Thursday, February 24, 2011

Nothing to write about

I have nothing of interest to write about so I will get out one of my editions of "Uncle John's Bathroom Reader". Do you have any of these wonderful books in your house. I used to purchasae them each year when I worked at school and the "Book Lady" would come around with her books.

This wonderful book of knowledge, that no one really cares about, can be picked up and read at random and laid back down without regrets. It is good for a few laughs though and is a great book for the person who needs to read while they are taking care of business.

READ ON BUMPER STICKERS

Suburbia--Where they tear down the trees and name streets after them.
Support Bacteria, it is the only culture that some people have.
My Reality check just bounced.
And what about--The older we get the better we realize we were.

TRUTH OR URBAN LEGENDS?

You know how we Americans are about things that belonged to celebrities? They will try to sell us anything and sometimes the joke is on us.

Did you know that Bat Masterson, the legendary Wild West lawman became a New York sports writer. Because he needed the money, he reluctantly agreed to sell his famous six gun---the "gun that tamed the West".

The truth is he actually bought and sold old guns at pawnshops and junk stores and carved notches in them (one for each kill) and sold them to admirers for a tidy profit. Each time, he swore it was the authentic gun he'd used in Old Dodge City.

And for the last bit of information----

"I had a dog named Duke. Every fireman in town knew that hound, because he chased all the firewagons. They knew the dog's name, but not mine, so the next thing I knew, I was Duke too. I was named for a danged dog!" John Wayne

So much for that, I will do better next time.

Thursday, February 17, 2011

The Drive In Movie Theater



When I was growing up, the Drive In Movie Theater was a popular place in our area. We enjoyed the Saturday Matinee at the theater downtown, and On a cold winter night when we didn't have a ball game to go to but the excitement of the Drive In was a treat.

My first trips to the drive in were with my parents and family. Before the movie we kids would race to the play ground area complete with swings and jungle gym. The folks would visit with the people in the car adjacent to them and we would load up on popcorn. The speakers were on a post by the car and could be put in the car when the movie started. The Movie couldn't start until it was dark enought to see the pictures on the big screen and that was often late in the summer time.

I would later go with my friends and of course the Rancher. Our local Drive In had "Buck Night" on Tuesday nights. This meant a whole car load could get in for $1.
We could really cram the kids in my old 1953 ford. That was before seat belt laws and some would even climb into the trunk. I think some people even tried the trunk act to get in free. You could't fool the man who owned the theater though. He could see it all from his window in the upstairs projection room. He would just come and collect the money after the show started.

It was a relaxed way to go to the movies. Kids would run all around and the parents would put kids in one car while they sit in another and a lot of other things would go on that wouldn't in the local theater. That is probably another story.

I remember going to "Old Yeller" a Walt Disney movie, and watching my friends, who were teen age boys, cry. Of course, I cried too. Sometimes there would be a double feature. The first movie was the main attraction and the second would often be a science fiction thriller. I never did like thriller movies much less science fiction ones. There were even times when they had an all night movie. Who could stay awake all night? Not me but I am sure that some of my grandkids would have been able too.

I remember taking my own children to the Drive In before it was dismantled. They too would go and play on the playground. We would visit with friends and return to the car when the feature started. The kids would be asleep before the movie was over and the Rancher and I would snuggle like in the old days.

This past Summer when passing through a town in Colorado, we passed a Drive In Theater. I thought it would be a fun place to visit. The Rancher reminded me we were on a fishing trip and hadn't put movies on the agenda. That was okay though, it was pretty romantic sitting by the stream watching the moon rise over the mountains. What movie could beat that???

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

What I did on a Snowy Day


Do you recognize this beautiful movie star? Probably not unless you are on the upward side of 50. This is Doris Day. She was one of my favorite entertainers when I was growing up. Doris was a star, and she, along with many others, helped me to pass many hours on a snowy afternoon. I grew up before Barbie came along. Barbie did evolve about the time that I was in High School but alas, I was too old, and besides she was sort of a "risque" looking character and I didn't want to have to compare myself to her.

I loved buying paper dolls. I saved my pennies and when a new star was born, there was usually a book of "paper dolls" promoting her for just 15 cents at the local variety store. In my collection I had dolls of Jane Powell, June Allyson, Debbie Reynolds, Elizabeth Taylor, Vera Mills, The Lennon Sisters, Annie Oakley along with Dale and Roy. I also had Felicia Farr, I love the name Felicia. Dolls from the circus, Country Cousins, and fashion dolls of the fifties. Oh and don't forget the Bridal Party.

They all wore the latest fashions and had many changes of clothing. I would take my time punching the cardboard dolls out and cutting out their clothes. I kept them all in a large shoe box. We didn't have plastic storage boxes and even if we did, why would we buy one???

When I married and left home, my mother, not knowing any better, gave my paper dolls to my neice. After all, I was a grown woman and didn't have a need for them. I still think about all of the fun that I had with my friends and cousins and even by myself when I would get out the shoe box and let my imagination go.

I looked for sites to buy authentic paper dolls and who knows, I might just put them on my Christmas list for next year. Today looks like a good day to play.