(Coke Jingle)

WELCOME TO THE GILL NET LODGE!

We are located in the deep waters of a North West
Miramichi Salmon Pool.

 Come on in!  Grab a Coke!    

Check out the comments from your many relatives - just scroll further down this page.  You'll note your web builder found a Coke archive he wishes to post around the Lodge this month.

Click on our  tab to leave us your thoughts!

Tuesday, June 1, 1999 - 07:07:57 am:
Message from Mary Weissler at 110607.3647@compuserve.com:

Hahaha!

I can't believe I am actually beating Tommy to the plate with the first June entry to the Gill Net! [smirk] Yes, summer is finally here and is being welcomed with open arms!

Tom, how did your game go on Sunday?  I loved your idea about making May the official Pet Month! :-)

We have a new dog park here in Milwaukee which we visited for the first time yesterday.  This place is AWESOME!  It's about 30 acres of wooded area with walking paths and a swimming hole for the aquatically adventurous...and the entire thing is fenced in so the doggies can all run free!  Albert and Stanley had a RIOT cavorting with lots of other dogs and ran their little butts off!  This is just a great thing for them and we will return often.  Happy June everybody!

Mary W.

I can't remember if the following story was already posted or not.  Anyhow, it arrived yesterday and it's here for the viewing...

This is an actual radio conversation between the United States aircraft carrier U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln and Canadian authorities off the coast of Newfoundland in October, 1995.  The radio conversation was released by the Chief of Naval Operations on 10/10/95 as authorized by the Freedom of Information act.

Canadians: "Please divert your course 15 degrees to the south to avoid a collision."

Americans: "Recommend YOU divert your course 15 degrees to the north to avoid a collision."

Canadians: "Negative. You will have to divert your course 15 degrees to the south to avoid a collision."

Americans: " This is the Captain of a U.S. Navy ship. I say again, divert YOUR course."

Canadians: " No, I say again, YOU divert YOUR course."

Americans: " This is the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Lincoln, the second largest ship in the United States Atlantic Fleet.  We are accompanied by three destroyers, three cruisers and numerous support vessels.  I demand that you change your course 15 degrees north...I say agian...thats one-fivedegrees north... or counter-measures will be undertaken to ensure the safety of this ship."

Canadians: " Your call. This is a lighthouse."  :-)

Friday, June 4, 1999 - 03:24:33 pm:
Message from Mary Weissler at 110607.3647@compuserve.com:

Yo John!

Sam is WAY WAY WAY too cute! Awwwwwww! She looks like a very sweet kittie and I love how she sleeps all stretched out.  When can we expect to see her on TV in her starring role in "Africa at Night"?  I will be sure to tune in.  I suspect this will be one of those "Nature" type shows and we will see tiny Sam stalking and bringing down waterbuffalo and the like, all filmed at night with an infrared camera?  I love when they're done eating their prey and the camera pans in on their faces and they're all red with blood and little meaty fragments of flesh. Can't wait to see Sam in action! :-)

So, this is the weekend Tommy is visiting you, right?  You two have fun and try to stay out of jail!

Mary W.

Friday, June 4, 1999 - 03:29:31 pm:
Message from Mary Weissler at 110607.3647@compuserve.com:

Oopsie!

I just realized Sam is a boy! {embarrassed look} Sorry John! Sorry Sam!

Mary W.

Hi Mary,

I'll keep you posted on Sam's hunting expeditions....he is currently quite unhappy with a couple of crows who love to dive bomb him each morning when he goes out.

Tom should be here tomorrow.  I think he was leaving later today to get a head start on the driving.  I am sure we will see the town..:)

John V

  (70's Coke Music Link)

Monday, June 7, 1999 - 07:05:49 am:
Message from Liz Kingston at kingstl@region.halifax.ns.ca:

Hello everyone:

Just found out about the exciting new Kingston webpage - very impressive.

Even though I'm from the "Con Kingston" side of the family, just wanted to say a quick hi and invite any all of you to drop me an email sometime, or swing by for a visit anytime you're in the Halifax area.

My phone is 902-457-7470.

Special greetings to Mary Leslie and Tom (of course). The cottage looks great!

Liz .

(Editor's Note: Cornelius (Con) F Kingston was Sam's brother and was born a couple of years after Sam in 1895.  He married Elizabeth O'Shea and was a lumberman, farmer and fought overseas in WWI.  He passed away in 1964 and was buried in Sevogle, along the North West Miramichi river.)

Tuesday, June 8, 1999 - 05:12:22 am:
Message from Mary Ellen Kingston-Ritchie at questct@nbnet.nb.ca:

Howdy,

Great to see, Liz, that you have found the website.  My sister, JoAnn is heading down your way -- she has accepted a position in the Economics Department of Dalhousie University and is set to start in September.  She has twins -- Benjamin & Monika who will be 1 on Friday (12th) so she will be very busy and I am sure thankful to have some family in the area.  I am so glad she has decided to come east. Having her 4 driving hours versus 4 flying hours sure makes a difference.

I am amazed with how the election turned out.  I knew Lord would get in, but never dreamed it would be by such a landslide.  Being a civil servant, I always wait impatiently to see the Ministers various mission statements. Right now, it is hard to say what our priorities in Education will be within the next 6 months.  Being in limbo drives me crazy!!!

Anyway, hope everyone is well and happy.   I hope to see some messages from some of the people we have lost along the way.  Where have all the George Kingstons gone, etc.

Take Care....ME

Wednesday, June 9, 1999 -  2:32:16 am:
Message from John Vickers at info@securitysolutions.nu:
 

Hello,

Tomorrow (today) is Wednesday.....work at 8:30 am......just back from pool and it is 2:35 am.....mornings are very tough of late....spent most of today visiting various departments (instead of working at my desk) asking people how they are, what's new, etc.  Another day of nothingness is approaching.....must go to bed now.....Tom's visit continues..:)

jv

Wednesday, June 9, 1999 - 07:58:03 am:
Message from Kevin VICKERS at :

It was 40 C (100 +) degrees here in Ottawa on Tuesday.  Unbearable with the humidity.  Yesterday I departed Ottawa at 8:30 am EST.  Arrived Calgary 10:30 am MST.  I was in court to testify at 11:30 am in regards to cocaine importation case. 4:00 pm MST was on the plane back to Ottawa.

Arrived Ottawa 9:45 pm EST. Home by 10:30pm. All in one day - ground distance of over 6000 km return. (3,700 miles).

I believe it was roughly the same amount of time for grandfather to go Wayerton/Newcastle return with horse and wagon.

Kevin

         (80's Coke Music Link)

Thursday, June 10, 1999 - 08:03:01 pm:
Message from John Vickers at info@securitysolutions.nu:
 

Hi Again,

Kevin send your weather this way as 14C was our high! Also -send some air miles points sometime..:)

Welcome to the Gill Net Liz.  We welcome lots and lots of postings!!  Tom says hi - he is currently enjoying Coach's Corner between periods.

HOCKEY RULES THE WORLD! (Fans will appreciate that statement!)

JV

  Ed-dy, Ed-dy, Ed-dy

Hope Dallas wins! However, Dominuk is a one man show.  I agree with Cherry - let's start playing earlier so we are not watching hockey in June.

A couple of more weeks and I'll be casting on the Nor'west.  My father in law George HUBBARD has found a great spot.  There is no green like the green colors of the leaves and trees on the river.  There is no smell like the smell of the fresh air early in the morning when there is a light fog hanging over the river.  Cast.  Cast again.  Follow the fly around.  Reach in to my vest.  Take a small drink of scotch.  Swallow it very slowly.  Take a breath of that air.  Life is good.

Mary W - If you are not posting - there is no fun to lurk on this site.

Kevin

     (Click to enlarge)

Hi everyone!

Kevin, thanks for those kind words.  I read them and went "awwwwwwwww" out loud. :-)

We've been really busy lately looking for a house.  This is a task that kind of ends up taking over your life what with scheduling appointments and talking to real estate agents who seem to call every 10 minutes!  It's exciting but fairly draining.  We found a beautiful old Victorian built in 1904 that's in pristine condition and will be writing an offer tomorrow morning.  It's only a few blocks from where we live now, on the east side of Milwaukee near Lake Michigan.  Keep your fingers crossed for us!

So, has the John/Tommy visit come to an end?  I hope you two had a great visit and I'm sure you made some breweries very happy. ;-)

The weather here has been absolutely horrible all week.  Rain, rain and more rain...thunderstorms, high winds, hail, a few tornado sightings, etc.  I am so sick of this I could spit!  My doggies want to go out and have fun!  Is Canada having alot more stormy weather this year too?

Mary W.

Monday, June 14, 1999 - 09:48:55 pm:
Message from John Vickers at jvickers@home.com:
 

Hello,

Mary we had a great week.  Reality returns this week and back to highway travelling - time to visit that coffee shop!  Good luck with your house, keep us posted.  Word has it there is going to be this big house warming party on the shores of Lake Michigan and all Kingston relatives are invited free of charge on Delta...is this true???! :-)

It took forever for summer to arrive here in earnest and our first day of humidity only arrived last week.  Folks say Miramichi had this weather a month ago.  Hot summer days at Craig's - sure wish it was about 3,000 miles closer.  

John V
 

Howdy folks,

Finally a reprieve from the hot weather! It has been mid 30's (mid 90's) all week.  Boy, did I pick a great summer to be pregnant.  Oh well, more guilt leverage to use against this child when s/he starts acting up :)

Ray, Rebecca, and I have been doing some camping at Kouchibouquac and it has been wonderful.  We especially like the great bike trails.  I use "we" loosely as Ray and Rebecca have been doing the biking and I have taken advantage of the time to have a little cat nap.  Ray is itching to get a bigger trailer, but I have put
my foot down and said no trailer comes into our yard until the bedroom is ready -- his brother has volunteered to keep it at his place until everything is ready. UGH!! I can never win :)

Ray and I are going to a meeting for Rebecca's kindergarten class tonight.  It is so hard to believe she will start going to "big school" in September.  We have her enrolled at the French school after debating with several teachers and doing a lot of soul searching on the pros and cons versus French Immersion.  The big selling features are the small classes (about 15) and the fact that the after-school day care is just down the hall as opposed to her having to take a bus to day care.  I feel like I am in that fork in the road as a parent where I will make a decision which will be the best choice or the worst choice.

Well, best be off.  Yesterday was one of those crazy days when I was in meetings from 7:30am on.  I have a pile of stuff on my desk to clear away.  Take Care everyone.

     (Short lived six pack carton)

Thursday, June 17, 1999 - 10:08:18 pm:
Message from Mary Weissler at 110607.3647@compuserve.com:

> Word has it there is going to be this big house warming party on the shores of Lake Michigan and all Kingston relatives are invited free of charge on Delta...is this true???! <

Yes, it is most certainly true!  When we find the house of our dreams (this may take awhile as we are rather choosey) you must all come in one big pack for a visit!  Gosh dang, perhaps we could have Reunion 2000 here (I'm starting to think it will take that long!).

This latest deal fell through as we discovered the most beautiful house in the world was resting on a failing foundation. :-(  I cannot believe the money people pour into a house to make it aesthetically beautiful when it's supported by something that is unsound!  Are they clueless?  Do they think potential buyers will fall so in love with their house that they will ignore the fact that footings are failing and basement walls are bulging?  I dunno...I am just PISSED that we got our hopes up to such a degree and an inspection yielded such disheartening results.  Oh well...onward march.

Mary Ellen, good luck with your pregnancy during the heat of summer!  When is your due date?

John and Tom, glad you had a good visit and it appears neither of you have had dealings with the Canadian penal system. :-)

Take care all,
Mary W.

<John and Tom, glad you had a good visit and it appears neither of you have had dealings with the Canadian penal system. >

You must not get our local news in your area!  Mr. Vickers was released last weekend however we have opted to keep Mr. Kingston in one of our holding cells for further observation.
 

 

Corporal Richards :-)

Hello Kingston Family,

I have taken a gander at the sorry lad who is confined in our city jail.  I am ready to rule on this from me lofty perch.  I believe Mr. Kingston would benefit from a few months observation in a psychiatric facility so I am ordering him moved to Spleandor Bliss Sanitarium for a period no shorter than 3 months. 

Honorable Judge S. Bars

Dear Judge,

After just three days of observation, the subject appears to be displaying some unusual characteristics.  It would be my suggestion that Mr. Kingston have his sentence extended about five years.  He will make a great subject for our many under graduates in training. )

Dan

   DALLAS WINS!

Hmmmm.....

It appears I am being bullied into making a comment on the Gillnet Lodge (Coca Cola highway)... It's been quite awhile since I contributed to this... rest assured I do check in most days.

Yes, I did have a good visit with John Vickers.  Among many of our activities was pool (8 ball).  John's practising over the last few years is beginning to show promise, allowing him to win roughly 20% of the games played.  Keep at it, John, and maybe next year you can set 25% as your target.  You'll have to practice hard though (as for our anonymous comments in the three previous contributions to the Gill Net Lodge, I'm pretty sure at least one, perhaps all, is yours, John)

As for my homerun.... well,... er...um... it hasn't happened quite yet, and I've played at least four games since.... still no luck!!  My hitting hasn't been that good either.... Some fans are saying "Kingston's washed up" while others are saying "He never was any good".  Why just the other day some kid came up to me and said "Say, it aint so, Tom". I t's so serious I'm thinking of going to visit some kid in the hospital and end of being cornered into hitting one....

Perhaps the greatest difference in this summer and last summer is my vehicle.  Last year I was driving vehicles that forever seems to have mufflers falling down and dragging on the road, requiring me to pull over and, while the world watched, slide under the vehicle and haywire it into place.  Paint this picture - 37 years old, unemployed, and parked by the side of road haywiring a dragging muffler.  Can you spell "LOSER" any other way?  My 1999 Toyota 4R

Editors Note:  Tom called to say the mill called him in and we can expect Part Two shortly.  Sorry Tom - I only put you in jail - the judge and sanitarium were inventive contributions from your many relatives.)

Sunday, June 20, 1999 - 08:31:48 pm:
Message from Kevin VICKERS at :

I was in Newmarket, Ontario last week.  One evening wishing to kill some time, as I hate hotel rooms, I was out driving around and observed a sign for Sutton, Ontario.  As it was jsut a few minutes up the highway, I decided to go there and remembered that the Byberg's cottage was not far away.  I trusted my memory and was successfull in finding Port Bolster.  It had been at least 23 years since I had been there.  I recalled the railway tracks and remembered that their cottage was the driveway on the left just after crossing those tracks.  I did not recognize the cottage at first due to the passage of time and it was showing its years.  I understand it has been sold.  I got out of the car and walked around the yard.

It was so busy there in the summer. The Sullivans use to spend some time there during the summer as well.. Kathy use to make pizza almost every evening.

I walked down to the shores of Lake Simcoe and out on to the wharf that is there now.  This is where I learned how to water ski as well as how to manage a sail boat.  Sure had great times.  The grounds are as nice as ever but is funny how that when you are young that everything seemed to be so much larger.

Uncle Peter use to take us flying from an airport that was near by.  Aunt Rita was always making us all breakfeast, lunches and suppers. The eating area at the back end of the cottage is still there as well as the boat house in the front however they are difficult to recognize compared to their former years due to the effects of time and weather on the structure.  I hope to see our Byberg cousins at the reunion.

Another hot week of weather coming up in Ottawa.

All the best

Kevin

John just so you don't think I was lurking, I was on the site for about 2 hours today.  Although I was productive during this time bottling my homebrew while my printer was printing.  My mother (Bernie) had asked me to print off all the comments on the page to take to your mother, as she will be visiting your parents around July 4th or 5th and will take a copy to them.

I have one request.  The January notes are not there, the link is but when I clicked on it Nov-Dec 98 notes came up.

Thanks
Kev

Hi Kev!  You're right and a search of files doesn't find January notes - they may have been erased.  Sorry about that!  (So much for selling the Gill Net to the World Reunion Museum :).  JV

• Visit as often as they want without leaving a message
• Sleep well at night without guilt or shame
• Leave messages when only they feel like it
• Continue to be productive members of society

Hello,

Kevin V - it would have been great to have seen Byberg's.  I'll never forget my wonderful summer there before Grade 10.  The trampoline, fishing perch and bass with John...it was so great!

Glad hockey is over - life is starting to return to normal.  I say they could shorten the season by at least two months.

John 

Monday, June 21, 1999 - 11:04:13 pm:
Message from Tom Kingston at tk@tomkingston.com:

Kevin,

I have found the link to the January 99 notes and have corrected it on the website.  It works now.

Tom

Editor's Note: Thanks for finding it Tom!

Tuesday, June 22, 1999 - 05:07:11 am:
Message from Mary Ellen Kingston-Ritchie at questct@nbnet.nb.ca:

Hi folks,

Just a few lines to let you all know that Aunt Stephanie has taken charge and we will be having a reunion meeting on Thursday night at 7:00pm.  With 13 months to go, it's great to see her taking the initiative to attempt to get we Kingston's on track.  I am certain all the in-laws can speak to how much of a challenge that has been over the years. :)

Mary, you asked when my due date is.  Well, I am going to have a c-section on or about the 1st of October.
I didn't have a c-section with Rebecca, so I am a bit worried, but have been assured by others who have been through the process that it is a piece of cake.  I figure I will schedule some serious pampering the few days before to get me over the hump.

Ray bought a bigger trailer yesterday and it will arrive on Thursday night.  I still do not have the bedroom ready, but he has assurred me that everything will be done on time.  We have the new window sitting on the floor in the room and the new flooring downstairs.  Rebecca is moving into this one, so she has ordered (heaven forbid) Barbie wallpaper ---where did I go wrong ???? The paper will be in next week.

Well, best be off.  Graduation is this week at the college so everyone in student services is working at the max. The tension is incredible.

Take Care...ME

Hello from the Miramichi.  We are having a very warm summer.  The lawns are turning brown.  I find this connecting thing is wonderful.  There is a meeting tomorrow night at Stephanie and George's house re: reunion. I believe it goes without saying that Stephanie Kingston is Madam Chairperson of the 2000 gathering.

> There is a meeting tomorrow night at Stephanie and George's house re: reunion. I believe it goes without saying that Stephanie Kingston is Madam Chairperson of the 2000 gathering.<

Cool! Mary, you must fill us all in on the content of the meeting!  K?  No one could hope for a better organizer than Madame Stephanie!!

Mary Ellen, I hope the remainder of your pregnancy goes smoothly and that the heat of summer doesn't make things too uncomfortable for you.  Also, I hope the C-section is as much of a cakewalk as everyone says...prolly true but I wouldn't know. :-)

I was pleasantly surprised to hear from Tommy!  I was not aware prisoners could have puters in their cells, no less with internet access.  How nice for them. Perhaps he bribed Judge Seymour Bars or Dan the Police Chief?

Mary W.

Your're On The Coca-Cola Highway

Tom

Thanks for finding the notes.  I have printed them off and will give them to Bernie to take to Aunt Monica & Uncle Bill.

Kev

John

You left out one thing about the Byberg cottage in your note about the good times you had.  I remember it was my first participation with an impartial legal system.  Although you may disagree with the impartial part.  I was a juror determining your fate.  It had to do with a house of cards Guy Byberg had built in the cottage and it's untimely collapse just as you happened to walk by.

If I remember you had no grounds for an appeal on the grounds of habeas corpus since you were brought before a judge within 15 minutes of the crime.  In fact you had no grounds for appeal at all!  I guess it's right about what some people say about those people in ONTARIO !

Kevin V

I can vaguely remember you being there,luckly you didn't suffer the same fate as your brother.  I am not sure on this but you were either training in Toronto or stationed there.  How were the tulips in Ottawa this year ?

Kev

Kev - do I ever remember that!  I recall crown prosecutor Mary Sullivan informing me there was no need for me to address the court to plead my innocence -  because the judge and everyone else knew I was responsible. :)

John V

P.S.  Is Mary or Theresa on-line?  Their reflections on the trial would be insightful!  Send them this if they are: http://www.tomkingston.com/gillnetlodge/guestbook.html

   (Click on each to view video commercials - if your computer has ability)

In honour of my mothers birthday today.I thought I would pass this along.

Maramichi City Police June 26 1999

Warning to all Residents

Our intelligence sources in Ontario have informed this department that a Bernadette Sullivan will be arriving in our jurisdiction on Sunday July 3rd.  She will be staying with two fine upstanding citizens of our community, Bill & Monica Vickers.  She has been known on a previous trip to our fine city to practice her trade.  Namely Creamery Robbing, although never convicted an incident was reported to this department the night before Bill & Monica's daughter Mary's wedding.  The report states that Mrs Sullivan disguised herself along with her sister and they proceeded to rob the very creamery of their brother in-law whose house they were staying in at the time - although we don't think she will attempt any hooliganism on this trip.

This is just a warning to the fine people of our city to be on the lookout and report any suspicious activity in the area of the creamery to this department immediately.

Happy Birthday Mother
Kev

H A P P Y B I R T H D A Y AUNT B E R N A D E T T E ! ! ! ! !

I'm proud to have been given your name as my middle one! :-)  Have a great B-day and TRY to stay out of trouble at the Vickers'!  Please tell me you aren't one of those dreadful "lurkers" the Kingstons keep referring to. :-)

Mary W.

Kevin S. - you have great memory!  I do recall the night guard at the Co-op reporting suspicious activity - and to think our aunts actually dressed up to disguise themselves!

No wonder we have descendants (ie..Tom K) who now find themselves in trouble with the law!

John V