Message Forum

I am guffawing out loud! Can I post this on the event site Kenny? Those socks are EVERYTHING!!!!

09/25/20 12:01 AM

#1085

Ken Ortiz

Michelle,

Yes, feel free to use it. That picture is actually when I took a business trip to California (Orange county) and a few co-workers and I found some time to play some putt-putt. I also have a go-cart picture of me from the same outing we did that day.

Ken (Cinderella story) Ortiz

10/01/20 11:55 AM

#1086

BOO!

10/02/20 11:46 AM

#1087

I used to live on Calvary Cemetery and there's some cool stuff in there, too.

Not much more fun that goofing around at night in a cemetery.

The caretaker at Calvary had a grey pickup truck and carried around a sawed off shotgun loaded with peppercorns. Caught a Lane friend of mine and I one day only "halfway" over the wall on our way out. Mom spent the rest of the afternoon picking peppercorns out of butts!

I have to mention the 6 inch hole we blew in the 4-inch thick concrete wall surrounding the cemetery one day when we were playing around with homemade explosives. Stil there today!

10/02/20 12:19 PM

#1088

Edward Mc Carthy

And you still have all your fingers? LOL. Yah, I recall some wicked attempts at explosives myself. As a rocketry fan, ( still in the hobby ) there was something exciting about launching something into the air and seeing it explode! Though it violated every code of safety....it was still fun. Amazing how our genration grew up and survived metal monkey bars on cement, bikes without helmets, hitch hiking and so many other stupid things we did. Ahhhh, the memories. I recall some student....I have to think who it was, lighting and tossing a pack of fire crackers out a fourth floor window into the garden.......but it hit the window edge, and stayed in the study room....I think it was room 428? Any idea how loud a pack of Black Cat fire crackers can be in a classroom!!!!! Stormin Norman was not please at that. Life is good. I miss the 50 cent lunches.......

10/05/20 10:29 AM

#1089

There was a chemical store on N. Clark Street when it was still legal to buy almost anything. Couldn't buy explosives, of course, but could buy the ingredients to make them.

We played with model rockets, too. The legal ones. However, when you load them up with an M80 to watch them explode 1000 feet in the air... Makes a GREAT fireball at night! Weigh one down and put an extra long fuse on it. Then launch it over Lake Michigan. So, it would fall, sink and explode underwater. Very cool!

Quite a few years ago I was investigated by the FBI. Maybe they thought I was a terrorist?
My wife and I owned a business that did science education for elementary school kids. There was a really cool demonstration of an exothermic reaction you could do with ammonium nitrate. But, since we did schools all over Centeral Indiana, I bought goodly quantities of the stuff... pounds.
I didn't realize what was going to happen after the Oklahoma City bombing, until I purchased a few pounds of ammonium nitrate mail order. THAT sure got the FBI's attention! Got a STRONG phone call asking what I wanted with the stuff! Let me know that I now needed a license to buy it. So... that demonstration got pulled from our classes. Probably spent years on some FBI list! Glad the "unmarked black SUV's" didn't show up at my front door!

Had some experiences with those "unmarked black SUV's with the dark tinted windows", too.
When I used to work for the city I was part of an emergency response team that got called out in emergencies, Yes... IT people can sometimes be first responders too, sort of. I got called out for 3 days during our "polar vortex" blizzard to handle non-emergency calls to 911. It was the dead of night in a raging blizzard when three unmarked black SUV's with tinted windows and flashing lights pulled up in front of my house to pick me up. They sent Homeland Security to come get me. Sure raised a lot of questions with the neighbors! Thought maybe I was some kind of spy or something!

Another few years later, when I was friends with the local head of Homeland Security, his daughter and mine were going to a One Direction concert. Whe you've got friends like that you know your pre-teen daughter is going to be safe! Once again, the unmarked black SUV showed up to pick up my daughter. Flashing lights got them to run all the red lights, past all the traffic and right to the front door of the concert. Then, of course they weren't happy, with the police escort sitting with them all through the concert. But, the dads felt pretty good!

Spent 9 years working IT for Public Safety. Spent lots of time and got lots of fun stories working with Homeland Security, the Police, Fire Dept., Sheriff, Coroner and Crime Lab. Bomb Squad... Task Force 1... the Sex Crimes and Gang Task Forces. Fun stuff. Not your usual IT job. Spent a lot of time in jail!

Let's just say my friends on the cops called me "deadeye." 3 seconds, 5 shots with a 9mm Glock from 35 feet on the police range, 4 bullseyes and one near.

Then there's the time the FD sent me up on the 110ft. ladder, then dropped me just to show how quickly they could get someone down in case of emergency. Some friends!

10/06/20 11:18 PM

#1090

Maja Wiesinger (Ramirez)

Rob, many of us shivering and bored on our foot posts those long nights ago wondered just WhoTF! were those black SUV jerks... Thanks for clearing that up for me now that I don't have to worry that I'm telling off some whiteshirt anymore! Your stories seem WAY more interesting than mine. Alas. Anyhow.

10/07/20 11:35 AM

#1091

Great stories, Rob. Thanks for sharing!!! Because I get to write ghost stories for a living - October is my favorite month of the year - so many people share their own personal stories with me. My favorite "Boo" was from a woman who told me that she'd just come back from visiting her daughter, son-in-law, and grandchildren in their home in Pennsylvania. She said their home was VERY old. One night, after dinner, they had moved from the dining room to the adjoining living room. From her chair, she could still see into the darkened dining room. To her amazement, she suddenly saw the figure of a young boy, dressed in period clothing, glide across the dining room floor and disappear into the wall. She said that the shock must have shown on her face because her five-year-old grandson came over to her, gently patted her hand, and said, "Don't worry, Grandma. That's just the attic people."

Happy October!

10/07/20 12:08 PM

#1092

Does it count that I had a cat that haunted our house for years?

We had a cat that lived to the ripe old age of 21. After he passed away, for all the years we lived there, we could hear him jump off the bed upstairs and listen to the bells on his collar jingle. He stayd on until we sold the house. The buyers never heard him after that and he didn't follow us to new homes. Guess he figured it was time for him to move on.

10/07/20 12:12 PM

#1093

Playing in the FD 110 foot ladder... before they dropped me!

10/07/20 12:13 PM

#1094

Playing around in the FD turnout gear. This is a "highrise" outfit. I'm supposed to be able to run up 10 stories in that!

10/07/20 12:14 PM

#1095

PD "Bomb Squad Bob"

10/08/20 09:15 AM

#1096

https://wolfdenbrewing.com/

I LOVE ghost pet stories - and there are so many people who have experienced that same thing. Your cat must have loved you so much to hang around. Great photos too!!!

We had an experience after one of our dogs died. He was a Golden Retriever and he got hit by a car in front of our house. About a week after his death, I was out in our yard with my son's girlfriend. It was dusk and the sun was nearly down. I thought I saw our other dog - a German Shepherd - go towards the road, so I called him back. Suddenly, my German Shepherd came up from behind me (the opposite direction from where I was sure I saw him.) My son's girlfriend hurried over to me and told me that she had seen a dog going towards the road, but she saw the Golden. It took her a moment to remember that he had died a week earlier.

10/08/20 03:49 PM

#1097

Ken Ortiz

Hello all,

I am enjoying these spooky stories and also Robert in his various uniforms. Here is an interesting one I recently ran across: My ex's Mom and brother (I call him my Bro), made the move from Chicago to Bloomingdale Illinois this summer. I helped with the packing and moving activities and when they finally settled in, we noticed this Microbrewery very close to their home. My bro and I got to hang out there a few times and then we found out that their building was built in 1851, and is also haunted. The staff there have told us some interesting and creepy stories about some of their experiences there. If you go to their website and scroll to the bottom, they have information about it. They are also listed in this book: ‘America’s Haunted Breweries, Distilleries & Wineries’, written by paranormal, travel and food enthusiast Amanda Woomer! That place might be a cool place to hang out and drink a few brews on Halloween.

I also have a new profile picture celebrating Halloween, but it's not loading. So here it is:

I hope you all have a frightfully fun Halloween season!

10/09/20 10:14 AM

#1098

Great photo, Ken!!! While researching one of my books, I discovered that Whitewater, Wisconsin is also known as Second Salem. They have a brewery there called Second Salem - and they have an interesting selection of paranormal brews too. And Whitewater is also the closest town to the Beast of Bray Road sightings.

10/12/20 11:02 AM

#1099

Wow!

Been to Whitewater many times. Never knew it was a famous spot for the occult! And, I'll have to try out some of those beers.

10/12/20 11:03 AM

#1100

Terri... where can we find out about your books?

Amazon could have them here before Halloween!

10/13/20 11:03 AM

#1101

https://www.amazon.com/Terri-Reid/e/B004S8D0R0?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_2&qid=1602597680&sr=8-2

Robert - sometimes I really relate to the Ironman quote - "When did you become an expert in thermonuclear astrophysics? Last night." Whitewater was the home of the world's first spiritualist school - called the Morris Pratt Institute. They had a pure white room where they would hold seances - which I was able to use in my book. I have a friend who is part of the security at the University of Wisconsin Whitewater - he told me they actually have an old grimoire in the school's library. But, because of COVID, I haven't had the chance to check it out yet.

Thanks for asking about my books - this is my Amazon author page. https://www.amazon.com/Terri-Reid/e/B004S8D0R0?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_2&qid=1602597680&sr=8-2

The Willoughby Witches is the one based in Whitewater.

The Order of Brigid's Cross is based in Chicago and is an urban fantasy, like Dresden Files.

And the Tales Around the Jack O'Lantern series are just collections of ghost stories - including Resurrection Mary.

Thanks again for asking!!!

Terri

10/14/20 10:23 AM

#1102

Edward Mc Carthy

As a student at Lane....I recall with admiration Johnny Weisemuller, the olympic swimmer who playerd Tarzan in the early movie era days. He was a Lane Graduate. Now, I can say, I know another Lane alum who is of worthy notoriety and an acommplished author. Well done and proud of you Teri. My wife and daughter are avid readers and love books from the genre you write so I will be getting your books for them. Oh the things you learn on this message board!!!!! Life is good.

10/14/20 07:50 PM

#1103

1911 Lane Tech Track Yearbook Picture

Ed your post is timely... we've been working on establishing a Lane Alumni Hall of Fame... adopting the alumni from the original school Hall of Fame established in the early 90s, and formalizing it, first with a virtual home on the LTAA website, and eventually with a proper home in the school building. In the meantime though... check out what just dropped in today's digital edition of the Sun Times... (It'll be in the Sunday print version).

https://chicago.suntimes.com/platform/amp/education/2020/10/14/21506746/lane-tech-college-prep-frederick-douglas-fritz-pollard-alumni-football

The good news... we have some amazing alumni (besides all of us Bicentennial standouts) including Fritz Pollard, featured in this article; General Kutyna who ran the US Space Command and was the one to discover it was the faulty O rings that resulted in the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster; John Chambers, first make up artist to receive an Academy award for his groundbreaking work on Planet of the Apes, (he also designed Spock's ears and was played by John Goodman in the movie Argo; David James, Tuskeegee Airman and first African American hired by the ABA and to integrate Winnetka; Silky-throated Ken Nordine; White House Chief of Staff, John Podesta; Warren WIniarski whose Stag's Leap Cellars wine changed the course of viticulture in 1976 at the Judgement at Paris, Architects who designed Millenium Park and the Burj Califa; Tracy Baim who brought the Gay Games to Chicago and is the current publisher of the Reader; Eartharin Cousin who headed up the World Food Programme; Justina Machado who is currently in Dancing with the Stars and many more scientists, doctors, engineers... you name it!

The bad news: Weissmueller... dropout! Also, Rachel Barton Pine only took driver's ed at Lane. Frankie Laine... dropout! Carl Giammarrese of the Buckinghams... dropout! Phil Cavaretta... drop out! But we love 'em anyway.

10/14/20 10:36 PM

#1104

Ken Ortiz

Hello all,

Here is a really cool sighting story that recently happened to me:

Our last few discussions here were about haunted places in the area. I mentioned Wolfden Brewing (one such haunted place), located in Bloomingdale, Illinois, where I have been a few times recently as I have some family that recently moved to Bloomingdale. I was there last Friday evening with my Bro and they have an outdoor beergarden (Biergarten) area (as they are not having indoor service as of yet). So my Bro and I were hanging out there and chilling, and as the temperature was going down and as we were really starting to chill (literally), we decided to move to their firepit area, which seats about 8. So as we were holding conversation with a woman there, a man came to our area and sat among us. So he joined in with us and as we were talking, we found out he grew up in Chicago. I told him that I also grew up in Chicago and went to Lane Tech (I had on my Lane Tech alumni hat, but it was dark and he was a ways away, so he did not notice it). He said, "Really? I also went to Lane Tech." So, not only did he go to Lane tech, he was a Class of 76'er! I let him know about our 76 website and hopefully he will join in. We shared stories about some teachers and found out we both had Caroll for English 2. So we got a picture together and here he is. Let me introduce you all to Tom Lejman (who was on the Lane football team and is on page 32 and 195 in our 1976 yearbook). Also, he lives in the same subdivision area as my Bro, so I am sure we may run into each other again as I visit down there frequently.

Okay, I do not know why this picture came here sideways, I tried to rotate it, never worked. Sorry all.

10/15/20 10:49 AM

#1105

Edward Mc Carthy

Okay....Michelle - Weisemuller's accolades were posted up on the walls along side others outside the main office and I recall Dr. Rackey making mention of him once. So the reality is, he did not garduate from LT? Oh the humanity of it all. I can never again swing from a vine............

Thanks for all these details. I do agree, success and 'hall of fame' is highly subjective. For some, just making ends meet is noteworthy. Others, well, some are more fortunate or more determined. But I have learned we all have great blessings and each of us should be proud of what we have done. Or not done. As I age, my attitides chnage and I realize as I said above, hall of fame and success is really a personal/individual thing. Sure, some people reach 'celebrity' status. And I am happy for them. But reaching a point of personal accomplishment and having what you need ( and success ) is measured differently for everyone. My oldest is 25 and my youngest, a son, now 15, well, my definition of success right now and my hall of fame moment is getting him through high school and college. We can all agree raising kids today is vastly more challenging than what our parents had to contend with. He is a great kid, decent student and remarkable athlete, but like many today, smart decisions and making plain good decisions are more and more difficult with each day.

Nuff said. BTW, I admire that you are seeking to create a hall of fame. Great idea to inspire others.

10/15/20 10:54 AM

#1106

Thank you so much, Ed! I'm really blessed to be able to have a career doing what I love. And in large part, I credit all of those amazing English teachers I had at Lane. The teacher who had the most impact on me was Mr. Penfield - I can still remember him reading Hamlet, Act 5 Scene 1 where he holds up poor Yorick's skull and talks to it. Then he threw the invisible skull at us - and we all ducked. He was just amazing. I still diagram sentences in my mind.

I hope your wife and daughter enjoy the books!!!!

Terri

10/16/20 05:15 PM

#1107

Michelle...

LTHS Hall of Fame...

What? No Blago?
So what if he transferred out of Lane.

Maybe he gets his own section of the "Hall of Infamous"

10/16/20 06:21 PM

#1108