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Thursday, October 23, 2008
Vinyl Comfort
Well, it's been a rough autumn so far, hasn't it? I was talking to a co-worker today, and we both commented on how
we wished our parents were still alive so we could ask them, "Is this really the worst it's been since The Great Depression?"
As I put it in a recent email, the messed-up economy has finally poked its diseased tentacles into my
life. I've watched friends lose their jobs through no fault of their own, and I've had my own job cut back -- all
due to the economy. Scary stuff. I was watching Anderson Cooper on CNN last night. He's been compiling a
"Top Ten Most Wanted" list of the people most responsible for the credit collapse on Wall Street. Amazing, isn't it,
how the greed of a handful of people can damage so many lives.
So where do we go for comfort during tough, uncertain times? I'm very gratified that some folks have found comfort
and a temporary escape through the HANDYMAN books. I'm glad my humble story has helped others, and believe me,
hearing that it has helped helps me as well.
As for me, I've found a wonderful escape this autumn through my old records. I've been completely attached to my
Ipod for the last year or so, but suddenly one day I realized that as much as I love the convenience of it, I was missing
that wonderful sonic friction of a needle on vinyl.
I've been a collector of 45 rpm records my whole life. In the last twenty years or so I began to take it seriously,
going to record shows, vintage vinyl record stores, and most recently online shopping as well. I refer to myself as
the 45 freak. It's funny, though. I don't collect them as a genuine collector would. I buy them and
bring them home so I can listen to them, and enjoy the cozy comfort that the sounds of a bygone era produces for me.
Oh, and I track down the original issues not because they are more valuable, but simply because the original labels are
cooler looking. I'm sorry, but as Rock and Roll aged, record labels got steadily boring. The older ones are
still the best.
So, thanks to a groovy vintage record store in Indianapolis called Missing Links ( http://www.missinglinkrecords.com/ ) on North College, not far from fictional Rick Benton's old neighborhood, and thanks to Thursday's Golden Goodies ( http://www.smartcart.com/thursdays/ ) in eastern Ohio, I'm listening to some great records as I write this tonight. Ah, it's hard to beat the sweet
sounds of The Cascades singing "Rhythm of the Rain" (Valiant Records), and The Righteous Brothers' beautiful duet on "Just
Once In My Life" (on Phil Spector's Philles Records of course). I still can't believe I found a mint condition
copy of "Telstar" by The Tornadoes, and I'm grateful to Thursday's for sending me "Denise" by Randy & The Rainbows today.
My original copy of that was warped by intense sunlight when it was stupidly left on the turntable in my college-years
apartment. It's also great to have Del Shannon's "Stranger In Town" (Amy Records). I was amazed
when a friend of mine who has spent years in Oldies radio told me he wasn't familiar with this minor hit of Del's from
1965. I've always thought it was one of his best, aside from "Runaway," and let me tell you, as I learned tonight it
kicks ass in its original vinyl pressing.
That old music and those old records have pulled me over every one of the rough spots in my life. Every time
things have gotten bad, I've always been grateful to the music for keeping me going. I often joke with my friends that
they might as well throw a few of the 45's in the coffin with me when I croak, 'cause nobody else would want 'em.
I do know this much though: As long as I'm alive and have a turntable and have those classic records, the sweet sounds
of yesteryear will be heard in my home.
 Here's a couple of Ed and Rick's favorite 45's from The HANDYMAN books.
Friday, October 10, 2008
A Dear One Passes
IVAN
1999-2008
Ivan, thanks for being such a good friend to an insecure and temperamental writer. Your friendship was a joy and
a blessing I'll never forget. I'm happy your name will live forever in the acknowledgments of The Handyman's Reality.
You were such a wonderful pain in the ass while I was writing that book, and Promise as well. I'll
miss you. Love, Nick
11:14 am est
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When I'm Not Writing...
UPDATE: If you are on Facebook I hope you'll join the NICK POFF Author of
the HANDYMAN series group for discussions, updates, and more.
The sad but honest truth is that most writers need to supplement their income with something other than writing.
I've worked in the radio industry since the tender age of sixteen, and for the same two radio stations for the past fourteen
years. We call it The Hotel California -- you can check out but you can never leave! It's amazing how people go,
but then seem to come back at some time, including me. Radio has been good to me, and although there are still times
I regret not sticking with the writing thing at an earlier age, it's been an interesting ride.
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Things I'm Enjoying....
In The Handyman's Dream Ed and Rick spend time at a cabin on a small lake in southern Michigan.
In a weird fiction-meets-non-fiction kind of way, John Sellers writes about just such a place in his latest
book, The Old Man and the Swamp. It is a must-read for anyone who, like me, has been intrigued by that strange part
of the world at the borders of Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio; fears and respects snakes, and has enitrely too much
memory space dedicated to the 70's & 80's.
I enjoyed Joyce Maynard's latest, The Good Daughters.
I still can't believe All My Children is leaving ABC this September. I was a SLAVE to this
soap opera for 27 years. Even though I stopped watching every day back in '01, I've checked in occasionally, and talked with
co-workers about what was going on in Pine Valley. I mean......a world without Erica Kane? That, to me, is scarier
than facing the end of the Mayan calendar! I have, of course, read Susan Lucci's recent memoir, All My Life.
It's a nice, breezy read, but for diehard AMC fans only. Still...Ms. Lucci is on my list of people I hope to meet someday,
if only to say "THANKS!"
The wonderful thing about "All My Children" is that it was, for many years, more than "just a soap
opera." It was a second family of sorts to its most loyal fans. We can thank the amazing Agnes Nixon, the show's creator for
that, but I also think thanks must be given to the entire production staff, and those incredible actors who made those characters
so special to us. Did I learn some basic facts about life from watching this daytime drama? Yes. Did I learn how to write
a good story from watching "All My Children?" You betcha. Anyone who reads and enjoys the HANDYMAN books can be grateful
for the hours I spent in front of the TV, absorbing the finest writing in daytime television.
Just below is the link to the YouTube video from the intro of the 20th
Anniversary special from 1990. It contains some brief clips from the first 20 years of the show. Although AMC soared wonderfully
into the 21st Century, I gotta admit the best stories were from the first 20 years.
This show ain't dead yet, but it will be in September. Yeah, I'll probably be watching those
final episodes. In the meantime, I want to celebrate some of the best creative writing classes I ever attended. Thanks,
"All My Children!"
And I'm truly finding a great deal of joy in producing and broadcasting my little internet radio
show on www.live365.com. I hope you'll tune in some Wednesday evening for some wonderful old music and chat.
It's all RETRO here at the House of Nick. I also love the occasional old game show clip on YouTube.
I'm all about the retro fun stuff. I'd like to think it reminds us not to take ourselves too seriously in the here
and now. I celebrate old pop music on my internet radio show, NICK POFF RADIO 45.
As most writers do, I love word games, so I always enjoyed the game shows dealing with words. I loved the
$10,000 Pyramid (and the $20,000 and the $25,000 Pyramid, etc.). For those with a short attention span, here's Billy Crystal's
record-breaking trip to the top.
"I can't even watch The New Treasure Hunt anymore because you give me so much shit about it!"
(The above line of dialogue was deleted from the final draft of The Handyman's Dream. Ed's enjoyment
of game shows and Rick's dislike of them would continue to be a source of irritation.)
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Meet two potential victims of global warming.
If you want to save the bears as much as I do, vote wisely in each and every election, and check out the link
on my Favorite Links page.
Nick Poff
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