Of Slurpees and Video Games

When I look back on the '80's, I sometimes feel I was more of an observer than having experienced them first hand. I don't mean that I wasn't the right age, I was.  I turned 13 in 1980, prime time coming-of-age age. But due to lack of funds, proximity of my home, and an overprotective mother, I saw little of the things most of my generation did. One of those things was video arcades. I didn't have any near me and we certainly didn't have quarters to "throw away". Another was 7-11 Slurpees. We had a 7-11 in town, but my parents never bought gas there, and we certainly wouldn't have gone inside to buy a frozen drink if we did. Like I said, I was aware of all of these things; I watched a lot of TV after all.  But as far as tasting or playing them, Slurpees and arcade video games were out of my reach (full disclosure, I did have an Atari 2600 after 1983).

Perhaps the best representation of my pop culture gap is summarized in these cups I found this morning at a garage sale.  They date from 1982 and apparently there was at least one more series in 1983.  Coincidentally enough, they cost a quarter. I didn't mind "throwing it away".

Enter 1984

No, I'm not heralding the arrival of some Orwellian society, it's just a computer magazine from 1984, specifically November.  Here's why 1984 wasn't like 1984.

Snapshots in Time

I've been going through my backlog of items for quite a while now and just came across this photo album I picked up at least a year ago.

It's a collection of black and white snapshots of a couple's trip to New York and New Jersey around June of 1944.  I don't know their names, so let's just call them "Alice" and "Stan".

Little Audrey -- Just the Ads

I occasionally pick up cheap comics at garage and estate sales. I never pay more than $1 for them and typically they're worth less than that.  But there's something about looking through an old comic that takes you back to your childhood.  I'm talking about the ads.

First up is Little Audrey, May 1971 issue.  Someone has noted this issue contains a "Biblical Story", perhaps justifying it for reading by their children.

How to Have a Prettier Room!

Hey, it's time for another sporadic post!

It's Spring (though you wouldn't know it here in St. Louis where we're expected to get hit with more snow this weekend), a time of rejuvenation for nature as well as in your home.  This pamphlet courtesy of the fine folks at Johnson Wax will guide you in the prettification of your home with such hints as "Hide a steam pipe under fake ivy" and "Make a wonderful wastebasket"!

Reader's Digest Condensed - January 1967

Since it's the slow season for garage sales, I thought I'd bring back something I haven't done in a while.  Reader's Digest ads!  My grandparents subscribed to Reader's Digest. I liked reading the jokes, but never read the articles.  With these, I just like to look at the ads.

Weird Worlds 1980

You may have noticed a lack of posts the last 2 months. I'd lost that bloggin' feeling. That combined with Christmas and other extenuating circumstances resulted in no content.  But with the New Year, I'm back.

I was at an estate sale this morning and came across this issue of Weird Worlds.