The message forum is an ongoing dialogue between our classmates. There are no items, topics, subtopics, etc.

Forums work when people participate - so don't be bashful! Click the "Post Response" button to add your entry to the forum and then click "Submit".

Teddie Jordan

Cephus, I was down in south Texas ranching, communing with nature, and working my too old Hiney off this weekend, and you are right about the stars. Sky watching from the hilltop down there is really good on these clear cool nights, and it's possible that Sparesly inhabited country, with our nearest neighbor that actually lives there about 4 Miles away, has a little bit cleaner air than these parts. With about 1/2 of one percent of the autos and eighteen wheelers and zero percent of the industry,  it's noticeably clearer at night. And you can't beat the sunrises and sunsets anywhere in Texas in October and November! 

Got our outside Christmas lights up already, our son in law's landscape guy's also do that this time of year. Now we are working on the tree and inside decos tommorrow. 

Beau Wann, Jr.

    Hey TJ, I do believe you have a more unobstructive view of the heavens down there than we have up here, although the view is nice at both places.  Having seen your place, the air there at night is crystal clear. 

    like you, I'm working my too old hiney off. Got in some tractor work, down at the crick and some road work etc.  Tomorrow after the bug man comes to spray death and distruction into the bug community, I'll start mowing the hill, again.  Our rye and winter peas have not yet come up.  Lack of rain !   We havent had rain since Harvey. I guess it will come eventually.  

Pat Brantley (Ross)

My husband is a star gazer.  He used to get everyone out of the car at the continental divide to look at God’s glory.  It is very dark up there and I was afraid a car would hit us the first time he did it.  Now I just enjoy the view.  My daughter and her husband had a telescope, but I think it got broken on a camping trip.  New Braunfels is getting too big to have dark nights.  We have grown over 80% since 2000.  We are part of the problem since we didn’t get here until 2010,

Beau Wann, Jr.

     Hi Pat.   We use to have a telescope,  our eyes have been so bad, we never could see anything but the moon.  It was a refractor type and had a sighting scope on the side to pick up thje objects and get them in view of the mainest scope.  Never could get that thinkg to work, except to look at the moon.  Even though the moon was the largest object in the skye, sometimes I couldnt even find that.   the way our house was situated, I couldnt even zoom in on anyones bedroom, what a worthless scope that was.  Gave it away!

     I'm not really a star gazer, as much as I am a star geezer, dont know any of the cornstellations except the little dipper, and always wondered why the north star was not in the north. I've seen venus, I think, and have seen Saturn with it's rings, most impressive, and Neptune and Mars, but If someone hadnt told me what they were, except Saturn, I wouldnt have known.  Saturn is pretty and pretty hard to not know.

     I have seen UFOs, but without the aid of a spyglass.  Saw one in 1953, which was well documented and seen by millions all across the US. We wer on DuBarry and it looked like 3 or 4 large square lights in the east sky.  They sat there for hours.  Gov never said what it was, just that it was a UFO.   Saw several up at the ranch in leon county a few years back.  Strangest thing.  IT was a slow moving light going from west to east in the north sky, and lookd really low, and made not a sound.  Where our property was, was in the middle of nowhere, and at night was so silent, and knowing how much noise a helo made, it certainly wasnt a helo.

     The light went over me and Cooper just to the north and west of us, when it made an abrupt 90 degree turn to the south.   As far as I know, no one has anything that will make a perfect 90.  As it was headed south, just north east of us, it ran through a triangle of lights that was moving north  as slow as the single light.  The triangle looked to be hundreds of yards betweent the points on the triangle, maybe even longer. I couldnt make out a fuselage or craft, just the lights on the points.

     As it moved north, slowly, the single light slowly passed through the triangle, or under it, then when it got to the bottom of the triangle, it reversed course instantly and headed north with the triangle. Dont remember what happened next, but me and coop were perplexed.  I even called Diane and talked to her during the celestial event. She of course assumed I had gotten into the liquor cabinet, but that night no.  I sure would like to know what it was I saw in both instances.

     Wasnt a plane, or helo, or even a dirigible, all those make noise, and even if it was a blimp, and had a stealthy muffler on it, blimps drift from the wind, and these things moved straight without drifting.  Wonder why they didnt beam me up!  I would be a good study for ETs, dontcha think!   Of course they would have had to beam me AND Cooper up, because I wasnt going to leave him behind, not without a fight anyhoo!

    Oh well, life is interesting here and there. Havent seen any ETs up this way, just aeroplanes.  I was just going to say hi to Pat, and wound up giving a lecture on ETs.   Sooooo, guess I'll go

    Oh, on one of our trips through this antique store and that antique store, we came across a book on that mean old hate mongering slave owner and confederate murderer,  JOHN H. REAGAN.  The book is called "NOT WITHOUT HONOR", and was publishd in 1962.   Havent read it yet, because we just found it last week and havent had time.  It looks really, uh, dry and droll......WHOA, OMG OMG OMG

Guess what just dropped out of the book as I flipped through the pages?    A handwritten piece of paper that said Reagan married Edwina Moss Helms, daughter of Colonel Edwin and Diana Helms, Dec 12, 1832 at her home at Eaglewood near ANDERSON, TX in Grimes county.   HOW COOL IS THAT?   Hey Kay, have you heard of anything like that whilst you've been in Anderson?  

    Ok, gotta go. Keep the sun at your six and ride boldly ride...

Your frien and UFO expert and historian, Cephus E. Lee esq

Kay Watters '65 (Greene)

Beau, that was purdy interesting....I have my own story about UFO's, my sleep experience that is.  Now for 8 yrs after I wouldn't tell this to anyone, for fear of what the might think of me....I was asleep alone at my home in 1960 area on 1 ac.  Suddlenly I was awake (Ithink) when I saw outside my patio window a round dish-like object with windows around it, hovering in my back yard.  Aliens were entering my utility room.  I couldn't move, just frozen.  Reading their mind, I heard them remark this one is not a healthy speciman, we don't want her.....(I had Diabetes I) and then they were gone.  I have always felt I was awake in a frozen daze, but many times I just tell..myself it had to be a dream, but if it was, it was the most realistic dream I have ever had.  Tha't's all folks, they left me alone.....lol.

I have a very old copy of Byron that My Aunt gave her sister written in it, when they lived in Temple, TX but no copyright page,  I wish I knew more about it though.  They both became school teachers.  Auntie Wilma lived in the Heights and taught for 50 yrs at Harvard Elementary.  She gave me a beautiful large picture from her classroom when she retired.  When is Antique Roadshow coming to town?????

Teddie Jordan

Happy birthday today to two beautiful classmates who were both born in Houston on this date in 1945. One was named Francine and one was named Frances, but they both go by Fran. This photo was taken of them at our 45th reunion. Happy birthday pretty ladies.

Beau Wann, Jr.

     Wow TJ, two very lovely ladies...the happiest of boithdays to youse youtes.   Hey kay, I believe your UFO story.  Harvard Elementary?   My beloved Cooper and I put on two "reading demonstrations" in the library there. It's a rather small library, classroom turned into a library.  There were about 300 kids and parents there, and only about 150 people could fit at one time, hence the two demonstrations.   After the 2nd one, it's the only time I've seen cooper really tired. But what a trooper he was, he still greeted everyone there as we were leaving.

     I always tell folks that Cooper attended Harvard. Well, he did...Ok, time to run, coffee is perked, time to give jack his meds...

Rick Strickland (Spouse Janet)

happy birth day to frances & francine or happy birth day to fran if your men take you out to eat be sure to wear your birth day suits & your little red shoes          (  janet & rick )

Henny Banning

Happy BIRTHDAY !!!!!!  Fran and Francine

love, Henny 

Henny Banning

Oops!!!  FRAN & FRANCES!!!!

Happy Birthday!!!  Love, henny

Beau Wann, Jr.

     Good eenin myne fyne waltripynes....guess what?  IT'S SNOWING ! ! ! !  Yup, right here in river city, and that starts with P and rhymes with T and that spells trouble....Lynn Berry from College station sent a picture of the snow there, it's really piling up there.  Kevin says it's snowing in Katy.  It's sticking some here, not enough to make a snowman. Maybe by morning it'll be a white wonderland.

    Diane is missing it, because she is in houston helping her mom and dad and sister.  Her mom had a stroke a month ago, and was doing really great, almost back to normal.  Sunday, that came to an end, she fell!  Broke an arm and other bones, plus lots of bruises and contusions. Looks lijkeshe got hit bey a train.  Feel so bad for her, because she was making amazing strides.

    Hopefully she'll get this behind her. She just turned 89 !

    Yall take care, and watch your step, DONT FALL DOWN ! ! !

Kay Watters '65 (Greene)

Yuppy!  We got snow, I've walked around outside to the gate and back to take in all the beauty, twice now.  The pond, barn, fences, trees, bushes, house, all gloriously covered in white.....for the next two hours that is!  Should be better tonight?  Dogs loved it too, prancing and playing together.

That Cooper and Jack......they have certainly given you their best!  and Harvard graduated too....You know, I have never actually been in Harvard Elem., all my visits w/ Auntie were at her home on 1038 Columbia, and of course, the farm here in Anderson.  We really loved the Heights, made friends there as well. My fav. family was a wonderful Italian family, the Martino family.  Mr. Martino worked in landscaping at Rice University all his life.  Sweetest people in the world and always loved to see Sue and I.  Joe was my sweetie, Mary, Mark and Steve, happy sweet people also.  Good memories.

Please let Diane know my prayers are with her and her family. ( An unfortunate fall is so easy to do as we get older.  I keep telling myself this as I ramble around out here as well.)  One of my ladies I assisted is having her funeral here today, Mrs Victoria  (Mack) Schroeder, lived most of her life in Cypress, TX and her husband built homes for a living..  Broke my heart, and the other is in the hospital, Connie was our tax lady  here in Grimes county for 30-40 yrs , but  she is improving...Going to take a break on caring for others for awhile, takes a lot out of ya.

Jackie Crowe (Finch)

Oh, BroBeau and Diane, much love and prayers for Mrs. Cunningham.  She was doing so well after her stroke and now this unfortunate fall; we all know how fast that can happen.  Prayers and fast recovery for her, if I can help Diane, please let me know.   

I assume Diane didn't miss the snow since most of Houston was blanketed with a white wonderland.  Here are a few pics I took at 5:00 a.m.yesterday morning. Hugs

Beau Wann, Jr.

     Hello myne fyne molecular structures !  Finally got our WI-FI back and internet service.  What a mess!  I have always been loyal to AT&T, but their customer services could use some improvement.  Cant tell you how many times I talked to their "cyborg bully robot", but I think we are on first name bases.   Bob, could be a tad more helpful by paying better attention to what the customer is saying..."I'm sorry, did I hear you correctly, I thought you said my firetrucking business, is that correct"?  NO YOU F.................... CYBORG MORON IDIOT. " I'm having trouble determining what you need, I'll connect you to a service dept person, please hold"..

     WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK I'VE BEEN DOING FOR THE LAST ZILLION HOURS AND DAYS??????AAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG....Then they tell you that the call may be monitored for quality purposes.  I rather doubt it, because that would require A LIVE PERSON!!!!!!!!

    It all started because we ordered NETFLIX, big mistake.  We like watching the BBC shows, like Midsommer Mysteries, Father Brown, Ms Fishers murders, Murder in Paradise etc.   Soooo, Diane being out of town, hmm, Chappell Hill cant really be considered a town.  Not much here, cept us! Yeaaaa!   Anyway, since Diane is in H town most of the time helping out with her mom, I spend most days and nights of the week with just the dogs and cats up here on blueberry hill. So we ordered Netflix for my viewing entertainment!

    Did I forget to mention it was a big mistake?  We, or I had only been watching it for a couple of weeks, when we got slammed by good ol AT&T for more than $500.00 dollars for "streaming charges". How swell!  They already own Direct TV, and everything else, and nobody told us there were going to be "streaming charges", in addition to monthly fees.  They ought to be called "SCREAMING CHARGES". OMG, what a freakin nightmare. 

     In addition to trying to talk to "Bob", I talked to numerous non english speaking people, persons!  Either vietmaneese or east indian or Transylvanians, my people!  All that produced was cutting our service off, when they told us "everything was ok" we was fine! ! ! ! ! Only we was NOT fine, we was without internet service. Dont know how, but ol Bob connected me to a swell old english speakin dude,  Michael in Kentucky, and, voila, he fixed the problem no muss no fuss. THANK YOU MICHAEL OF KENTUCKY ! ! !

     That 5 hundred dollar surprise bill from the grinch of ATT would have made for some really great presents for the grandkids this year. Now they will have to settle for an apple and an orange in their stocking, maybe an egg. Do you think I should boil the eggs first, or let them decide what to do with the egg?  I know, chunk it at AT&T, the buttheads!  I sent a scathing email to one of their depts, but they probably just chunked it away, or hit delete.

    Sorry I been gone so long, but I'm letting you know, "I'm back, and I can really shake em down..." oh, that's another song isnt it!  I really wanted to talk about the snow we had here at the Wanndarosa, so I think I will close this letter out and then start another directly.  Yall take care, give my best to aunt Addie and yall write when you find work.

   Your frien and certified nutjob,  CephusSanta E Lee esq.

Beau Wann, Jr.

    Hey, I'm baaaack! ! !   Now, about that snow....OH YEAH, it was a winter wonderland up here in the high country!   Diane was, unfortunatly, in the big city and not here to enjoy the blessed event. Just me and two dogs and two cats, and of course the cows next door and the coyotes in the deep woods.  The cats stayed on the screened in porch whilst me and Dixie Belle and good ol pal one eyed Jack just ran and played in the snow and had snowball fights, well, I threw snow at them and they couldnt retaliate since they dont have opposing thumbs.  My thumbs are opposing alright, opposing everything I try to pick up. Seems I got bricks for hands lately.

     Had to let the cats in the house, they were raising hell and meowing all to hell and gone to get back to the warmth of the big house. As they were cussing me out in cateese,  I turned the electric blanket on our bed for them. They were still cussing me as they disappeared under the comforter.  So, back outside I run and rejoin the crowd of pups gone amok in the glorious snow.  Good think I remembered not "to eat the deadly yellow snow", the pups were busy woiking on marking their territory.

Ok, this photo is from  the last snow in H town, but Cooper was there with us and his buddy Jack.

This is the Wannderosa after the big snow, I loved walking around hearing and feeling the crunch under foot. Not a sound or a feeling like it anywhere. Of course you folks that have moved to MINNESOTA or elsewhere noth of the mason dixon line, dont really get to enjoy it as much as we do seeing as how you have way yonder much more than we all get down heayah!

See, had my sled ready to go, along with an old plow and some far wood.

Would you believe that these little doey eyed deah were in downtown Chappell Hill, rat across from the CHVFD (Chappell Hill volunteer fire dept) for those acquainted with our fair burg.

    of course you know who these fine huntin dogs are!  Look at the smile on dixie belles face., Ol one eyed Jack doing his best to keep up, him being one eyed and with a game leg.  Ok, guess I'd better sing off for now, I could put a gazillion pictures on here for your viewing pleasure, but might get another slaming bill from att and t,

    Keep the sun behind the clouds and play in the snow
your frien and certified "snowman"  Cephus Claus E Lee esq

Kay Watters '65 (Greene)

Snow pics are priceless, Beau.....I wish we had gotten a little bit more snow,  Channel 13 is saying could be a possiblity around Christmas....this time I will have my camera ready.  I could tell, Beau, the snowman pic is your old home in Houston?  You acturally had a neighbor to your right or left, ha.  How are you tolerating the change in landscape out there in Chappel Hill, sans neighbors?  Peaceful albeit, sometimes lonely?  One must be a lover of nature and hard work to enjoy this style of living, correct?  One of my grandsons has asked to live with me come late January and help around so I agreed,  As I grow older, my bod is reverting back to it's gentler, girly side....lol.  I've had the back and similar injuries this year, as well as being told to stay out of the sun, which I can't believe I can do, but it makes for more house sitting. I have so enjoyed the mild winter, o.k. with me if it stays this way.

I was a bit annoyed when I got a notice from Social Security that says 2018 I can work without them deducting $1 out of every 2, I made.  WORK?? Why, why would I go backwards to that?

It looks as though we are going to have to accept the fact that we are getting the "Bullet Train"  A lot of my Lutheran friends have had to sell their homesteads, their faimlies have held onto since they migrated here. They are in agreement that they are of the age that they may not live to see this horrid development. Already, the most beautiful  picturesque newly built brick home, fences, and all has been disasembled ....gone,and last night on the news confimed that the mid-point stop for the train will be located in Roans Prairie (where my son and his wife live very close by;. and on the other end of the county of Grimes, comes the Super 249 highway from Magnolia. 

I watch "Lucky Dog" show every Sat. morn and continue with Cesar Milan on dog training.  Dogs watch it too, from their perches in the living room, but they still haven't mastered ...go, sit, stay, come and no, yet, and STOP DIGGIN (moles).  Darn the luck. I sure hope everyone is faring better after Hurricane Harvey and so thankful that people are choosing to adopt kennel dogs, rather than the puppy mills.

I just lost this and now editing how does this happen?  

Beau, I had my own experience after Harvey.  My electric meter pole had rotted and blown down to the ground, still working however.  I couldn't get anyone out here so I called the local water co, bad mistake as they are speculative characters.  They gave me a name & no. which I called and along came an old toot of a huge bearded guy, who made me a deal that he would have enjoyed at $800.  Since I had already been quoted 300, 500, etc. I knew he was of the "cheating the little woman" variety.  I then proceeded to holler that he was a cheat of women and running him out of my yard,  I, yelling all the way and him backing up in his truck as fast as he could, and  I chasing him all the way down the road to the gate.  It must have been Pres. Trump's language or these women fighting back their abusers, that made me do it.  But I felt extremely better  and less of a victim, when he left and I called the water co. about him and they said they wouldn't recommend him. Well, my wonderful neighbors came around and put up a beautiful new pole for $300, and we all had a good laugh on that guy.  Which I could have used for kids, or taxes, but so happy for the assistance.  So all is good around the Greene acres.

William Donald Ansley

Wishing each and everyone a Merry Christmas!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onGs1BaA7co

Jan Barnes '65 (Nimtz)

To Beau and others who posted pictures from the recent snow, I just have to show off the magnificent snowfall from atop my Magic Mountain (aka Boerne, hill country, TX). It was quite remarkable what we got at this altitude in south central Texas; half a foot, easy!

Kay Watters '65 (Greene)

Jan, the winner so far, those pic just do not do justice for that gorgeous snow and mountainview

Beau Wann, Jr.

WOW JAN, NOW THAT'S A REAL SNOW. Thank you so much for sharing those pics. Give us some more please.

Scotty Croom

well,i guess i got up too lste for snow in katy..it fell nall around us,...beau,passed by duson twice last week,going to baton rougr,...my mother sold her condo last week,don'y know where she is going next..docs thought she had enlarged heart,but that was wrong.fluids elsewhere...my sister and bil joined us and sons family last sun. for dinner....have seen her more than past 15-20 yrs,,,,oldest grand daughter asked who they were and told her to say hello to her aunt and uncle......best wishes for happy holidays and new  year....

Beau Wann, Jr.

     Well, thar she is folks, sunup today, shortest day of the yeuh, foist day of winter. Of course, just after I took this picture at 7:20AM, (official sunup was at 7:17) 4 really long necked gooses, (any language for geese) crossed right in front of me.  "WOW" I thought, that would make a really good picture!  Well, I had a camera, and except for being brain dead, it sure would have been a great picture.  I have missed a lot of good pics just standing there admiring what I was seeing.  Now you know why I'm not Ansel Adams, or even a distant cousin.

     Hey Scotty, you remember my story on Duson, La.? What a phenomenal recollector you is are is. Was the Four Roses Cafe, store, car wash still there? Man, that was almost half century ago when I went through that small burg.  Wonderful French lady chef there.  What she could do to shrimp should have won her the pulitzer prize for cooking, and I dont even like shripm.  She was the Ms Kahla, Ms Blount, Ms Simpson of the culinary woild.  

     Welcome back Scotty, glad you are safe in Katy. I saved a snowball for you and for all the folks that didnt get to see the snow, like Diane, who was in working with her mom. I have the snowball in the freezer! WHAT? It's perfectly normal to save the first snowball of the first snowfall of the yeuh in ones freezer...what's a freezer for anyhoo?     Come on folks, where have you been hiding, in the snow?  

here it is, the infamous snowball, tucked in there with the Blue Bell ahscream.

    That's another thing, you can go to any "snowbank" and check out all the snow that has fallen for a millenia or 3.  Me, myself and ah, have been looking for the so called "snowbanks", and so far havent been able to locate one, but I know they exist because I've hoid it on the gnus, "some lady skidded into a snowbank"....see, so ahm not looney....ok, maybe I am!   

     "Help me Rhonda, hep hep me Rhonda, hep me Rhonda, Hep hep me Rhonda...."  oh lawd, someone shoot me!   My little pea brain has been singing that song for a week now, night and day, and I havent even heard it in a blue moon or two.  I dont even know anyone neamed Rhonda...I know Ronna, a fine lady, and Tonda, another fine lady, but never not a Rhonda no how!   I have had Christmas music on now since before Thanksgiving, and yet "Hep me Rhonda" is still bangink arouhd in my punkin haid.

      "On the 13th day of Christmas, I gave myself to me, "13 Rhondas a surfin"...dont think that's quite right, but what the hey!  

      I really got on here just to say hi, you know, a short message, like I allus do!  Oh well, "id est quo id est".
Guess I'll resign for now, go outside with tthe pups and see if I can find the elusive "Rhonda" so she can Hep me of course. Oh, here's an aside, (I just wont get off here will I)  do you know who wrote the song "What a wonderful world"?   Nope, wrong, not Mozart, or Beethoven, or John, Paul, George and Ringo, but close, very close. 

     Given a guess or two, I would have thought it would have been Carol King, who wrote just about every song out there, her and Paul Anka, but no, it was, DRUM ROLL PLEASE.....BILLY PRESTON and DENNIS WILSON of the Beach Boys. Well, Billy Preston was not a beach boy, but he and Dennis collaborated and came up with an iconic song. Cool huh!  Yeah, I thought yould think it was.

   Ok, I believe I was singing off wasnt I.  Keep the sun at your six and your snowballs in the freezer...
Your frien and walking encyclopedia and bibliophile....Sir Cephus T. Magillicutty esq

Pat Brantley (Ross)

This has been a strange Christmas season for us.  Our new grandchildren are not acclimated yet.   They have been through a great deal.  We lost our sweet dog three weeks ago.  For the first time since 1970 we don’t have   Even one dog.  I have contacted several rescue sites.  The cat has started hiding and jumping out when I walk by because she doesn’t have Allie. I am sorry that you got ripped off by the cable company, Beau.  That sounds like such a nightmare.  We have had Directv for about six months.  Every time I call them to complain they give me some free channel or discount.  I guess I just sound mean.  

Richard Meek '65

We are the strangers from Carleen Road wishing y'all a

Merry Christmas Eve and a Blessed Christmas Day!

Paige and Richard

Teddie Jordan

And Merry Christmas to y’all. How cool that you live on a street named for our classmate Carleen Smith.