Muse Mailbag - We've Got Fan Mail!

Considering this is our first issue, rather, entry for our mailbag I'll start by improvising and addressing some of the questions the 20-Year '89 Reunion Committee Members have received.

From the "Comments" with your RSVP to the Adult Dance Event on classmates.com, I say to:

1. Shalisha Boles - Yes, we have organized a Committee to handle the Reunion, however, our numbers are small and if you would like to join or Advise the Reunion Committee Members with your particular suggestions, interests, opinions, etc. please, don't hesitate call me at home @ 816-741-8801 or you can eMail any of us at the following addresses:

For Elisa Mendoza (Gilliland): emngg@yahoo.com
For George Lovelace: glove0271@yahoo.com
For Karin Williams: biggyrl5@yahoo.com

We are always looking for fresh eyes, ideas, and options for our Only 20-Year Reunion! I say, if we're going to do it, let's do it together and let's do it right!

2. Eddie Moore - Thank you for requesting that our contact information be mailed to you, in case you see any of our classmates that would like to come to the Big Event in August next year!

We need full addresses, eMails, Phone numbers, Cell numbers (optional), and any of YOUR Contact Information in order to contact YOU for the Next Main Event we would have in the future for our '89 Alumni Directory!! We may also have a 5-Year intermingle event, who knows?!

We are glad to supply our Contact Informati0n to all who request it and appreciate the Huge response we are receiving from this Word of Mouth marketing campaign we have running from classmates.com, swhighschool.org, southwestalumniinc.com, and others to come soon!

3. Sawn Winfield - Yes, you are more than welcome to bring your children to our Family Friendly Picnic event on Saturday morning-afternoon, August 15th, 2009. However, we ask that you not bring your children to the Adult Dance Event on the evening-night of August 15th, 2009 due to the fun "ADULT" atmosphere we are promising to make the dance/social event.

4. Wendell Thomas - I'm sorry to hear that you cannot get out of town that particular weekend :( you will be missed and in our thoughts. Perhaps we'll find a way for you to join the fun via computer webcam or some junk? Hey, anything's possible!

Thanks for your Questions in the Comments section of your RSVP's. Thanks and Appreciation to all who HAVE RSVP'd on classmates.com, already. Thanks, Appreciation, and Well-Being to all of YOU who have made this labor of love successful thus far and great fun, to say the least! It is such an honor and a privilege to hear from those of you posting on my Profile and sending me messages @classmates.com

Please continue to spread the word as you have been and sign up on classmates.com as you have been, and we will celebrate like a Class who is Proud of themselves, each other, and cares for one another! I sincerely hope all of you can join us - and please Answer The RSVPs sent out on classmates.com for an increasing head count. We don't want to overspend if you're not attending and we don't want to miscalculate if you ARE attending!!

Read Your RSVP Carefully, each event is being presented as a separate Event. There are 80 who have not yet responded to the Picnic Event and a whopping 94 who have not yet responded to the Adult Dance Event. Just click Yes, No, or Maybe, in your eMail Invite. Leave us a comment or not and we'll be happy to answer it here! We are ALL going to be famous! LOL

Seriously, Your 20-Year '89 Reunion Committee wants to accommodate everyone who makes next year's reunion possible! Thanks for your questions.

If you would like to submit a question to the Muse Mailbag, please send your Questions, Answers, Advice, Comments, and Concerns to us at one of the following eMail address:

*****
SouthwestReunions-owner@yahoogroups.com
*****

God Bless Each and Every One of YOU Today,
Your 20-Year '89 Reunion Committee President,
Elisa {Me}

Hey, You Drive Like It's 1985!

Speaking of 1985, '89ers like me began their Freshman year at Southwest HS that year. Although we wouldn't have our driver's license until the next year, we were sure trying to borrow the car anyway, weren't we?

But were we old enough to know that the Missouri Driver's Guide states that "if you can use your windshield wipers, your headlights should be on?" Did you also know that the furthest left lane on any highway is not the 'super fast lane,' it's the "passing lane" only?

Do you remember what was on the radio? Here's a clip of one of my faves:

One Night in Bangkok (CHESS) Murray Head

[via FoxyTunes / Björn Ulvaeus & Benny Andersson]

"One Night in Bangkok" as told by Murray Head

Jeez, of all the names in the world...how about that? Actually, I was going to introduce a new section the Twisted Muse spit out from her innards just this afternoon. Instead, I found this little clip of a song we used to like. 1985 marked my Freshman year at Southwest High School and I had a great advantage! My sister was a Senior!! So I got to know a lot of them, hang out with them (Anna and me have always been very close), and sometimes I got to go out with them...well, maybe one or two.

Anyway, enjoy the clip.

Expanding Vocabulary

Now, what would an Alumni Newsletter Blog be without a vocabulary post? Let's keep helping one another broaden our horizons, shall we? Here's my effort, your words are:

perusal = read something carefully, or read something quickly, to examine something

pristine = unspoiled, immaculate, in or of its original state

citadel = a fortress, or strongly fortified building, a defending body of life or principle

genuflect = to bend the knee as in religious respect; kneel, show excessive respect

agog = very interested; intensely interested, excited, or eager about

Prithee = I pray thee; please, used to introduce a request to somebody

shanghai = trick or force to do something, force into naval service, to recruit forcibly

archaic = no longer useful or efficient, no longer in ordinary language, ancient

amicable = friendly, without anger or bad feelings

fugleman = leader, somebody acting as a leader or example to others; soldier training others

tyranny = cruel use of power, oppressive government, cruel act committed by a powerful person

quibble = a petty objection, to argue over unimportant things

sop = a gesture to pacify an angry person; food dipped in liquid; offensive term, insult

merrymaking = celebration, having fun, a lively celebration, or enjoyment

nosh = food, snack, to eat a snack between meals

grouse = a reddish brown game bird with mottled feathers; to complain regularly and continually

hornswoggle = swindle; hoax; to cheat, trick, or deceive somebody

malinger = to feign illness to avoid duty; to pretend to be ill, especially to avoid work

loquacious = very talkative, tending to talk a great deal

twaddle = empty talk or writing nonsense; nonsensical or pretentious speech or writing

wet blanket = killjoy; person or thing whose presence or influence lessens enthusiasm of others

ninny = a fool; dolt; offensive term deliberately insulting another’s intelligence or common sense

tête-à-tête = head to head; a private conversation between two people; type of S shaped sofa

ghoul = evil spirit that robs graves and eats the dead; one morbidly interested in repulsive things

obtuse = blunt; slow to understand; between 90°/180° with internal angle above 90°

fetid = having a bad smell; stinking; putrid; a rotten or offensive smell

dolce vita = a life of luxury and idle self-indulgence

sarong = a cloth worn like a skirt; a garment of men and women in the East Indies

If you're already sweating bullets, no need to fear, there will not be a test! These words are from the Gals at Media/Professional Insurance (MPI), where I worked right out of school, compliments of our Word of the Day Club!

Enjoy! From your friends and classmates at SWHS in KCMO.