Omega

Dr No
[Moderator Omega - Wristscan]
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Around twenty guests were invited to a private session with . . .

. . . astronauts Tom Stafford and Charlie Duke at the Mastro steakhouse in Beverly Hills . . . I'd never been there, but Steve H had and said it was the best place for steak in LA.  Note to MTF: the powers that be requested that photos not be taken at the restaurant out of respect for the privacy of the guests - otherwise, there would be a whole section devoted to fabulous spread Omega ordered for us, including a seafood tower of shrimp, crab, and lobster at every table, salad, and a main course of steak or salmon accompanied by steamed asparagus, creamed spinach, potatoes, and followed by dessert and coffee.   I couldn't believe that the guests to my left ignored their seafood tower . . . I was sorely tempted to shift it to our table, but my manners overruled my appetite. 

Ed Buckbee, who has been associated with NASA since 1959, moderated the forum, and prompted both Stafford and Duke to regale us with stories about their experiences.  Now, I've met or been in the presence of several prominent men in government and business, but I have to say that the two astronauts I had the honor of meeting were special.  They had an unmistakable presence that commanded respect for their magnificent accomplishments, but were so  restrained and modest that Steve was moved to comment, "they don't make them like that anymore".  They told us some wonderful tales, my favorite being the story of how the astronauts were training in the Arizona desert and, from a distance, were approached by Indians on horseback.  On being told the men in the strange suits were astronauts on their way to the moon, the Indians went back and returned with their chief, who gave the astronauts a tape recording to take with them.  The astronauts took the tape and tried to listen to it, but it was recorded in the Navajo language . . . when they found a local interpreter to translate the recording,  the interpreter busted up laughing and refused to tell them what was on the tape.  Undeterred, they made their way back to Houston and found another interpreter who also busted up laughing, but then told the astronauts that the recording said, "Attention, moon people - watch out for these sons of b_____s . . .  these b______s are gonna steal your land!"

I was able to persuade Greg Swift, president of Omega US, and  Giancarlo Incalza, the manager of the Beverly Hills Omega Boutique, to pose with Steve and myself for a photo, but  just before I was about to join them for the photo, a couple of boors pushed their way past me and droned on for ten minutes with the astronauts, and I wasn't able to line up for a group photo . . . Steve understandably got ticked off and left before the boors did, and consequently isn't in the photos.  I have to  sign off for now as it's past 4:00 in the morning and there are technical difficulties with posting the group photos, but before I do, I want to thank Steve H and John from Australia for taking photos, and especially Giancarlo for inviting Steve, Kevin, Larry, Guido, and myself to the event . . . cordially, Art
This message has been edited by Dr No on 2007-11-08 04:21:14 This message has been edited by Dr No on 2007-11-08 04:24:36 This message has been edited by Dr No on 2007-11-09 00:54:18

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