Message Forum

Grandkids are such V a blessing ... so much fun and help to keep us young a ... cute photos Marv and Max!

07/26/20 12:25 PM

#8869

Joan Pease (Clark)

I totally missed Silly Saturday, so here is a hummingbird for Serene Sunday. I used to work with a photographer who caught this little guy perfectly in mid-flight.

07/26/20 01:05 PM

#8870

07/26/20 04:23 PM

#8871

Joan, here's to you for picking today's theme, SERENE SUNDAY. This is the beach at the Warren Dunes in Sawyer, Michigan. Sunset over Lake Michigan in 2007. Of course, my sea gulls aren't as impressive as your humming bird.

How about STRANGE MONUMENTS for tomorrow?

So glad to see Janice Kerchenfaut set up her page. Hope she'll join in on the Message Forum.

07/26/20 05:37 PM

#8872

Wendy Stephens (Cullen)

The East coast of Vancouver Island can be extremely stormy but not on this serene day.

07/26/20 07:55 PM

#8873

For Serenity Sunday... Kickin' back on the beach.

07/27/20 12:12 PM

#8874

Today for me it's MONDAY MADNESS trying to work poolside while supervising 5 of the younger grandkids playing the dive for the golf tee game

07/27/20 01:34 PM

#8875

Time for treats from "Rookie's" Snack Shack !

07/27/20 01:38 PM

#8876

Sandra Jeakins (Singletary Sizemore)

Jim, you seem to have your hands full and enjoying every minute. I have no idea how to do Monday Madness, so I'm going with STRANGE MONUMENTS.

I don't know if any of you have been to Collinsville, Illinois, but it is the town where Brooks catsup was made. In 1949 the company built a water tower in the shape of its distinct bottle, which is touted as the world's largest catsup bottle. The base is 100 feet high and supports the 70 feet tall bottle. It was restored about 20 years ago and is a great novelty that was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2002. No doubt Steve and Sandy could make a lot of chili mac if they could get their hands on it.

07/27/20 01:55 PM

#8877

I have seen that bottle of Brooks. It's close to a mall I used to go to. I haven't been there in a long time and the way malls are closing, it may have fallen victim to that, also. I made the chili mac Saturday night and had some family over to enjoy it with me.

Sue, I loved the picture of the four Bent School friends at the 20th reunion. I wasn't at that reunion. I also like the grade school picture on your profile page, taken at Steve Chestney's house. I don't remember why, but I wasn't at that get together either.

Love the Hummingbird! They are the cutest bird. My neighbor's have feeders and I have had them come over to my house and have come pretty close to me. But they don't stay long. It's great to see a picture of them up close.

I enjoy all the pictures everybody has been posting.

07/27/20 02:21 PM

#8878

Now I'm curious as to the spelling of that delectible red tomatoe substance coniment!

In previoius emails I notices Sandy and others were spelling it CATSUP.... We "northerners" spell it KETCHUP... All our brands of Ketchup in the stores use this spelling. Done in your territory, are all brands spelled that way or is it only BROOKS brand? Would be interesting to have feedback from different parts of the USA as to the local spellings on the bottles you buy at your supermarkets! At least something to talk about!

07/27/20 02:44 PM

#8879

Sandra Jeakins (Singletary Sizemore)

Jim, you can find the answer by googling catsup or ketchup. Both are acceptable, but ketchup is the more common version. I used catsup in my post, only because that's how Brooks spells it.

Sandy, how did the chili mac turn out? Sounds delicious.

07/27/20 03:37 PM

#8880

Wendy Stephens (Cullen)

This sort of qualifies as a strange monument. Loveland, Colorado has a stand with this sign.

07/27/20 04:02 PM

#8881

Mel, the chili mac was delicious. Then I made a devil's food and vanilla pudding cake for dessert. It was all really good. Still have some of the cake left, but not much. ha-ha

07/27/20 05:52 PM

#8882

Jim - Those treats look luscious! Was that your share of the treats or did you share? Let's see - 5 g-kids + Jim = 6 and only 4 servings. Hopefully there was another tray somewhere.

Sandy - Cake left? You could have called. I am never in the right place at the right time. That is not true - I just hate when I miss out on dessert .

Below are a few monument photos.

Happened to stumble upon the birthplace of Daniel Webster in 2016 in Franklin, HN. Had no idea where he was born but it was fun to see. Very low key obscure place.

Monument in the center of a traffic circle in Bangkok Thailand. Have no idea of its purpose but it was very impressive.

Ancient cemetery monuments in Narita, Japan.

McLean County Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument at Miller Park in Bloomington on a snow covered winter day in 2013.

The Miller Park monument above was built in 1913 to replace an 1869 monument in Franklin Park. The 1869 version honored the 700 McLean County soldiers that died in the Civil War. It had been struck by lightning and ultimately deteriorated. The remaining portion was moved to a site in Normal where it still stands at the south end of Dawes St. (I found the postcard and photo below on internet)

07/27/20 06:50 PM

#8883

Sandra Jeakins (Singletary Sizemore)

For what it is worth for those that are interested I would like to provide the following statistics regarding our classmate use of the website:

- 165 Classmates currently are website members

- 165 Email notices sent 7/21/20 to all members

- 165 Email notices were confirmed read by classmates since 7/21/20

- 16 Classmates posted forum messages in the past 30 days

- 14 Classmates logged in during the past 24 hours

- 34 Classmates logged in during the past 7 days

- 40 Classmates logged in during the past 30 days

Even more have looked at the message forum that have not been counted. The good news is that all 165 that have joined the website are at least healthy enough to have checked their email since 7/21/20. More good news is that there is more attention to the message forum postings than those actually posting. The bad news is that we only get to hear from 16 out of 165 classmates and that 24 out of 40 that logged in don't post anything. Sure wish they would - HINT HINT .

07/27/20 08:00 PM

#8884

Marvin, that information is very interesting. I called Janice Kerchenfaul Sierck a couple of months ago and had a nice visit with her. I was happy to see she added her profile the other day. I sent her a message saying I was happy she did that and I hope she enjoys the site and feels like joining in with our discussions. She was in my homeroom and I always liked her. She lives in Kansas. I wonder if she lives close to David L.?

07/28/20 12:31 PM

#8885

Quiet day today!! I'll see if I can get it started. TASTY TUESDAY might do the trick.

The pics I have in mind are all from Europe in 2011.

This was a menu display in Schwangau, Germany.

Sausage shop display window in Rothenberg, Germany.

Homer Simpson guy shirt in Pisa, Italy.

Me enjoying lunch in Venice, Italy.

Delicious lunch in Lucca, Italy.

A very thirsty Judy with a small Coke in Italy. Actually, she shared it with me.

A shadow of Judy on the back of a chair in London enjoying a frozen slush. I noticed her shadow as we were taking a rest from a lot of walking and thought it was pretty cool.

07/28/20 03:12 PM

#8886

Marv... You didn't have to go all the way to Germany to take the picture of the sausage squirting ketchup (catsup) on his head. We have one here at the root beer stand in Spring Green. Would have saved you some time and money!!!

07/28/20 03:37 PM

#8887

Max - Thank goodness you told me! I was making arrangements to go back with several people just to see it again. Wish I would have known that in 2011. That was the primary reason I went then. I will need to review my future travel plans with you from now on before wasting all of that time and money.

P.S. - I will let you know when all of us are coming to visit you so we can see your version.

07/28/20 04:16 PM

#8888

Marv...

The root beer stand here has a hot dog, not a sausage. Hope that doesn't make a difference for you. Only problem I have is that I thought it was "just wrong" to put ketchup on a hot dog. Bet the Chicago Dogs by Mel's don't use it on theirs. Mustard, relish, onions, celery salt are all options but not ketchup. Anyone want to weigh in on that? All opinions welcome.

07/28/20 04:29 PM

#8889

Oops... forgot the tomatoes that Marv would have to have on his and a pickle on the side. Sorry... my bad.

07/28/20 04:45 PM

#8890

Okay... I decided I had to google it. It says that you can use ketchup on your hot dog until the age of 18 years old. Then, since you have to grow up sometime, it is no longer allowed. There was also a quote: "Do not put ketchup on your hot dogs. Be assured, God doesn't want you to do that." -Anthony Bourdain-

07/28/20 05:30 PM

#8891

MARV... that plate of small pizzas and the sandwich in Italy look really good!

MAX... sorry but I still like a dog either of 3 ways.... mustard only, (even gray poupon or equivelent) OR chili dog with only chili dog sause... OR ketchup/mustard/thin sliced dills

MMMMMM making me hungry!

07/28/20 06:00 PM

#8892