As summer approaches it finds me thinking more and more about movies.  We subscribe to Netflix, and through the school year we use it mainly to get films that supplement our history and science studies.  The summer, however, is a different story.  We order all kinds of fun films that we missed in the theaters or that I remember fondly from my own childhood.  I decided for today to narrow down my favorites to my "Top Ten," so here they are....

10.

I loved all Disney movies really, and a couple of others will undoubtedly make this list, but this one was especially memorable for me.  I vaguely remember seeing this in the theater, and as a matter of fact, its sequel, The Rescuers Down Under , was the first movie that Big D took me to see.

9.

C'mon....who didn't like ET?  I remember this movie sparking clever Halloween costumes, a renewed interest in Reese's Pieces candy, and numerous "phone home" jokes and quips.

8.

I loved the Muppet Show and all the movies, but this was my favorite.  I love Charles Grodin in it, and the scene where Miss Piggy breaks into the mansion and pretends that it's her home still makes me laugh today.

7.

I'll bet this is on almost everyone's list...unless the Wicked Witch scared you to death.  I always anxiously awaited when this would come on television every year.  It was quite an event at our house.

6. 

Admittedly, this is kind of a strange movie, and after watching it with my kids a few years ago, I didn't like it nearly as well as when I was ten.  But in 1982, I was a certified unicorn fanatic, and I thought this movie was the best thing since sliced bread.

5. 

When I was little, I was kind of a monster movie freak.  I liked Godzilla, mummies, werewolves, Frankenstein...you name it.  Weird, I know, but it was my childhood and I'm kinda fond of it.  Well, I LOVED King Kong the most.  When I was really small, like three or so, I really liked the old B&W movie, starring Faye Wray, but when the above film with Jessica Lange and Jeff Bridges was released when I was about six, it stole my little heart.  And, just for the record, I don't like the most recent King Kong film much at all.

4. 

I have to include the whole original trilogy for this one, but I think, if I had to choose, the last one, Return of the Jedi , is my favorite.  The newer ones were a bit of a disappointment to me, but I've enjoyed seeing them with my kids, who love them all.

3.

This, to me, was the ultimate of Disney princess movies, to be rivaled in modern times only by Beauty and the Beast.  Everything about this movie is so perfect, from the music to the fairies to Malificent.  It's just all-around great and timeless!

2.

I remember when my parents saw this for their anniversary the year it was released and them coming home just raving about it.  I couldn't wait to see it on video, and it did not disappoint.  It became a favorite that I could watch over and over and never tire of.  I liked the other ones as well, but this one was my favorite.  Oh, and just for fun, here's a favorite quick clip....

1. 

Does it get any better than this?  I'd have to say that this would go on my list of favorite movies of all time and not just childhood.  It has to be the best sing-along movie ever!

So, what are some of your favorite films from yesteryear?  Leave me a comment and let me know if I forgot a great one.  Also feel free to join me in a flashback of your own.  Sign Mr. Linky below, so everyone can come reminisce with you!

• Comments (12) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

I apologize if you came here today just for your weekly dose of my 80s big-haired goofiness.  I had an exceptionally busy day and am heading into an equally exceptionally busy weekend, and I just don't have time to scan pictures and the like.  Not to mention that I have the worst cold I think I've ever had in my life.  I honestly don't know where this amount of snot is coming from.  I am very fearful that it may be brain matter at this point, and I don't have a lot of that to spare.  Unfortunately, there's not much for a woman-with-child to take, so I have been finding relief in sucking Jolly Ranchers non-stop.  They help my dry mouth and taste good to boot.  My teeth may rot, but I am momentarily happy.

I also want to thank all of you who took the time to read my post below, read the articles, watch the videos and leave a comment.  It meant a lot to me.  After I posted that, I wondered if others might watch it and think Randy was drunk as a skunk.  It was difficult, since I know him personally, to be objective.   So it was good to hear that others saw what I saw.  I'm following the story the best I can from a different state, and I will let you know how it all turns out.

Have a wonderful Flashback-Free weekend!

• Comments (6) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

Earlier this week Indiana Mimi brought over a stack of old photos from her house for me to use for my Flashback Fridays.  Going through that stack has caused me to realize one downfall to my flashbacks:  they can make you feel really old.  So that's what I have decided to focus on this Friday...things that I can no longer do because I'm too old and weathered.

1.  The splits.

Actually, I think I still may be able to get into the splits.  It would be getting up and out of them without injury that would be the problem.

2.  Wear high heels.

Man, that is a skill I just thought I had never acquired, but apparently at age three, I had "it."  Too bad....at only 5'2", it would come in handy.

3.  Make my profile float eerily in the air.

Somehow I think a lot of kids who grew up in the 80s could do this.  It was the phenomenon of the decade.

4.  Get away with this at the dinner table.

Big D would definitely not be taking me out to eat much if I tried this now.

5.  Play on a Sit-and-Spin.

Annaleigh used to have one of these several years ago, and I tried and tried to get that thing to go with me on it.  It just wasn't happening.

6.  Do a back bend.

And, unlike the splits, I really cannot do this anymore.  At least I'm pretty sure.  It hurts just thinking about it.

7.  Sit on my dad's lap.

In all fairness to my dad, I haven't asked lately to sit on his lap.  I'm just pretty sure he wouldn't want me to.  I'm also pretty sure he doesn't wear Mickey ears anymore.

8.  Be lifted into the air by a super hero.

Super heroes just aren't what they used to be, I guess.  This hasn't happened to me or anyone I know in decades.

9.  Wear a mini dress and thigh-high boots.

It's not that I couldn't still pull it off.  It's that Big D wouldn't let me out of the house.

10.  Hang around the house in my underwear.

And just for the record, I don't think Debbles can do this anymore either.  Whatever happened to Underoos anyway?

So, how about you?  What can't YOU do anymore?  Or what other memories do you have for us to dip into today?  Sign in below and tell us all about them....

• Comments (9) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

The crack of the bat.  The smell of freshly cut grass.  The roar of the crowds.  The taste of popcorn and nachos.   Ahhh....all of this means that I'm back on the ball field again....hot dog!

I mentioned in an earlier post that Harrison is playing Little League.  I grew up playing softball, and I absolutely looooooovvvvveeeeddd it!  The only other thing I was equally passionate about was boys, but a flashback about that would be ugly and dismal, so I picked baseball.

I started playing softball in 5th grade, when I was living in Great Lakes, IL (or Great Mistakes to all Navy people).  I really didn't consider myself athletic and didn't want to play, but my parents really encouraged me.  My dad said he'd coach, and Indiana Mimi volunteered to be team mom, so I stepped out of my comfort zone and never looked back.  Softball fit me like a....well, like a well-worn ball glove.  I'm not sure how it happened, but I became the team pitcher, and it was the position I would always play for years to come.  Our team was called the Shortcakes.  Can you believe that?  The Shortcakes?!  We came in last place that year of course.  What else could you expect from a team called the Shortcakes?

In case you can't tell, I'm the third from the right in the back.  This is my one and only team picture where I was tall enough for the back row.  In 6th grade everyone passed me up in height.  Indiana Mimi is back there in her big 80s glasses.  That's my dad on the left, and then there's little Debbles on the far left, first row.  She was our mascot.

After this year, my dad was transferred to Charleston, SC, where I continued in the Navy base league there.  I spent two more losing seasons on a team called the Rainbows (Hello?  The Rainbows?!), but then I graduated to the teen girl league and was placed on a team called the Cougars.  Finally, a decent, fierce sounding name.  I played for the Cougars for 3 years, and we were really good.  Our best year was my last year, 1988, where we went 16-2.

I'm on the bottom row, second from the left....the one with the big hair, who refused to wear her cap.  The girl to the right of me was one of my best friends, Angie, who was later in my wedding.  Her mom was our manager (top row, second from the right).  The girl second from the left on the top row was not well-liked by anyone.  We weren't very nice to her, and I've always felt badly about that.  The girl who is right in the middle of the top row stole my boyfriend once.  I wasn't very nice to her either, but I still don't feel badly about that.

Then I took a break for almost 10 years.  I graduated from high school, went to college, got married, had a baby.  Then I played for two years for a church team.  I was rusty and a little out of shape, but they still let me pitch, and every now and then I'd actually get on base.

(Look, Adrienne....your mom and dad!  Adrienne reads and comments on my blog from time to time.)

I'm third from the left, bottom row...again.  The lady in the top row, 4th from the left, was my boss at a daycare all through my college years.  Then I taught her daughter.  Actually, now that I'm looking at this picture, I taught five of these women's children.  I went to my senior prom with the two girls' brother who are in the top row 3rd and 4th from the left.  Then he married my best friend, but I'm okay with that.  We're all still friends.

After this year I had Harrison, and I haven't played since.  Something about having a c-section makes you never want to risk injury again.

I tried to get Annaleigh interested, and she played one year of tee-ball when she was four.

Her team came in first place, but Annie's (as she was called then) main contribution was flower-picking and twirling in the outfield.  Next year I enrolled her in ballet.

Now, it's Harrison's turn.  He was randomly placed on the Cubs, much to my delight, since that's my favorite major league team.  He says he loves it, so maybe I can finally be a permanent fixture at the baseball diamond.

Now, for the contest!  Post a comment (not to be confused for joining in for Flashback Friday) and tell me one of your baseball memories.  If you don't have one, make one up because it's totally un-American to not have any baseball stories up your sleeve.  Actually, you can just tell me to enter you in the contest and be a dud if you want.  You could win one of these....

or another inch-thick stack of 12x12 scrapbook paper...

I'll take entries until Sunday, April 13 at 9:00 pm, Central Time.

Also, feel free to join me for Flashback Friday.  Share whatever memory you might have rolling around in that brain of yours.  Sign up here, so we can all come read it....

• Comments (15) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

In light of my recent news, it has made me nostalgic about my two past pregnancies.  I have been busy trying to recall little tidbits about those times.  And I'm finding that difficult in some respects since those pregnancies were 12 and 8 years ago, respectively.  Yet I was able to find a few snapshots.

Here I am, barefoot and pregnant in late July of 1996.  Annaleigh was born in early September.  I was 23.

Big D and I were up late working on the nursery.  The theme was Noah's Ark, and I was busy painting a little doll bed that I'd had since I was four.  My Dad made it.  (It was a decoration.  We didn't put Annaleigh in it.)  We didn't know what we were having, so I picked a theme and colors that could go either way.  We were still in this house when we had Harrison, so we just moved Annaleigh across the hall and kept this room the same for him.

Just for the record, I normally do have ankles...just not for the tail end of this pregnancy.  I was in the early stages of pre-eclampsia and was swollen like a rotten watermelon.  I just didn't know it yet and kept blaming it on the sweltering Charleston summer.

Here we are as a happy family in the hospital, the day after she was born.

She was actually born a week early due to my blood pressure with the pre-eclampsia.  I had to be induced, but everything went smoothly.  She only weighed 6 lbs. 12 oz., so she popped right out...literally.

I couldn't find any pictures of me pregnant with Harrison, but I'll just tell you that I was huge.  I actually gained more weight with Annaleigh (although a good bit was water), but I gained it all over.  With Harrison I was all out front.  It looked like I'd swallowed a basketball.

Our family after his birth...

Annaleigh, at three, looks shell-shocked, doesn't she?  I was 27, and Big D was 30.  Harrison weighed in at 9lbs. 2 oz., and I don't recommend delivering children that weigh almost 3 lbs. more than the previous one.  As a matter of fact, he got stuck.  After pushing for four hours, they finally decided to do a C-section.  Come to find out, he not only weighed as much as a two-month old baby, but his head circumference was 14", and his chest circumference was 14.25".  There would have been none of this, "OK, now the head's out.  The rest is easy.  Just push."  It was just unfortunate that I had to push for so long.  Later that day, as a nurse brought in some ice and the stuff for me to take a sitz bath, she said, "Poor thing.  It's really like you delivered both ways."  I didn't hit her, but I dreamt about it.

Interestingly, the blanket that is on Harrison, became his special blanket that he's always called "Blue,"  or before he turned 5, "Byoo," as he couldn't say his L's.  You might even still catch it now and then in pictures that I post because he still, even at almost 8 years old,  carries it around some.  Although it is now decidedly gray and frayed all around the edges.

Ahhh....memories.  Looking at these though has made it seem even more surreal that we are embarking on this all over again.

So, how about you?  Got any good memories to share with us this weekend?  Sign in below and tell us all about them!

• Comments (14) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

Folks, this Flashback Friday is going to be short and sweet.  I mentioned that in an earlier post that I was sick over the weekend.  Well, on Wednesday evening, Harrison came down with a nasty stomach virus, and he and I were up until 4am Thursday morning.  I have been feeling light-headed and fuzzy all day from lack of sleep.  I went to Wal-mart tonight to buy things for my Easter dinner, I forgot my list, and then wandered the aisles in a drunken-like stupor.  I finally just bought 3 bags of Easter candy, bananas and a cake mix and left the store.  No breakthroughs from this illness, except as an observer and bystander, I just noted that it's amazing how much vomit can come forth from such a little person.  And now, on with the flashback...

Debbles and I on Easter of 1987, I believe.  I was in 9th grade.  I'm not sure if both of the bunnies were Debbles' or if the big one was actually mine.  I don't remember ever owning such a big bunny, but you never know.  Perhaps Debbles might chime in on the comments and shed some light on the subject because I'm sure your weekend will just be positively ruined if we can't sort this bunny mystery out.

While bunnies are cute and cuddly, and chocolate is yummy, make sure you take time this weekend to reflect on the somber and then victorious reasons that we, as Christians, have to celebrate.  Christ is risen!  He is risen, indeed!

Please join me in flashing back whenever you'd like.  Leave a link here, so everyone can come join you!  Thanks....

• Comments (12) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

When I was about 17 years old I went into our local Sears store and bought, with a gift certificate (this was before the days of gift cards), a Notre Dame Fighting Irish sweatshirt.  I never guessed that it would be my most loved and longest-lasting piece of clothing ever.  So in honor of St. Patrick's Day, I am dedicating my flashback to this sweatshirt.

For fun, let's do a brief Q & A....

Now, am I a Notre Dame fan?  Ummm...sorta, kinda.  I was born in Indiana and was raised by Irish fans, yet I hardly ever watch college football.  All I know is that I like the movie Rudy and that last season was a bad year to be a fan.

Am I Irish?  Yes....well, as most Americans, I'm a hybrid, but my maiden name is definitely Irish.  And so is my first name, but that was just coincidental.

Do I wear green on St. Patrick's Day?  Of course!  I even bought shamrock socks to wear this year.

Do I drink green beer?  No.  I don't like beer, green or otherwise.

Have I seen the old horror movie The Leprechaun?  Are you kidding me?!  I like to sleep at night.

Am I ever going to get to my entry about my sweatshirt?  Yes.  On we go....

This was the oldest picture I could find of the shirt...

That's me and Big D on the bottom left.  We were on a college youth retreat with our church.  This took place when we were dating.  I was 18 and Big D was 21.

Here I am wearing the shirt a few years later...

Big D, who took this shot, and I were married by now.  I was probably 20 or so.  The others are Debbles, Indiana Mimi and Gigi (my grandma).  We were at a rest stop, traveling to Arkansas for a funeral of a great uncle.

And then here I am yesterday...  (I'm sure I have many other photos of me wearing this shirt, but I just didn't feel like thumbing through thousands of pictures.)

OK, it was 70 degrees here yesterday, so I just put this on for the photo.  It doesn't look bad for a nearly 20 year old shirt, does it?  I'm thinking it may be around for another decade or so.

Having a flashback of your own?  Why don't you share it with us?

And now for the little contest!  E-mail me at kellieann@adelgren.com and tell me what state you think we were visiting for the mountain picture at the top, and you may choose one of these great homeschooling resources...

They are...

• Global Discovery Activities
• Uncle Josh's Outline Map CD ROM
• Evaluating for Excellence

All of these are very lightly used and are in like-new condition.  No marks, bent pages or highlights.  The CD ROM is compatible with Mac or Windows and you will need Acrobat Reader 4.0 or above (you can download this for free).  All retail for $20 or more.

I will receive answers until Sunday night, March 16 at 6:00 pm, CT.  I will then draw randomly from the correct answers one winner, who may choose the resource of their choice.  You may click on any of the titles above to read more about the product. (Yes, I'm cleaning out!  Watch for more "little contests" over the next few weeks!)

• Comments (12) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

About a week ago Chris, over at Mountain Homeschool tagged me with the challenge to post a picture of my desk.  Sorry, Chris, that it's taken so long.  I almost postponed again with my Flashback Friday looming over me, but then I thought....why not combine the two?  I am like such the queen of multi-tasking (not really) and I like totally always kill two birds with one stone (I would never kill birds with anything other than my windshield).

So in the spirit of all things retro, here was my desk then:

This was probably around 1979, maybe 1980.  My sole passion in life at this time was playing school.  It's what I did ALL the time.  I was the teacher sitting at my little blue desk or standing at my Raggedy Ann chalkboard.  This obsession would continue until...well, I sometimes still think I'm playing school, and I've just cleverly disguised it as "home schooling."  Seriously, besides the occasional Barbie fashion show, and a little later, playing Dance Fever with my record player and disco ball, school was my favorite pastime.

For the NOW section, I have three pictures:

This is my "real" desk, I guess, but I don't sit there all that much (as you can see, it's minus a chair), but I store a lot of junk in it.  It is sort of "Scrapbook Central," as you can see much of my supplies surrounding this area.  I usually lay the page out there, but I usually do most of my work over on the kids' table, which I'll show you now...

Besides being my craft fall-out area, this is where the kids do at least some of their school.  Annaleigh has a desk in her room, where she works a lot of the time, but you can find me and Harrison here working out our 8-times tables or reciting his memory verse or defining nouns.  We do most of our reading in the family room, but here is where he does seat work, and I check papers, etc.

This is probably my favorite "desk" area...

...because it's where my computer sits, and I'm just mildly in love with my computer.  Oh, and I also like the fact that we once removed a shelf from above this area and decided to never touch up the paint because we're so Bohemian and liked that grungy look (again, not really....we just forgot, sort of like that wreath).

I realize these areas are looking rather spiffy right now.  I didn't clean up for the pictures....I promise....even though that was a temptation for me.  We had a Bible study meeting at our house today, and the kids were going to be in this room, so we straightened it up.   It's usually not this tidy, yet it's not a complete disaster either.

And just for fun, I thought I'd show you a picture of my dream office area, my "inner desk," if you will....

It's from Pottery Barn.  Someday....maybe.....I'm not holding my breath....

Now I'm supposed to tag 5 more people.  Eenie, meenie, minie, moe,  I pick....

• mycrazylife
• MayTheyBeMightyMen
• kaysmarmey
• 4sweetums
• naturalpaths

(The tag is just for your present desk area.  I just got all crazy and rebellious with it.  Let me know if you post your pic, so I can come be nosey and see it!)

Feel free to join us for Flashback Friday.  If you do, sign up with Mr. Linky below so everyone can come read your post.  Your post doesn't have to be about your desk. Thanks!

• Comments (16) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

Spiderman!

Twenty Random Thoughts About This Photograph...

1. Yes, I know that phrasology such as "Leapin' Lizards" was more associated with Batman and friends, but...
2. I wanted to write about something/someone that had to do with Leap Day, and this is the only photo with a springy super hero I could find. 
3. Thus, you have Debbles and I with Spidey.
4. I have absolutely no memory of getting this picture taken.  I remember getting my picture made with Batgirl and Wonder Woman at Sea World, but Spiderman made little impression on me, I guess.
5. I doubt that Debbles has any memory of this either.  Do you, Debbles?
6. The writing on the back of this photo says "September 1978."
7. That would make me almost 6 years old, and Debbles would have been about 2 months old.
8. It's a good thing Spiderman was wearing a mask because we look like quite a load, and I'll bet he was straining because he looks rather skinny.
9. I wonder how he's breathing.
10. Who am I looking at?
11. Who is Debbles looking at?
12. Harrison likes this picture.
13. Debbles boys will probably like this picture too, but I doubt that they've seen it, since it's at my house, and I only just found it.
14. My nephew, Benjamin, thinks he's Spiderman/Peter Parker.
15. He's killed me several times in various scenarios pretending to be Spiderman.
16. Did I mention that it's almost 1am?
17. I think that's why this post is so loopy.
18. I'm sorry.
19. I'm going to bed.
20. Happy Leap Day!

 Now, surely you can come up with something better than this.  If you can (or even if you can't), post a flashback on your blog, and then come back and sign Mr. Linky today. (The Mr. Linky site seems to be having some problems.  If the sign-up box doesn't appear below, just link to your post in my comment section....thanks!)

• Comments (10) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

• Comments (16) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

Please do not adjust your screen.  You are not viewing a still of the Disney Pixar movie Bug's Life.  That's just me in my huge tortoise shells.

Many questions may be forming in your head right now, so why don't I try to answer those....

Big D and I were youth leaders for the first decade or so of our marriage.  This IS on or near Valentine's Day....not Halloween.  Our youth group was hosting a banquet to raise money for a trip, and we decided, like any goofy, slightly immature youth leaders, that couples should wear costumes.  That's why Big D and I were dressed as bags of M&Ms.  See....

Told ya'.  See all the Valentine decorations?  They're tacky, but it was definitely Valentine's.

Those M&M costumes had actually been around since fall of 1990.  My best friend Julie and I made and wore them to a Halloween festival.  Julie was a good bit taller than me, so her plain bag fit Big D just fine. 

And I'm sorry for being a little vague on the actual year.  I know it wasn't 1991 because we were still dating, and we just wouldn't have dressed up like candy bags when we were dating.  I also know that it wasn't 1992 because Big D was floating in a Navy tender for a 6 month Mediterranean tour during that time.  So it's 1993...or '94.  There's even a slim chance it was 1995.  Again, I'm so thankful for digital!

We weren't the only "couple" who dressed up...

Why lookie there...it's Indiana Mimi and Debbles107, dressed as Crayola crayons doing some sort of line dance with the M&Ms!  What good sports they were to come out in costumes I made for them to support our cause.  I may not have said thank you then, but I'm saying it now.  It really means a lot that you were willing to act and look as foolish as I did.  That's what family is for!

This was one of my favorite pairs of the night...

Our good friends (who are now, sadly, divorced) dressed as a frog and fly.  She carried a fly swatter and everything.

I truly hope all of you enjoyed a wonderful Valentine's Day!  And I truly hope that you received some candy, instead of dressing like it.

Feel free to join us!  It doesn't have to be about Valentine's Day.  Write about your obsession with Michael Jackson, or losing your first tooth, or where you were when the Challenger exploded.  Whatever.  Entertain us, and then come back and sign Mr. Linky below....

• Comments (8) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

Let's face it.  We all have them:  drawers or magnetic photo albums full of mediocre to downright laughable snapshots of our growing up years.  I have many pictures of my childhood where the lack of quality of the shot is totally my fault.  I pasted some cheesy grin on my face or had some outlandish hairstyle.  But as I thumbed through a stack of photos yesterday, I realized much is to blame on small view finders, little or no shooting options, cheap cameras and photographer naivete.  Basically, we are spoiled with the technology we have today.  I hope someday our kids are thankful for the way we've photographed their lives.....if our computer doesn't crash and erase all of our shots.  Let's take a look at the dark ages, shall we?...

Specimen #1:  The classic junk drawer photo, complete with blurry faces, unidentified people and partial decapitation.

The small, white blur is me being held my half-headed, pipe-smoking dad.  Indiana Mimi is to the right in a very fetching 70s jacket.  Where is that jacket, Mimi?  I totally dig it!  I don't know who the person in the orangish robe is and whether or not their anonymity was intentional or not.

Specimen #2:  Christmas morning....maybe

That is me and Debbles on what is probably Christmas morning looking over our loot, since normally our house was never that messy.  And whoever snapped the picture, made sure to include half our door frame in the shot for posterity.  Doesn't everyone want to remember the door frames of their youth?

Specimen #3:  Beam me up, Santa!

This is from the same Christmas season as above, but obviously earlier since we hadn't unwrapped gifts yet.  It's actually a pretty good picture, except for the weird flash that bounced off the mirror.  It looks like poor Debbles was about to be teleported into outer space.

Specimen #4:  Zoom, anyone?  Anyone?!

Perhaps the purpose of this picture was to photograph our house because late 70s military housing was oh-so-attractive.  I don't know.  However, the small blur with legs in front of the bushes is me...I think.

Specimen #5:  Birthday blunder

Obviously the intent here was to capture a special birthday moment of Debbles celebrating turning 7....or so.  What we have is Debbles and furry, stripey, slightly creepy friend in the bottom 1/3 of the photo with grayish drapes in the background and a party guest, who was listed as "Sinead" on the back of the photo, peeking a small portion of her cheek at the photographer.  I called Debbles yesterday to ask her about a few of these pictures, and told her about this picture with 1/4 of Sinead's face.  "Who's Sinead?" Debbles asked.  I have no idea.  It was your party.

Specimen #6:  Another birthday blunder

Here's a keeper.  Another birthday of Debbles, this time at McDonalds.  We have a strange picture of my dad holding an inflatable Ronald McDonald doll in front of most of his face.  I think I see my grandma's nose, and then there are some unidentified head tops.  Nice.

Specimen #7:  Prom memories

This isn't too terrible really.  Well, except the girl, which is me, could be any brunette from the 80s since my face is so blurred and grainy.  My date looks like he was having second thoughts.  Or perhaps he's just wondering how I talked him into a gray tux with aqua tie and cummerbund.  Hmmmm...I'm wondering that too, Scott.  I'm also wondering what was going on with our camera, as every picture from this time period has the same thin horizontal purple line running across the middle.

Specimen #8:  Focus on the feet

Now, if you can look past my Dad's white knee socks and freckled, hairy knees you can see a cute shot (minus the paint-splattered shorts and huge, white triangle earrings) of me and my Boston terrier Bonnie.  What?  You only see an orange glow?  Oh, well we're to the left of that.  What?!  You only see a black mass?  No, not that.  That's the shadow of my Dad's feet.  Why didn't he move his feet?  Why didn't he stand up to take the shot?  All valid questions.  I don't know.

Well, if nothing else, this post has made me very thankful for digital cameras, LCDs, flash, delete buttons, zoom and photo editing....and that a friend borrowed those triangle earrings and never returned them.

Why don't you join us?  Just blog about anything retro that you'd like (and by 'retro' I mean anything from your past that you'd like to dish about), and then come back here and sign up with Mr. Linky.  It's easy and fun....just like the old Easy Bake Oven that you used to have.

• Comments (14) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

If you know me at all, then you had to know this was coming.  Ladies and gentlemen, I give you "The Super Bowl Shuffle" performed by the '85 Bears....

Yes, I know that the Bears are not in the Super Bowl this year.

Yes, I know that they did not even make the play-offs.

Yes, I know they did not win the Super Bowl last year.

But for Bear fans, it's all about hope.  It's all about faith.  It's all about reliving 1985 over and over and over again.

In 1985 I was in 8th grade and living in Charleston, SC.  I can remember seeing this video on MTV and thinking it was the absolute coolest thing a football team had ever done.  I remember watching them win the Super Bowl, and knowing it was the coolest thing a football team had ever done.  It wasn't until I was nearly an adult that I realized that the rest of the world hated it and thought it was the cockiest and stupidest thing a football team had ever done.  Oh well....

Enjoy (or not) this slice of 80s/football nostalgia.  Go Bears!

If you are participating in Flashback Friday with me, please include a link to your post below, so others can come read it.  Thanks!

• Comments (11) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

I am starting a new feature on my blog called "Flashback Friday".  The idea is to share something from my past or just the the past in general that I'd like to talk about.  Nostalgia can be an interesting subject, and Friday seemed like a good time to focus on that.  That's it.  No rules.  No guidelines.  I like it that way.  Feel free to join me if you'd like.  If I were smart and knew how to add that Mr. Linky thingy at the bottom of posts like this, I would.  But I am so totally not smart like that, so until 2010 when I might figure that out, just post a comment with your blog site at the bottom so others can visit your posts.  Eventually Big D, who is much smarter than me except at Scrabble, is going to create a cool graphic (complete with images of Rubik's Cubes and Ronald Reagan and legwarmers, etc.) that you can borrow if you'd like.  If you want to link back to me, fine.  If you don't, fine.  It's up to you.

OK, on with my flashback...

This is me with my Pumi.  He's the monkey.

I have no memory of the lamb.  Sorry lamb.  This picture was taken when I was about 3.  We were stationed in San Diego at the time, thus the palm trees in the background.

I got Pumi for my 1st birthday from my Grandma (who is sometimes referred to on this blog as Gigi because that's what mine and Debbles kids called her).  I'm not sure what it is about Pumi that made him more special than any of my other toys, but he was.  He and I were inseparable between the ages of 1 and about 6 or so.  After that I just slept with him....until I was 18 and got married.  I could have easily posted any number of about 200 or more pictures of me with Pumi.  We were that thick.

Now he sits (or sort of slumps) in an obscure corner of mine and Big D's bedroom.  I pick him up every couple of weeks and dust him off.  He's 34 now, which is much harder on a stuffed monkey than a human...thank goodness.

If I'm feeling sad or particularly sentimental, I still cuddle and talk to him a little.  But don't tell anyone that because it might make me seem a bit weird, and I'd just die if anyone ever thought I was weird.

We tried to recreate the tradition with Harrison.  Nearing his 1st birthday we found Pumi-like monkeys at Cracker Barrel, and Gigi bought him one, but as you can see, this Pumi clone was not loved as much as the original.

This fresh-faced, brightly colored fellow just didn't cut it in the "special department" with my son.

I hope you enjoyed this edition of my newly installed "Flashback Friday."  If not, you can have your money back....every cent of it.  Join in any time.  I'd love to be a part of your flashbacks.  (Now, somehow, that just doesn't sound right, but I think you know what I mean....) 

• Comments (10) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link