Greetings from the Bayou City. We've had more than our fair share of excitement in the last half of 2011, both not good (see the Necrology) and very good (see The Seahorse Stampede).
Yours truly has been enjoying the view from the penthouse as the weather has been absolutely miserable for golf for months. When your pro calls and says that it's 40F with winds blowing 35 mph and the driving range is flooded, you know that you'll be spending the day indoors. Ergo this missive.
Ruminations
It seems to us that the energy industry may be the only functional industry in the country outside of Apple, which happily supplies us with expensive applicances. My cat is fascinated with my IPhone 4S. I have trouble figuring out to work it.
Since we're officially in an election year we'll forgoe the usual tirade and just let everyone vote with their minds and hearts, which you must surely do. Our hatred for the EPA continues unabated, but there you are. As was once famously said, everyone needs someone to hate.
The Stampede
The first Stampede, which we have been promising for many years, was held in west Houston in a margarita-drenched and very happy episode of re-communication and remembrance on November 4th. Kudos to Kyna Agerton, Patrice Domingue and Mary Brashear for organizing the event, which turned into a hug-fest relatively quickly and was only moderately noisy for an oil-field trash event. Of course we drove almost everyone out of the restaurant. Great fun and many friendships renewed. We did come up a little short on the promised attendance, but Billy Spear, Dan Munoz and in turn yours truly covered the loss. There's nothing like an LLC with a bank balance.
There will be a next time; just let us know if you're coming or not beforehand.
The Doings of the Tribe
Having let six months go by, there is much to report.
Alan Breed has joined Rowan as a VP of Marketing for deepwater drilling; Myrtle Jones is happily esconsced at Service Corp International; Drew Baker has moved to Atwood as General Counsel; Brooke Wooton has moved to Noble; Terry Bonno has been promoted to Senior VP Marketing at Transocean; Kathi Grier has moved to Vantage Drilling.
Dave Faure has been promoted to VP Assistant General Counsel at Rowan. Fred Brooks has joined at Rowan to oversee deepwater operations.
Scott Bell married Christie Sciandra and has gone off to Kuala Lumpur, as has James Stegall and his lovely bride. Ya'll have fun; great town except for the occasional cobra.
As we have said before, GSF was like a supernova; we have friends throughout the industry. Do help your alumni friends.
Necrology
This comes way too early in our news but we have much to report.
Bob Rose
One of the founders of our feast, and especially mine (he was crazy enough to hire me in 1974) has left us. Carolyn Rose was kind enough to have a celebration of Bob's life at the Lakeside CC on 9/29. It was a true celebration and rememberance, as is deserved. Bob made at lot happen for many of us, and I personally will miss him very much. Bless Carolyn for her generosity, and think well of the man who made so much possible for so many of us.
Steve Mershon
A much beloved senior engineer from the GMDI days of Global Marine and many years after. Kyna has penned a beautiful obiturary which can be read by replying to her at kagerton@gmail.com.
Dave Alfson
A good friend and a fantastic humorist. The kind of guy you could literally die laughing from. Dave died after a fall. Bob Barnard forwarded the news.
Peter Braddick
Scott Brittin forwarded the news of Peter's passing in Rio Rancho, N.M.
Marcus Thomas
Marcus did not work for either GSF or Transocean directly but he was a special friend. Always on board, always courteous, always happy. A good thing. Sad he is gone.
The Last Thing
I hated to write the last chapter of of the news because we lost so many. But you know - I had dinner last night with Jeff Shepard - the goal of life is to accomplish something. Do good, be good, and follow through. Nothing else actually matters.
With all best regards, your webmaster and faithful helpers.
