On 4/19/10 11:19 AM, Ed Rasimus wrote:
> the annual reunion of the
> Red River Valley Fighter Pilot Assoc. (River Rats) which took place
> this year in Orlando FL...[SNIP] are not
> known for good taste and sophisticated palates with regard to wine.
>
> That's why I was stunned on Saturday night at the formal banquet when
> seated at a table of eight fighter pilots and their ladies awaiting
> the distribution of gray, dry beef or rubber chicken in glutinous
> white sauce which is traditional hotel banquet fare, I scanned the
> setting noting a 1.75l of red wine and white. Things would be bleak
> apparently.
>
> Then across from me one of the bemedalled aviators put forth a bottle
> of wine which he had brought in to the hall with him. It was a
> unpretentious little California offering labeled as "red wine"--a 2002
> Opus One!

Hey, Ed!
It's no great surprise to me that aviator reunions get the same
treatment as scientific conventions: bland institutional food and even
more indifferent wine. It's good to hear that one of your compatriots
showed the foresight and the taste to bring a good bottle of wine with
him. He sounds like someone to cultivate for future get-togethers.

Mark Lipton
(veteran of too many of those banquets)

--
alt.food.wine FAQ: http://winefaq.cwdjr.net

"Mark Lipton" > wrote in message
...
> On 4/19/10 11:19 AM, Ed Rasimus wrote:
>> the annual reunion of the
>> Red River Valley Fighter Pilot Assoc. (River Rats) which took place
>> this year in Orlando FL...[SNIP] are not
>> known for good taste and sophisticated palates with regard to wine.
>>
>> That's why I was stunned on Saturday night at the formal banquet when
>> seated at a table of eight fighter pilots and their ladies awaiting
>> the distribution of gray, dry beef or rubber chicken in glutinous
>> white sauce which is traditional hotel banquet fare, I scanned the
>> setting noting a 1.75l of red wine and white. Things would be bleak
>> apparently.
>>
>> Then across from me one of the bemedalled aviators put forth a bottle
>> of wine which he had brought in to the hall with him. It was a
>> unpretentious little California offering labeled as "red wine"--a 2002
>> Opus One!
>
> Hey, Ed!
> It's no great surprise to me that aviator reunions get the same
> treatment as scientific conventions: bland institutional food and even
> more indifferent wine. It's good to hear that one of your compatriots
> showed the foresight and the taste to bring a good bottle of wine with
> him. He sounds like someone to cultivate for future get-togethers.
>
> Mark Lipton
> (veteran of too many of those banquets)

I once went to a function put on by a Belgian Govt. dept (coal science) and
we ALL got the trots that night. There was a constant stream of people
ducking out of the oral sessions the following morning. Very embarassing
for our hosts.
Graham
Also a veteran of rubber chicken banquets!

>> sounds like someone to cultivate for future get-togethers.
>>
>> Mark Lipton
>> (veteran of too many of those banquets)
>
> I once went to a function put on by a Belgian Govt. dept (coal science) and
> we ALL got the trots that night. There was a constant stream of people
> ducking out of the oral sessions the following morning. Very embarassing
> for our hosts.
> Graham
> Also a veteran of rubber chicken banquets!

I am organizing a "first semi-centennial" reunion for a bunch of Air
Force Chinese Linguist Vietnam vets (what a mouthfull !) and I am NOT
planning a banquet!

JB

Ronin > wrote:

> I am organizing a "first semi-centennial" reunion for a bunch of Air
> Force Chinese Linguist Vietnam vets (what a mouthfull !) and I am NOT
> planning a banquet!
>
> JB

Do you by any chance know a Tom Clark from Pittsburgh, PA? He is an Air
Force Chinese Linguist Vietnam Vet and was my translation instructor at
Pitt.

Dave
--
There's a fine line between stupid and clever.
ROT-13 for my e-mail address

On 2010-04-21 00:41:11 -0700, (Dave Devine) said:

> Ronin > wrote:
>
>> I am organizing a "first semi-centennial" reunion for a bunch of Air
>> Force Chinese Linguist Vietnam vets (what a mouthfull !) and I am NOT
>> planning a banquet!
>>
>> JB
>
> Do you by any chance know a Tom Clark from Pittsburgh, PA? He is an Air
> Force Chinese Linguist Vietnam Vet and was my translation instructor at
> Pitt.
>
> Dave

I never met him personally - He was about a year behind me and was a
member of the fabled "last class at Yale." I think he went to a ground
site - I was airborne. If you are still in contact with him, please
let me/him know - we'd like to contact him about the reunion - and we
can chat offline. Just take the 'not' off the address and the domain
is 'net' for my email address.

Jim