Random Thoughts on Friday- Halloween

 I have mentioned it before- I love Halloween.  Halloween and Christmas are such fun, festive, colorful and nostalgic times of the year.

I try hard each year to indulge in all that the holidays have to offer.  The days to celebrate are limited and short.  I want to experience all of the holidays I can get each year.

When I was a kid, Halloween was always such a blast.  I remember dressing up as a soldier, a robot, Robin (my cousin was Batman) and a monster.  I remember going to some haunted houses in my very young days too- a pretty tame one (that still scared me) at my elementary school.  Some people in Owensboro decorated their house up for trick or treaters too and that was fun.

I DID get to take in some of the season this year.  I went to several seasonal plays and that was great.  I didnt make it to a haunted house though.  I did watch some scary movies.

Unfortunately, health, family concerns and work interfered with some plans.  It happens.

I enjoyed it all though I didn't take in as much of it as I hoped to.

That's OK though.  On to Christmas.

Tyler Davidson Fountain at Night- Cincinnati, Ohio

This postcard was sent in 1957.  I love the coloring on it.  It says-

This fountain showing the "Genius of Water," dominates Fountain Square in the business section of Cincinnati.  It was cast at the royal foundry in Munich and was given to the city by Henry Probasco in 1871 in memory of his brother-in-law.

Swan Cove on Erie Bay, Erie PA

Sent in 1937!!

Random Thoughts on Friday: The Bad Boss

 A friend was in a situation recently where their work brought in a new boss.  The boss was hyped up for months before they arrived.  A firm was utilized to find the perfect person for the job.  This new person would be making bank too.

The new guy came in.  Within hours, my friend had doubts.  The boss went to lunch with some of the other bosses; they came back with scared looks on their faces.

The new guy cussed out some people and complained about everything.  

By the next day, this manager was fired.

Oddly, I have heard similar stories to this one a lot lately.  In my own career, I can say I have had this happen to companies I have worked for twice.  In my experiences, these were people that must have impressed someone- at some point...  but when they were put into the position they were clueless.

At one company I helped take care of some of the financial numbers.  The new boss came to my office, and discussed this whole plan to utilize outside providers because they were upset with our staff.  I explained clearly (and slowly) that if we did that, we would still be paying our staff AND the outside providers too.  The situation wasn't that complicated- but anyone in our business could pick up on what they were proposing which would basically cause us to pay two people to do one job.

When they left my office, I felt sick knowing that this person could bury our company easily.

Luckily, they only last a couple of months, but, like my friend recently, we wondered how they talked and interviewed their way into the job.

Shawn Choen's "College Girl, Missing"

 I will often pick up a true crime book if it relates to something that happened in an area that I know well.  

So, someone recommended Shawn Cohen's "College Girl, Missing:  The True Story of How A Young Woman Disappeared in Plain Sight" which came out in 2024.  It covers the disappearance of Lauren Spierer which occurred a decade earlier, in Bloomington Indiana.  Spoiler alert- it's still unsolved.

Don't let that stop you from reading his book or looking at the case.  It is a fascinating one.  It is still solvable too.

The author gets very involved in the case.  He is open about clashing with the young lady's family but becoming very friendly with them later.  Cohen's writing is enjoyable and honest- and very personal.

About 53 pages in, he gives a very real explanation of "missing white woman syndrome."

I remember the first time I heard that phrase.  It kind of explains itself immediately.  

Cohen is very vivid about it, and how this case has benefitted from it.

"White girl.  Affluent.  College.  Blond.  Missing."

It gets attention.  It gets clicks.  The author says he was often told to focus on these stories in his career.  Stories from the affluent white areas get more attention- more readers.

I won't paraphrase him too much, but he is almost poetic describing this well-known concept.  Of course, social, economic and racial factors play into the story too.

The book is well written and covers a case that stil needs attention.

Random Thoughts on Friday: Its October!

 It is October, my favorite month of the year.  I try really hard to do as much of the seasonal celebration as possible.  Heck, for me, October really starts in July or August.  I do try to be in an October state of mind all year though.

Things get really packed into October though....  and I love it.  I love seeing the displays in the stores, I do love pumpkin flavored everything, and I have said it before- cookies taste better when they are decorated like a jack-o-lantern or ghost.

This year, we have been able to attend several seasonal type plays.  I guess we have done that each year, but it has been particularly special to me this year.  As I have searched online, I have found that there are a lot more theaters around me than I realized!  As I have looked, I have realized I am going to have to be selective....  I can't do them all.

Feeding the Gulls at Daytona Beach Florida

I love the colors on this postcard, sent from Daytona Beach in 1950.

Random Thoughts On Friday- My Next Book! Strange Kentucky Travels 2

 I just wanted to put up a note that I am almost finished with my second book!  I am pretty darn proud of it, as I am my first one.  

I was hoping to have this one out by Halloween, but it's not going to happen.  It should be done at that point, but it will likely be available probably around mid-November...  I have a few small loose ends to tie up.  My friend Holly is again taking some pictures that I took and touching them up for the cover.  I loved what she did with my first book.  She put something together for me already and it has blown me away.

This book is going in a more "visitor" direction.  Think aliens and UFOs.  I am covering some of Kentucky's most interesting stories in that area- and going out to visit the locations where they happened.  I am making room for Goatman, Mothman and a few other legendary creatures too.  AND, I am going to fit some information in on a legendary massive boat and a famous bear.

Thanks to those friends who picked up a copy of the first one.  I hope you like this one just as much.

Vaults of Old St. Louis Cemetery- New Orleans LA.

Sent in 1952, the back of this postcard notes-

The vaults in St. Louis cemetery, nearly all more than one hundred years old, decorated lavishly with flowers on All Saints Day, November 1st, according to a colorful custom characteristic of New Orleans.

Atlantic City Auditorium and Convention Hall, NJ

"Its still the same old Atlantic City" someone tells a friend via this postcard in 1934.

Random Thoughts on Friday

 I am getting to the age where some of my friends from childhood have passed away.  Not many, but a few.

One of my best friends through middle school and high school was Daphne.  We hung out in the same circles and did a lot together.  She was one of those people I felt like I truly grew up with.  Almost everything that happened during that period of my life- she was there.

We had a falling out at one point.  I have forgotten what it was about, but we didn't talk for several months.

During that time, I got a job that was pretty easy, the hours were not great though.  Basically, I had to keep a casual eye on a few things, but it was a midnight until 8am gig.  They literally told me to bring in some movies to watch while I was doing the job to keep from getting too bored.

I went to a local video rental place (remember those) and I discovered that my old friend Daphne was working there.  Again, we had our falling out....  but we could be civil.  I was going to at least ask her how she was doing as I rented my tapes.

I remember she didn't charge me, and she gave me a ton of "free rental" coupons.  I think it was her way of apologizing.  It was very kind and very appreciated at the time.

We were friends again, and it was good hanging out here and there after that.  

Later in life, she would move to Tennessee, but we would still get together with her here on the road.

I was devastated in 2018 when I found out she had passed away.... but I was glad that we got passed our differences years earlier.

Jackson Lake and Teton Mountains, Wyoming

This is the region of historic Jackson Hole, hide-out of frontier day outlaws, now the location of many fine modern Dude Ranches. Grand Teton National Park includes the soaring Teton Range.

The Automat- as famous as the New York Skylineitself

This unused postcard shows the Automat.  it says-

One hundred and fifty-six HORN & HARDART Automat-Cafeterias, Restaurants and Retail Shops in New York and Philadelphia serving over half a million patrons a day."

It also gives a brief promo for the New York World's Fair, so I am thinking this one came out in 1939.

Random Thoughts on Friday: September 11th

 I know I have mentioned it before, but I am in the mood to talk about it again.....  9/11.

We were living in Cleveland Ohio at the time, and I was still doing social work.  I was downtown helping a client apply for some benefits.  I had a lot of clients, and this was one that was only on my caseload a couple of weeks.  They were pretty high functioning and really didn't need my help.  I can't even remember their first name as I think about it.

We were in an office, and I kept hearing about planes crashing.  People around me were talking about it.  I asked a staff person at the office what was going on.  He told me that a couple of planes had crashed into the World Trade Center.  My brain totally didn't get it at the time.  I just assumed someone in the military or at a tower screwed up and told two planes the wrong information, causing the crashes.

I talked to another staff person there and they explained that two planes had crashed, and at least a couple more had been hijacked and were still in the sky.  I do remember someone mentioning that military fighter jets were following one, and they may possibly shoot it down.  By then, I understood roughly what was going on.

A couple of local DJs were talking to someone they knew in NYC and they were giving updates.  I listened to them through the day.  I still kept my appointments and did my job, though everything that day was kind of edited down.

We had our British friends staying at our house too.  They started watching coverage after the first plane hit, and they saw the second one hit the second tower on live TV.

Since then, I have been to the crash sites and have mentioned them on this blog.

Random Thoughts on Friday: Music Clubs

 I heard on the radio that Columbia House was finally going out of business.  I honestly wasn't aware that they were still in business.  If you told me they folded 10 years ago, or 20 years ago, I would have believed you.

Most people remember their deal- you could get something like a dozen albums, tapes or CDs for a penny, but you had to agree to buy a few more later at regular price plus shipping.    BMG had a similar club/deal.

Most people got the initial batch of albums then quickly forgot about the club and ignored future mailings.

I remember one kid in middle school saying that he had some albums sent to the address of a vacant home on his street, which he claimed when they were delivered.

I joined these clubs several times and completed my membership honestly each time.  Even if you were honest, it was a great deal back in the day.  Also, if you referred a friend, you got an extra 4 or so albums.  I literally referred myself and got the extra albums more than once.

Even for those of us who have always loved physical media, there was a point where this stopped being a good deal.

When I moved to Cleveland in the late 90s, I found used CD shops everywhere.  EVERYWHERE.  Of course, the big hit albums that everyone had were plentiful, and they were marked down quickly.  For several years, rarely did I pay more than a couple of bucks for a standard CD.  It was great.

It still kind of is.  

I still scavenge used book and music stores for CDs, but I have most of what I want.

Those days of getting excited about your box full of CDs from Columbia House are long gone.

I will occasionally pay up for a CD or album, if I am buying it directly from an artist, or if there is something special about it.

Suspension Bridge and View from the Kentucky side of the Ohio, Covington, KY

This old postcard shows Ohio from Covington.  Its is very old, but unused.

Random Thoughts on Friday: Bootleg concert shirts

 I saw an article the other day about counterfeit t-shirts at concerts.  It was a discussion about the value of knock off shirts, often sold in the parking lot at bigger venue shows.

These days I rarely go to concerts, but there was a time in my life when it wasn't uncommon for me to go to multiple in a week.  I have had a lot of concert shirts in my time.  

A few I have saved, though I have passed many on to some of the kids of friends when they have asked for them.

Probably the first few shirts (legit and counterfeit/fan made) were Grateful Dead ones.  The band, and the fans were great about making cool, colorful shirts.  I had a ton at one time.  I remember buying several around venues before and after shows.

I remember buying a cool Tori Amos shirt from a guy after a show in 1998.  Literally, right after I bought it, security chased the guy off.

Probably the same year, I bought a beautiful tie-dyed long sleeve shirt after leaving a Bob Dylan show.  I felt no guilt whatsoever about not buying an official one- Dylan's performance was terrible that night, and I thought he owed me anyway.

On my was to see the Eagles on their first reunion tour, a guy was holding up some really cool shirts he made right at the exit off the interstate.  He probably sold at least one to every other car, including mine.

After a Kiss show on their first original line up reunion tour I crossed paths with a guy selling very cool shirts in the parking lot.  The design was a bit off (right year, wrong tour dates, etc) but they were still very cool.  He was looking to unload quick, and I bought several from him for less than $10 each.  Several friends got one for Christmas that year.

I would love to hear from others who bought unlicensed shirts at concerts.

1954 postcard showing Denver Colorado

This postcard was sent to a friend in Indiana in 1954.  The sender talks about touring Colorado, and experiencing hot weather out west.

Random Thoughts on Friday- What If

 I was at an event the other night with my wife, and another couple.  We started talking, and I mentioned to them the story of when I flipped a four-wheeler upside down when I was a teenager.  I walked away unscathed, but it was a miracle.

We all joked about it..... what if things hadn't worked out so well.

With a bit of dark humor, the REAL possibility of my getting hurt permanently (or worse) was talked about.

We joked about the 3 of them hanging out that night, without me.....  just a fourth, empty seat.

It was a bit sad, and I did spend a moment thinking about...  "what if".

I wouldn't have gone to college and met my future wife.  She (and I) would have never met our friends.

Then,you have to take that next step when considering such things.

I'm sure there are holes in my life where friends I could have made died or had life altering moments before I had the opportunity to meet them.

The White House

This postcard was sent in 1915.  I am not sure of the sender is serious or not, but he boasts of dining with the President (which would have been Woodrow Wilson at the time)!

"The Lost Colony Murder on the Outer Banks: Seeking Justice for Brenda Joyce Holland" by John Railey

While on our recent road trip through the Carolinas, I picked up a few books on local stories, strangeness and crimes.  One volume I picked up was John Railey's "The Lost Colony Murder on the Outer Banks:  Seeking Justice for Brenda Joyce Holland".

The History Press again delivers with a nice, complete and easy to read volume on an unsolved case.

In 1967, young Brenda Joyce Holland starts work in the season play production of "the Lost Colony".  Being friendly, kind and attractive made her popular among the actors and locals.

Sadly, she went missing and her remains were later found in water, though the cause of death was found to be strangulation.  This was no accident.

The investigation involves several young men who knew or dated her, and a local dentist who was married to a young lady who looked a lot like Brenda.

mishandled evidence and a false confession derail the investigation, but author John Railey is confident he knows what happened.  In fact, he devotes several of the last pages to telling what he believed happened that night, pointing his finger firmly at one suspect.

This is one of the most interesting true crime books I have read...  and the author gets bonus points for his own research and for wrapping this one up as completely as possible.
 

Random Thoughts on Friday: More thoughts on lower level sports

I have always been a fan of minor league sports, especially baseball.  It is always fun attending games at the smaller parks, watching the young guys with something to prove.

It's cheaper being a fan at the lower levels.  It is more rewarding too.  The last couple of major league games I went to were pushing the $100 mark for an OK ticket.

A couple of minor league teams I follow charge $15 for their nicer seat.  You can get $5 tickets, and buy one get one tickets too.

If you are taking a wife and kids to a game, that is a pretty substantial savings.  

You know who is going to have just as much fun (probably more) at a lower-level game?  Your kid.

Let's take any 4-year-old.  They don't know the difference between single A, college level or MLB ball.  A major league game might be chaotic for them.  Don't expect an autograph either.

Take that 4-year-old to a single A game and they can get several autographs, probably some fist bumps too.

In my opinion, its just more fun following those guys and those local teams.

What are the chances of getting the star player from your nearest MLB team to visit a kid in the hospital?  Nil.  Sure, they do it every so often, with camera crew following, but it's not common.  Ask the guys from your local minor league team to see kids in the hospital, and they will probably be flattered.

Greenbrier, White Sulpher Springs West Virginia Postcard

I love this postcard from the Greenbrier, sent from the hotel in 1977.  The sender tells a friend in New York about all of the activities they have done at the Greenbrier, including horse back riding.

Random Thoughts on Friday: Playbills

 I have talked a lot about my love of books.  If you are like me, they do become a bit of an obsession.  An addiction even.  The rule around my house is "if you buy it you read it"- I'm pretty religious about that too, though there is the occasional book that I have to abandon after a bit.  That's rare though.

Books are special, and I love a unique book too.  I love signed books, and books with a little something more to them.  I have a few books signed by the author, and I have books signed by people mentioned in the volume or associated with it.  A particular favorite of mine is a signed Meatloaf biography- I keep the photo of me with him as he signed it in the book.

I have some special magazines too.  Some signed, some about a family member or friend....  

I also have some nice programs and Playbills from here and there.

As a packrat, I save just about everything.  I have programs with event tickets, signed by athletes and actors.  They all mostly have little financial value, but they have a lot of sentimental value to me.

Recently, at a favorite used bookstore, I found several nice Broadway Playbills for a buck each.  I looked inside, and some even had the event tickets tucked away.  

I greedily bought most, as they were plays that I like, or have some interest in anyway.

BUT, I thought of the person who accumulated the nice collection.  I hate to say it, but I pretty much assume that they probably passed away, and a family member sold this nice collection to the bookstore, probably in an effort to downsize and move on.

If they did pass away, I hope they know that I appreciate their leftover souvenirs.  

Greenbrier Hotel and Golf Course, White Sulphur Springs West Virginia Old Postcard

I picked up these two postcards showing the grounds of the LEGENDARY Greenbrier Hotel in West Virginia recently.  They are unused, and both have a slight crease.