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Richard Meek '65

Good morning all here at veterinary central. Jimmie Lee I have friends that have a Bichon that is 20 years old. He's got some health problems but considering his age he's doing well.

Kay, the odor your getting off your pooch is probably from all the licking and biting. Over the years baby shampoo seems to work as well as any. I had a miniature Schnauzer that had hot spots all the time. Never eliminated them but frequent bathing to get the saliva off helped a lot. Also putting a table spoon of vegetable oil on his food seemed to help moisturize his skin which also helped the itching and scratching. At the time I just used whatever was in the pantry but you probably should use Canola oil now so the food police don't swoop down on you. I read recently that a lot of dogs are allergic to corn and if you notice the majority of commercial dog chows have corn as the main ingredient. You might try fixing your own dog food. Just boil some chicken with carrots and celery in it. Mix it with rice (brown or white). Then just whooz it up in a blender or food processor. It will be the consistency of canned dog food. Fido will love it. Actually it tastes pretty good. You may like it too. I think you said you tried the duck and potato commercial food to no avail. I'm not sure if it's still made but  back around when we were in high school there was a veterinary  product out named Sulfodene that worked well on hot spots. I hope some of this helps.

Robert you're right about a lot of us being tight knit in the Oak Forest area. When you know people all your lives you get well acquainted.  One problem is that occasionally someone will remind you of something you had forgotten and hoped everyone else had too.

I'm not familiar about the MO wine situation but I'll look into. My niece moved to St. Louis this summer so I'll probably go visit her next Spring. It's good to know that there are some good wines to try. I'll probably time it to take in an Astros v. Cardinals game. That'll be a great trip seeing my niece, a good ball game and visiting some wineries. Life is good!

Burge some of the performance info I've read on the P-51 Mustang and P-38 Lightning are amazing. Just a little aviation trivia for you since you are a Marine. In  the Korean war there was a Marine pilot who would be sort of famous later on named John Glenn. What a lot of people don't know is that his wingman was Ted Williams, baseball hall of famer.

Attila, based on what you described I think the rest of us can say Thank God you don't drink anymore!

Keep on dancing,

Rich LH

Breathe, Smile, Go Slow

Teddie Jordan

Robert you asked how Fran and I met and did we know each other from birth. Well, we probably should have because we both went all the way through Oak Forest Elementary and Black, and a year and a half of Waltrip just a half a grade apart, but never really knew each other. I was shy and socially awkward during all of those years. I obviously saw her a lot, probably daily, but never even spoke to her. I do have one memory of her after school in about the third or fourth grade and I can remember her long and beautiful blond hair. But that was at a time in my life when frogs and baseball and BB guns were a heck of alot more important to me than girls, so what impressed me most that day was not her but the fancy bicycle she was riding down Oak Forest Drive home from school.

Our meeting was one of those goofy teenager stories, and the goofy teenagers were Walter O'Connor and me. It was January 1962 and final exams week at Waltrip. As you recall that was the only time we were allowed to leave the campus for lunch and I think we had about a two hour break between the morning and afternoon finals. Walter had heard some girls say they were going to go visit Black Jr. High during the lunch break so he and I figured we would do the same. When we got to Black we went to the cafeteria and just kind of looked around for a few minutes, not quite sure even why we were there. We were about to leave when Sheryl Knight and Fran walked into the cafeteria. They saw us and smiled and as I recall, if we spoke at all it was just hello, but for the first time I took a good look at Fran and noticed how beautiful she was and kind of said to myself, WOW. But we left to head back to Waltrip, and when we got out to Walter's car in the Black parking lot there was Sheryl's parents station wagon parked next to us. Here's where the goofy teenager part comes in. We noticed that Sheryl had left her keys in the ignition and for whatever reason we thought it would be funny to take the keys out and put them on the ground by the rear tire, which we did. We then left and I guess we just assumed she would look around and eventually find the keys. Well as we found out later she didn't find them and they had to get someone to come get them and take them back to Waltrip, were late for their finals and it was a big mess. Boy were we stupid, and we heard that they were really mad at us and rightfully so. 

The next night was Friday, and Walter and I were just drifting around the area and decided to drop by the Tradewinds roller rink on 34th and see what was going on there. When we got there we saw Sheryl and Fran in the snack bar and obviously they started giving us a pretty bad time about the keys. We sat down with them and talked for quite a while and we of course apologized for our stupidity. Walter was interested in Sheryl, who I had known forever because we went to the same church, and I talked more to Fran. Walter and I then left and went somewhere else but I called Fran that next week and asked her to go to a movie on Saturday night downtown at the Majestic. I have previously written the story of that first date and its disastous ending on this forum, but somehow even after that we went out again and the rest is history. We'll be married 45 years in February.

Lloyd Pond

Oh that goofy Walter..I'll never forget after graduation when Walter  and I toured the Houston area till early in the AM.

Jimmy Stockton

     What Teddie shared is all true but by the time I met him he was no longer shy and awkward. I got to ride in the back seat of his 55 Chevy on many a double date. I remember one night as we were riding down Shepherd with our dates that a car full of boys came by an hollered out did Teddie want to run that car . Well as Teddie told them where they could run their car I saw him reach for his billy club so I grabbed my empty Dr. Pepper bottle cause it looked like we were going to have to deal with them in other ways. Well Teddie told them we would meet them later at Prince's on Shepherd. So after we took Fran and my date home Teddie an I took off to Shepherd like we had good since to meet 5 guys. Well it turned out ok, we all had a good laugh about it and I think I remember Teddie leaving him behind on the 610 feeder road. These two are very special friends of mine and I had the privilege of being their get away driver after there wedding.  That's another story. 

Robert Derrick

Beau it sure sounds like you kept up the Navy tradition. I was one propellar head that could not keep up with you swabbies back then. But tried.

RH, yeah, if we had not gotten the influence of Black and Waltrip kids, we would have gone to Hamilton and Reagan and probably become hoodlums.

Teddie and Jimmy, Great stories. I could listen all evening.

Walter O'Connor

HEY TEDDY AND LLOYD.I HAD FORGOTTEN THAT EPISODE WITH THE KEYS.

I'M GLAD IT ENDED SO WELL  TEDDY AND I'M STILL A LITTLE GOOFY LLOYD.

Susan Howard (Bowman)

Kay, I hope you get your pooch well!  My mom's dachsund had skin trouble, too, as she got older.  She also had an odor.Mom used a special kind of shampoo on her - may have been baby shampoo.  I'll ask her and let you know.  I think Shuggy (the dog) was allergic to grass.  And yes, the smaller the dog, the longer they live.  You have to keep a dachsund thin, however, or they develop back trouble and die younger or you have to have them put to sleep.  I also had a cat that lived to be 16 - she had cancer.  I had to have her put to sleep - just about killed my sou - but just couldn't let her sufferl.  I think cats will live forever if they stay inside or don't get some awful disease like cancer. 

We are burning up here in Indy, too!  We've had a record number of days over 90 - like 32, where we usually have 12 or less.  We don't have the high humidity, though, that you do in Houston.  We need rain!!  Fall will be here soon - then WINTER!  (UGH!!)  The fall and spring are gorgeous up here;  winter is pretty when it snows, but it starts getting cold in October and doesn't warm up until May, plus the sun never shines.  No wonder I want to move back home!

Beau Wann, Jr.

GOOFY???? Someone call my name???  That V12 Merlin was something special! Did they ever try to put that in a car??? Gas mileage probably wouldnt be too good! Although, with drop tanks, the P51 mustang could stay on station for 8 hours! Whereas the P47 thunderbolt used almost half a tank of fuel just taking off. They could only stay on station for about 30 minutes! That P51 stemmed the tide!!!

Hey Kay, the itching, like someone said, Rich maybe, about allergies to corn! Also chicken!!! Our vet said our last dog Rocky, was allergic to chicken! So we really had to read the labels, because almost every dog food out there has chicken or chicken byproducts! Even the ones that say beef or turkey or venison! you really have to read the labels! Also wheat and corn gluten!!!

I know this doesnt help you much, wish I knew the cure! Had an aunt tell me that she put vinegar in the dogs drinking bowl, probably just a spoonfull, and that was suppose to keep away fleas! dont know whether it worked or not!!!  All our critters are scratching! We bathe them and comb them and put frontline and advantage and all the other stuff on them!

A couple of the cats have fleas! We have been treating for that all summer! Spray the carpets, powder the carpets, vacuum the carpets, Dip the dogs, dip the cats, it is maddening to say the least! We use the fine tooth flea comb on our critters. We do this almost every day!!! We havent had a flea problem since 89! None of our critters are outdoor critters, cept the dogs, and they only go out after each meal and do their stuff, then they want back in! Heat too much for em!!! We even spray their feet with flea repellant and killer, when we take them for a walk! For all the good it does!!!!

Hey Walter???? How you been??? You still hanging out with Guiberteau at Mikes??? I havent seen him since highschool! Both my boys know his daughter Mandy, and have been to clubs where she sings! I think she has a CD or two out, under the name Mandy Smith???? I hear tell she is pretty good! My ex also does Lonnies wifes hair!

I would stop in at mikes, but I am always packin, and not allowed in a joint, or else it's curtains for me for sure!!! Plus I dont drink anymore!

Yeah Burge, that schnaaps was/is some awful stuff!!! That and sloe gin???? Dont know how anyone could drink that stuff on purpose! I've had cough medicine that tasted better, and it was bad!!! So glad I survived those years! Just another rite of passage, or, "See this guy? well dont do what he did"!!!!

Clouds made it pleasant today!!! for a change!!! So, rode my bike, and what a stress releaser!!! Wish everyone had something that they loved to do, as much as I love my HD, be less stress and problems, and road rage would be a thing of the past!!! Hard to explain that kind of Joy!!!

Getting geared up for the BAK PAK Critter program! Already heard from the Librarian at Lamkin! She is as excited as Cooper and I! Our first day will be Monday Sep 13 at 2pm! Coop and I read everyday! John Boy is even reading now! Amazing incentive, Oscar Mayer!!!! 

Oh, for all youse hunters and non hunters alike, BUY YOUR HUNTING LICENSE!!!! Most all of us qualify for senior discounts! I buy the super combo plus the water fowl stamp. 49.00 dollars! And here is the best part, especially if you are not a hunter, but an avid conservationist...most all the money goes for conservation and helping wildlife! Great bang for your buck!!!! No pun intended!!!!

OH, also if you are a veteran, and you shop at Hone Depot, as most of us do, they give vets a 10% discount! I show em my VA card, and voila, discount!!!! 10% is a lot when you spend as much money at HD as I do! Scotty told me about the discount program at Home Depot!!! Thanks Scotty! Oh, you have to ask for it, they dont ask you! Although one young lady did ask me once!!! Well, what she really said was, "youre and old codger, youre probably a vet, right!!!" "Which war, the civil war"??? No dear, the revolution!!!!   We need to save all the money we can, eh!!!!! 

Ok, where is the rain??? I have done my part! Watered the yard...put water in the pool...left the truck outside with 1000 pounds of corn in the back...and still no rain!!! What do I have to do, wash both vehicles and my bike???? I hate washing cars now!!! guess I'll have to pay the 20 bucks to get them washed, except my bike of course! I'm the onliest one allowed to touch it!  Ok, I'll get both cars washed, then maybe it will rain!!! I sure thought leaving the truck out with the corn in the back would do the trick!!! But the weather was too clever for my cleverness, eh what???

signing off for now!!!

Your friend and resident krazoid...attila the Forest Ogre 

John Burgess Webb

beau,i wish you hadnt mentioned the feeling you get riding a hog.when that torque curve rides just above the HP curve,its a feeling you cant explain;like the weight of silk.

yep;this is a nice 55 studebaker

Lloyd Pond

Walter O

Glad to hear you are still goofy. You probably don't this but Paul Simon's "Still Crazy After All These Years" was really written about me!

I think we were around where The Chronicle building is now and had our shoes shined in a parlour where a mural of Adam and Eve and that ol snake were looking down on us.. woo.. still spooky afterr all these years

Richard Meek '65

Morning all. Another wonderful day. It was really pleasant out this morning. Beau did you and the troops watch the sunrise on Cole Creek? I think the Ogre of Oak forest is right, living in this part of town is kind of like living in a small town inside the city. Susan if you move back to Texas you will get plenty of sunshine at all times of the year

DOD did you notice that we broke the record for the hottest month ever in Houston? Do you know what was the record holder. . .1962. I guess we had global warming then and didn't know it.

Burge that really is a slick looking Studebaker. If I'm not mistaken there was a youth minister at Oaks Presbyterian that drove a Golden or Silver Hawk Studebaker. Ted, do you have any recollections on that? As I remember the discussions about cars back in the day Studebaker built a really durable car. Some were pretty short on style but some like the Golden and Silver Hawk (have I got that right Burge?) were great looking cars.  Too bad that it is so difficult for a small manufacturer to make a go of it in the automobile business. Except for the high end performance cars Subaru is about the smallest i know of.

Well the Rushin Setter, Liz, continues to grow but not at the break a neck pace for now. Her energy level is still high and she's happy, happy, happy.

Robert I'm glad we influenced the outcome of your life and you didn't become a hoodlum. Although I know some folks from Reagan that turned out just fine. You probably would have too, even without our help. We were all very fortunate to have had that Black and Waltrip experience.

I drove by Waltrip yesterday about 5:00 going to meet a friend for an adult beverage. The band and the football team were hard at practice. I'm sure they were all drenched I sweat. I was really pleased to be in my air conditioned car and not on that football field. For all you former track men they're putting in a new track. All concrete curbs. Can't tell yet what kind of a surface it's going to have. Hey Lynn Roff and Robby Wallis I thought about you yesterday when I saw that track. For some reason I thought about when you track stars had to do repetitive 330 interval training. Want to give that a try again?

Keep on dancing,

Rich LH

Stay Calm, Carry On

John Burgess Webb

that old track had a really soft tarmac,i used to run over there from cheshire to use the track and ropes,up to about 1973.waltrip was a fine school.

DID I SAY SOMETHING INDESCREET IN POLITE COMPANY?

IM SORRY

Teddie Jordan

Yeah Jimmy, I remember doing that. Seems like you and I both had bad tempers back then, probably something to do with testosterone. Glad we finally manured!

And Walter, we may still be goofy, but at this age it's more of an art form. The older we get the more eccentricities we seem to be allowed.

Richard the two youth ministers I remember going way back at Oaks were a young lady named Lanell (?) and a man named Forest Fitzhugh, who ended up marrying Nancy Lindsley  WHS'65, who was a member of our church. I don't remember if either had a Studebaker though.

Beau Wann, Jr.

Yup, manure, and manurein more each day!!!  Yeah, Rich, I saw the new track they are putting in at Waltrip! That concrete curb, is a mistake, especially for clutzizs like me! That is a concussion waiting to happen! Use to be red crushed brick or iron ore on that track when we were able to run back in them glory days! I think I did the 100yd dash in just over 10 seconds! or was that 10 minutes??? Does that sound right, 10 + seconds for me??? I wasnt fast at all! 10 sounds a little to fast, maybe it was 11 seconds or more! Oh well, takes me a half hour now to go 100 yards!!!

There was a person living down the street from us on DeMilo and Bolivia that had a Golden Hawk! Had very large dual exhaust! I was told it had a corvette motor in it! Dont really know what was in it! Never saw or heard it run!

Rode my Harley yesterday to run errands! If I'd been in my truck, I'd a been ripe for road rage! Everything that could go wrong, did go wrong! Oak Forest Post Office, which is and has always been the worst PO in the whirld, had the outside box taped up so you couldnt put mail in it! The store I went to had one checker and a line a mile long, lunch line was a mile long! So rode out to cross roads and back using anothe rpost office, and another office depot, and then going to Pappas for a really great burger and fries! I mention all this, because after the second thing to go wrong, had I been in my truck, I would have just gone home and cussed all the way there! But since I was flying on Pegasus, It didnt matter a tinkers dam where and how long I had to ride! Thats how much joy I can describe about riding my bike!

Ok, gonna meet Kevin for lunch out at the crossroads! After working with each other for the better part of 10 years, and the Hardware bidness closing down, we dont see much of one another now days! Time passages...

Got my clearance and am approved to be a Global Volunteer at Cy Fair ISD! BAK PAK Critters program is trying to get into HISD, but they have not been responsive, only the folks that really matter, the teachers and librarian are chompin at the bit to get us in there!

Old Ogre Of Oak Oforest singing off...

Jim Taylor

My dad had a white Studebaker Silver Hawk with a red interior that he used for a back and forth to work car.  I believe it was a 59 model.  The neighbors all made fun of it and called it the batmobile.  However, it was a very reliable car.  After he had a stroke and could not drive anymore, my mom sold it for around $300 to some kids that destroyed it.  Not a very good end for a really special car.

John Burgess Webb

hey jim,thats a very nice car;it was just ahead of its time.the engine was a powerful little 289 and when coupled by the paxton designed mccullaugh supercharger it woul just keep on climbing.those chevy guys are just jealous;although you could get a turbocharger...on a corvair.

here is a 1931 studebaker 'president'

John Burgess Webb

oh yeah,chevy and studebaker make a nice technical compromise;not of taste but of efficacy.the 515 ci big block is from world products,they call it the merlin pro-stock.two garrett turbochargers of a high caliber,with tuned stainless plumbing.the good,the bad and the ugly,a 53 studebaker:230mph thats a rush.

Teddie Jordan

Burge, I guess I always kind of took Studebaker for granted. I never really knew they were that far ahead in their engineering and design to have that sophisticated an engine in 1953. Very impressive.

Richard Meek '65

Burge, since you are a student of Studebaker....a cousin of mine had a little two door sedan that wasn't particularly nice to look at but it was tough as a boot and just ran and ran and ran...I think it was a Lark. Does that sound right? A neighbor of ours used to work for George Mitchell. he would periodically drive Mr. Mitchell's Avanti for various reasons. That was one nice car. From what you've said previously it would get up a go as well as look good. I wouldn't mind having one now. Didn't someone try and start producing them again? I don't think it flew for very long. I wouldn't mind having that '31 President either, nice looking car.

Ted I think Lanell(?) was the one. As I remember it was a white Golden Hawk. I vaguely remember Forest and Nancy. Whew, many sleeps since that time.

Burge your comment about Waltrip is right on. Growing up in OF surrounded by the quality individuals we were was more than going to a college preparatory school it was a life preparatory school.

We're supposed to have a beautiful weekend. Everyone enjoy your Labor Day weekend to the fullest!!!

Keep On Dancing,

Rich LH

Strive to be anonymously rich

Instead of Deceptively Poor

John Burgess Webb

the studebaker lark;my uncle seward had one;real stout for a small car.it reminded me of the plymoth valiant with the slant six.they were both pretty responsive but the valiant was stronger.

this engine is a one-of-a-kind supercharged offenhauser.(a 1928 block)when these engines ruled indy,just the blueprints for this engine cost $8,000.one of the secrets of this powerhouse 4 cylinder was the solid block(no detachable 'head')so the compression ratio was a hot 15/1.

John Burgess Webb

when 'offenhauser'ruled at "the brickyard".paula murphy at indy

John Burgess Webb

                                                 brothers and sisters,i do confess:if i were "alive" today,i would probably 'covet' this aston martin db 9.

Bj Brady '65

Rich and Burge- Love your car comments. When I was a senior

at Waltrip my Dad bought me a 1960 Studebaker Lark convertible.

It was a real pleasure to drive, but did require alot of "babying it".

My younger brother Jeff was a great mechanic and took good care

of it for me.  He drove a British Hilton. I ended up with a blue 1957

Chevy two door sports coupe in college at Lamar in Beaumont. My

older brother had a white 1964 two door Impala that he gave me for

college graduation and he bought a 1970 dark gray Chevelle new. Boy,

it was a looker. Keep up the comments. I'm lovin' it - BJ

Beau Wann, Jr.

Who makes Aston Martin...Ford?...Chevy?...Mack Truck?...

Remember Marge and Gower Champion???? What did they do???? Cant remember!!! How ab out Curly Fox and Texas Ruby??? I remember they had a tv show and did country music, and introduced Brenda Lee when she was about 3 or 6!!!

Remember Nash Metropolitan Rambler??? A little two seater. There was one parked on 43rd street just west of Mangum, somewhere before Bolivia!!! On the right heading west!!! He use to come in Mangum Supervalu and buy groceries! He also collected coins! And if you were real lucky to get to carry his groceries out, he would give you a silver dollar or a half dollar, real silver! He would tell me and Buddy Woods and just about anyone that carried out his groceries, about which coins he had acquired. I'll bet he had a zillion dollars worth, at least in todays market!!!!

My uncle Paul aka Buddy, loved oldsmobiles and had from a 1952 through the end of the 50s olds 88! Then he bought a new GTO, dont know what year, but it had the 321 I think, and factory standard floor shift, and also came with 3 duces! It was a screamer! I'll bet it didnt have 500 miles on it when he sold it! I heard he sold it for 800 dollars! I could jjust scream!!! Everyone in my family generally sold or gave away whatever they were getting rid of at the time. quietly, and never gave anyone in the family a first turndown!!! I've seen right before, and that aint it!!!!

Most of my family, if they got a classic or decent car, they just kept it in the garage until it wasted away and was worth nothing! Hardly ever drove it! Of course, that was their perogative! My dad had a 1967 thunderbird he got at Tommy Vaughn new, and it pretty much sat in the garage! He did have 44 thousand miles on it when he passed away, and it sat for ten more years in moms garage till I had a wrecker service tow it out and put it on the non used side of the driveway, so my mom could park in the garage! And, she went kickin and screamin against that Idea! That is until she got use to pulling in the garage! Then she loved it!

She sold it to some ol boy on DuBarry that lives across from the oak forest park! He came over, and opened the hood and tinkered with it for a few minutes, and put some gas in it, and a new battery, and cranked it up and drove it home! Dangdest thing I've ever seen!  It had sat up for the better part of 20 years, only being started once a month for the first 5 of those years!!! It had almost the largest motor ever put in a production car, a 429! There was a 460 later on, and I think it was in a 72 thunderbird! By 78, which is the year I had, they had scaled the motor down to a 302 , underpowered, but semi-ok!!! It was a smooth and quiet ride!!!

The ol boy that lived catty-corner from us on DeMilo, had a black 55 chevy hard top, lowered, with full length lakeplugs, fender skirts, continental kit and spare, oldsmobile flippers (hubcaps), appleton spotlights, and pinstriped! He washed it almost daily! He also had a 47 or 48 Ford sedan fourdoor, with the suicide back doors, all white, and pinstriped with black spider webs around the antennas on the front fenders! It had running boards also! Both cars were immaculate! He offered to sell the 47 to me for 150 dollars, but I didnt have 150 dollars! I think it also had full length lakeplugs! Memory kinda fuzzzy there! When J C washed his cars, he would jack up each tire and take them off and wash them by hand and scrub the whitewalls with sos pads! He did the same with the spare tire! I have never seen a car detailed before or since by anyone other than JC!!!! My uncle Paul, would wash and wax his lawnmowers after every use!!!

Ogre...

Lloyd Pond

Movie review time

A time warp or how we never get old. We watched the Sting last week. You know the one about the hard days of the Depression way way back in the 30s. I noticed that the film was made in 1973. I remember going to see it when it came out and thinking how old fashion everything seemed, clothes, hair, cars, etc. Well now wif my arithmetic is correct, that was 37 years ago and the movie setting was 37 years befor the original movie. So, you got to windered how folks today look at our cars, hair styles, and leisures suits of the 60s and 70s. I don't think we were as old fashioned as the Sting seems.

Last night I closed the circle on the Stalag 17 movie trauma. I saw it in 1953 and remembered thinking it was very brutal and how terrible it was. I got my bravery up and checked it out of the library and you know, I  enjoyed it!