June 8, 2015- Pt. 2- Dreamtime-

December 9, 2008- Grade School and Music Stars

I was in my grade school classroom. It was 1983 again and I looked as I did then. I observed my classmates. I heard Jamie saying that she couldn’t wait for Simon to get there. I found out that Simon Le Bon, Paul McCartney, George Michael, and Billy Idol would be doing a Q&A/autograph signing event here. That was pretty bizarre but also fascinating.

   Michelle T. was talking to me for a little while which was nice. We actually were no longer friends by then. The popular clique had turned her against me somehow. I noticed that Jim had the Wham! Make it Big album on his desk. I guess in that it had come out earlier in this reality.

   I saw that Jamie was wearing a jacket that had a lot of music star pins on it including many of Duran Duran. I pointed to one of John Taylor and asked “Who is that?” She thought that I was being serious at first. I told her that I was joking. I knew hardly anything about that group in the 80s. If I had been a fan back then, I wonder if I would have had a crush on him.

   Our two teachers were standing in front of the room. When I saw Sister J, I was thinking about the time that she said that I had a fat head. We were being measured for graduation caps then. Miss A. went over to the door 30 seconds later.

   When she opened it, Simon Le Bon stepped into the room. My classmates were very excited about this. He said that he had a special surprise for us. The door opened again and in walked John Taylor. A couple of the girls let out a scream of delight. Of course, I was happy to see him too but would never be that expressive about my emotions.

   They spent about 30 minutes on the Q&A session. I had noticed that Billy Idol was standing near the blackboard during this. No one was really paying attention to him. He had disappeared before it ended.

   I was too nervous to get on the line for their autographs. Michelle tried convincing me to do so but I just couldn’t. We were pleasantly surprised that they would be staying a little longer afterwards. I guess that they wanted to be there for McCartney who would be there next.

   They sat at desks and let our teachers sit in the more comfortable chairs that they had been in. That was nice of them.

   I didn’t get to see the other stars, however, because the program ended and I was back in my room on Earth. This was kind of disappointing but I was also glad that I had been part of such an unusual experience. As if any music artists would really visit a grade school like these did.

 

 

 

 

 

 

June 8, 2015- My Duran Duran Fascination

I didn’t really get into Duran Duran  until after “Ordinary World” first came out, but then it was only a little bit. I was mainly into country music in the 1990s up until 1998. I don’t even really remember much about them from the 1980s. I did have a 45 of their “Hungry Like the Wolf”. It was one of only 10 that I had in that decade.

    I never watched MTV or music videos on other channels either. Wait, I did see Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” around the time that it premiered. Even Mom was watching that! I only saw parts of DD videos in specials about the 80s on VH1 and other channels in the 1990s. I never saw a full video of theirs until around 2007. I got the Greatest CD that came with a DVD then.

   I didn’t look in those teenie bopper mags when I was a kid either, except for the 1 or 2 that my Grandma next door got for me because she thought that I had a crush on Michael J. Fox. I liked him in the movie Back to the Future, that’s all.

   I remember wanting to laugh when my grade school classmates were talking about which  one of the Duran Duran guys that they each had a crush on. I simply did not get why they were so fascinated by them back then. I guess that I kind of do now though.

     I’m kind of ashamed to even admit that I am a DD fan. It’s mostly been for the past 11 years. I didn’t even go to their official website for the first time until 2 years later. I learned about the history of this group then. I felt like I was doing research for a term paper on them.

   I would love to say “I just like their music” when people ask me who is my favorite DD guy. I could also simply say that they are all good looking in their own way. A couple of times I have admitted which one it is. I can’t help feeling embarrassed about this. I have got shame issues that I am trying to work on, esp. when it comes to music and certain guys.

   I used to have many dreams with my music people in them, esp. Duran Duran. I was worrying that this might be kind of obsessive but my therapist said that it isn’t. It’s not as if I have any control over what I dream about.

    Should I be ashamed to even admit that I see a therapist? My issues are anxiety- esp. social, extremely low self-esteem and depression. Hopefully I will be able to overcome all of this. My music does help to calm me down and cheer me up a little. Why is it that I often choose DD to do this?

   Why do I feel that it is okay for everyone else to like Duran Duran but for me it seems sort of wrong? I used to feel the same way about Bon Jovi but not so much now. I’m kind of over that phase. I didn’t start liking them until after “It’s My Life” came out in 2000. I guess that it’s better late than never for both of these groups.

   Part of me is just hoping that liking DD a lot is just some phase that I am going through, like my Beatles/McCartney/Wings one of the late 80s and early 90s. It’s not a crime for me to be a fan of theirs. I have to convince myself to believe this. And it’s not a sin to admit that bassist guy is my favorite. Yikes, I can’t even type his name, that is how embarrassed that I am.

     I am hearing “Planet Earth” playing in my mind’s stereo. Now I’m thinking how I’d like to listen to the Night Version of this- love the extra bass. Damnit, does this make it seem like I am semi-obsessed with that guy? -Probably not. Actually, I’d love to see this video. I get a kick of the puffy shirts in that. Bring those back into fashion- just kidding.

   I feel kind of embarrassed for thinking that watching Duran Duran videos makes me happy when I am having a depressing day. That sounds semi-obsessive. The thought that hopefully I will get to see them in concert again sometime this year is like a tiny spark that will help me to get through the tough times. Gosh, that sounds so darn corny.

 

 

 

June 9, 2015- Dreams

Why was I ever thrilled about writing about my vivid dreams?  They all seem rather ridiculous to me now. Well, not really, for a small part of me still does think that they are fun and entertaining. No one else would except for my best friend Sharon though. She has told me that she liked the ones that I have sent to her via email.

   My dreams and also my music often have been a source of great comfort to me, especially when I am feeling super stressed. Of course, I will always be ashamed that I was really pleased that Duran Duran starred in many of them.

   Those aren’t the only dreams that I enjoyed. There were multiple ones of Bon Jovi, “Supernatural”, tennis stars, and “Doctor Who”. Other music stars showed up in them, like Sting in an alien invasion one. My family and/or friends, doggies, and classmates would sometimes be a part of these and other storylines.

   The settings are often familiar and close, naturally, like my hometown and surrounding area. Sometimes it has been at my former grade school/church.

   I had a few each of the TV shows “CHiPs”, and “The Six Million Dollar Man” as well. I met the stars of both shows at autograph shows in a couple of these then later this actually happened which was cool.

   I have pretty much given up on my ridiculous idea of making a science fiction story based on my dreams. This would involve my lead character being in alien holodeck programs of them. Both she and the alien who teleports her there feel like total outsiders.

    I know that I would probably have to change names of the famous people, song titles, and more in this; I just don’t have the talent to do that.

   Amy seemed to have little faith that my attempts would be successful. I picked up on her doubts when she suggested that I should try writing a different story. But this is the only one that I was truly interested in doing.

   I used to have a bit more creativity and imagination but that seems to be disappearing now, more than likely never to return. My dreams haven’t been staying in my memory much lately either. I feel like giving up on what once was an enjoyable hobby/project to me.

   I can’t believe that I was able to actually expand on my dreams at one point. How did I ever get 5- 7 pages out of some of these?

    I was never overly descriptive in them, such as giving details of the setting and describing the characters though. I wish that I could have been.

   I thought about posting some of my Duran Duran dreams to my Tumblr page but I highly doubt that I will get any interest and/or likes for these. I remember posting a few of them to the dream section of the DD fan site in 2009; I don’t think that I got any comments about these then.

 

 

July 27, 2005- A Duran Duran Show

The sound of loud music woke me up from my sleep. It was Duran Duran’s “Is There Something I Should Know?” I was pretty annoyed that someone was blasting their stereo so early in the morning. I saw that I was no longer in reality; I was in my sky blue bedroom of our old apartment.

   My appearance was as it had been in the mid-1980s. I saw my Poochie Bear on the desk chair and smiled. After that song, I thought that I heard a guy’s voice saying that Duran Duran would be performing another song a little later.

   I looked out my window and saw 2 girls running down the walkway. I heard the one saying that she couldn’t wait to see Simon. The other was upset that they were late for the show. This music had not been on a stereo; it was live.

   I decided to follow those girls. I opened my sliding door closet to quickly get an outfit but then decided that I better just run out the door without changing first. I was in my gray short nightgown.

   I saw my Ginger pup laying on a latch hook rug in the living room. I hoped that I would be in this storyline long enough to pet and play with her later.

   I saw a crowd of about 200 people not that far down Stiles Street. They were in front of Koza’s bar. That hasn’t been there in at least 15 years. My Uncle Nick used to go there sometimes.

   I was guessing that someone from my area had won a contest in which Duran Duran would do a mini concert in their neighborhood.

   There didn’t seem to be any security around the area that I was in so I stood in the back of the audience. Suddenly, my location was in the 2^nd row. I was so happy that I had been teleported there.

   A girl yelled out “I love you Simon!” I wondered if it was the one who I had been following. They had gone to the other side of this crowd.

   Simon was talking to a girl in the front row. He signed her Rio album too. She was overjoyed. I was feeling nervous when he got closer to me. It was so odd that he actually noticed me and made a comment about me still being in my nightgown.

   A male talk show host started interviewing the DD guys. That lasted for about 6 minutes. I did get a bit excited when I saw John smiling. I was only a little embarrassed about this. They would be back in a few minutes to perform two more songs.

   They did “Planet Earth” and “Hungry Like the Wolf”. I was glad that I got to be there for this but right afterwards I was returned to my actual bedroom.

   I wish that I could have been with my Ginger for even just a little while. She always comforted me whenever I was upset about my parent’s arguments or being picked on in school. I would sometimes hug my Poochie bear then too.

 

                                                                                 Ginger 

Poochie

June 11, 2015- Music, Stuffed Animals, and Writing-Part 2

   Mom still has all of her records, even the Rosemary Clooney 78s. She doesn’t have her old record player that could play these though. I have my record player only it hasn’t been used in about 10 years. That stereo has been in mom’s room for even longer than that.

    I can’t believe that I used to like listening to her musical soundtracks- Gigi, Gypsy, Oklahoma, South Pacific, The Music Man, Bye- Bye Birdie, Jumbo, and The King and I. We watched these movies together too.

    I wish that I never got rid of all but 3 of my Beatles records. I’m kind of embarrassed about my McCartney crush. I did have a poster of him and a Beatles one on my wall during that late 80’s- early 90s phase. 

    I thought that one of our 8^th grade Communion Breakfast (pre-graduation) songs used Billy Joel’s “It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me” with our school name replacing “Rock and Roll”. When I recently looked in that booklet, I saw “Graduation” to the tune of Kool & the Gang’s “Celebration” which I do remember. But there was also another called “Be Good Eighth Grade” to the tune of “Be Good Johnny” that I definitely don’t recall.

   Why had there even been 2 songs? The former says 1982 with words written by 4 of my classmates and the latter is 1983, with 5 names.  A couple of them sound familiar; they might have been the class of 1984. I am really confused about this.

   Mike mentioned that his class had “The Reflex”. Was it used for this same event or as the main song for his 8^th grade dance- Medieval Times theme? If it was the former, I wonder how they would have changed the words to fit graduation/grade school memories.

   I’m so bad at remembering song lyrics. I do know some Christmas carols still, I think. The songs that I remember most are the ones from my childhood and it’s not like I can recall many of the words. There’s Mellencamp’s “Jack and Diane”, Lionel Richie’s “You Are”, Kenny Rogers- “The Gambler”, Wham! – “Careless Whispers”, and McCartney/Wonder-“Ebony and Ivory”.

 

                                                                 Rosemary Clooney

                                                                Rosemary Clooney

 

 

Music, Stuffed Animals, and Writing- Part 1

I used to enjoy writing poems and short stories when I was younger. They weren’t that good but it was fun. A few of the stories have my stuffed animal friends and famous people like Frank Perdue and Chef Martin Yan as characters.

   Poochie Weiner (bear), Seamore Otter, and Cinnamon Koala were the ones that were always in them. I still have them and some others in a storage tote. I wish that I had kept most of these.

   Those 3 animals also had their own radio station- WPW; I had such a weird imagination and still sort of do.

   I didn’t have that many records but I used them, a couple of my Dad’s classical music tapes and some 8 tracks for that. We had this big stereo- I can see it in my head but just can’t describe it well- AM-FM, record, and 8 track players.

    I remember every 8 track that we had- The Village People, Engelbert Humperdinck (Grandma next door said that he’s good looking and she saw him in concert), Shenandoah and Oklahoma soundtracks, K-tel- Soundwaves (from Cindy), Doris Day’s Greatest Hits, Dolly Parton- Heartbreaker, one with CB related songs (from Ed), 2 Christmas Compilations and John Denver and the Muppets Christmas.

    Dad put an 8 track player in our Chevy Malibu wagon. I remember that time when we were pulling out of the Bradlees parking lot in the early 80s and the back door opened and I nearly fell out of the car. This was such a scary experience which naturally is so vivid in my mind. Why can’t the good times be this way too?

    I only had about ten 45s in the 1980s- “Do You Really Want to Hurt Me”, ” Hungry Like the Wolf”, “Gloria”,” Mickey”,” Down Under”, “Shadows of the Night”,” Africa”,” Goody Two Shoes”, ” On The Wings of Love”,  and ” True”.

   I got some other 45s in the early 90s at flea markets. I eventually got rid of many of them and my other records. I’m glad that I kept most of the DD stuff; the” Rio” and” HLTW” 45s got damaged by the heat when I was trying to sell them at flea markets.

 

 

                                                                  

                                                            Our 1976 Chevy Malibu

December 12, 2015- Our NYC Adventure-Christmas

Mike and I were so exhausted when we got home from our day trip into the city yesterday at around 2:55 p.m. He took a nap after dinner. I was on the computer then telling Sharon all about our adventure.

   We should have taken an earlier train there then we would have gotten a better spot in the Plaza for the “Today” show. It was really crowded there. Mike had gotten up about an hour earlier than he had intended on. I wanted to suggest that we leave at around 6:00 but was afraid that he would be annoyed about this.

   Maybe he wouldn’t have been. I can’t help still feeling fear that he will criticize me. He had done so about me wanting to get up and go to the “Today” show last month on Wrangler’s birthday. I wound up not going but it wasn’t because of him, or maybe it partially was.

   We didn’t see Wrangler today which was disappointing. I think that he will only be there for another 7 or 8 weeks. I wish that I had gone to the Plaza during the summer for the chance of possibly seeing him. Mike always says “He’s just a dog” as he did today when I got excited about the chance of possibly seeing him.

   We saw Willie, Tamron, and Al through the window. I don’t even know who the guests were going to be for the 9:00 hour; I should have paid attention to the screen for if it had been someone that I really wanted to see I probably would have stayed there for this.

    Michael Flatley and the guy dancers were outside sometime after 8:30. We had arrived there at about 8:15. We couldn’t see them and Al that well though. At least we got a bit of a view. I would have been more upset if it were a star that I really, really like.

   I had checked the guide on my TV before we left but didn’t see any guests listed, just a few segments like how to tie a tie. 

   We took photos of the tree there then went to the other one in Bryant Park. We looked in Forever 21 and the Disney store first. In the park, we were looking in the little temporary shops. They had so many jewelry ones. I saw nice stuff in some of these.

   We couldn’t find that diner that we saw last year and wished that we had eaten at then. I couldn’t remember if it was on 7^th or 5^th Ave. We came across it by accident. It turned out to be on 6^th. I saw a burger place when looking over on 6^th from 5^th. When we walked over to that I noticed the diner on the other block.

   We both ordered the Greek grilled chicken wrap. I had selected this and Mike seemed to think that it sounded good too. He liked it a lot. He even said that he is going to recommend this place to Tony. Tony and Debbie are going to the city to see the tree and Peanuts display on Sunday.

   I don’t know if Bryant Park will be a part of their plans but I will tell Mike to recommend this to them as well. I am pretty sure that Debbie would like some of those shops there.

   After that we went to Macy’s. We took photos of the Peanuts displays in the windows and of some of the decorations inside- an owl and a squirrel included. I wish that I had taken another zoomed in one of the big inflatable Snoopy. I was sort of afraid that my brother would criticize me for taking too many photos.

   I know that Sharon, Mom, and Amy would just tell me to ignore him if he did put me down about this but I guess that my brain is so tired of his put downs that it wouldn’t be able to handle hearing any more. I hate that I am not strong enough to not let him get to me.

   I was trying to find the nice cross necklaces that I had seen there a couple of months ago but they no longer even carry that brand of jewelry. I think that I did a thorough enough search of this but perhaps I did not. I might have been seriously tempted to buy one of them this time.

   The weather was so nice yesterday- high of 61 degrees, I think. It was a bit cool earlier in the day; I was wishing that I had my gloves then.

 

Rockefeller Center

 

Bryant Park

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                               

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 22, 2016-More Christmas Memories- Part 2

   Mike, Dad, and Grandma Next-Door went to see the tree at Rockefeller Center in 1981. I don’t know why I didn’t go with them.  Maybe I did but just don’t remember it. But wouldn’t I have been in the photo with my brother and grandmother?

   Our Girl Scout troop went to the Macy’s to look at the holiday window display and visit Santaland (I think that it was called this then too). That must have been on the same day that we saw the Christmas Spectacular at Rockefeller Center in 1980. I don’t think that we took two trips to NYC.

   Did our parents ever take us to see Santa at a department store or a mall?  They more than likely did. I somewhat have memories of writing letters/wish lists (I enjoyed looking in the Sears Christmas Wish Book) to Santa and putting out cookies for him on Christmas Eve.  

    Mom occasionally told my brother and me that if we were naughty kids that Santa would bring us only a lump of coal for our present. They actually had such an item in the late 70s. I bought it as a gag gift for Mike’s stocking.

    Mike recently mentioned that he has all of the Star Trek calendars since 1976. Mom started buying these as his Christmas gift in 1986.  Grandma at-the Farm got it for him in 1985. He bought the others online. I have been ordering our calendars (It is cocker spaniels for me and Golden Retriever puppies for Mom) from a site for the past couple of years. They are cheaper plus it saves me the stress of having to drive to the mall.

 

 

1983

1976

 

1981-Rockefeller Center

 

 Note- first 5 photos are from the internet