Somewhere in the middle of that first night spent in Old Orleans on the couch of the apartment where Mattie 3.0 stayed, I was awakened by a sound I hadn't heard in years -- decades even.
And I wasn't referring to the fact that my life had been fast-forwarded some sixty-plus years once I stepped through the portal that my cell phone had created that had sent me there in 2084. Even back at the turn of the millennium, the distinct ring-buzz-whirr of a fax machine was an antiquated noise.
Sure enough, though, "Brother Bain", as Mattie 3.0 had called it, received a response from his IntransiGent contact under the cover of night. I wanted to get up off of the couch and head to the refrigerator and slide it out of its nook and spin it around to retrieve the old-fashioned missive, but I knew from watching him send a note the night before that they were also using a glyph based code for which I had no key.
I slept fitfully -- and I later deduced that the sound of the fax machine had likely made me recall the life I had left behind for the first time since embarking on this journey. All the excitement I had experienced on the boat ride from the Florida Isles on the trip to East America had kept me focused on what I was learning and doing and seeing for the first time.
In the early hours of that morning of that first night in those environs was also the first time I wondered how it would be that I would return. The concept of "astral projection with a corporeal element" had been explained to me, so I had grasped that I could exist back in my original time as Troy AND in this new age as Ilion (the name I had taken for myself) AND as the sum total of my IQ, EQ and SQ files living on within the Vitalnet.
Without access to the information in those files, though, me-as-Ilion began to worry how -- and when -- I would one day rejoin me-as-Troy ... and how that life, if again intertwined, could ever be the same again.
Eventually, Mattie 3.0 walked in to the living room and his presence drew me out of my disturbing thoughts.
"Morning!" he said, with a smile.
It would have been polite of me to respond in kind. Instead, I just pointed to the refrigerator and mumbled. "Brother Bain has spoken."
With that, I promise to share more about that morning the next time I'm able to send a communication to you on the last day of the month when I can take advantage of the loophole as the Vitalnet updates. Until then, I remain Ilion using Troy-in-2019's social media to share news of the future with you ... in small bitesize pieces ... only when possible.
Sunday, March 31, 2019
Saturday, March 30, 2019
30for30: Best of the Yearbook Photos #1
This month ... it's all about the top 30 best of the yearbook photos (see rules below) -- because our lives were captured and frozen in time circa mid 1989, and seeing as how our own class motto said that we should "live each day so that you will neither be afraid of tomorrow nor ashamed of yesterday", it seems like the perfect opportunity to reflect on the three decades that have passed, by remembering from whence we came.
Admittedly, tonight is a low-key event ... so I can't predict how it will measure up to the "riot" that was our post-prom three decades ago ... but I thought it an appropriate finish to hearken back to the last time we all were together, bright eyed and ready to take on the future. Now that future is our past ... and we'll gather to celebrate it and to recharge for the next thirty decades. Anyone think we should book our night and start planning for our 60th in 2049? Just let me know ...
RULES FOR THIS TOP 30 LIST: When it comes to the Facebook version of this series, I promise to only tag those who reach out to me to be tagged, because that seems fair. Clearly there's no way I can feature everything and every body and every group, so I'll pick and choose what I consider to be the best according to me -- which shouldn't stop you from chiming in with your own "best of" shots. It's my full intent to continue to post unless/until someone's lawyer sends me a "cease and desist" letter (and I'm not sharing my address so that shouldn't happen), and although I'd love to offer up appropriate photo credits where applicable, I'm afraid that information isn't readily available.
NEWS FROM OUR CLASS ON THE FACEBOOK (IF YOU ARE A MEMBER):
https://www.facebook.com/groups/189980661939188/
Friday, March 29, 2019
30for30: Best of the Yearbook Photos #2
This month ... it's all about the top 30 best of the yearbook photos (see rules below) -- because our lives were captured and frozen in time circa mid 1989, and seeing as how our own class motto said that we should "live each day so that you will neither be afraid of tomorrow nor ashamed of yesterday", it seems like the perfect opportunity to reflect on the three decades that have passed, by remembering from whence we came.
Lookit -- all these young people walking around thinking they're so "woke". I just wanted to document that we *started* the whole "woke" thing. It was our class who realized that having a "slave auction" in 1989 was probably not the right message to be sending -- so we kept the tradition BUT got it renamed to the more innocuous "buy a senior day". Although it looks like we kind of had our cake and ate it too what with how SLAVE DAY still made it onto a prominent page in the yearbook. Progress takes baby steps sometimes ... and y'all in our class were more PC than you may have realized ...
RULES FOR THIS TOP 30 LIST: When it comes to the Facebook version of this series, I promise to only tag those who reach out to me to be tagged, because that seems fair. Clearly there's no way I can feature everything and every body and every group, so I'll pick and choose what I consider to be the best according to me -- which shouldn't stop you from chiming in with your own "best of" shots. It's my full intent to continue to post unless/until someone's lawyer sends me a "cease and desist" letter (and I'm not sharing my address so that shouldn't happen), and although I'd love to offer up appropriate photo credits where applicable, I'm afraid that information isn't readily available.
NEWS FROM OUR CLASS ON THE FACEBOOK (IF YOU ARE A MEMBER):
https://www.facebook.com/groups/189980661939188/
Thursday, March 28, 2019
30for30: Best of the Yearbook Photos #3
In just 2 days, the LHS Class of 1989 will celebrate its 30th high school reunion (on Saturday, March 30, 2019 at 7pm in the back room of the infamous Downtown Lounge) ... which is why I've been posting these special TOP 30 lists (see previous lists of Favorite Assignments, Jukebox Memories, and Most Memorable Teachers/Staff).This month ... it's all about the top 30 best of the yearbook photos (see rules below) -- because our lives were captured and frozen in time circa mid 1989, and seeing as how our own class motto said that we should "live each day so that you will neither be afraid of tomorrow nor ashamed of yesterday", it seems like the perfect opportunity to reflect on the three decades that have passed, by remembering from whence we came.
Why bother with a reunion in the first place? Because our time in this life is short enough. Since we last met together five years ago for our 25th, the two classmates pictured here have both passed away. (Note: there's probably more ... but these are the two of whom I am aware that we lost very recently.) This weekend, we reune in memory of Brian Dylan L and Joseph E (and any of the others).
RULES FOR THIS TOP 30 LIST: When it comes to the Facebook version of this series, I promise to only tag those who reach out to me to be tagged, because that seems fair. Clearly there's no way I can feature everything and every body and every group, so I'll pick and choose what I consider to be the best according to me -- which shouldn't stop you from chiming in with your own "best of" shots. It's my full intent to continue to post unless/until someone's lawyer sends me a "cease and desist" letter (and I'm not sharing my address so that shouldn't happen), and although I'd love to offer up appropriate photo credits where applicable, I'm afraid that information isn't readily available.
NEWS FROM OUR CLASS ON THE FACEBOOK (IF YOU ARE A MEMBER):
https://www.facebook.com/groups/189980661939188/
Wednesday, March 27, 2019
30for30: Best of the Yearbook Photos #4
This month ... it's all about the top 30 best of the yearbook photos (see rules below) -- because our lives were captured and frozen in time circa mid 1989, and seeing as how our own class motto said that we should "live each day so that you will neither be afraid of tomorrow nor ashamed of yesterday", it seems like the perfect opportunity to reflect on the three decades that have passed, by remembering from whence we came.
It only seems right to place these photos of our high school "instrumenatlists" after the pinnacle of the athletic ones (yesterday's football pages), what with the amount of support the marching band provided at games. And to be clear -- anyone who didn't think that band members were athletic clearly never tried carrying a tuba ... or a full set of drums ... or an upright bass ... onto the field where they struggled to control it as they marched around in semi-elaborate designs. (Note: I should probably fact-check whether or not upright basses were a part of the marching band ...)
RULES FOR THIS TOP 30 LIST: When it comes to the Facebook version of this series, I promise to only tag those who reach out to me to be tagged, because that seems fair. Clearly there's no way I can feature everything and every body and every group, so I'll pick and choose what I consider to be the best according to me -- which shouldn't stop you from chiming in with your own "best of" shots. It's my full intent to continue to post unless/until someone's lawyer sends me a "cease and desist" letter (and I'm not sharing my address so that shouldn't happen), and although I'd love to offer up appropriate photo credits where applicable, I'm afraid that information isn't readily available.
NEWS FROM OUR CLASS ON THE FACEBOOK (IF YOU ARE A MEMBER):
https://www.facebook.com/groups/189980661939188/
Tuesday, March 26, 2019
30for30: Best of the Yearbook Photos #5
This month ... it's all about the top 30 best of the yearbook photos (see rules below) -- because our lives were captured and frozen in time circa mid 1989, and seeing as how our own class motto said that we should "live each day so that you will neither be afraid of tomorrow nor ashamed of yesterday", it seems like the perfect opportunity to reflect on the three decades that have passed, by remembering from whence we came.
To close out the athletic remembrance section (which was originally going to just be a week until I realized how many great pics there were from those pages), it only makes sense that I'd put the team that quite possibly got the most attention. They definitely got the most pictures ... so although rarely done in this countdown, I'll provide BOTH of them in this post. (And I'll reserve the right to call out anyone this weekend at the reunion who starts to sound like Al Bundy reliving his glory days under the Friday night lights.)
RULES FOR THIS TOP 30 LIST: When it comes to the Facebook version of this series, I promise to only tag those who reach out to me to be tagged, because that seems fair. Clearly there's no way I can feature everything and every body and every group, so I'll pick and choose what I consider to be the best according to me -- which shouldn't stop you from chiming in with your own "best of" shots. It's my full intent to continue to post unless/until someone's lawyer sends me a "cease and desist" letter (and I'm not sharing my address so that shouldn't happen), and although I'd love to offer up appropriate photo credits where applicable, I'm afraid that information isn't readily available.
NEWS FROM OUR CLASS ON THE FACEBOOK (IF YOU ARE A MEMBER):
https://www.facebook.com/groups/189980661939188/
Monday, March 25, 2019
30for30: Best of the Yearbook Photos #6
This month ... it's all about the top 30 best of the yearbook photos (see rules below) -- because our lives were captured and frozen in time circa mid 1989, and seeing as how our own class motto said that we should "live each day so that you will neither be afraid of tomorrow nor ashamed of yesterday", it seems like the perfect opportunity to reflect on the three decades that have passed, by remembering from whence we came.
A classmate of mine has been asking about when I'm going to post the picture of the football team -- so, without further ado, here they are. (Of course, upon retrospection, it might just be that he meant American football and not the sport the rest of the world calls football ... but, in my defense, he wasn't clear about his worldview.)
RULES FOR THIS TOP 30 LIST: When it comes to the Facebook version of this series, I promise to only tag those who reach out to me to be tagged, because that seems fair. Clearly there's no way I can feature everything and every body and every group, so I'll pick and choose what I consider to be the best according to me -- which shouldn't stop you from chiming in with your own "best of" shots. It's my full intent to continue to post unless/until someone's lawyer sends me a "cease and desist" letter (and I'm not sharing my address so that shouldn't happen), and although I'd love to offer up appropriate photo credits where applicable, I'm afraid that information isn't readily available.
NEWS FROM OUR CLASS ON THE FACEBOOK (IF YOU ARE A MEMBER):
https://www.facebook.com/groups/189980661939188/
Sunday, March 24, 2019
30for30: Best of the Yearbook Photos #7
This month ... it's all about the top 30 best of the yearbook photos (see rules below) -- because our lives were captured and frozen in time circa mid 1989, and seeing as how our own class motto said that we should "live each day so that you will neither be afraid of tomorrow nor ashamed of yesterday", it seems like the perfect opportunity to reflect on the three decades that have passed, by remembering from whence we came.
Lookit -- these two sports almost didn't make the list ... but luckily I was able to strike a deal with the censors just in time to squeeze swimming and gymnastics into this part of the countdown. To avoid any possible issues with VPL or knuckles of moose or toes of camels, any potentially controversial parts have been covered for your protection. (BTW -- I am still waiting word as to whether or not I have to go back and do the same for the boys-in-short-shorts as seen in the boys' basketball team's pictures.)
RULES FOR THIS TOP 30 LIST: When it comes to the Facebook version of this series, I promise to only tag those who reach out to me to be tagged, because that seems fair. Clearly there's no way I can feature everything and every body and every group, so I'll pick and choose what I consider to be the best according to me -- which shouldn't stop you from chiming in with your own "best of" shots. It's my full intent to continue to post unless/until someone's lawyer sends me a "cease and desist" letter (and I'm not sharing my address so that shouldn't happen), and although I'd love to offer up appropriate photo credits where applicable, I'm afraid that information isn't readily available.
NEWS FROM OUR CLASS ON THE FACEBOOK (IF YOU ARE A MEMBER):
https://www.facebook.com/groups/189980661939188/
Saturday, March 23, 2019
30for30: Best of the Yearbook Photos #8
This month ... it's all about the top 30 best of the yearbook photos (see rules below) -- because our lives were captured and frozen in time circa mid 1989, and seeing as how our own class motto said that we should "live each day so that you will neither be afraid of tomorrow nor ashamed of yesterday", it seems like the perfect opportunity to reflect on the three decades that have passed, by remembering from whence we came.
Finally -- another sport that allowed boys and girls to be together. (For those keeping track [no pun intended], bowling was the other one.) And, as I learned through this process, cross-country is actually *different* than track. Specifically -- it's a heck of a lot *longer*. Plus -- you have to love that headline: these classmates of ours ran with not just any abandon -- but WILD abandon! Here's hoping a few of them manage to run into the reunion NEXT SATURDAY NIGHT!
RULES FOR THIS TOP 30 LIST: When it comes to the Facebook version of this series, I promise to only tag those who reach out to me to be tagged, because that seems fair. Clearly there's no way I can feature everything and every body and every group, so I'll pick and choose what I consider to be the best according to me -- which shouldn't stop you from chiming in with your own "best of" shots. It's my full intent to continue to post unless/until someone's lawyer sends me a "cease and desist" letter (and I'm not sharing my address so that shouldn't happen), and although I'd love to offer up appropriate photo credits where applicable, I'm afraid that information isn't readily available.
NEWS FROM OUR CLASS ON THE FACEBOOK (IF YOU ARE A MEMBER):
https://www.facebook.com/groups/189980661939188/
Friday, March 22, 2019
30for30: Best of the Yearbook Photos #9
This month ... it's all about the top 30 best of the yearbook photos (see rules below) -- because our lives were captured and frozen in time circa mid 1989, and seeing as how our own class motto said that we should "live each day so that you will neither be afraid of tomorrow nor ashamed of yesterday", it seems like the perfect opportunity to reflect on the three decades that have passed, by remembering from whence we came.
Oops -- it's time for an official correction. Just over a week ago, in item #18 in this series, I posted a picture of the tennis team and commented that I was surprised that it was just a female thing at our school. Except it wasn't -- and I made that assumption based on the misguided thinking that tennis would be something of a co-ed kind of sport. However, apparently all that grunting and groaning was too overtly sexual, and so they had to keep them separated. In other words -- here's the *boys'* tennis team.
RULES FOR THIS TOP 30 LIST: When it comes to the Facebook version of this series, I promise to only tag those who reach out to me to be tagged, because that seems fair. Clearly there's no way I can feature everything and every body and every group, so I'll pick and choose what I consider to be the best according to me -- which shouldn't stop you from chiming in with your own "best of" shots. It's my full intent to continue to post unless/until someone's lawyer sends me a "cease and desist" letter (and I'm not sharing my address so that shouldn't happen), and although I'd love to offer up appropriate photo credits where applicable, I'm afraid that information isn't readily available.
NEWS FROM OUR CLASS ON THE FACEBOOK (IF YOU ARE A MEMBER):
https://www.facebook.com/groups/189980661939188/
Thursday, March 21, 2019
30for30: Best of the Yearbook Photos #10
This month ... it's all about the top 30 best of the yearbook photos (see rules below) -- because our lives were captured and frozen in time circa mid 1989, and seeing as how our own class motto said that we should "live each day so that you will neither be afraid of tomorrow nor ashamed of yesterday", it seems like the perfect opportunity to reflect on the three decades that have passed, by remembering from whence we came.
As you may have realized, I've been alternating these sports team photos that I started over a week ago from day to day with a female team ... and then a male team ... but I've kind of run out of girls' sports long before I did for the guys -- which may surprise no one that follows gender equality issues in high schools (especially as it relates to how things were thirty years ago in 1989). Without wading into the controversy as to whether cheerleading is a sport or not (note: the earliest steps have been taken so that it might one day be in the Olympics), I'm just going to leave this set of pics in this spot where a girls' sports team is supposed to be.
RULES FOR THIS TOP 30 LIST: When it comes to the Facebook version of this series, I promise to only tag those who reach out to me to be tagged, because that seems fair. Clearly there's no way I can feature everything and every body and every group, so I'll pick and choose what I consider to be the best according to me -- which shouldn't stop you from chiming in with your own "best of" shots. It's my full intent to continue to post unless/until someone's lawyer sends me a "cease and desist" letter (and I'm not sharing my address so that shouldn't happen), and although I'd love to offer up appropriate photo credits where applicable, I'm afraid that information isn't readily available.
NEWS FROM OUR CLASS ON THE FACEBOOK (IF YOU ARE A MEMBER):
https://www.facebook.com/groups/189980661939188/
Wednesday, March 20, 2019
30for30: Best of the Yearbook Photos #11
This month ... it's all about the top 30 best of the yearbook photos (see rules below) -- because our lives were captured and frozen in time circa mid 1989, and seeing as how our own class motto said that we should "live each day so that you will neither be afraid of tomorrow nor ashamed of yesterday", it seems like the perfect opportunity to reflect on the three decades that have passed, by remembering from whence we came.
More sports ... more boys in short shorts ... more posts featuring the athletic teams of yesteryear (where "yester" equals "three decades"). Last night was track for girls ... so it's probably no surprise that tonight shows track for boys. And let me tell you ... these boys could outrun their troubles and hurdle their obstacles and pass the baton to their teammates like few others (see what I did there?) -- skills they no doubt carried into their post-high-school careers.
RULES FOR THIS TOP 30 LIST: When it comes to the Facebook version of this series, I promise to only tag those who reach out to me to be tagged, because that seems fair. Clearly there's no way I can feature everything and every body and every group, so I'll pick and choose what I consider to be the best according to me -- which shouldn't stop you from chiming in with your own "best of" shots. It's my full intent to continue to post unless/until someone's lawyer sends me a "cease and desist" letter (and I'm not sharing my address so that shouldn't happen), and although I'd love to offer up appropriate photo credits where applicable, I'm afraid that information isn't readily available.
NEWS FROM OUR CLASS ON THE FACEBOOK (IF YOU ARE A MEMBER):
https://www.facebook.com/groups/189980661939188/
Tuesday, March 19, 2019
30for30: Best of the Yearbook Photos #12
This month ... it's all about the top 30 best of the yearbook photos (see rules below) -- because our lives were captured and frozen in time circa mid 1989, and seeing as how our own class motto said that we should "live each day so that you will neither be afraid of tomorrow nor ashamed of yesterday", it seems like the perfect opportunity to reflect on the three decades that have passed, by remembering from whence we came.
"Athletics week" in this countdown is at risk of turning into "athletics *fortnight*" ... but once I start something, I kind of have to finish it. To whit: here's yet another female group -- the track team featuring our senior class. By the way, this is "track" and NOT "cross-country" -- because they are different sports as I learned tonight courtesy of the google (what can I say ... I wasn't exactly plugged into athletics when I was in high school). PS -- I still haven't posted said "cross-country" photo ... so it's safe to say that *that* will be right around the corner one of these days very soon (after all, the reunion itself is practically here).
RULES FOR THIS TOP 30 LIST: When it comes to the Facebook version of this series, I promise to only tag those who reach out to me to be tagged, because that seems fair. Clearly there's no way I can feature everything and every body and every group, so I'll pick and choose what I consider to be the best according to me -- which shouldn't stop you from chiming in with your own "best of" shots. It's my full intent to continue to post unless/until someone's lawyer sends me a "cease and desist" letter (and I'm not sharing my address so that shouldn't happen), and although I'd love to offer up appropriate photo credits where applicable, I'm afraid that information isn't readily available.
NEWS FROM OUR CLASS ON THE FACEBOOK (IF YOU ARE A MEMBER):
https://www.facebook.com/groups/189980661939188/
Monday, March 18, 2019
30for30: Best of the Yearbook Photos #13
This month ... it's all about the top 30 best of the yearbook photos (see rules below) -- because our lives were captured and frozen in time circa mid 1989, and seeing as how our own class motto said that we should "live each day so that you will neither be afraid of tomorrow nor ashamed of yesterday", it seems like the perfect opportunity to reflect on the three decades that have passed, by remembering from whence we came.
After showing the women's bball team last night, it only seems appropriate to feature the boys tonight. Funny thing -- I checked out "round ball" in the urban dictionary, and it says that "round ball is what your dad calls basketball". Seeing as how this reference to round ball was printed thirty years ago in our yearbook, I guess that kind of tracks. Oh and a disclaimer -- as near as I can tell, there was a fabric shortage in the late 80's, which explains why you just might get a glimpse of some scrotal sac if you zoom in to any of the action shots. Consider yourself warned.
RULES FOR THIS TOP 30 LIST: When it comes to the Facebook version of this series, I promise to only tag those who reach out to me to be tagged, because that seems fair. Clearly there's no way I can feature everything and every body and every group, so I'll pick and choose what I consider to be the best according to me -- which shouldn't stop you from chiming in with your own "best of" shots. It's my full intent to continue to post unless/until someone's lawyer sends me a "cease and desist" letter (and I'm not sharing my address so that shouldn't happen), and although I'd love to offer up appropriate photo credits where applicable, I'm afraid that information isn't readily available.
NEWS FROM OUR CLASS ON THE FACEBOOK (IF YOU ARE A MEMBER):
https://www.facebook.com/groups/189980661939188/
Sunday, March 17, 2019
30for30: Best of the Yearbook Photos #14
This month ... it's all about the top 30 best of the yearbook photos (see rules below) -- because our lives were captured and frozen in time circa mid 1989, and seeing as how our own class motto said that we should "live each day so that you will neither be afraid of tomorrow nor ashamed of yesterday", it seems like the perfect opportunity to reflect on the three decades that have passed, by remembering from whence we came.
It's the ladies' turn (we've been alternating between them and the guys since we started showing all the athletic teams last week at this time), and as happy as I was to see all these female hoops stars (circa '89 ... and wearing Cedars pride), I was even more tickled to read the fine print that our senior year was apparently the last year that Mr. Fink was the coach ... mostly because I had completely forgotten about Mr. Fink (something I'm sure none of these ladies had done)!
RULES FOR THIS TOP 30 LIST: When it comes to the Facebook version of this series, I promise to only tag those who reach out to me to be tagged, because that seems fair. Clearly there's no way I can feature everything and every body and every group, so I'll pick and choose what I consider to be the best according to me -- which shouldn't stop you from chiming in with your own "best of" shots. It's my full intent to continue to post unless/until someone's lawyer sends me a "cease and desist" letter (and I'm not sharing my address so that shouldn't happen), and although I'd love to offer up appropriate photo credits where applicable, I'm afraid that information isn't readily available.
NEWS FROM OUR CLASS ON THE FACEBOOK (IF YOU ARE A MEMBER):
https://www.facebook.com/groups/189980661939188/
Saturday, March 16, 2019
30for30: Best of the Yearbook Photos #15
This month ... it's all about the top 30 best of the yearbook photos (see rules below) -- because our lives were captured and frozen in time circa mid 1989, and seeing as how our own class motto said that we should "live each day so that you will neither be afraid of tomorrow nor ashamed of yesterday", it seems like the perfect opportunity to reflect on the three decades that have passed, by remembering from whence we came.
Yesterday, we covered the ladies who played softball, so it only seems appropriate that today we feature the boys who played hardball, or "baseball" as it was apparently called. As proof we're getting to the end of the photos that recall the athletics teams so that we're now covering the most popular ones, there were actually THREE pages in the yearbook for these guys, but I'll focus on the TWO that showed the seniors, because this whole series is focused on those who graduated in '89.
RULES FOR THIS TOP 30 LIST: When it comes to the Facebook version of this series, I promise to only tag those who reach out to me to be tagged, because that seems fair. Clearly there's no way I can feature everything and every body and every group, so I'll pick and choose what I consider to be the best according to me -- which shouldn't stop you from chiming in with your own "best of" shots. It's my full intent to continue to post unless/until someone's lawyer sends me a "cease and desist" letter (and I'm not sharing my address so that shouldn't happen), and although I'd love to offer up appropriate photo credits where applicable, I'm afraid that information isn't readily available.
NEWS FROM OUR CLASS ON THE FACEBOOK (IF YOU ARE A MEMBER):
https://www.facebook.com/groups/189980661939188/
Friday, March 15, 2019
30for30: Best of the Yearbook Photos #16
This month ... it's all about the top 30 best of the yearbook photos (see rules below) -- because our lives were captured and frozen in time circa mid 1989, and seeing as how our own class motto said that we should "live each day so that you will neither be afraid of tomorrow nor ashamed of yesterday", it seems like the perfect opportunity to reflect on the three decades that have passed, by remembering from whence we came.
We *still* haven't covered all the sports teams from our senior class ... but we're getting closer. Tonight, we feature the ladies who fought hard to take home a couple of wins that year in the world of softball. And, as mentioned a few times for other groups, it wasn't about whether they won or lost -- it was about how they played the game that mattered. Here's the thing -- no one can dispute that these women played ball in any way other than "soft" -- which is exactly why we salute them.
RULES FOR THIS TOP 30 LIST: When it comes to the Facebook version of this series, I promise to only tag those who reach out to me to be tagged, because that seems fair. Clearly there's no way I can feature everything and every body and every group, so I'll pick and choose what I consider to be the best according to me -- which shouldn't stop you from chiming in with your own "best of" shots. It's my full intent to continue to post unless/until someone's lawyer sends me a "cease and desist" letter (and I'm not sharing my address so that shouldn't happen), and although I'd love to offer up appropriate photo credits where applicable, I'm afraid that information isn't readily available.
NEWS FROM OUR CLASS ON THE FACEBOOK (IF YOU ARE A MEMBER):
https://www.facebook.com/groups/189980661939188/
Thursday, March 14, 2019
30for30: Best of the Yearbook Photos #17
This month ... it's all about the top 30 best of the yearbook photos (see rules below) -- because our lives were captured and frozen in time circa mid 1989, and seeing as how our own class motto said that we should "live each day so that you will neither be afraid of tomorrow nor ashamed of yesterday", it seems like the perfect opportunity to reflect on the three decades that have passed, by remembering from whence we came.
In a week of special all-athletic posts, tonight's the night where we bring on the grapplers ... the wrestlers ... the fighters ... the strugglers ... the wranlgers ... the contenders ... etc, etc. PS: this post about the boys in singlets is brought to you by your friendly neighborhood thesaurus. Also note that we graduated long before the first UFC in 1993, so the sport featured here was the good old fashioned kind where chokeholds were illegal, participants weren't nearly as bloodied and where the competition took place in a circle instead of an octagon.
RULES FOR THIS TOP 30 LIST: When it comes to the Facebook version of this series, I promise to only tag those who reach out to me to be tagged, because that seems fair. Clearly there's no way I can feature everything and every body and every group, so I'll pick and choose what I consider to be the best according to me -- which shouldn't stop you from chiming in with your own "best of" shots. It's my full intent to continue to post unless/until someone's lawyer sends me a "cease and desist" letter (and I'm not sharing my address so that shouldn't happen), and although I'd love to offer up appropriate photo credits where applicable, I'm afraid that information isn't readily available.
NEWS FROM OUR CLASS ON THE FACEBOOK (IF YOU ARE A MEMBER):
https://www.facebook.com/groups/189980661939188/
Wednesday, March 13, 2019
30for30: Best of the Yearbook Photos #18
This month ... it's all about the top 30 best of the yearbook photos (see rules below) -- because our lives were captured and frozen in time circa mid 1989, and seeing as how our own class motto said that we should "live each day so that you will neither be afraid of tomorrow nor ashamed of yesterday", it seems like the perfect opportunity to reflect on the three decades that have passed, by remembering from whence we came.
All this week it's all about our graduating year's athletic teams, and you may have noticed that we're alternating between the males and the females. To that end, I'm not exactly sure why tennis was only a girls' thing ... but then again, I didn't exactly make the rules back then. Come to think of it, I didn't exactly participate in any of the athletics either ... but that doesn't mean I can't post about it now. (Double negative alert -- that means I CAN do exactly that.)
RULES FOR THIS TOP 30 LIST: When it comes to the Facebook version of this series, I promise to only tag those who reach out to me to be tagged, because that seems fair. Clearly there's no way I can feature everything and every body and every group, so I'll pick and choose what I consider to be the best according to me -- which shouldn't stop you from chiming in with your own "best of" shots. It's my full intent to continue to post unless/until someone's lawyer sends me a "cease and desist" letter (and I'm not sharing my address so that shouldn't happen), and although I'd love to offer up appropriate photo credits where applicable, I'm afraid that information isn't readily available.
NEWS FROM OUR CLASS ON THE FACEBOOK (IF YOU ARE A MEMBER):
https://www.facebook.com/groups/189980661939188/
Random Wordplay for Wednesday 3/13/19
Used in a sentence: 'In celebration of the reality that 2019 marks the fact that I've been micro-blogging for (at least) 10 years and counting ... let's take a look at the top 10 most viewed posts ... (of any of my blogs combined)."
My most popular post of all time (to date) also originally appeared in my end-of-the-world series I was doing in anticipation of the Mayan Apocalypse that was "happening" on 12.21.12 (which means that 7 out of 10 of them came from that particular countdown). The actual item speaks to my career (my long time employer as of 2004) and my boss as of the posting (in Nov 2012, although that changed a bunch of times since then as said employer tends to reorganize on the regular). As per my rule when it comes to posting, on the blog I only refer to real people the way that Edgar Allen Poe did with just a first name and a last initial AND I never even mention my employer .. yet somehow this #22 post saw the most views ever. Here it is as it appeared earlier this decade:
100 Things I've Always Wanted To Say But Never Did And Now Maybe Should Since The World Might Be Ending -->
Thing 22:
File this under under "look ma, I went and got myself a career" ... but if the world is ending in 22 days, I should probably stop and thank those who have shaped my work life once I became an adult. Throughout this series, I've been calling out those direct supervisors of mine with whom I've spent the most time over the course of my career as "company man" since early 2004, and tonight I thank the one who was my boss for most of the last two years. Becki K guided me (and the special team I'm on that was created as part of our restructuring) through the joys (and challenges) of working from home (biggest joy -- I can do more for more people just through the power of the laptop and many many many web-based systems ... biggest challenge -- I am tempted to graze all day and have added double digit poundage now that my snacking habits have combined with a sedentary work day in front of said laptop). She's one of those people for whom it is a pleasure to work because she has the skill to evaluate your strengths and to feed you projects that make you more successful because they match your talents ... while still finding ways to challenge you. I've always been lucky in this job to have bosses who were also great people -- and I'm glad she continued that trend. As of late, she's now my grand-boss (not to imply a generational divide, but to communicate the fact that she was recently promoted and went up a level), but at least I still get to interact with her from time to time. Thanks Becki!
#1 MOST VIEWED POST IN THE LAST 10 YEARS OF MICRO-BLOGGING:
Tuesday, March 12, 2019
30for30: Best of the Yearbook Photos #19
This month ... it's all about the top 30 best of the yearbook photos (see rules below) -- because our lives were captured and frozen in time circa mid 1989, and seeing as how our own class motto said that we should "live each day so that you will neither be afraid of tomorrow nor ashamed of yesterday", it seems like the perfect opportunity to reflect on the three decades that have passed, by remembering from whence we came.
Athletics week continues with yet another high school sports team deserving of recognition -- even if 30 years later -- like the boys' golf team. Of note, it was 1989, so I don't know, if, in that era, we just didn't permit girls to swing the clubs OR that girls of that time in that place didn't realize that they could do anything, whether play golf competitively or be President. (Of additional note, you may be seeing this a day late -- even though the back-date feature allows me to put this in its right place -- because the blog wasn't cooperating with regards to posting a photo last evening. But now we are back on track.)
RULES FOR THIS TOP 30 LIST: When it comes to the Facebook version of this series, I promise to only tag those who reach out to me to be tagged, because that seems fair. Clearly there's no way I can feature everything and every body and every group, so I'll pick and choose what I consider to be the best according to me -- which shouldn't stop you from chiming in with your own "best of" shots. It's my full intent to continue to post unless/until someone's lawyer sends me a "cease and desist" letter (and I'm not sharing my address so that shouldn't happen), and although I'd love to offer up appropriate photo credits where applicable, I'm afraid that information isn't readily available.
NEWS FROM OUR CLASS ON THE FACEBOOK (IF YOU ARE A MEMBER):
https://www.facebook.com/groups/189980661939188/
Monday, March 11, 2019
30for30: Best of the Yearbook Photos #20
This month ... it's all about the top 30 best of the yearbook photos (see rules below) -- because our lives were captured and frozen in time circa mid 1989, and seeing as how our own class motto said that we should "live each day so that you will neither be afraid of tomorrow nor ashamed of yesterday", it seems like the perfect opportunity to reflect on the three decades that have passed, by remembering from whence we came.
And this week ... it's all about the key athletic teams that brought prestige to our school and that gave us all a sense of pride -- like this group of field hockey players. If ever there was a story ready to be turned into a movie, it's this tale of empowered women (well, as empowered as women were allowed to be back in the late eighties), who couldn't win when it came to a final score for fourteen games in a row, but who won so much more what with the camaraderie and relationships and life lessons about stick-to-it-ive-ness and dont-give-up-itude learned on the field. (And I'm not just saying that for fear someone comes and high-sticks me at the upcoming reunion.)
RULES FOR THIS TOP 30 LIST: When it comes to the Facebook version of this series, I promise to only tag those who reach out to me to be tagged, because that seems fair. Clearly there's no way I can feature everything and every body and every group, so I'll pick and choose what I consider to be the best according to me -- which shouldn't stop you from chiming in with your own "best of" shots. It's my full intent to continue to post unless/until someone's lawyer sends me a "cease and desist" letter (and I'm not sharing my address so that shouldn't happen), and although I'd love to offer up appropriate photo credits where applicable, I'm afraid that information isn't readily available.
NEWS FROM OUR CLASS ON THE FACEBOOK (IF YOU ARE A MEMBER):
https://www.facebook.com/groups/189980661939188/
Sunday, March 10, 2019
30for30: Best of the Yearbook Photos #21
This month ... it's all about the top 30 best of the yearbook photos (see rules below) -- because our lives were captured and frozen in time circa mid 1989, and seeing as how our own class motto said that we should "live each day so that you will neither be afraid of tomorrow nor ashamed of yesterday", it seems like the perfect opportunity to reflect on the three decades that have passed, by remembering from whence we came.
Having already covered the most memorable staff and teachers (see the first countdown in this series from back in December) and having just presented all of the seniors who made it into that special senior pic section of the yearbook, it seemed only natural to next turn to the world of athletics. And just in case y'all don't remember the winning bowling team from our senior year, here are those athletes who put together a 4-3-1 season.
RULES FOR THIS TOP 30 LIST: When it comes to the Facebook version of this series, I promise to only tag those who reach out to me to be tagged, because that seems fair. Clearly there's no way I can feature everything and every body and every group, so I'll pick and choose what I consider to be the best according to me -- which shouldn't stop you from chiming in with your own "best of" shots. It's my full intent to continue to post unless/until someone's lawyer sends me a "cease and desist" letter (and I'm not sharing my address so that shouldn't happen), and although I'd love to offer up appropriate photo credits where applicable, I'm afraid that information isn't readily available.
NEWS FROM OUR CLASS ON THE FACEBOOK (IF YOU ARE A MEMBER):
https://www.facebook.com/groups/189980661939188/
Saturday, March 9, 2019
30for30: Best of the Yearbook Photos #22
This month ... it's all about the top 30 best of the yearbook photos (see rules below) -- because our lives were captured and frozen in time circa mid 1989, and seeing as how our own class motto said that we should "live each day so that you will neither be afraid of tomorrow nor ashamed of yesterday", it seems like the perfect opportunity to reflect on the three decades that have passed, by remembering from whence we came.
Finally, the last of the photos! Although, to be clear, it's only the last of the senior pics that would have captured nearly all of the 266 graduates from our class (note: will the back room of the downtown lounge even *hold* that many people if they all show up?), 'cause there are still *other* yearbook photos coming every day leading up to -- and including -- the day of our big 30th reunion. In the meantime, though, here's "the best of the rest" (the S,T,U,V,W,X,Y and Zs [minus the U,V and Xs, since there were apparently none of those in our class]) -- or just "the rest", seeing as how I'm not playing favorites with any of these posts.
RULES FOR THIS TOP 30 LIST: When it comes to the Facebook version of this series, I promise to only tag those who reach out to me to be tagged, because that seems fair. Clearly there's no way I can feature everything and every body and every group, so I'll pick and choose what I consider to be the best according to me -- which shouldn't stop you from chiming in with your own "best of" shots. It's my full intent to continue to post unless/until someone's lawyer sends me a "cease and desist" letter (and I'm not sharing my address so that shouldn't happen), and although I'd love to offer up appropriate photo credits where applicable, I'm afraid that information isn't readily available.
NEWS FROM OUR CLASS ON THE FACEBOOK (IF YOU ARE A MEMBER):
https://www.facebook.com/groups/189980661939188/
Friday, March 8, 2019
30for30: Best of the Yearbook Photos #23
This month ... it's all about the top 30 best of the yearbook photos (see rules below) -- because our lives were captured and frozen in time circa mid 1989, and seeing as how our own class motto said that we should "live each day so that you will neither be afraid of tomorrow nor ashamed of yesterday", it seems like the perfect opportunity to reflect on the three decades that have passed, by remembering from whence we came.
May I present ... the S's. Well, most of them, anyway -- since there are so so many from our class of 266 graduating seniors who had a last name that starts with an S that there were a few on yesterday's page and there will be a few more on tomorrow's (final) page. And then. once all the published senior pics have been presented, we can move on to the even more fun pictures scattered through the yearbook for the rest of this series ... all on our way to making new ones at the end of this month.
RULES FOR THIS TOP 30 LIST: When it comes to the Facebook version of this series, I promise to only tag those who reach out to me to be tagged, because that seems fair. Clearly there's no way I can feature everything and every body and every group, so I'll pick and choose what I consider to be the best according to me -- which shouldn't stop you from chiming in with your own "best of" shots. It's my full intent to continue to post unless/until someone's lawyer sends me a "cease and desist" letter (and I'm not sharing my address so that shouldn't happen), and although I'd love to offer up appropriate photo credits where applicable, I'm afraid that information isn't readily available.
NEWS FROM OUR CLASS ON THE FACEBOOK (IF YOU ARE A MEMBER):
https://www.facebook.com/groups/189980661939188/
Thursday, March 7, 2019
30for30: Best of the Yearbook Photos #24
This month ... it's all about the top 30 best of the yearbook photos (see rules below) -- because our lives were captured and frozen in time circa mid 1989, and seeing as how our own class motto said that we should "live each day so that you will neither be afraid of tomorrow nor ashamed of yesterday", it seems like the perfect opportunity to reflect on the three decades that have passed, by remembering from whence we came.
We're almost at the end of showcasing *most* of the 266 graduating seniors from our class (where "almost" equals today, tomorrow and the day after), and tonight it's the rest of the folks who had last names that started with P, the one singular student who had a last name that started with Q, all of them who had a last name that started with R and just the beginning of the largest group in our class: those who had a last name that started with S. Note that that's not a phenomenon unique to growing up in central PA Amish-country-adjacent ... it's actually been statistically proven that a last name that starts with S is simply the most common letter one will find. And that's something you know now.
RULES FOR THIS TOP 30 LIST: When it comes to the Facebook version of this series, I promise to only tag those who reach out to me to be tagged, because that seems fair. Clearly there's no way I can feature everything and every body and every group, so I'll pick and choose what I consider to be the best according to me -- which shouldn't stop you from chiming in with your own "best of" shots. It's my full intent to continue to post unless/until someone's lawyer sends me a "cease and desist" letter (and I'm not sharing my address so that shouldn't happen), and although I'd love to offer up appropriate photo credits where applicable, I'm afraid that information isn't readily available.
NEWS FROM OUR CLASS ON THE FACEBOOK (IF YOU ARE A MEMBER):
https://www.facebook.com/groups/189980661939188/
Wednesday, March 6, 2019
Random Wordplay for Wednesday 3/6/19
Used in a sentence: 'In celebration of the reality that 2019 marks the fact that I've been micro-blogging for (at least) 10 years and counting ... let's take a look at the top 10 most viewed posts ... (of any of my blogs combined)."
My 2nd most popular post of all time (to date) breaks the trend in that it's NOT from my end-of-the-world countdown (it was the Mayan apocalypse -- and you had to be there). Instead, it's from just my regular daily postings -- and it was the Random Scandal Sheet item from Sunday September 4, 2011. It's so old that it predates me realizing that people would rather look at pictures and not all the words I typed, so, in its original state, it appeared without a photo. Since I want even non-Chicagoans to get a sense of she-about-whom-I-was-speaking, I went to the google to find *this* pic to accompany tonight's post. Below, though, is my original Labor Day 2011 weekend post where I implored Duffy to go into labor already ... as it actually appeared:
What Chicago is talking about this week:
Duffy's baby bump.
Come on, Duffy Atkins, evening meteorologist on the 24 hour Chicago news channel CLTV. Get inspired by Labor Day and have your baby already.
Don't get it twisted -- I'm not mocking pregnancy. You definitely glow, even if you do look 13 months into the adventure. It's just that it is getting harder and harder to get the whole radar picture with your curves blocking the map. I'm just sayin' that looking at you in your current state makes my uterus hurt, and I'm pretty sure that I don't have one.
I want nothing more than to wish you a happy going-into-labor day! To you and what I can only assume must be your multiples-to-be -- all the best!!
Duffy's baby bump.
Come on, Duffy Atkins, evening meteorologist on the 24 hour Chicago news channel CLTV. Get inspired by Labor Day and have your baby already.
Don't get it twisted -- I'm not mocking pregnancy. You definitely glow, even if you do look 13 months into the adventure. It's just that it is getting harder and harder to get the whole radar picture with your curves blocking the map. I'm just sayin' that looking at you in your current state makes my uterus hurt, and I'm pretty sure that I don't have one.
I want nothing more than to wish you a happy going-into-labor day! To you and what I can only assume must be your multiples-to-be -- all the best!!
#2 MOST VIEWED POST IN THE LAST 10 YEARS OF MICRO-BLOGGING:
30for30: Best of the Yearbook Photos #25
This month ... it's all about the top 30 best of the yearbook photos (see rules below) -- because our lives were captured and frozen in time circa mid 1989, and seeing as how our own class motto said that we should "live each day so that you will neither be afraid of tomorrow nor ashamed of yesterday", it seems like the perfect opportunity to reflect on the three decades that have passed, by remembering from whence we came.
Finally, we've come to the most important subset of the 266 graduating seniors (give or take a few who didn't make it in the yearbook) -- the ones that roll off the tongue just like in the alphabet song: the L-M-N-O-P kids. Admittedly, I think of them as the most important because they are the ones most likely to have been in my homerooms over the year (as they were arranged alphabetically). Speaking of me, you may notice that I'm actually on these pages but I'm not properly placed in alphabetical order AND I'm in a place that was just border on similar layouts. Due to the timing of when I ran away from home in my senior year of high school, I didn't have traditional senior photos but I was able to get an Olan Mills package at the last minute and I was able to use my connections with the yearbook crew to squeeze me in close to where I should have been. It pays to have friends in high places.
RULES FOR THIS TOP 30 LIST: When it comes to the Facebook version of this series, I promise to only tag those who reach out to me to be tagged, because that seems fair. Clearly there's no way I can feature everything and every body and every group, so I'll pick and choose what I consider to be the best according to me -- which shouldn't stop you from chiming in with your own "best of" shots. It's my full intent to continue to post unless/until someone's lawyer sends me a "cease and desist" letter (and I'm not sharing my address so that shouldn't happen), and although I'd love to offer up appropriate photo credits where applicable, I'm afraid that information isn't readily available.
NEWS FROM OUR CLASS ON THE FACEBOOK (IF YOU ARE A MEMBER):
https://www.facebook.com/groups/189980661939188/
Tuesday, March 5, 2019
30for30: Best of the Yearbook Photos #26
This month ... it's all about the top 30 best of the yearbook photos (see rules below) -- because our lives were captured and frozen in time circa mid 1989, and seeing as how our own class motto said that we should "live each day so that you will neither be afraid of tomorrow nor ashamed of yesterday", it seems like the perfect opportunity to reflect on the three decades that have passed, by remembering from whence we came.
As I look over the faces of this set of the 266 seniors who graduated in our class comprised of those whose last names started with K and most of those who last names started with L, I'm reminded why it is we have these gatherings every five years or so. We're not getting any younger, and we've already started to lose some members of our class -- most recently, the guy in the center of this photo. For that reason (and many more), I'm looking forward to as many as will be attending our reunion in just a few weeks.
RULES FOR THIS TOP 30 LIST: When it comes to the Facebook version of this series, I promise to only tag those who reach out to me to be tagged, because that seems fair. Clearly there's no way I can feature everything and every body and every group, so I'll pick and choose what I consider to be the best according to me -- which shouldn't stop you from chiming in with your own "best of" shots. It's my full intent to continue to post unless/until someone's lawyer sends me a "cease and desist" letter (and I'm not sharing my address so that shouldn't happen), and although I'd love to offer up appropriate photo credits where applicable, I'm afraid that information isn't readily available.
NEWS FROM OUR CLASS ON THE FACEBOOK (IF YOU ARE A MEMBER):
https://www.facebook.com/groups/189980661939188/
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