Oh well, I'm good so far on my planned exercise. Ate great again yesterday so I've got a groove going here. That said, I need to be sure I don't get comfortable or complacent. Seems when I do my guard falls and I tend to let temptation a bit closer than is safe.
This evening we go to the wedding rehearsal for our friends Eileen & Brian. It'll be fun, and easy for me; I am just there as the husband of a bridesmaid. Oh and a friend I suppose too :-) Looking forward to it, is it time to go yet? No, how about now?
In Sunday's post I spoke of being able to fit into 2XL shirt comfortably now. There it is in the picture, the one I picked up that day, it fits amazingly well, Oh Yeah! Sorry, couldn't help myself to an early Oh Yeah.
Yep, you are not seeing things. It is a retro KISS t-shirt exactly the same as the one I owned when I was a teenager. Well that one was probably an L, or XL at most, and this one is new, allot newer, like 30+ years newer. Oh, and you bet your sweet cheeks I am wearing this to the wedding rehearsal tonight.
KISS, still a big fan. Like many people, my favorite music is still what I enjoyed as a teen. Oh I listen to a bunch of stuff from the decades since too, in fact my favorite band, Chevelle, has only been at it about 10 years. KISS is more than just outstanding music to me, it's music holds a boat load of memories for me too.
Some of those memories are probably better left where they are, in my mind. But one memory I have of KISS is simply cool beyond cool. I am talking Grandma Cool. The year was 1977 and I had recently discovered KISS. Quickly I was not just a fan, I was a member of the KISS Army. But I didn't have one of their albums, everyone else did, but not me. I heard it everywhere but in my own home.
It didn't seem likely to happen any time soon either as I had asked my parents to buy me my favorite album, but they would not. Apparently I still owed them for the new baseball bat they bought me, details. When my Grandma Alma heard that I was into KISS she didn't do what many Grandma's would have, turn up their nose. Nope, she went to the record store to hear what they sounded like.
She thought they were terrible and would tell me "Grown men in make up ought to be in the circus," or something like that. Her opinions noted, and quickly dismissed, I still thought she was cool for having listened to them. But a minute later her coolness factor rose ten-fold when she handed me a brand-spanking-new copy of KISS' album "Rock and Roll Over", my favorite.
Those of you who know their KISS will recognise that album cover on my t-shirt there. So this shirt is not just cool because my getting healthier has allowed me to fit into it, it also brings back cool memories of my Grandma.
Thank You Grandma!
Come on, you must have a cool Grandma story, fess up!
Responsibility 199 - Gotta Do It!!
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I love this...the KISS the grandma...the fact that I I know about KISS really is that I was fascinated by the MenInMakeup when I was young.
ReplyDeletesign me:
MUSICALLY UNHIP
Such a great story Patrick. I have similiar memories of my Grandma I have tucked away and forgot, until you just reminded me.
ReplyDeleteOne of my favorite Grandma Lucy memories was during one weekend I spent with her, I was sitting on her lap when I was about 7 or 8, and we were pouring through the Sears Catalog (I still can't believe they don't publish a catalog anymore). Anyway, we came to the ladies' undergarment section and I remember asking her what a "derriere" was, as it was in the description for a lot of the support garments. I remember her telling me it was a fancy French word for my tush. I just thought that was hilarious and we both wound up with a fit of the giggles. The rest of the weekend we used the word "derriere' whenever we could and would just crack up. My grandpa thought we were crazy!
ReplyDeleteAs far as Kiss memories, I remember Mark Ping from 4th grade. Absolute Kiss fanatic. Kiss makeup every Halloween, Kiss t-shirts, Kiss patches on his jacket, Kiss lunchbox, Kiss school supplies, one-tracked Kiss conversations. There was never a fourth grader who loved them more. Mark Ping, wherever you are--ROCK ON, DUDE!
First concert I remember, 13 years old, 1977, Love Gun Tour, Madison Square Garden, high as a kite.. So Gene Simmons steals all of Paul Stanley's talent and dumps Ace Frehley for the LA Life.. Not a fan, alright, I am... Three songs, makeup and pyrotechnics... Yeah baby, thanks for the memories
ReplyDeleteYou will soon be in a XL and lovin it!!!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE the music from that time & before when bands could sound great without all the fancy gadgets & machines to make a singer sound "like they are good".
ReplyDeleteNow that grandma.. very cool!!!!!
Patrick, congrats on all you are accomplishing!
You ROCK!!!!!You look amazing in your KISS T-shirt. Have fun at the wedding, remember you can burn a ton of calories dancing. Let us know how it goes.
ReplyDeleteMy grandma loved all music. She didn't understand any of it, but it didn't matter WHAT we put on the radio, she'd start humming and tapping her foot and say, "oh yeah, Chrishinka (that's what she called me), this music is GOOD ya?" She even liked KISS!
ReplyDeleteBy the way, maybe it's just your pose in that picture of something, but that shirt looks one size too big on you.
OK...KISS in their heyday (is that spelled right?) is a bit before my time but they have certainly transcended through the generations. I admit my guilty pleasure is Gene Simmons' reality show. As for Grandma stories - my one grandma rocked - she taught me how to bowl and how to golf. Neat lady. My other grandma was a nazi (I'm pretty sure almost literally) and generally mean. Hmmm... guess everyone probably has their "A" grandparents and "B" grandparents. Great story! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteAwesome story, made me smile. It was cool when she listened to it, it was even better when she still bought the album.
ReplyDeleteKISS was just here this past weekend. My boss went and took my co-worker's 13 year old daughter (sounds wierd but its not, long story) and they told me it was still a great show.
Great story! Love the pic!! Good job Patrick!
ReplyDeleteI love remembering my grandmas. One was French--tiny, cute, and funny. The other was Tennessean--large, comfy, and the smartest person I knew. So very different, but they both made me feel totally loved. Thanks for the memories. Thanks for your story, Patrick. What a find to get the perfect Kiss T in your brand new size! Read tonight's post to see what DH has to say about you.
ReplyDeleteMy 8 year old daughter is SERIOUSLY into KISS for some reason. She just loves them. Neither her dad or I were ever fanatics of these guys, but we enjoy her enjoyment of them. He is a Pink Floyd guy and I was always a John Cougar Mellencamp/Aerosmith girl. WTH did KISS come from? Thanks for sharing your memories.
ReplyDeleteSo, I have to ask the obvious question. Did Grandma pass down her cool genes? Rock on!
ReplyDeleteCool T-shirt and you look great in it. I remember both of my grandmothers, one was nice and soft and the other one was a spit fire. Good post.
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing post! I got so emotional for some reason. I felt a lot of beautiful things reading this. The tshit is awesome!!!!!!!! Your grandma is even more! I don't have a grandma like that but I guess I have a matching mother :) She got a tattoo of my name on her right wrist after I got my first tattoo! ♥ Rock on!
ReplyDeleteOk so when I was younger I was really into Madonna. My Grandma came over and watched hours of videos of her live with me when I was sick one day. Awesome.
ReplyDeleteI-- want to rock and roll all niiiight...and party every day!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great memory of your Grandma!
Great post and, Patrick, you are gettin' skinny.
ReplyDelete