Tuesday, October 20, 2015

Hodgepodge: 1980s Edition

It's already Wednesday again? (Does anyone else feel like time is going by faster and faster?) This week Joyce has given us a nostalgic Hodgepodge. It was fun to look back!

To put in your two cents, visit her and link up!

1. October 21, 2015 is Back to the Future Day. Did you see the movie? The sequels? In the second film, Doc takes Marty into the future to prevent Marty's future son from making a mistake. They leave 1985 and land on a 'skyway' on October 21st, 2015. So tell us, what were you doing in the fall of 1985?

I saw the first of the trilogy...great movie. I don't remember seeing the other two. We were kind of surprised no one did a remake of the original movie timed for this month. Think how much fun it would be for kids of today to see our (computer-less, cell phone-less) lives back in 1985!

The 50s seemed like ancient history to my 1980s self. It's weird to think that's how my kids must view the 80s!

In October of 1985, I was at college in Virginia, living with two close friends (will not use the word "besties" under any circumstances) in an on-campus apartment. Good times. I remember that our apartment had a huge sink, and of course we would let days and days of dishes pile up, until my one roommate couldn't stand it any longer. She would play Van Halen at top volume while washing up, which I guess makes sense when you think about it. Van Halen must be perfect for scrubbing.

I'm probably the only person on earth who thinks about dirty dishes when the song "Panama" comes on.

2. If time travel were possible, would you want to go to the future? The past?

Maybe the past.

I would never go into the future. I don't even want to know what's happening in a week or a month! It would kill the joy of living for me.

3. We're not flying cars, but some of the technology imagined in the 80's film has indeed come to pass in real life 2015-flat screen TVs on the wall, tablets, fingerprint recognition, video conferencing, online banking, 3-D movies, motion controlled video games, drone cameras, and smart glasses (Google glass). Do you worry technology is growing at a rate so fast we'll soon be unable to keep up with it's demands? Do you think the Internet does more harm than good? 

I think on balance technology and the Internet have done more good than harm, but I will say this: As a member of the last generation to be raised without a computer in the house (I brought a typewriter to college!), I know my childhood was happier and healthier than that of most kids now. No video games, no Facebook, four channels on TV instead of a thousand. We were never in the house. (There was nothing to do in there!)

It's true, however, that it would have been a lot easier to take my kids out to eat when they were toddlers if I could have just handed them my iPhone for distraction.

4. Your favorite dish prepared in a slow-cooker? Your favorite fast food?

If you like Indian food, you will love this:

Chicken Tikka Masala

1 15-ounce can crushed tomatoes
1 medium onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
2 T tomato paste
2 t garam masala (Indian spice blend, they sell it at Giant)
3/4 t salt
1/4 t black pepper
1.5 lb boneless, skinless chicken thighs
1/4 cup cream or half and half

Combine all ingredients except the cream in the slow cooker; cover and cook on low 7-8 hours or high 3-4 hours. Add the cream just before serving.

I usually serve this with naan or pita bread (also from Giant), plain yogurt, and a salad of chopped cucumbers and lemon juice.

I don't really have a favorite fast food. I do like Chik-Fil-A.

5. No time like the present, down time, face time, pressed for time, in the nick of time, make time, mark time, or just in time...which timely saying most relates to your life right now? 

I'll say "no time like the present." I'm (mostly) enjoying this last year of being a full-time mom, and I'm having fun now that I have more time to try some new things--like blogging!

6. Tell us about a place you went as a child or younger person that's no longer there or is now something else. How does that make you feel?

I'm having a hard time coming up with something that's not there anymore. Everywhere in my hometown that had any meaning for me (houses, schools, places I hung out) is still there!

My college town has changed a lot, but the campus itself is largely the same and our favorite hang-out is even under the same ownership. My friend was visiting recently (mind you, we graduated almost 30 years ago) and the proprietor recognized her. (On reflection it's possible we spent a little too much time there.)

The suburb of Washington that I lived in as a twenty-something is very different now. It went from strip malls with cheap Vietnamese restaurants to high rise condominiums and chain stores. But honestly, when I lived there the place was a little seedy and I'm not necessarily nostalgic for it.

7. Describe your comfort zone.

Wow, hard one. Describing my comfort zone may be out of my comfort zone!

8. Insert your own random thought here.

We are going to see Ohio State play Rutgers this weekend, and I can't wait. I did have to buy a warm hat in preparation, because I think I'll be freezing (it's a night game). (I'm basically dressing as though I'm going skiing.) For some reason I am always so cold at outdoor sports events, even if the temperature is only in the 40s.

I don't know how those Green Bay fans do it. Lots of beer maybe.

Also, this:



Can I just say, I was 11 in 1977 when the first movie came out?? I am beyond excited. (Ignoring the existence of the three prequel movies...they were terrible.)

8 comments:

  1. I enjoyed your post today. Where did you go to college in VA? Just curious...

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    1. William & Mary :) Family tradition for us, my mom and sister went there also.

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  2. Nice answers. Enjoy your weekend.

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  3. So interesting what you wrote about how your kids must view the 80s. I've often thought about how close on the timeline of the world is even the Civil War, or the Viet Nam war, but to kids today even the 80s are ancient history.

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  4. What a great idea that would have been to do a remake scheduled for today! Surprised nobody thought of that. Too bad they didn't look into the future a little closer back then to see your suggestion!

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  5. Ha, you are so right about Green Bay Packer fans. :-))
    I am excited for Star Wars too.

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  6. We're a little bit excited for Star Wars too. Hope it doesn't disappoint. There's nothing like the first one! It is funny to hear my girls pine a bit nostalgic for the 90s of their childhood. I know the 70's sound like the stone age to them. Except the music of course, because we successfully brainwashed them to love it like we do : ) Enjoy your day!

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