MAIL CALL
from Cynthia Marshall Devlin in Zavalla, TX
I am finishing up a busy semester at SFA (5 full classes ) and plan to be home for Christmas with my family in PN. I wanted to thank you and Mike for all you do to keep us informed about the interesting lives of the fabulous class of 1968.
from Allen Baldridge in Hideaway, TX
(excerpts taken from his wife's Christmas newsletter)
Travel was the main focus of the year 2011. In March, we traveled to Ft. Lauderdale to meet up with some friends. We fell in love with Florida, especially The Keys. We traveled to Quebec in August. This was our only ballooning event all year, but what a great one! Canada was a wonderful respite from the Texas heat. Allen still plays golf most days and still watches FOX news.
We wish everyone happiness and prosperity all year long. Throughout the Christmas holidays, please celebrate the joys of the season with your families and friends, and remember life is what you make it so try to make each day special.
from Georgia Peterson Winkler in Austin, TX
Thanks for keeping us all informed.
MOVIE VIEWING
Several classmates and spouses have expressed interest in joining together for fun and fellowship to see the matinee feature of the movie WAR HORSE and then partake in a feast of Mexican food at the San Jacinto Mall in Baytown on January 7th. Contact Fred McCarty if you are interested in joining in at this group event.
HOLIDAY EATING TIPS
(contributed by Ernie Castaneda Bullion)
1. Avoid carrot sticks. Anyone who puts carrots on a holiday buffet table knows nothing of the Holiday spirit. In fact, if you see carrots, leave immediately....Go next door where they are serving rum balls.
2. Drink as much eggnog as you can. And quickly. It's rare. You cannot find it any other time of year but now. So drink up! Who cares that it has 10,000 calories in every sip? It's not as if you're going to turn into an eggnog-alcoholic or something. It's a treat...Enjoy it. Have one for me. Have two. It's later than you think. It's Christmas!
3. If something comes with gravy, use it. That's the whole point of gravy. Gravy does not stand alone. Pour it on. Make a volcano out of your mashed potatoes. Fill it with gravy. Eat the volcano. Repeat.
4. As for mashed potatoes, always ask if they're made with skim milk or whole milk. If it's skim, pass. Why bother? It's like buying a sports car with an automatic transmission.
5. Do not snack before going to a party in an effort to control your eating. The whole point of going to a Holiday party is to eat other people's food for free. Lots of it. Hello?
6. Under no circumstances should you exercise between now and New Year's. You can do that in January when you have nothing else to do. This is the time for long naps, which you'll need after circling the buffet table while carrying a 10-pound plate of food and that vat of eggnog.
7. If you come across something really good at a buffet table, like frosted Christmas cookies in the shape and size of Santa, position yourself near them and don't budge. Have as many as you can before becoming the center of attention. They're like a beautiful pair of shoes. If you leave them behind, you're never going to see them again.
8. Same for pies. Apple, Mincemeat, Pecan. Have a slice of each. Or if you don't like mincemeat, have two pecans and one apple. Always have three! When else do you get to have more than one dessert? Labor Day?
9. Did someone mention Fruitcake? Granted, it's loaded with the mandatory celebratory calories, but avoid it at all cost. I mean, have some standards.
10. One final tip: If you don't feel terrible when you leave the party or get up from the table, you haven't been paying attention. Re-read tips: start over, but hurry. January is just around the corner. Remember this motto to live by:
"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave witht the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate and wine in one hand, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO HOO, what a ride!"
NEWS FROM THE HOMEFRONT
Can you believe it? I made it through the weekend taking my sister AND Dad out of town. It was a little crazy getting my sister repacked before we left (she still forgot her toothbrush and pj's) but all went pretty smoothly. I did "misplace" my eye glasses in the motel and looked under bedding, clothes, etc. to try to find them. Well, I was successful. My sister had them on! It really was fun to have some quality time with her and my brother was able to enjoy Dad for some time while we were away.
I spent a fun-filled few hours with Debbie Borres Desmond and Ernie Castaneda Bullion at the beautifully decorated and welcoming home of Diane Richmond Miller in Silsbee, TX. We laughed and ate and had a grand time. Diane was a wonderful hostess. She sure can whip up a great tasting baked potato soup. Thanks for the wonderful afternoon without husbands or elderly!
Bill Richey and wife, Rhonda (Carleton) also had an intimate holiday gathering of about 5 couples. No one could believe that their home was "swamped" during Ike just a few years ago. We had a great time catching up and just "chilling". Their home is also beautifully decorated with many antiques and collectibles. It was a wonderful evening.
Murphy just came into my office where I am typing this NEWSLETTER. He reminded to tell you that he FINALLY got a deer! When he returned home from the "beer lease" he showed the granddaughters the ice chest with the cut-up venison in it. The 7 year old came running into the house to excitedly tell me that Poppa shot a "deer head"! I don't think she realized that it was probably Bambi's momma. He was disappointed that one day last week right around "dark thirty" he spotted the "biggest buck" he had ever seen at his blind in Wiergate (near Newton, TX). You know, I think he might have better luck spotting them if he changed his hunting skills. I texted him in the blind last week and the "vibrating" of the phone on the shelf startled him. He had been CLEAN ASLEEP! I am thinking maybe that buck has been there many times before. He just wasn't awake to see him. Geez, Louise.
WEBSITE DONATIONS
We received two anonymous donations this week. Thanks so much for your monetary support.
Bill Richey also sent in a donation. Mike and I feel humbled by the response to our request to help keep this website domain in good working order with enough bought space to add anything we feel you might appreciate and enjoy reading.
SUPPORT
from Mike Soileau in Atlanta, TX
All of you out there who, like me, have been eating too good for many years...beware. I had a heart attack and 4 stints put in but I have survived and am feeling better than I have felt in years. I just want to let anyone out there know if you should have a heart attack and find yourself, as I did, in fear and pain, take heart. They put the stints in immediately and I will say almost painlessly. These new medical procedures are saving a lot of us from having to have open heart surgery. I had 3 arteries blocked, one 100% and another from 50 -80%. Thanks to these wonderful stints, I now have good health again and take an aspirin a day. I figure the plaque or whatever had been building up for years from that good old fried food and I slowly was feeling less and less energy. It was scary when I felt a pain in my chest and could not catch my breath. I did not write this to complain but wanted you to know that I am very blessed and thankful and wanted to share my experience about getting stints. Recovery time is fast ....you must learn to change your eating habits watch what you eat. Moral of the story is to take care of yourself and watch out for fatty foods and DON'T SMOKE! Okay, with that said, I am thanking God I am still here and wish the best for all of you and your families for Christmas and the New Year and all the other days, too! Be safe and watch the greasy food. I love it but it can get ya! God Bless All!
MIKE, MIKE, MIKE.....I hope you didn't read the section of HOLIDAY EATING TIPS sent in by Ernie! "-) So glad you are better my friend. We want to see you at our 45th class reunion in 2013.
CONDOLENCES
We are saddened by the loss of another classmate in 2011.
Phillip Walter Bodin
November 16, 1949-December 5, 2011
Condolences may be sent to his brother, also our classmate:
Carl Bodin
342 Roberts
Bridge City, TX 77611
A TJ faculty member has just passed away:
Jayne Smith (English teacher)
July 23, 1932-December 13, 2011
A memorial service will be held this at 3:00 p.m., Sunday, December 18, 2011 at Levingston Funeral Home in Groves, TX
Tim Walker (TJ '67)
October 30, 1948-December 10, 2011
(Ms. Smith and Tim Walker's obits may be found in the OBITUARIES section on the front page of the website)
Please pray for their families. I am sure that they will have an especially hard time during this holiday season.
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Well, I am waiting anxiously for Santa to leave presents under our tree that I have so painstakingly bought for MYSELF! I have learned over the past years that this is how you get what you WANT! I also enjoy the grandkids and the wonder and glee that they express during this festive, joyous season. Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year to all my friends and classmates. May God Bless YOU and Yours for years to come.
Stay safe and contact a classmate,
Linda DeCuir McFadden