A HODGE-PODGE OF UNINTERESTING TREASURES

I was planning to write more fascinating posts (like my previous one Suicide Sign), but - since very few people bother to read my blog - I'll wait until I'm in a better mood. Why write my ass off for absolutely nothing?

(I do greatly appreciate the four-or-is-it-five people who faithfully read my blog and haven't yet been offended or frightened - - you are a rare breed)

Today I've decided to take the easy way out and inflict you with an assortment of uninteresting photos. These are a hodge-podge of things I found around the house that have sentimental value to me and no one else.

I'm presently seriously soused with homemade wine, which gives me the illusion that blogging has a purpose.

Unfortunately many of these photos are blurry and crappy - courtesy of my ancient, errant digital camera.

You've already seen my collection of glass bottles, but I'm showing them again because they're so dang pretty.

These are my yellow baby slippers, which are remarkably well-preserved for being over two hundred years old (*smile*)

An old wooden pencil box from Hungary, which belonged to my paternal grandmother.

A wooden storage box from Hungary.

The very first oil painting I ever painted - when I was eleven (!) years old.

This is a pile of music compositions I wrote in California, mostly when I was in college. I'm astounded at how many there are. My aspiration to be a composer was once serious...

Because of the numerous articles I published about Hollywood history, I was nominated to be a member of the American Film Institute. I think this was in 1989.

A few ticket stubs from the L.A. Music Center, where I attended countless concerts - - and a reservation envelope for dinner at the Beverly Hills Brown Derby on Wilshire Blvd.

My previous life was a million miles away from the hellish rural existence I'm now experiencing here in Tennessee....

A faded photo of The Golden Lantern in Long Beach, where I used to dine frequently. The place was filled with antiques. It's no longer in existence.

Various letters I received from Olivia de Havilland, James Stewart, Shelley Winters, Joan Rivers, silent screen actress Lillian Gish, and others.

I have a large collection of antique and ancient rings, of which these are a few. The large one in the center is a Persian ring from the 1500s. My very favorite one is second from the left - a gold and amethyst ring from Italy, circa 1750. Unfortunately I lost it a few years ago. I have no clue what happened to it - and I'm still searching for it, hoping that by some miracle it will turn up.

A couple of patches that were sewn on an old Army jacket I used to wear when I was a wayward hippie.

I recently found the first badge I had when I was a twenty-year-old security officer for California Plant Protection. I was an armed guard at Hughes Aircraft. The ladies in the front office took photos of me because they thought I was cute. No, I'm not kidding.

This 1940s lamp belonged to my maternal grandmother. She eventually gave it to my mother. The globe at the top was originally a round one. When I was four-years-old I accidentally knocked the lamp over and broke the globe. Mom couldn't find a replacement until we moved to California two years later. The replacement isn't round, but it's a perfect match.

Incidentally, the lamp still works after all these years.

Not like the Made in China Walmart crap they have nowadays.

Is this the end?

Already?

Jon, endlessly yours