Be aware, the "Message Forum" is NOT password protected.  Unlike profiles that are password protected, anybody who gets to this webpage can see what is written here.  Nobody can contact you directly based on this forum unless you reveal your personal contact information.  Use the "Message Center" for sharing personal contact information with another classmate.

This message forum is an ongoing discussion about anything and just about everything ... within reason.  One thing our class was good at was having opinions.  Almost 70 years of life experience certainly qualifies us as experts on most everything!   Ask a question ... give an opinion ... share some insights ... it's our web site, it's our forum.  That said, it's probably not a good idea to get into arguments about politics, religion, and the like.  While we're experts on everything, we also have a wide range of values and beliefs. This site belongs to all of us ... the whole range ... and we are not here to isolate, alienate, or subjugate anybody.  Of course insults, humiliation, sophomoric barraggadocio, and demented humor is expected behavior among some of us less mature people.
 

Terri Levenhagen (Hoornstra)

So interesting to read about Heinz Kluetmeier. I remember that photo well! Thanks, Garry, for the Home Page - I get to the Message Forum more than the Home Page, but I really needed that humor right now. And it was such a trip down Memory Lane to see Bill Carlsen's last day. To me, he was THE weatherman. I enjoyed the low-tech weather graphics he used back in '79. Actual gauges for temperature, humidity, etc.,  They did manage some animated rain to fall on him though, and a satellite map imposed on the hand-drawn one: foreshadows of the high tech graphics they use now!

Garry Sellers

Ok - So I somehow managed to give you the wrong link for the story on Heinz.  I'm sure a number of you are wondering about my competency.  You'll have to stand in line!  My wife and kids are at the front of that line!

Try this one, it's worth the effort:

https://milwaukeejournalsentinel-wi.newsmemory.com/?publink=0b47a0b4e_134f82f

Jim Cejka

News Flash:

Scientists have discovered evidence of wave ripples on Mars, indicating that there was once water there. The ripples were discovered by NASA's Curiosity rover as it drove through the Gale Crater region of Mars. The ripples are small, measured at only about 6 millimeters high (1/4 inch) and spaced 4 to 5 centimeters (1 1/2 - 2 inches) apart. 

In other news, Sunday is the 2025 Super Bowl, one of the biggest sporting events in the country. At the game, the NFL will take measurements using 2 sticks and a chain. 

And I thought our technology gap was only due to our age.

Garry Sellers

Okay, it's been almost 6 months since Ryan Seacrest took over "Wheel of Fortune" from Pat Sajak (at twice the salary) and wondering what you think.  We have a split household here. I think he sucks and my wife loves Seacrest.  Of course this is the same woman who'd throw me under a bus if Neil Diamond were to drive within 10 miles of our house ... even in his current diminished condition!  I think Seacrest is cold and artificial with guests especially when they goof up and when saying good bye at the end ... totally perfunctory.  (Can't figure out when either he or Sajak use the risers to stand next to guests or not.  Of course Seacrest is 5'8" and Sajak 5'10" ... neither giants. So when riser or no riser?)  I sometimes get the feeling Seacrest has a dinner date after the show.  I don't think Seacrest will stick around for 20 or 30 years. It's just a paycheck.  Apparently the bosses are thrilled with his ratings.

I do know it's time for Vanna to be moving on.  Her lovely smile and gorgeous figure looks 68 years old.  And she seems to have little in common with Seacrest.  Time for Maggie Sajak to take over.

And Jim, you may be pleased to know "Jeopardy" ratings have tanked under Ken Jennings.  I think he's 10 times better than Alex Trebek, far more personable, but the show has been obsessed with special tournaments and what seems like less challenging questions.  (I can even answer a few of them, and that's a sad commentary!)   I'm tired of seeing the same old contestants recycled over and over.

Jim Cejka

I told you so. . . I told you so.

Alex was low key to keep the focus on the guests and the answers. He, and the producers at that time, maintained the show as an intellectual exercise vehicle, not a mass entertainment show. Entertainment, unscripted, real people shows are a dime a dozen on TV (Actually, from some I’ve seen they aren’t worth that much, maybe 7 cents a dozen.). He wasn’t playing to the masses or a lower common denominator. Cutesy, ha ha wasn’t meant to be their product. They carved a niche and stuck to it, and so did their fans. It wasn’t all Alex, it was the producers and sponsors too, and there was more difficulty making a show like that. I don’t know who decided to keep it that way, Alex or the producers, but it died with him. I think the powers that be were afraid that the loyal Alex fans would bail without him, so they figured to appeal to a broader audience, and Jennings fit that idea. Instead of “what’s the answer and who’s going to get it right”, they want people to watch to see what joke or quip can Ken make and how the contestants will react. A reality show, it’s not Jeopardy. I’ve joined the unfaithful, I stick to cruciverbalism now.

Karsten Boerger

Great music Gary, brings back old memories.

I have trouble identifying with todays sceaming and fireworks at performances.

Todays music performances are secondary to the pyro, noise and rocket shows.

Karsten

Garry Sellers

You spelled it wrong Jim.  I think it's spelled "circumcision", unless I'm missing your point (so to speak).  Me, I'm a Wordle freak, first thing every morning (after checking Neil Diamond's travel itinerary).  

Nancy Davison (Boerger)

Hi Garry,

Add me to the list of Wordle freaks. Matching the Bot is fun; beating the Bot is great. Doing it twice in a row, like this week (but doesn't happen often), starts out the day really well.  

Karsten doesn't do Wordle; sometimes his  German phonetic system interferes with spelling. With the daily crossword puzzle, he does Monday and Tuesday; starts Wednesday and leaves the rest for me. Some clues just mean nothing to a non-native speaker. If you were a toddler speaking German, "Hickory, dickory ________" isn't very helpful.

Wheel of Fortune, on the other hand, is right up there with Bingo on the list of "if you ever find me doing this, just shovel me under" pastimes. (sorry Jim).

Watching Joepardy, we each have our best categories, with some overlap. Four years with Mr. Marino comes in handy with the Latin and Greek. Karsten's  geography knowledge is boundless. We both fail miserably with pop musicians. The "pause" button on the remote helps the handicap of being old. 

As you can see, we've lots of time on our hands in winter, although last week Karsten was busier than usual. Had to plow the driveway every day, and twice on two days. This is the first winter ever that we haven't gone south for the sun, and given all the plane crashes lately, we're not sad about that. We're gathering up our strength for spring gardening and summer lake activities with the kids - slower than ever, but grateful to be on the green side of the grass.

Stay on the green side, everyone!

Jim Cejka

Nancy,

I'm not a Wheels fan either, or most TV for that matter. Cricket games, the Weather Channel, maybe something on Smithsonian, otherwise it's listening to the birds, something volunteery, and of course, cruciverbalism.

Garry,

You forgot the We Five among your music groups. 

Terri Levenhagen (Hoornstra)

Oh, Nancy - "Wheel" and Bingo are also on my Bucket-with-the-hole-in-the-bottom List. We have a very active Seniors group in my neighborhood, and unfortunately, Bingo is a favorite activity. But they do have interesting field trips and classes. We've gone to the LA Zoo, the Getty, and the Huntington Museum - I was sick during the trips to the taping of "The Price is Right" (not my favorite show, but it would have been fun to watch the taping). I'm SO hoping we will go to Jeopardy! I love Ken Jennings - I think he goes out of his way to make the contestants feel comfortable, and I really appreciate that. I think the questions have gotten harder - or have I gotten dumber? And pop music/musicians, celebrities, I can't even try. I scored a place on the next field trip, taping of America's Got Talent. If any of the contestants makes it big, it might give me ONE answer on Jeopardy. And Crosswords and Wordle -- love them!  Just ruined my 329 day crossword streak by just plain forgetting to do last Sunday's. Does that ever happen to any of you? Forgtting to do things? Not so much a fan of Connections - it's like trying to read the mind of the constructor.

Garry Sellers

Memory is a verboten subject for a website for people over 80, Mary!   Here's our universal nametag!

You were on my mind Jim, but I can't remember why!

Garry Sellers

Jim Cejka

Some pundits credited the We Five with being the band that introduced the "Beatles like sound." Not sure what that meant, they sounded like most other bands of that era, only, I think, better. The actually made two albums, and I have both. Outside their "When you were on my mind," most songs on the album are from other bands or artists. Some nice versions though. They were at least recognized enough that they made the Ed Sullivan Show. 

Jim Cejka

Garry,

I worked a Willie Nelson concert at State Fair Park one year. The whole stands were like that trailer. Milwaukee County Sheriff had undercover cops working the stands, and they were taking people away by the bus load.

Garry Sellers

Yeah, but I bet it was heck of a concert!  Nobody like him and he knows how to entertain. 

Jim Cejka

Oh, it was entertaining all right - but mostly watching the stoned in the stands.

Nancy Davison (Boerger)

Perhaps many have read about our ice storms here in northern Michigan and are wondering how things are going. Well, our county and adjacent counties had hundreds of thousands of people without power due to downed lines caused by fallen trees. Our nearest city, Alpena (25 miles away), had no open stores (including gas stations), no stoplights, etc. for a couple of days. No newspaper and no mail - our local post office had no heat, so mail couldn't be sorted. The hospital was on generators, and the nearby limestone quarry provided gas for emergency vehicles. People scrambled for available hotels, some went to warming shelters, others left town for friends, family, or southern homes. 

Here at our house Karsten first wrestled (eventually successfully) with a recalcitrant generator, and the next day with a failed lift pump and a dead car battery. After one day of no lift pump, the sound of flushing toilets was like a glorious concerto. Lots of time clearing limbs from our driveway, and then joining neighbors to clear the next road to the one that takes us to into town. Once that was all in gear, we settled in for several days of raiding our freezer and clearing out the fresh vegetable bin. No phones, no tv, no internet, so we got lots of good reading done. The lake provided plenty of entertainment, as the mergansers and buffleheads have arrived on their way north. Huge slabs of ice pushed onto the coastline rocks, making interesting viewing as well, with a local otter paddling back and forth nearby. Yesterday warmed up into the low 40's, so we began clearing branches from around the house. Will need several more days to finish that job. 

Our power resumed last night, so we watched the news on t.v for the first time in almost a week. For the duration, our news had come from our cell phones. Some across the lake are still waiting for power - we know that by seeing just one light on from north to south - obviously another home generator. 

So, the worst is over. We can't say we really suffered, as we often thought of Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan, and all the other people around the world who have no relief to look forward to in the near future. To complain about the past week's inconvenience would be the utmost in lacking gratitude. We hope all the rest of our class is safe and comfortable, and desperately wish we could make it so for the rest of our world.

Garry Sellers

Nancy Davison (Boerger)

Garry,

55 degrees, and you lived to tell the tale! We used to keep our bedroom at 55. Now that we're older, we've cranked it up to 58. Have vowed to never weaken to 60.

Spent some time picking up branches in the yard yesterday, and slept like the dead last night. Next job is to move the boulders which the ice has pushed from the lake edge onto our lawn.

Delighted to wake up and be able to walk to the coffeepot this morning. As long as the coffee-growers hold out, we too may live to see another day.

Be well, all..........

P.S. I'm sad about your sister. She probably finds great comfort in your writing.

Barbara Blair (Brenzel)

Happy Easter to all!!

Barb

Jim Cejka

I'm Baaaaaaaaack. . . 

in Florida, that is. We lived in Florida about 35 years ago, and, as of today, we're back. Gave up on South Carolina, with it's 2-lane interstates (we moved 2 miles in 30 minutes on the drive today, the home of the Civil War, with cannons and battle sites everywhere, and the birthplace of down South iced "sweet tea" (and the diabetes capital of the world, I think).

So, it's back to Florida, the home of the flood zone lottery - will you be an AE, or an X? I-4 is still a parking lot, throwing money into the toll booth is now passe, and, as usual, there is a gator in every body of water larger than a bathtub ("Has anyone seem my little lost puppy"? 

Still, it has some advantages. The grandgirls are now 2 miles away, and the beach is 9.

Gordon "Allen" Mitchell

Where's back in Florida?

Jim Cejka

We're over in Palm Bay this time. Watch the launches from our front porch instead of driving 60 miles to see them.

We're almost neighbors. I'm sure I'll be getting back to the Orlando area at some time to the VA hospital there.

Terri Levenhagen (Hoornstra)

I'm so jealous, Jim, of your being so near the beach! We are in northeast LA and might as well be in Wisconsin for our ability to get to a decent beach. It's usually a 2 hour drive. So nice to be closer to your grandkids. Don't they have the sweet iced tea in Florida too? It was a staple when we lived in Savannah. The waitress comes to your table with two pitchers: "Sweet or regular?"

Jim Cejka

Yes Terri,

Nice on all those counts. Already, we got to go to one of the grandgirls first communion today. Then there's the Indian River, part of the intercoastal waterway, 'bout a mile wide or so, with a half dozen neat, on-the-water eateries. The ocean beaches are off the barrier islands along the coast, and they're covered with gazillion dollar houses, so there's no CA type beaches, but there are municipal parks every couple miles, small, no crowds, just veg or look for shells. This isn't a touristy area, and a high population of 62-like grads, like us, but most aren''t beach goers, so enjoy. 

This retirement thing might not be so bad afterall.