Pat, I would also be challenged by the temptation to be a cool surfer dude and act like one of the kids, but I think all respect would be lost if I ever tried. Even if I was 20 something, I don't think that I would do something that would cause me to lose my job, but like Jimmy Carter, I would certainly be guilty of lust in my heart.

After almost 20 years of fulfilling my contract of trust with my kids and being very involved in their needs, I am starting to regain focus on the things that used to matter a lot to me. That is why I am committed to doing more woodworking this year, spending more time alone with Gerda, and starting to think that their will be life beyond this Dilbert cubicle that I sit in (because I face into a corner and never turn-around, it only takes 2 walls to create privacy).

Richard, what is you're focused on? I don't feel focused. Sometimes at school I forget that I'm not one of the kids. That can be dangerous. I have to catch myself from saying something in class I might say in my backyard. Even though though it might be funny or just fun it can so easy to be inappriate. After all, my job opened because the early 20 something first year teacher there had inappriate social activities with some of her students and boys will talk. OOPs. Her name and photo now appear under the "A" section of sexual predators of Aroostook County. We're all pretty proud. (It's an alphabetical listing.)

I sent out a new class listing today. The darned Outlook Express had dropped at least a dozen names from my address book so I had to re-build the address book entry and then send out the ammended list. I don't know why it does that but it does. I've already gotten back several including yours Roland. No more Punchman? I've removed 13 names because they kept coming back undeliverable. Guess I do the same this time. Even Deb and Ron Young, Lindas Brochu and LaBonte among others.

It is a great accomplishment to be 50 Lori! Very courageous and nicely done. I still haven't quite got my arms around the fact that we are 50- not that it's bad, because I have needed some time to work out my nervous energy. I am just wondering- now that I am focused, what does that mean? I think it mostly means having fun. I hope that you are having fun. If I were you, I would definitely go out to lunch and I would probably go to the MOCA Geffen Contemporary. There is a show of photography there now that I saw a little of on line. It looks really interesting. Have you ever been there? It is kind of hidden on a street in Little Tokyo.

Happy 50th Lori! Hope your coming year is a happy one. Well, Roland it seems that legend has variations as the guys at work told Rich that Cumming was the last bastion of the KKK. Maybe everyone wants to get in on the notoriety???? I thought it was quite pretty with lots of horse farms and not many eyesores. The traffic however is not my cup of tea. Here we had 60's today and sun. I got out and mulched some of my gardens. What did you do for your special day Lori?

oh Lori ! Happy Birthday I hope you are doing something wonderfully fun to celebrate !

Too bad about the guess Richard but i'm glad to see you're looking ahead to next year. never too soon to organize your thoughts.

First, Happy birthday Lori!!!! I have about 5 email addresses I use for different purposes Pat but if you could just send it to that one please. Thanks. Alphetta is a strange place to learn and Marietta is even worse as they seem to lie crosswise of each other. Alphretta used to be a stronghold of the KKK but has changed much in the past 5 years. One of their neighbours used to have a sign out that read, "Don't let the sun set on your ass N----!" It only was removed about a year after I moved here. I could't believe it. Ga has a great climate physically and the mental one is finally catching up with the rest of the world. Hey Richard, my first rose bloomed yesterday. Been away so long now I just can't imagine being so cold for so long but I know its really beautiful when the weather breaks.

Hey, you guys, aren't you going to say happy birthday?!!!!

Sad to say, mine was not the winning guess! However, I am already consulting the Farmers' Almanac to formulate my bets for next year.

Mostly the newsletter is pictures form the parade, updates on the alumni weekend events That sort of thing.

So Richard was your's the winning guess?

News flash from North Danville, VT! The concrete block fell through the ice on Joe's Pond at 3:22 PM yesterday. The winning guess was exactly right and paid out over $3,700. This year nearly 9,000 $1 bets were placed by people from 40 US states and 8 countries. The balance of the money is used for Joe's Pond activities, none of which seemed to be going on at the time that the block fell. After all, it's pretty quiet at Joe's Pond on most any day, particularly in April.

Oh well ........... I will survive without the SHS newsletter.

You're right Karen they were 20 when I paid mine also. That was the last year it was that price and it went up the next year. Seems like a lot to me. You don't appear on the list of missing members so I don't know why you aren't getting the paper.

Just got back from your neck of the woods Roland. Didn't buy a house but I got to know my way around Alpharetta a little more. Seems like we ate and drank our way through the five days so now I have to get some discipline going .... AGAIN! Seems to me that I paid the lifetime dues at one point when they were only about $20, but I don't get a newsletter anymore ........ used to though. I could be wrong. Maybe I am missing and don't know it!!!

Roland is that a new email address for you?

I found the newsletter, $5.00 yearly $40.00 lifetime membership. SHS Alumni Association, Inc. 60 Park Street, Spfld.

There's also a website; www.springfield.k12.vt.us/schools/shs/alumni/index/htm

thanks Patty. Please email that info @ vtkid1967@yahoo.com. I'll gladly send her the dues. I never knew about any of that of course I left Spfld almost immediately after graduation and mom sold the house and moved to CT.

there's no updated list for me to forward Roland, the list appears in the newsletter which members of the SHS Alumni receive. You just have to pay your membership dues to get it. it's an annual thing. Anyway, the thing to do would be to get in touch with Louise Peale. I think that's her name. I'll look for my newletter and find a number or an address you can write to.