Turn the set on, it's time for my program

My earliest memories of television watching include the Lawrence Welk Show. Watching the show now, because I still tune in, I can see why it appealed to a kid.  I was probably drawn to the bubbles, the music and movement, the big smiles and once we got a color television set, the technicolored costumes.  Captain Kangaroo, Mr Rogers, Banana Splits, The Monkees...it was all music, movement and color.

While dining at Houston's a few weeks ago, I overheard someone about my age say, " Yeah, I went up to the desk to checkout the DVDs and the librarian lady asked me if I was checking these out for a grandparent. I said no, I  just love Lawrence Welk. They are out on DVD!"  When I watch the show I don't know where I go exactly but I'm gone, complete veg.  Perhaps I should look into thes DVDs. 

I really loved Anacani because my mother did. They were both from the same part of Mexico. I wanted to be Anacani one day. The Lennon sisters were part Mexican-American but I never knew that until much later. My mother loved Welk's accent. When they show the audience members dancing I always remember hearing my mom say, "How sad, all those people are dead now."  Well, I'm sure they are now.

Even in my teens I could still stomach the Champagne Lady and accordians. It contains much that is cringeworthy.  At the same time, maybe for some people, the show has the ability to placate on some level. For some reason.  At the same time, I understand how the Stepford streak, all that polyester and Gleem tainted smiles could creep a person out. I wish I had stopped that Houston's customer to ask  her if she just sort of goes blank while she watches the show. When it's over I wonder if she feels like she just time traveled. For me, it is like a good nap or something. I wonder when Lawrence Welk will cease to echo at nursing homes. I know of at least two people of my generation who will be watching the program.

That there is some strange weather you've been having...

Look what just blew in...

Marjoe

We watched the 1972 documentary on Marjoe Gortner this evening. I wonder if he was the inspiration for Jimmy Joe Jeeter played by Sparky Marcus on Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman.  The footage of Marjoe at age four is  something out of a Little Rascals film or perhaps David Lynch. Articulate, intelligent and philosophical, Marjoe is a talented performer whose views on  being a preacher/con artist are really poignant.  The filmmakers did an awesome job and I truly don't think that even the Maysles could have created a more compelling portrait.

Marjoe is a  fascinating character and I'm surprised there isn't an updated documentary on his life since he stopped preaching. What did he end up doing exactly, how did he get there  and what happened to Agnes?

No, not a misogynist

The Gourmet Tamale Mistake

We decided to get the Gourmet Tamales form the Texas Tamale Company that came in a cute little bag because they seemed healthier with their No Trans Fats and NO LARD claims. However, when I got home I noticed soybean oil was listed twice in the ingredients. So back to the tamale recipes and learning that skill so we can make our own. Mr. C has been showing interest. Instead of lard, Spectrum shortening could be used, no soybean in that. Could I track down masa from corn that has not been exposed to GMOs?  {sigh} Good luck to me.  Perhaps I can find some way to get the Irish to make some and then ship it to me? Ireland GM-Free!

More Valentines

Made some special ones for my Mother and Grandparents. The box has been filling up since the party. I don't want to stop. I don't know that I can stop. It's so addictive.

Car Phones 1978

We watched Roller Boogie (1978) last night. Once we discovered the trailer on youtube we had to Netflix the film ASAP! It starred Linda Blair as a rich, Beverly Hills brat seen here sporting the epitome of luxe, a car phone in her vintage roadster. The movie was uber fun, lots of cool and tres cheezee rollerskating moves. It really did live up to all of our expectations.

Realities

En route to Seminole Canyon this weekend my mother told me I had been to Marfa when I was four or five years old. I thought I had no recollection of this. She said my Grandparents drove us all to Marfa to board a train headed for Mexico and there was nothing in Marfa. Still no recollection. I asked my Grandparents who told me they sure did remember that trip because Mexican Federales were positioned  on top of the train cars because we were heading into the mountains and then I remembered everything! I always had that  memory of fully armed, scary Mexican Federales standing on train cars but always thought that memory was from some movie. It was no movie, it was real and it was between 1975 and 1976. 

I always thought I had seen the remains of the house used in the movie Giant but didn't know we had actually visited the old film set from the highway. I always remembered seeing the silouette of an old house  from the road and was impressed with how it sat against nothingness and loved the nothingness more than the house. It was windy and I was bored but the adults were going on and on.  I filed this memory to maybe a visit to Langtry or a dream I had.  It was part of that Marfa trip.

Dusting off old memories and putting them back into place is something that doesn't happen often. I now have a list of memories to ask my mother about. I'd like to know what else is real or only part of a dream or a movie.

I do recall sitting on my mother's lap in a car once and turning around to look at my baby brother in the back seat. He was tiny and his feet and hands were covered as he slept on a blanket stretched out in the backseat. The sun began to come through the car window and it illuminated his face.  Then I looked out the window and saw nothingness.  I would like to know where we were headed, maybe my Mother remembers the first trips made right after my brother was born.

Bruised

Seems the fall I took at my skating lesson was harder than I thought. When I landed I felt pain but my coach said skate it off and that wasn't hard to do. I only went back to try the cones again. I didn't fall due to a bad skating move, I fell because I lifted my leg way  above the cone, for fun, too see if I could and then fell. My coach didn't think it was a graceful nor a smart move. I skated for two hours after that fall.

A bruise did not appear there for several days however I had a dull ache that just worked to distract me from everything. I saw the doctor who showed me the x-ray and said it was the deepest bruise she had seen in a long time. She showed me all the nasty shadows and said six to eight weeks and it should heal on its own.

I looked up rolller derby injuries and sure enough, my killer, mega-bruise could be found on all of those injury pages.  I am holding off skating  until I heal. If I were to fall right now, it would really hurt. I don't think I would fall although I feel it would be my bad luck to fall.  My coach thinks I'm a badass, that is what he said a week later when I told him what came of the fall. He said the fall looked bad but I got right up so he figured it wasn't too bad. He said my skating a full session later made him think it was nothing. Then I skated full sessions for a week after that.

What I don't like though is people telling me skating is dangerous because of this recent injury. Stories about blood clots stemming from hip surgeries and death by all sorts of head injuires, blood clots and so on.  I try to explain, I wasn't even doing a skating move, I was being stupid.  Lesson learned. The floor is cement not hardwood. I heard of a hardwood rink in town on the east side. I will be checking that out soon.

Some co-workers got together and thought it would be funny to send me this lil note:

Dear Roller Derby Queen,
It has been brought to our attention that you are in need of a serious intervention. To be more specific, an intervention involving the selection of a more safe and appropriate past-time!

We, therefore, have chosen a list of safe, enjoyable, and non-mobile hobbies than hopefully can replace your current addiction to the roller rink and its mesmerizing speed and whirling winds and sparkling disco lights…not to mention all that great retro music!

So, we hope you will choose one of the following activities and send those roller skates to Roller Rink Heaven!
Here are your options:
1. Knitting (in a chair)
2. Crocheting (in a chair)
3. Reading (in a chair)
4. Watching movies (in a chair)
5. Watching TV (in a chair)
6. Shopping at a Mall (in a wheelchair)
7. Talking on the Phone (from bed)
8. Petting your Chickens (from a seated position on the ground)
9. Light gardening (from a kneeling position on kneepads and foam kneeler)
10. Snacking (anywhere except the Roller Rink)
We hope you will appreciate all the concern that has gone in to this written intervention and remember that we only have the best interests in mind for your elbows, knees, and hips!
No need to respond. Merely ponder!
CARRI
(Citizens Against Roller Rink Injuries)

Has it really been five years?

Five years of typing out most of my ponderments and some of my opinions du jour. I have shared plenty of things with you. Still, I must remain a woman of mystery. Ruth Gordon would agree.