Day 114: Young Miss Part Three; Far Out Fashion!

It's March 1973. Parents are divorcing, The Waltons are going through some Depression-era hard times and Young Miss readers are down in the dumps. But Richard and Karen Carpenter are beaming as they've got Flower Power!

Here's how to cheer yourself up after Dad moves in with his secretary or after watching one too many depressing episodes of The Waltons... Get yourself a kicky new plaid pantsuit and pair of clunky platforms!

Don't forget your hat when you're clicking your cloggy heels in that baby doll top...

In the late 90s a friend and I were discussing old TV shows, and he said that watching To Rome With Love made him feel really grown up and worldly. I remember feeling the same. In fact I remember that feeling much better than I remember the program.

The middle letter is kind of interesting, but see the last one for hints on how to get your parents to stop smoking - soak their cigs in water and put hot sauce on the tips! And don't forget to burn all the matches! (I think they did not have disposable lighters back then.)

I want this coat! And the cape is pretty nifty, too.

Nice pantsuit too!

Early days of The Partridge Family!

I simply don't know how I passed up this opportunity! And that Four Leaf Clover Pendant Necklace! Though I'm not sure how that proves that you can easily earn $300 or more...

And what ARE those cards? Those are some strange blurry photographs there...

Now that we've sold some cards and earned more than $300, let's see what fashions we can purchase... Since when do peasants go midnight prowling?

Here are some more granny dresses; I'll take the psychedelic paisley print the blonde is wearing! Though the other two are pretty groovy, too...

Let's make another cool hundred, assuming your relatives and neighbors are not sick of your wares already. How many people do you think really managed to sell one hundred boxes of these cards?! I like the lovely everyday gift wrapping assortment, though ("15 gay, colorful large sheets. Terrific"), and especially the paisley heart-shaped LUV stationery ("Latest rage")!

A variation; just check out THAT wrapping paper!!!

These were the feminine idols of the early 70s: Bridget Hanley (I'd ask whatever happened to her, but I did see her in a one-woman show in the Edinburgh Fringe in the mid 90s) and That Girl, Marlo Thomas (saw her at the Festival of Books last year...) I think I wrote something across Bobby Sherman's face; I could not stand him!!!

Mad, mod zodiac wall posters! And check out that top hits album by top group the Kings Road. (Yes, who?) Not available in stores!

More mod maxis, granny glasses, and don't forget your crocheted caps!

Nice shapes!

I don't remember anyone with stripey tights back in those days! I had to wait till the 80s to get some.

More snazzy pantsuits...

And look at these groovy get-ups!!! Matching hat or scarf, too!

Day 113: The (Non-Jigsaw) Puzzles of my Dad Part One: R.J. Series of Popular Puzzles

There were always interesting things to be found in the "Bug Room" or my father's closet in our Gardena house, and these items, many dating from his childhood, were moved to John Street. I found a case of "Popular Puzzles" in a bookcase next to my father's dresser. I remember attempting most of them, without much if any success, many years ago.



I don't believe I ever even made it much past Ireland!

I have the clearest memory of this puzzle, though not one of ever managing to finish it!

 

I could do one half of this one, but I don't see how two halves are possible!

This one is pretty impossible too!

You do have that little ramp to help you but still... Really?!

I probably had the most luck with this one, but still no real joy! This was the only one in fairly poor shape with its glass fronts-piece cracked, perhaps in frustration...