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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.
 

Lauren Dieterich

Since mid June, we've had 5 days where it's been below a 100 degrees. Two of them were actually in the upper 80's. I'm not sure of the exact count ( when it's over a 115, we stop counting ); but, it's about 15 days where it's been over a 120 degrees 'officially ' According to my thermometer, we had 3 days of a 130 degrees. We should finally drop into the 90's by the end of the month. The 8 months of really nice weather makes up for the 4 months of heat. When we talk about the heat, we're not complaining, we're almost bragging. Just, don't ask us " is it hot enough for you" That question gets tiresome after awhile.

Terri Levenhagen (Hoornstra)

Melody - it just goes to show that you might as well not make a big move for a change of weather; but to be closer to your kids? Well, I think that's worth it. We made the big move from our neat suburban community of Cupertino to the big (sometimes not-so-neat) city of Los Angeles in June. So far, in spite of the challenges of being in an entirely new place, and requiring GPS apps set on "avoid freeways"  to get anywhere, it has been okay. I can no longer put my driving mindset on automatic pilot and trust that I can have my brain cells entirely devoted to singing "Bridge Over Troubled Waters" when I leave, and still arrive at my destination at the end of the song unscathed. But it's good for those brain cells to give them the challenge of a Big Move. Good luck to you! Oh — and amazingly the temperatures here have been lower than northern California. It just reached 100° here yesterday, and supposed to again today; but my friends in NorCal are posting photos of 109° readings! Garrry? Jim?

Nancy Davison (Boerger)

Here we are in Michigan, with approximately one half of the heat you have. Yes, 48 degrees here at 7 am. Gaylord, 1 1/2 hours directly west of us, had frost warnings last week. That same day Karsten got up and turned on the heat here. I had been up for two hours - absolutely refuse, on principle, to turn on the heat in August. We're up to 70 now, just perfect for pulling weeds and then a nice kayak ride on the lake. Affter this very wet and cold summer, anything dry and over 60 is glorious.  

Jim Cejka

Terri - 114 when I got home from the Hornet this afternoon. It was 100 even on the pier there yesterday, and 102+ at the weather station on the island.

Hope that fire isn't near your new home.

Terri Levenhagen (Hoornstra)

The fire is not near enough to be any danger, but it is right behind the City of Burbank, where I have gone to shop a few times. I am learning about the topography of the City of Los Angeles. It has a few major valleys, but many of the homes are built on ranges of hills around them. Between these hills are large, deep canyons. The current fire is in La Tuna canyon, which was wisely made into a park, so there are not too many homes threatened if it stays within that canyon. The neighborhood I live in is hilly, and a couple canyons have also been made into parks. The canyon over the hill and behind our house is currently privately owned open space, and developers are threatening to build homes there. The neighborhood has a campaign to stop the developers and have the canyon bought and made into a public park/open space area. I can certainly see the wisdom in that!!!

Terri Levenhagen (Hoornstra)

Thinking of our Floridians. How are you faring with Irma?

Gordon "Allen" Mitchell

Doing ok.  Just minor wind damage. 

Jane Bednarz (Holdridge)

 We are not currently in Florida (spend summer in Wisconsin) but our neighbors have reported that our development in Fort Myers escaped with minor damage.  We have flooded streets and driveways, downed trees and no TV or internet (electricity stayed on) and cannot use water due to full sewers.  Shortage of gas has prevented Tree trimmers from removing downed trees from roadways so most of our neighbors cannot get out due to trees and water in roads. We feel fortunate that our home and friends have made it through.

William Nelson

We've got several friends and family in Florida. We haven't heard from all of them yet, but think they're all OK. One, who is among those without power, was delighted (no pun intended) to let her neighbors know that a nearby Publix was open and making sandwiches. 

Changing  the subject; a niece in Wisconsin just posted  a story from the "Wisconsin State Journal" about Wisconsin Public Radio celebrating its 100th birthday. I didn't realize that Wisconsin founded Public Radio, but I remember listening to it daily at our cottage on a "portable" radio the size of a portable sewing machine. They had several stations around the state on AM and a couple of times a day they'd broadcast the local weather from each of them. I'll never forget the announcer in Highland saying, "This is W-Haich-Haich-Iii, Highland." It took him a fair piece of his allotted time to get the call letters out. It's an interesting story at:

http://host.madison.com/wsj/entertainment/arts-and-theatre/wisconsin-public-radio-celebrates-years/article_28b88ac3-024a-5c1f-9edb-b24ba8855325.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook&utm_campaign=wisconsin+state+journal

Eugene Melzer

I just received an update on my Villa in Naples where  we winter. Irma took out many of our trees but left  our villa intact, however, due to power outage the fish fillets in the freezer didn't weather the storm.

Jim Cejka

Suggested game for the Reunion:

Jim Cejka

"Is man's civilization only a wrappage, through which the savage nature of him can still burst, infernal as ever?"

~Thomas Carlyle

Lauren Dieterich

Judi and I spent the weekend in Reno. Our plane landed in Vegas about 6 hours before the shooting. 6 hours later and our flight would have been diverted to the Bullhead City airport, 5 miles from our home. Having been a MP, whenever something like this happens, I always wonder what my reaction would be; if I was there.

Garry Sellers

Cough ... cough ... cough ... We could use some more water out here.  Don't expect any Napa Valley chardonnay any time soon.  What's going on is so sad and no end in sight yet ... as if we could see very well anywhere in the SF Bay Area.

Nancy Davison (Boerger)

 Hi Garry,

Good to hear your voice, even if coughing. Have been wondering about the California contingent and hoping everyone is safe. 

Terri Levenhagen (Hoornstra)

So sorry to hear about the terrible air up there in the Bay Area, Garry. My sister in Campbell (about 7 miles from you) doesn't want to leave her house & is keeping the windows shut. We are getting a little smoke here in Los Angeles from the Anaheim fire; my eyes were burning and I have a scratchy throat. But nothing compared to all those who lost their homes and have been forced to go to shelters. I saw this morning that those fires in the Wine Country are only 2-3% contained. They desperately need the winds to die down, and a little rain would help a lot.

Jim Cejka

It's impressive looking at the CalFire maps and seeing a fire go from 500 acres to 45,000 acres in a day. Or, to look at a report that says a fire is at 45,000 acres and only 3% contained, and that's only one fire. And, it gets scarier when they start reporting fire sizes in square miles, instead of acres. 

It appears that we are experiencing a California hurricane named "Fuego." 

Garry's right. Better get your wine while you can, otherwise you might have to settle for that French stuff.

Jim Cejka

Anyone know if this reunion house in Brookfield provides rocking chairs? Just in case Garry gets into an emcee-athon, we might as well be comfortable, right?

Nancy Davison (Boerger)

Ya, comforter and a pillow, if he really gets going.

Sandy Wachs (Oldham)

Melody Jones (Parker)

Hi to all y'all from the beautiful state of North Carolina.  All of Union County where I now live is on hilly land which would not be so bad except all the roads around the subdivision are only two lanes, one in each direction.  So, no passing anywhere on the road.  My North Carolina drivers license just arrived toady in the mail. 

Everyone here has warm southern hospitality and they use the terms "m'am" and "sir" when waiting on you.  On my trip across country with my daughter, we stopped at Graceland going through Memphis.  I can now remove this from my bucket list.  On the other hand, it rained all day that we had planned going to Smokey Mountain Park, so that stays on my bucket list.  It was an easy transition with my son and his family; I am now "settled in". 

So sorry to hear about the California fires and loss of life; one just never knows!  Have fun at the reunion, those who are going.  I miss palm trees.  My neighbor has a small Mexican palm, but it is only 10 feet high, so that doesn't count. 

Have been church shopping but only have seen two so far.  There are as many churches here in the Charlotte area as there are taverns in Milwaukee!!

Sandy Wachs (Oldham)

Look who is getting excited about the reunion--Hashtag.  Do not get too comfortable in those rocking chairs because Garry has some great activities planned.  You will be busy looking around the room to figure out who he is talking about.  Nothing mean, just plain fun.

Terri Levenhagen (Hoornstra)

Sandy — that photo you posted. . .is that Garry at the last reunion? I should have stayed up longer; looks like I missed half of the fun. Jim - if you order rocking chairs, tell them I want a crochet basket next to mine. Melody, congratulations on your move! I thought N.Carolina was a beautiful state when we drove through it. I just realized you are doing the same thing we did. It's kind of exciting to be getting used to a whole new place at our ages, isn't it? I have found a nice church here in Los Angeles, but sadly they are closing in June. It's the closest to my house. I have met some great people there, and they are kindly providing "field trips" to visit other churches. I'm happy to have found most of my favorite shopping places and non-freeway routes to drive to them. Thankfully, the fires are out in the wine country. My friend in Napa reports the sky is blue, the air is clear and they can take their masks off. 

Jim Cejka

Hang on! Wait a sec. . . My wife just said that there is snow predicted for Wisconsin this week, leading up to the Reunion. I remember snow and cold at football games in November when we were in school. And, I remember sitting on snow banks watching the Santa Claus parade down Vliet St. after Thanksgiving, but that was fifty-something years ago. This is 2017, snow at Christmas in Wisconsin is just a dream. No way in the first week of November. I'm going to have to re-pack - take out the flip-flops and dig out my winter clothes. Although, I should appear with an appropriate 'retro' look. I don't think I've had to buy winter clothes since we graduated.

Garry Sellers

Jim- does that mean I have to pack my wool Bermuda shorts and sandals with a closed toe?  I think maybe I'll stay home and do a podcast instead