"Welcome to Tom_Fields's HomePage" Tom_Fields's Profile

The nation's capital, where I reside now

My Home: Washington, DC

My home is in the Mt Pleasant neighborhood, near Columbia Heights. It's a colorful place to live, close to the Metro Line, Rock Creek Park, and many of the city's attractions. Mt Pleasant is also incredibly diverse; it has a broad array of ethnic, social, and economic groups all living right next to each other. You can see a bit of everything here. It's also well known for social and political activism.

Until recently, I used slides. But my new digital camera can match the quality of slide photography. Besides, slide film is getting hard to find, and processing costs a lot. So any shots taken since August 2006 are digital, while the older ones are from slides.

My Last Home: California

The Yuba-Sutter Buttes, near Marysville

After twenty years of service, I retired from the US Air Force in September, 2005, at Beale AFB, California. My home was in a small town called Marysville, near the Yuba-Sutter Buttes. The local area has little to offer (except for meth addicts), but within a few hours one could get to a lot of places.

Spending four and a half years in California, I visited most of the state's major attractions--Yosemite, the Sequoias, Big Sur, Death Valley, San Diego, San Francisco, Monterey, the Redwoods, Lake Tahoe, Lassen National Park, and many more. All in all, it was a good time. I'm glad that it was before gasoline prices began to soar.

Three Years in England

My old home in Peterborough

Here's where I used to live in Orton Malborne, Peterborough, back in the UK. Stationed at RAF Molesworth, I had an excellent central location from which to tour England. It was along the boundary between East Anglia and the Midlands, and on the Great Northeastern Railway line from London to Glasgow (with stops at York and Edinburgh).

I also took the opportunity to travel continental Europe. With an enormous backlog of photos yet to be scanned into the PC and posted, it will take me a LONG time to catch up on this. My European travels took in France, Germany, the Low Countries, Italy, Poland, Austria, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Croatia, Greece, and Turkey. So my work is cut out for me.

By the way, I was renting this home. My former neighbors later told me that a fine couple had bought it and fixed it up very nicely. Good!

Omaha, Nebraska

Main entrance to the Health Club

Before my assignment in the UK, I was stationed at Offutt AFB, Nebraska. The nearest major city is Omaha. It's a great place if you're a die-hard Cornhusker fan (University of Nebraska football is the main topic of conversation), and if you like sub-Arctic winters.

Otherwise, you have to make an effort to like it. Fortunately, I found an affordable apartment between downtown and midtown, with its own health club, and excellent security. This sturdy old building had once been a hospital. It was a pretty good place to live for three years.

This photo shows the health club's main entrance. My car is the red one in the lower right (a 1995 Toyota Corolla).

Columbia: Deep in the Heart of Dixie

My old home in Columbia

Columbia, South Carolina, has gained some national recognition. For years, the Confederate battle flag flew atop the state capitol here (it has since been moved).

I was stationed at Shaw AFB, about 30 miles to the east. It was a 45 minute commute (probably more now), but I enjoyed being near downtown, the University of South Carolina, and the parks. Columbia doesn't have the greatest nightlife in the world, but it did produce Hootie and the Blowfish. It's warm almost year-round, and offers some good entertainment. Not a bad place.

My home was a converted garage between Forest Acres and Shandon. It was a modest little place, good for a single person.

Korea

The East Gate in Seoul, Republic of South Korea

The Land of the Morning Calm, as it's called, often appears to be a powder keg. Actually, South Korea has gone from an impoverished "Third World" country to a modern industrial power. This is one of Asia's great success stories. My year in Korea, 1989, was one of adventure and good times. And the food is outstanding, if you're open-minded.

The air base where I was stationed is about an hour's bus ride from Seoul, with regular daily service. And there were guided coach tours around the country every weekend. So there were ample opportunities to travel. Too bad that most people there failed to take advantage of them.

San Antonio

San Antonio, one of my favorite cities

My first posting was to Kelly AFB, Texas. Most of my fellow service members associated San Antonio with basic training, so they usually didn't care much for it. Unfortunately, most of them never really explored this wonderful city.

San Antonio is one of America's truly unique cities. And the climate is very agreeable. Besides, Austin is less than two hours away, and Houston about four. Anyone who can't find things to do there has something wrong with him.

Louisville

Louisville, on the Ohio River

My old hometown, where I was born and raised. is a medium-size city on the Ohio River. All of my family originally hailed from there, although many (like myself) have had to move on in search of employment.

Louisville is on the border between the South and the Midwest. We like to think that it's the best of both worlds.

Intro Updated May 10, 2008
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Comments (45)

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Pukku Apr 4, 2013 at 12:11 AM

belated happy birthday tom!
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Donna_in_India Apr 1, 2013 at 6:18 PM

Happy Birthday Tom!
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  Tom_Fields Apr 2, 2013 at 5:20 PM
  
  Thanks.
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GentleSpirit Apr 1, 2013 at 5:15 AM

happy birthday Tom, greetings from just down the road a bit
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  Tom_Fields Apr 2, 2013 at 5:20 PM
  
  Thanks.
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Minceta Aug 28, 2012 at 4:52 AM

Hello, Thomas!

This year we (my husband and me) spent our summer-holidays in the U.S.A. again and it was wonderful. We came back barely three weeks ago. Among other cities and places, we managed to visit also Washington D.C. for two days and we liked it very much, really. That is why I decided to write you, as now I would like to have also some friends from Washington and to exchange some of the impressions. So, if you want, we can stay in touch.

Have you been in my city - Belgrade?

Best regards from Belgrade,

Jasmina
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  Tom_Fields Apr 1, 2013 at 3:57 PM
  
  Not been to Belgrade yet. Perhaps someday.
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  Minceta Apr 2, 2013 at 4:55 AM
  
  Well, go ahead!
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Usctwin Apr 1, 2012 at 5:17 PM

Hi Thomas, hope you had a great birthday!
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  Tom_Fields Apr 1, 2013 at 3:57 PM
  
  Thanks.
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Donna_in_India Apr 1, 2012 at 3:58 PM

Hi Tom - wishing you a very happy birthday!
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  Tom_Fields Apr 1, 2013 at 3:57 PM
  
  Thanks.
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mehulraj Apr 1, 2012 at 2:03 AM

birthday wishes from india, Mehulraj
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  Tom_Fields Apr 1, 2013 at 3:59 PM
  
  Thanks.
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kiwi Mar 28, 2012 at 6:12 PM

Oh you've been to New Zealand! Great stuff. And I see you used to live in Peterborough, my Mum used to skydive there when she was in UK.
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  Tom_Fields Apr 1, 2013 at 3:58 PM
  
  Yes, and it's well worth a visit.
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janetanne Apr 10, 2011 at 11:27 AM

Hi Tom! I hope you are living your life to the fullest Tom. I see you haven't been on VT in a while. Hope to see you back soon.
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  Tom_Fields Apr 1, 2013 at 3:58 PM
  
  Yes, I've been travelling and doing all kinds of stuff.
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BruceDunning Mar 27, 2011 at 11:51 AM

I imagine you get a lot of laughs for having a celebrated event on a funny day. Have a good time in spite of it, and enjoy.
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  Tom_Fields Apr 1, 2013 at 3:58 PM
  
  I like it because it's near the beginning of spring.