My parents
Eeyore from "Winnie the Pooh" by A. A. Milne
Donald Hines and Melody
Snow and Jesse Robert
Snow Hines . 
Cherished friends and Fellow Members of the infamous "Writers' Cramps." Donald
is a CTA alum; they are both SAC alums.
Because Donald likes learning, exploring, experimenting, telescopes, magnifying
glasses, constructing, and imagining... 'Donald
and The...'
Tim and Meredith Hines
. Fellow Members of the infamous "Writers' Cramps." Tim and I were in "The Crucible"
together at SAC.
Kim and David Spells . David and I attended CTA (Class of
'84 and '85 respectively) and SAC (now SWAU )
together. He was THE very first friend I made when I moved here. Or rather,
someone introduced me to him and asked him to be friendly to me. And he obliged.
When I arrived at CTA some of my classmates subjected me to physical abuse,
and half subjected me to constant verbal abuse. The boys who did 'like' me expressed
it in the traditional school-boy "punch-her-if-you-like-her" manner instead
of asking me on a date (I realized after very belated confessions from said
bullies). [Bret and Steve are totally exempt from this paragraph.]
I won a poster contest by an electorate of my classmates -- When they learned
the poster they'd voted for was actually mine they angrily demanded to be allowed
to vote again. Before announcing the voting results in the English period class
I was in, Mrs. Becker took me into her office and tried to explain why my classmates
hated me and tell me they'd grow up eventually and I'd have to tough it through.
You know it's not your imagination when a teacher has to take you aside
and say that . Through all of this, through people stealing my belongings,
though people borrowing my books and returning them with pornographic grafitti
and slogans, through having to watch out for abuse in the hallways...I always
knew that if I met up with David Spells he'd have a smile and a friendly word
for me. He'd actually SMILE when he saw me coming and he'd wave at me.
Things got better through the years and my list of active antagonists dwindled
to about 10. I made friends. But one thing didn't change...I always knew that
if I met up with David Spells he'd have a smile and a friendly word for me.
He'd actually SMILE when he saw me coming and he'd wave at me. David went from
being my ONLY friend, to one of many friends, to one of my most cherished.
And if this embarasses him, tough. I missed this chance with Wes
.
David, I want to publicly announce that I love you. Not because you were
the only ray of hope in my freshman year at CTA. I love you because you are
the kind of guy who was the only ray of hope in an abused newcomer's existence.
Because you toughed it out until your immature peers realized what is gold in
this world and what is brass. Because you shone all through the years with patience,
integrity, savy and a sense of humor. Because you are one of the most intelligent
people I know. Because you use your brain. Because you often use your brain
to recite Monty Pythonisms (sometimes at the the top of your lungs, sometimes
in public). Because you are a gentleman. Because you are a loon. Because I have
so many happy shared memories with you. And because in jagged grief and unhappy
memories you were arms of comfort. I am honored to call you friend. I am honored
to include you in my family. In conclusion, you're a swell guy.
This one's for Steve. Steve and I attended CTA (Class of '85) together. We served
on the CTA student association together; were two of the three musketeers (Bret/Steve/Chrissie);
went "mudding" a lot , wherein he once uttered the infamous phrase..."Don't worry
Scott [Hobbs]...it's not deep"; and he helped me with fundraising/photography/encouragement
when I was the yearbook editor. Never were truer words spoken of me than when
he said "I'd hate to see what the world would be like if Chrissie was always
right." He would have been in my wedding if he hadn't been off with Ivan in
Europe. I was honored to be the guest-book attendant at his nuptials.
Sonja, Ivan, and Luke Bartolome
. Ivan and I attended CTA (Class of '85) and SAC (now SWAU
) together. We served on the CTA student association together; were "husband
and wife" during Senior marriage class; and he helped me with fundraising when
I was the college yearbook editor. His opinion means a lot to mean and I'm grateful
when he gives it to me...straight.
Siouxseque (or Cici , as the the twins call her), is nuts about
Edward Gorey (you've seen the opening credits to PBS's "Mystery"). So I decided
she needed an Edward Gorey Graveyard 30th Birthday Cake. Kinda looks like Cousin
It (the cake, not Siouxseque).
Doug and Amy (Griffin) Fisher, SAC Alumni.
David, Vialo , and Susen Weis.
" First, here is a picture of my whole outfit at Orlando in the summer
of l992.
Ruby and I had decided, rather than have a family party or reception and invite
friends in for small talk, we would take our entire family to Disney World for
a week and live like the rich people. So, we did just that. We took all 26 and
had a ball. I have been thankful ever since that we did it because Ruby was still
with us, and she enjoyed every minute. I plan, not that you are interested, (but
your Mom may be)--to identify each one in the picture.
The two teen-age boys at the right didn't know we were going to take the picture
and were goofing off.
Let me identify the people in the picture:
Back row (left)David (my youngest son), Joyce (his wife), Barbara (Lee's wife),
Jeff (Lana's #2 child), Jon, (Lana's husband).
Next row (left) Alicia (David's oldest child)holding her own youngest sister,
Laura, Angela, (David's second child)Patriarch Melvin, Matriarch Ruby, Lana, my
oldest daughter, and Jena (Lana's oldest daughter--our oldest grandchild).
Next row, in overalls, Rebecca, second daughter Rita's third child, Rita, (my
third child, holding her #5 Stephanie), Julie (dark shirt), Rita's #2 child, and
Matthew, David's #3 child, oldest boy).
Next row, Lee, my oldest son (your Mom remembers him well, I know) Barbara's husband,
Mark (David's #4 child).
Seated, front row, Jay (Lana's #3 child), Darren, (David's #6 child), Michael
(Lana's #4 child) and Philip, (David's #5 child).
At the extreme right are Rita's #l and #2 sons, Jonathan
and Steven, playing hookey.
I just KNOW you have all that straight and memorized.
I get so proud of my gang! It is hard not to sing their praises. I could go on
and on, but will bite my tongue, even if it bleeds.
Now you can see how easily I emphathize with you when you rejoice over the slightest
progress of the twins.
Thanks, again for letting me practice my scanner--
Love. Uncle Melvin "
I worked in the advancement office of -- SAC (now SWAU
) with LuAnn Venden-Herrell 
(shown with 
Mark , born 12-26-96). We had many an escapade in the SAC Drama Troupe;
She was the college yearbook assistant editor when I was editor ("The scritching!");
and she was a bridesmaid in my wedding. Her husband, Jon, helped me with many
a computer problem; and, constantly aimed his dry wit at me at the lunch table
so well, it usually took me a few minutes to realize he'd zinged me (again!).
Lois's website is "mostly utilitarian at this point, but if you're interested"...
My Grandfather, Bill
Morrison (July 18, 1915 - July 13, 1999)
Odes to a most cherished loved one
* Alpha's Quadrant * The
Wild
* CLCW aka Sarah Bernhardt
* Motherhood and Housewifery * Thought
Spot
* Nikki & Kilory * Ballerinas
*
I think I can I think I can
* Hundred Acre Wood * Barney and Freud Tour Vienna
* Celebrating the Seasons *
BB Guns and Frozen Tongues
* Films vs.
Movies * The Nutcracker and the Mouse King
* 2 Exhausted 2 Write Newsletter Archive
* Xeriscopic Butterfly Gardening * Butterfly
Gardening for Ninnies
* The Neglectful Gardener * Antique
Roses
* Garden Xeriscaping & Gramma * Gloomy
Grumpy Pawpaw
* Teddy Bear Wars * Pawpaw
vs. The Squirrels * Pinching Pennies 'til Lincoln Screams
* Dandelion Appreciation * Virtual
Tea Party * Whoville * Green
Eggs & Hams * The Zoo
* Chocolate * 101 Reasons
to Hate Young Skinny Women * The
Biscuit of Ally McBeal
* Green Gables in My Garden * Antiques/Brocante/
Junque * I love Paris in the Springtime
* Like Cats & Dogs * Hedgehogs
* The Belfry * Helen's
Yellow Brick Road
* Friend Links * Hitchhiker's
Guide to the Galaxy * The Galaxy Song
* Looney Camelot * Cathedral Guardians
* Gorey Q * Donald
and The... * The Doubtful Guest *
Book of Practical Cats
* Greatpa
* Photos * Family
History & Photos * Civil
War Diary of G. T. Granger
* Wes Stoops Memorial * Love
Letter to Gramma * Diana's Life Lessons
* Jesus Wants Me for a Sunflower
Go on a searching expotition to AltaVista
Go on a searching expotition to Lycos
Are you a Houyhnhnm or a Yahoo
?