Roger Felton

...and don't forget that "golf" spelled backwards is "flog".  It fits.  Every time I try to play golf I end up flogging a tree with a 9 iron.

After taking a closer look, Stephen, I think that Sinclair choir photo has me 3rd from the right, 1st row.  I could tell better if I had the original photo.

Dianna Dudley (Westmoreland)

Funny fellows. I have NEVER raised or owned an Emu.  I raised OSTRICH.  Quite a different animal.  I sold all of mine a year or so ago as it became difficult for this old lady to handle 500 pound , 9 ft tall critters.  I miss them as they are unbelievably interesting and unique animals.  I have served as the president of the American Ostrich Association and still do consulting work for the USDA and American Zooilogcal Association.  In a former life, I have worked as assistant controller of a Bank of America in Houston and a major accounts sales manager for a national software company.  Rather varied career.  Now I am just a country bumpkin and live on 100 acres south of College Station.  Still have dogs, cats, ducks & geese, cattle & 2 donkeys!  Besides family and farm, I do a lot of charity work and serve on four board of directors.  Keeps me entertained.

Roger Felton

I always try to learn something new every day so thanks Dianna for helping me get that out of the way today.  Gosh, I always thought an emu was just a runt ostrich that smoked too much.  LOL. 

Actually your experience with ostriches is fascinating as I just saw a story on TV the other day about these little 6 year old "babies" that rode ostriches in races around a track just like cowboys do horses except I don't think these kids had anything to hold on to.  Sure looked like fun, though.

Dianna Dudley (Westmoreland)

 Mercy Roger!  There are runt ostrich btw, but not from smoking!!  The reason I fell in love with the silly things is that they were such a challenge and few know much about them.  

  Yes they are very rideable,.  The problem is that they cannot be controlled or guided and getting off is problematic.  These that you saw were probably African blacks, which are smaller and a bit more docile.  They get to 9 ft tall and can weigh up to 500 pounds of pure muscle.  They have more pounds per inch of kick than any other animal and can easily kill with a kick.  They are the only bird with two toes-one with a large toenail and one without.  They have been known to gut a lion in the wild.     I raised them for twenty years and only got hurt once (and that was my fault),  but believe me I was always cautious.  At one time I could catch and wrangle them well, but just too old for that any more.  I do love the babies and hatching.  Get to go to New Jersey next month right before the reunion to do some consulting work with a large farm of exotics, and then to California to a farm of over 2000 birds later this year.

Thanks for the chuckle!! 

Richard Meek

Diana, I'm impressed I've never wrangled anything that weighed close to 500 lbs. A 60 lb. dog is about my upper limit, maybe 65. I didn't know there are countrywide ostrich consulting opportunities. There's my learn something new everyday quota completed.

Roger Felton

Yes, Rich, good lesson today thanks to Dianna.  Yesterday all I learned was that "innuendo" was not an Italian suppository.  It was a slow info day......

Dianna Dudley (Westmoreland)

Richard & Roger -you two are a trip!!  Very entertaining!  Innuendo??????  Really.   Not sure if you had such a fabulous sense of humor in high school, but then again due to my Alzheimer's  I don't remember ever knowing either of you.       Richard I have two great Pyrenese dogs well over 100 pounds, have rescued deer for the state for years ( they are very strong little creatures) and have been drug around by donkeys, horses & cattle at one time or another!  This country bumpkin world can be very physical.  As for ostrich, there are very few people who know much about them so opportunities are many!  I have been asked by the USDA to go to the Ukraine to teach them and exchange emails weekly with some areas in Africa that are re-introducing red neck ostrich to the area.   All very interesting to me being a conservative banker type numbers person!!  Life leads us down strange paths.   

Roger Felton

I think your knowledge of Ostriches is fascinating.  I grew up with having animals all over the place and love all of God's critters.

I remember one time seeing an emerald green egg about the size of a softball.  I think it was either an emu or an ostrich egg but figured you'd know.  I think the surface was rough...kind of pitted.  Anyway, it was a beautiful egg but looked like what ever bird that laid it had to have been screaming her beak off.

Yeah, I was so stupid at Waltrip because all of the girls I would have given anything to meet, I never even said howdy.  My bucket list included, among others, Pam Henderson (RIP), Sandra Beshear, Karen Stewart and, of course, The Goddess of All Things Wonderful, Dianna Westmoreland.  And, yeah, I was as goofy back then as I am now.

Well, meeting those you wished you had in HS is one of the reasons they invented reunions so, we'll see ya'll there!

Genie Hackenjos (Kistler)

Just getting caught up –

YARDWORK—yes, I do some.  Living on a farm there is lots of it == plus an extensive vegetable garden.  I don’t mow, but do the planting, weeding, watering and planning design for the flower beds.  Since we are so far north (SD – not quite the land of the midnight sun, but much closer than Texas), we get lots of hours of daylight in the summer months, so it gives us plenty of time to care for all that.

Speaking of SD – Any bikers out there?  If you are headed to Sturgis across I-90, you’ll be going right by us – Hartford exit, just out of Sioux Falls.  Give a holler!

And, finally, ostriches – we were doing the tourist adventure in Aruba and visited an Ostrich farm, where I got to feed them.  It was one of the more humorous experiences I’ve had in recent years!

See everyone in a about a month!

Richard Meek

Diana, I think you may be right. I don't remember us meeting at Waltrip. Sounds like that was my bad luck. Roger is right though. It is great to meet people you didn't know in high school. I've been going to the Waltrip get together at Fuddrucker's every month for about four years. It was started by the class of '64 but there are folks from several different classes that attend. A lot of interesting folks that didn't know at Waltrip. That's where I met the current Mrs. Meek (Paige Talley). She's 5 months older than me. I tell her she's a cougar at heart but had to settle for slower prey at this stage of life. It sounds to me like you just have a thing about wrestling with animals. Not that there's anything wrong with that. Everyone has their own thing. One of our sons who lives at Canyon Lake had a doe and her fawn visiting for a few weeks in their back yard. Before the doe had her fawn she jumped their fence and delivered it. She left it inside the fence until it was stronger enough to jump the fence. She would go off and browse. Then come back and feed her baby and then bed down with it. Pretty smart. She had it secured where it was safe and wouldn't get in trouble. When they left the fawn was strong enough to get away from trouble.Animals are interesting.

Roger Felton

Yeah, Rich.  Any chick that was into wild animals back in '65 would have really appreciated us, I think.  We can still get pretty crazy at Friday nite bingo...at least till the meds kick in.

Arletta Parnell (Glankler)

Diana that is awesome about the ostrich.  Yes for an ex banker, you really made a change, but it looks like it still gives you pleasure and trips.  I wish you much luck in it all.  I have traveled very extensively, but llamas, zebu, tigers, giraffes, lions, etc. have been what I lived around.  The best meat to eat was the Zebu.  A cross between a Texas longhorn and a Brahman.  But very aggravating when your trying to travel into town from one of the villages, because they are herded only in the daytime, and very slow.  That was in Madagascar.  The Malagash are not out at night.  They have a spirit that they believe comes out at night called a puckafoo.  Image my 3 yr old daughter trying to say that word.  I will not repeat it here. lol! I loved the llamas in Ecuador.  Unless you got an old one, they spit too much.  My sister has a petting zoo at her farm here in TN.  She has 2 llamas.  They love music too. But, yes, it seems all of our lives have taken us to many places and different paths that we never saw ourselves doing.  I will try to bring some pictures of the villages and zebu herds in Madagascar.  And of Ecuador.  Better make myself a note now, because my oldtimers will surely forget. lol!   

Arletta Parnell (Glankler)

Genie, I have been to Sturgis many times.  Wish I had known you was so close.  Or even when I was trucking.  Boy, it sure gets cold up there.  Can't wait to see you at the reunion.  I hope you remember me.

Dianna Dudley (Westmoreland)

Roger-your green egg was from an emu.  they are beautiful.  An ostrich egg is considerably larger and white.  (About the equivalent of two dozen chicken eggs).  No they do not scream.  Just pop them out and walk off and let the male get all excited over it!!

Genie. Yes I have been to Surgis.  I ride a Victory motorcycle.  Rode my bike there-did not trailor it.  Have been all over the country with it.  Beautiful part is of the country, but far too many bikes during Stugis week.  I like the wide open spaces better than a 100,000 + bikes in one little town.  Everyone should go to Sturgis once as it is a unique experience.    I have a nice garden as well.  Love fresh veggies and my flowers.   I am going to Aruba later this year-for the beaches, not ostrich!  :-))  actually had no idea there were any there, but not surprised as they are in more foreign countries in than I can count.

The Madagascar living sounds fascinating!  My wanderlust has vained  a bit with age.  Have been to lots of foreign countries but rather like the good old USA and the Carribean best.   Went to a Nicaragua last year and although beautiful, I could hardly wait to get home.  I have no desire at all to go back to Europe.  Told the USDA that I would not even entertain the idea of living with ostrich farmers in the Ukraine!!  My children often think I am nuts, but I suspect they would have me institutionalized for that!!

Dianna Dudley (Westmoreland)

Arletta. Your travels sound so very interesting!  You have seen and done things most of us can hardly imagine.  Amazing to me how diverse our lives have become.  Crazy dumb kids in high school could not have ever imagined such adventures.  Wow!  

There are several folks near me that raise Alpacas.  They are a bit more friendly than llamas.  Both are lovely.  Obviously I find the animal world to be intriguing.  Perhaps I missed my calling and should have been a vet!!

As for the fawn in the back yard-that is not a totally uncommon occurrence.  They are awesome creatures.  I  bottle fed and raised about 50 over the years.  ( do rescue for the state)  Still occasionally will see a deer in the back pasture and wonder if it is one of my babies.  Had a doe stick around for a couple of years once.  She slept on my patio with one of the dogs.  They even let her eat their food!  Pure LOVE!

Roger Felton

Wow, Dianna.  You and Arletta are amazing.  All the exotic places ya'll have been.  And Sturgis biker babes, too!  Please bring some photos of ya'll and your "hogs" to the reunion if you can.

I have a neighbor who has a big silver and gold Harley and he goes to Sturgis every year.  Really nice guy but looks like Pee Wee Herman on a Spartan diet.  He doesn't smoke but he rolls up a pack of Marlboro cigarettes in his T-shirt sleeve when he heads out.  He's said he's been mugged a few times but not since he's started packin' Marlboros. 

He loves eating at a Japanese restaurant here in town.  He goes about 3 times a week and always takes photos of his food when it's served and posts it on his Facebook page.  OMG, don't let me get started about people and the social media....

Well, I've only been to 3 foreign countries in my life.  Twice to Canada, three times to Mexico and one quick trip to Louisiana.  I lucked out on that one as nobody stopped me to see my passport.  I'll give ya all the details at the reunion...

Hugs

Richard Meek

Arletta and Diana, you're well traveled. The assortment of animals you've dealt with are very extensive for folks not involved in zoology. However back in the days when I used to do some lobbying in Austin and Washington I think I met a two legged variety of every animal you've named and then some. They're known as your elected representatives. Thank goodness I could call on Ken Armbrister and know he was someone I could trust. Actually in both places there are good people trying to do their best for the state and country. Unfortunately there are too many who think what;s best for the state and the country is what's best for them.

One summer in college I worked for a vet., cleaning kennels is not a particularly uplifting way to spend the summer. Those vets had a portion of their practice treating exotic animals. That was very interesting. One patient I still remember was a lion cub. He was brought in because he broke a leg falling off a kitchen chair. Pretty exotic, huh? I'll tell you that littile cub was as stronger, pound for pound, than any animal I've dealt with.

Stay calm and carry on,

Rich

Dianna Dudley (Westmoreland)

Victory-made by Polaris. 1600 cc. Ostrich skin seats ( from one of my birds)

Roger Felton

That is one really beautiful ride.  All the power you'd ever want and smooth as glass.

See, that's always the problem...just when I figure out what I want for Christmas I'm either way too early or way too late. 

Dianna Dudley (Westmoreland)

It is a fun toy and I have enjoyed riding it more than I ever thought I would.   Hard to explain if you don't ride, but a unique high on a beautiful day. Not so much fun in pouring rain or cold or heaven forbid hail!  I have been to Sturgis, Branson, Phoenix, big bend & the hill Country many times,  since I rode mostly with my ex husband, I don't ride much any more and might sell it.  Much to my displeasure I seem to be getting older and it distresses my children that their mother rides a motorcycle!!

I also have a beautiful 1937 Dodge truck in great condition.  Get to drive it in parades and to carry my trash to the dump on weekends!  It is a hoot. Won't go very fast like my bike,  (most Gage's don't work), but I do love it. Everyone waves.  Fun and probably more to an old lady's style.  :-))

Joanna Hinton (Garrett)

Pat Bissonnet has put together a tour of Black.  I don't have access to everyone's email but I took the liberty of calling Doyle's on 34th and they will be open on Saturday, 28th.    I suggested to Pat a possible lunch after the tour.  Doyle's will need to know how many would like to meet for lunch so that they can make arrangements such as table placements, etc.  If those that want to go to lunch on Saturday will email me at jeg8503@gmail.com, I'll keep up with the headcount for lunch and stay in touch with the restaurant.

Thank you Pat for your arrangements at Black.  I look forward to it.

Joanna Hinton (Garrett)

Opps.  Doyle's event will be the 29th and not Friday the 28th.  

Joanna Hinton (Garrett)

I have 22 names on the Doyle's reservation list for lunch on the 29th.  After I reach a count of 30 individuals, I will cut the listing off and notify Doyle's that we will need tables for that many people.  The restaurant holds 82 individuals but reservations for that many people would mean we would have to reserve the entire restaurant and I do not feel we should do that.  So, if you are planning to come for lunch beginning at 11:00 AM, please make sure you all notify me directly at jeg8503@gmail.com

Less than 4 weeks to go to the big events/parties.

Joanna

Lana Johnson (Horne)

Thanks, Joanna.  I am sorry that I won't be able to go to Doyle's.  Thanks for taking care of this.  Have fun!  Lana

Joanna Hinton (Garrett)

I have only 4 slots left for reservations at Doyle's for lunch on Saturday the 29th.  If you are interested, please let me know ASAP as after the 4 slots are filled, I will no longer take any reservations.  I will have to notify Doyle's of the 30 attending so they can make sure there is arrangements for table accommodations.  Thanks and as a reminder, my email is jeg8503@gmail.com.    Everyone pays for their own lunch for this event.