Message Forum

Karin Ridenour (Anderson)

I think this does it for me

Canada
Mexico
El Salvador (1981 - heard gunshots)
Guatemala
Japan (if you count the airport)
Thailand (no hookers)
Singapore (business)
Ireland (airport)
Scotland
England
Belgium
The Netherlands
Germany
Poland
Austria
Switzerland
France
Spain
and most important, Italy

01/15/21 09:31 PM

#20021

My list so far:

Canada

Mexico

Guatemala

England

France

Belgium

The Netherlands

Germany

Italy

Spain

Malta

Croatia

Turkey

Greece

Bulgaria

Ukraine

India

Australia

Caribbean: Bahamas, St Thomas, St Maartin, Dominican Republic, Jamaica

01/15/21 09:41 PM

#20022

Wow! Youz guyz are lucky to have seen so many wonderful places! I envy you!

Can you post some pics of your favorite places?

I like to see all kinds of different experiences you have captured in your photos.

We all can experience new things by seeing what you have seen, vicariously, through the camera lense of what you captured.

I really enjoy seeing it all.

Geography and history were my favorite subjects growing up in Richardson. Also, I liked learning about different cultures around the world.

It is a fascinating loveliness to experience, isn't it?

01/15/21 11:11 PM

#20023

Steve,

Just hit me. I know what cfm means. Started laughing. Just to confirm my hunch checked with a couple of millennials. They laughed too. Not because of the acronym but because it took me so long to figure out it was a compliment. In millennial speak "not just any chick can rock cfm's." They were kind enough not to add, "especially a boomer." Thank you for the kind words.

P.S. You really talked to Sue Daly? Hm. Word has it she's not talking to you, either. Lol

01/15/21 11:31 PM

#20024

Steve,

Where are you?

Have you gone to retrieve your new electric pick-up?

Haven't heard from you in the last few days...but I know you are a busy bidness man, working to pay the bills for yourself and your sweet, accomplished daughters. I hope they are enjoying marital bliss with their new hubbies; their loving companions.

Of course, I know that they are, having chosen excellent men, perfect to pair with their goals and interests.

They are truly lovely ladies, blessed by their Dad's influence, as well as their sweet, smart Mama's influence too; the Mom who smothered them with love and pride.

Steve, did you say that your trip to Africa will begin in September, 2021?

It is very nice of you to have told Jim Bedwell that you will help him move to Knoxville. He deserves a brand new start in a nice part of the country. So glad that you are still one of his faithful friends.

01/16/21 02:06 AM

#20025

(Out of respect for both forums, trying to remember to post same on both).

Hi sweet Hollis,

So good to hear from you! Thank you for your thoughful words. If ever I don’t respond it's only because I haven’t seen your post. You summed it up beautifully: “friendship and fun." I shared your post with RJ, who smiled and said, "insightful description. I like that!"

If only every day could be fun. But like every other relationship we've had our share of life's unpredictable curve balls and crushing disappointment. Along with it, crystal blue still waters punctuated by shock and grief.

The only thing that never changed is kindness to each other; willingness to compromise without being asked --and from the beginning-- even in the hardest of times, making it a habit to express appreciation. Little things like "thank you for bandaging my finger (when I accidentally cut it on a kitchen knife); you'da made a great surgeon. " Or. When he says "thank you for understanding I have to catch a last minute flight. I'd rather be home with you tonight."

"Friendship and fun." You nailed it. I hope the same for you, Hollis. Whether a cherished family member; lover, spouse, partner or friend, they're lucky to have you. Hold them closek remembering life is as fleeting as a dandelion on a windy day so love them as though there may be no tomorrow. Be safe. And stay well.

01/16/21 10:06 AM

#20026

Steve Keene

Janalu,

I am around. I am just keeping my head down like the rest of us deplorable white supremacist terrorists. I am not sure if I am in more danger from the pandemic or the politics, but right now the politics seem a lot more menacing. Bedwell has always been a good guy in my opinion, but we have not had much interaction since high school. He is probably one of the smartest guys I know, of Jean Ward, Don Fussell or Pat Cowlishaw quality. I look for opportunites to visit my granddaughter in Seattle, so dragging my 2019 Larkin cargo trailer up there behind a pickup is no big deal.

Yes, I am still scheduled to visit the following countries beginning in September 2021. I go to Spain, Morocco, Kenya, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Botswana, Dubai, UAE and then return home on Emirates Airlines.

I am not the most travelled individual.

I have been to Canada, Mexico, Bahamas, Germany, Egypt, Jordan and Israel. I have been to Hawaii three times to three different islands as well.

Lance,

I have traveled with Hull to Fort Worth, Sterling City, and Santa Fe. He maintains a mansion in each place.

01/16/21 11:12 AM

#20027

David,

Only got a sec. Your story of the woman at Starbucks? Amazingly cool.

What may be nothing more than instinctive, a simple act of kindness, might be a seat belt for someone catapulting through darkness.

Whether the garbage collector, the kid stocking the shelves at Kroger or mother whose three screaming children would drive even the Pope to Tequila Jello shots, one simple smile along “thanks! Really appreciate your hard work or “”hang in there, they WILL grow up” tells them someone sees them, someone cares.

There will always be people who question your motivs and quick to ridicule. Let them.

Never ever, ever, ever stop.

01/16/21 11:50 AM

#20028

Real quick: I laugh reading text/emails expressing the belief I look like Raquel Welch in photo of RJ and I in our younger years. Thank you so much. but I swear to you, the only time I ever looked like Raquel Welch was in my dreams.

To reiterate, I was pregnant with Kate. To have seen me in person you'd have known, RJ is right. I looked like a penguin with chipmunk cheeks. Even in my hair had a mind of it's own. But thank you SO much or thinking it even remotetly possible I could look like Raquel Welch. You made my millennium. Love to all.

01/16/21 03:19 PM

#20029

Hollis, Steve and Sandra

Hollis,

Something else you said. But first: a caveat.

Pretty sure it wasn't meant as a compliment but I’m told my brain works like a filing cabinet. The 2^nd drawer open, thinking one thing. Simultaneous to it the 1^st and part of the 3^rd open too, thinking something altogether different. The 4^th I never remembered to close.

Just hit me. Somewhere between drawers 1 and 4, forgot to tell you,"I totally agree." RJ and Steve both had (and have) those sexy bedroom eyes. In younger days, no streaks of gray instead a thick, glossy mane; together the combination of ice blue eyes, long lashes and dark hair not only exceedingly rare, but a guaranteed chick magnet irresistible for any woman with a pulse.

If that’s not unfair enough, as our beloved Sandra, said, “men have a way of looking distinguished at any age” to which I might add “yeah, and women can only wish.”

Sandra,

Laughed reading your email. With genuine love and respect for brother Steve, you know he feels as I; you belong anywhere you please as long as you're healthy and happy. And able to continue writing; writing both notable and appreciated. You never cease to amaze me.

01/16/21 04:20 PM

#20030

(Out of respect for both forums, copying same on both, willing to risk less than pleasant response in efforts to support both sites).

Faye! Faye Mallow Price !!!!!

Always happens. Just as I'm about to close my laptop someone's post catches my eye. Saw your name in Lance's post. Maybe copied from older post? Either way I must believe you're reading both forums.

It's been too long since we talked. And talked and talked and talked. And laughed and laughed and laughed. (For anyone who doesn't already know, Faye and Tommy have the greatest laugh. I'll say something insipid and out of the blue comes a great burst of laughter, then I'll start laughing, oblivous to what's so funny)? Neither time or distance could fade memory of your laugh, Faye. I miss talking to you.

In the meantime, been meaning to tell you I tell everyone about your grandfather. I feel VERY important. Very smug to be able to say "yes, and I went to school with his grandaughter. (Really impresses them to think I know you).

One of my neighbors, a former Dallas D.A. chief felony prosecutor, a "mentoree" of the legendary Henry Wade, hung on every word I said, not because of me, but because to this day, he'd love the chance to see your late grandfather's iconic Stetson, the hat legendary in the mind of countless people all over the world. I sensed he found comfort in knowing your grandfather's hat is safe and sound, in your possession

Racing out the door but couldn't leave without telling you how happy I was to see your name in Lance's post. (I'd call you but RJ would end up with nothing for dinner because I wouldn't be able to hang). Talk to you, soon. :)

01/16/21 09:28 PM

#20031

A sign of the times.

01/17/21 10:04 AM

#20032

Lowell Tuttle

Pretty good obituary...

WILLIAM E.THORNTON, M.D

1929-2021

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William Edgar Thornton, M.D., a retired astronaut, medical professor and inventor, passed away January 11, 2021, at his home in Fair Oaks Ranch, TX, with his wife Jennifer by his side. He was born on April 14, 1929, in Faison, NC, to the late William E. Thornton and Rosa B. Thornton. There will be a small graveside service at a later date in Faison.

While attending Faison High School, he opened a radio repair shop and used the profits to pay for college. He earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Physics in 1952 from the University of North Carolina. Dr. Thornton enlisted in the United States Air Force where he served as the officer-in-charge of the USAF Instrumentation Laboratory at the Flight Test Air Proving Ground at Elgin Air Force Base, Florida. In working to improve air-to-air combat defenses, Thornton discovered that rockets could be tracked by radar. He developed the Radar Optic Firing Error Indicator (ROFEI), or Thornton Scorer, which was the first practical means of evaluating and maintaining the accuracy of interceptor aircraft. The Thornton Scorer was highly successful and Thornton, as a Second Lieutenant, was awarded the Legion of Merit in 1956. After leaving the military in 1956, he worked as the Chief Engineer of the electronics division at Del Mar Engineering Labs in California. Thornton married the former Elizabeth Jennifer Fowler from Newgate Street, England, in 1958 and they had two sons. In 1959, he decided to continue his education and enrolled in medical school at the University of North Carolina. After graduating in 1963, Dr. Thornton returned to active duty and was sent to the USAF Aerospace Medical Division at Brooks Air Force Base in San Antonio. Thornton invented a mass measuring device to determine the weight of items in space which is still in use today. Dr. Thornton was selected as a member of the second class of scientist-astronauts in 1967. In 1972, he participated in the Skylab Medical Experiment Altitude Test (SMEAT), a 56-day simulation of an American Skylab mission at NASA’s Manned Spacecraft Center in Houston, Texas.

Dr. Thornton logged over 313 hours in space aboard two missions: STS-8 Challenger (August 30-September 5, 1983) and STS-51B Spacelab 3 Challenger (April 29-May 6, 1985). During the STS-8 mission, he was responsible for making continuous measurements and investigations of the adaptation of the human body to weightlessness. These experiments included a number of first-time measurements on the human nervous system while in space. During the Spacelab 3 mission, Dr. Thornton’s responsibilities included the management of the first animal payload in manned flight. Dr. Thornton holds over 60 issued patents that cover a wide range of applications from military weapons systems to the first real-time EKG computer analysis. His space-related patents include the Shuttle treadmill for in-flight exercise, shock and vibration isolation systems, and an improved waste collection system. In May of 1994, Dr. Thornton retired from NASA and became a Clinical Professor of Cardiovascular Physical Diagnosis at UTMB. In an effort to improve learning, he developed a hybrid hardware/software system simulating the process of auscultation. With this invention, the ability of medical students to recognize anomalies in patients’ hearts was greatly increased. While in his 80s, Dr. Thornton spent several years writing “The Human Body and Weightlessness”, a comprehensive textbook on the effects of spaceflight on the human body and solutions.

Dr. Thornton was instrumental in the refurbishment of many structures in his hometown of Faison. In addition, he successfully reintroduced long leaf pine to the family farm outside Faison and planted 8000 trees knowing he would be gone long before they reached maturity. It was his desire to return the farmland to the forest of his youth.

Dr. Thornton is survived by his wife of 62 years, Jennifer Thornton; son, William Simon Thornton and wife Mary Kay Thornton of Fair Oaks Ranch, TX; son, James Fallon Thornton, M.D. and wife Katina Thornton, M.D. of Dallas, TX; and grandchildren, Nicholas Thornton, Alexandra Valentine, Michael Thornton, Sarah Thornton, Ava Thornton, Elizabeth Thornton, Alexandra Thornton, Victoria Thornton and Emily Thornton.

01/17/21 11:28 AM

#20033

Geez, Lowell, way to make all of us feel insignificant!

01/17/21 02:00 PM

#20034

Kurt Fischer

Lance:

You have an amazing cross-reference system going. You are able to pull out all sorts of historical statements that folks have made over the years, but already forgotten.

Did I ever mention the truism someone shared with me? Why is it that old people can remember all sorts of things, but never remember they've already told you the same story multiple times? I'm afraid I've become that person. Did I tell you that story before? Ummm....

Regarding your question about traveling to Australia and/or the Holy Land, I have been to Australia (Sydney) for a couple of days. I've never been to the Holy Land. While my wife and I would really like to go, through trial and error we've found out that everytime she gets on a plane for a long trip, she develops pulmonary disease. It appears to be due to change in barometric pressure, but not sure. Given similar outcomes, but with very different folks we flew with, we don't think it is because she is catching something. She gets the same disease each time. The good news is she is able to fly in the US and not get sick, so there's lots of places to go here. So, no "Next year in Jerusalem" for us.

01/17/21 02:07 PM

#20035

David and all,

So much fun these last few weeks. But now I have to buckle down and get back to doing what I was supposed to be doing two weeks after Christmas.

Apart from an occasional blip or upload here and there, it's time for 120 mm high stilettos on my feet, Mac’s Ruby Woo lip color behind my mask and off to singlehandedly mitigate risks of nuclear holocaust; ecological collapse in free fall; molecular nanotechnology; of needing to actually cook; exploitation of artificial general intelligence; forgetting to pick up cat food (!); unemployment; over population; forgetting to schedule appointment for mani/pedi; domino effect r/t of Asian consumerism, oh. And writing Mac Cosmetics asking “Is it true you’re discontinuing “Heart Goes Boom” in fuschia????!!!

Be safe. Be well. And love to all.

01/17/21 07:27 PM

#20036

Janalu, do you want place photos with or without the classmate and/or family members?

01/17/21 08:51 PM

#20037

David,

I like them all! I just like to see different parts of the world I haven't seen yet. They all interest me. I find our world fascinating and beautiful, and I enjoy learning about all aspects of what is "out there", as I realize I won't see them all in my lifetime, since I feel my time is limited now, but I can enjoy seeing what you too have seen. It's so interesting for me to see through your eyes. Our globe is unbelieveably wonderful to behold, I think.

I've heard some people say "I don't want to see their vacation slides or films", but not me! I think the pics are cool!

I really liked seeing your pics from your recent trip to Italy. They were great! I understood why you and Martha had such a fun time throughout your visit!

Your photos are much more significant in my life than pics of Neiman Marcus shoes for the NY runway style shows. Know what I mean?

01/17/21 10:49 PM

#20038

Lance, please ignore this post and the photos.

Janalu,

No one else stepped forward to share photos of their travels as you requested, so here are some from our trip to Italy and Spain in 2019. I don't remember posting photos of that trip, so I hope these aren't duplicative. The vast majority of the photos I take on trips do not include my family or me -- I have tons of photos of artwork in the Prado, the Uffizi, and other art museums, for example. I culled through to find these photos that do include Martha and me. I took a lot of video, like on the canals of Venice, but I'll probably never get around to editing it.

St. Mark's Plaza in Venice

One of the villages in Cinque Terre. This photo was taken by a nice man from Singapore. He and his wife ate lunch with us on the tour from Florence to Cinque Terre

Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore (The Duomo) in Florence. (Yes, I know that the photo is crooked.)

Greek ruins in Agrigento, Sicily

The view from the terrace on the top floor of the house my grandfather was born in - Piana degli Albanesi, Sicily

National Palace in Madrid

This isn't one of the better photos from Barcelona, but I wanted to show the statue of Christopher Columbus, pointing to America. Apparently, he is still considered to be important in Spain.

01/18/21 01:29 AM

#20039

David,

Your photos are lovely and sunny, just like your smiling Martha! So nice to enjoy! The architecture is amazing and interesting for me, as I've always liked looking at the varying creations, in movies and travelogues, wondering how the structures were built so long ago. The people were exceptionally talented back in those days, finding ways to create them all, with limited tools and equipment, and the artisans who carved and painted were so darn skilled, weren't they? Those little towns built right on the steep inclines just above the sea--so picturesque--like pretty postcards... Makes me envious of the beautiful views from the windows! Can you imagine living in a little house, then waking up in the morning to see such glimmering sights? It's no wonder so many people enjoy touring Europe. The quaintness, structure styles and lifestyles are vastly different from what we see here in our country. Of course our country is a good bit younger than Europe, and was developed within a completely different set of extinuating circumstances.

Your having captured Columbus pointing in the direction of America was so typically you! I think your humor is still the same as it always was in 'the sixties', when we were kids! HA!

Your family's old home must have been so interesting to visit and stay within, for a few days. Super cool! I think I remember your writing one time earlier that the house has three stories. What did you think of the interior? Pretty and colorful tiles? I guess they don't need air conditioning, or do they? Are the bedrooms on the third floor, to catch the breezes in the evening? I remember also, that you showed us a photo of your great-uncle (?) who was being honored in a town parade, and was riding a donkey through the streets, wearing robes. Such fun for you and Martha to see as spectators, as well as being honorary relatives invited to the ceremony! I wish I had relatives overseas to visit. I DO have a niece in Denmark who has a small home with her husband and kids. Maybe I could pop in to see them one day, just for a look-see, and a litttle gift from Texas, since I know that she sometimes gets homesick. (She used to live in Houston.)

Great travel pictures! I could imagine being there for a few minutes just now....

Thanks for showing them to us all.......

01/18/21 03:10 AM

#20040

Steve Keene

Holly,

Thank you for the kind words, I think. If RJ is a gun nut I am afraid you have put quite a target on my back. I am already looking over my shoulder for liberals and democrats. Now I have to watch out for a salt and pepper haired distinguished looking assassin. I am at my wit's end. I am afraid I am going to have to enter the witless protection program.

01/18/21 06:49 AM

#20041

https://www.visitsicily.info/en/palatine-chapel/

Janalu,

Here is a video of a site that very few American tourists will ever see. It is the interior of the Palatine Chapel in Palermo, Sicily, which dates to the 12th century. The interior walls anc ceiling are entirely mosaic. If you watch the video, there are some close-ups that show the mosaics' detail. The link below provides information.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cappella_Palatina

01/18/21 07:25 AM

#20042