Monday, June 6, 2011

CHiPs - Empty Snacking But Strangely Satisfying

u-handbag.typepad.com

Lately I've been torturing my other half by convincing him to watch the late 1970's television series "CHiPs". At first he seemed eager enough, after all it was a show about 2 male police officers on motorcycles. Husband had never seen the series in its day, as he grew up deprived of cable connection! I have of course seen everything that was ever made for the boob tube. It's a wonder I ever had time for school, friends and other normal childhood activities!

We hunkered down one wintry evening to watch the series premier. After about 15 minutes or so, I came to the painful realization that Seinfeld had a predecessor! This was a show about nothing. I couldn't believe it. I realised that my mind had been reminscing about a show that must have seemed exciting to a kid under the age of 10. Watching it as an adult, the whole thing was less than eventful and really cheesy.

Months after sitting through that pilot episode, we're still watching the first season, slowly but surely. What has kept me interested? Most girls liked Ponch, but I always liked Jon Baker. In fact, Husband bears a striking resemblance to the fair-haired character come to think of it! My other half has become less than excited about continuing this California Highway Patrol journey. Now we just laugh and point a lot.

I know that I've hit a time in my life when reminiscing about the past has become a full-time activity. The boys sure looked great in their copper uniforms - always impossibly tight and well-groomed. I also love the groovy street clothing on the guest characters. And the hair - wow, there was more to the men's (full-bodied) cuts than the women's styles. The guys all looked like they came off the set of the "Mod Squad" and the women all looked like Farrah worshipers.

We're just enjoying the show for what it is. Life is stressful and complicated. One great way to unwind that grey matter is to watch something a bit lame and dated. So my retro journey continues..

CHiPs: The Complete Second Season

70'S WOMEN'S VINTAGE CLOTHES, HIPPY/BOHO GYPSY DRESS 12

Vintage Mod 70s Fitted Men's Fashion Disco Shirt 36 S

CHIPS RETRO T SHIRT TV SHOW 1970'S 70'S CLASSIC VINTAGE

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

"My mom and dad went to XXX and all I got was this dumb t-shirt"

File:Che and Fidel Graffiti Bergen Norway.JPG

Graffiti showing Che, wearing Che
wikipedia.org

I just love t-shirts. I have 2 large drawers packed full of them. Some are vacation souvenirs, some are from rock concerts, some honour movies, some have designer labels, some are from various Olympics, some have colourful surfer dude type images and some just say nothing at all. I wear them all year round on their own or under a sweater.

I think my favourite ones are from the 1970's to the 1980's. I remember when I was still in elementary school, my friends' older siblings used to wear Che Guevara t-shirts a lot. I had no idea who this guy was but he sure seemed really popular with the anti-establishment crowd. I was at a clothing store recently where I saw a baby's t-shirt that had Che's image on the front and the caption read "I don't know who this guy is". It cracked me up a lot!

cafepress.com

Who can forget the ones that said "Who shot J.R.?" If you don't know what that means, you were not a child of the early 80's. I used to have an iron-on t-shirt that said "90% angel, 10% devil". I was a very shy kid who got a lot of attention because of that. That's when I realised that non-verbal communication can be more effective than being the life of a party.

There was a time when self-expression came in the form of a t-shirt, whether you purchased them with prewritten phrases or you had the wording custom ordered. We could form modern day clans just by the t-shirts we wore.

I like to think that a t-shirt isn't some junky weekend wear. Mine have history, memories, powerful opinions and some even have quite a lot of sex appeal! Look through your own t-shirt drawer and wear one today that you haven't pulled out for awhile. It might take you back to an earlier decade and give you something to smile about.

How about some retro t-shirts you haven't

seen for awhile?...