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.
 

Lauren Dieterich

I'm pretty sure that anywhere that there is a large population of German descent, you will find raw beef and onions on rye bread. If you don't find it at weddings, Christmas parties, etc in the Southeastern part of Wisconsin; something is seriously wrong. I grew up on raw beef and onions. I will buy ground round or sirloin, just to eat raw with a slice of Bermuda onion. When I was stationed at Ft. Devens, MA; if you mentioned raw beef and onions to the locals, they actually turned a light shade of green.

Margaret Pawlowski (Finch)

Raw beef and onion on rye.  Living in the south for over 50 years it is not something they understand.  Last fall our senior group at church had a polish night with food and dancing, etc.  One of our senior group is from Germany and she brought the raw beef and onion.  Only 3 or 4 of us indulged the rest looked at us as if we were crazy.  It sure tasted as good as I had remembered from my childhood.   My friends also don't understand smelt frys, roasted corn (cooked in a tub under a wood pile), real German potato salad, pierogies, etc.  Good Friday this year I spent at a friends making homemade pierogies.  They sure were good.  My polish friend is from Conn. and learned to make them as a child from her grandmother.  Yum, better than candy at my age.

Jim Cejka

So, it appears that raw beef and onions (on rye) are alive and well, in some places, and at least in the hearts and minds of Custer Alumi. I hope then, that the reunion committee takes note of this OVERWHELMING response and considers it for the menu in November.

Garry Sellers

I'm up at our place at Lake Tahoe and am happy to report that the lake is back up to it's historic shoreline, piers are actually in water again, they're releasing water into the Truckee River at rate unheard of in decades and Squaw Valley ski resort announced that they will have enough snow to stay open through July!  We want to thank all of you who sent glasses of water.  You helped pull us through!  (But I am going to miss having to shower with my neighbors.  It gave new meaning to "Neighborhood Watch")  I think the Custer California Contingency is going to be buying the drinks for a while at the reunion as a show of gratitude and that we all look for any excuse to drink anyway.

Jim Cejka

Jim Cejka

Born: May 29, 1917

Garry Sellers

I've touted the merits of the Piano Guys who are really a bunch of Mormon guys who came together to help promote a friend's piano store called The Piano Guys.  They are sooo positive and so refreshing.  Here's one of their latest to the tune of Justin Timberlake's "Can't Stop the Feeling".  I put this on our website because you should take note of the ages of some of the biggest "swingers" in the video. (Turn on your volume and full screen is more enjoyable.)

And if this doesn't get your toe to tapping, try this Piano Guys new original, "It's Gonna Be Okay"!, with Cliff Richard (who is 70 now!).  Keep in mind that Jon Schmidt, the balding, red-headed piano player lost his 21 year old daughter last fall in a tragic hiking accident.  Wish I could have this level of energy and optimism!

Sandy Wachs (Oldham)

What fun.  Thank you for posting the music videos Garry.  'Everything is going to be Ok'.  

Garry Sellers

I gotta tell you that the world is getting weird.  I go to Milwaukee this weekend (actually Kewaskum) for the wedding of my 68 year old cousin.  (Why would a 68 year old attorney get married for the 3rd time? Even though his bride is the same age I assume they HAD to get married!)  Anyway, his is an outdoor affair and it's almost 90 degrees!  And it's Pridefest Week at Summerfest .. just to make it feel more like home.  I get back to the San Francisco area and it's 58 degrees, wind at 40 mph for a windchill of about -10 degrees.  There's still 20 feet of snow at Squaw Valley!  The world is upside down ... or I'm getting really senile ... or both!!!

Jeanne Zinser (Gottschalk)

Garry ~~ Milwaukee always provides a warm welcome for one of its own!

Jim Cejka

Garry,

If you went to Milwaukee this weekend, you misssed the World Naked Bike Ride that was in 70 cities around the world this weekend (including some in CA). Or, did they miss you?

Gordon "Allen" Mitchell

Hope this is appropriate and link works. If not just delete or let me know please.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/r7d1e58yldsklxw/IMG_20170612_120803.jpg?dl=0

Jim Cejka

The forcast here for the next several days is 112 degrees plus. That means it'll be about 116-118 in my yard. The vineyards are producing raisins instead of wine. The almond and walnut farmers are selling fresh roasted nuts right off the tree. And I always thought it would be "cool" to live in California.

Lauren Dieterich

It was a 116 in Bullhead City, AZ yesterday. Today is supposed to be a 121 and tomorrow is supposed to be a 124. We get a break over the weekend, only a 105. It figures that when we decide to live here permanenty, it will be a record breaking summer. It will be 3 months before we see daily temps in the upper 80's, low 90's. Can't really complain, though, it was our choice to stay out here, year 'round.

Nancy Davison (Boerger)

Oh my! It's afternoon, and the thermometer is still creeping up to 70. Karsten is off playing tennis, and I've been digging in the garden. In your heat, we probably wouldn't be doing either (I start to sweat at about 80 degrees). Granted, in winter Karsten has to play indoors, and I have to tend herbs in an Aerogarden on my desk. We just hope that, as the climate continues to change (or not, depending upon your view), everyone doesn't show up at the Michigan border. We like to have our space. 

Jim Cejka

Lauren, I didn't think we were going to beat Bullhead City, but hot is hot, here or there. 

Terri Levenhagen (Hoornstra)

It's time to mention that we have just moved to Los Angeles from Cupertino in Northern California. Our son and daughter-in-law have established careers here, and if we want to one day be active grandparents (well, maybe not as active as Garry. . . but ), we decided we needed to be here. WELL, the one thing I expected was hotter temperatures. Much to my surprise, the friends, family, and classmates we left behind in Northern California are suffering with temps in the high 90°s or higher, and we are enjoying mid-80°s here. Apparently, like the city of San Francisco, Los Angeles' proximity to the ocean has a cooling effect. Not as bone chilling as SF, but cooler than the inland areas. In our move, we are down-sizing considerably. We got rid of half our stuff before the move, and need to get rid of half of it again! If anyone has any down-sizing tips, we'd love to hear them!

Jim Cejka

Thought of the day: see above

William Nelson

Whoever took the picture, Jim, must have had a telephoto lens. As I remember, Mt. Rushmore is in SD and there's a whole state between it and the Canadian border, but the picture and caption are hilarious.
 

Jim Cejka

Thought of the Day (as amended for geographic accuracy)

(That better Bill?)

William Nelson

Jim, it's now geographically correct. The next time we drive across the country, we'll have to take the ND route. Somehow, that's one of the six states I've never visited. Not exactly on my "bucket list" though. It's a bit out of the way from anywhere in Louisiana.

We're meeting our niece's family in Sun Prairie, WI in a few days. Her husband said they're taking the ND route from their home in Idaho to Wisconsin this year, because they've had something go wrong every time they crossed SD. Got thinking about that and remembered we've had the same kind of luck in SD. I remember at least two tire blowouts, a flood in Sioux Falls, and a distributor problem in Rapid City. It's all worth it to see Wall Drug Store!

One of the highlights of our visit to Wisconsin this year was lunch with Ken Rabas a couple of days ago. He's still looking pretty good for an old guy! Hasn't lost his hair like I have.

Dean Schwarten

Everyone, if you haven't seen it yet, check out the home page videos and reunion information.

Great job Garry!  

Jim Cejka

Nice fireworks Garry. Not Smith Park, but nice. At least they don't rattle my house and scare the - - - out of me and the dog, like my neighbors do.

Melody Jones (Parker)

Jim Cejka