Hello folks,
Well summer must be starting it's downward slope to fall. I just saw my first "Back to School" commercial on TV. Before you know it we will be basking in the Florida sun together. I found a neat little utility for all you computer geeks. Click on the link below and this gadget will clean your screen for you. I highly recommend it!
http://www.raincitystory.com/flash/screenclean.swf

You're welcome!

Hot off the Press

Here's some news from Donna & Lenny from Fifth St:

We had a bit of a scare with a lump that surfaced on Lenny’s neck, he had it tested, etc and fortunately, it’s “all good”, but it is something that the doctor would like to remove. We’ll have to go to Florida for that surgery, our insurance will not pay for anything out of state. Since all the tests turned out okay, we decided to take the trip we had planned for this summer. So here’s what we’ve been doing thus far….

Lenny and I left NC on July 11^th and arrived in MA on July 13^th. Lenny told me he wouldn’t push the driving, but it’s A MAN THING, got to “make time”. We stayed at an RV park in Monson, MA and attended my 45^th class reunion in Belchertown. What fun! It was a 3-day event of laughing and eating with people that I didn’t think I’d ever remember after all these years. While in our ‘old neck of the woods’, we toured our past neighborhoods, and even after 33 years, Lenny still remembered how to get around the area. We had some of the best fruits and veggies from South Hadley, MA. Good stuff.

We left MA on July 20^th and then headed into New York. We spent the day in Elizaville, NY. What a neat place in the Hudson River Valley. We also toured the area where Chelsea Clinton is getting married – glad we didn’t decide to extend our stay in that area, we’ve heard on the news that the secret service folks are starting to arrive and the ‘lock down’ will begin shortly. The Hudson River Valley is a neat place with lots of fresh fruits and veggies. Right now we are in Milton, PA – we are eating our way to Wisconsin to see Diana & Rick Frick! By Monday, July 25^th we’ll be in the Amish area of Ohio. We plan to be there for about 4 days, and then we’ll head to Lake Huron area. We are planning to go as far west as North Dakota, and then head back home touring MN, IO, IL, KT and stop by Debbie & Kirby’s hometown. We will spend a few days with them and hope to see Carolyn & Ron Redman while in the area.

We are not on a specific time schedule, but I’m sure we’ll be back home by September, and then it’s off to Florida, to get that lump on Lenny’s neck removed.

Love to All Our Friends,

Donna Berthiaume

Keeping in touch...

I am always thrilled when I check my e-mail and find news from Avalon friends. Marvin and Mary Harrison who used to be on Fourth St, then the island, sent greetings to all, especially Noella. They wanted to join all of us in wishing her a speedy recovery. Marvin said they are not able to come to Florida in the winter at this time, but they are avidly camping this summer and have a dozen or so Country and Western Jamborees they are planning to attend with their new 5th wheel.

Ive also heard that Stan Mullins is doing well after his surgery and hopes that he will eventually have the full mobility he so desires.

I received a note from a couple of folks regarding a Youtube video Ray Villani has made for a singing audition for Susan Boyle (the lady who became famous on Britain's Got Talent last year)
I watched the video and I must say we are going to miss that boy at Avalon this year!!!

Here is a link to the video so you can enjoy his performance of "Silent Night" the song Susan requested all competitors perform:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjRn2MSLwBY

Continue to laugh, play and sing your way through the summer. Enjoy!

Great news today folks!
Bud Adams is alive and well! It seems there was a misunderstanding somewhere along the grapevine so I have been asked to set the record straight.
I have also heard another rumour: Because Bud is so grateful to be alive he is going to be buying us all extra donuts for the Monday morning meeting!
(Well, maybe I started that one! Ssshhh!)

Avalon Friends in Recovery!

Don't mean to shock y'all! No-one is in "REHAB" - just good old fashioned surgery!

I've been told that Stan Mullins (husband of Noma; formerly of Fifth St - next season he will be a Donovanite) has recently had surgery.

Also, Noella - our seamstress, office assistant, and more famously, one of the Bugle Girls and a Choir Member from the Avalon Show -recently went to the hospital and had surgery to repair 3 heart blockages. Apparently during the surgery she experienced a heart attack and is recovering at home, awaiting surgery to have the last blockage cleared in 2 or 3 weeks.

Stan and Noella, we all wish you well and we will keep you in our prayers for a speedy recovery and a full return to good health.

Hi Everyone,
I hope you are all enjoying some fabulous summer weather. Ed and I have been keeping pretty busy. I am only semi-retired so I am back at the office for 6 months - still enjoying weekends at the lake though! We went for a trip to Ottawa on the long weekend and had a great time with family and friends at our niece's wedding. Her parents are Brenda and Norm - they park their fifth wheel at the corner of Third St and the X row across from the pool.

I've heard rumours that others are travelling as well. I will have to ask Jane and Fred about their escapades in Las Vegas - I hope you guys won big!

I received the following note from Ron and Pat Vanover who were in Toronto on the holiday weekend:

We saw the Queen of England 2 times today. We were 50ft. from her and Prince Phillip.They have the top 2 floors of the Royal York Hotel where some of our Shriners are staying and we were there - so awesome - Royal Canadian Mounties and the whole show!!!

Ron and Pat were so kind as to include some pictures from their recent vacation in Plymouth Mass. as well as a very interesting shot of a chess board they have at their campground. Let's hope they don't decide to play darts!