I've wanted to be able to speak Spanish since I moved to Arizona 29 years ago. Raising a family and working full time pushed that down on the priority list. My husband learned Spanish as a Peace Corps volunteer in 1970 and has continued to use it daily, and both our sons speak Spanish after completing minors in it at the University of Arizona and spending time in Central and South America. We have a lot of friends and business acquaintances who are bilingual and it felt like I was the only one who didn't speak Spanish. In August 2005 I was able to start taking Spanish classes at the community college and after four semesters I felt confident enough to participate in a Spanish immersion program. So, it was “Off to Guatemala and Antigua”. I still have a long way to go, but it's been a great experience.

Cobblestone streets of Antigua

Kathleen at a sidewalk market in Santiago Sacatepéquez

Guatemala was a tremendous place to visit and to work on improving my Spanish skills. I went to Antigua, less than an hour’s drive from the capital, from June 9-30, and enjoyed every minute of the beautiful historic sites and environment. There are about 70 language schools, mostly small, in Antigua, and so there are students of all ages in the city. Residents and shop owners will respond in Spanish, even though those who deal with tourists speak some English. My class, and most students do this, was one-on-one for 25 hours a week with a teacher who is not university educated but has training and experience. I attended Probigua, a non-profit school which uses all proceeds above its costs to fund and expand libraries in rural schools and communities. I lived with a family of Antigua residents and was very comfortable. We spoke Spanish all the time although my Spanish is similar to that of a three-year-old. I had time for sightseeing and traveled to Lake Atitlán about two hours north with four women from Indianapolis and one from Seattle who I met at school. Jude Hawkes and Frank Bonaccorso replied to an email from me that was posted to this site a few months ago with encouragement and a lot of helpful advice. I recommend that anyone traveling outside of the U.S. buy one or more guidebooks a few months in advance. For Guatemala, there is an on-line forum called Thorn Tree hosted by the Lonely Planet guidebook company that has information and where questions are answered. I liked the trip so much I want to return next year, and June is a good time to escape from the heat of Southern Arizona.

Kathleen and friend at Mixco Viejo ruins

Volcano Agua south of Antigua

(Ed. Note: All photos courtesy of Kathleen Bell Vandervoet)

Kathleen Bell Vandervoet
Tubac, Arizona

The Final Volume [24]
Part A.
The Further Saga of Alemany '66:
As Revealed by The Shadow
with minor assistance from
F.J. Bonaccorso and
Photoshop by R. M. Johnson

Volume Subtitle: The Barnstorming Aviatrix and the Great Stone Face

Special Dedication:
From "Under the Boardwalk" to "Up on the Roof",
This Bud's for you, Bill Pinkney.

Associated Press Photo
Bill Pinkney, Last Surviving, Original Drifter, Dead at 81

Pinkney died of natural causes in his hotel room in Daytona Beach, Florida, shortly before he was to give a 4th of July performance.


Testing. Testing. Testing.

Television Icons of our Times: From The Indian Head to The Peacock

The most famous American B&W test pattern is the "Indian Head" monoscope pattern. This pattern was originated by RCA in 1939 and was watched by us as toddlers in 1950 and later as we listened to static and waited for a TV broadcasting day to start. Bring back any memories? This may be one of the earliest images I can remember in my life.


The NBC Peacock, an icon of color TV originated in 1956

NBC pioneered color because it was owned by RCA,
the manufacturers of the first color TV's

Now back to our shadowy story---

Tehachipi, California
Lester Dunkin: Hello, Monique, this is Lester Dunkin.
Monique Lussier Padberg: Hi, Lester, we are looking forward to seeing you soon on the reunion cruise.
Lester: Yes, that is while I called. I urgently need to add a booking for a special guest.
Monique: You are lucky, there is one cabin left. Shall I book it for you?
Lester: Yes, just book it in my name, I will send you the payment.

Hotel Conference Room, Zermatt, Switzerland
The entire Johnson and Johnson Ski Box Racing Team is present for a meeting after the victory in the morning semifinal race against the Nepalese.
Mary Ganssle Johnson: This meeting will come to order. Bob Johnson has requested the floor to make an announcement.
Bob Johnson: I will come right to the point. I lucked out against the Nepalese. We need to put our best driver on the line for the Finals against the Sweden-Poland Consortium team.
Frankie DePasquale: But you are the best driver in the world. Bob, you already beat the World #1 ranked Tuk Tinbuk and the Nepalese are history?
Bob: Tuk had a huge lead on me. If he had not been so vain as to have his brake dismantled, he would not have gone off course on the last hairpin curve and lost so much time. But he clearly outraced me up until that point.
Joe Dispenza: That is exactly why you are the best driver in the world, Bob. Tuk showed bad judgment and pushed his box to the point it could not perform. A great driver knows what his box can do down to the millisecond.
Bob: More reason why we should put our best driver in the final race.
Lenny DiTrappani: What are trying to say, Bob?
Bob: That the best driver in the world is on Team USA, only she has not raced in this tournament yet?
Everyone: Huh? What? Explain yourself.
Bob: The best driver in the world is our team Chef, Kit Figliozzi. We have all watched her drive the box in test runs and time trials when I needed rest. Your eyes have seen it, but your minds have not admitted it. Kit is our best driver.
All eyes in the room turn to the back of the room and onto Kit. There is stone silence.
Kit: You want me to drive with only two hours notice before the final?
Steve Modugno: Bobby is a great driver, Kit, but he is right. You are the best driver in the world. We have all seen how great you drive in our test runs. It would give us just that little bit of a greater chance to win against Gadomski. After all she is very, very good. And the Swedish Box although using some different style lines than we employ is also very good. (More silence).
Mike Modugno: We want you driving, Kit.
Mary: Will you do it for the team? Will you do it for the USA, Kit?
Kit: (Stands up, looks around the room). I will drive on one condition.
Mary: Name it.
Kit: Mary, I want you to appoint Robert Johnson, Head Coach of Team USA and announce it on Wild World of Sports before the race.
Mary: What a brilliant idea. Bob will you accept the position of Head Coach.
Bob: (Purses his lips, looks around the room.) Yes.

ABC News, New York, New York
Good evening, this is Bernard VanVlymen, and this is the news.

In the grand finale in Torino, Italy, Ponche Covarrubias and Christina Aguilera were crowned 2007 champions of Dancing with the Stars. The couple dressed in matching gangster black suits, grey shirts, and black ties. They mesmerized televison audiences the world over with a powerful Slam Dance to the music, Apache, by Jango Reinhardt. A large screen TV inside the gymnasium on the campus of Bishop Alemany High School in Mission Hills, California, was watched by a standing room only crowd of Alemany students past and present. At the awards ceremony, Ponche, was seen favoring his right shoulder and offered his left hand when congratulated by host Murray Suarez. Ponche was later seen celebrating in Torino nightspots with his right arm in sling. It is believed that Ponche may have suffered a dislocated shoulder when slammed powerfully into a wall by Christina just before the conclusion of their performance.

Also in Torino, the final round of the Ryder Cup was played today. We go to ABC correspondent, John Salhoff.
John: Bernie, everything you could have imagined happened in a day of extraordinary golf. On the first tee, Sir Guy Proto hit a European blackbird in flight and feathers flew as the bird dropped to the middle of the fairway. At the thirteenth tee, Bill Merriken punched out Tiger Woods lights with a ricocheting drive that rebounded from a mighty ancient oak. Tiger was finished, but was replaced by team alternate and recent winner of the Masters, Ken Meddock. How fortunate for the American team that Captain Jay Pelzer designated Meddock as the alternate. Meddock eagled the 13th and seemed to inspire his team. Then lightning struck twice as both Jay Pelzer and Bob Lendzion lofted back-to-back holes-in-one on the 14th to bring the USA into a tie with the Europeans. The Americans led by one stroke after 17 holes. With the pressure of all of Europe on his shoulders, Sir John Preble sank a 38 foot putt on the 18th hole to tie the score and force a sudden death play-off.
The American's chose the hot shooting Meddock to represent them in the "death" round and the Euros selected Preble. Meddock parred the first play-off hole. On the green with an 18 foot put needed to tie, Sir John calmly lined up his putt. The putt was true, however, only one foot from the cup, a giant water bug landed in the path of Sir John’s ball. The Hemipteran, or true bug, deflected the ball ever so slightly that it ringed the mouth of the cup and spun out.

Jay Pelzer handles the Giant Water Bug that
decided the outcome of The Ryder Cup

The Europeans could not believe what nature had wrought. Preble was later heard to ask, "Are you sure it wasn’t a stink bug because this smells rotten". Act of God, act of nature, or just horrible luck. The USA men were crowned champions of the 2007 Ryder Cup. That is it from Torino, Bernie.

Bernie: Amazing, John. I bet that finish still really bugs Sir John Preble. I am hearing in my earpiece that we have a Special News Alert from Washington, D.C. We are going to White House Reporter, Rita Heyn Campbell.
Rita: Bernie, the White House press corps has been told that the President will make an announcement of "significant importance" momentarily. We have no idea what the President will say. The President's press secretary, Barbara Holtby Spain is coming before the microphones. Let's listen.
Barbara: Ladies and Gentlemen, the President of the United States.
President Judith Hawkes: My fellow Americans, I bid you good evening. I have been asked thousands of times over the past few months when I would declare my intention to run for a second term for the office of president. That is the subject matter of tonight's announcement. I feel the accomplishments we have made in the last four years have been significant. North Korea and Iran have closed their nuclear programs. There is a stable government in a peaceful Iraq. Our economy has grown in double digits while inflation has remained manageable. We have a national health insurance program to cover every American citizen. Osama Bin Laden received his just desserts and lies buried in the desert sands. We are a nation at peace once again. After lengthy discussion with my family, my advisors, and a great deal of soul searching, I have made my decision. I have decided not to seek a second term. (The Washington press corps and the television viewers are stunned; then there are sighs, whispers, and a growing din of conversation. President Hawkes signals for silence). I feel I have earned a rest. I believe I have enough memoirs to write. I now want to have the Vice President speak.

Vice President Robert Guerrero: Thank you, Madame President. Good evening. There is not a doubt in my mind that President Hawkes will be judged by history as one of the greatest President's ever to serve our nation. I for one think that there should be a new face carved on Mt. Rushmore.

It has been a pleasure to serve as the Vice President under this President. I would happily serve another term in the same office, if the President would be persuaded to change her mind.
Jude: No chance of that happening, Bob.
Bob: In that case, I announce my intention to run for President of the United States. (Camera’s flash and reporters run for the doors to file reports).
Bernie VanVlymen: Stunning news from Washington. It will be interesting to hear the response of the opposition party tomorrow at this news that the most popular President in the history of America is stepping down after only one term. I am Bernard VanVlymen. And that is the news. Good night.

Chalkstone Cliffs, 65 million years ago.
Kathy Gordon: (speaking on walkie talkie). The entire climbing team has reached the summit. Chris (Gilmore) is preparing to approach the ptero nest.
Frank Bonaccorso: We copy, Kathy. Keep us informed, we are standing by.
Kathy: Roger that.

San Pedro Harbor, California
Claudia Haugh Stepan: Over here, girls, over here.
Paula Huebner McHale: Hello, Claudia. You are looking marvelous. It's so exciting to be here.
Monique Lussier Padberg: Can you believe the cruise is tomorrow?
Pamela Mertens Gunn: And it’s a special treat to be invited onboard the night before the cruise. We can have our own little reunion pajama party!
Penny Mertens LaPreziosa: Let's not get too overwhelmed, ladies. We do have a lot of work to get everything ready for tomorrow. Oh, look there is the Captain up there on the bridge. Isn't he dashing! He's waving.
Captain Arthur Durazo: (Shouting from the bridge). Come aboard. I have been expecting you.
Monique: Not everybody is here yet.
Claudia: Well, I guess they will find us when they arrive. Let's go aboard.
(The ladies walk up the gangplank and are greeted).
Chief Purser George Duggan: Welcome aboard the SS Pterodactyl.
Paula: George, you look so handsome in uniform.
George: Why thank you, Paula. Just leave your bags where they are. I will have someone place them in your rooms. This way please, the captain will see you on the bridge.
Suddenly, the group is buzzed by two figures suspended under gossamer sails --- whoosh, swish. George and the girls have to hit the deck quickly. The two hang-gliders circle the SS Pterodactyl and come to light on the fantail deck. Goggles and helmets come off the two mystery party-crashers.
One of the hang-gliders waves and shouts: Hello, it's me, Kathy (Lance Jones). And it's me too, Kathy (Krebs Marston). We are not late, are we?
George: Now, that is an entrance!
Penny: That only leaves Margie, Jane, and Lorie among the missing members of the Organizing Comm..... (her words are drowned out by engine noise). A rickety, ancient biplane dives over the fantail, then disappears below the stern. Cries of "Oh my" and "Yikes" and "Shit" are heard from the Organizing Committee, some of whom are lying flat on the fantail for the second time this afternoon. The biplane rises and circles. There is a figure walking the top wing and holding a streaming banner that reads, "Alemany 66 Rules". The girls look at each other.


Pam: Who can that be? (The plane rises further, and then someone jumps out of the plane. A parachute opens and the figure descends. In moments the chutist lands on the fantail. Once again, goggles and helmet are removed.
Paula: Get outta here! That’s Lorie.
Lorie Dudzik: Sorry, I'm late. You just can't depend on the airlines to be on time anymore.
Claudia: Better late then never. You are amazing. Who else is up there?
The biplane banks steeply. George notices that the landing gear are pontoons. The plane approaches from alongside the stern of the Pterodactyl and bounces three times on the water as it comes to a floating glide alongside the ocean liner. A mooring line is thrown from the plane to a deckhand and the plane is pulled along side. The wing-walker jumps onto a landing gangway and runs up toward the deck.
Margie Espinosa Nelson: Hi! That was a rush! Did you recognize me?

Margie Espinosa strutting her stuff!

Penny: I would never have guessed! When did you take up wing-walking?
Margie: Oh, Jane and I have been barnstorming at air shows for nearly four years now.
Paula: Jane?
Now the aircraft pilot runs up the gangway.
Jane Marie Lind Gerakin: That would be me. Hello everyone.
Everyone: Hello, Jane.

George: Ahem, the captain is waiting. Ladies, this way, please. (But yet again, George is interrupted by loud noise and waves crashing against the ship. Two people on jet-skis circle the ship. One skier approaches the fantail surface landing platform at high speed and dismounts with a double forward flip through the air onto the landing and sticks a perfect landing that would make an Olympic gymnast envious. And she bows to the observing group up on the fantail. The other skier comes to an abrupt halt beside the landing platform, hops to the decking, and joins her colleague. They tie up the two jet-skies and run up the gangway steps. Up on the fantail, goggles come off the unknown duo.
Susan Giacomini Borquez-Dougherty: Well, you didn’t think you could have a night before the cruise party without us. Did you?
Kathy Hamilton Lovick: Surprise! We thought we could help get things organized.
Monique: This is a surprise. The more the merrier. Let's go see Captain Durazo.


Good Morning America Show, New York, New York
Lenore Fusano: Well, hope you all enjoyed watching, Ted "The Astounding Juggler" Garcia. He is the only person alive who can juggle 17 objects simultaneously. (Big applause).
Chris Fusano: Teddy, is astounding and so was yesterday’s news conference in which President Hawkes announced she would not run for a second term. Vice President Garcia suggested that Jude Hawkes deserves to be chiseled on Mt. Rushmore. Well, a Committee for the Renovation of Rushmore has been founded by Mary Jo Wesselhoff Newkirk and Alphonse Vitale. The Committee is releasing an artistic rendition created by famed American sculptor Seymour Rosen of the new Mt. Rushmore. And we are unveiling that design to the American public right now.
Lenore: Wow. You guys didn't tell me this was happening. This is exciting. Well, can we see the design.
Chris: And here it is.
Lenore: Absolutely breath-taking. That is why Rosen is known as "The Rodin of the Modern Era". Jude's smile is so lifelike.

Los Angeles, California
A pair of hands cup a glowing crystal ball.
Madame Zazza: Oh, dear! This does not look good!!!!!!! Tom, come here quickly, we have an emergency.

Moments later on the phone:
Tom Marshmellow Man Marsh: Yo, Liz, this Tom. We have a Superhero Alert. Going to need you, pronto.
Liz Wingfoot Healy: Gee, Tom. I'm kind of busy. The raspberry crop is ripe and needs picking, and the kids are coming for a visit tomorrow. Is this important?
Tom: Zazza sees a coming disaster in her crystal ball for the Alemany group that took that time trip back to the Cretaceous. Zazz says if we don’t get there quick, some of them are not going to make it.
Liz: Well jiminy crickets, why didn't you say so. I am on my way to pick you up. What about the Black Magister? Should we call him in?
Tom: No time to get Spud Spadero. He is up north in the Idaho Potato Skins Poker Festival. Hey, but The Cisco Kid is a friend of mine and I know he is in town. Why he is a superhero of some importance. We can take him with us in place of Spud.
Liz: Ok. Get into those silly red and blue tights you wear. See yah soon.

Hey Cisco, what do we do with this hombre?
Hey Pancho, it’s no hombre, it's The Shadow. Tom Marsh sent him with a message. Tom is going to need us in his posse. Something big is happening down in old Cretaceous Texas.
Ok, Cisco. Let's go, Kid.

There goes Margie and Jane again.
You just can't keep those ladies on the ground for long.

Photo by F. J. Bonaccorso

My new friend from Namibia,
Gerard Giraffe,
says
"Until next time, here's looking at yah, Alemany."

The Final Volume, Part B
Coming Soon
Same Bat Time, Same Bat Channel