tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2903483516951946644.post1028470069813214053..comments2023-09-22T04:41:12.751-07:00Comments on Wapella.com: Grand Hotel for the SummerJBPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17015371340244747070noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2903483516951946644.post-73305637691282479092009-08-03T07:44:28.328-07:002009-08-03T07:44:28.328-07:00I recall a lot of hot dog gymnastics on the playgr...I recall a lot of hot dog gymnastics on the playground. In my grade school career at WGS the monkey bars were a late arrival. One of the more exciting ones was actually the merry-go-round when it was across the street from the Burris house. There would be about 25 people of all ages really getting the thing spinning and a large group of wannabes trying to jump on.<br /><br />For individual events, the X-gamers of the late 60s would go to the humpty-back slide at the west end of the playground on icy days. The best slides were done Franz Klammer style from a squat position. It was good form to start with cigarette and toss it just before the jump. Toohills and Underwoods were gold medal contenders.<br /><br />HGAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2903483516951946644.post-26610826662625699002009-08-02T18:41:44.118-07:002009-08-02T18:41:44.118-07:00On a fashion note, I believe Sally S implemented t...On a fashion note, I believe Sally S implemented the dickie look. I suspect The Mod still wears his from time to time. <br /><br />Joe HAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2903483516951946644.post-69298251905855702902009-08-02T14:48:02.646-07:002009-08-02T14:48:02.646-07:00Monicals and TGH had parking lots that looked like...Monicals and TGH had parking lots that looked like Sarajevo. Wasn't that part of the adventure? <br /><br />The blogs after that are well beyond my limited understanding of the universe. <br /><br />Sonny, how about the international report?<br /><br />BEPAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2903483516951946644.post-978298725999936052009-08-02T03:36:37.110-07:002009-08-02T03:36:37.110-07:00Maybe in another life
I could find you there
Pulle...Maybe in another life<br />I could find you there<br />Pulled away before your time<br />I can't deal it's so unfair<br /><br />And it feels<br />And it feels like<br />Heaven's so far away<br />And it feels<br />Yeah it feels like<br />The world has grown cold<br />Now that you've gone away<br /><br />Leaving flowers on your grave<br />Show that I still care<br />But black roses and Hail Mary's<br />Can't bring back what's taken from me<br /><br />I reach to the sky<br />And call out your name<br />And if I could trade<br />I would<br /><br />And it feels<br />And it feels like<br />Heaven's so far away<br />And it stings<br />Yeah it stings now<br />The world is so cold<br />Now that you've gone away<br />Gone away, gone away,<br /><br />I'll Save Your Soul<br /><br />I reach to the sky<br />And call out your name<br />Oh please let me trade<br />I would<br /><br />And it feels<br />And it feels like<br />Heaven's so far away<br />And it feels<br />Yeah it feels like<br />The world has grown cold<br />Now that you've gone awayMy nephew never came backnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2903483516951946644.post-59127147635691030772009-08-02T03:12:12.975-07:002009-08-02T03:12:12.975-07:00Meet the new boss
Same as the old bossMeet the new boss<br /><br />Same as the old bossAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2903483516951946644.post-44463802477228525192009-08-02T03:05:24.208-07:002009-08-02T03:05:24.208-07:00I can ride my bike with no handlebars
No handleba...I can ride my bike with no handlebars <br />No handlebars <br />No handlebars <br /><br />I can ride my bike with no handlebars <br />No handlebars <br />No handlebars <br /><br />Look at me, look at me <br />hands in the air like it's good to be <br />ALIVE <br />and I'm a famous rapper <br />even when the paths're all crookedy <br />I can show you how to do-si-do <br />I can show you how to scratch a record <br />I can take apart the remote control <br />And I can almost put it back together <br />I can tie a knot in a cherry stem <br />I can tell you about Leif Ericson <br />I know all the words to "De Colores" <br />And "I'm Proud to be an American" <br />Me and my friend saw a platypus <br />Me and my friend made a comic book <br />And guess how long it took <br />I can do anything that I want cuz, look: <br /><br />I can keep rhythm with no metronome <br />No metronome <br />No metronome <br /><br />And I can see your face on the telephone <br />On the telephone <br />On the telephone <br /><br />Look at me <br />Look at me <br />Just called to say that it's good to be <br />ALIVE <br />In such a small world <br />I'm all curled up with a book to read <br />I can make money open up a thrift store <br />I can make a living off a magazine <br />I can design an engine sixty four <br />Miles to a gallon of gasoline <br />I can make new antibiotics <br />I can make computers survive aquatic conditions <br />I know how to run a business <br />I can make you wanna buy a product <br />Movers shakers and producers <br />Me and my friends understand the future <br />I see the strings that control the systems <br />I can do anything with no assistance <br />Cuz I can lead a nation with a microphone <br />With a microphone <br />With a microphone <br />And I can split the atoms of a molecule <br />Of a molecule <br />Of a molecule <br /><br />Look at me <br />Look at me <br />Driving and I won't stop <br />And it feels so good to be <br />Alive and on top <br />My reach is global <br />My tower secure <br />My cause is noble <br />My power is pure <br />I can hand out a million vaccinations <br />Or let'em all die from exasperation <br />Have'em all healed from their lacerations <br />Have'em all killed by assassination <br />I can make anybody go to prison <br />Just because I don't like'em and <br />I can do anything with no permission <br />I have it all under my command <br />Because I can guide a missile by satellite <br />By satellite <br />By satellite <br />And I can hit a target through a telescope <br />Through a telescope <br />Through a telescope <br />And I can end the planet in a holocaust <br />In a holocaust <br />In a holocaust <br />In a holocaust <br />In a holocaust <br />In a holocaust <br /><br />I can ride my bike with no handlebars <br />No handlebars <br />No handlebars <br /><br />I can ride my bike with no handlebars <br />No handlebars <br />No handlebarsGHWBnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2903483516951946644.post-23525962576409602892009-08-02T02:55:53.616-07:002009-08-02T02:55:53.616-07:00There are children standing here,
Arms outstretch...There are children standing here, <br />Arms outstretched into the sky, <br />Tears drying on their face. <br />He has been here. <br />Brothers lie in shallow graves. <br />Fathers lost without a trace. <br />A nation blind to their disgrace, <br />Since he's been here. <br /><br />And I see no bravery, <br />No bravery, <br />In your eyes anymore. <br />Only sadness. <br />And I see no bravery, <br />No bravery, <br />In your eyes any more <br />Only sadness....only sadness <br /><br />Houses burnt beyond repair. <br />The smell of death is in the air. <br />A woman weeping in despair says, <br />He has been here. <br />Tracer lighting up the sky. <br />It's another families turn, to die. <br />A child afraid to even cry out says, <br />He has been here. <br /><br />And I see no bravery, <br />No bravery, <br />In your eyes anymore. <br />Only sadness <br />And I see no bravery, <br />No bravery, <br />In your eyes any more <br />Only sadness.....only sadness <br /><br />There are children standing here, <br />Arms outstretched into the sky, <br />But no one asks the question why, <br />He has been here. <br />Old men kneel to accept their fate. <br />Wives and daughters cut and raped. <br />A generation drenched in hate. <br />Says he has been here. <br /><br />And I see no bravery, <br />No bravery, <br />In your eyes anymore. <br />Only sadness. <br />And I see no bravery, <br />No bravery, <br />In your eyes any more... <br />anymore<br />And I see no bravery, <br />No bravery, <br />In your eyes any more, <br />only sadness...only sadness.The Cold Hard Truthnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2903483516951946644.post-4148575891484127912009-08-02T02:38:33.839-07:002009-08-02T02:38:33.839-07:00I'll sing it one last time for you
Then we rea...I'll sing it one last time for you<br />Then we really have to go<br />You've been the only thing that's right<br />In all I've done.<br /><br />And I can barely look at you<br />But every single time I do<br />I know we'll make it anywhere<br />Anyway from here<br /><br />Light up, Light up<br />As if you have a choice <br />Even if you cannot hear my voice<br />I'll be right beside you dear<br /><br />Louder, louder<br />And we'll run for our lives<br />I can hardly speak I understand<br />Why you can't raise your voice to say<br /><br />To think I might not see those eyes<br />It makes it so hard not to cry<br />And as we say our long goodbyes<br />I nearly do.<br /><br />Light up, light up<br />As if you have a choice<br />Even if you cannot hear my voice<br />I'll be right beside you dear<br /><br />Louder, louder<br />And we'll run for our lives<br />I can hardly speak I understand<br />Why you can't raise your voice to say<br /><br />Slower, slower<br />We don't have time for that<br />All I want is to find an easier way<br />To get out of our little heads<br /><br />Have heart my dear<br />We're bound to be afraid<br />Even if it's just for a few days<br />Making up for all this mess.<br /><br />Light up, light up<br />As if you have a choice<br />Even if you cannot hear my voice<br />I'll be right beside you dear.For your nephewnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2903483516951946644.post-32095951083970979132009-08-02T02:01:41.633-07:002009-08-02T02:01:41.633-07:00who's gonna fill there shoes?
a very good qu...who's gonna fill there shoes?<br /><br /> a very good question.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2903483516951946644.post-9014332017884563372009-08-02T01:35:34.742-07:002009-08-02T01:35:34.742-07:00My oldest nephew is about to head off to Afghanis...My oldest nephew is about to head off to Afghanistan, so even though this was written for Vietnam vets, lets sing this one for him.<br /><br /><br />Stranger in a foreign land <br />Fearful cries surround him. <br />Returning home a wounded man <br />To find he's been forgotten, yeah. <br />Courage is the badge he wears <br />Blinded by obsession. <br />Wars are won by those who dare <br />The memory still haunts him. <br />Remember the heroes <br />Who fight for the right to choose. <br />Remember the heroes <br />We've all got a lot to lose. <br />A rebel to the naked eye <br />An undiscovered legend <br />Face the facts and don' t ask why. <br />It's something to believe in. <br />In the dark <br />Day and night. <br />Fight for wrong to prove what's right. <br />Remember the heroes <br />Who fight for the right to choose. <br />Remember the heroes <br /><br /><br />Just another life to use <br /><br /><br />Remember the heroes. <br />We've all got alot to lose. <br />-solo- <br />Remember the heroes. <br />Remember the heroes. <br />Remember the heroes. <br />Remember the heroes. <br />To take a life without a say <br />Demanded without reason. <br />To turn our backs and walk away <br />A faceless act of treason. <br />A father's son must carry on <br />The wound is only deepened. <br />Remember the heroes <br />Who fight for the right to choose. <br />Remember the heroes <br />It's just another life to use <br />Remember the heroes. <br />You know we've all got alot to lose. <br />Remember the heroes <br />Who's gonna fill their shoes?Hear the Cry of Youthnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2903483516951946644.post-46902592524422338042009-08-02T00:33:06.892-07:002009-08-02T00:33:06.892-07:00If I wrote something embarrassing to my family wo...If I wrote something embarrassing to my family would you take it off the blog?<br /><br /><br /><br />Don't talk to me about being alone.The Sacred Why?noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2903483516951946644.post-7174382473333362442009-08-01T18:45:36.135-07:002009-08-01T18:45:36.135-07:001. I'm glad that someone brought up the topic...1. I'm glad that someone brought up the topic of parking at the Grand Hotel. That was anarchy. It also had mulitple potholes the size of that long-standing pothole at the entrance on Monicals in Clinton (yes the finest pizza in the land).<br />2. I think in a WHS band fundraiser we had a circus and some of the folks withe circus were somehow related to the late great Sue Toohill. PT/ST & family may have housed a few of the folks related to the circus and equipment for a brief time. Toohill's....little help here? BTW speaking of WHS band - one of my favorite topics, I always liked wearing my WHS band jacket with a sweet white dickie. Was that a Miss Simpson or Joe Hindman fashion initiative?<br />3. A couple great posts - thanks for the information.<br />4. Back to the circus - scouts/agents for the circus spent a great deal of time on Twister and Betty Burris's porch watching some of Wildat grade schooler moves on the monkey bars - looking for potential circus prospects. A lot of great performances at the grade school and a lot of blood and tears shed on those monkey bars. Any nominations for gold medal monkey bar performances?<br /><br />bbdAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2903483516951946644.post-37091970241928250582009-08-01T05:12:22.311-07:002009-08-01T05:12:22.311-07:00Carnivals were contacted via a state convention of...Carnivals were contacted via a state convention of such in Springfield and also via Billboard magazine.<br />And Wapella had a troupe of trapeeze artists reside in Wapella during one summer in the 60's. They set up their rigging in the large vacant lot back of the Harold Short house on Rt. 51. Not an uncommon sight to set along the roadways as they practiced their skills. GSAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2903483516951946644.post-58380436551224617182009-07-31T22:09:37.114-07:002009-07-31T22:09:37.114-07:00The Grand Hotel - at which my parents and I ate re...The Grand Hotel - at which my parents and I ate regularly (out on the screened-in front porch back in my not-ready-for-the-company-of-wolves years) - was originally a roadhouse lacking a road. Before that, it was a speakeasy; maybe a farmhouse before that, but a pretty large and nice one. There was an effort - ultimately a failure - to keep the place a Bloomington secret from the hordes of "new people" who began showing up in the '60s. The chicken had its fans, as did the bar and its longtime tender, Jimmy Tatman. "Skinny" and Helen Benton transitioned the place to its period of greatest popularity and success.<br /><br />Some aerialists also trained outdoors in a deep lot over on West Washington Street, across from my mother's family home. Some of the rigging was still standing into the '70s. "Slits" Shipley was a local who was a rigger for Clyde Beatty's act, and ate Sunday breakfasts down at Boylan's on West Market Street during the off-season.<br /><br />Francis Green was my second cousin, once removed.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2903483516951946644.post-90322758886756415682009-07-31T18:47:39.311-07:002009-07-31T18:47:39.311-07:00Concello/Kinsella...an Irish - Italian connection ...Concello/Kinsella...an Irish - Italian connection here? Maybe the Merna Kinsellas are really from Italy? Are they false Irish?<br /><br />Eamon de ValeraAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2903483516951946644.post-15951982015164071872009-07-31T12:40:56.996-07:002009-07-31T12:40:56.996-07:00Bring back the carnies I say!
My Grandmother'...Bring back the carnies I say!<br /><br />My Grandmother's Dad, Jim Ryan, a frequent visitor to Wapella during the glory days of the CB&BF, had a way with inciting mob violence towards carnies and their none too subtle praactice of cheating Francis Green at the games.EEPnoreply@blogger.com