What a great time. It was wonderful to see you all again and hear about how your lives have progressed. I’m in Ireland at the moment with limited internet access, so I will upload my pics once I get back to Iraq. Our 10th anniversary went off great here and we’re spending the time just relaxing with the kids and visiting relatives. Take care all and I’ll talk to you all soon. Kevin
 

Yeah. Despite the ridiculous nature of the whole Bond genre, this film seemed the most real. The effects were more real, and Bond seemed more real. Even "M." The rest of the characters, of course, were the same 1-dimensional. The bad guy was the thinnest of them all, unfortunately. But all the same, still the best Bond movie. Hopefully they’ll redo some more.
 

What a blast! Man, I haven’t laughed that much in a long time. We should have had a video camera going for a portion there. It was hysterical. And we did hold up our glasses to toast those who couldn’t make it, including Ian, Grits, Bear, Bonz, Scott, Russell, Liz Frankel, KC, and a few more names I can’t remember right now.

I’ll upload all the photos I have later tonight.

If anyone wants to upload theirs, here are the steps:

o Go to the website (duh)
o Log in
o Click on the "Private Party @ Liz" link -- now called "Private Area"
o Click on "Pictures" below that
o Click the "Upload" button
o Follow further directions. You will probably have to approve the installation or running of a Java program. Just say yes.

Create a "Collection" that includes your name so we can see at a glance who uploaded the photos.

Mik
 

Rat, if you’re not up to it on Sat morning that’s fine. In fact, if you want to call it done right now that’s good too. I’ve already gone back there a few times (I did live one subway stop away for two years) and it’s not that big a deal. It would have been great to get a bunch of us together for a photo on the steps or the bulkhead or with the school in the background, but there’s always next year or the year after for that. There are other people who need to be contacted. A picnic with a dozen of us with our families would be great.

So, the current party count is:
Liz
Sarah
Gretchen?
Mik
Rat & Christine
Paul
Gunnar
 

Hey people. Sorry that I haven’t kept in touch about the upcoming party/ reunion. To tell the truth when I finally found you guys on the Net I was so incredibly elated! I must have been floating three feet off the ground for the first couple of days. That’s how much I really treasure the memories and moments we spent with each other. Unfortunately there is no way I can make it back home this time for the festivities. There is no one who can take over my responsibilities, so it looks like I will have to try for next time.
This really is killing me. I would love nothing more than to be able to once again sit down amongst the people who I shared a shitload of fun times with. I will try and upload a video to You Tube and see if I can put together an online photo album to let you folks know what I have been doing with myself for the past twentyfive years. Even if I ain’t there do me a favor and put out a glass for me. How about, putting out a glass for everyone who couldn’t make it .
I hope to see ALL of you guys in the near future.

David: AKA Bear.
 

Brother....sorry to hear you won’t be able to attend...we were all looking forward to seeing you again. Looks like it is going to be a rather intimate gathering as I hear that Ian will not be in attendence either. There is always next time. I will make sure to take plenty of pictures to send your way. I spoke with Gunnar, and he will be coming down on Sat and going straight to Liz’s house. Well Mik...it looks like it will be just you and I at the school at noon and to be honest it is going to depend on how I feel that morning after 24 hrs of flying whether I’ll make it or not. Send me your cell# again and I will call you Sat morning with a SITREP. I spoke with Chris and she chided me for volunteering her to make a dessert....she is a bit overwhelmed with 3 kids and her father at our house as well as all of the other things on her plate. I will still pick up some liquor on the way in however...Take care and I’ll see you all in 5 days.
 

I’m planning a late-august one-week trip with my two daughters down the Jersey shore to visit a bunch of friends, including Liz again. Perhaps some of the people who couldn’t show up this time can make it then? Certainly we have to do another major one next summer for the 25th anniversary of the class of ’83. I suggest that we try to do a larger party next year with as many people as can make it.

BTW, next year will also be the 20th anniversary of the BK Army Terminal party. I will not be able to re-edit it by next week (still have to locate a U-Matic player to get the original footage) but it’ll be worth it when it’s done. What a blast, and what great footage of some parkies and friends doing what we did best.
 

Jerry,
I’m so sorry you can’t make it! I was looking forward to seeing you again and meeting your family. This gives us one more reason to schedule a follow-up reunion soon.
I have a feeling the event will be well-documented...
We’ll raise a glass to you.
-Sarah
 

Jerry-Like I said in the other note I sent, sorry you’re not going to be able to make it next Saturday. Someone will send pics. And by the way, thanks for your service!
As for my plans...I just started a new job and I’m on 2nd shift for now so I’m working Friday night. Liz has some stuff she’s been aquiring over time, like food, tableware, some drinks, that sorta thing. I’m bringing the balance of things to complete what we felt was a decent menu based on input we got from a few of you. Since I’m going to have food and stuff, I don’t think it would be the best idea for me to drive from Delaware into Brooklyn for a picture, then back out to NJ for the get together. Plus, I’d like to give her a hand in prepping food and setting stuff up. A pic of us together after all these years is going to be great no matter where it’s taken.
Kevin, the numbers you gave for contacting your wife did not come through in that e-mail you sent. It showed as asterisks. Is there another way to contact her, like e-mail or something?
Anyways, I’ll see all of you soon...
Paul
 

Well, that really does suck. We’ll miss you too, Jerry. Another time then. This will not be the last one, for sure. There’s plenty of others who can’t make it to this one. Bear, Ian, Scott. Eventually we’ll find Bonz, etc.

Take care.
 

Hey yall,
I’ve got some bad news. My wife and I will not be able to be there. It’s a long story, the short of it is we had some personnel changes in my unit and there is no one available to cover my leave. I’m in an Army unit that responds to WMD and suspected terrorist events, so we are always on call. My side seater is leaving the army so that leaves me to run the lab. I’ve been trying to get help from another team, but my commander won’t cover the cost. This really sucks, and I’ve got 6 years to go. Hope yall have a great time and take lots of pics. Kevin.. I’m going back to Bragg in Feb or March, kick ass assignment, I’ll send to you direct. Take care all,
Miss ya
Jerry
 

I just received this from Liz:

"Saturday my casa 1911 Grandview Avenue, westfield nj 07090 - noon till whenever - and I have a grill - have NO concept of who is coming - no one writes back to paul but u, sarah, kev and jerry."

Looks like it’s going to be a small party. Not even sure if Ian’s coming.
 

Here’s another thing. Since we’re trying to keep the amount of people to a minimum at Liz’s place, I am going to post a Friday dinner invite on the public part of the site. If you’re in the area and want to join in, that’s great. And because it’ll be a restaurant, we probably should have a good handle on how many people are going to show up.

So, again, just in case you’re a little confused, this message you’re reading now is in a private area of the website called "Private Party @ Liz" and can only be seen by 9 people: Ian, Gretchen, Grits, Liz, Bear, Paul, Rat, Sarah, and me.

I’m now going to post the Friday dinner invitation to the public area where anyone, even people not logged in, can read.

Also, I’ll try to bring a digital projector so we can all see the movies and photos some of us may bring. I have a screen, or we can shoot it at a wall.
 

Dude, you need to take a pill. This is a casual thing. It’s not complicated. The plan has been in place for about a year, but no specific hours have been set for the one part that matters -- when we meet at the school.

Paul said he and Liz are taking care of the food. I just asked if there was a grill. And yes, ten days is plenty of time. As for the other questions, well, I’ve asked the same questions twice over the past several months and not gotten any response, so give me a break. I’m not running the show. No one is running the show. There is no show. It’s a casual get together, not a scheduled event with agenda items, bunting and a live band. Oh shit. I forgot about the slide show and the unnatural act, too.

Has someone tried to contact Gunnar? I recall that both Jerry and Paul said they would try to reach Patrice through the services network. Any luck on either of these? We won’t know unless you tell us.

So the schedule: Like you, I’m planning on being at the park sometime in the afternoon before the party with a beer in hand and a cigar in the other. From there I plan on going to Liz’s house. No driving around aimlessly. Liz said she was not interested in going to Brooklyn. Others? I think Jerry and Paul both said they wanted to meet at the park too. Perhaps now is the time to speak up. Or just show up.

How about Noon at the park (I’ll bring a frisbee), and then leave when we’re damned well good and ready? Drive from there to Liz’s. People who don’t want to meet at the park go straight to Liz’s, don’t pass go.

Rat, I’m sure we all appreciate the effort you and Chris are making for this. It’s great that you diverted your leave to NY instead of home. Personally, I’m driving 4 hours, and skipping a friend’s wedding and one of my two-days-a-week days with my kids for this. But I’m sure it’ll be worth it. Let’s let cooler heads open their coolers and have a drink. It’s 5:00 somewhere.
 

Mik....there are 10 days until this party and you mean to tell me you dont even know if Liz has a grill? And what about Nick? I don’t give a Rats ass (Not mine) either way....this seems a little late in the game for this, no? As far as I knew you and Liz were planning this, we all had a bit of input as to what we were interested in but to this point I have not gotten a schedule of events nor do I have any idea WTF is going on. I asked certain questions in my previous mail because I thought they were important...none were answered. Your comment "I’d love to meet at the school and have a beer / pizza lunch on the slope" kind of left me slack jawed....Are we meeting at the school? Is that the plan, to meet at the school? What time? Who is going? I don’t mean to sound like a complete asshole but to be truthful I have spent alot of money to fly in to NYC instead of going straight home, made hotel reservations at JFK & in NJ, I’m having my wife drive up 7 hrs. from VA to meet me, taking time away from seeing my kids after 3 months of being away....I don’t feel like driving around aimlessly without having an idea of what is going on. If we’re to meet at the school, thats fine. What time? Is everybody going or is it going to be you, me & Chris sharing a slice & a 40 on the slope? To be honest, that is fine with me...I don’t care...I just wanna know the plan....Tell me where to be and at what time and I’ll be there. I know this must read harshly but thats not how I mean it, I know we all have lives and other more important things to deal with on a daily basis. I’m just used to things being very structured, and after a year of planning I figured on a bit more of a schedule. May I suggest you make a schedule and send it to everyone with a request for them to RSVP as to their intentions....Please accept my apologies for sounding like an asshole...I will bring some Bombay Sapphire as I also like Gin & Tonics. I’ll buy a few other bottles to mix it up as well. I have made a few videos on Windows Movie Maker, I have a few of my family and a few from out here. I have about 25 GB of music on my comp and will see if I can make a few compilation discs although my taste in music is a bit on the hard side...Chris will make a dessert to bring as well. See ya’ll soon I guess....
 

Rat,

I never received that email. Possibly it never went out.

I haven’t heard from anyone in that list, except that Bear is on this site and living in Japan and probably won’t make it to the party. I did get in touch with Scott Higgins and he’ll be convalescing after an operation next weekend. If anyone wants to send him well wishes, use HSHiggins@aol.com

One other question... what about Russell’s brother Nick. Is he invited? There’s three other people who have registered on this website and they don’t know about the party yet because we -- as a committee of sorts -- voted to keep it mellow and small. I’m definitely down for that, but feel bad that these other people joined the website and are being left out. Perhaps another party later in the summer for the wider group.

As for the day, sure. I’d love to meet at the school and have a beer / pizza lunch on the slope. We won’t be having the school tour. That’s a paid / scheduled all-day gig. No one seemed excited about doing that. Of course we could check to see if the locals are still jamming pennies in the door locks and just walk in. I’d love to see what they’re forcing the kids to eat these days, and the view from the roof.

Lately I’ve been drinking Gin & Tonics with lime, a good summer-time drink. Amaretto is great on the rocks too, if you’re into sweet stuff. Also Mike’s Hard Lime is amazing. I’ll bring a bottle of Bombay Saffire with the food. Liz, you have a grill right?

Also, I’m putting together a playlist for the evening on my MP3 player. I have about 35gb of music in MP3 format. Any band requests, other than the classic stuff we all listened to back then? Lately I’ve been listening to a lot of Cake.

Can’t wait. I’m skipping a friend’s wedding for this party.

Here’s a bird’s eye view of Liz’s place. You can zoom out for directions and locality.

http://tinyurl.com/2jmnkk