Let’s Make a Real-Good-Deal-o (Ruby)

Okay, so you got me remembering all the game shows that have inspired me over time…but first, I must inspire you regarding Parker and her gift for all-things-Jeopardy; I love that she has that focus…I saw it when I visited last fall…I think you and I were starting to snore and drool while Parker stayed alert, focused…ready to answer in the backwards “asking-style” answer that is unique to Jeopardy, as in “WHAT IS drooling and snoring?” Ahhhhh, such difficult questions to answer…so, GOOD LUCK to Parker – fingers X’d!!!

So, my very first “crush” on a boy/man was…are you sitting?…Bob Barker on “Truth or Consequences”, in the ‘60’s. Watching this show is among my very fave’ memories; while my Mom concerned herself with issues of younger sisters and their bedtimes, I would set myself up in the remodeled kitchen of our New York SUBurban home…and in the dark, with one very significant Jelly Sandwich on Wonder Bread – sans PB – I would slide my chair right up against the counter in front of the Black and White TV and snack while keeping my eye on The Bob…I loved that he was a smooth-talkin’ man, funny in a canned-laughter kind of way...packaged perfectly…and speaking of smooth…I would pull out the new smooth-rolling drawer which housed the likes of egg beaters and spatulas and place my feet into it, nestled into place, anchored in front of the TV. I’d stay put throughout Bob and then “The Patty Duke Show”, loving to believe in the duality of Patty and her British cousin Cathy! Never mattered that I was hip to the TV effects of the specific “twinnishness”…I was convinced by their unique personas and the fact that they parted their hair differently. But back to game shows, way beyond that crush on Mr.-Smooth-Talkin’-Barker, I loved the excitement, the fact that you could get good at this…second guess ‘em, feel like you knew the answers, feel like a fly-on-the-wall-winner, practically WIN-A-CAR!…if only vicariously…


The show that started it all for me, though, was “Let’s Make a Deal”; the hilarity of those people in costumes, acting like buffoons, hungry for recognition and a potential prize….a washer/dryer, a car, a his/hers motorcycle combo…a trip to Hawaii!!! Carol Merrill was iconic, gesturing as if to caress the goods…pumping us up as consumers, making us thirst for more. Our first stab at quasi-gambling, making the right choices on occasion, then the clapping, jumping up and down, squealing, planting an All-American kiss on the cheek of Monty Hall, showing our gratitude, our crazed, lusting appreciation of the magic which continues to be a reality in the world of game shows. The reality that tells us it can all work out in the end…with just a little luck.

And while never being one to excel at Jeopardy, Teen or otherwise, I do feel that the arena of my expertise these days might be “The Price is Right”, now that I have focused my efforts more than ever on saving money where I can. I have become crazy-aware of a Real-Good-Deal-O, as Zappa would say. The chance to buy 3 of something we may need at some time, because it makes SO MUCH GOOD SENSE, relative to the inflated price of a meager single unit, is a behavior that can get a little manic though, as you justify owning three jars of mayonnaise, as if it epitomizes wisdom and foresight. Anyway, I have – yes – developed a skill that rattles off comparative prices of all things relevant in our particular household, from soap to beer to #2 Pencils.

Anyhoo, those are the thoughts that come to mind as I think of Parker waiting to hear about her game show destiny. Let me know as soon as you hear!!!

Ruby

Where was I? (Patty)

We are official Lagunatics, that is, we have moved to Laguna Beach. It is a kinder, gentler place. The police cars are Priuses and the eco-bus around town is free...it's a nice mix of The Wealthy and The Bohemian, lots of surfers and art galleries and Mercedes coupes. Many of the restaurants have ONLY outside seating, and people walk around town barefooted... I went to court once to contest a parking violation and I was the only person on the docket all day! The Laguna Beach High School sports teams, until fairly recently, were the "Artists", not as menacing as the "Cougars" or the "Jaguars"...but I guess it was politically incorrect because they are now "The Breakers", which is appropriate because its got to be one of the few schools in America where you can see the Pacific Ocean from the classrooms, but still does not strike fear into the opponents...
Parker has made a slow adjustment. She went two or three months without ONE plan on the weekend. That is where Camp Patty came in...a weekend camp with just one 16 year old camper...since I dragged her out here, I was determined to make the move as fun as possible, between January and March, we went to Disneyland, we went to La Jolla, we jumped in the car one Saturday and drove to Las Vegas, we visited Pinkberry and Thrift shops and saw every teen movie, I am now an expert on Robert Pattinson and all things Twilight and I was glad when Emelio didn't win Project Runway...
All of a sudden, in April, thank-you Jesus! ... she started having plans, and has now dumped me as a weekend companion. It was a fun way to see the area and also kind of killing me...a four-hour drive for a one-night stay?!?!? I'm too old for that.
One other Parker thing...we love Jeopardy, and I now know that about 10,000 kids each year try out for Teen Jeopardy. You hate to crush a child's dreams, but Parker thinks she is going to be on Teen Jeopardy. It's like when your child confidently says they are going to be the President...the only thing to say is, I hope you are! First, there is a difficult on-line test, and they administer it just once a year. You think it's going to be fine, but when the test time arrives, let's say at 6PM on January 15th, its always the WORST time, last year we almost missed a plane because she was taking the stupid on-line test! I was yelling, "Parker! We HAVE to get on the plane!!" And she's like "But Mom! If I miss this I will have to wait another YEAR!!!!" As though it is her destiny put on hold....She tried and failed two years in a row.... You have to successfully jump through some hoops, but this year, she got through the group of 10,000 into the group of 1000 and from there, into the group of 150. From 150, they will pick 15 to be on the show. So last weekend was her audition! It was like 4 hours long, so much fun, they did a written test, an interview, played the game, rapid-fire answers to everything from pop-culture (Who did the Jonas brother marry?) to general knowledge (What product is Goodyear known for?) with the "signaling device"...her chances of getting on the show are still extremely low, but at least we got close!
And now you are completely up-to-date!

are we back? (Ruby)

after months, perhaps it's time to come back folks.....we've missed this. More to come....talk to me Patty!!!!