A local radio station is playing Christmas music already!

Are you kidding?  Where has 2011 gotten to? Stop the train its going too fast!  Good to have a nice turnout for the November lunch at Johnny’s.  Lowell St. Clair (with camera!), Larry Harm, Frank Skafidas, Tom Taylor, Larry & Don Smith, Walt Zachmeyer, Ron Dixon, Terry Anderson, Davey Green and Jack Slater (Oh, that’s me!).  Great food but they didn’t have Malt vinegar for their Fish & Chips!  Whats up with that?  Oh well, can’t have everything.  We have lif itself – lots to be thankful for as we enter the holiday season.  Happy Thanksgiving, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all attending and those that could not.  See you at the next event, still at Johnny’s on February 10th, 2012 at 11:30.

Where’s the summer gone?

August 2011 already. Time really flies for sure. Of course its now September 1st as I finally get the post up from August 5th lunch! Thanks again for the pics Lowell! Before I forget, the next date for our meet-up is November 4th at Johnny’s. Remind your friends and maybe we can get attendance back up. We did chat about Joe Rossi’s pending relocation. Sure you all know about it but just FYI in case you didn’t. This month Lowell, Ron, Steve, Terry, Blaine, Dan and yours truly made the starting line-up. See you in a few months!

Smaller turnout for May but still going!

Looks like only Larry Smith, Larry Harm, Davey Green, Don Smith, Ron Dixon, Terry Anderson and  Lowel St Clair had an Italian appetite this quarter.  Next lunch date is August 5th.

 

The big thaw…..

Well a week of temps in the 40-50′s with sunshine has melted most all of that miserable snow we’ve been shoveling and blowing for the past several weeks. I’m sure winter is not done with us yet but at least we get a needed break.   Back to Johnny’s Italian Steak House again but in a different table location.  Today’s group were Lowell St. Clair (thanks for the photos again but next time someone needs to snap a few of you!), Larry Harm, Don Smith, Larry Smith, Russ Embree, Dan Zumdome, Frank Skafidas, Terry Anderson, and Jack Slater.

Next lunch for us senior IH retirees is May 6th, 2011. Same time – about 11:30ish at Johnny’s Italian Steak House. Come on spring!

 

2010 coming to an end…

But we’re still having great fall weather and today was more of the same although the weather dudes had forecast wet gloom and doom! Next lunch for us senior IH retirees is February 18th, 2011. Same time – about 11:30ish at Johnny’s Italian Steak House. Happy Holidays to all of you!!

Todays group were Lowell St. Clair (thanks for the photos), Dave Green, Joe Rossi, Ron Dixon, SteveHorst, Blaine Arnold, Frank Skafidas, Terry Anderson, and Jack Slater. Noted was that Don Smith was among the missing because he’s out killing lots of things. Happy hunting Don.

August 2010 update, sorry but no pics!

From Terry to me:

“August meeting 13^th, attendees Frank Skafidas, Larry Harm, Joe Rossi, Walt Zachmeyer, Don Smith, Jim VanStechleman, and me.  No pix, no Lowell, refridge went out that AM. Next meeting Friday November 12^th , 11:30 Johnny’s.”

Mark your calendars!  I gotta make this one.

Finally getting the details from May 2010 up here!

Sorry for the delay…  too much time spent on the golf course I guess!  I’ve also misplaced the email I got from Terry with any important gossip to report so I’ll just out up the pix (looks like we had a guest!) from Lowell and remind us all that the next meeting is AUG. 14th.

Once again I missed the big day!

My calendar reliability just plain sucks!  I must be having brain cramps when I think I’m adding the date to my “trusty” Outlook calendar because there certainly wasn’t anything listed for today.  Sorry I missed.  According to Lowell, the subject matter was “WHO < WHAT < WHERE < WHY” but I can only imagine what that really means!  Those with reliable calendars were Walt Zachmeyer, Larry and Don Smith, Frank Skafidas, Bill Jordan, Ron Dixon, Joe Pollentier and Mr St. Clair.

Photos from today below and a note on the next date which is May 14th (same time & place) .

We got pix again…

Lowell was back at the quarterly lunch at Johnny’s Italian Steakhouse with his trusty camera so we have proof of attendance for those of you needing an alibi.  Ron Dixon was a new face and broke bread with Terry Anderson, Larry Harm, Steve Horst, Blaine Arnold, Frank Skafidas, Lowell St. Clair, Walt Zachmeyer, Larry Smith and Jack Slater.

The next event is planned for February 19th, 2010!  Man the time is flying……………

By the way – rumor has it that John Wayne said, “Life is hard; it’s harder if your stupid”.

Saint not there so no pix!

Quarterly chow meet-up with the old IH guys was Friday, August 21st, 2009 and before I forget it, the next date is November 13th, 11:30  (eek – Friday the 13th!).  Lets see how I do on attendance.  Larry Smith, Don Smith, Frank Skafidas, Joe Rossi, Larry Harm, Walt Zachmeyer, Terry Anderson, Steve Horst, and Paul Rouse.  Also, a “special guest” who crashed the party was Terry Daniels, a not so old ex-IH guy.  If I’ve left someone out, please feel free to drop a line and I’ll update.

A few world problems were solved and we generally agreed we all could be in for a long 4 to 8 years.  Most of the discussions were generalized bull with a few “hey do you remember”s.

Lunch at Johnny’s Italian Steakhouse was pretty tasty with a nifty box of “free” cookies available for desert.  I think we’re eating here again in November but a few folks mentioned that The Captains Table has reopened so that may be a future location.

Happy Halloween!

Time marches on…

Johnny’s Italian Steakhouse had a handful of old IH folks there last Friday, May 22nd, 2009.  Making a showing were Lowell St. Clair, Dave Green, Don and Larry Smith, Terry Anderson, Larry Harm, Frank Skafidas, Jan Erickson and Joe Rossi.  A few gents missed due to an inability to plan correctly and/or read a calendar.

Next  meet-up at Johnny’s should be August 21st 2009 at 11:30 “ish”.

Thanks again to Lowell for the pix!

We found the new place!

Larry Harm, Larry Smith, Lowell St Clair, Joe Rossi, Walt Zachmeyer, Don Smith, Frank Skafidas, Blaine Arnold, and Terry Anderson found their way to the new lunch location Johnny’s Italian Steakhouse.  A few of the regulars were “no-shows” because they had gone south to enjoy the warm weather and lots of golf (read snow!).  Some of the pictures Lowell took are posted here as well.

The next meeting is Friday 5/22/09 Johnny’s  11:30 A.M.

New location!

Next lunch date will be at Johhny’s Italian Steakhouse.

Ed Ford

Don Smith sent this email to most that attend the quarterly lunch:

“I received word today, December 24th, that Ed Ford’s visitation will be at Wheelans Funeral home, 7th Avenue and 30th street, Sunday 2 to 5 PM.  Funeral will be at same place Monday December 29th at 10 AM.  Obituary should be in the Moline Dispatch and Rock Island Argus this Friday. Our most profound sympathies are extended to Ed’s family and friends. Don”

It was in the Dispatch obituaries today.

Hello “Noobs”…

Good turn out today.  Lowell St. Clair, Terry Anderson, Larry and Don Smith, Jan Erickson, Jim VanStechelman, Joe Rossi, Dave Green, Frank Skafidas, and yes, a few “noobs” too.  Say hello to Terry Daniels, Joe Schafer, and Dan Zumdome.  A few notables were absent.  Steve Horst (working at Saskatoon – Great White North), Paul Rouse (back to work at McLaughlin), me (schedule conflict with mom) and a few others but bottom line, a good showing today.  If any of you have thoughts to add please do so in a comment below the posting.  Lowell had to cut out early but did get some photos.

How about some email addresses for Larry Smith (I know, I know), Joe Schaefer, Jim VanStechelman, and Terry Daniels.  And I’m looking for a revised email address for Larry Harm and Frank Skafidas.  Anyone got something?

Well anyway, have a great holiday.  Merry Christmas and a happy, healthy new year to all.  Next lunch is March 6th .

Latest “lite” lunch…

Lite because attendance was a record low.  Paul Rouse, Steve Horst, Terry Anderson, Larry Smith, Lowell St. Clair (photographer), and me (JDS).  Lets hope for increased participation at the next meet-up on December 12th.

July’s lunch was a “Go”, no flood!

Once again I had to skip the fun (I’ve got too many irons in the fire!).  1 more miss and I’m sure I’ll be up for disciplinary action!  At any rate, a distinguished group rolled (someone in new wheels it looks like) in to The Captains Table.  Interesting year so far what with primary elections that include 2 minorities, steeply rising gas costs (and others), increased interest in global warming and thinking “green”, higher insurance costs, floods of record magnitude, and lots of other interesting life events.

Enough editorializing – sorry!  Todays’ attendees (if my memory is close) were Larry Harm, Paul Rouse, Russ Embree, Dave Green, Lowell St. Clair, Don Smith, Steve Horst, Frank Skafidas, Bill Jordan, Terry Anderson, Larry Smith, and special guest, Vern Burns.

The date for lunch next is September 19th – at 11:30 again.  Same place.

Photos courtesy of Lowell – thanks.

Follow the “malapropisms”…

The malapropism link (below right) has many classic speech items from former IH employees – and others they know and love.  Nothing is sacred of course  Feel free to comment on as many as you like.

Do you have any classics that you’d like posted?  Email them.

Good thing you guys took notes…

This time I had the date wrong by a week! I’ll be showing up NEXT Friday, 4/25. I know, I know, Materials guy late as usual! Oh well…

Some of the “usual suspects” and some newbies in attendance at today’s rainy lunch at The Captains Table. Those reported to me are: Larry Harm, Paul Rouse, Jan Erikson, Dave Green, Lowell St. Clair, Don Smith, Steve Horst, Frank Skafidas, Walt Zachmeyer, Terry Anderson, and Larry Smith.

I heard that 2 visitors stopped by as well – Butch DeBlieck and Tom Hanson (never know if its “e” or “o”).

Next gathering is July 18th, same location. Pictures from today courtesy of Lowell St. Clair – thanks.

January (Snowy Deepfreeze) get-together…

The group of hungry, old, ailing, retired boys met again today at the usual place (Captain’s Table) for some chow and laughs. I had to leave early but I think everyone got plenty of both for lunch! The guys that braved the cold snowy day were Al Collins (1st timer I think), Bill Jordan, Don & Larry Smith, Frank Skafidas, Jan Erickson, Joe Rossi, Steve Horst, Terry Anderson, Lowell St.Clair and your’s truly.

Keep in mind that neither Larry or Al are wired (yet) so they won’t see this posting. Any communications with them should be done by overland stage coach and/or pony express. (come on you two, get with it!)

The next social outing is set for Friday April 18th, 11:30 AM at – you guessed it – Captain’s Table. I know we’re all hoping to be in warmer weather with no snow on the ground when we arrive.

We didn’t get any new pics today – someone has got to be the designated camera guy!