| What's Happening Now October 2009 |
| Oct. 5 from Morris: Hi, JanBee: Fall is here! We went from the 90s to the 50s, with almost 3" of rain, over the weekend. I turned on the heater in the house and it has stayed on (Mother needs the warmth). It is cooler here than at LaVeta (daytime). I hope most of the "gang" watched the Ken Burns documentary about the national parks last week. I have enjoyed visiting the parks since 1955. Grand Canyon and Rocky Mountain are the ones I have most visited. Grand Teton, Yellowstone, Yosemite, and Glacier are my favorites (I would live in Jackson, WY if I could afford it). The only park I have never been to is Crater Lake. Mom and Dad and I drove down the Oregon coast in 1959 and Dad had a meeting scheduled in San Francisco we had to get to, so we did not get to Crater Lake. On my bus trip to Alaska in 2004 we came home via Lake Tahoe, but did not go to Crater Lake either. So, MUST GO! Walt's picture of him in front of the General Sherman tree you posted last month is atypical of our experience at a national park. Bill/Buster told me at our last visit about the awe he experienced when he first saw the Grand Canyon. I have seen it in all seasons (once even full of fog) and taken helicopter flights into and over it. I have never wanted to hike into it or ride the mule down or take a raft down the Colorado River. Seeing Mt. McKinley rising over 18000 feet above the surrounding terrain takes your breath away. Compare that to the 6500 foot vertical rise of the West Spanish Peak above my place at La Veta in the picture you have. WOW! Later, Geezer |
Oct. 5 from Jan Bee: Yes, I saw a
couple of episodes of Ken Burns'
National Parks last week and was
powerfully moved. Wish I could rent an
RV and take another swing around the
beautiful West. I've seen many of the
parks, but could happily visit them
again, and tack on a few sights I
haven't seen, such as Canyon de
Chelly... I haven't been to Crater Lake,
either. I HAVE, however, helped to row
across Lake Louise and enjoyed the
scenery at Banff. More later, Jan Bee
couple of episodes of Ken Burns'
National Parks last week and was
powerfully moved. Wish I could rent an
RV and take another swing around the
beautiful West. I've seen many of the
parks, but could happily visit them
again, and tack on a few sights I
haven't seen, such as Canyon de
Chelly... I haven't been to Crater Lake,
either. I HAVE, however, helped to row
across Lake Louise and enjoyed the
scenery at Banff. More later, Jan Bee
| Oct. 9 from Judy PS: I looked at the home page right after I sent Seth's pic to you and saw it was there! Gads that was fast. He is doing okay - hates that cast tho. He has to have someone write for him as his finger and thumb don't touch. I talked to him this morning before school and the pain is starting to go down some. Texas finally got rain, and more rain...time to turn off the spigot! Keep up the good work. I love looking at the webpage 2 or 3 times a day! j |
| Oct. 11 from Morris: Hi, JanBee: it has been cold (50s) and wet (3"+) here this weekend. Our fall so far has been very brief, with winter allready here. Yet, it may be 90 again before we know it. Snow and very cold temps in Colorado. We had our 2d Sunday of the month deacons/yokefellows meeting today, and we prayed for Jane, Harrell, JudyPS, LindaMW, Sue and Dewey. Once again, no forms to mail, so please post this. I have had communication with Harrell today and let him know, and will email Jane in a few minutes. I should get everyones email as we celebrate birthdays but I am lazy in that regard. Mother turned 88 on Thursday (8th) and was "up" for the event. However, she is getting more feeble daily. My grand event is the 22d (as you know) and I'll do the Whataburger-pumpkin pie-unsweet tea thing as last year, and celebrate with Elaine on the Saturday following. Geezer |
Thank you all so much for all the beautiful birthday wishes. love & hugs Mary Ann |
| Oct. 13 from Pete Peters: Several of the guys with Joe Pirtle and myself met in Waco last weekend and re-connected, visited and played some golf...we got up-to-date with each other... what a blast to see these guys 50 years from your high school days..makes me feel a little older?? I'm sure Dick will get with you with names, pictures,etc. Looking forward to next years reunion...others last week were Bill Su, Dennis, Will, George, Joe Pirtle and myself...Great Weekend! Pete Peters |
Oct. 12 from Sue:
Thanks to all of you who sent
birthday wishes. I truly did have a
great day----dinner at a great
restaurant and lots of loving from
the kids and grandkids. Everyone
seems to be on the mend.I really
appreciate all the thoughts and
prayers. Love to all, Sue
Thanks to all of you who sent
birthday wishes. I truly did have a
great day----dinner at a great
restaurant and lots of loving from
the kids and grandkids. Everyone
seems to be on the mend.I really
appreciate all the thoughts and
prayers. Love to all, Sue
| Oct. 14: The Dow surpassed 10,000 today for the first time in a year, closing up 144 points, or 1.5 percent, at 10,015. |
The New York Times reports, "The U.S. president
Barack Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize 'for
his extraordinary efforts to strengthen
international diplomacy and cooperation
between peoples,' the Nobel Foundation said in
Sweden on Friday." Read more.
Our President Wins
Nobel Peace Prize
Nobel Peace Prize
| Oct. 5: Gary's grandson Alex wearing his latest award, a Burger King crown. |
| Oct. 7: Judy PS's grandson Seth shows off his skateboarder's badge of honor---a broken arm. |
| Oct. 19 from Skip: Since my birthday is on the 20th of November, I thought I would send these photos. (Jan's note: More on Travel: Alaska) I had an opportunity to fly this float plane across the Alaska Range to a very remote lake about 150 miles west of Denali. A friend and I each flew a plane (it is better to fly with a buddy in the bush) to hunt moose from kayaks. The weather was great for flying and camping, but not good for moose hunting. Keep up the good work. Skip |
| Oct. 19 from Morris: Hi, JanBee: my son gave me a gift certificate for Amazon.com, and I just spent it on the DVDs of "Ken Burns: The National Parks". PBS has them priced at $ 99.00 plus shipping. At Amazon.com, they are $ 67.49 (today) plus shipping, or $ 70.47 total out the door. Always a value shopper ( I try to argue with the price at the grocery store and the gas station, and I do use my 5% cash back Discover card), that Amazon.com price is a "deal". Just passing it along. Double-meat Whataburger on a wheat bun, a pumpkin fried pie, and a large unsweet tea is my menu for Thursday. Saturday, Elaine and I are barbecueing steaks and brisket and having some of our married couple friends over, so that is the planned BIG celebration for my #68. Still hope to connect with Harrell @ Salado, and see Jane and Richard, if possible. I hear her latest report is "very good". Praise God!!! Geezer (Jan's note: I questioned the existence of fried pumpkin fried pies and Morris answered: Yes, it is TRUE! Whataburger has apple and lemon and (sometimes) cherry fried pies. From October thru New Year's they also have pumpkin fried pies, and they are DELICIOUS! Maybe I can get a witness from another Texas domiciled classmate, as there are no Whataburgers in Virginia (closest one I know of is in Jackson, MS). Geezer |
Oct. 20 from Lynn:
Jan,
Please put this note on the
web. Thanks so much for
what you do for all of us.
To all who sent me birthday
wishes, thank you all so
much. It means so very
much to me. Again, thank
you.
An "OLD" 68 yr. Old Man,
Lynn
Jan,
Please put this note on the
web. Thanks so much for
what you do for all of us.
To all who sent me birthday
wishes, thank you all so
much. It means so very
much to me. Again, thank
you.
An "OLD" 68 yr. Old Man,
Lynn
| Oct. 26 from Morris: Good morning, JanBee: the birthday bash Saturday night was full of food and fun. I spent most of that morning preparing the brisket (herbs and spices and tenting with foil), then went to Elaine's and started the Weber grill and put the brisket on the fire. It cooked for 6 hours, and was fork tender. Marinated the t-bones, and cooked them to order. Everybody showed up (10 folks). Elaine made me a german chocolate cheese cake (yummy) with 1 candle, so there would be no fire hazard. Yesterday I taught Mark 15 and 16 in Sunday School, and I taught the 5th Beatitude in our evening study group. It's raining again. I am searching for gopher wood and pitch like Noah did, to build an ark. I'll swat those flies and mosquitos and gnats, though! Geezer |
Oct. 26 from Jan: I would SO MUCH enjoy hearing from the
rest of you about day-to-day doings. What's Happening can be
sort of like a blog. The better we know each other, the more
we'll enjoy our reunion.
rest of you about day-to-day doings. What's Happening can be
sort of like a blog. The better we know each other, the more
we'll enjoy our reunion.
| Oct. 25 from Gibby Bailey, '53: At 7pm on Thursday Oct. 29, the Belton Tiger vs. Temple Wildcat game will be on TV. ESPNU is the channel. Locally on Time Warner it is 436 and Direct has it on 614. You may have to search for it in your area. Please note that #65 is Cooper Smith (g-son of Joe & Linda Cowan Smith) He is center. #16 is Tyler Pate (g-son of Cecil and Peggy Smith and Pete and Nita Pate. Kicker #56 is Nick Trent (Max and Mary Lou Marks grandson) Guard We are quite excited that it will be on national TV. Hope you get to watch. Linda & Joe |
Oct. 23 from Morris: Hi, JanBee: thanks for posting my 1990
picture on the website. That was when I was skinny (for me)
and had hair! Now my body is like a god's (Buddha) or like a
piece of furniture (my chest has fallen into my drawers). The
cartoon of the aging superheros is all-to-accurate for most
of us. However, the "golfers" picture shows some of us are
aging more gracefully than others. Good looking lineup! My
thanks to all who emailed me birthday greetings! Very
thoughtful and I am grateful. Will report on my "big bash"
happening tomorrow Monday or so. Geezer
picture on the website. That was when I was skinny (for me)
and had hair! Now my body is like a god's (Buddha) or like a
piece of furniture (my chest has fallen into my drawers). The
cartoon of the aging superheros is all-to-accurate for most
of us. However, the "golfers" picture shows some of us are
aging more gracefully than others. Good looking lineup! My
thanks to all who emailed me birthday greetings! Very
thoughtful and I am grateful. Will report on my "big bash"
happening tomorrow Monday or so. Geezer
| Oct. 22/Dick and Bill Su |
| Coach Pirtle |
| Will |
| George |
| Pete Peters |
| Dick |
| Bill Su |
| Dennis |
| The Golf Get-Together |
| Oct. 28 from Judy PS: good luck with the dental work...I have a 50,000 dollar mouth from all the work I have had done....starting with falling in 1962 at Scott & White and breaking a front tooth....been downhill since! Looks like rain again here again tomorrow. We had 3 1/2 inches on Sunday.....Susie was so cute...stayed the same size and just had a wonderful smile and personality. She was certainly fun to be around....j |
| Oct. 29 from Harrell: Jan, Please convey my thanks to all of my old (no strike that last word) former classmates for the wonderful birthday messages. I appreciate them very much. Harrell |
| Oct. 30 from Morris: Hi, JanBee: just went to the Temple Daily Telegram's website, to "obituaries", to 10.28's edition, and there is a very nice and recent picture of Susie and a wonderful paid obituary for her. Seems she had a blessed life. I remember her sister Sherry better. My sympathies to the family. Also my car collector pal John O'Quinn, the flamboyant Houston lawyer who owned 800+ cars, was killed in a car wreck yesterday in Houston. Speeding on a wet road, not wearing his seat belt, skidded into a tree. Also killed his passenger. This is the guy who made $zillions suing the makers of breast implants. Geezer |
10/31/09 from Morris:
Hi, all: Happy BOOday to you! May
the day be filled with all "treats"
and no "tricks". Just don't eat too
much candy!!! Another one and a
half inches of rain @ Lancaster
today. Very wet October. Snow at
LaVeta. Love it!!! Congratulations
to our current Belton Tigers in
their win over the Temple
Wildcats. Go Big Red! Seems like
our 1959 team has "spawned" a
worthy successor. I'm so glad I was
not 18 again and marching right
guide, front rank, in the Marching
100 band! Geezer
Hi, all: Happy BOOday to you! May
the day be filled with all "treats"
and no "tricks". Just don't eat too
much candy!!! Another one and a
half inches of rain @ Lancaster
today. Very wet October. Snow at
LaVeta. Love it!!! Congratulations
to our current Belton Tigers in
their win over the Temple
Wildcats. Go Big Red! Seems like
our 1959 team has "spawned" a
worthy successor. I'm so glad I was
not 18 again and marching right
guide, front rank, in the Marching
100 band! Geezer
Oct. 31 from Sue: I am sitting at home following surgery on
both of my hands. I am feeling pretty guilty for not being at
the shop helping to get ready for our Christmas open
house to be held a week from Sunday. Thank goodness
for family! The older daughter, Wendy, has hauled me
around--- to the doctor and everywhere else. Heather, the
youngest, is working her little behind off at the shop. It
has been a rough year for the Williamson and Brantley
families and I am ready for a new and better year in 2010! I
love all you guys! What an awesome class we had and I am
so looking forward to our reunion! Love to all, Sue
both of my hands. I am feeling pretty guilty for not being at
the shop helping to get ready for our Christmas open
house to be held a week from Sunday. Thank goodness
for family! The older daughter, Wendy, has hauled me
around--- to the doctor and everywhere else. Heather, the
youngest, is working her little behind off at the shop. It
has been a rough year for the Williamson and Brantley
families and I am ready for a new and better year in 2010! I
love all you guys! What an awesome class we had and I am
so looking forward to our reunion! Love to all, Sue
Hi Jan ... the game last night was great, of course the
Tigers won,17-6. Thanks for putting in the note about
Susie's death, she was a friend of mine and also the mom
of my former boss.
We had a Halloween Party at work today and we all had to
wear costumes. I'll attach mine. It brought back memories,
except my skirt is a Persian skirt ... not a Poodle skirt and I
made it. Can't wait to talk to some of the "girls" about
sewing, Miss Davis really did teach me.
Later, Marie
Tigers won,17-6. Thanks for putting in the note about
Susie's death, she was a friend of mine and also the mom
of my former boss.
We had a Halloween Party at work today and we all had to
wear costumes. I'll attach mine. It brought back memories,
except my skirt is a Persian skirt ... not a Poodle skirt and I
made it. Can't wait to talk to some of the "girls" about
sewing, Miss Davis really did teach me.
Later, Marie
Alex Pedigo in
his bat costume.
Whoa!
his bat costume.
Whoa!
| Jan and Len, ready to go trick-or-treating around our neighborhood in Arlington, VA. A good time was had by all. |