Some very sad news

Tom Jones' wife, Jeannette, passed on Friday, November 12, with family by her side only 4 & 1/2 months after her first symptoms and diagnosis of cancer. Tom told me that her strength, dignity and calm through the whole process and to the very end was incredible. He said she was Jeannette to the end--strong, selfless, and loving.

I had the pleasure of knowing Jeannette and I liked her the minute I met her years ago. Jeannette was so genuine and down to earth; and I found myself talking & opening up to her as if we had gone to school together and had been best friends. Through these last 4 & 1/2 months, Jeannette was always thinking of other people. Even when she barely had any energy, Jeannette always posted what was happening to her on CaringBridge. I have been following her updates on CaringBridge and her sense of humor never faltered.

Tom and Jeannette's family are having a celebration of Jeannette's life December 11 in Richmond.

Anne Snyder & the Holiday Studio Tour

Today and tomorrow are the Valley Craft Network Holiday Open House & Studio Tours I emailed everyone about a few weeks ago. Today, Fred Ullman, Bobbie Lanzer, Bobbie's lovely daughter, Marissa, and I decided to take a field trip over to Maryland and stop in on Anne Snyder's Studio and beautiful old farmhouse. We surprised her and had a wonderful visit, some tasty snacks and OMG you should see her incredible paintings! I had hoped to buy the painting Anne did of all of us kayaking on the 2008 NW trip, but Helen Roberts beat me to the punch. However, I fell in love with a painting Anne did of the harbor in Annapolis and it is now on my wall at home looking like it was made for me. Bobbie nabbed another one that was spectacular. We had a great time today and I hope some of you were also able to take this tour. If not, take a tour at:

anne@annegibsonsnyder.com or www.annegibsonsnyder.com

Our Classmate, Lee Millette, speaking at....

Cathie Wilkins Ring just notified me that in the local PrWmCo newspaper this morning there was a feature article about Justice Lee Millette speaking THIS Wednesday, 11/17/10, at the Manassas NoVA campus (see below). Cathie is trying to find out if Lee will be going to the lunch with the group afterwards, and if so, which lunch spot. Cathie is hoping to go. Let her know if you plan on it, too.

VA Supreme Court Justice to speak IN MANASSAS...

Justice LeRoy F. Millette Jr. was appointed in 2008 to the Supreme Court of Virginia by Gov. Timothy M. Kaine. As a Circuit Court Judge in Prince William County, Millette presided over the capital murder trial of D.C. sniper John Allen Muhammad and the marital rape trial of John Wayne Bobbitt. He will talk about those cases and explain the workings of the General District Court and his days as a trial lawyer on Wednesday, from 10 a.m. to noon at Colgan Hall, NVCC Campas, 6901 Sudley Road, Manassas.

Please use Event Parking. There will be LLI Shuttle cars for anyone wanting to use them. The forum is free and open to the public. Following the forum, there is a "Lunch Bunch" gathering at a local restaurant - Dutch Treat. For more information, e-mail llimanassas@gmail.com or call 571-606-0247.

Check out "Odd Couple" for Willis' performance

Mike Willis is at it again.

Our class's resident star or stage and screen is part of the cast of "The Odd Couple" in a production that will be running for two more weeks as part of Theater J's 2010-11 season.

"Odd Couple" at Theater J

 I'm excited about it because I'm in Washington this week for a fraternity reunion of the George Mason University Sig Eps, and since I won't be leaving for home until Monday morning, I picked up a ticket to go see Mike and the rest of the cast in Sunday night's performance.

Here's a link to the Washington Post review of the production.

When I get back home and get my stuff unpacked, I'll revisit by DVD of "Tin Men" again and see Mike in one of his finer film performances.