Shawn Savarese.
This kid was the coolest kid in the world.....or so we thought. His 'cooleness' eclipsed all rational thought. He was also one of those kids that did everything....literally everything and amped up the story so big that he was obviously lying....but we went along with it.
For example:
He played drums and said to us one time "Yeah, I had a bass drum that wasn't working right so I hung it on the wall in my basement and shot it with a shot-gun....stupid thing....."
We believed him.
Looking back I don't know why.
When we were in 7th grade our bikes were our cars. We went everywhere....just because we could. My parents didn't much care where I was as long as I was home before it was dark. (My what a different world we live in now huh.)
Shawn wanted to go over to the local grocery store (Smith's Food King). When we did, he decided it would be fun to go around to the back of the store. Neither Chris or I had ever even thought to do that. We followed and found cases of Oreo cookies that were being thrown away. (Why anyone would throw away Oreos is beyond me.....)
Shawn took a bunch of bags of Oreos and threw them up on the roof and started climbing the drain pipe to get up on the roof. I followed then helped Chris make it up. We were on the top of the building for just a couple of minutes when Shawn opened a bag of Oreos and started throwing them at the people going in and out of the store while hiding behind the big "Smith's" sign.
Chris and I threw a few ourselves then looked at each other and said "Maybe we should leave now...."
Right as Chris and I were finished down the drainpipe, hatches all over the roof started to open with Smith's employees and managers coming after us. Chris and I were already on the ground when we heard them all starting to yell at Shawn and we took our bikes and hid in the hills behind Smiths.
Shawn ran and jumped off the roof to the ground (at least like 16 or more feet up to the roof) and hit the ground running. We all laid low until all the managers and employees left. I thought I was going to have a heart attack from the pounding in my chest. They did come looking for us in the hills but didn't find us. Shawn took off one way and we the other. I don't remember hanging out with Shawn much after that. I think Chris and I clued in that he was full of crap and bad news for us.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
The Respect Book
In 6th grade our teachers came up with a great way to punish us called the 'Repect Book'.
It was a yellow three-ring binder that had us living in terror. The rules were like this.....if you didn't fall out of line you stayed out of the book. If you slipped up even a little, your name went in the book.
The punishments were in steps and went like this:
First offense = Step One
Second offense within a week = Step One plus Step Two
Third offense within a week of Step Two = Step On, Two and Three.
etc....
If you stayed clean for a week, back to the first step. Got it?
The Steps were punishments like (Chris will have to update these if I get them wrong)
Step One = Miss One recess.
Step Two = Miss both recesses.
Step Three = Miss lunch, both recesses and have to write 500 lines.
Step Four = Miss lunch, both recesses write 500 lines and stay after school to clean desks and chalkboard
Step Five = Miss lunch, both recesses write 1000 lines, stay after school to clean desks and chalkboard and have a Parent / Teacher conference
Step Six = Miss lunch, both recesses write 1500 lines, stay after school to clean desks and chalkboard and have a Parent / Teacher / Principal conference and possible suspension.
I made it all the way to Step Six...thanks to Chris. I had a bad couple of weeks. As I stated before, if you went a whole week from your last offense, it started all over again....I had made it all the way to Step 5 with one more day to go to be free.
We had done reports (they took weeks to put together) on Castles and Midieval times. Mrs. Olsen called me to her desk to pick up my report. (I got a B- I think). On my way back to my desk, Chris asked me what I got, with no sound, I showed him my paper. Mrs. Olsen was sure I was talking again and yelled "Aaron.....Go get the Respect Book!"
I spun around and said "But I didn't say anything...."
She said "Don't lie to me, I saw you talking to Chris"
I yelled back "NO I WASN'T! He asked me what I got and I showed him my paper....I didn't SAY A WORD!!!"
She just pointed toward the book.
Step 6.....I think I was the only kid to make it that far the whole year.
I didn't get suspended but I did have a conference with my Mom, the Principal and Mrs. Olsen. On the way out of the conference my Mom was yelling at me for being such a crappy student (Her words) and I started crying and told her she and everyone else at the school could "go to hell". I think that was the first time I ever swore at my Mother.
She was stunned.
Chris was sorry, he really did feel bad....of course not bad enough to defend me in the heat of battle, but who is carrying a grudge now?....not me, I'm over it....really.
I never made it past Step One again.
At the end of the year....the last day. Chris walked into the teachers area (where the book was kept) pulled it from the shelf, stuck it in his backpack and we burned rubber getting home.
Chris, Me and Chris Gordon were in his backyard and burned the Respect book and all it's contents. Since it was plastic it melted and stuck to the back patio of Chris's house. I am sure, if we went there now, the scarring would still be there.
Our first act of rebellion, defiance, standing up for what we believe in. Of course it was sheltered in his back yard and we vowed never to speak of it to anyone that would get us in trouble.
It was a yellow three-ring binder that had us living in terror. The rules were like this.....if you didn't fall out of line you stayed out of the book. If you slipped up even a little, your name went in the book.
The punishments were in steps and went like this:
First offense = Step One
Second offense within a week = Step One plus Step Two
Third offense within a week of Step Two = Step On, Two and Three.
etc....
If you stayed clean for a week, back to the first step. Got it?
The Steps were punishments like (Chris will have to update these if I get them wrong)
Step One = Miss One recess.
Step Two = Miss both recesses.
Step Three = Miss lunch, both recesses and have to write 500 lines.
Step Four = Miss lunch, both recesses write 500 lines and stay after school to clean desks and chalkboard
Step Five = Miss lunch, both recesses write 1000 lines, stay after school to clean desks and chalkboard and have a Parent / Teacher conference
Step Six = Miss lunch, both recesses write 1500 lines, stay after school to clean desks and chalkboard and have a Parent / Teacher / Principal conference and possible suspension.
I made it all the way to Step Six...thanks to Chris. I had a bad couple of weeks. As I stated before, if you went a whole week from your last offense, it started all over again....I had made it all the way to Step 5 with one more day to go to be free.
We had done reports (they took weeks to put together) on Castles and Midieval times. Mrs. Olsen called me to her desk to pick up my report. (I got a B- I think). On my way back to my desk, Chris asked me what I got, with no sound, I showed him my paper. Mrs. Olsen was sure I was talking again and yelled "Aaron.....Go get the Respect Book!"
I spun around and said "But I didn't say anything...."
She said "Don't lie to me, I saw you talking to Chris"
I yelled back "NO I WASN'T! He asked me what I got and I showed him my paper....I didn't SAY A WORD!!!"
She just pointed toward the book.
Step 6.....I think I was the only kid to make it that far the whole year.
I didn't get suspended but I did have a conference with my Mom, the Principal and Mrs. Olsen. On the way out of the conference my Mom was yelling at me for being such a crappy student (Her words) and I started crying and told her she and everyone else at the school could "go to hell". I think that was the first time I ever swore at my Mother.
She was stunned.
Chris was sorry, he really did feel bad....of course not bad enough to defend me in the heat of battle, but who is carrying a grudge now?....not me, I'm over it....really.
I never made it past Step One again.
At the end of the year....the last day. Chris walked into the teachers area (where the book was kept) pulled it from the shelf, stuck it in his backpack and we burned rubber getting home.
Chris, Me and Chris Gordon were in his backyard and burned the Respect book and all it's contents. Since it was plastic it melted and stuck to the back patio of Chris's house. I am sure, if we went there now, the scarring would still be there.
Our first act of rebellion, defiance, standing up for what we believe in. Of course it was sheltered in his back yard and we vowed never to speak of it to anyone that would get us in trouble.
Betty Williams Drives through her Garage
This story is about the lady that lived across the street from Chris growing up. She always seemed about 90 years old even though she was probably only in her late 50's or 60's. She was from England and an terrible driver. (I don't think those things are related....just mentioned together).
She was always coming home with new dings and dents in her cars, driving over curbs and cats.
One day Chris and I were in his front room listening to music or watching TV and I heard her car start up....in the garage....the garage door was down. I had this feeling I knew what was about to happen...I yelled for Chris to come watch and sure enough.......she back through her garage door. She forgot to put it up. I couldn't believe she did that.
She also loved to camp and bought a small RV....one that had an extendable awning off the side. One day she was putting up the awing to test it out. She didn't click it all the way in and when it was fully extended, she walked toward the RV and the awing collapsed on her trapping her between the awing and the side of the RV. All you could see was her feet sticking out underneath and hearing her swear at the top her lungs.....she got out but it was funny to watch.
(I am going to hell)
Chris and I liked to put his 'boom box' on top of his roof and jump from the roof to his trampoline. We also like the music really loud.....Betty didn't. One day she came over while we were on the roof with the boom box and started yelling at us to turn it off. We told her no, we had a right to listen to the music and she had a right to go home and shut her door. It was one of the first times I remember talking back to an adult. She yelled and screamed at us....and eventually went home and shut her door.
She was always coming home with new dings and dents in her cars, driving over curbs and cats.
One day Chris and I were in his front room listening to music or watching TV and I heard her car start up....in the garage....the garage door was down. I had this feeling I knew what was about to happen...I yelled for Chris to come watch and sure enough.......she back through her garage door. She forgot to put it up. I couldn't believe she did that.
She also loved to camp and bought a small RV....one that had an extendable awning off the side. One day she was putting up the awing to test it out. She didn't click it all the way in and when it was fully extended, she walked toward the RV and the awing collapsed on her trapping her between the awing and the side of the RV. All you could see was her feet sticking out underneath and hearing her swear at the top her lungs.....she got out but it was funny to watch.
(I am going to hell)
Chris and I liked to put his 'boom box' on top of his roof and jump from the roof to his trampoline. We also like the music really loud.....Betty didn't. One day she came over while we were on the roof with the boom box and started yelling at us to turn it off. We told her no, we had a right to listen to the music and she had a right to go home and shut her door. It was one of the first times I remember talking back to an adult. She yelled and screamed at us....and eventually went home and shut her door.
Sixth Grade trip to Lagoon and stealing the lights
We took a field trip in 6th grade to our local 'permanent fair' called Lagoon. It is Utah's weak attempt at a theme park....its ok but in 6th grade, it was the world......rides, soda....girls.... ahhh yeah.
We decided (and when I say 'we' it was probably my idea) to steal the colored caps off as many lights in the park as we could get our hands on. So every ride we would try to find ways to nab the covers off the lights as the ride was whizzing by.
I can't believe we didn't lose a hand, finger, access to the park. We never got caught and made it onto the bus with like 20 light covers. Our teacher found them and returned them to the park....we kept one. Don't know where it is today.
Remember Brandi and Lori Latimer? I can't believe they didn't punch us. Today we would go to jail for stalking.
We decided (and when I say 'we' it was probably my idea) to steal the colored caps off as many lights in the park as we could get our hands on. So every ride we would try to find ways to nab the covers off the lights as the ride was whizzing by.
I can't believe we didn't lose a hand, finger, access to the park. We never got caught and made it onto the bus with like 20 light covers. Our teacher found them and returned them to the park....we kept one. Don't know where it is today.
Remember Brandi and Lori Latimer? I can't believe they didn't punch us. Today we would go to jail for stalking.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Going to the Keyhole for Chinese Stars
Have you been to the Keyhole recently?
Not much left to the imagination...
Monday, January 12, 2009
Cardboard in the bike spokes
Thub thub thub...thub thub thub thub...thubthubthubthubthubthubthubthubthubthubbrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr...
Faster and faster.
When you are a kid, your bike is more than transportation, your bike is freedom. It's your horse, your car and your fighter jet. The problem is, bicycle don't make a lot of noise, and being a kid is about sensory overload. At least it is if you're doing it right.
Hence the baseball card, or the library card, or just a plain old piece of cardboard, taped on to the frame of the bike, and stuck into the spokes of the back tire. And presto! Your bike is now a motorcycle. A loud motorcycle. And the best thing about this curious little innovation was the fact that the faster you went, the louder your "motor" revved, and as you slowed down, the "motor" almost sounded like it was idling.
Why do we do this? Why do kids want, so badly, to join the grown up world?
Faster and faster.
When you are a kid, your bike is more than transportation, your bike is freedom. It's your horse, your car and your fighter jet. The problem is, bicycle don't make a lot of noise, and being a kid is about sensory overload. At least it is if you're doing it right.
Hence the baseball card, or the library card, or just a plain old piece of cardboard, taped on to the frame of the bike, and stuck into the spokes of the back tire. And presto! Your bike is now a motorcycle. A loud motorcycle. And the best thing about this curious little innovation was the fact that the faster you went, the louder your "motor" revved, and as you slowed down, the "motor" almost sounded like it was idling.
Why do we do this? Why do kids want, so badly, to join the grown up world?
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