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http://arachnid.pepperdine.edu/goseweb/index.htm

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Creedance is back from her year in Heidelberg. She was one of three juniors selected to the Pepperdine Ambassador’s Council. She plans to go back to Florence in the Summer. Next semester she plans to take my Great Books class. I’m not sure who is more anxious about that. She did take me for softball her freshman year, so she’s taken me for my most important class already, but that was only one unit. Janice is doing well. She will receive extra credit in heaven for helping me through my medical difficulties. For those of you who haven’t heard, I had heart trouble this summer. It’s a pretty good story. Last time I had been to Vegas I had seen Elvis. That happens to be true, I hadn’t been since 1969 when and where I saw him in concert. Ken Perrin, who has had his own heart problems, was with us. I asked him about his heart and he told me that "the last symptom is denial." I had had chest pains, but I was convinced, and wasn’t wrong, that they were related to a hiatal hernia. But I went in to my g.p. I told her what I thought I had. She looked at me funny. I could tell she knew I now surf the web and over rate my own ability to sort out the information I find there. She thought I was having heart problems and sent me to a heart doctor. I didn’t fail his treadmill test, I did exhibit the symptoms of a hiatal hernia. He told me I was having heart trouble. So I did the radioactive treadmill test two days later. Turns out I had 90% blockage in the major heart artery, I can never remember its exact title, but my doctor called it "the widow maker." A day later I had an angioplasty, and thank modern medicine for inventing stents, I was able to get away with a stent instead of bypass surgery. P.S. After the surgery I still had the hiatal hernia. Providence. The pains from it led to essentially a false diagnosis that led to tests that may have preserved my life. Part of the best part is that I never even had time to panic. I was repaired before I had much chance to think about it. You may also be amused to know that before, during, and immediately after all of this I managed to finish my first book without my publisher finding out I had any trouble, which means the book, due out in March, is still right on schedule. It is titled: Creating the Winning Game Plan: A Secondary Teacher’s Playbook. Especially those of you who are or have been teachers may find it amusing, maybe even heuristic? Ha.

And how’s everyone else doing? This is what I hear. I continue to hear that Carlos is doing very well, and is exceedingly busy with his media enterprises. Kim and Dana are still in Bremerton with Kim teaching 5th grade. She was recently able to get together with Kristy in Phoenix. Janet and Garry Bailey and Annie welcomed Ethan into the world. They are now in Oklahoma where Garry is a professor. We were supposed to meet Shannon, Sheldon, Brady, and Ian at Disneyland, but we missed connections somehow. We were a little worried because Brady had some health problems on a past plane trip. They are in the process of moving from Panama to Guam (where I went to first and second grade as a matter of fact). Jon and Camille and Madeline welcomed Abigail into the world in July. And Jon has been teaching a class at Pepperdine. Tanja, Jon and I have had some fun conversations about such things as grading policies. Midori, Bill, Christopher, and Brandon are back in Austin. Midori updated me on her kids and let me know that she recently ran into Tim Maz at a wedding in Seattle. I haven’t been able to catch up to Kathy Bristow so far this year. Tanja continues to teach full time at Pepperdine. It was a delight to hear my really excellent Great Books students talk about how great Professor Carter is, not knowing that I even knew her. I think Zoila and David are still in Pomona, but I haven’t heard from them recently. I have had several recent contacts with Russ and Becky (of Kayla and Cameron fame). You might want to check out what they are up to at: http://www.theknot.com. Char continues to do well in the nursing profession. She also has a recommendation on my Web Site for those of you looking for medical information. (If you go to my "Global Village" and hit the Health button you will find it.) Mutual friends of Stephanie report that Audrey and Sean are still in Sacramento and have two boys now. Caroline, Jeff, Cole and Jordan are reportedly doing well in Moorpark. I keep expecting to run into Caroline again in Thousand Oaks. I heard from Cindy that Debbie, Tracy, Alexa, and Kylie are still doing well and that Debbie is still teaching. Monica and Jesus made good on the delivery of Jordan this past April! I spoke recently with Janille. Husband John and sons Joshua and Christopher are doing well. With a little luck I will soon post a Christmas themed picture from Janille’s modeling. I had a really good phone conversation with Shayne fairly recently. Shayne, I’m serious, come tutor my current Great Books students on writing. Doctor Carolyn Ford is gainfully employed as an engineer (and she shouldn’t have to be a professor at Pepperdine just because I wanted her to). Jeff and Shelley Gillette are in Costa Mesa now. I know it was a long time ago, but I can’t help but think of the shoe store story and that Jeff is now a lawyer. Tom Goolsby married Catherine Pruett this October 10th and they will be living in Texas. We were able to go to Brett Gregor’s wedding and visit their beautiful new home. Steve and Cindy were also there. Talked with Danielle and Danielle, John, Camille, Timothy, and Bennett are expecting a fourth within the month. I think Cristina is still with National Pediatrics? Kevin and Michelle have moved to Durham, North Carolina, where Kevin is working on an M.B.A. at Duke. Mark and Michelle have a new baby, Zachary, to keep Miles occupied. Mark managed to finish his M.B.A. at Santa Clara as well. Stephanie tells me that Kevin and Connor and Drew are doing well, that Connor has started ice hockey already. Erin and I continue to work on my Web Site idea, "Church with Erin." She is still working with the University of Chicago. We saw Cindy at Brett’s wedding, wish we could have seen Arno and Anika. Sarah "almost" saw Tanja back in New York. Brian and Ronda welcomed Elias into the world on April 20th. They’ve managed to arrange their work schedules so that Brian can watch Elias during the week. From first hand experience I realize how lucky it is for a father to be able to have that time. Haven’t heard about Jeanne Kroy in awhile. Connie and Rick and Rachael are still in Flagstaff. Kim and Scott, and Luke and Micah and Isaac we get to see here and there since we are both on campus, but not even them that much. Kim continues to know the most about what is up with everyone. Which is marvelous because I well remember what a busy time this is for the many of you who are young parents. I’ve have had several contacts with Patrick lately. He’s working on his doctorate at U.S.C., has been having papers accepted all over the place, but still found time to pick a fight with Jon on the "Teaching" bulletin board on my Global Village web site. Michaelann, Brock, Thomas, Augustine, MariAnna, Elizabeth, and the almost New Year’s baby Phillip, have moved to Colorado. Dena and Carina are still in Riverside and Dena is still teaching Science. Midori recently was in contact with Kelly McLaughlin, whom I had lost contact with. Midori tells me Kelly has two daughters, Kelsey and Kinsey. Tim Misuradze had a year long role as a Psychiatrist in the tv show The Young and Restless. He’s also the National Sales Manager for ADP. Steve continues to rise in the corporate world, so much so that I find myself encouraging him to look out for Creedance once she graduates. Why is it I always think of the 1st Century Docetic controversy when I think of Jon Rankin? Kowanda and Ron and Derrick and Douglas have moved to Illinois to take advantage of promotions. Don and Kim and Jordan and Corrine and Elise are about to move to Connecticut where Don will work with Yale in Medical Pediatrics. Diana’s Austin is already almost a year and a half. I saw Scriv in the play, Meringue Pie. He was fabulous. I especially loved his physical humor. I haven’t heard from Cara and Michael this year. We do talk with Kristy and Brad and Toby from time to time. If Jon and Monica do plan our twenty year reunion like we think, I cannot imagine the level of competition that will pass into the next generation. Karin has changed jobs at Pepperdine. I miss seeing her on work days; she’s left us to work with John Watson and the Washington D.C. program. I saw Brad last basketball season. He and Margaret and Hannah and Benjamin report they are doing very well. Julie is very happy being out of Law and into the Hotel Business. She’s now in Las Vegas. I saw Paul (of Konni and Zachary fame) recently. He’s thriving as a lawyer. Kim and Kevin and Luke, born in June, have moved to Long Beach. I see Carrie and Andy and Jenna and Jessica and Michaela, born in March, at Carrie’s mom, who lives two doors from us. Carrie and Kim were also able to visit Kristy in Phoenix this year. David and Gayle and Alyssa and Christopher are back from China and are in St. Louis while David pursues a degree in Ministry. Jennifer isn’t quite done with her doctorate at Rutgers, but some of us have asked her to apply for an opening in Teacher Education. I’d certainly like to get Eric, Marc, and her back in town. I especially miss those "human values" discussions with Eric. I talked on the phone awhile back with Todd. He and Kimberly and Emily and Daniel are doing well. Tim and Nicole have apparently been taking some adventuresome scuba courses. Tim is now working with A.O.L. Dane and Maya are the proud parents of Lisa. Dane reports that "life is good." I haven’t heard this year from Paige and Steve. I always worry that I will have left someone out. It’s bad enough to make other mistakes. Know that we think of you often. The older we get the more we marvel at the web of life. As Tanja, quoting Spock, would say, "Live long and prosper."