A Thought for Today

Hey Raiders .... When it rains it pours !! A story about Carol and my romantic Valentines Day !!! Friday we had 4 repair persons at our house to repair the non working gas logs ... water heater giving off a very minimal amount of hot water ... a plugged kitchen sink .... and then that technician sending another out to check the now leaking garbage disposal ... then Sat afternoon the furnace went off .... later it came on on again ... then by yesterday as I'm on my way to Indianapolis to pick up my son from a ski trip to Colorado, the furnace went out again .... then repair person # 5 discovered a cracked heat exchanger and turned it totally OFF .... Last night at about midnight sitting across from each other in front of the roaring fire to keep warm in the 58 degree coolness, our devotions finished I jokingly stated as usual with us more distress ... what's God trying to teach us now ??? Carol got up and as doing so turned her body to the right to more directly face me and somehow tripped and twisted actually falling towards me into my catching arms !!! ( This could have been a comical skit on Saturday Night Live!) NOW praying for our wisdom in making a bunch of decisions about all this stuff and dealing with it !! As we left this am at 8:30 to the Dr to look at Carols sprained / broken ankle the heat contractor arrived to estimate how much I'll have to pick off the money tree 🌳 to replace it. ! Of course at last minute she had to get someone to take over leading her Bible StudyGroup this AM at church! Finally X-ray showed no break so a bad sprain and if not improved in few days will X-ray again. Hmmm perhaps God's sense of humor to keep us humble and dependent on His caring for us. Thankful he got the fireplace guy out prior to the furnace going out! HOPE YOUR VANENTINE DAY WAS MORE ROMANTIC THAN OURS !!!

02/18/25 02:43 PM

#11450

Jim,

We feel your pain. We have a quote to replace our HVAC which sits on the roof of the condo and requires a crane to remove and replace. I'll trade you quotes if you're interested.

Here's a LITTLE humor to brighten your day.

02/18/25 06:43 PM

#11451

Thanks Dave.... good one..... We always try to find a lesson and the good side of every set back ! Sorry for you needing yet another proceedure ! That phantom pain seems to be a real problem. Will be praying for successful results !!!

02/20/25 02:07 PM

#11452

Hi all,

Surgery went well. Now for the 4 - 6 week recovery before I can put my prosthetic leg back on. Because they had to operate with me face down and with a trac tube, they also had to tape my eyes closed. When we got home, I couldn't see clearly and watching a little tv was not good. Finally figured out that they had put a cream or gel on my eyes before taping the pads on and some of the gel had actually seeped onto my eyeball. Yay, I wasn't going blind! Thanks for all the kind thoughts.

02/20/25 02:51 PM

#11453

Humor For Today

02/20/25 06:14 PM

#11454

Hey Dave ..... I guess I'll have to start using that old guys method of a few critical things in the wrong place, and see if that gets me out of dishwasher duty ! Glad your surgery went well but sorry your de-commissioned for 6 weeks ! Do you get around on crutches in the mean time? I hope you don't have to stay in and watch TV all day

Grandson IVAN aka ALFALFA..... paid us a visit today

02/21/25 03:23 PM

#11455

David Brock

David, Glad your surgery went well. Recovery, it seems, always takes longer than expected. Will pray for your recovery and patience.

02/22/25 09:58 PM

#11456

David Long:

Praying for your healing!

Linda Elias

02/23/25 01:37 AM

#11457

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

TERRI ( BOO )

BAXTER WHIRRETT

HOPE YOU HAVE A

MARVLOUSE AND

BLESSED DAY !!!

02/27/25 08:58 AM

#11458

Good Thursday morning!

I woke up to the sound of flying garbage cans amidst 40 mph winds. From yesterday's garbage pickup, it seems that many neighbors didn't put their cans away. Now, they Gone With the Wind!

This site has been quiet for a few days. What is new with you all?

Linda

02/27/25 05:14 PM

#11459

LINDA ..... I wonder if many of our classmates are forgetting how to sign on to their computers ? Or they don't remember where they placed it ????

03/02/25 07:37 PM

#11460

Marvin Theobald

I found it (my computer that is)! It was on vacation in the Florida Keys. Guess since I am here I might as well stick around and enjoy the weather and the beach. Judy and I left home Jan 11 and visited family and friends in Texas, Alabama and central Florida arriving in Key Colony Beach Florida Feb 1. We will start back north March 31 making a few stops along the way. We love being away from the Central Illinois winter weather. The temp highs are typically about 76 +/- 2 degrees and we get out to enjoy it as much as we can. A couple of friends and I will be playing golf this week which is always fun. I am not very good at it but it is an easy par 3 nine hole course. Perfect for an old guy with limted skills.

We walked to a ocean side park a couple of days ago to see the sunset (photo below). Another photo is from our second floor condo patio. The water color is every bit as beautiful as the photo captures. We walked to a local festival this afternoon that among other things has an annual "barracuda race". They have six 10' vinyl gutters setup in parallel filled with water and flip gates at one end of each gutter. People place $1 bets on a numbered gutter (race track). Barracuda minnows about 5" long are placed behind each gate. The gates are flipped open and the minnows race to the opposite end of the gutter. The first to get there is declared the winner and bets are paid accordingly. Always fun to watch (Photos below).

The annual Marathon Seafood Festival is next weekend and we always look forward to checking out the 100 or so artisan booths and food vendors. Time will catch up with us all too soon and we will be headed back to the real world in a few weeks. Until then we are appreciating our winter break.

Barracuda Race Track

Betsa re Placed

Barracuda Athletes are in Starting Boxes

Gates Ready to Open

Finish Line

03/02/25 07:51 PM

#11461

Marvin Theobald

Dave - Hope your surgery was a success and that your recovery is going well. Hopefully we will see you in Bloomington when the weather is better.

Jim - You should be set for years now that your house has been completely renovated. Nothing left to break down except for .... a thousand other minor things. Hopefully nothing else will need repair for years. Good luck with that. At least you don't have a boat. They need repairs every time you blink.

Linda - Guess the garbage cans will just find new homes where ever the end up. Your neigbors can just divy up whatever cans they find. Guess lost garbage cans are a minimal loss compared to other disasters that have been occurring.

Here is an addition to Dave's humor.

03/03/25 12:10 AM

#11462

GLAD TO SEE YOU BACK MARV..... NOW THAT YOU FOUND YOUR LAP TOP, HOPE WE WILL SEE MORE OF YOU.... BEEN MISSING YOU !!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

PAUL HANSEN

HOPE YOU HAVE A

GREAT AND

BLESSED DAY !!!

03/03/25 10:50 PM

#11463

Heard today that Univ. of Texas at El Paso, TX: Professor found that medication for Malaria is curing cancer and leaving healthy cells.....healthy. They mentioned the curables were melanoma, breast cancer, and a few other types.

Good news!

Linda

03/05/25 08:40 AM

#11464

Marvin:

The last two lines of my last comment was the absolute intent of my communication. The site had been quiet, and, what is new with you!

Sorry if you found it differently intended.

Linda

03/05/25 03:58 PM

#11465

Wow LINDA .... sounds like great news ... I hope it's true and quickly implemented! I've been watching the national news hoping to hear something about it, BUT nothing yet! Must be a well kept Texas secret for now 😊

03/05/25 07:18 PM

#11466

Marvin: I was referring to the garbage cans.

Rookus: The malaria medicine curing cancer was on tv here.

Linda

03/09/25 01:08 PM

#11467

Hi All,

Quick update:

The surgeon removed a neuroma from my residual limb (aka stump) the size of an old time shooter marble. Just saw the pictures last week. Interesting seeing the inside of the leg and all the nerves with clips attached to identify each so they get reconnecetd ot the correct place. . Can't wear my leg for another 3 weeks as the stitches haven't dissolved yet,

SEE NEXT POST FOR A NEW 'CHALLENGE' IN AN ATTEMPT TO GARNER SOME MORE INPUT FROM THE CLASS!

03/09/25 01:38 PM

#11468

Here's the latest thought / question:

In the almost 51 years since we graduated in 1964, I'm sure most of us have gone on some interesting Road Trips.

What have you encountered in your adventures?

Tell us the Story!

Be it: hilarious; Frightening, Wonderful,Sad, Joyful, Soulful, or any other thing that comes to mind!

PRIZES: To make it more interesting, I'm offering prizes!

Winners of the various categories will win a Free Pancakes at your local IHOP on February 28th, 2026! I know a guy - !

Looking forward to some interesting reading. Thanks for participating!

03/09/25 05:04 PM

#11469

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

JIM ROOKUS ... 3/8

SANDRA HARDIN BROOKS ... 3/9

VIRGINIA SPRY MORRISON ... 3/9

HOPE YOU HAVE A

GREAT AND

BLESSED DAY !!!

03/11/25 04:13 PM

#11470

Hi All!

Since there seems to be a lack of interest in sharing interesting stories, let me share a couple of thoughts with you:

A-We-Ma-Way, A-We-Ma=Way, A-We-Ma-Way....In the Jungle, The Mighty Jungle...The Lions Sleeps Tonight......

You'll Wonder Where the Yellow Went When You Brush Your Teeth with Pepsident

Where's the Beef?!?

My Bologna Has A First Name; it's O-S-C-A-R; and My Bologna Has A Second Name, M-E-Y-E-R....

It Takes A Licken' and Keeps On Ticken'.......

You're Welcome! !

03/11/25 11:45 PM

#11471

HAPPY BIRTHDAY !!!

Suzi Denton Merritt &

Dianne Schaffer Troxel

Hope YOU BOTH have a special and

wonderfully blessed day !!!

03/12/25 12:58 AM

#11472

Last summer I began taking you along on our trip across country from Michigan to Santa Cruz California, traveling by car 7200 Miles in about 25 days and visiting 9 National Parks. I got sidetracked with our 60th reunion and then posting those pictures and never resumed.

HERE GOES THE CONTINUATION........

We left off in Montecito after the disappointment of Oprah and Megan & Harry not having us in for tea.

HURST MANSION off in the distance along Highway 1

Lots of Sea Gulls and rock formations along the coast

EVEN a Lighthouse along the way

(Nothing in comparison to LAKE MICHIGAN LIGHTHOUSES !)

Finally drove through Big Sur... didn't even see the ocean there.... in a hurry to get to the wedding so not enough time to stop and investigate !

THE BEST IS YET TO COME !

03/12/25 11:44 AM

#11473