Friday, October 31, 2008

Beta Pi Blog, Vol.2008, No.52 - Land of the Giants



Beta Pi:


IS "BETA PI BLOG" JUNK E-MAIL?: Yes, and no! It is not this e-mail. This e-mail contains some written content of the "Beta Pi Blog", not the entire content. The "blog" is actually a web-site, it includes pictures, links, Archives of previous issues, and other time-wasters. THE BLOG HAS MOVED TO A NEW ADDRESS. To get there, go to web address: http://beta-pi-blog.blogspot.com/ .

LAND OF THE GIANTS:

So, I went over to Vanderbilt to buy tickets for Reunion Weekend, and I found myself entering the Class Party for Class of 1973.

I felt like one of the "mini-people" in the 1960's sci-fi TV show "LAND OF THE GIANTS."
Present were such GIANTS-among-men as John Stein, Claude Cody, George Tomlinson, George Abernathy, Mark Reed and George Joe. Also present was Clark Thomas.


ATO’s ruled, not just because of their dashing good looks - Boss Stein was Class of 1973 Chair, and Claude Cody was Class Party Chair. The Party was well attended, the food was great, and the music was fitting. As I ate a plate of food, the music playing was "Come Together" by The Beatles. Who could ask for more?


FOOTBALL BLUES: The weather was perfect for football, but Vandy delivered a less than perfect performance against Duke, getting womped 10 to 7.

THE RUMBA TICK-A-LO’s-O-73 DINNER: Rumba is a Satay Restaurant and Martini Bar, just a few blocks from Vandy. Present were George "ABER" Abernathy and wife Kimberley, Claude "TERMINATOR" Cody and wife Anne and their son Carr, Mark "CHEEKS" Reed, John "BOSS" Stein and wife Beth, George "THE HEME" Tomlinson, Larry "Bozo" Simons and wife Ann, and Sigma Chi Barrett Sutton.


The waiter recited the specials, which were all very foreign sounding, and much to our delight, as waiter-dude kept piling one foreign-sounding food atop another, Aber was making faces like "what is this guy saying?"


Aber sat next to Claude’s son Carr, a 14 year-old football player, and the two talked football non-stop. (Claude told me that after they got home, he overheard Carr talking to his brother - Dad is pretty lame, but his friends are "interesting!") Claude, its very normal at that age - when my son was 14 it was like "God, Dad - you idiot!"


The ATO Prayer, Lord of Mankind was said, and the feast was consumed. Toasts were made to Alex and Laura Wilson, and to Mike McCarty and Tom Lovinggood who could not be present. A great time was had by all!


It was my privilege to be in the company of these All-Time-Greats of ATO, Class of 1973, brothers whom I love and look up to. Gentlemen, I salute you!

BETA PI BLOG ROSTER STATS: As of October 16, 2008, the Blog roster stands at 90 Beta Pi brothers, 82 Tick-a-lo men online who have e-mail addresses, and __ ATO Girlfriends-o-Yore. If you have an e-mail address on a Brother, or sister - fugetaboutit!


VTL,
Larry Simons
Beta Pi, 72

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Beta Pi Blog, Vol.2008, No.51 - Blog has a New Address



Beta Pi:



IS "BETA PI BLOG" JUNK E-MAIL?: Yes, and no! It is not this e-mail. This e-mail contains some written content of the "Beta Pi Blog", not the entire content. The "blog" is actually a web-site, it includes pictures, links, Archives of previous issues, and other time-wasters. THE BLOG HAS MOVED TO A NEW ADDRESS. To get there, go to web address: http://beta-pi-blog.blogspot.com/ .



THE BLOG HAS MOVED TO A NEW ADDRESS:A few weeks ago, I got an e-mail from AOL - basically it said "we are no longer going to provide free blog service, get ready to be up-rooted, effective October 31st. So, I followed the links, and there is a new home for Beta Pi Blog - its called Blogspot.



The transition went fairly well, except there are no pictures for the issues between August 2006 and March 2007. Big deal, right? I expect there are few hits on those pages anyway.
It has a different look, and will be evolving.

SPORTS PAGE GOES EXTINCT: Well, the Dores are looking fine, then they get beaten by Mississippi State and the faithful go verclempt! Prior to that game, Frank Biller promised me a sports column - then, nothing. Even the Boss Stien Sports Microscope column (one to two potent words) fell silent. Only Aber remained pumped about the Dores, with his usual Gridiron notes. Some pouty-faced Dores fans are expected at Homecoming.

HOMECOMING - - TICK-A-LO’s-O-73 UPDATE: As of this publication, the update is as follows:


GEORGE "ABER" ABERNATHY and wife Kimberley: YES!

CLAUDE "TERMINATOR" CODY and wife Anne: YES!

GEORGE "LOO" JOE and mystery woman / significant other / wife?: YES!

MIKE "CLEVE" McCARTY and mystery woman / significant other / wife?: YES!

MARK "CHEEKS" REED and wife Kimey: YES!

JOHN "BOSS" STEIN and wife Beth: YES!

GEORGE "THE HEME" TOMLINSON and mystery woman / significant other: YES!

TOM "THE LOVE-MAN" LOVINGGOOD and mystery wife: NO. (Love Man pulled a Muenchie and cancelled)

LAWRENCE "LORENZO BOZINO" SIMONS and wife Ann: YES!
* * *


HOMECOMING - - TICK-A-LO’s-O-78 UPDATE: Brother Dick Stoner sent me a very kind e-mail, with a rundown of those Mighty Tics-o-78. Dick writes:


"I'll check with the techies at my company to see the best place currently for blog hosting. IT sure would be great to have audio also hosted, so that you could start of the next session with " Somebody Loan me a Dime" and bring back the memory of that fight. IT's not looking to good for the class of 1978 making it to Reunion to accompany the 1973 bunch which seems to be coming together. Greg Qualls ( Mr. Baldo, or Sheffield/Muscle Shoals Greg) will be driving up for Saturday's game. You should be able to see that beacon atop his 51 year old engineering head ! Have a great time.
We'll try to ship off McGann in a box or some other container so that he can attend. Hearts and I were hoping to drive, with McGann sprawled across the back seat of one of our 1960's, 70's or 80's historic rattle traps, but it just isn't working that way at present.

Regards, and best of luck with your "farm" which I hope will allow you to play in the dirt a bit on weekends.

Dick"


THANKS TO PRINCE HERB LADLEY!: Herb, thank you so much for sending me the BOZ SCAGGS album - listening to that great blues number "Somebody Loan Me a Dime" did indeed bring back memories of Fight Night. How kind of you. Be well, my good friend.


BETA PI BLOG ROSTER STATS: As of October 16, 2008, the Blog roster stands at 90 Beta Pi brothers, 82 Tick-a-lo men online who have e-mail addresses, and __ ATO Girlfriends-o-Yore. If you have an e-mail address on a Brother, or sister - fugetaboutit!


VTL,
Larry Simons
Beta Pi, 72