TC (and son's) Party Barn

Yeah, I realize I'm behind in my duties. I also realize I'm gettin' behinder. So even though it's late I downloaded these pics from 18 April at Sharon and TC's and I'll get the Alumni banquet pics posted as time permits.

Sara Jean and I got a late start and arrived late. And even though the others had almost finished eating it wasn't a problem-
Food was not only tasty, but PLENTIFUL:
(As usual, click 'em to biggem.)


We had Chick-Fil-A nuggets and some of the most tender, best tasting pulled pork I have ever had the pleasure to lay a tongue on. Obviously, we had all the fixin's too, along with pie... and I LOVE pie!



This was a perfect place for our get-together. Pool table, foosball, air hockey, Big-Screen TV, smaller TV for secondary viewing, and plenty of room for horseplay (if you have a horse that wants to play)... kitchen, and bathroom right there, and decorated like a Sports Bar. We were all impressed!


Lots of room for sittin' and eatin', and a '65(?) Mustang in the background just waiting for a restoration.


Comfortable seating for tall-tale-tellers...


A full belly and comfortable seating will pretty quickly put a satisfied look on faces, and all VK's found themselves in that condition.
TC says he's ready to do it again sometime in the future...
Are you ready?

24 April 09- Friday Forum

It is Thursday, just before Noon as I start this Friday update. I'm at work today and Friday, and our intent is to start our drive toward Indy Saturday morning. We'll spend Saturday night and much of Sunday with TwoDogs, then return home. Today I'd like to discuss a couple distasteful subjects with you...
Frustration and apathy.

Starting this blog was exciting. Reading blogs had become an important part of my daily routine and it was something I was just absolutely sure EVERYONE would enjoy to the same extent as me. So when PT and I initiated Vandy's Kids I thought the blog would take off and assume a life all its own...
That everyone would jump in and contribute a little, and the only thing PT and I would have to do was stand back and manage the inevitable offensive stuff that would be posted now and then. It certainly hasn't turned out that way, has it?
Again now, don't take me wrong, I still enjoy the blog and the easy communication it affords us. If you're paying attention you can tell I drop in here often... probably five or six times a day, to moderate what's goin' on here. But participation by others has certainly not been what I hoped for, and I'll admit, for me that has been frustrating. Four or five others contribute posts on a VERY infrequent basis. About a year ago I seriously considered giving up on it because it hasn't assumed the "over the backyard fence" atmosphere I had hoped it would take on.
But then I stood back and studied for a while. And a little research showed there are 15 or so folks (more?) who pretty regularly stop by here to read what's goin' on. Out of that number, five or so comment often. The comment section is what convinced me Vandy's Kids was worth some effort... checking in and finding there is that "over the backyard fence" discussion I had hoped for... threads that sometimes run to 30-or-so individual comments, forced me to reconsider. And what I realized was that it takes almost no time for me to write a little blurb every Friday and ask what is goin' on in your life, and generally someone will start a comment thread that takes off. I was frustrated and being self-centered, having my feelings hurt. And for that I apologize.
But having said that I'll ask the followup question:
If you enjoy the blog and want to see it thrive, why don't you water and fertilize it now and then? It takes so little effort!

Now, a slight change of direction-
Our class leaders and those folks involved in Alumni functions were probably nodding their heads while reading the above semi-rant. I've been watching for a sign of life at the
CG Alumni Association website, and at last check it was still dormant. Had I not checked the calendar at the CGHS website, few here would have known there is an Alumni Banquet this weekend.
So your Alumni Association has not served you well lately, to say the least. But before you get angry consider-
What have you personally done lately to try to help keep your class/schoolmates informed of Alumni activities? What have you done to help the Alumni committee to do their job more efficiently? And how much do you think those folks are being paid for the work they do so the rest of us can show up, eat, enjoy, then head back home with a smile?
We're all gulty of apathy, aren't we?

In the last two years a couple things have become really obvious-
For whatever reason, some have no interest in coming back and socializing at CG functions, and that's fine. Those same folks have no interest in coming to VK and sharing here.
But it's just as obvious that many WOULD attend if they had gotten the word. And it takes almost no effort to help in getting the word to class and schoolmates.
Get involved... just a little.

Obviously "Vandy's Kids" can be the backyard fence.
I've said before and I'll say again... it doesn't take much...
When you stop by here, click "comments" and let us know you were here, even if it is just to say "I was here. I'm/We're fine. Hello everyone!"
And that would go a long way to show me that my efforts here are worthwhile!

(Deep breath, shift gears)...
We'll try to arrive early at the banquet Saturday night. I hope to see you there.
Come say hello, please. (I'll be the one sitting with all the pretty gals.)

CGHS Alumni Banquet 2009-

A quick post to maybe avoid some confusion...
There is a rumor goin' 'round that you'll not be able to buy tickets to this year's Alumni Banquet at the door. After last year's surprise crowd I can understand why the committee would want to have a better idea about how much food to prepare. But to me, this looks like a disaster in the making. The Alumni Assoc. website hasn't been updated in a year... where would someone go to find that they have to have a ticket in hand to attend? How would you feel if you drove quite a distance to attend the banquet and were turned away after your drive because you didn't have a ticket?
Hatchet, if you're still stopping by here and reading, can you see that the Alumni Assoc. site is updated with the proper information?

I think you can purchase tickets through our own BobWhite Dan.
I think you can also purchase tickets through Hatchet. Planning to attend? Buy them now, and we'll see ya Saturday night!

CGHS Chili Recipe!

Look at difficult path we'll travel to bring good things to you...
All the way from Montana!:

Brown a pound of hamburger and onion.
2 Cans tomato sauce- thin with water
2 cans of Brooks Chili Hot beans
2 cans of Franco American Spaghetti
2-3 TBS of chili powder
Add a little bit of brown sugar- I am only guessing here but
maybe 5 TBS

I always remember having this with a peanut butter sandwich. Yummy, yummy.
Enjoy and pass it on...Mr. L
PS I could not find my recipe here in Indiana so e-mailed a son in Montana for the recipe.

Mr. L. sent the recipe a few days ago and I immediately went to the grocery to buy ingredients. Odd, I hadn't noticed they were no longer carrying "Franco American" canned spaghetti at my store. So I had to substitute the generic store brand, and all they had was the spaghetti O's style pasta. Oh well.
Sara Jean and I like SPICY food. Ordering "hot" food in a Midwestern restaurant normally disappoints. I had a choice between "Brooks Chili Hot Beans" and "Brooks HOT AND SPICY" beans, so I put the latter in my cart.

As I walked out the door for my night shift Sara Jean was browning the ground meat. Visions of sitting down to CGHS chili the next day danced in my mind!
Later that evening she called...
"You're gonna be disappointed. This stuff is so hot it's inedible!"
Uh-oh.

Home the next morning at 8 A.M...
Like you, I probably wouldn't normally eat chili for breakfast, but this situation was special.
I gingerly dipped my spoon into the wonderful smelling concoction, blew on it to cool it, and touched it to my tongue.
Yeah it's spicy, but WOW...
Good stuff.
In deference to my wife's more delicate than I imagined palate I'll buy the regular beans next time. In the meantime, this batch is MINE... ALL MINE! Bwahahahaha!
Try it and see what you think, then come back here and discuss.
(Thanks Mr. L.!)

So segueing from dinner plate to social platter, what's in store for VK's?
We're headed to TC and Sharon's tomorrow (Saturday, 18 April) to visit with whoever happens to show up. Weather looks fine from here... a small chance of rain and thundershowers, but the weather and welcome will be warm. Again, here are address and directions:

Take I -164 South off of I-64. Go down to the Lynch Rd. Exit turn left onto Lynch Rd. You will come to a stoplight which is HWY 62 turn left go to the first road you can turn right on that is Gardner Road go down about 1/2 mile house on right side. Address is 7411 Gardner Road, Chandler, In. 47610.

According to TC, all you'll need to bring is a smile and desire to visit.
Festivities start around Noon.

Then next Saturday we'll all be homing in on CG for the Alumni Banquet. It's special for me this year because of the location...
They're holding it in the old gymnasium...
OUR gymnasium!
I'll say again, I can't imagine they won't be tearing this structure down sometime in the future. So if you, like me, would like to preserve some memories of this memorable place, be there early and look for the group of people laughing and hugging. That'll be us!

We'll firm up plans at Sharon and TC's place Saturday.
Be there!

Lunch

It's a little different now blogging here at VK...
Younger readers have different memories of CGHS and the surrounding community. Some will be too young to remember the old "middle building". I don't know when they tore down the middle building, but when they did, they destroyed what was a memorable routine for many readers-

Mr. L. can help me here... I know there were at least three classrooms on the East side of that building. I think there were only two on the West side because the steps and entranceway used up a lot of space... so five classrooms total?
But I'd like to discuss the basement. I'd bet if we could go back now and see that space we'd be surprised that it was smaller than presented in our memories. At lunchtime we'd file in and line the walls waiting to get to where our lunch and milk tickets were taken, then grab a tray and silverware, and through the serving line to grab our plate of food. Were there desserts? I can't remember.

While working your way around that wall, you'd look to see what was being served for lunch, and you'd watch others eat. When you got your plate you'd eat and watch the behavior of others as they filed in to take their turn. It's incredible thinking of it now, but one of our classmates, who shall remain unnamed for obvious reasons, would inevitably lean against the wall, pick his nose, and eat the treasure he found there...
Mighty appealing for those of us trying to consume fare that wasn't "five star" rated to begin with!

But for the most part DJ, Jackie B., and others served decent food to a lot of kids in a very short time. And on top of that, it was a terrific social event complete with the adventurous snacking habits some fellow students displayed while waiting in line!

Now, it's Friday. Quit gagging and leave us a comment please.

Once Again, Down Memory Lane

I'm not sure about what I'm reading so take this with a grain of salt. But poking around at our CGHS link, I think I read they're planning the Alumni Banquet on 25 April in the old gymnasium(!) this year.
Hatchet took a few of us on a tour last year, terminating in the old gym. I wrote about the almost mystical feeling of being in that old structure here.
If you have the same fond memories I have about that old "field of dreams", and if it's true the banquet will be held there this year, maybe we can all meet and share memories on the 25th?
(We all know that at some future date that place we all know and love will be destroyed in the name of "progress". )
I hope my understanding is correct. And if it is, can you plan on meeting me for dinner on that evening?

Stark and Wetzel

Rita just celebrated the 11th anniversary of her 39th birthday and like many of us, takes a little walk down memory lane, thinking aloud about growing older. I've been doin' it too... For some reason, Geritol and the ads they ran on TV while we were kids came to mind. What was the problem... "Iron deficiency anemia"? Geritol to the rescue!
Is your anemia "Iron Deficient"? Well, you can still buy the stuff if you know where to look!
Same with Wildroot Cream Oil apparently, if you crave that "greasy kid-stuff" look!

It's a tribute to the strength of advertising that we remember so many of those products that have disappeared from today's culture. Many of their jingles still come to mind.
Why can't I remember where I put my keys? Because those neurons are being used to remember useless jingles from my childhood!

Got a useless childhood memory that would make the rest of us smile?
Share it...
We all need a lift!

Spring Fling - Excellent Idea

New date - Saturday, April 18 Noon Eastern Time

This is a go.... Be There or be Square!

An idea floated by GB, seconded by Ferdy and making it all happen - TC and Sharon. An early spring outing in Southern Indiana. Sunday, March 29 TopCat’s party barn in Chandler, Indiana. Start time will be around 2:00. Some will not be able to arrive until a little later - so plan on staying thru the afternoon. Address and directions: Take HWY I -164 South off of I64. Go down to the Lynch Rd. Exit turn left onto Lynch Rd. You will come to a stoplight which is HWY 62 turn left go to the first road you can turn right on that is Gardner Road go down about 1/2 mile house on right side. Address is 7411 Gardner Road, Chandler, In. 47610.

New faces that we are hoping to see on the 29th include Cissy, Rita and C&C. You are all welcome and we will guarantee a good time - revisiting old times in the Valley and at CG. Cissy, I’d like to hear more about your earlier school days in Greenwood. And I thought that I had a bad 2nd grade teacher….

Please reply (comment)if you are able to come. TC & Sharon will need to know how many to expect.