Saturday, September 29, 2012

Friday, September 28, 2012

Happy Sept 2012 Expats!

Happy Friday! Keep you head high, and your powder dry!

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Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Happy Wednesday, everyone! Have an awesome day, and get down/get funky. Word up...

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Saturday, September 15, 2012

It could happen...

FAQ at the Home Depot in North Jersey: "I need two shovels and some quick lime. And do you guys carry 9mm ammo?"

Thursday, September 13, 2012

Am I just gettin' old?

I've been on a real nostalgia kick lately.  Posting things from my 1970's Upstate New York youth, and a few things from my early 1980's Richmond VA high school era. I'm not sure why that is. Maybe I'm trying to escape back into a simpler era. Maybe I feel I need to document it somehow. Whatever the reason, I spend a lot of time revisiting the iconography of my youth. Pop-culture ruled, and the music was... alive.  I think there's definitely something lacking in today's music; heart, soul, authenticity... I can't put my finger on it. At the same time, I think there's something missing in society now, as well. Certain technological advances have improved our communication, and social media has brought me back in touch with many old friends, but again--I can't put my finger on it--something leaves a void. Though cell phones, internet, and other gizmos are supposed to make life easier, life in fact seems more complex now. The times of my youth seemed to have a simplicity to them. I guess I'll keep posting the images and icons of my youth, while I ponder this. Could it be as simple as I'm growing old?


*sigh* Turning into one o' them days... (At least I still got my sense of humor!)

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Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Lamentations... R.I.P. Bill's Barbecue

As if September 11th is not a sad enough day, I just heard the news today that Richmond icon Bill's Barbecue will be closing all of its stores this week. A Virginia landmark since 1930, the small hometown chain has a particular significance for me and my family. Upon moving to Richmond in 1979, one of the first meals my family ate together was what my father referred to as "Barbecue Bill's"; at the location on West Broad street, near Tucker High School. Richmond was a whole new experience for my family and me, and this new cuisine in our new home was a very significant event for all of us. My father had already started his job at Reynolds Metals (another defunct Richmond icon) six months prior, and the rest of the family had stayed behind to make sure the house sold.  We had finally followed up and moved to Virginia in our Griswold-esque Ford Country Squire on August 9, 1979. Perhaps the first meal we all shared together again was at this local barbecue fast food place (in and of itself, a novelty to us Upstate New Yorkers). We were recommended certain signature items: 1) Beef with cheese, 2) Pork with slaw (They put the cole slaw right on the sandwich!) and 3) The Grape Limeade. This triumvirate became my standard order for the rest of my tenure in Richmond, with no deviations. Perhaps 100+ times I ordered that same meal from 1979 to my departure in 1996. The two sandwiches were absolutely delicious, and the Grape-Limeade was incomparable! Not part of the Holy Trinity, but worthy of mention were their pies. They had amazing pies. Their "Peak-of-Flavor" pies rivaled those of Marie Callender's. Strawberry, chocolate cream, and banana cream. Simply dreamy! I didn't always get the pie on my visits to Bill's, but when I did, they never disappointed.
So the news of the closure comes as a shock to me. What I would give to have one more order of my three favorites. *sigh* More lamentations, and wailing and gnashing of teeth...



Whoa...

Thursday, September 06, 2012

More green Jello, STAT...

In the ER, and my nurse Katie is totally cute!

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Broked coffee maker stands indignant...

Tuesday, September 04, 2012

The Shoehead Car or my dreams...

I'd drive this car, drink martinis, listen to Herb Alpert, and have a girlfriend that looked like Twiggy or Emma Peel...


Saturday, September 01, 2012

The things I've seen and done...

My roommate, Martha suggested as a blog topic tonight, "The things I've seen and done." So, I'll stick with it, but the things I've seen and done are far too numerous to list. But they do share a common thread--They all add to the pageant of events and experiences that make me Shoehead. This is basically what I saw and did last night:
It's the Richmond VA Expat's Friday Night Party picture. A group of Richmonders now living scattered across the USA, decided to have a virtual party every last Friday of the month. We all seemed to drink separately anyway, so why not drink together separately! To give a feeling of commonality and togetherness, we choose a 1) Drink 2) Theme 3) Bonus item. Last night it was Margarita, Palm Tree, and Cocktail Umbrella. And, we also had a Bonus Bonus: A college item to commemorate the opening of college football. It's a fun little "party",  all done in the name of friendship. The club is open to all; the Expat's are just the "hosts" and admins to the group. So lift a glass, put on a crazy shirt or hat, post a pic, and be one of us for a minute! The Last Friday of every month! See ya then!