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.