Beta Pi Blog, Vol.2006, No.57 - CLASS OF '76 REUNION A SUCCESS!

Beta Pi:

DATELINE: NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE: The Venerable Brothers in attendance at the Class of ‘76 Reunion were Frank Collins collinzes@yahoo.com , Charlie McGibony cmcgibony@aol.com , Doug Martin DVMartin@UP.com , and Oliver Grace ograce@graceny.com . Other Past Potentates in attendance included Steve Quattrochi steve_quattrochi@purina-mills.com , and J.D. Strickland (both initiated Beta Pi in 1972). A good time was had by all, despite the disappointing Homecoming loss at the hands of the South Carolina Game-Cocks. It was in the stands at the game, when the "J.D. siting" happened. J.D. was strolling down the bleachers, and when I sited him, I called his name. He responded "Dozo Lorenzo!" After J.D. left, my 21-year-old step daughter Maggie, a Belmont coed (who goes to all the VU Womens Basketball games) said to my wife Ann, "Mom, that’s that weird guy who sits behind us at the Womens’ games!" Thus, it may now be confirmed that J.D. Strickland has made memorable impressions on multiple generations of women. After the game, J.D. met us at the Tik House. J.D. still refuses to buy a computer. What more can be said about J.D.?


BETA PI BLOG WELCOMES OLLIE GRACE: Beta Pi Blog interviewed Ollie Grace at the Class of ‘76 Party. Ollie confesses that he is the proud father of 7 children! When informed about the persistent rumors that Ollie Grace had become obscenely wealthy, Ollie did not deny it. He merely said "You could say I got lucky." Mr. Grace, with 7 Grace clones now roaming the planet, it sounds like you are indeed getting "lucky" on a regular basis! We are proud of your success, financially and otherwise. Great to see you back at Reunion.


BETA PI BLOG WELCOMES STEVE QUATTROCHI: Steve and family recently relocated from Dallas/Fort Worth to the Middle Tennessee area, and got a place in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee. Steve, great to see you at Reunion, and welcome back to Tennessee!


CLASS OF ‘76 BEATS CLASS OF ‘75: With 5 alumni brothers in attendance, Class of ‘76 beat out last years less than impressive showing of 4 for the Class of ‘75. If each brother would commit to persuading just one brother to attend the next reunion, we will double our pleasure, and double our fun - and I ain’t talkin’ double-mint-gum!


In honor of these 2 new blog inductees, I’m posting a shot of Steve Quattrochi at the Fight, and a yearbook photo of Ollie Grace.

BLOG-ON! Post a comment directly to the Beta Pi Blog at: http://journals.aol.com/lasimons4law/beta-pi-blog/

VTL,

Larry Simons

Beta Pi, '72

Beta Pi Blog, Vol.2006, No.56 - BLUES WEEKEND, TIK-LO's INVITED!

Beta Pi:

DATELINE: CLARKSDALE, MISSISSIPPI: A little bit about my life which I hope you’ll find interesting. As you know, I play guitar, and for years now I’ve been collecting blues and roots recordings (like Mississippi John Hurt, Robert Johnson, Memphis Minnie, John Lee Hooker), and trying to learn blues and slide guitar by playing along with these old recordings. It is a hobby I love, and I love blues music.

My wife Ann Polk Simons, has a brother who is a songwriter named Tommy Polk, who is part owner of a cool Bed & Breakfast in Clarksdale called "Shack-up Inn" (check out Shack-up Inn web site, just click on the link). He also has another Bed & Breakfast in Clarksdale called "Big Pink Guesthouse" which is ultra-cool, because it sits right next to the open-air stage in Clarksdale (where blues festivals happen) and next door to The Blues Museum (check out Big Pink Guesthouse web site, just click on the link).

So, Ann’s mother Lou Polk, a quite eccentric lady, started her own Bed & Breakfast, called Honey Hill, which is a very cool, fully restored southern mansion she bought, one of the original Bobo Family homes (not joking here - Bobo is a respected name in the Delta) and it is very nice. Ann and decided we need a place to stay down there, since we’re down there visiting her family, and digging the blues.

Then, we bought this cool, old building in downtown Clarksdale, at 149 Delta Avenue, right across the street from Madidi (the restaurant owned by Morgan Freeman - yes that famous actor - and attorney Bill Lucket). We’re restoring it, and creating a "loft apartment" in the back to stay in during blues festivals, or rent out. We’re also thinking of making the storefront into a café, possibly. I’ve posted a picture of our building, which we purchased from Attorney Alan Shackleford. We take possession on October 15th and tonight I’m heading down to Clarksdale to putter on the building, and start to get ready for the "Juke Joint Festival" April 14, 2007!

TIK-A-LO’s ARE INVITED TO JOIN ME & ANN AT JUKE JOINT FESTIVAL: I know several of you have memories of going to Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge, in 1972, and singing "the blues" ATO style, "On my way down to New Or - Le - AWNS . . ." basically we made up limericks, incredibly out-o-tune, "girl from Nantucket" stuff, the raunchier - the better. Well, boys, this ain’t no Nashville, this ain’t no ATO blues, this be the real thang, as you know, in Clarksdale.

Clarksdale, being the actual location of the famous "Crossroads" sung about by Robert Johnson, Eric Clapton and others. Very cool place, and that’s where my sweetheart and I will be, weekend of April 14, 2007. You are personally invited, and bring yo’ woman, baby. You will have the time-o-yo-life! Guar-on-teed! JUS’ LEMME KNOW . . . IF YA WANNA GO . . . TO THAT HOME - DOWN - ON - THE - RANGE!

INCIDENTALLY, JUST 20 MINUTES NORTH OF CLARKSDALE IS TUNICA, MISSISSIPPI, THE "LAS VEGAS-O-MIZZ-ZIPPI" - YEAH, BABY!

BLOG-ON! Post a comment directly to the Beta Pi Blog at:

VTL,

Larry Simons

Beta Pi, '72

Beta Pi Blog, Vol.2006, No.54 - HONORING JIM CORDNER

Beta Pi:


ELECTRO*TIK-LO*DETECTO! Beta Pi Blog Internet detectives’ searching yields yet another TIK-LO,

famed Class-o-74 Face-Man, the Venerable Jim Cordner cordnerjp@hotmail.com .

Jim, Beta Pi Blog welcomes you. To bring you up to speed, Pierce Hodnette wrote a very sincere story which included you, which is now in the annals, (see Issue No. 50, Archives).

While Beta Pi Blog Editorial Staff feels compelled to slam Pierce for throwing the Tater-Tot that caused Laura Wilson to forever ban Tater-tots - which we love - we cannot slam him! There is honor in Pierce’s most sincere apology. This takes great courage, for which commendation is merited.

Beta Pi Blog commemorates the "event" that inspired the winning essay in the LEGEND OF LOWENSTEIN ESSAY CONTEST, by reprinting it herein, so Jim Cordner may receive the full benefit of the well deserved apology contained therein:

LEGEND OF LOWENSTEIN - AWARD WINNING ESSAY  - By Pierce Hodnette:

"I don't know anything about any Lowenstein. The thing I most remember about Alex was how he would come to the edge of the food room and announce, rather shyly, "lunch s'on" or somethimes "eee lunch".

Then we would run in like hungry wolverines. Alex and Laura were very loyal to the swimmers. They held back food for swimmers at night because the swimmers were always late for supper due to their daily practice. It always seemed that the swimmers got more to eat than the rest of us, but I can't prove that.

One night at supper I lofted a tater tot toward Jim Cordner at the back table.

Unfortunately, it hit his girlfriend square in the face. Laura refused to serve tater tots after that. Jim Cordner's girlfriend was the kind of nice, smart girl that I wish my sons would be interested in.

I would like to formally apologize to Jim Cordner, his girlfriend, everyone present that night, and to Alex and Laura. In retrospect, throwing that tot was the wrong thing to do.
Postscript: I accept the generous offer of the stooges to dine at their expense in 2009. Thanks for this opportunity to get the tater tot incident cleared up.


BLOG-ON!

VTL,
Larry Simons
Beta Pi, '72

Beta Pi Blog, Vol.2006, No.50 - WINNERS OF LOWENSTEIN CONTEST ANNOUNCED!

Beta Pi:

ANNOUNCING THE WINNER OF

THE LEGEND OF LOWENSTEIN ESSAY CONTEST:

The competition was intense. Here is a recap. The thrill of victory, the agony of defeat . . .

THE ENTRIES: There were 7 "essays" that qualified as entries: Pierce Hodnette, Art Landry, John Stein, Marc Darling, Chet Brewer, Chris Regas, and Mark McGann. The Beta Pi Blog staff determined that all seven entries "qualified" and none of these would be disqualified for technical ommissions. All seven entries were considered. These entries are posted at Issue No. 24, LEGEND OF LOWENSTEIN ESSAY CONTEST. Go to that page, check out the entries.

THE RULES: The rules are posted at Issue No. 24, LEGEND OF LOWENSTEIN ESSAY CONTEST.

THE JUDGES: Blog editorial staff named "The Three Stooges" as sole judges. Since no e-mail "votes" were received (see rule #6), the Judges had only their judicial discretion on which to rely.

THE DELIBERATIONS: Each Stooge donned his black robe, read all essays, and picked his top 3 choices in preparation for deliberations, which were held in secret, by tele-conference. The Judges agonized over the entries, and emerged with a consensus. A motion was made to announce that a winner had been chosen, by smoke-signal a la The Vatican. That Motion failed. It was decided in lieu of smoke signals, the decision would instead be by e-mail. And now, will the bonded representative from the Accounting Firm of South, O’Dee & Border please hand me the hermetically sealed envelope . . .

. . . AND THE WINNER IS . . . SPLIT DECISION. TWO WINNERS:

PIERCE HODNETTE and ART LANDRY!

CONGRATULATIONS, VENERABLE WINNERS.

THE PRIZE: Dinner for two at Flemming's Steak House next to Vanderbilt, during Art’s next VU Reunion in 2006, and Pierce’s next VU Reunion in 2009. Prize delivery is contingent upon each Brother showing up at his next 5-year Reunion, in other words, a no-show at Reunion means forfeiture of prize. Art and his significant other, and Pierce and his significant other, respectively, will be escorted to dinner by a contingent of ATO Alums and their spouses. The prize is inclusive of the cost of winner’s and guest’s dinner (steak, chicken or fish, with drinks included, except if the Brother orders "Pony-Peckers" which will be at the Brother’s sole expense). Prize is underwritten by The Three Stooges. The Stooges, along with Boss Stein, and all venerable Beta Pi brothers in town for such reunion are invited.

THE FLUKE ACCIDENTAL DELETION: In the course of online-teleconference deliberations, Judge Bozino Lorenzo accidently hit the "delete" button to Issue No.24. It is now "lost" in cyber-space, forever. There is blame to be laid: this was due to intense harassment dished up by Judge Vinny on Bozino. Thankfully, Judge Bozino was able to "reconstruct" and re-post Issue No.24 as a "Special Edition Reprint" - and it was duly posted today, with 6 of the 7 entries. Your Blog Staff was unable to find, let alone re-post Pierce Hodnette’s entry, but Pierce has been contacted, to assist in this historic reconstruction effort. Contestants be assured, this fluke deletion did not play any role in the decision, other than the embarrassment of a screw-up (although the bribe money went a long way towards the success of this contest).

BLOG-ON! Post a comment directly to the Beta Pi Blog at ___:

VTL,

Larry Simons

Beta Pi, '72

Beta Pi Blog, Vol.2006, No.24 (Special Archive Reprint) - LEGENDS OF LOWENSTEIN ESSAY CONTEST

Beta Pi:

Our blog needs a CONTEST! Here it is:

LEGEND OF LOWENSTEIN ESSAY CONTEST

First Prize: Dinner for two at Flemming's Steak House next to Vanderbilt, during your next VU Reunion. You, and your significant other, will be escorted to dinner by a contingent of ATO Alums and their spouses. The cost of your dinner is underwritten by The Three Stooges. Larry Simons Lasimons4law@aol.com guarantees his own attendance. Venerable Brother from Nashville Boss Stein's john.stein@bankofamerica.com presence will be requested, as well as Frank Biller fbiller1@msn.com and Steven Starr starr@mn.rr.com. All venerable Beta Pi brothers in town for such reunion are invited.

Rules:

1. Essay must be no more than 300 words. Essay should reference Brother Alexander Wilson. Any references to ATO brothers should state the brother's actual name (in addition to nick-name). Essay should include brother's personal experience, and state how tales of Lowenstein enhanced brother's experience as an active ATO, and how such tales benefited the life of Beta Pi Chapter. For example, recount how Brother Alexander Wilson re-told the tale of Lowenstein the night of his Initiation, when he was road-tripped blind-folded to the mystic gazebo.

2. Essay author's name and e-mail address must be in by-line at top of Essay. No anonymous entries will be posted.

3. We are gentlemen, no profanity.

4. Since Beta Pi brothers who actually witnessed Lowenstein are long deceased, hearsay is acceptable. Give credit to brothers from whom you heard tales.

5. Deadline for entries: September 15, 2006. Winner will be announced September 30, 2006. One entry per brother.

6. All entries will be posted on Beta Pi Blog, and all Beta Pi brothers may vote by e-mail. Send e-mail vote to Lasimons4law@aol.com

Gentlemen, start your pens!

This blog address is: http://journals.aol.com/lasimons4law/beta-pi-blog/

VTL,

Larry Simons

Beta Pi, '72

Beta Pi Blog, Vol.2006, No.45 - TALE-O-PIG-ROAST

Beta Pi:

SEARCH FOR GEORGE FORD UPDATE: The inhuman human’s e-mail is georgef@leedscustomdesign.com.

George Ford, truly one of the all-time great TIK-los.

* * *

A TALE-O-PIG-ROAST, by Larry Simons:

. . . In my erstwhile existence as ATO House
Manager, in days-o-yore, I was helping

Alex prepare for Pig Roast. It was a very hot day, the pit had been dug, and Alex said he wanted me and Buck to go with him to pick up the pig.

Being a child-o-the-suburbs - the Ohio State Fair Pig Barn was closest I’d ever been to a live pig - and this being a dead-pig, I was: WHOA, NEW EXPERIENCE!

So, we get into a pick-up truck, and we drive out into what seemed like the country - and we get to this place - the name escapes me - it was like a military compound, surrounded by 8-foot Chain Link Fence with circular-razor-wire on top. But the compound was not occupied by

soldiers - it was more like guys from the movie DELIVERANCE! There was even a barn-looking shack with a front porch, with

weird guys sitting on the porch.

So, we pull up to the gate in the pick-up truck, and I ask Alex: "should we honk the horn?"

Alex says: "Naw, no need to, they’ll see us."

This guy with a slight limp walking. . .so . . . slow. . . moseys over to the gate, and undoes the chain, lifts the latch, and the gate swings open. We drive the pick-up in, and put it in park.

Now, it was mid-day, not a cloud in the sky, hot as ever, we are sweating. The compound is not paved, it is gravel and dust - it hadn’t rained in forever.

I’m thinking, its hot - very hot. Alex walked fairly well then, just not as fast as us 20-year-olds. So, as we walk up this little hill toward the shack, this guy sitting onthe porch just stares at us - doesn’t get up, doesn’t say hello - I swear I thought he was an extra in Deliverance.

We climb up a few steps, onto the porch, and Alex says to the guy: "We’re here to pick up a pig."
The cross-eyed Deliverance guy says:

"In yonder . . ." (As he points to the door).

So far, I’m good with all this - moving according to plan - so I walk toward the door, reach for the door handle and pull the door open, and from behind the door comes lunging . . .

AN EXTREMELY LARGE WOLF-HOUND-DOG!

This was no German shepherd - this was a huge MUTANT-WOLF-FROM-HELL!

The beast was very obviously angry BECAUSE HIS TEETH WERE BARED AND HIS LIPS WERE QUIVERING! I’m feeling this cold chill of RAW FEAR run straight up my spine - freezing me in my tracks - I’m standing there, face-to-face with WEREWOLF, his haunches curled, waiting to spring on me, maybe 2 yards away from me, for what seemed like several minutes. It was like slow motion (but probably just seconds).

Alex is behind me, and he sees I’m really scared, so Alex steps between me and the beast, about the same time cross-eyed Deliverance guy grabs the rope around beast’s neck (no collar, just a rope).

After my heart rate slowed down from HYPER-SPEED, and I was able to actually BREATHE, Alex looked at me, kind of smiling, put his hand on my shoulder, and says: "Mister Larry, you OK?"

Alex knew I’d been genuinely scared. We went in to get the pig, and as far as I was concerned, we couldn’t get it on that pick-up truck fast enough . . .

I can still see it, like it was yesterday. And the pig roast was so awesome, standing around the pit with Alex. That night, after all that great bar-b-que, my little wake-up call with WOLFEN behind me, not to mention all the usual imbibition, I slept like a baby.

Thus, endeth the tale.

BLOG-ON! Check out Beta Pi Blog! Post a comment directly to the Beta Pi Blog at ____:

Larry Simons

Beta Pi, '72

Beta Pi Blog, Vol.2006, No.43 - Honoring Clyde Noel

Beta Pi:

Venerable Clyde Noel cnoel@optonline.net  is honored. Blog editors have searched, but cannot find the origin of Clyde's worthy nick-name.

The question is therefore put to the floor for discussion!







Beta Pi Blog celebrates 50! There are now 50 bona-fide Tik-lo's who are on Beta Pi Blog. If you know the name and e-mail address of a Beta Pi Brother not listed on this blog, let us know!

VTL,

Larry Simons
Beta Pi, '72