Random Thoughts on Friday

 When the weather changes drastically, as it has recently, its not uncommon for me to get sick.  I found myself in that situation resting and watching TV recently.

I found that there is a channel that just plays the old "Unsolved Mysteries"!  I watched a lot of that over those couple of days.  I forgot how interesting the shows were.

There were several segments of people looking for others in their life that they had lost- mostly lost loves, or people that had helped them in the past.

There were several missing people segments too.

Its so strange how now, with cameras everywhere and social media, its nearly impossible to lose track of someone....  not like before anyway.

I'm not pointing anything out new, but we have really come very far, very fast.

Niagara Falls Old Postcard

 Another great unused postcard showing Niagara Falls.  I am guessing this one was bought sometime in the 1950s.

Random Thoughts on Friday

 I was reading a clickbait article recently (I have to quit doing that).  It was a list put together of the most disappointing signature foods by state (I was surprised the Hot Brown didn't make the list).  Anyway, Nebraska's Runza was number 4.

Have you had a Runza?  They ARE big in Nebraska.  Its ground beef, onions, cabbage, and kraut baked inside of bread.  

I can't remember if I ever mentioned the story of spending my 21st birthday in Nebraska....  I probably have mentioned it, and I will likely mention it again....  but I spent a cold January in Nebraska during my college days.  That month a pretty big deal to the timeline of my life, and I enjoyed it very much.

Anyway, there was a Runza restaurant about half a mile from the dorm where I was staying (Midland Lutheran College, now Midland Lutheran University).  I walked there a few evenings for dinner.  They had a special where if you bought fries and a drink, you got a Runza for the price of the temperature at noon.  I don't think I ever paid more than a quarter for the Runza at that time.

Being away from home (at the time, it was the farthest away from home I had ever been by a lot), somewhat isolated, and in a cold environment- well its easy to get inside of your own mind and think about things.

On a couple of our trips out west we have stopped by that Runza.  I look forward to it.

We occasionally make Runzas at our house now and then...  but I think of Runza very fondly.

Runza deserves more love.

Greetings from Niagara Falls, Canada Old Postcard

 This is a fun postcard from many decades ago (any guesses, judging by those old cars?).  It was unsent and undated.

Random Thoughts on Friday

 I have mentioned the old elementary school I went to when I was little before- Utica Elementary in Utica Kentucky.  It folded back in 2009.  My time there was...  well, a few decades before that.

You can still see part of it from the road.  It was mostly demolished but the huge section that housed the gym is still there.  Farming equipment is usually around it; the property now being utilized for farming.

A couple of years before it closed, I got to go inside with a friend whose daughter was at that time a student.  The school that was massive in my memory wasn't as big as I remembered.  I notice small chairs and low to the ground sinks.  I remembered hundreds of kids in the cafeteria.  Looking at it years later I realized it couldn't have ever been that crowded.

My memories there are mostly of pure joy.  Sure, there were frustrating moments and all, but I always felt lucky to have come up in such a nice, small, community school.

One memory that sticks out involved leaving before Christmas break one year.  Our teacher, Mr. Tanner had gotten all of the students a copy of a book.  I do remember a few moans from the class, but I remember feeling very moved by the kind gesture.  I also remember making a point to read the book, since I really enjoyed reading then, like I do now.

I hunted down a copy of that book and plan to read it again.

Robert Shields, Sedona, Arizona

 

Before I leave Arizona (mentally and on the blog) I wanted to mention Robert Shields.

If you were born...  really in the 80s or later, that name might not mean anything to you.  I BARELY remember Roberts Shields, from Shields and Yarnell, but I do remember that the name was pretty big at one time.  I remember seeing them on variety shows as a kid.

On our first visit to Arizona, I stopped by a jewelry shop in Sedona.  I saw several framed pictures and posters of the mime team on the wall.

I asked the lady there who the Shields and Yarnell fan was and she informed me that Robert Shields owned the shop!

I thought that was pretty cool and made a few purchases.

A few years later, on our second trip, we stopped by the same shop.  I asked a lady there is Robert still owned the business, but he did not.

He is still making art, and I checked his website.  He has some really interesting pieces reasonably priced.

Mothman.... in Berea Kentucky

You know I love Berea Kentucky....  and Mothman.

Not too long ago we were walking our dogs in Berea, and I saw this sign- featuring the Mothman statue in Point Pleasant West Virginia.