Ashleigh’s Graduation Party Weekend
Sunday, June 29th, 2008
The Summer fun continued. I was actually a lit bit nervous and anxious about hosting Ashleigh’s graduation party due to the money, time, and hard work that would go into getting everything prepared. Thankfully, due to help from my Mom, Bob, Jackie, and Christi, I think we all pulled it off. But we did have WAY too much food. Saturday afternoon, June 21, 2008 saw a lot of preparatory activity in the morning of straightening the house and getting the outside ready. This would be the first time that I had ever hosted people in my decent-sized back yard so I wanted it to look okay. Read the rest of this entry »
…into an autograph! Because she was pretty and because I often watched Wheel of Fortune while growing up, I sent off an autograph request to the lovely Vanna White on September 12, 1997. I remember this show from the days not long after my age was adding on a second digit - in the days when contestants would take their winnings and ‘go shopping’, buying such an odd assortment of prizes as a vaccum cleaner, a painting of a smoking dog, a trip for two to Merry Old England, and a bag of licorice. Everything was way overpriced, the licorice probably costing about $25. 
I headed into Fathers Day weekend 2008 with plenty of plans to continue my Summer of adventure. Jackie and I braved Friday the 13th of June by heading out into the stormy, cloudy weather to visit Dad at the Hudson Central Regional meet that was taking place at the Holiday Inn in Fairborn. I had hoped to meet up with an old friend for another patented reunion, but she was scared of the weather and decided to stay in for the night. Dad had been at a cruise-in at the Quaker Steak and Lube and was back indoors at the Holiday Inn when we got there. The rain stopped for just long enough for us to browse the few dozen Hudsons that had been driven in from all over the midwest region. Jackie and I then headed out to Red Robin, one of our favorite burger joints.
Fairmount, Indiana is known for one thing: it is the boyhood town of legendary actor James Dean, who is also buried in the local cemetery. Of course if you are a fan of the cartoon strip Garfield or a fan of British rock star Morrissey (oh yes, I am both I suppose), you might know Fairmount because cartoonist Jim Davis was born here and because Morrissey filmed his video Suedehead here in 1988. But nevertheless, the town is known the world over as the home of James Dean. I had been here once before – on July 21, 2004, but since I was in the neighborhood again on Sunday, June 8, 2008, this town became the second stop on the first “website-driven re-visits of places I’ve already been but have to see again because I was too stupid to take photos of myself by the landmarks when I was there the first time” tour. That name just rolls off the tongue, doesn’t it? 
The only thing I remember about early 1977 was that it was cold. Actually I don’t even remember that. But considering that this particular year began in January, it’s a pretty safe bet. In truth, I’m sure I have many memories stored away from the first part of the year, it’s just that I certainly can’t truthfully assign any of them to this period because I have no idea when they actually occurred. All I know for absolute certainty is that I learned to tie my shoes in January… and on an unrelated note, my Mom set the pup tent that I got for Christmas up in my room and there it stayed for a good while. This was where my friend Andrea and I first began playing doctor and it went on from there…