Taxes done?  While you contemplate the chances of an IRS audit, the Court will come to order.

In their Christmas card this year, BERT & SUSIE KINGHORN included a great family photo taken at BERT's Change of Command as MLCLANT Commander. While they were moving from DC to Portsmouth, daughter Jill was 'studying' in the Galapagos, living on a boat and touring the islands via small boats.  Studying, snorkeling, college credits...and all on Mom & Dad's nickel!  They report that daughter Rachel completed her Masters Degree in Electrical Engineering at the end of August and BERT, SUSIE, and Jill attended the formal graduation ceremony at the University of Michigan on 17 December. Son-in-law Nate has begun work on special 2 year program Ford has put together with MIT, working on a graduate degree in Mechanical Engineering & Management.  Other than a term in Boston, Nate will do most of his study and course work in Michigan.

I sent an E-mail to TOM RUMMEL, asking if he knew where TONY HART had disappeared to...TONY, answer your snail mail!  TOM provided this update: "Sorry, I don't have any info on Gomer.  I seem to be stuck in Virginia. Kathy and I have been here since '83 so my family thinks we're natives. Our son, Erik (23), is a junior at Old Dominion - following my example of academic achievement (been in school since '96). Our oldest daughter, Gretchen (19), just started a Surgical Tech school and our youngest, Lauren (17 going on 35), is a high school senior.  I went to school after retiring and got a BA in Leisure Studies (what else would a retired person go for). Worked about five years at a city park leading outdoor education and adventure program and then moved a couple years ago to Gloucester County as the Recreation Supervisor - desk job scheduling
community recreation, supervising a preschool and running programs for seniors. I also get some outdoor stuff and am an instructor on two challenge courses and a river guide for Richmond Rafts.  Planning to make it to the 30th at this point. Hope to see you there."

STEVE PLOSZAJ of reported around with an update, sort of.  He sent an E-mail noting he owed me a proper update about what has happened to the PLOSZAJ family since his departure from the Coast Guard in 1984.  He said he'd try to put together a brief summary over the weekend...but that was a bunch of weekends ago.  He did propose a cure for insomnia, checking out his professional background at the web site for his firm McDermott, Will & Emery <www.mwe.com>. STEVE's the Partner in Charge of the Employee Benefits Department in MWE's Boston office. His practice is concentrated in employee benefits, executive compensation and taxation matters...and he name drops that former Secretary of Defense William Cohen just formed an alliance with McDermott, Will & Emery.  STEVE...work on that update this weekend!

KEN COFFLAND checked in from Fairbanks...wonder if he's seen CARL SCHRAMM?  KEN's gone through a divorce, but seems to be rebounding.  "Didn't figure on any more serious relationships in this life...then came DEBBY.  We've been together for several years.  We met in Southeast Alaska and three years ago she moved to Fairbanks to become the Division Chief at Fairbanks Fire Dept.  It took almost a year for me to fully make the move...the phone bills were killing us.  After all the years of coastal  rain...the dry cold has been wonderful.  I'll take 30 below over 33 above with blowing rain any day.  Fairbanks has become home.  I've been working at Warbelow's Air Ventures in Fairbanks.  A mix of dispatch, medevac manager, medic & pilot.  That was the deal to get back in the cockpit.  Most recently I've been flying a lot of the Cessna 206 (single engine, high wing dump truck) hauling groceries, dog food, soda pop & people in & out of tiny villages near the arctic circle.  Very good for positive mental health.  We run 10 twin engine Navajo's and 3 singles throughout the interior of Alaska.  I'll be flying a mix of aircraft...they consider me management...been trying to get away from that."  KEN also passed along very tense, but joyful news: "My oldest daughter was medevaced in a jet from Sitka to Anchorage last week...she was pregnant & her water broke. DEB & I flew down to be with Eric & Jen.  Within 24 hours of arrival Jen had an emergency c-section.  The kids were scared...we were scared, but Erin came into the world 2 months early weighing 2 lbs 1.5 ozs and 14 inches long.  If Jen had not been medevaced...Erin would not have made it.  After all the years of doing them I really understand just how much they mean to the families.  Erin will be in the neonatal intensive care unit at Providence Hospital for a couple of months.  She is breathing on her own.  Mom & Dad both got to hold her this week.  It looks like she will make it."  GREAT news Grandpa...keep us posted on how Erin's doing and when she leaves the hospital.

Last issue J. B. WILLIS let us know about his retirement plans. GORDY MARSH does the same this issue, retiring 23 February: "I am punching out 4 months early.  I had told RADM Pluta not to expect me to stay around beyond 15 April since I intended to start looking in January, but a couple of head hunters and senior personnel in the Halter and Avondale started working me over in November.  By early December I had reached an agreement to become the Director of Marine Engineering at Litton Avondale Industries.  I've got over 200 engineers and designers reporting to me.  I report, along with the Directors of Naval Architecture, Electrical Engineering and Project Administration, to the VP of Engineering.  We're actively working on the Polar tankers, Bob Hope Sealift vessels and the LPD program and bidding on Deepwater.  So I'll be staying in New Orleans and sailing my boat in lake Ponchatrain on weekends."  Congratulations GORDY, sounds challenging...hope you can find time for that Ponchatrain sailing!

Speaking of time, what are you doing 0600 to 0800 east coast time on Mondays and Thursdays?  Since they only broadcast at 110 watts, you're probably "out of range" if you are south of Augusta, Maine...but thanks to the black box magic of the Internet, you can log on and listen to CAP'N BARNEY on WMHB <www.colby.edu/wmhb>. BARNEY says "WMHB is webcasting.   The below site is our Colby site.   If you click on the webcast icon, it will take you to collegemusic.com.   You have to "join" collegemusic.com to listen (it's free to join).   Once you join, click on "radio stations" and then go down the list to WMHB."  Rock On!

Just beating the deadline, CHARLIE BILLS reports around from...Bainbridge Island, just over there on the other side of the pond.  But I thought he moved to Alameda after retiring as MSO Portland?  CHARLIE explains: "In '98 we moved from Portland to Petaluma...we had an opportunity to be part of a start-up construction business and to live on a 60-acre ranch down here with my sister-in-law (the horses, cows, & deer are really great!). I sat for my CA contractor's license & we cranked up a construction/remodeling business for a couple of years.  I got to missing the 'old days' and started putting out some resumes to the marine industry.  After several months of a few interviews and no offers, I received two offers within a day of one another and accepted a job with Elliott Bay Design Group (EBDG) <www.ebdg.com> up in Seattle.  I've actually been renting a place on Bainbridge Island (6 mo lease) since the start of the year, returning home as often as I can, and Dianne comes up for several days at a time when she can. The 'plan' is for Dianne to move up there this summer.  We have our entire family down here right now, so it won't be easy.  Our oldest daughter, Sherri (28), is with her husband in Berkeley along with Lauren (1 yr old) and another due next month.  Our second daughter, Julie (25), is with us here in Petaluma along with her son, Nathan (5 yrs old); Julie works for Legacy Marketing Group in Petaluma.  Our son, Matthew (20), is also with us, working for Agilent Technologies nearby.  Our earlier utopian logic was that we may be able to move en masse up to the Seattle area, but that's not likely...the kids are pretty established these days and the ranch is a great place to live.  Anyway, Dianne & I still plan to shift to Seattle, but not until after this summer.  There's plenty of work at EBDG and the days zip by.  Bainbridge is nice...it's just getting used to the ferry lines."

One more item on the docket...check out the new Alumni Association web site <www.uscgaaa.onlinecommunity.com>.  Please take the time to register and update all of your personal information as well as explore the site ... you can participate in the following services: online calendar of events, Career Center, Online Directory and Listservs, Homecoming/Reunion information, and Networking ... another method of staying connected with your fellow classmates and other alumni.  We're adjourned!