Mini Phi Kappa (Theta) Reunion

We were treated to a most enjoyable mini reunion by Jim and Nancy Stroke at their condo in Naples, FL. The Phi Kaps attending were: Bob Brisco, Jim Julian, both class of 1957 and Dan Smerald and Jim Stroke both of the class of 1958.

 

Left to right is Brisco, Smerald, Julian, and Stroke.

 

While I have seen Jim Stroke and Bob Brisco since graduation, this was the first time we got to get together with Dan since graduation in 1957. Dan also got the "prize" for travelling the greatest distance since he has been living in Wales in the UK for the last 20+ years. He was not able to have his wife make the trip but the wives that were there had a good time.

 

 Here is Carol Julian, Nancy Stroke and Marlene Brisco.

 

When we were attending RPI, the fraternity was Phi Kappa but several years after our graduation they merged with another fraternity and became Phi Kappa Theta. For  us old timers, we are still Phi Kaps!! The  house we had during our college days has been torn down and the fraternity is now in a house near the RPI field house.

Carol and I visited it when were were at my 55th class reunion. It was really fun because they had old photo albums from the years I attended!! They even salvaged some  of the bricks from the old house and made a bar out of them. Also they salvaged the old brass plate with Phi Kappa on it.

Here we are at the bar with the old bricks and the door plate.



Bloomin' Onion & Veterans

Sunday was Veterans Day and the Outback Steakhouse had a special for veterans. They were giving a free Bloomin' Onion and soft drink to vets. I couldn't pass up such a good offer so I took Carol out to lunch since I am such a big spender!!

I had to spring for a glass of wine for Carol but that was OK.

We thought we might have dinner after the onion but it was plenty and we were full after finishing all of it. We will go there isn the future for a dinner since they are giving 10% off to veterans for the rest of this year. Not a bad deal at all.

25 F in StThomas

Brrrrrr. Who thought it could be 25 F in ST Thomas. Not us of course. But last year they opened an attraction called Magic Ice. It is 10,000 sq ft of ice sculptures and an Ice Bar. They have to keep it at below freezing so the ice does not melt!!

When you go in they supply you with a big coat, gloves and even wrap up your ankles, since most everyone has shorts on. At the ice bar, they serve you a cold (of course) shot of Cruzan flavored rum. It does not warm you up in that cold place though.

They also have a slide that you could ride down on a mat, so you don't freeze your butt!! Carol did that and I have it on video.

We topped off our stay at St Thomas with a very good meal at the Lobster
Grill at Bolongo Bay resort. It was a fine restaurant and the atmosphere was very fine also. Carol had her Caribbean lobster for dinner and her leftovers for lunch the next day!

Wining and dining in St Thomas

One of the things we enjoy at St Thomas is going out with friends and having an enjoyable meal and of course a few glasses of wine. For the past 5 years my dive buddy has been Hank from Lake George, NY. This year he has a girl friend that came down with him and that made our time there that much more enjoyable.

One of our favorite places to go is the Room With a View and have their 5 o'clock specials. Here is Hank, Holly, Jim and Carol enjoying the evening.
One of our other favorite places to go is Paradise Point which is above the cruise docks overlooking the town. They have decent food, good Bushwackers, music and a great view for a sunset.

For lunches we usually get out to Secret Harbor at least once during our stay.

After a nice lunch we stopped at Bluebeard's Beach club to use their pool and relax some more. Hank "lost" Holly for a while but finally found her getting a little nap on one of the hammocks.

When we went to the Shipwreck Cafe for lunch one day, Carol found a new guy ...... but he wouldn't buy her lunch so she stayed with me!!

We sure enjoy ourselves in St Thomas and look forward to t he trip each year.

St Thomas SCUBA

Carol and I have returned from our annual 2 weeks in St Thomas and I got in more SCUBA than usual. I also worked on upgrading my certificate which gives  me more latitude on the type of dives I can do safely. I took training on deep dives (up to 100 ft), underwater navigation, photography,  wreck diving and night diving. All dives were a lot of fun and a true learning experience.
I now have competed 77 dives since getting certified 5 years ago, at age 72. That means I have completed 77 d1ves at age 77!! I sure wish I had gotten started earlier!
Here I am taking some pictures while at about 40 feet underwater.

Carol does not dive with me but she gets some relaxation time while I am underwater. Here she is at Coki Beach enjoying the view in the shade.

She does get in the water from time to time though. At Coki Beach the fish are very friendly and usually surround you when you get in the water. They are looking to be fed from dog bones that the vendors sell at the beach!!

If Carol had a dog bone there would have been more fish around her!!