TJ Class of '68     NEWSLETTER                                                           11/22/09
         
         
         

Woo, woo!  Got me some fake nails.  I went on a trip with 14 women to Savannah and someone on the bus needed something opened.  They asked, "Any one on the bus with real nails?"  I was the ONLY one that raised a hand.  So, I decided to make my OLD hands look a little nicer.  I also looked around and saw that I was the ONLY one on the bus with GRAY hair.  Now, I was the youngest at 59.  So, I think maybe I might go get something done about that, also.  Maybe I just need a little pampering. 


Check out my NEW section of the NEWSLETTER that includes your "BUCKET LIST" entries.  I will add any stories that you send me on checking off those wishes on YOUR list!
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MAIL CALL
from Shari Louvier Parker in New Boston, TX
I have exciting news.  I have been publishing cookbooks for almost two years now and I have just added a printing division to my company.  We can now do all kinds of printing, cards, fliers, calendars, brochures, etc.  We will be working on a calendar for a funeral home here for 2010.  Say a prayer for me. (http:gardenofedenfarms.com)

from Bob Sandoval in Kermit, TX

I'm working in Kermit, (west of Odessa), doing construction management and engineering on a fire rebuild project.  Partof Southern Union's plant burnt down in July.  It's bleak, waitresses won't wait on strangers, half the town appears to be on drugs, and Kermit makes Saudi Arabia look like Las Vegas!   I'll do another "I remember when" soon, I promise.  I received very positive response from my last entry on "Casey to the Rescue." (Bob is on the right)

from Fred McCarty in Kingwood
My oldest son, Matt, is now in his second deployment in Iraq.  Matt is a Captain in the Army and he is the Commanding Officer for a Cavalry Troop in the 4th Cavalry Regiment.  He deployed from Ft. Riley, Kansas back in August.  His unit conducts operations in the northern part of Iraq from west of Mosul toward the border with Syria.  I talked with him recently and he is doing well.  The recent events at Ft. Hood were tragic and hit many people in the Army quite hard.  I hope that the investigations underway result in a better understanding about what happened and how to help prevent any similar situations in the future. 

So far, retirement is going well, and we are travelling a little and planning for some future trips.  It is great to have more time to do the things we want to do and spend time with friends.

from Jan Russell in Spring
I am a Texas History teacher at Kleb Intermediate in  Klein ISD.  When you have a spare minute, check out my web page listed below.  This is one of the ways we communicate with parents in the 21st century!  I post homework assignments, etc., but I also have "games" to lure the students to my web page.  Hey, whatever works! 
http://classroom.kleinisd.net/webs/jlrussell
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BUCKET LIST
(This section is for us to rejoice in checking off items on our BUCKET LIST, aka "things I want to do before too late!")

from Hal Ross
(remember Hal also wrote a month ago about kitesurfing ...a check off his Bucket list!)
Before last year's reunion I read in the NEWSLETTER that John Wilson completed the MS 150 in April, 2008.  I had never heard of this event before.  A bicycle ride from Houston to Austin?  Really impressive, John.

I had been interested in cycling 10 years ago, but never ventured too far with it because none of my friends were interested.  In June, '08 I became a volunteer for the Spindletop Spin, a Jefferson County Bar Assn. fundraiser, and as I registered about 500 happy riders that morning, the excitement and enthusiam captured me.

So, I went with it.  I bought a new bike, picked up the pace, got interrupted in the training, first by Hurricane Ike, then winter, but in June '09 rode in the Spindletop Spin, although only a 35 mile ride, but now I was hooked.  I even recorded and watched the entire tour de France this summer. 

Last month, I rode in the Lance Armstrong Foundation's Austin Livestrong Challenge, and befoe I could get home I started sending out feelers for a Team spot for the 2010 MS 150.  Luck was with me and within two weeks I was sitting in the Houston ConocoPhillips headquarters at my first team meeting.  14 weekly training rides starting in January and leading into the April 17th start is in the near future. 

Between now and then, I'm getting as much seat time as possible and have even resorted to spin classes at the local gym.  Not to overstate the nature of this event, this is a ride, not a race.  There will be riders my age and older.  But, as I cross the finish line after 150 miles over two days, and do something I've never done, this 60 year old will be grinning from ear to ear, and thanking John for setting the example.

If anyone else here is riding or knows someone we know that is participating, please let us know.  It would be great to get some group pictures and visits along the way.  Oh yeah, for you Austinites, come on down to the finish line on Sunday.  Did I mention there would be 13, 000 riders?  I hear it's a heck of a party.

from Jan Russell in Spring
I noticed that Cheryl Freeman is living in Lake Charles, LA.  Does anyone know how to get in contact with her?  She was my lab partner in Mr. Cell's chemistry class, and she saved my "you know what" many times by explaining something or helping me with my labs.  I never thanked her properly.  She was one of the first African American students at TJ.  I can only imagine what she must have been feeling, being part of a very small minority at TJ.  I have always felt guilty that I didn't befriend her because I was afraid of what other people would think about me.  (I was SO young and stupid!)  I know now that MY life would have been blessed even more if I had truly gotten to know her.  Part of my "Bucket List" is to apologize to Cheryl and thank her for being so nice to me.

from Linda McFadden in Lumberton
Two checks off my list is taking my HOT AIR BALLOON ride and going to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY last year!  Yep, saw Mickey Mantle's plaque!

(I think that this new addition to the NEWSLETTER could really add some fun and interesting news to our website.  Go for it!  I can't wait to see the variety.)
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Thanksgiving Preparation
I know that it is supposed to be fun but getting ready sure can be a hastle.  I am looking forward to the 11 that are coming.  17 of the family members said , "Can't come".  Do you think my reputation as a cook is preceding me?  Mom was always the one that made the delicious egg plant dressing, pecan pies, etc.  Okay so I have to write the NEWSLETTER, clean house, go to store, cook, wash, don't break my new nails, lose 50 pounds by Thursday!  Okay, I have it all under control.  At least we don't have to do what the following story details. 

WARSHING CLOTHES RECIPE....this is an exact copy as written and found in an old scrapbook (not mine)- with spelling errors and all. 
This was written by an Alabama grandmother who gave this to a new bride:

WARSHING CLOTHES
Build fire in backyard to heat kettle of rain water.
Set tubs so smoke wont blow in eyes if wind is pert.
Shave one hole cake of lie soap in boilin water.
Sort things, make 3 piles
1 pile white, 1 pile colored, 1 pile work britches and rags.
To make starch, stir flour in cool water to smooth, then thin down with boilin water.
Take white things, rub dirty spots on board, scrub hard, and boil,
then rub colored don't boil just wrench and starch.
Take things out of kettle with broom stick handle, then wrench, and starch.
Hang old rags on fence.
Spread tea towels on grass.
Pore wrench water in flower bed.
Scrub porch with hot soapy water.
Turn tubs upside down.
Go put on clean dress, smooth hair with hair combs
Brew cup of tea, sit and rock a spell and count your blessings.

                          
HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL
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NEWS FROM THE HOMEFRONT
This happened last week:
Drove from Lumberton, picked up parents in Groves, dropped  Mom off at the beauty shop, drove Dad to barber shop in PA, locked myself out of Mom's car, drove barber's car to beauty shop for keys, back to barber shop to get our car, back to beauty shop, realized barber's keys were in my purse, back to barber shop, back to beauty shop, Dad says, "Where did I leave my hat?", and you know the rest of the story!  I need a drink....or maybe I had had one and that was the problem! Nah!  Just getting like my parents.
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SUPPORT NEEDED
(update)
Barry Boudreaux (heart condition) from wife, Janice Hebert Boudreaux
Here is the latest on Barry, or should I say Barry AND our daughters!  Seems that what Barry has, (extra heart beats), may be genetic!  Our youngest, Brooke, went to the doctor for her usual every three months congestion and because of blood pressure, they did an EKG.  They told her she needed to see a cardiologist because she had abnormal heart beat (extra beats).  We made arrangements for her to see Barry's cardiologist and she does have exactly what Barry has.  They will be doing a stress test, echocardiogram, and a 24 hr. holter monitor on her soon.  Our middle daughter, Brandi, had already been to the doctor and she was found to have extra beats, also!  Our oldest daughter, Bridgette is making an appt. to be checked as well.  The two cardiologists talked and said they had never heard of a family having this.  Barry had a nuclear stress test done and we are awaiting the results.   Stay tuned.....!
3319 Highland Laurels
Kingwood, TX 77345
(281)361-5440
mbsjanice@aol.com

from Laura Meece Darby in Kingwood
Starting in June after my routine mammogram, I found out that I had DCIS, (Ductal Carcinoma in Situ), in my right breast, which is a Stage 0 breast cancer.  It doesn't spread to the lymph nodes or other areas of the body.  The cure rate is close to 100%.  I had two lumpectomies in August hoping they could remove the cells, but that didn't work.  So, I had a mastectomy, which I had done on Oct. 9th.  I also had my breast reconstructed with tissue from my tummy (tummy tuck)....didn't want to do an implant.  Thank goodness I had the fat stomach!  On Dec. 15, I will go back and have a reduction on my other breast and also to do revisions on my new one.  It hasn't been a good summer for us.  Recuperation is taking a long time.  The good news is that the lab reports came back good....all cancer is gone.  I won't have to do any kind of radiation or chemo.  I will have to get on medication to keep this from happening to my good breast.
Thanks to all that have been praying for me.  I didn't want to talk about it sooner because I wasn't ready.  But, now I am on my way to a full recovery.
5207 High Glen Ct.
Kingwood, TX 77345
(281)764-1155
lauradarby49@yahoo.com
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CONDOLENCES
Cherlyn Hebert
(death of her mother) See Obituary
7928 Ellinger Lane
Houston, TX 77040-5905
(713)460-9424
hebert1220@att.net


from Jan Russell
MEMORY of MR. LIONEL ROWLAND
I wanted to add my two cents worth to the memories of Mr. Rowland.  I remember his piercing blue eyes and those "A Contracts", "B Contracts", and "C Contracts"!  Even after 36 years of teaching, I don't know how he managed to keep up with all that.  I'm not nearly that organized!  However, the one thing that stuck with me was his prediction that World War III would begin in the Middle East!  At the time, it didn't really make sense to me, but that summer of '67 was the 7-day war between Israel and Egypt.  All of a sudden his words came back to me.  And with international events as they are now, well, need I say more?  I hope he knew how many lives he touched and changed for the better.
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Okay, that's a wrap.  It has been fun writing this edition.  I hope to hear from more of you.  Don't let the holidays give you an excuse to forget Mike and I.  We still have to do our job! 
                                       Stay in touch and contact a classmate,
                                       Linda DeCuir McFadden
                                       lindasuemcfadden@sbcglobal.net
                                      
www.tjhs1968.com

 


 

 




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