Class Reunion - Just Kids

What a motley crew eh?

Judy Hall, Jimmy Rickel, Tommy Dowin, Julie Cole, Joe Owers and Kevin Lyons

When we were little kids we were all about mischief, silly games, who can you pick on today, crushes and good friends. Well here you have it.

NOTHING CHANGES. LOL. 35 years out of high school and 39 years out of grammar school it is hard to believe the mischief and silly games that still go on and on!!. Today August 12, 2011 we head to our class reunion. Oh and of course in style. On previous blog pages, we started with a spontaneous road trip and you met our good friend Jimmy Rickel from El Paso TX. Back then, it was immediate Judy and Jimmy were like bickering brother and sister. And boy does it go on and on. You can see in the pics she practically threw him out of the Limousine. Jim "you can get out now and you too can take a pedi cab home. its 5 bucks" lol. Jimmy is a 30 year navy man and big fun kid. Knows how to have a good good time. Mischievous as ever!

Now meet Kevin Lyons. When we were in El Paso - we called him to say hello as per our earlier blog. I knew Kevin in grammar school but not as much as the rest. But I have to say, I bought 2 bottles of Blackstone Merlot, one for the rest of us and one for Kevin. LOL. Forget the glass, that is just a waste of time. hahaha. means dishes. hehe. Kevin is fun fun fun.

I can't tell you how much name calling, bickering and joking can go on as if time never happened. I was waiting for the limo driver to yell at us. "You kids, If I have to pull this car over..."

Now take a look at Beth Luchs pictured in orange in a limo. Met us for lunch and is featured on an earlier blog. Gotta love Beth. She was a big big part of organizing the reunion. I mean imagine chasing down money! God bless her!! As you can see at the end of the night, feet up and ready to go .....Even She Had ENOUGH!! LOL. "Dont even think about 5 years from now, I am done!"

Meet Sal our limo driver. EGADS!! what a riot! Is that Rodney Dangerfield? Pictured holding a glass of wine outside the car? Oh and Judy ripping him up one side and down another. (not really). He was such a trip. Best Limo Driver EVER. But go out to the car for a water or a purse - you may never make it back to the party. Chatterbox. Sal like to join us more than escort us. Sal is now part of the family. Took everything for Tommy not to just drive the car as he spent most of his ride giving Sal directions. haha. Ever heard of a GPS Sal? LOL

We all scattered around the Cost Azzura Restaurant meeting up with old high school friends. Had a great time finding friends and dancing, and laughing. You see, none of us were friends in high school or beyond much until "Jules and Judy" took the big adventure after 35 years and now we just cant believe how bad we behave and how good it is to be so bad. Just like kids. Spent a good part of 4 days together.

The night came to a close back at Judy's, which is now known as Camp Live Oaks. Some of us can handle it and some of us could not, AKA" Jimmy. (snore). Oh and Kevin, still nursing the Blackstone reading the yearbook. Joe and Tom on the Guitar and Judy singing some very strange words to the songs. You imagine for yourself, cuz I wont go there here. The funniest thing is it ended yet again in the wee hours of the morn and it ended very much like 8th grade. "where's Kevin" LOL

When they say laughter is the best medicine, I now get it and believe it. Never grow up I say. if you feel old, call your kids. "your school kids that is" Takes you and behaves you right back and what a blast.

And make sure you "get to bed" every once in a while because we had 3 out of 4 days end at just about sun up. I dont know about Judy, the camp leader but I am "gettin ready for bed", gettin my ass to bed" gonna "Get in BED" ...for a good nights sleep. (to the tune of "are you ready for love"). Tommy's new lullabye for all bad behaving kids. Especially me and Judy. Thank you Judy, Thank you Beth, and Thank you JIMMY. love you guys.

Patio Party Jammin - Pre Reunion

What is a good thing to do at 2:00AM? Break out the guitars and SING!

Friday is our class reunion. Our friends are traveling in to enjoy the big event. So I posted on Judy's facebook wall that she would be glad to host the weekend. Aren't I a good friend? lol Well they took her up on it. Only its not the weekend, It is WEDNESDAY. haha. Let the games begin. Pool party during the day which I could not attend because I had a water main break and no shower. If you know me I go no where without my lipstick. EVER. Kills judy who will never understand why you would need lipstick to go swimming. "SNAP OUT OF IT CUPCAKE" per Judy.
TIKI torches loaded and weeds wacked people came and went and then stayed and stayed. Jimmy Rickel our Travel Dad from El Paso is here with his daughter Christine. Interestingly enough our little blog has inspired our friends all over to reach out and get in touch with old friends, take spontaneous trips etc. So Jimmy found Joe Owers an old friend from school and a couple others and grew a party. Who Knew? After lots of laughing and Jimmy's chance at yet a second Kiss to Judy, Tommy offers up some guitars at a brilliant time (had to be 1 or 2 AM) to fill the neighborhood with music. Lo and behold, Joe had his guitar handy in his vehicle and Judy has hers. Tom brought 2 more and a harmonica. Then we all proceeded to sing for 2 hours. hahaha. BRILLIANT. No complaints and it actually was pretty soft. The best part is we did not have any idea what time it was because we were just having so much fun catching up with Joe and seeing each other. Singin...Weed, Whites and Wine!!! YAYYYYY. We were still Willin. Way to go Judy. You are the hostess with the mostess. Oh and thanks for the steak dinner you cooked me. I am getting really spoiled by you. Stay tuned folks the official Class Reunion is Friday, August 12. 35 years. GEEEEEZ we are such kids.

Friends - Notes - and Sweethearts

You have to meet our new found friend on facebook Lisa Zeiner Trenske. She was lucky to meet our friend Lynde Dodge in Disney this year. Lynde my best friend growing up. I am jealous. We met at a really nice restaurant in Milford called Stonebridge. we had such a nice lunch sitting outside and catching up on lives. Lisa you are lovely. and a GEEK LIKE ME. We went back to Judy's and lo and behold Lisa pulls out a state of the art IPAD. LOVED IT. And how is it that Jim Rickel the TRAVEL DAD from El Paso called yet again? Thought he dialed the wrong number when he heard Judy's voice on my speaker droid.

We are all going to the Tri Class Joseph Foran High 35th reunion this year and planning to go in style and have a blast. Class of 75, 76 and 77.

Later that evening we watched videos of Judy jamming. Yes Jamming. Judy is way cool. She plays guitar and sings and rocks the rock star. But for some reason every adventure with her has to deal with a bar and a bathroom

PHOTO... behind the door where Carol Merrill is standing. LOLOLOL. and Lisa has quite the sense of humor. TRY PORTABLES....it is the American thing. Must be gearing up for the MILFORD OYSTER FESTIVAL, stocking up on potty's for the big event.

Meet finally Tommy D. He came by in the evening once again to chit chat about the good old days. JUDY has every note from grammar school. We got such a kick out of reading them. Oh and Tommy? He was my 7th and 8th grade sweetheart. I still have the ID bracelet to prove it. lol. Not because I had possession if it all this time because when you break up in 8th grade you GIVE IT BACK. I got it 10 years ago when I last saw Tommy. oh and He also has notes. If you ever want the biggest laugh of your life, read the notes!!! I wished I saved my stuff. I am so fortunate you all did and this is a fun fun fun adventure. Stay tuned. we are as Lynde said ...Blazing the good times. WOO HOO.

School Daze - A Bit of History - Lunch with Beth Ann

Well here it is. Live Oaks School. K-8 is where it all started. This is were we met our forever friends and grew up with them. I lived on 3 Windsor Rd and yes walked through the snow for miles and miles, lol. I had good company, my very best friend Lynde Dodge. We were born 3 days apart and did everything together as children. There was a Dodge practically for every Balisciano. We lived in front of Treats farm which is now fenced off and was not when we grew up. Lots of hide and seek. The golden ranch is the house we grew up in and the side yard for which we played many games of spud and hide and seek. The Yellow house that was once blue is the Dodges house. Located across from our side yard. When we got older that was where all the boys hung out since 4 girls had the side yard bedrooms. lol. Judy always wanted to live in this neighborhood so now she does. Don't know why since she lived ON THE BEACH. She lives on the old Farley farm and has a beautiful home yard and pool.

Judy is a great hostess. She invited us for lunch and while 2 people did not show up for last minute emergencies Beth Ann Luchs did. Beth does a lot of work organizing our reunions every year. She is crazy. lol. And a lot of fun. She brought along the yearbook and the photos. Judy has all the notes we passed. hysterical. I posted our 1st grade pic (judy was not there) and 8th grade yearbook photos. I aspired to be a Secretary. LOL and Judy a Model. hahahaha. We were very cute. I was born a foreign exchange student lol.

Later we phoned the Travel Dad Jim Rickel to say Hi since we invited Tommy Dowin over. We called Tommy from Jim's in El Paso and now we called Jim from Milford. Jim and Tom were best friends. I wore Tommy's ID bracelet though. LOL. He is very talented and played a few songs on Judy's guitar. We are attending our 35 reunion in August! Everyone is invited to stay at Judy's as long as you like. LOLOLOLOLOL. she cooks real good. hehe