Joan Pease (Clark)

I'm feeling nostalgic about Halloween as I read these recent posts.

We lived on East Chestnut Street from kindergarten through sixth grade, and we always looked forward to trick-or-treating at the fraternity and sorority houses alongside Franklin Park. The house mothers would try to outdo themselves with treats like popcorn balls and caramel apples. (Probably the beginning of my lifelong dental challenges.)

Flash forward to 2003: My late husband Alton and I dressed as a TV and a remote control. Thanks to his costume-making skills, we won some contests at local casinos. This memory always makes me smile.

A friendly boo all of you this coming Halloween!

Linda Bristow (Elias)

Joan: (pass the Pease please)

I love how you think!  The TV and  remote control are just wonderful costumes.  So glad you shared the photo with us!

Blessings to you!

Linda

Linda Bristow (Elias)

Marv:

Lake house would be Casa Del Lago.

How about Stone Terrace?

Hmmmm.  Rolling Stone?

Mine is Southern Cloud.

Good luck!

Linda

Melvin (Mel) Theobald

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

Just wondering if anyone has a favorite costume they have worn in the past. I loved Joan's TV and remote. This was my werewolf look in 1967. OOOOOHHHH, so frightfening. How many of you can add to this? BOOOOO....make something happen here. I dare you to ignore this challenge. No one has an excuse for not posting something.

Gail Hempstead (Uphoff)

Does anyone remember the City of Bloomington Halloween parades and contests?  I remember one year only because my neighbor won a prize in a costume my mother made and I had worn the year before.  We are to have snow showers today so I don't have any idea how many kids may ring my door.  I will answer in my friendly (so not to scare the little ones) witch costume.  HAPPY HALLOWEEN TO ALL

Linda Bristow (Elias)

I live with bars on my doors and windows.  At my old house I could reach through the bars and serve candy to the Trick or Treaters.  However, this house I cannot do that, so, I can't participate anymore.

Linda

Sandra Jeakins (Singletary Sizemore)

Mel, love your costume. Hope it wasn't a full moon that night..  ha-ha  And Joan, the remote and TV were cute.  I don't have any pictures of me dressed up for Halloween when I was young and I haven't  gone to an  adult Halloween party to dress up for.  When I was young, I usually  dressed up in my Grandma's old dress and put powder in my hair to make me look like an old woman.  Now I am an old woman, so I already have that costume on these days.

My oldest Son, dressed up like a pregnant woman once for a party at his church and won best costume.  Then one time Ron put green goop, I think it was flour and water and green food coloring, on both boy's faces and a couple of their friend's faces.  Not sure what they were supposed to be, but it looked pretty cool and they had fun doing that.

I remember when I was young we usually went trick or treating three nights and went to some good homes.  When kids would find popcorn balls or full size candy bars, the word would spread downt the block to be sure and go to those houses. 

I'm with Marvin.  I buy the candy I like and if the Grandkids and the Great-Grandkids don't come by, I have the kind of candy I want.  I don't turn my light on.  There aren't many kids in my neighborhood, anyway.

Janet (Jan) Hitzner (Fries)

One Halloween we were the 3 little pigs and big bad wolf.  Had a great time.  Sometimes, you might even see us pull the  costumes out even when it isn't Halloween.

Jack Keefe

Daylight time ends at 2am Sunday morning, so don't forget to turn your clocks back before you retire Saturday night. It's also a good time to check you furnace filters and change your smoke alarm batteries as we head into the winter season. 

.... and everyone stay well out there. 

Karen Sue (Suzi) Denton (Merritt)

Mike Kaluf passed away last night.  Pam (his x-wife) just called me so I could put it on our web page.  Right now there are no details about a service or burial. 
RIP MIKE 
 

Linda Bristow (Elias)

Thanks Suzi:

So sorry to hear of Mike Kaluf's death.  May he rest in Peace!

Love ya, Linda

Linda Bristow (Elias)

Surprise:  We felt the aftermath of a 5.3 earthquake, 200 miles east, at 3:27 am this morning.  News said that area has felt 591 quakes because of fracking caused by forced water injection to get all the oil possible.

Question:  If you can let the air out of a balloon, the result is a flat balloon.   What happens when you pump oil, natural gas, and water out of a planet (all over the world) for over 100 years?  I'm thinking its helping with the destruction of the outer crust, etc.  I just don't think it was a very smart thing to do for all of these years.  I'm ready for people to think about things before they do them.  How about examining questions of how it will effect others?

Perhaps we are all half-cracked!

Linda

Linda Bristow (Elias)

What are your plans for Thanksgiving?  Staying home, traveling, eating out, or just watching football?

Linda

Sandra Jeakins (Singletary Sizemore)

My Thanksgiving plans are about the same as every year.  The two Sons will come with their wives.  Grandkids and Great-Grandkids come so this year there will be 17 of us.  Only two of the great-grandkids are under the age of 8.  So now small children anymore.  I make everything and people bring things.  I'm cooking a turkey breast and my oldest granddaughter is making a ham.   Then we have all the fixings that go with it. It's the same menu every year.  I found my family doesn't like change.  ha-ha 

After dinner people bring the boxes of Christmas decorations down with the tree and ornaments so I can start putting the Fall decorations away and start Christmas decorating the next day.  They form an assemby line and pass the boxes down the steps so nobody has to walk up and down the steps. Works really well. This is another tradition we have had for several years now. 

I'm thankful for my family and friends, and for my realtively good health and for my home that I've been able to stay in since 1965.

 I pray everyone has a great Thanksgiving.

Linda, what are you doing for Thanksgiving? 

Linda Bristow (Elias)

I have the two professors from India that are vegetarians.  Then, I have 7 friends that live alone and have absolutely no family left.  I always let them take home leftovers.

After dinner at 1:00 pm, I play  50 Shades of Grey to entertain them.  (Every year they want the same movie.) Then, we play Farkle for an hour and have dessert.  Then, they leave!

Whoopee----I get to clean the darn dishes!

Linda

Terri Baxter (Whirrett)

Dave and I are always alone, but my surrogate daughter always invites us to her house that is bustling with family and strays! So blessed to have her in our lives! Peace and Joy to all over this Christmas season! Love, Boo

Linda Bristow (Elias)

My goodness!  Have you all finished grocery shopping for Thanksgiving yet?  What dessert are you serving?

I might show up at your house!

Linda

David Brock

Happy Thanksgiving to one and all.  That is just in case you will be away from your favorite electronic deviceThursday.

Wendy Stephens (Cullen)

I was finishing shopping for my part of Thanksgiving yesterday, and went to add something to my cart and it was gone.  Eventually the man who took it realized his mistake and was quite embarrassed.  I think he thought it was his because we both had an avocado in the same corner.  The store was pretty crazy.  Hope everyone has a wonderful day tomorrow

Linda Bristow (Elias)

So....today everyone can relax after a Thanksgiving dinner.  Hope everyone is well, healthy, and happy.

Blessings to you all!

Linda

James (Jim) Rookus

4GREETINGS EVERYONE AND HAPPY THANKSGIVING WEEKEND !!!

BOY... THE SIGHT HAS BEEN QUIET FOR A LONG TIME..... AT LEAST LINDA IS ALIVE

AND WELL !   I'VE BEEN WATCHING IT CONSISTANTLY, BUT ALWAYS PROCRASTINATING

PLANNING TO REPLY LATER, BUT LATER NEVER COMES.  OUR LIVES HAVE JUST BEEN SO BUSY LATELY THAT I DON'T TAKE THE TIME TO DO SOME THINGS I SHOULD !!!!  

THANKSGIVING WAS FILLED WITH GREAT FAMILY TIME, TOO MUCH GOOD FOOD, 4 EXTRA POUNDS AROUND THE BELLY... AND MANY BLESSINGS OF THE PAST YEAR.    29 OF OUR FAMILY OF 34 WERE TOGEHTER..... NOT A BAD REPRESENTATION .H.. 

I TRUST EACH OF OUR CLASS OF 64 WERE BLESSED WITHT FRIENDS AND FAMILY AS YOU ALL WERE ABLE TO CELEBRATE AND FIND MUCH TO BE THANKFUL FOR.

WE ARE SO BLESSED TO LIVE IN FREEDOM AS WE WATCH ALL THE BLOODSHED AND DEATH IN UKRAINE, ISRAEL AND GAZA... AND MANY OTHER PLACES WHERE PEOPLE ARE SUFFERING.  WE HAVE SO MUCH TO BE THANKFUL FOR....  INCLUDING THE BOND WE HAVE WITH EACH OTHER HAVING SURVIVED SO MANY YEARS SINCE OUR GRADUATION !

BEST WISHES TO ALL....   WHERE HAVE MEL AND MARVE BEEN HIDING OUT ???

Linda Bristow (Elias)

Marv.........hmmmm.  He is probably building a zip line for his Santa sleigh and reindeer!

If you could have anything in the world for Christmas, what would that be?

For myself, I would say a renewed planet earth, before humans caused harm to it.

Linda

Marvin Theobald

Didn't realize I was missed. Guess Jim and Linda want to keep tabs on me to make sure I have not gotten in trouble with Santa. No zip line, but, getting the tikibar & pontoon boat ready for winter, raking leaves, Thanksgiving, planning an annual neighborhood Christmas gathering, putting up Christmas decorations, helping a neighbor cut down & remove a tree, shoveling snow, Mel visits, volunteering to create a spreadsheet to organize records for the Tazewell County Museum, Thanksgiving and dozens of other activities contributed to my focus on website postings being neglected. Another serious influence was the responsibly of disposing of all of the left over Halloween candy discussed a few weeks ago which resulted in numerous unplanned naps.

I'll try to do better, but, realize that Christmas goodies and eggnog season may cause additional periods of website neglect in the next few weeks. Hope everyone had an enjoyable and gluttonous Thanksgiving.

Marvin Theobald

DON'T FORGET

MINI-REUNION

5:00 Saturday at

Barrel House

Melvin (Mel) Theobald

Jim Rookus, in all fairness, you haven't exactly been a regular around here lately. Love hearing from you and anyone else who takes time to share their stories. I'm hesitant to do a self promotion here, but what the heck. I've recently published my 2nd book and will have copies available at the Sat. mini-reunion if anyone is interested. I'm not alone in that I would like to encourage Jack Keefe to also make his wonderful book available that night. Both books have a lot of Bloomington lore that might appeal to our classmates. Jack's book "Echoes of Purple and Gold" is $20 (paperback) and mine, "Time Without Dates" is $30 (hardbound). They will make great Christmas presents.

In addition to that, anyone attending on Saturday, will get a free copy of my 2024 desktop calendar "Chicago Details". If that doesn't give you reason to join us at the Barrel House (see Marv's previous post), I don't know what will.