James (Jim) Rookus

Well ... more cold and snow in Michigan gave some of the family an excuse to head north to ski.  Several great ski resorts 2-3 hours north.  Youngest son Todd and wife Molly took four boys ages 10, 8, 6 & 4 along with two of our older grandkids to Boyne  Mountain and we got to keep 1 yr old Annie,  pictures to follow are all of them at top of a black diamond run ....  and 4 yr old Ivan skiing down it!  NOT for me!

Todd starts them skiing at age 2.  He was a ski instructor at A-Basin in Colorado while out there for 4 years during college in Denver.  He thought me on my 55th birthday ... although I did great and he said I was a "natural" I never did it again!  One day was enough for me ... not drawn to out all day in fridged weather!

Linda Bristow (Elias)

Rod:  Glad you're ok and safe.

10 years ago we had a bad snow and cold.  We had a few rolling outages.  When we received our monthly bill we all had to pay $850.  All of my neighbors were charged that same $850.  It turned out that the electric company coasted and didn't buy up cheap natural gas when it was available to fuel electricity.  Then in an urgency they were charged through the WAZOO for it.   The electric company passed those charges on to us.

As for you all, they must have bought that natural gas from outer space.  I saw on the news there are a lot of charges from $6,000 to $17,000.   That's ridiculous!   It is the company's fault for not running their affairs correctly.  I say sue!  It should be a class-action lawsuit!  That will teach them!!!!!!

Rookus:

Darling photos of the family skiers!   I started my children learning to ski at age 2 also.  I went down many slopes on my back-side just trying to keep up with them at Ski Apache in New Mexico.  Now they all ski black diamond too!  Isn't it just amazing to see the tots skiing better than most adults?

Blessings to you all and your families!

Linda

Melvin (Mel) Theobald

Karen Sue (Suzi) Denton (Merritt)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CUZ!!
 

HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY!!
 

🎂🎁🎉🎈🥂🍨

SUZ
 

Melvin (Mel) Theobald

Melvin (Mel) Theobald

Linda Bristow (Elias)

Holly Rusk:

I hope your family are healthy and safe during this COVID time.  Please let us know how you are.

Love ya, Linda Bristow Elias

Melvin (Mel) Theobald

Hey everyone, still trying to fill Suzi's shoes on the birthdays. She did it beautifully for years and it was like a blast from the past to see her emojis to Boo. In the midst of our Chicago snows and trying unsuccessfully to find a source for THE vaccine, I've been somewhat negligent on Raiders64. So few posts, I want to say thank you to those who are keeping us alert. Jim Rookus, what fun to see those kids skiing. I have never been skiing, but many years ago I did take my kids to the bunny slope in Galena, IL. Sitting in the warmth of a fireplace with a beverage I watched them through the window. Good Dad, Bad Dad. We all had fun. Rod, your report on the Texas power grid was the best reporting of the situation I have yet seen. You should have been a news anchor. Hope all is well. I understand you are back in the 70s. Let's pray that we are over the winter hump. So many have suffered. And Linda, your are ever so thoughtful, but just want you to know Holly is a Rust. Like you, I would love to hear from her and everyone else. What a time we're experiencing? In the spirit of watching my kids ski, I'm sipping on bourbon and watching the snow melt. Kind of like watching paint dry. Dave Long, do you have any new ideas in your bag of tricks? You set off the most dynamic investigation into our post-BHS years. Can you do it again? I miss seeing Wendy, Max, Dave Brock, Sue and all the other classmates who are on or have completed their 75th lap around the sun. Cheers. So many untold stories. Let us hear them.

Terry (Max) Maxwell

I check the Raiders website almost daily to see what is happening.  I don't do much to write about here, but enjoy what others are up to.  On skiing... we started our two boys skiing at age 2, also.  There is ('er was) a local ski area here in Spring Green many years back.  When our oldest son started skiing, I couldn't get him to take a break for lunch, so I went in and bought a cheeseburger from the cafeteria and he'd take a couple bites when getting off of the lift, make another run and stop again for a bite.  That's what a call hooked on skiing.  I was an instructor there and the family could ski free.  Both boys raced on the local team for a few years.  I still have that urge to ski when I can get to Colorado.  Used to go out that way for work once in awhile and could get a day on the slopes now and then, but being retired for 14 years, runs are fewer these days.  

I got my second Covid shot last Thursday, and had no ill effects from either shot.  I've talked to some that felt like they had the flu for 2-3 days after the second shot.  I still think that's better than getting Covid.  
 

I enjoyed reading Rod's entry the other day.  Agree with Mel that he missed his calling.  Keep those stories coming, we're all interested.  Stay safe and healthy     .......~Max~.......

Terry (Max) Maxwell

Forgot to mention in the post above that one winter when skiing at the local ski area, probably 35 years ago, I ran into Doc and Jane Chestney with a group of people skiing there.  That was quite a surprise at the time.

Linda Bristow (Elias)

Mel and Holly:

Sorry for my typo!  I'll watch that.  I didn't read before submitting to post.

Thanks again!

Love to all, Linda

Judith (Judy) Winquist (Neal)

Jack, I am sorry it took me so long to respond to your question. I thought that Mike might have been a relation to John and Bobbie Neal, but wasn't sure how so I called Connie Neal Jackson. She was Mike's niece and this is what she said, " Art senior (who was Mike's father) had a brother Bert and a sister Bessie. We always called Jphn and Bob Neal our uncles but I think they would be cousins to my dad. Wish I knew more on the family history,"  Mike's father had a son Art by his first marriage. After Mike's father became a widower and Mike's mother was a widowed they married and had Mike. Thanks for the post. It was fun to read.

Jack Keefe

Judy, thanks for your reply. The name Neal just jumped off the page at me and I had to inquire. 

For everyone else, here's a query. What became of Steve Evans? I barely knew him but spotted this clipping in the paper six months ago. I'm sending it along to see if anyone can tell us yes or no as to whether it is "our" Steve's obituary. I can't be sure from the photo. Maybe the survivor info will help someone to make the connection. And if you do, please let the rest of us know if this is a classmate from 1964.

Thanks for taking a minute to read this. I hope someone can fill in the gaps.  

Rodney (Rod) Hayes

Jack:  A quick note to you.  I saw your question on Steve Evans.  Like you, I didn't know him well.  But through a few other classmates, I got to know a bit about him.  I looked up the actual Obituary in the Mt. Pulaski paper, and after reading the guest book, I'm sure that he was a member of our class.   At least 2 people on the guest list, who I knew very well, left a message.  Those were Tom Hazelwood and Mike & Jean Hutson.  So, I'm sure this is him, and I, like everyone else, am sorry to hear this news.  Also Jack, I was glad to see the article on the Raider football game.  You'll notice several references to Vandevender, (the QB).  That would be Bill Vandevender, who was a terrific athlete, and went on to play for Wesleyan.  He was with the Bloomington Fire Dept and retired as the Fire Inspector.  He also worked for his Dad at Van's Phillips 66 on Main St by Mennonite Hospital.  It was cool for me to see this, because he and my Dad were great friends.  I played a lot of golf with my Dad and his friends, Bill being one of those, in my teenage years.  We had many outings with his family.  Bill and I played a lot of Ping Pong and Shuffleboard together.  He was a really great person.  It was great to read that about him.  When I saw the article, I did wonder if the Neal's were any relation to Mike. Mike was a good athlete himself.  I still remember when Mike and Judy lived down from my parents.  

Linda - I'll give you an update on the ERCOT FIASCO later.  I guess you do know that 5 Board Members have already resigned.  And, the Law suits have begun.

Linda Bristow (Elias)

 Rod:

I read an article on yahoo yesterday that was breaking down what happened in East Texas and the how's and why's.

They mentioned not purchasing the natural gas.  The whole system breaks down without it.  The lawsuits are going to be some of the largest ever in Texas.

Good luck.

Blessings to you and your family.

Linda

Ann Bailen

This was on a remember Bloomington website today and I had to laugh. So true for Mr. Drew. 

Jack Keefe

Rod, it's good to see you on line as part of the forum from time to time. I like your recollections of Bill Vandevender. I like the cross-generational aspect of friendships like that. Hope you are weathering the Texas weather problems well.  

Melvin (Mel) Theobald

To my dear friend, wish we could hear from you...

Linda Bristow (Elias)

Rod Hayes:

So next Wednesday every busines and school in Texas is going to be opened without masks.  Good Grief Charlie Brown!

I will continue to wear a double mask!

Linda

Rodney (Rod) Hayes

Linda Bristow, (Elias) - The announcement by the Governor wasn't quite what it sounded like.  At least not here in our huge Metro Plex.  Almost all businesses are still requiring masks, and the TEA is requiring all teachers & students to wear masks.  Although I do think he should have waited till maybe May 1st to release the statement he did.  That being said, I think living in El Paso like yourself, I'd be far more concerned with the influx of illegal immigrants flowing into your area, thanks to Mr Mumbles.  I could expound on this subject for hours.  But that's not a subject for this site.  I could also go on for quite sometime about the deregulation of Texas power companies.  But, there is goiod news on that front.  Six of ERCOTS board members have now resigned.  The chairman of PUC also stepped down, and ERCOT's CEO has been let go.  And, you are right in your thoughts.  One power company has been barred from Texas.  The largest supplier of power in Texas has filed for bankruptcy.  And as you suggested, the lawsuits have started. Plus, already two bills have been presented to legislation for complete realignment of Texas power companies.  Living in El Paso, you have no worries because your not part of the Texas power grid system.

Jack;  Thanks for the reply.  Most would not remember, but I was an only child, not my fault, but I had an uncle that spent a lot of time at our house.  He sort of lived there off and on when I was young.  He became my sort of big brother.  As time passed, we became very close and our families did many things together.  He was a 1953 Raider graduate.  So, I was taken under his wing so to speak.  I got to know and run with a lot of his friends.  It was a lot of fun and I got to know many things about B/N that most of us didn't know till we got into HS.

Rodney (Rod) Hayes

Micki Ponsford - Hansen - I saw a bit of conversation on this site, including your name.  I'm pretty sure I may not know you and you probably would not know me.  However, a couple things about you caught my interest.  First, you went to Washington School in 7th grade.  Two things.  I went to Washington School in 7th grade also, and I was woundering where you went to grade school.  I see you live in North Richland Hills, Texas.  I live in Hurst, Texas, which is from 10 to 20 minutes from you, depending on just where you actually live, and traffic.  However, my son lives in Keller, Texas, around the corner from you, and my daughter lives in guess where?  North Richland Hills.  You may be her neighbor?  Who knows?  If your on this site, it would be great to know where in NRH you live.

Melvin (Mel) Theobald

Linda Bristow (Elias)

Rookus:  Happy Birthday and many more healthy and happy ones!

Rod Hayes:  Mickey Ponsford was in Second Grade with us and then moved out of Bloomington.

Have a great day, you all!

Linda

Gail Hempstead (Uphoff)

Linda,

I didn't move to Washington School until third grade and I remember knowing Mickie and drawing in her bedroomwith her.  She could really draw pin-up girl figures.  I know she was in fourth grade because of school photos.  I don't recall later years.

Mel,

Could you Email me if you know of someone good and reasonable that can clean antiques oil paintings

Everyone,

Spring is coming!  Put in some orders from seed catalogs.  Can't wait for garden clubs and garden walks to be back in person.  Still waiting for a vaccine shot.  Family and friends in central IL didn't have any trouble getting the shots but up here in the west sub it seems to be very hard.  Anyone else have a problem?

Gail

Linda Bristow (Elias)

Gail:

You are right!  My apologies! 

She did leave about 4th grade or just after, for Minnesota.   Thank you! 

Hope all is well with you and the animals!

Love ya, Linda