I'm so looking forward to my call to Taike next Thursday, 10/29 at 10:00 AM my time (10:00 PM in Taiwan).

Since I've been here, I have called a lot of members, and I really appreciate the chance to talk "live-old school". Email and the internet in general are great! I wouldn't have met many of you any other way. But visiting a few members (Uncle Dave, Jim (Zuki) Dave (jazz dude) and my delightful lunch in Atlanta with Chas) is the stuff fabulous memories are made of. Phone contact is the next best thing to an "old timer" like me.

I'm going to Taiwan to visit Taike, Nok and Mapanoy next year, barring emergencies, and am really looking forward to that.

Tell you what. For a real "shot in the arm (or other body part)", why not pick up the phone and, out of the blue, just call a member?

I'm really glad I have done that several times a month since I'm been here.

And, Taike, I'll talk to you NEXT WEEK!

The best to all...talk to more of you soon!

Russ

Hi Russ,

Looking forward to your call and your visit. It'd be great for you to meet your adopted grandson and Nok. They'll be delighted to meet you as well. Let's keep our fingers crossed that nothing comes in between. Who knows, next time we might meet in Laos. While not as wealthy as Taiwan, I do favor it for it's not crowded and, to me at least, culturally more pleasing.

I'll get back to you via email before Thursday.

Regards

Taike

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Bo pen nyang.

Russ, you must not love me any more. You don't call, you don't write.
I'm JOKING. I don't like you that much anyway.
I have to agree with you though. I have met so many friends via the net and later by phone. I've been lucky enough to meet quite a few personally, especially with the annual Shreveport Arranger Keyboard Jam.
BTW, it's coming up in January.
If you can go to Taiwan, you can surely come to Shreveport!
DonM

Hey, Don. Didn't mean top hurt your feelings, you cute little "thang".

I have business in Taiwan...a partner here is involved in manufacturing, and I do the packaging/promotion for lines that end up in places like Home Depot and Lowe's.

Got to go there early next year. Now, if we can sell crawfish to Home Depot, I'll be there (your part of the country) ASAP!

Will make it to your partr of the world sometime next year for sure. Chas and I are planning a trip to see Diki, and you're high on my list to visit, for sure! I just haveto tie my visits to a business trip as often as possible, and it works out the Taiwan, Taike's new home, is already on the list.

Be well,


Russ

And what ever happened to the visit to 'lil rhody' ?!?!?
t.

[This message has been edited by tony mads usa (edited 10-27-2009).]

Tony, the US headquarters for the Italian company I work with was moved from Boston to Atlanta. That's why I've been able to visit with Chas once, and will again on a regular basis.

My contact in Boston was in his mid-80's and working full-time. He retired, and the entire operation was assumed by a fellow who is a sales agent for the brand, located just outside of Atlanta.

Realistically, I won't be coming up to your part of the country anytime soon. I don't do vacations. The last one I had was for 2 days in 1982. I do enough business travel to satisfy my need to get away. Right now, I've got one job which will take about three years to finish. It is the introduction of a new line of power tools to the US...84 SKU's (different models). I'll do naming, advertisments, packaging, Point of Sale displays, training materials, catalogs, etc. That job will require multiple trips to the orient.

After that, I might slow down and travel a little, although growing up an Air Force "brat" and traveling every week for 30 years while a part of corporate America sort of satisfied my need for adventure permanently.

I do have to go to Florida on a regular basis to work on a family trust (orange groves) a few times a year, and may try to tie one of those trips into a stop to see Don Mason and Diki. Chas may be able to go with me on that one...at least I hope so.

Chas will hopefully feel up to a trip to Nashville to go to summer Namm next year, where we'll get to visit Rory again.

The Friday night of NAMM is the only night I take off each year, and there's a chance I'll be working a club on Friday night with a keyboard endorser (not firm yet, but everybody knows him).

I have a full life and enjoy every moment of it. Just wish I had more time to visit my good friends. If I did, you'd be at the top of my list.


Russ

[This message has been edited by captain Russ (edited 10-28-2009).]

It's almost funny. I've been trying to call Taike in Taiwan for almost an hour and a half. Tried operator assistance and all other means possible. Operator says all lines to Taiwan are tied up. In the meantime, we've been emailing back and forth with no problem.

It's difficult to even get an operator to respond. "Reaching out and touching someone" "ain't" that easy. At least not via phone.

How disappointing!


Russ

[This message has been edited by captain Russ (edited 10-29-2009).]

Just got off the phone with Russ. Yep, we finally made it!

Russ is all what I thought he'd be; kind, interesting, generous, thoughtful, intelligent... In short, a great guy you'd love to have as a friend.

What really touched me was how he kept asking about my wife and son as it really shows his caring side.

Russ, be assured that Nok and Mapanoy "Da Dude" feel the same about you as I do. While they're the most important people in my life, you have your own very special place.

As for our own little "project", I'll talk to Nok and see what we can do. I'm happy we'll continue what we've started.

Looking forward to meeting you in Taiwan.

Regards

Taike



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Bo pen nyang.