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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.
 

Garry Sellers

Super Bowl Half-time show

I wonder if it was just the people at the Super Bowl party I was at but the universal feeling about the half-time show was that it was totally inappropriate for a family program ... which the Super Bowl should be.  Pole dancing, crotch grabbing (which was bad enough when some brainless guy tried to shock the audience but women?), twerking, and lap dancing is not something I want to share with my granddaughters in the room.  I just don't get how they think it helps women to be viewed equally and not as sex objects.  It was 100% sex.  What role model were they trying to project?  Do you suppose it deterred or increased the probability that some male idiot will make unwanted advances on a woman?  The women on the Today Show were thrilled with it and kidding about the high energy and shaking their "heinnies" knowing that wasn't the word they wanted to use.  I don't get it. 

And why do I sense no sympathy for the 49ers coming out of Wisconsin?

Jim Cejka

A couple of weeks ago we were talking about the Super Bowl and, for a joke, I looked up the prices for tickets. And, it was a joke. The Uecker seats started at around $4500 and the good seats in the $18K-$19K range. I couldn't find any prices for the boxes, which I 'm sure were even more interesting.

For years I've always wondered why they had the half-time shows that they have. At those prices, you would expect that the people that could afford them would be a different audience than the young, deaf, people that the current shows seem to target, highlight wardrobe malfunctions not withstanding. 

Fortunately, there were other things to watch than the half-time show - and the game for that matter.

Oh, and 0 sympathy from South Carolina too. 

Jim Cejka

Follow-up:

In the Packers' Insider column on Packers.com, readers yesterday also questioned the Super Bowl half-time show. The Packer news guy answering said he thought the show was terrific. 

In my humble opinion, the half-ttimes by the Custer High School band were better, in spite of the often freezing weather.

Barbara Blair (Brenzel)

Thank you Garry.  I'm so sick of being called an old prude!  

Eileen Eigenfeld (Miller)

As I was scrolling through the 55th Reunion photos, I see that no one seems to recognize me. That's me in photos 18 & 19 (joined by my husband, Lance Miller (class of 59).

Jim Cejka

From the quote from Confucius, I take it he never heard of garage sales. 

Garry Sellers

Jim - Confusius is being quarentined as we speak!  I wonder if he has any Sheepshead witticisms.  We're playing tonight.  Even got Gordy Sauer to fly in from Phoenix.  He likes to come in to replenish his bank account at Californians expense. He's bringing full sterile gowns and a 5 gallon bucket of hand sanitzer.  He just likes taking his clothes off in public and soaking himself down.  He doesn't know that's acceptable behavior in California.

Jim Cejka

Garry, do you guys have masks that allow for the intake of sheepshead related beverages?

Jim Cejka

I heard, or read (?) something yesterday that was encouraging. Apparently Antiques Roadshow now considers antiques to be over 100 years old, instead of the prior 50. I gues that means if we show up, we're guests, not the focus of the show. 

Melody Jones (Parker)

Oh boy, we are now declared an emergency state.  NC has 7 virus cases.  No school closures, though, because our govenor says school kids at lowest risks.  Won't keep me from going to church on Sunday!

Nancy Davison (Boerger)

So, Melody, your kids are still in school. Great, the little stinkers can all pass around the virus and bring it home to their grandparents. Brilliant. 

Up here in Michigan we reportedly don't have any cases. Don't know if that means we don't have any, or we have no kits to test for them, or they all froze to death. Karsten and I have been home for eight days from a two week cruise and are still upright and mobile. Yay!  Now in the middle of cancelling next week's trip to Boulder. Think we'll stay home and binge-watch old West Wing episodes for a while.

Jim Cejka

Melody - 7 must be the critical level. Here in SC we have only 6, so I'll still sleep well tonight.

Melody Jones (Parker)

Nancy- only one kid at home still in school, an 18 year old grandson.  Also have a 19 year old granddughter who works in retail handling the worse filthy thing in public...MONEY!

Jim- NC now has 8 cases here and one case of a NC resident who is outside of NC but just also tested positive; will be quarentined in place.

The state universites are closed for the remainder of the semester.  Students have to leave their dormitories and finish their classes online.  They have one week to vacate in Durham and Raleigh.  We have no cases in the Charlotte area, yet. But I am sure it is just a matter of time. I am high risk not only for my age but for my respiratory and immunity problems.

Garry Sellers

Hey Mel - I understand why you're not going to give up church but please avoid the handshakes, hugs and kisses among "old" friends.  And make sure that hand sanitizer is in your purse. You're in that "high risk" group with your lung problems.  We don't want to lose you over this stinkin' gift from China.  And while you're there, how about saying a little prayer for the GS's ... Gordy and Garry.  He's a sinner and needs lots of help.  I'm sweet and innocent but just like insurance policies!  I'm thinking Jim may need a little support as well unless he's mended his ways ... which is doubtful.

Melody Jones (Parker)

There is irony in what happened to us today.  All our schools, restaurants, public offices, etc are all closed today and maybe tomorrow.  No, not because of the coronavirus.

Because there is e coli in our drinking water!

The virus update today is 14 cases in NC and 10 cases in SC.  Charlotte now has 2.

Garry, I will pray for you.  We are NOT shaking hands; we are doing fist bumps.  And since I was a nurse, I have always washed my hands! (Yes, hand sanitizer is in my purse, too)

Jim Cejka

Has March Madness just been superceded by a touch of sanity, or has it been replaced by a different form. 

Terri Levenhagen (Hoornstra)

We are having a nice, cleansing rain here LA that is supposed to last all week. I had a hard time getting used to the way it rains in CA. Not just a storm that just does it thing, moves on and the sun eventually comes out. Here, the front moves in and settles over your town and you don't see the sun for days and days. The up side is that (at least before climate change) you can count on sunny days from May to October. Too bad the rain doesn't cleanse corona and all the other viruses out of the air. My husband Jon could use your thoughts and prayers, as he fell victim to one othe other viruses called metapneumo. We actually both got it, but with his COPD he is now in the hospital on a ventilator and facing a long rehab. Stay well, everybody!

Jim Cejka

Well Garry, you and your Custermates there can always play more Sheepshead - as long as you now use a really big table so that you maintain proper social distances, and sanitize the cards after each hand. If I remember correctly, you use fewer cards in Sheepshead (Don't play with a full deck?), so that there's less contact with potential infectious surfaces, so it should be safer. 

Nancy Davison (Boerger)

In answer to your question, Garry, please Google the article below by the former director of CDC. Then compare the responses and results of Singapore, Taiwan, and Hong Kong with that of Italy and tell me which one of those you would recommend.

Former CDC director: Covid-19 is different from flu and we must respond differently

Jeanne Zinser (Gottschalk)

We're all old enough to remember the polio epidemic and summertime quarantines of the early 1950s. 

Sandy Wachs (Oldham)

This forum could be a great place to share ideas on what you can do to stay busy and sane during this difficult time.  Talked to a friend from Oregon last night.  She said she always forgets to get her Christmas cards out for the season, and yet she still buys cards on sale for the next season.  She decided she is going to write her cards out now for Christmas 2020.  Not a bad idea. HA 

Stay safe and busy

Wayne Reineck

Things are getting pretty bad in Milwaukee. There wasn't a single person at Bradford Beach. Even the lifeguards were gone.

Jim Cejka

So, taking a tip from Sandy for some coping mechanisms for this unanticipated time of conceding that were part of the group they're talking about - 

Here are some links to a bunch of interesting and fun crossword puzzles (well, maybe not for the jocks) that can occupy some time. They go good with popcorn too. 

http://puzzles.usatoday.com

http://www.shockwave.com/gamelanding/crosswords3.jsp

https://games.latimes.com/games/daily-crossword/

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/games/universal-crossword-puzzle-180940711/

https://www.bestcrosswords.com

Melody Jones (Parker)

Terri, I have had John in my thoughts and prayers since I read your post.  I tried to PM you but there was a glitch in the program.  Garry, what's up with that?  They closed my library today and I was just planning on making my weekly visit to check out 3 books, including a new novel by Joel Rosenberg.  Jim, I work crossword puzzles, thanks for the new websites.  I will check them out.  Here is a thought.  My 89 year old BFF in California is doing her deep spring cleaning and sorting through her warobe.

Y'all stay safe now, hear!

Jeanne Zinser (Gottschalk)

Actually, my life has not been greatly impacted by the restrictions. What has become the "new normal" for most people has pretty much been my life for the past 4+ years. I've generally spent most days at home, alone, reading a lot, watching TV, doing projects on the computer. So, I don't really have many adjustments to make. The only thing I truly will miss during this time is the occasional lunch or dinner out with a friend. But, it's a small sacrifice in exchange for hopefully keeping myself and friends healthy. And as a bonus, perhaps I'll lose a few pounds.