Off to reunion! 22Oct08

I certainly don't believe it, but this weekend is my 30th college reunion in Annapolis, Maryland. US Naval Academy, class of 1978, SIR! In the words of Steve McQueen in "The Sand Pebbles" - What happened?

Typical Wednesday morning: get up, get Robin up and off to school, etc, then add in a drive to the DFW airport and flight to Baltimore MD. There I picked up a Chevy Cobalt from Hertz, which cost about 100$ more than I was expecting due to fees, taxes, etc, and is such a cheap car (HOW CHEAP IS IT?) - well, it's so cheap that you have to manually lock each door! The roll down windows don't bother me, but not being able to lock all 4 doors with the key or drivers lock is a pain! If you don't get the (HOW CHEAP IS IT?) crack, then you probably don't remember Johnny Carson as the host of the Tonight Show. Really, it hasn't always been Jay Leno. It used to be funny.

Anyway, next stop was the home of Ed and Phyllis Novak, parents of one of my classmates from Canoe U. They are wonderful people, and holding up well. It's like going home to see Mom and Dad, only without the nagging (since they don't know all that goes on in my life!). We showed pictures, caught up as best we could on what's happening/happened, and renewed vows to stay in better touch. This time I mean it.

Then on to see my high school teacher/lacrosse coach/sponsor from the Naval Academy, Dick Webster. Still gives me a little chill calling him Dick. "Coach" or "Mr. Webster" is MUCH more comfortable, no matter what he says. Again, sharing of photos and family news (he's a 9 times grandfather!) and it was off to the beltway again for the trip to Capitol KOA in Millerville MD, just 10 miles north of Annapolis.
Why a KOA you might ask? Well, the 'rate' at the reunion hotel was about 250$ a night, for 2 or 3 nights, and that plus the $ for tailgate and reception and the car would have put this well into the mille dolares, which is mucho more than I am willing to pay. So for 75$ and a little drive time I get a sweet little cabin in the woods. I did arrive after dark, and the office was closed, but they thoughtfully left a key and a note advising my cabin (Kabin, actually. How Kute) was K91 - just follow the map. Which I did -- to an empty spot. Hmmmm. K95, K94, K93...... and there it ended. I circled like a dog three or four times until finally a caretaker hopped off his golfcart and flagged me down. Seems they MOVED the last 3 cabins to a nicer location. Whew! Any more circling and I think I'da thrown up!
I moved my stuff (one suitcase and the sleeping bag) in and checked the window unit. Uh-oh. It's 45 degrees out and going down and all this is is an AC unit! Slept in my travel clothes (not as bad as it sounds) and was ok.
I'm really looking forward to tomorrow!