Otherstream

Caption: Yer Humble Host. 1976. Aunt Mildred’s living room couch. Somewhere near Tampa, Florida.

I ran across this cool bunch of stuff from my childhood while looking for something else today. The interesting thing is that I didn’t spend my childhood in the Tampa Bay area. I was in the area, at most, for about a week or so each year when we visited my aunt and uncle there. And I STILL remember this whole campaign, from that breezy “WTOG, as far as the eye can see” jingle to the “extended remix” instrumental versions. In fact, I’d actually looked for some of this stuff online before.

WTOG was one of those great 1970s independent stations, all of which were remarkably similar despite their lack of a network affiliation. Mornings were always given over to black-and-white sitcom re-uns from the 1950s, an assortment which always included “Father Knows Best, “Leave It to Beaver”, “Dennis the Menace”, and “I Love Lucy”. Afternoons were about “Speed Racer”and “Brady Bunch” re-runs, and primetime was invariably filled with either a movie or Merv Griffin, followed by “Marty Hartman, Mary Hartman” at 11.

any of these stations later became the first round of Fox affiliates. Some, as of this week, have traded The WB orUPN for The CW or My Network TV. Very few, I imagine, have “Father Knows Best” reruns or a jingle that 10-year-olds will remember thirty years from now. KOFY in San Francisco may have had the last one of those.

I watched way too much TV when I was a kid. Even when I was on vacation.

God, what a codger I have become. It just struck me that my last two consecutive posts have contained references to “thirty years ago” in one form or another. And yes, the hubby and I were looking at rocking chairs at Lowes the other night, now that you mention it.

It’s good to have multiple beds to choose from on an insomniac sort of night. I’ve never really had that luxury before.

For the record:

• This place has absolutely the best Mexican food I’ve had since moving from California.
• Interesting story on the 1957 homo crackdown in my hometown, that sort of mirrors The Boys of Boise.
• Those of you who remember “Adventures in Success” by Will Powers, circa 1983, will be either excited or horrified by this.

While it’s good to have multiple beds to choose from on an insomniac night, it really sucks when the power goes out and you pretty much can’t do anything but sit in the dark and think about not being able to go to sleep. This was more the husband’s problem than mine last night, but I got my fair share as well.

What really sucks, though, is that one stupid drunk driver named Alex Dwaynard Miller can cause so much trouble for several thousand innocent bystanders. People couldn’t get ready for work — or even work at all in some cases, like mine. Traffic was a nightmare due to non-functioning stoplights. Businesses had to close. And it was all due to one moron who didn’t know when he’d had enough.

At least he hit a utility pole rather than, say, another car. Unfortunately, since he lived through it, he’ll probably do it again.

You may wonder if I’ve ever driven drunk. I have. Many times, in fact, back in my twenties. Am I ashamed and embarrassed by that fact now? Yes. Very much so. I’d even go as far as “horrified””.

Does the fact that I realized the error of my ways and stopped drinking and driving make me morally superior to people who still do? Does it give me the right to berate them mercilessly?

Why, yes. Yes, it does.