by Storytime with GamerDude
This week, GamerDude returns to the topic of relationships, and what makes a good one. He first talks about the difference between love and infatuation and tells the story about how his mother explained it to him when he was young. He talks about reading Dear Abby's column in the newspaper and finding an article about the difference, and he explains what distinguishes infatuation from love, and why the distinction is important. GemerDude also shares more advice and tips on how to build and maintain a good, loving relationship. He talks about the importance of sharing time together, and being there for each other, while at the same time recognizing the importance for separate interests as well. He talks about remembering to be romantic, not necessarily in a "flowers-and-candy" kind of way, but in the way that leaves the kitchen all cleaned up in the morning and your dirty jocky shorts in the hamper. He talks about the importance of communicating, and that the communication doesn't have to be therapuetic but can be as simple as "I don't feel like pizza tonight." He also talks about how communication and honesty work together to create trust, and how all three work together to form the basis for a good relationship.
This week is all about forgotten knowledge, whether it's things that once had a use we've long forgotten about, or things what we used to see every day that have all but disappeared from our lives. In this episode, GamerDude talks about that little "extra" pocket on your jeans, what the loop on the back of your dress shirt is for, why there is a glove compartment in your car, what those ridges on the "F" and "J" keys are for on your keyboard, and several other forgotten uses. GamerDude also talks about a few everyday items that used to be everywhere but are now all but forgotten. He talks about L'Eggs pantyhose and Hai Karate aftershave. He also explains what the Columbia House record club was all about, and what S&H Green Stamps were used for.
Storytime has always been primarily about GamerDude's memories from growing up. This week, he talks about the value of keeping those memories, and preserving what's happening to you today so that you'll be able to remember it down the road. He also talks about some of the random little memories that have come up over the years of doing this podcast. He talks about the olfactory memory of his grandfather's shed. He remembers the scents of old grass clippings and motor oil, and how that musty smell still triggers memories of that shed. He talks about the odor around his grandmother's evergreen trees, and how he's taken back there every time he catches a whiff of that scent. He also remembers the green smell of the infield at Yankee Stadium. GamerDude also talks about the memories he acquired working in a garage as a kid. He talks about learning how to do tune-ups, and oil changes, and brake jobs, and he tells the story about how he learned to replace the front end on his old VW bug.
GamerDude returns to one of his favorite topics: words and phrases. This week, he digs into some of the "old sayings" that he grew up with that aren't used quite as much as they used to be, and explains what they mean, and where they came from. He talks about the phrase that inspired this episode: "built like a brick shit house." (Spoiler: it's actually supposed to be complimentary, to a certain extent anyway.) He also talks about opening up a can of worms, cruisin' for a bruisin', putting in your two-cents worth, and several idioms we used to use, all involving salt. He also talks about "bells and whistles" and when getting "close" is "close enough." He also talks about when it's "time to pay the piper," and tells the origin story of that phrase. No spoilers: you'll have to listen to the whole episode for that tale!
This week, GamerDude talks about things that used to be "every day items" featured in television shows that either don't make sense these days, or are not around anymore. He talks about phone booths and pay phones, which used to literally be everywhere, and used to be featured in many TV shows. He also talks about answering machines and pagers/beepers, and how they worked, and how they were used on television. He also talks about the change in how bathrooms were talked about (or not talked about) in early television shows, and why married couples never shared the same bed. GamerDude then shares 10 more memorable theme songs that he grew up with. He features theme songs from news shows, from police dramas, and from some of the sitcoms he grew up with. No spoilers - you'll have to listen to the episode to hear the songs. (They start at about the 17 minute mark.) *Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. No copyright infringement intended. ALL RIGHTS BELONG TO THEIR RESPECTIVE OWNERS*
GamerDude talks about some of the crazy "kid facts" he believed when he was young based on what kids "knew" to be true. "Kid facts" include the notion that hiding under the blanket can protect you from anything, sharks live in the deep end of swimming pools, and quicksand was everywhere, so you'd better have an escape plan. He also talks about some of the kid facts he's learned about, like the state of Pennsylvania is made of pencils, people who died in movies actually died, and dogs never die; they just go to a farm in the country. He also talks about the one universal fact that all kids believe to be true, and that all kids eventualy find out is simply not.
GamerDude's love for movies is no secret, and that love extends to the "second bananas" and character actors who play the bartender, the nervous accountant, and the mean judge in movies and shows.In this episode, GamerDude talks about why some character actors are called "second bananas," and then goes through a list of his favorite characters, both from the older movies he grew up with, and current movies and shows as well. This list - which barely scratches the surface of the great character actors - includes John Carradine, who appeared in over 300 movies, Walter Brennan, who won three Oscars for Best Supporting Actor, Jane Lynch, Slim Pickens, and many others. He also talks about "bit players" who started with small roles in movies and became huge stars on television, including Harry Morgan and Lucille Ball.
In this year's Father's Day episode, GamerDude goes through a list of the Dad-isms his father used on him, and those he's used on his kids. They include everything from "A little dirt never hurt anybody," to "I will turn this car around!" and so many others. GamerDude also tells the story about when his dad actually did stop the car, and made him get out and walk, and also talks about the time he bought his dad a cell phone. As you might expect, hilarity ensued. GamerDude also shares some good, old-fashioned dad jokes about pencils, stairs and graveyards, as well as several others. And, he shares his father's philosophy of not worrying about "woulda, coulda, shouldas." What's in the past is in the past, and it's wasted energy to do anything but move forward.
Instead of the usual stories this week, GamerDude talks about the Black Lives Matter movement. As an old, white guy, he recognizes that the movement isn't about him, but also knows that he has a voice that he can use to support the movement, and perhaps explain it to those who might not understand it. He explains how Black Lives Matter actually means Black Lives Matter Too, because in the current climate, too many people - including the police and the criminal justice system - place less value (or no value) on black lives. In old, white guy language, GamerDude explains that the point of Black Lives Matter is to draw attention to this fact, and to demand change in a system that is being implemented and enforced in a racist way. He borrows some analogies to try to explain that, just as it's true that All Houses Matter, but when your house is on fire, Your House Matters and needs immediate attention, the Black Lives Matter movement is intended to highlight the need for immediate attention to the racism inherent in our system. GamerDude also shares a post he made to social medial in which he talks about how he cannot imagine the fear that black Americans, and other people of color, face every day, and that he wants to use his voice to help spread the information about, and support, the Black Lives Matter movement. He also steps into the role of presidential speech writer, because he is well aware of the fact that the current occupant of the White House is incapable of leading in the way that this country needs to be lead, is incapable of unifying the country around a common goal, and is unable to heal the open wounds caused by the racism in our system. GamerDude shares the kind of speech he believes an actual, functioning president should deliver to help move this country forward towards resolving the problems that Black Lives Matter is showing us.
For this "Best of" episode, GamerDude has gone back to early in Season One and has re-edited and re-mastered some of the stories from early episodes. He has stories about his love for radio, and replays the creation of the podcast studio, and Mister Agador. He recounts his fascination with telephones, and how phones have always been used to bring us closer to people. He replays some stories about the early games he played, from "Go Fish" with his great-aunt, to devouring the rule book for Monopoly and literally cornering the housing market. And, he talks about his "dream car" (in his price range) - a "Starsky car" (from the old TV show "Starsky and Hutch"): the 1975 Candy Apple Red Ford Gran Torino, while also explaining why he'll never willingly accept a self-driving car.