Storytime with GamerDude: Recent Episodes
Storytime with GamerDude
Stories inspired by GamerDude's Twitch stream. They're about gaming, growing up, family, relationships, food, music, movies; basically, stories about life.
This week's episode is inspired by an idiom that GamerDude heard on the game show, "The Floor." One young contestant couldn't complete the phrase "Carrying ____ to New Castle." (The answer is "coals," which GamerDude explains in this episode.) That answer got him to thinking about many of the idioms and "old sayings" that we use today, but we may not know where they came from, or what they actually mean. So, GamerDude decided to dig into some of them. He talks about "close but no cigar," "biting the bullet," "facing the music," and coming "straight from the horse's mouth." He also talks about some old phrases that used to be in use but have fallen by the wayside, and he makes the case for bringing them back.
For the first episode of 2024, GamerDude talks about his "brushes with greatness," which is times in his life where he as met, or interacted with, or at least seen, someone who is famous. GamerDude first talks about how he was a very minor celebrity back in his radio DJ days, and how the people he encountered then shaped how he handled encounters with famous people when he got older.
GamerDude's first "brush with greatness" was before his DJ days, when he was a kid at a game at Yankee Stadium. That's where he got Joe Garagiola's autograph when Joe was sitting in the press box. GamerDude then talks about some of the famous people he met while driving limos, from Tony Bennett to Phil Rizzuto. He also talks about some of the famous people he's run into at comic cons, from Nathan Filion to Alan Tudyk.
The end of the year got GamerDude to thinking about the post-Christmas sales his dad used to take him to the day after Christmas. He remembers the deals his dad was able to negotiate, and how the annual "getting Christmas Stuff on-sale" trip was another family tradition.
GamerDude also talks about the end of the year, and how New Year's resolutions can set you up for failure. He prefers looking at the New Year as either an opportunity to correct course if things aren't going the way you want them to, or to stay the course and improve on things that are going well.
GamerDude also talks about completing six seasons of Storytime, and conveys his thanks and appreciation for all of the support he's received over the years.
It's GamerDude's annual Christmas Episode (one of many, actually!) and this week, he's talking about the non-denominational aspects of Christmas. He talks about how the feeling of Christmas is supposed to be about getting together with family, and friends, and loved ones, and sharing love, and food, and gifts to close out the year. He talks about how that's not necessarily tied to any religion but is part of the spirit of the season.
GamerDude also talks about how it is perfectly acceptable to celebrate the holidays with the people who truly matter in your life, and that it is perfectly okay to leave people off your Christmas card or gift list, either because they're no longer part of your life, or because they actually make you sad, or for whatever other reason you may have. You get to decide how - and with who - you want to celebrate your holidays.
GamerDude also shares three brief, non-denominational blessings to use - if you choose - this holiday season.
For this week's episode, GamerDude decided to go back to Season Three, when he first did this episode about Christmas music, and shared 10 of his favorite non-traditional Christmas songs. GamerDude's stories this week include stories about the holiday concerts in school, and learning to sing Christmas carols around the piano with his mother. He shares the story about having to sing "O Come, All Ye Faithful" in front of the family, and how that experience was so traumatizing for him.
GamerDude also talks about the how the tire companies used to put out vinyl albums each year, each with a collection of standard Christmas songs recorded by popular artists, and how his mother's record collection included a few of them.
As for the 10 Christmas songs? Let's just say that the late, great Jimmy Buffet is featured, as are The Beach Boys and The Pretenders. But you'll have to listen to the entire episode for the full list!
This week, GamerDude talks about how we all tend to react to the approach of the end of the year, as we take stock of what we hoped to accomplish, what we did accomplish, and what we plan to do next year. He talks about how his decision to take early retirement came at the end of the year, and how and why he arrived at that decision. He also talks about how the things he does now are done at his own pace, without as much concern for the artificial restrictions imposed by the construct of "time."
GamerDude also talks about the upcoming Season 7 of Storytime. Don't worry; Storytime isn't going anywhere, but there will be some changes in 2024. (No spoilers here; you'll have to listen to the episode!)
GamerDude has gone back to Season 1 to remaster the episode with his stories about setting up the Christmas decor between Thanksgiving and Christmas when he was a kid. He talks about his dad's four-foot tall Christmas star, his mom's candle-powered angels, and her NOEL sign, and his parents' stuffed Santa. He also remembers the one year his dad added a "snowmaker" to the family tree.
GamerDude is talking about Thanksgiving again this week, with another reminder of how important it is to be thankful, especially in these days of tough times and a world seemingly suffering from a global case of COVID-related PTSD.
GamerDude revisits the topic of "family politics" and how they influenced his Thanksgivings as a child. He talks about alternating Thanksgivings between his grandmother's houses, and how he didn't like visiting his dad's mom for the holiday because he was relegated to the "kid's table."
GamerDude also revisits the Thanksgiving at his mom's mom's house, when his cousins stopped by for a "snack" that left GamerDad with no turkey for his leftover turkey sandwiches. GamerDude also remembers how his dad seemed to wrestle with the turkey each year he tried to carve it, which always made GamerDude think that carving the turkey was difficult - until he grew up, and discovered it wasn't that hard at all.
GamerDude also shares his favorite non-denominational prayer, giving thanks for the simple basics of life: heat, faces, and eating.
This week, GamerDude is talking about being thankful for Thanksgiving. He talks about how Thanksgiving used to be a calm period of time between the excitement of Halloween and Christmas, and he talks about why he always tries to remember to be thankful for what he has.
He also talks about some forgotten foods from Thanksgivings in the past. He talks about the days when passenger pigeon was a main course, when West Indian Desserts were popular, and when gelatinized salads were the rage back in the 1960s. He also explains what turducken actually is, and shares a non-denominational blessing for Thanksgiving dinner.
This week, GamerDude talks about the stories he tells, and why he chooses to tell the stories he does. He talks about preserving his dad's stories, because they are not only his dad's stories, but they give insight into his dad, and into GamerDude. The stories helped form the basis for the kind of person GamerDude is. GamerDude retells the tale of his dad posing as a botanist to get some plants on a plane, and tells the story about the three-legged dog at the vet, the piano in the van, and the riding lawnmower.
GamerDude also talks about his mom, and her stories, and why her stories are different from those of his father. He talks about her tap dancing lessons and mincing onions.
GamerDude also mentions a couple of stories from his youth, including the one about unloading a tractor trailer full of charcoal briquettes, and driving a Karmann Ghia with rusted floor boards.
This week, GamerDude is talking about some older technology and devices that he believes we should hang on to. He talks about his wired headset/ear-phones, which inspired this week's episode. He discusses how inexpensive they are for what they do, and how much of a hassle ear buds can be.GamerDude also talks about the value of an old fashioned pen and paper, and the simplicity of the old school calculator. He talks about how he prefers watches to trying to get the time from his phone. GamerDude also discusses the benefits of physical media, like DVDs and CDs, as opposed to relying on digital files in the cloud.GamerDude also talks about the value of knobs, and dials, and levers in cars, and how touch screens are bound to fail sooner than a button will. He talks about the 6 year old touch screen he had in a truck, and how, rather than fix it, he just pulled the fuses because it was easier, and cheaper.
GamerDude goes back to Season One to re-master his favorite Mischief Night story, about the time he was TP'ing the new neighbor's spite fence. He also brings back his Best and Worst Halloween Candy list because, well, it's Halloween time!
GamerDude has gone back to Season One to remaster the stories he told back then about Halloween when he was growing up. He talks about what Halloween was like, and trick-or-treating in his neighborhood, from visiting with Charlie Chips to the family that gave out copies of the New Testament every year. He also talks about the various costumes he had over the years, and also talks about the importance of maximizing your haul of candy every year.
This week, GamerDude talks about how the cost of everything continues to go up, and rants about the gouging that's become normalized due to the pandemic. He talks about the Big Mac index, and how the price of a Big Mac from McDonald's has changed in the nearly-60 years since its release. He talks about everything from the price of gas, to the price of tortilla chips, to the price of coffee, to the price of soda, and how much gouging has been going on in the past few years. He also talks about the prices at Disney World, and how they, too, represent an on-going effort to maximize profit at the expense of the consumer.
This week, GamerDude talks about how Halloween has evolved in his lifetime from a holiday about kids going out to get as much free candy as they could, to a holiday where everyone seems to compete to see how much gore decor they can fit on their front lawns. (Yes, it's basically an "old man rant" about how things used to be in the old days!)GamerDude also talks about some of the candy that he grew up with that has been discontinued over the years. He talks about some that he remembers and loved, like the Reggie! and Marathon candy bars, and Life Saver Holes. He also talks about candy he found out about that he wished he'd known about, like Reese's Peanut Butter and Banana Creme cups. (GamerDude talks about several other discontinued candies as well, but you'll have to listen to find out which ones!)
GamerDude has remastered another episode from Season 1. This episode originally released for Mothers' Day, but GamerDude wanted to share the stories again.In this episode, he talks about how everyone has different relationships with their moms, and every mom has her own unique issues. GamerDude talks about his mom, and how he knew very little about her life before she was "Mom." He also shares memories of what life was like with her, and how - as her first child - he was "The Experiment." He also shares a poem of hers that she wrote when he was young called "The Gift."He also talks about her art work and her art shows, and her music, and her writiing. He also shares her love for the non-existent shopping mall known as "Meadowbrook."
This week, GamerDude is re-posting a "Best of" episode from 2020. This is one of the first episodes where GamerDude started re-editing and cleaning up some of the sounds and glitches from episodes in the first season of Storytime.In this "Best of" episode, GamerDude talks about his love for radio, and (with the help of your imagination) creates the podcast studio in New York City, and introduces you to Mr. Agador. He also has stories about the amazing technology in our smart phones these days. He also includes stories about "gaming" before video games, which included playing with Lionel trains in the basement, and board games wherever he could. GamerDude also talks about his dream car: the 1975 candy-apple red Ford Gran Torino, and what driving means to him.
This week, GamerDude got to thinking about how our view of things change as we get older. For example, riding roller coasters used to be a huge deal; GamerDude would actually plan trips around amusement parks and locations where he could ride a roller coaster. But as he's gotten older, the aches and pains of a day on the coasters has changed his view on them.GamerDude talks about several other things that getting older has changed his view on. He talks about how his patience for waiting in line is now significantly shorter than it used to be. He explains how his tolerance for the everyday annoyances of the working world helped lead to his early retirement. He talks about how his lack of patience for the antics of other people has changed how often - and where - he and Mrs. Gamerdude go out. And, he talks about how getting older gives you a more realistic - and healthier - view of sex.
This week, Gamerdude has more "life advice" to share with you. This week's episode was inspired by the recent prevalence of the phrase "When someone shows you who they are, believe them." GamerDude talks about the importance of paying attention to the way people actually act, and believing that their actions truly do disclose the type of person they really are.GamerDude also talks about learning how to control your reactions to people, and things, and scenarios, because you certainly can't control those other things yourself. He also talks about the importance of balancing your work life with your "real" life, the passing nature of friendships, and also shares Ben Franklin's advice: "Never ruin an apology with an excuse."
This week, GamerDude talks about how life rarely ever turns out how you expect it to. He talks about how he had plans when he went in to college, and how he wound up changing majors five times. He also talks about how unreasonable it is to actually expect anyone in their late teens or early 20s to be ready or able to plan their entire future careers. He also re-visits the various jobs he had after college, and how he had not planned on actually being in any one of them.GamerDude also talks about how the years of working after college eventually led him to law school, even though he'd never even considered law school until just before he started applying. He also talks about how he had ideas of what he wanted to do after law school - namely, become a prosecutor - and how he, briefly, landed a job as a prosecutor. He also talks about the serendipity of landing a job at a small firm that specialized in workers' compensation law and how that led him to become one of the more well-known workers' comp attorneys in New Jersey. He also talks about how he never would have - or could have - predicted that that is where his legal career would take him.
This week, GamerDude is talking about experiences that used to be an ordinary part of peoples' lives that no longer are. He talks about the experience of reading a road map (as well as folding and unfolding one) and how the entire road map experience is no longer necessary. He talks about the Sunday paper, and his ritual of reading it, and the advertising flyers in it. He talks about Service Merchandise, and shopping at a catalog store.GamerDude also remembers huddling around the radio on snowy mornings, waiting for the school-closing announcement. It was very different when he was a kid, in the pre-internet, pre-cable days, when school closing announcements were only given out over a select few radio stations. GamerDude also remembers the experience of being on your own and doing your own thing as a kid, with a minimal amount of parental supervision, and he discusses why that experience is lost to our kids these days.
This week, GamerDude decided to go back to Season 2, when he first did this episode about his Top 15 (plus one Honorable Mention) movie music themes. After giving it a listen, he decided not to change a thing, and instead wanted to replay it because he had so much fun putting it together. So, if you haven't heard the list (which includes several old movies, several new movies, several John Williams scores, and come from movies involving running, boxing, escaping and sinking), please enjoy it, and if you have heard it before, hope you enjoy it again!NOTE: 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 is stepping back into the way-back machine this week and revisiting some more things that used to exist that have just faded away from our lives. He was inspired by memories of his grandmother's Grandfather Clock, and how he remembers those big clocks being a fixture in so many homes. He remembers tube TVs, and all the controls for vertical and horizontal holds, and for color and tint. He remember how waterbeds were a big fad for awhile, and how yo-yos were the fidget spinner of his youth.GamerDude also remembers a variety of toys, from the toys you'd get in the cereal box, to the hefty Tonka trucks he'd play with in the sandbox. He also remembers getting records that were actually part of the cereal box, and being able to play them on a standard record player.GamerDude also has some predictions for things that are likely to disappear in the next 10 years. He talks about how keys are becoming less necessary, as are actual "pen and paper" (wet) signatures. And, he talks about how "knowing our neighbors" also seems to be becoming a thing of the past.
GamerDude decided to go a little more "current events" in this week's episode. He first talks about the writers'/actors' strike going on in Hollywood. He looks at some of the history of writers' rooms and actors' residuals. He talks about summer re-runs, and DVD sales, and how the business model that gave us those things has changed, which has lead to the current strike in Hollywood. And, to be clear, GamerDude supports the writers and the actors 100%.Because of all the indictments being handed down in recent weeks (including new ones while GamerDude was editing this episode), he also decided to take a few minutes to explain what indictments are, what they mean, and how a prosecutor gets one. He also talks about how, in years past, the sum and substance of the indictments against trump would have been completely disqualifying for another run for president, and the fact that they're not is a sad commentary on the state of the United States.
GamerDude has gone back to Seasons 1 to re-edit and re-produce the episode he did about his grandparents. (In all of these re-masters, GamerDude tries to clean up some of the technical glitches that occurred in some of the episodes from the first season, and also edits them so they sound cleaner.)GamerDude talks about his memories of his two grandfathers, although those memories are limited because they both died when GamerDude was still very young. He talks about his mother's father and his work driving a mule cart, and his father's father and his work as a civil engineer.He also talks about his grandmothers. He remembers his mom's mom and her bacon, and coffee, and ancient washing machine. And he remembers his dad's mom, and her cats, and her poodle, and the $1 a month she sent him as an allowance.
This week, GamerDude talks about how doing certain things, or society's view of having certain things, has changed over the years. He first talks about the process of making a phone call when he was a kid. He remembers when the only phone anyone had was the house phone, so you had to learn to talk to your friend's parents and siblings when making a call. He also talks about the awkwardness of calling a girl for a date, and the fear of getting her father on the phone.GameDude also talks about how society's views on other things has changed over the years, from tattoos, to piercings, to hair coloring. He talks about when he pierced his ear in the early 1990s, and how one employer had no problem with it, while another disapproved of his "inappropriate jewelry." He talks about how having a non-traditional hair-color is now more acceptable than it once was. And, he talks about tattoos, and tells his favorite tattoo story.
This week, GamerDude talks about words again. He starts things off by revisiting the word "niche", which, for most of his life had only one pronunciation: "nitch." He discusses how, in recent years, the pronunciation "neesh" has become accepted, for reasons that escape him. He understands how it's not THAT big of a deal, but explains why it matters to him. He also discusses several other words, and their weird pronunciations, and how the English language is full of odd stuff like that.GamerDude also talks about the origin of several other words and phrases. He talks about what gerrymandering is, and how it get its name. He discusses the origin of the filibuster and its connection to pirates. He also talks about the difference between lawyers and attorneys-at-law (which is about $50 an hour). And, he discusses how the word "kidnapping" came into prominent use.
The latest Indiana Jones sequel inspired GamerDude to talk about why certain sequels just don't work, and also reminded him - once again - of the differences between the generations. He talks about the time when Raiders of the Lost Ark released in 1981, and how different the world was then - pre-internet and pre-social media. He talks about the two sequels to that movie, and how the original trilogy ended perfectly. He also talks about the Crystal Skull fiasco and why it was an unnecessary movie.GamerDude also talks about why a sequel made more than 40 years after the original might not do so well. He explains how Indiana Jones (and Harrison Ford) are, to the current generation, what Humphrey Bogart was to him when he was younger: an old-time movie actor his parents liked. GamerDude talks about how you can't create nostalgia for a character you never actually knew.GamerDude also talks about how he used to entertain himself in the pre-internet world, with books and board games and clubs and TV. He talks about how our grandparents and our great-grandparents all found ways to entertain themselves in their eras, and points out that it is important to be mindful of the fact that each generation has its own frame of reference for the world in which they live.
This week's episode is about Mrs. GamerDude's adventures handling a paraganglioma, and is made with her knowledge and approval. GamerDude talks about what the initial diagnosis was like for her, and what a paraganglioma actually is. He talks about the trips to the hospital, and the preparation for surgery. He talks about how he did his best to help Mrs. GamerDude through the "worrying process" and also talks about how important it is to be supportive without making it all about you. GamerDude also talks about the logistics of the treatment and the procedures, from getting to the hospital in Philadelphia, to trying to arrange for a place to stay, to trying to figure out the parking situation. He also talks about the recovery time and the residuals for something like this. WARNING: There are a few graphic descriptions of blood.
With some personal things going on, and his voice not quite 100%, GamerDude has gone back to Season Three for one of his favorite Best of Storytime episodes. In this episode, GamerDude shares stories about how he drove on his aunt's farm when he was 11, and how he spent quality bonding time with his dad while learning to bake. He also discusses his own "golden age" of television, and what TV was like when he was a kid. He also shares a story about combining his basketball skills and his job at a radio station to form the WRNJ All-Stars for charity events.
GamerDude has gone back to Season One for another one of his "very special episodes." He has re-mastered and re-edited this episode about Christian Science to get a cleaner, better-sounding version. In this episode, he talks about what Christian Science is, and what it was like to grow up in a religion where you don't visit doctors or take medicine. He talks about what it was like to grow up that way, and also discusses why he stopped following the religion when he got older. He also talks about the effect he believes it had on his parents as they got older as well.
Those who follow GamerDude on Twitch or Twitter know that he's been struggling with some allergy-related voice problems this week (which you'll hear in the intro to this week's episode!) So, he's gone back to Season One to remaster one of the most popular episodes from that season: GamerDude's Stories About Books.GamerDude talks about his love for reading, and how he practically devoured books when he was a kid. He talks about reading everything from Sally, Dick and Jane to the Hardy Boys when he was a kid. He talks about how he developed a love for all different genres, from fantasy adventure to true sports stories to mysteries. He also talks about some of his favorite authors. He talks about how he discovered Stephen King and how he really enjoyed his early stuff, but has not enjoyed some of his more recent work. He talks about reading Tokein, and how he loved it the first go-round, but hasn't been able to get through a second reading. He talks about Donald Westlake, and his love for the "caper novel." And he mentions Michael Connelly and Elmore Leonard as a couple of his current favorites. And, he does this in a remastered version of the original episode with (most of) the clicks, pops, and gaps removed!
GamerDude loves to talk about movies and tv, and over the years he's done several episodes about movies, television, and the tropes we see over-used in them. This week's Best Of episode revisits some of the tropes GamerDude has compiled over the years, from the ever-present parking space out front, to the hero trying to escape by climbing up the building, to the villain revealing all of his dastardly plans while pontificating about how wonderfully villainous the villain has been.
GamerDude has gone back to Season One for this "very special episode" about being bullied as a child. He has re-edited this episode to clean up some of the pops and clicks from the original version. GamerDude wanted to share the stories in this episode again because being bullied happens to so many kids, and so many people, and so few feel comfortable talking about it.GamerDude talks about what it was like being bullied, and how he handled it back when he was a kid. He talks about some of the things he went through, and discusses the kind of emotional and psychological scars that being bullied can leave you with, all throughout your life.
This week, GamerDude talks about how the lust for power, or love, or sex, usually leads to scandal in the political arena. He also talks about how some political types survive these scandals while others simply disappear. GamerDude talks about the sexual scandals involving trump, from the Access Hollywood tape, to Stormy Daniels, to E. Jean Carroll and how, years ago, any one of them would have been disqualifying, but in this day and age, they are not. He compares them to the scandals that former presidential candidates Gary Hart, John Edwards, Newt Gingrich, and Ted Kennedy were involved in, and how they each suffered different types of consequences. GamerDude also talks about sexual scandals dating back to the 19th century, involving Grover Cleveland and Andrew Jackson.GamerDude also talks about scandals involving the lust for power. He talks about Watergate, and Iran-Contra, both of which involved those in power trying to expand or extend those powers.
This week, GamerDude talks about the "generations" sociologists have created to characterize people born in different eras. He goes back to 1908 to talk about The Greatest Generation, which fought World War Two, and goes through the chronological sequence of generations as described by the Pew Research Center. GamerDude talks about The Silent Generation, The Baby Boomers, Generation X, The Millennials, Gen Z, and the latest: Gen Alpha.GamerDude talks about how some characteristics and attitudes are attributed to a specific generation, but also discusses how there's some overlap between the generations, and how these characteristics are not necessarily unique to one generation. He also talks about how not every person born during a certain year ticks all the boxes for a particular generation, and that the creation of these "generations" is more a convenient reference than a genealogical tool.GamerDude also talks about how the world has changed over the years, which is one of the reasons why Boomers, and Gen Z, and Millennials have a hard time dealing with each other. GamerDude talks about how Boomers were brought up by The Greatest Generation, who grew up in a different world than the one Boomers brought their children up in, and it's the Boomers failure to realize this that causes so many conflicts.
GamerDude goes back to Season 1 this week for his "very special episode" about growing up as the fat kid. He has re-edited, tightened up, and cleaned up some of the pops, and sounds, and gaps in the original episode in order to preserve and present the stories in an even better form. GamerDude talks about being heavy when he was a kid, being rewarded with food, and how that impacted on his weight and his ability to socialize in school. He talks about the social anxiety he suffered with, and how growing up as the fat kid meant that he was always perceived as a fat kid, even when he was no longer fat.He also talks about how he came to the decision in high school to lose weight. The decision wasn't made easily and the process took time, but GamerDude talks about how and why he did it, and how the effects of being a fat kid stay with you throughout your life.
This week's episode was inspired by a casual mention of "Josephine the Plumber" in an episode of the Golden Girls. We have commercial spokespeople these days like Flo from Progressive, Jan from Toyota, and the Limu Emu, but GamerDude grew up with some of the all-time classic commercial characters that lasted for decades. He talks about characters like Mr. Whipple, who couldn't help but squeeze the Charmin, and Mother Nature, who didn't like to be fooled, as well as many others.GamerDude also talks about the commercial jingles he grew up with, and how they have stayed with him for decades. He talks about (and sings!) jingles from Life Buoy soap and Oscar Mayer. He also talks about how the pop singer Barry Manilow got his start in commercial jingles, and shares some of his classic jingles. 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
This week, GamerDude talks about sleeping and dreaming. First, he talks about how his sleep habits have changed as he's gotten older, and how he used to be a stomach sleeper who now needs four pillows just to sleep on his back.GamerDude also talks about how peoples' sleep-patterns, in general, have changed over the centuries. He talks about segmented, or biphasic, sleep patterns, which were the default pattern for most people before the industrial revolution. People would sleep from just after dinner to midnight, wake for a couple of hours, then sleep again until dawn. Once the demands of society changed after the industrial revolution, biphasic sleeping essentially disappeared.GamerDude also talks about sleep patterns while working overnights, and how it's impossible to catch up on sleep once your sleep patterns are broken. He also talks about dreaming, from keeping a notebook to record your dreams, to the prophetic nature of some dreams.
This week, GamerDude takes another trip, wandering down Memory Lane. The Easter weekend prompted his recollections about hunting for easter eggs and all of the egg salad his family ate after the holiday. This prompted him to remember the bowling alley his dad took him to on Easter Sunday, while dinner was cooking.GamerDude was also reminded of the tuna salad he grew up with, and how one church party changed the way he ate tuna until he moved out of his parents' house.He also talks about the days before bike helmets, and seatbelts, and also remembers the roller skates he had as a kid that would fasten to your shoe with a skate key.
GamerDude goes back to Season 2 this week, for more of the Best of Storytime. He pulls some stories about his shopping with his mom, the clicker she used to stay on-budget, and the brand comparison she taught him. He also pulls some of his recollections of the mall, and how it used to be THE place for everyone to gather when he was a kid. GamerDude also talks about some of the brands and stores he used to go to and use, including Polaroid and Circuit City.
This week, GamerDude talks about the pets that he's had in his life. The first pet he remembers is the dog that his parents had before GamerDude was even born: Barney. GamerDude talks about how Barney protected him when he wandered away from the house as a child, and how Barney had a bit of a tragic life. He talks about the other dog and the cats he grew up with, and remembers the very first cat that he got "on his own": O'Malley. GamerDude also talks about the dogs he got for his kids. He remembers Cody, the black Lab/Chow mix, and Bullet, the Boston Terrier. And he tells the tale of Stickler, a cat he kind of inherited and which was GamerDude's roommate for about a year.
It's been three years since the United States first locked down as a result of the Covid pandemic, and GamerDude talks about how Covid is one of those generational events, like December 7, 1941 and September 11, 2001, where things changed forever after the event. He remembers what he was reading, and thinking, and doing leading up to the lockdown, and he talks about the simple things he and Mrs. GamerDude used to do before Covid, like going out to eat, or going out to see a movie. He also talks about how travel has changed, and how he's not sure if - or when - he'll be ready to fly again. He talks about how society, in the past three years, has been a bit of a mish-mash of people treating Covid differently, from those who take it seriously, to those who ignore it. He also talks about how it changed how he worked, how it took away the best part of his job, and how it eventually led to his decision to take early retirement.
This week, GamerDude has gone back to Season 2 for his Top 15 (okay, Top 16) Iconic Movie Theme Songs, and cleaned up the original production a bit. Included in the list are current themes and older themes, with multiple appearances by John Williams. GamerDude talks about the themes, and the composers, and why he believes the themes stick with us, and what makes them iconic. As with all subjective lists, of course, your opinions may vary!
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GamerDude talks about breakfast this week, and what breakfast was like when he was growing up. He talks about how breakfast was primarily cold cereal, with some occasional crock-pot oatmeal mixed in to the rotation.
He also talks about discovering the wide variety of breakfast foods and options when he went away to school, starting with a breakfast buffet he went to during his orientation trip. The trays of eggs, and bacon, and sausage just amazed him. He talks about other breakfast foods he enjoys, from biscuits and gravy to the Sausage McMuffin with Egg.
GamerDude also talks about his Top Ten Breakfast Foods, which includes everything from French toast to waffles. (You'll have to listen to the entire episode to get the complete list!)
This week, GamerDude talks about sensory memories: those memories that are triggered by a certain scent, or sound, or the way something feels. He talks about how some sensory memories have disappeared because the source of the memory no longer exists, like his grandfather's shed. He also talks about how technology has caused some memories to disappear, like the white static on a VHS cassette, or the tactile feel of typing on an actual typewriter. He also talks about exploring the change slots on a bank of payphones, and that little thrill you'd get when you actually found a coin or two.
GamerDude returns to one of his favorite topics: food! And this week, he's revisiting snacking! GamerDude talks about the apples, oranges and raisins his mom tried to get him to eat as snacks when he was a kid, and also discusses how his mom always baked, and always had a full cookie jar, which led to a lot of snacking on cookies when he was a kid.
GamerDude also discusses some of the types of snacks he's tried over the years, from Doritos, to pork rinds, to various kinds of jerky. He then gives you his top 10 list of snacks, and why they made the list, with everything from Chex Mix to Reese's Pieces finding a place on the list. (You'll have to listen to the full episode for the complete list!)
GamerDude has dipped back into Season 1 of Storytime for one of his favorite episodes, where he expresses his appreciation for the Star Trek universe. He took this episode back to the production room and re-edited and re-produced it, cleaning up some of the sound issues that he didn't fully appreciate back in Season 1. He wanted to do that with this episode because it captures the full spirit of his appreciation for the world of Star Trek.
In this episode, GamerDude talks about why Star Trek matters to him. He talks about the feelings of hope it inspired during the tumultuous 1970s and 1980s, and how its depiction of a multinational, multi-racial universe, where everyone worked together and cared about each other, inspired him with hope for the future. He also talks about Star Trek's "Prime Directive," how Captain Kirk handled it, and how that impacted his own views of the world. He also talks about how friendship is portrayed, and how the philosophy of "The good of the many outweigh the good of the few" is important in some instances, and is not in others.
Thanks to COVID and the strange effect it has had on the car market, from slowing the production of new cars to increasing the prices of used cars, GamerDude found himself in a unique situation: he had a used truck that was worth more than he bought it for. Combined with the facts that he wasn't commuting anymore, and that he didn't really need two vehicles anymore, GamerDude decided to try to take advantage of the upside-down car market before prices reverted to normal. This week, he tells the tale of two dealerships, two vehicles, and how serendipity played a role in his buying a new car. He also explains the importance of researching the price of new cars, the price of your trade-ins, and clearly understanding what you're willing to pay, and what you're not willing to pay. He also explains the importance of being willing to simply walk away if the deal the dealer is offering isn't what you want.
The skyrocketing prices of eggs in early 2023 inspired this week's episode. GamerDude first talks about how the price spikes seem more like the result of collusion amongst the "vertically integrated" egg producers than the story those companies are feeding us about the avian flu and alleged supply line issues.
GamerDude then shifts gears to talk about what shopping at the grocery store was like when he was a kid. He talks about the cereal and candy often sharing the same supermarket aisle when he was a kid. He talks about his mom's budgeting techniques and how he carried those over to his adult hood. He remembers the days before the UPC codes and scanners at the checkout line, when every item in the store had to be priced and individually rung up at the register. He also remembers how cashiers actually had to calculate change in their heads at the register, how cash was king, and how credit cards weren't even accepted at the supermarket. He also remembers the free sample stands they used to have in the supermarket, and how he and his friends basically ate lunch there during their college days.
Long-time listeners know that GamerDude has collected stories from previous episodes of Storytime that didn't make the final cut. But, he's saved those stories for occasions just like this - when he can put together an episode of clips of stories GamerDude likes, but hasn't included in an episode yet. So, this week, he's put together an episode with stories about dating, and about why he decided not to stay in radio, and about some of his "cool toys" when he was a kid. He also remembers pop-tops (those tabs off old soda cans) and talks about the importance of believing in something.
This week, GamerDude talks again about the practice of law, and also has a couple of stories from his early days as a lawyer. WARNING: This is not an upbeat episode, and the stories involve criminal cases, death, and sexual assault, so if you'd rather not hear stories about these kinds of things, you should skip this episode.
GamerDude talks about how different areas of the law will result in having different kinds of people as clients, and how stories in criminal cases will differ from those is family law cases. He also talks about his days as a prosecutor and what it was like trying to get a temporary restraining order in the middle of the night in a domestic violence case.
GamerDude then tells the story about a guy from out-of-town who was arrested one night for running naked through the halls of a hotel and knocking on doors. His bail was set the next day, but he elected not to post it. No one knows why. Sadly, he died in jail that night.
GamerDude also tells the story about a client at the firm he first worked with. The case involved the guy sexually assaulting his step daughters, and then faking his suicide to try to avoid punishment. It's a story fit for Hollywood but it happened in small town Ohio.
GamerDude is talking about food this week. He remembers the meals his mother used to make, from the straight "meat and potatoes" fare like meatloaf and mashed potatoes, to the more "exotic" uses she found for leftovers, from ham croquettes to turkey a la king. He also talks about his mom's favorite appetizer to serve: the half-a-grapefruit, with a sprinkle of sugar (of course!).
GamerDude also shares his recipe for Ambrosia Salad, which he made a couple of times over the holidays. He talks about how the old recipe included a dressing that actually required cooking and the use of vinegar, and how the revised recipe is so simple in comparison. A tub of Cool Whip and some sour cream is all you need for a delicious Ambrosia Salad dressing.
GamerDude talks about some of the unwritten rules that he believes apply (or at least should apply) in the world today. These go beyond the manners he talked about in Season 1 (things like saying "please," and "thank you.") These are more common sense rules of behavior that can apply in almost any setting.
The unwritten rules run the gamut from the courteous: Don't listen to your music, or make a call without a headset or earbuds, to the profound: Life is not fair, and you can do all the right things and still not win. And the rules apply to family settings, and friend settings, and work settings. Give a listen, see what you think, and feel free to send your own suggestions along too!
GamerDude talks about the end of the year and the latest idea in setting goals: the "SMART" goal. He talks about what a "SMART" resolution would be - something Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Timely - and how he doesn't believe a SMART goal or resolution is anything different from any other goal. It all comes down to a question of wanting to make the change.
GamerDude also talks about three primary observations he's made about why we fail to keep our resolutions, or achieve our goals. He talks about how we don't like change, how we like to make excuses because we don't like change, and how we fear making changes, either because we're afraid of failing, or we're afraid of the change itself.
GamerDude also shares his thanks for another year's worth of episodes, and for all of your support over the years.
GamerDude talks about Christmas traditions this week. Some are particular to him, like his dad's giant star or his mom's ceramic N O E L letters. Others, like the Elf on The Shelf are more well know. GamerDude talks about where the Elf on the Shelf came from and why he's not a huge fan. He also talks about the green pickle ornament, which started in the late 1880s and actually has an origin story very similar to the Elf. He also talks about the Feast of the Seven Fishes and where that came from.
With thirteen Christmas episodes over the past four seasons, GamerDude has told a LOT of Christmas stories. This week, he decided to bring some of his favorite stories from Seasons 1, 2, and 3. He talks about the Sears Wishbook and Christmas concerts (from Season 1). He talks about some of the origins of the Christmas holiday, and how Christmas was actually banned in New England - by Christians! - in the 1600s (from Season 2). He also replays the story of the chaotic good gift he and his siblings bought for their Uncle John one year. It's one of those stories that family gatherings were made for.
This week, GamerDude first welcomes new listeners who may be joining the podcast as a result of the switch to RSS.com. Then, GamerDude talks about the permanent changes in his life as a result of Covid, and the pandemic. He talks about how everything from going to the store, to shopping habits, to travel are different. He explains how he has developed a dislike for crowds, how he and Mrs. GamerDude are not comfortable eating out or traveling, and how they tend to stockpile more than they used to. He also talks about how he craves quiet now, more than before, and also how he is less concerned with time. He recognizes that time is precious, but cares less about the specific time of day it is than he ever used to.
As GamerDude migrates Storytime from Blogtalkradio to RSS, he takes a few minutes to explain the transition, re-visits his "five-season rule," and thanks everyone for their continued support.
GamerDude talks about how he's always loved Thanksgiving, and how he believes it gets short-changed, wedged between Halloween and Christmas. He talks about the food we all love to eat, and discusses how he used to be a "turkey traditionalist," but has broadened his horizons over the years.
GamerDude also talks about the importance of being grateful for things, and how there is always something we can be grateful for, even if it feels like that may not be the case. He talks about the little things in life that are things that we can appreciate, and be thankful for, from the warmth of the sunshine, to the way music makes us feel, to the worlds we can explore in books. He also shares a Thanksgiving prayer.
This week, GamerDude goes back for some of his favorite Thanksgiving stories from the first three seasons of Storytime. He talks about how his cousins gobbled up all the leftover turkey one year, leaving GamerDad with no leftovers to snack on. He talks about the differences between his grandmothers' Thanksgivings, and how he tried to graduate from the "kids table" at his dad's mom's house. And he talks about how all of the things we think we know about Thanksgiving probably aren't actually true.
This week, GamerDude remembers some more of the things that he grew up with that have disappeared since he was a kid. He talks about how colored toilet paper was a thing, and how it was designed to match the colored fixtures in bathrooms back in the day. He also talks about how kitchen appliances used to have a variety of colors, from Harvest Gold to Avocado to Coppertone. He also remembers some of the weird flavors of Jello that used to exist.
GamerDude also remembers Saturday morning cartoons, and how shows like Scooby Doo, Hong Kong Phooey and The Wacky Racers started on Saturday mornings. He also discusses how Disney wormed its way into our subconscious with its Superbowl commercials and its weekly Wonderful World of Disney shows.
GamerDude also talks about Wite-Out and how it was the miracle eraser in a bottle. He also remembers one of the shows he grew up with: Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom, which was one of the first nature shows. He talks about how he watched it every Saturday night.
Returning to one of his favorite topics, GamerDude talks about some movies that were big when they came out but, in his opinion, haven't held up over time. He talks about some dramas, like The Matrix and Top Gun, which he doesn't believe have aged well. GamerDude also talks about several comedies that have not stood the test of time, from The Mask, with Jim Carrey, to Weekend at Bernie's, to the classic Blazing Saddles (along with several more).
GamerDude also talks about genre tropes that used to exist that seem to have disappeared over the years. He talks about how "swords and sorcery" movies, like Conan the Barbarian and Clash of the Titans, used to be big, but seem to be gone from Hollywood. He talks about how body swapping used to be a big thing in movies, and how cemetaries used to appear prominantly as well.
GamerDude also has a few classic movie lines that were classic, still may be classic, but because of their context, don't have the same impact they used to have.
For Halloween this year, GamerDude heads back to the Halloween Room for some ghost stories. He has dug into his collection of short stories for a couple of ghost stories to send chills up your spine. He has also found some two-sentence horror stories on-line that he shares. He also digs into the background of a couple of haunted houses/haunted hotels. He talks about Sarah Winchester and the Winchester Mystery Mansion, and then digs into the history of the Cecil Hotel in Los Angeles. He talks about the murders and suicides there, and the strange disappearance of Elisa Lam. And this is the link to the creepy video of Elisa Lam that documents her behavior before she disappeared at the hotel.
This week, GamerDude talks about catching Covid, despite all of the precautions he's been taking for more than two-and-a-half years. He talks about the frustration he feels about all he's given up, and the way he's had to change his life to avoid Covid, only to contract it anyway.
GamerDude also has some stories for Spooky October. He has always been a fan of spooky stories and unsolved mysteries, and he talks about why "ghost ship" stories are so interesting to him. He talks about the circumstances of one of the more famous ghost ships, the Mary Celeste. He talks about how it set sail in 1872 from New York, bound for Italy, and how it was found adrift in the Atlatnic about three weeks later, with everything intact, including the cargo, but no trace of the crew. He also shares stories of several other ghost ships in the past, and how it appears that people actually do just disappear without a trace.
Despite his best efforts (which included rarely leaving the house), Covid found GamerDude and ran his vocal cords through a blender. No worries, though; he decided to go back to Season One to re-master some more stories from the first year of the podcast. He talks about some of the superstitions he believed in (and some he didn't). He also talks about Halloween when he was a kid, and how important trick-or-treating was. And he also re-visits his stories about the NFL and how it owned Sunday afternoons when he was a kid.
This week, GamerDude decided to try something a little different. He's slowed things down a little, and taken some time to talk about the lost art of listening. He remembers the sounds of the neighborhoods he's lived in, and grown up in, from the lawn mowers in the distance to the barking dog two blocks over. He remembers the sounds of the garbage trucks, and the train whistle miles away, and he talks about how sitting and listening to those sounds was like listening to the heartbeat of your neighborhood.
GamerDude also talks about the heartbeat of nature, and the sound of the bugs, and the birds, and the breezes. He also talks about sounds that are distinctly night-time sounds, and how you can always tell it's night-time just by the sounds you hear.
GamerDude also shares some of the sounds that were an ordinary part of his life that are slowly fading from the world. He talks about, and shares sounds from, rotary phones, manual typewriters, and doorbells. And what episode about long lost sounds would be complete without the sound of the old dial-up internet connection?
GamerDude continues with his discussion of weird facts and odd information he's collected over the years. He talks about his fascination with books like the Information Please almanac, and shares some passages from The Public Speaking Treasure Chest, a book he has from 1942.
He talks about how much he liked puzzles and riddles when he was growing up. He shares some of the riddles from a book he has from 1968, which is chock full of quizzes, puzzles and riddles. He also shares a couple of the stories from The Stupid History of the Human Race, because it just serves to confirm that, for however long people have been around, they remain dependably stupid.
GamerDude finishes up with one of his favorite stories about how the Roman Empire influenced the design of the Space Shuttle. It's based on one of those old sayings that we all like to wish was applied more often: If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
After talking with his daughter this week, GamerDude realized that the "going out" things that he used to do in his twenties don't really exist anymore. He remembers the various places he could go and the things he could do for entertainment on the weekends.
GamerDude talks about the prevalence of comedy clubs back in the 1980s and 1990s, with names like "Bananas" or "Giggles." He talks about the many stars of the past twenty years who started as stand-up comics in the 1980s, from Eddie Murphy to Robin Williams to David Letterman. He also talks about how "Comedy Night" at the local bars would bring some young, aspiring comics into town to test their material, and you could have a front row seat.
He also talks about music clubs, and how going out to a bar or a club to listen to live music was a regular thing. He talks about a duo he met in college, and how they would pack the crowds in to the little bar at the local Holiday Inn on the weekends.
GamerDude also talks about the dance clubs that seemed to be in every town, and discusses the various places he would go in New Jersey, from Connections to the Parsippany Hilton for dancing the night away. He also talks about a couple of the big clubs in New York City - The Limelight and Studio 54 - that he never went to but that he had heard about.
He also talks about how society has changed in so many ways so that venues like these clubs just don't exist anymore, and how people's attitudes, in general, have made the existence of these clubs - at least the way they used to be - almost impossible.
GamerDude goes back to Season Two for a couple of the lists he did for a couple of his movie episodes. First up, he talks about 10 of the most overrated movies he's seen (or tried to see). Included on that list are two films by Stanely Kubrick, one by Woody Allen, and one of the first MCU movies.
GamerDude also includes 10 of his most underrated comedies, which span decades. He goes back to 1950 for an underrated Jimmy Stewart classic, to the mid-1980s for a somewhat obscure Eddie Murphy vehicle, and to the mid-1990s for one of Jim Carrey's more under-appreciated roles.
This week's episode is inspired by a question about the Columbia House Music Club. GamerDude talks about that, of course, but takes the opportunity to go back through the comic book ads he grew up with, and how appealing they were to a little kid. He talks about the simple things, like toy soldiers and ant farms, that were always advertised. He also remembers the Daisy Air Rifle and Daisy BB gun. He also discusses the ads for Sea Monkeys and how cool he thought they were. He talks about how intriguiing the idea of X-Ray specs were, and talks about how they were actually based on an optical illusion. GamerDude also discusses the Junior Sales Club of America and how it promised a wide array of prizes for simply selling "one order" of whatever the product was they wanted you to sell (without ever actually telling you what the product was!)
GamerDude also talks about the Columbia House Music Club, and its "10 records for 99 cents!" deal. He explains why it was appealing, and also why it was a bit of a scam. He talks about how the question of whether to join up for this deal was actually worth it, given the price of records at KMart or Jamesway. He also talks about the Paperback Book of the Month club, and how it employed a similar system of getting people to sign up for automatic delivery of books.
Long time listeners know that GamerDude is a bit of a trivia-head. This week, he talks about some more of the strange facts, interesting stories and minutiae that he's collected over the years. He briefly revisits the parallels between Abraham Lincoln and John F. Kennedy before talking about numerous other facts he's accumulated. He talks about how footprints in concrete came to be a "thing" in front of Grauman's Chinese Theater in Hollywood. He talks about some word origins and how they came to be. He has stories about ancient explorers and the brilliant idea the Office of Stragegic Services had for ending World War II. And, he talks about one theory about how the suits in a deck of cards came to be.
As a Certified Old Dude, GamerDude has a lot of experience with the aging process. This week, he returns to the spirit of Jimmy Buffet and "growing older but not up" as he talks about things that change as you get older. He talks about how your sense of responsibility changes as you realize that you're in charge of your own life and get to (and have to) make all of the decisions for yourself. He talks about how your perspective changes, both as to people and as to things, and he shares how his appreciation for seeing the Grand Canyon for the first time was greater than it would have been had he seen it as a kid because of how much of his life and his efforts it took to get there.
GamerDude also talks about how your friends change as you get older. In school, a lot of your "friends" are friends simply because they share a bus stop or classroom with you. But as you get older, you find yourself gravitating to people who actually share your interests.
He also talks about learning to handle conflict as an adult, and how to deal with "icky people" is just one of the many skills you develop as you get older. He also talks about how your interests, and topics of conversation change the older you get.
GamerDude also makes clear that none of this is bad; it just is what happens to all of us. But accepting that, and embracing your life as it evolves, is the best way to enjoy yourself as you live your life.
GamerDude talks about the various choices a new lawyer has to make when entering the legal profession. He talks about the trial attorney, which is what everyone pictures an attorney is, based on TV and the movies. He also talks about other areas of the law, like Trusts and Estates, Mergers & Acquisitions, and Real Estate, where attorneys can spend their entire careers and never see the inside of a courtroom. He also explains why those areas didn't interest him, because he wanted to be a trial attorney.
He talks about one of his first trials as an intern in a prosecutor's office, where he had to take a speeding case to trial. He also talks about one of his first criminal defense cases: a trespassing case, and explains how he won it. He also talks about how rationalizing being a criminal defense attorney can be more difficult when dealing with more heinous crimes, like sexual assault.
GamerDude also explains some of the practical sides of the practice of law that they don't teach you in law school. He talks about having to delay a preliminary hearing because an important witness, Mr. Green, hadn't shown up, and he talks about how his boss taught him not to show up for court until the client pays for your services.
GamerDude remembered that there were a lot of foods that he ate all the time growing up that we don't think about or serve anymore. He goes over the daily menu from his childhood, starting with breakfast and going through dessert at dinner time.
For breakfast, oatmeal and Cream of Wheat cooked on the stove were a usual part of breakfast. GamerDude remembers when his dad taught him the "butter and maple syrup" trick for making oatmeal even more tasty.
He remembers lunches too, from Spam and liverwurst sandwiches, to Sunmaid Raisins and carrot sticks. He also remembers the deliciious Sloppy Joes he used to get at the school cafeteria. He also remembers the variety of snack cakes he grew up with, from Devil Dogs to Suzy Q's.
GamerDude also remembers the dinners his mom would make. He talks about how she tried to make fondue a thing, to expand the dinner menu options. He remembers fish sticks and tuna casserole. And he talks about that old stand-by: Chicken A La King.
For dessert, there were cakes and cookies, but he remembers a particularly decadent pudding his mom used to make, which is something you just don't see anymore.
This week's "do it yourself" episode is all about how GamerDude learned how (and why) things like car maintenance and some home repair projects were things that he could do on his own. He talks about his dad, and how he saved and eventually re-purposed everything, from vacuum cleaners to nuts and bolts from an iron fence. He talks about learning how to do things himself because it was always less expensive if you could get something done on your own.
He re-visits his days working in a garage, and how he learned to do oil changes and tune-ups. He talks about doing those things on his own, and changing the oil in his driveway.
He talks about learning how to do simple electrical work in his home, like changing a light switch or a wall outlet. He talks about installing ceiling fans and other simple home repairs. He also talks about how plumbing, for him, is more challenging and intimidating than electrical work, but how he nevertheless has still replaced faucets and sinks.
He also talks about painting as another DIY project. He talks about how tedious the process is, but how rewarding it can be if you have the patience and perseverance to power through it.
The recent news story about $5,000 concert tickets for Bruce Springsteen's latest tour reminded GamerDude of what buying tickets used to be like. Long before computerized "dynamic pricing," GamerDude talks about waiting in line at the box office, or at the Ticketmaster office in Tower Records or Sam Goody. He remembers lining up hours before the box office opened, and then picking your seats off the seating chart. He also remembers the standardized pricing, and how you only paid scalpers if you had no alternative.
GamerDude also remembers some other things that used to be a part of daily life. He talks about the gumball machines at the grocery store, and the machines with the little toys, collectibles and water-transfer tattoos. He also remembers the "horsey ride" at the exit of the store, and how it was a rare treat growing up. He also remembers when "multi-player video games" involved four people in a room, sharing a split screen, and how "screen cheating" was a thing.
GamerDude also talks about how we've lost the ability to "disappear" for the day. When he was younger, a person could just check out for the day, go to the beach, and be unreachable. Nowadays, if you don't return a text within a few mintues, people consider you rude!
This week's episode includes GamerDude's memories about the bat in the attic when he was a kid, and how his dad used a shop vac to capture it. He also remembers when one of his friends used a plunger on a wasp nest, which ended just as you'd expect. He remembers how he played with the toys he got as a kid for a long, long time - like Tonka trucks, and the little plastic figures, from army soldiers to the then-popular-but-now-politically-incorrect "cowboys-and-indians". He also remembers using sticks, and wrapping paper tubes, as swords and guns, because they were 1) available and 2) free. He also remembers how washing your car in the driveway with a bucket of water and a sponge was a regular thing.
GamerDude also has some more Life Advice this week. He talks about how our lives are filled with "last times" that we never see coming, which is why we should treasure the moments we have. He talks about embracing your weirdness. He also explains why "no" is a perfectly acceptable answer to requests that you just don't want to do.
After a chat with Mrs. GamerDude this week, GamerDude decided to devote this episode to talking about situational depression and anxiety, and to sharing some thoughts on how to deal with it. "Situational" depression is different from clinical depression and can be brought on by a specific set of circumstances - like dealing with Covid and its ramifications for over two years. He talks about how daily life during the Covid pandemic has created a "new normal," which brings with it many opportunities to be both depressed and anxious. He talks about the uncertainty in the world, and the differing attitudes of individual people, and the companies we work for, and our government, and how those attitudes can be so frustrating and depressing. He also talks about how the fact that this "new normal" has changed the way we shop, and eat out, and travel, and work, can also be very depressing and frustrating.
GamerDude also talks about how important it is to be willing to share the feelings of depression, and frustation, and anxiety. He discusses how comforting it can be to realize that you are not alone in your feelings, and how helpful it can be to know that others share the same feeling you have, and that those feelings are perfectly normal.
He also discusses some tips he's used to help deal with depression, and frustration, and anxiety. He talks about how his Twitch stream has been a welcome outlet, and discusses how any hobby - from fishing to golf to hooking rugs - can be a welcome respite from the daily challenges we all face that can lead to the feelings of depression and anxiety that so many of us are sharing these days.
Long time listeners know that GamerDude has always loved driving, and cars, and this week, he's talking about his love for cars again. He talks about how his dad used to monitor gas prices when he was a kid, which is probably why he remembers what gas cost back in the 1970s. That focus on a car-related essential is probably one of the factors that led to GamerDude's love for cars. He talks about his first car, a Volkswagen bug, and the Plymouth Fury he replaced it with. He talks about trying to learn to do body work, and how he discovered that he wasn't really good at it. Mechanical stuff he could do; body work - not so much.
GamerDude also talks about the Rockford Firebird he bought, and why he liked it better than the "Screaming Eagle" Trans-Am. He also talks about trading it in for his first new car - a Mitsubishi Cordia. He talks about his preference for manual transmissions versus automatics, and how heart-breaking it was when someone ran a red light and totalled his Cordia.
As GamerDude explains in the intro to this week's "Best of..." episode, it was a tough week. The actions of the Supreme Court during the week before GamerDude recorded this episode was upsetting, maddening, and disheartening, as GamerDude explains in the intro. Rather than go off on yet another rant, he decided to go to his happy place, and put together this episode about vacations.
This week, there are stories about beaches, and preparing for traveling. GamerDude also talks about how important it is to have rainy day activities because you just KNOW it's going to rain at least one day while you're away.
This week, GamerDude goes back into the world of law to discuss The Bar Exam. Before a law school graduate can become a full-fledged practicing attorney, he or she has to pass the bar exam. Each state has its own requirements, so new prospective attorneys have to pass the bar exam for the state they want to practice in before they can become a full-fledged attorney.
The bar exam takes place over two- to three-days and consists of a combination of essay and multiple choice questions. Each state has different requirements for the essay questions, which cover different areas of the law. Each state also differs in the number of essay questions they ask. GamerDude took two bar exams; Ohio had 24 essay questions over two days while New Jersey had 6 essay questions over one day.
GamerDude talks about the weeks and weeks of study involved in preparing for the bar, and the process for taking the bar. He talks about how, as a law school graduate who has yet to pass the bar, you can't actually practice law, so you've got to find something to do to earn a living while you prepare for the bar, take the bar, and wait for the results (which take weeks to post). GamerDude talks about his clerkship in Ohio, and his work as a temp in New Jersey while waiting for his bar results. (Spoiler: He passed both bar exams on the first attempt.)
GamerDude goes back to the movies for a list of what he considers hidden gems or forgotten movies from the 1980s. He's got a list of 15, from Adventures in Babysitting, to St. Elmo's Fire, to The Terminator, which he believes gives a flavor of what was popular, and what life was like, in the 1980s. (You'll have to listen to the whole episode to get the full list!)
GamerDude also has some more movie tropes this week. He talks about everything from super-old "teenagers" in movies to those two guys carrying a giant pane of glass who are in so many movies. He also includes some overused movie lines, which we've all heard over and over again, and also shares his new favorite (or, rather, least favorite) over-used line.
GamerDude talks about storytelling this week. His recent experiences playing The Last of Us, Part 2 and Battlefield 2042 got him thinking about the elements of good stories, and how story-telling technicques can make or break a game.
GamerDude talks about story structure, and how the most simple - have a beginning, a middle where something happens, and an end - can be effective if done correctly. He talks about books he loved as a kid, where story structure and characters kept him coming back to re-read the same books over again, because he wanted to revisit the characters, or the worlds that they lived in.
He talks about the same elements of story and character in video games, and why some video games are inherently re-playable. He talks about why Mass Effect, and Red Dead, and Uncharted keep him coming back for more replays - because of the stories, and the characters.
GamerDude also talks about the story in TLOU2, and how he believes it was a missed opportunity to make Abby a very sympathetic character. GamerDude discusses the fact that HOW a character is presented can really make a difference on how we feel about the character.
He also talks about how the lack of a campaign in Battlefield 2042, and the lack of any ability to "get into" the world of the game makes it more difficult to enjoy. He explains the value of having a world you can relate to and characters you can identify with, which will make a game more enjoyable.
Because of the horrific events in Uvalde, Texas on May 24, 2022, while GamerDude was away, he wanted to share some thoughts on the police response to the situation. He remembers what police officers used to be like, and how they've always been depicted on TV and in the movies, and how what happened in Uvalde was nothing like anything he'd ever seen before.
GamerDude's also shares his stories about vacationing during a pandemic. He talks about how no one wants to admit that COVID is still around, and still a danger, and still a factor in our lives. Because of that, he talks about how it has factored into things he and Mrs. GamerDude plan, like going on vacation and eating out. He talks about the fact that he and Mrs. GamerDude still wear masks when shopping and going out in closed spaces in public, because it's a small price to pay for a little extra peace of mind.
He talks about how he planned a trip to Ocean City, Maryland for the off-season, to avoid crowds. He talks about weighing the risks and benefits of where to stay, and eating out. He discusses how so many of his favorite restaurants have made accommodations for those he want to order take-out, rather than risk sitting in a roomful of strangers. And, he talks about the first meal in over two years that he and Mrs. GamerDude actually "ate out." Of course, it was at an outside table, and they were seated at least 30 feet from other people, but it was still "eating out."
This week's "Best of" episode revisits GamerDude's movie tropes discussions from the first three seasons of Storytime, covering everything from the perpetual parking spot, to the always-interrupting friend, to the "we don't have time to discuss this!" blow-off.
The focus in this week's Storytime is on a number of current events that have been exhausting and depressing over the past few weeks. GamerDude talks about the white supremacist's terrorist attack on a supermarket in a black neighborhood in Buffalo, New York, and the nonsensical "replacement theory" that the murderous terrorist relied on in his "manifesto." He also talks about the potential (at this writing) over-ruling of the landmark case of Roe v. Wade, and the consequences of the Supreme Court stripping rights from women. He talks about the impact on women, and also the impact on his belief in the validity of the legal system as currently constituted. GamerDude also talks about how the extreme right has created a boogey-man out of critical race theory, which is a concept that started in law schools in the 1970s, and uses it - without actually understanding what it is - to try to initiate an authoritarian takeover of the democracy that is supposed to exist in the United States.
GamerDude also talks about how important it is to protect our democracy, because democracy is not the "default" system. He talks about how important it is to be involved in politics at the local, state, and federal levels in order to protect democracy. He also suggests following Teri Kanefield for more information on how we can all protect our democracy.
GamerDude travels back to his childhood again to discuss some of the ordinary things in his life as a kid that don't seem to happen or exist anymore. He talks about going into the woods to build forts, and catching critters like frogs, snakes and toads. He talks about flying kites and playing with friends.
GamerDude also remembers when "bankers' hours" were 9 am to 3 pm, and that's the only time you could actually do any banking. He talks about opening a bank account, and getting an actual bank book. He talks about the days before ATMs, debit cards, and credit cards, and remembers how the local stores all seemed to have their own credit cards and charge accounts. He also remembers the lawaway plans that some stores used to have.
He also talks about how controlling of our lives telephones used to be, but in a different way than they are now. He talks about having to wait for calls, and being confined to a 3 foot radius around the phone because of the phone cords the phone company used to give you. He also discusses the evolution of the view of cars in the US, and how "American cars" were accepted, and "imports" were looked down on when he was a kid. And he talks about how that view has changed over the years.
This week, GamerDude invited Bryant Chappel, host of The Nerf Report, to share some of his stories on Storytime. They talk about Bryant's early days as a Twitch streamer and how demanding being a live streamer can be. Bryant opens up about the demands that being a content creater can put on you, and how important it is to be aware of when you, as a content creator, need to take a break.
Bryant also talks about how he changed gears from being a live streamer to creating The Nerf Report. He talks about the origins of his YouTube channel, about learning the ins-and-outs of YouTube, and how and why The Nerf Report has evolved. He also talks about his hopes for The Nerf Report.
Bryant then talks about what it's like being a new dad. He talks about the surprising things he's learned as a new dad, and how he plans to continue to be a good dad to his daughter.
Bryant and GamerDude close with some one-off questions, from favorite video game to what video game character they would get tattoos of if they had to.
Be sure to check out and subscribe to The Nerf Report on YouTube. And many thanks to Bryant for taking the time to do this interview!
GamerDude talks about how, in his lifetime, society has changed in its view of telling the truth, acting honorably, doing the right thing, and owning up to your mistakes. He talks about how lying has become far more acceptable than it ever used to be. He discusses the Watergate Hearings he remembers seeing on TV when he was a kid, and how Watergate showed that most people would "do the right thing," and do the "honorable" thing even when it wasn't politically expedient.
He talks about "truth" and "facts" and compares them to "perceptions" and "beliefs" and discusses the difference between them. He talks about how there's a difference between a factual truth and a firmly held belief. He uses asbestos as an example of how the scientific fact of the deadly nature of asbestos fibers did not change simply because people once believed that asbestos was beneficial.
He also discusses how, because we are lied to all of the time, every day - from when we're kids in school to when we're trying to pick the "right" cologne - it's easy to start to question everything we're told. But that questioning doesn't change certain indisputable facts, like the fact that the Earth is round.
An old electric football game inspired this week's StoryTime. GamerDude remembered what playing with the electric football game was like, and how unique a game it was. It also reminded him of the other activites that he used to do to pass time when he was a kid, most of which no longer exist. He talks about the spin-art machine he and his siblings had as kids, and how they would create abstract "masterpieces" with a squeeze bottle of paint and a high-speed turntable. He rememberd friends who had wood-burning kits, which were basically hot pokers designed for burning wood. He talks about how much he enjoyed making model cars, and the detail that went into completing each one. He remembers his Erector sets, and talks about why he never bought into the "build it just so you can take it apart and build something else" mind-set you had to have to enjoy Erector sets. GamerDude also remembers the home chemistry set he had as a kid, and the helpful neighborhood dad who gave him the recipe for gunpowder.
GamerDude has always been interested in history and in the law, and this week's episode comes from the intersection of those two things. He talks briefly about some of the silly laws in the U.S., like the Chicago law banning ugly people. He then goes back in time to talk about how the death penalty was prevalent in so many old laws, from the Code of Assura to the Code of Hammurabi. He talks about how the word "draconian" came from the laws passed by Draco, one of the rulers of ancient Anthens, and how he imposed the death penalty on everything from theft to loitering.
GamerDude also talks about how poorly women have been treated under the law for, literally, centuries. He discusses how ancient laws viewed the crime of rape, and how men had many ways to avoid penalties for it. He also talks about how the death penalty was imposed in a wide variety of instances, from cutting another farmer's crops to being a heretic.
GamerDude also talks about several different forms of execution that display the creative cruelty some people have always had, from keelhauling to the creation of the original "Roman candles."
This week, GamerDude returns to law school to fill in some details about the day-to-day life on the road to becoming an attorney. He talks about how he found a group of basketball buddies (including one of his constitutional law professors) and how they would play basketball a couple of times a week to break up the stress of the law school days. He talks about how he treated law school like a job, which enabled him to take it seriously enough to do well, and how he was invited to join both the law review and the moot court team. He talks about why he choose moot court over law review, and his dream of becoming a trial attorney. He also talks about recruiters looking for law school students that were not the usual law firms you'd expect, like the JAG corps and the FBI.
GamerDude also talks about the changes he made to the "traditional" law school track in order to graduate in two-and-a-half years. He talks about his first year clerkship with one of his law professors, and he also shares his experiences from his "big firm" clerkship during his second summer, and how that convinced him that the last thing he wanted to do was actually work for a traditional "big law firm."
In a "very special" Best Of episode, GamerDude goes back to Season 1 and two of his most commented on episodes. The first excerpt is from his episode about bullying, and what it was like growing up being bullied on an almost daily basis, from being called "four eyes" (because of his glasses) to unprovoked physical attacks just because he existed.
He also re-shares the stories about how he came to be the "fat kid" in school, and how being rewarded with food led to him gaining a lot of weight between middle school and high school. He talks about what it was like trying to socialize, and how he started to learn to pick up on social cues because of how he looked, and how people reacted to him.
This week, GamerDude revisits the topic of baseball. Back in Season 1, he talked about his love for the Yankees, and how and why he started rooting for them as a kid. In light of the end of the most recent lockout by the owners, GamerDude wanted to revisit the topic of baseball and talk about how he used to love it, but how and why he lost interest in the game.
He talks about listening to baseball games on AM radio as a kid, when he was supposed to be sleeping. He talks about how radio signals at night from Boston, Cincinnatti and Chicago carried to his bedroom in New Jersey and alllowed him to listen to a number of games in bed. He talks about how the radio announcers brought the games to life, and how he learned the rules of the game from listening to, and occasionally watching, baseball.
He also talks about wanting to play baseball as a kid but never really having the chance. He talks about throwing tennis balls at the house, and at a Pitch-Back in his back yard, to practice his fielding and throwing. And he talks about going to batting cages and trying to hit 70 mph pitches.
He also talks about how he used to love baseball until the players' strike of 1994. He talks about rule changes, and playoff changes, and schedule changes. He also discusses the huge contracts and the extended length of games because of advertising. And, as any baseball fan would, he shares his rant about the designated hitter.
In this episode, GamerDude revisits the topic of "things that have changed" during his lifetime. He first talks about gas prices, and how he remembers when his mother paid 33.9 cents per gallon when he was a kid. He also talks about how things like seat belts and bike helmets were not part of his child hood at all, but how they are now just ordinary, accepted parts of our lives. He talks about how child-proofing when he was a kid was, basically, his parents saying, "No! Don't do that!" and how he ignored that anyway. He discusses how electrical outlet caps, drawer stops, and corner covers just didn't exist when he was growing up. He also talks about how he had to wear glasses as a kid, and how "wearing glasses" has evolved from making you a target to you making a fashion statement.
He also talks about Dungeons & Dragons. He discusses the "satanic panic" surrounding D&D when it first came out, and how some religious groups considered it a tool of the devil and something akin to a satanic recruiting device. He also discusses how it has evolved from a fringe role-playing game for nerdy outcasts to a mainstream form of entertainment. He also discusses how D&D spawns creativity, promotes criticial thinking, inspires problem solving, and - most importantly - is just plain fun.
GamerDude talks more television this week, with the focus this time on "reality TV." He talks about when the show Survivor started in 2000 (yes, 22 years ago!) and how he loved the concept, at first. He discusses how shows like Survivor and The Amazing Race seemed to start casting their shows to check off certain boxes: the villain, the try hard, the old one, the boisterous one, the family one, and how it seemed to signal a change from just casting "real" people. He talks about shows like American Idol, AGT, and The Voice, and how the "reality" of getting input from the viewers often seems offset by what the producers want to have happen in a show. He also talks about The Bachelor/Bachelorette franchise, and other shows like Wife Swap and the Real Housewives franchise, which seem to be about people wanting to be on TV, rather than dealing with anything ordinary people might consider as "real."
He also talks about The Ed Sullivan Show, which could arguably be considered to be one of the first reality shows, and then focuses on Candid Camera, and explains why it is the first reality show, and why it is so good. He talks about why catching real people, reacting as themselves to odd situations is the best kind of reality show, because people being themselves is more entertaining than watching people trying to act out a part they may have carved for themselves.
GamerDude's first "taste" of law school was through the movie The Paper Chase, and the title of this episode is a quote from that movie. This week, GamerDude talks about how this Professor Kingsfield line is entirely accurate, and he discusses how law school changes how you think, and teaches you how to "think like a lawyer."
GamerDude talks about the process of learning to think like a lawyer. He talks about the types of courses you take in law school, from torts, to contracts, to Constitutional law. He talks about the work load, and how attendance at class was so important. He talks about the tremendous amount of reading and note-taking there is in law school, and how an outline of an entire semester's class is necessary to have any hope of passing a final. And, he talks about the infamous "Socratic method" that was used quite liberally during his days in law school, and how it all helped teach him to learn how to think like a lawyer.
GamerDude revisits the topic of things that were a normal part of his life growing up that we don't have, that we don't need, and that we don't use anymore. He talks about having phone numbers of all of his friends, and the time-and-temperature line, and the local movies theaters, and the local police all memorized. He also talks about how the white pages, and the Yellow Pages in the phone book were the primary way to find phone numbers for people and businesses. He also remembers making photo albums and scrapbooks of clippings to save for his furture self, and also talks about re-visiting some of those clippings and wondering why he saved them. He also remembers his vinyl album collection, and his CD collection, and how it was so important to have these collections so that you would always have your music.
He also talks about using a travel agent, and the services they offered. He also remembers what it was like to book your own trip, which involved calling all of the airlines, and the hotels, and the rental car agencies yourself. He also talks about how he discovered the Fodor's and Frommer's travel guides, and how those indispensible sources of information helped him book his trips back in the day. He also remembers his road map collection, and how he always relied on road maps during his trips. And he discusses how finding an alarm clock has grown much more difficult in a time when so many people rely on their phones to wake up to in the morning.
This week's "Best of" episode includes stories from early in Season 1 that GamerDude has re-edited and re-mastered to clean up some of the "noise interference" some of the Season 1 episodes had. GamerDude talks about visiting his aunt when he was 11 years old, and driving a car for the first time. He also talks about his grandfathers and shares the very few memories he has about them. He talks about playing outside after school when he was a kid, and how the world for kids was very different when he was young. He also talks about the power of music, and how just a few notes of a song can trigger memories for you.
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This week, GamerDude's stories only go back to 2020, and the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. He wants to preserve the stories of how life was like just as COVID was becoming a reality in our world, and how it changed life so drastically. He remembers first reading about COVID and the impact it was having throughout the world. He talks about how and why he decided to shop for face masks in early 2020, only to discover they were all mostly sold out. He talks about why he decided to start stocking up on staples like rice, pasta, and canned goods. He also discusses how the lockdown impacted life, both at work and at home, and talks about how COVID has created permanent changes in our lifestyles, and in how we do things.
Long-time listeners know that GamerDude is not a fan of winter. But when he was a kid, it was a different story. He used to love to play in the snow, mostly because his mom left him no choice; he HAD to go out and play in the snow. But getting ready to go outside was always a process. There was no going outside without the full complement of winter clothes. It started with long underwear, with that old waffle-weave. It also included snow pants, sweatshirts, heavy parkas, mittens, hats and hoods. GamerDude remembers the "getting ready" process, and what a chore it often was. He remember always losing a mitten as a kid, and struggling to get into snow boots every time he went out. He also remembers the eternal struggle with hats, and how he always took his off as soon as he was out of sight of the house.
GamerDude also remembers the snow forts and snowmen he built as a kid, and trying to ride a toboggan while standing up. He also remembers his almost epic toboggan ride down the giant hill near his elementary school,
Long-time listeners know about the variety of jobs GamerDude had over the years, and how he "tried on" different things to see how they'd fit. This week, GamerDude talks about how those early jobs eventually led to his decision to apply to law school. He talks about how a letter he wrote to his store manager when he was 19, when his store manager told him he should be a "Philadelphia lawyer," to the the interview process for internal corporate jobs at Newsweek magazine, led him to consider other career possibilities. He talks about why he considered law school, and what the process was like, from attending "law school fairs" to deciding where to go to school.
This week, GamerDude passes on some more tips that he's found helpful over the course of his life. He talks about the importance of being open to new ideas, and being open to trying new things. He talks about time, and how our views of things, and events, change over time. He talks about the value of making good memories, the kinds that won't fade over time, and that will stay with you for years.
GamerDude also talks about the importance of staying active and doing things so that you can enjoy your life, and make memories, even as you get older. He explains that even a simple walk around the block every day can be enough to get the blood pumping, and to "blow the stink off you," as his grandmother used to say. And he talks about the importance of kindness in these days where anger, and disharmony, seem to be all around us.
With the winter months upon us, and people hunkering down against the cold (and the pandemic), GamerDude started thinking about his favorite disaster movies, and why he enjoys them. He talks about the different disaster movie tropes that are generally common to all disaster movies, from the huge, all-star casts, to the amazing special effects, to the destruction of landmarks, to the uncertainty of who is going to survive to the end. You never know who is going to make it to the final reel of a disaster movie, which is part of the fun.
GamerDude explains that, in his opinion, the disaster movie genre truly started in the 1970s, with movies like The Poseidon Adventure, The Towering Inferno, and Earthquake. He also talks about the sub-genres of disaster movies that have developed, and explains why his own definition is so specific. He differentiates "disease" disaster movies, like Contagion and Outbreak, from "alien" disaster movies, like Independence Day and Cloverfield. He also explains why his favorite disaster movies involve natural disasters, like climate change (The Day After Tomorrow), earthquakes (San Andreas) or problems with the earth's core (2012). No spoilers here, though; you'll have to listen to the episode to get the full list!
To start Season 5 of the podcast (and thanks for your years of support!), GamerDude talks about his decision to take early retirement. No spoilers in this description, but after many years in the "professional world," GamerDude had the opportunity to take early retirement at the end of 2021. He talks about his thought process in deciding to do so, and his discussions with Mrs. GamerDude about whether it made sense, and was financially feasible. He talks about the factors that led to his decision, which included the changes in the professional world caused by the pandemic, and explains why he finally made the decision to "pull the plug."
As 2021 and Season 4 of the podcast draw to a close, GamerDude talks about that week between Christmas and New Years, when no one really wants to be working, and where nothing ever really seems to get done. He also talks about the post-Christmas shopping he did with his dad after Christmas, and remembers game night on New Year's Eve with his mom.
GamerDude also talks about some of the superstitions involving food to eat as the New Year begins. He talks about green peas, lentil and pork as the "good luck" meals, and why crab, lobster, chicken and turkey are bad luck. He also talks about the 12 Lucky Grapes of the new year.
Finally, GamerDude shares some observations about the New Year from the early 1800s, from a Scottish traveler's observations about what New Year's Day in New York was like back in 1830, to some timeless words of wisdom to carry into the New Year.
When GamerDude was a kid, having "Christams spirit" was easy. You watched the Christmas specials on TV (Rudolph, Frosty, Charlie Brown), you went shopping at the mall, and you finished up all your school projects before winter break. GamerDude talks about how it's more difficult these days to have the "Christmas spirit" we knew as kids, or even the spirit we knew before COVID. But, this week, he talks about the little aspects of Christmas spirit that we can all enjoy today, even in the midst of COVID fatigue. He talks about the nostalgia of watching the old Christmas specials, and valuing the time we do get to spend with family, friends, and those close to us.
GamerDude also breaks down the Christmas specials he grew up with, and questions whether Frosty, and Santa Claus is Coming to Town, and Rudolph actually convey the true meaning of Christmas. He also explains why The Little Drummer Boy, A Charlie Brown Christmas, and How The Grinch Stole Christmas are the three Christmas specials that - to him - convey the true spirit of Christmas.
GamerDude closes the episode with thanks to all his friends and followers who've supported him over the years, and talks about how friendships, and human interaction is still possible, and still valuable, even in the electronic age we're in.
Christmas time has always been the time when kids anxiously awaited Santa's arrival and the delivery of their cool holiday goodies, and it was no different when GamerDude was a kid. This week, he talks about the toys and games he received that were not the traditional board games. He talks about how, when he was growing up, there were defininte "boy toys" and "girl toys," and how those toys maintained the mindset that girls needed dolls and kitchen appliances to play with, while boys, well, boys got to be boys. He remembers Suzy Homemaker, Chatty Cathy, and the E-Z Bake ovens were typical "girl toys."
GamerDude also talks about the cool toys he received, or at least got to play with, and explains how they worked. He remembers Hot Wheels and the track set you could get to go with your Hot Wheels cars. He talks about the U-Fly-It and how he turned the dining room into an airfield. He remembers when he got Skittle Bowl, and talks about the many shoot-outs he had with Gunfight at the O.K. Corral. He talks about Battling Tops and how certain tops always seemed to perform better than others. He also remembers the SSP racers, and the Smash-Up Derby set, and how much fun it was to send car parts sliding through the kitchen after a crash.
When GamerDude was a kid, the first couple of weeks after Thanksgiving were a lead-up to Christmas. It was the time when the Christmas shopping started, when the decorating began, and when the Christmas cards were written. This week, GamerDude talks about what that time was like, and how his dad had a hard-and-fast December 1 line-in-the-sand for Christmas decorations - no decorations before December! He talks about the various decorations they did have, and the type of ornaments he grew up with. He talks about garland and tinsel, and how annoying it was to hang tinsel to his mom's exacting specifications. He also talks about the family's Christmas star, and the Christmas card tree his parents had as part of the decor.
GamerDude also remembers the anticipation of gifts that really began during this "null zone." He talks about the one gift he always wanted but never got as a child - a G.I. Joe. From having "real" hair to the "kung-fu grip," G.I. Joe was one of the ultimate "boy toys" when he was a kid, and it was always on GamerDude's wish list.
This week's episode is chock full of leftovers and deleted scenes from previous episodes. These week, GamerDude has pulled out a variety of stories, some short and some long, on many different topics. He talks about VCRs and how he was always the manual reader for programming them. He takes about cooking on a griddle, and barbecuing on a grill. He has stories about "flour sack clothes," and how he tried to get his oldest to do his homework. He talks about his decision not to stay in radio, and he has a tale about the greatest salad bar he's ever been to - at the Bombay Bicycle Club.
In his fourth Thanksgiving episode, GamerDude expresses his gratitude that he's had the opportunity to share four years of stories with you. He mentions some of the Thanksgiving recipes he's shared for sweet potatoes and stuffing, and talks about some of the family traditions from his childhood, like his grandmother's "kids table." He talks about the family discussions about who's traveling where, who's invited over, and what is being served.
GamerDude also talks about how his own family traditions have evolved, from cooking a traditional meal, to going out for dinner, and now, thanks to COVID, to staying home for more of a pot-luck style dinner, where everyone can have what they prefer to eat.
GamerDude also brings back the non-denominational prayer he found a couple of years ago. It's a reminder of how we all have something we can be grateful for, and how even the little things are worth being thankful about.
GamerDude has talked about lots of things from his childhood, from grade school to shopping malls. This week, he focuses on trying to paint a picture of what growing up in the 1970s was like, and how it was so different from the world today. He talks about McDonalds, and how it was everywhere when he was a kid, but very different from the fast food place we know today. He talks about how, until the 1970s, there was no Egg McMuffin, and how he never got to enjoy chicken mcnuggets as a kid because they weren't "a thing." He talks about how pay phones were everywhere, and actual live operators existed to help you, with information, with collect calls, and even with calling for help, because 911 wasn't "a thing" when GamerDude was a kid.
He also talks about living through the gas crisis of the 1970s, and how that changed the family car. He remembers the old family station wagon, and how his dad decided to trade it in for a VW bus. He talks about how the car industry changed, and how companies like Toyota, and Datsun, and AMC started getting traction in this country with their smaller cars, which got better gas mileage. And, he mentionis the Ford Pinto, which, aside from a little manufacturing defect that left them susceptible to blowing up in accidents, got decent gas mileage.
Food is one of many of GamerDude's favorite topics, and this week's food talk is about the pre-packaged and processed foods that we're not supposed to eat because they're not "good for you," like Kraft Macaroni and Cheese. GamerDude talks about some of the pre-packaged foods that people love that are not on his list of "Favorite Things To Eat." He talks about how Hidden Valley Ranch, and Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls, and Kraft American Cheese Slices (and several others) are favorites for some, but are not on his list of "must have" foods.
GamerDude also talks about the pre-packaged and processed foods he still loves to eat. He talks about the joy of pork roll (or Taylor Ham, depending on where you're from in New Jersey), and bologna. He talks about canned soups, and the frozen foods he still enjoys. He talks about Pop Tarts and all of the kids' cereals he still eats (like Lucky Charms!). And, he talks about his love for good old Skippy and Jif peanut butter.
In another "very special episode of StoryTime," GamerDude talks about his dad's death 15 years ago. He talks about the last few months of his dad's life, and how "the fixer" in GamerDude drove him to try and "fix" the situation. He talks about how his parents had been relying on Christian Science for treatment, and how - even though he was brought up in the religion, and acknowledged and respected their beliefs - GamerDude nevertheless felt compelled to get his father to the hospital to try to get him some treatment. He talks about the challenge of dealing with his parents about doctors, and dealing with doctors and nurses while trying to explain his parents' reliance on Christian Science.
He also shares the story of the night his dad died. He talks about what happened that night, and how difficult it was. And he also talks about how he went through so many feelings and emotions, from pain and sadness, to numbness and frustration.
GamerDude also talks about how there is no one way, and no right way, to grieve. He explains that you feel what you feel, and it's okay to deal with it, either on your own, or with friends, as long as you deal with it. He also explains that, no matter what your feelings, it is important to acknowledge them, and to feel them, but it's also important not to be consumed by them, and to move on with your life.
GamerDude talks about how pleased and grateful he is about completing 200 episodes of Storytime. He talks about why he started doing Storytime - to preserve the stories of what life was like when he was growing up so that his friends and his family could one day go back and hear them. He talks about how he feels that he squandered the opportunity to get stories from his parents, and his grandparents about their lives, because he realizes now how much he would have liked to know more about their lives, and how much the world can change in less than a lifetime. He talks about how he wishes he had the opportunity to go back and talk to his parents about what their lives were like, and explains that he decided to do Storytime so that his stories would be out there for anyone interested.
Because it's Halloween week, GamerDude didn't want to let the holiday go unnoticed. So, he went back to Season 2 to pull out his Top 10 Best and Worst Candies for Halloween. He talks about licorice, and Mary Janes, and Good 'n' Plenty, as well as Swedish fish, and Reeses, and M & M's. No spoilers - if you missed the list the first time, you'll have to listen to the episode to get the full list!
GamerDude has noticed that "dating" these days is not like it used to be. After seeing, reading and hearing about the horror stories of dating in today's world, GamerDude wanted to talk about what dating used to be like, what the purpose of dating used to be, and why getting back to old-fashioned dating would be a good thing.
GamerDude has noticed that, for a lot of people these days, the primary purpose of going on a date is to wind up having sex with someone, and often on the first date. While the idea of having sex was always a part of the equation when dating, it wasn't the focal point, or the singular goal, of dating when he was growing up. Dating was supposed to be a "getting to know you" process. People dated to get to know each other so that they could find out if they liked each other enough to spend more time together. Sex wasn't the goal; it was a highlight of a relationship that had many aspects, including common likes and dislikes, and a variety of activities, from dinners to movies to shopping. The dating process was how people found a partner, or a prospective spouse, by going places, doing things, and talking to each other, and GamerDude talks about the importance and the value of going through this process so that you could actually get to know someone. GamerDude talks about how to behave on dates, and how to try to get to know someone, so that you had a chance of achieving what should be the actual goal of dating - a long term relationship.
Because he's been around for a while, GamerDude has seen a lot of changes in the world, and a lot of inventions, products, and things that have come and gone. This week, he talks about some of the supposedly wonderful products and inventions in his life that turned out to be anything but. He talks about how the plastic bag industry created the supposed need and demand for their product that resulted in the virtual disappearance of the paper bag industry. He talks about how there were no plastic bags when he was a kid, and how the old-fashioned brown paper bag was everywhere, and had many uses. He talks about how plastic bags took over that industry, and why that's not such a good thing. He also talks about how polystyrene coolers and containers also came into widespread use, and why that was not a good thing either.
GamerDude also taks about asbestos, and how he remembers it being a "miracle mineral," with uses in everything from floor tiles to automotive brake pads. He talks about how asbestos was used in so many every day things until it was discovered how deadly the inhalation of asbestos fibres actually was. He also talks about food addittives, like Red Dye #2 and Olestra, and how it turns out that things that were supposed to make our lives better actually did just the opposite.
GamerDude also talks about how one of the more recent inventions - flushable wipes - was supposed to be a beneficial addition to our lives but how, in reality, they are creating more problems than they may be worth. And, he talks about how self-service checkout lines are not really a boon to society.
This week, GamerDude is passing on more of the little observations, knowledge, and life advice he's accumulated after all of his trips around the sun. He talks about how life is unpredictable and no matter how many plans you make, and how good those plans may be, life will throw changes at you that disrupt your carefully charted course. He talks about how it is important to live your life for you, and how things like vacations and sick days are ways to take care of yourself that you shouldn't overlook. He talks about how it gets much, much easier to figure out if someone is an asshole as you get older, even before they speak, because you know what to look for.
GamerDude also talks about marriage, and how it's important to actually like the person you're planning on spending the rest of whatever with. He also discusses how bullying should not be accepted, or normalized, and how you should not tolerate bullying in your life. He also talks about how it is so important to remember that your time on Earth is limited, and you should take advantage of it by creating experiences and making memories that you can keep with you and share with your family. And, he talks about how he discovered that, no matter how "normal" you think you are, there is always going to be someone who totally disagrees with you, and doesn't think the way you do.
Long time listeners know that GamerDude is a long-suffering Jets fan, but that's not why his love for the NFL has faded over the years. This week, he talks about the problems he sees with the NFL, from the greed of the owners to the poor treatment of the retired players. He talks about the over-saturation of the market, with football on TV at least three, and sometime four, days a week. He talks about how the PSLs that the teams have been using for a few years now (which is a "Personal Seat License," if you can believe that such a thing exists) exemplifies the thing that is most important to the NFL - money. He talks about how advertising has lengthened games unnecessarily, because of one thing - money. And he talks about how the season just keeps getting longer, for one reason - more money.
He also talks about how the product on the field has changed over the years. He discusses how offenses and defenses are no longer evenly matched. He talks about the disappearance of the running game, and he talks about how the officials dictate play, rather than simply regulate it. He also talks about how the NFL agonizes over things like "video review," which seems to cause as many problems as it is supposed to solve, and he discusses the convoluted overtime rule that could have been resolved very simply, and very easily.
Long time listeners know that GamerDude has loved music all of his life. This week, he talks about how that love for music led him to his first live concert when he was kid, when he and his dad went to see Maynard Ferguson perform. GamerDude talks about the live jazz band concerts he went to in high school, including Stan Getz and Bill Watross.
GamerDude also talks about some of the other performers he's seen in concert, and the venues that he's been to. He talks about seeing everyone from John Denver and Barry Manilow to Bruce Springsteen and Keith Urban. He talks about the energy, and the excitement, and the shared sense of community he used to get when he attended a concert, and how there's nothing like the anticipation and enthusiasm of the crowd at a live concert.
He also discusses how the concert-going experience has changed over the years. He talks about how he used to able to sit (for the most part) and listen to a concert, and now people are standing, dancing, and singing throughout the show. He also talks about how concerts have gone from simply listening to an artist perform his or her music live, to a live, choreographed dance show with a music track. And, he recognizes that he's channeling the old man in himself when he longs for the days when an artist would play their hits, everyone would listen, and that would be that.
In another "Best of Storytime" episode, GamerDude has compiled some of his favorite stories about words, language, and stories. He talks about how he rarely curses, and some of the "curse" words he was never allowed to say as a kid. He explains his distate for the mangling of the language by mispronouncing or misusing words like "niche" and "regardless." He talks about two of his favorite words: poppycock and balderdash, as well as some of the other words and phrases we don't use anymore. And, he explains what "a shaggy dog story" is, and tells the first "shaggy dog story.".
GamerDude's list of TV tropes continues this week, with more over-used plot devices that can make good shows bad, and bad shows horrid. He talks about the trope of putting the main character in a life threatening situation for the sake of "fake drama," when we all know that Richard Castle is not going to die; it's his show! He also talks about how all of the brake lines in television cars back in the 1960s and 1970s were easily cut, and also discusses the "value" of a season-ending cliff-hanger. He also talks about the "dumb one" in every group of friends, and how the TV "hostage situation" just doesn't ring true.
GamerDude also shares some TV theme songs from some of the lesser known shows he remembers from when he was growing up. He didn't actually watch any of these shows regularly, but he remembers hearing the theme songs, and he talks about how the theme songs capture the vibe of their shows (even if you've never seen the show). No spoilers! You'll have to listen to get the whole list.
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
"Back to school" time always takes GamerDude back to his school days, and specifically, to when he left home for the first time to attend college. He talks about how his leaving for school was very different from the way it's depicted on TV or in the movies, and very different from the way it is these days. He talks about how the cost of college has changed, and how he did what he could in school to help pay for college. He talks about carrying the stigma of being from New Jersey when he went to school in Ohio, and how he bore the scars of being the short, fat kid in high school, even though he was no longer short or fat by the time he got to college. He talks about homesickness, and how difficult it was to get used to being on his own. And he talks about dealing with roommates and how, for the first time in college, he finally began to become more social, and actually learned how to make friends.
GamerDude discovered a new phrase this week: "fossil word." That's an old or ancient word that we no longer use in its original context, but still use as part of a phrase we continue to say today. "Bumper crop" is a prime example because the "bumper" from that phrase used to mean a large drinking vessel, filled to the brim. That use of the word "bumper" has essentially disappeared, except in the context of describing a "bumper crop" - a crop that is full, or abundant. GamerDude talks about a number of fossil words, including vim, knell, wedlock and pink.
He also talks about "eggcorns." An eggcorn is a misheard idiom or saying, and exists because people either don't know, or don't understand, the meaning or origin of the original phrase. "Chomping at the bit," for instance, is an eggcorn because the actual phrase is "champing at the bit." But because "champing" is a fossil word, and people don't know what "champing" actually is anymore, they substitute "chomping" and create an eggcorn. GamerDude talks about other eggcorns, including "for all intensive purposes" and making a "mute point."
GamerDude has made no secret of his love for the beach. This week, he talks about having to learn to entertain himself spending long days on the beach as a child, and how he came to love everything from the sand between his toes to crashing through the waves. He talks about building sand castles, and learning to crash the waves, and learning how to body surf. He talks about how he loves a beach with actual surf, and how some of the beaches he's gone to are not "perfect" for him because they have so little surf.
GamerDude also talks about some of the beaches he's been to in his life, from the Jersey Shore to the Virgin Islands. He talks about beaches with seaweed, and beaches with a rocky base. He also talks about the time he stepped on a sea urchin and how pleasant that was. (Spoiler: it wasn't.)
He also talks about surfing as the ultimate beach activity. He talks about his love for the movie Endless Summer, which first turned him on to surfing, and how learning to surf is still on his bucket list.
GamerDude has years of experience in planning and taking vacations. This week, instead of talking about any specific vacation location, he's put together some advice on how to plan and take a good vacation. He talks about what goes into planning a good vacation and, while some points may seem obvious, not everyone actually does the things that GamerDude suggests.
He talks about knowing where you want to go, and suggests not just saying "the beach" and then trying to find one. GamerDude believes you should pick a destination, and then do a little research to find out what's there. He also suggests planning when to go, and, using Disney World as an example, describes the difference between going during the "high season" and going during the "off season." Off-season travel is not only less expensive, but it's less crowded as well.
GamerDude also talks about where to stay. He talks about the differences between staying at a hotel, and renting a place through VRBO (Vacation Rentals By Owner) or Air BnB. He talks about reading reviews on VRBO to maximize the changes of getting a good rental property.
He also talks about having a plan for when you're on vacation. He talks about planning for rainy days, and planning for new experiences, and advocates for taking time to take care of yourself while on vacation, because that's what vacations are supposed to be about.
Gamerdude has always loved music, and this week, he talks about where his love for the acoustic guitar came from. He talks about sitting around and singing old folk songs, and kids' songs, with his family growing up, and shares some of those classics, like "Go Tell Aunt Rhody" and "She'll Be Coming 'Round The Mountain." He also talks about how he learned that guitar playing was more than just "strumming along."
Gamerdude then shares his Top 10-ish list of greatest acoustic guitar intros. (It's 10, plus two Honorable Mentions.) The Honorable Mentions are from Simon and Garfunkle, and Peter Gabriel, but no more spoilers! You'll have to listen to the episode to get the full list!
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 remembers some of the odd, weird, and unique inventions that came about while he was growing up. He talks about the original Pet Rock, and how, thanks to technology, you can now get a USB Pet Rock. He talks about how the change from VHS to DVD inspired someone to create the "DVD Rewinder." He also talks about inventions like Big Mouth Billy Bass, the Snuggie, and the egg cuber.
He also talks about how the internet has impacted the world. He remembers his early days on AOL, and how AOL became as important in its time as Facebook is today. And he discusses how technology has changed our lives, not necessarily for the better. He talks about how the art of conversation has changed, and how it's much harder to read people and get to know people when your primary means of communication is through text message or DM. He talks about how people tend to over-share everything, and how that has changed how we interact with family, friends and acquaintances. He also talks about how technology has changed our attention spans. Long, slow movies, with establishing shots and carefully crafted plots have been replaced by cut scenes and jump cuts becasue we no longer have the patience to simply pay attention anymore. And, GamerDude suggests that it might be helpful to take a few minutes off from technology occasionally, just to clear your senses and take a break.
While watching the Loki series on Disney+, GamerDude started thinking about movie franchises, and how Marvel has created such a huge universe in which it could create its stories. That got him to wondering about how many movie franchises there actually are, and have been, in Hollywood over the years. As he started digging into the topic, he discovered that there are far more movie franchises than he realized, and that they date back decades. He talks about the concept of a "franchise" and what makes up a franchise. He discusses the Batman movies, from the first one spun off from the TV series in 1966, to Michael Keaton's Batman, to Christian Bale's. He talks about the Superman franchise, which dates back to the 1970s.
He also discusses how horror movies seem to be built on franchises, from Halloween and Friday the 13th to Freddy Kruger and Saw. He talks about the science fiction franchises, including Star Trek, Star Wars, and Planet of the Apes. And, he talks about the action movie franchises, from Fast and Furious, to Indiana Jones, to Lethal Weapon, to The Terminator. (This barely scratches the surface of the movie franchises in this episode!) And GamerDude talks about some of the "forgotten" franchises that he remembers that are either overlooked, or that people have simply forgotten about over the years. No spoilers! You'll have to listen to get GamerDude's list!
GamerDude has always believed in God because of the way he was brought up, but his view of God (or whatever name you have for the Divine Power) has evolved and changed over the years. He talks about how he was brought up to undertand that "God Is Love," and how that didn't necessarily jibe with all of the horrible things that actually happen in the world. He talks about how his early understadning of God didn't explain how things like wars, and accidents, and natural catastrophes could happen, which is why his views evolved.
That evolution also gave him perspective on both the universe, and human beings' place in it. GamerDude talks about the sheer immensity of the universe, and how arrogant humans are to believe that they are the most important thing that God would have created in the vastness of the universe.
He also talks about how his view of God, and his own place in the universe, has influenced how he views life, and how he lives it. He suggests that, because humans have such a tiny place in the universe, for such a short period of time, it makes sense to live a good, helpful, calm life, rather than finding reasons to be angry over things, or to fight over things, that on the cosmic scale, really don't matter in the end.
GamerDude returns to one of his favorite topics: food! This week, he talks about salad bars and buffet restaurants, both how they used to be, and how COVID may result in their disappearance because of the way people have been treating them. He talks about the steakhouse buffets he first discovered at places like Ponderosa, Sizzler and Bonanza, and describes the huge salad bars you used to find there. He talks about the Wendy's salad bar that used to exist, and how it was a god-send to a starving college student.
He also talks about discovering breakfast buffets while on a trip with his dad. He explains how the breakfast buffet is the perfect setting for someone who likes breakfast food as much as he does.
He also talks about how places like Golden Corral, and the local Chinese, Indian and Asian Buffet restaurants have taken the concept of the salad bar and expanded it to every type of food. He talks about the various things he's eaten at buffets, and how people's attitude towards and behavior at salad bars and buffets over the years has changed the experience for the worse. And, he speculates that COVID may change (and possibly eliminate) the concept of a buffet restaurant permanently.
This week, GamerDude continues the discussion from his Twitch stream about what constitutes a sandwich. He talks about the variety of different sandwiches he brought to school when he was a kid, from liverwurst to PB&J. He talks about the "fluffernutter" sandwiches he never had, but always heard about, as a kid. He also remembers when he "discovered" the classic submarine sandwich (or hoagie, or grinder, or hero). He talks about Long John's, the sandwich shop his parents took the family to for sandwiches after church, and he talks about the wonderful aromas he remembers from this classic deli.
GamerDude also talks about why a sub is a sandwich, despite some opinions to the contrary. He discusses why a sub meets the definition of "sandwich," and then goes on to discuss other types of "sandwiches." He talks about open-faced sandwiches and over-stuffed sandwiches, before turning to the "controversial" topic of whether hamburgers and hot dogs are actually sandwiches.
GamerDude then switches gears to give you a fast and simple recipe for baked ziti. He talks about how easy it is to make, and how experimenting with ingredients is a perfectly acceptable way to cook.
This week's episode features a variety of stories GamerDude has already recorded for previous episodes but, for one reason or another, were edited out of the final cut. Sometimes the edits were based on time constraints, while others were thematic decisions. But the stories themselves are nevertheless ones that GamerDude wanted to share. So, this week, he compiled several of those "edited out" stories into today's show. You'll hear stories about GamerDude's 5-speed "chopper" bicycle, and about Dick Clark, and about drying his basement after the flood he experienced in early 2021. He also has stories about Howard Johnson's and Stuckys, the giant fan his dad used to help cool the house, and some of the weird foods his mom made when he was a kid. The last story is about growing older, and how the secret of being an adult is realizing that adults are just making it up as they go along.
GamerDude has previously talked about products and things that he grew up with that are now out-dated or obsolete, and this week, he adds to that list. He talks about how simple little things like the telephone busy signal, and television static, which were just a "fact of life" when he was a kid, just don't exist anymore. He talks about spending sick days in front of the TV, enjoying a buffet of soap operas and game shows, which also no longer exist anymore. He talks about how cursive writing and calculators - once fixtures in school - are essentially obsolete these days.
He also talks about things around the house that were a part of every day life. From wood paneling to wallpaper, from popcorn ceilings to wall-to-wall carpeting, the way a "normal" home is decorated has changed drastically during GamerDude's lifetime.
He also has some predictions for things that we take for granted now, but which he sees as becoming obsolete in the next ten years or so. Without spoiling too much of the list, GamerDude thinks that things like car keys, remote controls, and good old fashioned cash are destined for the "dustbin of history." Check out the full episode for the entire list.
When GamerDude was growing up, his parents taught him the value of saving things, and using things until the no longer worked. He talks about how his dad would buy used fans and vacuum cleaners at auctions and garage sales, because you never knew when you might need one. He talks about his dad's tools and hardware, and his back-up tools and hardware. He talks about how his mother saved everything, from paint brushes to newspaper clippings. He also talks about how hard it was - and how hard it continues to be - to get rid of his parents' stuff, even though it's been more than a decade since they passed. He talks about trying to get rid of his mom's college yearbook, and her scrapbook of newspaper clippings, and the various documents and things his parents accumulated over the years. He talks about how difficult it was getting rid of their 20-year-old computers, because "they worked just fine!" and he talks about how, even though their memories were not his memories, it was still difficult to part with their stuff simply because it was their stuff.
GamerDude also talks about the realization he's had that he has accumulated stuff over the years that he doesn't want to have his kids stuck agonizing over if he ever gets hit by a bus. He talks about his penguin picture, his 8th grade math award, and the drumsticks he never actually used. And he says it's perfectly okay to get rid of his stuff after he's gone because he won't need it at that point.
GamerDude also talks about taking pictures of old mementos and scanning old documents as a way to preserve your memory of them without having to take up space doing so.
In another "Best Of Storytime" episode, GamerDude has pulled some stories from Season One. He talks about being a fidgety kid, and some of the "momisms" that generated. He talks about how watching movies on TV was the only way to catch a movie before the days of VCRs, DVDs, and streaming services. He talks about how he loved the stories Jean Shepard told on the radio, and how he looked forward to the radio show every night when he was supposed to be asleep. He remembers what it was like to have a "party line" for the phone when he was growing up. And, he talks about taking the podcast to the beach through the power of imagination.
With the release of the re-mastered Mass Effect: Legendary Edition, GamerDude got to thinking about his favorite games and game genres over the years. He talks about how he first loved simulation games, like Sid Meier's Railroad Tycoon, and Ports of Call, and the original Sim City. He talks about how much fun he had planning railroads, and shipping cargo, and designing cities back when these type of simulation games were all the rage.
He also talks about how his tastes evolved over the years, and how he came to love what he calls "story games." They could be RPG games, or action games, or action adventure games; the "story game," for GamerDude, has a good hero, a good story, and makes you want to keep playing. He talks about how much he enjoyed the Uncharted series, and how good a character Nathan Drake is. He talks about Red Dead Redemption (both 1 and 2), and how the open world, the moral choices in dialogue options, and the replayability, make those games so appealing, and he discusses how John Marston and Arthur Morgan are two of the best characters in gaming of all time. He also talks about how much he enjoys the Mass Effect trilogy, and why Commander Shepard is such a great character. He talks about what makes Mass Effect unique as story game, and so replayable.
GamerDude also talks about his time with World of Warcraft, and how he spent literally years playing almost nothing but that. He talks about how he enjoyed it, but how he realized you do get tired of playing a game after a while, and why replayability is an important factor in making a good game.
With graduation season upon us, and with so many people trying to figure out what to do with their lives, GamerDude remembers back to when he graduated from Bowling Green State University. Like so many people, he wasn't sure what to do after he graduated, or where to go, or how to get there. He talks about spending a year in graduate school, and "trying on" a job that involved working on campus and in dorms. When he realized that wasn't for him, he left the graduate program, returned home, and started looking for work.
GamerDude first landed a job driving limousines. He talks about what driving a limo was like, and how he learned patience and customer service behind the wheel. He talks about working in retail, and how he started as a stock boy at Fashion Bug, and how that evolved into a job as a quasi-fashion merchandiser. And, he talks about how working those jobs enabled him to volunteer at a college radio station so that he could learn how to become a disc jockey, which eventually led to a full-time, paying job at a local radio station.
As GamerDude has talked about in the past, he's a huge fan of trivia, and a lot of the little nuggets of knowledge he's learned over the years have been stuck in his head since childhood. This week, he shares some of that trivia. He talks about how John Tyler, the 10th President of the United States, still has a living grandson. He talks about how Marilyn Monroe and Queen Elizabeth II of England were not only contemporaries, but actually met each other. And, he talks about George Washington's knowledge of dinosaurs, and how recently famous actors and artists like Picasso, Salvador Dali and Charlie Chaplin were alive.
GamerDude also talks about how the list of coincidences he read when he was younger, comparing Abraham Lincoln and John F. Kennedy, is probably what set him down the road of accumulating trivia, and having it get stuck in his head. He talks about the coincidences in their lives, and their deaths. That's not to suggest that these facts are anything more than coincidences; they simply are what they are.
As an "old dude," GamerDude has seen a lot of things come and go in his life. This week, he talks about more of the things that were fixtures in his life that have either disappeared, or seem destined to do so. He talks about how important the Sunday newspaper was when he was growing up, and how much of a ritual it was to enjoy the Sunday paper each week. He talks about fax machines, and the old thermal fax paper that made instant document transmission a reality long before email attachments existed. He remembers mimeograph machines from school, and chalkboards with actual chalk. He also talks about how parking meters are disappearing in favor of credit-card driven kiosks. And, he predicts that wrist watches and alarm clocks may soon be going the way of the dodo bird.
GamerDude has another batch of TV tropes and themes to share this week. If you've ever noticed that the main character of a TV show is put in a life-threatening situation that you know they're going to survive, or if you see someone has to baby-sit an egg, or if it seems odd that people in TV shows never seem to be aware of what actually happens on TV, then the tropes this week are for you. And if you've noticed that, sometimes, a character will disappear from a show without a trace, you're not alone!
GamerDude also shares some more classic theme songs from the 60s, 70s, and 80s. These theme songs are iconic, or memorable, or both, and GamerDude has 10 new ones for you to see if you remember (or know) the shows.
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
As an old dude, GamerDude has learned a lot of things about life over the years. He wonders whether he would have taken "life advice" from his dad from his dad when he was growing up, if his dad had been the kind of guy to give it. He talks about how easy it is to live in the moment when you're in your 20s, and how it's not unusual to be short-sighted about the future. He also talks about how we are each in charge of our own lives, and our own happiness, and that it's up to us to make our own decisions, and find our own happiness, as we grow older.
GamerDude talks about things he took for granted when he was younger, like finances, and health. He talks about the value of understanding the importance of planning for the future, both from a financial side, and from a health side. He remembers how easy it was to spend money on hot dogs, nachos, and beer, and how he never thought of the consequnces, and talks about the importance of having a long range plan in mind, both financially, and health-wise. He also talks about how your attitude towards partying, and alcohol, changes as you mature, which is in no small part due to the fact that, as you get older, it takes you longer to recover. And, he talks about how there is no manual to "adulting," and how we all have to make it up as we go along.
When GamerDude heard someone refer to "the late 1900s," he started thinking about some things from the last century that he grew up with and that were a part of everyday life, but that we either no longer use, no longer exist, or that we only see on TV or in antique shops. He remembers his mom's old sewing machine, and how she made clothes at home, with patterns and cloth she would buy at the "five-and-dime" store. He talks about the Welch's jelly glasses he used as a kid, and how the jelly glass was one of the first glass glasses he got to use when growing up. He remembers full-service gas stations, where they would actually check your oil and wash your windshield. He talks about "the good china," and how most families had plates that they used only a very special occasions. He remembers Corelle-ware, and the blue cornflower pattern that was practically everywhere. (He also talks about how he still uses his parents' Corelle-ware because, well, they're plates, and they still work!) He also remembers the appliance covers his mother used in the kitchen, and the salt-and-pepper shaker collection his grandmother used to have.
GamerDude learned about home improvement at an early age. He talks about how his dad just "magically" got things done, from patching screens to changing light switches. He also learned that there are some projects that you don't do yourself, and he talks about the attic fan and the addition to the house his parents had done.
He also talks about the necessity of having to learn to do things himself, because he couldn't afford to hire someone to do it. He talks about learning how to replace a light switch, and a wall socket, and how to install a sink faucet. He talks about having to learn to sheet rock in order to replace walls and celings in a house he used to live in. He also discusses painting, and the tedious nature of the work. He explains it's all do-able, although it can be difficult, and expresses his admiration for people who work in construction, and painting, because the jobs can be so demanding.
He also talks about his current project, which is painting a room, and how it's helped make clear for him that he's no longer a fan of undertaking home improvement projects.
GamerDude has always loved music, and talks about being in band for years, and teaching himself three chords on the guitar. He then shifts gears and talks about the music he grew up with, and how there were very distinct genres of music, like Rock, and Adult Contemporary, and Easy Listening, and Classical, with bright lines between the genres.He discusses how those genres have changed over the years, and wonders whether artists like James Taylor, Jim Croce, and America would have made it today.
GamerDude also talks about Top 40 radio. He explains where "Top 40" came from, and how record sales determined the popular songs of the day. He remembers Casey Kasem's America's Top 40 countdown, and how he would get to hear parts of the countdown on Sunday mornings on the way to church.
He also remembers mix-tapes. A mix-tape was a compilation of songs, from various records, recorded onto one tape. GamerDude describes the lost art of mix-tape-ology, and how taking the time to make a mix-tape for your girlfriend was a true sign of commitment when GamerDude was growing up. He also talks about the mix-CD, which was the natural successor of the mix-tape, and how much easier it is - emotioinally - to simply delete a playlist, then it was to stumble across a mix-tape you'd spent hours making.
In this "Best of" episode, GamerDude goes back to Season 1 and remasters some of the earliest stories he told from the first four episodes. First, he talks about radio being the "theater of the mind" and how interesting and entertaining it is to let your imagination create the world you're listening to. This is also where we first "meet" Mister Agador. Next, he tells the story about telephones being a fixture in the house when he was growing up, and how extension phones worked. He talks about collect and person-to-person calls as well. Finally, he talks about some of the board games he grew up with, and describes Parcheesi, Sorry and the famous "Pop-o-matic" that made the game of Trouble so popular.
Long-time listeners know about GamerDude's love for television. He grew up watching TV, and still enjoys watching it today. This week, he talks about how our TV viewing experience used to be, and how it has changed, from dials and knobs on big wooden boxes with picture tubes in them, to smart phones with 5 inch screens. He talks about growing up as his dad's remote control, because there were no remote controls when he was a kid.
He also talks about how TV shows mirrored things in society. He talks about how hippies, and mini-skirts, and haircuts were featured in so many shows to show the changes that were going on in society in the 1960s and 1970s. He discusses the "generation gap," which has always existed, but which TV seemed to emphasize, and give a name to, when he was growing up.
GamerDude also discusses the influence TV had on his driving habits. He talks about how "cool cars" became a thing in the 1960s and 70s, with the stars of shows like Mannix, and Starsky, and Jim Rockford driving the "cool cars," and how that impression has impacted his choice of cars all of his life.
When he was a kid, GamerDude's family vacations often consisted of non-kid-centric travel to places like Fort Ticonderoga, Colonial Williamsburg, and Washington D.C. (That's all before GamerDad discovered the value of sitting on a beach for two weeks!) But those early trips to places his mom found interesting and educational left GamerDude with the interest and desire to travel to and explore new destinations and new locales. This week, he talks about those early trips, and the things he liked about them. He also talks about how fortunate he is to have had the chance to travel to a lot of different places as a young adult. He talks about his first trip to Florida and the memory of seeing his first palm tree, as well as his first trip to DisneyWorld. He discusses the different life-styles, and paces of living, in different parts of the U.S.
He also remembers some of the trips he's been able to take to places like Switzerland, where he was able to visit three countries in one day - on foot! He talks about how he was able to realize one of his childhood dreams by traveling to Mount Rushmore and actually visiting a place he'd only seen in pictures. He talks about seeing a prairie dog in the Badlands, and trying to get a picture of a bison. (Don't worry - it wasn't a close-up!) And, he talks about the value of a day-trip, just to get away from the ordinary day-to-day, and experience something new. He talks about the day-trips he and Mrs. GamerDude have taken to Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and visiting the Amish community there.
Storytime has always been about GamerDude sharing stories about his experiences growing up, and in life. This week, he talks about how he kept a diary when he was a kid, which, unfortunately he got rid of years ago. He talks about the value of keeping a journal or a diary to record your day-to-day life so that you can keep those memories, and re-visit them in the future. He talks about how memories fade over time, and how a journal can help you remember things you might otherwise forget.
GamerDude also talks about his fascination with the day-to-day life of other people in other times. He wonders what it was like, living a life in the 1400s, or the 1500s, or whenever. He also talks about finding the actual diaries of artists at the Smithsonian, and shares some excerpts of their daily lives in 1919 and 1964.
He then walks through his typical day in middle school, when he was a kid. He talks about waking up to the sound of his dad's garage door, getting breakfast, and riding the bus to school. He remembers changing classes in middle school, and talks about Safety Patrol, the cafeteria, and the showers in the locker room. He also remembers his after-school activities with his friends, and evenings at home, where his dad ruled the roost - and the television.
As long-time listeners know, GamerDude grew up when things were very different in the world. Some of the things that he accepted as "normal" when he was growing up would undoubtedly seem "weird" by today's standards. Some things, like kids having household chores, ice cream trucks, and riding on the front of shopping carts in the supermarket, is part of the evolution of parenting and society. Other things, like tube socks and sweat bands, are things that simply were a bit odd.
GamerDude talks about all of these things, and also discusses other weirdness from when he was growing up. He talks about pet rocks and mood rings. He discusses how the Viewmaster could give you windows on places you might never get to in real life. He also talks about playgrounds, and the things he played on as a kid, from merry-go-rounds to swings to see-saws. He also remembers ice pops; whether you called it Flav-Or-Ice, or Otter Pops, or Pop Ice, GamerDude talks about how the weird little sleeves of frozen, sweetened, flavored water were around when he was a kid, and how they're still around today.
GamerDude grew up in a world without home computers. While computers did exist, classes for them were taught in college, and using a computer involved having to go to a "computer lab." The PC (which literally means "personal computer") simply did not exist. GamerDude talks about how doing something like writing a letter and keeping a copy of it - a process that has essentially been replaced by emails - involved using a typewriter, carbon paper, and Wite Out. He talks about the introduction of computers in school, and touches on programming languages like BASIC and C. He talks about how he had to learn MS-DOS and Lotus-123 (the standard "operating system" and an early spreadsheet program) on his own, while on the job. He also discusses how early products like Lotus-123 and WordPerfect were eventually driven out of business and replaced by Excel and Word. He also talks about early computer games, like Zork!, and how a text-adventure worked.
He also talks about how home PCs slowly began to become more prevalent, and how his dad initially didn't want to spend money on something they might use once a month. He also talks about the first PC he bought for himself - the Commodore Amiga. He talks about the amazing graphics of the Amiga, and games he bought for it - like TV Sports Football - and game companies like CinemaScopt and Lucas Arts. And, he talks about how the slow drip-drip-drip of new and advanced technology over his lifetime has truly resulted in drastic changes in how we do things, and the way we live our lives.
In this "Best of" Episode, GamerDude goes back to Season 2 for some stories about winter activities, playing outside in the snow, and why he doesn't ski. He also talks about his days as a runner, his best time running a mile, and running against one of the track star sprinters in high school. He also talks about his love of basketball, how much pick-up ball he played in college, and how he was always "looking for a game" for years. Finally, he shares stories about washing and drying your hair and how, as a kid, his mom was obsessessed with head care.
In this week's episode, GamerDude talks about family. He talks about his "blood" family and the family you choose. He also talks about the connections he had with his immediate family growing up. He talks about "extended family," like cousins, and aunts, and uncles, and how he really didn't have much interaction with his extended family when he was growing up. He shares some of the "family stories" that were always shared during family get togethers - like Grandma's eyebrows - and the importance of keeping the lore of the family alive, and why these stories helped inspire Storytime with GamerDude.
GamerDude also talks about the two visits he made to his aunt's house, and his cool cousins, when he was a kid. He also talks about not having any real contact with his extended family, including his "black sheep" aunt, and the cousins on that side of the family that he never really knew.
He also talks about the importance of communicating with family, especially your parents, and reminds us that the day will come when you won't be able to ask your parents questions you may want to know the answers to. While he doesn't advocate banging your head against the wall (and uses an example of trying to communicate with his dad), he does talk about giving communication a chance before deciding to move on.
Like so many kids, when GamerDude was growing up, he was not a fan of baths. He talks about bathtime when he was young, when his mom would bathe the kids together to save time and water, and avoid naked kids running up and down the hall unsupervised. He talks about how Mr. Bubble made bath time at least tolerable, and he explains how, as he got older, he started avoiding baths as much as he could, because it was more fun to be out and about, playing.
GamerDude also explains how, when he got to high school, he discovered the benefits of being clean and smelling good. He talks about how he came to appreciate scents, and liked the smell of Dial soap, and Lifebuoy. He also talks about his favorite soap, Irish Spring, which he discovered at about the same time he found his favorite cologne: Brut 33. He talks about using Brut deodorant, and Brut splash-on lotion, and how that led to the discovery of other colognes, like British Sterling and Paul Sebastian and Fahrenheit.
GamerDude also talks about how his love for different scents and fragrances has lasted to this day. He talks about his favorite current colognes, which are solid, instead of sprays. He explains his appreciation for The Gambler, from Outlaw Soaps, and his love for Ireland Springs, from The Beer Soap Company, which smells exactly like the Irish Spring soap he loved growing up.
As anyone who follows GamerDude's Twitch stream knows, he recently had a flood in his basement, which inspired this week's episode. He first talks about what it was like growing up on a house with a constantly wet basement. He talks about how he and his siblings had "squeegee duty," which involved pushing the water out of the basement, through the garage, and into the driveway. He also talks about how a wet basement leads to a constant state of dampness, which leads to mustiness, which drives GamerDude absolutely crazy! He explains how growing up in a house with a slightly musty odor is probably why he's such a huge fan of scented candles.
GamerDude also talks about his own flood of 2021 and how his previously dry basement was flooded when an outside drainage problem caused his sump pump to burn out. He talks about how he discovered the two inches of water covering his more than 200 square feet of basement, and how he quickly decided that trying to use a wet/dry vac on that water would be like emptying the Atlantic Ocean with a teaspoon. He also talks about the lessons he learned from the flood, the most important of which is that "things" and "possessions" can be replaced, but people and the experiences you share with them cannot.
This week features another "Best of" episode, with stories from Season 1. First, GamerDude shares part of his "very special episode" about bullying, and talks about what it was like to be bullied as a child, through middle school. He then switches gears, and shares some lighter stories about his love of music, and how his mother tried to teach him piano. He also talks about how manners are so important in the world, and explains how "please," "thank you," and "excuse me" are the building blocks of learning how to be polite. GamerDude then closes out the episode with a story about cursing, and owning the words when you say them.
Long time listeners know that GamerDude loves TV, and grew up watching a lot of different shows, including cartoons. He talks about the "packages" of classic cartoons from the '40s and '50s the local channels put together when he was a kid, almost always featuring Bugs Bunny. He also talks about the kid-centric cartoons that began to develop in the '60s and "70s, including Quick Draw McGraw and Baba Looie, Huckleberry Hound, and Mr. Peabody. He also talks about how Scooby Doo and the gang premiered on Saturday mornings, and how other kid-centered cartoons also developed, like Speed Buggy and The Wacky Racers, with Snidely Whiplash, his dog Muttley, and Penelope Pitstop.
Even with all of those choices, GamerDude nevertheless gravitated towards Bugs Bunny. GamerDude talks about how Bugs always seemed to be more than "just a cartoon character." Because of his style, his personality, and his story, it always seemed that Bugs actually existed (at least to GamerDude) and that the cartoons we watched were just snippets of his life. GamerDude also talks about why Bugs was so appealing - he is smart, funny, and uses style, grace and intellect to get out of the tough situations he finds himself in. Perhaps most importantly, Bugs was never the aggressor, and was never the bully, but he would stand up for himself, and for the little guy, and finally prevail because he was smarter than the "bad guy," whether it was Elmer Fudd, Yosemite Sam, or even Daffy Duck. Basically, classic Bugs was - and is - the "guy" that you would want to be (at least to young GamerDude).
As a New Year looms before us, GamerDude talks about the weird little period between Christmas and New Years, where some people (as in retail) work like crazy, and other people try to do nothing at all. He talks about a serendiptous trip to New York City to see the Christmas decorations after Christmas, and how it still felt Christmasy even a week after the holiday.
He also re-visits some of his family's laid back New Year's Eve Traditions, which include going absolutely no where. Thanks to GamerDad and his annual warnings about "all the drunks being on the road on New Years' Eve", GamerDude has made it a life-long tradition (that, thankfully, Mrs. GD shares) not to go anywhere for New Year's Eve. Instead, he and the family load up on Chinese food, stay at home, play board games, and watch the ball drop in New York City on TV. GamerDude also talks about the origins of the ball dropping in New York City, which stemmed, in part, from a desire not to burn the city down with fireworks.
GamerDude also shares some writings he found, with some food for thought as we look back on the year just past, and how to make the most of the new year coming up. He also shares his thanks for your support over three years of Storytime!
This week, GamerDude visits the Christmas Room once again, to talk about how every family seems to have its own "Christmas stories" about things that have happened in the past. He then re-tells two of his favorite family Christmas stories. The first involves hearing sleigh bells one clear, dark Christmas Eve. The second involves Uncle John and the Christmas Puzzle.
GamerDude also talks about giving thanks, and sharing friendship and love during the holidays, and passes on his thanks, and his gratitude, for all the support, and kindness, and friendship he receives throughout the year.
Christmas time has always included traditions, like fruitcakes and Advent calendars, and hanging garland on the tree and going caroling. This week, GamerDude talks about all of these traditions, as well as several others that used to be just as familiar, but have disappeared over the years. He talks about the Feast of the Donkey and the Lord of Misrule, and how those were regular things hundreds of years ago. He talks about the Advent calendar, and where it came from, as well as why there's a song about the Twelve Days of Christmas. He also talks about how ghost stories and dressing in costumes used to be a part of Christmas celebrations, and also talks about some of the Christmas drinks people shared during those celebrations, like wassail, smoking bishops and eggnog.
GamerDude also talks about some of the traditions he grew up with, like grandma's Christmas pudding, and going caroling with friends. He also talks about hanging garland on the tree, how he made garland from construction paper in school, and how he and his family strung popcorn garland when he was a kid. And he gives you George Washington's recipe for eggnog (yes, that George Washington!), from the late 1700s. If you like alcoholic eggnog, President Washington's recipe will certainly satisfy your tastes!
This week, GamerDude talks about his love for Christmas music. He talks about playing traditional Christmas carols during the holiday band concerts (which were called Christmas concerts when he was in school), and he talks about singing Christmas carols in music class. He also remembers singing Christmas carols around the piano at home, and how much the prospect of having to sing "O Come All You Faithful" as a solo for his family caused him to break down in tears.
GamerDude also gives a list of 10 of his favorite "non-traditional" Christmas songs. He talks about how a lot of these songs were viewed as "rebellious" and "not really Christmas music" when he was growing up, because they weren't "traditional Christmas carols." No spoilers! You'll have to listen to the full episode to get the list, but it does include music from Jimmy Buffett, The Beach Boys, and The Pretenders.
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 has re-mastered some of his favorite Christmas stories from Season 1 for this "Best of" episode. He has put together some stories about Christmas shopping, and how important it is to give gifts that actually have meaning. He talks about some of the Christmas decorations he grew up with, from a two-foot tall stuffed Santa, to a green flood light, to his dad's prohibition against "fake" Christmas trees. And, he also includes his explanation about why Die Hard is not a Christmas movie.
Even in 2020: The Year of the Pandemic, GamerDude talks about the importance of being grateful for the things we do have. He talks about how, even in tough time, even in angry times, there are still things that we can be grateful for, and we should remember that, this year and every year.
GamerDude also talks about how everything we thought we knew about Thanksgiving is probably wrong. He talks about the "history" of Thanksgiving, and how it may have its origins in a harvest festival in 1621, it wasn't an official national holiday in the United States until 1863. He talks about who the "Pilgrims" really were and what they came to North America for. He talks about Squanto's actual back-story (not the one you read about in your grade school text book). He also talks about what was (probably) actually served at that first festival in 1621 - and it probably wasn't turkey!
GamerDude also gives you his recipe for Sweet Potato Casserole. It's a super-easy side dish to bring to Grandma's house for Thanksgiving (or any holiday), and is complete with butter, sugar and marshmallows. If nothing else, it will help satisfy all the people with a sweet tooth in the family.
Regular listeners know that GamerDude loves his TV shows. This week, he talks about some of the sillier shows that he grew up with, like I Dream of Jeannie and Bewitched. He also talks about some of the fairly ridiculous plot points he found in some of the shows he loved as a kid, like Starsky's "girlfriend of the week" who always seems to wind up dying.
GamerDude also shares some more of his favorite theme songs, this time from some of the lesser known shows from the 60s, 70s and 80s. He includes some iconic themes that are easily recognizable, and some that might be familiar but you can't quite place them. No spoilers! You'll have to listen to the episode to find out which themes are in the episode!
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
This week, GamerDude is celebrating President-Elect Biden's win! He talks about the relief he felt after the election was called, and how he didn't realize how much stress he'd been carrying around for the past four years until the results finally came in on Saturday, November 7, 2020. He talks about his happiness and spends some time chair-dancing!
GamerDude also talks about how he has always voted, and what politics and "the system" have meant to him. He talks about how the political parties have evolved and changed over the past few decades, and how the Republican party has changed from a party about fiscal conservativism and free trade to a party about selfishness, unbridled spending, anti-immigration policies and suppression of peoples' rights. He also asks the unswerable question: how do we heal such a divided country, when there is so much tribalism, so much selfishness, so much of a comic-book villain mentality, where there must be a winner and there must be a loser, and the other side must not only be defeated but destroyed. He talks about holding grudges, and extending olive branches, and recognizing that if an olive branch is rejected, it's okay to shrug and move on. And GamerDude also confirms: punching Nazis is always acceptable.
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 has shared a LOT of stories over the three seasons of Storytime and sometimes, a story may not make it into the final episode. In this week's Storytime, GamerDude has compiled six stories from a variety of different episodes over the yeears that didn't make the final cut of their episode, whether due to time constraints, or focus, or topic, or whatever. GamerDude has stories about grilling, and about how to use your barbecue grill to slow cook your meat. He also has another cooking story about using a griddle, and keeping things warm when cooking for multiple people.
From his episodes about forgotten things, and things we don't remember anymore, GamerDude has stories about "flour sack clothes" and where they came from, what becoming a "blood brother" meant when he was a kid, and how cool his old Schwinn Chopper bicycle was when he was growing up. Finally, he has a story about the fact that there's no "a-ha!" moment when you realize that you're finally "an adult."
For Halloween, GamerDude talks about scary stories and authors he's read over the years, from Stephen King to Peter Straub to Edgar Allan Poe. He talks about why he finds scary books and stories even more terrifying than movies - because your imagination can make things so much worse than a movie can depict.
GamerDude then takes us back to "the Halloween Room" to read Poe's classic tale, The Tell-Tale Heart, where it gets "the Halloween Room treatment." He also talks about how Poe's stories are much darker and more disturbing than people may realize, and how they reflect how people have been fascinated with the macabre and the terrifying for far longer than many realize.
With Halloween just around the corner, it's the perfect time to talk about horror movies. This week, GamerDude talks about the various genres of horror movies, from the disturbing gore-fests and psycho killers, to the paranormal and psychological thrillers, to the ever-popular monster movies. He explains why he doesn't watch the gore-fests like Saw and Hostel, why home-invasion movies bother him, and why he doesn't like psycho killers. He also talks about how he doesn't mind haunted house and other paranormal movies, like The Amityville Horror and Carrie, and how he grew up with the classic monster movies, like Frankenstain, Dracula, and The Night of the Living Dead.
He also talks about the overused horror movie tropes that are the backbone of so many scary movies. He explains how, far too often, a horror movie is an "idiot plot" movie - if everyone in the movie wasn't an idiot, there'd be no plot. He talks about people going to the "abandoned place" even though they should know better. He talks about the "know-it-all" in every group, and how every group of survivors is inevitably split up. He discusses the jump scares that you always encounter in the kitchen and the bathroom. GamerDude also walks through the final sequence of far too many horror movies, from the shy girl being the last one alive, to the lost car keys, to the car that won't start, to the killer that won't die, to that final jump scare at the end.
In this week's "Best Of" episode, GamerDude revisits some stories from Season 1. He talks about some superstitions that he actually believes (and some that he doesn't). He shares a story about one of his favorite words - balderdash. He talks about wasting energy worrying about things that are beyond your control. And he shares one of his favorite Halloween stories, about his exploits on "mischief night" and why he always worries about the "family jewels" on Halloween.
Eating out was always a rare treat when GamerDude was growing up. In this week's episode, he talks about the various - and different - options for eating out that he grew up with. There were lunch counters in the back of Woolworths, and restaurants in the local Macy's department stores. He talks about how those eating places gave way to food courts as stores left downtown areas to take up residence in the local malls.
GamerDude also talks about how menus used to be simple, with very few choices and very limited options. This simplicity existed in diners, in restaurants, and even on the McDonald's menu, which - at first - was basically burgers, fries, and drinks.
He also remembers how restaurants changed over the years. He talks about how the waitstaff took all orders by hand and how "giving you the check" at the end of the meal was a regular ritual. He talks about how smoking was standard in restaurants, and air conditioning was not, and he remembers the old "cafeteria style" restaurants that are all but gone these days. He also shares some of his favorite restaurant-related "dad jokes."
GamerDude's recent first viewing of the classic movie Taxi Driver prompted this episode about making the "good guy" choices. He talks about how society in general, and he in particular, used to focus on the good guy - Superman - as the hero in films, stories and life, and how the world has evolved to the point where now, the Joker is the hero. He talks about how Taxi Driver, one of the first anti-hero movies, and The Godfather, one of the first movies where gangsters were not shown as purely villainous, helped change society's views on "good guys" and "doing the right thing."
He talks about being brought up to "do right," and revisits the story of how he found a $10 bill on the street as a kid, and turned it into the police, because it was the right thing to do. He talks about how the default of most people when he was growing up was to do the "right thing," but over time, a selfishness has replaced the willingness to do the right thing in favor of a "what's in it for me?" attitude. He talks about how doing the right thing is not always convenient, but the overall benefit generally outweighs any minor inconvenience. He talks about how this selfishness has changed society in personal, business and political settings, and how "getting away with something" is more important to some people than doing the right thing. GamerDude also talks about the satisfaction he gets simply by doing the right thing, and can't understand people who make the choice to hurt, betray or cheat others.
Long-time listeners know about GamerDude's love of language. In this episode, GamerDude talks about words that he grew up hearing, and using, that we no longer use in everyday conversation. He talks about old expressions, like "fiddlesticks" and "whippersnapper" and where they came from. He talks about words that had short but significant lifespans, like "groovy" and "phat."
GamerDude also talks about words for clothes that we no longer use, from slacks and frock to dungarees and galoshes. He also talks about relationships, and how courting and necking no longer seem to exist, and "going steady" is a thing of the past. He also talks about how using words for women like "gal" and "broad" have largely fallen into disuse, and how calling a woman "honey," "darling," or "cupcake" is something that you simply shouldn't do.
Long-time listeners are aware of GamerDude's love of travel. In this week's episode, he talks about how travel used to be when he was growing up, and how things that used to the norm simply no longer exist. He talks about the difference between hotels and motels, and how he used to stay in little mom-and-pop motels, both as a kid and as a broke, hungry college student. He talks about his first "continental breakfast" at the Bald Eagle Motel and how exciting it was to get "free food," even if it was just a Danish and coffee.
GamerDude also talks about the things that used to be common place in motels that no longer exist. He talks about room keys, and key fobs, and the key cubbie behind the desk clerk. He remembers the guest register, and carrying pockets full of change for the pay phone. He also remembers the "magic fingers" that some motels had for the beds.
GamerDude also talks about other fixtures of travel that we no longer have, do, or need to do. He remembers getting road maps for the destinations you were heading to, and purchasing postcards for friends when you got there. He remembers taking his "friends and family" list on vacation, both for sending postcards and "just in case." And he remembers trying to figure out how much film to buy for the camera, and because pictures were limited by how much film you had, trying to decide what was "picture worthy" on a trip.
GamerDude talks about the very simple issue that first sparked his interest in "political activism." In his middle school, he witnessed how the students, who were interested in change, were able to effect a modification of the dress code to allow the boys to wear jeans and the girls to wear pants to school. He talks about how the archaic dress code was part of the mind-set of making sure "girls acted like girls." He also discusses other laws that were in place in the 1960s and 1970s that were also designed to "keep women in their place," from banks denying single women credit cards to women being ineligible to serve on juries.
GamerDude also talks about race, and how he became aware of racial prejudice. It wasn't until he left his hometown and discovered that people not only had differing views about race, but treated people differently because of their race. He talks about the history of racism in this country, and how racism has been baked into society by the way laws were passed and enforced after the Civil War. He discusses how the concept of "separate but equal" came into play, and how that concept is actually the antithesis of equality. He talks about the passage of the Civil Right Act, and how the Constitution - despite the fact that it was written by a bunch of old white guys - was intended to apply to every person in the United States. He also discusses how equality for all should be the basic premise for all of the laws in the United States, and failure to understand that is nothing more than a failure to understand what the US is supposed to be about.
We, and our families, all collect "stuff" over the years. From Grandma's vintage wedding dress, to Uncle Joe's favorite couch, to Aunt Selma's Hummel collection, to your collection of vintage Beanie Babies, we all have "stuff" that we accumulate. Eventually, we all have to come to terms with what to do with that stuff. This week, GamerDude talks about having to deal with the stuff his parents accumulated over the years before they died, and how he went through and got rid of most of it, but how some of it is still stuff he finds difficult to part with. He talks about the mentality of "holding onto things because you never know when you'll need it" that he was brought up with, and talks about the "depression ere mentality" that his parents instilled in him - at least to some extent.
GamerDude also talks about some of the specific collectible things that people accumulate over the years. He talks about "big furniture," like the old couch, dining room set, or china cabinet. He also talks about the collectibles, like souvenier spoons, and thimbles, and shot glasses, as well as things like cookie jars and salt-and-pepper shakers. He also mentions Hummels, and Beanie Babies, and Precious Moments figurines, and talks about how it's okay to get rid of things that you don't want, or need, or have any use for. He closes by talking about preserving collections of more personal things, like your grandparents' love letters, as a permanent reminder of where you came from.
In this week's "Best of" episode, GamerDude goes back to Season One and brings back stories about summer vacation time. He talks about how, when he was growing up, family vacations focused on what Dad wanted, not how to entertain the kids. He talks about the family's first trips to Chincoteague, Virginia, and what a "beach day" was for his family. He also brings back the story about the joys of summer as a kid, and his travels by bike to Hacklebarney State Park. And, he talks about back-to-school shopping for a lunch box!
This musical episode features some of GamerDude's favorite songs from the 1970s. He talks about how not all music from the 70s was disco, or hard rock. He discusses the "adult contemprorary/folk rock/easy listening" genre that developed, and why (in his opinion) it came to exist at all. He talks about the singer-songwriters of the era, whose songs had memorable messages, and staying power beyond the few months the songs were "on the charts."
GamerDude also plays some selections from some of his favorite and most memorable songs of the era, in the familiar "Name That Tune" format he's used in other musical episodes. No spoilers here; you'll have to listen to the episode to hear who's on it. But fans of "adult contemporary" and "folk rock" songs will likely recognize all of the songs on the list, and it will open up new musical horizons to those who haven't heard them before.
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
As GamerDude points out in this episode, growing older is inevitable but how you "grow up" is completely up to you. Relying on Jimmy Buffett's philosophy, GamerDude talks about the choice we all have in our attitudes about growing older and about choosing between keeping youthful attitudes as we grow older or becoming the "get off my lawn guy."
GamerDude talks about when he realized that growing older changes your outlook on life, and your physical abilities, but doesn't have to change the way you feel about yourself. He talks about playing in an adult basketball league in his late thirties, and how he realized that there was a difference between "young adults" and "adults." He talks about how dealing with that realization has a direct impact on how happy you will be with your life.
He also talks about things that he has learned from growing older, and the freedom you get when you understand that growing older frees you to make choices that are good for you. He talks about coming to the understanding that it's important to make choices, and surround yourself with people, that are good for you, and that make you happy. He talks about making the most out of your life with the people who mean the most to you. He also talks about the importance of taking pictures of your every day life so that, down the road, you remember the little things that were important to you then, and remind you of where you've come from.
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
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.
This week's stories are about how different the world GamerDude grew up in than it is today. He talks about how "childproofing" was something he'd never heard about until he had kids of his own. When he was growing up, there were no child-proof lids, or cabinet locks, or covers for electrical outlets, and he talks about how he learned the hard way not to put things in an electrical socket. He talks about being left "in charge" when he was 12, and about how walking to and from school, or over to a friend's house, was just standard behavior. He also talks about playing outside on his own, and playing on the beach on his own, and how "parental supervision" was quite different when he was a kid.
He also talks about "sunscreen," and how it simply wasn't a thing when he was growing up. If you were laying out in the sun, you were trying to get a tan, so you would lotion up with baby oil or tanning lotion. "SPF" was simply not a thing that he was aware of as a kid. He also talks about living off of sugary bubble gum, and how much he looked forward to that good, pink taste of Bazooka bubble gum.
He also talks about riding bikes without helmets, regardless of whether you were racing down the street or jumping streams in the woods. He also remembers "graduating" to being able to sit in the front seat of the car, and also talks about how hitch-hiking was the Uber of his childhood. He also talks about the times he picked up hitch-hikers, and how it's not something he would consider doing these days.
Whether you're still in lockdown mode from COVID-19, or just looking for some good old movies to watch because you've binge-watched everything else, GamerDude has a list of some great old movies that (as of this recording) are available on Netflix. All of the movies on this list are at least 30 years old, but they still hold up and are worth watching. If you haven't seen movies like Goodfellas, Dirty Harry, True Grit, or Jerry Maguire (and 7 others, including 3 Harrison Ford films), you can find them all on Netflix, and they're worth taking the time to watch.
GamerDude also dusts off some old movie tropes that you used to see all the time that aren't used anymore, which goes to show that even over-used plot-devices can eventually fall out of favor. Whether it's "Getting Married So The Baby Has A Father" to food pills to "typewriter eating," there are a number of tropes from long ago that we don't see anymore, either because they're outdated, or societal views have changed, or they simply don't make sense. GamerDude talks about these tropes, as well as hot rivets, cheating with the milkman, and sending telegrams.
In this episode, GamerDude engages in a rare political rant, based on things he learned as a child. He talks about how he was taught the value, importance, and necessity of thinking about more than just his own interests as a child. He remembers being taught that he should help his dad with the yardwork, and his mom with things like peeling potatoes. He was taught that, even if you didn't necessarily want to visit Grandma, you did it anyway because that's just what you do. He discusses learning the importance of honoring commitments and obligations, and how the world doesn't revolve around you.
He then talks about how those lessons do not seem to apply in the politically charged climate in the world these days. He talks about how self-interest seems to dominate the actions of those in charge, and how today's leaders do not seem to share or understand the concept of public service, or doing the "right thing," or conducting themselves with honor in order to serve the people they were elected to serve. He discusses the importance of not accepting the normalization of things that should be unacceptable, and points out that standing up for what's right is still something that we can all do.
In this episode, which GamerDude recorded during Week 7 of the social distancing/lockdown guidelines caused by COVID-19, he talks about trying to stay positive, and maintain a positive outlook during these strange, difficult, and often depressing times. He talks briefly about his struggles as a kid, with being bullied and growing up as the "fat kid." He talks about diving into music to escape when he was young, and how diving into things that make you feel good - like music, and movies, and TV, and books, and gaming - are helpful ways to maintain a positive outlook.
He talks about the importance of remembering that you may not be able to control the what is happening in the world around you, but you can control your reaction to it. He talks about the importance of a routine in your daily life, and how rewarding yourself, even if it's just viewing a walk around the block as a reward, can help you stay positive. He talks about the importance of breathing, and how taking time to focus on such a simple thing can calm your mind and your thoughts. He also talks about the importance of being nice, and "paying the niceness forward" to make both your life, and the lives of those around you, better. GamerDude also talks about gratitude, and how being grateful for the people doing their jobs, and for the things that we do have in our lives, can all help keep our own outlooks positive. And, he remembers Jim Valvano's sage advice on how to have "a heckuva day."
In these days where many people are doing more cooking and baking, GamerDude re-visits his grandmother's kitchen and talks about some of the things we used to do in the kitchen - like actually cook - and talks about how these are things we can start doing again. He talks about simple things, like baking your own bread, grating your own cheese, and making coffee with a percolator, and more complicated things, like making your own preserves. He talks about making sour dough bread, and passing on "sour dough starter" from generation to generation.
He also talks about cookbooks, and how he inherited a collection of old recipes from his mother. He talks about some of the old recipes he found, like the ones for Apple Puffs and Prune Whip Cake, and shares a recipe for Lemon Sponge Pudding. It's a recipe that he's never actually tried, but he gives you the ingredients and explains how to make this "mystery recipe" from his mother's collection.
As regular listeners know, GamerDude has always enjoyed stories, whether reading them or having them read to him. Some of the earliest stories that he remembers from his childhood were Aesop's fables. Aesop was an ancient Greek storyteller who was probably one of the earliest "people-watchers." He watched people, saw how they acted, and crafted stories about people and their behavior from his observations. He would use animals in his stories to portray the characteristics he observed, and each of his stories - some of them quite short - would convey a moral, or lesson, that could be learned from the behaviors.
These fables were a big part of GamerDude's childhood. He remembers his mother reading them to him, and he remembers reading them himself, and the lessons he learned from those stories helped shape the kind of person he is.
GamerDude shares some of the fables he remembers. He tells the tales of The Fox and The Grapes, and The Oak and The Reeds, and The Sparrow and The Crow, and The Ass In The Lion's Skin, among others. He also shares his favorite: The Boy Who Cried Wolf, and explains how these stories influence his decisions in life, and his personality.
As you can tell from this podcast, GamerDude loves to tell stories. In this episode, he talks about shaggy dog stories, what they are and what they're supposed to do. Basically, a shaggy dog story is a story that has a long build up and eventually goes nowhere. GamerDude explains how shaggy dog stories are told purely for entertainment and amusement; sometimes, the entertainment is for the audience, and sometimes it's just for the storyteller.
GamerDude also explains why shaggy dog stories are called shaggy dog stories. He tells what many believe to be the archetypical shaggy dog story, which is about - what else? - a shaggy dog. He also shares examples of several other kinds of shaggy dog stories. He tells the pirate story, the story about the subway trip, the story about Artie the hitman, and the story about the eccentric general.
GamerDude's love for music is no secret to regular listeners. In this episode, he talks about how his mom tried to teach him piano at an early age. He remembers learning the basics - FACE for the spaces on the music staff, and "Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge" for the lines, and he remembers becoming fairly adequate playing notes with his right hand. It was when he had to incorporate his left hand into his piano playing that his keyboard career was cut short. He also talks about his mom's piano playing, and the various sheet music and song books she collected over the years.
GamerDude then shares his list of Top 15 Piano/Keyboard Intros for the rock songs he grew up with. No spoilers here; you'll have to listen to the episode to get the list (and excerpts from the songs), but the list includes songs from the 1960s to the 2000s and artists who are simply legendary.
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 has always loved breakfast. When he was a kid, he ate mostly cereal, and he loved the different kinds of sugary cereals all kids love, even though his mom didn't buy them very often. He craved the Sugar Smacks, Sugar Corn Pops, and Sugar Frosted Flakes, but usually had to settle for Rice Krispies, Corn Flakes, and the various Chex cereals. He also enjoyed Shredded Wheat, especially after his dad taught him how to make warm shredded wheat. He also liked hot cereal, from oatmeal, to Cream of Wheat, and once again, his dad taught him a way to eat oatmeal that made it delicious. GamerDude also talks about his love of Grape Nuts cereal, and how it actually helped transition him to a love of granola.
He also talks about his mom's famous recipe for "Eggs on Toast," which was nothing more than scrambled eggs on toast, and how she introduced him to scrambled egg sandwiches. Because she usually made those for lunch, it was normal to GamerDude to eat eggs and toast at pretty much any time. He also talks about his grandmother's bacon, and how nothing compared with it.
GamerDude explains how he was introduced to all of the other breakfast foods, like waffles, French toast, pancakes, and sausage, when he went away to college. One of the cafeterias on campus had a special restaurant called The Strawberry Patch, which specialized in different breakfast foods. It was there that GamerDude expanded his horizons when it came to breakfast; in addition to everything else, he discovered the delights of hashbrowns and home fries.
GamerDude also shares his quick and simple recipes for French toast. He explains how it can be as simple, or as fancy, as you'd like it to be.
GamerDude has talked about the story books he grew up with, and read The Knights of The Silver Shield from the "My Bookhouse" series in Season One. This week, he dips back into Bookhouse for the classic Greek myth about Hercules. This version of The Labors of Hercules is not attributed to any particular author; it just appears in "My Bookhouse" as "A Greek Myth." As you listen to the story, you're likely to hear some similarities in plot, in quest, and in beast to other movies, games and stories you've heard or played. Many of the names will also be familiar, from Pluto to Diana to the guardian dog of the Underworld (no spoilers, but it's a good one!) You'll also see the chain of quests Hercules must perform, along with the sub-quests, and the side quests the main quest spawns. As you'll hear, many of standard features of story-telling, and gaming, that we have today have their origins in tales that are, quite literally, thousands of years old. So sit back, and enjoy!
In this week's episode, GamerDude talks about how the corona virus, which is on everyone's mind these days, has reintroduced people to the ideas his mom drilled into his head when he was young, like washing your hands and covering your mouth when you cough. He then takes a more serious look at the fear and anger that the virus has stirred up in society. He talks about the importance of recognizing these emotions, and not acting out of fear, or anger, or panic. He talks about the importance of understanding the underlying facts of a situation, and using common sense when dealing with something as serious and unique as the virus. He also talks about the fear and panic that followed the attacks on 9/11 and how it took time before reason and common sense returned to how people handled the aftermath.
GamerDude also tells a couple of stories from when he was younger that involve reacting to fear and anger. He talks about the time his father had to drive for an hour to pick GamerDude up after his car broke down, and how angry his father was at having been inconvenienced by something that was out of everyone's control. GamerDude also tells the story of when his oldest son lent his car to a friend, who promptly drove it into a tree. He talks about dealing with the fear and anger that arises out of that kind of situation, and how he had to combat that in order to deal with the realities of the accident.
As regular listeners know, food is one of GamerDude's favorite subjects. This week, he talks about meal time, and how his mother's homemade biscuits were part of many of the meals he had while growing up. He talks about the biscuit as a side dish, and as the base for his mother's homemade strawberry shortcake. He talks about his struggles trying to learn how to make good biscuits on his own, and how his early efforts were little more than baked hockey pucks. He also talks about how he discovered the secret ingredient to good biscuits: White Lily Self-Rising Flour, which is only available in the Southern US. He talks about ordering a bag of White Lily through Amazon, and the delicious biscuits that resulted. GamerDude also shares the recipe off the bag of White Lily, and walks you through how to make good biscuits.
GamerDude also talks about how he learned how to make chili. Once he discovered what seasoning was, and how it made everything tastier, learning how to make chili was the natural result. He talks about the different styles of chili, and the different meats you can use in it. He then gives you his recipe for a basic, relatively mild chili that you can modify to make as hot and spicy as you like, and walks you through how to make it.
As regular listeners of Storytime know, GamerDude is a huge fan of the movies. In this "Best Of" episode, GamerDude has compiled many of the movie tropes he loves to hate. From the "always present parking space" that's always there for the protagonist, to the "easily exploding car" that so many action movies seem to have, to someone always running upstairs, or onto the roof, to escape pursuit, to the arch-villain's "this is why I'm doing it" speech at the end of the film, GamerDude talks about all of the tropes you can find over and over again in the movies these days.
As GamerDude has mentioned numerous times, the way society viewed things, and the way things were when he grew up, was very different than it is now. In this episode, GamerDude talks about how embarrassing it was to have to go into a store and buy "prophylactics," which is what condoms were called when he was a kid. He talks about how he felt guilty and embarrassed about the whole "condom buying experience," and how that was a function of society attaching "shame" to the concept of anything related to sex.
He also remembers finding his dad's cache of "girlie magazines." Playboy was every young man's fantasy when he was a kid, but just like buying condoms, there was guilt and shame attached to the idea that teenage boys would want to look at naked women. He talks about how, just like condoms, the adult magazines were kept behind a counter so that you had to ask for them, which by itself, attached a level of embarrassment to the process. He talks about how Playboy tried to legitimize itself with its famous "Interviews," and how various popular authors also wrote articles for it as well. He also talks about other adult magazines, including Penthouse, Cavalier, and several others, and explains how these were one of the few avenoues available for guys who wanted to see nude women. He also talks about how Stephen King's earliest short stories were published in the men's magazine Cavalier.
GamerDude also talks about going to his first X-rated movie: Debbie Does Dallas. He also talks about how adult movies eventually moved to cable TV, and how you had to watch through the scrambled signal if you couldn't get your parents to pay the additional cost for those adult channels.
This week's episode is all about TV. In the first part, GamerDude talks about several TV plots that have been re-used and recycled over the years in the various TV series he's watched. He talks about several different plot points, including how tired he is of the "Falsely Accused" plot, and the "Is Our Hero Dead?" plot. Unless it's a series finale, GamerDude is quite certain that the hero is not dead as a result of the freak explosion, the car crash, or the missing plane.GamerDude also talks about "Mistaken Identities" and "Evil Twins," as well as several others.
In the second part of the episode, GamerDude takes a musical trip through TV, sharing some of his favorite themes from shows in the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. Okay, maybe they're not all "favorite" songs, but all of the themes are quite memorable, quite catchy, and a few are actually quite iconic. No spoilers! You'll have to listen to hear which 15 theme songs are featured this time!
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 grew up with a lot of things that were part of his everyday life that either no longer exist or have become obsolete. In this episode, he talks about a few of them. He remembers when "going on-line" involved using a dial-up connection and a modem for the phone; you can even relive the "excitement" of the dial tones and the static that everyone heard as they tried to go on-line before the days of cable connections, wifi, and hot spots. He also talks about how encyclopedias used to be the only way to start a research project, before researching became as easy as typing a few terms into a search bar. He also talks about how people used "personal ads" in the newspaper as a way to find dates - or mates.
He also remembers bench seats in cars, and how you used to be able to fit 7 or 8 people in your vehicle, before the days of bucket seats, consoles and cup holders. He talks about the ash-trays that were standard equipment in cars, and how everyone used them, either for cigarette butts or as a place for change for tolls. He also remembers how ash trays and lighters were fixtures in most homes because smoking was so prevalent, and how even non-smokers had ash trays - some very fancy - for when their smoking friends visited.
He remembers all the tools of the photography trade, and talks about taking pictures with instamtic cameras, and 35mm cameras, and having to take film to a developer in order to actually see your pictures. He also remembers photo albums, slides, and slide projectors, and talks about how none of these things are really used anymore.
GamerDude also talks about our changing relationship with our telephones. We used to have rotary phones and phone booths; now, our phones are in our pockets, but we rarely use them to talk. He also talks about answering machines, and trying to get his parents to use one.
GamerDude revisits the topic of games, which he first talked about in Season One. This time, he takes a deep dive into some of the games he enjoyed as a kid. He talks about how he enjoyed playing games so much that he would sometimes play four person Monopoly and play all four seats. He talks about how he developed a love for trivia games, starting with the early editions of Go To The Head Of The Class. He shares some of the "easy" questions from the 1957 edition his dad picked up at an auction one year; you can test your knowledge on the "junior level" questions! GamerDude also talks about the APBA sports simulation games he played, when he tried to recreate full sports seasons using charts and dice, long before the days of Madden, MLB, and FIFA on today's gaming consoles.
GamerDude also talks about all of the home versions of TV game shows he had, from The Joker's Wild to The Price is Right to Concentration. He also talks about how chess, checkers and backgammon are the "classic" games that should be in any "Hall Of Fame" of all time great games. He also talks about how games like Jenga and Twister have not held up for him over the years.
GamerDude also include his Top Ten Games list, and shares some stories about why these ten games make his list. Give a listen to find out where Clue, Stratego, Monopoly and Scrabble (as well as six other games) fall on the list.
When GamerDude was growing up, a "normal" relationship in society was a father who worked and a mother who stayed at home and cooked, cleaned, and took care of the kids. Dating back then - whether conciously or unconciously - was geared towards finding a mate to complete this "normal" relationship. GamerDude talks about how the attitudes of parents, and schools, helped cement this mentality of what "normal" was, and how this mind-set was reinforced by the movies and tv shows everyone watched. He talks about how Leave It To Beaver and Father Knows Best depicted the "typical" home, and how they showed the goal for a "good" relationship.
He also talks about classes in school that helped further confirm this. Boys took shop class - either wood or metal shop, so that they would learn marketable skills, and girls took home economics classes, where they learned to sew, and cook, and clean. It wasn't until the 1960s and the 1970s that these attitudes and these "norms" were really challenged. He talks about how the sitcom Three's Company presented a challenge to what was "normal" and acceptable.
GamerDude also talks about the importance of recognizing equality in a relationship. When he grew up, the man had to "conquer" the woman in order to make her "his own." There was an objectification of women that was very prevalent when he was a kid and still persists today. He talks about how important it is to recognize that all people have rights, and recognizing those rights is paramount to establishing a good, strong, lasting relationship. He also talks about how sex is an important part of a relationship, but is only part of the overall equation.
GamerDude continues to share his passion for movies in this episode. He talks about 10 classic, pre-1980 movies that you'll probably enjoy. He goes back to the era of "film noir" for three films, including the classic Double Indemnity. He then talks about seven more classic films, which run the gamut from Whatever Happened To Baby Jane to Monty Python and the Holy Grail. (As usual, you'll have to listen to the episode for the full list!)
GamerDude also talks about some more of the over-used movie tropes we see all too often. He talks about the lack of primary colors in most dystopian futures, the horrors of high heeled shoes on women, the fact that every bar in movies apparently has a tap that just says "Beer," and the interrupted kiss (plus six more). He also talks about two "bonus" tropes that he actually enjoys.
GamerDude has gone back to Season 1 for some stories for this "Best of" episode. He brings back the story of learning to drive when he was 11, while visiting his aunt. He also tells the story of learning to bake with his dad. He also brings back the story about his "golden age" of television, and the syndicated shows he watched on the six television channels that existed in his area when he was growing up. He also talks about his greatest moment in his pick-up basketball career - his buzzer-beating shot when he was playing for the basketball team for the radio station he worked at.
"Doing chores" was a big part of GamerDude's childhood, and this week, he talks about all that was expected of him as a kid. Looking back, it doesn't seem like the chores were too much, but to a 10 year old, having to spend thirty minutes doing something that wasn't fun was a huge burden. What the chores taught GamerDude was that there were times in your life that you had to do things that you didn't want to do, but you had to do them anyway.
GamerDude talks about having to make the bed, clean the bathroom, vacuum the rugs, and buff the floors. He also talks about his dad's "Chore Chart," which set out the main jobs for the kids each week, and who was supposed to do what on each day. GamerDude describes having to set the table, or clear the table, or do the dreaded "kitchen work." He also remember how much he disliked "trash day," and detested cleaning the kitty litter.
He also talks about his favorite chore: sorting. He describes the times he spent in the basement, with his dad, sorting through the various boxes of hardware his dad would bring home from sales. He learned to sort screws, and nuts, and bolts, and nails, and all sorts of hardware. He also learned what they were used for, and why you would use one screw over another. The most important thing he learned from this chore is that he liked spending time with his dad.
In the first episode of Season Three, GamerDude talks about New Year's Resolutions. He breaks open the history books to talk about how New Year's resolutions date back about 4,000 years, and how the early promises the Babylonians made to curry favor with the gods are the precursors to the promises we make to ourselves every year to try to improve ourselves. He talks about how he never really made resolutions when he was growing up, but he know many people who did. He talks about some of the most popular resolutions - get in shape, eat better, lose weight - and how he never made those part of a New Year's resolution, and why. He also talks about other popular resolutions - meet new people, get out more - and discusses why he can't understand resolving to do things that you're not comfortable doing.
GamerDude then discusses several resolutions that he believes anyone can do, and that will make your life a little bit better. He talks about resolving to travel more, and open yourself up to new experiences. He talks about making time for the people who truly care about you, and not wasting time on those who don't. He talks about letting go of grudges, and ill will. He remembers his mother's analogy: carrying a grudge is like carrying a heavy stone everywhere you go. As his mom always reminded him, it's okay to put down the stone. It makes life's journey that much easier.
Finally, he talks about resolutions that are good resolutions - be more tidy, get more organized - but that years of experience have taught him he'll never be able to complete.
With the holiday season in full swing, GamerDude wanted to take a few minutes to share a story that was written by Phillip Van Doren Stern back in 1943. The story, called The Greatest Gift, had humble beginnings - the author is reported to have come up with the idea while shaving one morning - but it may sound quite familiar to you as you listen. No spoilers, but this simple story slowly grew into a cultural phenomenon, without ever losing its heartfelt message. The message is a simple one that we should remember every day, and particularly at the time of year when some of us need to hear it the most: the greatest gift we have is life, and being a part of the world, and having the opportunity to take part in it.
Happy Holidays, and thank you for listening, and supporting this podcast for two years!
Season Three of Storytime with GamerDude starts January 1, 2020!
Christmas time can be fun and exciting, chaotic and stressful, sad and depressing, and all on the same day! GamerDude talks about what Christmas was like for him growing up; as a child, the birth of Jesus was one of the focal points of Christmas, but that was always competing with the desire for new toys! He talks about the seemingly never ending battle between the spiritual and the material aspects of the holiday.
GamerDude then dips back into the history of Christmas. He talks about the origins of the holiday, and how some of our traditions today are cobbled together from the midwinter festivals of the "pagans" from the early days of Christianity.
He also talks about the pressures of family, and gift giving, and family politics, and tells the story about subtly calling out his aunt one year, much to the delight of his father.
GamerDude then talks about what "the Christmas spirit" is (or at least should be) and how, no matter what your religion or your beliefs, everyone can share in spreading the spirit of Christmas simply by being kind to each other.
As regular listeners know, GamerDude is fascinated by words and language, so when he remembered how his grandmother used to say it was "half-past nine" to say that the time was 9:30, he got to thinking about some of the other words and phrases that he grew up using but that are rarely - if ever - used anymore. In this episode, he talks about a number of those words and phrases, how they were used, and where they came from. So, at the risk of "sounding like a broken record," don't be a "goober." You may feel like you've "been through the wringer," but just "hold your horses," sit back in your "pad," and you'll discover a whole new list of colorful words and phrases you can sprinkle into the conversation at your next family gathering.
When GamerDude was growing up, without the benefit of DVDs or VHS tapes, if you wanted to watch Santa Claus is Coming to Town, you had one chance per year to catch it when it aired. As a result, all of the holiday specials were truly "special occasions," and "appointment TV" for anyone wanting to catch a bit of the holiday spirit. In this episode, GamerDude talks about his five least favorite, and his five most favorite holiday specials from when he was growing up, as well as some honorable mentions in both categories. Included in this episode: Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer, Rudolph's Shiny New Year, A Charlie Brown Christmas, Frosty the Snowman, The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, and John Denver and The Muppets: A Christmas Together (along with many others!) To find out where they rank and why, though, you'll have to listen! Enjoy!
GamerDude celebrates Episode 100 of the podcast with some stories about Thanksgiving. He talks about the family gatherings he had during the holidays, and talks about his first family political battle: trying to graduate from the "kids table" at his grandmother's house. He talks about his grandmother's famous rice ring, her infamous undercooked turkey, and the tasty appetizer she always served (orange sherbet in cranberry juice).
He then spends some time talking about the journey to 100 episodes of Storytime, and how grateful he is for all those who listen around the world. He talks about how thankful he is that so many people take so much time to listen to the podcast, and talks about how interesting it is to see which episodes get the biggest reactions.
He then shares a non-secular Thanksgiving prayer, giving thanks for the important things in life: heat, faces, and eating, before closing with Thanksgiving wishes for everyone.
As hard is it may be to believe, there was a time before Star Wars ever existed, and GamerDude lived in that time. He talks about his first experience with Star Wars in 1977 (when there was only one movie and it was simply called "Star Wars"). In this episode, he talks about his history with the movies. He talks about the surprise he felt when they retitled Star Wars as "Episode IV" in 1980, and talks about what it was like lining up outside theaters to get tickets to opening day shows for The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. He explains how George Lucas initially talked about a trilogy of trilogies before changing his story in 1999, when he released the first prequel, and said he only ever was going to make six movies, not nine. He explains how Disney's purchase of LucasFilms in 2012 revived the third trilogy fans had been waiting for.
He explains why he, one of the "original trilogy fans," was so disappointed in the prequel trilogy; waiting 16 years for a movie to come out, and to have it be a fairly disappointing movie about politics and trade wars, while featuring rather annoying characters cough Jar Jar Binks cough is not something that is very easy to embrace, much less enjoy. He also discusses the first two movies of the third trilogy, and explains why certain parts of "The Last Jedi" were disappointing.
GamerDude then compares the story arcs of Obi-Wan and Luke, and discusses how similar their journeys are. He then explains why he understands Luke's actions in The Last Jedi, and how they were entirely consistent with the ending of "Return of the Jedi" and the true Jedi that Luke had become.
In this episode, GamerDude has compiled a number of short stories about various memories he has from growing up, about a wide variety of topics. He talks about the one time he went sailing in an old school sailboat. The story about sailing reminded him of the one cruise he and his family went on, and he explains how "fun" the cruise experience was.
GamerDude also talks about a couple random driving tips about driving on the road with tractor trailers that he learned from his dad on a road trip to Ohio. He also talks about discovering the "motorcyclist's salute" when he finally bought a motorcycle.
GamerDude also talks about weddings, and how one of the best weddings he went to was his college roommate's wedding at a church in Ohio. He compares the simplicity of that wedding to the "destination weddings" and the "catering hall weddings" he has attended or heard about in recent years, and wonders whether one of those over-the-top weddings is actually worth it.
Finally, GamerDude talks about his distaste of critters in the house, from cave crickets to mice, and describes his prowess at using mouse traps.
One of GamerDude's oldest memories is of his grandmother making homemade applesauce. He talks about how he helped out with the cutting and peeling of apples when he was a kid, and the wonderful smell that fills the house when cooking homemade applesauce.
He also talks about his first paying job, which was at an apple orchard. He learned all about apple-picking, and climbing ladders in the orchards, and how to stay out of the trees so as to avoid damaging them. He also leaned how to drive a tractor, and load "drops" from the orchard for use in the cider press. He also explains how they made cider, at least back in the day.
He also gives a recipe for basic, easy, homemade applesauce, and provides some variations for the "jazz" cook in the audience.
When GamerDude was growing up, Halloween was more intended for the kids than it is today. It was all geared towards dressing up in a costume and - most importantly - collecting candy! GamerDude remembers getting ready to go out trick-or-treating, and planning the route to take with his friends. Trick-or-treating would last for, literally, hours, and the goal was to collect as much candy as you could.
After you finished trick-or-treating, the all-important sorting process began. GamerDude talks about "taking inventory" of the candy he collected, and creating stashes in his room so that he could protect his loot from the prying eyes (and fingers) of siblings.
He also ranks the top 10 best and the top 10 worst Halloween candies. Partial spoilers here: candy corn, Twizzlers, Mr. Goodbar and M&Ms are all mentioned (along with 16 others); you'll have to listen to the episode to see which list they're on, and where they rank!
Two of GamerDude's passions - movies and music - come together in this episode. He talks about the power of music in the movies, and gives a list of his fifteen (okay, sixteen) favorite, most memorable, most iconic movie theme songs. No spoilers here - if you want the list, you'll have to listen to it! But, here are a few hints: 1) some of the movies mentioned date back more than 60 years, 2) one of the themes is from a movie GamerDude never even saw, but the theme is so iconic, it made the list, and 3) the composer/conductor John Williams makes up almost a third of the list. So, sit back, give a listen, and feel free to share your thoughts and comments! (NOTE: This is the remastered version from 10/23/19, cleaning up a couple of production glitches.)
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's love for amusement parks was not shared by his parents when he was growing up, so it wasn't until he was on his own that he was able to plan a trip to Disney World. In this episode, he talks about planning his first trip to Disney World. He explains how he spent time in the library, and reading guide books, learning about Disney World, and planning his first "grown up" vacation to Florida. He talks about researching the best way to get there, and the best time to go, and planning the trip accordingly.
He remembers what it was like when he first got to Florida, and how exciting it was to see palm trees all around for the first time. He then recalls what it was like the first time he got to Disney World, and how huge the place is. He talks about the ferry ride across the lagoon to the Magic Kingdom, and seeing the monorail for the first time, and the Contemporary Hotel. He talks about the various rides he remembers at The Magic Kingdom, from the Jungle Cruise to Space Mountain. He remembers riding the Pirates of the Carribean long before Jack Sparrow ever existed, and how different the original ride was from how it is today.
He also discusses the two parts of Epcot, and how interesting it was. He talks about the pavilions in the World Showcase and how it felt like taking a walking tour of the world as you wandered from country to country. And he remembers how the nerd in him loved taking the time to explore the various Lands in Epcot, from The Living Seas to The World of Motion, all long before Test Track and Mission to Mars ever existed. And, he remembers how big Michael Jackson's Captain Eo movie (which was exclusive to Epcot) was at the time.
He concludes by talking about how expensive Disney World is now, compared to what it used to be, and how unfortunate it is that so many people are being priced out of a wonderful experience.
From an early age, GamerDude loved to stay up past his bedtime. As early in his life as he can remember, he stayed up late. He loved to get up after his parents went to bed so that he could watch movies on the CBS Late Movie. He remembers sneaking out of bed to watch the movie The Monkees made, Head. He also remembers making a point to stay up to watch Raquel Welch in her fur bikini in One Million Years B.C. He also talks about his late night viewing habits when he watched Gilbert Gottfried and Rhonda Shear on USA's Up All Night, and talks about some of the classic "B" movies he saw.
He also remembers late nights in college, where the D&D sessions would carry over to the wee hours of the morning. And he remembers going out to the clubs and literally dancing the night away before finding a 24 hour diner for coffee and donuts.
He also talks about how being a night owl helped in raising children. Being up late makes the midnight feeding and the 2 a.m. diaper change a little easier. It also puts you in a better position to worry about the kids being out with friends when you're not already losing sleep over it.
Finally, he talks about night time being his most creative time. He writes, and thinks, and plans, and problem solves at night because that's when GamerDude believes he's at his best. He doesn't have anything against mornings. It's just that he prefers the night.
This week, GamerDude passes on things he's learned, knowledge he's acquired, and life advice. He talks about a wide variety of topics, from the fact that not everyone's going to like you, to the importance of going to the dentist, to the significance of having a good reputation. He talks about people who "are just being honest," and political correctness. He talks about picking up after yourself, and exercising, and stretching. He talks about unexpected visitors, and sorting laundry, and asking questions. He discusses how you shouldn't be bound by the label of "age" because age is just a number. And he passes on his knowledge about cough syrup, generic brands and peanut butter.
GamerDude grew up in a family of story-tellers. He talks a bit about his father, who was a master story teller and would likely have been a bard, sitting by a pub fire in medieval times. He also talks about his mom's stories. He explains that she was more of a conversationalist than a story teller, and he talks about how her socializing after church usually delayed departure from church for at least a half-an-hour. He also talks about recently having found a short story his mom had written about his grandmother, and his grandmother's misadventures involving a missing living room wall. He explains that he never knew the story existed, and reads the story as a little "slice of life" from his mother's youth.
He also talks about how everyone has stories in their family, and about how he wished he had done more to gather those stories from his parents when he could. His advice this week: listen to your own family stories, and remember, before your parents were your parents, they were people too.
The tumultuous times in which we live has prompted GamerDude to revisit the topic of knowing the difference between right and wrong. This week, he talks about ethical dilemmas, and how he was brought up to know and understand the difference between doing "the right thing" and not doing "the wrong thing." He talks about the idea of "moral absolutes" and the fact that, sometimes, there is a "right thing" to do in a situation. He talks about moral dilemmas, and how to handle them. If given the chance, do you cheat on a test? Do you cover for your boss? Do you take advantage of your superior knowledge to get a deal at a yard sale?
GamerDude also talks about how he learned how to do "the rght thing." He talks about how church, and parenting, and the schools all contributed to his understanding of knowing right from wrong. He also talks about ways you might be able to determine whether an action - like stealing sugar packets from the diner - is something you should do. Basically, it all comes down to a simple question: What would your mother think?
GamerDude's lifelong love-affair with food is no secret and in this episode, he remembers the importance of family dinners when he was growing up. He talks about learning how to cook because he loved food so much growing up, and he learned how to prepare different foods in different ways. He talks about learning to cook as a way to develop relationships as well. He discusses cooking as a way to get to know someone you're dating. He talks about how preparing a meal together can help you learn about someone you're dating, and whether you work well together, and whether you have common interests. He also talks about how sitting down to eat with someone is one of the tests of a relationship, because if you can't stand eating with someone for one date, that's a sign you should consider before going on any other dates.
GamerDude also shares his recipe for "garbage bread." He explains the basics of buying frozen pizza dough as the "base" for the bread, and talks about how to roll it out before filling it with any "garbage" you may have in your refrigerator. He explains that "garbage bread" is called that because you can fill it with pretty much any "garbage" you might have left over in your fridge, from leftover chicken and broccoli to those last few slices of cold cuts and cheese that may be in the fridge. It's a recipe with endless variations!
In this "Best of Storytime" episode, GamerDude brings back the story of when his dad joined him to play softball while wearing bermuda shorts and combat boots. He also talks about why he doesn't curse, and explains what it was like trying to record movies back when he was a kid; it was especially challenging because there was no actual way to record movies, at home, when GamerDude was growing up.
GamerDude also brings back the story of his "on-again, off-again, in-again, Finnegan" relationship that he had in his 20s, and how draining such a relationship can be - and how easy it is to make yourself look foolish. He also talks about chocolate chip cookie dough and home-baked cookies before concluding with a reminder about name-calling.
Enjoy!
August always meant the end of summer when GamerDude was growing up. The family vacation was always during the last two weeks of summer, so the first two weeks of August basically marked the last two weeks of "summer vacation." GamerDude remembers those last two weeks, and how the days were filled with summer chores in the morning - like making his bed, buffing the floor, vacuuming, and the ever-popular cleaning the bathroom. He also remembers the games he and his friends played after chores were done, both during the daytime, and after dinner at night. During the day, the games rotated among kickball, softball, kick-the-can and croquet. (GamerDude remembers the enjoyment of smacking his friends' croquet balls into the next yard when they played!) After dinner, in the summertime, the kids would play Manhunt of Flashlight Tag; both games were simply variations of the traditional game of tag, but at night, and in the woods. He also remembers the Friday before his family would leave on vacation, and how it was a clear demarcation to the end of summer. He also talks about how he hopes that, once he gets there, retirement is just a perpetual summer vacation, because summer vacation days were the best days.
In this "very special episode" of Storytime, GamerDude talks about the difficulty people have in discussing death. He talks about how people tend to avoid the topic, even within their own families. He talks about how death has a perfect record because everyone is going to die eventually, so perhaps it is important to talk about it, share stories about it, and make it a less scary prospect. He talks about losing both his parents, and his cool Cousin Steve, and how those losses helped him deal with the concept of death. He tells the story about his mother's death, and the circumstances leading up to it. He then talks about some of the death rituals in the world, from the New Orleans jazz funeral, to the traditional Viking funeral, to the sky burials the Buddhists have in Tibet. He also talks about the open air cremations offered in Colorado, and explains that he is considering the company called Eternal Reef, which takes your earthly remains and makes them a part of an ocean reef. He closes with one of his favorite Terry Pratchett quotes: "No one is actually dead until the ripples they cause in the world die away."
In this spoiler-filled episode, GamerDude talks about 10 of the most overrated movies he's seen in his lifetime of movie watching. In a list sure to annoy a lot of people, GamerDude talks about how the ending of Captain America: The First Avenger ruined the movie for him, and makes it one of the more overrated Marvel movies. He talks about how Titanic is titanically overrated, and he takes to task eight other movies as well, including two by one of Hollywood's more respected directors, Stanley Kubrick. (You'll have to listen for the full list!)
GamerDude then adds 10 more movie tropes to his list of overused Hollywood cliches. If you've seen one too many people become incredibly attractive after taking off their glasses, or if you've been jump-scared by a cat on the stairs too often, or if you've seen more than enough high security doors opened with a bobby pin, you'll enjoy this list.
There are "spoilers" to many movies in this episode, but they've been out for years now, so are they really spoilers?
It seems that every neighborhood has a basketball rim, and GamerDude's was no exception. He talks about how his neighbors across the street had rims, and how he wanted to get one at his house too. But with his dad's gravel driveway, and the cost of installing a post for the backboard, he never did get one, except for one brief afternoon, when he and his friends hung a backboard from the telephone pole in the street. He talks about how he didn't really get heavily into basketball until college, where his roommate was a high school basketball star. He talks about playing pick-up games at the rec center, and how he learned the rules of getting into games. He explains how he learned what a zone defense was, how he wound up taking a basketball course in college, and why he still considers himself a Sun. He talks about playing basketball during lunch breaks at work, and two or three times a week after work at the local school gyms. He also shares one of his favorite stories from a pick-up game in Akron, Ohio, and how it made him feel like he'd finally arrived as a basketball player.
Regular listeners already know about GamerDude's love for music, and for TV, when he was growing up. In this episode, he talks about - and plays - 15 of the most memorable TV theme songs that he grew up with. This is by no means the most definitive or complete list. The songs featured in this episode run the gamut from Saturday morning cartoons to late night television and everything in between. This is just the first in what GamerDude anticipates will be a continuing series of TV Theme Song episodes.
Rather than tell you about the titles of the songs here, you can play a little "name that tune" as you listen to the episode, and reminisce about (or discover for the first time) some of the classic television theme songs from the past.
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The classic "old wives tales" that GamerDude heard growing up were, essentially, the urban legends of his childhood. He talks about the tales he heard, from going blind from sitting too close to the television set, to getting arthritis from cracking your knuckles, to the benefits of carrots and the dangers of spilling salt and eating chocolate. He also heard about why he shouldn't eat spicy foods, why he should eat chicken soup, how he was carrying around a mound of undigested gum in his stomach for seven years, and why he shouldn't swim after eating.
GamerDude also talks about the home remedies his mom used (or he heard about from friends) for the common ailments of childhood. He describes his mother's "steamer," which was the cure for all coughs and congestion. He remembers how Listerine was the miracle cure for virtually anything. He talks about how his mom treated cold sores with powdered alum, and how disgusting the treatment was. He remembers the miracle of dry white bread and ginger ale, and the substitutes of saltines and flat 7-Up. He also remembers how much honey his family used, and the non-traditional use his mom had for meat tenderizer. He also shares the sure-fire cure for constipation, which is always effective.
GamerDude has always loved the taste of food cooked on the grill, from hot dogs to burgers to brats. This week, he talks about the difference between grilling and barbecue, and the different ways you can cook over charcoal, and over hardwood. He shares the easiest way he's found to get a fire going for the grill, and extolls the virtues of a charcoal chimney. He also shares the very easy recipe for the pasta salad he created that suits Mrs. GamerDude's tastebuds, and which you can use as is, or as a base for your own "world famous pasta salad."
Food is one of GamerDude's favorite topics, and in this episode, he talks about the fast food places and family restaurants he went to when he was growing up. He talks about Friendly's and the greatest ice cream sundae ever invented. He also talks about the many different burger places his family visited, from Burger Chef to Carroll's to Gino's. He remembers his mother's obsession with a place called Lum's, and the family trips to the local Hanover Trail Steak House. He explains why he's not a big fan of steak, having spent time in Bennigan's, Ponderosa and Bonanza "steak" houses growing up. He talks about his love for salad bars and diners, and remembers discovering Mexican restaurants like Chi Chi's, South of the Border, and Chevy's. He also recognizes that a place like Chi Chi's is to Mexican food what Red Lobster is to seafood. He also talks about his favorite things from "the big three": Wendy's, Burger King and McDonalds, and he shares the ear-worm he grew up with, thanks to McDonalds: two all beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions, on a sesame seed bun.
GamerDude has always loved music, thanks to his mother. Because of her early influence, his musical taste was confined to classic folk songs, show tunes and hymns, and he talks about some of those early songs he learned, from "My Darlin' Clemintine" to "Oklahoma.". Then, he discovered rock and roll, and fell in love with the electric guitars, the fuzzy bass, and the hard driving beats. He talks about how his tastes span, basically, the entire history of rock and roll, from the 1950s to the present. He then shares fifteen of his favorite rock and roll intros, and talks about them briefly. No spoilers in this episode description or in the tags; if you want to know what they are, you'll have to give a listen. But here's a hint: they span the years from 1958 to 2002. Enjoy, and feel free to share your own additions to this decidedly non-definitive list.
GamerDude developed his sense of humor at a young age as he listened to comedians and comedy albums on his record player as far back as he can remember. He learned the secret of comedy (timing), and learned how to tell a good story, and tell it in a funny way, by listening to some of the old school masters of the craft. He talks about listening to Bill Cosby, who, long before he was convicted of some pretty horrible abuses, was nevertheless a master story teller. He talks about some of his other favorites, from the rapid-fire one-liners of Henny Youngman and Rodney Dangerfield to the carefully crafted and perfectly timed stories of Bob Newhart and Shelley Berman. He also talks about George Carlin and his evolution from the days of the Hippy Dippy Weatherman to the comic who did the routine about the Seven Words You Can't Say On Television. GamerDude also remembers one of his favorite comedy albums by Albert Brooks - Comedy Minus One. He describes the unique comedy sketch built into the album by Albert Brooks, where the listener would actually perform the sketch with Albert Brooks, and how he spent hours rehearsing the sketch to perform it for his parents. GamerDude didn't care that it was classic corniness; he just liked the opportunity to "perform" the sketch. (The script for the sketch - and the sketch from the album itself - are available here; you can judge the corniness factor for yourself.)
In this "Best of" episode, GamerDude has compiled some of his favorite stories from past episodes. This week, he tells the story about when he was bullied in the seventh grade and how it has stayed with him through the years. He also includes the story about learning Trumpeter's Lullaby in middle school for a band concert. He also tells the story about going swimming during the summertime at the local ponds near where he grew up. He also recalls his smuggled fireworks and how he almost took his dad out with an errant Roman candle. And he tells the story about his first encounter with a Space Invaders video game.
With vacation time rolling around again, GamerDude returns to one of his favorite vacation destinations: the beach. As he has talked about in previous episodes, when he was a kid, the family vacation for many years was to the beach at Assateague Island, near Chincoteague Virginia. That's where GamerDude learned to love the beach. As he's gotten older, he has expanded his taste in beaches, and many of his vacations involve trips to different beaches in the U.S. He talks about "discovering" the Jersey Shore with his girlfriend (at the time) during a trip to Wildwood, New Jersey. He discusses how big a revelation it was to discover that some beach towns actually have hotels, condos, and houses right on the beach. He talks about the Boardwalk in towns along the Jersey Shore, and the shops and carnival games you can find there. He talks about trips to Myrtle Beach in South Carolina, and Ocean City in Maryland. He talks about discovering Cedar Key in Florida, and contrasts the quaintness there with the tourism of Clearwater, and its $25 charge just to sit in a beach chair. And he talks about looking for beaches in the Florida Keys and discovering that, while there may not be many beaches in the Keys, a trip there is still worth your while.
When he was a kid, GamerDude discovered the book Chariots of the Gods. The author theorized that aliens from other worlds visited ancient humans and, because they were so advanced, the aliens were presumed to be gods. The books discusses various instances offered as "proof" that aliens visited the earth long ago, including Ezekial's visions of angels in the sky, the destruction of Sodom (was it God, or a nuclear explosion?) and the creation of Stonehenge (how were ancient people able to move 25 ton rocks 140 miles?). GamerDude went from ancient aliens to current ones when he started reading about UFOs. He talks about Roswell, and discusses an earlier sighting of unidentified objects flying over Mt. Ranier in 1947. The UFOs then took GamerDude to The Bermuda Triangle, and he learned about all of the planes and ships that disappeared there, from Flight 19 to the USS Cyclops. From there, it was just a short leap to the stories of "ghost ships" that have been found adrift at sea, with the crew either dead or missing. GamerDude also recalls the stories about spirits in nature, whether they're sprites, or fairies, or just tall tales. Whatever you believe, there are plenty of stories in this episode to grab your attention!
GamerDude loves trivia, history, and little known facts about nothing, and has collected them for years. In this episode, he shares some of the information he's learned over the years revolving around "facts" we were once told that turned out to be anything but factual. He talks about the Sixteenth Amendment to the constituion, which relates to the income tax, and wonders whether it was ever actually, formally passed. He talks about how big pharmaceutical companies used to market morphine, and then heroin, as miracle drugs, before it turned out they weren't. He talks about how smoking was marketed by actors and athletes, and promoted by doctors, and even touted as a diet aid, before the federal government finally issued its health warning in 1964. He shares the tale of Pope Gregory IX's hatred of cats, and how that hatred could have helped lay the groundwork for the spread of The Black Death (the bubonic plague) back in the 1300s. To lighten things up, he shares some trivia about Oxford University, Nintendo, Queen Elizabeth II, and Betty White.
We all have parents and, love them or hate them, they influenced who we are today. GamerDude talks about his parents and how they brought him up. He talks about how there is no one right way to raise kids because every parent, and every kid, is unique. He talks about the role of parents, and how too many people try to be their kids' friends, rather than their parents. He talks about the role of the parent - to teach right from wrong, good from bad, to set guidelines and rules, and to teach discipline and respect for others. He talks about the one and only time his father smacked him when he was young, and the lesson he took from that. He talks about the importance of consistency on the part of parents, and how parenting starts from a very early age. He discusses some of the problems he sees with parenting styles today, from parents who want to be pals with their kids, to parents who don't try to enforce rules until the kids are in their teens. And, he talks about not pushing your kids into things that they're not interested in, but rather, taking the time, as a parent, to find out what your kids actually like, and encouraging those interests.
GamerDude talks about the state of the world these days. He talks about how people view the political scene as so divisive today, but remembers how the Government has never been known for its kind and generous treatment of its citizens. He discusses how people are so upset by corporate greed these days, but remembers how corporate greed has been a mainstay in America. He gives a "Google assignment" for researching Andrew Carnegie, the Rockefellers, and "robber barons" for some perspective. He then moves on to discuss how society, and civil discourse, used to be a little more friendy, a little more considerate, and a little less reactionary. He talks about being taught to shake off disappointments, rather than react to them. He talks about learning about "right and wrong," and "good and evil" when he was young, both at home and in church. He discusses how religion can have its benefits, while being mindful of the fact that more people have died in the name of "religion" than most other causes. He tells the story about finding a ten-dollar bill on the street when he was about eight years old, and how his upbringing taught him how to handle it. Finally, he talks about parenting, and trying to raise the next generation of responsible adults so that the world might become a better, more friendly place.
In this "Best of Storytime" episode, GamerDude tells stories about growing up without any seasoning stronger than salt, and his love for homemade chocolate chip cookie dough. He also talks about his first air-shift as a radio newscaster, and his family's first trip to Chincoteague, Virginia for family vacation. And, he tells the story about his one and only buzzer beater on the basketball court
It's no secret that GamerDude loves movies, and he shows that love to some of his favorite corny movies from the 70s, 80s and 90s. He talks about some of his favorite Arnold movies (Raw Deal and the Conan movies), some Sylvester Stallone movies (Cobra, Over the Top, and Tango and Cash), the classic Con Air, with Nicholas Cage, and he talks about his icon from the 70s Burt Reynolds, and Smokey and the Bandit. He then turns to some more classic movie tropes. He talks about how he hates the "closing freeze frame" that some movies used to use. He talks about the classic "easily exploding car" that blows up if you look at it wrong. He discusses tracking devices as big as toasters, and talks about the typical "evil bad guy speech," as well as several other over-used cliches.
Whenever GamerDude is preparing an episode of the podcast, he jots down memories that pop up so that he can talk about them. Most fit into a theme or topic he wants to featurein an episode, but some do not. This episode contains stories about more of GamerDude's random memories from things that have happened over the years. He talks about playing in a rock quarry as a s child. He remembers his mother walking behind him, reminding him to keep his foot straight as he walked; he also remembers her persistent warning to always wear his hat, and bring his gloves (which were actually mittens). He talks about the magazines he collected - Highlights and Boy's Life, as well as his obsession with The Hardy Boys books. He also remembers his disappointment in the casting of Frank and Joe Hardy in the TV show about The Hardy Boys. And, he talks about his obsession with the Adidas sneakers that Starsky wore on Starsky and Hutch, and how he was never able to get a pair of "Starsky Shoes."
When he was younger, GamerDude had dreams about the places he hoped to see one day. In this episode, he talks about holding onto those kind of dreams, because it is only recently that he has been able to travel to some of those places he dreamed of as a kid. He talks about traveling to Mount Rushmore for the first time, and how impressive he found it. He talks about visiting Hoover Dam, and then traveling to the West Rim of the Grand Canyon. He describes seeing the Canyon for the first time, and how mesmerizing and breathtaking it was. He talks about exploring Red Rock Canyon, and the incredible natural beauty of the area. He also talks about Las Vegas, and his feelings about the various casinos and the Fremont Street Experience in old Downtown. And, he talks about the Vegas show that he and the family saw: Zombie Burlesque. GamerDude figured that, if you're going to see a show, might as well see one you're not going to see anywhere else!
Once again borrowing from Johnny Carson's "The Best of Carson," this week's episode features highlights from shows from last season. In this "Best of Storytime," GamerDude talks about cursing, and why he generally doesn't curse. He talks about mis-used and mis-pronounced words. He also delves into the origin of certain words (including the Twitch stream favorite, "chum"), and finishes up by talking about what was behind the curtain in the back of the video stores he grew up with. Enjoy!
Products, stores and brands come and go, some more quickly than others. In this episode, GamerDude talks about some of the things he grew up with that were a part of every day life and that now simply no longer exist. He talks about brands, like Texaco, and Zenith, and RCA. He remembers old airlines, like Pan Am, TWA and Eastern. He talks about some of the stores that were huge once upon a time, like Tower Records, Circuit City and Blockbuster. He remembers products, like Polaroid cameras and Time-Life books. He recalls some of the restaurants he used to go to, from Burger Chef to the Ponderosa Steakhouse. And, he remembers some of the foods, and snacks, and drinks that were very good but that have disappeared from our lives. He talks about Jello Pudding Pops, and Snapple Elements and Carnation Breakfast Bars, as well as one of his favorites: Dunkaroos!
When GamerDude was growing up, there was no internet to "hang out" on, or to shop on, or to meet people on. The "hang out" was the shopping mall. Shopping malls popped up all across the country and, as it turns out, had many of the same stores coast-to-coast. GamerDude talks about the main stores he remembers, from the large "anchor" stores like Sears, JC Penney, and Macy's, to the smaller chains. The malls had clothing stores, like Casual Corner and Chess King, and shoe stores, like Kinney and Thom McAn. You could find books at B. Dalton and Waldenbooks, and electronics and software at Electronics Boutique and Software Etc. Before Yankee Candle, there was Wicks and Sticks, and through it all, Spencer's Gifts is still around.
GamerDude also talks about the food court, where you could find Hot Sam's pretzels and Hickory Farm and the deliciousness of Orange Julius. And, he remembers the relative "fanciness" of The Ground Round.
He also remembers the arcades; malls, both big and small, had arcades for the kids to hang out in, and the larger arcades would get the new release games before anyone else. It was the mall arcades where you could find the large, sit-down versions of games like Star Wars and pilot your own X-Wing fighter. GamerDude remembers what it was like to hang out in the arcade with friends, or to walk through the mall with a date. It was the perfect opportunity to get to know someone, and one that is lost to the way the world has changed.
Going to the grocery store is often one of the least favorite shopping trips for most people, and GamerDude remembers that it was no better when he was a kid. Still, despite how terribly boring it was to go, he still learned a lot about budgeting, saving money, and getting the store to give you exactly what you're looking for. He talks about his mom and her little red clicker that she used to keep track of the household budget. He remembers her use of coupons, and how she price shopped between brand names and generic products. He learned that it was okay to tell the butcher exactly how you wanted your cold cuts sliced ("paper thin, please!") and how to get spare bones for the dog. And he remembers taking those skills to the Kroger supermarket he shopped at in college. He also remembers "sample day" at Kroger, where he and his friends would dine on the various sample trays at the store as they completed the weekly shopping trip for chips and soda, and remembers coming home to shop at the bakery outlets in New Jersey because he couldn't find any in Ohio. He concludes by talking about bags, and how paper bags were the only kind of bags that existed when he grew up. They gave way to plastic bags, which are now giving way to re-usable bags, all of which GamerDude finds simply ridiculous.
GamerDude is a huge fan of movies, as his earlier episodes about favorite movies and dreaded movie tropes show. This week, he talks about the movie-going experience and compares the way it is today to the way it was when he was a kid. His recent trip to see Captain Marvel reminded him of how the experience has changed. Today, people have big screen TVs at home, with DVDs they can watch, and sound systems they can use, that can come close to duplicating the "feeling" of the movies. When he was a kid, "big screen" TVs had a 25 inch tube, and movies were interrupted by commercials, and the sound was filtered through tinny speakers in the console. Today, people bring snacks, have meals, text, call, and talk throughout the movies, and seem to have little regard for others in the theater. When GamerDude was a kid, going to the movies was an experience, and he talks about the thrill of going to the darkened theater, waiting for the lights to dim, and diving in to whatever world the movie was about to show him. He talks about how he misses the days of the magic that going to the movies brought, how the original Star Wars and Raider of the Lost Ark were two of his earliest "magical" movies, and how he wishes the experience, and the wonder, and the magic he felt as a kid could be duplicated today.
GamerDude's recent trip to Florida, and his battle to get two seats together on American Airlines, inspired this week's episode. GamerDude talks about how booking tickets on planes on the internet today is very different from having to call each airline's 800 number to get schedules and tickets when he was younger. He talks about the recent trip he and Mrs. GD took, where American Airlines "spun the wheel of random seating" and gave them two tickets, randomly placed in the plane, and required a fee for each seat to get two seats together - even though the tickets were bought together. He also talks about Peoples Express, one of the first discount airlines, and how convenient and inexpensive it made air travel in the 1980s. He talks about how easy it used to be to fly, and how inconvenient flying has become over the years. He also talks about Spirit Air, the spiritual successor to Peoples Express, and how he prefers their upfront style of selling airfare and all the trimmings.
Taking a page from Johnny Carson's playbook, GamerDude created this "Best of Storytime" episode. It's a re-run that's not a re-run; rather, it's highlights from previous episodes that have gotten the most mentions from listeners, or that GameDude especially likes. In this week's Best Of episode, GamerDude has included the stories of his first date in 8th grade, some thoughts about the power of music, the feelings about friendship inspired by the original Star Trek series, and his driving pet peeves. Enjoy!
The title for this episode comes from a quote by Dr. Maxwell Maltz: "Low self-esteem is like driving through life with your hand brake on." Low self-esteem is just one of the many insecurities GamerDude has dealt with in his life; that was built in to being "the fat kid" in school. In this episode, he talks about how he came to recognize the insecurities he faced as a child, and the things that spawned them. He remembers being taunted in school, and being picked last in sports, and feeling mortified at having to participate in the "dance unit" during physical education classes. He talks about a party in high school where he truly believed that absolutely no one wanted to talk to him. He also talks about the things he did - and continues to do - to help overcome those insecurities. He remembers the first time he shook off the fear of "what other people thought" in order to dance with the girl he was dating. He talks about learning to trust yourself, to like yourself, and to approve of yourself. He discusses becoming comfortable in your own skin, and realizing that you shouldn't compare yourself to others to determine your worth, and you don't need anyone's approval but your own in order to feel good about yourself.
The longer you live, the more things you see, and that's what GamerDude is talking about in this episode. He talks about the innovation of the transistor radio and how it made music and entertainment portable. He talks about listening to records when he grew up, from vinyl LPs to the little 45s, and his father's old 78s. He remember when cassette tapes came onto the scene, and how they led to the development of the Walkman. He talks about recording the audio on television shows with a cassette recorder before VCRs made it possible to record the actual show. He remembers the "fun" of programming a VCR, and the actual fun of learning how to create a program that made a pixel of the Starship Enterprise sail across the screen of his old Commodor 64. And he talks about how eager he is to see what the future holds, given what he's already seen in his life.
Since starting Storytime, GamerDude has compiled a list of random memories of isolated incidents that happened when he was growing up. Some are brief, some more extended, and they will just pop into GamerDude's head out of the blue. In this episode, he talks about Saturday morning cartoons, from Bugs Bunny and Tom & Jerry to H.R. Pufenstuf and The Land of the Lost. He remembers "mittens on a string" and "soap on a rope." He talks about the time he wandered off with the family dog when he was a toddler, and how he discovered the "joys" of Listerine after his mother found him eating dirt in the garden. He talks about how certain smells trigger memories from his childhood, from the smell of strawberries and evergreens to the musty, leathery, oily smell of old sheds that remind him of his grandfather's shop. And, he remembers the first dirty joke his Dad ever told him. (It's not "dirty" by today's standards, but for 8-year old GamerDude, it was over the line!)
GamerDude returns to one of his favorite topics - food! He reminisces about his mother's homemade biscuits, and how she used them as both sides for dinner and the foundation for her homemade strawberry shortcake. He talks about how he has always tried, but never been able to duplicate his mother's biscuits, and talks about trying to make pie crusts as well. Despite those challenges, he talks about how baking is not as difficult as some would make it seem. He shares some tips he's learned from baking for many years, from the staples to have in the pantry to tips on baking, from how to mix ingredients to how to test a cake for doneness. He then shares one of his chocolate chip cookie recipes (but does NOT advocate eating the uncooked cookie dough, because that would be unhealthy), and closes the episode with a tip on how to create a substitute for buttermilk. If you need a confidence boost about your baking skills, or simply want a great cookie recipe, this is your episode!
Dungeons and Dragons was the game that introduced GamerDude to role-playing games, and to a group of like-minded gamers in college. He was an old-school Advanced Dungeons & Dragons player (AD&D); he and his group played First Edition rules. In this episode, he talks about how he got into AD&D, and what the game was all about. He talks about the various books and manuals involved, and how you were supposed to create your characters for your fantasy adventures. He talks about the various races (human, elf, dwarf and halfling) and classes (fighter, magic-user, cleric, thief, monk and the special bard class) and alignments, from Lawful Good to Chaotic Evil. He explains how AD&D used a variety of dice, from 4-sided all the way to 20-sided, and he talks about "dice prison" for dice that misbehaved during crucial game play. He also tells the story of the time he tried to get his mother to roll-up a character for a family session of D&D not surprisingly, it did not go as planned.
GamerDude talks about why he started running when he was young. He touches on his days as "the fat kid" and how that initially inspired him, and then talks about what became his "bible" of running, an old book called "The Beginning Runner's Guide." He tells the story about how he was paired up with one of the track team members in high school during gym class (before he lost the weight), and how crushing it was to see that runner finish a lap before GamerDude was half-way around the track. He talks about his first real running shoes, and how he leared that running slowly still counts as "running." He remembers running the track after he graduated high school, and timing himself in the mile. He talks about training himself for distance running, and how he coached himself to be able to run a six-mile route. And he explains how a six-mile run on a hot July day caused him to remove the six-mile distance from his schedule. Finally, GamerDude talks about the importance of finding "your thing," and doing it, not only for the physical benefits, but for the mental benefits as well.
In this episode, GamerDude goes back to the movie theater to talk about 10 of his favorite under-rated comedies. Probably none of these movies will make anyone's Top Ten List of all time great movies, but they all have appeal to GamerDude on some level. There are some absurd movies on this list, including The Golden Child and Big Trouble in Little China, and some genuine comedy gems, including Galaxy Quest, Keanu and Hot Fuzz. GamerDude gives a brief synopsis of all 10 of his favorite under-rated comedies.
In the second part of this episode, GamerDude pulls out the Trusty Trope Book to gripe about 10 more of his least favorite movie tropes. You've seen that scene where someone is trying to tell the hero something and keeps getting interrupted? That's on the list, as are the scenes where women are wearing high heels in situations where no reasonable women would consider doing so, and how the TV in the local bar is ALWAYS tuned to the news channel and the critical news flash pops up on the screen just as our hero walks in. GamerDude talks about these, and seven more over-used tropes and cliches.
When he was a kid, GamerDude loved winter. He talks about how hard it was to go through the long days of school from January 2 through mid-February, and how he longed for the occasional snow day. He remembers riding the bus to school in the snow, and the clank of the snow chains on the road, which made getting to school so much easier than it is now. He talks about the snowball fights they used to have in his neighborhood, and explains why he never took to skiing. He talks about the winter activities he did enjoy, from skating to sledding, and he talks about riding flying saucers, Flexible Flyers and toboggans down the hills near his home. And he talks about the snow ramp he and his friends built at the bottom of a hill, and his attempts to photograph the result.
As 2018 draws to a close, GamerDude talks about that week between Christmas and New Year's when he was a kid. He remembers the lull between the holidays, when the new Christmas toys got tested, and when he would thoroughly enjoy the time off from school. He talks about the New Year's Eve tradition his father had that he continues to this day. GamerDude Dad celebrated New Year's Eve by ordering in a bunch of Chinese food (Happy Family, anyone? Fried dumplings?), watching movies, playing games, and waiting for the Times Square ball to drop at midnight, and that's exactly what GamerDude does to this day.
In this episode, GamerDude also takes some time to look back at the first year of the podcast, remembers some of the more memorable episodes, and thanks all of the listeners for their time, and their support.
Thank you for a fantastic 2018! Here's to more stories in 2019! Happy New Year!
For anyone who celebrates Christmas, it can be a lot of things: fun, happy, stressful, depressing, demanding. But for GamerDude, as a kid, Christmas was nothing but exciting! In this episode, he talks about that excitement, and how it permeated every aspect of his life. He talks about walking around with a "Christmas soundtrack" playing in his head, full of sleigh bells and chimes. He talks about going through the Sears Roebuck Christmas Wishbook, the big catalogue of toys (and other things) that Sears put out each year. He remembers the Christmas concerts he played in for band, and the songs he sang in chorus practice during music class. He remembers the family discussions about which grandmother was visiting, and bunking with his brother on Christmas eve when Grandma stayed over. And he remembers the sleigh bells he is certain he heard one Christmas eve, in the middle of the night, as well as the giddy thrills of waking up on Christmas morning. Last but not least, he shares his Christmas wishes for all.
GamerDude is an old-school Christmas shopper. This week, he reminisces about how his parents taught him both how to budget for the holidays, and how to pick out the "perfect" gift. He remembers his father giving him five dollars and sending him off through the local mall (which had 10 stores in it) to find gifts for his mother, his brother and his sister. He remembers that his father never told him what to get, but taught him to ask the question: "What does that person like?" GamerDude talks about how he learned the importance of giving a gift that was something more than just a "thing;" he learned the importance of paying attention to the interests and needs of the person he was shopping for, and finding a specific gift for that person. He also learned the importance of budgeting for Christmas, and that the quality of the gift meant much more than the quantity. He also tells the stories about his two most memorable Christmas gifts from his childhood - a pair of snow tires, and a bike (which he promptly rode into the stream on Christmas morning). And he talks about how he has braved the malls at the holidays (including on Black Friday) and how much better it is to shop from the comfort of your living room, in your pajamas and slippers.
Everyone has their favorite Christmas movies, and GamerDude is no exception. In this episode, he gives his criteria for what makes a good Christmas movie, and explains why Die Hard and Lethal Weapon don't make his list. (They're great action movies that happen to be set at Christmas!) He talks about five of his favorite Christmas movies that are often overlooked, or underappreciated, which include Four Christmases, Scrooged, Arthur Christmas, Disney's A Christmas Carol, and The Polar Express, and he talks about why he likes each one. He then gives his list of five favorite Christmas movies, and talks about each: Fred Claus, Christmas Vacation, Elf, A Christmas Story, and Love, Actually. He then talks about why, for him, Love, Actually is his favorite Christmas movie, and explains why he disagrees with the critics who have found so much fault with the relationships in the movie. SPOILER ALERT: The last five minutes of this episode (which contains the defense of Love, Actually) is thick with spoilers, so if you want to avoid them, it's best to skip those last five minutes.
When GamerDude was a kid, the Christmas decorating season didn't start until just after Thanksgiving. In this episode, he talks about the thrill that kids felt at the start of that season, and talks about the "traditional" family decorations his parents put out each year. He talks about the green floodlight his dad shone on the porch each holiday, and the gigantic Christmas star he built. He remembers his parents' "rigid Santa," his mother's "N O E L" letters, and the candle-powered bell chime his mother loved. He remembers his father's fondness for ceramic Christmas trees, and how many he found stored away after his father was gone. He talks about how his family ALWAYS had a live Christmas tree, and how the size of the tree shrunk year after year. And, he tells the story of the ill-fated indoor snow-maker for the Christmas tree that made one appearance in his family's house and then, mysteriously, disappeared forever.
Thanksgiving was always a big holiday growing up. GamerDude always looked forward to the four-day weekend from school, and all the food and sports coming up over the long weekend. He talks about the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, and the various balloons he's seen over the years. He talks about visiting his grandmothers' homes for the holidays, and how family politics always influenced who visited whom, when, and where. He talks about holiday leftovers, how his cousins picked the turkey clean one year, and how the meals shifted from his grandmothers' homes to his family's house. He talks about some of the traditional sides, and gives you the recipe for his mom's standard turkey stuffing. (Really! Grab a pen and paper!) And he talks about how important it is to remember the good that we all have in our lives, and to be grateful for it. He also thanks his twitch family and his listeners for their support, and for being part of his life.
GamerDude grew up in the days before ESPN, sportsradio, and hot takes, and long before the NFL became the behemouth that it is today. When he was a kid, the only highlights he was able to see were featured on This Week In The NFL, a weekly highlight show. That once-a-week show was put together by NFL Films, which was founded by Ed Sabol, and Ed combined presentation, music, and narration in such a way that even the most mundane of games felt like an epic adventure. GamerDude talks about his fandom for the Jets, and the Giants, where NFL Films came from, and how he looked forward to the highlights every week. He talks about the creation of NFL Films, the music it used in the highlight packages, and the voice of the NFL, John Facenda. For folks of a certain age, these are the sounds of the NFL.
GamerDude's first memories of being interested in the government and politics date back to the 7th grade. He talks about how the basics of the US government - the three branches (legisltaive, executive and judicial) and their interlocking checks and balances - were the foundation of his "social studies" class in grade school. He talks about how his assignments included identifying his Congressional representatives, and understanding how the government worked, and explains how that led to his interest in politics and the political system. He talks about the evolution of the Republican and Democratic parties, how and why their philosophies flip-flopped over time, and how that impacted his decision to register to vote. He compares how he believed things worked when he registered to vote with how he discovered them to truly be, and he talks about the necessity for having conscientious representatives in the government working with a government intended to support and protect its citizens. And he does it all in a way that - with luck - won't put you to sleep!
In this episode, GamerDude talks about growing up as someone who worried about every single thing. He worried about what clothes he wore, what kids were going to bully him, which kids were going to mock his lunch box, whether he was going to fail a class, whether he was going to get into trouble, whether he was ever going to college. He talks about how his mother tried to convince him that it didn't matter what other kids thought, and how hard it is for a kid to accept that. He then returns to The Bookhouse, the story book series from which his mother read to him as a child, and shares the story of The Three Sillies, by Joseph Jacobs, which is all about unnecessarily worrying about silly things. He then talks about overcoming his tendency to worry, and about how his father's philosophy of never dwelling on "woulda, coulda, shoulda" helped him learn not to worry about things he couldn't control. GamerDude concludes with a little life advice on how to keep your unnecessary worrying to a minimum.
When GamerDude was growing up, Halloween was not as focused on the scary, creepy stuff as it is today. When he was a kid, Halloween was about putting together as good a costume as you could and, more importantly, going trick-or-treating to as many houses to get as many treats as was humanly possible. GamerDude talks about the old style Halloween costumes he could never afford as a kid, which is why he always had home-made costumes. He talks about his playing card costume, and his partner costumes, when he was Oliver Hardy (to his friend's Stan Laurel), and when he played an organ grinder while his pal Vinnie played a monkey. GamerDude also talks about how important covering as many houses as possible was, the kind of treats he got, and why he had to stash his candy all throughout his bedroom.
Halloween was also about the night before. It was called "Mischief Night" where GamerDude grew up, but it's also known as "goosie night" and "devil's night" (as well as other names). It's when the kids go out and play (supposedly) harmless pranks in the neighborhood. In this episode, GamerDude tells the tale of the "Great Fence Toilet Papering," which also explains why GamerDude stopped going out for mischief night.
GamerDude grew up when "the family dinner" was a regular, almost ritualistic, thing. Dinner time was regularly scheduled and the family gathered 'round the table for the main meal of the day at the same time every day. Everyone exchanged stories during the meal - and Mom and Dad made sure the kids knew how to behave at the table. GamerDude's parents taught him about how to set the table properly, which fork went where, how to place the napkins and the other silverware, and how to behave during the meal, and these manners were drilled into him and his siblings every day. He learned that there were forks for every occasion, a use for a variety of plates, and where to place the folded napkin. GamerDude tells the tales of how putting his elbows on the table was a cardinal sin, and how he learned "dinner table math," which involved how to calculate how much food he could take from the serving plate while leaving enough for everyone else at the table. He was taught to never take the last piece, and never assume there was going to be enough for seconds. And, most importantly, he learned to keep his elbows off the table.
Everyone has some kind of superstition or two (or twelve) that they believe in and GamerDude is no exception. In this week's episode, he talks about the superstitions he's heard about over the years, and the ones that he's accepted as well as the ones he's scoffed at. For instance, he doesn't believe that Friday the 13th is an unlucky day, but he believe that if he "sees a penny and picks it up, all that day he'll have good luck." He believes it's bad luck to walk under a ladder (and a safety code violation!) but doesn't put any stock in a rabbit's foot (which is especially unlucky for the rabbit who lost it). He'll knock on wood, hang a horseshoe, and cross his fingers for luck, but he doesn't worry about black cats, umbrellas in the house, or itchy palms. But don't get him started on vampires.
And, in case you're wondering about the inspiration for the title of this episode, it's Stevie Wonder's classic.
GamerDude has always been a fan of language, words and phrases, and the odder the better. He is, for lack of a better term, a "word nerd," and in this episode, he shares some stories about some of the more interesting words and phrases he's come across and enjoyed over the years. He talks about where "poppycock" and "balderdash" came from, and tells the origin story for his Twitch stream's favorite word: chum. (Spoiler alert: it's short for "chamber-fellow.") He also talks about some other odd phrases, like "knock on wood," "getting down to brass tacks," and "letting the cat out of the bag." He also explains how "hush puppies" got their name, how you can actually get "cooties," and many others. If you enjoy words and language, you'll enjoy these stories!
The political turmoil in the world, and the battle going on in the U.S. Senate over the Supreme Court nominee in September 2018, inspired GamerDude to talk about right and wrong. In this Episode, GamerDude tells some stories about how he was taught the difference between right and wrong and how the "wrong" things he did always had consequences. He takes on the notion that has been voiced in the world that suggests that all boys behave a certain way, and refutes it. He talks about the height of his "bad" behavior, which included almost setting his child-hood clubhouse on fire, throwing rocks and snowballs at cars, and smoking cigarettes. He explains how this education in doing what's "right" and avoiding what's "wrong" impacted his behavior when he was a kid, and influences his actions, thoughts and deeds to this day. And he talks about the bond between humans that we may not even know exists, but that should influence our desire to do good things in the world, and to watch out for each other.
GamerDude has always been a sports fan, and the first sport he loved was baseball. Because the only local channel his family could pick up on the old TV was the Yankees' flagship station, he became a Yankee fan. His fandom started when the Yankees were at their worst, and when his favorite players were Horace Clark, Gene Michael, Roy White and Bobby Murcer. He talks about those players, and his trips to old Yankee Stadium. He talks about his grandmother, a former Brooklyn Dodgers fan, who became a fan of the Mets. He also talks about how his father got tickets to the World Series in 1977, and the deciding game of the 1976 American League Championship Series, and how he and his trumpet helped the Yankees win that day.
If you've never seen the homerun that is GamerDude's favorite baseball moment of all time, you can check it out here.
September is always "back to school" time, and it was no different for GamerDude. In this episode, he talks about preparing for going back to school, from cramming in the last minute shopping and preparations right after vacation to the quest for the perfect lunchbox. He talks about the Snoopy lunch box he always wanted, and how he was only able to use it for three days in the fifth grade. He talks about shopping for school clothes in the "Husky" section at Sears, and JC Penney, and KMart, and the other local KMart knock-offs. He also talks about how he missed out on the Trapper Keeper because "cool" high school kids only used loose leaf binders and spiral note books. And he talks about walking to the bus stop, and wearing those ghastly yellow rain coats while waiting for the bus, and compares those days to today, when each kid seems to have their own personalized bus stop right at the end of their driveways.
As he's talked about in previous episodes, GamerDude is a big fan of the movies. In this episode, he talks about 10 classic movies from the "good old days" that he believes everyone should take the time and add to their "must see" movie list. Now, these are not the 10 greatest movies of all time, or the 10 best; these are just 10 movies that, to GamerDude, are really good movies that everyone should take the time to watch. The list runs the gamut from The Wizard of Oz to The Dirty Dozen, and includes comedies, dramas and action films.
With all of the movies he's watched over the years, GamerDude has also compiled a list of what he considers to be the most over-used movie tropes - those scenes or devices that they use in every movie that, after so many years of overuse, are boring and almost painful to watch. From the ever-present empty parking spot in front of every building our hero visits to machine guns that are never able to hit the target, GamerDude gives you a list of 10 tropes he can do without.
In another "very special episode" of Storytime, GamerDude talks about growing up as a Christian Scientist, which is a religion that focuses, in part, on healing through prayer. He talks about growing up without medicine and never having gone to a doctor as a child. He explains how his parents were devout Christian Scientists, how he and his siblings were brought up in the religion, and how it impacted his life growing up. He also talks about how and why he stopped practicing Christian Science in his 20s, which started when a girlfriend insisted he take some aspirin when he was sick. He talks about how his sense of spirituality has grown and changed since childhood, and how his beliefs today reflect his experiences as he has grown.
GamerDude has always been a fan of television and in this episode, he has more stories about the TV shows he grew up with. Television changed in the 1970s, right when GamerDude was at his most impressionable. In addition to explaining how all TV in the 1970s was "appointment TV" because there was no way to record the shows, he talks about the changes in television, from allowing married couples to actually share a bed on television, to the acceptance of "bathroom humor" in All in the Family, to the the "T & A" shows of the '70s, which gave us "Daisy Dukes," Three's Company, and Charlie's Angels. GamerDude also talks about his top five most memorable shows from the '70s: Starsky and Hutch, Charlie's Angels, Fantasy Island, Happy Days and One Day At a Time. As you might expect, two of those choices had everything to do with a young, hormonal teenager falling "in love" with the characters on the shows. To wrap this episode up, GamerDude re-visits his "Five Season Rule" for television series, because he just won't stop talking about it!
Books have always held a special place in GamerDude's heart. For as long as he can remember, he has used books to visit different places, differnt times, different worlds, and has used them both as entertainment and as an escape. In this episode, he talks about the books he read as a kid, starting in kindergarten, when he discovered Sally, Dick and Jane. He moved on to The Hardy Boys and devoured as many of their books as he could get his hands on. He talks about discovering The Three Investigators when browsing the Scholastic Book Club Catalog and remembers his favorite sports books: Great Moments in Pro Football, Strange But True Football Stories and Strange But True Baseball Stories. And he talks about the only biography he remembers from childhood - the story of Yankee great, Lou Gehrig.
He also talks about some of his favorite authors. He discussed his feelings about Stephen King's works, and how he favors his early works far more than his more recent efforts. And he talks about Donald E. Westlake, the prolific master of the caper novel, and two of his favorite books from his teen years: Cops and Robbers and The Hot Rock. He also mentions some of his other favorite authors: Elmore Leonard, Lee Childs, and Michael Connelly, before wrapping up by discussing how much he misses the days when he could just sit and read.
GamerDude has more stories about his father, "GamerDad". In this episode, GamerDude tells the stories of the bonding moments he remembers with his father. He tells the story about the one time his father actually played softball with him and the neighborhood kids, wearing Bermuda shorts and combat boots. He talks about bonding with his father while sorting nails and screws and nuts and bolts in the precursor to "the Man Cave," that area of the basement known as "The Workbench." GamerDude then revisits the trips to the auctions his father attended every Saturday, and talks about the "wonder boxes" his dad would bring home. He then talks about two memorable moments when his father came to his rescue, once when his car broke down at Great Adventure, and once after "The Great Bike Accident." The thing GamerDude remembers most about his dad is, as difficult a man as he could be, he was always there, and that is a tradition that GamerDude has tried to carry on with his own kids - being there.
As the end of summer slowly approaches, GamerDude remembers when he first left home to attend college. He tells the stories about how his parents vetoed his thoughts of attending college at the beach, nixing his plans to apply to the College of the Virgin Islands and the University of Tampa, and explains how and why he wound up at Bowling Green State University in Ohio. He talks about how nervous he was about meeting his first roommate, who was supposed to be an international exchange student, and how he figured out a way to meet people in a place where he did not know a single soul. He then talks about his first major - journalism, why he choose it, and why he changed it. He talks about the majors he went through - from journalism to accounting to business to education before settling on a liberal arts degree. He closes by talking about how the college experience gave him the understanding that he was free to make choices that were right for him, even though those choices might not be what others would consider "right."
Reading, and telling stories, and listening to stories, has always been a part of GamerDude's life. In this episode, he talks about how his mother used to read to him when he was young, how many of the stories have stayed with him through the years, and how he has passed those stories on to his kids. He talks about the "My Bookhouse" collection he grew up with, and some of the stories his mother read to him. He then reads one of his favorites: The Knights of the Silver Shield.
GamerDude's passion for cars and driving is well-known. The stories today go back to when he first became aware of the mechanics of driving while driving with his Dad. He talks about when he drove his aunt's Ford Bronco in her field when he was 11, and how that gave him "the bug" for driving. He talks about driving up and down his parents' driveway hundreds of times, practicing K-turns and parallel parking, and damaging two cars in the process. He tells the story about his driving test in an ice storm, and his first accident a week later. He talks about how he enjoys driving, and seeing things, and going places, and experiencing them first-hand from behind the wheel. GamerDude finishes the episode with a rant about driving and the pet peeves he has today, from people who don't signal and don't know how to make a left turn, to the rubber-neckers and texters who make the roads a hazard for everyone.
GamerDude's father found out about Chincoteague, Virginia when GamerDude was still young, and discovered it was an answer to a prayer - it gave the family the perfect vacation, at least as far as GamerDad was concerned. Chincoteague is right next to the Assateague National Seashore, and it gave GamerDude's dad a quiet, undeveloped, non-commercial vacation spot where he could sit on the sand, read a book, and watch the ocean. It was great for a busy corporate type, but for GamerDude, it was just another situation where he had to find ways to entertain himself. In this episode, he talks about the various vacation rentals his family used over the years, from a mobile home, to a two-bedroom cottage, to a creaky old Victorian style home. He talks about the dinners out, the fried food in the south, and the deliciousness that is fresh seafood right off the boat. He remembers Bill's Seafood Restaurant and the giant flounder filets, as well as fresh claim strips and sauteed sea scallops. On the beach, he talks about keeping himself busy for hours, learning to body surf. And he talks about keeping busy when not on the beach, from riding bikes to playing outside as the mosquito truck made its rounds. He also remembers discovering an Asteroids game at the local campground, and a table-top Space Invaders game at the local Pizza Hut, which began his life-long love affair with video games. And GamerDude recalls how his dad punched a couch, and remembers how he discovered that his parents were still . . . romantically inclined.
Independence Day in the US means different things to different people. When GamerDude was growing up, sparklers and the town fireworks were part of the tradition. He tells the stories about how sparklers were THE big thing. He remembers his family's efforts to enjoy the bicentennial of the United States. That involved trying to see the "tall ships" and the biggest fireworks display ever, while his dad still tried to avoid lines and traffic. GamerDude remembers his trip into New York, as a young adult, to see the Macy's fireworks display, and All. That. Walking. And he tells the story about how, as a teenager, he smuggled fireworks home from vacation one year so that he could have his own fireworks display for the family on the following Fourth of July. It went off without a hitch.....mostly.
When GamerDude was a kid, the family vacation was all about where Dad wanted to go, and it was up to the kids to find ways to amuse themselves. GamerDude tells stories about the many things he and his siblings had to do for entertainment in the days before cell phones and portable DVD players. He talks about license plate bingo and the game of "Horse." He remembers the constant fight for the middle seat, first in the trusty family station wagon (this is the actual make and color!) and then in the family VW Van. He tells stories about the memorable moments from the vacations he took with his parents, from Niagra Falls to Lake Champlain to Washington D.C. to New Hampshire, and speculates as to why his dad never took the family to the Jersey Shore, even though they lived in New Jersey!
For GamerDude, summertime was always the best time to be a kid. No school, no responsibilities; you got to do pretty much what you wanted to do. In this episode, GamerDude takes the podcast outside, just like his teachers used to take class outside during the last few days of June. He tells stories about the day-trips he and his friends took - by themselves - to Hacklebarney State Park, and the side trip to the local dairy farm for ice cream. He talks about using his lawn-mowing chores to give him an advantage in the neighborhood games of tag, and the various "swimming holes" he had as a kid, from Hemmings Pond, to Camp Washington, to the local community pool. He talks about the difference between hanging out in the summer when he was a kid, and how it is now, and how his generation of "helicopter parents" has changed summer for kids, and not necessarily for the better.
Father's Day is coming up, and GamerDude's stories in this episode celebrate his father. He tells stories about his dad, "GamerDad," and how his dad would have never appreciated that nickname. GamerDude talks about his dad's skills at haggling at garage sales, how GamerDude learned to haggle, and about GamerDad's auction techniques. He tells the story about the family trip to gather tulip bulbs, and the annual "horse manure ritual." And he recalls the story about his dad returning from a business trip and, in order to transport some plants he had found while traveling, posed as a botanist. And these stories barely scratch the surface of the Adventures of GamerDad!
GamerDude always fancied himself as an athlete as a kid - even though, as the fat kid growing up, he was anything but athletic. But he learned about and played baseball, softball, football and basketball with the kids in his neighborhood, and his stories today cover homerun territory over the creek in left field, and the basketball hoop on the telephone pole (because there was no such thing as a portable basketball rim back in the day). He talks about reading all the books he could get his hands on about football, and baseball, and about throwing a ball against the house to practice catching fly balls. He tells stories about his days after college, when he played in a corporate softball league, and his days on the basketball court, playing pickup ball. He also tells the story of his greatest athletic moment as a weekend warrior - the only buzzer beater of his life to win a game for the WRNJ All-Star basketball team. It's moments like that that make sports worth it.
When GamerDude heard about the movie coming out called Action Point, and discovered it was inspired by the real-life amusement park called Action Park, which he'd survived in the 1980s and 1990s, he knew he had to share his stories about that crazy place. If you've never heard of Action Park, here's one of the commercials for it from the 1980s. It was like no other park, before or since, because of the freedom - and the danger! GamerDude's stories today cover the Alpine Slide, the Tarzan Swing, the underground water slide, and the Cannonball Loop. He talks about the cliff diving and the wave pool, as well as the speed boats and the Indy cars. Once you hear these stories, you'll want to go there too!
GamerDude's love for food is no secret, and in this episode of Storytime, he talks about how learning to bake a cake with his father was an important bonding experience with him, and also opened up the roadway to bigger and better things - like homemade chocolate chip cookie dough!. He talks about learning how to frost a cake, and bake cookies, and then moves on to the "regular" food you had to eat before you got to dessert. He talks about his father's aversion to seasoning of any kind, the only condiments allowed in the house, and the one spice his dad approved of: salt. He talks about his mother's ability to stretch the meal budget with fillers for burgers, and pasta sauce that would last for days. GamerDude then gives you his recipe for a basic meat sauce for pasta, which you can make yourself and have homemade sauce in less than an hour. You're welcome!
As Jimmy Buffet said, "Relationships! We all got 'em! We all want 'em! What do we do with 'em?" In this episode of Storytime, GamerDude talks about some of his early relationships, including the story of (as his mother called it) his "on again, off again, in again, Finnegan" relationship that went on for three years. He talks about how he learned how the little things - like being willing to dance - make a difference and passes on some of the tips he's learned over the years regarding relationships. He talks about not losing yourself in a relationship, how to compromise and not sacrifice in a relationship, and the difference between a fight and a discussion. He talks about how a relationship is about two people who are working together, and how communication is so important to a successful relationship. The bottom line of any relationship is being with someone who's interested in you as much as you're interested in them, for who they are, not who you want them to be.
For Mother's Day, GamerDude tells some stories about his mom. He talks about her girls' trip to California before she got married and settled down, and her early teaching career. He talks about all of her creative skills, from the art work, to the writing, to the music, all the way to her tap dancing lessons and recital in her 60s. He talks about how everyone has a different relationship with their mom, and how, despite the ups and downs in the relationship with his, he still loves his mom.
GamerDude's mother taught English and theater and, as a result, was a bit of a "language snob." For as long as he can remember, GamerDude's mom drilled correct pronunciations and correct usage of words into his head, and she passed her "snobbery" on to him. Today's stories involve GamerDude getting in trouble for mis-using the word "nausesous" when refusing to apologize to his sister, and his mother going crazy about the non-word "irregardless" and the mis-pronunciation of "nuclear." She didn't understand why people would say something "needs cleaned" if it "needed to be cleaned." GamerDude explains what is was like to practice phrases like "rubber baby buggy bumpers" and how his mom made sure he didn't develop a New Jersey accent. He then shares some of the words and phrases that, thanks to his mother, drive him crazy when not used properly. "Supposedly," "niche," "irony," and "for all intents and purposes" are all on his list of pet language peeves, as well as far too many others.
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GamerDude tells the story about his first real date in eighth grade, which confirms that dating has always been a difficult process for almost everyone. GamerDude tells stories about the "rules" for dating he grew up with, and how they impacted that first tense phone call with the "girl of his dreams - 8th grade edition." GamerDude lays out the rules, which included the boy asking the girl out and giving her at least a week's notice. There were eating rules (don't order food you have to eat with your fingers), manners rules (hold open the doors and always pull out the date's chair for her) and paying rules (the boy ALWAYS picks up the check). He also talks about how important conversation is on a date, and how being a good listener is as important as being a good talker. GamerDude also passes on the rules that he grew up with that he believes might be helpful to a successful dating life in today's world.
GamerDude talks about how his parents emphasized having manners, and being polite, when he was growing up. He talks about the three basic "tools" he learned growing up - "Please," "Thank you," and "Excuse me." He remembers his mother's look when he forgot to say "please," or "thank you," and talks about the importance of using these basic skills today. He also reminisces about the other rules for being polite he learned as a child, including don't interrupt, keep your negative opinions to yourself, if you don't have anything nice to say don't say anything at all, no name calling, and don't use foul language. He talks about phone etiquette when he was growing up ("always introduce yourself!") and how important that rule is still today, and how to behave at concerts, shows and movies. He remembers how, for his dad, movies were for watching movies, not eating snacks, and the danger of fidgeting, eatings, and rattling candy wrappers near his father during the movie.
GamerDude talks about how the only way to watch movies when he was a kid was either in the movie theater, or waiting for the movie to appear on network TV, or in syndication. He talks about how you never had control over what movies you could watch, or when. He talks about soundtrack albums from musicals as just about the only way to re-visit a movie, and about taping the sound from tv shows and movies so that he could at least listen to them. He tells the story about the first VCR in his family; he and his siblings pooled their money to buy a $400 VCR for their parents' anniversary. GamerDude also talks about video stores; before Blockbuster, there was Hollywood Video, and West Coast Video, together with little mom-and-pop stores in every town, and in every supermarket. He talks about how picking a movie was a cooperative family event. And no story about video stores would be complete without reference to "the room behind the curtain" in the back of just about every video store.
In this episode, GamerDude tells some stories about some of the "Mom-isms" he grew up wiith, which also tend to be universal. From "Because I'm your mother," to "Were you raised in a barn?" Mother GamerDude had a vast "playbook" of phrases she used. She also had an aresenal of colorful metaphors, such as "hopping around like a hen on a hot jonny cake." Then, there was the cursing - or the lack of it. GamerDude talks about how there were very few curse words employed in his house when he was growing up, which is why - to this day - his default curses are phrases like "dagnabbit" and "shut the front door!"
If you'd like to share your favorite "Mom-isms," or curses, or colorful metaphors, you can DM them to GamerDude @ReallyGamerDude on twitter, and they could make it into a future episode!
GamerDude talks about what Easter was like when he was a kid, and how it has changed over the years. He talks briefly about the the religious aspects of Easter and how - perhaps - the Easter Bunny became associated with the religious holiday, but then focuses on the important things to him as a kid: jelly beans, chocolate bunnies, and Easter eggs. He talks about the Easter egg hunts of his childhood, how he never colored eggs until he was an adult, his favorite jelly beans growing up, and the correct way to eat a chocolate bunny. He then talks about the change in the holiday, from mostly candy and eggs to more gifts and goodies, and then shares some memories about Easter, including how Easter is a bowling holiday, how his son almost burned down the neighborhood on Good Friday, and how his mother explained that Palm Sunday does not require an act of self-mutilation.
In this episode of Storytime, GamerDude talks about how music has always been a factor in his life. He discusses his early days taking piano lessons from his mother, followed by his days playing trumpet in middle school and high school. He shares some samples from two classical pieces of music - A Trumpeter's Lullaby and The 1812 Overture - that influenced him then and have stayed with him through the years. He talks about how he finally learned that classical music was the background music for the Bugs Bunny cartoons he grew up with, and plays some samples from The Rabbit of Seville. He then goes on to discuss the evolution of his musical tastes, from classical, to rock, to "adult contemporary"/singer-songwriter, to jazz, to country - even to rap and hip-hop. He then talks about the power of music to evoke feelings, and memories, even when the music comes from the most mundane of things, like a television show. He talks about the composer, Mike Post, and shares samples of several television theme songs (no spoilers!) that remind GamerDude of feelings, and places, and things. This episode is a celebration of the power of music.
GamerDude tells the stories about his first on-air broadcast as a newscaster at his college radio station, doing the 6 a.m. newscast. He talks about how that experience gave him the first nudge in the direction of trying a career in radio. He talks about the influence of Howard Stern, and how the fact that Howard was doing fun, and interesting, and entertaining radio inspired him to get back on the air. (He also recommends Howard's movie, Private Parts, as both a good look at Howard's early career, and as a good movie in general.)
GamerDude talks about his days as a volunteer DJ at a local college radio station, where he learned the basics of radio using old school turntables and a single sound board. He talks about his first full-time job working afternoons at WRNJ, which led to a promotion to Program Director and Morning Man. GamerDude talks about the characters and bits he created, and plays two brief clips from his old morning show. Sadly, the years have degraded the original tapes terribly, and despite the magic of digitization, the sound quality on the clips is not good. But he included the clips, by request, in the hope that they might convey a tiny bit of the flavor of his early days in radio.
In another "very special episode" of Storytime, GamerDude tells some of the stories about how he was bullied as a child. He talks about being known as "four eyes" after he had to get glasses, the passive-aggressive social ostracism of being the fat kid in school, how lunch time and bus rides in school were so painfully difficult and what he did to avoid them, and how he still remembers one particular episode from the seventh grade. He talks about the effects of bullying at the time and the long-lasting effects bullying has had on him. He talks about how bullying can cause depression, and creates trust issues, and how those issues can persist throughout your life. He also talks about how no one has to struggle with the difficulties that bullying presents alone, and reminds everyone that it's okay to reach out and ask for help when you need it.
GamerDude tells the stories about his fascination with Star Trek: The Original Series. He shares his views on the optimisitic future embodied by The Original Series, and why it resonated with him when he watched the show in syndication when he was young. He talks about his admiration for Captain Kirk and the fact that he was a man of action who nevertheless took responsibility for his actions. He explains why a hopeful view of humanity, with all races, religions, creeds and colors working together was so inspiring to him when he was young, and why he still turns to Star Trek as a basis for his continued belief that humanity can better itself, and make the world a better place.
GamerDude shares some stories about how he kept busy after school each day. The "after school routine" included snacks in front of the television, where he discovered Bugs Bunny, Lost in Space, and The Brady Bunch, playing outside with friends, and playing inside when the weather required. He also learned how to cook, and how to bake, and discovered the unmatched joy of fresh, homemade chocolate chip cookie dough. (Yes, it may be bad for you, but it was SO good!)
GamerDude tells some stories about the memories he has of his grandparents. He remembers his grandfathers Mac and Sam, his grandmothers Iva and Pearl, and he shares his memories of visiting with them. He talks about how spotty his memories are because he never realized at the time how many stories about life they could have shared, and he explains how this missing family history helped inspire the stories he tells in Storytime.
GamerDude's stories this time are about his obsessesion with cars, and driving. He talks about the first time he ever drove - at age 11! He talks about his first car, a 1970 VW Bug, and his efforts to get it road-worthy. He talks about "trading up" for a 1969 Plymouth Fury II and his adventures with speed in that car. He tells the tale of the Volvo with the flyaway hood, and talk about the freedom you get driving your own car, and why he objects to self-driving cars.
On "A Very Special Episode" of StoryTime, GamerDude gets very personal about his early life. He shares stories about what it was like to grow up as "the fat kid" in school. He shares stories about how he grew to be that "fat kid," what is was like in school, how it affected him, and how that "fat kid" experience stays with you. He shares the story about how he decided to make the change in his life that allowed him to lose the weight and change his outlook, and he also shares the story of how knowing we're not alone in our struggles makes those struggles easier to handle.
GamerDude has some stories about games from the good ol' days, before consoles, computers and hand-helds. He talks about the first card game he ever learned - Go Fish! - that he played with his great-aunt Freedie. He touches on the other toys he played with, including his Lionel trains, before talking about the board games he grew up on. He tells stories about Monopoly, Parcheesi, Sorry, Trouble, Billionaire, Stratego, Money Card and Risk, which are only the tip of the iceberg of GamerDude's collection of old board games.
In this episode, GamerDude talks about the power of radio and the imagination, and demonstrates how to use it to create images, places, things, and even people, bringing Mister Agador from his Twitch stream to the engineering booth in the process. GamerDude first experienced the power of radio when listening to the broadcasts of the late, great Jean Shepherd, whose stories were the basis for the classic movie A Christmas Story. GamerDude talks about how he would curl up under his covers and listen to Jean's stories, and how those stories influenced him, and his life. As mentioned in this episode, many of Jean Shepherd's original radio broadcasts are available on YouTube, including A Christmas Story, The Great Indiana Blizzard and Paperboy Stories. He also wrote several books, including The Ferrari in the Bedroom and Wanda Hickey's Night of Golden Memories, both available on Amazon.
GamerDude's stories about phones start with Andy Griffith's "candlestick" phones and his calls to Mt. Pilate, to Grandma's vintage dial phones that weighed as much as a ship's anchor, to the kitchen phone that was the focal point of the house, to the bedroom extensions that Papa GamerDude added, and the prank calls to California. And let's not forget the shared party-line with the neighbors that Mother GamerDude never let the kids take advantage of.
In this pilot episode of Storytime, GamerDude talks about the inspirations behind this podcast. It started with his story-telling during his live Twitch streams, expanded as he worked on The GamerCat Show with ReactiveCat, and traces it roots back to his days as a radio broadcaster. He also talks about his inspiration from the late Jean Shepard, iconic radio broadcaster in New York, and the author whose work inspired the classic movie A Christmas Story. GamerDude's plans for Storytime include stories about growing up, games, bullying, parents, kids, siblings, relationships, love, friendship, and many other topics. Storytime is simply going to be stories about life.