The EllGab Slice of Life Thread

[Rikki Gins]

A lot has changed in the 25 years since I haunted the area, too.
The big building in the background wasn't there for one.
I did find the gate I would wait at.
I never made it through the gate, ole Bart would have to wait on Bronson.

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Nice screen shot, Bart.  Yes, things change, but I guess the important thing is that we are still around to witness them. 

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I almost forgot that there was yet another entrance to Paramount, just up the street from my apartment on Van Ness.  Back then, this was open to tradesmen, carpenters and the like.  The entrance is wider than I remember, plus the guard's shack was lots closer to the sidewalk.  I used to climb up to the roof of my apartment building and look down at the lot.  Some large props were stored there, including an entire body of a passenger plane that was used for a late 60's, Saturday kiddies show about some people who got lost in time, or a jungle...not sure which.

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Funny the things you can learn while driving around on the internet.  Here is another look at my corner market, there on the left.  I have absolutely no memory of what was directly across the street from there.  Currently, it's a place called Raleigh Studios.  Never heard of them, so I did a little research.  The company has been around since 1979 when they purchased some previous studios that date back to 1915.

Raleigh Studios:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raleigh_Studios

[Walks_At_Night]

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Funny the things you can learn while driving around on the internet.  Here is another look at my corner market, there on the left.  I have absolutely no memory of what was directly across the street from there.  Currently, it's a place called Raleigh Studios.  Never heard of them, so I did a little research.  The company has been around since 1979 when they purchased some previous studios that date back to 1915.

Hate to tell you this Rix but there are no palm trees here in Raleigh. All though we do have Cicada and lots of them.

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[Bart Ell]

plus the guard's shack was lots closer to the sidewalk.

I had the same memory of mine.
The guard who gave me the stink eye from his booth was much closer to the street.

[Rikki Gins]

Quite ingenious. That hanging planter reminds me of a catnip I had to put up on a fence post to keep the paw marauding felines at bay.

Here is a very special and prolific old plum tree that has been growing at the edge of a parking lot for years. It is a tribute to the town folk that it has been respected for so long.

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Those plums look great. There is a plum tree in a neighbor's yard across the ally, bordered by a wooden fence but the branches used to overhang the fence into the ally, allowing me to help myself to some utterly delicious and juicy plums.  Then one summer a homeless man took up residence underneath it, to sleep at night and enjoy the shade under the tree by day.  I was a bit perturbed because I thought he would eat all the ripe plums, but he never ate a single one, so I was OK with him hanging out there.  Not so the homeowner, though. I was out in the back yard when I could hear her yelling at the man to get the hell out of there or else she would call the cops. A few minutes later I saw the man biking down the ally with his stuff in a small bike trailer, whistling a tune.  The lady across the ally was still mad, though. She cut off all the branches that hung over the fence to discourage future hangers on, and there went my free supply of plums.  A few branches have since grown back but I only get five or six of those wonderful plums, whereas I used to get dozens.

[Smokin Hot Bob]

Those plums look great. There is a plum tree in a neighbor's yard across the ally, bordered by a wooden fence but the branches used to overhang the fence into the ally, allowing me to help myself to some utterly delicious and juicy plums.  Then one summer a homeless man took up residence underneath it, to sleep at night and enjoy the shade under the tree by day.  I was a bit perturbed because I thought he would eat all the ripe plums, but he never ate a single one, so I was OK with him hanging out there.  Not so the homeowner, though. I was out in the back yard when I could hear her yelling at the man to get the hell out of there or else she would call the cops. A few minutes later I saw the man biking down the ally with his stuff in a small bike trailer, whistling a tune.  The lady across the ally was still mad, though. She cut off all the branches that hung over the fence to discourage future hangers on, and there went my free supply of plums.  A few branches have since grown back but I only get five or six of those wonderful plums, whereas I used to get dozens.

Hah! It sounds reminiscent of a Major Hoople episode.

[HamsterMuscle]

Those plums look great. There is a plum tree in a neighbor's yard across the ally, bordered by a wooden fence but the branches used to overhang the fence into the ally, allowing me to help myself to some utterly delicious and juicy plums.  Then one summer a homeless man took up residence underneath it, to sleep at night and enjoy the shade under the tree by day.  I was a bit perturbed because I thought he would eat all the ripe plums, but he never ate a single one, so I was OK with him hanging out there.  Not so the homeowner, though. I was out in the back yard when I could hear her yelling at the man to get the hell out of there or else she would call the cops. A few minutes later I saw the man biking down the ally with his stuff in a small bike trailer, whistling a tune.  The lady across the ally was still mad, though. She cut off all the branches that hung over the fence to discourage future hangers on, and there went my free supply of plums.  A few branches have since grown back but I only get five or six of those wonderful plums, whereas I used to get dozens.

That was a wild ride.  Glad that you still get some plums.  Savor them and they will last longer.  Also you must be pooping on the regular which is also nice

[Walks_At_Night]

Saw this clip on Youtube and it brought back some memories.  Traumatic memories of my first appearance
in a varsity high school baseball game.

Made the squad as a pitcher but had not seen any action for a number of games.  On the day in question
it seemed doubtful that I would get into the game.  Our best pitcher - a little lefthander called
Squeak was starting.  He kind of reminded me of Harvey Haddix [whom once threw a jillion perfect innings
in a game but ended up with nothing because his team could not score] because of his small stature and
delivery.  He was called Squeak because he looked like a human/white lab rat cross breed. Not
quite an albino but damn close.  Rodentia aside, he was soooo good.  He threw hard, had good movement on his
pitches and just enough control to be effective but still leave a bit of a fear factor in the hitters
minds. 

On this day, Squeak mowed down the opposition as normal but he was sick.  As the game went on, he got
sicker and sicker and after the fifth inning he was roast.  I finally get my chance and am brought
in to pitch the sixth.  Not only am I in a game, I've got a chance to vulture a Win!  I'm a righty
and the first hitter is a right handed batter.  Tubby Smith [Our rotund catcher whom was surprisingly
quick afoot for a lad built like a fireplug] calls for the number one.  I kick and deal a perfect
four seam fastball right in the heart of the plate [see the video above].  The ump however calls
it a ball.  I'm nervous enough as it is without bullshit like that.  Nothing to be done about it.
The Tubster puts down two fingers - curveball. My best pitch.  It's no good and I hit the dude in the
knee with it.

Total Pitches: 2  Hit Batsmen: 1  Runners on base: 1

Next guy comes up - a lefty hitter.  Tubby puts down three fingers and wants it inside.  For most
guys three bones calls for a slider but I don't have a slider.  Why?  Because every time I throw one,
it feels like a pit bull is biting my arm.  What I do have though is a nice 2 seamer running fastball.
Put it over a corner of the plate and let it run and have the hitter chase it.  Sounded good to me but
I miss again and it drills the dude right in the ribs.

Total Pitches: 3  Hit Batsmen: 2  Runners on base: 2


Now I am not only nervous and upset, I am border line unglued.  Tubby puts down one finger for the
four seamer.  It is the easiest pitch to throw and it worked to open the inning so it seemed to
be a reasonable choice.  Or so I thought.  Nope.  I nail the batter right in his ear hole.  Knocked
him down just like he had been shot be a rifle.  Ooops.  Sorry dude.

Total Pitches: 4  Hit Batsmen: 3  Runners on base: 3

That is when coach O came out and got mercifully got me.  He was a WWII veteran in his mid 60's at the
time.  He said "Son - I've been watching the game since the 1920's and that was the worst shit I've ever seen"
Ugh!

Took awhile before I got into a game again but when I did, I pitched pretty well.  That would continue
through out high school.  Was never a star or anything but I did ok.  Even got a sniff from some weirdly
named college in Ohio but they had no academics I was interested so that was that.

[Rikki Gins]

@Walks_At_Night - That was great, WAN!

[Walks_At_Night]

@Walks_At_Night - That was great, WAN!

Nice - I will try and do a few more

[K_Dubb]

Yay 🥳 more WAN writing I must say I enjoy the odd stickball tale

[Bart Ell]

Even got a sniff from some weirdly
named college in Ohio but they had no academics I was interested so that was that.

I take that to mean the girls were ugly.

[Walks_At_Night]

I take that to mean the girls were ugly.

Oh yeah. Along with everything else.  Even the mascot.

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[Rikki Gins]

It was around this time of the year, July or August, and I must have been four or five years old at the time.  Mom was driving my sister and I through a neighborhood in Eugene, Oregon.  She pulled in front of a house and got out of the car. "I'm going to visit with (? - some Lady's first name that I have long since forgotten.)"

Mom walked up to the house and we watched as a woman answered the door and let her in. So there was Sis and I with nothing to do but look around for a little while.  My wandering eyes noticed that the lady's garage door was open and that there were some boxes stored in there.

"Hey look," I told my sister, "There's a candy cane in there."

I was young enough to believe in Santa Claus and all things Christmas, so sure enough, I was convinced that there was a nice big candy cane sticking out of one of the boxes.  My sister and I talked about it for a bit. She felt that it wasn't a real candy cane, but I wasn't so sure.  So, there was only one way to find out.

I opened the car door and walked up to the garage.  There was the box with the candy cane in it.  I stepped inside and approached it. That candy cane was big, about half my size.  I picked it up and was surprised at how light weight it was.  I gave it a lick and discovered that it was totally tasteless.  I then went so far as to take a bite out of it, and I can still remember how my front teeth felt while going in... it was like biting into a giant piece of popcorn.  I stopped biting and noticed some holes where my teeth had been.

Well, that was enough.  I turned around and walked back to the car.  I got inside and told my sister that she was right, that it wasn't real.  Mom came out of the house right about then, got into the car, and proceeded to drive us home.

Looking back, I can conclude that the candy cane had been my first experience with styrofoam.  I had learned my lesson.  Never once would I try to eat rubber grapes, or wax apples, pears and bananas.       

[Walks_At_Night]

^^^ Wonder if they thought that their Cane was attacked by a mouse?

[Rikki Gins]

^^^ Wonder if they thought that their Cane was attacked by a mouse?

Ha, believe it or not WAN, I was wondering the same exact thing.