Trashy Tuesday 2/18/2014

The most perfect political community is one in which the middle class is in control, and outnumbers both of the other classes.

Aristotle

OK, let's get this thing jumpin'. Come on in, take your coats off, roll your sleeves up, shoes off and let's get this sock hop started – okay? Remember, no smoking inside people. I know a concession to the times.

How many remember the Billboard top 10 list of songs for today, 50 years ago in 1964? Caught you didn't I?

I set Barney off to research this information for me. What a pug. It never gives up. He found that on this day, yes, this very day 50 years ago the top 10 songs were;

1. “I want to hold your hand” by the Beatles

2. “She Loves You” by the Beatles

3. “Dawn (Go Away)” by the Four Seasons

4. “You Don't Own Me” by Leslie Gore

5. “Java” by Al Hirt

6. “Um, Um, Um, Um, Um, Um” by Major Lance

7. “Hey Little Cobra” by the Rip Chords

8. “California Sun” by the Rivieras

9. “What Kind of Fool (Do You Think I Am) by the Tams

10. “Navy Blue” by Diane Renay

Are you surprised? I am. The Rivieras, the Tams and Diane Renay didn't do much after this. Barney informed me that “Navy Blue” was Diane's only national hit but she had an album by the same name. The Rivieras didn't fare much better but they did get 3 other songs into the top 100 most notably “Rockin' Robin”. The Tams are a versatile group with numerous titles hitting the pop and R&B charts. They gained popularity in the 70's and later in the UK. Each of these performers are still at it I believe. Let's give a GREAT BIG SHOUT-OUT to BARNEY for his hard work. Way to go Barney!

Now that I am attending the Silver Sneakers classes again, I have noted that the workout takes on added energy when the instructors put on some 60's and 70's music. Heck, occasionally you can even hear some folks singing to the music in between pants. We even caught the instructor singing a little in her microphone the other day. Pretty darn cool. I want to give another big SHOUT-OUT to my buddy Franz and his lovely wife Frau Franz. Frau Franz has be a little under the weather but is coming along. Franz, being of the lazy ilk as I am, has been taking some time off. We are really glad they are well and look forward to their return. 

Sock hops really were and invention of the 50's and lasted well into the 60's. It was really a practical matter at the time. Sneakers, flip flops were not in existence yet. Our shoes were mostly designed for outdoor use so to preserve the gym floor it was socks only. Slowly Keds and Hush Puppies came along then sneakers and the sock hops as such were a thing of the past. Those of us in the boomer generation have many fond memories of those high school dances. Great times.

Grab that good looker next to you and let's get out there and dance to “You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'” by The Righteous Brothers. These guys can really sing. Wow, that was GREAT!!!!!!

We have seen a lot of things over the past 50 years – some good, so not so good. I think we can all agree that it has been an adventure to say the least. From the “sock hops” to “free love” to “hippies” to “disco” to careers to retirement. Think of the changes. Mind boggling. I bet it has been a day or twelve since you have heard phrases like this: “Fix your nylons – your seam is crooked”; "My Dad bought us an 8-track player!": Galoshes: "You bet your bippy!": "Sock it to me.": The S&H green stamps catalog is here. Drop some peanuts in your Coke. Raise your hands if you ever put peanuts in your pop. Worked best with Coke or Pepsi but was good with Sundrop also. It goes without saying that the pop was in the standard glass bottles. Peanuts in plastic or tin containers are just not the same. How many nutritional rules does that break today? 

You know this was kind of fun today, at least for me until looked out the window and saw all of the snow. That breaks the bubble in a hurry. How is it you all have survived the winter so far? I mean those of you that have stayed up north. I know all about you “snow birds”. I have been passing time a couple of ways, playing “candy crush” or looking out the patio doors dreading mowing the yard. My current wife will sometimes claim that I doze off once in a while. I don't believe that but that is what she says. 

On Saturday night, our men's breakfast group thought it would be fantastic to put on an all you can eat spaghetti supper with the fixings. We assembled about 1:30 to 2:00 pm to prepare for the huge turnout. For a bunch of old dudes we got it all ready with plenty of time to spare. We did not plan for a couple of things however. One of those being SNOW. It started about an hour or so before our doors opened. To say that our turnout was less than expected would be a wild overstatement. Everyone had a good time and the food was good. Just didn't have as many folks as we would have liked. J, the audio guy, naturally got injured. Well, not really injured, he just tried to catch the coffee spilled out of a carafe. His shirt caught most of it. Kind of par for the course. No band aids were dispensed that I know of. I guess that was a little out of my norm.

My French Roast has gotten cold a long time ago but I have managed to drink it anyway. My editor has given up the gentle reminders to finish with this and is now standing beside me. She seems to be holding something in her hand. I'm not going to look. I am just going close this in some sensible way really fast. Til next we meet, TA!