Strafford High School, Strafford, MO Class of 1983

Hey Everybody,

Yesterday I started contacting people just to see if anyone was interested in seeing how old we've all gotten... and so far, I've heard from about 4 people who seem interested. I sent an email to about 20 people who were either in our class or knew people in our class... (Thanks to living in a small town!)

I hope this works... I haven't heard from anyone officially, so I don't know where we stand on this, but thought I'd get some buzz going from this direction... Hopefully it will work...

Hey, if you know anyone who knows anyone...let me know...

David

Got an email from an old friend we used to be real close

Hi Everyone,

During this past year the Strafford High School Class of 1983 has lost three (3!!!) of our fellow classmates...all to illness, which makes me look at mortality a bit closer and makes me sigh a sad sigh, because at one time, I was good friends with each one of them.

So the fact that they're all gone makes me sad, and the fact that we can never be as close as we once were makes me even sadder.

Then you have to start to ponder about all of the people you've been friends with over the years and now you've lost touch with them.... they moved away..... they got married... they had a million kids and are too busy to call... they joined a weird cult...

Today I emailed an old friend of mine that I haven't talked to or been talked to by in several years. I still consider him one of my best friends, ever, but we just kind of drifted as people sometimes do... I got married, I moved away, I have 2 kids and am too busy to call... all of these are valid, yet stupid excuses... He's my friend, I shouldn't have drifted or have let him drift away... trouble is, I did this with several friends over the years.

It wasn't' intentional...just a "Time passes faster than you realize" sometimes and before you know it, three, four, eight, ten years have gone by...and you think "I should call, so in so" and then you think, "No, they're probably busy, I don't want to bother them..."

I guess what I'm trying to say is "BOTHER THEM!" Reach out... if you don't and they don't, it's all your fault because you know you should have and you can't control the fact that they didn't because they're busy or got married or moved away.

Life is a series of random interactions... Your loved ones and friends are the anchors that hold them together....

Call...Email...Write...Visit...

Oh, and by the way...I got an email from an old friend just a few minutes ago... we used to be real close...and I think we still are...

David

I'm not sure I really understand this, but okay...

Recently MSNBC had a big blow-up about a discussion they had regarding ads for Levi's jeans.
In the ad, there is a young man pulling up his jeans and as he does so, a phone booth pops up through his floor with a beautiful young lady inside... (the entire street with cars etc... also pops up too but the lady is the main draw here ) and so he and attractive girl go walking off together down the street... awww...

The controversy that erupted was over the fact that on the Gay Cable Network, they are running the same ad, although when he pulls up his pants this time, a young attractive guy is in the phone booth. They then exchange sly looks and walk off together down the street.

I don't really have a problem with this because...
1. It's on a gay channel, so I'm assuming they probably show stuff like this all the time.
2. I'm also assuming that Levi's is willing to take the hit in sales that will come from people who don't want to buy from a company that caters to Gay couples, thinking that they'll be seen as progressive and will sell more jeans to gay people.
3. It's kind of a dopey commercial anyway and I'm not sure what they're trying to say with it...
"Hey, buy Levi's and gay guys and hot chicks will knock down your apartment building with a phone booth!" (WHAT KIND OF MESSAGE IS THIS SENDING TO OUR CHILDREN!!!)
4. I don't find this commercial near as dopey or as offensive as the one where all of the musicians are sitting around playing and singing "VIVA VIAGRA!!!" Since the musicians are all middle age or older, I'm guessing this isn't a frat party, so are they.... GAY??? There they are, all back slapping and happy and singing about what??? Getting ready for sex??? YUCK!
(WHAT KIND OF MESSAGE IS THIS SENDING TO OUR CHILDREN???)

So I guess if it hadn't been for the dreaded INTERNET, I never would have known that Gay people wear jeans and knock down buildings with phone booths... and then I have to wonder, what century these people are from if they're using a phone booth??? I guess a cell phone only causes minor damage to apartment buildings...

David

TV PARTY TONIGHT TV PARTY TONIGHT

Just got back from a screening of several TV pilots for the Fall Season with the KC Star's own Aaron Barnhart...

Not a lot to get goofy over this season, although there were a few bright spots...

"Kid Nation" looks to be controversial, questionable and yet somewhat moving in this reality show about 40 kids turning a ghost town into a real town with no help from adults. Thesmokinggun.com has turned up some scorching info about the show and the contracts the parents signed to get their kiddos on TV...

"The Sarah Connor Chronicles" is a spin-off of the "Terminator" films and takes place between T-2 and T-3. The effects are razzle-dazzle and the violence is...VIOLENT!!! But it looks interesting to be sure.

"Aliens in America" is a hoot-filled show about a nerdy friendless kid with cash strapped parents who raise llamas for extra dough and figure they'll get their Son a friend and earn some cash by hosting a foreign exchange student from London... Trouble is he's from London by way of Pakistan and he's Muslim to boot. The edgy/funny situations here pile up quickly, and as someone who once hosted an exchange student, I could relate to some of the circumstances...
GOOD SHOW!

"Pushing Daisies" is another interesting show about a man who can bring the dead to life with one touch, and send them back with a second touch... The look and feel of the show is priceless and the dialogue is catchy and hip. Look for the restaurant with the classy name "The Pie Hole."

"Chuck" is a show I'm dying to see every episode of. Chuck is a nerd who works at a BEST BUY type store and works as a member of the "Nerd Herd." One day he happens to find out all of the government's super-secret secrets and becomes a hunted man. The mix of action and comedy here is top-notch... GOOD SHOW!

"Women's Murder Club" is the new Angie Harmon drama about four women who solve crimes. Harmon is good in the show, but the editing is too flashy and somewhat confusing. This is the same problem that
"Dirty $exy Money" has... This new show starring Peter Krause, Jill Clayburgh and Donald Sutherland is about a lawyer at the beck and call of a Kennedyesque family with enough troubles to keep him busy for a long, long time. The look is good, and the actors are fine...but....
it's way too busy for it's own good and I think may wear the audience out before long.

I'm anxious to see "BIONIC WOMAN" and "BACK TO YOU" but haven't gotten to yet, and will try my best to avoid "CAVEMEN" and "CARPOOLING" at all costs.

One of the better shows (and I'd say my fave along with "CHUCK") is "REAPER" which involves a young man who on his 21st Birthday discovers that his parents have sold his soul to the DEVIL (Ray Wise of "Twin Peaks") and now he has to be a bounty hunter of souls who have escaped from Hell.

It's funny, silly and has good effects, thanks to Director Kevin Smith ("CLERKS").

Was glad to get to see some of these shows...Thanks Aaron! And brought home a "Jericho" T-Shirt and a bag of "Jericho" peanuts too...

David

PRESIDENT BUSH RUINED MY DAY!

I know it's easy to blame the President for this and that and some of the other things that are happening in the world... I mean, heck...the Democrats would blame him for the Cards losing the '85 World Series if they could...

But today I place the blame squarely on HIS SHOULDERS! PRESIDENT BUSH MADE ME 8 MINUTES LATE FOR WORK TODAY!!!

This week has been a crazy/busy one here in KCMO with OBAMA, HILLARY, McCAIN and FRED THOMPSON (VOTE FOR FRED!!!) all being here within the past three days and then to top it all off, the Commander in Chief is here today!!! In a building that is built right over the highway (which had to be closed so that no one would attempt to drive under the building with a bomb and blow it to smithereens!)

Now I understand the need for Security and the need for shutting down the highway, but please!!! During morning rush hour??? I barely had time for breakfast this morning after taking several detours and then sitting and sitting and sitting in traffic...

So, say what you will about this President...but how many of you have been late to work because of the President??? Those other things aren't nearly as important as my being in my office and at my desk on time...

Priorities, people...Priorities!!!

Dave

I have nothing to say

I have nothing to say today, so I thought I'd just post a picture of this pretty Swedish girl that I know...her name is Arfjen Arfjensen and she is new to this country and aspires to be a model and actress...

Here she is... Arfjen Arfjensen!

Dumb thing Wicked This Way Comes

WARNING: THIS BLOG INCLUDES ADULT THEMES... SOME MATERIAL MAY NOT BE SUITABLE FOR MINORS...


Dumb people exasperate me! Like the person yesterday who was way too busy with her Industrial-Waste Sized Barrel-o-Soda Pop to be bothered with actually staying in her own lane on the highway!

Like the person who cut me off in traffic this morning because while she is proficient at putting on makeup and talking on a cell-phone while driving, she lacks the intelligence to flip the switch on her turn signals!

Like the rock group "Anti-Flag" who explains that their name means "Anti-War" not "Anti-United States..." huh, I wonder why they didn't just call themselves "Anti-War?" Duh...
(and yes, I know this is America so any dumb person can express any dumb opinion...)

And people who say "My Bad..." To which I respond "MY BAD WHAT??? BREATH??? ATTITUDE??? GAS??? WHAT???"

That doesn't mean they're stupid or anything...just finish the dumb sentence!!!
Of course, I'm sort of guilty of that once in awhile because I always say
"Have a good one..."

So I guess people have the right to say "Have a good what???"
George Carlin said that people saying "Have a good one" is one of his biggest pet peeves so now when people tell him that he responds by saying...
"Oh, I already have a good one...what I'd like is a longer one!"

Which reminds me...since we're on a body-part topic... Dustin (my 13 year old) came to me yesterday and said that Jared (my 7 year old) had a question for me...

Then Jared proceeded to ask "Dad, what's a Vagina?" (of course you have to picture Dustin snickering in the background)
I answered "It's the state right above West Vagina." (now picture Dustin nearly falling on the floor, laughing...)

It's never dull at our house, but then again...we're not Dumb People...


David

Goofing off

Today we went to Kansas to window shop at the LEGENDS shopping center and at NEBRASKA FURNITURE MART. If it can't be found at NEBRASKA FURNITURE MART, it cannot be found anywhere! Ended up buying some of this and some of that....

The Legends is pretty cool! The T-Rex Cafe is rather interesting as is this one stagecoach/wild west restaurant that I suddenly cannot remember the name of. All I know is that the girl riding the mechanical bull sounded as if she was dying in spite of the fact that she was going only 2 miles per hour on the very non-threatening beast.

We did a bit of shopping there as well and ended up buying not very important things... it was kind of fun and not all that expensive. I did find out that if I had a billion dollars in spare change, I could really go crazy at NEBRASKA FURNITURE MART and at Sports Nutz, which has all of the coolest baseball stuff EVER! (and the reason I keep typing the name in all caps is because it is the BIGGEST STORE ON THE PLANET!)

The synchronized fountains at the LEGENDS and the interesting art work and the fact that it's next to the Kansas Speedway and the T-Bones baseball stadium only adds to the fun you can have there. I'm not much of a shopper, but even I enjoyed spending several hours there.

It was fun just goofing off today...

David

Whatever Happened to...?

I was just waxing nostalgic the other blog about the TV Show "Freaks and Geeks" and lo and behold...there's an article on the show and what the cast members are "up to" these days... It got me thinking about other actors, singers and the like and what they're doing now...

David Naughton---Actor (American Werewolf in London), Singer ("Making it" and the "I'm a pepper" commercial)

Rex Smith---Actor (Sooner or Later, Pirates of Penzance)

Erin Gray---Actress (Buck Rogers, Silver Spoons) I had a HUGE crush on her!

Catherine Bach---Actress (The "REAL" Daisy Duke on the original Dukes of Hazzard)

Markie Post---Actress (The Fall Guy, Night Court) Last seen in There's something about Mary) What the heck happened to her???

Leanne Hunley---Actress (Days of our Lives, Dawson's Creek) FOUND!!! She recently returned to Days of our Lives after a 20 year absence...and she still looks great!

Kristy McNichol---Actress (Family, Empty Nest) My first big Actress crush. Rumor has it that she's teaching high school in California... I eagerly await her return to stardom.

David

Of Simpson's and Men

So today I had the day off and decided that since the boys have to head back to school on Monday that I should take them someplace fun. We headed out early to the movie theater in Blue Springs so we could catch the early matinee of the "Simpson's" movie.

I've always been a casual fan of the show and have missed several episodes of the series, but still know a majority of the characters and am tuned in to their catchphrases and idiosyncrasies. In any event, I don't know what I was expecting, but the movie turned out to be much funnier than I anticipated.

It's PG-13 for a couple of reasons... In one scene you see a brief flash of Bart's twig and berries, while in another, a defiant Homer flips "the bird" to a crowd of townspeople who wish him dead.
Also, Marge (who has the best scene in the whole movie and will nearly move you to cartoon tears) also has the biggest potty mouth by uttering the worst curse word in the film.

The plot is kind of silly (or as Dustin said..."This is stupid!") but I had numerous Laugh-Out-Loud moments during the film. Also, Bart and Flanders come off a bit less harsh and a bit less goofy in the movie than they do on TV. One minor quibble...why isn't Mr. Burns the villain of the piece, rather than the US government?

It's good, but even Homer points out at the beginning of the film..."Why pay to go see something you can see on TV for free?" I'd see it at the movies and I'm not just saying that cause I did see it at the movies... Jared wants to buy it on DVD, so if any of you have him on your Christmas list...Hey, there's an idea! "D'oh!"

David

Freaks and Geeks and Hot Fuzz

Actually I should say that it's old TV Shows and new movies...specifically one of my favorite older television series, "Freaks and Geeks." I've been going back through the series on DVD and I've got to say it still ranks among some of the best TV series of all time. It's practically flawless in the way it captures not only the look and feel of the 80's, but of the teen angst that all of us (or at least most of us) have gone through.

On the newer side there is "Hot Fuzz," a film that was released with some fanfare earlier this year. It's a British film from the makers of "Shaun of the Dead" and features many of the same actors...(in different parts, of course!)

It also features a lot of laughs, a pretty decent story, some offensive language and buckets and buckets and buckets of blood! It also stars a who's who of British actors and comedians. You'll be busy saying "Hey, look...it's the guy from "Raiders of the Lost Ark," and there's that guy who played James Bond in a couple of movies..." all while characters are being beheaded in technicolor fountains of gushing blood. (It's more funny than gory, really...)

So, watch "Freaks and Geeks" and "Hot Fuzz..." and save me the aisle seat...

Dave

The Democratic race for the White House

Okay, so Hillary is not black enough, Obama isn't white or black enough and John Edwards keeps showing his cleavage... are these our only choices??? No sale for me...THANKS!

I'm still firmly in the Fred Thompson group and until you can convince me otherwise (and by the way, give up on that right now cause it ain't gonna happen!) I'll continue to stay with Fred.

Yesterday in Iowa, J. Eddie kept a crowd of Iowa-folk waiting in the hot, hot sun while he was piddling around with his schedule and running late. Do you think the nitwits that waited for an hour in 100 degree heat will still vote for him? I guess they might if their heat-stroke is bad enough because your brain would have to be fried to vote for this pampered white boy!
(if you didn't have doubts about him before, just think of the fact that he spends more a year on his hair than most people spend on their cars, houses or children!)

Oh sure, he looks and sounds good, (but so does Cindy Crawford and I wouldn't vote for her...no offense, Cindy!). So, what is it that you're looking for in a candidate?

1. Honesty
2. Integrity
3. Someone who isn't afraid to lead
4. Someone who doesn't base their every move on the polls
5. Someone who has the same values as I do
6. Someone who can find a way to run this country without raising taxes
7. Someone who won't bow to special interests
8. Someone with a deep love of country and a strong faith in God
9. Someone who respects and protects the sanctity of life (specifically the lives of the unborn)
10. Someone who will not lie, cheat, steal or lie (yes, I mentioned that twice in case you weren't
paying attention...or in case you had to ask what the definition of "lie" is...)

I don't ask for a lot, but then again...this person will be working for you and for me... and not the other way around!

David

What in the world is wrong with you???!!!

So the other day I try to do something nice and stick up for someone that our family really admires and what do I get? Some dopey pinhead with half a brain writing to my Son and telling him off for writing the letter!!!

Of course this coward wouldn't want to write to an adult...no, that would be the "smart" thing to do...but to pick on a young kid who didn't deserve it is below the belt...so to speak.

This clown thinks that if he uses obscene language he can prove whatever his point is, but his main goal is to get a rise out of our family...which he does, but then we quickly realize that this is his aim and it's best to ignore him...

By writing this I'm not sure I'm totally ignoring him, but still it allows me to vent.

If I ever meet this dope my first question will be "What in the world is wrong with you???!!!"

David

One of the best books....EVER!

Sorry Guys, but I'm not referring to the latest "HARRY POTTER" opus, but rather to Joe Posnanski's "The Soul of Baseball: a trip through Buck O'Neil's America."

Funny, sad, inspiring, remarkable... there aren't enough positive adjectives to describe this book. It moved me to tears more than once and made me smile and laugh out loud. If you ever had the chance to hear Buck speak in real life, you can hear his voice as you read his words!

Posnanski does a fantastic job of capturing Buck's spirit and undying love for baseball and humanity.

Buck O'neil was the Heart of Kansas City and the Soul of Baseball...


David