LAST POST?.....

Above, I'm NOT certain, but I think the trailers and cars were being used by some of the BACK TO THE FUTURE crew, when they were working in Hueneme... the photo was taken by me.

NOTE - This will be my last regular post on this blog - UNLESS I make some progress.

Memories... The good, the bad, the beautiful, and the downright horrendous. Below are a few random memories, and rants, of my time in Southern California.

In June 2021, it will be FORTY YEARS since ROP graduation. I can't fucking believe it!

I have so many questions, and I know that most of them will probably never be answered.

My years in Southern California were a surreal experience. There were too many bizarre incidents to count. It was like being stuck in a David Lynch movie... That's NOT as much fun as it sounds.

I also remember the countless social misfits/hippies in several of the neighborhoods I lived in. I learned a lot from them... Like what? Don't ask... ha-ha-ha.

Above, Conejo Grade... I simultaneously loved and hated it.

Some of my elementary school pals were always spreading ridiculous rumours about the manson family and the zodiac killer. They would tell anyone that would listen..."They're hiding somewhere in Conejo Grade".... I know names are supposed to be capitalized, but I REFUSE to give KILLERS that courtesy.

Most of the time, I loved Conejo Grade. However, there were times, when driving that part of the 101 would scare the shit out of me.

Above are screengrabs from a documentary called, EARTHQUAKE! (by THE PRESIDENT'S OFFICE OF EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS).

The 1971 San Fernando earthquake was my first earthquake, and I still haven't forgotten it. That experience was NOT a good sign of things to come.

Above is a short article about a murder at one of my schools.

I hated almost every school I attended. Bigoted teachers and staff, getting into fights with bullies, humiliation/degradation of children by so-called adults, and inappropriate touching of children. NOT all of those things happened in the schools I attended in California, but most did. Just for the record, the school I hated the most was located in Indiana.

High school got off to a bad start. There were mutilations of small animals in the neighborhood next to my school. That should have sounded alarm bells for everyone, not just law enforcement. But, it was ignored. If I remember correctly, there were also decapitations and other types of mutilations of farm animals, at my school. However, I think that occured during a different time frame.

Above are articles directly related to a murder at my school... The only good NAZIs are DEAD NAZIs!

One night, a student was murdered, and another student was mutilated and left for dead. That was followed by rage, finger pointing, and more hate. Then NAZIs came to  town. There were also anti-fascist groups - they were NOT communist groups, as some of the right-wing reporters stated. It all reached a boiling point at the local convention center. A riot took place. Some of the media reported over three hundred people. I was there, and in my opinion, the number was at least five hundred. I hit a couple of NAZIs on the side of the head with a tree branch. Weeks later, I could still hear the sound of the branch hitting their faces - I couldn't get it out of my mind. Do NOT misunderstand me, I have NO regrets about what I did, I just feel angry that I was put in a position of having to defend myself.

I hated the city my high school was located in. Most of that town deserved to be burned to the ground. That's how I felt at the time, and I still feel that way.

When I graduated high school, it felt like I had been released from prison, for a crime I had NOT committed.

Writing is therapeutic, and if I ever finish my book, I imagine, it will feel like I've finally stopped carrying a refrigerator on my back.

Above, KROQ as we knew it, is GONE.... Also some screengrabs of VOICE OF THE BEEHIVE and THE ROMANTICS.

I loved dancing with leggy valley girls, and listening to KROQ. At the time, I didn't care how silly I looked. Why?... Because the other people looked even sillier. Plus, I just didn't give a shit!

Above is a plastic bag from one of my favorite store chains... PIC 'N' SAVE.

I loved attending events held at the original version of the Los Angeles convention center. I also loved Point Mugu rock and Malibu.

I also miss SANTA MONICA PLACE. It was a mall across from the Third Street Promenade. It was one of my favorite ENCLOSED shopping centers - it's now an open air mall... BOO-HISS!.

Hanging out at the pier was also a pleasant way to relax. 

There were two international newsstands close to the mall. One was at a place that rented mail boxes, and the other was at the promenade.

Above are sreengrabs from a documentary called THE LOST TAPES: L.A. RIOTS (by the SMITHSONIAN CHANNEL).

Companies were leaving California in droves, and the riots only made things worse. A lot of people forget, that the riots affected the entire state, and the whole country.

I loved California. However, I could no longer afford to live there. So, I left in the early nineties.

Above are a few of my favorite cities in California.

Despite the bad experiences, I also had a lot of good times, and those are the moments I want to hold on to. That's why my ROP class is important to me.

The twelfth grade was my only decent memory of  high school, and my ROP class was the sole reason for that.

I've posted about this before, and I'm going to do it again, there's NO official record of who attended our class. It's as if we never existed.....

TO HOLLY, and anyone from the CAREER EDUCATION CENTER.....

I'm still looking for information on the ROP GRAPHIC & COMMERCIAL ART class of 1981 - instructor Walt Metcalf.

I also want info on the history of ROP.

Questions....

1 - When did ROP begin at the Camarillo Airport campus?

2 - When did one - or more - of the original classrooms burn down?

3 - When did the original ROP campus get demolished?

4 - When did the NEW campus open?

5 - When did they change the name from ROP to CAREER EDUCATION CENTER?

I found one of my classmates on INSTAGRAM - and a few other websites. That made me happy. However, she never responded to any of my messages. She won't even acknowledge my existence. Just for the record, I never did anything bad to her.

I also found a second classmate - seventy percent certain. But, I've ruled out trying to contact her via LINKEDIN. That website is NOT a social network. So, I don't know what to do next.

Holly Callero, I hope you find this blog. You were one of the sweetest persons, I've ever met. I wanted to apologize to you, for some stupid things I said.

I also wanted to explain what prompted me to behave like an idiot. I never got a chance to do that, because you and Terry/Terri never attended the last day of class. I know it was a trivial incident, so you probably don't remember or care, but I do. I can count the number of times I've been intentionally mean to someone, on one hand.

Holly Callero, if you're reading this, please contact me via this blog or my INSTAGRAM page.

Above, our last class assignment. We had to design a poster for the 1981 Ventura County Career Expo. This was my lame entry. One of my classmates had their design turned into the official poster. The winning design was beautiful, and well-thought-out. That person was truly talented, and deserved to win... My ROP I.D. is also pictured.

I can't find my other classmates. I feel disappointed.

I also want to find the CLASS PHOTO that Walt took. At this point, I'd settle for online yearbook photos of all my classmates.

Above is one of my ROP report cards... Yes, I still have them.

I don't know my way around most social networks, and I do not want to be part of them. That makes finding people more difficult.

I'm an ANALOG PERSON lost in a DIGITAL WORLD.....

AN OPEN LETTER TO MY CLASSMATES......

I'm an EXTREMELY PRIVATE person - and always have been.

I decided to post personal questions in a public forum, because I exhausted my options for private answers.

I've hit a brick wall in my quest to get answers about our class.

I also became a hypocrite by joining INSTAGRAM - to contact a classmate. I promised myself I would never join another 'social network' after my disastrous experiences on 'MY SPACE' - aka PSYCHO SPACE. Well, I broke that promise.

QUESTIONS FOR MY CLASSMATES.....

This is my way of verifying that you actually attended our class.

Do you remember what our entire class did, that resulted in Walt getting in trouble? He yelled at all of us for at least five minutes.

Do you remember what one of our classmates did to a poster? That poster was given to Walt by someone special to him - he yelled at our class after he saw it.

Do you remember one of our classmates being in the hospital, due to a collapsed lung? Who was that person?

Do you remember what Walt gave all of us after he returned from the GUTENBERG FESTIVAL?

Do you remember which one of us had their design chosen for the CAREER EXPO POSTER?

Do you remember the CLASS PHOTO Walt took? Where did he take the photo?... Also, did any of you get a copy of it?

CLASS LIST.... Please post any information you have in my comment section. If you do NOT want the info made public, just tell me.

You can also leave your email, or INSTAGRAM link ( if you have an instagram account ). Once again, I will NOT make it public, unless you give me permission to do so.

Monica - I'm NOT going to display her last name. Buena High School?

Laurie Cloward - Rio Mesa High School

Lucinda - I'm NOT going to display her last name. Santa Paula High School?

Susan - I'm NOT going to display her last name. Royal high school?

Holly - I'm NOT going to display her last name. Westlake High School?

Terry?/Terri? - I'm NOT going to display her last name. Westlake High School?

Diane? - I do NOT remember her last name. I also do NOT remember the school she attended.

Molly?/Mollie? - I do NOT remember her last name. I also do NOT remember the school she attended. She was in class for half a semester.

Steven?/Stephen? - I do NOT remember his last name. Ventura High School?

Tom - I'm NOT going to display his last name. Adolfo Camarillo High School?

Charles aka "Charlie" - I'm NOT going to display his last name. Oxnard Hight School?

Troy?/Todd? - I do NOT remember his last name. Hueneme High School?

CAMARO DUDE - I do NOT remember his first name. I also do NOT remember his last name. - Santa Clara High shool?

FRIEND OF CAMARO DUDE - I do NOT remember his first name. I also do NOT remember his last name. Santa Clara High shool?

MYSELF aka Ray - Channel Islands High School

An article from a newspaper called the VC STAR, mentions a "Walt Metcalf". Do any of you know, if this is our Walt? See quotes below.....

"Ventura County Star"

"Camarillo couple find parts from airplane that crashed in 1944"

"By John Mitchell"

"March 27, 2006"

"On March 16, Macha, accompanied by Tom Maloney, an Orange County park ranger, returned to the Camarillo Heights crash area. Also on site was Walt Metcalf, 75, of the Commemorative Air Force."

"While we were there, we found the left engine a short distance away from the first one," Metcalf said."

QUESTIONS FOR ANYONE THAT CAN ANSWER THEM......

Years ago, I remember reading an online article about some of the ROP CLASSROOMS BURNING DOWN. Do you have any details about that?

How many different courses were taught during the 1980/1981 school year?

When did the completely new campus open?

I'm starting to run out of ideas for finding my classmates. I can NOT afford to pay for information, and do NOT want to join any other 'social networks' - INSTAGRAM is bad enough. I find it confusing to use. INSTAGRAM'S main focus is visual gratification, NOT written communication.

Quote below is from the movie MAGNOLIA.....

"We may be through with the past, but the past ain't through with us"

RUNNING OUT OF GAS.....

Screengrabs of people waiting to get gasoline during the 1973/1974 oil crisis ( from a video uploaded by King Rose Archives on YOUTUBE ).

You know that feeling, when you're running low on fuel, and don't know if you're going to make it to a gas station?... Well, that's how I feel.

Earlier this year, I found someone from my class ( ninety-nine percent sure ). She has an Instagram account, but I do NOT want to join anything associated with FACEBOOK. Plus, I'm NOT good with digital gadgets.

Screengrabs of Conejo Grade ( uploaded by Yoshi Craft 2011 on YOUTUBE ).

I sent her a message via one of her business websites.

As I write this, it's been approximately two weeks since I've sent that email. I've received no reply, or acknowledgment of my message.

This is such an insane time we're all living through. I don't know if she simply hasn't had time to respond, or that my email hasn't been forwarded to her.

The pessimist in me, feels my email may have been deleted by the webmaster. Or maybe, she doesn't want to hear from me. Either way, I would prefer to know.

All I know for certain, is that I feel deeply hurt by the lack of a response.

She is one of my favorite persons from my ROP class. That class was one of the few good experiences I had during my school years.

This quest means a lot to me, for many reasons. I also need answers to questions I have.

Screengrabs of a private plane landing at Camarillo Airport ( uploaded by Full Swing Media on YOUTUBE ).

To anyone that attended ROP at Camarillo Airport, during the 1980/1981 school year, I would appreciate any help you can give me.

Screengrabs of John Oliver blowing up 2020 - from Last Week Tonight ( HBO ).

Good riddance to 2020 and the last five years......

I DON'T KNOW WHERE I'M GOING WITH THIS.....

Screengrabs of MISSING PERSONS performing DESTINATION UNKNOWN.

According to the stat page, people are visiting this blog. Unfortunately, none of them appear to be my classmates.

I've had visitors form all over the world. I am both, amazed and mystified, by that fact.

I've been using GOOGLE's newspaper archive to find information. With a few exceptions, I've been unsuccessful.

Finding photos on search engines has also been hit-n-miss.

In recent years, I've been flooded with memories of places, objects, events, good people, bad people, surreal moments, and countless other things.

All I know for certain, is that I want to find answers to some simple questions.

As you know, the internet is overflowing with misinformation.

Also, there are far too many individuals that possess the combined I.Q. of a carrot and baked potato. Unfortunately, many of those morons have jobs they are NOT qualified for. So, when you need information, what you get back is inaccurate, or does NOT relate to your request, or you do NOT get a reply!

To all my classmates... I wanted to take photos of everyone in our class, and all the buildings, but I never got around to actually doing it - and I really regret that.

I am truly grateful to have met all of you.

HISTORY IS REPEATING ITSELF.....

 

Above is a screengrab of KILLING JOKE performing the song EIGHTIES.

I'm still searching for information about my former class, instructor, and classmates.

I desperately want to find photos of my school campus, former classrooms, instructor, and classmate yearbook photos.

Our instructor took a CLASS PHOTO. However, I've NEVER seen it! I can not put into words, how much I want to see that photo - especially if it's a big  digital image that I can save, and turn into a physical photograph.

As I've pointed out before, there are tons of yearbooks online. Unfortunately, none of the digital files I've found, are the books I'm looking for. Having said that, I still find them fascinating to look at.

I've seen yearbooks from all decades, including the  twenties.

Above are pages from the 1929 Moline High School yearbook (Illinois). The source was the INTERNET ARCHIVE (yearbook section).

It's true, history DOES repeat itself!

The graduating class of 1929, had no way of knowing about the depression that would start in August of that year, or all the pain and suffering that it would bring. Their optimism hit a brick wall, head first.

Before the class of 1929 was hurt by events beyond their control, it was the class of 1918 that got royally screwed. They dealt with the results of a world war, influenza , and more.

My graduating class was affected by the 1981 recession, AIDS, president ray-gun, and many other things.

As for the class of 2020, history has - yet again - repeated itself, with the pandemic, an economic collapse, and a fascist lunatic in the white house.

Thank goodness for movies. A few hours of escapism is like medicine for your mind.

Below is a list of films from the eighties. I watched them when they were new.....

Above are some screengrabs from the movie FAME.

FAME (1980) - Just for the record, I hate musicals!... But, this was definitely an exception to the rule! I would have loved, to have attended the real version of this high school.

DRESSED TO KILL (1980) - One of my favorite Brian De Palma flicks.

STRIPES (1981) - Loved it! The cold war, hot babes, a special motorhome, and dark humor, it's a perfect mixture. In my opinion, this is one of John Candy's most memorable performances.

Screengrab above is from FORT APACHE THE BRONX.

FORT APACHE THE BRONX (1981) - Underrated, memorable, and definitely still relevant.

WOLFEN (1981) - Another underrated movie. It's also beautifully filmed.

PORKY'S (1981) - I want my money back!... What an OVERRATED sack of crap! The only things I liked albout it, were Kim Cattrall's full frontal, the shower babes, and the appearance of Jill Whitlow.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME (1981) - Harmless, cheesy, and fun.

Screengrab from MS. 45

MS. 45 (1981) - A legendary revenge film.

ROADGAMES (1981) - Great Australian scenery. Stacy Keach is great in it. After all this time, I still like it.

MAD MAX 2: THE ROAD WARRIOR (1982) - Do you really need someone to tell you how great this film is?

FAST TIMES AT RIDGEMONT HIGH (1982) - Still love this movie! TOTALLY AWESOME DUDE! FUCK YEAH!

LAST AMERICAN VIRGIN (1982) - The ending, that's what I remember the most about this flick.

VALLEY GIRL (1983) - Still fun after all this time. Plus, the adorable Heidi Holicker is in it.

PRIVATE SCHOOL (1983) - Betsy Russell riding a horse, that's all I'm gonna say... ha-ha-ha.

Screengrab above is from BREATHLESS.

BREATHLESS (1983) - Critics loved bashing this remake. Well, don't believe them! I love it! I could not keep my eyes off of Valérie Kaprisky.

NO SMALL AFFAIR (1984) - One of the many Jon Cryer cheesefests I'm fond of. Jennifer Tilly and Tim Robbins do phenomenal things with the small amount of time they have on screen.

BLOOD SIMPLE (1984) - Here's another one of my favorite fims. It deserves all the praise it's received.

NIGHT OF THE COMET (1984) - I loved it then, and I love it now! TONS-O-FUN!

REVENGE OF THE NERDS (1984) - One of my all time favorites! It's now become politically incorrect, and that makes me love it even more!

SILENT NIGHT, DEADLY NIGHT (1984) - Remember all the so-called controversy about this movie? It's a ridiculous, and unintentionally funny killer claus flick, nothing more, nothing less.

Screengrab above is from REAL GENIUS

REAL GENIUS (1985) - A pure eighties popcorn munching time waster... I mean that in the kindest way.

SURE THING (1985) - This movie is undeniable proof, that a cliched and predictable story can still work, if you put some sincerity into it. I still love it.

Above are screengrabs from MODERN GIRLS.

MODERN GIRLS (1986) - It's so eighties. Search YOUTUBE and watch the official muisc video for MODERN GIRLS. The song is called, BUT NOT TONIGHT. It's performed by DEPECHE MODE.

MANHATTAN PROJECT (1986) - Do NOT confuse this movie with other films using the same name. John Lithgow is in it. I ended up liking this movie more than I thought I would.

BLACK MOON RISING (1986) - A cool car, Tommy Lee Jones, and Linda Hamilton. It's CHEESY GOODNESS.

THE WRAITH (1986) - Supernatural revenge flick with a cool car, and Sherilyn Fenn.

MANNEQUIN (1987) - Yes, I actually paid to see this... oh the shame... ha-ha-ha...

LESS THAN ZERO (1987) - Another pure 80's flick with the one and only James Spader.

SOME KIND OF WONDERFUL (1987) - I'm still fond of this movie.

Above are screengrabs from MIRACLE MILE.

MIRACLE MILE (1988) - Truly UNFORGETTABLE! It's one of my favorite movies of all time. It stars, Anthony Edwards and Mare Winningham.

JACK'S BACK (1988) - One of my favorite James Spader films.

KANSAS (1988) - It's NOT well known, but I absolutely love it!

ASSAULT OF THE KILLER BIMBOS (1988) - A cheese classic. It should have received an award, just for the title.

KILL ME AGAIN (1989) - Do NOT listen to anyone that calls movies like this "neo-noir". It IS noir, period! The genre did NOT end in the fifties! Anyway, it's one of my favorite films. The director, John Dahl, also worked on RED ROCK WEST, and THE LAST SEDUCTION.

WEEKEND AT BERNIE'S (1989) - I couldn't resist, I will now hang my head in shame... ha-ha-ha...

Screengrab above is from the movie BLADE RUNNER.

Quote below is also from BLADE RUNNER.... 

"All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain"

FYI - The R.O.P. office does NOT have records dating back to 1981... Why?

I want people to remember us, and to know our class existed.

As always, if anyone can help, please leave a comment....

GOING BACK IN TIME.....

I can NOT revisit the past via a Delorean coupe, or a phone booth. However, I can use books, documents, and photographs, to transport myself back in time.


Above is the yearbook for WENTWORTH / WILSON schools. It covers the 1968 to 1969 school year. It's from Calumet City Illinois and includes both, Wentworth junior high and Wilson elementary schools ( grades one to eight ).

I don't know how common elementary school yearbooks were, but my schools had them. Did yours?

I wrote to a public library in California a few times ( BEFORE the PANDEMIC ). I wanted some photo copies of two yearbook pages sent to me via self-addressed stamped envelope, or email - whichever was easier for them.

The first time I wrote to them, someone with the reading comprehension skills of a carrot, answered me via email. It was a nonsensical reply. So, I sent a physical letter to the person in charge of the library. I politely asked for their help. They never used the self-addressed stamped envelope I supplied, or emailed me back.

It was a SIMPLE TASK, that required very little time and effort to complete.

This personal endeavor has a lot of emotional baggage tied to it, and I would like to achieve closure.

I also had NO luck with my R.O.P. class photo, or finding out what happened with our classrooms - destroyed by fire?

Anyway... Do public schools still have nurses?



Does a lot of drama occur in the drama club? Is drama club a real life soap opera?

Imagine a pissed off girl in drama club - "I saw Kevin making out with our teacher!"... "THAT BITCH IS GOING DOWN!"



It's funny how much attention cheerleaders get in school. Sometimes for the wrong reasons. The stereotype of the self-centred cheerleader is alive and well ( as is the stereotype of the moronic athlete ).



Class of 1969... Think of all the stories behind all those faces. I think the teacher, is the person in the first photo ( top row on left ). She was very cute.



Once again, I would appreciate some help. As I've mentioned before, I'm NOT very knowledgeable in regards to computers, or social websites, like INSTAGRAM.

Thank you for reading.