Nancy Westerfield (Depew)

LYNN,I remember all of those perfumes,my mom loved lily of the valley,and do you guys remember pond lotion in a smallwhite jar.the good old days,whish we could bring them back.

i hate thearpy also,some days its so hard,the dr.said it would take a year to kinda be back to normal,but he said it wouldnt be like it use to be.

my friend mary quit smoking almost 2 years, took to smoking what al has,now shes back smoking,allher friends and neighbors smoke so its so hard for her. my husband when he was alive smoked pallmalls,and he quit cold turkey,i couldnt have done that,but then he had cancer and i layed down the law.

we all need a mini,miss my rrhs friends and the memories.

Fred Thomas

I was involed with helping to teach my grandkids how to ride bikes, swim and hit fastballs as they were growing up.  But what kind of skills will they need in 21st century America?  First they must establish minority status and their one quarter Asian heritage will not help because Asians are model minorities.  They must claim one thirty second slave blood and a touch of Native American.  When challenged they must learn phrases like, "Hey MFer look at these high cheekbones and curly hair!"  Next after they qualify for free college scholarships they must learn to score sacks of Obama phones and fistfulls of food stamps.  More advanced training will include free housing and $200,000 small business loans that don't need repayment.  Graduate courses in advaned government rip-off programs come later.  Those kids will make grandpa proud someday. 

Fred Thomas

Mano v. Cano

Dogs hate joggers and bike riders almost as much as they hate the mailman.  That is why I usually wear my old combat boots when I jog or ride my bike.  Most people are not aware that there is a war out there that I call Mano v. Cano (man versus dog).  Sure it's easy to drop kick a little chihuahua or poodle back over the fence,  but what about bigger canines?  I usually run right at them and they back down.  It's fun watching them trying to back up and it's music to my ears when I hear claws scratching concrete as they back up.  Once in awile though the bigger dogs will stand their ground and thus the need for my old army boots.  If I am lucky enough to kick the dog in the snout I may break his nose or knock out some teeth.  That works well, but it is equally satisfying to feel ribs caving in under the toe of my boot.  So far I have survived Mano v. Cano with only a few scars around my ankles and legs.

Linda Peate (Powrie)

Fred:  Nice to see you are back on the Message Forum & still have your witty sense of humor!

Bruce McKelvey (McKelvey)

Fred,

Try some Xanax before emerging into the battelfield of life. 

Alan Greenleaf

Geezo-American

One solution?

Fred Thomas

More dog wars

So, when I am fighting off the attacking dogs while I am jogging or riding my bike you might wonder where all the people are.  The answer is that they are inside their homes watching TV, downloading porn from the internet or fiddling with their so-called smart phones.  And their chubby kids are doing the same things in their own bedrooms.  When these lard ass fat f##ks waddle out of their house they climb into their over sized pick up trucks and SUVs and head for the ice cream shop or shopping mall.  They need those huge vehicles just to carry the human tonnage.  After they stuff their face with hot fudge sundaes they might buy some more 3X clothing at the mall to fit into their over stuffed closets and then head to a movie and some over sized sodas, candy and popcorn.  Meanwhile I am training their dogs with my army combat boots.  That is life in Exurbia.

Natalie Timm

Come on Fred, tell us what you really think.  Don't hold back like that, friend, express yourself!  Seriously, good to know feelings exist, you were such a solid stone wall in front of me in home room all those years.  Talie

Fred Thomas

Talie,

Thanks for the kind words.  You must have noticed one of my hyperbolic rants.  No, I don't hold back anymore like I did in high school, otherwise I would have told you that I thought you were really cool.

Ellen Aspinwall (Templar)

Only a few more days left to get your vote in for your favorte Holiday Photo!  Don't be left out---VOTE!

Linda Peate (Powrie)

Oh gosh, all of us would have said things in high school but we were way too shy to do it!  I had crushes on guys but walked w/my head down most of the time as I was afraid to even look at a guy I had a crush on!  Fred, I believe you had a crush on Barb didn't you?  And Talie, I absolutely wished I could have a your name as opposed to a common one like Linda!  Gosh, high school today is soooo different.  Girls say what they want & call guys even in grade school.  Barb's grandson Cullen gets notes & calls from girls that are just disgusting & he is 11!  He has a couple "girlfriends" but sports is his real interest thank heaven!!

Fred Thomas

Lin,

So, Barb has a grandson named Cullen.  I have a grandson named Collin about the same age.  He gets notes from girls all the time.  He told me that the girls were trying to trick him.  I saio, "how is that"?  He said, "They say that they love me".  Even with that sort of naivate, he is way ahead of where I was.  These kids are less inhibited than we were, certainly.

Ellen Aspinwall (Templar)

Voting for your fav holiday photo ends tonight at midnight.  So be sure and vote today!!!!  Don't miss out on seeing all the cutie, fun, silly, family pictures and DO cast your vote!

Paul Berns

Editing my response:   any comments from anyone on "deflate Gate"  - 

After reading some of the cute comments on women's perfume back in the '60s I thought I would chime in.  I remember taking a bus to near the Terminal Tower and purchasing, what I thought to be a sure 'chic' magnet English Leather - remember - "All my men where English Leather or they wear nothing at all"  .....just saying.   We head to Bonita Springs to stay with ISO Donors for 4 nights and go to a fundraiser in Captiva during that time then on to Bradenton and golf with my first cousin and then on to The Villages and stay with friends from Baldwin-Wallace College - more golf.    I hope this finds everyone well.   Last week I played my last official concert with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra - retired during only my 45th season.  Had a beautiful reception hearing very kind words that I will allow to go to my head - heck after 45 years most of them were true (ha ha ha)........etc.    A belated Happy New Year.    Still drumming - wonderful students at University of Indianapolis and my home studio.  Have a brilliant student in ninth grade.  Sophie shows up for her 11:30 Sunday lessons.  And it is like this:   I say something then hear her commentary (always hilarious).....Sophie will keep me young.   Best always everyone.

Barbara Peate (Sabo)

Paul, congrats on your retirement.  Sounds as though you will still be busy but w/some travel time included.  I am thinking I remember your daughter having been very sick?.  Any news on her?  Belated Happy New Year and enjoy your retirement.

Barb

Ellen Aspinwall (Templar)

Cleveland does rock!

Michael Matlak

Ellen My family and I have been downtown in the 4th ave area and it is really rockin. It is especially great when our son at 26 and daughter at 28 thought that this was a rockin place. Wish we swere there but it is great and rockin plkace to be and visit. "WILD THING"

Donald Zbin

Happy New Year Everybody !!      As we have all found out Grandchildren are the greatest joy in life.  Stig, Emma and Reese in my family photo are a Holiday Treasure everyday.  Thanks for your support in the Photo

Contest, but I truly believe all of our Grandchildren are winners.  Enjoy them everyday as I do.

Good Health and Good Times to All,

Don

Barbara Peate (Sabo)

Don........your grandchildren are just adorable.  Mine are out of state so don't get to see them much.  Nice that you do!  Hi to Linda!

Ellen Aspinwall (Templar)

Teenagers cruisin' the streets of Ohio in 1924.  Guess we weren't the first!

Fred Thomas

Ode to a Greecian Moron

See the fool walking down the street,

He can't see me, only his feet.

He's looking down and all alone,

Behold the moron on his phone.

Fiddle, fiddle, swipe, swipe, swipe,

The moron doesn't need to type.

Those photos of his family,

Look better than reality.

Candy Crunch is his favorite game,

He knows it better than his name.

All he reads on his phone is true,

Outside of it he hasn't a clue.

These smart phone users are Greek to me,

I step aside, they don't see me.

Texting with a phone on his knee,

He drives his car into a tree.

One Greek down, millions to go,

How many Greeks do you know?

Clark Smyth

Don't you mean "it's all Geek to me?"

Fred Thomas

That's clever Clark.  If I would have been as clever, I would have titled the piece:

ODE TO A GRECIUAN URN.(INAL)

Linda Peate (Powrie)

Paul:  Congrats on your retirement & all of your accomplishments.  Estero is not far from where you are going.  It would be nice to have lunch or something as I spoke to your wife at one of our functions.  Beautiful lady! Don't know when you will be down, but if you are here in Feb. give me a call.  614-204-2598.  Buddy Manco also is down here, but didn't hear from him.  My  recent surgeries have kept me from doing alot of things, but certainly could have lunch!

Ellen:  My dad LOVED Shallimar & bought it every Christmas for her.  Unfortunatelly, she hated it, but wore it just for him!  That's love!!  Barb & I used to smell all her perfumes she kept in glass bottles like French women where you would dab it on your pulse points.  The good old days.

Fred, how are you feeling now?  Haven't asked for awhile & hope you are well & back to your old self, which, given the quips you post, I guess you are!

Fred Thomas

I have known a lot of addicts in my life.  Some were friends, family and even myself.  Some were addicted to alcohol, drugs, porn and high carb foods.  Others were gamblers, womanizers or shop-a-holics.  One of the newer addictions is video gaming.  It may be the worst because many of these gamers seem to live in an alternate virtual reality.  We might have to check my 15 year old grandson into a video gamers rehabilitation clinic because he seems so addicted to his phone, computer and video game machines.  He even built a more powerful computer so he can play more advanced games.  His younger brother age 13 seems to be headed the same way.  The 11 year old doesn't have a stupid phone yet and we can still hold a conversation unlike his older brothers.  I told him, "Don't get one of those phones!"  He said that it was inevitable.  I'm sure that all you class of 63ers don't have such problems.