Topic starter
26/09/2007 3:37 pm
A whistle salute today in honor of the birthday of Judy Patsch, steamboat buffette extraordinaire at Rock Island, Illinois on the beautiful Upper Mississippi River.
Also known as "Miss Streckfus" for her special interest in the excursion steamboat company which originated in her hometown, Judy will be presenting "Rise and Shine for the Streckfus Line" - A Journey on the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers with An Excursion Steamboating Dynasty as the next "River Ramblings" program at the Howard Steamboat Museum. Although a date hasn't been set yet, information about the program is on the museum website. Stay tuned!
Meanwhile, HAPPY BIRTHDAY JUDY!!!
26/09/2007 4:21 pm
Happy Birthday!
Enjoy your day!!!
26/09/2007 4:26 pm
HBD my friend...
39, just like me, right? Isn't it nice to always be the same age, year after year, you never have to worry about the math...1968, yeah, that's the ticket...
26/09/2007 4:59 pm
Ahhhhh, Judy it slipped up on me this year. I've been too busy SAVING THE DELTA QUEEN. Hope you have a GREAT day. Happy Birthday!
26/09/2007 5:19 pm
Hi, Judy:
I wasn't sure if today was your B-day or not. Thanks for Keith tipping us off. Kick back, relax and enjoy! My next one will be a biggie so....Shhhhh on that one.
Cheers,
R. Dale Flick
26/09/2007 5:30 pm
Happy Birthday, Judy. Since you're down yonder, have one or two birthday biegnet. Oh heck, go ahead and have three! That's how many come on the plate, and we sure don't want to waste one.;-)
26/09/2007 9:30 pm
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JUDY!! It did slip up on me this year - it's on my calendar, but one has to look at the calendar once in a while.!!
Pat Traynor
27/09/2007 4:22 am
Hi Judy!
A very happy returns of the day! I hope you were able to spend it on the big muddy aboard the Natchez--after a stop at the Cafe Du Monde! Good to hear you're back in your apartment, and a hello from us to everyone there!
May your cookies always leave the oven on time and reach their intended consumers unbroken!
Steamcerely,
David Dewey
27/09/2007 4:27 am
Well Judy, a happy birthday to you from Jo Ann and I. We reflect often on our visit to your home in 2003 and our privelaged look at your immense collection! Thanks for doing all that you do to preserve the history of steamboating. Thanks again for allowiing us to visit.
-Jim Herron
27/09/2007 6:19 am
And a Happy Birthday from over the pond out of the still chaotic Isar river landing!
Hope you enjoy your days in NOLA!
Carmen, Franz and Leonie
27/09/2007 10:34 am
And more good wishes from Middle Georgia
Pat
27/09/2007 12:44 pm
Happy Birthday Judy!
Laisse le bon temps roule!
Ted
27/09/2007 12:55 pm
All the best to you, Judy - I'm very much looking forward to your "River Ramblings" program!
27/09/2007 6:21 pm
HDB Judy from all the Crew at the RH Shipyard-- what's left of em after last week's "Fish Fry". It's all Dave's fault.
28/09/2007 1:41 pm
Well, two days past the 'big' day and I finally got to the board. Thanks for your greetings and wishes. The day was spent here in Rock Island, as I got back from NOLA Monday. I was only there for 4 days, to ride the NATCHEZ and to reclaim my apartment. Unfortunately there was a lot of cleaning up to do in the apartment, but it was great to have it back. I didn't get any beignets, only the croissants and quiches from the French bakery around the corner from my house - a tough situation! The NATCHEZ ran 3 trips each day I was there, and had a charter scheduled for Monday night. There are quite a few charters coming up during the big convention month of October, which is good, as they are guaranteed money. Things are coming back in town and in the tourism industry, but there is a long way to go. To put the NATCHEZ' situation in perspective: pre-Katrina a Sunday would include 3 trips of 500 or more per trip. Shortly after resuming operations post-Katrina, they'd do one trip which might get 80-100 passengers. Last Sunday she ran 3 trips, with a total passenger count of 542. So business at best is a third of pre-Katrina. One of the officers commented to me that community PR people say they are trying to get publicity out, but that it seems to be only the negative stuff... that they don't emphasize that the tourism sector has everything that a tourist would want, and what was there pre-Katrina. It is disheartening to them to be providing a quality product to so few people, and of course to know that their careers on the NATCHEZ could end if things don't pick up at some point. While much of the city is still in the rebuilding/recovery process, the tourist business and area is alive, clean, and just waiting for people to rediscover them. The one big difference to pre-Katrina is that schedules of hours, trips, tours, etc. may be shortened due to lack of business or help. One needs to check current schedules, not rely on pre-Katrina ones, but other than that, New Orleans attractions are there ready for you! Obviously the big concern on this board is saving the DQ, but I hope we don't get to the point of having to "Save the NATCHEZ" too. My birthday thanks to you and please consider a trip way down yonder sometime!
28/09/2007 3:38 pm
So true Judy! We found the area wonderful last March, the people most friendly and real bargins to be had in lodging and food! We even had a private streetcar tour--because no one else was riding! the motorcar operator was really fun, but some of the time we did discuss the lack of folks visiting. If you're looking for a vacation, I'd really recomend going to NOLA and the French Quarter--it was a great precurser to our fantastic DQ trip!
And Judy, although she wasn't there, was a fabulous host--she gave us great hints on what to see, where to stay & go and just a big help---but no cookies! 🙁 Guess I'm gonna have to go back again until I get some! 🙂
Steamcerely,
David D.
PS If you do the Natchez (IF?? of course you'll ride her!), be sure and eat on board--FAB catfish & the bread pudding is no slouch either!
29/09/2007 9:40 pm
Judy,
A belated birthday salute from your neighbor upstream! May you enjoy many, many more years of steamboating, cookie baking, and sharing your love of the river and its boats with all those fortunate to call you their friend. And a special thanks to you and Doc for the long distance calliope concert last Sunday -- what a treat! Our local cable provider here is taking a long time scheduling our latest production on the NATCHEZ, but hopefully it will air very soon. We tried our best to show the beauty and romance of both the Crescent City and the NATCHEZ in that video, and get out the message that the city and the boat are eager and willing to welcome visitors and share some of that gracious southern hospitality with them. Again, my very best wishes for many more journeys and priceless memories on the steamboats of this country.