Another good anti-Trump video and very cute.

Reed and the girls and other members of the CABB were on WJXT this morning with a promo for their upcoming shows. I managed to overcome camera problems just minutes before they were on. They were cut a little short obviously with the need to pay bills.

Reed actually had 2 gigs yesterday. This is from the first one on the street in Fernandina Beach where it was cold and I didn't want to move from the one of the heaters the city had placed around the venue. His second was at a hoity toity club with lots of dressed up rich people. Didn't attend that one.

Cousin Ry Schmelz came to town last night and today he and I went down to St Augustine. We took a tour of Flagler College and its ornate dining room. Later we climbed the St Augustine Lighthouse and took a pic.

Reed, Marah and the Crescendo Amelia Band played at the tree lighting in Daytona Beach on Saturday. Reed was having a lot of fun in this clip. Forgot the name of the other girl.

My new favorite video sent to me by cousin Ry.

So Reed and I went out to Thanksgiving dinner after the Vikings won yesterday and also sold his other car so it was a productive couple of days.

Everything has been pretty mundane lately. Reed has been working hard with school, his job and gigging once or twice a week. In fact, the combo gig at the Omni Resort went very well last night as the particular trio backing him Drums, Bass and Piano sounded excellent. However, his car was continuing to cause problems so...we got him a new one. No, not new new but a good used car from a dealer. After a week the brake light was already out. UPSDATE: Reed reminded me he went to Orlando last week to see the Celtics play the Magic. He gave me a couple pictures to post.

So Friday the Crescendo Amelia Combo had a gig on the street downtown Fernandina Beach. Both Reed and Marah were there to sing and it went well. Here's some video but I had lots of problems with the camera including not being able to charge the battery. Reed's mic wasn't loud enough for these songs but they turned it up right after. Sorry about all the jiggling but I had to adjust things.

So the last day of school has come and gone and, despite some last minute harassment from The Universe and with the help of my principal, I made it. It even looks like they paid me for all those days off. I may have to donate some of that back somehow. We'll see. The lady who subbed for me last week and helped during the book fair is going to take over. I gave her some of my teaching materials. Hopefully she'll enjoy it.

Been over a month since my last post. Time to catch everybody up. School has been going OK but the job here is a lot different than on Guam. Normal day here is to have 5 50 minute classes with various ages with my main objective giving a break to the classroom teacher. There's just me, no library tech. There seems to be a problem with the computer system as all records are kept at a central location and I can't make the system give me a list of who's in what classes and associate barcodes for checking out books. Hence no checking books out and I get no info as to when that might happen. And I've got hand problems. When I took the job I thought I had pretty much figured out the problem with my neuropathy but the job seems to be making it worse. Consequently, I told the principal that I'm going to resign after the school book fair. Final day Sept 29. Not that I'm doing a great job, I'm not. They should be able to find a more capable individual. Reed is progressing and going to work and doing the band but unfortunately he and Jade have broken up after what - 3 years? And finally Hurricane Irma. No biggee for us. Missed a few days of school and only had a few hours of no power. Biggest impact on Jacksonville was the flooding on the north/west shore of the river.

Last week I went down to the school system as I noticed they needed librarians and guess what? They hired me today. I'm going to be Librarian at Windy Hills Elementary School which is just a couple miles away and close to Jade's family's house. Not sure what my pay is. Beginning is $40k though. Wish me luck. UPDATE/UPDATE: Not Windy Hill but Woodland Acres Elementary School which is about 7 miles away. What can I say for the mixup. They both started with a "Big W". (A Mad movie reference for you oldies out there)

Reed had a fun gig last night as Crescendo Amelia has been sponsoring a once a month Big Band Dance and it's been going very well. 150-200 last night. In the first video Frank tells everybody how Reed joined the band. In the second he sings It Had To Be You.

Reed's back in Jax which made a good birthday present for me. We pick up Jade tonight.

Got a note from Reed this morning.------How are things in FL? Went on a boat the other day. We were down off the coast of Agat from 5 to around 8. Near this old Spanish Bridge. On one side we had the sunset, and on the other we had the coast and a full moon. It was absolutely breathtaking. We have been eating REALLY good out here too. Perez Acres grows avocados now so we have basically had unlimited Guacamole for the past four weeks. How are the cats doing?-------Now, he didn't send me any pictures but it gave me a good excuse to grab an appropriate pic off the internet.

Took a little trip to the NE last week and saw my College dorm parents Sandee and Ray Greene as well as their kids Shannon, Shawn and Shea. My pic was real blurry so I'll put up the one Shawn took with Sandee's camera. Saw my brother Herb also a couple times as well as his family but totally forgot to take a picture. :-((But he just sent me a pic of him and May. And OK here's the pic I took with my lowly camera.

Reed sent an email----- Hey dad! First couple weeks have been pretty fun. Most of the time I'm just making music with some buddies or going around Tumon. I missed the beaches here so much. The roads are going to take a bit of getting used to as well. Still have yet to go on some hikes. Just enjoying being home for the most part, sorry for not keeping in touch more. How are the cats? How are you? Hands doing better? Added a new picture to the apt.

Asiya sent me Fathers Day Greetings with a pic of both her and Reed from last year.

From Reed on Guam---Been a pretty productive summer so far as far as music. Not too many of my friends are here though so there are only about 3 or 4 buddies to see. Its still been a lot of fun. How are you? How are the kitties? Jades worried about them. haha

Couple of extra long emails from a normally laconic Reed Meyer since he got back to Guam. "Yes I'm home safe :) looooooong flights. Glad they're over with. (AND) Been an eventful couple of days here. It's great to be back. How are the cats? You doing alright by yourself?"

Reed's been working his tail off prior to heading back to Guam on Tuesday. Even Had 3 gigs with Crescendo Amelia in the last week including this one. Now the audio sucks and there were always people between us but it's what you get.

Went to the Florida Theater last night and saw Bad to the Bone George Thorogood. An hour and a half of loud 12 bar blues....but done well with a cool light show. The audience and Patse loved it.

Big couple days as Reed's mom and sister came through on their way to a cruise in the Baltic. Mom Lyaylya Raymanova and sister Asiya Frolova

Hey Reed made the Deans List. Don't think I ever made it.

Reed and the Crescendo Amelia 4 man combo have an every Saturday gig at the Omni Hotel on Amelia Island. It's not at the Hotel but at this little commercial/restaurant area that they have. I tried to give you a good look at what the place looks like but kinda messed up at the end.

Been awhile since my last post but it's basically a lack of things going on. Reed did have a gig but it was a private party. Saturday he did have a gig we could go to and we took some video. Hope you enjoy it.

So last month Sue had me write a little song for a presentation that her group was doing called Mr Sioux Falls. This was to be my first shot into "big time" song writing since the Guam Gridiron Show back in the 80's and 90's. Took me about 20 minutes and came up with this to the tune of MR SANDMAN although it goes 1st verse, 1st verse, 2nd verse. The lady she got to sing it changed it just a bit, which was OK, and so this is what was shown on screen for the presentation so everybody could read the words. And so, without further adieu and from Reed's Soundcloud account, here she is singing ...... Mr. Sioux Falls

So Reed sang last night with the Crescendo Amelia Combo group for a dance party sponsored by Ballroom On Amelia. I went along but didn't dance much, at least at first, as the group was mostly couples who were taking lessons from the sponsors. Later 4 single ladies showed up and I got some exercise in. One interesting part of the evening was when Reed discovered he had lost his wallet. After the dance we went back to a place he had gotten out of the car and there it was. Still having problems with the video camera resulting from the infamous New Years Eve incident. Did Manage to get this song.

Reed had practice last night for the combo gig on Friday. Found another good pic.

A week later and I'm back in Jacksonville. Found a couple pics of Reed at his gigs while I was gone.

Spent much of the day rediscovering Watertown. First, spent an hour with Christy at the Watertown Museum talking shop. Then went over to Tommy's Bowling Alleys and looked at the pictures on the wall including former next door neighbor Myrtle Smith. After that went to the new DDR Bookstore. Found out it was owned by my old English Teacher Donus Roberts who at a fiesty 80 some years old is selling off his huge book collection. I can't remember his wife's name but she my was advisor in 9th grade Then across the street to the Gos Opera House. That was cool.

Sue gave me some time off so I'm off to visit family and friends. Had dinner tonight with daughter Asiya. And visited with old Black hills teammate Mike Berg (and with wife Lorna) who showed us all what being a coach was all about. From Mike--Hey Ralph - trust me, your surprise visit yesterday was truly that indeed, a surprise. I can't thank you enough for the sunshine that you brought to one of our dreary winter days, it was great to see you again. That you would make that kind of an effort with no guarantee of even crossing paths says everything about you. Lorna and I were stunned and really enjoyed the short time you were here. I've shared the story with several folks since, all are amazed. Take care, I will certainly stay in touch. (I messaged VJ and told him not to be surprised to see you show up in Abilene someday).

Saw only my second hockey game with the Sioux Falls Stampeed and had a visit from brother Rick.

So there hasn't been much to report for awhile as I've been in Sioux Falls helping Sue get through her bout of shingles. Reed did have a gig which evidently went well. I've been to the docs to check my neuropathy--got some hand exercises. Saw a Skyforce basketball game. And Sue thought she'd be clever.

Lots of family stuff for Gail and Sue as we finish up in Merida and start heading home. Putting a full tank into the rental in Cancun turned out to be more fun than usual as the gas station attendant switched a 500 peso note for a 50. He got me but Gail and Sue both saw him do it. And then there was the cab driver and even the Subway sandwich guy. Cancun is full of vultures, vultures everywhere. (Casablanca reference for you uninitiated.)

Yesterday hit the Mayan Museum in Merida then did lunch and the beach in Progreso with its 5 mile long pier.

I am in and around Merida Mexico and today visiting the Mayan ruins at Uxmal with friends. I am impressed.

So we went to the New Years Eve celebration at the Alhambra Dinner Theater last night as Crescendo Amelia was the main attraction. It was big money but the band played great and Reed was a star. However, one of our tablemates spilled his tea and it did a number on my camera. Consequently, we only have a quick clip of him singing the last song of the night.