The Message Forum is an ongoing dialogue among classmates. The goal is to encourage friendly interaction, including interaction among classmates who really didn't know each other. Experience on the site has revealed that certain topics tend to cause friction and hard feelings, especially politics and religion. 

Although politics and religion are not completely off-limits, classmates are asked to be positive in their posts and not to be too repetitive or allow a dialog to degenerate into an argument. 

Forums work when people participate - so don't be bashful! Click the "Post Response" button to add your entry to the forum.

David Cordell

My parents made it to 80 and 85, but I really wasn't around them very much as an adult. Left for school at 18 and never lived near them as an adult. I feel like Bobby and Hull, but more fortunate since my parents lived longer. I really do wish I had lived closer to them.

Meanwhile, as a marked change of pace, here are a few chuckles from doctors and nurses, forwarded to me by a non-posting observer.

1.  A man comes into the ER and yells . . .  'My wife's going to have her baby in the cab.'

I grabbed my stuff, rushed out to the cab, lifted the lady's dress and began to take off her underwear.

Suddenly I noticed that there were several cabs - - -  and I was in the wrong one.

Submitted by:  Dr. Mark MacDonald,
San Francisco

2.  At the beginning of my shift I placed a stethoscope on an elderly and slightly deaf female patient's anterior chest wall.

'Big breaths,’ I instructed.
'Yes, they used to be,’ Replied the patient.

Submitted by:  Dr. Richard Byrnes,
Seattle, WA

3.  One day I had to be the bearer of bad news when I told a wife that her husband had died of a massive myocardial infarct.

Not more than five minutes later, I heard her reporting to the rest of the family that he had died of a 'massive internal fart.'

Submitted by:  Dr. Susan Steinberg

4.  During a patient's two week follow-up appointment with his cardiologist, he informed me, his doctor, that he was having trouble with one of his medications.
'Which one?’ I asked.
'The patch.'
'The Nurse told me to put on a new one every six hours and now I'm running out of places to put it!'

I had him quickly undress and discovered what I hoped I wouldn't see.  Yes, the man had over fifty patches on his body!

Now, the instructions include removal of the old patch before applying a new one.

Submitted by:  Dr. Rebecca St. Clair,
Norfolk, VA

5.  While acquainting myself with a new elderly patient, I asked, 'How long have you been bedridden?'

After a look of complete confusion she answered, 'Why, not for about twenty years - when my husband was alive.'

Submitted by: Dr. Steven Swanson,
Corvallis, OR

6. I was performing rounds at the hospital one morning and while checking up on a man I asked . . .  ' So how's your breakfast this morning?'
'It's very good except for the Kentucky Jelly.  I can't seem to get used to the taste,' Bob replied.

I then asked to see the jelly and Bob produced a foil packet labeled 'KY Jelly.'

Submitted by:  Dr. Leonard Kransdorf,
Detroit

7.  A nurse was on duty in the Emergency Room when a young woman with purple hair styled into a punk rocker Mohawk, sporting a variety of tattoos, and wearing strange clothing, entered.  It was quickly determined that the patient had acute appendicitis, so she was scheduled for immediate surgery.

When she was completely disrobed on the operating table, the staff noticed that her pubic hair had been dyed green and above it there was a Tattoo that read . . .  ' Keep off the grass.'

Once the surgery was completed, the surgeon wrote a short note on the patient's dressing, which said, 'Sorry . . .   Had to mow the lawn.'

Submitted by:  RN no name,

AND FINALLY!!

8.  As a new, young MD doing his residency in OB, I was quite embarrassed when performing female pelvic exams.
To cover my embarrassment I had unconsciously formed a habit of whistling softly.

The middle-aged lady upon whom I was performing this exam suddenly burst out laughing, further embarrassing me.

I looked up from my work and sheepishly said . . .  'I'm sorry. . .  Was I tickling you?'

She replied with tears running down her cheeks from laughing so hard . . .

'No doctor but the song you were whistling was, 'I wish I was an Oscar Meyer Wiener.'

Dr. wouldn't submit his name...

1 MORE. . .

Baby's First Doctor Visit

This made me laugh out loud.  I hope it will give you a smile!

A woman and a baby were in the doctor's examining room, waiting for the doctor to come in for the baby's first exam.

The doctor arrived, and examined the baby, checked his weight, and being a little concerned, asked if the baby was breast-fed  or bottle-fed.

'Breast-fed,' she replied.

'Well, strip down to your waist,' the doctor ordered.

She did.   He pinched her nipples, pressed, kneaded, and rubbed both breasts for a while in a very professional and detailed examination.  Motioning to her to get dressed, the doctor said,
'No wonder this baby is underweight.  You don't have any milk.'

'I know,' she said, 'I'm his Grandma, but I'm glad I came.' 

Bob Davidson

Lowell is right, everywhere we went is inner city Houston. Where I live is a mile or so from downtown in a neighborhood "gentrifying" from professional middle class to trust fund asshole rapidly. Every week a couple of 100+ year old houses are demolished so they can build million dollar plus mcmansions.

The people buying the new houses seem to be Anglos in their 30s, drive Rovers and Mercedes Benzes, and put up black lives matter and Biden signs in their gated yards. Most of them don't go to work -- and didn't even before the coronavirus. Inner loop Houston has lots and lots of very young white people who have more money than I've ever dreamed of. (We had several of them in our Scout troop -- one where dad is writing a novel and mom works for a non-profit and they live in a $2 million house.)

Before the pandemic, they were everywhere in the restaurants in the trendy inner city: Montrose, the Heights, Midtown, West U, the Washington Corridor, Museum District, etc. Now they aren't in public.

Debbie Cathey (Havens)

Debbie Cathey (Havens)

Bob Davidson

Ron Knight

This is my own rant for the evening.

I received a $5.00 coupon from eBay because I did not receive a purchase I ordered. I did receive a refund. They were so kind to send me this with a redemption code and apologies for a future purchase. I have tried to use the coupon TWICE and it doesn't apply. I made sure I followed the rules that the purchase had to be at least $10.00 before the coupon could be applied. NOT!!!! I know my old friends think of me as being frugal. And $5.00 doesn't count for a "hill of beans". But, it's the damn principle that pisses me off. I know my attorney daughter would agree why I am pissed, but I am sure she would not take this on as a frivilous lawsuit against a giant in the retail world of the internet.

I don't want anyone's $5.00 from our class. ALL I want is that if someone says they are going to do something, then F'ing do it!!!!!!!!

David Cordell

Quick, while this still works.

Go to your browser and type in www.antifa.com.

Debbie Cathey (Havens)

David Cordell

Shared by a non-posting classmate.

Lowell Tuttle

I know most of you 70 year olds don't think much of sports right now, but, I just finished watching the Rockets and OKC.

Chris Paul is the best little basketball player, proven to me for about the 4th or 5th time.   I don't know how the Rockets won.

(this part is an edit.)  Chris Paul reminds me of Bobby Fleming playing basketball..Actually, all the guards we used to watch,  David Grant, Frank Honeycutt, Scottie Baxter...All pretty cool and co ordinated under pressure...

No politics in sports?  Chicago Blacksox trial, Curt Flood and the Reserve Clause, Title IX, player unions, US and Russia boycotting the Olympics, Political campaign contributions by just about every owner in every major league, criminal trials against football (world cup soccer) patriarchs, even cities, counties, and states buying and building sports arenas instead of spending on other tax spenditures.

Halftime of the Rockets game had an interview with the director of Sunshine Kids here in Houston and showed how happy all those kids were seeing those Rockets visiting with the kids.

Get over it.  Sports is great...National Anthem or no National Anthem...

Lowell Tuttle

Never mind, I just saw the picture is in memories...O well...Basketball 6th grade team.   Mr. Simms coach.  I don't know who we played the championship game against.  Every game we played we played first, second and third string in periods 1, 2, and 3 respectively, and then the 1st string in the 4th period.  I think our first string was Grant, Fleming, Rock Rollins, Glenn Messmer and I don't know who else.  In the championship game, against (Dover?  Northrich?  Terrace?) the first string played the whole game.  We won that game 7-6.

Wish I could remember all the players and what string.  I think Kirkpatrick was with me 3rd string...Studying the old Heights pictures might help.

Randy Combs, Bubba Bostick, Dick Gentry and Tommy Thomas...

Inline Image Not Displayed

Bob Fleming

Lowell,  It was Spring Valley Elementary - Baxter, Twichell, et al.

Bob Davidson

Debbie  --  I pray that we are both wrong and that we are just going through a bad time that will end.

I think I'm just feeling particularly discouraged the last few weeks.

I got test results back and found out that the stomach flu that knocked me out last week wasn't coronavirus. 

Yesterday I had a trial via Zoom that went totally askew.  I'm 20+ years older than the other lawyer and the witnesses and 35 or so years older than the 2010 law school graduate judge.  I hate, hate, hate questioning witnesses on a computer screen -- they are home, you have no idea if someone is out of sight coaching them, there is no sense of human presence, etc.  In the middle of things, my computer mouse partially stopped working.  I was clicking on icons and nothing was happening so I couldn't share documents.  When I couldn't bring up my documents or look at the ones the other lawyer was using, the judge became angry and started treating me like a bewildered old fool -- "Mr. Davidson, in the age of COVID you are responsible for mastering the court's electronic system.  The instructions are clearly posted on my website.  I will give you five minutes to try to figure out how to use your computer and am warning you that this court has limited time available for your hearing."

I opened up a laptop, set it up for the zoom, accessed dropbox and got to the docs in a feverish five minutes -- then opened the incredibly sleazy opposing counsel's documents on my phone and read them in tiny print.  By the time everyone looked over things, including me, we lost about a half an hour and could not finish the trial.  The judge bawled me out more, denied several motions she should have granted, and left me feeling like I don't want to do this any more -- I love trial work when I'm in a courtroom, the people involved are physically there, and I have real paper documents I can handle.  This trial by Zoom is part of what is making life seem like that nasty pseudo-cheese sauce they put on the "nachos" at sporting events.

I miss actually socializing with real people, visiting my 91 year old mother, going to actual church instead of that idiotic video ritual, being at the courthouse and getting business done face-to-face, talking to people without both of us wearing that blasted mask, etc.  That trial yesterday brought it home -- I really hate the way the world is right now.

I have another Zoom hearing in ten minutes -- with that same judge on another case.  I bought a new mouse and it is installed and working.

Lowell Tuttle

Bobby Fleming.  Posting on the other website a little about my Canada stuff.  Saw your answer here and was just wondering, what's up with your Newfie property?  Do you have a caretaker, or handyman like Combs to look in on your stuff?

I assume you did not get to go this year   Houston heat is something, eh?  You were freakin I am sure over Laura for afew days.  We are supposed to get some respite next week...just in time for my 9 17 to 9 19 golf tournament.  Man, I feel sorry for my partner...I am a lousy swoing right now.

Also, there was an article in the Chronicle this week about all the issues folks are having relinquishing their US citizenship (ex pats.)  A lot of tax law changes of the past decade...Have you ever thought about those winters and going up permanently?

David Cordell

Lowell,

I don't think of the singing the National Anthem as being political. It is normal. We've done that for our entire lives. (Kids at my wife's school say the Pledge of Allegiance every day.) Deciding not to sing the National Anthem strikes me as political. That said, we conservatives honor the anthem, the flag, and the country, we don't tear down statues or throw rocks or fireworks at the police. We are happy to have opportunities to show our pride in the country, in spite of what's going on these days.

Lowell and Bobby,

Yes, it was Spring Valley, and the muscle on that team included a guy named Joel, who seemed to have a full beard, and the late Clint LaRue. Baxter was a real gunner, and I seem to remember that they scored 100 points against someone. I was a second stringer on the Heights team but didn't even get into the 7-6 game. Grant and Fleming, totally winded, were still a lot better than I was. Even Mr. Simms could figure that out.

Bobby, you spoke of a "sense" concerning your parents. I look back on my athletics activities and have a sense, in addition to specific memories, of a couple of games. That Spring Valley game is one of them, even though I didn't play. We were such underdogs. The other was another underdog game. I was playing football for St Mark's in 8th grade against Lake Highlands. They scored to lead with just a few seconds left. Then, pardon the immodesty, I ran back the kickoff "straight up the gut" for a touchdown to win. Actually got carried off the field. The main thing is that we were supposed to get slaughtered by the big public school.

I learned later that I almost got caught at the end of that runback by a kid named Rick Bibby. I ran against him at least a couple of times in the 100 yard dash in ninth grade when I was at Belt Line, and he beat me by a yard or so both times.

Oh, and one other game that has been discussed in this space. In ninth grade, the Belt Line Broncos were going to play the RJHS Falcons, and the word was passed around that the Falcons were going to rough me up a bit. Let's just say it didn't happen. I have a really good sense of that one.

Winning when you're supposed to win isn't especially satisfying. Winning when you were expected to lose, and winning by coming from behind -- those are the really gratifying wins that stick in my mind.

Well, there were some high school games, too. 

Lowell Tuttle

Seeing Johnnie Powell in that basketball team photo, I was thinking he was the 5th starter, but it was Mr. Thomas.   Tallest guy, I guess...your right about Mr. Simms....a smart guy, though because of his age and walk I think we viewed him as a little slow in our 6th grade class.  He used to leave us alone after lunch period, no teacher.  For some reason he got a kick out of going over to Ms. Kraft's class and hanging out there rather than policing our bunch of misfits.

In grade 4-5-6 it was pretty much Fleming the fastest guy, until one day, Johnnie Powell ran a race.  It was no question from then on who was the fastest....but by the time Cordell came back and was the fastest, Powell was running distance. 

I knew Tommy Maupin after we graduated, and he was very very fast....His dad told me he started running long distance years before high school....He had the 880 record for the State of Texas for quite a while, I think...3-4 years ahead of us...Played with us on the church softball team, fast pitch...1st Baptist had Woody Blacketer (sic?)  who could hum it by you ear seemingly about 110 mph...

David, on your other political comment, for some reason conservatives think of themselves as owner of patriotism.  Growing up in DC (first 8 years) and going back for quite a few events, it's amazing to me that such a place of Democrats show up so much at the military, jingoistic patriotic events...I would say a lot more than down here...And...while there may be some (in your eyes,) lack of patriotism amongst liberals, waving a US flag with a swastika also isnt very patriotic.  Back and forth back and forth back and forth...I give up.

g

Bob Fleming

HI Lowell - I couldn't go to Newfoundland this year; they closed the island (literally halted all ferries) and opened up only to those traveling by air into the capital of St. John's - Newfies coming home from work abroad and/or essential workers (some non-citizens necessasry to the oil industry).

Their social solidrity up there is impressive.  All who arrive on the island are tested and if positive are quarantined two weeks.  There has been no resistance whatsoever to social distancing or mask orders.  The "shut down" of business, etc. was rigorous.  My friend owns the coffee shop/pub in Bonavista which is generally the busiest establishment in town.  It just fully re-opened a week or so ago.

They have done a remarkable job and have successfully shut down the island and the number of case at any one time is 0-2 people total.  Basically the virus is eradicated.

A friend looks after my house; we are contemplating going for a month in late October though a two week quarantine is a steep price to pay.

And no - I have never contemplated living there year round.  After 15 years we have many, many friends BUT still "I come from away" and I don't "belong to Bonavista."  I "belongs" to Texas.  Newfie hospitality is legendary and their reputation as a welcoming people well deserved.  Still,you gotta go home, eh boy?

You are not required to relinquish U.S. citizenship to beocme Canadian (though Ted Cruz renounced his Canadian citizenship when running for President.)  I know a number of liberal Americans who have moved to Newfoundland to escape the election of Republicans like Bush and Trump considering Newfoundland as friendly to liberals.  Conversely, I know Americans that have moved to  Newfoundland to escape the lection of Obama considering the island to be more cnservative than the U.S.  Go figure.

By the way, it's hard to make a living in Newfoundland.  Most people are working in the States or Canada for months at a time or on the North Sea oil rigs.  Newfies do the hardest work in Canada.  Often in Nunavut.  The really hardy still go out on the North Atantic in small boats to fish.   Some to the Arctic Circle. (I cannot tell you the every day courage required to do such a thing.  Sweet Jesus.)

I've taken up too much space.  I will remember to tell you a story about Newfoundland politics sometime soon.  It's good for a laugh.

David Cordell

Bobby,

Have you seen the musical "Come from Away" about the 39 planes full of people that landed in Newfoundland on 9/11? We saw it in Dallas in March, just before COVID-19 shut everything down. It is really an interesting show, and Newfies' hospitality is clearly demonstrated. Martha listens to the album a lot on her Amazon Echo/Alexa. Just say, "Alexa, play Come from Away."

Wayne Gary

David, Lowell

For 20 years I have had a Scout Troop in Pleasant Grove.  Over the years I have had kids that were from Sudan, Africa and Mexico.  Some of the scouts from Mexico had undocumented parents.  All of the scouts and  their parents always said the Pledge of Alegiance to the US Flag at the beginning of the meeting.  They were glad to be here.

Wayne Gary

Bobby, David

a few years ago my wife and I took a cruise to Halifax.  While there we learned how during WW I a ship cought fire then exploded blinding a large number of peopleon shore watching the ships burning. The people of Boston sent aid and helped build a school for the blind.  Since then the people in Halifax have supplied Boston their Christmas tree.  Several years ago the Boston city council voted to not call is a "Christmas Tree" instead call it the "Holliday tree"  The person supplying the tree if they did not call it a Christmas tree he would not send it.  The Council changed their mind.

Wayne Gary

Bob davidson,

My wife asked me a legal question I could not answer,  In Texas who reads the jury decision in a criminal trial?

David Cordell

Bob D., sorry about the technical snafu. I have had a few problems with streaming and recording/uploading lectures. Of course, in my line of work, there's not much at stake!

Separately -- just watched a program about Carole King on Broadway HD. Turns out that James Taylor and Joni Mitchell sang background on the Tapestry album. That monster album was produced in two weeks for $22,000.

I had assumed that King wrote the lyrics to her songs with first husband Gerry Goffin, but he wrote the lyrics, including girl songs like Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow.

Here's a list of "songs you might not have known" were written by her, mostly with him.

https://blog.seetickets.com/2016/01/18/19-popular-songs-you-might-not-have-known-were-written-by-carole-king/

Lowell Tuttle

BF,  Cordell...my old friend and bar owner friend Shaun Wymes from Great Brittain was on a plane from UK to US on 9 11.  He was sequestered there in New Foundland (Saint John or St. John's) during that crises.

He established Rudyard, The Richmond Arms, The Ale House, T K Bitterman's, and a couple of other pubs here in Houston.   Darts opened up those venues to me.

Fleming, I think you met with me and Randy Curtis with Wray one time at the Richmond Arms....or was it John's Pub...oh well...a memory.

Fleming.  Canada has made lobstering a "family" business.  They only allow one lobster boat and license? per person.  Many a home in PEI have one or two boats with traps parked alongside.  I think there are two six week seasons.  They go out and set and retrieve their traps each day.  A lot of husband and wife teams.  Nurthumberland straits.

My imagination tells me they can make 30000 to 60000 in those two six weeks...but, you are right about it being tough...and I am sure the season isn't in nicey July/August.

I have uncles who have taken us out cod handline fishing in one of those longboats..   Nice weather in the summer time out therre.  The wave swells can get to where you think you going to get sea sick, but i havent'.

There is a treble hook about 4-5 inches long tied to a 100-150 foot nylong 200 lb test line and a 1 lb sinker.   You bait your hook with muscles and send it down..about 80 feet or so.  A gentle tug means you might have a cod.  No pole, hand line fishing.  You lug up that line, hand over hand, and eventually a large 20-30 lb cod on the end.

Deep water fish is the best meat.

They also go for Haddock, and of course tuna...Some of the largest most valuable tuna in the world up there.

Jim Baker (Baker)

 Hey boys and girls!  Was going thru the Ol' Memory Box and I found this photo.  I'm guessing Ms. Harper's class at Heights.  Who ARE these rowdies??

Wayne Gary

For those living near Garland

Jo Ann & I went on a old downtown Garland scavanger hunt and had fun for about an hour finding the history of building around or near the old downtown. If you do it you get a bag with some fun items.

Kicking off Thursday, Sept. 3, visitors to the museum can participate in the scavenger hunt, which is designed to promote a greater understanding of local history and to support local businesses.

If you head to the Landmark Museum, you can receive scavenger hunt clues, a lanyard and a starting pin, after which you can head to the business you think the clue is hinting at.

Each clue corresponds with a business in the downtown area, and for each correct guess, the visitor will receive a souvenir pin from the business.

Once a visitor has 10 pins for correct guesses, they can return to the museum and receive a gift bag full of prizes.

“This is a great way to learn about historic downtown Garland while also visiting businesses at the same time,” the museum said in a social media flier.

The Landmark Museum is open on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.

The museum also offers downtown walking tour booklets packed with information about the historic heart of the city.

Situated in a historic Santa Fe railway depot, Landmark Museum at Heritage Crossing is located at 393 N 6th Street.