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

Melvin (Mel) Theobald

Give us an update. We would love to hear from you...

Melvin (Mel) Theobald

Oh how fun it would be to see you posting here...

Melvin (Mel) Theobald

Gail, I just sent you a message on your profile page. Please give me a call sometime.

I don't know if this will help. It seemed to take forever, but I finally got my first shot last Friday at Rush Hospital in Chicago. They have been making appointments even if you are not a patient. You might want to call them at 888/352-7874. There will be a few questions, but when they ask if you have a MyChart with Rush, answer yes and you will be able to talk to someone who will sign you up. You'll need your insurance and Medicare cards handy. Hope that works for you. The whole process was extremely well organized.

To everyone else, the Tribune had a great article on Monarch Butterflies this week. I hope all of you planning gardens will add a generous quantity of common milkweed plants.

Gail Hempstead (Uphoff)

Mel,

Do you remember the date of the butterfly article?  I don't get the Trib everyday.  Sometimes if I am behind I just skip it and pass it along to my neighbor.  I put the paper on a table on my porch.  She doesn't care if they are a couple days old.   We exchange magazines that way too.

To all,

I checked out my lawn for the first time this season when I noticed a bunch of crocus blooming.  Don't want to uncover plants yet but wanted to see what was peeking up.  Sorry to say weeds seem to had made it through the winter too.  Five gal bucket in hand I started after them .

Linda,

After I ask my son if it is ok to post a pic of my granddaughter with degus I'll give you an update.  It was not as easy as old days with hampsters!

Melvin (Mel) Theobald

Gail, the monarch article was on the front page of the Mon., March 8 Tribune. I don't know if you can open the link without a subscription, but this is it:

https://digitaledition.chicagotribune.com/html5/desktop/production/default.aspx?&edid=0708bc82-7d3e-417b-853d-80646201b43c

I have also made a copy and will try to post it, but it may be too lo-res to read. Looking forward to hearing from you.

Linda Bristow (Elias)

Gail:

I got a kick out of you checking with your child before you post their child and pet on-line!

My whole family is not allowed to do so.    Although, I would love to see your grandchild and pet!

Best to you!

Love ya, Linda

Linda Bristow (Elias)

Monarchs pass through El Paso every year.  Because their home in Mexico has been reduced, they are now quite scarce.  When reporters here asked about the scarcity and how protected their home was, it was being challenged and lessened at that time.  It has now been several years since the issue has become quite a fright.  I love that you all are so aware of this issue!

I'm up with protecting Mother Earth!  Sometimes, I wonder if I want to protect some of the people though!  Their idea of progress does not always align with my concepts of progress!  Glad to be from a farming state that will be acutely aware of the propogating that these beautiful butterflies provide!

Instead of corn, beans, and wheat being Illinois commodities I have become more knowledgeable about cotton, green chile, pecans, and the Rio Grande Valley needs for water irrigation!

Linda

Jack Keefe

Just a reminder: SPRING FORWARD this weekend. That is, set your clocks ahead one hour before you retire saturday night. Daylight Savings Time is upon us once again, and is the surest sign of spring I know.

Everyone stay safe.

Melvin (Mel) Theobald

Melvin (Mel) Theobald

It's your turn birthday girl. 

Linda Bristow (Elias)

Suzi and Shaffer-Happy Birthday!

Love ya, Linda

Julie Hart

i just got caught up on messages from right before christmas.  

like linda here in east texas we aren't in the ERCOT grid (unlike poor rod.)  I didn't have any problems except i don't think a lot of my bushes made it.  of course every single weed thrived and for some reason there's been a lot of gnats.  got 10 inches of snow, -5 degrees one night, then a layer of ice on top.  took several days before it was warm enough to melt.  since there's no such thing as a snowplow here life was dead for a week.

my daffodils made it just fine.

Julie Hart

it's weird you were discussing the monarchs.  the last trip i took  february 2020 was to mexico to the monarch sanctuaries.  i was a little nervous since michoacan is a state dept. level 4 do not travel area but had no problems. i figured if i could go to iran i could handle mexico 

went to myanmar in january last year - i sure wouldn't be going there now.  it's a great country and i'd recommend it to anyone.  we were hearing about covid in myanmar and there were a lot of chinese there that wanted to leave their country to avoid their chinese new year.  they were all masked and often had on those cheap transparent gloves.

i'm vaccinated so have returned to the gym.  even before abbott's rather premature proclaimation no one there was wearing a mask. starting bridge next week.  can't wait!

of course all my planned trips for the rest of 2020 were canceled.  as well as ones in february and may this year.  hoping my july trip will make it.

here's some butterfly pics.

sorry sideways