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Did I mention that Judy Winquist and Diane Tyler are as pretty now as they ever were? (laugh)

I also had a nice talk with Marvin. He brought us this great venue and put a ton of work into it. Without that, many of us would still be strangers. Thanks again, Marvin.

05/08/11 11:42 AM

#1062

Judith (Judy) Winquist (Neal)

Cheryl Turner Hitzner, I am getting closer to Pines. :)

05/08/11 01:20 PM

#1063

Milan, thank you for the kind comments, but we must give the credit for Miss Selk's party to Pat Rosenbaum. She worked hard and long to make it the wonderful celebration that it turned out to be. For those of you who were not there,Tom Barger was the MC and was wonderful! Steve Chestney, Milan, and others helped to "lightly" roast Miss Selk. Some of their comments were hysterical. Miss Selk had her chance for rebuttal and dished it right back (She is so sharp and was able to make us all laugh). Members of the Second Presbyterian Church Chapel Choir and Cantus Novus Choir sang two songs. Then BHS Alums from our era joined with the previous two choirs to sing two more songs. Miss Selk directed the last two with the BHS alums. What fun that was to have her directing us again!

Pat arranged everything, but she is the type of person that works under the radar. I am so happy I got to know her better after our last reunion. Pat has a very witty sense of humor and is so much fun to be around. She and Miss Selk have become dear friends over the years. I am extremely grateful to Pat for giving me the opportunity to be able to renew my contact with Miss Selk. Without a doubt, Mary Selk was and will always be my favorite teacher. She has made such an amazing positive impact on so many lives. That was apparent by the number of people that came to her party (There were people from both coasts of the US). I had such an admiration for her ability to garner the love and respect from her students bringing out the best in us. We always knew she was totally in charge and she made sure her performances were top notch.

Marvin took pictures and some videoes that he hopes to put on Youtube, so her day can be shared by those that were not there. Oh!.............speaking of Youtube..........we had no idea when Miss Selk and I sat down for the first time to play together a year ago last Christmas that it would be posted on Youtube. We plan to practice up and do a better job next time!

P.S. - Mel told me about a week ago the I should read the Forum that there was something posted from Helen that I should read...... Thanks Helen, I knew there was a reason I always liked you!

05/08/11 08:18 PM

#1064

Helen Nicolaysen (Thompson)

Judy, I'm really serious about how great you still look! You need to get the mirror for the person who has changed the least! I received it after our 10 year Class Reunion, but don't think I'll ever be a candidate to receive it get again. I need to bring it to our next Class Reunion and Will it to you. I DO have that same mirror so maybe we could continue passing it on to the next youngest looking candidate in our class after you receive it suppose? By the way, you still haven't shared your secret of keeping such young looks? The rest of us need to know your secret!

05/09/11 12:53 PM

#1065

Jack,

I did miss that picture. What a site. I have got to get back into my old pictures. These are a riot. I read your comment on Ragusa's. I went back and looked at the picture, then I thought about all the Twilight Zones I had watched. I looked at the picture again and it took several minutes to stop laughing. I worked with this guy once who's mother dated Rod Sterling when she lived in CA. and went to college. He says, that she said, he was a very interesting guy. I'll bet. Ragusa's had and still has great bread, but most of their Italian dishes used to be right out of the can. Beningo's was the BEST ever. How did you like the fight this week-end Jack? What about the Derby? I love the Horses. Anybody enjoy this sport. I sort of grew up with it, which most people would never had known. I used to ride out at Blairs. It was there by the Chevy Sales. The last time I did ride, I rode bareback and thought I might never walk right again.

Hey Ed,

Wonderful to hear things are going good. 48 hour pack. Wow! Mine was 5 days each time. Drs. used to blast people back in the day, but they have found that a steady dose over a longer period works much better. Remember, each day that she is on the top side of the grass, is one more day that someone is searching for a new drug, a new method, even a cure. Forget yesterday, focus on today, and never worry about tomorrow. I know it's not easy, but just stay positive.

05/09/11 02:14 PM

#1066

Terry (Max) Maxwell

Rod... you mentioned Doug Hartford. That sure is a fast name from the past. I remember him very well. In the summer of 1962, there was a guy with the last name Brown that lived on Mercier, but can't remember his first name. Anyhow, he was a track fanatic. He called me on the phone and asked if I would be interested in running a relay in Chicago. He got ahold of Doug Hartford from Piper City, Will Watson, who was a great hurdler and 440 runner, from Tremont, and Bob Wheelwright, also a great sprinter, from Roanoke-Benson. We all met at the BHS track for a couple practices in the weeks before the meet. We went to Chicago together and ran a 440 relay. We finished 2nd in a time of 45.2. It was fun to run with those guys. A great experience for me.

A related running story... when I was 42 years old, I decided to come out of retirement to run in the Badger State Games in Madison, WI. I got a relay team together to see what we could accomplish. Well, I decided that I would run the 100 meters as a good warm-up for the relay. At about 90 meters I was out in front and fell and skidded on the rubber surface. I thought that someone in the next lane had stepped on my heel and tripped me. Not so... I blew my achilles tendon and ended up in a full length leg cast for the entire summer. Decided that it was time to go back into retirement for good.

05/09/11 03:03 PM

#1067

Rod, are you thinking about Avanti's bread? Rags has been closed for years. And obviously that picture was taken in the morning before they opened. Just for U High. :)

05/09/11 05:15 PM

#1068

Milan,

That's it. Avanti's. What would we, I mean I do without your history mind. Actually, I never really cared for either one of those places, but the Avanti Bread is very good. They have a store out by the Airport I think, because every time we come back to B/N, we always have to pick up tons of bread to take back. After looking at the picture again, I think, but I'm not positive that after Ragusa's closed down, there was a bunch of trampolines that you could rent by the hour. We used to go out there and do our best to kill ourselves. It was definately in that area if not Ragusa's.

05/09/11 06:05 PM

#1069

Does this look familiar?

05/09/11 09:57 PM

#1070

Happy Birthday Alan Swartz !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

05/09/11 10:59 PM

#1071

Rod, do find your old pictures and post some....that's what people like...at least that's what they tell me. I presume you know who all the players are in that prom pic I posted. The picture was pretty beat up, but Steve Wilson doctored it up and cropped it. I didn't pay to watch Pacquiao-Mosely but got a round by round recap off the computer as it progressed. Also,, I was on the computer on HBO at the same time watching (free) Pacquioa-Margarito for the third time. Pac might be the best ever. I like the Derby, laid down and slept through it, and could kick myself in the rear.

When I look a that Rag's picture, I put some mental Twilight Zone music to it and laugh also. I was on a couple of flights with Rod Serling and the last image I have of him was at Kennedy International, NY, 1970, blue/black overcoat, well tanned and smoking one cigarette after another as we waited for the baggage. (on the same flight Lucy (Lucille Ball) had some "splainin' to do"..they took her off on a wheelchair..........got into the hootch too much).

I never had anything but the pizza at Ragusas, don't remember it, but don't doubt what you say about the other food being canned. First pizza I ever had was Casella's. I was crazy about it. Wonder what I would say today? Some Italian-Americans from Chicago were in Bloomington in the early/mid 60's, had the pasta at Casella's, and for years dubbed it Chef-Boy-Ardee. They even talked about opening a restaurant down there with "real Italian food", which would have been interesting. Never ate there other than pizza either, but don't doubt the other food had a canned quality.

05/09/11 11:07 PM

#1072

Milan, on that Ragusa's pictures you say it was taken early in the morning. My question would be why? I can't imagine Steve Wilson, even as a HS deputy art director, coming up with that product. I thought U-High was smarter than that.....they're university affiliated, you know :)

05/10/11 06:35 AM

#1073

It's about sponsor's money. Not their best foot forward. It sure looked deserted. (laugh)

05/10/11 07:26 AM

#1074

I got kinda busy over the weekend and fell behind on the birthdays. I am sure there was one on May 8 and I didn't get it posted. If anyone knows who I missed, please let me know.

05/10/11 07:29 AM

#1075

I think it's the morning in that Rags picture because as I recall, you parked facing the building. That wagon would be taking up 3 parking places. Just a hunch. :)

05/10/11 08:52 AM

#1076

I figure the guy was so captivated by the Rags aroma that he just impulsively stopped the station wagon and parked illegally.

I also remember when they blew up Rags' kitchen, back in the 60's, and why.

And while were on pizza, "Rags" is also the nickname of a friend of mine (and the late Rocco's), an actual mayor up here, who did a lot of work helping with the development of CJ's pizza. It's real good pizza, in my opinion.

05/10/11 09:04 AM

#1077

Happy Belated Birthday Pat Rosenbaum !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

05/10/11 09:05 AM

#1078

Speaking of pizza, I love Giordano's pizza.

05/10/11 12:19 PM

#1079

Is there a Giordano's in Bloomington now? There is one right up the street from me here.

05/10/11 12:35 PM

#1080

Max,

I don't remember Will Watson, but I do remember Bob Wheelwright. You had a pretty good team and did righnt well for yourselves. And Wow, still running at 42. Just thinking about an injured Achilles Tendon hurts. Here is a funny story, well, not so funny to a guy named Rick. A few years back I worked with this Rick guy. Probsablyin his mid to late 40's. Nice guy and you couild tell he was most likely a pretty athlete in his day. He was always at the Rec Center, running, rowing, stairstepping, shooting a few hoops by himself off and on. Really staying in shape. Then one night a few younger guys needed a player, and Rick decided to join in. After that evening he wore a brace for two weeks, then had an operation on his knee and six months of rehab. End of his hoops days. Good to hear back from you Max. Let me know if you ever decide to run in a Senior Event. Maybe I'll come back for it and pull the trigger to start the race. Ha! Ha! I have a couple other running stories I'll tell you later. They involve betting, alcohol, and ice, so you know these will be good.

05/10/11 12:54 PM

#1081

Jack,

You know a lot more than I do about the fight game, but I would agree with you on Pac. It's strange, because I really don't like the guy, but he's really really good. I think he's a vey smart fighter in that he always studies and knows the guy he is fighting. Ah, Casella's pizza. I'm in the same place as a lot of you guys, because the first pizza I ever had was at Casella's. Greasy, thick, great cheese. I had my first pizza there with Terry Snow. Nobody could eat Casella's pizza like Terry. He would take those long strips, roll them up and inhale the whole thing. He couldn't do that today though. A short word on Terry. He lives here in Texas not very far from me. We go out and eat with him and Di as often as possible. Terry has had some health issues in the past year or so. Nothing really bad, but it could develop into something more. I'll keep everyone updated. I'll see him next week, I hope. We always go to the Colonial Golf Tournament together every year. So you saw Lucy. What a Hoot she was. And you saw the Twilight Man, how cool is that. Sometime later I'll tell you about the time I met Evil Knievel. Man I wish I had a picture of me talking to him.

05/10/11 01:16 PM

#1082

No Giordanos in Bloomington/Normal. Jessica went to Northwestern and we ate at one up there a lot. Good times.

05/10/11 03:38 PM

#1083