Friday, February 4, 2011

#120-FRIDAY FLASHBACKS (into 1941)







Something a little different today.  
This flash back is to 1941. No, not the movie, the year. (But I thought this poster was cool!)
(Before you go too far you might want to lower the volume on your speakers.)






         1941 was a terrible year in the history of our nation that culminated in the bombing of Pearl Harbor.

However, some good things did happen this year.  For one, on Tuesday, February 4th the famous American aviator Charles Lindbergh was born. (At this point you are wondering  where the heck I am going with this....keep reading.) 
 Also, on that same day the United Service Organization (USO) was created to entertain American troops. 




But, best of all, on February 4, 1941, in a small town in, Missouri a little girl named Karen was born to a high school coach and his wife. This article appeared in the local newspaper:






"If basketball fans wondered who the man was who came rushing into the gymnasium during the final quarter of the Mexico-Macon basketball game last night, with his coat  flying, well, here is he answer...Macon's coach, Owen Taylor was delayed in reaching the game as he had


to stay at home until the stork had safely delivered a baby girl to the Taylor family.  After becoming a proud papa Coach Taylor headed for Mexico to see just how his hardwood quintet were coming long in their tilt with the Bulldogs.  On his arrival the score was 25 to 18 in Mexico's favor.  His appearance must have inspired the boys for at that moment started a big rally which narrowed the bulldog margin of victory to four points, the final score being 31 to 27.  The new girl in the Taylor family reminds us that Macon has one of the finest girl basketball squads in the state and they have rolled up quite a record."

                       










   




         Since my father was a coach (in those days he coached all sports) I was supposed to be a boy.  In fact the boys basketball squad had purchased a beautiful baby pram with the words "Speed Taylor" applied in gold letters on the bonnet.  Mom and Dad hadn't even picked out a girl's name so the nurse suggested her own name, Karen.  Mother swore that those boys would glair at her when she pushed me down the sidewalk in that pram.  (A sad post script to this, the Seniors on that basketball team all joined the Navy when they graduated.  At that time buddies were allowed to be stationed together.  They all went down on the same ship,  December 7th 1941, Dad thinks it was the Arizona). 


TRIVIA FROM 1941
Best Movie: How Green Was My Valley
Best Actress: Joan Fontain (Suspision)
Best Actor: Gary Cooper (Sergeant York)
Best Cartoon Movie:  Dumbo
The #1 song on the charts was Stardust by Artie Shaw

But, as Miss Piggy (my personal mentor)would say, "Back to Moi.")

I HAD SEVERAL INTERESTING THINGS HAPPEN IN MY LIFE:
1.  It was a wonderful experience to be chosen to appear on the Art Linkletter House Party (Kids Say the Darnedest Things - and I lied my butt off!).
2.  I was excited when I was selected to appear in one episode of the TV show Teen Age Trials.  (a gal named Penny stole all of my lines!) 
3.  But, the most exciting thing of all was when I was invited to participate in the very first, Miss Teenage America Pagent at the Hollywood Bowl.  It was grueling, but, I managed to come in the first runner up.
4.  Then the summer after my Senior year (after placing in several pageants)  I finally won Miss Corvette and then Miss Auto Show.



After I won a few contests I tried my hand at modeling (and gave my mother hope that the big bucks she sent putting me through the Carolyn Leonetti Modeling School was going to pay off).



 






The above pictures are from my year of modeling.  I had a 19 inch waist (my thighs aren't even that small now).  The good part was that I was allowed to keep the clothing I modeled.  The bad part was that this perk was in lieu of money.  So I was dressed to kill but couldn't afford to go out and flaunt it.

Then one day my agent explained THE RULES.  If I wanted the good jobs then I had to sleep with him.  I clearly remember saying, "IF YOU WEREN'T SUCH A FAT, UGLY GREASY, PIG I MIGHT CONSIDER IT!" (And, yes, I was yelling). That comment got me black-balled.  End of career!

Next, I tried college, found interest in the drama department and was in a few plays.  (In Tea House of the August Moon I played  Higga Jigga - the one with the white head band.  The other was Volponi and I played Lady Politic Would Be).















A few other fun things happened... ... ...
As a police dispatcher in Palm Springs I was able to meet and play with a lot of celebrities.  (I'm the one on his right.)  And, when I was a courtroom clerk a segment was on TV about my job.












I relocated to Missouri and enjoyed my role as a teacher of learning disabled and behavior disordered children and youth.  I loved teaching and have been retired for about 5 years.

But, the most satisfying part of my life revolved (and still revolves) around my children and the beautiful grandchildren (and great grandchildren) they have given me. 


AND, YES, (for those of you with pencil and paper still trying to figure it out) THAT MEANS I AM "70" YEARS OLD, TODAY!  Check out my new profile picture (which was taken a few days ago) and tell me if you think I look 70 (but keep your fingers off the S the E and the Y buttons as you write) And, even though I AM 70 I do not plan to EVER grow up!  However, I am writing my “bucket list” and it's a DOOZY!

I know I promised a more recent picture, so....enjoy the new one on my profile!
kt2011














Thursday, February 3, 2011

#119-THURSDAY'S PICK (TRUE, PARTLY TRUE OR A TOTAL FABRICATION)

On Saturday, January 29th I told of an event that could have been true, partially true or a total fabrication and asked you guys to guess which label would be correct.
This is what I found in my comment section:


COMMENTS:
I'm not eating that!
The last one tasted like
cat  $#*!
1)  You silly girl - partially true!
By clenna on #114-AND I QUOTE: “Eweuuuuuuu!” at 6:20 AM
Now, Clenna knows me real well.  She is one of my first followers.
So, what part isn't true?  The cat was actually a frog?  The rubber tree plant was a ficus?  Hummmmmm...


Woah, kt, you're
headed the wrong way!




2)  I put my rusty penny on true for Win. False for Place ....and True for Show!
By The Desert Rocks on #114-AND I QUOTE: “Eweuuuuuuu!” at 10:26 AM
Well, now, spoken by a true gambler.  Spread the risk out.

3)  With my crazy life I totally believe this. Am I gullible or what?
By Bodacious Boomer on #114-AND I QUOTE: “Eweuuuuuuu!” at 4:50 PM
I read this lady's blog and mannn, this could have happened to her!

4)  Pssssst.. You lie and I'll swear to it! LOL
Dang, I forgot that you were back there with the rubber tree plant (or was it a ficus).
 
I have NEVER seen a splinter
like this!  Have you
?








5)  I'm thinking partially true.
By Chief aka Dad http://unsoundreasoning.blogspot.com on #114-AND I QUOTE: “Eweuuuuuuu!” at 7:14 PM
Hummmmm, interesting.  Straddling the fence.  Watch out for the splinters!   



6)  Partially true? Funny story!! Have a good week!
Another fence straddler....So, would this be called a splinter group?

7)  ... ... ...Now, you asked a couple of questions veiled neatly as one. I'll do my best to respond... Is the story TRUE? Yep! Is the story PARTIALLY TRUE? Yep! Is the story TOTAL FABRICATION? Yep! Good, covered all possible options there, so I'm pretty sure I'll get at least ONE of them right, when you score our comments ;) Clearly, the TEACHER has not retired! Great story, by the way - some positively hilarious descriptions!



Ok, as a teacher I would say that this is "cheating!"  BLLAGGHT (that is the sound of a buzzer).  Wrong!

(When I was a kid I got away with this once.  The teacher used a cover sheet with holes punched over the correct letter.  If one filled in all choices, of course it looked like you picked the correct one.  However, like an idiot I told other kids and several others started doing it.  Didn't take her long to figure it out.)


8)  Since you seem to have the same luck as me, I am guessing that this is at least partially true. The part that would be hard for me to believe, is the cat peeing in the plant thing. Oh, I believe it would do it, but if it was me, the cat, roommate or both would have disappeared after the second incident. 


Believe me we (the other 2 and myself) wanted to toss them both out, but it was only for a semester and it WAS my plant (besides she did all the cooking).  As for your choice of partially true, shame on you!  You have been reading my blog long enough to know that goofy stuff always happens to me!

9)  Partially true...but to the post-er above...my cat sometimes pees on one of our big houseplants! And I allow it cuz I don't know how to stop her, and it's only the one plant so that corner of the house smells like pee. I tried putting up barriers, like a sheet of bubble wrap on the plant etc. but it didn't stop her!



Now, that's a safe guess.  But you don't get the prize on this one (INSIDE JOKE). Cats are sneaky and determined animals.  It is hard to discourage them once they claim there territory.  Have you tried mothballs, small cactus plants, a gun?    Sorry, I didn't explain clearly.  I used a water gun to discourage my cat from tearing up the back of her favorite chair,and it worked).



The story about the accident with the rubber tree plant on the back seat of the car is TRUE. I did embellish a little when I added the rumors of a rubber tree plant growing along that highway.  So, before I declare a winner I must decide if an "embellishment" is considered a lie.  
According to Webster's definition of embellish:
1.  to make beautiful with ornamentation: DECORATE as in embellished with illustrations;
2.  to heighten the attractiveness of by adding decorative or fanciful details: ENHANCE as in 
                     embellished our account of the trip.



I don't see the words "lie" or "untrue" in there anywhere.  So this story is true.  We will try this again sometime.  Congratulations Desert Rocks and Bodacious Boomer, you win the prize.  Go to your nearest florist and tell them that they owe you a rubber tree plant.  (Or was it a Ficus?)  They have several like this way out back.



I did manage to get her home and plant her in the flower bed in my back yard.  She grew into a gigantic, beautiful tree-like plant over 7 feet tall.  

Nawh! That is 100% lie!  We left the poor thing in the demolished car.  I'm sorry, just couldn't help myself!
kt1/29/11

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

#118-SEX, LIES, AND VIDEO TAPES (ok, mostly lies)








Hey, a big thanks to Carol (facing50withhumour.blogspot.com) for passing on 'The Memetastic Award.'  Carol wrote, "This is a different award to those usually given and requires a cunning skill; lying!"

First, I want to thank all of those people in my life who taught me how to lie fib embellish the truth.  The first thank you goes to my many high school students (and their lost homework stories).  The next thanks goes to all the politicians who paved the way.  But, most of all, thanks to my college chum, Sally, who convincingly assured me that she wasn't sleeping with my boyfriend (until she got pregnant). 

As a condition of this award I have to demonstrate my skill by writing five facts about myself.  Four of them have to be out and out lies fibs fabrications embellished facts!
But, wedged in there somewhere needs to be one, 100% TRUE, fact.  






Now, the hard part.  I have to pass this on to 5 other bloggers.  
So, here they are (and in no particular order) TAG...YOU'RE IT:




cowpattysurprise.blogspot.com
confessionsofaterriblemom.blogspot.com
eliza-twaddle.blogspot.com
lcbfsometimes.blogspot.com
professionallyinsanem.blogspot.com 

I said a worm study,
not a worm studying!
1.  It was hard but I ate a spoonful of worms one time.  My kids and I were touring a worm experimentation station outside of Stockton , Missouri.  They were studying worms as a source of food.  The technician offered, my kids dared me, so I did!  The thing is, they weren’t half bad!

2.  Sorry to say, but I have been in nine MAJOR traffic accidents and totaled five different vehicles. One of which I wrote about in my blog.  The one on August 5, 1995 danged near killed me and is the subject of one of my future blogs.
Awhhhh, Mannnn! Not another one!

Give him hell, Harry 
3.  My maternal grandmother used to cook for Harry Truman when he came to the  Tom Pendergast compound outside of Kansas City.  My dad even met Truman when he delivered one of Nanaw’s meals.  Dad was leaving as Truman was arriving.  The guard greeted Truman with, “Well, if it isn’t Harry Ass Truman!”

This is a possible example.  
quarantine am devious, this pic could
bean attempt to throw you off! 
4.  I save my toenail clippings and burry them in my vegetable garden, in the spring.  My grandmother insisted that it helps them grow better.  (Not my toenails silly, the vegetables!)  She even took me to her garden and showed me plants without toenail clippings and plants with.  The difference was amazing!


5.  I have been blessed with some of the most interesting pets.  I once had a pot-bellied pig named Princess!  Now Princess didn’t know she was a pig.  I made her sleep outside with the dogs and she thought she was a dog.  In fact she actually barked and wagged her tail.  When I moved to town I had to give her petting zoo.  She is happy there but seems to miss being a dog.
"PRINCESS"  in waiting (in quarantine
area before being adopted by
the zoo)
SIDE NOTE:  And this is true... I just figured out that I can use the key commands for bold, italic and underline and don't have to use the buttons on the header of the draft page.  Boy am I slow!
Now, the hard part.  I have to pass this on to 5 other bloggers.  
So, here they are (and in no particular order) TAG...YOU'RE IT:

SO THERE YOU HAVE IT.....where is the truth in all of this?   The answer will be on #128   (The Feb. 12th issue of my EMBELLISHED life). 
kt 2/1/11