How Now?

One of many treasures Ericka has collected over the years is her set of "Colonial Cats," a series of cat dolls released when she was a little girl. Each cat doll represents one of the original 13 American colonies. 

 RE: post title - “How Now?” is one way colonial Americans greeted each other.

Shriner Autograph Collection

In 1988, I attended the annual Tarzan Zerbini Circus in Fort Wayne, Indiana, an event hosted by the Mizpah Indiana Shriners. Upon entering the arena, each attendee received a program filled with advertisements and information about the circus. The opening pages featured yearbook-style photographs of various Shriner officials, many of whom were present at the event that evening.

After the circus ended, I decided to stick around, program in hand, hoping to collect their autographs:

As esoteric as they may appear, the Shriners were all pretty down to earth guys...not very mysterious or confounding at all.

 

The only autograph missing from my collection is Mick Ulmer, "Oriental Guide;" so if anybody knows him, hook me up.

Comments from original post on I'm Nacho Steppinstone:

"And they really DO look all mysterious and oriental!!! Absolutely NOT like average office guys only with stupid hats on,nooooo." - Sandra

"Hey, Jonnie- Mick Ulmer lives right here in Bluffton, Indiana. That is, he used to." - Andi

"WOW!!! I should've called him while I was down there! Does he live in a castle?" - Jonnie

Willow Weaving

When you're making rustic furniture, it's a fine line between looking really good and looking really crappy.

                                                           - Rustic willow-weaving instructor 

Ours both looked really good.

Life, Jim Thompson

 “Life is a bucket of shit with a barbed wire handle.”

– Jim Thompson, Texas By The Tail

Mesa Verde

With Ericka at awe-inspiring Mesa Verde National Park, home of the cliff dwellers; May, 2015.

Every Meximelt

Personal ad placed in the Valentine's Day edition of a local newspaper (Bloomington, IN; Feb. 1992). It is a message from Larry to Laura Lynn. I'm guessing Larry was a Taco Bell employee and Laura Lynn was a customer.

At one point, Larry had apparently taken a photograph of Laura Lynn during one of her visits to his establishment & published it in the local newspaper along with a personal message of love. 

Laura Lynn,

You don't know me, but I love you.

I work at Taco Bell.

I was thinking maybe you love me too,

because you're there so much.

It's your smile I see when I melt the cheese on every Meximelt.

Please be mine.

Larry

[Originally posted on I'm Nacho Steppinstone, Mar. 9, 2004]

The Golden Lion

I got this when we saw Dick the Bruiser wrestle for WWA at the Fort Wayne Coliseum in the late '70s or very early '80s. I've kept it for the next 40 years, so may it be preserved digitally forevermore.

Tim Golden

The Golden Lion

WWA

Salvation Mountain

With Ericka at Salvation Mountain. Niland, CA; July, 2014.

 

Long Live This Ditch, 1983

Long Live This Ditch, S.G. & J.C. '83."

Found this message inscribed in a cement ditch. The message has survived 23 years so far, though it narrowly escaped destruction from a severe crack.

[Originally posted on Rebel Leady Boy, Feb. 4, 2006]

Oh, Deer

When it's time to decorate for Christmas, I always think, "Deer!"

Since 2015, these deer, and more, have been a staple of my holiday festivities. They fit perfectly on top of a flat screen TV.

Christmas deer on the TV, 2015.

 

Batman Bob

Batman logo autographed by Batman creator, Bob Kane.

Quote from Céline

whenever they get a chance, never fear, people make you waste hours and months ... they use you as a wall to bounce their bullshit off of ... blah! and blah! and blahblahblah! ... you put up with it for an hour, you'll need two weeks to recover ... blah! blah!                                          

   - Louis-Ferdinand Céline, North

Why Must God Damn It?

Why?

In the late 1980s, I found this Christian anti-swearing pamphlet somewhere in Fort Wayne, Indiana. It was written by Pastor Jabaay and was #208 in the Silent Evangelist series.

I used to have it posted on my bulletin board in high school, and I've kept it with me ever since. It’s a little hard to believe I still have it today.

I’ve always thought it had a great cover design.

[Originally posted on Rebel Leady Boy, Dec. 21, 2005]

Great Shakeout

Earthquake preparedness flyer for our participation in the Great California Shakeout:

Great Shakeout flyer.

It's Warm Even

Autographed copy of Rat Catching from Crispin Glover.

Crispin Glover's Rat Catching.

Marquee.

Knife Day

[From RW...BS's "Knife Day"]

I have 2 knives of note -

1. My first knife ever:

My first knife ever.

This was a gift from my father when I was 6 years old or so. The little metal plate says "Old Timer" and I've placed it on a bag of small flour tortillas for scale.

It is notable for not having a safety lock, so if you're not careful, the blade can close on your fingers while you're cutting something. Strange choice of gift for a six year old child. It taught me at a very early age to be careful when using knives.

2. Ulysses' Death Knife:

Ulysses' Death Knife.

I acquired this knife in Los Angeles when Ulysses (the guy who rented the basement of Miski's house) moved out and left it stuck in a tree. Miski didn't want it, but said I could have it. It is also placed on the same bag of small flour tortillas for scale.

I still use knives when needed, but I don't always use cutting boards. Somewhere along the line, I've acquired the habit of cutting vegetables while holding them in my hand.  I did this with a bell pepper at my Chinese Professor's house when she invited the class over and she was startled and horrified.  I keep my home knives pretty dull, but hers was super sharp, so that's probably why she over reacted.

[Originally posted on The Real World...Blogger Style!, Sep. 3, 2005]

How It Happened

Azar's Big Boy restaurant in Fort Wayne used to give out free Big Boy comics.  I saved this section at some point during high school and kept it pinned to a bulletin board in my room for years.  It always made me laugh. I probably still have it.

Why are you here?

[Originally posted on I'm Nacho Steppinstone, Nov. 7, 2004]

The Presidential Prayer Team

Well, this is stupid. It's a sticker from an organization called the Presidential Prayer Team.  I'm now getting spammed with right wing prayer requests, but receiving this free sticker of George W. Bush praying with the ghosts of Abraham Lincoln and George Washington makes it totally worth it. 

The Presidential Prayer Team.

What a dumb thing.

[Originally posted on I'm Nacho Steppinstone, May 16, 2004]

Seyfert's Potato Chips

[Compiled from various posts on the Gilliomville message board, contributed by various Gillioms and Franks]:

Can you still get Seyfert's potato chips in Missouri? The Fort Wayne plant is apparently no more, but their main office was in Missouri. It sucks that all the little regional brands are disappearing.

In 1992 Adam and Abby wore red t-shirts saying:  "My DAD works at Seyfert's.”

I remember Rick worked for Seyfert's!  David Letterman featured Myrtle Young as a guest a number of times in the late 1980s - she was an old lady who worked at the Fort Wayne Seyfert's plant and would save all the chips that looked like objects or celebrities. So, she would come on Letterman and share different chips of note. Uncle Rick got me her autograph one year and I still have it.

Myrtle Young autograph.

Seyfert's was the main chip in the Midwest.

I never ate Lays until they totally crowded Seyfert's out of business.

Seyfert's BBQ were the best BBQ chips around.

John Waters

 If you're paying to see John Waters speak, go ahead and spring for the meet-and-greet.
Dec., 2012.