Give Me that Old Time Music

I have been on an "Old Time Music" kick.  It all started a couple of months ago when I bought a few old vinyl albums to sell at the Antique Mall.

They started selling almost immediately.   So I started buying more albums along with 45's and those started selling.

I even added some to my Etsy shop.  Then I got to thinking that it would be really fun to actually listen to some of those great old albums.  So I looked on line and found a nice modern portable record player and I bought it so I could start listening to the records before I sold them.

I realized that I was buying a lot of the music that I had originally bought in the 1960's - 1980's, along with music that my parents listened to when I was a kid.  Unfortunately, the advent of cassette tapes sort of made vinyl albums obsolete.  I had a huge collection and I threw away all my old records.  What the heck was I thinking????  I was sick about it then and I'm even more sick about it now.

I've found lots of great old show tune albums...

Who doesn't love the Beach boys?  This album is Fab!

One of the greatest singers in the world...

I was even able to track down my 2 favorite albums of all time...

All of the albums you see pictured here are now in my personal collection.  I'm also on the lookout for a vintage record cabinet that I can restore and use to hold my record player and my albums.  Something mid century modern.  I think that would look very cool.

Then one day we were at an estate sale and Louie found this great old Crosley record player.  It's in excellent condition and sounds wonderful.  If I hadn't just bought a portable record player I would have kept this one for myself.  It's such a beauty.  I took it to the antique mall and it kills me to see it sitting there with a price tag.  I so want to keep it for myself.  If somebody doesn't snatch it up soon it may just make it's way back to my house...

So, what's your all time favorite album?

My 1961 Audition Radio

Check out this 1961 Audition Radio - isn't it cool?  I love the huge round dials for AM/FM and all the great knobs and lights....

My husband bought this radio at a garage sale about 30 years ago.  This yellowed piece of paper was taped along the side and has all the old Chicago AM/FM radio stations listed on it.   We had it in the house for awhile and then it migrated out to the garage so my husband could listen to it when he was working on his trucks.  Somewhere along the line it got shoved up on a shelf, paint cans got placed in front of it and we forgot all about it. 

Last week I saw an article online about old transistor radios and it got me to thinking about this table top model that we had.  I couldn't imagine what the heck happened to it, although I knew we wouldn't have thrown it out.  After much digging around, and lots of swearing at the amount of crap we have in our my husband's garage, I found it.  I had to climb across the riding lawn mower, stand on a workbench and move a lot of dried out paint cans and a heavy toolbox to get to it.  I took the radio into the house, cleaned it up, turned it on and was shocked at how clear the sound still is....

Based on the model number on the back  and a little online research, I am guessing that this model was made in 1961.  I cleared off a place on top of my office file cabinet and now I can listen to music while I'm working or crafting - usually country music on US 99.5.

Of course, Louie walked into the office, took one look at it and wanted to know how his radio ended up in my office....  I bet he hasn't even thought about that radio in about 15 years.   ;-)

Interview - Tobias- The Shell King

Over the past couple of months I've been following a blog appropriately called The Shell King.  Tobias and his beautiful wife, Becky, are kind enough to share their amazing shelling adventures from around the state of Florida.  They are an interesting couple that enjoys spending time together on the beach and checking out all kinds of different Florida events.  They opened my eyes to all the amazing things the state has to offer.  I asked Tobias to do an interview so everyone could get to know them a little.  Keep reading because I know you'll enjoy it.

You are a transplant from Indiana.  Did you grow up there and what prompted your move to Florida?

Yep, born and raised in Indiana, just East of Indianapolis. I lived in Chicagoland for a few years, too. I traveled all over the country with my job early on, so I’m a well-traveled dude. I moved down here to Fort Myers in 2002 for a spell, back to Indy, then back here permanently in 2006 to be with my lovely Shell Queen. I don’t plan on leaving again. 

I know you spend most of your free time searching for seashells but what type of work do you do?

I’m a Telecommunications Engineer during the day. At night, I transform into the Shell King.

You are also a gifted musician.  What instruments do you play? 

Thank you! I play guitar, drums and bass guitar. It’s been a long time since I’ve picked one up, but I can also play the saxophone. I wish I could play piano. It’s that one instrument that I never took the time to learn.

 

You write a lot of your own songs.  Do you have a favorite and why?

My favorite is a song called “Hello”, followed closely by a new song I just released called “One Time Before”. Hello has been picked up a couple times for TV. It’s a very cool blessing. The Lord has been very good to me. If your readers would like to hear or download the songs, my music can be found here:

http://fabdaeclectic.bandcamp.com/album/bombshell - Performed under my old stage name

http://tobiasmoran.bandcamp.com/ - Performed under my government name.

Tell me why you started blogging.

I have always loved to write - short stories, songs and whatnot. In 2010, I co-wrote a book with my father in law about his tour in Vietnam and am currently working on a novel about a baseball player. I just like writing. So it came naturally. I’m a talker, so I like talking too. Haha! One day, I just decided to start blogging to share shell finds and life experience - and it took off. We’re having a lot of fun now over at TheShellKing.com and hopefully we keep doing it for a long time.

Does your wife share your passion for shelling?

She’s actually the one that got me so interested in it. She’s been a sheller since she moved here in 2001. Her mother got her hooked, so it was natural for me to get hooked, too. I was always content with just going to swim in the pool. We went out, did some shelling and the bug got me.

 

 

What is your favorite thing about your wife?

Oh, I could go on for pages with that one. But her sense of humor, her smile, her loyalty and her sweetness are my top four favorite things about her. Plus, she’s stunning to look at. She’s the total package, really. My song “Bombshell” is about her. She’s truly my better half and a wonderful person.

 

 

What types of shells are your favorites?

Believe it or not, Olives are my favorite. They were the first shells I really gravitated to, so if I see them and they’re pristine, I grab em every time. Close second would be the Alphabet Cone, and you know I have to say the Junonia. I’ve gotten a taste of some of the shells in the Caribbean, and they’re quickly going to replace the Olive once I spend more time there.

 

 

Do you prefer walking and looking for shells, digging for them, or diving for them?

Diving is my preferred way of finding shells. There are maaaaany interesting things in deep water. If you can quash the fear aspect, you’re in for some killer finds in the deep. Digging is fun too. But after a while, it takes a toll on the ol’ back. So I swim and dive primarily.

 

 

What shells are you on the hunt for that you haven’t found yet?

I want to find a few specifically – a Tun shell, a Loroisi Volute, any Cowrie and a Miter. Unfortunately, they’re not found here so we’d need to hop on a plane and go to where they are. That will certainly happen someday.

What do you do with all your shells?

We display many of the really good ones. Some are in glass containers. Others are displayed in other ways throughout our home. The Queen takes some of them as well and uses them for arts and crafts, which she’s really good at making. The others, we store away to use later.

 

Are any tools essential for shelling?

If you’re planning on digging, three things – a bucket, a small shovel or spade and I recommend a shelling scoop. Around here, Ace Hardware sells them and they’re made by Vietnam Vets. They’re constructed much better than the ones at WalMart and trust me; you need a solid one to combat the waves and surf.

If you’re diving, you certainly need a mesh shelling bag as well as a good, solid mask. I have a Cressi and it is fantastic. A dive knife comes in handy if you’re battling large sea creatures and hungry sharks. I do not carry a dive knife. ;)

 

What should the average sheller look for on the beach?  Is there something that says “Hey, look here, this might be a good spot?”

That honestly comes with experience and knowing the water. It’s really trial and error. Sometimes you may see a huge shell pile and it’s all hash from the night before. Other times, it’s a gold mine. I primarily train my eyes on a specific color and shape. I like orange scallops for example, so sometimes I look for orange. I have probably missed a ton of keepers by just looking for the color orange!

 

If time and money were not a factor, which beach location would you like to travel to?

My favorite beach (and the Queen’s as well) is Magen’s Bay in St. Thomas. We’ve been there a few times and it’s beautiful. I want to live there. However, very few shells there. But if money was no object – three beaches in particular. The Great Barrier Reef in Australia and Playa de la Catedrales in Spain. The Maldives is a close third. I hope to see all three places in person someday!

 

I'd like to thank Tobias for coming by and sharing not only his love of shelling with us, but the joy that he gets from his music and the strong bond he has with Becky.  Please take the time to visit him and start following his blog and his FB page.

And if you missed it, he interviewed me last week.  You can read it here if you like.