Believe it or not it isn't a Barbie Camper. That ship sailed years ago. Literally....
The 70's was the era of the "muscle car"~ Chevelle, Dodge Dart, Charger, Nova, Camaro, too many to name and some I don't even know about I am sure. In grade school I remember the guys talking about how they loved "this" car and "that" car and that "this" car was way cooler than "that" car. Black or red seemed to be the universal choices in colours. The girls, well, we really didn't give two hoots because we were more interested in roller skating and gum.
My son had asked me the other day, while watching "Top Gear" on BBC America, "Mom, what is your favourite car?"
Immediately I was whisked back to my childhood conversations (or thinly veiled arguments) about muscle cars and which one was the best. Was it the '72 Chevelle? The '73 Nova? The '73 Corvette?
I asked him to clarify, "Do you mean which car that I owned was my favourite?"
"No, Ma," he said a little frustrated with me and my lack of an immediate answer, "I mean which car is your favourite of all time?"
Wow...
The choices are just too numerous and to choose just one seems...sort of....I don't know...limiting.
I currently drive a Chevy Avalanche (yes a truck, everyone feel free to laugh at the idea of me in a pick-up) and I have driven SUV's, owned a mini-van or two, a Pontiac "POS" 3000 and yes, a Ford Mustang (everyone should have at least ONE sports car in their life).
"Seriously, Mom...it isn't a hard question."
Not a hard question?! Are you SERIOUS!?!? Of course, it is a hard question and not one I have ever really thought about or ever expected to hear or answer for that matter.
After close and careful consideration and an expectant glare from the 8-year-old, I blurted out "An invisible jet like Wonder Woman's."
"Good choice, Mom. You had me worried for a second...because it was a trick question."
*Whew* Dodged a bullet there, I guess...
Friday, November 16, 2012
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
We will see you again, Grandma
Novermber 13, 2012 will forever be etched in my brain until the day I die. It is the day I lost my Grandma Beva.
She had been going downhill for a few days and my mom did warn us kids that her days were numbered so we could prepare ourselves for the inevitable. No matter how much you try to convince yourself that it is a blessing, it doesn't make it any easier. I don't think anyone is ever truly prepared to lose a loved one and it is never easy to watch that person fade before your very eyes. Especially when it was someone like my Grandma.
My Grandma Beva was so full of life, love and happiness. She embraced each day as a blessing and did everything within her power to make it a good day, no matter the weather or the circumstances. She could always find that elusive silver lining.
I have so many memories of my Gramma, some vivid and some a little hazy, but all of them good. Holidays come to the forefront of my mind when I think of her. Thanksgiving and Christmas were always full of fun, food and family. Gramma would cook up a storm and there was always enough to feed an entire platoon of starving soldiers. Turkey, stuffing, ham, mashed potatoes (a little lumpy please, Gram!), lasagna, oyster stew, homemade bread and cookies and pies...treats for everyone. I don't ever remember her sitting to enjoy the fruits of her labour, but I do remember her standing and surveying her handiwork and standing over the sink to eat so that way there was always room for someone else.
Christmas was extra special as a kid because it always meant that Gramma made you a special gift. I remember at the age of 4, she had made all of us grandkids homemade rag dolls. Mine (I thought) was the most beautiful of them all. They were all made to match our hair and eye colour. I named mine Laura because she was dressed like a pioneer girl (aka Laura Ingalls Wilder) in a red cotton dress with a red sun bonnet and little black felt mary janes on her stocking feet. She still sits on my dresser in my bedroom.
After gifts we would start to clean up and get ready to go home. I remember clutching my doll to my chest and not letting Mom put it in the laundry basket to carry home. Gramma would help bundle us up and make sure we had on our hats and mittens (that she, of course, made) and giving us a big kiss and a tight squeeze she would say, "Remember, Jenny, in this family we never say goodbye, we say 'We will see you again.'"
So, Gramma, you may be gone from this earth, but you will never be forgotten and will always be loved and missed.
And in your loving words,
"We will see you again."
She had been going downhill for a few days and my mom did warn us kids that her days were numbered so we could prepare ourselves for the inevitable. No matter how much you try to convince yourself that it is a blessing, it doesn't make it any easier. I don't think anyone is ever truly prepared to lose a loved one and it is never easy to watch that person fade before your very eyes. Especially when it was someone like my Grandma.
My Grandma Beva was so full of life, love and happiness. She embraced each day as a blessing and did everything within her power to make it a good day, no matter the weather or the circumstances. She could always find that elusive silver lining.
I have so many memories of my Gramma, some vivid and some a little hazy, but all of them good. Holidays come to the forefront of my mind when I think of her. Thanksgiving and Christmas were always full of fun, food and family. Gramma would cook up a storm and there was always enough to feed an entire platoon of starving soldiers. Turkey, stuffing, ham, mashed potatoes (a little lumpy please, Gram!), lasagna, oyster stew, homemade bread and cookies and pies...treats for everyone. I don't ever remember her sitting to enjoy the fruits of her labour, but I do remember her standing and surveying her handiwork and standing over the sink to eat so that way there was always room for someone else.
Christmas was extra special as a kid because it always meant that Gramma made you a special gift. I remember at the age of 4, she had made all of us grandkids homemade rag dolls. Mine (I thought) was the most beautiful of them all. They were all made to match our hair and eye colour. I named mine Laura because she was dressed like a pioneer girl (aka Laura Ingalls Wilder) in a red cotton dress with a red sun bonnet and little black felt mary janes on her stocking feet. She still sits on my dresser in my bedroom.
After gifts we would start to clean up and get ready to go home. I remember clutching my doll to my chest and not letting Mom put it in the laundry basket to carry home. Gramma would help bundle us up and make sure we had on our hats and mittens (that she, of course, made) and giving us a big kiss and a tight squeeze she would say, "Remember, Jenny, in this family we never say goodbye, we say 'We will see you again.'"
So, Gramma, you may be gone from this earth, but you will never be forgotten and will always be loved and missed.
And in your loving words,
"We will see you again."
Thursday, November 8, 2012
Slacks
Slacks.
I heard this word today at work and it made me think of the 70's and the Two Wild and Crazy Guys the Festrunk Brothers and their tight slacks that show off their bulge-ez. I laughed out loud.
Slacks. Who says that word anymore? Say it out loud. It's funny!
It kind of ranks up there with trousers, blouse and sport coat. Does anyone even make a sport coat anymore? I remember Haggar Sport Coat ads in the Sears catalog next to the Liesure Suits.
And there's another thing! Remember when you waited all year for the Christmas catalog to come out from Sears, JC Penny and Montgomery Wards? I believe they called it the "Wish Book." I would sit for hours and stare at all the wonders that were available via mail order and dream of opening all the gifts under my tree that Santa would get from these wonders of modern shopping. My sisters and I would circle and initial all the things we wanted in the catalog so that way Mom could tell Santa. By the end of it all, it was easier to say what we DIDN'T want.
But I digress. We were discussing slacks.
It is strange how some words in our language have gone by way of the Dodo. Words that come to mind are davenport (which is NOT just a town in Iowa but another word for sofa) and rumpus room (family room). What exactly IS a rumpus anyway? (Don't worry, I will google it.- and yet another example of a funny word.)
Other words that I find funny are the words that my Gramma used to say to replace swear words. Interesting phrases such as "Heaven's to Betsy!" and "Crimeinettly!" (which as I got older finally realized was Crime-in-Italy) and the ever popular "My stars and garters!"
Having two impressionable kids of my own, I have taken to substituting other words for swear words myself. I am partial to "What the schnitzel!?" I find it encompasses many situations and can be implied that I am still swearing without actually getting reprimanded by my mother for saying the actual word.
Unfortunately, there are many epithets that still escape my mouth without guarding my words and yes, I have said them in front of my kids. I will admit, I swear like a sailor. I need to curb my tongue.
The best example of learning to watch my mouth was when I was driving. When my daughter was 2 years old and some jerk cut me off, I promptly laid on the horn and said "HEY! YOU....(child in the seat behind you, keep it clean)... COWBOY!!" From the back seat I hear in an adorable little lispy voice "jackass." Nice.
I heard this word today at work and it made me think of the 70's and the Two Wild and Crazy Guys the Festrunk Brothers and their tight slacks that show off their bulge-ez. I laughed out loud.
Slacks. Who says that word anymore? Say it out loud. It's funny!
It kind of ranks up there with trousers, blouse and sport coat. Does anyone even make a sport coat anymore? I remember Haggar Sport Coat ads in the Sears catalog next to the Liesure Suits.
And there's another thing! Remember when you waited all year for the Christmas catalog to come out from Sears, JC Penny and Montgomery Wards? I believe they called it the "Wish Book." I would sit for hours and stare at all the wonders that were available via mail order and dream of opening all the gifts under my tree that Santa would get from these wonders of modern shopping. My sisters and I would circle and initial all the things we wanted in the catalog so that way Mom could tell Santa. By the end of it all, it was easier to say what we DIDN'T want.
But I digress. We were discussing slacks.
It is strange how some words in our language have gone by way of the Dodo. Words that come to mind are davenport (which is NOT just a town in Iowa but another word for sofa) and rumpus room (family room). What exactly IS a rumpus anyway? (Don't worry, I will google it.- and yet another example of a funny word.)
Other words that I find funny are the words that my Gramma used to say to replace swear words. Interesting phrases such as "Heaven's to Betsy!" and "Crimeinettly!" (which as I got older finally realized was Crime-in-Italy) and the ever popular "My stars and garters!"
Having two impressionable kids of my own, I have taken to substituting other words for swear words myself. I am partial to "What the schnitzel!?" I find it encompasses many situations and can be implied that I am still swearing without actually getting reprimanded by my mother for saying the actual word.
Unfortunately, there are many epithets that still escape my mouth without guarding my words and yes, I have said them in front of my kids. I will admit, I swear like a sailor. I need to curb my tongue.
The best example of learning to watch my mouth was when I was driving. When my daughter was 2 years old and some jerk cut me off, I promptly laid on the horn and said "HEY! YOU....(child in the seat behind you, keep it clean)... COWBOY!!" From the back seat I hear in an adorable little lispy voice "jackass." Nice.
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
It's The Muppet Show!!
My first experience with these adorable little fuzzy creatures was at the tender age of 2. I remember watching Kermit the Frog and Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch in front of a black and white tv while eating a delicious lunch of spaghettios and milk at my small kiddie table of yellow and brown flowers. I enjoyed knowing that this program "was brought to you by the letter K and the number 4" and singing all the little ditties that were sung throughout the program. "1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,1,0,11,12 and they all had fun..at the ladybug picnic!" and doing the (wah wah) pigeon with Bert.
It was a time before the politically correct era when Cookie Monster at cookies and was not Veggie Monster. And before Bert and Ernie were considered "gay" and not just best friends and roommates.
I got older and The Muppet Show came on. WOW! These were not the Muppets I recall! they did not sit and chat up small children or sing songs about nubmers and letters...Heck no! They sang current songs by popular artists and had on CELEBRITIES that channeled their inner child!
Steve Martin doing balloon animals was hsyterical "I say words into the balloon as I blow them up so when they pop they go "Gosh darnit!", Elton John dressed in his flamboyant costume singing "Crocodile Rock" surrounded by singing crocodiles in a swamp, Paul Simon singing "Scarborough Fair" while dressed as a medieval minstrel, and my personal favourite, Mark Hamill as himself and his alter ego "Luke Skywalker" along with Chewbacca, C3-PO and R2-D2 saving the earth from the evil Dearth Nadir (Gonzo as a miniature Darth Vader).
I remember plunking down in front of the tv at 630 Saturday nights and watching this wonderful half hour variety show every week as a kid. Some of the funniest skits and greatest talents were on that show.
Recently I ordered the entire series for my kids (ok, and for myself mainly). It is even funnier now as an adult because I get a lot of the jokes that were over my head as a kid.
We had a lot of the merchandise,too. Kermit the frog and Miss Piggy hand puppets. Plenty of shows put on with those as kids. Miss Piggy lunchbox, Miss Piggy satin jacket that I wore to the roller rink because it looked cool under the lights ( and May I interject here, I still HAVE said jacket and lunchbox), Miss Piggy sleepshirt, Miss Piggy notebooks and folders...are you sensing a pattern here?
Obviously, I had a thing for strong minded independent porcine females who were fashion plates and loved their frog and wanted everyone to know it.
To this day I quote the Muppet Show and many of their one liners and sing many of their songs, because of one simple reason. They are funny.
Perhaps this is where I honed my early skills as a comedian...
It was a time before the politically correct era when Cookie Monster at cookies and was not Veggie Monster. And before Bert and Ernie were considered "gay" and not just best friends and roommates.
I got older and The Muppet Show came on. WOW! These were not the Muppets I recall! they did not sit and chat up small children or sing songs about nubmers and letters...Heck no! They sang current songs by popular artists and had on CELEBRITIES that channeled their inner child!
Steve Martin doing balloon animals was hsyterical "I say words into the balloon as I blow them up so when they pop they go "Gosh darnit!", Elton John dressed in his flamboyant costume singing "Crocodile Rock" surrounded by singing crocodiles in a swamp, Paul Simon singing "Scarborough Fair" while dressed as a medieval minstrel, and my personal favourite, Mark Hamill as himself and his alter ego "Luke Skywalker" along with Chewbacca, C3-PO and R2-D2 saving the earth from the evil Dearth Nadir (Gonzo as a miniature Darth Vader).
I remember plunking down in front of the tv at 630 Saturday nights and watching this wonderful half hour variety show every week as a kid. Some of the funniest skits and greatest talents were on that show.
Recently I ordered the entire series for my kids (ok, and for myself mainly). It is even funnier now as an adult because I get a lot of the jokes that were over my head as a kid.
We had a lot of the merchandise,too. Kermit the frog and Miss Piggy hand puppets. Plenty of shows put on with those as kids. Miss Piggy lunchbox, Miss Piggy satin jacket that I wore to the roller rink because it looked cool under the lights ( and May I interject here, I still HAVE said jacket and lunchbox), Miss Piggy sleepshirt, Miss Piggy notebooks and folders...are you sensing a pattern here?
Obviously, I had a thing for strong minded independent porcine females who were fashion plates and loved their frog and wanted everyone to know it.
To this day I quote the Muppet Show and many of their one liners and sing many of their songs, because of one simple reason. They are funny.
Perhaps this is where I honed my early skills as a comedian...
Friday, October 12, 2012
Adventures in Barbie World
My cousin, Tanya, had the coolest Barbie stuff ever. (My older sister and I did, too, until our boy cousins got ahold of it...but I digress...) She had the Barbie RV. That sucker was almost 3 feet long and was loaded up with all things a Barbie could need for an action filled camping excursion~ a bathroom complete with hot tub and toilet, a stove for making gourmet meals while "roughing it", fold down beds and a television. 'Cause, who wants to miss out on all their important programs while camping.
But the real reason we liked it was that it fit two young girls perfectly on the back for riding down the street in front of her house. We discovered this wonderful vehicle could fly along about 15+ miles an hour down the hill, past Mr. Brewer's house, thru the stop sign, past the high school soccer field and wipe out in front of the high school steps in front of the gym with little or no damage to the RV. Too bad we couldn't say that for ourselves.
I remember the first time we took the rv for its virgin cruise. We made it to the end of the block Barbie gear and accesories, and I believe even a Barbie or two, flying out the vehicle like parade candy. We wiped out near Mr. Brewer's house with only a few bumps and bruises and I think a small case of road rash. Ok...next time, lose the Barbie gear before going for another lift off. It obviously threw off our trajectory.
Second try, empty cargo bay and new countdown, Tanya's shoelace gets tangled in wheel. Abort lift off.
Third attempt. Barefoot so no pesky shoelace issues. Result...scraped top of left foot on each after wipe out. Failed mission. Try again in two days to allow for recuperation of damaged brakes.
Over a time span of about 3 weeks we finally figured out just HOW to maneuver said RV so we would crash in the grass of the soccer field. Which was no easy feat mind you, since you had to jump a curb to do it. But as any 9 and 6 year-old could tell you, it took perseverence and determination but we finally managed to make the jump to light speed and into the grass of said soccer field.
You would think with that kind of feat one of us would become an engineer or at least, a Jedi Master. Ironically enough, Tanya is a nurse. Obviously, she decided to fix cuts, scrapes and bruises after years of getting them along with me. I am very proud of her.
I, however, aspired to be a teacher. I opted for something else. I won't explain why...let's just say I opted for Wonder Woman.
But the real reason we liked it was that it fit two young girls perfectly on the back for riding down the street in front of her house. We discovered this wonderful vehicle could fly along about 15+ miles an hour down the hill, past Mr. Brewer's house, thru the stop sign, past the high school soccer field and wipe out in front of the high school steps in front of the gym with little or no damage to the RV. Too bad we couldn't say that for ourselves.
I remember the first time we took the rv for its virgin cruise. We made it to the end of the block Barbie gear and accesories, and I believe even a Barbie or two, flying out the vehicle like parade candy. We wiped out near Mr. Brewer's house with only a few bumps and bruises and I think a small case of road rash. Ok...next time, lose the Barbie gear before going for another lift off. It obviously threw off our trajectory.
Second try, empty cargo bay and new countdown, Tanya's shoelace gets tangled in wheel. Abort lift off.
Third attempt. Barefoot so no pesky shoelace issues. Result...scraped top of left foot on each after wipe out. Failed mission. Try again in two days to allow for recuperation of damaged brakes.
Over a time span of about 3 weeks we finally figured out just HOW to maneuver said RV so we would crash in the grass of the soccer field. Which was no easy feat mind you, since you had to jump a curb to do it. But as any 9 and 6 year-old could tell you, it took perseverence and determination but we finally managed to make the jump to light speed and into the grass of said soccer field.
You would think with that kind of feat one of us would become an engineer or at least, a Jedi Master. Ironically enough, Tanya is a nurse. Obviously, she decided to fix cuts, scrapes and bruises after years of getting them along with me. I am very proud of her.
I, however, aspired to be a teacher. I opted for something else. I won't explain why...let's just say I opted for Wonder Woman.
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Commercials and how they shaped my life....
"Yaay! Crest!"..."Hey Kool-Aid!!"..."Band Aid sticks where it's supposed to but it doesn't stick where it's NOT supposed to."
Yes, I am a walking game of Trivial Pursuit. Thankyouverymuch.
As a kid I found commercials to be far more entertaining than most television shows. I loved M*A*S*H, All in the Family, and all those sitcoms but I never understood many of the jokes as I was merely a small kid and adult humor tended to be out of my realm of understanding. But on Saturday morning I was glued to the television, much to my parents annoyance.
I remember the cartoons especially Bugs Bunny and Scooby-Doo, but it was the commercials I remember the best. In fact, not a day goes by that I am not singing a commercial jingle from the 70's and 80's.
Why you ask?
Because ever situation can be related to a television commercial.
How many times have you eaten too much at the local Chinese buffet and said out loud. "I can't believe I ate the whole thing!"
Or, you had a particularly spicy meal and said, "That's a spicy meat-a-ball!" or the ever popular "In-de-GES-tion..."
In fact, at work today I made the comment to my boss that my typing really was sucking and I said "My fingers are obviously NOT doing the walking..." and then snapped my fingers. How many of you got that obscure reference?
As my cousin, Tanya, and my friends, Kelly and Teetah, can attest to, I swear I remember every commercial I have ever seen as a kid. In fact, we used to play "Jingle Trivia" in middle and high school because hey! It was one of the more fun games we used to play. And I will also give kudos to Kel and Teet for being able to keep up with me in that department. Thank you Girls!
The reason I thought of this was also this morning I made references to 3 different commercials before 7 am and it got me to thinking how appropos they are to many of the situations in my every day life.
The first commercial tag line I used was trying to get my children out of bed for school "Wake up to a Good Morning!" to which I received groans and heads buried under blankets. Epic fail, Mom.
The second was after they were dressed and informed me in a very bland and unexciting way that they were dressed and ready to go. I replied, "YAAY CREST!"...strike two...
The third and final reference was as I was hustling them out the door, "Madison Muskies...Let's GO FISH!!"
Now that one will be lost on many of you who don't live in the Madison, WI area. The Muskies were a local ball team in the 80's and that was their commercial jingle.
Now that i am older, I still find that I am fascinated by commercials even to this day. Many are clever, some are ridiculous, some are annoying and some are hysterical. However, some of them just don't stick with you like the Kool-Aid yell or the Uh-Oh Spaghetti-O's jingle.
"Chewy OOey Gooey on the inside...golden cakey tender flakey outside..."
Got that one?
Now, how long did it take for you to start singing a jingle from your youth?
Yes, I am a walking game of Trivial Pursuit. Thankyouverymuch.
As a kid I found commercials to be far more entertaining than most television shows. I loved M*A*S*H, All in the Family, and all those sitcoms but I never understood many of the jokes as I was merely a small kid and adult humor tended to be out of my realm of understanding. But on Saturday morning I was glued to the television, much to my parents annoyance.
I remember the cartoons especially Bugs Bunny and Scooby-Doo, but it was the commercials I remember the best. In fact, not a day goes by that I am not singing a commercial jingle from the 70's and 80's.
Why you ask?
Because ever situation can be related to a television commercial.
How many times have you eaten too much at the local Chinese buffet and said out loud. "I can't believe I ate the whole thing!"
Or, you had a particularly spicy meal and said, "That's a spicy meat-a-ball!" or the ever popular "In-de-GES-tion..."
In fact, at work today I made the comment to my boss that my typing really was sucking and I said "My fingers are obviously NOT doing the walking..." and then snapped my fingers. How many of you got that obscure reference?
As my cousin, Tanya, and my friends, Kelly and Teetah, can attest to, I swear I remember every commercial I have ever seen as a kid. In fact, we used to play "Jingle Trivia" in middle and high school because hey! It was one of the more fun games we used to play. And I will also give kudos to Kel and Teet for being able to keep up with me in that department. Thank you Girls!
The reason I thought of this was also this morning I made references to 3 different commercials before 7 am and it got me to thinking how appropos they are to many of the situations in my every day life.
The first commercial tag line I used was trying to get my children out of bed for school "Wake up to a Good Morning!" to which I received groans and heads buried under blankets. Epic fail, Mom.
The second was after they were dressed and informed me in a very bland and unexciting way that they were dressed and ready to go. I replied, "YAAY CREST!"...strike two...
The third and final reference was as I was hustling them out the door, "Madison Muskies...Let's GO FISH!!"
Now that one will be lost on many of you who don't live in the Madison, WI area. The Muskies were a local ball team in the 80's and that was their commercial jingle.
Now that i am older, I still find that I am fascinated by commercials even to this day. Many are clever, some are ridiculous, some are annoying and some are hysterical. However, some of them just don't stick with you like the Kool-Aid yell or the Uh-Oh Spaghetti-O's jingle.
"Chewy OOey Gooey on the inside...golden cakey tender flakey outside..."
Got that one?
Now, how long did it take for you to start singing a jingle from your youth?
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