Wednesday, June 20, 2012
The other day I watched a Three's Company rerun and there was a CAL WORTHINGTON FORD commercial during it. For one brief shining moment, it was my sunny 80s LA childhood.*
Also, life imitates art, or at least my blog. The Crimimal Minds episode I watched last night featured an awesome TABLE FORT! Don't tell me we don't all wanna go back there. The world can't touch you behind FORT SHEETS. They're like a protective force field.
*LA is still very sunny. But somehow, not as sunny.
Also, life imitates art, or at least my blog. The Crimimal Minds episode I watched last night featured an awesome TABLE FORT! Don't tell me we don't all wanna go back there. The world can't touch you behind FORT SHEETS. They're like a protective force field.
*LA is still very sunny. But somehow, not as sunny.
Saturday, June 16, 2012
I think this is also why people turn into their parents. Not because they're compelled to, but because they want to return to their childhoods and turning back into themselves as children would land them in the loony bin. So they find the next best thing.
Also, we need Adult Couch Forts. I think this needs to be a revolution or something.
Also, we need Adult Couch Forts. I think this needs to be a revolution or something.
Well I'm still me, and I still have a cat*. So, there's that.
*Not the same cat, of course. But cats never change. That's one of the many things I love about cats. They all purr, and have 100 different meows, and curl into balls on piles of your stuff, and knock things off of other things, and swish their tails like poetry, and give you that crinkly cat look when they're happy.
Perhaps I'll move my couch fort to an island inhabited solely by cats. Yes, that sounds about right.
*Not the same cat, of course. But cats never change. That's one of the many things I love about cats. They all purr, and have 100 different meows, and curl into balls on piles of your stuff, and knock things off of other things, and swish their tails like poetry, and give you that crinkly cat look when they're happy.
Perhaps I'll move my couch fort to an island inhabited solely by cats. Yes, that sounds about right.
See, I just want everything back. That old orange flowered sofa? I want that back. The coffee table that looked like tree bark. The wagon wheel things out in the yard. THE YARD. The fruit trees. The rosebushes. The piano. The stereo with the giant speakers. All the ridiculous heavy wooden furniture that wasn't actually ridiculous at all because it was alive, it had a soul, not like today's disposable crap. I don't care how light it is, I WANT REAL FURNITURE. I want all my books back. And my cats. And my different colored socks. I want a big kitchen. I don't want an econo-life. I want things to smell like something, and feel like something. I want to goddamn FEEL again.
I miss my mom cooking and my dad reading the paper every morning. People laugh at tradition. WHY? It's what all our FREAKING HAPPY MEMORIES are made of!! And we've laughed it all away, like it's funny, like we can do better than those fools, but really, who wouldn't want to return there, to their safe place? Why have we bombed our own safe houses? Who are the fools now?
If there's one lyric I not only wish I'd written but feel like I could have written it's, "If I had a billion dollars, I'd buy back my old room." This is from an obscure 80s song they played late at night on MTV when I felt all rebellious! staying up past my bedtime. (I sincerely hope it was on a school night too.) What's funny is, I was a kid when that song came out and the line didn't mean anything to me, but it stuck with me all these years. And now it's gospel.
Life has pretty successfully kicked my ass. And all I want is to go back to my couch fort. I could live there, there was always room for snacks. And a cat.
I miss my mom cooking and my dad reading the paper every morning. People laugh at tradition. WHY? It's what all our FREAKING HAPPY MEMORIES are made of!! And we've laughed it all away, like it's funny, like we can do better than those fools, but really, who wouldn't want to return there, to their safe place? Why have we bombed our own safe houses? Who are the fools now?
If there's one lyric I not only wish I'd written but feel like I could have written it's, "If I had a billion dollars, I'd buy back my old room." This is from an obscure 80s song they played late at night on MTV when I felt all rebellious! staying up past my bedtime. (I sincerely hope it was on a school night too.) What's funny is, I was a kid when that song came out and the line didn't mean anything to me, but it stuck with me all these years. And now it's gospel.
Life has pretty successfully kicked my ass. And all I want is to go back to my couch fort. I could live there, there was always room for snacks. And a cat.
Monday, May 14, 2012
Ew ew EW!!!! More that is everything WRONG!
NBC chairman Bob Greenblatt said, “It was a difficult decision. Everyone here respects Harry’s Law a lot but we were finding it hard to grow the audience for it. Its audience skewed very old. It’s hard to monetize that.”
Now I never watched this show, but I only watch a handful of shows and none of them are crap like The Bachelor that is apparently easily MONETIZED (barf up a stream) either, so that's beside the point. The point is, HI, I'M BOB EVIL.
Yes, I understand companies need to make a profit. But goddamit, it didn't used to be ALL about that. There used to be some damned CULTURE AND HUMANITY. It really is all about the bottom line now, isn't it? How depressing.
I'm going to stop reading things now and listen to some country music.
NBC chairman Bob Greenblatt said, “It was a difficult decision. Everyone here respects Harry’s Law a lot but we were finding it hard to grow the audience for it. Its audience skewed very old. It’s hard to monetize that.”
Now I never watched this show, but I only watch a handful of shows and none of them are crap like The Bachelor that is apparently easily MONETIZED (barf up a stream) either, so that's beside the point. The point is, HI, I'M BOB EVIL.
Yes, I understand companies need to make a profit. But goddamit, it didn't used to be ALL about that. There used to be some damned CULTURE AND HUMANITY. It really is all about the bottom line now, isn't it? How depressing.
I'm going to stop reading things now and listen to some country music.
Wow... http://www.upworthy.com/the-real-reason-they-still-play-mrs-robinson-on-the-radio
This pretty much sums up what I was trying to pinpoint in one of my previous entries, about why things seem so different from the 80s now in really awful ways. In handy chart form, even.
"In 1983, 90% of American media was owned by 50 companies. In 2011, that same 90% is owned by 6 companies."
Does that make anyone else feel like they got kicked in the gut by like, some sneaky financial ninja? When did this HAPPEN to us? Why did we LET it? Did we even have a choice? And do most people even care?
Well, I care. This doesn't just apply to media either. It goes right along with what I was saying about stores too, like Macy's, the big fish eating all the other fish. This much conglomeration is not good. And here is the proof, not that proof was needed. This kind of change is evident all around us if we pay attention, but it's scary to see it laid out in such stark terms. My childhood really was better in a lot of ways; it isn't just nostalgia. Our culture really is going to hell right under our noses.
I don't want my child to grow up in a world with only 6 things. :(
This pretty much sums up what I was trying to pinpoint in one of my previous entries, about why things seem so different from the 80s now in really awful ways. In handy chart form, even.
"In 1983, 90% of American media was owned by 50 companies. In 2011, that same 90% is owned by 6 companies."
Does that make anyone else feel like they got kicked in the gut by like, some sneaky financial ninja? When did this HAPPEN to us? Why did we LET it? Did we even have a choice? And do most people even care?
Well, I care. This doesn't just apply to media either. It goes right along with what I was saying about stores too, like Macy's, the big fish eating all the other fish. This much conglomeration is not good. And here is the proof, not that proof was needed. This kind of change is evident all around us if we pay attention, but it's scary to see it laid out in such stark terms. My childhood really was better in a lot of ways; it isn't just nostalgia. Our culture really is going to hell right under our noses.
I don't want my child to grow up in a world with only 6 things. :(
Monday, May 07, 2012
Another bit of nostalgia: the Chuck E Cheese in Northridge that's still there! Particularly, the weird robot band thing. In retrospect kinda creepy but as a kid, it might as well have been Disneyland. I was MESMERIZED when those things popped out. I remember Kissin' Cousins being performed by something purple and furry.
If I saw it for the first time today, as an adult, I probably wouldn't think twice about it. But as a kid, it left an impression I remember to this day.
Edit: I was wrong! It wasn't the purple furry thing who sang it. I think it was... whatever this is. A hippo with an orange afro? I remember feeling all sad and bereft inside because the main stage show had ended, and as a kid it feels like TEN YEARS between shows. So imagine my delight when I wandered into another area and this popped out and started singing Elvis at me! (And yes, it was delight and not sheer terror.)
If I saw it for the first time today, as an adult, I probably wouldn't think twice about it. But as a kid, it left an impression I remember to this day.
Edit: I was wrong! It wasn't the purple furry thing who sang it. I think it was... whatever this is. A hippo with an orange afro? I remember feeling all sad and bereft inside because the main stage show had ended, and as a kid it feels like TEN YEARS between shows. So imagine my delight when I wandered into another area and this popped out and started singing Elvis at me! (And yes, it was delight and not sheer terror.)
Sunday, May 06, 2012
God I love the internet! It's really the one thing I can think of that is sooooo much better than when I was a kid. Though if there had been internet, would some of my other good memories not have existed? Hmm. I think I'll avoid that little brain bender and share TWO TOTALLY DIFFERENT REASONS why the internet is awesome!
1. Chef Boyardee roller coasters. These were a big part of my childhood cuisine, so I googled them. Of course they are long gone, but... http://gbnfgroceries.blogspot.com/2011/09/from-canned-goods-aisle.html ... there are tons of other people with the SAME MEMORIES of this DELICIOUS CURLY PASTA PRODUCT! (Well, it was delicious when I was six. It might taste like dog food now, but I don't care! I want some!) Even simple Roller Coasters have a nostalgia page. This is how I know I'm not alone, and everything is somehow okay.
And on a totally different note... http://seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com/441098.html MY THOUGHTS EXACTLY
Scientist, artist, police officer, homemaker... what makes you a girl (and a feminist), is just BEING WHO YOU ARE. If you're happy, you win. Thank you for wording this so perfectly and beautifully. This made my day. Yes, even more than the Roller Coasters.
PS ~ I think "Grand Rapids Ohio Applebutter Fest" is the happiest phrase I have ever seen. Thank you, youtube randomness!
1. Chef Boyardee roller coasters. These were a big part of my childhood cuisine, so I googled them. Of course they are long gone, but... http://gbnfgroceries.blogspot.com/2011/09/from-canned-goods-aisle.html ... there are tons of other people with the SAME MEMORIES of this DELICIOUS CURLY PASTA PRODUCT! (Well, it was delicious when I was six. It might taste like dog food now, but I don't care! I want some!) Even simple Roller Coasters have a nostalgia page. This is how I know I'm not alone, and everything is somehow okay.
And on a totally different note... http://seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com/441098.html MY THOUGHTS EXACTLY
Scientist, artist, police officer, homemaker... what makes you a girl (and a feminist), is just BEING WHO YOU ARE. If you're happy, you win. Thank you for wording this so perfectly and beautifully. This made my day. Yes, even more than the Roller Coasters.
PS ~ I think "Grand Rapids Ohio Applebutter Fest" is the happiest phrase I have ever seen. Thank you, youtube randomness!
Saturday, May 05, 2012
I am cursed with hating the time I live in, and trying my hardest to find joy where I can. I think this is part of why I enjoy abandoned places so much. Echoes of the past I think was better. Heck, it was better.
So, I am spending my evening watching vintage footage of the place I grew up in which is now homogenized like every place else. (And most of the non-homogenized parts are trash.) There used to be like, 10+ different department stores around. Now there're two, Macy's and the Other Macy's That Took Over that Other Store. Oh, three if you count the Sears Nobody Shops At except... old people, I guess? Everything these days is like the giant fish that eats all the other little fish. It sickens me. Who wants to live in a world with just one fish? Not me!!
I'm also watching old commercials. Remember when commercials had a jingle with the product's name in it, so you could actually remember what they wanted you to buy? None of this artsy fartsy crap where you don't know if they're trying to sell you a car, a watch, a cologne, or some electronic thingy that will be obsolete so fast it probably wasn't even worth writing a jingle for. No, it was O-S-C-A-R and double your pleasure with doublemint gum and chow, chow, chow! Simple and to the point. No, "what the hell was that? was that in German?" Not only does it suck, it's bad advertising! No wonder the economy is in such bad shape! BRING BACK COMMERCIAL JINGLES! And while you're at it, bring back TV theme shows too. "Come and knock on our door, we've been waiting for you..."
I live in hope that someday, something will be good again. That everything that is grand, and wonderful, and interesting hasn't been digested by the big fish. Enough people must realize that life isn't good homogenized. Life doesn't exist on twitter, it exists in the souls of the things we create. Like classic buildings. Please, stop tearing everything down to build another same-old-same-old. I feel quite desperate about this.
You know what i think did it? I was watching a video of LA in the 60s, and realized the LA of the 80s I grew up in had more resemblance to that than the LA of today. You might say, the 80s we're a long time ago now. But I see it as things are changing more and more rapidly than ever, and not for the better, and why? For what? To keep satisfying the big fish? Progress is not eradicating the unique, the iconic, the mom and pop stores, the five and dimes, the corner hobby shop with the paint smell I remember to this day. Who exactly thought this world would be better? Are people happier? No, they are not. I think people are much less happy. They just text all day so they don't notice what's missing.
So this is for you, Westchester Antique Faire, Carl's Hobby Shop, the Broadway with the cool display windows, and all other casualties of progress and giant hungry fish. You may be gone, but I hope someday to again live in a world that's worthy of you.
I don't want to live in the past, far from it. I want a present and future with some surprises left in store. You turn a corner and see something you've never seen before, because it's local and run by someone with a first name, like George or Carl. I want color and whimsy and unpredictability. I want fancy box displays with ridiculous mannequins and Christmas decorations. Not, "Gee, I wonder if the Macy's at the mall 5 miles away has anything different than this one, or the last one." It's kinda like those old cartoons like the Flintstones where they'd run and the same scenery would loop by 100 times, except it really is the same scenery repeated 100 times.
So, I am spending my evening watching vintage footage of the place I grew up in which is now homogenized like every place else. (And most of the non-homogenized parts are trash.) There used to be like, 10+ different department stores around. Now there're two, Macy's and the Other Macy's That Took Over that Other Store. Oh, three if you count the Sears Nobody Shops At except... old people, I guess? Everything these days is like the giant fish that eats all the other little fish. It sickens me. Who wants to live in a world with just one fish? Not me!!
I'm also watching old commercials. Remember when commercials had a jingle with the product's name in it, so you could actually remember what they wanted you to buy? None of this artsy fartsy crap where you don't know if they're trying to sell you a car, a watch, a cologne, or some electronic thingy that will be obsolete so fast it probably wasn't even worth writing a jingle for. No, it was O-S-C-A-R and double your pleasure with doublemint gum and chow, chow, chow! Simple and to the point. No, "what the hell was that? was that in German?" Not only does it suck, it's bad advertising! No wonder the economy is in such bad shape! BRING BACK COMMERCIAL JINGLES! And while you're at it, bring back TV theme shows too. "Come and knock on our door, we've been waiting for you..."
I live in hope that someday, something will be good again. That everything that is grand, and wonderful, and interesting hasn't been digested by the big fish. Enough people must realize that life isn't good homogenized. Life doesn't exist on twitter, it exists in the souls of the things we create. Like classic buildings. Please, stop tearing everything down to build another same-old-same-old. I feel quite desperate about this.
You know what i think did it? I was watching a video of LA in the 60s, and realized the LA of the 80s I grew up in had more resemblance to that than the LA of today. You might say, the 80s we're a long time ago now. But I see it as things are changing more and more rapidly than ever, and not for the better, and why? For what? To keep satisfying the big fish? Progress is not eradicating the unique, the iconic, the mom and pop stores, the five and dimes, the corner hobby shop with the paint smell I remember to this day. Who exactly thought this world would be better? Are people happier? No, they are not. I think people are much less happy. They just text all day so they don't notice what's missing.
So this is for you, Westchester Antique Faire, Carl's Hobby Shop, the Broadway with the cool display windows, and all other casualties of progress and giant hungry fish. You may be gone, but I hope someday to again live in a world that's worthy of you.
I don't want to live in the past, far from it. I want a present and future with some surprises left in store. You turn a corner and see something you've never seen before, because it's local and run by someone with a first name, like George or Carl. I want color and whimsy and unpredictability. I want fancy box displays with ridiculous mannequins and Christmas decorations. Not, "Gee, I wonder if the Macy's at the mall 5 miles away has anything different than this one, or the last one." It's kinda like those old cartoons like the Flintstones where they'd run and the same scenery would loop by 100 times, except it really is the same scenery repeated 100 times.
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Funny news story of the day!
Thank you Ron Artest, you giant weird goofball, for changing your name to something ridiculous and giving us the immortal line, "The NBA commissioner suspended World Peace for seven games." In a related story, Cure for Cancer and Feed the Children were only suspended for three games.
What would happen if the Miss America pageant suspended World Peace? "If I could have one wish it would be for Wor-- I mean, a Porsche. Yeah, I want a Porsche. And a damn hamburger!" Actually wait, that would be much better. Screw you world peace, who needs you!
Thank you Ron Artest, you giant weird goofball, for changing your name to something ridiculous and giving us the immortal line, "The NBA commissioner suspended World Peace for seven games." In a related story, Cure for Cancer and Feed the Children were only suspended for three games.
What would happen if the Miss America pageant suspended World Peace? "If I could have one wish it would be for Wor-- I mean, a Porsche. Yeah, I want a Porsche. And a damn hamburger!" Actually wait, that would be much better. Screw you world peace, who needs you!
Sunday, April 22, 2012
Reading youtube comments makes you want to stab everybody in the world. Seriously, why the HATE? When I read negative comments of something I like it makes me want to leave 1000 positive comments. But that would be weird, so I just leave one and it never feels like enough. It's like a drop of perfume into the sewer.
Sunday, April 15, 2012
I pretty much just wanna watch youtube videos forever right now. I'm in hibernate mode. Youtube has the odd effect of simultaneously making me want to stop hibernating and go out and do cool stuff, and want to keep watching more youtube.
It's not youtube's fault though. It just makes a great hibernation buddy.
It's not youtube's fault though. It just makes a great hibernation buddy.
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Also, after the week from hell I find watching stuff about ghosts and haunted places and paranormal activity very soothing and relaxing. So apparently, I am comforted by things that are actually from Hell. I can live with that. After all...
*
see this creepy open tomb-thing in this creeptastic old cemetery? One sunny day I pulled over to the side of the road, walked over, and climbed in. I HAD TO. It was just an empty old space, it didn't have any dead people in it. ;p It was still one of the most cool creepy places I've ever been and, I kinda like to think, proof that I'm awesome and have no fear when it comes to really neat stuff. I might be afraid of mean people but I CLIMBED BETWEEN THOSE RUSTY METAL BARS AND RIGHT INTO THAT MUSTY OLD TOMB, WITH A SMILE. WEARING FLIP FLOPS.
The world can never take that moment from me. It's mine. So whenever I start feeling sad I'm gonna think of that and feel better. Yes... the creepy tomb. OF JOY.
*I did not take this photo! I wish I had though, it's wicked!
*see this creepy open tomb-thing in this creeptastic old cemetery? One sunny day I pulled over to the side of the road, walked over, and climbed in. I HAD TO. It was just an empty old space, it didn't have any dead people in it. ;p It was still one of the most cool creepy places I've ever been and, I kinda like to think, proof that I'm awesome and have no fear when it comes to really neat stuff. I might be afraid of mean people but I CLIMBED BETWEEN THOSE RUSTY METAL BARS AND RIGHT INTO THAT MUSTY OLD TOMB, WITH A SMILE. WEARING FLIP FLOPS.
The world can never take that moment from me. It's mine. So whenever I start feeling sad I'm gonna think of that and feel better. Yes... the creepy tomb. OF JOY.
*I did not take this photo! I wish I had though, it's wicked!
Saturday, March 17, 2012
I have had the last couple days from HELL. This world can just be unbelievably mean! Do not want. :(
And I'm out of Twilight movies. :( Dear god, did I really just say that? I NEED HELP! I need to restore sanity and... me-ness after this unfortunate interlude. Mean people cannot be allowed into my life. They completely screw up my equilibrium. I need some kind of sign to keep them out. Beware of dog... this area protected by armed guards... maybe I need an armed guard dog. That'll show 'em what for. (It might also be slightly adorable, in a "aw isn't he cute, he wants to kill us" kind of way.)
And I'm out of Twilight movies. :( Dear god, did I really just say that? I NEED HELP! I need to restore sanity and... me-ness after this unfortunate interlude. Mean people cannot be allowed into my life. They completely screw up my equilibrium. I need some kind of sign to keep them out. Beware of dog... this area protected by armed guards... maybe I need an armed guard dog. That'll show 'em what for. (It might also be slightly adorable, in a "aw isn't he cute, he wants to kill us" kind of way.)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)