What the hell can I talk (gripe) about?

There's always something that gets me ticked off..........should I talk about the weather? Naaahhhh........it's been a mild winter here (I LOVE global warming! If there is such a thing.....) but really there's not a darn thing you can do about the weather so I'll skip that for now. How about politics? No.....too boring. Yes, I'm a Republican and I will always vote Republican, even though I was "taught" to be a Democrat but when I got to be 16, I wised up and have never looked back. But politics is a bore........as is religion. There's one message board that I go to (a music board, mind you) that has one poster on there that goes by his initials, RJHC, who not only ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS POSTS IN CAPITAL LETTERS, but he always has to bring religion into the conversation. He's a die-hard Catholic (or as I say CATLICK) and really loves and knows his old music, but we're just sick and tired of him rambling on about how the Catholic faith or whatever you call it, is the ONLY religion and everything else doesn't matter. I hate that. In fact, as far as I'm concerned all religions are cults. I refuse to belong to a cult. Do I believe in God? Sometimes.........there are times I wonder if there really is a higher being and there are times where I just KNOW there is, but you believe what you want to believe.........it's all in the mind. Speaking of higher beings and all.........let's talk about life on other planets and ghosts. Are there such things? Some people don't believe so, but I'm one of them who does believe it. As big as this vast space called a universe is, there HAS to be life somewhere else out there. I'm sure some of the life is far below us in intelligence, but there are other places out there that life is vastly superior to us as well. Flying saucers, UFOs, spaceships....whatever you want to call them. Yes, I believe they exist. Yes, I believe they have come to this planet. Yes, I believe that some even live among us, and one day we will be able to do that on other planets, too. Am I nuts to think this? About as nuts as the people who don't think it is happening! Ghosts..........do they or do they not exist? Absolutely. I've seen them. The ones I've seen don't carry chains around and say "Booooooooooooooooo"........they are just lost spirits or souls or whatever......but they are here. I've seen them in the house I live in. The first one I ever saw was when I was 12 and his name was Mike. He was in the Navy in WWII and he was a former boarder in the house I now live in. My grandmother pretty much had an open house during the depression years and fed and housed people who couldn't afford to go anywhere. Mike was one of those people. After he was killed in WWII he had nowhere to go. When he appeared to me, he wanted to know who I was and what I was doing in the house....particularly in the room I was in, which was my grandmothers former bedroom. I was a stranger to him and he wanted to know who I was. We actually talked for a few minutes (I remember it like it happened yesterday, even though it happened in 1968!) and apparently I satisfied his curiousity because after I told him I was the grandson of the woman who used to own the house, he smiled and walked away..........and faded away. I'll never ever forget that. I also believe ghosts appear in your dreams. Have you ever dreamed of somebody close to you that has passed away? I have many times..........cousins, uncles, friends, my dad.............they are there just as I remember them, sound just as I remember them..............and in some cases smell (cologne) just as I remember them. One friend of mine (Bruce Fountain) died when he was 16. Jan. 1973. He was killed a block away from home riding his snowmobile when he went over a snow drift and hit a pickup truck head on. I never saw Bruce on his last day on earth. I was home sick from school that day and that night he was killed. When I heard he was killed, I thought they meant his dad, who's name was also Bruce, then they said "No, the kid". I was in shock. Bruce? He can't be dead, he's only 16! My age! A friend I've known since we were 5! I still remember his perfectly combed hair. He always carried a comb and was always looking in the mirror combing his hair. And he was always smiling his crooked smile. I remember it was a few years after his death that I dreamed of him. He looked exactly as I remembered and sounded the same, too. He told me he was okay and wanted to know how I've been, how school was, what I've been up to, and asked about other classmates. After we talked a few minutes, he said he had to go.........I asked him to stay a few more minutes because I had more questions to ask him, but he said he HAD to go........and he, too, walked away.........and faded away. When I woke up I knew it was a dream, but DAMN, I know he was there. It was SO real! I've gone to his grave a few times since, but it doesn't look like many others do, including his family, as his marker is always looking in rough shape. I remember his dad especially took Bruce's death quite hard. He was his only son......along with (I think) 5 daughters. As I said, I've dreamed of others, too..........especially my Uncle Don, my cousin Barry, and my dad. I know they are visiting me and making sure I'm okay. Do they visit others? I don't know.........nobody says so. Maybe they think others will think they're nuts. Well, I couldn't care less what people think of me..........I know what I've seen and I know I'm not nuts. You believe what you want to believe...............or don't want to believe. That is your choice. No drugs or alcohol is put into this body, I'm about as straight as they come. And that coming from somebody who is about to turn 50! WHAT? 50? Moi? It's only a number.........the saying is you're as old as you feel and I truly believe that. I don't feel 50 and I KNOW I don't look it. I'm told that all the time. And just anybody, I DEFINITELY don't act my age. I refuse. I refuse to get old. In fact I'm getting younger every day. When I die I'm not going to die of old age, I'm going to die of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome). HA HA HA HA...........and with that happy thought, I'm done writing my latest entry for my blog. Hope you got a kick out of it. Later...............oh yes, one more thing, just remember, I am always right..........ALWAYS.

Things that bug the hell out of me.........

When people talk and say the word OUR, more times than not, they say "are". ARE car, ARE house..........it's OUR car, OUR house....you pronounce it like HOUR!!! Another thing is when they finish their sentences with the word "so".... "Yeah, I need a new car, so..........." So, WHAT? So, you're going to look for a new car? You're going to put up with the old car because you can't afford a new car? WHAT!!!!!??????? It also bugs the hell out of me when people email me and write "should of" or "would of" instead of "should've" or "would've" or "should have" or "would have". My brother is an expert on that. He writes "I would of gone to the game today but it was too cold." Where in the hell did you go to school? Were you making out with Gayle when you were supposed to be in English class? AUGHHHH!!!!! Another brother keeps saying "Ya, you betcha". STOP IT!!!!!! Other over-used words are the words "like" and "go". I KNOW everybody has heard this constantly over the last 20 years or so, "I was talking to Joe the other day, and I like, Hi Joe, how are you? And he, like, not too bad, how are you? And I go, I'm fine, I'm working now so........" SHUT UP ALREADY!!!!!!! Another thing that bugs the hell out of me is when PEOPLE USE CAPS WHEN THEY WRITE MESSAGES IN EMAILS OR ON MESSAGE BOARDS. Use the shift key and take the CAPS off! CAPS MEAN YOU ARE YELLING! QUIT YELLING! It also bugs the hell outta me when people write "your" instead of "you're" "I heard your going to the hospital. I hope your okay!"
And how about when people say "aks" instead of "ask"? Or "ho"......IT'S WHORE! You're not black so quit talking like one! And it's HALLoween, not HOLLOWeen. Plus it's HALLEY'S Comet (like alley), not Haley's Comet. Another one is this........there is no "R" in Washington or washing machine....it's NOT A WARSHING MACHINE! And the top of a house is a ROOF, not a RUFF! And the last one is when people say "all" instead of "I'll". "All go get the pizza if you go get the beer." Key-ryist.........little things just bug the hell outta me.
The grammar gestapo lives.

The beginning of the ride...........

I first started collecting videos in 1985. I bought my first VCR (a 2 head Fisher) for $450 in January 1985. Back then, you could get a Fisher 4 head VCR for $500, but I figured 2 heads was good enough. I also bought my first blank VHS tape at the same time. A Panasonic Super HG for $12! Believe it or not, I still have that tape and it still records just fine! The Fisher is long gone....in fact, I've probably gone through 6 or 7 VCRs since then, maybe even more! Anyway, back to videos. I remember taping MTV Closet Classics for a while (always in the EP mode so I can get SIX hours on a tape instead of a lousy 2 hours in SP!). Then, since I was also a record collector at the time, I looked in the ads in GOLDMINE magazine to see if anybody had any cool videos for sale. Lo and behold I hit paydirt! The first guy I ever got things from was KEN DIXON from Ohio. When I got his first list I almost pee'd my pants. UPBEAT? GO GO MANIA? HULLABALOO? ARE YOU KIDDING ME? Did I die and go to heaven? OH MY GOD, I MUST GET THESE! So I called Ken and since I didn't have anything to trade, he charged me mininal fees for copies......probably about $10 per tape. WOW! When I got those tapes, they brought me back 20 years. Yeah, the quality wasn't THAT great, but SO WHAT! I was watching clips I remember seeing on TV back when I was a kid! I was in heaven.........then I kept checking GOLDMINE ads for other collectors or dealers. Then I struck gold again. MARK ROSEN from New Paltz, NY. I contacted him and we set up a trade. I didn't have another VCR to copy so I had to rent one from USA VIDEO, a video rental store in town. I think they charged about $20 per day and a $200 (maybe more?) deposit in case anything happened to the VCR. (Ahhhhhhhh, the good ol' days, huh?) Well, Mark and I traded and a friendship started that lasted several years (until he "retired" - hint: wife made him stop). Then I REALLY hit the big time when I got in contact with PETER ABRAM. Even though Peter wasn't happy with the first stuff I sent him in trade, he still let me keep the tape he sent me. THANKS, PETER.....you're the one who REALLY got me into this crazy hobby! I quit record collecting and focused on videos full-time and haven't looked back. Peter and I are still friends and still trade to this day. If you're into videos like I am, or just starting out even........look up Peter and get some videos from him! Don't call him (and don't call me, either)......we're not looking for phone pals, but if you want the BEST videos (or DVDs) around.........Peter and I will get your collection going with a BANG!
Anyway, I got off subject a little.........it's now been over 20 years since I got that first VCR. I've made some great friends along the way (Ben, Mike, Tom A, Tom K, Peter, Doug, John F, and MANY MORE) and I've lost some along the way as well (Bob L, Terry P, Mark R, Billy M) but life goes on. I'm happy! I never EVER in my wildest dreams thought I would have the collection that I do. I now deal in VHS tapes AND DVD-R. For those of you who still have the VHS tapes........I highly recommend you get into the digital format....DVD. The quality is better, they last longer, and they don't take up the room that tapes do (except in my and Tom K's place....right Tom? HA HA HA).
It's been a fun ride........a wild and crazy ride (there's a few nutcases out there, just like any hobby).........and I hope it continues for many more years to come.
Now, LET'S FIND THOSE HIDDEN MASTER TAPES IN THOSE CLOSESTS, BASEMENTS, GARAGES, ATTICS, OR WHEREVER! Not everything has been erased (though lots of cool stuff has) but there are LOTS left to be un-earthed! KEEP HUNTING!!