19	Spring	95
PO Box 522	PAMPA, TX	79066-0522
Volume 4	of the family, by the family, for the family	Issue 4
806 669 6009	Mi Vida Loco | Buried Treasure | Seattle Puzzle Solving... | Butterfly Maze	puzzler@pan-tex.net

Mi Vida Loco I have put off writing this letter ffor two years because the last two Christmases, a major change in my life has been right around the corner. The time has come for me to bite the bullet and let my friends and family know that I am alive and well. In November 1992, I received notice from FSI International, the company that I had worked for since February 1984, decided to close the Lubbock office on February 28, 1993 and was happy to dispose of me in the process. So Christmas 1992 came and went with me wondering what our future will hold. I received a big shock when I started to look for work because I was in a unique position with a unique company. I was also under qualified and overpaid. I turned down work that offered half of the salary that I was making because there was no way that I would work for that. I spent the next 15 months working for a third of my salary. I am sure you have heard about my experience in the car business. I spent four and a half months at one dealer, then walked across the street and spent anoother four and a half months at another dealer. It was like going to school, one semester at each dealer. Memorial day weekend, Dianne and myself's 10th anniversary, I worked from 8 am to midnight. By December of 1993, it was time to move on. I was not making the grade. Besides, I was honest and had a family. So Christmas 1993 came and went with us wondering what our future will hold. January 1994 I went to work for Boris Yeltsen's evil twin brother. Traveling west Texas and eastern New Mexico selling and servicing Xerox Engineering Copiers and various brands of blueline machinces. By May, it was time to move on. I was not making the grade. Besides, I was honest and had a family. So I gave that up and came home. Memorial day weekend, Dianne and myself's 11th anniversary, I ran away from home with my brother Lloyd to Columbia, Tennessee. We attended the funeral of aa Confederate States soldier who died of a self inflicted gun shot during the War of Northern Aggression while inn South Africa. A real hero. The only thing we missed was the Klan rally. In July, I was able to get my foot back in the door at Texas Instruments. This is the third time I have been employed by TI. I have been told "third time is the charm." I am working in their wafer fab, where the computer chips are made, on the night shift. Although not exactly my job of choice, I enjoy it. I have one of those jobs that I worked so hard to eliminate while at FSI, an equipment manufacturer. Working nights have turned out to be a blessing for us since I am able to spend more time with the kids. Also, a steady paycheck helps. One drawback is that some days, I only see Dianne going the opposite way down the highway. In November, I had an opportunity to pick up some part time drafting work. Something that I have not done in two years but I felt as if I need to keep my skills currentt. I am working Mondays and Tuesdays for a company that builds and maintains gas stations. Last week they told me that they would like for me to work for them full time. So... Christmas 1994 came and went with us wondering what our future will hold. Speaking of the family, they are doing great. Katie started Junior High this year which is something new at Idalou for the Fifth graders. It has been tough on all of them. Not one fifth grader has made the honor roll this year, something that Katie has never missed. She is still involved in gymnastics. Ben started Kindergarten. The transition has been equally tough on him, but he is starting to get into the routine. His main problem is he just doesn't know when to shut up, but he is learning. He played soccer this fall. They won one game and lost he rest real bad. It was fun. After soccer was over, he returned to gymnastics, something they both can enjoy. Dianne is still with United Supermarkets but will move to a different store in the Spring because they are building a new store and will close hers. I am planning on spending our 12th anniversary with Dianne. However, Dianne may be working the Grand Opening at the new store. L. Ray Elder Buried Treasure Most of us, if not all, would like to get our hands on a treasure. Evidently, Grandpa was well aware of where one was buried. Dad tells me he used to talk about it quite a bit. Several years had passed before Grandpa set out to retrieve it. He and Uncle Ed stopped by in Oklahoma City to invite dad to go with them but not knowing what they were up to, Dad declined indicating he had to work. I suspect they were being secretive not wanting anyone else to over hear their conversation. Anyway, Granndpa and Uncle Ed headed for East Texas. Grandpa claimed there was a railroad spike driven into the tree marking the location. He also claimed to have shot a squirrel out of that very same tree. Alas they came to the area where the copper pot was buried only to discover all the trees had been cleared and the creek by which the tree stood had also move. Anyone out there hear anything else? I would like to hear from you if you have as I am also sure the rest of the family would. To be continued pending further investagation/information. Roy A. Watts Seattle Up in the northwest corner of the the north west state is a city called Seattle. Actually, it is about a hundred miles inland from the Pacific Ocean and a hundred miles south of the Canadian border, but with the Puget Sound all along the west side of Seattle gives it a feel for being alogn the ocean. Seattle, by the way, is the largest city in Washington. Towering 14,410 feet, Mount Rainier is the most prominent land feature to the southeast. It exceeds the height of nearly all tthe other mountains in the Cascade Range by a mile. Directly south of Seattle is the city of Tacoma which is Washington's third largest city. You may have noticed in my new address is the city of SeaTac. This is an abbreviation of Seattle and Tacoma. The community completely surrounds the two ciites International airport. Across the freeway from the airport is where we live. Olympic viiew apartments offers a unique mountain setting, friendly neighbors and a swimming pool. By the way, it rarely falls below freezing here. (It rarely gets over a hundred either) To the west and across the Sound are the majestic Olympic Mountains (I suppose the mountains were named before the capital was). My roommate, Caszares (Caz) Caltalantes, claims they are young pointing out the sharpness of the peaks. Seattle has a lot to offer and under the impression they were in need of Civil Engineers, I drifted out here with Caz. I have yet to land a job here as a Civil Engineer but I haven't given up the hunt. Roy A. Watts Puzzle Solving Techniques Mazes Contrary to popular belief, there is a method to solving mazes. I intend to draw a new one for this issue but as I haven't done that yet I'll use last winters Christmas Star for an example. From the arrow at the top of the maze, follow the path to the first choices of paths. Ok, so you didn't have to go very far to run into this. Trying the middle path, follow it around to the second set of choices. Note as you go around the corner from the uppoer wing to the right wing that this is the only path out of the upper wing as a line perpendicular to this path extends clear to the otehr side of the upper wing. The next set of choices isn't quite as easy but don't panic. Here the trained eye can pick out a line extneding from the bottom corner of the right wing to a single opening across the bottome of the upper wing. I'll hold off on three dimensional mazes for awhile. I'm unable to see it just yet, but I'm sure you'll enjoy this quarters puzzle now that you have an inkling of how to solve it. Roy A. Watts Butterfly Maze

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