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The message forum (is) an ongoing dialogue between classmates.

These are random subjects, topics, and trivia.

Forums work "When"  folks "Participate" 

You'll Be "Glad" You Did!!!

Rex Booth

John L,

I had an friend in San Jose who bought a 1953 Model Indian (the revived Classic Indian Scout) when Indian restarted business in early 2001 in Gilroy, California. Defunct in 2003.  I understand they are now in Iowa manufactured by Polaris with many models and options sporting a new 116 cu. incher (1890 cc).  At any rate, my friend left San Jose towing his Indian Scout inside a covered trailer and stayed the night at a motel in Sturgis. Next morning (refreshed from a good night's sleep) he jumped on his ride and tooled on up to the event complaining about how hard and bad his road trip had been.. blah, blah... He did get compliments on his classsic Indian Scout... even a few Hogs were admirers.

Fred Miller

Harvey,

I guess you have been to the Bucking Buffalo Supply Co.  There are two stores, one in Buffalo, WY, and the other in Sheridan.  

They are owned by Craig Johnson and his wife Judy.  I think she actually runs one of them.  

Most well known authors etc. ride around in their fancy shiny cars.  You have probably seen Craig Johnson's fancy ride.  Below is his every day truck that he would not ever get rid of.  He works his ranch and does his running around from this truck...

Harvey Purcella

Rex, Yes working on a large project is interesting, you do your own small job every day and with thousands of others doing theirs we end up producing electricity, which makes all our lives much easier. I always tried to learn how it all worked, it was fascinating. The use of fossil fuels is always a political football, but without them our generation would have long ago frozen to death in the dark. I do live in Sheridan, Wyoming. now but haven't been to the Buckin Buffalo I need to check it out. I do get to Sturgis, starting in 1992 have only missed 2009. I am very tame, rarely there after dark, spend most of my time checking and riding demo's, if your interested in a bike you can usually ride it there. I try to get in the noon picture, and look at the bikes on main street, four rows six or seven blocks long can take some time. Then get a Gyro sandwich from the Greek'.

Rex Booth

Harvey,

You'll have to post a picture of your "ride" on this forum!  If you need help posting the picture I would be happy to do it.  Some classmates take a digital picture of an old picture and that'll work too!

Fred,

I've got something in common with C.J's old peek-up truck. My ole '79 Ford Ranchero is my buddy. 1979  was the 'last of the Mohicans'!  Driving up Main street, I get as many thumbs up as the latest and greatest GMC does!  Think it's the rusty hood that gets 'em going...

Paula Carl (Cowee Miller)

Small world Fred. I love Nacogdoches and have lived here twice.  My First husband pastored a local church and then my life took a bump and we divorced. I finished my degree at SFA and then I left the area.  After 13-1/2 years of being single I remarried and after David retired we moved to Nacogdoches. My son and his family are here, my daughter lives in Tyler, and my step-children and their families live in Burleson, Tx so we're closer to them now. Nacogdoches is beautiful-pine trees, azaleas, hardwoods, etc. 

Rex Booth

Paula,

Just discovered Nacogdoches has a sister city. Natchitoches, Louisiana (according to "wiki-wiki" pedia). Natchitoches has early history as well. It was settled in 1714 by Louis Jucherreau de St.Denis as part of French Louisana. Natchitoches was named after the Natchitoches tribe. St.Denis was a French-Canadian explorer who built a fort and trading center for commerce with Spanish traders.

I attended McNeese State University in Lake Charles, La for a year before moving to California. Spent time exploring small Cajun (Acadian) towns like New Iberia, Houma, and Thibodaux. Then of course the French Quarter, Jackson Square, and those stately Southern mansions.... of the 'Big Easy' so fascinating!  

Thought you might find the history of Natchitoches interesting.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natchitoches,_Louisiana

Paula Carl (Cowee Miller)

Natchitoches, Louisiana is a beautiful city. It's where the movie Steel Magnolias was filmed. The city sits on a river and during the Christmas season they have a festival that is often attended by 100,000+ people. There are beautiful decorations and fireworks. David and I attended there and our group had seats down by the water. Unfortunately, although David had watched fireworks for many years , watching them up close was too much like incoming rockets in Vietnam. So we now watch fireworks from afar. Natchitoches also has many beautiful antebellum homes so it's a wonderful place to visit. 

Rex Booth

Beautimous Southern Antebellum Homes!

Oak Alley is named for its distinguished visual feature, an alley (in French allée) or tree avenue, created by a double row of Southern Live Oak trees, an avenue almost 800 feet long!! Planted in the early 1700's — long before the present house was built. The allée or tree avenue runs from the Mississippi River leading up to the home. 

Oak Alley Plantation built in 1839 by French Creole Jauques Telesphore Roman "The Sugar Cane King". One of the wealthiest men in the South. The design is Greek Revival Architecture.

 28 Doric columns on all four sides matches the 28 Oak trees of the " tree Allee"

Fred Miller

Many years ago, the late 90s, Nancy and I were invited to stay at a residence hotel on St. Charles Ave. (see below) in the Garden District, they were selling time shares.  One afternoon, we went went up to a guest area on the roof.  We met a widowed lady who lived in the hotel.  Wound up spending over 2 hours with her as she pointed out various sites and told us the history of each spot.  

One night we ate dinner at Paul Prudhomme's restaurant, The Louisiana Kitchen.  He was famous for his Louisiana and Cajun cooking.

One day we took a paddle wheel boat ride up the Mississippi. We saw some beautiful mansions and plantations along the river.The boat had a bar on it. (I think you could find a bar anywhere at any time in  New Orleans)  Drinks were served in commemorative  glasses.  And if you finished your drink, you got to keep the glass.  Nancy decided she wanted a set of 6 of the glasses.  We were drinking margaritas.  

I quit after 2 drinks.  When the boat docked, I almost had to carry her off the boat, which would have been difficult considereing I was also carrying a bag with 6 empty glasses.  

John Landess

Fred, I take it that Nancy DOES NOT read your posts!! Ha

My family and I lived in the NO area in 1985 for about 10 months.  I was on temporary assignment down there working in the gulf.

You are right about the bars open hours. I think they were required to close at 3am, but reopened in some areas at 6am. "Private" clubs could stay open 24.

We did all the plantations at some time or another, and some more than once. Nottoway Plantion was a favorite. It became named that because the owner did not want any lumber used that had knots. So the workers (slaves?) would toss the boards away.

Narlins has some Great restaurants also

Creole le Cajun sez:: "Nawlins"   ~  Da Shadow Knows

.

Fred Miller

Commander Jose de la Piedras, commander of the Mexican permanent  battalion stationed at Nacogdoches, sensing rising unrest from the area's settlers, commanded all the settlers to surrender their arms to him.  Several familiar names brought in  additional settlers, formed a militia, and stationed them at various locations throughout Nacodoches.

At 2:00P on Aug. 2, the Texas militia entered town, were fired upon by the Mexican army.  The Texas militia retaliated.  

The next afternoon, Aug. 3, Piedras took refuge in the Durst home.  His troops turned against him, and Capt. Medina took command of the Mexican troops, and immediately surrendered Piedras and some 300 troops.

In the 2 day battle, the Mexicans lost 47 men, and 40 or more were wounded.  The Texans lost 4 men and 4 were wounded.  

In only 2 days, the Texans had freed East Texas from Mexican military rule.  The Battle of Nacogdoches is a lesser known, but very important conflict of the Texas Revolution.

Rex Booth

Hey!  How bout This!!

Our RHS Message Forum set an all-time record of "postings" over the past (count 'em) "Twenty-four consecutive days"!!  So Congratualtions are in Order!  Here! Here!

"We started out on Burgundy but soon hit the harder stuff".  Well, sort of. This just goes to show how well participation in the Message Forum flows when folks share things about themselves, where they live (it's historical significance), and what they find interesting, which would otherwise be lost forever... if every body kept their mouth shut. 

I'm sure Pat Riley would have something of interest to say about his tenure in Colorado Springs, before building his new home in the Pikes Peak vicinity. I'm also confident other classmates will shed the shackles that bind them by telling "their own story". 

We are now in our eighties having been on various individual journeys.  Let's make the best of it! What are some of life's experiences, towns you lived, and personal items of interest you would like to share? 

Rex Booth

I wouold like to give special recognition and thanks to those participating and posting their personal interests:  

Rex Booth

Who grew up with stories about "Wampus Kitty or Cat Wampus"?

Do you know its origin?

Paula Carl (Cowee Miller)

Hey Rex. Thanks for the mention but it's Paula not Paul. The Sons of the Republic held a special event Sunday here in Nacogdoches to honor the Battle of Nacogdoches. We happen to be eating at the Fredonia Hotel and passed a few moments talking with several who were there for the occasion. One of our church members was honored to be asked to give the history about the battle. Nacogdoches and San Augustine counties are early Texas history laden and many notable historic figures are buried here in Nacogdoches.  

Rex Booth

Sorry bout that Paula.  Sure wasn't on purpose.  Are you gonna forgive moi...?

How could we ever forget...

Turn the Volume UP!!

Fred Miller

The green eyed wampus cat could walk on its hind legs.  It could read your mind, and would usually hypnotize you afterwards.  If you tried to shoot it with an arrow, it would just step out of the arrow's path.  It's strange mewing and growling could be heard late into the night out in the darkness.

I spent a number of years as a Boy Scout and later as a leader when my son joined.  Many a night was spent deep in the woods sitting around a campfire telling stories until late into the night.

Fred Miller

Today's poetry corner...

I once had two girls at a time,

both Kate and Edith were mine.

I soon learned what they said was true,

you can't have Kate and Edith too...

[say it aloud, you'll fall out of your chair laughing]

Who sez  you can't have yer cake and eat it too...?   ~ The Shadow

Rex Booth

Fred, 

Could  'Wampus Kitty' and Cal's  'Desert Demon' come from campfire stories...?  Or was it the result of hanging out with friends Jack Daniels and Jim Beam...?

Rex Booth

You can take a Looky-loo to water but ya can't make 'em post...??

Patricia Hundley (Lappin)

My girls and I frequently go to Nagodoches for a girls weekend.  Adorable quaint and fun town. Always reminds me of those cute little towns in the movies that all residents come together for the holidays or the "whatever" gatherings. Seems every time we go they are having some kind of festival down by the river. 

Fred Miller

RE:  8478

Rex,

Those 2 fellers were not allowed to be a member the Boy Scouts.

Besides, the boys, 12 to 15 years old, told most of the stories.  I might start the story but then, the storytelling was passed around the circle of boys. 

I was told that rumor had that it we had one of the more fun troops than any of the others in Grayson County.  Credit to the boys.  Gave them free rein, and let them work things out on their own. There were some very fertile young  minds in our troop.

Anybody else here in the Boy Scouts, either as a scout or a leader...??

**Hi Patricia.  Great to see you on the board.  I see we could almost be neighbors.  We live up just outside Sherman/Denison.**  

Patricia Hundley (Lappin)

Oops. I always misspell Natchitoches with Nacogdoches.  Probably still lol.  Both are great towns but the Natchitoches is the one I am referring to.  There was a beautiful old BNB for sale once in Nacogdoches that I wanted to buy.  All furniture included but I couldn't talk my husband into it.  So now I'm surrounded by kids, grands, and greatgrands. Even a couple of great greats, so I'm not going anywhere. 

Patricia Hundley (Lappin)

Fred

I know that. Saw it a while back.  Amazing how close some of us are.  We should have a local gathering. 

Patricia Hundley (Lappin)

Also Rex,  my daughter lives in New Iberia. Probably way different from what you remember back in the young days.  Her husband works for BP.  They did live in a Little town called Mamoo.  Famous little Saturday dive there called Fred's.  Ever make it that far?   My moms grandma name was Mamoo so my young grandkids when we visited wanted to know if she was rich.  Of course no was the answer - but she has a town named after her they said.  I just let them believe she was famous. lol.