Jack Keefe

Dinner was apparently about to be served in this San Antonio Arboretum sculpture. My son took me there for a photo shoot in late 2003. This subject matter goes back to an old topic or two, but seems to fit on a free-for-all Friday. 

On a walking tour of a neighborhood near the Chicago Historical Society museum in 2004, we stopped in this church. It wasn't on the itinerary but it paid off in the nice photo, below.

Wendy Stephens (Cullen)

This is my grand at Lucy eating her dinner.  She had a brief spell of insisting on this location for her bowl.

Joan Pease (Clark)

"

Free for All Friday - I've been doing some family history research and came across this memory. Aunt Patty Chambers is sitting on the arm of grandma's chair with aunt Mary Jane (MJ) standing. MJ had gone to New York to pursue a modeling career, and the Pantagraph did a feature about it. Patty went on to be the PR director of Eastland Mall for many years, and of course grandma was the notorious "Ma" Pease. I think she was Bloomington's first police matron.

Sandra Jeakins (Singletary Sizemore)

This is Heidi, my Granddaughter's dog.   Before she adopted her Heidi was very afraid of peope, hince the name "Heidi".  She was abused in her previous home.  When my Granddaughter went to see her Heidi curled right up in her lap. They said she had never done that before with anyone.  So they gave Heidi to her.  She is now a happy well adjusted dog.  It's amazing what love can do.

David Long

Jack,

Great Idea for Freestyle Friday.  Brought back memories of some trips.

In 2005 we went with 50 other people on a Pilgrimage to the Holy Land.  Part of the tour included some churchs in and around Rome.  This is a photo of the Holy Door at St. Paul Outside The Wall.

Thanks to Mel, I'm correcting the caption for this picture - it was actually in Florence, IT.  Dorothy and I love Italy and we took a trip to Florence and Rome by ourselves one year.  

We also took a tour of Poland and I was able to get this photo of another Holy Door In Krakow.  The image is of course Pope Saint John Paul II.

We were on a cruise of the east coast and Canada and in Quebec City we came across another Holy Door and were able to enter the Bascilica through it. 

Melvin (Mel) Theobald

FREE FOR ALL FRIDAY

Two days ago my granddaughter and I did a giant chalk drawing of a rainbow on the garden patio behind my condo, which reminded me of one of my favorite photos of my daughter from about 1990.

Terry (Max) Maxwell

Have had some great birds stop by that aren't usually in the area very long.  This is an Indigo Bunting on the ground under one of the bird feeders.  Couldn't get any closer because they spook very easily.  Have also had quite a few Baltimore orioles, and an Orchard oriole, grosbeaks, and cat birds among the regulars. 

Wendy Stephens (Cullen)

We had a pair of Bohemian wax wings in our back yard once.  Amazing.  I did not get a photo 

Melvin (Mel) Theobald

So Saturday is National Monuments thanks to Sandy.

Max, how awesome that you get to see all those birds. Do you feed them Wheaties or just plain old grenola bars? I've heard of Indigo Buntings, but have never seen one. Awesome.

Dave glad we got the Rome to Florence thing staightened out. The beautiful photo you posted is of the Ghiberti doors at the Baptistry in Florence. They played a very important role in the development of the Renaissance.

And Joan, I love the photo of your aunts and grandma. Couldn't help noticing the framed photos on the fireplace mantle. Your grandmother must have been very proud.

Sandy, it's amazing how many people lived on W. Locust St. We were on the dead end block past White Oaks on the other side of the RR tracks. Dead end street. But, even though we were only 5 when we moved from there, I remember it well. Did you ever go to the wading pool at O'Neil Park?

See you all tomorrow. Nighty night.

Sandra Jeakins (Singletary Sizemore)

Melvin, no I didn't go to O'Neil Park. Not sure why, but it seems the Locust Street bridge was a barrier to me going anywhere beyond that.  I was thinking you lived beyond Rt 150 on that dead end part of Locust, so guess I was right.     Another person that lived on Locust Street was Sandra K Hardin.  In grade school she lived one block West of me.  You are right, that's a lot of people from our class that lived on or, like it Suzi's case,  had something to do with Locust St.  

National Monuments

Statue of Liberty

         I have a picture of Mt Rushmore that won't load.  It says "URL is missing".   The same issue we were having a couple of weeks ago.   Hopefully it will fix itself.  I'll keep checking back.

Jack Keefe

The Civil War battle memorial at Vicksburg is fascinating, and I highly recmmend it. Illinois played a major role at Vicksburg, and Bloomington was a major part of Illinois' role. These photos are from 2015, when Janet and I took her mom south to visit family and her brother's grave. 

The Illinois memorial is one of the biggest at Vicksburg, if not the biggest. The names of many Illinois soldiers and outfits are inside, including the 94th Regiment. It came from Bloomington.

Below, you get a sense of the Vicksburg terrain from the Illinois memorial. 

And this guy will always be there: General Giles Smith, shown here before he was promoted. He was from Bloomington, ran a hotel, and lived in the 600 block of East Front Street. He died in 1871 and is buried at Evergreen Cemetery. At his funeral, veterans fired off a cannon. The cannon exploded!

Wendy Stephens (Cullen)

I do not have any pictures for this theme. It am enjoying seeing what other people post. 

David Brock

Folowing a some shots of the Whie Sands Natl. Memorial.  lt is antural deposit of gypsum, not a true silica sand.  It is also the material from which 'dry wall' is made  It is a very desert like place in Southeastern New Mexico and West Texas.  The sand blows daily, enough to plow the roads regularly.

You can see the depth of sand recently plowed.

Yucca plant

flowers among all the wastela

nd  The wind ripples on the gypsum

David Brock

Sandra posted having trouble with a Rushmore photo.  I don't think I have any at Rushmore, but the first time there, we went to the 'Night Lighting'.  That was quite a sight.  As we left and took the winding road out, we came around a curve and the mountain was lighted and seemed to almost jump out in the nighttime darkness.  At that time Borglum's studio was still out near the Rushmore worksite and w2as an interesting stop.  The Borglum sdtudio has since been moved into Keystone.

David Long

A Monument to the Incarceration of Bad Guys:  Alcatraz

A Monument to the End of WWII:  USS Missouri

A Monument that is or was close to Bloomington:  The St. Louis Arch

And Finally a Monument to Political Termoil:  Our Nation's Capital

TOMORROW - LET'S START WITH EVERYONE CONTRIBUTING A LIST OF THEIR TOP 5 OR 10 FAVORITE COMEDIES.

I spoke with Mel last night and we agree that getting more people involved  with or without pictures is a great way to connect. catch up and get some insight in the lives of our classmates.  I picked. COMEDIES because I need some new movies to watch - I mean, really, how many times can a person watch CADDYSHACK!

Sandra Jeakins (Singletary Sizemore)

     I saw other people were posting pictures with no problems so I tried again and it worked.  This is the pciture I was trying to post earlier of Mt. Rushmore.   I agree with David B. it does seem to jump out at you when you are even miles away.   

David that White Sands National Monument was something I hadn't  heard of but was really interesting.

Thank you Jack.   Your pictures of Vicksburg were very interesting.  I didn't realize Illinois was so involved in the Civil war.  And that was interesting that Genera GIles Smith is buried in Evergreen Cemetery and that the cannon exploded.   Like he was making one last statement.   

Jack Keefe

That's a great look at Mount Rushmore, Sandra.

Posting lists of this or that may produce some great entries, and I'm in favor of going ahead with that. But for classmates like me, who are still sorting pictures, I recommend reviving the photos from time to time. For example, holidays, seasonal, etc. I think there are still some good ones to be had out there, and all that work won't have gone for naught.

Just an opinion. Working now on tomorrow's movie list.

Wendy Stephens (Cullen)

Another list possibility is books.  Books you are rereading, books you want to read, favorite books.

James (Jim) Rookus

James (Jim) Rookus

Sorry for Honest Abe on his side ... but don't know what I'm doing ... could not find any icon on toolbar to rotate!

No photos on phone of monuments but wanted to experiment with sending a pic so this is close as I could come 

This was at a Civil War muster held annually near us so take a few of my grandkids each year. ... funny thing was about 15 minutes later I saw old Abe on his cell phone!  If anyone can advise on how to rotate and how to type message on same post as photo ... would appreciate some help! 🤪

David Long

Since Max is on hiatus from picking themes for next week, I nominate Jim Rookus to pick Monday's Theme! 

Do I hear a Second?

Sandra Jeakins (Singletary Sizemore)

Nice that you tried to post, Jim.   That has happened to a few of us and I think Marvin is the only one that can fix it since he is the adminstrator for the website.

I second the motion for you to pick themes.  But if Monday is too soon you can take my Saturdays.  That will give you some time to think it over.  You were right when you said you found friends after so many years.   That's how I have felt.  Charlie Crabtree got me going to the mini-reunions and everybody made me feel so welcome.   I'm friends with people I hardly knew in school.  And I value their friendship.

Glad you have joined in the fun.

Terry (Max) Maxwell

Dave Long...  Dave Brock took over Mondays in my place.  He has already suggested "Family Fun" for this Monday.  See post # 8181.

Melvin (Mel) Theobald

A lot to process today. First to Jim. I'm thrilled that you have posted something. I'd love to see the photo of Abe on his cell phone. Sandy is right, Marv as the site administrator can fix these photos, but he is on the road back from Florida and won't be able to do that for a day or two. To post photos and type: When you are on the 'Add Post Response' page, enter your type, then the 'Retun' key. When the cursor is on a new line, 'Choose and Upload' your photo, then hit 'Return' again. Once you have a new line, your can begin typing again. Or upload another photo. When you're finished, use the 'Submit' button. You will see your post and, if you want to alter it, go to 'Edit', and it will bring you back to the 'Add Response' page where you can make revisions. And VOILA.

Dave B., I thoroughly loved your photos and description of White Sands National Monument. I was there 40 some years ago. It is among the most surreal places I've ever seen. Thanks for those beautiful shots.

Jack, when Dave L. and I talked yesterday, it was not to do away with photos, but to add a narrative possibility to try getting more people involved. Photo topics will always be welcome. Your efforts will not go to waste.

Dave L., did you just draft Jim? If so, he also gets my vote for Tuesday. Wendy has suggested BOOKS for Wednesday. Maybe you can draft Jack to take another crack at it on Thursday. As Max said, Dave B. has called for FAMILY FUN on Monday.

Now back to NATIONAL MONUMENTS. I wasn't sure what I had, so I looked it up and there is only one National Monument in Illinois and there are only 128 of them in U.S. Territory. Thankfully, I was able to resurrect some old photos that fit the bill.

One of my all time favorite places, Canyon De Chelly, is much smaller than the Grand Canyon and is very accessible without killing yourself hiking up from the bottom. The southwestern states have more monuments than the rest of the country because of their many unique land formations and Native Indian habitats.

Spider Rock, Canyon De Chelly, Arizona 1976

Spider Rock, Canyon De Chelly, 2002

White House Ruin, Canyon De Chelly, 2002

West and East Mitten Buttes with Merrick Butte in Monument Valley, Arizona 2002

James (Jim) Rookus

As Max pointed out Dave Brock already selected family fun for Monday and when I read Dave's suggestion for me to do Monday first thought was grandkids since We have 17 of them who all live near us .... we are consumed with them most of the time... so leave it with family fun!

Mel ... I tried to get a pic of Abe on his cell ... but unfortunately my cell had just gone dead so missed it! Those pics of the canyon were the sharpest I've ever seen of any canyon.  I think even "cooler" than I remember the Grand Canyon.  Although my trip to GC was during high school so perhaps the old memory bank ain't what it used to be 😏

Sandy. ... appreciate your comment.  I have been viewing the Forum's posts going back since it's inception ( up to page 186 as of today ) and have really begun to feel like I know many of you that I never knew at BHS.  I agree with Sandy that the members in the Forum really make everyone new to it feel at home and welcoming.  Really miss Milan's presence .... hw was a very special guy!