Saturday at Sam's Snack Shack

Hello future readers!

You know what I really love about summer in a small town like Springfield? I can do pretty much what I want, (well, not bad stuff, but why would I want to?), and go where I wanna go as long as I'm home in time for dinner. Our town is pretty safe because everybody knows everybody else, and none of the grown-ups are gonna let anything bad happen to us kids. So as long as I behave myself, do my chores, take care of my dog and eat all my vegetables, I can enjoy sweet "Mother Freedom". (that's a song by the group, "Bread").
Anyway, this past Saturday, it was pretty hot. Kim and I were at the playground, but all the equipment was so hot from the sun beating down on it, there really wasn't anything to do. So I suggested we go to Sam's Snack Shack for something cool. Kim thought that was a great idea. She still thinks it's kinda weird that our little town doesn't have McDonald's or Burger King. I've been to those places when I visit my aunties and uncles, but you know what? I still think Sam's is better! So Kim and I left the playground, and rode our bikes down to Sam's.

When we got there, Sunny was already there, sitting at a table, so she waved us over. Danny and Jason were there, too. Sam just got a new pinball machine, so the boys were taking turns trying to beat each others scores. I don't think they'll ever wanna leave! Y'know, with the jukebox and the pinball machine, this place is starting to remind me of  "Arnold's" on the TV show "Happy Days". All that's missing is The Fonz! (one of the coolest guys on television!) Kim ordered a scoop of vanilla ice-cream, and I ordered an extra large glass of Coke over ice because I was so thirsty. Sunny was drinking a creme soda float.

We were all having a pretty groovy time, talking, drinking, eating, and *ugh!* playing pinball. After a while, Sunny said she was tired of hearing all the ringing, bumping and dinging that darn machine was making, so she got up to put some money in the jukebox.

Outta site! She chose "Jive Talkin'" by The Bee Gees. I love that song. Kim kept tapping her spoon to the music and after a couple of minutes, got up to dance with Sunny.

Jason finally got tired of playing pinball, (I think Danny was beating him!),  and sat down at the table with me. I asked him how everything was going, and how was it living with his dad all time now. He says his dad's a really cool guy and that he really missed living in Springfield. He also said he didn't even mind that he was gonna have to repeat 4th grade again, because now he'd be in the same grade as Danny.

I hung out at Sam's until dinner time. It's a good thing I didn't have any ice-cream, because my mom was making lasagna tonight! Far out! I wonder if there are places like Sam's for kids to hang out in the future.  I think it would be sad if there weren't. A kid needs a place to relax and let it all hang out away from parents and teachers sometimes.

Until next time, future readers,
Your friend,
Julie Newman

Independence Day Pool Party at Jennifer's!

Hello future readers!

Happy 4th of July! Some of you may remember there was a July 4th party at Danny's last year. Well, this year the party is at Jennifer's house. And guess what? She has a swimming pool in her backyard! Far out! She's gonna barbecue hamburgers and hot dogs all by herself! My mom would never let me do that!

Anyway, there was all kinds of other groovy things to eat like corn dogs, Jell-o, whipped strawberry mousse, popsicles, and lots of ice cold lemonade.

It was a super party! Everybody was there, including someone new, Danny's friend Jason.

                                              (That's me in the big floppy hat!)

Let me clue you in about Jason. His mom and dad are divorced, and he takes turns living with them. When Jason's with his dad, he goes to our school and he's in the 5th grade .But Jason's mom lives outside of Springfield, and she teaches him at home. Then, right after St. Patrick's Day, she just up and took him away. No one knew where. Jason's dad was worried sick. Then right before the last day of school, he finally found them in a little town in Colorado, living with Jason's aunt. His dad had to go to court, and now Jason lives with him all the time, now. Only since he missed so much school, and his mom isn't really a teacher, he has to go all the way back to 4th grade, and his time in 5th grade isn't going to count. I feel bad about that. My mom says Jason's mom is very sick and it's a shame she did that to him. But I know Danny's happy because Jason and his dad bought a house 2 blocks away and now he'll actually have another boy in the neighborhood to play with!

Anyway, back to the party...we were all having a dynamite time, talking, eating, listening to music, and welcoming Jason back to Springfield.  Cheryl volunteered to fill up the inflatable pool up with the garden hose.

All right! Swim time! We all had our swim suits and towels. Some of us jumped in the water, and others sat around and rapped before they got in the pool.

I was having such an outta site time, I didn't want to come home! But at 5 p.m. I came home, wet, slightly sunburned, and dead tired.  I'm going to take a nap now, because tonight me and my mom and Kim and her family are going to Springfield Park to watch the fireworks.  I hope Independence Day is just as groovy in the future. It's one of the best things about summertime! Happy July 4th!

Until next time, future readers,
Your friend,
Julie Newman

The Mad Platter Record Store

Hello future readers!

Well, now that school's out, (I'm gonna miss Miss LaSalle!),  and it's officially summer time, (YAY!), it's time to have fun doing the stuff I wanna do! Today, Lisa called and asked me if I wanted to go to the record store. Was she kidding? YES! I love going to the record store! Hmmm...I know I've talked about records before, but just in case there aren't any records in the future, (GASP!), I'd better give you a quick lesson.. Records are black, round vinyl discs that we listen to music on. There are 2 types, (well, there are 4, but a couple of them aren't around much anymore). Anyway there are 45s and LPs. A 45 is a small 7" record that has one song on each side. The reason it's called a "45" is because it spins around on your record player 45 times in one minute. An LP is a 12" record that spins 33 and 1/3 times around on your record player in a minute. "LP" stands for "long playing" because it has more songs each side. These are also called albums. Most albums have 5 or 6 songs on each side of the record, but sometimes there are more, sometimes less. 45s are cheaper, and that's usually all I can afford to buy, 'cos I only get 50 cents a week for my allowance. I've saved up $2.25, (I found a quarter in the couch cushions!), and my mom gave me $2 more, but I gotta help her wash her car tomorrow, and clean the bathroom. But hey, it's cool, 'cos there's more music for me! Anyway, Lisa came over and we walked to the record store together.

The Mad Platter record store has been in Springfield since the '50s. My mom says radio disc jockeys used to call records "platters", and that's where the store got its name. Cheryl and Robyn were there, too. Robyn was checking out some magazines, and Cheryl was listening to a "store copy" of a record to see if she wanted to buy it. I think it was "Saturday In The Park" by Chicago. (Hey, I have that record!)

Lisa told me she wanted to buy an album. I guess she had more money than I did. I looked through the 45s.  This morning I heard KC & The Sunshine Band on the radio. Their music is really far out so I wanted something they sing.

I saw Robyn checking out the posters. I wish I could have bought one, but my mom says I have enough posters on my walls. I guess maybe she's right.

Lisa and I wanted to check out the magazines. I spotted one with lotsa pictures and articles about David Cassidy! Outta site! Lisa has been into Tony DeFranco lately, so she found a magazine with him on the cover.

Well, Lisa found what she wanted, a Jackson 5 album and a magazine. I bought 2 45s, that David Cassidy magazine and a couple of blank tapes so I can record music off the radio. (it's much cheaper than buying the albums). When we left we saw Cheryl checking out the 8-track tapes, and Robyn was listening to a record she wanted to buy, "Love's Theme", (Hey! I have that  record, too!)

Lisa and I went back to my house. I played one of my new 45s "When Will I See You Again" by The Three Degrees, (I got that one out of the Used Records box!), and we were drooling over the pics in our magazines. I put one of my blank tapes in my tape recorder, and Lisa and I started singing. We don't sound like The Three Degrees, but we did alright.

I wanted to hear Lisa's Jackson 5 album, but she said she wanted to wait and play it at her house. That was OK, because I can always go over to her house and listen to it. We had a really groovy day. And the summer is just beginning!

Until next time future readers,
Your friend,
Julie Newman

Meet My Friends!

Hello future readers!

I've decided to add some snapshots of all my friends to this time capsule so you can keep them all straight. After all, I've got a lot of friends! There's a song that my mom likes that goes: "People who need people are the luckiest people in the world." Well, I think that I'm very lucky because I need all my friends, and I like to think that they need me too! (Click the "Meet My Friends" tab!)

Until next time future readers,
Your friend,
Julie Newman

Our School's Talent Show!

Hello future readers!

On Wednesday for our last school assembly, the 4th, 5th and 6th graders put on a talent show! Each grade had 4 acts to present. They could be groups or solo performances. I was so happy the 4th graders were on first. I was so excited, I could hardly stand it! The Baton Club was performing 2 numbers, (that's me, Robyn and Jennifer). Danny, Sunny and Crissy had a band, and Cheryl was doing some ballet. I peeked through the curtains from backstage, and saw the auditorium filling up with kids.

After everyone was sitting down, and we got through the weekly announcements, Mrs. Taylor announced the first act, the band that Danny named "Loud and Proud."

It wasn't exactly a real band. It was Crissy on guitar, Danny playing a little marching band drum, and Sunny playing the tambourine while singing to the record "Jingle Jangle" by The Archies.

Even though they weren't a real band, everyone thought they were really outta site! They all cheered and clapped like crazy! Next up was Cheryl dancing to the song "Blue Danube". (Hey, I know that one from the Looney Tunes cartoon!)

Cheryl is really good at ballet, and makes those moves look so graceful. I gasped when she did the splits! I think I'd break my legs if I tried to do that! It was finally our turn! Since I had done this last year, I wasn't nervous at all. This year we performed to the songs "Shake Your Booty" by K.C. and The Sunshine Band, and "Crocodile Rock" by Elton John.

We all did a super job! None of us dropped our batons or forgot the steps. I think we've actually gotten better since last year! Everyone cheered and whistled for us, and that made me feel really groovy. But since it's the last assembly, that means school is almost over. Even though I'm looking forward to summer vacation, I'm gonna miss my teacher, Miss LaSalle and school. Danny thinks I'm crazy! Haha! But our school is really far out, (even with all the homework we get), and I don't care what Danny thinks, I like it!

Until next time future readers,
Your friend,
Julie Newman