Greeting loyal airmen.  Sitting down trying to decide what I was going to write this morning, the realization hit your old Air Chief of just how much happened in the past few days.  Sometimes you can go through days and days of the same old routines, not to say that is a bad thing mind you, but there's nothing to report on.  And then suddenly, WHAM!  A week comes along that is so filled with non-stop activity from every aspects of one's life, it seems like an avalanche of experiences.

MONDAY 13th Oct.  Better known as Columbus Day.   After twenty-five years of dealing with a kazillion leaves every single Fall, we finally discovered a solution to our yard care woes.  It's called a BILLY GOAT.  No, not a real four legged one.  Ha.
 
                                       

It arrived Monday afternoon, having purchased it from a nearby small engine shop.  We were given a thirty minute operation demonstration and then it was all mine.  Sorry if this sounds like a bloody commercial, but airmen, I love my new Billy Goat.  This little machine works like a dream and it means no more raking, no more bagging and most of all no more paying constantly rising fees to lawncare outfits.  We have cleaned up the yard several times since its arrival and will most likely do it lots more before all those brightly colored leaves come down.  But now we watch them sailing to the ground and we smile.  It's such a nice feeling.

TUESDAY 14 Oct.   Valerie and I were up at 5 AM to have coffee and get ready for our sunrise drive up to Raymond NH.  Our destination, Raymond High School, where, at 7:30 AM, I have the fun of speaking to the Art Class about the history and production of comic books.   Kathy Mutch, the art teacher there, is an old friend and she had called me a few weeks ago asking if I would come down and talk to her talented kids.  Several of them are very interested in pursuing a career in comics and I hope my ninety-minutes with them helped inspired them to follow that dream.  Having worked in comics for the past thirty-five years, I can attest to the satisfication of working on the things you loved as a child all your life.  It's very much a dream job.  So thanks to all you wonderful students at Raymond High for making us so welcomed.

WEDNESDAY 15th Oct.   Valerie and I were up at 7 AM.  By now your old  Air Chief was wondering what part of retirement covers these early morning rising that are a killer.  Well, airmen, one of the candidates I am supporting on Election Day was coming to New Hampshire for the very first time and there was going to be a rally at nearby Dover, High School.  Normally we would have let this pass, having never attended anything like this before, but this year we had a connection.  You see, somebody we know is working for our candidate and had told us they could get us into any such event if we ever chose to attend.  It was too good an offer to pass up, as neither Valerie or I had ever participated to this extend before.  So off we went bright an early to Dover High.

By the time we got there, the place was mobbed and line stretched down the road for several miles.  We would later learn that over 1,200 people had come hoping to get into the gym.  They were only going to allow 500 to enter.  When we saw that line, Valerie took out her cell phone and called our “contact”.  He told us to walk around to the back of the gym and wait there.  Which we did, stopping at the barricades to chat with the police officers on duty.  A few minutes later our friend came out, ushered us in the hall (we were screened by security) and then he brought us to the first row of empty seats directly behind the podium where our candidate would speak.  There was NO ONE ELSE in the hall!!   Not too often in life has your old Air Chief ever had this kind of VIP treatment.  It was sweet.  After about a half hour, they finally started letting 200 school students in and then filled the rest of the seats with those lucky folks in the front of that line pictured above.

Out candidate, due to flight glitches, was almost an hour late, but by the time she arrived, the mood was one of excitement and enthusiasm, as all of us were yelling, screaming and cheering to the top of our lungs.  They don't call these things rallies for nothing.  It reminded me of my own high school days and those familiar pep rallies before the big sporting games.  Anyways, this is not about politics, as it is about how much fun Valerie and I had in participating in the process.  Which is what I hope all you loyal airmen will do should you ever have a similar opportunity.  Sometimes democracy is just getting out there and cheering for your political home team.  It truly was a fun experience we will never forget.

And Wed. ended with a call to my son, Kevin, to wish him a very Happy 35th Birthday.  Poor guy had a cold, but was in good spirits and delighted with the Batman Pez dispenser set Valerie and I got for him, along with his more traditional gift.  All my children have a weakness for toys (gee, wonder where they get that? Ha.)  And Kev is a big Pez collector. 

THURSDAY  16th Oct.  Fenway Park, last night.  The Red Sox are behind in the American League Pennant race, 3 to 1 against the monster machine that is the Tampa Rays.  All the Rays need to do is win this game and they are on their way to the World Series.  And they come out swinging, getting home run in the very first inning .By the seventh inning, they are beating the Sox 7 to 0.  It looks bad.  Very, very bad.

And then in the seventh inning, with two outs, David Ortiz hits a two run homer and everything changes.  The seventh ends with the Sox having 4 runs.  By the end of the 8th, Coco Crisp ties it all up at 7 to 7.  Then in the bottom of the 9th, the miracle is completed as J.D. Drew hits a line shot into right field to score Kevin Youkalis and the Red Sox win the greatest play-off comeback in all of Major League history since 1929 with a score of 8 to 7 and stymie Tampa's championship dreams!!   It was a night no one in Red Sox Nation will ever forget, when those amazing, walking-wounded somehow dug deep and once again found victory on the steps of defeat.  Now its on to a Game Six in Tampa tomorrow night.  We continue to keep our fingers cross.  It ain't over until the last and final out.  GO SOX!!

So here we are, loyal airmen, Friday 17th Oct. a wee bit tired, but happy as can be.  What a great week.  Hope yours has been as pleasurable.  In the coming weeks, your old Air Chief will be making some personal appearances to promote some recent work in both comics and pulps.  On the 11th of Nov. (a Tuesday) Veteran's Day, I will be at the Barnes & Nobles bookstore in downtown Manchester, NH. doing a book signing.  Soon as I have further details, ala times and which of my pulp titles will be available, I'll let you know right here. Then six days later, Sunday, 16th Nov. I'll be one of many guest at the new Portsmouth Comic Convention to be held at the Best Western Motel in the Portsmouth traffic circle.  The show goes from 9 AM to 4 PM, so if any of you loyal airmen are in the Southern New Hampshire area that weekend, come on down and say hi. As always, we'd love to meet each and every one of you. 

And that's a wrap.  The Air Chief needs a nap.  See you all in seven.  Ron – Over & Out.