Wednesday, 5 August 2015

Day 70: Photos Taken Around the House: Living Room Edition - Part One: Christmas


 Some of these might be repeats... But is anyone going to complain? There are a LOT of photos that were taken in the John Street living room! We'll begin with Christmases past of various years.

I am placing this photo in 2006 as I was not here that year. I don't recall the Christmas tree ever being in that position in front of the fireplace nor my mom's chair ever being in that position. Also, I never would have allowed a tree to be so sparsely decorated and there are none of my spectacularly decorated packages under the tree. But my mom looks happy.




I also do not remember the tree ever residing in that corner, but as this shot is labelled, I can confirm that I was celebrating in Scotland. That bookcase remains in the same position though, 36 years later, and most of the stuff on the shelves, ditto, until last month.




 Early 80s? Jim Allan and my sister







Peter pulls a cracker at the Boxing Day Bash,  1981


 This one was 1985. I didn't make it home for Christmas again until 1993.




Another tree during a year I missed. Our house really looks like a cabin here!



 Aunt "Babe" Harriet, sometime in the 80s


 .
I can tell by my tail that this must be 1980... Hair too short for '81; wasn't here in '79 or '82... If I could see what records I received it would help. I have no idea what was in the big package. But I see that Daisy, who is at my feet, received some dog treats.



 My sister, between 1998 and 2002 (as that's when that Mac resided on that desk...)




 Another shot of that late 80s tree....

I guess my brother got that backpack frame for Christmas. Here he is holding Zowie.



I wonder what happened to my I Love Lucy T shirt. This would have been 1981 I think.

Luke's first walking Christmas; this would have been 2003.












Because we had so few relatives left, my parents usually invited friends over for Christmas. We would call them "fake relatives". Here's my dad with Joyce Schumann, one of the regulars, along with her husband Charlie.


Day 69: Photos Taken Around the House: Out Front on 19th Street Edition

My sister has scanned a bunch more photos. These were all taken in front of the house, which is partly on a hill and faces 19th Street.

My brother doing some yard work:



 Patty Stefani (visiting from Illinois), me, and my sister in front of the house during the first summer there in 1972. Now the pine trees, including the one on the far right which has now been killed by the drought, are much higher than the roof and most of the shrubbery is gone.



 Have I posted this one before? This is the 1963 Ford Fairlane I inherited (it was my grandfather's) in 1981 after the Chevy Nova was totalled. This photo would have been taken in late 81 or early 82.




 And here's an arty shot of the Fairlane, taken from my sister's Honda Civic across the street.



 And here's the Honda Civic, parked across the street from the house. And some chick in hot pants.



 


Here she is, earlier on, by the back gate with her high school boyfriend, Jerry Sully. They must have had the same hairdresser and dentist.


 
Here's my mom in the driveway, with her Pontiac (I think; I get modern cars mixed up.) The driveway and garage also face 19th Street.





My brother again:





And my sister again, on the 19th Street side of the front yard:




 The front door, shrouded in mist...












Tuesday, 4 August 2015

Day 68: Valley of the Dirty Dolls Part Five



I recently photographed another box of dolls; so here's the last set of photos of the first box.

First we have Penny Brite, I think. I got her for my fifth birthday and people said she looked like me. Luckily I escaped the face mold problem.






She's in a candy striper outfit. A lot of germs lurk in them there hospitals, mind you!




I do not remember this doll at all! Perhaps that is a good thing.






The whole gang, at peace:












I have shown you Saucy Walker before, but here are a couple more pics.






And I know you've seen this one before, but I couldn't resist a second showing...

Saturday, 1 August 2015

Day 67: Pool Party Pix Part 3

I just realized I have a lot more photos to post; some to still locate. Soon I will have more; if you are reading this, know me, and are in the LA area, you should have been invited to the very last pool party which is happening very soon. If you haven't been, or think you haven't (check your Events page if you're on Facebook - they don't send out many notifications these days), please contact me pronto!

These are all from the summer of 1983, taken with my brand new Canon AE-1.

Dez, doing his best Jesus impersonation... That is, if Jesus wore specs and a hat.



Janet was ahead of the times with that ombre hair coloring thing. Do I need to get some paper parasols for this weekend's party?


 The glamorous Joe Z...



Deborah Exit, Juan Gomez, Kevin Wood with his mouth full...





Paul Mitchell gives me the evil eye...



But here he is smiling with Daddy Keith.



Steve Housdening around



 My sister discusses burger fillings with a slightly overdressed Bill Raden. I just realized that the banner behind them must say ALOHA.



 And finally, here's the much missed David Wiley with Andy Seven. Check out the woodtone fridge!