying frantically to get an emergency outfit to come out FAST.  It was an hour before we got the faulty water heater stopped and the pumps going. Then, much to our amazement when found ourselves living three days with blowers and dehumidifiers.  "Got to make sure that there is no moisture for mold and mildew."  Well, we are a two-dog family so we needed to replace the carpet but the tile was new.  The cabinets.… Oh, well that is that story.

We are now free of termites and water hoping to be remodeled before Christmas.  And, after seven days of hard earned relief from the War, we are again contributing to WAR WORRY.

NEWS AND/OR REMEMBRANCES

Roving Reporter Wanda is out this month with a bad back. She went a roving to Branson and came home with some real trouble.  We hope that Wanda will be writing for the Gusher again next month.  For now you may want to write a note to her.   kyrwmr40@aol.com 

Virginia McDaniel Hurley, the originator of the Gusher, recently retired and she is going to be writing for our new GusherOnline.  We are very fortunate that she is going to be helping again for we all remember how wonderful her Gushers were.  She and Jay have been traveling and she shares her latest trip with us.

We welcome some news from our latest contributing editor, Bennie Marie Pipkin Deaton. Thanks for your help Bennie Marie.  Bennie has some news regarding our New York City classmate, Vivian O’Shaughnessy.  Write to her at  BEN0906@aol.com

Now if we get Old Berwick back in the saddle we will have it made.  Didn’t we all enjoy his cornpone?  He may need some encouragement. graron@wwbbs.net

Bobby Killen Marberry has been diagnosed with bone cancer.  Her husband R. D. said that she had surgery to repair some old damage to her knee in preparation for treating the cancer.  Bobby has spent four weeks in the hospital so she needs some cards, letters, emails, and phone calls.  985 872 0895 (209 St. Marie Drive, Houma, LA 70364-1552 Riley Marberry rdm@mobiletel.com

Don and Lori Kaye are in the process of moving to Lake Livingston.  I received an open invitation for us all to visit their new lake view home but I do not have the new address.  We will pass it along when they get settled.  Congratulations Don and Lori!   Don will continue to take orders for the furniture that you need.

Allen O’Briant is struggling with a knee replacement.  Allen’s knee was probably hurt in the Greenies' improbable win over Orange.  He is undergoing therapy treatment now to get his new knee functioning properly.  Our best to Allen and Sherrie. 409 796 2043

Annie Ruth  Bobino Finley has a new computer and is in the process of getting online.   I am not sure that she is ready for email now but you could give her a call to she how she is progressing.  Her husband, Bob, by the way, is pretty much an invalid and Annie Ruth spends a great deal of time taking care of him.  She loves to talk to us Greenies. 409 832 6297  ARFINLEY5@AOL.COM

I had note from Jerry Bell in October.  Jerry’s wife, Gail, had surgery for a foot problem but I have not been able to get in touch with them for an update.  Please let one of us know if you have information about Jerry and Gail

Mary Ann Wills Welty told me recently that she is doing better than she has been in a long time.  The dialysis treatment that she gets several times each week is helping her a great deal.  Her son lives with her and I think that he is going to help her with email. Why not ask her about her email prospects?  She would love to hear from some of you. 409 753 2316

James and Orelia Robbins have recently provided the new Gusher with the words and music to '57 CHEVY.  Thanks very much for sharing this with us. John has set this up  with a hyperlink so that you can give it a test drive.    '57 CHEVY

Jay and I, along with Marilyn and Jimmy Madaffri, took a trip out west in our travel trailers during October—a perfect time. We went to the Kodak International Balloon Fiesta in Albuquerque for the second time. Wow!--the 800 or more colorful balloons all going up at once were a beautiful sight, and was well worth the hour or more we waited in heavy traffic to get into the Balloon Park. The balloons come from all over the world, and are in many different shapes. Many of them have corporate sponsors, so they advertise those companies in unique ways.

We enjoyed Old Town Albuquerque, as well as a side trip to Santa Fe, enjoying the shops and historic sights. We also went to an exhibit of some early work by Georgia O’Keefe, shown in the O’Keefe museum in Santa Fe.

There are many apple orchards near Albuquerque, so we sought out some of them and bought wonderful apples. M-m-m, great pies and munchin’.

We also went to the Grand Canyon, taking a sunset bus tour and then a sunrise tour the next morning. I got some great pictures that look like those on calendars. The sun casts such vivid colors on the rocks and each view is different.

From the GC we traveled to Las Vegas, our first trip there. The terrorist threats prevented our crossing Hoover Dam, so we had to pull the trailers through Laughlin and Bullhead City, a very difficult drive through mountains and wind gusts. We enjoyed Las Vegas, even though I limited myself to losing no more than $20 on the nickel slots. (I’ve just never been able to throw money away!)

Since retiring six months ago, travel has been our most enjoyable pastime. We’re still at it, in fact. Next week we go to Branson for a few days, and then after Christmas it’s a family trip to Purgatory Ski Resort where they will ski. (Tried it a few years ago—too much work!) It’s not all travel, though. We love being able to have a leisurely breakfast, work in the yard, go to Wal Mart when the crowds are small, visit friends, eat lunch at 2:00 P.M. if we want, etc. Most of you are retired, too, so you know how enjoyable it can be.
From a Woman’s Perspective
I’m sure many (or most) of you remember "Joe the Barber" or Joe Stelley, as he became known when all our guys finally grew up. Joe, it seems is the epitomy of old South Park. He knows all about everyone, and if he doesn’t know, he’ll find out. This is achieved through the contacts he maintains with hundreds of South Parkers, past and present, and from those who wish they had been!

How do I know this? Well, for one, my husband goes to Joe’s shop. He didn’t go to SP, but he heard so many neat stories about him and his shop—and a good haircut for only seven dollars—that he just had to go see for himself. Travels clear across town and passes a lot of other shops. Now he’s hooked. Then my son-in-law heard about Joe from my husband and from a few of his friends who were among the last of the SP grads. He’s hooked. And some of his friends are hooked, too. There’s a whole new generation of men getting trimmed by Joe, who gives a darned good haircut along with all the news.

Now I haven’t figured out whether it’s the haircut, the price, the good conversation or what, buAnd men say they don’t gossip!t I know Joe’s going to have a hard time ever retiring.

Every time Jay comes home from the barber shop, I always ask him if there’s any news, and there usually is some tidbit I haven’t heard, yet.

If you’ve taken a good trip, let me know about it and I’ll pass it along. E-mail at vrgnhur@aol.com or phone at 409-892-7395.