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Archive for the ‘Nostalgia’ Category

What Goes Around Comes Around

Posted in Nostalgia, tagged , , , , , , , , on June 13, 2013| 7 Comments »

Every Friday night when I wasn’t at First Avenue, the premiere danceteria in Minneapolis, I’d watch Miami Vice.  It seems like only yesterday, but that was nearly thirty years ago.  But I’m not here to discuss how old I am.  I want to enlighten or remind you (depending on your age) how much fun the ’80s were, and how flippin’ cool Sonny Crockett was.

Don JohnsonI remember the leggings, padded shoulders, rolled up jacket sleeves and asymmetrical hair styles with a smile.  Miami Vice was a very dated show featuring music and fashion of the time, and quite frankly the way Sonny Crockett rolled his cigarette on his tongue before he lit it was about the sexiest thing I ever saw.  His signature accessory was the Wayfarer shades.  Of course I had a pair too, because anyone who wanted to look über cool had to have some.

Over the years fashions changed, hair styles changed, and everyone came to realize that Miami Vice was actually a pretty bad show when it came to writing and acting.  But the ’80s will always have a special place in my heart because those were the times I was young and free.  Those were the times I could wear anything I wanted and look great, and get outrageous haircuts.  Those were the days I used my Wayfarers as a mask, but also a prop for flirtation.

These days I’m not so young and not so free.  I’ve got responsibilities and I have to choose clothes carefully to flatter my less-than-firm physique.  But guess what?  I just bought a new pair of Wayfarers.  Oh sure, they have prescription lenses complete with bifocals, but they’re as cool as ever.  And you can count on the fact I’ll use them as a prop to flirt with Husby.

Ever since I bought my new shades I’ve had a song in my head that takes me back to those carefree summer nights of the ’80s.  The girl in the song, as the lyrics tell us, wears Wayfarers too ~ all the cool ones do.  Have a click on the link below and get a blast of summertimes past.

Don Henley – Boys Of Summer – Video Dailymotion.

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From The Recesses

Posted in Everyday, Nostalgia, tagged , , , , , , on March 15, 2013| 6 Comments »

Nostalgia. Sometimes I think I’d rather live in the past instead of now, but then I think of Norma Desmond on Sunset Boulevard and how living in the past isn’t such a good idea after all.

I can’t help feeling nostalgic when I hear music from my past. I was sitting at the table working on my bottle cap magnets and Husby sat down at the computer and started playing around on YouTube. He was finding all sorts of songs from the ’70s and ’80s and playing them for me while I worked. After a few of his favorites he started taking requests. Out of the recesses of my mind came a tune and I blurted out, “Stephen Bishop, On And On.” I forgot all about that song until that moment; funny what feeling nostalgic makes you remember.

Now the song is stuck in my head. That’s not a bad thing because 1) I loved the song when it first came out and 2) now that it’s unburied I love it again. Do you remember On And On? If so, here’s your blast from the past.

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How ’70s

Posted in Drink Charms, Nostalgia, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , on November 13, 2012| 2 Comments »

Do you remember Tiger Beat magazine?  I never bought a copy but would look at it when I was buying candy at Reed’s Drug Store.  Tiger Beat was (and still is from what I understand) all about teen idols, music, and fashion aimed primarily teenage girls.  Back in my day the popular heart throbs on the cover of Tiger Beat were Bobby Sherman, David Cassidy, and Donny Osmond.  Which one of those was your favorite?

I was more of a John Denver fan myself, but nothing beat the coolness of the David Cassidy and The Partridge Family.  Remember that show?  I didn’t really think Keith Partridge was that dreamy, but I though Laurie was just about the coolest with her long straight hair.  Of course Shirley was the best mom in the whole world, always knowing what to do.  And when they were performing she always dressed like Austin Powers.

Why oh why couldn’t my family be that groovy and travel around in a painted school bus to sing at Holiday Inns around the country?  Well, a young girl dreams. 

Now that I’m not so young The Partridge Family adorns my wine glasses once in a while.  A set of Partridge Family drink charms are available in my Etsy shop for you too!  If you really want to go all out, pair them up with a set of The Brady Bunch charms and you’ll have the most far-out party ever!

Come on!  They’re all so sappy they’re cool!  These charms are a retro gift any child of the ’70s would love.  See you at the shop!

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I Like Old Things

Posted in Nostalgia, tagged , , , on October 26, 2012| 4 Comments »

Once upon a time Husby and I were having dinner with his parents.  We told them how we had recently been antique shopping.  My mother-in-law, who could not relate in the least, looked at me with a blank face and asked, “do you like old things?”  Yes.  Yes I do.

We’ve come to a point where we don’t need more things in our house, so actually buying antiques to furnish or accessorize our home hasn’t happened for a while.  But we still like to look around and may pick up a little something here and there just for fun.  We recently went on a couple of antique shopping excursions.  I didn’t buy anything, but I love looking and dreaming.  Because I like old things.

I just loved these old narrow doors but couldn’t justify getting them because I have several other old doors hiding in the basement waiting to be put to use. Some day I’ll actually execute the plans I have for the doors we already have. Until then, no buying doors.

Husby spotted this half-circle-spindle-mirror thing. (Shows how knowledgeable I am when it comes to antiques.) We both loved it and knew where we could put it in our house, but had no room in the car to haul it home. Oh well.

We sold several wagon wheels at the estate sale of Husby’s parents. They were the bane of my marriage. Now that they’re gone we still have to look at old wagon wheels which harken back to Husby’s old days living on the farm.

I love the clutter of an architectural salvage shop. Wandering through makes me feel like the guys on American Pickers.

Who doesn’t need some vintage boobs? Thanks, but I already have some.

A mystic’s head inside a crystal ball. It was animated too!

Sometimes we come across some really weird things.  Like a horny chair or a horny animal drapped in some net-like thing…

Of course antique dealers are always on the lookout for things to buy and sell.  One vendor had a sign on his table with his wish list.  I circled one thing I thought was most amusing.

Yes, I like old things, much to the confusion of my mother-in-law.  I romanticize a simpler time when people would whittle and do needlework by the light of a kerosene lamp.  I imagine the grand houses from which stained glass was salvaged.  And while I’ve always wanted a big set of moose antlers mounted on the wall of my rumpus room, I don’t think I would like any “dead things” on display in my house.

The pictures shown in this post were taken at the Antique and Flea Market Spectacular held at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds and The Bay Trading Company in Egg Harbor, Wisconsin.

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The Things We Do For Friends

Posted in Nostalgia, tagged , , , , on September 27, 2012| 4 Comments »

The year was 1970.  I was in 4th grade.  What little nine-year-old girl doesn’t need a BFF?  I was shy, so I couldn’t presume to think the likes of Barbie V. and Mary Claire N., the populars, would call me one of their own.  I was scared of Julie K. and Joni B. ~ they were kind of tough and floozie-like.  I zeroed in on Patty V. and Terry W.  One day I walked up to them on the playground and asked if I could spend some time with them.

Patty V.:  Do you like the carpenters?

Me with a very confused face: Well, yeah?

Patty V.:  OK, you can be our friend.

I grew up in a house that listened to WCCO (The Good Neighbor To The North and all talk) and 1010 Polka Radio.  I knew nothing of popular music.   It was weeks before I figured out the carpenters had nothing to do with men who build things.  When I deduced The Carpenters were a “singing group” I decided to ask for one of their records for Christmas.  Then I was a real fan.  I had to be if I wanted to hang around with Patty and Terry.

For a couple of years I was the biggest Carpenters fan there was, because I thought it made me cool.  Give me a break, it was the ’70s and I was a total nerd.

Fast forward to the year 2012.  Husby and I got a new car, now known as the Space Pod.  With our new car came three free trial months of Serius radio.  I was tooling along listening to the ’70s channel when to my great surprise I heard The Carpenters.  The problem is, through the many decades since I was in 4th grade I decided I didn’t like The Carpenters anymore.  What’s worse, I don’t think I ever did!

Oh sure, I floated back to the playground of St. Mary’s of the Lake school and remembered making new friends by confirming my acceptance of carpenters, but not The Carpenters.  It made me laugh a little.  Except this dang song has been in my head for three days now.  I decided to share it with you, because if you listen, you can be my friend.

Actually I thought if I put this story and song out to cyberspace it would also get out of my head.  Check back with me in a couple of days to see if it worked.  Please don’t hate me for doing this and possibly dooming you to days of sha-la-la-la-la in your brain.

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