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.
 

Warren De Smidt

2 to 3 inches in Cedarburg last night. Now raining.

Marilyn Griffith (Bauer)

Why I love my backyard today! 

sorry couldn't locate a crop tool

Warren De Smidt

Nice picture Marilyn!

To decrease display size, if desired;

Go back and select "Edit" on your post, click on picture and, to maintain proper aspect ratio, drag a CORNER arrow to desired size.

I said 2 to 3 inches of snow. I'll take that back. Probably closer to 6 inches before the rain soaked it down. Huge moisture content. If it freezes soon the whole state is going to be a skating rink.

Terri Levenhagen (Hoornstra)

Wow, Marilyn! Gorgeous, sparkly snow! Drinking my coffee in NorCal, out of my window is a brilliant sunny, cold day. Lawn full of fallen leaves that need to be raked. (You don't need to worry about that in WI. :-) Temps just creeping up from 30s last night to 50. Warren, if I were there, I'd be grabbing my skates right now - or skis! Be safe, Wisconsin classmates!

Barbara Blair (Brenzel)

Marilyn, your back yard is gorgeous!  It COULD be gorgeous where I live too - except that it's raining in Oak Creek!  Lots & lots of  water.  I turned 69 last week & must say that I always feel like a little kid when the first snow falls.   After the first snow I become a grumbler!  Wonder if I'm sturdy by staying in Wisconsin or just crazy!  I love the changing seasons but wish that winter didn't last so darn long!  I know I'm not alone in that thought.

Oh well, maybe the rain will change to snow later - Wisconsin IS always full of surprises.  Back to my cookie baking - - - - -

Barb

Marilyn Griffith (Bauer)

As I sit by the the fire today enjoying the blizzard, I'm wondering if we ever had snow days when we were going to school. Anybody remember? During my teaching days I was as excited as the kids were. If there was a blizzard forecasted during the night, I was awake very early checking the banner going across the television screen. When I saw my school district I jumped with glee. Didn't even matter if we had to make up the days. Just so delicious to lounge around all day . . . . 

Terri Levenhagen (Hoornstra)

Boy, do I remember! I can just picture flipping the dial across our gray and white plastic table-top radio, with all the siblings gathered around in our bathrobes, awaiting the word from the very first radio station to announce the name of our school on the "closed list". Then, it was sheer exhilaration, joy and happiness! In California, a favorite story book I would read to my students was "Snow Day", depicting the children skating, sledding, tobogganing, building snowmen, etc.  I almost hated to read it though, because the kids would be looking so longingly for such a thing to happen here. Marliyn and Nancy, the teachers from my school asked me to tell you that the information about talking to the kids about CT (or not) was very helpful.

Jim Cejka

Jim Cejka

California Custer Crew (C.C.C)

How about a collective sigh, "oh gee," for the snow country alums?

Sandra Fligge (Axtman)

I remember "snow days", but most of all I remember what we didn't have or do way back in then.  We didn't  wear jeans or pants to school....it was skirts and shetland sweaters.  Leather jackets were worn unzipped or unbutton because that was "cool". as were the little square shaped scarves we wore around our necks.  I remember walking to the bus stop,  wearing black flats instead of boots, nylons instead of jeans or  pants,  jacket open, and nothing on my head.  We would huddle together at the bus stop on Villard and Sherman Blvd trying to get warm.... we were freezing...... .but boy did we look great!!!   I do remember very clearly that when I did finally get home, my legs, hands, feet,  and face were beat red from the cold.  It's fifty years later and I have 20 grandchildren, and have to laugh when I see my teenage grandsons wearing shorts and no jackets in December.  I went with my 15 year old granddaughter Sophia shopping, and she did not wear a jacket and just had a tee shirt on....she looked cold....but she was "cool",,,,,,I guess somethings just don't change.

 

Garry Sellers

I wouldn't change a thing on the photo Marilyn!

Warren De Smidt

Actually, I shouldn't have said "select the image icon" for the forum pictures already posted. Once you select edit, and then click on the picture it will let you drag the corner arrow if desired.

For best instructions, see Garry's excellent "Instructions for the image editor" available in the Edit/Upload Photos section of the home page.
 

Nancy Davison (Boerger)

Barbara-Nancy here, on Karsten's iPad (we're in Boulder with the kids, and brought just one laptop and one iPad -reducing TSA hassle) ........I love to hear of you baking cookies. It was always a necessary part of Christmas for us ......had to have the favorite ones, and everyone had his/her favorite. This is either very German or very Milwaukee, or both. For me, it means a lot of baking, as both of our nieces don't have mothers to bake (nor time to do it) and we have nephews who have the same favorite as Karsten (toffee squares). A few others on the mailing list (old Germans who no longer bake as much) and it adds up to an impressive mailing list. Which means that I bake and Karsten goes to the post office and grumbles every minute that he "never get(s) any cookies". 

Cutting the tree tomorrow - can't wait to see our grand daughter's eyes (she's 19 months and is our first one) when she sees it. Also tomorrow, Karsten begins assembling the doll house kit. This is soooooooo much fun!

I hope you're all enjoying the season as much as we are!

Jim Cejka

Come one, come all!

BADGER BLAST/HUDDLE at the Rose Bowl

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

10:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m., Pacific Time

Just announced! Meet UW’s new head coach, Gary Anderson, at this year’s Rose Bowl tailgate! He’ll join other invited special guests, including UW-Madison Chancellor David Ward, Governor Scott Walker and Heisman trophy winner Ron Dayne.

At the official UW pregame party, you’ll enjoy:

A Wisconsin-style buffet — including brats, chicken sandwiches, cheese, beer, soda and water

Bucky Badger, the UW Spirit Squad and plenty of Badger camaraderie

Live entertainment by BAD PENNY that’s sure to get you jumping around

Location

Brookside Golf Club, 11^th and 15^th fairways (just west of Rose Bowl Stadium)

1133 Rosemont Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91103

Cost

$77 per adult; $50 per child (6–12 years old); Free for kids 5 and under

(Does not include a ticket to the game.)

Terri Levenhagen (Hoornstra)

Nancy, it must be a MAGIC time with your granddaughter, and Garry with your newest addition! Wishing you all a wonderful holiday. And, oh, does that Rose Bowl tailgate sound like fun, Jim! We are looking at our winter storm come in - for us, that's 3 days of rain! Was going to the Farmer's Market to pick up some last-minute stuff, but I guess they'll be folding up their tents about now. 

Barbara Blair (Brenzel)

Nancy, I never cut down a real Christmas tree but I bake & bake & bake cookies.  Most of them are just the regular cookies - chocolate chip, peanut butter, oatmeal raisin, pecan fingers, Mexican wedding cakes.  I'm down to making just one batch of sugar cookies and one or another of my granddaughters does the decorations.  I think my family would mutiny if I didn't bring cookies to our family gathering!

It was fun baking yesterday as the weather was absolutely dreadful - rain, rain & more rain.  Finally turned to snow in the afternoon but a layer of ice was under the snow!  Ah yes, Wisconsin - - - - -

Barb 

Ray Thompson

Hi All--Been of the site for a while. Really wanted to make the Wisconsin get together on 12/28 but just had recent eye surgery. Have glaucoma and have been blind in my left eye for years. Got glaucoma in my right eye and losing vision. Do I buy another dog or have major eye surgery. Picked surgery and all went well. Regained 20/20 vision in that eye. Only real problem is women only look half as good lately. Just got nailed with 12" of beautiful snow this week. Buried but still love it. Wishing everyone a very merry & blessed Christmas and a most joyous new year. Please keep writing as I can see again.

Jim Cejka

COOKIE COOKERS - Barbara, Nancy, et al

Remember when you were making all those great Christmas cookies with Mom?

Do you remember too that back when we were in school and about to add XX tbsp of margarine - "colored" margarine was illegal in Wisconsin? [A diary product that didn't come out of a cow? Blasphemy!] We bought margarine that was white and came with that little dye packet that you mixed in to make it yellow. If you wanted to buy "yellow" margarine, you had to drive to Illinois. But…don't try to smuggle back a trunk full for you and the neighbors.  That was illegal too. The brother of an ex-girlfriend was arrested for that.

Wonder how that looks on his criminal record - convicted of oleo trafficking.

Barbara Blair (Brenzel)

Jim,I sure remember the oleo with those little packets - I think my Dad made the trips to Illinois.  But now, as I bake with real butter, I wonder why oleo was so big back then!  Baking cookies has been a tradition in my family - started w/my grandma & mom.  Now they are both gone so I had to continue the tradition with my daughter & granddaughters.  When my granddaughters were little ones, we had more decorations on the kitchen floor than we had on the cookies!  But a good time was had by all.

Ray, I have a spot of glacoma (sp) on my left eye & my doctor has me taking eye vitamins - they are called PreserVision, Areds 2 formula by Bausch & Lomb.  There is something in them that helps to preserve the vision.  I think I recall Paul Harvey talking about eye vitamins years ago but I don't think they were called PreserVision.  Can't remember the name.  Anyway, something to think about or ask your eye doctor.  Glad your surgery was a success!!

Jim Cejka

The Supreme Court has ruled that they cannot have a nativity scene in Washington, D.C. 

This wasn't for any religious reasons.  They couldn't find three wise men and a virgin.  ~Jay Leno

Warren De Smidt

What? Wait? Everyone's still here this morning??????

http://www.rr.com/news/topic/article/rr/9000/79172126/Mexicos_Maya_heartland_awaits_dawn_of_new_era

Terri Levenhagen (Hoornstra)

Checking in - still here! Here's  a Christmas  song from "our era" I think you'll enjoy. Love your "Leno", Jim!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ooc5eJc5SHA

Kenneth Pallaske

We are in Virginia visiting Lu's daughter and family. It is great to be around grandkids this time of year.

Merry Christmas to all of you and, may God bless you in the new year.

Ken & Luanne Pallaske

Karen Gerstl (LeDuke)

Merry Christmas to everyone!

If you are traveling, stay safe!

Barbara Blair (Brenzel)

Merry Christmas everyone!

Love those reunion photos!

Barb