We'll subtitle this one, "Bits and Pieces" mostly because I thought of a few memories that don't really make up a full story. But they're pretty cool anyway, so here goes...
1) I don't really remember when cable was made readily available in Portage and, subsequently, in our neighborhood, but it must have been pretty early on in the first part of the 80's because I remember watching Fraggle Rock on HBO on or TV in the basement. Why do I remember this so vividly? Well, for some reason, watching Fraggle Rock was, apparently, un-cool to my friends. They'd come over and make me switch to re-reuns of Happy Days. The more I think about it, there was definitely a valid argument for both shows. Potsy or Boober? Tough choice.
2) My brother, Brandon, and I used to have giant, steel trucks from TONKA that we'd ride down our driveway. One time, as we caromed down toward the road, I was nearly obliterated by my neighbor's truck. I'm trying to remember if his last name was Ort or something, but he was definitely not what one might consider... normal. I do know that he had a dog that was super old and used to bark at everything, but all low and painful-like as though he were yapping at death's door. That man was spooky and didn't even look twice when he nearly killed me.
3) Speaking of dogs, we had two on Liszt, and then another that came later, but we'll get into that one soon. Anyway, we had a Scottish Terrier named -unimaginatively- Scotty, and an Irish Setter named -equally unimaginatively- Dublin. I really don't remember much about either dog other than the fact that we had them and I guess they were friendly. Oh no, it was the dog we got later that was the epitome of sadistic and insane... but that's another story for another time.
4) I am remembering more and more vividly the layout of our house, and I'm going to tell you right now because this is my blog and I feel like it. When you walked in from the garage door, which was on the north end of the house (far right) you entered into the kitchen. We had a nice table at the south end of the kitchen right in front of the sliding door that led to the back yard. Looking left from the table was the entryway that led to the family room. Looking into the family room and at the front door, to your right was the hall way that led to the bathroom on the right, and at the end of the hallway was the kids' bedroom on the left and my parent's on the right. And that was the main floor. We also had a finished basement with a den and the laundry room that also included the main room that ran the length of the house. My toys were down there and so was a possible ghost. But I'm not sure, I was awfully young.
5) One Fall when my dad and I were raking leaves in the front yard, the pile had gotten enormous. Of course I jumped it it several times, but, eventually, it was time to burn it. You see, back then Portage didn't care if you burned leaves... ya can't do it anymore... stupid city ordinances. Anyway, the leaves were kind of wet and were going to be really tough to get lit, so my dad decided he needed some fuel. Well, what better way to light wet leaves than with some old gasoline? Old gasoline that was hanging around in an old boat motor, to be precise. Well, he dumped it out onto the pile (all the while dribbling a bunch of it on his pant leg and sock), hit it with a match, and POOF! His pants burst into flames. I ran to the house and turned on the hose, but my dad managed to roll out the flames, just after the fire completely burned through his sock. I sprayed him anyway, if only just to douse his incredible stupidity.
6) I was just thinking about the Cardinal nest we have outside our door and remembering the time I was brutally attacked by a bird. We had a hedge that ran the length of the front of the house just under the picture window. Anyway, one Spring we had a nest of Blue Jays right in the middle of the hedge. At this point I think I was 5 or 6, so this little beauty of nature was just incredible to me, and all I wanted to do was look at it and poke my nose in as close as I could. Yes, my mom warned me not to get too close or to touch the nest for various reasons... but I didn't listen. One day, as I was getting just a bit too intimate with the chicks (yeah, baby), I was dive-bombed and attacked by the mother Jay! She viciously pecked the hell out of my head and flapped in my face! That was the last time I messed with that nest. Stupid nature.
1) I don't really remember when cable was made readily available in Portage and, subsequently, in our neighborhood, but it must have been pretty early on in the first part of the 80's because I remember watching Fraggle Rock on HBO on or TV in the basement. Why do I remember this so vividly? Well, for some reason, watching Fraggle Rock was, apparently, un-cool to my friends. They'd come over and make me switch to re-reuns of Happy Days. The more I think about it, there was definitely a valid argument for both shows. Potsy or Boober? Tough choice.
2) My brother, Brandon, and I used to have giant, steel trucks from TONKA that we'd ride down our driveway. One time, as we caromed down toward the road, I was nearly obliterated by my neighbor's truck. I'm trying to remember if his last name was Ort or something, but he was definitely not what one might consider... normal. I do know that he had a dog that was super old and used to bark at everything, but all low and painful-like as though he were yapping at death's door. That man was spooky and didn't even look twice when he nearly killed me.
3) Speaking of dogs, we had two on Liszt, and then another that came later, but we'll get into that one soon. Anyway, we had a Scottish Terrier named -unimaginatively- Scotty, and an Irish Setter named -equally unimaginatively- Dublin. I really don't remember much about either dog other than the fact that we had them and I guess they were friendly. Oh no, it was the dog we got later that was the epitome of sadistic and insane... but that's another story for another time.
4) I am remembering more and more vividly the layout of our house, and I'm going to tell you right now because this is my blog and I feel like it. When you walked in from the garage door, which was on the north end of the house (far right) you entered into the kitchen. We had a nice table at the south end of the kitchen right in front of the sliding door that led to the back yard. Looking left from the table was the entryway that led to the family room. Looking into the family room and at the front door, to your right was the hall way that led to the bathroom on the right, and at the end of the hallway was the kids' bedroom on the left and my parent's on the right. And that was the main floor. We also had a finished basement with a den and the laundry room that also included the main room that ran the length of the house. My toys were down there and so was a possible ghost. But I'm not sure, I was awfully young.
5) One Fall when my dad and I were raking leaves in the front yard, the pile had gotten enormous. Of course I jumped it it several times, but, eventually, it was time to burn it. You see, back then Portage didn't care if you burned leaves... ya can't do it anymore... stupid city ordinances. Anyway, the leaves were kind of wet and were going to be really tough to get lit, so my dad decided he needed some fuel. Well, what better way to light wet leaves than with some old gasoline? Old gasoline that was hanging around in an old boat motor, to be precise. Well, he dumped it out onto the pile (all the while dribbling a bunch of it on his pant leg and sock), hit it with a match, and POOF! His pants burst into flames. I ran to the house and turned on the hose, but my dad managed to roll out the flames, just after the fire completely burned through his sock. I sprayed him anyway, if only just to douse his incredible stupidity.
6) I was just thinking about the Cardinal nest we have outside our door and remembering the time I was brutally attacked by a bird. We had a hedge that ran the length of the front of the house just under the picture window. Anyway, one Spring we had a nest of Blue Jays right in the middle of the hedge. At this point I think I was 5 or 6, so this little beauty of nature was just incredible to me, and all I wanted to do was look at it and poke my nose in as close as I could. Yes, my mom warned me not to get too close or to touch the nest for various reasons... but I didn't listen. One day, as I was getting just a bit too intimate with the chicks (yeah, baby), I was dive-bombed and attacked by the mother Jay! She viciously pecked the hell out of my head and flapped in my face! That was the last time I messed with that nest. Stupid nature.
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