Transformers, hands down. Even after fifteen years, it’s enabled me to build a high-traffic web site, develop circles of friends, and generally geek out with other toy-robot-lovin’ folks on a regular basis.
And an honorary vote for the Atari 800, since I cut my computer programming teeth on that.
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by MGibson *
**
Oh, was that you? Hey, I need those pictures if you’ve still got 'em. I’m planning on running for office, and I don’t think it would look too good if they surfaced, what with the Great Dane and all.
And I’ll second notcynical’s nomination for the Replacements. Add Husker Du in there, too, and old R.E.M. and about a thousand other great bands from the era.
What were my favorites of the 80’s…I was quite the youngin’ then, so these are kind of childlike:
Neon everything
Cabbage Patch Kids
Garbage Pail Kids
Atari
My 1st computer: Commodore Vic20
Taping songs by holding my tape recorder up to the radio
“Sixteen Candles”
Michael Jackson - Thriller
Unicorns
Parachute pants (yes, even as a girl I loved them!)
Madonna wanna-be’s
Being Cyndi Lauper for Halloween
Sticker books
Trivial Pursuit
In my pre-teen years: discovering boys and “Love’s Baby Soft” cologne
We were the first people on our street to get a Commodore 64.
We were also the first people to have a Beta Max. (For all of the good it did us)
As far as the music I have two words: Stray Cats. What isn’t there to love?
And Frogger!! I loved Frogger.
Let’s see…
[ul][li]Top 40 music was actually good, at least in the early 80s[/li][li]Started driving[/li][li]Lost my virginity[/li][li]Dig Dig, Galaga, Elevator Action – all for only $0.25/game[/li][li]My short, spiky topped, long backed mullet[/li][li]My preppy clothes – long sleeve shirts with sleeves you rolled up and buttoned into place with a little flap, my Hawaiian shirts, white pants and shoes, etc. Also, my big baggy jeans with approximately 257 pockets.[/li]The cable box we had with a dial channel changer that would allow me to pick up Cinemax if I held it between two channels (I don’t remember which two) and jammed in some folded playing cards to hold it in place. Then, I could watch boobies on TV while my parents were at work.[/ul]The one thing I really didn’t care for was my weight gain. I went from about 100 lb to 170 lb, for a net gain of 70 lb! Although, it isn’t quite as bad as that 100 lb weight gain I experienced during the 70s.
Ah, yes, the 80’s:
Working in Yellowstone during the summer to earn money for school. I hiked in the backcountry on my days off, went skinnydipping in the geyser-heated Gardner River, and got to drink legally.
Having lots of sex without rubbers back when AIDS was just a blip on the horizon-we’re talking early 80’s here
After college, wasting my life as a park bum, working and playing in the Grand Tetons, Death Valley, and the Grand Canyon.
Black Flag, with the not-yet-buff Henry Rollins
Husker Du before Bob Mould left
Having friends who were alive then
Going to Mexico for the first time
Falling in love with my first real boyfriend
Bruce Springsteen was still cool
Oh, I too fondly remember the 80s!
The ash from Vesuvius had settled, and the beaches in the south were gorgeous again. The lazy days in the just-finished Colliseum, watching lions devour Christians. The early days of Domitian, before the reign of terror…ah, those were the days! Rome was the only place to be in the 80s. I remember getting drunk on sweet Cretan wine at the opening of the Arch of Titus: was I ever so young!
[sub]this was a re-run of a “classic” G.B.H. Hornswoggler post from this thread.[/sub]
Sex on the first date being not necessarily a bad thing.
However, the main thing I miss was being in my 20’s, healthy, strong, going to college and making some fantastic music with the various brass groups and orchestras I played in.
From the depths of an abdominal cavity, I, Mercutio was born!
You should all be greatful!
::grabs his head and ducks::
I LOVED my Famolares
My Cherokees were totally hot
Candies transparent mules----THE follow me home and f**k me shoes.
The same band opening a show with the theme to “Green Acres” with Bob Stinson sporting a dress.
Seeing “Blue Velvet” for the first time on campus, then walking home alone at about 1 in the morning; interesting experience.
REM, and how all their 80s albums sounded totally different from one another.
Shrooming on the beach at Isla Vista, CA.
“Late Night with David Letterman”
1981: I was born. Definitely a highlight. But let’s not forget:
[ul]
[li]Those super cool neon slap bracelets.[/li][li]Leg warmers with skirts.[/li][li]Early LL Cool J.[/li][li]Playing Pong all day on Atari.[/li][li]Saturday mornings, watching Saved by the Bell. I wanted to be Kelly Kapowski![/li][li]Being the first girl in third grade to get the New Kid’s new single - Step By Step, ooh baby, gonna get to you gi-rrrrl…[/li][li]Not a wonderful moment, but seeing the Challenger explode was certainly memorable. I remember thinking even then that it would be hugely significant. Made me want to be an astronaut, too.[/li][li]Molly Ringwold. 'Nough said.[/ul][/li]
It was a good ten years (just nine for me, though.)