Name: Mike Backus () on Friday, February 1, 2002 at 16:06:29
E-Mail: michael@backusstudio.com
Maiden: owlizzyletgoofmyear
Class: '74
City and State: Eugene, Orygun
Message: In the '60s kids had the good sense to be afraid of adults. Not in the current "everyone is an axe murderer' mentality, but in the sense of respecting someone twice your size with considerably more experience in living. It never occurred to any of us to shout "my dad is gonna sue your a** off!". Probably because we knew Dad wouldn't. If Dad agreed with the adult, he'd finish the job. Anyway, this brings one particular situation to mind. My 13 year old buddies and I were walking over to York school on a weekend to play some baseball. As we came up to the intersection of York and 118th, a huge early '60s Ford Galaxy pulled up to the stop. Probably as a result of weighing over 2 1/2 tons and having next to nothing for brakes, he didn't get stopped until he was about five feet into the cross walk. No problem, we walked around. All of us except our neighborhood mental case. HE takes offense at having to walk around and SPITS on the hood of the guy's car. BIG mistake. The driver floored the Galaxy, smoking the tires and nearly running a couple of us down. As we stood dumbfounded, he smoked a big 180 out in the intersection and started coming back for us! I had never had the feeling that someone was trying to kill me before, but I never doubted that this looney meant business. Baseball forgotten, we all wanted to head for our homes over on Cedar and Freeman. But we were trapped. **TO BE CONTINUED NEXT WEEK** (How should I finish this one John?)
Was that YOUR buddy who spit on my 60 Ford Starliner?? I'm STILL looking for that guy.

Name: Cliff Rickson () on Friday, February 1, 2002 at 15:58:27
E-Mail: ynoino@aol.com
Class: 1967
City and State: St.Petersburg,Fla.
Message: My heart goes out to all of you Cougars who are freezing all over the country. It was a toasty 80 degrees here in St.Pete today. Come on down!

Name: Matt Peterson () on Friday, February 1, 2002 at 12:53:26
E-Mail: mattpete6@yahoo.com
Class: 74
City and State: El Dorado Hills, CA
Message: I guess the cold is keeping everyone away. It snowed in downtown Sacramento for the first time in 25 years a couple days ago. It warmed up to 40 this morning, so I can't complain. But I imagine that the beach is nicer. I just wanted to let those that attended the Toast to Yost reunion know that we are still working on the video. We would like to edit the powerpoint presentation and photos into a final video. If anyone would like to volunteer their computer to help us do the editing then drop me a line. Sure wish I could make cruise night. One of these days I will.

Name: Bud Rhoades () on Friday, February 1, 2002 at 11:26:45
E-Mail: Bud Rhoades@earthlink.net
Class: 74
City and State: Seal Beach,Ca
Message: Liz, you're right, is anyone home?????????? Haven't had a chance to check in since the holidays. Were off on our annual pilgrimage to Pebble Beach to watch Tiger & Co. If you remotely enjoy golf but truly enjoy mother nature at her best there is no place on earth quite like the Pebble Beach/Carmel area. Have a great weekend Cougartowners.

Name: JAIME PRONTO () on Friday, February 1, 2002 at 10:05:25
E-Mail: 38 degrees.com
City and State: iceberg, strand
Message: I have tried to write but my fingers don't defrost until about 4:00. I have this "friend" who insists we ride on the Strand at 6:00 am or worse between 36-42 degrees and the wind is always blowing. But as my dear "friend" summed it up today, "it isn't too bad once you get numb." I think the numbness is in our brains! Yeah I know Doris its not like your temperature in Idaho but for a "native" Californian [anyone here after 6 months] this is COLD! Where is all that warm weather I used to complain about?
My nose and ears are still numb but we have to keep doing it because I think I lost a half a pound last week.

Name: Estrada () on Thursday, January 31, 2002 at 16:30:08
E-Mail: dzlizzy219@aol.com
Class: 69
City and State: Redondo Beach, CA
Message: Doris, I have some pull with these guys? Well then, let me at 'em. Come out, come out wherever you are. It's getting lame here without you witty ones. Backus, Biermans, Sloey's, Hood's, Tom Burroughs, Dan Dye, my old neighbor Chuckie Currie. What do we have to do to get you boys and girls to come out and play with us? DZ

Name: Ron Dokken () on Thursday, January 31, 2002 at 12:05:24
E-Mail: rdokk@yahoo.com
Class: 1955
City and State: Endwell, NY
Message: I'm flying to LA next week for my annual infusion of Johnnys pastrami, so thought I'd check in. My 2nd flight since 9-11. No more dozing all the way. Now I keep my eyes open - I believe in profiling. Now for a story. In the early 50's, my brother Jerry (Leuzinger 52 or 53) and I rode the streetcar to Inglewood to "stuff" the sunday papers. Worked in a garage off an alley. What a job! I would get covered in ink stains. I remember a couple of young ladies who would occasionally come by the garage late in the evening. Seems they were intent on "honing" the skills they would one day be needing. Of course, I resisted as best I could - had to get those papers stuffed!
Yeah RIGHT!!! Thanks for the story Ron. Glad to see some oldtimers still remember something from their hay day.

Name: Jill McFarlane () on Thursday, January 31, 2002 at 10:45:27
E-Mail: jillmcfar@aol.com
Class: 1977
City and State: Mission Viejo, CA
Message: It is so pretty driving into work. I was on the toll road 2 mornings ago, there was a little snow on Saddleback mountain, and alot of snow on the mountains. Coming down the hill, you could see the buildings in downtown LA (from Newport beach), the hollywood sign, and just the entire landscape. It was beautiful. One good thing about this cold weather, it makes for a beautiful drive in. Heard it is supposed to be really cold tonight.

Name: Doris () on Thursday, January 31, 2002 at 10:28:32
E-Mail: raydori@mindspring.com
Maiden: Donaldson
Class: '57
City and State: hot&dusty, 10 above
Message: OKAY! Where are all you OLD TIMERS out there? You've taken a powder for quite long enough! Where's WALTER, THE SLOE ONE, "JIM BABY" BACKUS, BILL JENSEN, THE HOODMAN, just to name a few! MISS these guys! DZ ... you seem to have some pull with these guys! Get 'em movin'! I've missed these guys tremendously and had withdrawals for quite some time now; I've just tried to be BRAVE about it! HELP! They all have such good Hawthorne/HHS stories to tell ... RETELL some of them!
Where's Hauge, Romano, Burroughs, Baird, Castanon, Plotkin, Mom B and the rest of the Biermans, Chuck Currie, Ed Chesson, Dewey, McGregor, Beach, Jones, Larson, and the rest. Where's the class of 1962? I mean there has to be lots of you out there. Don't you know we're having a reunion this year? PLEASE WRITE SOMETHING!!

Name: P Tremblay () on Thursday, January 31, 2002 at 08:57:49
E-Mail:
Class: 1980
City and State: NY, NY
Message: What is all of this talk about cold and snow?--it is the end of January, and yesterday it was 69 degrees here in NYC. No complaints here.
4° above freezing here at 6am for the morning beach ride.

Name: Greg Jones () on Thursday, January 31, 2002 at 02:01:21
E-Mail: gjones1052@aol.com
Class: 1973
City and State: Hawthorne, CA
Message: All this talk about snow and cold. When I was driving big rigs thru the mid-west and east all I needed to hear on the cb was black ice and I headed for the nearest truck stop, no way was I gonna mess with that stuff, my life was more important than any load in the trailer. I did drive thru LA (that ain't Lower Alabama either) and Mississippi about 3 years ago when they had a really heavy snowfall. I drove for 13 hours non stop from LA to just north of Atlanta. Even with all the stops for ice and snow I never was late for a delivery.
Footnote: I love snow, just didn't care about driving a 40 ton rig thru it. Later Cougs.

Name: Dan Johnson () on Thursday, January 31, 2002 at 01:19:57
E-Mail: wch1ispink@aol.com
Class: 77
City and State: Sherman Oaks, Cold CA
Message: When I was in 6th Grade, we lived on Gale Ave almost to Imperial Hwy (down from the bank across the street from the Jack in the Box in Lennox). There were two apartment buildings to our south and then a vacant lot (in fact a series of vacant lots that ran west to east several blocks from Inglewood Ave maybe all the way to Manor Dr.). The vacant lot between Gale and Eucalyptus would sometimes get a large "lake" from the rain which, in turn, would on very rare occasion ice over. I remember going over there in tennis shoes and sticking my feet in to break the ice. And being a very bright little kid, I'd just keep going to school instead of back home to change out of the wet shoes. Now there's a cold Hawthorne memory for ya'all.

Name: Chris Knight () on Thursday, January 31, 2002 at 00:38:16
E-Mail: artzlady@unnet.co
Maiden: Fall
Class: 71
City and State: Boyne City, MI
Message: Hi, fellow Cougars, all this talk about snow, we of course are getting blasted again after a brief January thaw. It makes me dream of the warmer days at HHS and walking across campus, carrying our books and folders over our heads to prevent the sea gulls from depositing their "treasures" on top of any human bodies they could find. Which by the way I remember actually happened to me on the way from a class for a doctor appointment. I remember feeling very nervous because I didn't have any books to use to cover my head. I noticed way too many birds approaching and then felt this horrible plop of wet warm yuck right in the center of my head! I raced to the restroom and scalded and soaped down my head with a vengeance, all the while looking behind me hoping that no one had seen that horrible event! Fortunately I had been excused during the middle of class, so the grounds were empty of witnesses. Just walking through Senior Square also was a challenge , trying not to slip on those nasty black olives that fell off the trees, and just rotted there. Keeping the crud off our shoes was the biggest problem as they stained anything they touched. Of course, you always had the jerks that thought throwing a rotten olive onto a girls white blouse was a real character building experience! Oh, the joys of the happier, warmer, So. Calif. days ! I will have to admit it was quite a chore the time we T.P.ed Senior Square while trying to be quick and quiet and not slipping on the olives ! It was good practice for my years to come, to keep from slipping on the ice back here! No olives in sight, nor hords of seagulls! We do have one too many drunks on their sleds to watch out for though! Stay warm and safe ! Keep those memories coming. Every one you remember' makes you feel young again and prompts other memories in your fellow cougars! Chris
Great memories Chris, thanks....

Name: BILL CUSAC () on Wednesday, January 30, 2002 at 23:43:04
E-Mail: billcusac@aol.com
Class: 1965
City and State: South Lake Tahoe, Ca.
Message: COLD you say, over the week end we got a foot of new snow, and today I went to go fishing at my favorite little lake and it was FROZEN, no snow on the ground there, but it was -12 degrees, now that's COLD

Name: Janet Burkett () on Wednesday, January 30, 2002 at 22:19:26
E-Mail: jmburkett@att.net
Maiden: Humphreys
Class: 62
City and State: Mission Viejo, Ca
Message: All this cold weather makes the mountains incredibly beautiful in the morning on the drive to work, white from top to bottom! All the more for John to conquer soon!
JB2
Yahno, I just can't wait....

Name: Cheryl () on Wednesday, January 30, 2002 at 21:55:05
E-Mail: chernico@cvc.net
Maiden: Christensen
Class: 62
City and State: Keno,Oregon(ontheffrozenriver)
Message: COLD? It was 3 degrees here this morning at 6am. The BRASS MONKEY doesn't have a chance .....

Name: Betty Rodriguez () on Wednesday, January 30, 2002 at 19:50:50
E-Mail: none yet
Maiden: Kean
Class: 69
City and State: Lake Elsinore, CA
Message: Elizabeth-Old sayings our parents used to say. I remember "Nervous as a whore in church", or "Nervous as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rockers" It's colder that a witches tit here in Lake Elsinore! Betty
....and you better bring your Brass Monkeys in tonight, in Lomita too.

Name: Konnie () on Wednesday, January 30, 2002 at 19:24:31
E-Mail: konniesmith@attbi.com
Maiden: Smith
Class: 72
City and State: Salem, Oregon
Message: Cold is putting it mild Anita. Down here in South Salem we got at least 12 inches of snow dumped on us without any warning. We can handle the rain but this white stuff catches us off guard. We built like a 10 foot snow man and my company from Bandon got to hang around an extra couple of days. Got in a little cross country skiing and my son tore up the hills with his snowboard. Now I'm ready for it to get back to normal. It's warming up to a balmy 34 so I hope the melt down comes soon. Think warm. Now a message from Kelley: She is on a mission with Jimmy Carter trying to save the world and will get back to us with the results. She's giving peace a chance.

Name: Anita Young () on Wednesday, January 30, 2002 at 18:14:41
E-Mail: youngun39@yahoo.com
Maiden: Aceves
Class: 1978
City and State: Hillsfullo'burritos, OR
Message: Talking about COLD...over the weekend here in the Portland Metro area ( and through most of the Willamette Valley up here) we got anywhere from 2 to 6 inches of snow on the valley floor, and more in the higher elevations. I've lived up here since the early 80's and this is the most snow I've seen for several years. Cold, yes, but a nice break from the usual "grey rainy days" we usually see this time of year. Had fun throwing snowballs with my child ( missed the snowman part...was out to the movies and lunch with a buddy for her birthday during the brunt of this stuff.) It warmed up a bit and turned it all to slush, but had fun doing "slushball fights" for a bit! So,you may think it's cold there, but here, it was REALLY cold! ( and all you mid-westerners who have been having balmy temps so far, hold on to your hats...weather channel says what we had is heading your way FAST!!!!)

Name: Sharon MacDonald () on Wednesday, January 30, 2002 at 17:55:38
E-Mail: rmac@genevaonline.com
Maiden: Badger
Class: 1963
City and State: Burlington, Wisconsin
Message: Just received the Memory Book for last Summer's Prom - well worth the wait! It brought back memories of all of us enjoying old memories ...
Well the "Weather Bug" just chirped to tell me that there is a Winter Weather Warning for tonight with up to 8 inches of snow expected ....(darn).
Bundle up, Sharon.

Name: Art La Mere () on Wednesday, January 30, 2002 at 17:22:56
E-Mail: artlamere@home.com
Class: 73
City and State: Bettendorf Ia.
Message: Just read the feedback from Liz about the beach and boy I wish I was there now. We are in the middle of a snow storm and it is the first real snow of the year. you would think you are at ascot park watching a demo derby. the first snow and no one can drive. By the time it is over on Thursday we are going to have about ten inches. John how is your skiing coming? you can ski down my driveway. well let you all go thanks again John for the site.
More skiing later next month Art. I'll let you know.

Name: Elizabeth Estrada () on Wednesday, January 30, 2002 at 16:46:56
E-Mail: DZlizzy219@aol.com
Class: 69
City and State: Blusteryredondobeach
Message: I just got back from a walk on the beach. It's 2:30 in the afternoon and colder than a well diggers ass, as my daddy used to say, but if I had a camera I'd send you all the most beautiful picture of the Santa Monica Bay from tip to tip. I LOVE this place! DZ

Name: Jill McFarlane () on Wednesday, January 30, 2002 at 13:20:15
E-Mail: jillmcfar@aol.com
Class: 1977
City and State: Mission Viejo, CA
Message: Where is everybody? Have not seen too many postings this week on the old feedback. Is everybody training for the upcoming Olympics? Hope you Coug's are having a good week so far.
Maybe it's too cold to type.

Name: Delia Hardy () on Wednesday, January 30, 2002 at 09:47:02
E-Mail: delia.garza@usa.net
Maiden: Yawnick
Class: 86
City and State: Huntington Beach, CA
Message: Just a quick reminder for anyone planning on attending Bobby Kraag (c/o 87)'s Memorial Service.
The service is this Saturday, Feb.2nd at McCormick Mortuary at 1pm.
13806 Hawthorne Blvd.
(310) 676-1193
It's on the corner of Hawthorne and 138th.
A group of us will be meeting for brunch at 11:00. Email me for details. If you know anyone who went to Hawthhorne in the mid 80's, please pass this info on to them. Thanks!

Name: Hazel Hilton () on Wednesday, January 30, 2002 at 01:16:20
E-Mail: HHCluless@aol.com
Maiden: Hazel Rice
Class: 1966
City and State: Garden Grove California
Message: My High school years were the best in my life

Name: Tammy (Levene) Nichols () on Tuesday, January 29, 2002 at 19:25:11
E-Mail: JTrbgNichols@aol.com
City and State: Omaha, NE
Message: I'm Gene Levene's oldest daughter, Tammy. My sister forwarded some emails she received and they are so appreciated! Yes, my Dad's aunt was Ruth. Our Mom (Connie DeWald) also went to HHS, Class of 61. So did our uncles and lots of our friends. Even though we went to Leuzinger I like to visit Cougartown because it so Hawthorne, my hometown. Take care everyone.
Thanks Tammy, Lots of people knew your father and also knew what a great guy he was. He will be sorely missed by all of his HHS friends.

Name: Doris () on Tuesday, January 29, 2002 at 09:53:17
E-Mail: raydori@mindspring.com
Maiden: Donaldson
Class: '57
City and State: COLD!
Message: OH COME ON JENSEN!! Shangri La, Arizona!!?? Is that for REAL!?? Hey! I rode topless in your little MBZ ... do you think that qualifies me to attend this fine car show in August in "SHANGRI LA"? Oh sure! And how in the world did you become privy to such a ... STRANGE ... car show? ha! Incidentally, sorry to hear of the death of Hawthorne's own, GENE LEVENE. When my brother was very young, he and Gene were great friends. In fact, I think it was his aunt (Ruth) that used to babysit my brother and me when we were wee kids! I let my brother know of Gene's passing and we both extend our heartfelt condolences to his family. He was a gentle and special human being. Doris and Ed Donaldson (used to live at 242 North Washington, just across the street from Hawthorne Intermediate in the 40's and early 50's).
Doris, Topless, in this case, doesn't mean taking the top off the MBZ.

Name: Elizabeth Estrada () on Monday, January 28, 2002 at 23:17:54
E-Mail: dzlizzy219@aol.com
Class: 69
City and State: Redondo Beach,CA
Message: Dear Todd, I bet you do. DZ

Name: Jodi () on Monday, January 28, 2002 at 22:50:00
E-Mail: IBJodi@aol.com
Maiden: Torgerson
Class: 75
City and State: Bakersfield, Ca.
Message: Its funny how the older we get and we are all so busy with our lives, we tend to think about tomorrow and all the things we have to do for the day at hand.
Well, today was one of those days, had to take my mom to the dreaded doctor,(the one that you have to wait 3 hours to see) anyway, it was raining and we are suppose to get snow tonight in the mountains and people who were down from all parts were worried to get home. The lady next to me said she lived in Lake Isabella, and I said that my grandparents had moved up there many years before and they were from Hawthorne. She said well I'm from Redondo Beach and my husband over there graduated from Hawthorne High School!
Well, it turned out to be Mike Wood, class of 60, My Uncle Bob Milazzo went to school with him. We talked about his old hangouts, Pinks, Wich Stand etc and mine 26th street and the Green store. He lived on 138th and Shoup and I lived on 138th and Gale ave.
Anyway, a day that was dreaded, turned out to be a day of remembering a happier time in a wonderful town that I still call home.
I have a wonderful family and great kids and grandkids. I would do anything in the world for them. The one thing that I can't do, and would do anything for them to feel, is the wonderful, happy and safe childhood I enjoyed, where you didn't have to lock the doors, your neighbors were like family and you could have the wonderful friendships that would last a lifetime.
Thanks Mike for letting remember a happier time in a town called Hawthorne!
Saw Mike at the 59-60-61 reunion last April. He still looks great. AGAIN, it's a small Cougar world Jodi, and thanks very much for the story......

Name: Todd Wadman () on Monday, January 28, 2002 at 22:32:49
E-Mail: None
Class: 1969
City and State: Hawthorne, Cal.
Message: I don't know if any of you remember me. When I went to Ramona Elementary and was in the six grade, I was having a hard time with multiplying fractions and my teacher asked a girl in the class to try and help me. Her name was Elizabath and I think she went to Hawthorne High, she would have been in the class of 1969. If anyone knows her, please tell her that Todd Wadman said hi, and tell her THANKS, I think she will know what I am thanking her for. I only wish I could have seen more of her after the sixth grade.
Todd

Name: Rodney Golberg () on Monday, January 28, 2002 at 20:43:25
E-Mail: iamdjsk8@earthlink.net
Class: 84
City and State: Longview, WA
Message: This is really hard for me to do. I've gone to this website several times, trying to think of what I might say about my dear friend Bobby Kraag. We only had one year to get to know each other, but what a year that was. To me, he will always be Dr. Bobby Zottz. I don't know where I came up with that name for him, but it stuck, and it never failed to get him grinning. He helped me through some difficult times in my life, and I hope, no, I know that I helped him through some of his. Bobby, I love you, you scum bag. I'll see you again, my friend.
Always, Rodney

Name: Bob Jensen () on Monday, January 28, 2002 at 16:45:50
E-Mail: robertjensen@satco-inc.com
Maiden: Once was 5413 W. 124th
Class: 71
City and State: Los Angeles, California
Message: Thanks Doris and thanks John for thinking about us. I have been in the process of a remodel and facelift of my home AKA “The Money Pit”. It has consumed me so have decided to go south for the winter! Will be back in time for Cruise Night and will see you all there! OBTW – for you car buffs – Sunday August 17 there is the 4th Annual Sweetheart’s Buff-n-shine “Topless” Car Show. It is held at Shangri La Ranch Nudist Resort in Shangri La, AZ. John, I won’t be back in time, could you go and give me a report?
Sure......well, I better ask Janet first. Thanks for checking in, Bob, and have a great time.