Beaverton High School Class of 1981

Gosh, I hope I don't go through a mid-life crisis. It used to be mainly guys having them, but I think it works both ways these days. Back in the day, a guy would buy a little sports car, have an affair with someone 1/2 his age ... now there are women trying to turn back the hands of time with cosmetic surgery (which I can't wait to have), you have all these "cougars" running around with teeny-bopper guys (I can't see me doing this. I would rather be with a guy that is older and thinks I look good than with a young guy expecting things to still be riding high and totally missing the mark). I do have a tattoo on the top of my left foot (Krystal Groll-Weber and I went to the same place and have one almost in the same spot, except mine is up closer to my toes and hers is closer to her ankle). Its in the shape of the sun, but inside its half a moonscape with purple and teal, etc. and a little star in the night sky and clouds, and the other side is a half moon with a face. I really like it, but it will probably be the extent of my ink.

You would be able to see your little chipmunk tat if you were wearing a "muscle shirt" -- don't you still wear those? Oh, and you should have left that little blurb about having it longer than you haven't as a brain teaser to keep our old brains in working condition.

Oh, and you need to do the whole Route 66 thing. Paul McCartney and his new woman are and they say its the most incredible trip. They are taking it in an old Ford Bronco... you can go in your newly refurbished Jeep. I think I want to go with you. Tell Miranda I called shotgun.

Okay, I'm done now. Someone else needs to add their input.

Seriously, I'm done. I am NOT going to add another blog entry until someone else responds. I feel like I'm having a conversation with myself -- oh, wait... I guess I am.

That's very cool feedback! However, I didn't leave the post! I don't have any tattoos (my way of rebelling). Who posted it?

Oh, I'm sorry. I posted it. Paula it's funny you should mention the route 66. I would love to cruise that with the top down on the Jeep. And if you don't tell anyone, I leave Piper at home. Actuallyn if I wear a muscle shirt, my nuts hang out.

BTW - I haven't been hit with any mid-life crisis yet...at least I don't think I have been hit yet. I think I might go though it when Miranda hits her 40s (which is still seven years away, so I'm good).

Route 66 kicks ass. I've traveled it three times. Everybody should to it!

Umm. . . that should be the nuts that Dale the chipmunk is eating. You see, they stick out of the shirt a little.

Like George Carlin said, "Used to be you got a tattoo to be different, now you get one so you aren't different."

Cusp, Adam, remember I said cusp. My dad died at age 66 and his dad died at age 65, that may have something to do with my premature mid life.

I would love to do R66. But man, I would love to go back in time and do it in the late fifties to mid sixties. See all the kitchy touristy things. Maybe see the Rat Pack. Then arrive in San Fran. in 1967 and catch a be-in. Discover the Dead and Janis. Then cruise up to Seattle in the seventies and befriend a you Billy Gates. Stick around there for awhile and invest in a flannel shirt boutique that sells really expensive coffee. Maybe call it Fourbucks.
And Paula, I think I stay away from the young chicky-babes. Why drink Grape juice when you can have wine?

Ha! I assumed it was Adam, although I thought I knew Adam pretty well after all these years of emailing and my first thought was "He doesn't have a tattoo", but I tend to forget things very easily these days. So, Adam you have traveled Route 66 THREE times? Maybe you should make it a fourth and you can come with me and DeWayne. I can vouch for DeWayne's driving since I took driver's training with him ... Oh, and DeWayne, I was having a really hard time visualizing the whole nuts showing in the muscle shirt thing, I'm glad you clarified it.

I would LOVE to go! That was one of the coolest road trips I ever took. Miranda and I were only dating for about three weeks when we decided to make a trek across country. I'm glad we got along because we took her car...had we fought, I would've been hitching back to Connecticut.

Paula, why do you need surgery? You look FANTASTIC. Let's face it - we're all stunning.

Why drink grape juice when you can drink wine! LOVE IT! What a butt kiss (Ha)!! Watch it Piper, DeWayne is going to be asking you for a favor. Isn't it something when you think back through the decades the things that made people billionaires. COFFEE, go figure.

Yes, you are lucky. Although, I don't think I would be capable of kicking anyone out of my car mid-trip unless I found out they were a serial killer or something equally bad -- like a tailgater. Hey, maybe that should be our next reunion. A road trip. There could be planned places we would stop and visit along the way to hook up with one another, but also just everyone at their own pace across the countryside. I think we should do it.

It would be something like that movie, what was it? "Its a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World" or something like that. I have NO IDEA where that title came from, but I am thinking of one that has a cross-country race in it...

OMFG - that is a GREAT idea! How cool would a traveling reunion be? And you did get the movie title correct...hrm...a scavenger race reunion with different teams? Now that would be cool!

Dewayne,

If anyone would think of a tat like that, it would be you and that sense of humor, one of the many things I always liked about you. I have went to get a tat over the last 20 years, but have never decided on what to get. Maybe cause it kinda permanent, hey, how bout some suggestions from the audience? As far as the midlife crisis thingy, I have been in midlife crisis since I graduated. I bought my 69 Camaro in 1991, with money from my Grand National which was stolen in Ypsilanti. Route 66 sounds cool for that car, but at 8 mpg, and having to run premium with octane booster additive, financially I would need donations. I have drove Route 66 through most of Illinois on the Harley. I also bought the prefect mid life crisis work car, a convertible 2006 Mustang, I keep telling myself its for work. I also have the harley, as far as the 22 yr old, I aint going there. The hair is thinner but I have little gray, if I go bald I save on haircuts, so that is a bonus.
I see a number of people have a myspace account with Beaverton High School as a school, check it out.

I cracked up Adam when I saw your "OMFG" -- I knew that was the reaction I would get out of you and you didn't disappoint me. As for your tattoo Troy ... how about Chip? You could be the Yin to DeWayne's Yang. What a shame about your Grand National, Troy. That was a beautiful car.

Oh Troy, Molly Hatchet and Blackfoot are coming to DTE (along with Nazareth). Now wouldn't that bring back a few memories, hey?!

Paula you leave my yang out of this. And, please can we call it Pine Knob? "Rockin' on the Knob" still sounds better than "rocking at the DTE"

It's funny you guys would think of It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World. After reading Troy's entry about the Harleys, I'm reminded more of Wild Hogs. Bunch of old farts bumbling down the highway. I could probably pull off the William H. Macy role fairly accuratly.

Count me in on the Geezy Rider adventure!

Oh, and love those car choices, Troy! I've been riding the same '98 Jetta Diesel that I bought brand new about 10 years ago. It doesn't go fast, but it goes far. It's also the perfect urban-assault vehicle because I'm not concerned about people banging their car doors against it. It even has a ding on the windshield that looks like a bullet hole, which is all the gangsta rage here in New Orleans. I really hope to keep it for 300,000 miles. I've already got about 145,000 on it now, so almost halfway there!

Funny you should mention Wild Hogs, Dewayne. I have a huge Wild Hogs back patch on my vest. Yes, I am an old fart I guess, found it on Ebay. I dont think I would want a Yang of Dewayne's on my body, or Chip! No offense Dewayne. I always gravitate back to a "Don't tread on me" more of a design thing. Paula no urge for the normal female Bullseye on the lower back?

My daughter took and linked a pic of me in some of my biker gear on my myspace page, under TroyCamaro. No wonder her friends that are boys hide from me? She tells me they are all scared of me. I tell her good, lets keep that way.

Did someone say ride? I could juggle my schedule or a ride.

No offense taken Troy. Every once in awhile one of my female students would get a tattoo on the back of her neck. I would tell her is was a great idea and a cost effective tattoo. Late teens on her neck late fifties it will droop down far enough to be just over her butt.
How funny, as I work on my computer I often listen to music. I have an eclectic taste and a little bit of everything. "I Like Fat Butts," just came on. Earlier Bohemian Rhapsody came on. Google that song sung by some comedian doing it in the 25 most annoying voices in Rock-n-Roll. It is great, but I will warn you, you will never be able to listen to that song again without thinking about at least one of the voices. For me it's the ending with Axle Rose.

Troy! You're now a friend on my MySpace page; however, I rarely go there. I'm a Facebook guy now...much easier to deal with, and no spam. If you ever go on Facebook, look for several B-town homies, including DeWayne and Paula.

I laughed at Wild Hogs from the beginning to the end. That is totally my type of humor. Something about that movie ... I giggle just thinking about the bird flying into his face. What a bunch of goons. I am going to go look up Troy's pix on MySpace.

WOW!! Don't know where to start on this one..... ha! I do have 3 tatoos...ankle, back (upper shoulder, not a tramp stamp) and the 3rd can only be seen by me and Mike. :) Anyway, they weren't because of a mid-life crisis, I have had them all for a while. I would have to say that my mid-life crisis is the car I just bought. Even though I drive it to work every day. It's a bright yellow 2003 Monte Carlo with the SS package on it. I had a guy that I work with make me vinyl script writing of Monte Carlo to put on my windshield, it is the same yellow as my car. Looks pretty cool. Funny part is all the guys that work here can't believe it's my car. Ha!

I would like to add that I would be up for a ride (on our Harley) with all of you too. Trust me, it wouldn't take much to talk Mike into that one.

Unfortunately, I can't get onto myspace or any other type of web page like that from work. They seem to think that there is bad stuff on there? :) So I probably won't be going on there to see your pages, but I can get on this site so I am happy about that.

Troy, it's hard to imagine you gray, so I guess I will have to wait to see you sometime. I still picture you like you were in High School. Either that, or I will have to talk my kids into helping me get onto myspace at home to see your pics.

More later.....

Wow Laurie -- that WAS a mouthful for you (ha)! I looked at Troy's MySpace photo and he does look like a bad-ass biker. You guys need to somehow forward the pix to Laurie so she can see it. Its a great pix! Hey, I wonder why Lisa never blogs? We email all the time. I will have to ask her about it. As for the cross-country "bike" thing. I don't think the original idea had the word "bike" or "hog" in it. I am too much of a scaredy cat for that. They freak me out pretty bad. Troy, if you would have been on your bike instead of in your Mustang when you hit that deer ... not pretty. I am such a mom now, criminy!

Oh, and Troy... no, no bulls-eye on my back. I also wanted a tattoo for a long time, but I wanted one that wouldn't show if I needed to get dressed up in a cocktail dress or something along those lines. The foot is perfect for me, because the only time others see it is when I am walking barefoot or in some sandals. Perfect. I love it. As for your tat, it took me years to figure mine out, I don't think I would be much help to you. I thought that "Chip" would be perfect, but I guess I am the only one loving that idea.

Oh, and DeWayne, I hear you about the whole Pine Knob thing. I rebelled for a long time, but it seemed that every time I called it Pine Knob someone would say, "You mean DTE?" Pine Knob was a perfect name for it. Sad, isn't it?

I forgot all about that DTE/Pine Knob thing. I agree with DeWayne about that. It's still Pine Knob to me too. Paula, if it's a cross country, meet at certain points thing, who cares what you are riding in to get there. Ya know? I am sure there would be no stipulations on how you would get there. :)

You are right Laurie. WHATEVER...... (ha)!

Oh, I just asked Lisa why she never gets on here and she said she doesn't know why and will make an effort. I told her we had a good talk going on and she should join in.

I seldom talk about Pine Knob with anyone that doesn't feel the same as me. We "wines" pretty much all know it as the Knob.
If it's a cc trip, I will be in the Jeep (providing it is ready) with my top down.

I need to clear up something. That would be the top to my Jeep. Good Lord, no one needs to see me topless.

But, hey (that's what you get on a Hay ride.) how about instead of a Rt 66 trip, how about a road trip to see Lisa. That would be a lot of fun. And I understand the Canadian Rockies are beautiful.

Laurie,

I really don't have much gray, I call them blonde, but for the most part my hair is same color as school.

I will join Facebook also, the myspace is more cause my daughter has her page and I can see what is happening there without snooping.

Funny the "biker" pic of me is outside a butcher shop, let me set the stage, I sent the wife in to get some these for the grill on our way home from Higgins Lake, she was taking a long time, so I went in the store in my gear minus the helmet, but with my barb wire doo rag on, You'd have thought the Hell's Angels had come to town, cause we got waited on as soon as I got to the counter. Its good to be the king. lol

Paula, the Mustang I just got back, its the 1st deer I ever hit with a vehicle in all these years of driving, it was 33 mile east of Dequindre, going to Ford Proving Grounds, 90 degree day 2 in the afternoon.

I forgot to comment on the Nazarath/Blackfoot bill at DTE, I would go, schedule isnt allowing me too. I played the 8 track at home, yes 8 track from the green truck I had in school.

Wow, Troy. That deer sure did a number on your car. What the heck was the deer thinking? It had to have been disoriented and rabid ... maybe just looking for water.

So, did you listen to your 8-track last night because we were talking about it, or do you always listen to them? I haven't heard any of those songs in some time, except from a guy that works in a pizza place in Milford. I walked in to pick up my carry out and he was singing Train, Train at the top of his lungs in the kitchen (ha)!

DeWayne, I called shotgun when I thought it was Adam posting the blog, but I don't think I clarified and called it again when I realized it was you. So... shotgun!! Piper didn't call it last night, did she? As for the topless thing, let your nuts catch a breeze once and awhile. (I'm sure Dale would appreciate it too).

Paula,

Not listening to those groups on 8 track, I do have them on 8 track in a bag somewhere, AND I do have them on my MP3 on the Harley, 4 gig memory card, I think I have 900 or so of my favorite songs of all time, which I have been riding most of the time til the Mustang gets finished. Ford won't let me park the Chevy(s) or the wifes Chrysler inside the complex in my parking spot, but they dont mind the harley.

Laurie,

3rd tat? hmmm only you and Mike can see, imagine the possibilities......

I will clarify the 3rd tatoo. Another person could possibly see it if I were wearing a bathing suit. But, the chances of seeing me in one of those is like slim to none.
Troy, ever been to Fowlerville for the Easyrider's bike weekend? Making sure I am still incognito there is all. :)

Troy, My hair is sorta what I call "concrete Blond." Every been to the rally up in West Branch? I used to live about a mile from the fairgrounds.

I still listen to all that "great" music. The thing that kills me is that I stopped listening to WHNN when they went oldies. Now they're starting to play some of the music from our youth. They have become cool again. My poor sons, have to listen to all that kind of music. I know I'm rubbing off on them. When my oldest was 7 we were arguing over the meaning of the lyrics of "American Pie." I had a hard time convincing him that the "jester on the sideline in a cast," was Bob Dylan after his motorcycle accident, and not the Beatles who were the quartet that practiced in the park. How many 7 year olds would even know any of that? I swear I won't be able to afford therapy and college tuition for them.

On my ride home last night, the hosts of a radio station here (Troy - 94.7) were talking about the concert that night and they kept saying DTE a/k/a Pine Knob. They said it twice in one commercial, I was cracking up. What a coincidence.

I noticed that about WHNN when I was there for the reunion. I remember visiting sometime in the '80s, and was psyched to listen to WHNN - only to find out they were an oldies station! Grr...

But that grr went to woo-hoo when I was there last time: WHNN still played the oldies, but now it was music from our youth! My wife was gritting her teeth, but I was digging on it.

So, Adam... you made a comment about not going through your mid-life crisis until Miranda was in her 40s, why is that?

Because that's when she'll be going through it! hee hee hee...

Boy mid-life crisis what a under statement that is as we all know that we will be getting older;but when its come down to it we don't want it as we all would like to stay the way we was in high scholl.
I look back and think on the best days of my life as i was a skinnykid around 175 pound and now i am 230pounds.Nice hair and now its like my hair and now its snow. But as I can remember my late mother-in-law telling me that with the good lords help we all can get through it;well that easy to say but I still want to be a young kid again. As for me I will take things day to day and go with all the ups and downs that life will hand us.And ya nothing like having your music playing and then you hear a young kid saying what is that as it sounds like its the oldie station

I suppose we all go through the second childhood..some of us continue it longer than others. I don't think of it as mid-life crisis though. I am very-very calm and happy and plan to stay that way. I have art...a small arching rose and small heart on a hip bone and the navel ring to go with it circa 30's. lol I also have the sports car, though I have had it for over 12 years. 1995 Convertible Z28 with LT1 Corvette engine, cherry red-not as fun lately at the pumps. I am saving her for the classics, meaning if I purchase a gas saving car I am keeping it. I heard someone got 1mil$ at auction for a classic that my Dad and Unclee Lee used to sell back and forth. I can also say that I took a small trip down memory lane as the first car I purchased was a 1969 Camaro-which I stupidly sold to my brother.