Peggy Steiner (Miller)

That would be great and I appreciate the help we can always use it.  Lets see how many we can round up.

Peggy Steiner (Miller)

Hi Pirates

The pictures from our Pirates Vegas Party 2010 are now ready.

You can view them at http://picasaweb.google.com/paramountpirates

Hope you enjoy them and thank you to all our Pirates and guests who attend and to Mark for contributing photos.

Peggy

Marcia Kraft (Barringer)

Peggy and Mark ---

Thanks for posting all the pictures.  It's nice for those of us who didn't attend to be able to see what a great time you all had.   Maybe next year......

Pat Kuester (Bowen)

Thanks to Marcia, Phyllis, Carol and Peggy for the nice cards.  I really appreciate your thoughtfulness.

My daughter and I are leaving on Friday to take a little R&R.  Actually we're going on a genealogy quest along with some fun sightseeing in Louisville, KY.  Unfortunately they are having 95 degree weather.  But we'll have fun, maybe I'll sweat out a few pounds I've gained over the last 6 months.

Marcia Kraft (Barringer)

Pat ---

95 degrees is cool compared to what it will be in August when you come to Havasu for Karen's baby shower.  Thank goodness for air conditioning and a swimming pool. (Don't forget your suit!) 

Have a great trip. I'll talk to you when you get back.  

Peggy Steiner (Miller)

Hi Pat,

You're welcome.  It will be good for you and your daughter to take that trip to KY - have fun and relax you have been through so much.  Don't forget to give us a run down on your vacation and some pictures too??

Take care

Pat Kuester (Bowen)

Another thanks to Joanne Ketchum for her card.  Also a thanks to Connie Nelson for her phone call.  She'll be in Nashville while I'm in Louisville.  Too bad we can't connect.  Connie, a premature thanks for the cards you mailed yesterday.

Mirtha, sorry I missed your call.  I'll try to catch you tomorrow.

Marcia Kraft (Barringer)

Happy Father's Day to all the dads and grandpas out there.  Hope your day is special and you hear from all your kids.  (Our pastor used to tell us the most phone calls are made on Mother's Day but the most collect phone calls are made on Father's Day!)

Joetta Turpen (Lester)

     I was sitting watching news today... and was once again surprised to see Paramount High School in the news stories.  This is the second time in a couple of months that it has been on the news and not in a good light.  The first time was for a strip show at an assembly and now a stabbing of a 8th grader in summer school.

     I use to proudly say I graduated from Paramount High, then it changed to 'before it had 12 foot fences with barbed wire'.  I realize times have changed and that area has definitely changed, but I just think it is so sad it has come to this, not only there, but in allot of areas that used to be nice neighborhoods.

     Just wondered what everyone elses take on this situation is. 

     I do think it is great we still have a great group of people keeping in touch through this forum.  Reaffirming there are still good and gentle people who still care about their fellowman (& woman).  So, keep up the conversations... always interesting.

Mark Overstreet

Hi Joetta and All,

I was watching the Biography about Weird Al Yankovitch.  He grew up in Lynwood!  That's another city that has had some drastic negative changes.  A lot of it is like living in South Central.

When I was a Boy Scout Master and Girl Scout Leader, I met some wonderful, unselfish people.  At the Summer camps,  people used their vacation time to volenteer their time and energy to help our youth. (the ACLU has tried to end the Boy Scouts) I try to keep optimistic but have been frustrated and to negative due to the environment in Los Angeles.  We are looking for someplace more peaceful as soon as Rosa retires.  My son and daughter have left L.A. and only return to visit. On our class map, I'm the only "68" Pirate living in L.A. (Help).  I try to surround and myself with "good" folks. My good friends, I hold dear.  I see that many of you have done the same.  Our culture, our values have changed, not necessarily for the better. A lot of the values and morals that we grew up having are still around, you just have to look for them in people. 

Be good, do good.

Pat Kuester (Bowen)

If you look at every generation the old folks are always saying the same thing.  "Things were better when we were young."  "These kids now a days don't have any respect."  "We could buy a hamburger and soda for a nickel."  Well maybe 35 cents.

Neighborhoods have changed; some for the better, some for the worst.  There is a lot of violence, but there is also a lot more media coverage.  We had gangs in Paramount, remember Dog Patch?  Kids carried knives and got into fights.  There was child molestation and incest.  People overdosed from drugs (once across the street from our house).  The difference is people didn't talk about those things.  Family's dirty laundry wasn't aired out on the clothes line, it was kept shut up in a dirty clothes hamper. 

Paramount was a low to medium income neighborhood.  Joetta, don't you remember some of the neighbors we had in our neighborhood?  Do you remember the Youngs?  They lived across the street from Clarence.  The father was in a mental hospital.  He'd get out every so often, just often enough to get the wife pregnant (who happened to be very slow and had mental issues too).  They had a daughter our age.  Her mother sold her to another guy who lived in our neighborhood.  He was in his twenties, the girl was 15.  He married her, but the authorities found out and procecuted him, can't remember what happened to the mother.  The kids were always being taken away and put into foster care then given back to the mother.  Not much different from now a days, huh?

 What happened in Lynwood and Compton is as soon as blacks started moving into the neighborhood the whites wanted out.  They wanted out so badly that they sold their houses at lower prices.  This allowed people to come in and buy the houses as income property.  Then came the renters.  That's what happened to the neighborhood.  Then the blacks started moving out and the hispanics started moving in.  Oy vey!!  I live in an integrated neighborhood.  You most certainly can't tell by looking at the homes what ethnic group lives in the houses.   

Billie Hundley (Linnane-Miller)

Peggy, Happy Birthday!  I just noticed it's your birthday today -- I hope the day is filled with family, fun, and sweet memories.

Thanks for posting the Vegas Party pictures on Picassa, looks like everyone had a wonderful time in Vegas.  What a great job of pulling the party together again this year, a big thanks to the party organizers! 

Take care my friend, Billie 

Sandra Harris (Lint)

Well    ..I've thought but can't remember any stuff going on in my neighborhood growing up.  I'm sure stuff did go on but I lived in "Sandi-land"  where everything was happy and wholesome.  A big surprise I had when I went to work and heard the other girls talk about stuff.  Don thought I was the most naieve person he ever met.  Sometimes I think he was right.  I still like "Sandi-land but I'm very aware of the junk that goes on in the world.  Oh yeah,..Don got two new kittens a few weeks ago.  They are Bobtails..sisters.  Maxine and Josie.  Josie plays fetch!  I know...I can't believe it either.  She brings me her little purple mouse..drops it in my lap and waits for me to throw it....and we do this over and over and over...you get the picture.  How cute! 

take care Paramount Pirates!!.....Sandi

Mirtha Camacho (Rayburn)

Peggy and Mickie,

Happy Birthday ladies,  may your day be extra special and the new year be good to you and yours.

Peggy,

Congratulations to you and all who helped your with this years reunion, great pictures of all the fun. I sure wish I could have been there, but darn, once in awhile, especially on Lonny's  birthday weekend I must go to the river, it also didn't help that I had to pay that $510. red light camera ticket. You would think they could make you look better for that kind of money.

Peggy Steiner (Miller)

Billie & Mirtha,

Thank you so much for the Birthdday Wishes.   You both are so sweet. 

Glad you like the pics from the party - we really did have a good time and hope that you both will be able to make it for the next one.

Mirtha - $510.00 ticket wow - how fast were you going?  I will have to tell Ricky Racer (Stu) to slow down when we go to Cali - when he gets in that PT Cruiser he likes to run it.  He won't do that in my Expedition - he said it's like driving the Queen Mary :)  - Are you going to share your picture with us? 

Take Care Ladies and again thank you.....

Mark Overstreet

Hi All!

Rosa and I took a drive this morning. I took a detour through Paramount.  They were getting ready for a parade down Paramount Blvd.  Portugese Hall had a big festival going on.  The Tastee-Freeze, or what was the Tastee-Freeze, has a new look.  The big red roof and white with blue tiles are gone. Big "D's" is still on Garfield, but closes on Sunday. I wanted to treat Rosa to lunch, menus are like they were 40 yrs. ago! The Paramount Drive-In is now a swap meet, no drive-in. (ahh, some nice memories, can't remember any of the movies that we went to see!)

We drove around the Rancho Los Amigos rehabilitation grounds. It's all closed down, but there is a newer facility across the street.  Did any of you work there?  How about volunteering there in high school as candy stirpers?  It has some great looking old buildings.  One of them is still used by the L.A. County and has 1926 imprinted on it's structure.  

Do any of you have family living in Paramount?  Who went to McKinley Elem.?  I went to Collins Elem. I took a music class, with Mr. Earl, during the Summer (5th grade) at Gove Elem.  It seemed like such a far off place. Rosa and I drove by today and the memory cells "kicked in", it seems like only yesterday that I was on the bus going over to Grove Elem.

Mark O.

Pat Kuester (Bowen)

Mark, Penny Barbee works at Rancho Los Amigos.  Linda Hernandez Garcia still lives in Paramount.  She sits on Paramount USD's school board.  Mirtha and I live about 2 miles from PHS. 

Lorene BuSteed (Householder)

Hello Everyone!

Just me checking in. We took a little mini vacation in the motorhome to Ventura Beaches - (Hobson camping) We started our journey last Monday not knowing where we would end up. I knew I wanted to camp on the beach. Luck was in the air, we ended up at Hobson next to the Rincon camping sites along the beach in Ventura. I was pretty much set on heading up the coast until we found a spot. I figured that we could always stay at Wal Mart parking lot for the night until we found a spot. Had a great time with the grandkids, had fun watching them trying to boogie board and showing them how to catch a wave.

Mark you were talking about Rancho Los Amigos Hospital. My mother-in-law worked there for many years and retired from Rancho Los Amigos. She worked in the OC department. She always talked about the many patients she had - some good stories and then some really sad stories. I can say one thing she truly inspired her patients.

It's fun as you mentioned to go back to the old stomping grounds. I too remember the Drive in. Roland & I used to go in his 55 chev with lots of friends with cars lined up in a row. He still has his 1955 chev. Can you believe that after all these years. It was his first car, he got it when he was 15 years old.

Speaking of old cars etc. I think we might be fixing up our 1959 chev pickup for our grandson who will turn 14 in September. The truck is parked at the ranch.

Everyone enjoy your summer vacations, spend lots of time with family - make memories!

Love,

Lorene

Peggy Steiner (Miller)

Hi Everyone,

Janice Brown-Guaschino sent me an email today asking if everyone would say prayers for Brenda Sousa-Lattig's husband John.  He was diagnosed with cancer yesterday and the doctors say they may not be able to operate because of his heart.  John is a great guy - I use to work for him at Norwalk Toyota back in the 80's and we really had some fun there too. 

So please everyone say a prayer for John and for Brenda too.

Thanks so much.

Peggy

Lorene BuSteed (Householder)

Brenda, we will keep you and John in our prayers! OMG It just keepS going on.

Janice, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!!

Lorene BuSteed (Householder)

My daughter April and new son-in-law Trent at their wedding.

Lynne Scales (Thurman)

Hello My Fellow Pirates:

So good to see that our forum is still is up and going?  Lorene, love the wedding photos and so glad that you and Roland got to get away with the grandkids.

Thoughts and prayers to all of you that are going thru rough times with your loved ones. I continue to try to heal on a daily basis, still can't believe my mom is gone.

Everyone take care and have a great summer.

Lynne

Lorene BuSteed (Householder)

Well we are cooking in Southern CA, when I got into my car after work it was 101 - wow! I so wish I was back at the beah in Ventura.

We have the air on Lynne, it is just way to hot! I feel like jumping in the pool at this moment and it's only 10:00 p.m.

So it looks like the good ole hot summer nights has arrived once again!

Going to the Ranch Friday night to help load brush to take to the dump early Saturday morning. I will help get some stuff done, then I will head home and jump in the pool for the rest of the day.

Speaking of events look at the Fender Museum website for upcoming events.

http://www.fendermuseum.com/

 I will be at this event Saturday night! Should be lots of fun. If you are not doing anything come check out the museum lounge, it's only $20 pp.

Save the date for the Fender Summer Music Festival - July 31 from 4 to 10:00 p.m. Bring the whole family to this event. Fireworks show too. For a clearer picture go the website above.

 I will be at this event too! Come have fun!

Are you ready for the STEVE MILLER BAND!!!! Yes, they will be at the Fender Museum in September. You can order your tickets on the website for $35.00 pp. I will be at this event too.

Tickets: $  35.00 Grandstands(GA)

               $250.00 VIP Reserved Dinner

Reservations & Information:
               951.735.2440, ext. 207    http://www.fendermuseum.com/

Click on links above to purchase tickets online!

Everyone in Southern CA and other hotspots - Be cool!

Love Always,

Lorene

Lorene BuSteed (Householder)

I will be at this event Saturday night! Should be lots of fun. If you are not doing anything come check out the museum lounge, it's only $20 pp.

OOPS THE HEAT IS GETTING TO ME, TOMMY TUTONE IS ON FRIDAY NIGHT, JULY 16TH. SO MUCH FOR ME LOOKING AT MY TICKETS.

8:13 P.M. AND IT IS 88 DEGREES IN CORONA! FEELS LIKE A 100

Carol Maddex (Switzer)

The Steve Miller Band sounds like an opportunity for all of us SO. Cal Classmates to get together and go...that should be fun!! So what do you all think....I saw him last year at the Oranger County Fair...he was as awesome as ever!