I Have a Crush

So way out of the blue. Maybe cause of the bar-b-q ribs I had instead of sticking to my diet. At least I didn't have any ice cream. I pretended an orange was the best dessert this side of Shreveport, Louisiana. I digress. Need to get to the point--I'm missing House Hunters International on HGTV.

Alec Baldwin. Yes. He's my new crush. Thought he was cute, way back in the day, like the 80's or so, when he was on Knot's Landing. Anybody remember? I think he was Valeen's half brother. Moving forward, Alec just slipped to the side. He had his tussles with ex, Kim Bassinger. And well, I just wasn't feeling it.

I am not a big Must See TV NBC 30 Rock, but the few times I've seen it, there's been something about Alec. Enjoyed him on Letterman, after Sarah Palin guested on SNL. I still laugh at the site of Amy Poehler shooting that moose! But Alec, on Letterman, he spoke of turning 50. I wondered if he's received as many 'join AARP' notices as I have.

What sold me on Alec--don't laugh--is the Hulu commercial. Still have NO idea what Hulu is, yet I became mesmerized by the twinkle in Alec's eyes. Like he was having fun.

Made me have fun.

So anybody I have a crush on, and right this moment its Alec Baldwin. they can buy me coffee.

Back to House Hunters International.

December 27, 1973 was Thursday

As the sun shines on this Saturday, my diary took me back to a Winter's Day in Iowa. Had to laugh because the eight lines I wrote, for this day, had to do with the opposite sex! Yes, indeedy. Both of them older. ANCIENT, but worldly to me and my girl hood best friend-then--and both in their 20's at that time.

Oh my, when I look back, one I'd known for years. His older and younger sister, along with himself, took dancing lessons from the same teacher I did. They were kind of the Dancing Von Trapps, but not really. All 3 kids, seem to be in every other dance at the recital, with the best dances. His younger sister was just a year or two older than me. I envied her SO much. Coolest costumes, best dances. And his oldest sister taught me piano for about six months when I was nine. I wasn't feeling the whole piano thing at the time. That came later--but that's another post.

But HIM. Oh yea. By this time in 1973, we ran into him at our town's tennis courts. My girl hood best friend and I both had a fit as we tried our best Chrissy Evert. I remember asking him if he was who I thought he was. The dancer. Yes he was. Looking back, he must've thought we were nuts. We actually set him up with our student French teacher. Can't remember her name, but I don't care. We just thought he was HOT. So on this day, he saw us as he drove past and WAVED!! The earth stood still.

The other guy I spoke of, was a substitute teacher we had in our 7th Grade English class. How do I remember it was 7th grade? Because all us girls, were discovering boys, but this guy was a MAN, and none of our male teachers looked like HIM. Ha! My girl hood best friend and I rattled on and on about him to my mom. We thought the gods were kind to us, because we had him for two days. In real life, he was the high school librarian's husband. We envied her, but weren't sure what we envied her for. Anyway, fast forward to 1973, this hunk was with his wife in some store--I just foamed at the mouth. And going to back to when he substituted, we girls couldn't believe such good fortune because during the days he was there, we'd all peaked in the room. Just to just get a glance of him. I'm sure he thought we were nuts too!

And there was this song that had been Number 1 until December 22, by Charlie Rich. He sang about The Most Beautiful Girl in the world...and back in 1973, we wished we were seen as such. Cue it up.

In 1996 December 22 was Sunday

Tomorrow is trash day. I hauled the stuff to the curb. This is one of those "I wish a man was close by" moments. Oh well, to today's entry:

Back in 1996, it was Dad's job to put the trash out by the curb. He would do it too, except during these late year moments, his health began to shift. It was a month before the amputation of his left leg, just below his knee. Diabetes. Dad wasn't feeling the best either, yet still had that forever cigar in his mouth. Plus his pride and joy---nope, not me--but the dog, Mr. Bojangles, was near by. Whenever I came home, that hound and I walked a million miles around town. Yep, even at Christmas time. The picture is from that Christmas.

Took a looksee in my 1996 diary. Just to see what else happened then. Just had to smile, because I thought I was SO in love! Indeedy. In fact, it was a classmate, I had a big ol crush on during junior high and some high school. Let's call him, Chi-town. He didn't have a clue until I told him at our 20th reunion. Which by the way, had a been a few months earlier, in July of 1996. OK--I gotta smile again.

My diary says, Chi-town had spent time with friends and family this December 22, evening and I'd watched the Cowboys lose to the Redskins, alas they were all ready in the playoffs and hadn't played the starters. I digress. Then Chi-town called me when all his company had left. Did I want to get some hot chocolate and go for a ride, he asked? Our rides usually consisted of going out to one end of our hometown, park the car at the Motel 8, and talk while we watched cars zip past on the highway. WOW-we both lived in big cities, and this is what we did. Anyway, I refused Chi-town's offer just because we had a date for the next day. This date which included a trip to to Des Moines, during a blizzard, with the windchill to single digits and a trip to an indoor ice rink. Chi-town tried to teach me how to ice skate. After some 6 yr old kid kept passing me, I gave up my dream of being Olympic gold medalist, Kristi Yamaguchi. Hmm. We took in dinner, movie and drove back home. The blizzard had eased, yet cold. Bitter cold. Kinda like my family and chums experience right now.

But ya know, it didn't matter back then. I was with Chi-town. He's the only man I ever looked at bridal magazines for. Told you, I thought was SO in love. And I was home. Right where I wanted to be.

Well, whatta ya know! Turns out I have a picture of me and Chi-town ,from the top of the Sears Tower, between pages of this 1996 diary. We look jovial. Gotta smile again. And I know you're wondering: what happened?

Well, that's another post.