Media; Then and Now.. Hey, if it's in the paper it must be true.

A small side note; 3 days ago my dad would have been 95. He died in 1986 after a life of smoking. I figured a long time ago, when his mother lay dying that she was 90, he was 60, and I was 30; exact numerical generations apart.

 My first memory of a newspaper that mattered was when I became a paperboy for the now defunct Grand Rapids Herald; a daily morning paper delivered in Western Michigan up until 1963. When I was 11 I stood in the middle of Main Street in Lowell, Michigan, the small farm town I grew up in, and shouted out, while waving a paper in my hand, "Extra, Extra, Ike Wins by a Landslide." It wasn't Times Square, but it was big news and our small group of newpaper boys sold lots of papers that day. This was Nov., 1956.

It was a great paper to work for and my friends and I made the hard work seem like play on warm summer mornings. In  the bitter cold Winter days we met at Mrs. Fuller's house where we would fold our papers around the heater in her living room. We were all bundled up in our mittens, scarfs, and heavy winter coats to ward off the cold of the dark mornings.
The paper did much to support and encourage our efforts, both to provide good service to our customers, and to expand circulation of the paper in the area. Some of us were taken by car to solicit in other small towns; signing up new customers with the promise of good service and prompt delivery. I don't know about the other boys (no girls had routes, but my sister Jane helped sometimes on Sundays when the paper was it's biggest), but I was a pretty good salesman even at 11 or 12 years of age. We would be dropped off in rural towns and told to knock  on doors and get people to sign up for the paper and insurance that was offered as well. I would cajol and compliment people about their nice lawns, and well trimmed hedges. I also assured them that the boy delivering the papers would do a great job, (even though I didn't have any idea who he was or how hard he worked,)
The Herald offered us a chancd to buy things either my making mayments or cashing in points we earned through sales. This is how I bought a new Schwinn bicycle and also bought gifts for my family at Christmastime.  The paper also held contests for the best sellers and I won several trips because of mt sales skills. I won a trip to Milwaukee, Wisconsin and took the Milwaukee Clipper ferry across Lake Michigan to stay in a YMCA, and go either to see the Milwaukee Braves play or go to a local amusement park. I chose the park. I later won a trip to Silver Beach Amusement Park in southwest Michigan on the shores of Lake Michigan. The best trip I got was when I finished 2nd in a state-wide competition for new customers and won a trip to Jacksonville, Florida, as the age of 11. I traveled Ted R. a Dutch boy who had recently emigrated to the States and finished 3rd in the State. We had done very well for two boys from a small farm town against those boys from bigger cities. Our local paper, the Lowell Ledger posted a photo of us and a short story. To my dismay they reported wrongly that Ted had placed 2nd and I had placed 3rd., But, we had a fantastic time taking a train from Detroit to Florida, walking the beach at Daytona, and drinking from the Fountain of Youth in Saint Augustine.  I wonder if he is "forever young" too,.

Much more to come about writing for a campus newspaper in San Diego, and moving on to Humboldt State in Northern California where my journalism program put in the dark room late at night, and down on the local nude beach during the day; not all on the same day thought.

Beware of Falling Coconuts..

This week I cut loose of some "baggage." I cut the minutes allowed for my Verizon cell phone, saving 20 bucks a month. Ended my broadband subscription with Verizon, saving 60 bucks a month. Changed insurance companies; saving another 25 bucks a month. All this in an effort to clear the path for a move to a simpler life. Starting down in Mexico, maybe by the sea shore, maybe under a coconut tree (if they grow there.)  My life has been a pattern of aquisition, consumption, selling, purging, and poverty. I continue on that path. I plan to drive down to San Felipe, Baja, Mexico next week and check out life there, for me and my dog.
When I was young I lived a simple, some would say poor life. I remember one Christmas, 1951 or 52, I think when the only thing I remember getting was a dozen eggs; fresh from the farm across the road, no doubt. That was the best Christmas ever. My parents, and I suppose Santa Claus, knew how much I loved eggs, but since there were 6 of us, I was never able to have as many as I really wanted for breakfast or for any meal. Getting that dozen eggs, in a pink plastic egg container that I knew to be my mother's was as though I'd struck it rich. I could eat as many as I wanted at any given time. I don't remember eating all at one sitting, but who knows?
I think my brother got a new Teddy Bear. I got eggs. And I was sooo happy.
Then there were the years my parents bought me the best they could afford and I went out and got myself something better. I got a used electric train for Christmas. Since I had been working since I was 11 years old, selling newspapers, I went to the butcher store on Main Street in Lowell, Michigan, where we lived, and bought a brand new American Flyer Electric Train they had for sale. I guess they sold more than meat. Then another year my parents (I think my Dad was behind it) bought me a used bike. It has toussles on the handle grips, and a new plastic seat cover, and was probably painted. It was fixed up pretty well, but still didn't match the new bikes the neighbor kids got. So, through my newspaper job I bought a new Schwinn bike for myself. I never heard how that made my parents feel, but I was proud and happy.  Just in case I missed saying this to you, "Merry Christmas" or Happy Holidays.   Forgive me for any mispelling. I wish this blogspot had a spell check.  
Next time old media, new media....

Cheap Skate..Trimming the fat.

My home and car reflect some much needed changes I undertook this past year to scale back on expenses. Since I am not working consistantly had to move into a 5th wheel trailer and get rid of my Miata. I decided as penence to buy what many consider a giant mistake by General Motors; a 2003 Pontiac Aztek. I guess in light of what has happened lately, that can hardly be called the kiss of death.. This car is really a great small crossover and has been a great car for me.

I live in a small RV Park in what was once a prosperous mining town 60 miles east of Phoenix, AZ. It's a town in which several movies have been shot, most notedly, "U-Turn" a 1997 movie by Oliver Stone. The whole film was shot here in Superior and while cosmetic changes were made for the movies, the town still reflects the images shown in the movie.

Today I have $00.00 dollars in the bank. I guess that is a true reflection of my riches at this time. But, my dog Pappy and I have plenty of food, and lots of sunshine. It is a good life. Granted she isn't getting her "Greenies" for doing her duty since I gave her the last piece (I have to cut them in half) to her last night after she went out to pee). I am rewarding her with small pieces of cheese until we can afford to get her regular treats. She loves cheese. If I mention the word I can hear her little bell ring as she moves to check out the possiblities. I bought bell in a mountain town in Switzerland a couple of years ago. It's a small "cowbell" and helps me keep track of her if she gets loose to sniff out cats or lizards near our trailer. Pappy has several things from my trips to Europe. I think that makes her a bit worldly herself. She has a collar I bought in a small pet shop along the Seine in Paris, as well as a rain jacket from there. I felt a bit snobbish about her accessories until I saw they were all made in the USA. Go figure.

Let me know how you are cutting corners or trimming the fat. Times can be tough, but cheap can be fun. 'See you soon. Tim

City of Light, and dreams.

This is the last time I was in Paris, last October, 2009. I always feel pure joy and exhileration when I first arrive in Paris and head into the city on the train from the airport.