An Introduction

[Eric R]

Hello, everyone. I've been a lurker for some time (and briefly posted under the name of Bob Aberton, if anyone remembers me), and I'm rejoining the forum after a rather long hiatus.

Just a little background about me, I'm a resident of Rhode Island, just graduated high school. I'll be attending the Maine Maritime Academy in the fall, my eventual goal being to pursue a career in the tallship industry. Last summer I spent two weeks on the PICTON CASTLE and decided it would be something I'd like to make a career out of, if I can manage it.

If anyone remembers from my days as Bob Aberton, I built a sailing dinghy to plans from the people who designed the Weekender. I'm hoping to build more boats in the future, as my worksmanship on my first one left something to be desired. tongue.gif

Anyways, enough about me. It's good to be back here.

[Bruce Hooke]

Welcome back from a fellow Rhode Islander and congratulations on going to MMA in the fall! I know MMA well from the outside because I have family in Castine and grew up spending summers there. I spent many happy hours reading books from the MMA library (the used to -- and may still -- let people with an address in town get a library card for the Academy library).

[Billy Bones]

Hi. I do remember Bob Aberton. Dunno why. Were you him? Was that an alias or did you borrow Bob's logon? I guess what I'm asking is whether there's still a Bob Aberton. Just curious. Anyway, welcome and good luck in your lofty (pun intended) goals.

[Paul Girouard]

Eric and Bruce ; Where are you guys from in little Rodie ? I was born in Burrillville , well born in Providence hospital but raised in Harrisville . Left it 1977 , joined the navy ended up in Oak Harbor , Wa , Did 8 years working on Prowlers EA6B's,, Jammer jets . Any how ended up staying on Whidbey Island , so now I really live on a island. Welcome back nice to know some people still live in R I smile.gif PEG

[Bruce Hooke]

Hi Paul,

Yup, there are still plenty of folks in these parts! I moved here 8 years ago after living in Kansas City, Detroit, Maine and Connecticut over the course of the preceeding 12 years or so.

I live in Providence, near the boundary with Johnston.

[Paul Girouard]

Bruce I bet , plenty more people here as well . Where I lived was , farm land I know it's the burbs know . Whidbey is growing to sinking I think, it was so layed back , to far from anywhere , but they found us . Still does rain everyday , really bad weather I'd never visit here if I was looking for some place to visit . Rain , rain , rain , fog , really bad weather , dreary, mind numbing really . I'd stay far away . I hear the R I Reds (hockey team ) is back as a minior league team. They still play at the Civic center ? I watched the Reds in the old rink . Mounties still rule school boy hockey I bet . Burrillville built a rink and went down the tubes , might be globle warming , no pond ice , no great skaters , that's how we won so many pre 1970 school boy titles . Out skate to win , PEG

[Bruce Hooke]

Yup, the burbs keep spreading. :( However, there are bits of farmland left. Some friends of mine live on the old family farm in Johnston -- it's a farm that has been in their family since the late 1700's! They are not really farming the land now other than a field someone else mows for hay and some chickens they keep for eggs for their own use (and entertainment from watching the chickens :D ), but it is still open space and we are hoping it can stay that way.

I'm afraid I don't really follow hockey so I don't know about the Reds. I do remember reading about the Mounties (I think) -- I believe they lost the championship last year for the first time in a LONG time, but I could be wrong about that. What I do know is that we have had some fine lake skating here in recent years. Because the weather in the winter occasionally gets warm enough to melt snow we can get good ice off and on all winter long. There have been a few winters when it was too warm for the lakes to freeze, but that has been the exception rather than rule.

[Eric R]

To clarify, I used to be Bob Aberton.

I live in Warwick, in the Greenwood neighborhood.

I don't know about the RI Reds. We have the Providence Bruins...maybe that's who you were thinking of? But I do know that the Mounties did lose the championship last year for the first time in 27 years, to my school, Toll Gate. :cool:

Small world.

[Paul Girouard]

Eric R They at one time where called the Reds they shut down for awhile , and when they came back they called them the Bruins as the Boston Bruins are the parent club . They played in the Providence Auditorium , Remember I left RI in 1977 , gee I'm getting old :( Guess it beats the only other option ;) Hard to believe Toll Gate beat Mount , they where in different divisions back then . Of course Burrillville was playing La Salle , Mount , N. Prov back then ,etc. and I hear Burr. plays in the small school div. now . Have a great weekend smile.gif PEG