Are you a Hokie?

Going to college in the 70's-80's was obviously different than going now.  However, having students make fun of other students never goes out of style.  

This was found in the school paper when we attended.  Wonder how much has changed since the "olden days". 

(Apologies for the size of the picture.  Either fit it on the page and not read it, or read it and really goof up the formatting.) 

50,000 Miles, No Gas

Took a little side trip on the way home last night to put a few extra miles on the car.  Stopped when it turned over 50,000 miles to snap a photo of the dashboard.

Normally, that's not a big deal, but in the 7+ years I have owned the Leaf, I haven't had to stop at the gas station once. 

Coming on the heels of the UN Climate Change Study, I am encouraged.  It is possible to travel without directly consuming fossil fuels.  

Vacations

As you can see, not everyone enjoyed vacations all the time. 

Or maybe Comfort Suites wasn't so comfortable. 

Lego

Got some at work too!
(with noticeable lens distortion)

One of my favorite toys growing up was Lego.  Back in the 60's and 70's, Lego was quite primitive based on what we have today.  It primarily consisted of red and white bricks, and if you were lucky, there were some thick plates and wheels.  I remember creating buildings, vehicles, cities, and all sorts of red and white striped structures. 

As with most toy companies, Lego has evolved to become much more sophisticated, so that some purists believe that it isn't the same type of toy that it used to be.  Now, you can get buckets of "regular" Lego, but much more is sold in various models and kits.  Castles, space craft, monsters, robots and cars are just some of the items that are available for purchase, all with their own assembly instructions for "proper" assembly. 

I, for one, have succumbed to the dark side of Lego assembly.  I have buckets of Lego, some dating from the 60's, that can be used to create my own creations, however, virtually all of my purchases lately have been of the model variety.  Star Wars specifically. 

I carefully unwrap them, get out the instruction books, and assemble them exactly as shown on the book.  Following assembly, I admire the craft it went in the design, put them on the shelf to collect dust, and go off and get another model.  

Have I lost my originality?  Have I succumbed to the Toy Story II syndrome?  Am I treating them as collectables (read investments), not toys?  Am I too old for playing? 

Some people may find this frightening, some people liberating.  As for me, I find it a relatively cheap mid-life crisis.  That, and I'm getting a head start on my grand kids.  They will think I'm the coolest grandpa on the planet. 

Sketches from the Young

When we went to visit my parents years ago, we did not have the luxury of taking devices with video games or other diversions.  The kids would have to pack some their own toys, or become creative.

We ran across this page in a notebook when we were visiting my parents recently, and it reminded me that one of the favorite activities of my daughters was making stories.  The stories had fanciful characters and far out plots. 

Apparently, this story was about dogs.  Valerie was always very good at creating fanciful worlds filled with furry friends.  Her attention to detail always included naming her pets as well. 

The story may be lost in time, but the images remain. 

From Mother to Daughter II

Maria's daughter just turned two years old today.  For her birthday, we passed down a memento from her Grandmother.

When Gail was little, her father made her a cradle for her doll.  As she grew, her parents stashed it away and when Maria was two years old, passed the doll cradle down to her.

Now, years later, Maria's daughter turned two, so we pulled out the cradle from storage, cleaned it up, gave it a new coat of varnish, and made her a quilt that matches a quilt Deanne gave her when she was born.  By that evening, it once again had a doll inhabiting the cradle and was being taken care of by her "Mommy". 

From Mother to Daughter

Long ago, when Gail was growing up, her parents gave her a small rocking chair.  As a young child, she played with the chair, first sitting in the chair then using it for her dolls and other stuffed animals.

When Maria was a year old, Gail's parents found the chair, cleaned it up, and presented it to Maria for a Christmas or Birthday gift.  She followed in her mother's footsteps, sitting in it and then using it for her dolls and other stuffed animals. 

A year ago, we took it down out of the attic, cleaned it up, and gave it to Maria's daughter.  It sits proudly in their living room, and is used daily for sitting and displaying dolls and stuffed animals. 

It's held up this long, so maybe in another thirty years or so, it will be used by another generation.  Only time will tell.