Apology!!!!!!!!!!!

[ollie]

Hi Its Ollie here. I apologize for not being around and not contributing in the same manner I did in the past. Its just that the last several weeks have been absolute heck!! for me and Its not going to let up until sometime in July.

Briefly, The job is going nuts we are in the middle of demolishing and reconstructing three floors. I have also been told to get ready to demolish a 4th floor. Add to that the fact that the 07 operating budget is due plus I just got put in charge of our company's on line training program in addition to my duties as the Regional Environmental Manager for ISO 14001. Well lets just say I'm overwhelmed.

Adding to that is my role as the historian for the Tamaroa Maritime Foundation has kicked into high gear. We want to move her from Baltimore to West Point Virginia in June so I have to raise 6,000.00 for fuel. There has also been the development of some controversy regarding her restoration. Some people want to restore her as her last life, the Coast Guard Cutter Tamaroa. Some want to restore her to her Navy life as the USS Zuni. Then there are knuckle heads like me who want to pay homage to both lives. I want to paint her with a gray hull and a white superstructure evocative of both lives and rename her M/V Tamaroa-Zuni. I want to restore her as an educational vessel leaving the guns off because I think that will deter a lot of public sentiment from her. I want to leave the gun deck bare of the 3"/50 and use it as an open air classroom.

So we have a few issues to iron out yet. I have also been put in charge of doing a newsletter for the Tamaroa Maritime Foundation, so you will see, I'm very busy. Oh and I'm also preparing for an electrical shutdown in one of my buildings over the Memorial Day holiday for preventive maintenance. I promise to come back and harass everybody sometime in mid July. Things should have calmed down by then.

So to Katie, Sir Blue, et all, I'll be back in a few more weeks.

So long for now,

Ollie

[Woodmonkey]

It's great to hear from you ollie and I'm looking forward to your return. We all miss you and your great posts, especially in the History Club, and the Newsletter crew misses you as well for your great articles.

I can't wait to find out what happens with the Tamaroa.

[Headhunter]

Don't know when you'll read this but considering your really busy, that's OK. I like your ideas of removing the deck guns. But which did she retire as, a Navy vessel or Coast Guard? That's the way, in my opinion, she should be restored. BUT you can restore her to her original configuration, take pictures (lots of pictures) and then restore her to her retired configuration. The deck guns could either be placed near by on small pedestals. Just a suggestion, you know more about whats going on there than I do.

[RAMESES the Great]

You'v been missed, and I guess we will miss you somemore, I understand how those petty little things, like work, can distract you from the joy of trackpads.

The debate on the ships restoration is interesting, if the gun must go for an outdoor classroom, you should at least have a large photo of the ship with the gun there at the gun site (my two cents worth). Good Luck in dealing with all this "stuff". Bill