Message Forum

Hey, I don't live in the frozen polar wastes. It will get up to 31F tomorrow! The trees will start budding and flowers blooming before you know it. I didn't even have to cover my ears today or wear boots! We got 0.5" of snow here today and 0.0" last week plus it was dry, much drier than damp Houston. The sun was out yesterday and will be again tomorrow. We *might* get some reasonable snow a week ago. Actually, I wouldn't miss it if we didn't. I guess it is what one gets used to. In the 1980's I happily moved to dry, dry Saudi Arabia and loved it (mostly) despite the heat (up to 130+ F), sand, chaos, war, etc. I adapted. I came back to hot depressed flat Houston in late May and decided to move to Portland OR where it was cool vibrant mountainous, but also damp/drizzly and usually very cloudy. I adapted. I moved to Albany NY in 1999 where it is cold & snowy. 20 years ago I would have said No Way because I *hated* the cold growing up in Houston. I figured that if I could adapt to Saudi Arabia & Portland OR, I could also adapted to Albany. And so it was... I look around me and see old people (by that I mean 80+) walking around on ice & snow. Sure, they would like to be in Florida or some such warm place but they can manage here so, well, so can I! Will I spend the rest of my life here? Gosh, I hope not - warm & green sounds especially nice right about now. Different subject. When I went to the 10 year reunion, a few classmates were surprised that I rode a motorcycle and I suppose very few of us did or would at the time. Now it seems likes many more do, especially big ones like Harleys. I wonder if it is a change in attitude, acceptance, or just that now they can fulfill a lifetime ambition. I haven't ridden one in over 30 years since I sold my last bike, a Triumph Tiger. Yes, I sometimes dream of getting another but Reality soon intrudes again. I also dream about that red Jaguar XK150 I almost, almost bought... Maybe I should create a Bucket List like some do.

02/11/10 10:04 AM

#420

Richard Meek

I think one of my uncles has the right idea. He moved to Ft. Worth and established his base there. Then he took his P/U and fifth wheel and followed pleasant weather around the country. He spends more time in FW now that he's 80 but FW is pretty nice place.

The weather certainly is miserable today isn't it. I understand it is snowing something fierce in Dallas. It's cold, wet and the wind chill is awful in Houston! So my Waltripians who live north of the Red River please close the gates. You've share enough of your winter weather with us. You can certainly come visit or move home if you want to. Just leave that wintery stuff where it belongs. Thanks

02/11/10 09:25 PM

#421

John Leediker

For those of you who are cold....come join us in Phoenix.....it has finally stopped raining and we should see sunny blue skies and 75F for the next 10 days or so....I think Spring is about here.....it has to be, because Spring Training Baseball starts in a couple of weeks...and the big annual golf tourney is getting underway too.

02/12/10 02:31 PM

#422

Richard Meek

John I think the Astros report to Spring Training on the 22nd. I'm hopeful that this year will be better than last year. Whew, they really stunk up Minute Maid Park. Good that they could open the roof on it. But it's still fun to go out to the ballpark. It's more fun when they win!
This year is the 10th for Minute Maid. Time really does fly. For you folks that have been away awhile I think you would be impressed with it.

Also for those of you that have been away awhile it looks like we might actually have a strong Democratic contender in the governors race this year. I think Bill White will get the Democratic nomination to run against Rick Perry or Kay Bailey Hutchison. It's a long time since that has happended.

Everyone have a great weekend whether you're enjoying susnsine or hip deep in snow!

02/13/10 03:25 PM

#423

Richard Meek

It's 3:15 and it's only warmed up to 45 so far. The cat hasn't gotten out of the center of the bed all day. She's no dummy. We haven't heard from any of you Waltripians in the polar regions like CO, TN & NY in a while. Have your keyboards frozen? Or you folks out in the far west. Like John Leediker in Phoenix getting reacquainted with rain. Any of you in CA have any mudslide problems? As Johnny Carson used to say,"The houses are really moving in California". Hope that doesn't apply to you.

Hope everyone is having a good weekend doing whatever makes you happy!

02/13/10 05:28 PM

#424

Well the report from NW of Austin is a pleasant 54 degrees here and we're not expecting any percipitation until Thursday with a slight chance. Hope the nice weather holds up until Spring comes along.

As for participating in the forum, I started this website and I think that affords me the luxury of not always responding to the discussions. Also I wouldn't want to embarrass my wonderful sister & brother-in-law. Fran & Ted Jordan'64 who just celebrated their 44th wedding anniversary.

We are currently planning our 45th Reunion, but at this time all that has been decided is the !st weekend of October, 2010. So Everyone keep that date open.

Have a great Valentine's Day, and day off for those of you who are still gainfully employed.

LET'S KEEP THIS FORUM GOING-----------

02/14/10 10:28 PM

#425

James King

On February 9, 2010 I submitted my notice to retire at the end of March and applied for social unsecurity benefits. Hope there is some money left in the social security administration. It is amazing to me that I am about to make retirement.

My wife, Pat Clooney King class of '67, booked a cruise from Galveston to Barcelona. We leave April 18 and arrive May 2.

I was reading some of your messages and came across someone that mentioned Terry Sealhurst. A lot of memories of Terry, Roger Dyer and Roy Dale Horn came to me. The four of us attended Cooley Elementary and Hamilton Junior High. Terry and Roger went on to Reagan. We had a lot of fun and got into a little trouble. At the 9th grade Hamilton prom Terry pulled out a pint of whiskey while we were seated at a table about 30 feet from faculty members. Terry drank down half the bottle in about three gulps in plain sight of everyone. Evidently none of the faculty saw him. Terry seemed dissapointed that the teachers didn't see what he had done. I believe that was the begenning of Terry's doom and what a waste. He had been a honor roll member and was an excellent athlete but threw it away.

02/15/10 10:24 AM

#426

James-

Terry & Bonnie Robinson were heralded as the KING & QUEEN of the Pavillion at Garner State Park. I went back there with a classmate of ours in 1991 and it just seemed so empty not seeing them dancing and all the other people dancing to Town Without Pity. You're right such a waste. Too bad he's not here today but we all make our choices.

The Weather here has changed drastically and we are expecting a low here of 27 degrees tonight. Don't like this cold weather. BRrrrrrrrr!!! Wouldn't want to live anywhere where it is any colder. Some would say I am a WUSS!!! Oh well.

02/15/10 11:42 AM

#427

Kay Watters (Greene)

Reading about Terry Sealhurst brings back foggy memories.
Was he a slender tall sandy-haired with a toothy cute smile. I do remember Bonnie, I think or was that Bonnie Armstrong very small and petite? Now I am confused. What happened to him or her or them? Yes, I am nosy, but I can't go to classmates files to refresh my memory.

02/15/10 02:04 PM

#428

Kay Watters (Greene)

well, just wondering....

Has anyone gone out of country to receive low-cost medical or dental services?

02/15/10 04:02 PM

#429

I remember Terry Sealhurst, etc., from Hamilton. I checked http://www.reagan1964.com/ for Terry Sealhurst, Roger Dyer, & Bonnie Armstrong but none were there that I could spot. Bonnie Robinson is there (also in Favorites). Click on '1964 Yearbook', then 'Juniors', then the range of the last name. I saw neither Terry or Roger listed under 'In Memory of'. Hope this helps.

02/15/10 06:02 PM

#430

I checked on the record snow in Houston...and was astonished about what happened in a big Gulf Coast snowstorm on Feb 14-15, 1895. I can imagine the towns were paralyzed. http://www.earlychurchfathers.org/fullcircle/index.php?entry=entry091211-213857 Some Texas amounts: Beaumont TX - 30 inches! San Antonio TX - 4.2 in San Marcos TX - 6 in Stafford TX - 20 in Victoria TX - 12 in Brazoria TX - 18 in Columbia (now West Columbia) Tx - 20 in Corpus Christi TX - 4.3 in Cuero TX - 14 in Galveston - 15.4 in Houston - 20 in (some say 22 inches) Orange - 20 in Photo of Houston's snowfall: http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6964/3133/1600/houstonsnow1895.jpg Photo of Galveston's snowfall: http://galvestondailynews.com/blog.lasso?blog=fd3d631c80553fee&archive=2009-02-15

02/15/10 06:47 PM

#431

James King

Kay,

Terry Sealhurst was about 6'-2", slender build, had black hair and resembled Ricky Nelson. He could have received a scholorship from most any of the Southwest Conference Universities back in the '60's for academics and/or athletics if he had stayed the course.

02/16/10 08:49 AM

#432

Valentine's Day 2010 will be memorable to me b/c a gust of wind, no longer than a few seconds, picked up my new $400 hot tub cover and carried it off, away, to some unknown place! My friend and I put up fluorescent signs with the words, "LOST Hot Tub Cover", with my phone #, but thus far, nada! If anyone in the Oak Forest area sees one out for heavy trash pick-up, please let me know! Last week my Volvo sun visor flipped down, broken, at the cost of $297. Okay, I'm depressed, just needed to SHARE my crazies for a time. Amazingly, I feel better already!

02/16/10 09:28 AM

#433

James King

Jennie,

I saw your hot tub cover fly over my house, I live in Cypress, Texas. The cover was headed outbound above U.S. Hwy. 290. Did anyone else see it?

02/16/10 10:39 AM

#434

James, you got the direction right. If anyone out that way sees it, get it for me please! It's description, Brown and big!

02/16/10 11:00 AM

#435

Kay

Terry is deceased, & has been for many years somewhat like our own Dick Taylor. And yes it was Bonnie Robinson before he hooked up with Debby Batterson for a while and then she married a hockey player whom she eventually divorced after about 3-4 kids and still lives in the Heights and is a realtor. TMI or what.

Robby
TWPity was the slow song that everyone loved and there were many songs to do the Whip to. Oh and did you know we have a former '66 Waltripian & his wife as former West Coast Swing champs. They are Heavy & Snowflake on Utube. Johhny Grammer check it out.

Very cold here NW of Austin.

Jenny--
Hope you recover your cover.

02/16/10 11:41 AM

#436

Kay Watters (Greene)

Linda, TK U for the info. I do remember now. I see Bonnie Robertson now in my mind, not B. A., hope life is good for her, and everybody here as well. A shame about both Dick and Terry, one never knows the outcomes of the paths one chooses to go down.

Just watching 20/20 scares me enough, the seemingly normal, regular, mostly living sucessfully, people that their loved ones and other prey on and kill for their own malicious reasons. One never knows when or if, it will suddenly happen to one of us, if we unknowingly get in evil's way.

Always a good thing to keep on track with God's commandments, living life as if today is the last, kind of thing.

Oh Jenny, I'm sorry about your tub cover, but I have to admit there is some humor in it. Perhaps you can contact the manufacturer, complain, and get another.

02/16/10 12:52 PM

#437

Did that, they laughed too. You can bet the next cover will have Colorado boulders on top everytime I step out of it! I just wish I could drive anywhere now and not look for it as I'm driving. As I said since this happened, you would think I would be looking for a lost pet or something, not something so BIG and SQUARE! Maybe it flew to Anderson, keep your eyes open!

02/16/10 07:37 PM

#438

Jennie--

I told my MOM today about your dilema and told her to keep an eye out for it, not only daily but also on heavy trash day. So, there's one more eye out there looking.

02/16/10 08:02 PM

#439

James LeRoy Laminack

I enjoyed reading the messages. The mention of Terry and Bonnie brought back memories. Does anyone remember that the night before the Reagan Waltrip football game in 1964 someone shot Terry in his legs with a shotgun? Of course there was lots of build up to the game and the shooting was blamed on the game. I do not think it had anything to do with the game. Terry was hooked up with some bad characters.

02/16/10 08:07 PM

#440

Thanks Linda! I plan to spend the next few weeks looking at trash, but an extra set of eyes always helps! Someone told me tonight that all the umbrellas at an outdoor restaurant bent up during that little storm we had Sunday night, while they were trying to eat dinner. It came in fast and surprised everyone! At least the umbrellas didn't fly away!

02/17/10 07:04 AM

#441

Thx Robby, I will look more in that direction. My signs are in all directions, but STILL no calls! Everyone has been so nice in helping me, both here and on Facebook. I wish there was a SPCA for lost hot tub covers, so I could go there and look.

On an Olympic note, I am thoroughly enjoying every minute I can watch. What about Evan's skating last night? Talk about putting the nerves away and facing the anxiety. He was superb! I hope he can do it Thursday, as well. I love the snowboard racing? My daughter and her husband are quite good at that. Do we have any snowboarders out there? That should make for some interesting Forum chatter. I heard it is similar to surfing. In my only ski lesson in Red River, New Mexico, I slid out of my "beginner's" class and knocked the instructor of the next class, a bit down the slope from me, down. Our ski's became tangled and I was offered a full refund, with a promise I wouldn't get on skis ever again. I was happy after that to watch while drinking hot cocoa watching my 4 year old son zipping all over the beginner slope.

02/17/10 07:51 AM

#442

>...someone shot Terry in his legs with a shotgun?
I have vague memories about this (or a similar) incident because it happened very close to our house in Timbergrove. I recall the tale that it was mostly drunkenness on the part of the shootee, who coerced the shooting. I remember being thankful at the time that I had transferred to Waltrip, helping me avoid such incidents! I had seen or heard enough of that stuff during my 3 years at Hamilton.

02/18/10 11:11 AM

#443