School Story:
* At work, we have a 50,000 gallon methanol storage tank. Sometimes I think of Mr. Goodspeed in 9th grade science class telling us that Navy ships would come to port with "half the sailors dead and the other half blind" because they would pass methanol through burnt toast trying to convert it to ethanol. I can't figure out where he came up with that story or why!
* I remember Mr. Milsted's shop horror stories. At each machine, he would demonstrate how to operate it, but first, would give a graphic account of the kid who did it wrong. Like the guy that used the palm of his hand to push the board through the jointer. And let's not forget the dangers of kickback! Does anyone else still have their metal toolbox?
* I remember Mr. Sheets asking our class if we really believed that the Soviet Union wanted to take over the earth and control all countries. He mocked the idea, which seemed like heresy to us. I remember Dave Leitch figured we wouldn't see high school graduation on account of WWIII with the Ruskies (7th or 8th grade)
* I still roll my R's like Miss Schloerrrrrrrb, and I can properly pronounce "schedule".
* Remember when the space shuttle blew up? Betty Bio first accused the class of lying - she refused to believe it.
* I remember counting the minutes until French was over so we could go play touch football - Coach Thompson knew how to conduct a phy ed class. Why did Pete Schueller's team always win? I could accept that he was a better athlete than me, but sometimes I genuinely felt that my TEAM was better. But somehow Pete's team always won. I have nothing against Pete, but it used to really frost me.
* I remember cruising in Guy Paterson's 2 door Buick with the muffler falling off and listening to "West End Girls" by the Pet Shop Boys. Through Guy I met the "Roller Boogie Babe" from Oostburg. Thanks Ted for the nickname. Why was Kohler so big on nicknames? Other fond car memories were going to BK after JV football games.
* I remember our Pee Wee baseball team was coached by John Price and Shady who were both in college. Unlike today, parental involvement was low, as we rode our bikes to practice, and John and Shady drove us all around rural Wisconsin going to games. At the end of the season, the coaches had a cookout for us, where they drank beer, got drunk, and told us wild drinking stories from college. I just don't think that happens much these days.
* What's with this movie, "Dodgeball"? Sounds like a game for wimps. Back in my day, we played MURDERBALL. Sometimes after MURDERBALL, we went outside and played PIGSLAUGHTER.
* I remember my going away party that Guy Maki had for me. Thanks Guy. I still have my wooden KHS that everyone signed.
