Good Morning Folks,

After a couple of weeks now of being "under the weather" (where does that expression come from?), I am finally beginning to see some daylight. It seems that the heavy winds we have had here for weeks may have caused allergies to develop into Sinusitis (possibly a cold thrown in). Thanks to a trip down to the VA hospital in Prescott I am now on antibiotics. At any rate I'm on the road to recovery and am even going to try the gym this morning.


The temps in Flagstaff have made it feel like Spring and almost summer. But, the aforementioned winds have been pretty crazy, 30-50 mile an hour stuff everyday for about 6 weeks now. What was a good winter for moisture is now being sucked out by these winds making for a dry fire season here.


Joanne and I are progressing along quite nicely. She had to go to Newport Beach (her hometown) for a memorial service so was out of town for several days this past week. I picked her up at the train station early yesterday morning and we spent a nice and low key day together. I had all but forgotten how nice it is to have someone in your life. Of course the added bonus is that we are so "gaga" about each other. We have discussed all the limitations of a "May/December" relationship and she knows marriage or even living together are not options and she is fine with that . . . She has her kids and is not wanting to be married again. Neither of us were looking for a relationship, it just happened. I am happy for the first time in a long while and so is she.



Natasha and Jason are thriving in Okinawa. He is working very hard at his job and she getting set-up to start classes at the Univ. of Maryland, Asia and checking out the job scene. Along with that they are preparing for their move from temporary housing on base to an off-base house at the end of this week. Coincidently, their furniture and stuff will arrive on the same day after two months getting there by sea transport.



While ill I did get out to the movies a couple of times. Most of you know me well enough to know I'd have to be on my death bed not to get out to a theater. At any rate, the summer film fare has begun. I saw Russell Crowe and Cate Blanchette's (I love her) new semi-historical opus, Robin Hood. Most of the critics didn't like it but I did. I found it entertaining and fun. I am a sucker for a big epic and all that sword play. Mind you I'm not saying it is a great film but enjoyed it in the way that I did Errol Flynn's version, pure escape. The second movie was Letters to Juliet. Again not a critics favorite but an enjoyable romantic story. I loved seeing Venessa Redgrave again. What with many of the great acting family of Redgraves dying fairly recently (to include her daughter Natasha Richardson and sister Lynn) she is nearly last of a dynasty. Most critics do not seem to like most offerings in the romance genre, but I do. Besides that you get a view of Verona, Italy and surrounding areas. So, I give both films three stars (out of 5) and a thumbs-up, but not way up!


Cheers, until next time!