80-year old, career Artist/Author Gregory S. Taylor's Chester County company, DUO, founded 34 years ago, presents his vibrant "Trees of Eden" art series plus his 137 ebooks linked to Amazon's Kindle for you to review and buy WELCOME

Congratulations, Mister President.

34 years serving local and global firms, since 1991
(see details on my DUO page)
iamonly1me4u@gmail.com

Goods and Services
offered on this Website

by Greg,

"The Happy Hermit of East Goshen"

Sponsor of this website, writing and art production
Founder and Sponsor of DUO's Project 188 "Hollywood USA"
.....see details on my Show page.....
Featuring the art of G.S. Taylor (The Trees of Eden)
Wholesaling other original art and signed prints
Featuring 137 ebooks by Gregory S. Taylor (linked to Kindle)
Art consulting on art and/or literature development
(no cost to American military veterans)
Ghost writing novelettes (7,500 to 13,000 words), 2-month turnaround
Arrange for a custom, onsite, personalized Tree of Eden, by appointment
Personalized, one-on-one, art and literature instruction

"If you think you can't produce art,
let me prove you wrong...." Art on first day.

Enjoy my survey-of-me at the end of this page.
Survey was originallly compiled in 2017
and updated recently in 2025;
Enjoy fun music on my Tunes page

No online sales
face-to-face
By Appointment Only
(restricted travel and limited home mobility
due to historical leg and foot injury; use cane and/or walker)
610-883-1730

WELCOME TO MY ILLUSTRATED PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE.....

ABOUT THE AUTHOR AND ARTIST IN DETAIL
Gregory St. John Taylor, "The Happy Hermit of East Goshen"

58 YEARS ENTERPRISE EXPERIENCE

CAREER IDENTITIES & PROFESSIONS

-Philosopher, the practical side of the Lord and Jesus
-Humorist, general; host/entertainer; Greggie Morebooks Radio Show
-Fine Artist, variety, acrylics on canvas, Prismacolor pencil on paper
-Illustrator, technical, sketch-art specialist, isometrician
-Craftsman, miniaturist, emphasis: 1/87th scale dioramas
-Poet, Universal; see details below
-Author, fiction in over 20 genres
-Author, non-fiction, general; military drama
-Critic; soft; art and literature; nebulous
-Playwright, variety; screenplays for ebooks
-MIL-SPEC Technical Writer, Editor and Illustrator
-Graphics Artist, variety; website
-Caricaturist, specific; instructor (character development)
-Webmaster, DUO only
-Cartoonist, Variety; baloney nose
-Conversationalist, all subjects; drama; opinionated
-Instructor, publications and documentation services; art; writing
-Founder, DUO Publications & Documentation R&D
-Publications & Documentation Subject Matter Expert (SME); 46-year
-Percussionist, personal performances; entertainment
-Modeler, 1/87th scale diorama, “Galax Bay”

EDUCATION

-Admiral Farragut Academy, Pine Beach, NJ, 1956-1958
-Dolan Junior High School, Stamford, Connecticut, 1959
-Hall High School, West Hartford, Connecticut, 1959-1960
-Quakertown Community High School, Quakertown, PA, 1960-1962
-Pennsylvania State University (first half), 1962-1964
-Jersey Shore (Beach Bum University), Summer 1965
-Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, Philadelphia, PA, 1965-1966
-United States Air Force, Technical School; Materiel Facilities, 1966
-University of Maryland Extension, Wiesbaden, Germany, 1967
-Pennsylvania State University (second half) BA in English, 1970-1971
-Westlawn School of Yacht Design (1 year), 1977

Self-study at 80

-Philosophy, Sage Development
-Website Technologies, Development, Establishment, Operation
Religion and Belief, continual Internet networking; research
-Culture-based Music, scheduled listening and understanding
-World Gaslighting, all aspects; analysis; coping with it; dealing with it
-Counter vs Cancel Culture, continuing observation and study
-Jesus, the man, meditation & wonderment; being a student; desciple; apostle
-The Lord as a Friend, meditation and understanding; reciprocating
-Independent Artistry 2025 and beyond, participant, spokesmanship
-Independent Writers 2025 and beyond, participant, spokesmanship
-Life Begins at 80, research, options, opportunities, locations
-Living with ED, research, psychology, delights, acceptance; new games
-Earth Angel 9; Lightworker; carrying the burden; study; being one
-Life Path 22; Master Builder; responsibilities and capabilities; being one
-Being a new Republican, responsibilities; being a former Democrat
-Hollywood USA (state Sub-Hollywoods), design and development
-More…………

ACCOMPLISHMENTS, LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENTS

-Member, Kappa Sigma Fraternity, Alpha Delta Chapter,
Penn State, 1964
-Champion swimmer, breaststroke, Quakertown, PA, 1960, 1961
(1:10, 100 yds); asked by Coach Spangler to try out for 1964 Olympics
-Vice President Student Council, Quakertown High School, 1962
-Accomplished horseman (English), 1964 forward (polo, 1968-71)
-Alpine skier, 1964-on, i.e., Fieberbrunn, Lermoos, St. Johann
-Competing family team polo player, Lancaster Polo Club, 1968, 1969
-Accomplished sailor, 1956 forward, Admiral Farragut Academy
-Accomplished spoon player, percussionist, drummer
-Incessant table top drummer and foot stomper
-Founder, DUO Publications & Documentation R&D, West Chester, PA, 1991
-Founder, The Greggie Morebooks Radio Show), established 11-11-2023
-Founder, Project 188; father of Hollywood USA; 2025

WEBSITES

www.greggiemorebooks.com (The Greggie Morebooks Radio Show)

DETAILS AND APPROPRIATE EXPANSIONS
Consider the following list of diverse genres.

FICTION (10 primary; many secondary)
- - Enterprise
- - General
- - Historical
- - Erotic
- - Sensual
- - Science
- - Fantasy
- - Alternative
- - Mystery
- - Philosophical
- - Military

POETRY (representative)
- - Narrative
- - Epic
- - Blank verse
- - Free verse
- - Wordplay
- - Shadow
- - Sonnets
- - - Shakespearean
- - - Spenserian

STAGE PLAYS
- The Temp (3-act); fun, family
- The Vadyan Ring (3-act), science fiction
- Wheatie Rose (2-act); sister intrigue
- Glitter (1-act); produced/performed Penn State 5 O'clock Theater, 1971;
Gary Webster, Producer; Instructor: Mark Berman
- Libby’s Life (1-act); soul searching
- The Almighty Barnaby Cave; (1-act) sensual drama
- On the Occasion of Nearo Romes 7th wedding (5-act): Shakespearean

NON-FICTION (representative)
- - Children cookbooks
- - Grammar books
- - Technical manuals
- - Creative non-fiction
- - How-to's
- - Retro business books

I am presently an amalgamation of professions inside literature as well as inside art, because I live,
exist and thrive in both worlds. My wife took ill in 2017, and as a consequence, I live alone as a
well-adjusted "Happy Hermit", somewhat gregarious, always friendly, generous and accommodating.
Due to a diabetic situation some time ago, I sustained leg and foot injuries and move about with a
cane and/or walker while at home, on the arm of a helpful friend, work associate or family member when outside. Also, II am friends with the Lord and Jesus, and this makes all awkward movements tolerable....lolol.
I play and work to their rules and regulations much to my satisfaction and honor. I also respect and appreciate all other ways of life and beliefs, as long as you are pleasant, non-violent, polite and contribute to my knowledge peacefully.
I was graduated from Penn State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English as well as a
Certificate of Completion in Creative Writing, in December of 1971, guided by my friend and instructor,
mentor and official guidance individual, Robert (Bob) Franklin. After successfully being separated
honorably from the United States Air Force in December of 1969, I returned to my home. Pennsylvania,
here and there, has been my “home” since 1952, Aldan, Norwood, Quakertown, Glen Riddle, Media,
Downingtown, and now West Chester.
I am a pleased alumnus of the Pennsylvania Academy of (the) Fine Arts, in Philadelphia, registered
on the 1966 Alumni Listing. As an aside, I was a doorman, bouncer at the mighty Futura at Penn State…
1970-71.  I married a Temple University grad, six years my junior, Elizabeth Ann Lesse, from Galax,
Virginia, who also served as my Patron of the Arts, 1974 - 2017. We celebrated our 49th Anniversary on
March 20th of this year (2025).
I served as a Sergeant with Wiesbaden Air Base’s 7101st Materiel Squadron, Materiel Facilities,
Bench Stock Unit, from May of 1966 to August of 1969 under Sergeant, George Slater, then completed
my term of active duty with the Local Purchase Receiving Unit in the 4609th at Kincheloe, Air Force Base,
under Sergeant Alton Kaiser (of Inkster, Michigan) n Sault St. Marie Michigan, until released. My DD-214 declares me honorably discharged. These two men were a pleasure to work for.
I am a career publications and documentation Subject Matter Expert (SME) spanning local, regional,
national and global enterprise loosely since 1964, firmly since 1966. You will find a partial list of clients
I (et al) have served since 1964, on my MY DUO page, as you read on, and this is followed by another partial compilation, a partial listing all of my e-books presently available on MY EBOOKS page.
I became involved with Artificial Intelligence in the late 1980s, particularly with Beinstein Associates in
Willow Grove, Pennsylvania. The document was designed to define, describe and develop hypothetical
AI languaging. As a result, I wrote fundamental coding to serve as examples for those who were
considering AI, a language-driven process for human and mechanical, as well as electronic engineering….
namely Process Control; Data Management.
I have never applied AI, except for recording my voice on a phone messaging answering machine.
All my work is original ME, and I answer my own phone. The new age (beginning in 2024/25) of AI intrigue
is very interesting, but I, at 80, prefer personally involved creative works to be as human as it can be, even
if I am intensely programmed by imagination to the fullest.
In many ways, God Himself created hand-made intelligent devices, and the evolution of Man shows this,
with Jesus being the latest version of his work, far from artificial. I am a simple man who creates life
(characters) by hand and keyboards, mouses and coffee. I believe God has an endless sense of humor as
well. Just think of all of us. This proves my belief. LOL
At the same time, I am excited about AI, in the sense of making my everyday goings-on easier. I am also
a lazy person who works hard and must do it myself to keep my attention and not doze off. I wrote some
of the early AI concept documentation and found it very friendly. Don't fear AI in good hands; be aware of
AI in the wrong hands. I am also excited about AI in my Project 188 effort to define and develop a national,
state-intensive Hollywood USA and applying my 137 ebooks, on Kindle and linked from this site on my ebook
page; imagine a networked, state-owned, standalone sub-Hollywood system with my ebooks as a foundation for first-generation movies. My daughter calls me the Father of Hollywood USA. Isn't that nice?
One of my earliest inputs came from a novelette called “Inanimate Objections” by H. Chandler Elliott in
1954.  I was ten, and the story stuck, about inanimate objects objecting. Harry Chandler Elliott
(August 26, 1909-1978) was a naturalized American physician and writer of science fiction.  He was educated
at the University of Toronto where he received a B.A. in 1930 and a M.A. in 1935.  Interestingly, his specialty
was neuroanatomy, which he taught at the University of Nebraska School of Medicine.
I have many ebooks (137) in a variety of genres up on Amazon’s Kindle (first upload, the original volumes
of 22TANGO, in January of 2010), and recently, I put some books up, and when I did, Kindle had added a
qualifying question to be answered. It asked if I (the author) had applied AI in any part of the document I
was uploading. I told the truth, and said, NO.
It is posssible, and I let my imagination apply this to my 4.1 million words residing in Kindle, and thought
this….what if Kindle took all of my works in file form, and dumped them into a program that would take
all the words and, by design, create 100 “new” books from the mush? Would I recognize anything if the
names of the characters were changed, also using AI? Maybe not. If they do this, I hope they have 137
user contracts with me also on file. I’m 80, and would like to be overly prosperous for the future. Nice?
I find it fun to use my imagination, a form of normal human intelligence (NHI). Making movies for
Hollywood USA (pet project known a s Project 188).

No matter what, there must be a red line clearly drawn between AI-driven literature and Human-driven literature, with a gray line drawn on either side of listings for hybrid literature. Perhaps the future may
reveal that we of the Human Race are God's Artificial Intelligence (G-AI). Think about it, Elon...lolol.

I wrote my first commercial works in 1968, and began my art career in 1966 noting that I sketched
my first piece of art in 1946 at the age of two. My total literary ebook products include over 320 since
first publishing on Kindle in 2010 (currently 137). I can't count the number of non-fiction, military-grade technical docs I have written, edited and illustrated between 1971 and now, as well as commercial-grade
works for corporations, companies and individual professionals. I can't reveal how many works I have
"ghost written" over the years.
I only ghost-write novelette-level (7,500 to 18,000 words); if you want one, schedule now
(I am not getting any younger); allow a two-month turnaround (includes in-process review and a
10% change allowance); at $4/word, no downpayment; pay upon completion and acceptance.
I founded The Greggie Morebooks Radio Show in January of 2019 to offer non-scripted shows to the
public via the Internet. The show was introduced on Veterans’ Day, November 11, 2023 when the show’s
website, greggiemorebooks.com, was close to completion. My avocation is creating a large, room-size
1/87-scale diorama, considered as a work of art, not just a platform for model trains..see pic.
I recently, also, thought in retrospect considering my being a career playwright, and realized that the
format and thinking, planning and so on, is very much like AI, in that all that is needed for the play to work
is a bunch of AI actors. To feel this, I thought of myself as an AI character, and quickly retired and replaced
myself with a handsome 25-year old white male AI person, who avidly sleeps with women and never sleeps.
Then, at the right time, old and decrepit, I could go to sleep when the Lord took my hand naturally,
and we would be off to begin another life like the ones I have lived with Him before. Ask me about these.
On second thought, maybe I will write each one of them now, just for fun. Nope. I like being a disciple
and current informal apostle for Jesus. It is so gratifying, actually fun and very, very interesting. Understand
that like his Father, he is that he is, and that is mesmerizing. Let him in and find out for yourself.  While
you're at it, ask the Lord to be His friend, and He will become your friend. I know. I asked.
Since my wife, Elizabeth, became disabled in 2017 and began living with our older daughter for continuing
care, we no longer share our former intimacies, so she told me, "You have the most wonderful, gentle hands
and fingers in the world, and I want you to share them with the women of the world." Within our marriage vows, I have since then lent them to women I am sharing in loving semi-Platonic relationships, alive and dynamic in themselves, and appreciate their sharing their gentle, loving hands and fingers with me. Some
call this many things; I call it deep friendship.
And what did Jesus present to me when I was searching for a motto for my many faceted life?.....this
motto......"Godliness; Friendship; Common Sense; in Trust; and under the Canopy of Universal Love." How
about that? I am never alone. Elizabeth also told me Ito find another wife, and I told her, no thank you,
I already have one. Amen.

.....Enjoy my website and ABOUT GREG (ME) page, featuring who I am, what I am, and what I can offer you personally and professionally in the realms of Art and Literature plus more..... ok?

WELCOME TO MY HOME, MY "GARDEN OF EDEN IN A BOX"
and my friendly staff of workers, The Scrambled Eggheads

"We Garden of Eden in a Box Scrambled Eggheads
invite you to Greg Taylor's website, greggiemorebooks.com.
Enjoy each page, Art, Books, Tunes and especially Greg's
favorite place....namely, The Greggie Morebooks Radio Show.
Lastly, send him an email....greggiemorebooks@gmail.com via
his Your Turn page. Learn about his Trees of Eden art series;
make an appointment and join him here and have him create
a Tree of Eden piece, personally, as you watch and enjoy the
experience along with food and beverages."

"We five Eggheads invite you to some additional wide-angle pics
of Greg's Garden of Eden in a Box. On this site, you will fine examples
of his art, current services he offers and more. You will fine all his
ebooks, 137 on Amazon's Kindle. Each cover is linked to the sales
site for you to review/purchase books. Kindle is Greg's Library of Samples
for his ghost writing. It has worked since he first put up his 22TANGO
series in January of 2010. It still works."

"Here are a bunch of Pics from the Past.....enjoy"

My wife, Elizabeth, and I getting ready to go to a friend's wedding.
She took ill in 2015, and was disabled in 2017 unfortunately,
but this pic shows us in better times.

Here is a composite picture of the brothers, dates and friends partying in 1963.
This pic was taken in the Kappa Sigma, Alpha Delta Chapter, house on Beaver
Avenue in State College, Pennsylvania in my Penn State days. I am with my date, Clair,
on my lap, 7th in from right, second row down. These were the wonderful days of
having a house mother in each fraternity house. Shown is Mrs. Caroline Cheney.

This pic was taken in the Kappa Sigma, Alpha Delta Chapter house on Beaver Avenue
in State College, Pennsylvania, after I had served in the U.S. Air Force and had returned to
Penn State in January of 1970. I am in the third row down, second couple from the right.
I did not have a date for this, so I fraternally offered my lap to a brother's wife. How nice
of me. He is standing to the right with the drink in his hand.

This is a picture of the graduate airmen of the 44th School Squadron at Amarillo AFB
in the Summer of 1966. Thank you for your service, my friends. I am the 3rd from
the right in the top row. Many of these men ended up in Germany with me with 7101st
Materiel Squadron at Wiesbaden AFB.

Here I am at home loving our wonderful Labby, Bloopie, who chewed on my moustache.
She and her sister, Pinkus, lived with us on Diane Drive in Westtown Township, Pennsylvania.
I was 283 back then...I am now, in 2024, 192.

Here I am in the family room in our home on Diane Drive in Westtown Township, Pennsylvania
jamming with friend and excellent guitarist, Dave Shockley. What year? Around 2008, I think.

Click on POLO cover below to access Amazon Kindle's feature page
so you can buy this fun, amusing story by Gregory S. Taylor.

Alexander de Seversky of Republic Aviation
(looks a lot like my father, don't you think?)....
could pass as my real grandfather...I wonder.

Bloopie and I in the pool (Pinkie in the background)

Caryn Lin, Philadelphia's own electric viola and violin, friend and guest
performer at 402, Summer, 1994
(left and right)

(above) Pictures from the Summer of Live Music at 402 in 1994 by the pool

The backyard on Diane Drive in West Chester, Pa

Beth and Lindy with our friend, Jeff, at North East River Yacht Club

North East River Yacht Club waterfront featuring my kids' Quicksilver inflatable "The Mouse"

Pics at North East River Yacht Club

View across marina at North East River Yacht Club

Our 26' MacGregor (water ballast) sailboat, Sea Prompt; me; and daughters (L to R); Beth and Lindy
at McDaniels Marina, Northeast, Maryland

Beth and Lindy with friends, Michelle, Cindy and Daniele at the end of the pool
at 402 Diane Drive house in West Chester, PA

(below)

Elizabeth and I sailing our 16-foot Compac 16, Teefer II
on Shelbourne Bay, Vermont, in the Summer of 1978

THIS IS ALL THE FIRST GENERATION COUSINS FROM ST. JOHN SISTERS, RITA, EVELYN, VIVIAN, CLEMENTINE
OF NAUGATUCK, CT, USA

(from left to right top row)
My cousin Susan Sherwood; Grampa; me; Nana
(in front, L to R) Cousins Lee Shillito; Neil (Ted) Raymond; end: Robin Sherwood

(from left to right, All St. Johns in Naugatuck Connecticut)
My Uncle Bud (David St. John); Aunt Evelyn; Nana (Honora); Grampa (Dave); Vivian in front of Grampa; Rita; and at the far right, my mother, Clementine

(from left to right)
My Uncles, Neil Raymond; Curt Sherwood; Fred Shillito: my father, Eugene Sidoroff

(L) My parents, Clementine St. John (Naugatuck, Connecticut) dating Eugene Sidoroff (Richmond Hill, L.I., New York, Queens); (R) married June, 1943

I attended George Washington School, Fairlawn, New Jersey

Kindergarten. I am the boy with the knees at the right end of the second row down from the top.
Fairlawn, New Jersey (approx 1950)

HERE IS SPECIAL, FORMATTED PIC GROUPING

The side-by-side pics contain those wonderful people who gathered at
"JONES'S CORNER" at our apartment complex in Newark, Delaware in 1984.
We gathered at least once a week. We were fortunate to have some
grandparents with us this day. Wonderful memories. I am top right in
left photo; wife is with dark glasses in right photo; daughter Beth is blond
in left pic, first row in the middle.

LOWER PICS

My grandkids (eventual mother Beth) Gavin and Ani, playing my drums.

grandson on the drums a long time ago.......

Granddaughter on the drums, also, a long time ago.

ME IN THE BACK YARD AT 283 POUNDS (NOW 190)

Below is picture of me aboard the private, 55-foot Trumpy yacht, Broadway Lady.
I was a 1950s cadet at Admiral Farragut Academy in Pine Beach, New Jersey, and
swam out to disconnect the swimming ropes for the beautiful yacht to dock. The
owners were very thoughtful and invited me aboard to admire the yacht and took
this picture of me.

THE GREG TAYLOR SELF-SURVEY, IN ITS ENTIRETY
AS OF FEBRUARY, 2015
AS OF SEPTEMBER 4, 2017
AS OF MARCH 13, 2025

Science Fiction Book that got me writing:
(1) Aldous Huxley’s Chrome Yellow

Most-noted mentors, inspirations and friends:
(1) Dean Saulsbury, All American Engjneering, Newark, Delaware, 1983
(2) Bernie Markowicz, Boeing Helicopters, Ridley Park, Pennsylvania, 1977
(3) Robert (Bob) Franklin, Penn State University, State College, Pennsylvania, 1971

Poet that had the greatest impact on me:
(1) Lawrence Ferlinghetti, A Coney Island of the Mind, 1958
(2) best part: …In Golden Gate Park that day…

Favorite artist of all times:
(1) Maxfield Parrish, a fellow Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts alumnus

Model polo players (I played for a few years, 1967 -1968, so I know):
(1) Cecil Smith
(2) Ray Harrington
(3) The Barry Brothers
(4) Tommy Hitchcock
(5) Riggs Jones (Lancaster…actually played against him)
(6) Ben Forney (Lancaster…actually played against him too)
(7) Norman C. Taylor (Brandywine…my Dad), his team

Artist that had the most profound effect on me:
(1) Fresco master: Giotto of the Renaissance (Giotto di Bondone, 1266-1337)

Three men, et al, who made classical music enchanting:
(1) André Rieu and his Johann Strauss Orchestra, Dutch
(2) Luciano Pavarotti, Italian
(3) Itzhak Perlman, Israeli-American; reputed to be my wife’s distant cousin;
they met after a performance and talked about it…it might be true, if not,
they are content that it might be

Former situation:
(1) clawing out of the upper middle class slowly

Current situation:
(1) mired in the lower middle class; clawing my way to the bottom (a line used by my friend
Richard Raezer of Raezer's Edge speakers for guitarists)...... RIP Richard
(www.raezers-edge.com) playing Heaven as of 2005

Most detrimental effect by Corporate America on its citizens:
(1) Individual Identity loss
(2) Woke companies (some, not all)

Most enigmatic dichotomy:
(1) ghost writing for the living

Most compelling annoyance:
(1) the falling short of fellow man, due to relativity to those who are taller

Favorite pasttime:
(1) Sailing a broad reach between 4:30pm and 6:00pm on a Summer evening
with friends and family

Most dramatic illustrators:
(1) N.C. Wyeth
(2) Frank Frazetta
(3) Maxfield Parrish
(4) ME

Most remarkable young singer:
(1) Amira Willighagen

Most remarkable young singer performance:
(1) Amira Willighagen performing O mio babbino caro together with André Rieu and the
Johann Strauss Orchestra during a concert held in Maastricht, The Netherlands on 12 July 2014

Most-noted artist friends:
(1) Howard Boyle, illustrator supreme, particularly of military systems; Boeing Helicopters
in the 1970s, my friend
(2) Albert Hampson, painter of Mayor Tate's portrait displayed in Philadelphia City Hall;
Saturday Evening Post artist 1930s, my friend

One of my most miserable periods:
(1) living in the Junior School at Admiral Farragut Academy in the 1950s... thanks Mr. (Lt.) Farnlof,
but I made the best of it and wrote a book using my experience as a model…Thank God for Farragut

Best feeling in life:
(1) Security; then one can do anything

Worst feeling in life:
(1) Fear; then one can do nothing

Number One piece of art in the world:
(1) The Pieta by Michelangelo, 1498 to 1499

Most enchanting association:
(1) Face-face sex
(2) friendship with God and Jesus

Favorite songs in the world:
(1) Hi'ilawe performed by Cyril Pahinui with Peter Moon, Jr.
(2) Sailing by Christopher Cross (my daughter's choice for father dance at her wedding)
(3) Come Softly to Me by the Fleetwoods
(4) When the Saints Come Marchin’ in, Bruce Springsteen; Patti Scialfa;
Marc Anthony Thompson, of the Sessions Band in Dublin

Favorite rock groups of all time:
(1) Borrowed Thyme, band put together at Penn State in late 1969 (I showed up after
the service, in 1970); featured one of my Kappa Sigma fraternity brothers,
Ron Abbruzeze, Big Abb as lead singer. Sounded so much like Three Dog Night and Chicago.
They played on Wednesday nights at the Mighty Futura, and I was on door; great fun.
Ron could make half of his face serious, and the other half smiling (unique talent)
(2) Led Zeppelin
(3) Beatles
(4) Aerosmith
(5) Fleetwood Mac
(6) Pink Floyd
(7) Gorillaz
(8) Bronze Radio Return
(9) The Refreshments (of Sweden)
(10) The Silver Bullet Band
(11) The Mojo Blues Band

Favorite short film:
(1) Crazy Frog (Ding Ding) by Kaktus Film

Second Favorite short film:
(1) Scrat (and his nut)

Favorite techno/rock song of all times;
(1) Dare by the Gorillaz

Favorite Blu-Ray concerts:
(1) Bruce Springsteen and the Pete Seeger Sessions Band in Dublin
(1a) Bruce Springsteen – vocals, guitar, harmonica
(1b) Sam Bardfeld – violin, vocals
(1c) Art Baron – sousaphone, trombone, mandolin, penny whistle, euphonium
(1d) Frank Bruno – acoustic guitar, vocals, field drum
(1e) Jeremy Chatzky – Bass guitar, double bass
(1f) Larry Eagle – drums, percussion
(1g) Clark Gayton – trombone, vocals, percussion
(1h) Charles Giordano – accordion, piano, Hammond organ, vocals
(1i) Curtis King Jr. – vocals, percussion
(1j) Greg Lizst – banjo, vocals
(1k) Lisa Lowell – vocals, percussion
(1l) Ed Manion – tenor and baritone saxophones, vocals, percussion
(1m) Cindy Mizelle – vocals, percussion
(1n) Curt Ramm – trumpet, vocals, percussion
(1o) Marty Rifkin – steel guitar, dobro, mandolin
(1p) Patti Scialfa – acoustic guitar, vocals
(1q) Marc Anthony Thompson – acoustic guitar, vocals
(1r) Soozie Tyrell – violin, vocals
(2) Toto, 25th Anniversary performance
(2a) Bobby Kimball - lead and backing vocals
(2b) Steve Lukather - guitars, keyboards, lead and backing vocals
(2c) Mike Porcaro - bass guitar, RIP Mike, March 15, 2015
(2d) David Paich - keyboards, lead and backing vocals
(2e) Simon Phillips - drums, percussion
(2f) Tony Spinner - guitars, backing vocals
(2g) John Jessel - keyboards, backing vocals

Friends in music:
(1) Jim Croce of Philadelphia, he and wife, Ingrid, played at the house; we met when I saved
his guitar in a nearby argument between two men at Meehan’s Riddle Paddock,
an old haunt at the corner of Route 1 and Route 452 in Lima, Pennsylvania.
I invited him to the house, nearby, and he played and sang there. When my mother
was recovering from back surgery, he and Ingrid came over to the house and played
new songs to her in the Library.
(2) Caryn Lin of Philadelphia, played at the house, 1994 party where she became a friend.
We bankrolled a Showcase for her, and she composed a song called In the Halls of Scarta Glen,
for us, which we have on tape.
(3) Ray Beran of Washington, wife is friend
(4) Terry McGrath of West Chester, played at the house, our Vet…who at an early age
actually attended a party at my parents’ house.
(5) Bruce Hoffsommer of Ridley Park, PA; RIP Bruce…August, 2015; played at the house…
The Coal (blue) Tattoo…Dona, Dona, Dona

Most interesting couple in history:
(1) Captain Bligh and Fletcher Christian

Funniest shows ever on TV:
(1) The Carol Burnett Show with Harvey Korman, Tim Conway and Vicki Lawrence
(1) Rowan & Martin's Laugh-in
(2) Taxi
(3) Married with Children
(4) Soap
(5) F-Troop

Favorite dance steps:
(1) The Pony
(2) The Bristol Stomp
(3) The circle dances of Tibet
(4) Hawaiian dancing to slack-key guitar and singing

Movies I wish I had today:
(1) Disney's Living Desert
(2) Disney's The Sea Around Us
(3) Disney's Water Birds
(4) Tight Little Island
(5) The Golden Age of Comedy featuring Ben Turpin, Keystone Cops, Laurel and Hardy, et al

Funniest TV skits ever:
(1) On Dean Martin's Goldigger Show; Marty Feldman as resident fat man at fat farm
(2) anything by Tim Conway on Carol Burnett Show and others, particularly his “old man”
routine with Harvey Korman or other cast members

Funniest movie scenes ever:
(1) White Girls (Wayan Brothers), the bathroom scene
(2) Down Periscope when Buckman farts
(3) The Imposters when the sheik dances with Tucci and Platt
(4) Blazing Saddles, the campfire scene
(5) "Not now, Kato!" from Pink Panthers
(6) Laurel and Hardy as sailors driving a car in The Golden Age of Comedy
(7) The mission briefing with the girl in the short dress in Catch 22
(8) Nathan Lane as the mother in Birdcage
(9) The fart scene in Robots with Robin Williams

Favorite classical music piece:
(1) Ravel's Bolero

Greatest accomplishment so far:
(1) My daughters (it was not so easy)

Favorite roles I played:
(1) Father Time
(2) Captain Safety
(3) Deedles
(4) Greggie Morebooks

Greatest disappointment so far:
(1) Still no peace in the world, only patches in which to pretend peace exists

Most interesting men in history:
(1) Jesus
(2) Imhotep (not the character played in the Mummy, the real man)
(3) Donald J. Trump (history in the making also)

Most interesting woman in history:
(1) Mary Magdalene

Favorite philosopher:
(1) ME

Favorite methodologist:
(1) William James

Greatest distinction:
(1) making distinctions

Original Greggie:
(1) Did you hear about the masochistic schizophrenic who took both the high road and the
low road and beat himself there?

Most capturing images:
(1) a beautiful, naked 21-year old female from any culture in the world
(2) the birth of a child

Highest rank achieved in USAF:
(1) Buck Sergeant

Number of times passed over for promotion in the USAF:
(1) twice

Number of times I should have been promoted instead of being passed over:
(1) twice

First Romantic love:
(1) Patricia Stone

Greatest moments in my brief military career (1966 - 1970)
(1) being with the Germans in their own country, Eddie, Jurgen, Klaus and others
(2) serving with Sergeant George Slater
(3) personally taking 7101st MATRON Bench Stock from once-per-month inventory and
delivery to once-per-day inventory and delivery
(4) having friends like Irv Drachen from the Confederacy, Keith Michael from Erie, Craig Tober
who went back to college, Rosy-Cheeks Brown and his guitar, Chuck who went to Libya
(they quite smoking at the same time....."how about a mutchie?");
(5) the marvelous family from the Henniger Quik in Wiesbaden who invited my friends and me
for Christmas Eve, knowing we were far from family
(6) conversing and understanding the former Nazi soldiers who remained working at the
Air Base after the War
(7) giving kids Kennedy half dollars on the Rhine River Cruise to Koblenz
(8) drinking wine in Rüdesheim
(9) enjoying Rosa Montag in Mainz
(10) getting a Dear John letter from Sara Greer
(11) thinking about marrying Champ (Joyce Nulton)
(12) not marrying anyone until years later (Elizabeth Ann Lesse in 1976)
(13) skiing in Fieberbrunn Austria two years in a row .... Hi, Momma Bear; Hi, Major Don Fuller
and Family
(14) having a friend like Herr Kehl (I gave my new 10-speed Raleigh racer to him when
I rotated out of Germany)
(15) being written up for moustache violations at my last IG inspection at Wiesbaden Air Base
(16) not going to see Lt. Cmdr, Sylvester Blakely when my moustache was written up in an
Inspector General’s Report (whom I saw later in Syracuse, New York)
(17) surviving a head-on collision in a traffic circle in an Austin Healey 3000 with two other guys,
Marlin Neighbor and Norb Heverly
(18) drinking beer in the Stag Bar of the Nimbus Club after work
(19) working Night Expedite and driving the flight line on cold winter nights
(20) working with Sergeant Alton Kaiser of Inkster, Michigan (enjoy that Thousand Pipers
scotch, Sarge)
(21) playing cards at Jeff Hilligoss's apartment (and losing)
(22) playing cards at Marlin Neighbor's apartment (and losing)
(23) playing cards at Jim Yate's apartment (and losing)
(24) splitting a gut when Stroob blew his gum into his birthday cake while blowing out the candles
(25) splitting my bathing suit in Darmstadt at the pool while performing a gluteus maximus
plunge (learned from old friend, John Hilty of Quakertown High School days)
(26) watching Floyd Guffy read a book
(27) lending Joe English $300 to cut a Dylan demo record; he paid it back too
(28) getting General Preston's plane flying again by providing a shower nozzle from Civil Engineering
(29) dating Gita Turk from Denmark (who stopped me from climbing up the side of the
building to talk to her when she decided I was a nut and didn't want to see me any more);
she was right (note she has the recipe for my Steak Gregor, she was going to give to her mother
who wrote cook books…I wonder if she ever did that)
(30) dating Corinne Lavesque (who dumped me when I didn't write her while on I was on leave
to the states)
(31) participating in the Wiesbaden American Ski Club (WASKI) and privileged to know and work
with Major Don's family (we did the magazine together); I still have the cover to the yearbook in a
frame on my wall in the One Room at my home
(32) having Clarence Jackson as a friend, who invited me over to his house for Christmas,
and who knew that, "the bratwurst grease got to him." What’s for dinner, Clarence?
“Ham hocks, playground rocks, moose poot and buttered duck butt”
(33) having fun in Basic Training at Lackland AFB in May of 1966 (I really did have fun)...
thanks for the fairness, Sergeant Gorten
(34) short-sheeting the big guy from Baltimore who slept over top of me (everyone in the barracks
thought he would kill me, but he thought it was funny, and we became friends for the balance of
Basic Training at Lackland AFB in 1966
(35) making friends with a guy who slit another guy's throat at a base bar over race differences
(in self defense); he introduced me to the Zodiak
(36) getting out of the service 3 months early and avoiding the threats of Vietnam - compliments
of President Nixon (I cried at his funeral)
(37) wearing a toilet paper tie so I wouldn't be thrown out of the Nimbus Club for dress-code violations
(learned from Harpo Marx’s sock-for-tie thing
(38) having my first Jack and Ginger
(39) trading Sergeant Randy Cates paint for C-rations to take to Nürbergring to the Grand Touring races
(40) driving Joe Macaluso's VW around (the one that Gary Trostle sold to Mac, nicely modified)
(41) going to Frankfurt with American girls and partying at Storyville
(42) talking to Colonel Sylvester Blakely (former commander) in Syracuse, New York (let him and his
little red truck through a line of traffic; recognizing him; looking him up in the phone book and talking
to him on the phone); happened in 1984; he didn’t remember me, but that’s not a surprise.
(43) getting out of the service, taking the bus home to Glen Riddle, Pennsylvania, and being driven
up the hill to home by the nice mailman in his nice mail truck. He said, “Welcome home, Soldier.”
No one else said that…it was December 24th 1969; I was home on Christmas Eve

Worst moment in military career:
(1) getting a "dear John" from Sara Greer (I think she married a sailor)

The four most memorable moments in time:
(1) telling a roomful of people in Sparks Building at Penn State that President Kennedy had died
(I went to the funeral in Washington with a girlfriend, Clair Weitzel, shortly thereafter)
(2) watching the Towers fall
(3) sharing the TV moment with the unnamed soldier who danced and sang on the hood
of a Hummer and gave out candy to the Iraqi children during the Iraq War
(4) beating the stigma of diabetes in 139 days in 2005; now controlling with diet
(5) watching the Murrah Building burning in Oklahoma, City
(6) Biden/Harris open border era (over 2025, yea)

Best social join so far (as Gregory St. John Sidoroff):
(1) Alpha Delta Chapter of Kappa Sigma Fraternity (Penn State), 1964

Best University in the world:
(1) Pennsylvania State University (1962 to 1964); (1970 to 1972)

Penn State’s greatest mistake
(1) turning against Joe Paterno
(2) I missed his first home game, September 17, 1966, due to my being in Basic Training in Texas);
I had left school in March of 1964, and returned after the service in January of 1970…so much had
changed, but Joe was there, until his own school turned on him…I didn’t!) RIP Joe
(3) giving me a BA in English…

A profound statement from a former Nazi tank commander, 1967
(1) While I was stationed at Wiesbaden Air Force Base (1966-1969), I asked my friend if he knew
about the concentration camps and what was going on. His answer: “Greg, you would be surprised
how much you do not know when your family is in danger.” I understood what he was saying
whether I liked the answer or not.

The one thing that can bring peace to the world:
(1) Celestial music spread across the canvas of time. That's it.

Best songs I cry to every time (and there are others):
(1) Trace Adkin's Arlington a song written by Jeremy Spillman and Dave Turnbull; released
in June 2005
(2) Sara Brightman's Requiem Andrew Lloyd Webber's Requiem is a requiem mass, which
premiered in 1985; written in memory of the composer's father, William Lloyd Webber, who died
in 1982; the most popular segment of Requiem has been the Pie Jesu
(3) Hi'ilawe performed by Cyril Pahinui with Peter Moon, Jr.; written by Sam Li'a Kalainaina, Sr.;
Hi'ilawe is a waterfall in the Waipi'o Valley on Hawai'i Island
(4) Amira Willighagen, at 10, performing O mio babbino caro together with André Rieu and the
Johann Strauss Orchestra during a concert held in Maastricht, The Netherlands, on 12 July 2014
(5) Ave Maria by Franz Schubert, as part of Opus 52, 1825
(6) Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen, 1984
(7) You Raise Me Up written by Secret Garden's Rolf Løvland with lyrics by Brendan Graham
(8) You’ll Never Walk Alone a show tune from the 1945 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical
Carousel
(9) Waltzing Matilda Australia's best-known bush ballad described as the country's
"unofficial national anthem" (original lyrics written in 1895 by Australian poet Banjo Paterson; f
irst published as sheet music in 1903)
(10) Botany Bay a song that can be traced back to the musical burlesque, Little Jack Sheppard,
staged at The Gaiety Theatre, London, England, in 1885 and in Melbourne, Australia, in 1886;
show written by Henry Pottinger Stephens and William Yardley; music composed and arranged by
Wilhelm Meyer Lutz.
(10) the original TAPS played by 13-year old Dutch girl named Melissa Venema conducted by
Andre Rieu from Holland; many of you may never have heard Taps played in its entirety; the original
version was called Last Post, and was written by Daniel Butterfield in 1801; in 1862, it was shortened
to 24 notes and re-named Taps; Melissa plays it on a trumpet whereby the original was played
on a bugle
(11) Amazing Grace a Christian hymn published in 1779; words by the English poet and Anglican
clergyman John Newton (1725–1807); from Wikipedia: “With the message that forgiveness and
redemption are possible regardless of sins committed and that the soul can be delivered from
despair through the mercy of God, Amazing Grace is one of the most recognizable songs in the
English-speaking world. Author Gilbert Chase writes that it is "without a doubt the most famous
of all the folk hymns," and Jonathan Aitken, a Newton biographer, estimates that it is performed
about 10 million times annually. It has had particular influence in folk music, and has become an
emblematic African American spiritual. Its universal message has been a significant factor in its
crossover into secular music. Amazing Grace saw a resurgence in popularity in the U.S. during
the 1960s and has been recorded thousands of times during and since the 20th century, occasionally
appearing on popular music charts.
(12) I am an Australian by the Seekers formed in 1962 in Melbourne
(13) Nearer My God to Thee, a 19th-century Christian hymn by Sarah Flower Adams, based loosely on
Genesis 28:11–19, the story of Jacob's dream. Genesis 28:11–12 can be translated as follows:
"So he came to a certain place and stayed there all night, because the sun had set. And he took one
of the stones of that place and put it at his head, and he lay down in that place to sleep. Then he
dreamed, and behold, a ladder was set up on the earth, and its top reached to heaven; and there
the angels of God were ascending and descending on it..." The hymn is well known, among other
uses, as the alleged last song the band on RMS Titanic played before the ship sank (Wikipedia)
(14) Rock of Ages a popular Christian hymn by the Reverend Augustus Montague Toplady written in
1763 and first published in The Gospel Magazine in 1775; traditionally, it is held that Toplady drew his
inspiration from an incident in the gorge of Burrington Combe in the Mendip Hills in England; Toplady,
a preacher in the nearby village of Blagdon, was travelling along the gorge when he was caught in a
storm; finding shelter in a gap in the gorge, he was struck by the title and scribbled down the initial
lyrics; the fissure that is believed to have sheltered Toplady (51.3254°N 2.7532°W) is now marked
as the "Rock of Ages", both on the rock itself and on some maps (Wikipedia)
(15) My Way a song popularized in 1969 by Frank Sinatra; lyrics written by Paul Anka and set to the
music of the French song "Comme d'habitude" co-composed, co-written and performed in 1967 by
Claude François; Anka's English lyrics are unrelated to the original French song; was a success for a
variety of performers including Sinatra, Elvis Presley, and the Sex Pistols. Sinatra's version of My Way
spent 75 weeks in the UK Top 40, a record which still stands (Wikipedia)

Most enchanting song ever written:
(1) Hi'ilawe, written by Sam Li'a Kalainaina, Sr.

Most enchanting performance of Hi'ilawe in traditional dance
(1) Kumu Kawaikapuokalani Hewett’s stage rendition

Favorite country star:
(1) Trace Adkins

Movie that held my attention the most:
(1) Alien (the first one)

Best year of my life:
(1) The one I am in

Greatest loss in my life so far (and something else):
(1) Loss of my mother, Clementine, on September 22, 2004 (my friend of 60 years); she actually
passed away on my birthday, September 13th, but they brought her back…she went on the 22nd.
Ironically, my grandson was scheduled to be born on my birthday, but he was born on the 14th,
due to my daughter giving birth passed midnight…had things been different, I would have been
born, lost my mother, and greeted my grandson on September 13th.

Next greatest loss in life so far:
(1) Loss of thousands of words in our working American vocabulary since the 1960s

Worst four movies ever made - in my opinion (worst to least):
(1) Anchor Man
(2) Cabin Boy
(3) Master of Disguise
(4) Bottle Rockets

The fifth worst movie ever seen:
(1) Clash of the Titans

Most amusing entertainer:
(1) Greg Gutfeld

A major creative concern:
(1) the continuing decay in quality porn movies (no viable plots to enjoy; it’s only sex; how
disturbing…)
(2) disturbing situation with PornHub

Worst ending for a movie ever:
(1) The old lady throwing the necklace into the ocean in Titanic. (egads......)

Favorite composer:
(1) Ferde Grofé
(2) Maurice Ravel

Favorite country songs:
(1) Get Into Reggae Cowboy (Bellamy Brothers)
(2) Texas Girls (Hank Williams, Jr.)
(3) Dixie on my Mind (Hank Williams, Jr.)
(4) Cotton-Eye Joe (The Rednex); I love to play spoons to this song
(5) Arlington (Trace Adkins) Spillman/Turnbull

Favorite light opera:
(1) The Pirates of Penzance

Favorite creators of the light opera:
(1) Gilbert and Sullivan

Greatest fear:
(1) Fear itself

Only time on TV: HOOTENANNY, 1963
(1) I was in the front row with girlfriend, Lu Lu S. at Penn State at a 1963 Hootenanny, an early
1960s musical variety show broadcast on ABC in the United States; she left school and eloped
with her boyfriend from home; I wish her well; she is probably a grandmother many times over
by now. She said, then, that she was attracted to me by the way I smoked a cigarette in the
Dining Hall (I was from the boys’ dorm, Pollack C, across the street); loved the Limelighters,
“Have some Madeira, my dear…”

Person who says the most by saying the least:
(1) Silent Bob (could ruin a great thing by coming out and talking)
(2) God

Best New Orleans street band: http://tubaskinny.com/
(1) TubaSkinny, the best there is…
(1a) Erika Lewis, vocals
(1b) Todd Burdick, tuba
(1c) Ryan Baer, banjo
(1d) Shaye Cohn, coronet
(1e) Barnabus Jones, trombone
(1f) Robin Rapuzzi, washboard
(1h) John Doyle, saxophone
(1i) Ewan Bleach, clarinet

Most enduring quality of man:
(1) Survivability

Favorite classical concert:
(1) The Grand Canyon Suite by Ferde Grofé

Current disappointments in industry:
(1) changing the department door from Personnel to Human Resources

Top movies of all times (number one is number one on my list; others are randomly listed)
No. 1: The Imposters (Stanley Tucci, Oliver Platt, Lillie Taylor, Campbell Scott)
No. 2: A League of Their Own
No. 3: The Pirates of Penzance (Kevin Kline, Linda Ronstadt version)
No. 4: Soldier in the Rain (Steve McQueen and Jackie Gleason)
No. 5: Men in Black 1 (Will Smith)
No. 6: Independence Day (Will Smith)
No. 7: Love, Valor, Compassion
No. 8: Down Periscope
No. 9: Trip to Bountiful
No. 10: Gigot starring Jackie Gleason
No. 11: Das Boot, Jurgen Proknow
No. 12: Snow White from Disney
No. 13: White Girls from the Wayan Brothers
No. 14: King Arthur
No. 15: The Birdcage (Nathan Lane, Gene Hackman and Robin Williams)
No. 16: Young Frankenstein (Gene Wilder)
No. 17: Ice Age (brilliant production)
No. 18: I, Robot (Will Smith)
No. 19: Robots
No. 20: Shrek
No. 21: Kiss, Kiss, Bang, Bang
No. 22: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (Zero Mostel)
No. 23: Ice Age II (brilliant production)
No. 24: Cars

Top actor of all times:
(1) Charles Laughton

Underrated exceptional actor:
(1) Stanley Tucci

Favorite animated character:
(1) Sid, the Sloth, in Ice Age

The actor who should have been asked to be the Inspector Clouseau in Pink Panther, other
than Peter Sellers:
(1) Stanley Tucci

Most talented role of all times:
(1) Nathan Lane as the mother in The Birdcage

Top actress of all times:
(1) Angela Landsbury

Book that shook me up the most:
(1) Treblinka

The only movies I ever turned off before they were over:
(1) Natural Born Killers (bad role models)
(2) Bad Lieutenant (unnecessary depravity)

The most troubling scene ever in a movie:
(1) White Squall when the idiot captain watches his wife sink out of sight

Interesting family facts (father's side):
(1) grandmother and friends used to play with the Czar's children in Russia
(2) grandfather used to play guitar with Andres Segovia
(3) family were Cossacks from Irkutsk, Siberia
(4) famous actress and writer of The Wolf Man, Maria Ouspenskya, taught my father how
to play chess
(5) grandfather was one of seven engineering students under the tutelage of Professor Nicholas
Sawin sent to USA in around 1914 as munitions inspectors; others included Baron George Wrangle
(the famous Hathaway man with the patch), one of the Smirnoffs, and an unnamed executive from
Max Factor; the 7 got Sawin out of Russia in late 50s with wife Natalia and poodle Maki.

Hollywood's biggest bloopering:
(1) lost hubcaps in classic movie car chases (I don’t believe the drivers stopped in mid-chase to put
one back on for next scene)
(2) cars going around same corners in classic movie car chases

Interesting family facts (mother's side):
(1) related to Jonathan Swift
(2) had a bishop who condemned Mary Queen of Scots
(3) have a castle in Ireland (two walls still standing)
(4) related to General O'Meara buried in Christ's Church in Philadelphia
(5) descended from the Druidry through the Cullinan family (O'Cullinaine)
(6) inherited a bit of fey

Favorite guitarists:
(1) Ledward Kaapana, Hawaiian slack key
(2) Andre Segovia, classical
(3) Chet Atkins, everything
(4) Wes Montgomery, jazz
(5) Cyril Pahinui with Peter Moon, Jr., Hawaiian slack key combo
(6) Richard Raezer, friend from Boeing days

Most remarkable singer entertainer
(1) Israel Kamakawiwo ole, Brudda Iz, Hawaiian singer, ukulele

Most fun with my father:
(1) going to the Philadelphia Boat Show in the 1950s
(2) going to Brown's Dock to see the fishing boat, Thetis in the 1950s while
in Huntington, New York
(3) driving near Huntington and seeing an old wooden speedboat, the Sea Slipper in the 1950s

Most fun with my mother:
(1) always

Favorite piano players:
(1) Oscar Peterson, jazz
(2) Johan Blohm, honky tonk, The Refreshments, Sweden
(3) Scott Joplin, the first and most profound
(4) Stephanie Trick, stride piano

Biggest concern:
(1) Would time stop if the ball falling in Times Square on New Years got stuck halfway down?

Finest violinists:
(1) Itzak Perlman (possibly related to wife)
(2) Isaac Stern (not related to wife)
(3) Jack Benny (no way)
(4) Andre Rieu
(5) Sam Bardfeld (sessions band)

Most memorable philosophical statement:
(1) (paraphrasing George Burns on turning 100) The first step to become 100 is becoming 99.

Best ice dancers ever:
(1) Torvill and Dean (Jayne Torvill & Christopher Dean)

Favorite drummers:
(1) Joe Morello (Dave Brubeck Quartet)
(2) Gene Krupa (Benny Goodman Orchestra and his own later)

Favorite albums of all times (not in order of preference):
(1) Raggea album by Herbie Mann
(2) Graceland by Paul Simon
(3) Tubthumper by Chumbawamba (I would make a Broadway Musical out of this if I had the money)
(4) The Lords of Metal by O.M.S.F. (local group in Philadelphia and New York in 1990s; disbanded
some years after - friends of mine)
(5) Tea for the Tillerman by Cat Stevens
(6) Memory Years by Ray Beran
(7) The Dance, Fleetwood Mac
(8) The Call, Caryn Lin
(9) African Tapestries, Hennie Bekker
(10) Celtic Moods, Virgin Records
(11) Hank Williams, Jr.'s Greatest Hits, Hank Williams, Jr.
(12) Gene Krupa & His Orchestra - Drum Boogie, Gene Krupa
(13) A Little Bit of Mambo, Lou Bega

Person in this day and age I would like to sit down and talk with right now:
(1) Donald J. Trump

Best blue-eyed soul singers:
(1) George Michael
(2) Van Morrison

Retire?
(1) Never

Sports:
(1) Competitive swimmer in high school (asked to go to 64 Olympics as breaststroker....didn't accept;
kept stroking breasts informally as a side interest);
(2) polo player, 1968 and 1969 (family team) Lancaster Polo Club
(3) sailor (since Admiral Farragut Academy), 1956 and beyond
(4) track and field (discus), Quakertown High School, 1961
(5) equestrian (English) horses, 1964 to 1974

Favorite American cars:
(1) 1957 Chevrolet convertible (turquoise and white) with a Continental kit, lake pipes and skirts
(2) 1959 Oldsmobile 98 convertible, (preferably red and white)
(3) 1961 Oldsmobile Starfire convertible (red or maroon)

Personal thingies:
ISWAWBL, I’ll sit with anyone who buys lunch
ISWAWBB, I'll sit with anyone who buys breakfast
ISWAWBD, I'll sit with anyone who buys dinner
ISWAWBA, I'll sit with anyone who buys anything

Favorite International car:
(1) 1955 Mercedes Benz 300SL convertible

Most enchanting place to be:
(1) On the fantail of a turn-of-the-century Geary yacht at anchor in a beautiful harbor

Favorite clear drink:
(1) Jack Daniel's (black label) and Seagram's ginger ale (with four cubes of ice) in a large glass

Favorite exotic drinks:
(1) Pink Squirrel or Grasshopper in larger-than-normal glasses (over too quickly otherwise)
(2) anisette, straight up; ice on the side (watching it fog when the ice is added)

Most wonderful classic black female voices in song:
(1) Kathleen Battle
(2) Aretha Franklin
(3) Roberta Flack

Most wonderful white female voices in song:
(1) Anne Murray
(2) Celine Dion
(3) Joan Baez
(4) Dolly Parton
(5) Sara Brightman
(6) Suzan Erens, Andre Rieu soloist
(7) Mirusia Louwerse, Andre Rieu soloist
(8) Carla Maffioletti, Andre Rieu soloist
(9) Carmen Monarcha, Andre Rieu soloist

Most wonderful black male voices in song:
(1) Lou Rawls
(2) Johnny Mathis
(3) Paul Robeson
(4) Al Hibbler

Favorite singers of all times:
(1) (female) Sara Brightman
(2) (male) Leonard Cohen

Most capturing song combo:
(1) Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice

Top enchanting songs by Leonard Cohen:
(1) Lullaby
(2) Dance Me to the End of Love
(3) Hallelujah
(4) I’m Your Man
(5) Love Itself
(6) In My Secret Life

Favorite enduring, enchanting song:
(1) Unchained Melody by Al Hibbler
(2) Unchained Melody by the Rightious Brothers featuring Bobby Hathaway

Most amusing word in the English language:
(1) Fart

Most meaningful word in the English language:
(1) Friend
(2) God
(3) Jesus

The most enchanting and capturing sound in the world:
(1) The belly laugh of a one-year-old child

The most beautiful face in the world:
(1) A woman's after a satisfying sexual interlude

Happiest moments:
(1) The one just before and the one after

Best line in an advertisement:
(1) "I don't throw a party; I cast one." (Orson Welles in wine ad)

Most entertaining musician:
(1) Victor Borge on the piano

The perfect character face:
(1) Alistair Sims in A Christmas Carol

Favorite Dancer:
(1) Michael Flatly in Riverdance
(2) Gregory Hines in anything

Favorite Musics:
(1) Dixieland Jazz, Tuba Skinny of New Orleans
(2) Dixieland, Bruce Springsteen, the Sessions Band in Dublin
(3) Bluegrass, any
(4) Techno, any
(5) Standard, Crash Test Dummies, Superman, 1991
(6) Standard, Toto, Rosanna, 1982
(7) Rock and Roll, The Refreshments (of Sweden), 1989 to now
(8) Honky Tonk piano, The Refreshments (of Sweden), Johan Blohm
(9) Blues, any
(10) Blue Eyed Soul, Van Morrison, BBC concert at St. Lukes
(11) Classical, Andre Rieu and his Johann Strauss Orchestra, Dutch
(12) Hawaiian slack key, Kaapana; Pahinui
(13) Character, Huey Piano Smith; Don't You Just Know it

Favorite song ever:
(1) Don't You Just Know it by Huey Piano Smith

Favorite jazz piece ever done:
(1) Desmond's Take 5, Dave Brubeck Quartet

Favorite Tap Dancers:
(1) The Nicholas Brothers
(2) Gregory Hines
(3) Michael Flatly

Most wonderful white male voices in song:
(1) Michael Crawford
(2) Luciano Pavarotti
(3) Frank Sinatra
(4) Michael Ball
(5) Trace Adkins
(6) Joakim Arnell-Bass (of the Refreshments)
(7) The Platin Tenors, Andre Rieu tenors
(7a) Gary Bennett
(7b) Thomas Greuel
(7c) Bela Mavrak

My favorite beers:
(1) Tsingtao, Chinese
(2) Henninger, German
(3) the one bought for me

Most innovative and capturing singers:
(1) Sir Van Morrison
(2) Bob Dylan
(3) Bobby McFerrin
(4) Gabby Pahinui
(5) Israel Kamakawiwo ole, Brudda Iz

Most underrated movies, TV or otherwise:
(1) Leon. The Professional, Jean Reno and Natalie Portman (among other greats); fascinating
relationship under the most unusual circumstances; quite surreal
(2) The Neon Ceiling, Denise Nickerson, Gig Young and Lee Grant, 1971

Favorite Broadway Musical:
(1) Big River (Roger Miller)

Hardest things to get and keep:
(1) Friends and Money

Easiest things to get:
(1) Air and Water (clean, not so easy)

Reason for women:
(1) Filling one half of the guest list

Reason for men:
(1) Filling the other half of the guest list

Reason for children:
(1) To grow up and become half of something good

Most inviting dinner:
(1) Lobster tails with butter after a shrimp cocktail, chilled Cockburn’s porto and an anisette
a bit later; coffee with sugar and cream

Favorite wine:
(1) Cockburn’s porto

Favorite fast food:
(1) MacDonalds chicken McNuggets with mustard sauce
(2) Burger King chicken nuggets with honey mustard sauce
(3) Kentucky Fried Chicken old fashion, original fried chicken

Favorite bar and restaurant:
(1) Casey's Grill and Seafood in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania; Hi, Peter (2014)

Favorite diner:
(1) West Chester Diner, Route 3, West Chester, Pennsylvania (hi, Steve and Alex); RIP Alex
(2) The Crest Diner in Quakertown, PA (no longer there); first job there

Favorite aspects of my career:
(1) ghost writing to write magic for those who desire it
(2) writing enterprise novels for commercial business and industry
(3) writing with my ships, especially HMS Glowworm H92

Most moving songs:
(1) Memories (Betty Buckley)
(2) Our Love Will Go On (Celine Dion)
(3) I'll Catch a Yesterday (Ray Beran)
(4) Requiem (Sara Brightman)
(5) Arlington (Trace Adkins)
(6) The Clock (Caryn Lin)
(7) So Long, Marianne (Leonard Cohen)

Person I would like to know:
(1) Benjamin Franklin (I read and learned from his Autobiography in my Harvard Classics)

My hero?
(1) The Druid who decided to invent a pantheon for the oncoming Celts instead of dying at their
hands. Long live Brigitte, mistletoe and oak.

Best people show 1:
(1) Inside the Actors Studio hosted by the incomparable James Lipton

Best people show 2 (would like her to interview me someday):
(1) Ellen Degeneres Show (where did she go?)

Best hope for America (at the present time)...
(1) You (are you up to the task?)

Great song to laugh and listen to; you will tell a friend about it.
(1) the Bricklayer's Song by Pat Cooksey (also known as the Sick Song)

President…
(1) who would make the best next-door neighbor: Jimmy Carter
(2) who would make the worst next-door neighbor: Teddy Roosevelt
(3) who would be the most interesting to talk to: Richard Nixon
(4) who would be the best party pal: Bill Clinton
(5) who would be most likely to lend Greg money: Thomas Jefferson
(6) most likely to tell Greg the truth about things: not born yet
(7) most likely to find Greg amusing, Barak Obama
(8) most likely to nominate Greg for President: not born yet
(9) most likely to win in 2016, Donald Trump
(10) most likely to win in 2020, Donald Trump (too bad the Demos cheated)
(11) most likely to win in 2024, Donald Trump (actually won and in his 3rd term in my opinion)

Some interesting people I would like to have drop by in 2017
(1) Stephen Hawking
(2) James Lipton (of Actor's Studio)
(3) Will Smith
(4) The entire cast of the Imposters (he says this is the only cast where he has liked everyone)
(5) Mike Meyers
(6) Nathan Lane
(7) Kevin Kline
(8) Steve Martin
(9) Jimmy Fallon
(10) Andrew Lloyd Webber
(11) Trace Adkins
(12) Ellen DeGeneres
(13) Rachel Maddow
(14) Sean Hannity
(15) Malcolm Nance
(16) Leonard Cohen
(17) Donald Trump

Person most likely to interview ME:
(1) not born yet

America's first and Last Illigitimate government
The 46th under Joe Biden

America's most promising government
The 47th under Donald J. Trump (go Don!)

Most interesting man on the planet:
Elon Musk

The Concept Creator of "Hollywood USA"
Gregory St. John Taylor (Project 188)

The Father of Hollywood USA
Gregory St. John Taylor
The Father's fun pseudonym: Poppaoosa

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PERSONAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS AND TRIBUTES
(in the first person)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My most-sincere thanks to Professor of English, Creative Writing Option, Robert Franklin of Penn State
University, 1972, a gentleman, a friend, a worthy advisor, father of twins, a second-go-around kind of
guy, a changer of lives. Yours truly, Greg Taylor, hopefully, a worthy student. Let's hear it for the Wall
Street Journal and its reservoir of ideas and flunking Business Writing just because........"This is my life,
Bob; hope you like it." Without your influence and encouragement, I never would have entered writing
with such enthusiasm and commitment. Hi, Hoolie…
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My thanks to Mr. Mark Berman, Mentor in Playwriting, Penn State University, 1972, who said to me,
"Create characters of such intensity that they will write their own lines," and I remembered that. I wrote
"Glitter" so many years ago that was featured in the 5 O'clock Theater at PSU, and "Thunk" was in the
wings. What do you think of my characters now? Thanks, Mark, hope that your playwriting career
has been a dynamic success....your instruction has been, at least to me.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Greetings to Mister (and former Sergeant) George Slater of the 7101 MATRON Squadron, 1966 to 1969,
who trusted in my business judgment to the point where I was able to convince myself that I could
do anything in the world. There has never been a more placating influence on my life than your friendly,
kind and considerate nature. When I want to take time off, I still, "Send my hat to work," like you
suggested. Thanks, George. P.S. I'll bet Mahalla is still wondering how you got promoted to Tech.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Howard Boyle, the epitome of what an illustrator can be, a man who knows no age differences, nor what
growing up means. Your eternal youth still remains with me today. I believe that your yacht, "Scroomall"
remains the most popular vessel in the marina. I remember when you and Al Hampson came to my
apartment for a party. You and he reviewed a yacht portrait of mine and instead of saying it was not
up to your standards, you both agreed to say to me, "Gregory.....it's not done yet." How sincerely tactful.
You would never give me piece of your artwork, but the piece you did give us, you remember, you traded
it for a crock of apple sauce that Elizabeth made. That sunken sailboat in the mud of Essington, near Philly,
is still hanging on our wall here at our home and office as a revered item of timeless art.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To my other illustrator friend, Al Hampson, who allowed me the privilege of watching you work on the
portrait of Mayor Tate that now hanging in the Philadelphia City Hall. I enjoyed your story of taking
pictures from Franklin's Hat so high above Philly. I have applied the soft-spoken, but intensely
firm advice you gave me about what to do with paint. Thanks for the good council and friendship.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I want to say thanks to the 1960s to 1970s Audio Visual Arts Department at Vertol Boeing (old name)
in which I cut my teeth as an illustrator of helicopter and surface transportation systems. You know
who you outrageous professionals are, Robert Goodier, Ray Matthias, Bernie Markowiz, Joseph
Sapparito, Al Bowe, Henry Turner, John Magonigal, Richard Raezer, Harry Weinert, Peter Wilkins,
Rosco Coleman, Gordon Lasheen, John Shore, Sam Catulli, Robert (Bobbert) Moody, Sam Schafer,
Frank Foster and Bud Morisson, among others (including fellow PAFA, Dom DiStefano, 1956).
Without your wonderful influence and fun, encouragement and opportunity, I would not be
writing this today. Thanks even though I know some of you have moved on to celestial pastures.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To you, Morris Blackburn, I thank you. I remember a particular dinner at your home behind the
Franklin Institute in Philadelphia in 1966, when you were kind enough to invite PAFA student,
Bill Martone, and me over to your home. During that dinner, you asked me to tell you if the Demar
varnish I used over my painting, River Styx (done in the newly accepted medium of acrylics) ever
showed any signs of deterioration.  Well, after 50 years, the finish is fine (I still have the painting
on my wall), but I understand you have joined hose other fine artists in the celestial community,
but this does not stop me from thanking you for your kindness, portrait advise and professional
inspiration.  I have stopped at your anchor painting in the Philadelphia Art Museum, and it reminds
me of the times in your graphics classes at the Academy of Fine Arts.  I hated graphics, but I liked you.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Not many people remember a polo player named Riggs Jones, but I do. He taught me how to
ride-off another player in a convincing manner. In the middle of a game, he plowed into my
horse and me at the maximum 45-degree angle and said, "Like this," as he sped away. I still
limp occasionally from that hit.  When I rode him off, he bellowed at me to try harder, and he
was on the other team. I remember little pieces of advice that I have received from noted people
over the years, and this particular incident, at high speed on the tundra of Forney Field in Lancaster,
PA, (now Lancaster Polo Club) remains one of them.  I have applied this episode time after time in
the business world where, in some instances, there is not enough room for "both of us."
Thanks Riggs and your buddy, Ben Forney, who beaned me a mêlée.  I had the distinct honor
of playing against Ben Forney, reputed to be, then, the oldest man playing active polo. Perhaps
you both knocked some sense into my head. The event is a feature in my e-book, Polo.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
When in high school in Quakertown, PA, 1960 - 1962, I was privileged to become a student of a
well-known illustrator named James Shucker, who was noted for his Magazine Covers. I learned
much from you and your easy nature. I recall not only the supreme examples we were given,
but your wife's incredible tea-based drinks we had at break time. The concoction was quite a mixture,
and I still think of it today. I would like to have some, but I'm afraid, that like many who had a profound
influence on me, you are all gone to pastures too far to reach at this point. Thanks, Mr. and Mrs. Shucker.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On the polo front, there are those who made my days memorable at the Brandywine Polo Club, an
ongoing institution, that was founded, in part, by my Dad, Norman C. Taylor, and other notables back
in the 50s.  Even though my Dad's name is on the Gerald Balding Trophy box repeatedly, other players
influenced me.  I would like to thank people like Frolic Weymouth, Fred Fortugno, and others who took
the time to "talk to a kid." Your success and the new Polo Hall of Fame in Florida remain an inspiration
for those in the future who will play the game. Thanks.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It is sad for me to note that an old boss and friend of mine, Dean Saulsbury, passed away. He was a
most kind and understanding man of great personal conviction and religious commitment. He was
an alderman in his faith, and his sons are following in his ample footsteps. I told him that I would
work for him anytime anywhere, and I was looking forward to the time when I could drive to Delaware
and take him out to lunch.  Unfortunately, I will not be able to do that, but I can give him a tribute
here in my work. Thanks Dean for the opportunity to grow up a bit under your kind and supportive
influence. When your fellow evangelists come to my door, I accommodate them and have told them
that they can have my land as a place of rest, food and drink whenever they are in my neighborhood.
It is the least I can do for you.

In closing, if you need any more information,
read my books…ok?

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Visit:

THE KUBAN COSSACKS MUSEUM
Kuban Cossack Voisko Abroad
49 E 3Rd St
Howell, New Jersey 07731
Phone: 732-367-0088
http://www.stnicholasredbank.com/kubancossacks.htm

PUBLISHED AND PRODUCED BY:

DUO PUBLICATIONS & DOCUMENTATION R&D
of West Chester, Pennsylvania, USA

© 2015-2017-2025, Gregory St. John Taylor
All Rights Reserved

A product of the United States

Cover by Gregory St. John Taylor

DUO document control number: 402108

February 2015
August 2017
March 2025

The Mechanical Tree of Eden

"Go to the next page, please....maybe Art or Books."