Donald Chandler

MERRY CHRISTMAS, MATES!

Here's wishing you and your family and friends a safe and happy holiday... and may you be blessed with good health and prosperity in the NEW YEAR!

Diane Harris (Moore)

Good Morning All!  I haven't checked in for a long time, and according to what I'm seeing it seems no one has entered a message since Dec. 23rd! I was AWOL for too long. I think Facebook has lessened my thoughts of our website, since many of you are "friends" of mine there. I must change my thinking, for there are things I will say here that I won't say on Facebook, because no one other than my class of 1968 chums would care.

Hope 2013 has gotten off to a pleasant start for all of you. However, as I say that, there are no doubt some of you who are going through some sort of trial right now. That's just how life is, and the more years we are given the more our odds increase that we will experience them. Without knowing what may be going on with some of you, let me say that when I speak in my prayers that "God, please be with those I love", that includes you. 

We had a quiet Christmas here in Ohio. We had been to GA for Thanksgiving, so we did not make the long trip back for Christmas. However, we drove to Rockford, IL after Christmas, to the home of our youngest son's family, where our other son's family joined us for New Year's. We had a great time. We had not been all together since last Christmas.

We have had  several inches of snow on the ground here for a couple of weeks, but this morning only small patches remain here and there. Temps have warmed just enough to melt lots of it, but the big rains overnight took care of the rest. Dick is in Boulder, CO, due to return around midnight tonight, IF the bad weather predicted for there allows his plane to take off. 

David Landers, I do hope you are adjusting to being "back home" in Crawford. I am sure family and old friends are thrilled you are back!

Happy Birthday to Pam! I have either barely missed it, or it is coming up real soon. 

No real news here. New Year's resolutions have been made and broken, but my quest to make each day a little better than the one before lives on.  

Do take care, my friends. 

Gary Grice

Greetings and salutations one and all and Happy New Year!  Yes things have been REAL busy - too much so.  I managed to burn my candle at both ends until they met in the middle leading up to Christmas.  Got too run down and started with the coughing, breathing issue that frequent me this time of year.  Started round of medicine.  Had to get my periodic infusion which supresses my immune system - got sinus infection - another round of medicine.  Today is the first day I've felt great since before Christmas.  During all that, Sherron had the flu as did just about all the grandkids and daughters.  Most are over the worst but little Lyla has pneumonia and double ear infection.  I noted on FB that Diane is attempting to "get organized".  I made that same resolution ...... again!  I did manage to rebuild two closets over the last week.  Hopefully Sherron can get all of her treasures in them now.  I've also ordered some storage cabinets for the garage.  Even if I miss getting organized, I plan on making a good showing!  Well I took the plung and purchased a trial membership to Ancestry.com.  I've played with Family Tree Maker for years but never got serious about digging up my roots.  And with good reason.  After doing research, I'm charging $100 per person to have "your name" stricken from the family tree.  Hope to make a small fortune.  Appears Sherron and I each had either two very stupid or two very brave, musically inclined ancestors.  We each had an ancestor who served as musicians in the Confederate Army.  Each was wounded.  Sherron's ancestor was later able to return to service while mine was unable to continue and returned to the family plantation that had been looted of all valuables. I have not been able to determine the location of their wounds, so I'm not sure if they were wounded during a retreat or leading the charge with flute in hand.  Either way, we are proud sons and daughters of the Condederacy.  Further digging revealed that we had ancestors that served in the Revolutionary War as well.  One of my ancestors appears to have been hanged by the British for treason - siding with the colonists.  Proud sons and daughters of the American Revolution.  I only purchased access to the United States Ancestry records so I haven't been able to go too far beyond our shores, but did find an ancestor of Sherron's that was a captain in the British Royal Navy.  Not sure what organization that makes her a part of.  All in all quite interesting.  I hope everyone is doing well and enjoying the new year.  May God richly bless your days and ways.  Later.

Connie Morgan (White)

Just gotta vent!

I just had the most frustrating experience with the Clarke Co. Magistrate court!!!     First of all, I walk in and there are 3 females sitting there.   One texting/playing on phone and the other 2 were "chatting".   No one speaks, smiles, nods....    Now, I didn't expect a great big "welcome" shout-out like when you walk into Moes Grill, but an acknowledgement that a living, breathing, law-abiding citizen was standing at your desk would have been nice!  and I was there in the morning - they had not even had time to have a bad day.

I was amazed, and frankly angered with the sorry, ignorant, unhelpful, "attitude" there.

Mind you, I did not go there as a criminal, but as one following the steps she had been instructed to do to go thru the "process".    (all to do with my past renters at my parents home---   I am NOT a landlord - but that's another story..)  The one that was sitting at the counter for "civil" matters did not know the answer to ONE question that I asked - even questions about the forms she had given me to fill out.

I understand why they search for guns when you walk in....   I think the most calm, nice, peaceful, tax-paying person around could be PUSHED OVER THE EDGE by the sorriness of some people.

I've often wondered in the past few years HOW long God will allow our country to go on??   I have my answer - HE does not have to destroy us......   we are doing it ourselves.  (and it is heartbreaking!)

and P.S. - I've gotten my first  paycheck in January with much higher insurance premium AND more tax taken out--- and I am definitely NOT in the high income group!

NOW ---   I hope y'all are all healthy and have had a good start to this year.    Gary, sorry you've had so much going on.    Diane, I didn't even bother to make any resolutions this year.   My recent track record hasn't been too good.

Happy about our BULLDAWGS bowl win, and am enjoying our Falcon's good, exciting season.

Take care and stay in touch...

Jimmy Willis

Hello Mates,

It is a shame we don't use this page that much anymore. It

really was a great way to catch up on everyone.

Well i do hope all are doing well and wish everyone a little

late Happy New Year. Any a very happy birthday to Pam tomorrow.

From deep in the Briar Patch!

Later Mates

Diane Harris (Moore)

Poor Gary. I am truly sorry to hear that illness has plagued you and your family recently, but glad that the worst seems behind you. Flu is rampant here. Even some with flu shots have come down with one of the other nasty strains. We have evaded it so far, but I say that while seriously knocking on wood.

Connie, I would not expect to hear of such a bad, rude experience from my beloved South, where manners and respect are supposed to reign. I would have been furious too!! I think my pet peeve is the type of behavior you described. Just the other day I praised a sweet young girl who served me at Subway, because of her pleasant demeanor. More and more when I run into that kind of person, who is conducting themselves the way EVERYONE should,  I let them know I appreciate it. They should all follow the Chick-fil-A model of courtesy, whether they work at fast food or the courthouse! 

Jim, I'll bet your Brer Rabbit country is already starting to show signs of Spring with little daffodils pushing up through the earth. I almost bought myself some flowers at Kroger yesterday, just 'cause, but my practical side always wins, so I didn't. After a freakishly warm weekend here, it has turned super cold again. 

Gary, I belong to Ancestry.com, and have enjoyed it. I go in spurts of activity. I forget about it for months, and then I'll work with it again. Fascinating to find old military records of ancestors. I always heard that my great-grandaddies were in the confederate armies, but to see their names on registers was something else. My Great-Granddaddy Eli Eberhardt was a POW in a Union prison in Salisbury, NC. When the war ended he was released, except it is referred to as "paroled" due to the fact that the southern soldiers were part of an "uprising".Many died there. Have found records for Revolutionary war service, too. It's a fun hobby, that used to bore me. Love it now, though. Of course I'm related to just about everybody in Oglethorpe county, and lots of my class of '68 members. I'm scared I may find out that Dick is my long lost first cousin or something.  I always knew Ray, Kay, and Linda were my 3rd or 4th cousins, but even Don and I share a distant relative. 

Better go. Have an early appt. to have a bit of warranty work done on my car. Hope it is quick.

Take care my friends, and stay well. Another Happy Birthday shout out to Pam!

Connie Morgan (White)

Happy birthday Pam!!

Diane, we have had some pretty weather for a few days.   I even enjoyed having the windows open for a good "airing out".. I am not looking forward to the cold returning - but know it is nothing like what y'all live in :)

Happy wishes to all for a good week.

Gary Grice

Greetings and salutations one and all and Happy (belated) Birthday to Pam.  I trust it was a good day.  Diane, show me yours and I'll show you mine .... family tree that is.  I think it would be very interesting to have that as a theme for our next reunion.  Even though I was not originally from Oglethorpe County, I've discovered that many of my ancestors settled there.  We probably have relatives within the class that we were totally unaware of.  Maybe if we brought our family trees ......  I must confess, I'm having a hard time with this retirement thing.  I sense that I'm too young to sit and watch the world spin.  I'm looking for a hobby to occupy my time and suit my temperament.  That's one reason I took up the geanology thing.  I've also watched more movies in the last two months than I have in all of my previous years.  Between a neighbor and son's-in-law, my interest was spiked on streaming.  I have a Roku and Apple TV and subscribe to Netflix and Hulu Plus.  The biggest problem is trying to figure out what to watch! There are literally thousands of TV shows and movies available on demand.  Over Christmas we had music streaming constantly.  Just a little more technology fun.  Guess I had better run and attempt to link into a web cast on ClassCreator.  They are implementing some extensive changes and hopefully I can pass those along as I learn of them.  You will probably start seeing some changes soon.  Hope you all have a very blessed week.  Later.

Connie Morgan (White)

I went with my DIL and granddaughter to an event at the UGA Fine Arts Auditorium last night.   First time I've been back to that beautiful building since going with my OCHS English class to something there back in the 1960's!  I continue to be thankful for the opportunities I had at OCHS and the dear people that touched and helped shape  my life.   So thankful for my fellow classmates and friends!

Donald Chandler

HAPPY NEW YEAR, MATES!...

I must agree with Diane... I think that all of us regular OCHS Forum contributors being on Facebook has taken some of the energy from our class website... but there are things that I will share here that I would not post on Facebook for the world to see. It's still nice to have the class site.

Looks like winter has returned to the South after several weeks of spring weather. 

Gary... I'm happy to see you working on your family tree.  It's an interesting hobby, sort of like putting a puzzle together, with all your ancestors being the puzzle pieces.  In my searching, I discovered that one of my great-great-grandfathers was killed in a duel in Madison County... the two participants shot each other to death... no winner in that one.  I found the detailed story published in an 1890 Hartwell Sun newspaper.  Fortunately my ancestor's son, my great-grandfather, was born before the duel or I wouldn't be here.  By the way, for those of you like Gary and Cousin Diane who are interested in genealogy... some of the surnames I've found in my family tree are: Chandler, Sanders, Eberhart, Strickland, Cash, Bullock, Veale, Meiere, Jacks, Moore, Lumpkin, Skelton, Jefferson, and Hawkins, among others... several generations in the Madison, Jackson, Oglethorpe, Clarke, Hart, and Franklin County area of northeast Georgia.  Some of you may be researching the same families.

Connie... that was a WONDERFUL VENT!... We feel your pain.

Jim... it has been a series of bad finishes for the last several months.  The Braves made the playoffs but ended the season with a really ugly game.  The election ended on a very sour note (I could not bring myself to watch any of the inauguration).  The Dawgs came within 5 yards and a few seconds of being National Champions (I believe they would have demolished Notre Dame)... and finally the Falcons ended up 10 yards and a few seconds from going to the Super Bowl... Bummer... I think I'll do like Elijah and go sit under a tree and have a pity party.

Have a great week!... see ya on Facebook...

Reporting live, this is Don...

Gary Grice

Greetings and salutations one and all.  Kinda chilly this week in Jefferson town and anticipating some icy rain tomorrow.  Well, Monday was a very special day around the Grice household.  It was Sherron's Birthday.  Don, I didn't watch the inaugration either.  Of course, I didn't watch the previous one.  I find no joy in watching fools being enslaved.  We celebrated the day by going to our daughter's lake house just below Greensboro.  It was supposed to be nice and warm so we could sit on the deck and just relax.  Mother nature didn't cooperate so we had to enjoy the view and relax inside.  Our daughter met us there and prepared lunch for us.  All in all, a wonderful day.

I'm working almost exclusively on Sherron's family tree at the moment in hopes of having something for their family reunion in April. I didn't know I was married to royalty!  One of her ancestors, about 16 generations back, appears to have been Sir Lord Thomas Smythe, the Mayor of London - mid-1500's.  Although I find these searches quite interesting - and I spend way too much time on it - all you really have is someone's word.  I have found that some family trees become embellished to the point that the pieces don't fit.  I guess everyone wants to be someone important even vicariously. 

Well if you can't beat 'em, join 'em!  I previously mentioned a pending webinar I would be watching put on by Class Creator.  They presented changes that will be taking place in the coming weeks, months, and year.  First off, this site will be down this coming Sunday for 5 to 6 hours while they make a major programming change. Hopefully, this upgrade will be transparent to most users.  It will be mostly for administrators but look for changes Sunday evening and next Monday.  The really big news was that Class Creator has developed a Facebook interface that will be impemented in the near future.  It will give you the option of posting to both places at once - if you choose.  Each member will have to turn on this option on their Profile page once it is implemented.  I don't know exactly how this will appear so stay tuned for updates.

Well its about time for my morning coffee break. I hope you all are having a very blessed week.  Later.

Donald Chandler

THOU SHALT NOT STEAL...

A burglar broke into a house one night. He was shining his flashlight around, looking for valuables when a voice in the dark said, 'Jesus knows you're here.' 

He nearly jumped out of his skin, clicked his flashlight off, and froze. When he heard nothing more, he shook his head and continued.  Just as he pulled the stereo out so he could disconnect the wires, clear as a bell he heard 'Jesus is watching you.' 

Startled, he shined his light around frantically, looking for the source of the voice. Finally, in the corner of the room, his flashlight beam came to rest on a parrot.

'Did you say that?' he hissed at the parrot.

'Yes', the parrot confessed, then squawked, 'I'm just trying to warn you that he's watching you.'

The burglar relaxed. 'Warn me, huh? Who in the world are you?'

'Moses,' replied the bird.

'Moses?' the burglar laughed. 'What kind of people would name a bird Moses?'

The parrot answered. 'The kind of people who would name a Rottweiler Jesus.'

Gary Grice

Answers to the burning questions of the day!

Does a wild bear putty in the woods?

Later.

Jimmy Willis

GUESS THAT'S WHY THEY CAME UP WITH NEW MATH HUH! I WOULD HAVE NEVER

THUNK IT!

LATER MATES!

Gary Grice

Greetings and Good Morning one and all.  Another one of those nights, I guess. Well, it took them a while but the upgrade is complete.  Looks pretty transparent but I assure you it was a major deal.  Now we wait for the other enhancement. I started a major upgrade to my garage on Saturday and really got with it yesterday. Why does one good thing ALWAYS lead to another.  Hopefully I can start putting things back together today.  The intent is to get both vehicles inside. Time will tell.  No real news from sleepy little Jefferson.  Hope you are all having a very blessed week.  Later.

Judy Stewart (Findley)

Hello all, 

Just thought I would stop in and say "hi" before the first month of 2013 was gone. Number 13 is my best number so expecting great things this year. LOVE and HUGS to all !

Judy

Gary Grice

I just came across some great sports quotes and thought you (at least Don) might enjoy.  Some rough weather out there. Be safe.  Later.

1. Chicago Cubs outfielder Andre Dawson on being a role model:
“I wan’ all dem kids to do what I do, to look up to me. I wan’ all the kids to copulate me.”

2. New Orleans Saint RB George Rogers when asked about the upcoming season:
“I want to rush for 1,000 or 1,500 yards, whichever comes first..”

3. And, upon hearing Joe Jacobi of the ‘Skin’s say:
“I’d run over my own mother to win the Super Bowl,”
Matt Millen of the Raiders said: “To win, I’d run over Joe’s Mom, too.”

4. Torrin Polk, University of Houston receiver, on his coach, John Jenkins:
“He treat us like mens. He let us wear earrings..”

5. Football commentator and former player Joe Theismann:
“Nobody in football should be called a genius. A genius is a guy like Norman Einstein.”

6. Senior basketball player at the University of Pittsburgh :
“I’m going to graduate on time, no matter how long it takes..”
(Now that is beautiful)

7. Bill Peterson, a Florida State football coach:
“You guys line up alphabetically by height..”
And, “You guys pair up in groups of three, and then line up in a circle.”

8. Boxing promoter Dan Duva on Mike Tyson going to prison:
“Why would anyone expect him to come out smarter? He went to prison for three years, not Princeton ..”

9. Stu Grimson, Chicago Blackhawks left wing, explaining why he keeps a color photo of himself above his locker:
“That’s so when I forget how to spell my name, I can still find my clothes.”

10. Lou Duva, veteran boxing trainer, on the Spartan training regimen of heavyweight Andrew Golota:
“He’s a guy who gets up at six o’clock in the morning, regardless of what time it is.”

11. Chuck Nevitt , North Carolina State basketball player, explaining to Coach Jim Valvano why he appeared nervous at practice:
“My sister’s expecting a baby, and I don’t know if I’m going to be an uncle or an aunt. (I wonder if his IQ ever hit room temperature in January)

12. Frank Layden , Utah Jazz president, on a former player:
“I asked him, ‘Son, what is it with you? Is it ignorance or apathy?’
He said, ‘Coach, I don’t know and I don’t care.’”

13. Shelby Metcalf, basketball coach at Texas A&M, recounting what he told a player who received four F’s and one D:
“Son, looks to me like you’re spending too much time on one subject.”

14. In the words of NC State great Charles Shackelford:
“I can go to my left or right, I am amphibious.”

15. Former Houston Oilers coach Bum Phillips when asked by Bob Costas why he takes his wife on all the road trips,
Phillips responded: “Because she’s too ugly to kiss good-bye.”

Judy Stewart (Findley)

Gary.....

those are HILARIOUS !

JUDY

Donald Chandler

Gary... I loved the sports quotes.  This is evidence that athletes are almost as intelligent as some of our elected officials.  And here is proof that athletes are not smarter than a first grader...

Gary Grice

Greetings everyone and welcome to February!  Only 11 months to Christmas. I've been really having fun trying to trace Sherron's family tree.  They have a reunion in April and I would like to surprise them with a nice presentation.  I started down one line in her family that took me to the Fannings - yes the same for which the UGA building on Milledge is named. Fanning led me to Middleton - an interesting name - like Prince Catherine.  I went all the way back to 1100 in jolly ole England. While attempting to make a connection with the princess, I came across an ABC (All Barrack Channel) news story about her heritage and it contained the following paragraph:

"Other Middleton family names include Meadows, Fairfax, Tanfield and Gascoigne, one with French lineage. Her connection to King Edward III comes through the Harrison line."

Gascoigne looked familiar - not like Smith or Jones - so I looked back in Sherron's lineage and there it was, William Gascoigne, 1467 - 1551, her 13th great grandfather.  I haven't been able to make a direct connection but I have started calling Sherron, Your Highness.  Now I have to find a royal connection in my background!!!

Yes Don, I do believe it is a toss up between first graders and our overpaid athletes.  Now when it comes to politicians ..... they win the stupidity award!!! Lying is their greatest attribute.  Everyone of them was for it before they were against it.  I'm so happy to see so many deciding not to run again!  I think we should remove the WHOLE LOT of them and start over.  Couldn't do much worse if we just drew straws to pick our "leaders".  Well enough hot air from me today - I've done what I can to warm it up.  I hope you all have a very blessed weekend.  Later.

Edd Lowe

Are all of you retired?  Y'all have some great posts.

On the serious side, I came upon Coach John Nix's obituary this weekend.  He died February 15, 2012.  I thought you might be interested.

http://www.loveinfuneralhome.com/fh/obituaries/obituary.cfm?o_id=1398873&fh_id=10855

.

Donald Chandler

Hello Edd... good to hear from you.  I don't know if you remember me from OCHS, but I do remember you.  Thanks for the info on Coach Nix.  My condolences to his family and friends.  I've always loved sports but wasn't involved in sports in high school (I had to do farm work before and after school) but Coach Nix was my teacher for American History, which I loved, and I really appreciated his teaching.   I'm sorry to hear about his death.  He was a good man and still too young to leave us.

Thanks for posting with us Edd... come back soon. 

Diane Harris (Moore)

First things first....HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JUDY!!  We love you!!

Edd, thanks for letting us know about Coach Nix, but I was sorry to hear about his death. Can it really have been that many years ago that we sat in his class as young teenagers? When he would have had to be in his 20s, but seemed  "old" to us? I can see him now as he was then. I even remember his wife. Am I dreaming, or wasn't she Egypian? Oh my, what a long, long time ago. May he rest in peace.

Dick and I got home Sat. evening from Colorado, and then had 11 adults and 4 kids over for lunch after church yesterday. Everyone was gone and the dishes were done by kick off time, so I pretty much did nothing except vegetate on the couch  until I went to bed. I had no interest in the ball game, though it did turn out to be very exciting. The commercials are always my favorite part. Oh, I did have one period of activity when I got up off the couch to join Beyonce in her half-time performance, which woke Dick up with a jolt.

No news here. It's January in Ohio, cold, snowy, and Spring is still sleeping several weeks underground. I hear tales of jonquils blooming down home, so if you see some think of me. I've always loved them, and the way they persists in brightening up the ruins of old home places years after the families who planted them are gone.

Thanks for the laughter those recent posts provided! To give someone a smile is a generous thing.

Have a good week, friends.

Donald Chandler

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JUDY!...

Hope you have a very special day with the ones you love... fillled with hugs and smiles and blessings.

Gary Grice

Greetings everyone and HAPPY BIRTHDAY JUDY!  I hope it was a joyous day for you filled with much celebrating.  Seemed like the weekend was too short.  Not that it really made any difference.  Retirement is a string of Saturdays interrupted by a Sunday.  Watched the Super Bowl last evening.  All in all, not a bad game.  I didn't have a dog in the fight but happy one of the brothers won.  Had to be mixed emotions for mom and dad.  Worked in my garage most of the day installing some cabinets to improve storage.  My goal is to get both vehicles inside.  Right now they are both outside.  Time will tell.  I hope everyone will have a blessed week.  Later.