Who's Todd and John?

 

-Todd was born in Baldwin Park, CA, in the mid-sixties. He attended Rio Hondo Elementary/Junior High School for nine years, and participated in Temple City Little League Baseball and in the Santa Anita Bowling League. He also was a member of the Cub Scouts and delivered the Pasadena Star News. He moved from the Old Neighborhood in 1980 up to Northern California, where he still lives today. But he returns to the Old Neighborhood frequently.

* Nicknames- Dirkson, T.D., Beercan, Mr. D.K.

* Bachelor's Degree- Major-History, Minor-Religious Studies

*Clear Single Subject Teaching Credential- Social Science

* Favorite Rock Artists- The Beatles, The Doors, Pink Floyd, Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin, Alice Cooper, Cheap Trick, Kiss, AC/DC, Judas Priest, Dio, Iron Maiden, Saxon, Motorhead, Accept, Queensryche, Armored Saint, Helloween, Holy Soldier, Godsmack, Masterplan, etc.

* Favorite Rock Albums- The Beatles-"Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band", The Doors-"The Doors", Jim Morrison-"American Prayer", Original Soundtrack-"Jesus Christ-Superstar", Black Sabbath-"Master of Reality", "Heaven and Hell" & "Mob Rules", Alice Cooper-"Welcome to my Nightmare", Motorhead- "Iron Fist", Judas Priest-"British Steel" & "Screaming for Vengeance", AC/DC-"High Voltage" & "For Those About To Rock", Cheap Trick- "One on One", Iron Maiden-"Number of the Beast", Kiss-"Creatures of the Night", Dio-"Holy Diver", Motley Crue- "Shout at the Devil", Great White- "Great White", Saxon- "Innocence is No Excuse", Queensryche-"Operation: Mindcrime", The Smithereens-"11", Helloween-"Chameleon", Masterplan-"Aeronautics", etc.

* Favorite Bassists- Eddie Jackson, Roger Waters, Joey Vera, Geezer Butler, Marcus Grosskopf, Mike Mesaros, etc.

* Favorite Sports Teams- Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix Suns, Dallas Mavericks, Atlanta Hawks, Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, Oakland A's, Los Angeles Angels, New England Patriots, Green Bay Packers, St. Louis Rams, Tennessee Titans, Philadelphia Flyers, Anaheim Ducks, Los Angeles Kings, Boston Bruins, etc.

* Favorite College Teams- UCLA, Nebraska, Washington, Iowa, Syracuse, Duke, Gonzaga, Oregon, etc.

* Favorite All-Time Actors- Charles Bronson (He was THE Man, RIP), John Wayne, Sylvester Stallone, Al Pacino, Cheech and Chong, etc.

* Favorite Current Actors- Jason Statham, Danny Trejo, Paul Rudd, Billy Bob Thornton, Liam Neeson, etc.

* Favorite All-Time TV Shows- Welcome Back Kotter, Taxi, Cheers, Wiseguy, The Morton Downey Jr. Show, Seinfeld, The Office, etc.

* Favorite Current TV Shows- The Walking Dead, Hell On Wheels, Longmire, New Girl, Parks and Recreation, Louie, Impractical Jokers, Fargo, etc.

* Favorite All-Time Cartoons- Spider Man (60's version), Fat Albert, Beavis and Butthead, King of the Hill, etc.

* Favorite All-Time Toys- Aurora Prehistoric/Monster models, Mego Mad Monster Action Figures, Shogun Warriors, Star Wars Action Figures

* Favorite Foods- Chipotle Burrito, Steak, Mongolian Barbecue, Tikka Masala, etc

* Favorite Domestic Beers- Michelob, Shock Top, Rainier, PBR, Bud Light, etc.

* Favorite Craft Beers- Heretic, Pyramid Snow Cap, Sierra Nevada, Samuel Adams, Buffalo Bill's Pumpkin Ale, Blue Moon, etc.

* Favorite Imported Beers- Hoegaarden, Kokanee, Tsingtao, Yanjing, Heineken, Dos Equis, etc.

* Favorite Teachers from Rio Hondo- Mr. Blair , Myron (Mr.Sypherd), Mr. Starcic

* "Best" Friends from the Old Neighborhood- Paul Rahab, Darin Eisenbletter, Dave Ramsey

* Favorite Restaurants in the Old Neighborhood- Clearman's Galley, Northwood's Inn, Der Wienerschnitzel, Chow To Go *, Hi-Brow Burgers* (*no longer in business)

* Favorite Entertainment Spots in the Old Neighborhood- Aloha Miniature Golf Course (Rosemead)*, Santa Anita Bowling Alley*, Golfland (South El Monte)*, El Monte Drive-In*, The Arboretum, etc. (*no longer in business)

* Favorite Hang-Out Spots in the Old Neighborhood- Rio Hondo School, John's Old Pad, the Wash, Thrifty Drug (now Rite-Aid), etc.

* Favorite Sayings- "Heeyyy!", "Lah-owl!", "Merk-Jerk!", "Old MacDonald had a farm!", Hey, Don!", "Howdy", "Ehhh?!" & "Holy Shizer!"


 

John was born in the Arcadia area in the late sixties. He attended Cleminson Elementary School, Rio Hondo Junior High, and Arroyo High School. As a youth, he participated in Kare Youth League Sports (and Cult) and Temple City Football. In High School, he enjoyed relative popularity in the Old Neighborhood as the drummer of a local hard rock band named "After Forever". He also worked for Little Caesars Pizza and Pace Wholesale. In 1988, he moved to the High Desert, where he spent 13 horrific years. He moved back "down the hill" in 2001, and now resides in Alta Loma, just several miles from the Old Neighborhood, which he still visits often.

* Nicknames- Big John, J.B., J.P., J. Penis, Sleepy John, John Craphole, Broke-Dick John, John Ton Leprechaun, Johnny Crappelseed, Piece of S#*t, Johnny Ass Clown , etc.

* Bachelors Degree- Criminal Justice

* Master's Degree-Arts in Education/Teacher Leadership and Preliminary Multiple Subject Teaching Credential

* Favorite Jazz/Rock Artists- The Beatles, Black Sabbath, Frank Zappa, Kiss, The Eagles, Led Zeppelin, Iron Maiden, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Lindsey Buckingham, etc.

* Favorite Jazz/Rock Albums- Original Soundtrack-"Jesus Christ-Superstar", Jim Morrison-"American Prayer", Black Sabbath-"Mob Rules", Ozzy Osbourne-"Diary of a Madman", Iron Maiden-"Piece of Mind", Dio-"Holy Diver", Billy Cobham-"Spectrum", Guns and Roses-"Appetite for Destruction", all the Zeppelin albums, etc.

* Favorite Drummers- Billy Cobham, Buddy Rich, Vinnie Colaiuta, Terry Bozzio, Tommy Lee, Bill Ward, Neil Peart, Tommy Aldridge, Vinnie Appice, etc...

* Favorite Sports Teams- Oakland Raiders, Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, New York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers, Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Lakers (except for Kobe!), Philadelphia 76ers, Los Angeles Kings, etc.

* Favorite College Teams- UCLA, USC, Oklahoma, Michigan, Arkansas, etc.

* Favorite All-Time Actors- Charles Bronson, Clint Eastwood, Steven Seagal, Robert Deniro, John Wayne, etc.

* Favorite Current Actors- Christian Bale, Wil Ferrell, Paul Rudd, etc.

* Favorite All-Time TV Shows- Sanford and Son, All in the Family, Entourage, Sopranos

* Favorite Current TV Shows- MMA fighting, That Metal Show, Anthony Bourdain Parts Unknown, etc..

* Favorite All-Time Cartoons- The Flintstones, Scooby Doo, Fat Albert, Super Friends

* Favorite All-Time Toys- Mego Super Hero Action Figures, G.I. Joe, Evil Kneivel, Star Wars Action Figures

* Favorite Foods- Sushi, any Mexican, Cheese, etc.

* Favorite Domestic Beers- Michelob, Shock Top, Bud, etc.

* Favorite Craft Beers- Samuel Adams, Fat Tire, Congregational Ale House Covenant, etc.

* Favorite Imported Beers- Tecate, Corona, Dos Equis, Tsingtao, Kirin, Asahi, etc.

* Favorite Teachers from Rio Hondo- Mr. McKelvie, Mr. Halverson, Mr. Blair, Ms. Griffin

* Best Friends from the Old Neighborhood- Mike Boore, Gary Licks, Fagnando Defiori ( AKA "Anthony King"), Mark Ogata, etc.

* Favorite Restaurants in the Old Neighborhood- Steerburger*, Taco Treat, Der Wienerschnitzel, Sir George's*, etc. (*no longer in business)

* Favorite Entertainment Spots around the Old Neighborhood- Edwards Theaters (Temple City)*, The Arboretum, El Monte Drive-In*, First Cabin Cocktail Bar (Arcadia), any gay bar, etc. (*no longer in business)

* Favorite Hang-Out Spots in Old Neighborhood- John's Old Pad, Taco Treat, Matt Jones' Old Pad, Kare Youth League (Cult), etc.

Home
If you have any comments, questions, or concerns about our mental health, write us at RonTodd1@juno.com