Friday Night Video

Tonight we have a thrill packed, spine tingling episode of the Dark Knight- 1960's style. "Batman" ran from 1966 to 1968, which would make me about ten years old at the time. I remember being totally in awe of this show.

I mean, who wouldn't want to be Batman? You got to live in stately Wayne Manor (which, in the show, consisted of a living room, a den and I don't think anything else). You had a butler who waited on your every need. You had an impressive physique, a utility belt, a cool car, and best of all, you had the batcave. All of these things more than made up for being saddled with youthful ward, Dick Grayson.

In the short time this show was on, Bat-merchandise was all over the place. I remember buying a wad of trading cards at the Crest on one of my Saturday visits into town with Dad, and then promptly dropping them all as I ran across the intersection before the red and yellow lights switched to green (this was in the day before they had dedicated walk lights at the traffic lights. Back then, both the red and yellow would light at the same time and this was the cue to run like hell).

I remember having a rubber Batman ring that looked like the bat-emblem at the beginning of the show. I made the mistake of wearing it to Harris School one day where Mrs. Smith took it away from me at lunch time. She put it on her finger and walked around the cafeteria just to taunt me. But the joke was on her. Unlike me, she looked totally ridiculous wearing it.

One Saturday, my family stopped at a doughnut shop on our way to the Cape. Behind the counter was an awesome Batman costume they were raffling off. Dad filled out a slip for me and Mom might have too, but nothing ever came of it. Not for me anyway. To this day, I carry more than a little resentment for the nameless "winner" who took what was rightfully mine. I picture him today, overweight and middle-aged, stuffed into my Batman costume that he still insists on wearing as he stands at the doughnut counter, reliving the glory days of his past. That should be me.

Anyway, aside from the merchandise, I remember the show being on two nights a week- with some episodes being continued  to the following show at the "same bat-time, same bat- channel". Unfortunately, this was when Dad started going through his "No TV on a School Night" phase.

I'm not sure how Dad concocted this scheme but it was implemented fairly inconsistently, and by "inconsistently", I mean sometimes he gave into my whining and sometimes he didn't. I assume this rule was designed to somehow encourage me and my siblings to find something constructive or creative to do in the hours we would normally have spent watching TV. I can't say say that it ever worked for my brother and sisters, but it didn't work for me. I spent the extra time screwing off in my room, thinking of excuses not to do my homework and cooking mini-hamburgers on my Vacuform- which, come to think of it, was pretty creative... so I guess it worked after all.

But I digress. Time to relive the awesomeness of what Batman is all about. Tip: you may want to leave a light to alleviate the suspense. You've been warned.

Milestone

This morning was the first time, I think, that Sam said "I love you" to me without me having said it first.

Going on Four Weeks

You would think that with being unemployed, I would have a lot more to say than I do. But I don't have a lot to say about it.  I'm not sure why this is. I figured that once I left my old job, I would "let it all out"- either fond recollections or snarky comments about some of my co-workers. But nothing... yet.

Maybe given a little bit of time away some of it will drip out. I think I'm mostly glad to be away. The last several years have been grueling. By implication, I'm for some reason assuming the next several years won't be, but I have no reason to think this.

I'm also a little surprised that I'm not feeling like a failure. I half expected that I would, as if somehow I was personally responsible for the place closing. It's kind of weird that I'm not taking it more personally. Maybe I'm just numb to it all.

I've always been happy to be blind to reality. It's been kind of a life strategy for me (as in- just getting me through life). I guess there's no reason to change a well proven method.

Friday Night Video

I was going to post a different video than the one below, but I decided against it for two reasons.

First, the other video was slightly on the dark side. I figured that posting two, rather heavy videos in a row, might be a bummer. Even though the one I had in mind is dark in a different way than last week's video, perhaps it's better to save it for another time.

The second reason I decided against it is because the video requires a little set-up, and I'm too tired to write anything coherent tonight (yes I know, it's never stopped me before.)

So, for these two reasons, I'm posting another Looney Tune. This one's a Road Runner cartoon. Road Runner cartoons, by their nature, require no words of explanation. Well, except maybe for the occasional sign.

Today's Unhappy Review

In Surfing around for a new mounting plate for my tripod, I found the following helpful review from someone who identifies him or herself as "Costumer X". 

Costumer X says, and I quote: "I'm sure I order the mounting plate for my MX1000 and receive another diferent piece altogether. pay $ 16 of my sweat, my job, my time and money. should send the piece for which I paid, or I'll do anything, to get my money back. this I smell a scam."

I hear you brother... or sister.

Breakin' the Rules

Today I put the mustard on my hot dog first, then the ketchup.

Sam's Day

I feel bad for Sam. He eats at a lunch table where he is joined by several other kids in the school. Yesterday, he found out they're all graduating. Apparently at lunch, they had one of those "remembrance" type slide shows and in one or two of the slides, he was pictured with a couple of friends. "The music really fit" said Sam, and it made him cry a little.

I found this out at his bedtime last night. He didn't offer it, but when I covered him and asked him how his day went, he hesitated for just a split second before saying "Good". It was long enough for me to ask him if he was sure about that. "Why do you ask?" he said.

So, I knew something was up. He let me know what was going on and he tried not to get teary. But he didn't completely succeed. I tried to console him, but I felt bad. These friends mean a lot to him.

When I looked in on him later, he was hugging three of his stuffed animals for all he was worth.

I slept awful last night.

Friday Night Video

Tonight's video is another stroll down memory lane. This clip is from a double feature I went to see at the Paramount Theater back in my old home town on a Saturday afternoon- over forty years ago (yikes!). It was one of those days that my older brother was forced to spend some time with me- most likely because Mom and Dad wanted to get us out of the house.

The double feature was the classic "House of Wax", coupled with that family favorite: "The Man With the X-ray Eyes". This seems a little odd to me now, as I was known to be kept awake at bedtime by "Bad Thoughts", as Dad called them. These Bad Thoughts kept Mom and Dad awake too.

The Bad Thoughts were a result of all of the stresses of the day and all of the fears of the coming night, coupled with an overactive imagination, a predisposition to be a worrier, plus the heightened emotions that tend to present themselves at bedtime. So sending this kind of a little kid to a double matinee of horror movies doesn't seem to be the best move to me. I can only guess that for Mom and Dad, the gamble was worth the risk.

Anyway, "House of Wax" played first. The clip below is a decent representation of the only things I remember from that movie. This is probably due to the fact that I spent almost the entire afternoon cowering on the floor of the movie theater, too scared to enjoy my Juji Fruits, Jaw Breakers and Fire Balls.

At some point, when I felt it was finally safe enough to see what was going on, I slowly and carefully peaked over the seat in front of me- just in time to see scenes like those below (sans the awful muscic that the poster felt the need to dub in). I immediately went back to hugging the floor.

By the time I summoned enough courage to look at the screen again, it was near the end of "The Man With the X-Ray Eyes". I was just in time to see Ray Milland pluck his eyes out... But that's a clip for another night.

For now, turn the volume all the way off (I have no idea what that music is all about), then sit back and enjoy with me a fond childhood memory  ...

All in a Day's Work

Today's Schedule:
Helping in New Hampshire.
Two loads of laundry.
Making dinner for Sam.
Digging a path to my closet to get receipts.
Going through the medical bills.
Going for a walk with Sam.
Getting myself some dinner, consisting of: a handful of Triscuts, a few slices of peperoni, a slice of cheese and a handful of garlic flavored potato chips.
Folding some laundry.
Taking a shower.
Staying awake until bedtime.

Mother's Day

 Lilly's of the Valley remind me of Mom.

Where I grew up, Mom had two gardens in the back yard that were walled off to level them from the surrounding land which sloped towards the hill out back. Along one end of these garden walls were some large reddish blocks that formed steps that followed the slope and led to our playhouse and the honeysuckle and the lilac bush. Growing amoung these steps were lilly's of the valley.

I remember smelling the lillys on a particular cool spring morning as I killed time waiting for Mom to bring me to afternoon kindergarten class.

I would pick lillys, along with violets that I found in the lawn, and give them to Mom. She would put them in a small drinking glass on the kitchen table.

It made me feel proud.

Friday Night Video

I never have watched this whole movie. No need to. This is the only part I want to see. I'd only be disappointed in the rest.

Homecoming

I picked up Jake from college today. It's nice to have a full house again, even though I know it's only temporary. I'll take what I can get.

I brought a lot of his stuff home in my car the other day and was going to do it again today, but he suggested I bring the van instead of my car. I knew better but brought the van anyway. Good thing I didn't listen to myself. We'll still need to go back to get he bike we couldn't fit in.

Along with Jake, I also brought home a dozen or two of my food containers. I asked him if they were clean or should I wash them? He hesitated and said, "Well, they were on the clean side of the shelf, but...". I figured I better wash them.

I wonder what he kept on the "not-clean" side of the shelf.

Friday Night Video

So, in honor of the events of the past week, I present the following video. Sure, the quality of the video is pretty poor. But it's not like a higher quality video would make it more tolerable.

The thing I like about this video is that no matter how down you are, you realize that you have a lot to be grateful for- like not having to watch the entire movie, for instance.

So here you are. Watch and suffer along with me. It's like beating your head against the wall... it feels so good when you stop.

Today's Update

It was eighteen plus years ago when I started working at the company I am now leaving. It was another eighteen years that I worked at the company previous to coming here. I guess "eighteen" must be the opposite of my lucky number.

In any event, when the previous company I worked for was going under, I felt frantic. I had three little kids to feed, clothe and keep warm, and a house we had bought just six or seven years earlier. I wasn't sure what to do. With the ups and downs of the economy, I had come close to being laid off several times, but I had always dodged the bullet. But with the place closing and despite (or maybe, because of) an offer of my position getting "redefined" and me placed in a surviving decision of that company, the inevitable rapidly approached.

I drove down to where I am now currently leaving, and over the course of a few months, secured a position for myself and security for my family. I've been here ever since.

Now this place is coming to an end and today will be my last day. Reality comes in waves, and while I'm worried, I feel like I'm not worried enough. Maybe it's because I haven't been formally handed my walking papers- which is only moments away. Maybe it's because I'm just numb. Maybe it's because I've gone through this before- despite it being so long ago.

I suspect that once I leave, the panic and concern will come back in waves. And I'm sure all of this will continue to be a roller coaster in the days, months, and maybe even in the years to come.

So basically... life as usual.

Me and the guys in happier times.

 

Winding Down

Looks like Friday will be my last day here. I started working here back in January of 1995. It's hard to believe it was so long ago. In some weird way, the last three or four years feel longer than the total time I've been here. And the last month feels longer than all of that.

The kids were all small when I started here and Sam wasn't even born yet. By that measure, so much has happened; so much has changed.

Eighteen years.