Humor, Nonsense, Things I Want to Remember

things i want to remember | part 22

Kari

if you’re here for the first time, welcome! you’ll be able to find the other parts of this series here.

1- my friend over at my gen x playlist shared that they grew ten inches in just one year during junior high, which reminded me of my own growth spurt. because of that rapid growth, i ended up with a condition called osgood-schlatter’s disease.

2- burgled is a word. it is the verb form of burglary.

3- before becoming famous for the real housewives, the bravo channel was known for airing high-quality entertainment like operas and ballets.

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4- in one of his latest posts, my friend chris shared his cool photo shoot of a seattle mall from his vacation. he mentioned orange julius, which reminded me of my childhood mall, richland mall, and a tiny pretzel place called hot sam’s that’s no longer around. i did some digging and discovered that hot sam’s has an online store where you can still order their merchandise and famous pretzels!

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5- six and a half weeks post-covid, i can pretty much taste most things now, but my sense of smell is still not there. i can only smell strong odors right when they happen, and then the scent quickly fades. for example, biscuits got skunked again last week, and i noticed the smell when he first came in, but within minutes, it was gone. so, at least i have that going for me.

6- i mentioned in a podcast that mike and i got a foot massage on our anniversary in 2022 and that it wasn’t “that kind” of massage place. well, it turns out it actually was. it’s now closed permanently.

7- i think there should be a place similar to a car repair shop, but for people—a spa/hospital where you could have your body scanned to see what needs a tune-up and then receive treatments to help you feel refreshed. everything would be done in one visit and covered by insurance. we could call it a “spaspital.”

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8- remember encyclopedias?

9- we watched a documentary about jim jones and the mass murder in guyana, which occurred in 1978. for some reason, i thought it had happened in the 60s.

10- for a couple of years now, there’s been an amish family living nearby, which seems a bit unusual given that we live in a busy, suburban area. (but hey, i’m all for living your best amish life) i assumed they were the only ones around.

however, recently anna spotted some amish girls near her workplace—driving, even! (if you know, you know.) then, just a few days ago, i saw a different amish couple walking down a road in a nearby town.

are we experiencing an amish invasion? are they scouting out new locations? this is so intriguing.

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64 thoughts on “things i want to remember | part 22”

  1. Orange Julius is one of a kind, though I was more likely to frequent Hot Dog On a Stick during my mall employment days. I don’t know that I ever had one of their namesake corndogs, but I was addicted to their lemonade.

    I’d also like to give a shout-out to other bygone mall food court faves like Sbarro and Gloria Jean’s Coffee Bean. At least Auntie Anne’s is still around!

    Liked by 2 people

  2. Our cat regularly knocks things off tables (*sigh* why cats gotta be jerks?) and we say she “burgled the pen” or whatever. It makes me laugh every time.

    Are you sure they’re Amish? It sounds more like a Mennonite sect to me with the driving of cars. Amish would still have the horse and buggy to my understanding.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. That is funny!

      I thought that too, but their outfits look more traditionally Amish rather than Mennonite (I looked it up). I didn’t take a picture because it felt inappropriate. I have a friend here who grew up Mennonite, so I’m hoping she can provide more insight. The driving also confused me—I haven’t seen that with the others around here, as they usually walk to where they need to go.

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  3. I missed that you had covid – poor you. I’m so grateful that it didn’t affect my sense of smell or taste, just left me breathless (for far too long). Here’s hoping both your senses return to normal soon.

    I chuckled at the “that kind” of massage place. Especially to discover it’s been closed, ‘cos it was! :D

    I’m totally with you on the spaspital idea. Indeed, I’m considering going for one of those well women check-ups, but there’d be no lovely treatments to balance out the horrid medical stuff, so I’m dragging my heels a bit.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Oh, Deb, I’m sorry to hear it left you breathless. I’d definitely take losing my sense of smell or taste over that. I hope it comes back soon, but honestly, it’s not too bad. I’m feeling really good otherwise.

      Last year, it got raided and one of the people there was arrested. We actually ended up laughing because our anniversaries have been a bit disastrous in the past.

      I understand that completely. It’s not fun. 😘

      Liked by 1 person

    1. OMG! I’ve never met anyone who’s had it before—I’m so glad I mentioned it!

      Both our dogs got skunked twice two years ago, and I remember how strong the smell was. I’m actually relieved to have lost my sense of smell now! 🤣

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Yes, it mostly hurt his knees. When Waffles got skunked, I didn’t know what it was. It smelled so strong like a chemical. He was foaming at the mouth. I thought somebody tried to poison him. I let him in the house!!!

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  7. I’m trying to stop myself from buying a Hot Sam t-shirt. That mascot is so good. And now? I’m googling Orange Julius recipes…

    Liked by 1 person

  8. “2- burgled is a word. it is the verb form of burglary.”

    Kari, it’s so funny you mentioned that because I can’t remember what movie it’s from, but a character in the film was trying to explain what “burgled” meant.

    When I was working in a mall in Florida, the store I was at was right next to a Hickory Farms. I used to go there on my lunch break.

    ” everything would be done in one visit and covered by insurance. we could call it a “spaspital.”

    OMG, I freaking LOVE that idea! AND the name you came up with!!!!

    Not only do I remember encyclopedias, but I remember thesaurus’s.

    Fun and fabulous post, my friend! Happy Monday to you! X

    Liked by 1 person

    1. It’s so funny, isn’t it? I heard it mentioned on Dateline or a similar show, and I couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

      HICKORY FARMS! How could I forget? I think my mom worked at a Hickory Farms store one Christmas!

      YES! It’s perfect, no? 🤣

      Thesaurauses! YES!

      Thank you, friend! Have a wonderful week! 😘🌈

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  9. Wow! And I thought it was crazy that Alec grew 6″ in one year. I can not believe that the foot massage place was “that kind of a place” and got shut down. LOL! That is both icky and hilarious and so unbelievable all at once.

    Liked by 1 person

  10. Oooohhh, some good nostalgia in this post! BTW, do you follow the GenX Reference Desk on Tiktok? SO GOOD! Plus, her voice is really soothing to me.

    I had no idea about Bravo’s original shows. That’s so interesting! When we first got cable, in the 90’s, I was up at the crack of dawn with babies/toddlers and would watch the best morning show on FX. It was on every morning and the studio was like a large apartment. Two of the hosts were Tom Bergeron and Jeff Probst, who went on to do other things. Anyway, I just remember it came on really early and there was also an antiques show that aired before it. This is the sort of stuff I did while breastfeeding!

    Orange Julius was classic! One of my friends worked at the Original Cookie Company at our local mall (Summit Mall). That place smelled phenomenal.

    I’m sorry you haven’t gotten back your sense of smell. I’m confident it will return. I got some weird Covid tongue thing this last time, but it’s gone now. Every time I ate, it felt like I had been drinking red wine (tannins) on my tongue. I found other people who had it on Reddit!

    You need to investigate this Amish invasion. Do their houses have electricity? Maybe they are doing the opposite of going off grid :)

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I follow her too—I love her videos!

      OMG, you just took me back to the days before DVR when I had to sit through commercials while feeding babies! I remember watching House Hunters with Suzanne Whang just as it was gaining popularity when I was about to give birth to Anna. I watched a lot of HGTV while feeding her. When Ella came along (2008, DVR still wasn’t a thing, but my dear friend Rebecca got me hooked on two shows: Gilmore Girls (which she had on DVD) and, a couple of months later, The Real Housewives of Orange County. And I was totally hooked. Rory, Lorelai, and the housewives pretty much raised my kids alongside me. ❤️

      OMG, I bet that place smelled AMAZING.

      It’s so comforting to have social media and Google. They’ve really helped me feel less alone while recovering from this.

      THAT IS SUCH A GOOD TAKE! Omg…I love the idea of this!

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  12. This is a great list, Kari! If you can’t smell a skunk, that’s a serious loss of smell! And in this case, a good thing. A Spaspital sounds like the perfect thing!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. RIGHT?? Ella came downstairs and asked, “What smells like onions?” and I was like, “I can’t smell anything!” Pure bliss—thanks to COVID. 🌈

      So, what’s the game plan for making spaspital a reality? 🤣

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  13. I enjoyed the link to mall food places, which had a link to other kinds of mall stores that are no more. It was a nice rabbit hole to fall down, and took me back to my brief stint as a salesperson at Fashion Conspiracy (84-85). Speaking of the 80’s, we saw the new Beetlejuice movie this weekend, and one of my favorite parts was that one of the underworld workers wore a Hot Dog on a Stick uniform. Also, sign me up for a visit to the spaspital, stat. And, my son had osgood-schlatter’s, too. It was not a fun experience! Sorry you had that one.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I’ve never heard of Fashion Conspiracy! Sometimes I wish I could’ve experienced the West Coast/PNW during the 80s.

      As for Spaspital… maybe I should start a Kickstarter campaign?

      That was definitely a rough time—lots of pain, and I couldn’t play basketball because of it. But I do remember my doctor saying it mostly affected boys, and I was oddly excited about that. Even then, I loved being a bit of an oddity! 😊

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  14. I remember Hot Sams! I liked those pretzels. My favorite were the chocolate chip cookies at Mrs. Fields though.

    #7…the idea of a spaspital. I’m in!

    Interesting about the Amish people. Though are you sure they’re Amish? Maybe they’re Mennonite?

    xoxo

    Liked by 1 person

  15. You are only the second person I have ever heard of to have OSD!

    I have never watched a Real Housewives, but I know that Carole Radziwill, before she was on RHONY, was an esteemed reporter and won an Emmy for a story she worked on. She wrote probably my favourite memoir ever, What Remains.

    I loved the mall as a kid, and Sarah mentioned Cinnabon the other day. Now you with Orange Julius!

    I was also thinking how if you needed to know something you’d look it up in the Encyclopedia. I wonder if my parents still have their set.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I’ve never met anyone in person who’s had it!

      I absolutely loved Carole on Housewives—she’s one of my all-time favorite cast members. Her memoir is on my reading list, and I can’t wait to read it.

      Cinnabon! Yes!

      The original Google!

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    1. I may have to ask AI to draw up a business plan. It seems like it’s a hit with everyone. 🤣

      Bijoux suggested it could be the Amish version of the opposite of going off the grid, and I can’t stop thinking about that!

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Wow, the opposite of “going off the grid”. My mind is blown–I can’t even wrap my head around it, but love it. I imagine a vacation from the simple life to modernity would be quite thrilling!

        Liked by 1 person

  17. I would think losing smell might be a bonus if you have a dog that gets skunked. Kidding. I hope your smell comes all the way back soon.

    Not that kind of massage place? Yikes, closed permanently. A family member’s ex husband was a regular at a place that ended up being closed permanently for offering questionable services. Pretty sure he was not there for a foot massage.

    I love your spasptial concept is really clever. Not sure insurance would cover that though. Don’t get me started on insurance and what they reject for coverage.

    Liked by 1 person

  18. I would love to visit the spaspital! But we all know, insurance won’t cover that. It hardly covers anything. :(

    I remember Orange Julius, The Hickory House, The original cookie co. I actually worked at A Corn Dog place in the mall—-can’t remember what it was called now, but it wasn’t the one in the link you shared.

    Yay for not smelling skunk.

    Liked by 1 person

  19. Omg I’d forgotten Orange Julius! What made those things so delicious? The shopping exhaustion (like the swimming pool hunger effect)? Or?

    Yay! So glad you’re getting better!

    Your idea of One Stop Healing lol. Healing in one day would be awesome.

    Mayo Clinic does a version of this – only it is one week & diagnostic/treatment plan focused. Same for my local medical facility. A nurse told me they can stack specialist appointments into one day sometimes for out of towners.

    But I bet somewhere there’s a Biomedical Informatics grad student with an interest in Marketing who is working on bringing your idea of one stop healing to life!

    For me, pre-Houswives Bravo was Inside the Actor’s Studio and a Fashion show (name escapes me). Super important Must Watch TV as if my future would be full of runway opportunities and answering James Lipton’s questionnaire 😊 I still miss Inside the Actor’s Studio.

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    1. I’ve never had an Orange Julius! I heard some Dairy Queen locations (since they bought OJ) still make the drinks, so I might have to give it a try sometime.

      I’m feeling SO much better these days! A few weeks ago, I started eating more whole foods and cutting back on processed stuff, and it’s made such a difference. My menopause symptoms have pretty much disappeared, my migraines are more manageable, and my lingering COVID symptoms are completely gone. It reminds me of when my dear friend went vegetarian in 2020 to help with her menopause symptoms, and I remember thinking, “There’s no way I could do something like that.” And here I am… doing it! 😊

      OOH, that’s so awesome! I love the idea of the future of medicine leaning more into holistic practices. It’d be amazing if both sides could come together more. I remember when essential oils started showing up in clinical settings, and it felt so promising.

      The Actor’s Studio—YES!! I miss that show too. And James Lipton.

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      1. That’s wonderful! Making changes to diet is so difficult. You have super strength willpower and it paid off! 😊

        Now go celebrate at Dairy Queen with an Orange Julius that is prob loaded with sugar and preservatives! Ha! 😁

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  20. Hot Sam’s! Yes! We had them at our mall but we usually went down to Woolworth’s and bought the same basic pretzel for less money..lol

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  21. The Amish are coming! That is super fascinating and I look forward to updates. As for encyclopedias we have a set of mid ’60s World Books that I adore for no other reason than they are just plain trippy. Can’t seem to give them up.

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    1. My friend is fascinated by the Amish, so we always update each other whenever we see them. If they’re starting a new life out here, more power to them. Maybe I’ll finally get that Amish restaurant.🤣

      And I don’t blame you for not wanting to give those up—I wouldn’t either. ❤️

      Liked by 1 person

    1. It really is! I grew up in Ohio, so it’s kind of cool to see them here. I didn’t spot them myself—my daughter did on her way to work. They were in the parking lot of her company, which is a big building with multiple businesses inside. But if I had been there, I probably would’ve asked!

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  24. Those Amish are everywhere! I remember being blown away when I first moved back here 7 years ago and saw some Amish girls getting into an Uber.
    My brother and cousin have been “hauling” them around (they both have private businesses driving Amish around … Amish Uber I suppose.) “Hauling” sounds like moving cattle but that’s what the Amish call it themselves.🤭
    I sure hope you get to an Amish restaurant soon.😄

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