Beneath the Wraps

The Sandy Starships Theater opened December 1980. It was a four-screen theater in a strip-mall in Sandy, Utah. The theater had a futuristic design, as if it were a spaceship, and even had a robot mascot. The Sandy 9 theatres became the dollar scene and patrons stood in line on the lit up “space station” floor waiting in line for the new releases that were shown at the Sandy Starships theater. Starships closed after its 20-year lease expired in November 2000.   But long before it closed, the once hip full price theatre tapered off to dollar prices.   The coolness had worn off. The starship had lost its appeal before it was even a decade.   What was once prestige had earned “junkie”, “dirty” and “cheap”. The Starship failed though Sandy 9 remains. There are several landmarks that seem aged and run down – either the land has shifted or our desires have.   We find something better, more satisfying, less costly – or perhaps it’s just the economy tha...

I watched two different news stations lead with the story of the demolition and transformation taking place at Fashion Place Mall.   That was their lead story, I kid you not.   Both stations.   The second story on one of the stations (but further down the line of the other) featured budgeting for the homeless – what can we do for them?   Hey, here’s an idea: take the money that is being spent for the super Dillards and provide those many homeless with jobs – or build a place that the “homeless” might be able to afford.   It chaps my hyde when so much money is spent for unimportant matters.    Oh, I suppose for Dillards executives, the number one story was great news to their ears.   What awesome publicity.   And I suppose there are some shoppers who will be equally excited.   As I have previously mentioned, I hate malls.   I hate commercialism.   I hate the chaos and materialism.   How great it ...

          Jenna has outgrown the fort which I mention here. I was hoping to save it for Anna and Garrett whenever they would visit but the slide broke and the idea of having Anna tromp around  with so many openings did not thrill me.  The slide would have been Anna’s favorite part, but we took it off after it broke.               Bill and Kayla don’t exactly have a place for the fort right now – though we did offer it to them.  Jenna really doesn’t play much with it anymore.  Especially since we got the trampoline.  But lately, the tarp to the tramp has been so hot, the trampoline itself has been neglected.  I thought if we pushed it back to where we have the fort that it would get a little more shade.               I posted Jenna’s fort for free i...

One of the perks that Corey liked about mom’s assisted living was the décor, which he details in this post Initially my mom’s room was located right next to the image of Elvis Presley.  A lot of the images had three dimensional props, such as his guitar, Marilyn’s skirt; there is one of Elizabeth Taylor holding flowers. I had personally not taken pictures, though I did consider that taking one with Elvis might be fun.  Roland and I could stand on either side and have it sent to his mom.  But alas, we were too late.  For the last time we were there together was for the Easter event – which was actually busy enough to produce inconvenient traffic.  So I figured we could do it the following week.  But Elvis’ guitar had been removed and a paint roller had made Elvis a thing of the past. Fortunately Bill and Kayla had taken mom up and down the halls one night and took several pictures – I don’t believe they got them all.  Maybe half of t...

Recently Roland and I watched a video called “ Redemption ” As I watched I wondered just how much was accurate and what other history I might find on the web regarding John Baptiste ,  Antelope Island, and the Great Salt Lake   (which may have been great at one time but really isn’t all that great now - at least in my opinion)           I find it interesting that early settlers were interested in making a community on Antelope Island and grazing cattle as stated in this post but it isn’t mentioned that it was used to prison John Baptiste – but then it isn’t explained what the island was used for during the 1862 which is when the grave robber had been banned to Antelope Island.           I’d heard of Antelope Island, but had never been to it until after I was married.  I don’t think it lived up to the hype found here .  It probably did at one time.  Bu...

          Mom kept boxes filled with treasures from each of her children.  Treasures.  That’s really a matter of opinion.  I find it amazing that the pages of my baby book are still intact and of great quality paper compared to many I have filled on my own.  But I still scanned the pages – saving a bit for Jenna but still discarding a lot. School work done on ditto paper.  Remember those?  Before Xerox and other photo copiers.  Purple carbon paper and ink     All daily assignments and homework in purple outline – never black I kept some of my drawings out for Jenna to look at.  The majority I’ve thrown away.  And I’m proud to say that she has also.  I had made a calendar for my Uncle and his family who were living in Denver at the time.  I don’t believe my mom ever mailed it as it was in my box – but as I pulled it apart, I completely und...