I'm Keene on Greek Tragedies

"Boys, ...Nancy Drew mysteries..."
Quote from the television series the "Gilmore Girls", when one female character lamented about how she doesn't understand the boys in her school.  That line got me thinking...

I'm not really the collector type, but I would love to own some first edition Nancy Drew books.  Written by Carolyn Keene, a pseudonym for a number of ghostwriters, this very popular series of mystery novels were some of my favourites growing up.


Nancy Drew first appeared in 1930, but her popularity wasn't until the late 1950's when her character was toned down, made more demure and conventional.  She was the stuff of Greek Tragedies if you think about it - Electra Complex to be exact.  How romantic a notion is it for a daughter to have her dad all to herself and help him to solve loads of mysteries, making herself lovable and useful?

On a rainy Saturday afternoon, I could escape my humdrum, preteen existence by going on adventures with Nancy Drew and company.  The stories were thrilling for girls that age and with a bit of thinking we could help to solve some of the mysteries.  It was sort of the less cheesy, literary version of "Scooby Doo".

I think some of my favourite were "The Secret of the Old Clock", "The Hidden Staircase", "The Mystery at Lilac Inn" and "The Message in the Hollow Oak".  I actually wouldn't mind reading them now.  It's like when I get in the mood to peruse Judy Blume again.  I have been accused of living in the past too much.  But look at what I'm doing now?!  Having a part of me back there has kept me sane and allowed me to indulge myself through writing!

Nancy Drew books have gone on to become more contemporary with each new decade since its first wave of popularity.  But I'll always love the original from the 1950's and 1960's.  Their chaste attitudes and way of speaking are charming to me now.

Young or old, if you see a dusty copy of a Nancy Drew book in a garage sale pile or old book store, take it home with you and become immersed right away!


Carol

A TWINKIE'S CHRISTMAS

I'm very happy to be a guest blogger today. Veronica has asked me to talk about Christmas traditions from my point of view of someone who is Korean born and raised in Canada.

travellerinspiration.com

 I came to live in Toronto just before my 7th birthday, back in the early 1970's. That means I still had a lot of childish notions and ideas about Christmas. Sure we had Santa in East Asia, we called him Grandpa Santa (if you look at the direct translation). Sure we gave out gifts to family and friends. But the similarities basically ended there. There was no such thing as sending a letter of my hopes and desires to the North Pole. Lists were never made nor acknowledged.

Koreans also had no clue (and still do not seem to) about the idea of gifts being surprises and wrapping them in secret to put under a decorated tree. To this day, the older generation of my family still insist on giving "envelopes" as that's just easier than fighting crowds of people only to get there and realise they had no clue what to get anyway as there are no lists! Money is also held in such high regard - well I suppose that is true of most cultures and societies.

So if you think about it, the whole idea of the wedding registry is quite a puzzling notion to Koreans as well. One of my favourite depictions of Korean culture at work is an episode of the "Gilmore Girls" when the character Lane - a Korean banana (yellow on the outside and white on the inside) got married.

We had our version of the tooth fairy as well. But typical of Asian work ethic, I had to really work for my supper, or in this case, work for my money. This particular tradition greatly favoured my mother as when my teeth began to fall out one by one, I had to throw them onto the roof of my house in order to successfully send the message to the fairy that I "had proof need dough"! Of course being very young, I was never successful in my attempts, so my pockets stayed empty. OK, I am digressing...

Another way to say Merry Christmas
zazzle.com

 Now many decades since my migration to Canada, I have found myself evolved into a Twinkie (another example of yellow on the outside, white on the inside), as bemoaned by John Cho's character in the first "Harold and Kumar" movie. I am married to a Canadian man and I'm very comfortable with the Western traditions of Christmas as we celebrate with his immediate and extended families. But as Christmas approaches, I think about my family gatherings. It always feels a bit awkward, as the older generation have somewhat embraced Western ways, but how we celebrate now is a hybrid of East meets West. There are still a lot of envelopes somewhat under the artificial tree, but now there are also prettily wrapped gifts and this year, we implemented the Kris Kringle system. I can let you know on December 26th, if that was a great idea or if it went up in flames!

rockpaperpetals.ca

They say that when 2 people come together in marriage, they bring with them each of their family traditions. And as a unit, some of these traditions are upheld, modified and new elements added in to make them their own. The same principles apply to cultures that blend into each other. To say that they are "clashing" sends out a negative tone. I'd like to think that we're all a happy world and differences can be fun and interesting, not obstacles to bear.

Merry Christmas everyone and CHUK SUNG TAN!

The Gilmore Girls on the Good Ship Lollipop and other Suchlike Animals




cartoondisc.com

I loved watching the "Gilmore Girls".  I was constantly challenged and entertained by the bullet-like speed talking by the two main characters.  Their tag was "life is short, talk fast".  So what does a new millenium television series have to do with the themes of vintage or retro?  I loved their constant references to people and things.  With their humourous, clever dialogue, these character paid hommage to decades past in a way that was so original and funny.  One of my favourite pieces of dialogue took place in the episode where Rory celebrated her 16th birthday party twice.  The first was at the grandparents' stiff society soiree, where the Gilmore girls sat lamenting their current situation:

(dialogue and quotes courtesy of tv.com)

Lorelai: (sighs, hands Rory a drink) Here.

Rory: What is it?

Lorelai: A Shirley Temple

Rory: What are you drinking?

Lorelai: A Shirley Temple Black.

Rory: (sniffs at it) Wow.

Lorelai: I got your Good Ship Lollipop right here, mister.

"[In 1950, child star Shirley Temple, retired from film, married businessman Charles Black, taking his name. A "Shirley Temple-Black" is a Shirley Temple with a shot of Kahlua, an "Adult version" of the children's bar drink made with 7-Up and Grenadine.  Good Ship Lollipop, of course, is the trademark song of actress Shirley Temple from the movie Bright Eyes, but clearly also a reference to the state enough ST-B's would put you in, too, singing and dancing.]"


Each season's DVD package includes a sort of reference manual for all of the past decades' pop cultural references made by the characters.  It's a real challenge to keep up with these two girls in recalling the numerous references. 

Here are some quotes from other episodes.  How many of the references can you identify:

Lorelai: (to Rory) Yeah, huh? That was a pretty Freaky Friday moment we had back there.

Lorelai: (to Jackson) You didn't build one of those machines like in The Fly did you? We're not going to find you wandering the streets wearing a raspberry head crying, "Eat me!"

Emily: Oh, yes, and there was a T-shirt with a Farrah Fawcett face.

Lorelai: A hero to many who aspire to the perfect feather fluff.

Lorelai: Barbara Streisand will give her final concert, again. Now, the Pope has previous plans, but he's trying to get out of them. However, Elvis and Jim Morrison are coming and they're bringing chips.

Lorelai: Lucy, I'm home!

Rory: I wonder if the Waltons ever did this.

Lorelai: No, she has her Vulcan death grip on that one.

Lorelai: I think Edith Wharton would have been proud, and busy taking notes.


Lorelai: You walk into Denny's before 5:00 p.m., you've got yourself a discount.

Lorelai: I'm shopping for Rory. You're shopping for your imaginary granddaughter, Barbara Hutton.


Emily: My daughter, Henny Youngman.

Gilmore Girls: The Complete Series Collection

RARE 17 INCH SHIRLEY TEMPLE AND OUTFIT

2 Vintage Fostoria Chintz Crystal Liquor Cocktails