John W Strobel III

People I’ve Met Along The Way: Stan Kenton

Some the earliest recollections of my childhood are of watching my dad play the banjo, saxophone and drums. He and my mother were children of the 1920’s Flapper Era but, both being musicians, they adapted to swing and the syncopated jazz big band sounds of the early thirties and forties. My dad settled on drums [...]

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The Seven Wonders of the World – According to John W Strobel III

by John W Strobel III

The Western Hemisphere, the “New World,” was slighted when the Seven Wonders of the World were chosen. That is probably due to the fact that indigenous people of the west in ancient times were not consulted when the list was drawn up. And that is very likely due to the fact that the early scholars [...]

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From Here to There and Back

by John W Strobel III

If your goal is to go from Los Angeles to San Francisco it is a simple procedure to look at a map and determine the route you wish to take. Take the coast route on Highway 101 and enjoy the leisurely seven hour drive through colorful Mission Towns, some with scenic vistas of the Pacific [...]

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People I’ve Met Along The Way – Helen Keller

by John W Strobel III

I have met so many interesting and famous people in my lifetime that I sometimes forget about those were not as famous as some but were highly interesting, none the less. In my working career as a newsman-journalist in Los Angeles, I had the opportunity to meet many and varied personalities from the fields of [...]

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Julio “Hoolie the Hooligan” – A family and a dog learning about true love…

by John W Strobel III

From the John W Strobel III series, People I’ve Met Along the Way… How does one explain a relationship that is tentative yet appears to be lasting? How do you explain a liaison that has barriers but is destined to remain an enduring, eternal, undying and faithful bond between a dog and a house full [...]

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A Night At Mickey’s Monkey With Etta James

by John W Strobel III

From the JWSIII series: People I’ve Met Along the Way Author’s prologue: The year 1965 was wrought with political upheaval and dissention, President Lyndon Johnson was ramping up the Viet Nam war, it was the year of war protests and the Watt’s Riots. It was also the year an underworld character, a bookie who was [...]

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Some Bugs I’ve Met Along The Way

by John W Strobel III

Or How To Make Friends With Methicillan Resistant Staphylococcus Auerus (MRSA) I bounced from one side of the hard ambulance gurney to the other as the sleek red and white van raced for Palmdale Regional Medical Center, siren and horn blasting traffic out of the way. I looked back and there behind us was the [...]

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Places I’ve Been Along the Way – Trinidad, part II

by John W Strobel III

Author’s note: Last week in “Places I’ve been along the way”, I told you of how I lived and worked in New Orleans and Trinidad, British West Indies mapping offshore oil exploration sites. This week I’ll take you there and introduce you to a happy, calypso singing people who lived to party. JWSIII On our [...]

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People I’ve Met Along The Way | John and Yoko at John’s at the Beach…

by John W Strobel III

It was a warm August evening in 1968 on Dover Lane, in Pierpont Bay, on the beach in Ventura, California. People lined the shore waiting for a run of grunion that was supposed to happen at high tide around 10:00 o’clock. The beachfront was dotted with bon fires as a feeling of excitement filled the [...]

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When Old Men Were Young

by John W Strobel III

I lived during that time when old men were young… John William Strobel III I guess it’s not fair to talk so much about the “good old days” today. Those of you who were not around then are probably feeling a little left out, and well you should. There is a special recognition that goes [...]

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