Wednesday, June 12, 2019

Western, schmestern


Fri., October 18, 2002 - Went to main lobby & saw a movie - a Western with Dean Martin.  Residents with VCR are showing a movie on Fri. night.
Sat., October 19, 2002 - Dale came for me about 5:30 & took me to his place.  Kyleah was home, Lynn was in Omaha & Dane was at a banquet.  Dale went for Chinese food for our supper.  After supper we played Rummikub.  Lynn's mother came & visited a while.  When Dale went for Dane he took me home.  A real good evening.
Sun., October 20, 2002 - Nancy came in a.m with my groceries.  I showered & then we went to Boston Market for our noon meal.  We stopped at the Family Dollar Store!!! We didn't play Rummikub today -- too tired.

There is more than one western with Dean Martin in it, so I don't know what movie Grandma saw.  There's plenty of information to be found about the man himself, but I will stop at just this, from wikipedia:

"Martin was born Dino Paul Crocetti on June 7, 1917, in Steubenville, Ohio, the son of Italian father Gaetano Alfonso Crocetti (1894–1967) and Italian-American mother Angela Crocetti (née Barra; 1899–1966). His parents were married in 1914. His father, who was a barber, was originally from Montesilvano, Abruzzo, and his mother's origins are also believed to be from Abruzzo, although they are not clearly known. Martin had an older brother named William Alfonso Crocetti (1916–1968). His first language was Italian and he did not speak English until he started school at the age of five. He attended Grant Elementary School in Steubenville, where he was bullied for his broken English. As a teenager, he played the drums as a hobby. He dropped out of Steubenville High School in the tenth grade because he thought he was smarter than his teachers. He bootlegged liquor, worked in a steel mill, served as a croupier at a speakeasy and a blackjack dealer, and was a welterweight boxer.

At 15, he was a boxer who billed himself as "Kid Crochet". His prizefighting earned him a broken nose (later straightened), a scarred lip, many broken knuckles (a result of not being able to afford tape used to wrap boxers' hands), and a bruised body. Of his 12 bouts, he said that he "won all but 11". For a time, he shared a New York City apartment with Sonny King, who was also starting in show business and had little money. The two reportedly charged people to watch them bare-knuckle box each other in their apartment, fighting until one was knocked out. Martin knocked out King in the first round of an amateur boxing match. Martin gave up boxing to work as a roulette stickman and croupier in an illegal casino behind a tobacco shop, where he had started as a stock boy. At the same time, he sang with local bands, calling himself "Dino Martini" (after the Metropolitan Opera tenor Nino Martini). He got his break working for the Ernie McKay Orchestra. He sang in a crooning style influenced by Harry Mills of the Mills Brothers, among others. In the early 1940s, he started singing for bandleader Sammy Watkins, who suggested he change his name to Dean Martin.

In October 1941, Martin married Elizabeth "Betty" Anne McDonald in Cleveland, Ohio, and the couple had an apartment in Cleveland Heights for a while. They eventually had four children before the marriage ended in 1949. Martin worked for various bands throughout the early 1940s, mostly on looks and personality until he developed his own singing style. He flopped at the Riobamba nightclub in New York, when he followed Frank Sinatra in 1943."

I didn't know Grandma was so fond of Family Dollar.  Glad she was excited to go.

Monday, June 10, 2019

Sandwiches






Tues., October 15, 2002 - This was my dad's birthday.  Had my hair washed, etc.  Nancy came after work & took me to "Jim's", a place that specializes in home health.  New "skis" were put on my walker -- take the place of the tennis balls (Called Greta to report on dental deal).  We then went to Staufers' Restaurant & had chicken fried steak, etc.  Was really good.
Wed., October 16, 2002 - Went to Book Club in evening.
Thurs., October 17, 2002 - Called Myrtle this morning.  Also called Marjorie C.  Tom came in evening & brought some special sandwiches.  The usual routine of laundry, shower & Rummikub.

Speaking of special sandwiches . . . Mitch, Mom and I hosted 15 of our family members (plus Tanner and Willa) for a meal Sunday at Mom's of traditional Danish open-faced sandwiches.  Well, we researched and were as traditional as we could manage.  We were a bit nervous as to whether everyone would like the nutty, malty Danish bread but very little of anything went in the trash at the end of the meal.

Afterwards, some of us played Squeak -- something we had not done after a family meal in a very long time.  Needless to say, it was great fun.  So glad everyone could come and that they enjoyed our efforts.  We should probably do it again sometime, I think.

Friday, May 24, 2019

Rummikub extravaganza


Sat., October 12, 2002 - Dolores brought bananas and milk.  They were on sale at Hy-Vee & I paid her for them.  We haven't played Rummikub this week - she has had a very sore leg - almost sounds like the sciatica I used to have.  Greta called in p.m.
Sun., October 13, 2002 - Nancy & I went to Mary's church -- All Saints Lutheran.  We had dinner at KFC's.  Went to Penney's & I bought a fall weight coat.  Then to apartment -- took a nap -- then showered & then 2 games of Rummikub.
Mon., October 14, 2002 - Bill came at 11:00.  We went to a restaurant & met Jenny & Patty.  We had lunch & then Patty & Jenny went shopping & Bill took me to the dental school at the university. Impressions were taken for both upper & lower dentures.  Bill & I played several games of Rummikub.  In evening I played cards & won 3 games.

Grandma and Dolores might not have played Rummikub lately but it looks like Grandma got her fill over the next couple of days.  And of course she paid for her bananas and milk.  We wouldn't imagine it any other way, would we?

In honor of Dorothy Jo's birthday earlier this week, here's a photo of her place I've always liked.  Simple, but as I recall she was showing the other ladies some of her flowers and I happened to catch this picture.

Thursday, May 23, 2019

Posted without a title, and now I'm fixing that


Wed., October 9, 2002 - Called Raymond Iversen.  Went to Book Club in evening.
Thurs., October 10, 2002 - Tom came in evening for the usual routine.  Cool enough to have chili soup.  Myrtle called in a.m.
Fri., October 11, 2002 - Have seen some good movies -- among them "The Pink Submarine" & "Casablanca".  Mary & kids here in evening.

Not finding a movie named "The Pink Submarine", I wonder if Grandma meant "Operation Petticoat".  In any event, I hope she saw the latter as I recall it being pretty funny.

Here's some information on the movie from wikipedia, much shortened from what was available:

The film tells in flashback the misadventures of the fictional U. S. Navy submarine, USS Sea Tiger, during the opening days of the United States involvement in World War II. Some elements of the screenplay were taken from actual incidents that happened with some of the Pacific Fleet's submarines during the war. Other members of the cast include several actors who went on to become television stars in the 1960s and 1970s: Gavin MacLeod of The Love Boat and McHale's Navy, Marion Ross of Happy Days, and Dick Sargent of Bewitched.

Some of the plot points of Operation Petticoat were based on real-life incidents, such as:

     The evacuation of one Navy nurse and several Army nurses from Corregidor to Australia by the submarine USS Spearfish;
     The sinking of the submarine USS Sealion at the pier at Cavite Navy Yard in the Philippines;
     The torpedoing of a bus by the USS Bowfin;
     Captain Sherman's letter to the supply department at Cavite on the inexplicable lack of toilet paper (based on an actual letter to the supply department of Mare Island Naval Shipyard by Lieutenant Commander James Wiggins "Red" Coe of the submarine USS Skipjack);
     The need to paint a submarine pink because of a lack of enough red or white lead undercoat -- heat from the burning USS Sealion also scorched off the black paint on the nearby USS Seadragon; for a time, the submarine fought with only her red lead undercoat visible. This led Tokyo Rose to disparage American "red pirate submarines";
     Another possible source for the "pink" submarine is the decorated USS Harder, commanded by Samuel David Dealey. Under the belief that a pinkish tint would help with camouflage, especially near dawn and dusk, Dealey added pink to the light grey that was standard for the Navy's Measure 32 paint scheme.

Photo from wikipedia

Wednesday, May 22, 2019

Dannebrog


Sun., October 6, 2002 - Nancy brought casserole of sauerkraut & noodles for dinner.  She tended to the laundry & ironed several dresses for me.
Mon., October 7, 2002 - Nancy, Mary, Mitch & I went to Dannebrog in the evening to hear a choir of Danish High School students.  The group of 37 students & 10 adult sponsors were touring in U.S.  Dannebrog was chosen because the name means "Danish flag."  They had been in St. Louis -- were going to go to Minneapolis also Disneyland.  A wonderful group of singers.
Tues., October 8, 2002 - Handi Van took me to the College of Hair Design.  Mary took me home.

Another event I remember.  I wonder if Anna went too, and that Grandma just missed adding her to the list.  I can't imagine why she wouldn't have gone. 

Here's a nice little article involving Denmark and its flag:

https://www.howtoliveindenmark.com/stories-about-life-in-denmark/the-danish-flag-800-years-old-and-going-out-of-fashion/

All of 2019, the Museum of Danish America in Elk Horn, Iowa has an exhibition celebrating the 800 years of the Danish flag.  I think we should go before the year is out.

Photo is min.  :-)

Monday, May 20, 2019

Sorry!


Thurs., October 3, 2002 - Talked to Myrtle in a.m.  Called Tom about 6:00 p.m.  He had forgotten it was Thursday.  They've been busy with company.
Fri., October 4, 2002 - Mitch & Anna here for supper.  We played Sorry and watched TV.  A very enjoyable evening.
Sat., October 5, 2002 - Talked to Greta late in the afternoon.  Just about forgot to call her!!!

I'm getting a bit better now but think I'll take the opportunity to say Sorry! for the lack of posts of late.  Perhaps once I retire I'll be much closer to the daily posts I used to manage.

I read up on Sorry! a bit and was somewhat displeased to read there were rule changes in 2013 that made everything easier and friendlier -- making it less cutthroat than I remember.  I'm not sure what that says about me, though.  Of course, the purists such as myself can play by whatever edition of the rules they want to.

Monday, May 13, 2019

Been busy in 2019


Mon., September 30, 2002 - Played cards in evening.  I won the $20 football pool for Saturday's game.  Bob B. served cake & coffee.
Tues., October 1, 2002 - Nancy took me to the doctor.  I have 2 more kinds of pills -- one for my sore foot & one for my heart.  Dolores called in middle of afternoon.  Invited me to supper.  I went down at 5:30 -- she had roast beef, gravy, potatoes, carrots, cottage cheese & sliced tomatoes.  Everything tasted so good.  We played several games of Rummikub.  
Wed., October 2, 2002 - Dolores took me to the beauty school.  When I called for the HandyVan for Wed. they were booked up.  Mary took me home.  Went to Book Club in evening.

Grandma had some things going on in 2002, but it's been rather busy here in 2019, also.  Mom, Nancy, Anna and I were down to Arizona to surprise Mitch for his graduation from Arizona State University last week.  Anna flew and the rest of us drove, and Mitch was shocked to see each and every one of us.  Speaking for the group, I think I can say we all had a marvelous time.  Congratulations, Mitch!!