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Robert Cole

Ken... you owe 10 cents on a bill?

Depends on if you like the company or not.
If you like them, just add the 10 cents to the next payment.
If you don't like them, then don't pay the 10 cents at all.  At the end of the year their books will be out of balance by 10 cents, and they'll have to figure out where it came from.  Probably cost them $100 to figure it out and another $500 to send you a letter asking for the 10 cents.  Serves 'em right!

I did that to an insurance company once.  Had a tire slashed on my car.  Cost me $150 to replace it.  After deductible and depreciation, the insurance company sent me a check for $7.50.  I tore up the check and never cashed it.  Let them figure out why their books are out of balance by $7.50 at the end of the year!!!

John Bliss

I'm with Bob. I literally cannot remember the last time I wrote a check. Not only do I pay all of my bills online, but most of them are set up to autopay, so I don't even have to remember when they're due. Banking is all direct deposit. The few checks I get, I deposit using the app on my phone. I will get cash at the ATM, but with The Plague, in-person transactions have been so rare that I probably haven't gotten cash in months.

Peter Ingraffia

These discussions about debit cards and such remind me of a day about 30 yrs ago when Janet and I took two of our nieces to Santa's Village. After a day of the girls spending our money, I finally told them I was tapped out. My one niece just so matter-of-factly stated "Uncle Pete, you just need to go to that machine over there, put your card in, and the machine will give you money". The world through the eyes of a seven year old. 

Gregory Calvimontes

June K Hori (Yamasaki)

So many places have gone totally cashless these days. You guys would have a tough time at Wrigley Field, which is now NO CASH anywhere. I even have to charge the $1.00 for my scorecard at the merchandise store! All the vendors in the stands carry those little credit card processors. It's not like the Before Time, when they still had scorecard vendors, and if there was a line of tourists waiting to get a card, and the guy knew you, you could just  go up there and plunk down the exact amount (or a little extra for a tip) and he'd pass you a scorecard. Can't do that anymore.

Michelle Milkovic (Weiner)

Cocaine, dog spit, food and everyone's favorite... poop!  This'll curl your toes and make you think about the additional benefits of going cashless. GAK!  

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/dirty-money/

Robert Cole

Michelle Milkovic (Weiner)

You can use cash money, check or credit card to reserve your foursome or purchase a hole or event sponsor at the LTAA Golfing for Grants event September 3rd. Not a golfer?  Not a problem...join us after golf for bbg chicken and ribs and live piano bar courtesy of Andrew Collins '75, (otherwise known as Snoopy in the 1974 Lane Tech production of "You're a Good Man Charlie Brown"!)  It would be so much fun to have a couple tables of Bicentennials there!

June K Hori (Yamasaki)

Bob:

Our ticket rep did some investigating for me, and sadly, there is no such thing as a free scorecard at Wrigley. Besides, if anyone could get a free scorecard, why bother having scorecard vendors??

Robert Cole

It's supposed to be for the press only.  But, They don't care about that.  If you ask, Customer Relations will give away a press pack to anyone.  It's worked for me.

June K Hori (Yamasaki)

Hmmm... maybe you can get away with it once or twice, but not for as many times as we go during the season. I've never heard of this, or anyone else doing this. Let me know if you try it this year. In the meantime, I'll just stick with the $1 scorecards, and the girls in the store know me already anyway!

Michelle Milkovic (Weiner)

A week from today we'll be holding a plaque dedication ceremony on the stairs to Lane's Auditorium from 5:30-6:30 to honor the women from the Classes of '74 & '75 and launch this year's 50th Anniversary celebration of co-education at Lane. If you live nearby, come join us for this brief but very special recognition.

Robert Cole

Many thanks to our dedicated health care folks, especially those I know we have from Lane!

Just got back a week ago from 10 days in the hospital.  Had a heart valve replacement.  Yes... I'm now PART COW!  Got the moo down real well.  Recovery is GREAT.  I'm already back at work fulltime.  Doing my exercises and walking.  Getting into a better eating pattern and down over 10 lbs!  Feeling better than ever!  I'd like to try to make the LTHS Cubs soiree in the spring.  But, my family and I are planing a big 30th wedding anniversary in Nashville next Nov and I might not be able to do both.

I've enjoyed seeing all the well-deserved praise on the 50th anniversay of women at Lane.  It was the right thing to do and I'm proud of them all.

See ya later!

Michelle Milkovic (Weiner)

BOB!  We can't leave you alone for a minute!  So glad to hear you are recovering and taking everything in stride.  So do we consider you grass-fed now? 

Probably no big in-person alumni group actvities til mid summer 2022 but we'l be hosting another virtual tour with that awesome Hillary who did the Chicago food tour earlier this year.  It'll be "Holiday Lights & SIghts" on Nov 23rd and will surely include the Marshall Fields windows and other childhood faves so I hope you and the rest of the Bicentennials will hop on that. (Bob knows how to keep the chat room lively!)  

For those of you not on social media... here's the link for the Women's 50th Anniversary Launch and thanks to Per Pearson from our class for taking some awesome pictures of the plaque dedication! 

https://blockclubchicago.org/2021/09/10/new-plaque-honors-first-female-students-at-lane-tech-50-years-after-going-coed/

Robert Cole

John Bliss

Hey Bob,

Welcome to the bovine club. I went bionic 2 years ago. Closer to $300,000 than $6 million, and thank god for insurance! Gettin' better all the time. 

Terri (Therese) Bresnahan (Reid)

Bob,

Great to see that you are doing well. 

Michelle,

Great job - as always - on the work on the 50th Anniversary. And for keeping us informed.  Thanks for all of your dedication.

Terri 

Andrea M Adam

I was just listening to Saturday Morning Flashback on WXRT. They were doing 1971 and Johnny Marrs (sp?) mentioned that it was the year they first let girls into Lane. I believe he was there at that time. He said it was, in his opinion, a decision that made the school that much better. NICE!!!!!!!!!! 

Michelle Milkovic (Weiner)

I was listening too!  I forgot what a great year it was for music. Loved his shout out to the girls...class act.

https://www.audacy.com/wxrt/topic/saturday-morning-flashback

Michelle Milkovic (Weiner)

Deborah "Debbie" Tono

So sorry I missed the Trail Blazers event!!!! Hope it was well attended & went well. Did it by chance happened to be recorded? 

Have a safe & happy holiday to one & all  Gads - where did the year go???

Peace & happiness-

Always,

Debbie 

Deborah "Debbie" Tono

BTW - throughout my life I continued to play v-ball (& softball) competitively & recreationally (didn't quite make it at the collegiate level!) & coached both sports at Middle school, High school & several Women's level. Have been sidelined these past few years due to a MVA & most recently a broken ankle!!!! Hopefully by the end of 2022 I'll be able to ski again!!! Will have to miss all sports & activities until then...

Stay healthy, active & safe so we can meet up for the next reunion!!! I'm definitely not the youngster that's in the photo but am still young at heart (& always will be)!!!!

Take care -

Debbie 

Michelle Milkovic (Weiner)

Deb... I was wondering if that flyer was gonna catch your eye(s).  The virtual discussion was really interesting.  We had a few of the firsr "Letterwomen", first female ROTC officer, National Honor Society members, Warrior Editors, Student Council Officers and more.  As we move through these events, it's becoming more clear that the girls who transferred in as sophomores really got the short end of the stick.  They had to interview to get in, were discouraged from taking Honors and AP classes, and were much more isolated than the girls in the classes of 75 and 76.  It was also eye opening to see how little was available to them in the way of extracurriculars. I love that bowling was our first competitive sport and Nancy Hashimoto, who was on the call, was our first state champ!  Anyone on the Women's 50th mailing list will get an email in the next week with the slide deck and link to recording. But here's a gem for you... the program from the first girls athletic banquet! I never realized back then, how hard Ms. Martino worked to create opportunities for the girls at Lane.  She was a big advocate in '74 during the Title IX suit against enrollment quotas for girls and single-handedly planned and executed the 30th anniversary back in 2001.

Per C Pearson

Our classmate Paul Smolk passed away November 22, 2021.

At Lane he excelled in machine shop, was on the football team and railroad club. After graduating he completed his apprenticeship and became a Tool and Die Maker. This led to him to establishing his own shop where he settled into selling machinery, tooling and metalworking supplies. He was happiest finding the oddities of metalworking. Paul was one to just pick up and go. He traveled Europe many times as well as the United States.

He stayed friends with many teachers at Lane after graduation including Jim Ewen, Russ Hayden and Ron Peisker. Paul brought one of the original hands from Lane’s clock tower at the last reunion.

On a personal note I met Paul through our mutual machine shop teacher Jim Ewen (Room 124). We were making two tools out of one block of steel. Paul worked on it one period and I the other. Never physically saw him for weeks. When we met we became lifelong friends. He will be missed.

Edward Mc Carthy

Thanks Per for this news, however sad it may be.  And thanks for sharing Paul's story.  A life well lived and enjoyed.  .Imagine all the awesome things he made and all the parts he cut from bars or blocks of steel.

  At a time when skilled trade persons are fast disappearing and young folks don't want to go into an apprentice  program because current youth have this 'immediate gratification' mindset and want flashy careers and big bucks right out of school, our country is in dire need of men ( and women) like Paul.  I see this first hand.   

I work with youth groups and constantly encourage high schoolers to consider the machining trade as an option.. Any trade as an option.   However far too many schools jam COLLEGE COLLEGE COLLEGE down their throats.  Get a degree, graduate with six figure student loan debt and hope to make good money.competing in a sea of unemployed grads............versus an associate degree paid for by a machine shop (gladly ) while you work there part time getting paid to learn and run million dollar CNC machines making parts that go inot space, med devices, planes, and so many other high tech items, .  After just a couple years, you'll do very well ( 30 to 40 bucks an hour ) and after several years, make 100K+ with all the overtime you want.  No student debt.  Punch in and out....rarely taking work issues home.  Times have changed for sure.  Rest in peace Paul.  

Merry Christmas all and we did it....we completed another year.    Vaccines, boosters, masks, distancing, quarantines...... work from home.   Happy New Year !