Name: Jerry Miles ~~~~~~~~~~ Fri-Dec 27, 2013, 12:19 pm - HHS Time
Class: 1966
City & State: Fair Oaks, CA
No E-mail
Message: I remember one phrase that my mom would always use if she thought we had been underfoot for too long. "Go out and get the stink blown off of you." At first I think I might have gave myself a little sniff to see if I were omitting a bodily order. But I never seemed to be able to smell myself so I decided it was just a saying. Heck, it was much more fun outside with my friends anyway.

Name: Judy Blomsterberg ~~~~~~~~~~ Fri-Dec 27, 2013, 12:12 pm - HHS Time
Maiden: DeGrazia
Class: 1964
City & State: Harbor City

Message: Catch phrases from my Italian mom that never stopped moving. Me: Mom, I'm tired, I need rest. Mom: "You'll have plenty of time to rest when you're dead." Merry Christmas and I'm starting to think that mom was right. Oh, Dad would say, "Can't you be a little more pleasant." And both sayings still get said in this house all the time.

Name: Robin Hood ~~~~~~~~~~ Fri-Dec 27, 2013, 11:48 am - HHS Time
Class: 1960
City & State: Eugene OR..

Message: It took a lot to get to get Grandpaw Hood mad at anything. But when you heard a "DAD GUM IT!" from his lips you best stay away till dinner...

Name: Bob Jensen ~~~~~~~~~~ Fri-Dec 27, 2013, 10:23 am - HHS Time
Class: 1971
City & State: Los Angeles
No E-mail
Message: Mother Regina would say "you're full of prunes!" What do ya think she meant?

Name: Ray Shelley ~~~~~~~~~~ Fri-Dec 27, 2013, 8:41 am - HHS Time
Class: 1958
City & State: Mena, AR

Message: To follow up on Chris Prewitt's post. When my Grandmother was upset with my Grandfather, she would tell my Mom, he's and old 'fuddy- duddy'. Another word she would use is 'pass the buck' (not being responsible) That is a word from yester-year, that has stuck around and is prevalent today, in my opinion... John, and all the folks on Cougartown, I wish you a Happy and Prosperous New Year... Ray

Name: Chris Prewitt ~~~~~~~~~~ Fri-Dec 27, 2013, 7:33 am - HHS Time
Class: 1967
City & State: Fullerton, CA

Message: I hope everyone had a great Christmas! Now for the New Year, I hope each of us reconnects with one friend from years past. I was sitting here thinking of things my grandparents would say that we can say today. Back in the last century. My wife can say back in the old country. You young whipper-snappers . . . What other things do you remember your grandparents saying?

Name: Sharon Leach ~~~~~~~~~~ Thu-Dec 26, 2013, 2:51 pm - HHS Time
Maiden: Moore
Class: 1966
City & State: Long Beach, CA

Message: God Bless everyone on the New Year. Thank you John for all you do for us Cougars. We truly appreciate all the work you put into this site. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. To let everyone know. I am out of the hospital and doing much better. I can think and remember things and speak without an impediment. I have truly been blessed by the Lord. I feel blessed for all on my FB page and old school chums. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Name: Noreen Culley ~~~~~~~~~~ Thu-Dec 26, 2013, 10:21 am - HHS Time
Maiden: Crotty
Class: 1972
City & State: Westchester

Message: Cal and I went to the closing day at Hollywood Park. They had started relocating most of the flamingos to new homes, but other than that it looked the same. The grounds were beautiful. Thousands of people showed up and there was a lot of excitement in the air. It had been years since I had been there. Cal went a month prior with some friends and said it was empty. I guess most people who bet the horses do it on line now. I'm glad we went. It was a fun day.

Name: Janet Burkett ~~~~~~~~~~ Wed-Dec 25, 2013, 8:37 am - HHS Time
Maiden: Humphreys
Class: 1962
City & State: Ca
No E-mail
Message: Wishing you all a beautiful, blessed Christmas and peaceful New Year. The wonderful memories of Christmas in Hawthorne still remain and we can only hope that, wherever we are, we have created wonderful memories for our children and grandchildren as our parents did for us. Enjoy your Christmas Day! Janet

Name: Carole Ferruccio ~~~~~~~~~~ Tue-Dec 24, 2013, 8:33 pm - HHS Time
Maiden: Anderson
Class: 1960
City & State: Lake Isabella, CA

Message: Merry Christmas to all the Cougars. Thank you John for the best website on the WWW. Everyone have a great New Year... Carole

Name: Lisa Dulin ~~~~~~~~~~ Tue-Dec 24, 2013, 7:49 pm - HHS Time
Maiden: Graham
Class: 1967
City & State: Palm Desert, CA

Message: Went to a Christmas dinner last night at a friends house. I had so much fun talking with Jack Prince about the good old days in Hawthorne. MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Name: Lillian Parra ~~~~~~~~~~ Tue-Dec 24, 2013, 2:06 pm - HHS Time
Maiden: McDonald
Class: 1963
City & State: Havasu Lake, CA

Message: MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYBODY!

Name: Barbara Lewis ~~~~~~~~~~ Tue-Dec 24, 2013, 1:45 pm - HHS Time
Maiden: Kmieciak
Class: 1968
City & State: Fulshear, TX

Message: Just a quick Christmas Eve memory....the whole Kmieciak family would cram into my grandma and grandpa Kmieciak's house on Ramona beneath the water tower, the old one before it was modern and green ;0). Crazy, crazy with cousins, aunts, uncles. We had shrimp cocktail, more celery than shrimp, cabbage rolls made by my Aunt Marcy, the full turkey dinner, and there were kids dressed in their Christmas best running around like crazy. Without fail the phone would ring and there would be a collective sigh. Grandma was the only police woman in town, and if there was an incident involving a female or a child, she was on call. She would take off to do her duty and the rest of us would wait for her return which wasn't usually too long and the chaos continued. Merry Christmas to all of you who have such fond memories of where we grew up, and especially to you, John, who has over the years helped us keep those memories alive.

Name: Dennis Carden ~~~~~~~~~~ Tue-Dec 24, 2013, 1:19 pm - HHS Time
Class: 1963
City & State: Newnan,Ga.

Message: Merry Christmas to all.

Name: Cindy Pablico ~~~~~~~~~~ Tue-Dec 24, 2013, 12:35 pm - HHS Time
Maiden: Christon
Class: 1971

Message: Hello all Cougs Have a Very Merry Christmas be safe and the happiest New Year ever. Hope it's all good for everyone Peace love to all

Name: Dennis Kilroy ~~~~~~~~~~ Tue-Dec 24, 2013, 12:07 pm - HHS Time
Class: 1977
City & State: OC CA

Message: Hey John Merry Christmas to all our Hawthorne People near and far. We share this bond with each other through you web site thanks for all you do for us. Looking forward to the next Cougartown event! Happy New Year and God Bless all the Men and Women in Harms way!

Name: Jim Raines ~~~~~~~~~~ Tue-Dec 24, 2013, 10:58 am - HHS Time
Class: 1962
City & State: Salt Lake City, Ut

Message: This story is for Murphy. I was about twelve years old when my grandmother took me to the Hollywood Park Race Track parking lot to practice driving the old, stick shift '53 Ford. Gene Gutierrez and David Winkley were along for the ride. As you know, the parking lot was huge! Miles of open space. The next year my grandparents had me drive them to eastern Arizona and back in the new "58 Ford. So I was driving at thirteen. Hey Murph, looking for stories from your days on the Blvd. Merry Christmas to all!

Name: Bob And Karen Fraser ~~~~~~~~~~ Tue-Dec 24, 2013, 9:32 am - HHS Time
Class: 1960
City & State: Hawthorne, Ca.
No E-mail
Message: Really enjoyed Tom Shelley's recollection of our trip to Hollywood Park. I was actually just sharing the same story with Karen and then up pops your post. Great memory. Ray Shelley said it best though. John, Ctown is still the best for staying in touch and sharing memories. So, here's to you, J.B. and all our Ctown friends and family, we wish you joy and love this Christmas.

Name: Karen Bearns ~~~~~~~~~~ Tue-Dec 24, 2013, 8:39 am - HHS Time
Maiden: WEBSTER
Class: 1972
City & State: Hawthorne

Message: We wanted to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. May 2014 be a great year for all. John thank you for all you do for Cougartown. We are thankful. Love, Karen and comet boy Bearns

Name: Tom Nadal ~~~~~~~~~~ Tue-Dec 24, 2013, 8:31 am - HHS Time
Class: 1977
City & State: The OC

Message: I was thinking about going to Hollywood Park's last day on Sunday, but then I thought about it and realized I'd only gone there a couple of times and didn't have a lot of memories of it. On the other hand, right across the street, The Fabulous Forum, is reopening next month. I think after the Lakers and Kings left for Staples it became a mega church. Now the owners of Madison Square Garden have made it back into a concert venue. I use to ride my bike to a lot of Lakers games and back then after the game, the visiting players would walk across the street to the hotel and we would walk with them to get their autographs. The Lakers players would park in the regular parking lot like the fans and we knew their cars and would wait by them to get their autographs too. No paparazzi. No security thugs. No memorabilia collectors. Just a bunch of kids getting close to their basketball idols. Those were fun times. John, I want to wish you and Cougartown Feliz Navidad y Prospero Ano Nuevo!

Name: Ray Shelley ~~~~~~~~~~ Mon-Dec 23, 2013, 9:14 pm - HHS Time
Class: 1958
City & State: Mena, AR

Message: John, Christmas of 1958, bring back some disturbing memories. I remember thinking, when I return to school after the holiday's, I'll have six months until graduation. For me that was a sobering thought. Upon graduation, I would not be in contact with my friends ever again. Then comes John Baker, he creates a website, putting the lost in touch with the lost. I have reconnected with several of my class-mates, read stories that bring back good memories I had forgotten. Like they say, "It don't git no better then this". Thanks John. My wish is for you, and everyone on CT to have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.. Ray

Name: Peter Nelson ~~~~~~~~~~ Mon-Dec 23, 2013, 4:42 pm - HHS Time
Class: 1957
City & State: Sun City California

Message: Hi John You and your family and all Cougars have a merry Christmas and a happy new year. My wish for 2014 I Would like to see the Angels and Dodgers in the world Series. PETER NELSON CLASS OF 1957

Name: Clark Millman ~~~~~~~~~~ Mon-Dec 23, 2013, 4:19 pm - HHS Time
Class: 1976
City & State: Manhattan beach, CA

Message: Hey Susan Adams: No offense taken! How can anyone be offended in the holiday season! And you are not in the "dog house"! Good looking blonde Cougars are not put there! For the record though, I've had two Cougar sightings in doctors offices in the past two tears, one classmate from 76 at my thyroid doctor and a '79 Cougar at my oconologist. God bless the Cougar stalkers, everyone! Merry Christmas!

Name: Tom Shelley ~~~~~~~~~~ Mon-Dec 23, 2013, 1:47 pm - HHS Time
Class: 1962
City & State: Beaumont, CA

Message: I remember an afternoon at Bob Fraser's "back room" with, probably, John Guerra and a couple of other friends who's names I don't recall at the moment. We were getting a little bored playing black jack and listening to records. So, since none of us had ever been to a race track, we decided to head over to Hollywood Park to see what it was all about. The ticket taker wouldn't let us in at first but relented when we explained that we were just curious. He told us to hang loose until the betting windows closed and then let us in. We fought the crowd to find a spot where we could see the race..."and they were off!" Two minutes later we were standing there alone!? It was over! I thought "a 30 minute bike ride; 15 minutes waiting by the gate, fighting a crowd of sweaty, grumpy old men, and that's it? That was the last time I was ever at a race track, but it turned into another great memory with friends from the "old days" Merry Christmas all! Be safe! And thanks for the forum John.

Name: Armand Vaquer ~~~~~~~~~~ Mon-Dec 23, 2013, 1:20 pm - HHS Time
Class: 1972
City & State: Tarzana, Karloffornia

Message: I've never "played the ponies" at Hollywood Park (but I did at Santa Anita), but I used to go with my parents to watch the morning workouts Sunday mornings before church. Sigh. Another part of Old Los Angeles is lost.