Loyd's BONUS AUDIO goodies!--- #9 --- Just some 'FEEL GOOD' tunes!

 

Once upon a time, if your'e 'a certain age', (like the 'ol Loydster for example) the absolute BEST way to listen to your favorite tunes, was to dig through the LP collection, stack up a pile of albums-- and drop the needle on your favorite tracks from each record!  Maybe go over to a friend's place and dig through their collection, and do the same thing. Some of my fondest memories, relating to some of my ALL-TIME favorite music / artists, have a LOT to do with just 'hanging out', and listening to music in this 'old-school'-type of  way!

To the younger folks, it may seem more like 'work' than fun--- but, trust me--- it was FUN! Not only listening to the GREAT music, but looking at the album covers, reading the liner notes on the record sleeves, and just tapping your feet / bopping your head around (c'mon, we've ALL done that to a song we REALLY dig!), just generally groovin' to the music that was making you SO happy in that moment! No matter WHAT else was happening in your life, for the 3 minutes or so that most of those songs lasted on those LPs, life was pretty good!

Here's a few of my 'go-to ' tunes, that pretty much ALWAYS take me back to those times! Just genuine 'feel good' tracks!  Four of them refer to 'shake', shakin'. or having 'the shakes' in their titles! One is just an all-around ROCKIN' instrumental! Let the 'virtual record PARTY' begin!---

How coloring books SAVED my SANITY! (or--- what to do on BRUTALLY cold, snowed-in-type days!)

 

Despite all the INSANITY that's been going on in the world, my day-to-day work life's been pretty much unchanged, for the past year or so. Not a bad thing, that's for sure! The place where I do the wage-earning's considered an 'essential' business, so--- I've continued to be gainfully employed. 

Same with my wife, as well as my daughter---who have both worked in child-care related jobs. NO 'shelter-at-home' / 'lock-downs' for the Ferrells! (My son has been 'between jobs' for a good chunk of this last year--up until March, at least, when he was finally able to land another job-- so I guess he's been a 'home-body' a bit more than the rest of  the 'Ferrell-clan'!)

But, let's take a brief journey back in our little time-machine, to mid-February of this year! Only a couple of months ago, right? But--- HOO-BOY-HOWDY!!--- that little span of time, (back in February, I mean!) sure seems like it took place on another PLANET!

That's when some of the WORST, most BRUTAL, and just generally all-around unpleasant weather in nearly 100 YEARS hit us here in Okie-land! EXTREME cold, along with ICE, then SEVERAL inches of snow, came pounding down on us--- all within a 72 hour period!

Thankfully, at the time all of this happened, I still had a few days of vacation and sick-time at the job, and was able to stay home. It was pretty much IMPOSSIBLE to get out of our driveway, for the better part of a WEEK anyway--- so making it in to the work-place wasn't really possible--- unless some generous soul would've maybe given me a snow mobile ( OR-- a helicopter!) ride into Tulsa, where I work! 

So, nearly a YEAR into this whole craziness that's been going on in the 'rest of the world', my family and I were now getting a REAL, all-the-way SERIOUS case of  'LOCK-DOWN'! This one being brought on by cranky 'ol man winter, instead of a nasty virus!

Not much to do, during a time like this one! Keep the fireplace stoked-up, and try to keep all of the family as warm and comfortable as possible! After a while though, if your'e a 'creative /doodling-type', like I've ALWAYS been--- your brain, as well as that old creative impulse of mine-- begins to ITCH for SOMETHING to help hold on to what little sanity may be left in the 'ol noggin!

That's when I remembered a couple of coloring books, that I'd actually been holding on to, for well OVER a year! I'd picked them up at a local 'Dollar Tree' store (where everything's a BUCK!), figuring I'd dive back into doing some coloring, as I'd done before, a couple of years back-- at some future time. Well---  'winter-snow-storm-LOCK-DOWN'-time, seemed like just the RIGHT opportunity!

Here's a handful of images from both books, that I felt REALLY turned out pretty SLICK! I apologize for the somewhat 'low-quality' images! Our digital camera (which, of course takes WAY better pictures!) is unfortunately, packed away somewhere DEEP in our storage unit! So--- I did what I could with my cell phone's camera!---

I'm REALLY glad I remembered those coloring books! They helped pass the time away, AND-- managed to keep the 'ol 'creative juices' flowing! I still pull one of them out a couple of times a week, and tackle a page or two. It's a GREAT way to both unwind, as well as keep the brain sharp and focused! Blurry / bleary as I sometimes can get, I'll grab what help I can! So---- why NOT just pick-up a coloring book, and a few colored pencils? Helpful for the brain, and FUN too!

Loyd's BONUS video-clip!!--- # 38!!--- TWO pop-culture CLASSICS come SMASHING together!

 

ANOTHER  very talented / SUPER-skilled-with-digital-tech individual, has put something up on Youtube, that just about had me BOTH--- geeking-out, AND--- laughing myself to the point of nearly wetting my pants! The simple question being tackled here? What if--- two of the GIANTS of classic 60s TV, (not to mention, 'ol Loydster's TWO most-favorite childhood programs EVER!) were to somehow get tangled-up together?

If you don't get SOME kind of BOTH-- belly-laugh, as well as a JOLT of GEEKY-joy-- from this clip.... well, all I can say is--- I feel kinda sorry for you!!----

FINALLY!!! Back to posting the USUAL 'crunchy-goofy-geeky-goodness'!!!

 

Well, well, well! Almost EXACTLY 4 months later,  here I am--- RETURNING!!! This is 'exciting', for all of you who were waiting on the proverbial 'pins & needles', for me to return to popping up the regularly scheduled 'at-least-twice-a-month' post! (sure, right!)

Actually, life sometimes being like it is--- I'd PLANNED on the blog's 'hiatus' being only a 'few weeks'! But, again---life has a way of throwing curve-balls at us! Sometimes, SEVERAL at a time!! Lord knows, the 'ol 'Ferrell-family-unit' has had a FEW of those curve-balls thrown at it, over the last SEVERAL weeks!  

This includes: a MAJOR relocation / move, (which ALL by itself, took nearly 2 MONTHS to complete--'WHEW'!!---that's what happens, when you live at the SAME location---for TWELVE YEARS!!!), vehicles breaking down (my son's old Jeep Cherokee bit the DUST about a month ago! So, there's been a whole 'helping him search for another vehicle' thing happening there! 'WHEW'--again!), and a number of other both major and minor hurdles / obstacles / headaches!

I'll save most of the 'gory details', 'cause in all honestly--- MOST of it's pretty dull, discouraging, and just out-right BORING! And, after all--- that is NOT why I decided to start this little blog-a-wog-a-wang-ding-dang-doodle-thang, in the FIRST place! 

Nope, 'Ol Loydster wants this little corner of the 'world-wide-web', to be (mostly!) FREE of all of the dull, discouraging, boring and generally 'DOWNER'-grown-up JUNK! You want THAT kinda stuff? BOY-HOWDY, did you stop off at the WRONG spot, and look at the most-definately WRONG blog!

SO--- in that spirit, and for NO other apparent reason, than it was just SO GOOFY / odd-ball / made me laugh OUT-LOUD!!--- here's the opening / closing of the old 'Filmation studios' 'Batman' cartoon--- in JAPANESE! Enjoy! I'll be back, probably before month's end, with the USUAL dose of 'Loydster-GEEK-A-ZOID silliness'!---

Going 'off-line'!--- for a (hopefully!) little while anyway!

 

I've been putting off this TOUGH decision, for a few weeks now! Don't worry, those faithful few who follow along with me here--- I'm in good health, and there's NO dire or deadly things happening to me & mine! 

BUT--- there ARE some things going on, that need my undivided attention and energy! Hopefully, I'll be able to resume posting up the usual 'Loydster-GEEKY-GOOFY-CRUNCHY-goodness', within the next several weeks or so, maybe somewhat longer. 'Til then--- stay SAFE & SANE everybody!

Fond memories and thoughts about a pretty 'WONDERFUL' movie!

 It being the holiday season and all, I figured I'd share with you faithful few ---that follow along with me on this here blog-a-wog-wang-dang-doodle--- my thoughts and just LONG-time all around enjoyment, of one of my ALL-TIME favorite flicks! 

That's right, the SHAMELESSLY sentimental, sometimes even a little CORNY, but in my mind STILL  TIMELESS CLASSIC---'It's a Wonderful Life'!

I just recently re-watched it again, after not having seen it for a few years. Yes, I do INDEED have it on DVD--- a VERY nifty edition, that includes a couple of neat (if a little too brief!) documentaries. It's one of those classic movies, that--- as you get older--- you appreciate even MORE things about it. 

Things that, as a younger Loydster, I didn't really pay much attention to---- now end up touching me oh-SO-deeply.Much like the character of George Bailey, I too was something of a 'frustrated dreamer'--- for a GOOD CHUNK of my earlier life. I overlooked a LOT of the so-called 'little things' in my life. The 'day-to-day', sometimes seemingly 'hum-drum' stuff... that, if like in the case with George--- those things were to be suddenly 'wiped-away', boy... how WRETCHED and MISERABLE I would've been!

So, as a 'now-middle-aged' Loydster, I have an appreciation for those aspects of it's plot and it's 'message'. Yes, if ever there was a 'message movie', '... Wonderful Life' definately IS one!

 It wears it PROUDLY, LOUDLY and right out there, shamelessly out in front! 'Be AWARE of  ALL of life's blessings, BOTH large and small,' and----(in the words of director Frank Capra himself!) 'EVERY man has a purpose in life, a reason that he's here'. Whether it's to do something 'great', or just something as 'simple' as helping out his fellow travelers in this all-TOO-brief trip that we call life! We're ALL here for a reason! 

Perhaps the MAIN reason this movie works as well as it does, in my opinion--- is the unforgettable performance in the lead role, by one of the ALL-TIME great, but sometimes underappreciated--actors!----

Mister Jimmy Stewart, of COURSE! I can't really imagine ANYONE else as George Bailey! From what I've read about the movie over the years (as well as what's mentioned on the DVD special-features!), there were other actors considered--- including Cary Grant & Henry Fonda! But Jimmy Stewart makes you CARE, empathize, and yes (if your'e as HOPELESSLY sentimental as the 'ol Loydster anyway!), even CRY, along with George--- as he learns just HOW special, precious, and BLESSED his life has REALLY been.

The other aspect of this movie, especially as I watched it this most recent time, is how I could oh-SO-relate, to the feeling of being 'backed into a corner', and helpless! That's what the character George feels, at the 'moment of crisis' he experiences in this film! Nowhere to turn, seemingly NO way out. BIG trouble's coming, and you have NO choice, but to plow right into it! Like a 'head-on' car wreck is about to happen to you, and you have NO power to stop it! Man-oh-man! I can relate to THAT feeling!

Again, it's Jimmy Stewart's performance that makes those moments SO powerful in the movie! I really think NO other actor could've done it as well as Jimmy managed to do it! 

Of  course, the movie's FILLED with all kinds of GREAT supporting actors, that also help make it the classic flick that it is! Who can forget Thomas Mitchell, as Uncle Billy--- who's SO scatter-brained & forgetful, he constantly has to tie strings to his fingers to remember stuff! 

Donna Reed, as George's wife, Mary--- she manages to portray Mary as a REAL woman, who loves her hubby, but sometimes feels a little flustered at him! Other actresses might've tried to make Mary almost like a 'saint' or too 'goody-goody'! Miss Reed doesn't do that. She makes Mary seem real. 

If you haven't watched this movie in a while, or GOD FORBID--- you've NEVER seen it-- here's the trailer, for a recently released 'hi-def' version of it! Believe me, it's JUST as good, even in old-fashioned 'standard definition'! Hopefully, it'll inspire you to find a copy for yourself, pop up a BIG bowl of pop-corn,  and watch one of the TRUE all-time CLASSICS!----

I myself, am going to try to NOT make it such a LONG-stretch between viewings of this, one of my ALL-TIME favorite movies. This time of year, and especially with ALL that's going on in this CRAZY world, we could ALL use a reminder that our lives are STILL---even with all the heartaches and headaches--pretty darn 'Wonderful'!

Happy Holidays, and God Bless, gang!