The Terrible Catsafterme

Brad's Musings and Meanderings

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"Yay Eli, you're a tree sloth." - Julie Burton, "It's Your Move"

Archive for January, 2011

First Grade Begins

Saturday, January 22nd, 2011

My first summer on Winterset came to an end on August 29, 1978 and it was back to the grind –  my second out of thirteen grueling years of public school. I returned to Fairbrook Elementary, but this time instead of going to school in St. Andrew’s School next door, I joined the ranks of the kids who were in ‘numbered’ grades in the main school building. While it was true that we were the low men on the totem pole – or as some upper classmen referred to us, firsties – we had to start somewhere. The other big change was that I was now going to school for a full day, which began somewhere around 8am and ended at 3:10pm, as I recall. I braced myself for the big leagues. I had my picture taken on October 9 – at the age of 7 years, 7 days – to commemorate this occasion. Read the rest of this entry »

It’s a Marvin, Marvin, Marvin, Marvin Kaplan

Thursday, January 20th, 2011

I had been very disappointed back in February 2009, when I not only missed the Hollywood Show on the weekend of the 14th, but I also missed seeing Marvin Kaplan in a play that evening in Hollywood. Marvin was a funny character actor seen in numerous films and TV shows from the 1950’s until the modern day. In addition he provided the voice of Choo Choo in the Top Cat cartoons. You might recognize him bestas frequent Mel’s Diner patron Henry Beesmeyer in the TV show Alice. Or perhaps as Mr. Gordon in four episodes of Becker. Or the hotel desk clerk in Midnight Madness. Or even in a more ominous role like Uncle Pooch in Wild at Heart. Read the rest of this entry »

The Great Transformation of 2006

Tuesday, January 18th, 2011

First of all, another disclaimer. The pictures that go along with the posting (and most particularly the humorous one of Briana at right) do not in any way, shape, or form tell my story from this time period. They just happen to be the only pictures at all that exist of this time period, showing what Ashleigh was snapping away with her camera, while I was on the literal verge of snapping. This posting will cover the segment of my life from March 26 thru July 7, 2006. It was assembled with a heavy reliance on old emails, jottings in my work calendar, and my own memories. It tells of what I consider to be my great transformation from one person into an entirely different person in matter of three months. Read the rest of this entry »

Tim Kazurinsky

Sunday, January 16th, 2011

Of all of the celebrities whom I met on September 25, 2010, at the Hollywood Celebrity show in Chicago, I’d have to say that Tim Kazurinsky was the friendliest. He is probably best known as being a repertory cast member of Saturday Night Live from 1981-84, doing a wide variety of characters and celebrity impressions. He really seemed to be in his element when performing a crotchety old man such as Mr. Robinson’s (played by Eddie Murphy) landlord. One of my personal favorite roles of that of Pa Greavy in the John Belushi/Dan Aykroyd under-rated vehicle Neighbors. Read the rest of this entry »

December Pontification 1986

Saturday, January 15th, 2011

I have something interesting that helps me recall some events from December 1986. And even more so, it takes a peek inside my head during this time period. And what’s more, it’s all fake. But not really. The truth is that I somewhat cheated on my 7th period English assignment  from Mrs. Walters, where we were charged with writing a daily journal for almost a month (which included our Christmas break). I didn’t fill this thing in daily at all. In fact, I’m pretty sure I wrote most of it in study hall after I had returned to school following the holidays. Read the rest of this entry »