Tuesday, February 28, 2017

Always Vice Versa

Gemini: Stay on top of a parent's or a higher-up's request. A fog seems to permeate through your creative and dynamic ideas. You feel good and have less of an expectation of others right now and vice versa.

Mom's only request was whether I was coming to visit this week, stated in the typical I-don't-want-to-be-a-bother maternal manner: "I think we were talking about Friday but don't worry if that doesn't work."

Right.

The fog that's been permeating through all of me - not just the creative and dynamic sides - of late is a bad case of early seasonal allergies with a healthy dose of dog hair exposure at Sunday's party.

It was so dire, I washed down Benadryl with the final sips of my champagne last night.

But I did wake up feeling good, so good it must have shown in my walk because it was one of those days when everyone smiled and had something to say to me.

Walking across the street in front of my apartment, I passed a guy who must have recognized me because his first question was how many miles I planned to walk today. He gave me a thumbs up when I said six. "There's nothing old about you, there's nothing young about you. You're just right!" he said, continuing down the street.

As the first person to speak to me today, he delivered the goods.

A woman with short white hair and manicured pink nails standing in front of St. Paul's smiled and pointed a pink finger at my shorts. "Seems kind of optimistic to me," she said about bare legs on a 60 degree day, clearly unaware I was already sweating from climbing to the Capital from the river.

Two men walking toward me on Broad Street, one cis-gendered and the other clad in blue spandex pants and a hot pink turban with a bow in the front, parted like the Red Sea, their arms extended for me to pass through.

"Love the hat, honey!" the turban said. "Work it!" Already am.

Work involved finishing a restaurant review and interviewing a curator before I got to check out the Historical Society's enormous new exhibition, "Toys of the '50s, '60s and '70s."

Using period living rooms to evoke the decades when the toys and games were popular, the sheer number of items included was enough to dredge up long-forgotten memories, while informative signs told you things about them that you'd never have known as a kid.

Probably because your parents wouldn't have wanted you to.

I don't know about you, but I had no idea that Twister had been reviled as a sex game when it came out. Seems that using human bodies as playing pieces was considered taboo in the mid-sixties.

Nor had I been aware that when Mr. Potato Head was originally released in the '50s, you had to supply your own potato for the head, which necessarily follows that imaginative tots could have fashioned a Mr. Onion Head or Mr. Eggplant Head, assuming an Eisenhower-era Mom would have allowed such a thing.

There was crazy stuff like Alka-Seltzer-fueled rockets with fail safes for kids who couldn't resist using extra tablets. A '70s-era environmental test kit with tests strips that clearly read, "Contains lead." A chemistry set with radio-active materials involved. Lawn darts called Jarts which were eventually recalled when one pierced a little girl's skull and killed her.

And don't get me started on Baby Brother Tender Love from the '70s, the first anatomically correct baby doll. On the progressive side, it was available in a Black as well as Caucasian version, although there was no word on whether the anatomy size changed with the skin color.

I'm here to tell you it wasn't all sweetness and light at the toy exhibit, but it was a lot of fun.

Each of the period living rooms had a TV and with a push of a button, toy commercials from that era would play, providing a glimpse of cringe-worthy mid-century advertising targeted at America's gullible youth.

With less of an expectation of others right now, a last-minute invitation to a friend's house for wine and conversation provided just the right way to wile away an unplanned evening since he wasn't admitting to expecting anything of me, either.

Which is not to say, all things considered, that a game of Twister wouldn't have been a whole lot of fun. After all, I read somewhere that it was a day for feeling good.

40 comments:

  1. Good Morning K,

    Though I know you're a Post subscriber, (I read it, however not religiously)...as a NY Times subscriber I must admit that they, "the Times", have the market cornered on interesting obits. Todays obit, "Cynthia Heimel, Fearless Sex Columnist, dies at 70" is one... Never heard of her but probably read her work since I was an avid reader of the "Voice", where she had a column. Also in Penthouse.. but my collegiate roommate covered that.. (naturally I looked).

    From today's column she seems to have known a thing or two about men & women. The sexes -- they're always at it, aren't they? She was an author to, "If You Can't Live Without Me, Why Aren't You Dead Yet?"(1991), "Get Your Tongue Out of My Mouth, I'm Kissing You Goodbye"(1993) & "If You Leave Me, Can I Come Too?" (1995). Love the titles...not sure if they were any good but maybe pretty funny. She must have been a character... Her remark after being fired by a new incoming editor at the Voice, "I feel like I've walked into a Kafka novel where old stupid guys get to fire you."

    Life is made up of these people...US...thank god.

    Well that's what I do first thing early in the morning, read the Times/hard copy or on-line.

    Winter's back, bundle up...tomorrow's the First!

    Carroll

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  2. I saw a documentary about NYT obit writers and it was fascinating! I was just reading Nanette Fabray's obit in the paper the other day and it was full of stuff I didn't know, much like your Cynthia Heimel obit. The name doesn't ring a bell, butt, like you, I probably read her at some point.
    High of 60 today, so that's not winter, that's one more step toward spring, at least in my book! Carroll, you know I'm eager for warm weather to arrive and stay!

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  3. Carry On Birdlips!!! I'm out the door, have a good one!

    Carroll

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  4. OK Karen here's a quick one for you -- What were some of the two or three best movies you enjoyed last year? Or what were the movies that you enjoyed the most whether the best or not...

    French Film Fest...coming soon..

    I see where the St. Vincent show has been moved back to May. Plenty of time for it to get hot inside the National.

    Looking pretty dreary outside to me....

    Glad it's Thursday...out to eat tonight....

    stay warm, not quite time for the tights yet?

    Carroll

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  5. OK... too many questions.

    carroll

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  6. Nope, I was just out of town yesterday. "Lady Bird," and "Call Me By Your Name" come to mind immediately.

    What's nice about the FFF this year is the new seats at the Byrd!

    Thanks for the info about ST. Vincent. I have a ticket for that and hadn't heard that the date had been changed from tonight. Good to know.

    Looks mighty windy out there, but I'll walk anyway. Where'd you eat out last night?

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  7. Demi on MacArthur Ave..much better than I expected!!

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  8. Demi's --- it used to be the old stale Omega Greek restaurant. This is much better -I had a Lamb loin, several interesting sides & a couple of glasses of Montellina Prosecco. Very Nice... yes The Byrd will be better...Better get out your kite! Don't blow away K.

    Carroll

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  9. I'd heard good things about Demi's. Yep, I about blew away on today's walk, Carroll. Felt like I was being pushed a couple of times!

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  10. Yep back at you. A tree limb took out the power line coming into my house. Ripped the triplex right outta it's bracket, phone lines to. Still got juice but have a hot line a few feet off the ground.

    Gotta go down soon & check on my boat & place on the Bay. Supposed the coastline is gettin' hammered. All your walkin' -- you've probably got strong legs. Will serve you well in today's breeze. Glad it didn't snow!

    Pretty out isn't it? Bet the river was something else. I saw a couple guys out in a big blue raft a week or so ago climbing up to the top of one of those old Civil War masonry trestle supports, (piers). The one with the solar collector/gauges up top. I know they had a grand view. You're alive when you're on the water. Becomes apart of you. But who am I talking to -- you know this.

    Have a good afternoon Karen.

    Carroll

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  11. what a day!!!! Breezing UP!!!

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  12. Yesterday was quite a blow....no power until after midnight...walked outside around two, moon at flood; clear, clouds swirling. Spooky almost hypnotic. A scene out of Jules Verne. Cool to cold but OK with a sweater. a "bright" night, reminded me of childhood memories on the beach.

    Hope you're waking up to a good day. So far a fine morning.

    Carroll

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  13. Getting a late start today after a night where my wind chimes woke me up a lot. Looks mighty gusty out there, but I'll give it a shot anyway. As my Dad told me yesterday, I just need to put rocks in my pocket. Enjoy your time at the bay. I'll look at the moon tonight...

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  14. Karen,

    Things change... may be mid-next week before I go...Dad's advice sounds good -- just don't fall in, (V. Wolfe).

    My chimes rockin' to --

    CW

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  15. Not clear outside as they said it would be. At this hour moon is still there..didn't rise 'til late...hope you don't think me a Wolf-man or something....you can probably take those rocks out today. Enjoy your Sabbath & the big fat Post.

    cw

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  16. Always happy to awaken to sunshine after so many gray days, cw. Post looks full of good reading today. Enjoy your day, too!

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  17. It turned out to be a really nice day!

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  18. K...

    Know you state you have no TV...however Oscars were good last night...but then I've always been a fan...Started watching the year "Midnight Cowboy" won. Not sure if I've ever missed a year since...

    Chilly Willy outside!!!

    Not a bad sky though... Going to be nice.

    Actually I do not miss the wind & I usually love a stiff breeze...at least on the water.

    Hope you're gettin' off to a good start. BTW...both the films you mentioned looked very good...especially "Call Me by My Name".

    Until later....

    Carroll

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  19. So it was a chilly day with a beautiful blue sky an sunshine, not too bad for early March.

    You should check out those films as they're both quite good, Carroll. "CMBYN" had such gorgeous cinematography and such a moving story line that I may see it again...

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  20. Yes the "new seatszzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz' Went to the Byrd last night. Finally!

    Karen it's taken a good part of my lifetime for them to finally arrive.

    Stay warm..

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  21. Saw "Shape of Water" last night. sort of reminded me of the weather. Not bad, picture of the year? Well that's a tough one. Charming, fairy-tell, fantasy love story. Packed house at the Byrd. Try not to get soggy.

    Carroll

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  22. Carroll, I've only been in Richmond since 1986, but I feel like I've been waiting for new Byrd seats forever, too.

    Haven't seen "Shape of Water," but may try to catch it at the Byrd while it's there. Saw the previews for it several times...a bit fanciful for my taste, but I love the actress.

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  23. K- So did you go?

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  24. Journeyed to the Bay yesterday. Still cold & windy...a steady blow from the west across the water. Some pelicans are back, (unbelievable), as it still seems too cold for them. Also two pairs of oyster catchers. Guess they must know something we don't. As soon as it warms up maybe you need to hit your favorite beach for a little vim & vigor...sink those winter blues. Nothing like fresh salt air & sunshine to pick things up.

    Meanwhile I was down in the bottom of my boat trying to find where my diesel fuel was leaking from...stinky mess. So much for the romance of the sea!

    Carry on Trooper!

    Carroll

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  25. OK..so it's a pretty blue day outside. The quiet solitude of winter thing... or maybe something else. The beauty of the season..the tail end.

    CW

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  26. P.S. So your fav "dish" made the cover of Style. Did you actually consume that baby?? Looks pretty awesome to me. Bet it was a mess but what the heck.

    I still have several older cousins who possess the knowledge to re-create my late grandma's pimento cheese spread. Thank God!!

    carroll

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  27. so what happened to that hour??

    cw

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  28. No clue, Carroll, but it'll make for lighter evenings and I'm all for that!

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  29. the reviews for Brenner Pass are so positive. naturally a good thing but so good I juz want to take a jab at it. like when in the River City head up to "Donner Pass". Lots of tasty morsels. ingredients? take a bite... enjoy...besides it's hip, be on the make not the move. .. i must be the only one who hasn't been, sure I've rode my ten-speed by there a million times a million years ago. one day i'll walk in..

    c

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  30. It's hip and new but there are plenty of places I'd prefer to sit myself down for a meal in RVA. Let me know what you think once you've been, cw.

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  31. Winter Wonder land Karen!!!

    Ok..Ok..enough all ready...

    Where's the Red, Red Robin?

    Carroll

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  32. Think beautiful day!! obviously no more postings on this old dateline...however thanks for indulgencing me this brief span of one on one.

    juz wanted to keep things going---

    cw

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  33. Yes, indeed! Just back from the parents' house at the river and helping Mom make soup.
    You been down that way lately, cw?

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  34. Got back from the Bay last Friday afternoon...working on my boat. Windy as hell, but good to. Nothing like salt air. BTW what kind of soup? Karen...FFF almost here!

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  35. Potato cheddar soup. She makes it for her entire bridge club, along with soda bread for a belated St. Patrick's Day lunch.

    I'm browsing the FFF program right now!

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  36. as always too many movies!!

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