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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

Anybody hear from or about Ray Thompson lately?  He's disappeared and hasn't responded to emails.  He had some health issues but maybe he's just frozen in until winter is over ... whenever that may be up there.

Ray Thompson

Hey Garry-

Ray is up and well. Computer totally went good night and got a new one. Only took me a month to figure out how to reload every thing again. Never was much of a computer wize. Health wise I am fine. Just finished a 5 mile run up North and finished second. Ya Ya.

Wife having a little tough time lately with COPD and heart issue with AFIB but working through it all.

I have glacoma in my eyes and am totally blind in my left and losing sight in my right. Surgery scheduled for June 2nd to restore the sight in my right eye. We have a little dog and I don't think she would like a big seeing eye dog around the house--besides I'm sure I could train the new dog to drive.

Thanks for your concern--That was very nice.

Jim Cejka

"God could not be everywhere, and therefore he made mothers."

~Jewish Proverb

Melody Jones (Parker)

Back to your post of 5/5.  My Dad was working for McDowell/Douglas airplane factory in Fresno.

He sent for Mom to join him in 1942, they were married in Los Angeles and settled in a bungalo in Fresno after which he joined the army and was sent to Hawaii.  Mom worked at the same airplane factory and was a "Rosie the riviter".  For Christmas in 1943, Dad got a month leave through the holidays including New Year's Day before returning to Hawaii.  When Mom realized she was pregnant, she left California to return home to Iowa, where I was born in September of 1944.

So you see, I was SUPPOSED to be born in California and become a "native" but Mom had to ruin it and go back to Iowa.  You might like this old photo of the way they hid the planes they were making.

Jim Cejka

WATCH OUT!

I heard Garry was messing around again with the website, and we're going to have make up new passwords, according to his guidelines.

Lauren Dieterich

The virgin may be a problem; as, they are getting younger all the time. Also, gender wasn't specified; unless it doesn't matter.     Skies are cloudy all day today, with a 20% chance of rain. Tomorrow's high is supposed to be 66 degrees with a 60 % chance of rain. If the forecast is right, the high will be 31 degrees below normal. The rain will hold off until Saturday night. We are going to see Bonnie Raitt. It's an outdoor concert.

Lauren Dieterich

Regarding the picnic; the date is good timing. The date is about the time that Judi and I will be heading back to Arizona. So, the picnic will be the first stop on our way. And, if the Wisconsin weather keeps on the way that it has for the past month or so; we will need the AZ weather to dry out. Now, if someone would only turn the heat on. Right now, the temperature is 30 degrees below normal and still dropping. The normal high is 98 degrees; but, it's 64 at the moment. We leave for Michigan next Friday; and, we need to get used to the frigid upper Midwest.

Jim Cejka

For some reason, probably senility or retromemorydissociation syndrome, I had a major crave for a George Webb hamburger (and I'm not pregnant). That got me to thinking that they used to advertise a bag full of hamburgers for some money. Like 7 burgers for $1.00 maybe. Or, X hamburgers for Y$$? When I worked at the Clark station at Hopkins and Silver, my dad would bring me a bag full for my Sunday meal. Or, a couple of burgers and a quart of their chili. 

And I just made myself hungry again.

Lauren Dieterich

I worked at the Clark station on Silver Spring west of Fond du Lac for awhile in 1963. I went to Badger Paint after that. Webb's slogan was " buy 7, or 77,or 777. And, free burgers if the Braves won 12 straight. It took the Brewers to win 12 straight; and, the owners ( at the time ) did have free burgers. There was a cap on how many one person could get; but, I've  forgotten. My 2 oldest daughters worked at the Webb's on Hwy 60 in Hartford; when they were in high school.

Garry Sellers

A friend in South Africa sent this to me.  Seems everybody is an unofficial American!   I guess I've heard the meanings before but these days everything old seems new again!  In case you missed it along your journeys.  (Once again, if you want to view it full screen, click on the box in the lower right-hand corner .... then hit "Esc" to return to this page.)

Jim Cejka

Wow, thanks Garry. I needed that this morning.

BTW, I spent some time in South Africa, teaching in hospitals around the country. Great place. Loved it.

Garry Sellers

Not anymore than I needed the photo you've selected!  I just think it's interesting to see one person's perspective on things versus my life at that time.  It's a horribly fatalistic view of the world ... but a catchy tune!  Most of us were naive as to the meaning of seemingly nonsensical lyrics until somebody thought we needed to be shown the errors of our ways!  It's a curiosity, not an opinion.

Jim Cejka

That was my memory for Memorial Day. 

That song got me looking for someplace to listen to more of the same, radio or stream. No such radio station, and the streams seemed to remind me that I didn't listen to that many at that time anyway. Outside of the sock hops at Edison, or when I could mooch a ride with Gregorius, I didn't get much radio time. Then that got me to thinking about times when I think I was listening to the radio. Then that got me to thinking I don't remember yesterday, and I think I'm remembering something from the 60s? Then I got up and went into the next room and by the time I got there I forgot everything anyway.

Lauren Dieterich

Interesting video. Although, it seemed to focus more on the bad from the 60's, than the good. My brothers and I never got into the sock hop, dancing, dating scene. My mother died when I was in 8th grade and the 4 of us are very close in age; also, no girls in the family. So, for us it was like a frat house. And, being good German/Irishmen, the beer flowed pretty good. We were having to much fun, to think about dating and sock hops.

I've driven past the Buddy Holly crash site, a few years ago. There is a small sign there. I was at Wisconsin's version of Woodstock, which was a couple of months later, at Iola. It was supposedly bigger, no rain, and less trouble. I helped bale hay that morning, went to the Big Falls corn roast that afternoon ( drank a lot of beer, there ), and went to Iola that night, where I drank a lot of warm Ripple.

My youngest daughter went to Woodstock 3. I'm glad that I didn't find out until much later; saved a lot of worrying on my part.

Jim, My daughter has completed and submitted everything that she needs for promotiom to CPO. Now, we wait.

Lauren Dieterich

HAPPY BIRTHDAY !  To all of those born in June.

Jim Cejka

Lauren,

Congrats with your daughter. My kids got to get two more years time in grade before he can go. Neat thing in the Coast Guard, he can take the test right now if he wants, he just couldn't move up until then. Doesn't make a lot of distance though, the incoming chief of his place got pulled back to his old ship for a cruise, so the district CO or Admiral or somebody, just appointed him in charge of the armory for the district. So, he's doing a chief's job anyway. That's cool. 

It better be worth it. Today I drove into Alameda just like he does everyday. I wouldn't do that everyday if they made me the admiral and gave me a ship to boot. Ugh.

Terri Levenhagen (Hoornstra)

I used to not be able to listen to "American Pie" without tearing up. It's such a great commentary on that whole messed-up time of the 60s, the VietNam war, the assassinations, and the drastic change in the music. I was at the Altamont concert - billed to us as "Wow! A free concert by the Rolling Stones! Gotta go!" and felt as if I'd descended into Hell itself. You drove on the 580 freeway, which wasn't finished yet, until it ended. I remember seeing "Satan dancing with delight" - MIck Jagger did an awfully good imitation of that, with his red cape and the lights flashing as he danced. We were sitting on the ground, way in the back, and when the action on the stage halted (when the person was killed) and everyone was asked to "step back", we figured it was time to get our of there. Knew something awful had happened, but not what it was. The cars were jammed together parked on the unfinished freeway, and it seemed it took ages for us to get out. Looking back, it still seems like a surreal nightmare!

Jim Cejka

Terri,

You must have turned into wild and crazy (i.e., turned Californian) after you left Custer. I'm having a real difficult time picturing you as a Deadhead, at a Stones concert, with the Hell's Angles.

Terri Levenhagen (Hoornstra)

I just wanted to see the Stones! I had already seen the Beatles last concert at Candlestick Park and thought, "Wow - a FREE (being the operative word) concert by the Stones!" They had been on tour with outrageously priced tickets for a beginning teacher's salary. Nobody knew that  the Hell's Angels would be there. (At least WE didn't.) I was most definitely NOT a Deadhead! I think "naiive" would be a more appropriate description. 

Lauren Dieterich

In January 1965 a friend from my Badger Paint days and I spent 3 weeks at a motel in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. His parents were close friends of the owner. 4 months before I was 21; so, no booze. And, 5 months before I was drafted. We met a couple of 17 year old girls who were staying at the motel. The Stones were playing one of their first concerts in the States in Miami. The girls had managed to get backstage after the concert. The most memorable thing about meeting Mick Jagger, for the girls, to quote them " Jagger smelled like he hadn't seen a bar of soap in months ". Judging from the looks of the Stones, today; you have to wonder if anything has changed.

Jim Cejka

Now Terri, don't be justifying and burst my bubble. I'm rather enjoying this picture of our Custer Terri, rockin' out at this 1969 California concert, with her tie-dyes, flowers in her hair, and love beads.

Melody Jones (Parker)

School let out for the summer last week Friday, so my grandchildren had their first day of summer today in triple digit heat.  Yup, 100 degrees today and NOT allowed to turn on a water faucet outside due to the drought.  It's going to be a long hot summer!

Lauren Dieterich

We're in Michigan, now. For the next 3 months, in AZ,  a 100 degres would be on the cool side. The 7 day forecast in Bullhead City calls for a high of 109 on Sunday and Monday. I've seen several articles, on line, stating that western Arizona will be facing the same water restrictions that you are expierancing in CA now.

Melody Jones (Parker)

We have a little jingle here regarding wasting water flushing toilets:

"If it's yellow, let it mellow.  If it's brown, flush it down!"

Terri Levenhagen (Hoornstra)

Ahh, Melody - hats off to you for being courageous enough to print the slogan we are "ordered" to live by these days. :-) HOWEVER, this morning it is actuallly raining a bit here! And since this is not our designated watering day, a welcome dousing of moisture from above. I am hoping "climate change" will be truly that, and it will now start raining in California in the summer time. The last two evenings were reminiscent of Milwaukee summer eves: warm, muggy - Jon even had to wave away a mosquito! What usually happens on summer eves here is that the temperature drops like a stone at nightfall, and if you want to sit outside, you have to bundle up in front of your outdoor fireplace. But you DON'T have to swat mosquitoes! My new profile photo is my Passport Photo. Being the only person I know who speaks a bit of German and has never been to Germany, we are finally going this summer. Here is how being a teacher constantly makes you feel old: I am going to attend the wedding of one of my former Kindergarten students!