Friday, June 30, 2006
What a game!
Eric was screaming and cheering on the top of his lungs today.

Germany vs. Argentina had us on the edge of our seats. Anyone who caught the World Cup game today will know what I'm referring to. What a crazy game.


Germany is moving on to the semi-finals!

I can't remember the last time I saw Eric this excited over a soccer game. His embrace knocked me over and took the breath out of me.


It's 8:45 P.M. in Germany. I know our friends there will be partying hard tonight. I'm sure every pub, cafe, and nightclub is packed to the rim. They probably broadcasted the game live on a large screen in the center of the Altstadt. I wish I could be there during this time.

So just a little shout out to all those in Germany, Eric and I are in America right now but we're cheering along with you.



 
posted by Clarity25 at 8:46 AM | 8 comments
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
Do you remember these books?
My life here in America is so different from my previous life in Germany.

Those days are beginning to fade slowly from my memory, almost as though I had never gone to Europe in the first place. Every day the memories fades more and more.

Like a dream.

Now we're dealing with a new reality in New York. It's taking some time to adjust.

I wonder if my traveling days have come to an end and it's time to settle down.

I feel under the weather today, I think I'm coming down with the flu. I'm going to take a motrin and rest before making dinner. My mood is pretty low.

I don't have much to write today, so here's an older entry from Germany, June 13th, 2004

*******

Eric has an ear infection, Yesterday afternoon he had to go to the Deutsch doctor who prescribed him anti-biotics and some heavy duty pain medication. Last night, Eric was lying in bed with glazed eyes and his jaw was starting to hurt, so he couldn't speak. I lay beside him and read to him until he fell asleep. I love reading to him, the last two books we read together were "the Davinci code" and "Emma".

I was thinking yesterday of all the books I've read in my life. There are so many, that I can't even begin to imagine the actual number. I'm a fast reader, which is a blessing and a curse. I've read every book in the English section of the German Library.. (It's a fairly small section, mostly classics) and English books at the stores are insanely expensive. So often times, I don't have anything to read. I enjoy reading all of your diaries..

Out of all the books I read in my past, it's interesting how certain titles stand out from the rest. Often times they aren't the best literature, Pulitzer Prize, or deeply profound books but I felt something when I read them..or it affected my life in some way. I just simply enjoyed the book or it changed my perspective.

So I thought I'd list the top ones that come to my mind, from the moment I first learned to read, to Today.. I doubt I'm the only person who has memories with these books.



"Go Dog Go" by P.D. Eastman - This book was the first book I ever read, I can't remember how old I was but I remember my mother bringing it home after work and reading it to me. After that, We would read it together, and she would tell me the words I couldn't sound out. It started out with the simple word "dog", and ended with an elaborate party in a tree with all the dog characters. I spent countless days sitting in the livingroom rocking chair with the sunlight coming in from the skylight, and reading it aloud to myself..over and over and over again. I still remember the thrill I had in my stomach when I was able to read it entirely from cover to back all on my own. I loved this book and carried it with me everywhere.



The Ramona series by Beverly Clearly - I started reading this series in Kindergarten and loved it until 3rd grade. I just instantly related with the character of Ramona, She was always getting in trouble and constantly seen as a pest. I remember vague scenes with her grabbing some girls luscious blond curls and yanking them. There was something in this series that I connected with. Something about her frustration about not being taken seriously and sadness of not belonging.



"Sweet Valley Twin series" by Francine Pascal - Does anyone remember those California twins with the shoulder-length "sun-streaked" blond hair and "blue-green" eyes? They were a perfect size 6 and had a year-long tan? They lived in that ranch-style house with the new american ideal of the democratic working family. They had a handsome liberal father and a beautiful graphic designer mom. It was a brilliant construction..twin heroines. The writer was free to have not ONE, but TWO versions of the ideal teenage girlhood. Elizabeth was intelligent and wrote for the school paper and Jessica was the "popular cheerleader". Jessica was the true hero of the series, she was spontaneous, impulsive and to be frank, a complete bitch. But somehow despite all the shit she pulled the reader still managed to forgive her and love her in the end. I had all the books from 1-97,I also used to spend hours admiring the cover illustrations, my dream was to some day paint the book covers. But alas..they've been long forgotten now and overshadowed by Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen.



"Are you there God, It's me Margaret" By Judy Blume - This book blew me away when I read it and left quite an impression on me. This was the first time I had read a teen novel that had sex talk, periods and "playboy" references. I actually blushed when I read it the first time at age 9. It dealt with all the issues of being an adolescent girl with such bittersweet honesty and reality. I can't remember much, except for Margaret wanting her breasts to grow faster and doing "Bust exercises..". This book comforted me, It was simply amazingly written. I think this novel should be a rites of passage book for every girl.

"Anne of Green Gables" by L.M. Montgomery - I can't hear the phrase "kindred spirit" without thinking of this book. I read it when I was 10 years old and fell in complete love with the orphan, Anne Shirley. She was me, dramatic, pathetic, somehow constantly getting into trouble and always falling into "The depths of despair". I read it again a few months ago, and it still had the same magic as the first time. I can understand how it's remained a classic for a hundred years.



"Flowers in the attic" by V.C. Andrews. - okay, when you think about this book what is the first thing you remember? That sexual scene between the brother and sister up in the attic. That shocked the hell out of me...The whole book did. We would pass it around in school when I was 11, until it was torn and dog-eared in the corners. The whole book was captivating, horrific, left you with a chill running down your back and felt forbidden.



"Go Ask Alice" by anonymous - This book introduced me to the seductive, addictive world of drugs and the effects. The entire book just overwhelmed me, There was so much in it. I couldn't even fully grasp it all at age 12. The frightening thing was how easily I could relate to this girl, feel as though I knew her and to read the lurid details, sometimes fascinating and sometimes terrifying.. I haven't read this book in over 10 years, but I remember the end was heartbreaking and I actually cried. I always had it in my bookbag.

"Forever" by Judy Blume - It's short, you can read it in a few hours and it is hands down the best description of the first sexual experience I have ever read. Period. All I can say, is thank you Judy blume for preparing me for the bittersweet realities of love relationships at a young age.

"Wuthering Heights" by Emily Bronte - This book took my breath away. I was captivated and emotionally involved from the beginning of the book, with the first paragraph description of "The perfect misanthropists heaven " . It's a passionate story of Universals: Love, hate, and revenge. I think a part of me wanted to be Catherine, I wanted to run on the moors.. I wanted Healthcliff, despite all his rage..something about him captivated me. I've written countless papers in highschool on this novel, including a page by page synopsis..I've read it a hundred times. It's my favorite book.




"Watchers" by Dean R Koontz - This novel is compelling, amazing and I read it many times in my teen years. I remember the story line had to do with this intelligent dog, this couple and this horrid beast. It had everything a good novel needed, it succeeds on so many levels and was powerful. This book made me cry, actually sob when the beast was in the cave..and..well just read it. .It's one of those books I would never have picked up on my own at the store, but I'm so glad my friend convinced me to read it. It's been 8 years now, I should read it again. I don't know if it's the greatest book ever written, but it hit me emotionally.



"Insomnia" by Stephen King - Alot of people didn't like this book they found it lengthy and boring. But I connected with this book, I read it only once and when I was 16 years old. I remember little about the plot, other than the fact that the man can't sleep because of nightmares.. For some odd reason, After we read that book, my friend and I stayed up for 3 days straight together with the hope of seeing "Auras". I have to read the book again to figure out why..but I remember being absolutely absorbed. So much, that I feel the need to mention it on my list.

"Butterflies are free" by Leonard Gershe - If you can get your hands on it. (It's currently out of print, I can't even find it on E-Bay) you should read it. I bought it at a Garage sale, I read it when I was 18, and loved it. I related strongly with the character of Jill, It's just beautiful, funny, sad..and it's all about love.

Okay, I have to wrap up this list, otherwise I'll be typing all night...



"Love and Will" by Rollo May - I read this when I was 21, and I filled the entire book with notes and highlight markings. There's alot in it and you might have to read it over and over again. But it's just simply amazing, in a way it changed my life perspective.

"Madame Bovary" by Gustav Flaubert - This was the last book I can remember that really hit me in the gut and caused me to cry at the end. The hardest I've ever cried before, it was just so heartbreaking.. But I can't put myself through that book again, it tore me apart.

There are many I didn't have space to list, but these are the ones that immediately popped into my mind.

The new Michael Moore movie isn't playing in any theaters in my town, although one independent English theater is trying to get a hold of it and people are already making reservations. Must be patient.

I have to go "cook" dinner, Eric is napping on the sofa besides me..He seems to be doing better...
 
posted by Clarity25 at 10:38 AM |
Sunday, June 25, 2006
Unexpected turns and Influential films
Sometimes a night can take an unexpected turn and you end up in a place you didn't expect. It results in a surprising experience. Those moments in life are my favorites

For example:

Last night I found myself in the middle of a bunch of screaming fans in a packed concert on Jones Beach with Def Leppard on stage.

3 hours earlier, I had no idea my night would lead in that direction.

My friend from childhood and former Bartending buddy was in town. The weather was stormy and wet. She suddenly asked me and Eric "hey, you want to go see Def Leppard?"

.....Def Leppard?

She had two tickets, but there were a lot of factors against us. 1. It was an outdoor theater and the weather was awful. 2. Transportation 3. Only one extra ticket...

But there we were hours later, all problems resolved. Rain stopped, The security guard let Eric in for free and we were having an amazing time. They played some Led Zeppelin hits and it was like being transported in time to a rock concert of the 1970's. The smell of weed drifted over the crowd and the lights were flashing. Eric was thrashing his head.

Back when Tara and I were 15 years old, We listened to "Pour Some Sugar On Me" in her basement. Now we were watching them live in concert over 10 years later. A random, crazy, and fun night, who would have thought?

She flew back to Florida this morning, and she's reading this.

Thanks Tara!



******

Here's another older entry from my locked diary. This one was written in Germany, 2005

I'm still hungover.

Last night we met up with some friends at the Irish Pub..



We ordered "Green Giants", (Which is bright green mixture of Beer and curacao.) There was a two for one special..and they were cheap. It tastes like candy and you forget it contains alcohol. I drank one too many last night.

..I'm still debating how much I want write about last night. Lets just say, it was a fun night....

In the beginning of the evening, everyone at the table started talking about films from their childhood and teenage years. the ones that left the strongest impression on them..for one reason or the other.

Peter's new girlfriend, Rose said "Dirty Dancing!"

I had to agree..that was the first one that leapt to my mind too. I think that might be a universal female thing. Especially amoungst those in their twenties and thirties.

"And Top Gun..Do you remember that song?", She laughed

"Take my breath away...."

"Yes!..and "Days of Thunder"!..you know, "Grease" left an impression on me too!", She said "So what are your Top ten?"

I wasn't sober enough to come up with a list at the time..we all mentioned different films for a while, sang songs from the soundtracks and laughed about all the memories..

*****

But today, I was thinking about that..

Here is my list of the most influential films of my youth till today. These are not necessarily the best films ever made..some of them aren't even that great. But there was something special about each one..something that made them stay in my memory long after seeing them. They left a deep impression on me. When I think back..these are the first 10 films that come to mind...


Superman II


this is the very first film I saw in the movie theaters as a very young child. I have clear memories of the awe I watching it on the big screen. I wrote about this in more detail when Christopher Reeve died last year. It's in this entry.

Dark Crystal



I couldn't tell you what this movie was about anymore, It's been at least 19 years since I've seen it. But I remember I watched it often and there was something so magical about it, something emotional, something that made me cry. I still can envision the scenes that stuck in my head. I remember terrifying vulture creatures with long necks, I remember sitting on the edge of the sofa clenching the seat cushion in absolute anguish at the prospect of the main female gelfling dying..I know I dreamt about it afterwards and drew sketches in my drawing pad. Some of my earliest childhood drawings were the characters from this film. One of these days I have to rent it and see it again.

Labyrinth



I loved this film and even though I was young, I knew David Bowie was sexy. There were so many levels to this film and I was intrigued. I didn't know whether to hate Jareth or to love him. This was a beautiful fantasy film and now it's considered a cult classic.

Back To The Future



Imagine traveling back in time with a Deloreon and seeing your parents when they were your age?. It pulled me in, and I couldn't get enough of it. It's a brilliant film, just entertainment in the purest sense. I can't even put my finger exactly on what it was..but I wore out the VHS player at age 8 with this movie. I still have the original video cassette, bulky and heavy with the tattered plastic cover.

Dirty Dancing




How many times I saw this movie..I can't even say. Every sleepover party at every friend's house... this was the film. Nothing could top it. At age 9, this film was PG 13, therefore taboo. We had to take turns watching out for our parents and played it on a very low volume. It was the ultimate coming of age film, Who didn't want to have Patrick Swayze grinding his hips against them? Who didn't want to dance on stage and rebel against your parents?.. Half of the underlying issues I couldn't even grasp at such a young age. I had the soundtrack and I listened to "Cry to me" on my little pink cassette player with my eyes closed. What was it about this film? why did we love it SO much...

My Girl



I saw this movie for the first time when I was eleven years old, the same age as the protagonist. Never before did I connect so strongly with the main character..never before did I cry so hard at a film. It was heartbreaking, touching and bittersweet. this movie stuck with me. I'll never forget the funeral and the poem she read in class. "weeping willow with your leaves hanging down..why do you always a weep and frown..Is it because he left you one day..is it because he could not stay.". I saw it again after the death of Jim at age 21 and I saw that little girl I used to be. It tore me apart.

Batman



I think I was 12 when I saw this film. It was the opening night and the theater was packed. There was so much energy and so much excitment. Everyone laughed at the wit of the joker..and cheered with every line Batman delivered. He was a dark hero..he was complex..he was sexy.. I was captivated.. I left the theater feeling a sense of rush. My friend Steven said.."Do you want to see it again?". I whispered "Yes", and we snuck back into the theater for the next showing. I can't say whether this IS actually a good film, or my judgment was clouded by youth. I haven't seen it in about 13 years. But it left an impression.

Reality Bites



At age 15, I saw this movie for the first time and it has remained my favorite since. Never have I found a film with so many layers of jokes, cultural references, and honestly portraying the struggle of graduating college..trying to make it. It's so damn witty, and to this day..I discover new jokes, puns on words and references. Nearly every line in this film has a double meaning. I see it's flaws now as I grow older, but still love it. Plus it captures the nineties in a way no film has done.

Breakfast at Tiffany's



At age 18, I discovered "Breakfast at Tiffany's", Holly Golightly is a complex character, and I think everyone could relate to her struggles at discovering who she was. I instantly loved this film.

American Beauty



This movie changed the way I saw so many things. Too many to even list.. I don't even feel it's necessary to explain. This movie speaks for itself.

Vanilla Sky



I left this movie with chills running down my body and I was covered in goosebumps. On the drive back from the theater..I sat in the backseat in a daze just digesting what I had seen. The variety of emotions I felt when i saw this film..the journey it takes you down.. I can't remember the last time I felt that while sitting through a movie. It has it's flaws..yes. But it's so powerful. It shook my core.. It's sad how this film was bashed by critics and shoved under the carpet. What they were attempting in this film, shouldn't be overlooked. It has a strong message, if you look deeper.. It simply blew me away. It made me question the very core of my existance.

"Just remember, the sweet is never as sweet without the sour"

"Every passing minute is another chance to turn it all around"

"Say everything now, now, now, now"

"Open your eyes"

"Its been a brilliant journey of self-awakening, now you simply have to ask yourself this... What is happiness to you?"

I couldn't breathe...I just whispered "holy shit.." I didn't see things the same. I wiped at my cheek absently, my fingers were wet from tears, and I realized I was crying.

What movies were influential to you?


I asked Eric the same question..here are his answers, off the top of his head. He's with me right now, so I'll let him explain in his own words.

1. Star Wars



Eric: "Well the first time I saw Starwars I was just out of Kindergarten. I didn't quite know what hit me. I had stopped feeling my body sitting in front of the television and I was really disoriented once the film ended. I felt like my life wasn't the same anymore after seeing it. What impressed me most was the idea of "the force", and there just being something else behind the universe that exceeded my naive child-like christian ideas. Something that wasn't personified by an angry bearded old man that did things to the Israelites I really didn't understand. This was a completely different idea of spirituality. That's probably also what caused me to think for a while that in a past life I had been "commander number one of the Vega Star system" - Don't ask me why, but a few years..I seriously believed that. That was my favorite refuge fantasy when things got rough.

Fuck the new episodes."


2. Breakfastclub



Eric: "Guess what impressed me about this film the most? It gave me a completely new role model as a preteen which was the beginning of my "depressed phase". I bought a long black coat, much to the dismay of my mother. I sewed a scarf to my pants to be "different". I had to be like Judd Nelson. I can't really give you a good reason why I wanted to be this. There isn't a deep philosophical humanitarian idealism behind it..Just all the girls thought he was the most fascinating character. So as a result..I wanted to be him."


3. Koyannisqatsi



Eric: "I think the best movies..(and this isn't true for Breakfast club) are those that make you forget you exist. Only when the titles come down do you once again realize you have a body. I don't think any movie ever did that to me as much and strongly as Koyaanisqatsi. For those of you who haven't seen it. It's a wordless film. It doesn't have any protagonists. It just takes the camera, aims it at the factual reality of the world and our industrialized society and shows it all in an excelerated rate. You can see an entire day within 3 minutes. It shows you things commented on only by the background music such as the astronomical length of a powerline, the destructive force of the (), the beauty of a nuclear explosion, clouds crashing into mountains like waves onto a shore and infinite poverty in the heart of wealthy society. It shows the errors and illusions of mankind."

All that without saying one word. Koyaanisqatsi - "the state of unbalance"

He also mentioned "Magnolia", "All Quiet on the Western Front", "The Color Purple", "Fight Club" and "A hitchikers guide to the Galaxy"


 
posted by Clarity25 at 6:51 PM | 9 comments
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
Flashback to the Nineties
***My photoblog is currently "under construction"***

I'll be posting a few older entries from my locked diary this week. This one is especially for the friends I grew up with in New York that are reading this right now. It will provide a little trip down memory lane. It was originally written in Germany on June 14th, 2005

__________________________________________________________


I'm getting old.

The party we went to last friday was a mixture of a college frat party and my senior prom. There were drunk jocks running around screaming by the end of the night, a huge keg and a dance floor with flashing lights. The biggest birthday party I've seen thrown for someone in a long time. I was expecting a house party with about 30 people..not over 300 in a huge old German barn transformed into a disco. It was so strange..but a fun experience.

Last night we went out again with a few friends..I know I've been going out partying a lot more than usual lately. I think there's a number of reasons for this. I realized that we only have about 7 months left here in Germany. Then we'll be saying goodbye to our friends and our life here. I have this desire to make the most of every remaining moment..because once we reach New York things are going to change drastically in our life. We'll have more responsibilities, we'll start planning to have our first child and putting money aside for a house. This feels like the last months of my some-what "carefree youthful years as Newly wed artists". We'll be starting over in a sense. It's going to be a difficult adjustment for me at first...We have a large circle of friends here. I've grown to care and love the people I've met in Germany. I didn't realize how much until now.

Also when I'm out partying with my friends, for a short time I can forget the deeper problems in my life and just let go for a few hours. It's something I really need right now.

I met a number of new people last night and really bonded with Rose. (the new girlfriend of one of Eric's friends)

At one point, I was chatting with the 16 year old sister of one of my friends. The age difference wasn't an issue. We found a common ground and we were cracking up.

I asked her "So what kind of music are you into?"

"Oh..I like a lot of the oldies..you know"

"Oldies? Like what?" (Now I expected her to say.."The Doors", or Jimi Hendrix, Maybe..I don't know, Elvis)

"Really Old stuff, like.... Nirvana"

NIRVANA????? That's already considered an OLDIE?! I nearly fell over backwards. I remember listening to that in highschool.. am I really that old?

This was disturbing.

****

I'm almost finished my birthday card project for my bestfriend. It was strange going through the nineties all over again. Each year documenting the events that unfolded, putting together mixed CD's of the greatest hits and re-reading all the news of that decade. There was so much research involved.

Today, I was thinking back to the nineties. Since I already did an entry called: Back to The Eighties and went through all my memories from that decade. I thought it was time to take a trip back to the nineties. It's already the year 2005.. I might find this interesting to look back on in 20 or 30 years.


The Eighties are filled with childhood memories of saturday morning cartoons and various toys. But the nineties feel like they were just yesterday. It was the decade of so much growth for me. I went from being a child to a teenager and then an adult.

The nineties didn't start wonderfully for me..I was an awkward pre-teen. Plus the early 90's still had a strong eighties feeling to it. There were still stonewashed pants, and bright pink colors. But by 1992, things began to change.....

90's Style

In the beginning of the 90's everyone was wearing white Keds ..



When I think back to the shoes I wore most often, I think of my Converse. I had a pair in every color.. Blue, Green, red, faded brown and Black. They're apparently coming back into style these days..I see them in town and have to resist the urge to buy a pair.



Adidas.. Yes, I'm still wearing these. They're timeless...



My beloved Doc Martins.. I remember I saved up for months to buy a pair. They cost about 120 dollars, I wore mine into the ground..I had rainbow laces on them. I loved those shoes. I actually miss them.



Mary Janes..I had a pair of these, as did everyone. I also had a vintage pair of saddle shoes.



Birkenstocks.. They became really popular in the late 90's. I still have a pair. It's all I ever wore in Florida. I don't have a chance to wear them much here in Germany since it's cold about 10 out of the 12 months of the year.



Clothing:

The first thing that comes to mind when I think back to the 90's is flannel..everyone had a flannel shirt. It was the big thing, grungy flannel shirts, faded band T-shirts, ripped jeans, and thermals..Also plaid skirts with knee-high socks were huge. Everyone remembers that Aerosmith video with Alicia Silverstone. Also, Gas station shirts with name tags on them.



And Baby doll dresses, Thanks to Courtney love



There was a point when everyone was walking around looking like they just emerged from a "Three's Company" episode. Everything vintage from the 70's, big collared shirts, bell-bottom jeans. The thrift shops were being raided as everyone searched for that perfect vintage top. I had found an olive green long collared form fitting top..I must have worn it once a week.

And don't forget Cargo pants. pastel Baby doll clips in the hair.

The hair of the 90's:

Everyone was bleaching their hair and pulling out a bottle of manic panic in some insane color. Blue, Red and Bleached with the roots showing were pretty big.



In highschool, my hair was shoulder-length, but once I graduated..I chopped it all off and went with the pixie-cut for the next 5 years.



And all the clique titles..Hippie-chicks, Grunge, Goth, Punk, Skaters, Burnouts, Brains..

ah..the nineties.

***

Music:

In the nineties I remember listening to entire albums in my bedroom, just listening to music for the sake of listening to it. I had my walkman and that kept me sane. I was able to tune all the chaos out and just get absorbed into the music. I listened to alot of older music during that time, such as the Doors, Hendrix, The Clash and Janis Joplin. I was big into Vinyl records. But these are the best albums of the 1990's in my opinion..or at least the ones that stick out in my memory as my favorites...

Spin Doctors - Pocket full of kryptonite



I was 13 when I bought this album. I must have listened to "2 Princes" a million times. I can't really listen to it now and enjoy it. But at the time, I thought it was great. (I was such a little dork)

The Red Hot Chili Peppers - Blood Sugar Sex Magic



This Chili Peppers album just blew me away.

Weezer - Blue



I can't remember how many times I listened to the Weezer Blue album. I loved every single song on this album..I carried it with me..everywhere

Nine Inch Nails - Downward Spiral



Nine Inch Nails, During my darkest hours at age 16..Trent Reznor was my solace.

No Doubt - Tragic kingdom



I bought this album my last year of highschool..still love it as much as I did back then.

Nirvana - Nevermind



Of course.

Some of best songs of the nineties (In my book)

"Under the bridge" - Red Hot Chili Peppers
"Glycerine" - Bush
"Today" - Smashing Pumpkins
"Closer" - Nine Inch Nails
"Fade into me" - Mazzy Star
"The Sweater Song" - Weezer

I think the "coolness" of the 90's officially ended with the arrival of Britney Spears, the Backstreet Boys and N-sync. It just all went down hill from there......

Movies of the nineties:

When I think back to the 90's, these 4 movies stick out. Only because they were always playing at every party. Everytime we got together and someone suggested watching a film. It was one of these..

Pulp Fiction



Dazed and Confused



Reality Bites



Empire Records.



There were so many other films worth mentioning, but those hold the strongest memories of good times with my friends.

Food and Candy of the nineties:

Jellybelly jellybeans, Gushers, fruitopia, snapple, Red bull, starbucks, warheads, Ringpops, blowpops,

Do you remember McDonalds arch deluxe - "the adult burger", (?). I never could figure out what was so "adult" about it.

Television of the nineties:

I didn't watch much television, In the very Early 90's it was "Beverly Hills 90210" (But I never could get into "Melrose Place" - I hated that show) "My So-Called Life" sticks out in my mind as the most influential show for me at age 15. I also remember "Party of Five" and everyone was watching "Felicity" in the college dorm rooms. Oh and "The Simpsons"

I know "Friends" emerged in the 90's, but I didn't watch that show until I started buying the boxsets in 2003. I was too young to appreciate it when it first came out. Also "Sex in the City" came out in the late 90's, I saw it for the first time though in 2002.

Some of the commercial stick out in my memory strongly..Such as those stupid 1-800-C-O-L-L-E-C-T, that budlight commercial ("I LOVE YOU MAN!" - "You're not getting my Budlight, Johnny") and the Budweiser frogs "Bud-weis-er", the Volkswagon Jetta commercials "Da-Da-Da-Da..", The TacoBell dog, The "Got Milk" commercials, Litte Caesers "Pizza! Pizza!", Grey Poupon ("pardon me..do you have any Grey Poupon?") and of course the Calvin Klein Ads.

It's sick how COMMERCIALS stay in your memory, isn't it?

Slang

But talking about the 90's wouldn't be complete without remembering all the slang that came out during those years. The good and the stupid. Here's a list of the ones I remember..

"what's up?"

"don't go there"

"All that" (i.e. she was all that and a bag of chips)

"Beeotch"

"cool" (a classic)

"the bomb"

"chick flick" (this phrase emerged in the nineties with Meg Ryan romantic comedies)

"dude."

"hooch"

"It's all good"

"Mad" - that was Mad good

"My bad" (I couldn't stand that one..It was never said with sincerity, and made me want to slap the person)

"Not" "Yeah..that's real cool..NOT" ( I hated that one)

"Oh my god" or simply "oh god"..

"Phat" (for the record: I never used this one)

"Rolling"

"sweet" (a favorite..)

"too much information"

"talk to the hand"

"Whatever"

"You go" - this phrase was made popular by "The Jerry Springer show" - as in "Oh my god..no he di'nt..You go, girl"

"Like" (in the nineties, like, everyone was using this, like, all the time..like you wouldn't believe)


And for my teenage buddies..you might remember Pogs..skip it and tamgotchis, furby's, beanie babies from your childhood years in the 90's.

Now that decade is over, It's strange..It doesn't feel like a long time ago. I can remember those years so clearly. Some of it I miss..some of it I don't.

There's also a lot I've forgotten and left out..I'm curious to know what sticks out in your mind from the 90's.







Nineties Survey

What was your favorite movie, show, song, slang, fashion fad or memory from the 1990's?







Nineties Survey

What was your favorite movie, show, song, slang, fashion fad or memory from the 1990's?






***********




Now we have to ask.."What the hell happened to all of that?"

I wonder how people are going to view this decade, the one we're living right now.

Unfortunately, things are not going so well.

So far this decade will be defined by 911, the Iraq War and George W. Bush...

Our current president has removed more freedoms and civil liberties then any other president in U.S. history. The country is the most divided It's ever been... possibly since the Civil War.

He set the all-time record for most people worldwide to simultaneously take to the streets to protest him (15 million people), shattering the record for protest against any person in the history of mankind.

Watching the news is Disheartening, Tsunami was the biggest tragedy I've ever witnessed. The death toll in Iraq is horrifying.

Despite this the biggest thing on the news is how Michael Jackson was found "Not Guilty" of molesting little boys.

So on that front things aren't looking so good and people will be shaking their heads when they look back at this time.

All we can do is make our own unique memories, live in the moment and make the best of a bad situation. Because life goes deeper than all of that. I know things will get better.

I don't want to look back at this decade and only remember crying while I watched the news.
 
posted by Clarity25 at 8:43 AM | 11 comments
Tuesday, June 20, 2006
World Cup 2006
When I was living in Germany, I really missed American Cable. I moved to the country without knowing the language, so everything was gibberish and foreign to me. We only have three channels and all of it in German. I felt isolated from pop culture and missed my favorite shows.

Every time I visited my family in the U.S., I would buy a six pack of blank VHS tapes and just record everything to watch later in Germany. I called it the "Germany Survival series". I also bought English DVD boxsets to bring with me.

Now here I am living in America again and I rarely ever turn on the television. I have no desire to sit down in front of the tube and I don't really care what's in the T.V. guide.

Basically the only time Eric and I even turn on the T.V. at all is to catch the Soccer World Cup.

This morning Eric was ecstatic and cheering. Germany won their third game and are first in their group. A 3-0 win.

Before Europe, I could have cared less about soccer and I knew nothing about the sport. Now 4 years later, I'm a fan. I'm completely pulled in and cheering with Eric. I wish I was in Germany for this. They scream on the streets, Run with flags, set off fireworks, honk their horns and yell out their bedroom windows. Everyone is watching and it's all they talk about on the news.

Here in America, there is just one lone page that mentions the game in the sports section of the newspaper. Most people don't seem to care or even acknowledge this event at all.

The best game of the World Cup (in my opinion) was the Australia versus Japan. I was leaping off the sofa and thrilled when Australia won.

Edit: Okay, Okay..I acknowledge that the America vs. Italy game was exciting to watch. It was definitely brutal and a full out war. High entertainment. America did fight very hard. I just thought it was a little dirty. I expected my home team to play better, perhaps my expectations were just too high. I still haven't given up hope that America can turn things around.

In a half hour England is playing. It's Beckham time....

Soccer is known to be a very physical and high contact sport. I'll leave off with some pictures that Janet sent me via E-mail. They had me and Eric cracking up, I thought I'd share these great soccer moments.






Is anyone else following the World Cup this year?
 
posted by Clarity25 at 12:39 PM | 19 comments
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