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".

Jackie Crowe (Finch)

Wanted to share Harvey stats in Leader newspaper - Saturday, Sept. 2 - Unbelievable!  Hugs

20 Trillion - that's the estimated number of gallons dumped in the Houston area since the storm made landfall.

51.9 - The inches of rain from Harvey that inundated Houston, setting  new record for the heaviest rainfall from a storm in the continental United States, according to the National Weather Service.

94 - The hours our local area experienced pounding rains from Friday night through Tuesday afternoon.

10,000 - (At minimum) number of people rescued from Houston floodwaters by federal rescue effort.

40,000 - The rough estimate of how many Houston homes (so far) have been destroyed by floodwaters in and around Houston, per Harris County Judge Ed Emmett.

228 - The tornado warnings issued related to Harvey as of Wednesday afternoon.

32,000 - The number of displaced Houstonians in various shelters across Houston, per Governor Greg Abbot.

24,000 - The National Guard troops deployed for assistance in various aspects of rescue and recovery.

900 - The number of 9-1-1 calls coming in per hour during one point in the havoc.

Teddie Jordan

If the Leader says it, I believe it!

Beau Wann, Jr.

     So many people have been affected, so many are helping, even the ones that have lost everything are helping.  Folks up here in the churches are donating, and making meals for the National Guard temporarily bivouaced here at the firemans training center.  I saw where my son and his girlfriend Kellies restaurant, Texas Borders on 1093 welcomed the sheriff and his airboat crews and comped all their meals.

       When the sheriff and crew walked in, they got a standing ovation from the patrons, plus all the patrons  told mgmt to put the sheriff and crews bill on theirs, but Kevin and Kellie took care of the tab.  Sheriff was blown away by the treatment, vowed to come back and make Texas Borders a regular stop.

      Kindness and goodness, just begats itself and makes the whirld so much better.  That's what God had in mind all the time, dontcha think!   If each person passes it along, only good can come of it. Of course you've got some butthead that will break the chain, just go around them.

      "He drew a circle that shut me out-
       Heretic, rebel, a thing to flout.
       But love and I had the wit to win:
       We drew a circle that took him in!"

        By Edwin Markham...taken from the book, Best Loved Poems of the American People..

     Sorry I've been absent on the forum, been fighting the PMR sisters, A, B and T, along with the big D. Just wearing me out.  thank you Jimmie Lee for all the info on the Baptists organization, and to Jackie on the Oak Forest updates, and to Scotty, glad you're safe and TJ and Jimmie Sue et al..

     .Had a friend that lived down in San Leon during Ike.  After the water subsided, the presbyterian church went in and helped folks out, and stayed there for over a year helping.   Dont know where my friend is, he decided to drop out of sight and go off the grid. I suspect he is somewhere in east Texas  where he is from.  He, among others of my east texas friends, is where I picked up most of the incorrect english from, like "onliest" etc. I certainly dont mock them, just sort of salute them and their culture. they are a hard working self sustaining lot!

    Guess I'll say goodbye for a while. Trying to get it together.  Just Weary, and really have no reason to be weary, we have been blessed beyond all belief, to which we are thankfull. Sometimes things are just  beyond ones control, like the big D.....No meds strong enough to combat it and the physical pain, so I just leave it alone and hope for the best.

    Keep th sun at your six, and ride boldly ride...

Your frien, Beau Cephus 

Pat Brantley (Ross)

Before Harvey came and "left the cake out in the rain" you were discussing paw paws.  I always enjoyed may fetes because we got to wear costumes and dance.  I asked my daddy what paw paws were and he told me they were cow chips.  I know he was trying to be funny, but I really wanted to know.  Now I do, so thank you classmates for answering.  I am praying for houston's recovery.  

Wayne Lake

Waltrip64 Friends,

I am writing this while sitting in Austin/Bergstrom airport awaiting a flight back to Lake Wobegon for a few weeks before annual migration back to TX for winter. I spent the past week in Aransas Pass (AP) repairing roof/cleaning up yard debris after Harvey called.  For those of you unfamiliar with my area, AP is 6 miles West of Port Aransas and 11 miles South of Rockport so the eye of the storm barely missed my place. I was lucky with minimal damage to the roof and no water water/flooding. I lost some shrubs/tree limbs but needed to landscape anyway. I am very lucky.

I have been hearing about artificial intelligence (AI) and think I may get some. Does it come in little pink packages like artificial sugar, if so, I may get a whole box? You see a few years ago my house at Clear Lake was spared after Ike’s eye passed about 40 miles East and for this one, my house was only about 14 miles from the eye center or about 5 miles from eye wall, again on the West or easy side of the storm.  Maybe with some of that AI, I would find a place safer to live.

Who am I kidding?, I have salt water in my veins and will always need to be near the Texas Gulf coast regardless of the risk to life and limb.  

I drove over to Rockport/Fulton area to check on friends and the devastation is beyond description with about 80% of buildings and trees damaged. It’s gonna be awhile before they recover.. Sorry no pix, just didn't have the heart and had seen enough destruction.

There are lots of groups around giving away free food, water and clothes, Red Cross, Nat’l Guard etc. I can’t say enough of the power companies’ effort to restore power and the coordination efforts by Texas Highway Patrol who were in complete control of all traffic in the area.

The AP water tower toppled (probably due to corrosion/lack of maintenance) but we got water service on Saturday along with electricity in my area. I heard they clocked winds to 152 MPH in AP but I think there were numerous mini-tornados by the concentration of severely damaged areas with minimal damage to others nearby, at least on this side of the eye.

My heart goes out to flood victims in Houston and I hope everyone I know is ok or at least dry. 

Higher than average water temps mean higher energy in the storms which directly translates to greater wind velocity and higher air temps over the gulf allows the air to hold greater amounts of water vapor which, of course yields additional rain onshore. If this keeps up, we may be in for even more of the same.       

I sure hope Irma does not come into the Gulf, don’t wanna wish bad for others but I have seen enough ugliness to last a while.

There is a line in a Jimmy Buffet song, ‘I’m just glad I don’t live in a trailer’ and you sure don’t want to weather a storm in one either.

‘Dummy Dancin’ with Damaged Dolphins’

wtl

Ps: I was routed through Atlanta last night on the way North and there was hard rain/closed runway reportedly from Harvey, the storm that keeps on keepin’ on.

Jackie Crowe (Finch)

Hi Wayne,

So glad to hear your place in AP had only minimal damage to roof and no flooding.  I heard your place was okay, but that was really hard for me to believe with you so close to Rockport.  Now that you've posted, I feel much better.  I know it was a big relief to you after seeing so much destructive damage to the areas surrounding you.  You were truly Blessed!!!

Hope you had a good trip back to Minnesota land!  You better come back to AP soon so you can celebrate our Fall Fling in October.

Hugs

Wayne Lake

Heads up to anyone interested, Ken Burn's epic 18 hour, 10 episode documentary on the Viet Nam War airs on PBS beginning Sunday, September 17.

The Viet Nam war probably should not have been fought. Our generation did not own it but we bravely served, it time stamped and sometimes stole our youth, scarred some of our lives, killed and wounded our friends and family members and to some degree defined all of our lives as we morphed into adulthood.

I sincerely respect and commend our Waltrip classmate combat veterans that risked their lives and proudly served their country during this time of turmoil and political strife. Thanks.to all of you.

Why did we do it? What did we gain? What did we lose? How much money did Brown & Root, Lockheed-Martin, Boeing, arms vendors, etc derive and at what expense?  Something tells me we as a country we did not learn much as 50 years later, KBR (B as in Brown) makes billions during the Iraq conflict. Didn’t Ike warn us about this happening? Did our leaders not listen? Was there a true threat of communism spreading over the world or was it just a big mistake? I look forward for some answers and although it is not in the Leader, I have a feeling Ken Burns and Novick will give us the straight poop.  

From Lake Wobegon where the Canada geese are getting ready to fly South and so am I,

wtl 

Bill Traill

It was really something seeing those pictures over by T.C.Jester !! I used to play tag football over there when I lived on Saxon. Unbelieveable !

Jackie Crowe (Finch)

I'm sharing info I received from our classmate, John.   I know who the player on right end is --- do you?

"Hello, John R Lynch here, Waltrip class of "64"  with info about a book I found at a Laundromat,  that is a warshateria in Texan. Anyway I attached a cover picture. Some people may recognize the kid on the end right."

Here's some background review info on the book ---

This was a pretty good book about the preparation for the Big 33 football game of 1965 between the best high school football players between Texas and Pennsylvania.

In 1964, Pennsylvania challenged Texas to a football game to determine which state had the best high school football team. The date that Pennsylvania anointed for the game was the same day as the Texas East/West game. This meant that the best Texas players were unable to make the trip to Hershey, Pennsylvania. The winner of that game was Pennsylvania.

When Pennsylvania challenged them again in 1965, it so happened to be again on the same date as the Texas East/West game. Was it intentional? Well, the Penn guys said no, but the Texas guys said yes. So, the coaches of the Texas team went to the Governor and asked to have the East/West game moved up by a week. This happened and the 1st stringers went to Hershey that year.

An interesting side bar to the story was that an African-American wide receiver named Jerry LeVias was named to the team. The problem was that in 1965 racism was prominent, especially in Texas. So when asked, star player Bill Bradley said yes to having LeVias as his roommate. This was the beginning of a lifelong friendship. It was also the combination of quarterback and receiver that allowed the Texas team to overcome a 10 – 0 deficit to win the 1965 game.

 

Johnny Sheffield

My quaterback glen smith. 

Teddie Jordan

Good stuff Jackie, I recognized Glenn too. 

James Hilsher '65

My brother. Charles gave me the book to read a year or so ago.it is a good read with a good message

Susan Howard (Bowman)

Teddie Jordan

I was just thinking that in a little more than a month it will be late October, officially fall, trees starting to show some color, the weather getting cooler, and time for Johnny's Fall Fun Club! Hope everyone can make it.

And the Astros are going to the big dance!

Looking forward to all of the above.

Jackie Crowe (Finch)

Yes sirreeeeeee Bob!  Fall Fling is around the corner, all info is posted on Homepage and Announcements/Current Events, but I'm glad to post again on the forum as a reminder.  I will post a list of attendees soon that have RSVP to Johnny, however, he needs to hear from more!  And Go Astros!!!!  Hugs

Mark your calendar for our Fall Fling (mini-reunion) in October

Date:  Saturday, October 28  

Place:  Goode Company BBQ

Grand Prize Banquet Room with additional outside deck (plenty of room), cash bar and chips & dips for appetizers.

Time:  4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. (closing time)

Address: 20102 Northwest Freeway (Hwy 290) between 1960 and Huffmiester, Houston, 77065, Phone 832-678-3562

Please RSVP to Johnny Shieffield - 979-203-7209 or his email johnnysheffield46@gmail.com.  You can also contact me through "Contact Us" tab at top of website or put your reply on Message Forum.

If out-of-towners need a place to stay, Homeward Suites by Hilton - Northwest/Cy Fair, 13110 Wortham Center Drive, Houston, TX  77065 - 1-832-237-2000 is right next door - within walking distance to Goode Co. BBQ.

(From Highway 290 W: Take FM 1960/Highway 6 Exit, stay on service road past FM 1960 and take a right on Wortham Center Drive.

From Highway 290 E: Exit on FM 1960/Highway 6, make a U-turn, stay on service road and turn right on Wortham Center Drive.)

A Big Thanks and Hug to Johnny for coordinating our Fall Fling!

Beau Wann, Jr.

     Gooooooood morning veet naaaam...! ! !   It's me again Margaret !   Been trying to get right, but never did.  On top of all the big D, and the A B and T and PMR pain, I got a tooth ache.  Well, that ol boy is not hurtin enough, so lets hit him upside his punkin haid with a  shovel, shall we.  Well, dont just  stand there, go to a dentist, so I did ! Good ol Doc Holliday! The bad news is I got a root canal last monday, and glory be, I liked that one so much, gonna go back and get another one next Tuesday. Ahm just a glutton for punishment.  The good news is that Doc H can save them!  Now instead of having one tooth left, I'll have three. Does make it easier to floss and brush.  Hell damn RD,  that was mah plan all along.

     Woke up to the sniffles this mornin!  Ol mr sniffles....Well, that's not why I woke up, I woke up because I had a Cat trying to homestead my head, and giving me a wet willie,  then one of the dogs started barking at 4.  Got up, got my bazooka, cranked up mah M1 abrams tank and fired some f lares to see who or what numbskull was assaultin MAH HILL so early in the morn! !! !  Turns out Dixie belle was lonesome for me but didnt want to get on the bed because of my new fur hat suckin on my ear, Lacy the cat. Those two have tusseled before, and Dixie Belle lost, so she's very afraid of Lacy. Dixie weighs 40 pounds and Lacy weighs 8 maybe.  Not the size but ferocity that counts.

     Decided to get up and go lay on the couch with Dixie, which of course displeased Lacy.  For awhile she was perched on the back of the couch scowling down at ol mr sniffles and Dixie Belle. That poor ol dog is just terrified of that cat.  Dixie didnt move the whole time Lacy was there, but her eyes got big as silver dollars. She kept whimpering at me to do something, so I did. got up, threw Lacy back on the bed, closed the door and then made a pot of coffee to which ah am now enjoying, HA!  Mess with me will ya!

     Much has happened since  last we left Timmy down the well with Lassie going for help!  Dont remember just what has happened, but ahm shure something has.  (is it me, or is my keyboard possesed? When I hit shift to capitalize, and move on to the letter in question, it doesnt capitalize, and it's also mispelling woids.  Hmmm, there is chicanery and foul play afoot here. I smell Tom Foolery daincin about. No really, when has that ol boy taken a shower? )

     Ok, had to clear the room!  Seems Ol one eyed Jack et somthin that is now haunting us. Whew, didnt know aminals could, uh, be so oderiferous!  Speakin of Jack, that old half blind one eyed dog is doing just fine. Of course having one eye doesnt do much for seeing everything.  He bumps into a lot of stuff on his no eyed side, mainly me. The cats are learning not to approach him on his blind side, because if he's startled, he goes in to "attack dog mode". That ol boy has a feerocious snarl! 

     I know I've mentioned it before, Jack was Coopers protector when we went out walking.  Seems the city dogs trying to attack us, were no match for a country Catahoulla.  Jack has taken down as many as 4 dogs in a short space of time. He is vicious when his loved ones are threatened!  Anyhoo, the cats are learning not to get on his bad side, especially between him dinner.  That seems to me to be a good policy all way round, dontchewthink!

     Seems I saw where someone, dont know who, mentioned AI, artificial intelligence.  AI only exists with ALL POLITICIANS.  I remember back in the early 80s, one of my customers in the Data bidness was visited by folks from california trying to sell him on some AI. they had brochures and booklets all prepared. I got a holt of them, and read it backwards and forwards, sober and inebriated, asleep and awake, and came to the cornclusion, mind you, the same cornclusion, as my friend that owned a computer bidness, that it was all just gobbledegook, double talk and meaningless palaver!

    I sent all the info on it to my brother-in-law, who by t he way, was only 100 people in the whirld back in 1964 with a PHD in computer science. Not brag, just fact.  Anyhoo, I sent all the info to him, and not too long after, he came to the same cornclusion, it was all just BS.  AI would have to match the human brain, to know what's next, and then change that because of a "feeling". No machine can ever be built to emulate intelligence. What comes out of a computer is only as good as what goes in, nothing more, nothing less......It's amazing to what lengths some folks will travel just to swindle good folks.  I've allus subscribed to the theory that you can put lipstick and a dress on a pig, but at the end of the day it's still pork!

    OH, I know what's happened, Diane and I built, or had built, a PAVILLION, and a new fence. The Pavillion is in honor of the "pavillion" at Garner. Snot quite as large, but servers the same porpoise. This keyboard is really angering me, but I shall endeavor to persevere. Now I am going to build a deck under and around it, add some rocks and boulders and a fire pit in front of it and voila, ready for the first snowfall. I know, it's quite an endeavor for a half blind mostly krazy kripple. Well, us krazoids and psyhcos got to do something with our time.  I guess I could run for congress!  yuk and ugh and ewww!

     It's quite foggy this morn, and has been since the first and last cool front moved on.  This is how I rmember (see, it dropped the first e) Septembers as a young lad, foggy! I hope our one day of winter is harsh and snows. Of course with all the warm waters and hurricanes, they say we wont have a winter atall.

     Gotten a few peppers out of our ever changing garden. They smell good, like peppers, but are tasteless. I've got em soaking in with my jalopenas to try to remedy that. Got no tomatoes, nada, zip, zero, none! ! ! But, but, we bought known tomatoe producers,  a mammoth gigantic humongous really large variety. I guess those bad boys are SOOOO BIG, that they musta goyt picked by the ol jolly green giant and eaten. Could have gone on a cruise with all the money we've spent on gardening.   Next time I'll stick to what I know, perusing the produce dept at Kroger. 

    Ok, time to deplane. Hope all is swell with all yall. We seem to be, doing ok hither and yon.

keep the sun at your six and stay cool...
your frien and resident krazoid psycho, Beauregard Cephus E Lee Magillicutty esq.     

Jackie Crowe (Finch)

BroBeau, Happy Friday!  So good to hear from you and so sorry for the teeth demise!   Root canals --- ouch!   Only had one and that's all I want to have. 

Cannot wait to see you and Diane at our Fall Fling.  It has been tooooooo long and miss y'all and everyone else.

Oak Forest and surrounding neighborhoods are finally getting back to norm, well as norm as it can be under the circumstances.  Big trucks are getting the piles and piles of debris picked up as of this week. Cavatore's on Ella is reopening after 3 weeks of cleanup and remodeling (new floors, new furniture, etc.), but as we all know,so many families homeless until their homes are rebuilt.  Again, I was Blessed, lot of flooding around me, but didn't get in my house nor any of my family. Our prayers go out to all in Texas, Florida, Caribbean islands and East Coast; just overwhelming the damage and loss of lives. Yet, it's not over ------- 

Everyone have a great weekend and give Johnny a shout if you are coming to Fall Fling; headcount at the moment is 23. I know there's a lot more coming, but you just haven't RSVP.  Either email or text Johnny or reply on forum or go to the "Contact Us" and let us know.  Details on Homepage and Announcements/Current Events.  Keep on dancing!  Hugs

Teddie Jordan

Cephus, sorry for the toothache, but loved the visual on your description of how you woke up this morning! Made a grumpy old man laugh out loud, thanks.

See you soon at Johnny's Fall Flingdig. Told him today that with the way time is flying it will be here quick. 

Beau Wann, Jr.

     GOOOOOOOOD MORNING WALTRIPIANS...It's me again Margaret, ol wierd Harold.  Hi Jackie and TJ, "TJ, come to the front, TJ. I need all sackers and stockers to the front. Luke, come to the courtesy booth"

    I sure miss those bygone days at the Mangum Super Value grocery store.  Speakin of which, guess who I saw yesterday at the Home Depot in Brenham?  No, guess!  Ok, I cant guess, even me....I saw Mr Leon Hale. That ol boy is 20 something years older than me, but both look the same when we walk, with a cane and stooped over and very slow. I knew we had a lot in common.

    I apologized for interrupting him, but told him i recognasized him and thanked him for the many hours of entertainment of his writings.  I have all of his books, signed by him...well duh, who else would they be signed by...MARK TWAIN?... Ok mr smarty, that'll be enough of that.

   I asked him about his talking mule, and I'd had my eye out for him but could only find a couple of bossy cows that mooed at me. He just smiled and asked my name to which I told him, and now I forgot what he said, using my name....oh well, he said it to me and maybe I'll remember lataon.

   Ok, gotta sign off for now. Need to get my beloveds car ready to travel to Houston. She's playing the bells at our little country church in the city today.  I'm going to stay home and work on our deck. I have to work today, the lords day, because I'm running at about 10 percent power. Work a little and rest alot. Dont know what the problem is, but I am just exhausted all the time.  But, I need to get this deck done before next Saturday. Sunday is my beloveds birthday, and her mom and dad and our sons are due to come over, and I'd like fot the deck to be completed so they can marvel at mah handy woik.

     I have all the supplies, I think, now just gotta git er done!  Ifin any of youse youtes want to stop by for some cake and ice cream on next Sunday, by all means come on up.  You neednt bring presnents to Diane, but it is customary in the old country, Transylvania, to bring the husband gifts.  Nah, just funnin ya, I have been blessed with everything I've ever wanted, needed and things I never even thought I wanted.

   Keep the sun at your six and ride boldly ride...and TJ, come to the front, TJ....Jimmy come to the front, Jimmy S.

Your frien and resident unrepentent rebel, Beauregard Cephus E Lee esq 

Jackie Crowe (Finch)

Updated - Attendees for Fall Fling

as of Sept. 28, 2017 - a month away!

Kay Watters '65 (Greene)

Hi all, haven't checked in because I have been experiencing the same as all of you.  Hot, lots of grass to mow, etc.  Thought of Beau and Diane when the lightning bugs came out. always beautiful  I am so looking forward to Fall. and it is about to happen.  I am still taking care of two new ladies and Treasurer of Sr. Citizens Anderson

I accepted a lot of work and responsibility for my ladies.  So really nothing on my plate to add.  Lot of you attending the event, so have fun and enjoy, can't say I would enjoy getting out on Hwy 290 at DARK...not in my book. I am enjoying living without floods and watching Anderson students back to school, laying back and enjoying, nap or two..Beau..  

Pat Brantley (Ross)

Ron and I went into Houston last week for a doctor appointment.  My niece lived on Viking until her 52nd birthday.  She and my sister bought a townhouse off Briar Forest and Beltway 8 last year.  I was really concerned about getting my family and Ron’s sister (also off briarforest at Dairy Ashford) out of Houston during the storm.  They were all fine and even had friends stay with them when the dam started releasing water.  

We were supposed to get the hurricane here, but he changed his mind.  I drove through our old neighborhood where we raised our girls.  Parts of it look like a horror movie.  Parts looked perfectly normal.  

I am praying for all of you.  

Teddie Jordan

Scotty Croom

hi all just returned from 7 day royal carib, cruise....sharon and i will be there for fling....

Lynn Wren (Burkhardt)

It is with a heavy heart we just received notification my brother in law, your classmate and Charles brother Gerry Burkhardt passed away this morning at 5:15 am.

Thanks

Lynn Wren Burkhardt