Philip D. Campbell
1 North Shannon Avenue
Athens, Ohio 45701-1823
740-592-3087 < New Area Code!
email: philip.campbell.1@ohiou.edu

Greetings of the season to one and all! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

It’s been a busy year in Lake Wobeg– I mean Athens, my home town. Let’s see. At work, my course in Computer Telephony went pretty well. Some of the companies that promised me equipment reneged, including my last employer, but we made do pretty well with what we have and are working to fill in the gaps. Of course, committee work and teaching the core courses continue. A colleague and I designed a little data network for the city of Gallipolis.

In November I made a three-day visit to the Hogeschool van Utrecht in the Netherlands to discuss student and faculty exchanges with the School voor Communicatiesystemen there. It was a very pleasant visit in a picturesque city with friendly hosts. I’d have prefered a longer stay, but zo ist het leven. Maybe I’ll be exchanged. Or traded. Or something.

Some of the students in my very first OU class graduated this year, meaning, I suppose, that I’m now a veteran. In many respects university life remains the same as it ever was. Several students invited me to celebrate completion of their last undergraduate final exam, the one in my class, the one at 8:00 AM. I got to the bar at 11:00 and they were switching from Bloody Marys to shots. This trio got two of the four A’s in the class and all have jobs lined up, so I guess they ought to have celebrated, but that’s too early for me.

The kids are busier than ever.

• School: This fall they had one B between them. Next year we switch schools, Rob moving to Athens High and Greg to Athens Middle School. The Athens High fight song begins with the words "Fight, fight for old Athens High." You can guess the tune, but I’ll have to listen to the !@%^&# thing until Greg graduates in ‘03. I’d even prefer it be to the tune of Across The Field.
• Sports: Soccer in spring and fall for Greg. Wrestling this winter on the AMS team for Rob. Baseball last spring for both. It was the first (and last?) time they were on the same team and was very convenient for the ‘rents. Rob is in the 140-148 lb weight class and steals my shoes.
• Music: Rob plays French horn in the AMS Band and the Athens Community Music School Jazz Band. Both of these ensembles play music worth hearing, a big step up from 6th grade band. Greg started percussion in September. One of my OU students told me that rock bands usually practice at the drummer’s house because the drum kit is hardest to move. Bummer.
• Scouts: Both are members of Troop 71, attended summer camp at Camp Chief Logan, and participated in various campouts. I’m the troop treasurer.
• Pets: They now have six mice: Eclipse, Remus, Sniffer, Popcorn, Chester, and an unnamed young mouse. None of these mice are as friendly as the late Lightning and Dawn or as cute as the late Copper.
• Hobbies: The computer, of course. They’re doing Magic, the Gathering and assorted role playing games. Nickelodeon has no more loyal viewers. The Discovery Channel is pretty popular, too.

Last summer we made two substantial trips, both to the East. We spent a week at Sandbridge Beach (on the Virginia coast just south of Virginia Beach) with Cindy’s parents and brothers. It was great. The kids had gotten sunburned at scout camp, so we didn’t have to keep yelling about sunscreen. We saw dolphins, pelicans, sand, all the usual beach stuff. Just a couple weeks later we spent the better part of a week in Washington, visiting the Smoots. We saw Oriole Park and a selection of museums and monuments. The consensus among the family: the metro is the greatest thing since sliced bread, Joe is fun to be around, it’s expensive to attend Orioles’ games, Washington is hot in August.

Visit our ’97 – The Year in Pictures’ web site at www.csm.ohiou.edu\campbell\97review to see a photographic record of the past year. There’s a version of this letter with hypertext links.

That’s the news from Athens, where all the children are above average, etc., etc., etc.

Phil