A Tuna Sandwich, Barbecue Chips, and a Lifetime of Memories

I had a few extra dollars in my pocket today and decided to take my daughter's advice.. "Treat yo-self!"

I wandered down the snack cake aisle at the supermarket but immediately did an about-face. Snack cakes just aren't what they used to be. 

Instead, I found myself in the cookie aisle where something caught my eye: Fig Newtons.

I couldn't remember the last time I had one. Growing up, they were about the only mass-produced cookie my mom would allow in the house. I tossed a package into the cart, wondering if they still tasted the way I remembered.

Then I grabbed a bag of Lay's Barbecue Potato Chips to go with lunch. It might not sound like much of a treat, but I promise you, it was.

When I got home, I made myself a thick tuna sandwich on wheat bread. Then I opened the bag of barbecue chips, covered the tuna with a generous layer, put the top slice of bread on, and pressed it down until the chips crunched into the tuna. I opened it back up, added a few more chips, and did it again. The first bite instantly transported me back decades.  Add in an ice cold Coca-Cola, poured into one of those vintage Tupperware plastic iced tea cups, and it was like I stepped into a time machine back to the 70s or 80s.

My cousin and I practically grew up together. She was my first best friend. Our moms were incredibly close, and many afternoons followed the same routine. They'd come home from the grocery store with a loaf of Roman Meal wheat bread, tuna, and a bag of Lay's Barbecue Potato Chips.

They'd make tuna sandwiches exactly the same way I made mine today.

And of course, my cousin and I copied everything they did.

Curious, I texted my cousin today and asked if she remembered those afternoons. She absolutely did. In fact, she laughed and admitted she had just made herself a tuna sandwich with potato chips the day before.. only with regular chips this time instead of barbecue.

I realized I hadn't made one of these in decades What's funny.. is that I can vividly remember those afternoons, yet I don't remember my mom ever making another tuna-chip sandwich after I was probably a preteen. Still, over the years I would overhear my mom and aunt fondly reminiscing about those lunches as if they had happened in another lifetime, and stating how they tasted sooo good.

I've noticed I'm having more moments like this lately. A memory, a smell, a taste, a certain food.. and suddenly I'm standing in my childhood again. I've always been amazed at how many of my memories are tied to food. My family is constantly surprised by the tiny details I remember from growing up, especially when it comes to meals, restaurants, and little traditions that everyone else has forgotten.

Before writing this, I shared the memory with my cousin. As I did, I realized something that caught me off guard. Many of the memories we carry through life may very well exist only inside us. The people who lived them with us may remember them differently or not at all. Some are gone. Some have been forgotten. That makes me want to tell these stories, almost as a way of keeping them alive. To make them real. To honor them before they quietly disappear.

To most people, a tuna sandwich with barbecue potato chips is just lunch. To me, it's history.. My history. And maybe these little, seemingly insignificant moments shaped me in ways I still don't fully understand, even now in my 50s. 

I guess sometimes, all it takes is something like a sandwich to remind you where you came from.

More Than a Theme Song: Why Mr. Belvedere Had One of Television's Smartest Openings

Some television theme songs are catchy. Some tell you who the characters are. A few become nostalgic time capsules that instantly take you back to a certain place and time.

Then there is Mr. Belvedere.

The theme song, "According to Our New Arrival," performed by Leon Redbone and written by Gary Portnoy and Judy Hart Angelo, did something most sitcom theme songs never even attempted. It explained the entire premise, philosophy, and emotional heart of the show in less than a minute.

The older I get, the more I appreciate just how clever it really was.

Here are the lyrics..

Streaks on the china

Never mattered before

Who cared?

When you drop kicked your jacket

As you came through through the door

No one glared

But, sometimes things get

Turned around

And no one's spared

All hands look out below!

There's a change in the status quo

We're gonna need all the help that we can get

According to our new arrival

Life is more than mere survival

And we just might live the good life yet

A Show About More Than a Housekeeper

On the surface, Mr. Belvedere was about a British gentleman named Lynn Belvedere who becomes a live in housekeeper for the Owens family in Pittsburgh.

George Owens played by the late, great, Bob Eucker.. was a sportswriter. Marsha Owens was balancing family life while pursuing a law career. The kids were typical kids. The house was busy, loud, messy, and often chaotic.

Then.. Mr. Belvedere arrived.

Most people remember the show as a fish out of water comedy. A refined British gentleman trying to survive in a middle class American household. But the show was really about something deeper. It was about what happens when someone enters your life and quietly raises your expectations.

The Meaning Behind the Opening Lyrics

The song begins with lines about streaks on the china and dropping your jacket on the floor without anyone caring.

At first glance, those seem like simple observations about housekeeping. They are not. Those lyrics describe a family that has become comfortable with disorder. Not bad people. Not lazy people. Just people who have settled into routines that are good enough.

The Owens family was surviving. Mr. Belvedere wanted them to do more than survive. He wanted them to thrive. That idea becomes crystal clear in the most important lyric of the entire song:

"According to our new arrival, life is more than mere survival."

That single line may be the best summary of the entire series. Belvedere was not trying to create a perfect family. He was encouraging them to become the best version of themselves. Read more, learn more, take pride in your home, improve your habits, expect more from yourself. Those themes appeared over and over throughout the show's six season run

The Real Plot of Mr. Belvedere

Many sitcoms are built around funny situations, but Mr. Belvedere was built around personal growth. Every week the Owens family faced a problem, challenge, misunderstanding, or life lesson. Belvedere was usually the person who helped them see things differently

What made the show work so well was that he was not perfect either. He could be stubborn, judgmental, and overly confident. The family changed him just as much as he changed them

That is why another lyric in the song stands out:

"Sometimes things get turned around, and no one's spared."

Yes, everybody grows, everybody changes and nobody remains exactly the same. That was the real story

Why Leon Redbone Was the Perfect Choice

A huge part of the theme song's charm comes from Leon Redbone's performance. His voice sounded like it came from another era. While most television themes of the 1980s embraced contemporary pop music, Redbone brought a sound that felt decades older.

That was perfect for Mr. Belvedere himself. The Owens family represented modern America. Belvedere represented old world refinement, manners, and tradition. Even before the first scene began, the music was already telling us everything we needed to know about the character.

The Theme Song Was the Show

What makes "According to Our New Arrival" so memorable is that it was not simply introducing the characters.

It was introducing an idea. The idea that one person can walk into your life and inspire you to do better. Not through lectures, not through force, but through example.

That is why the final message of the song still resonates today.

The Owens family was not looking for a better life.

Yet because of Mr. Belvedere, they discovered they might actually find one.

"And we just might live the good life yet."

That line was never really about money or success, it was about growth and becoming more than you were yesterday. For a sitcom that many people remember as a lighthearted family comedy, that is a surprisingly profound message. And that's why decades later, the theme song remains one of the smartest and most meaningful openings in television history (in my humble opinion).

Final Thoughts

When I was younger, I enjoyed Mr. Belvedere because it was funny. Watching it now, I appreciate it for a completely different reason. The show understood something simple but important. Sometimes the most valuable person in our lives is not the one who makes us comfortable. It's the one who challenges us to be better. That was Mr. Belvedere's role in the Owens household. 

From the very first note of that wonderful theme song, the series told us exactly what it was all about and dropped some great philosophy to boot.  Maybe that's why I remember it after all these years.

The Psychology Behind Revisiting Forgotten 80s and 90s TV

There is a strange little phenomenon I have been thinking about and I'm not even sure it has a proper name.. but it definitely feels real in a way that is hard to ignore once you notice it.

It's the feeling of being drawn back to television shows or cultural moments you were technically around for when they were new, maybe even saw here and there, but never really committed to at the time. 

Not favorites. Not childhood obsessions. Just things that were part of the background noise of life. 

Then decades later.. something shifts and suddenly there is curiosity, even a kind of pull, like you want to go back and actually see what was going on there.

Not because you miss it exactly. It is more like you want to complete a missing piece of your own timeline. One example that keeps sticking with me is that old television show 'Mr. Belvedere'. I was never really a fan of it back then. I might have watched a half episode here or there, but it was never something I followed. It was just part of that great television landscape of the 1980s.

And now, years later, I find myself thinking I actually want to go back and watch it. Not because I suddenly think it was underrated or because I feel nostalgic in a traditional sense, but because I want to understand what that whole package actually was. 

I want to see the acting, especially from Bob Uecker, who plays the father in the series, and understand how all of it worked together in context. It's kind of like I only ever experienced the “thumbnail” version of it.

And then there's 'In the Heat of the Night', which is almost the opposite emotional experience. That was something I actually did watch occasionally growing up, mostly because you watched what was on in a household where the remote control was not exactly a democratic instrument. Long Story Short.. if the parents were watching television, you pretty much had to watch what they were watching at that moment.

What stands out now about 'In the Heat of the Night' is not just the show itself, but the feeling of it. It was gritty in a way that modern television often smooths over. It did not always resolve things neatly. Sometimes there was no clean ending, no satisfying moral bow tied around the story. Sometimes things just happened. A case ended, but not emotionally. A situation was solved but not fully understood.

As a kid that can feel unsatisfying. As an adult it feels more like realism. Now I find myself strangely drawn to it again, especially because it is available to stream at any time, and on free TV, played on a 24 hour loop on its own dedicated free channel. There is something about being able to drop into that world instantly that changes the relationship entirely. It is no longer “a show that used to be on.” It becomes an environment you can enter whenever you want.

And part of what I am really drawn to is the era itself. The cars, the clothes, the way people talk, the pacing of scenes. It is not just entertainment. It is a preserved slice of time. It is almost like walking through a museum where everything still moves and speaks.

Another such example that really surprises myself is 'Baywatch Nights'.

Back when it was new.. I remember hearing about it and kind of rolling my eyes. It already had a reputation in my head without me ever watching it. It was a spin off of something massive, and the premise sounded like it was trying to stretch itself into something it obviously was not.

At the time I did not have any interest in it at all. But now there is a different kind of curiosity. Especially knowing how the show shifted in tone after ratings floundered. It eventually leaned into supernatural and strange storylines kind of like X-Files. 

That kind of behind the scenes evolution is interesting in a way it never would have been when I was younger. It is not just “is this good or bad.” It is “what were they trying to do here and how did it change over time.” That is a very different way of watching television than the way we consumed it originally.

So I keep coming back to this idea that something has changed in how we relate to old media. It is not just nostalgia. It is not just memory. It feels more like selective reconnection.

We are drawn to things we were adjacent to, rather than fully immersed in. We are drawn to cultural artifacts that existed around us but were never fully processed. And now, with everything available on demand, there is almost an instinct to go back and fill in those gaps.

There is also something comforting about it that I did not expect. Not comfort in the sense of “this reminds me of childhood,” but comfort in structure. Older shows just had a slower rhythm. They are not optimized for constant stimulation. They take their time. Even when things are tense, they breathe differently than modern television.

And maybe that is part of it too. In a world where everything feels fast and compressed, going back to something slower, even something slightly cheesy or uneven, can feel grounding.

But I think the deeper thing.. is this idea that we are not always revisiting what we loved. Sometimes we are revisiting what we barely noticed.

The shows we half watched. The theme songs we remember more clearly than the plots. The series we dismissed but still absorbed through cultural osmosis. And now, years later, we finally have the time, the access, and maybe even the perspective to actually see what was there. Not as kids. Not as background noise. But maybe as something we are ready to finally understand.

Remembering The Fat Boys: Hip Hop Legends and Their Legacy in 2025

Remembering The Fat Boys — 2025 Edition

This is an updated version of a post I originally wrote in 2021

It’s 2025, and every time I press play on an old Fat Boys tape (or vinyl, or digital rip) I’m reminded why the trio of Prince Markie Dee, Kool Rock Ski, and Buff Love (The Human Beat Box) weren’t just a  novelty act. They changed how a lot of us heard rap, and how a lot of rap heard itself. I simply blows my mind that its been 41 years since I first witnessed their rap prowess.

They weren’t trying to be cool in the narrow sense. They were just being themselves. Big personalities. Big appetites. Humor as loud as their beats. To a lot of us, especially the guys who didn’t fit the lean image, they offered something important: pride, fun, and confidence without needing to look like anyone else.

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Origins: From 'The Disco' 3 to Hip Hop Pioneers

Before they were The Fat Boys, they were The Disco 3. Three friends from Brooklyn trying to make something happen. Kool Rock and Markie Dee had the rhymes, and with no money for a DJ, Buff provided the beats. The story goes that on an early European tour, their manager got hit with a huge hotel bill for all their extra meals. He angrily exclaimed that maybe they should call themselves The Fat Boys. The rest is history.

In 1984 they released their self titled debut album. It was one of the first rap albums to put live beatboxing front and center. Tracks like “Human Beat Box” and “Jailhouse Rap” helped open the door for people who didn’t fit the traditional image. They showed that you could rap, laugh, clown around, and still be taken seriously. I believe I have owned that album in every possible format that it was ever produced, from LP to Digital.

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Breakout Success: Hits, Movies, and Mainstream Appeal

Songs like “The Fat Boys Are Back,” “Can You Feel It,” “Stick ’Em,” and “Pump It Up” helped cement their place as early hip hop icons.

They didn’t just stay in the rap lane however. Their 1987 album Crushin' produced Wipeout, a collaboration with The Beach Boys that became a huge crossover hit.

They also appeared in some movies. Krush Groove in 1985. Knights of the City in 1986. Disorderlies in 1987. These films helped bring hip hop into spaces it had never been. They were fun, goofy, and full of personality. Exactly what people loved about them.

Another 80s pop culture tidbit.. Robert Englund appeared as Freddy Krueger in the Fat Boy's 1988 music video and actually rapped on the song 'Are You Ready for Freddy' further solidifying the trio's presence in pop culture.

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Loss, Legacy, and the One Light Still On

Buff Love passed away on December 10, 1995 at only 28. Prince Markie Dee passed on February 18, 2021 at 52.

But the legacy didn’t fade. In 2023, The Fat Boys were inducted into the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame. Kool Rock Ski, the last surviving member, accepted the honor and spoke about the group’s impact and the memories of his friends.

As of 2025, there is still no official reunion or new Fat Boys lineup. And honestly, I don't think there needs to be. You would never catch lightning in a bottle with the Fat Boys ever again. But their influence is everywhere. Their music still gets rediscovered. Their videos still get shared. Their energy still hits.

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What The Fat Boys Gave Us (Still True in 2025)

• Beatboxing brought into the mainstream
• Early body positive confidence without needing a trend
• Comedy and fun in rap at a time when things were getting serious
• Bridges between hip hop and pop culture
• A blueprint for artists who didn’t fit the mold

When I hear “Human Beat Box” or “Wipeout,” I go straight back to pizza shops, cassette tapes, and a time when hip hop felt like a funhouse full of chaos and creativity.

To Markie. To Buff. To Kool Rock. Thanks for the fun, the beats, and the big energy.

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Why It Still Matters in 2025

Their story is a reminder that hip hop wasn’t always polished and perfect. It was raw. Honest. Playful. Loud. Messy.. and real.

The Fat Boys didn’t just make music. They made people feel seen.

And that sticks around.

Digital Watches: The Original Tech Marvel We All Forgot About

I graduated to digital watches around 1980, right when my Mickey Mouse watch started feeling a little too “kidsy” for me. My uncle gave me a Hewlett Packard digital watch with bright red LED display that flashed on with the push of a button. That thing felt like future tech strapped to my wrist. When it eventually died, my old man picked up a Pulsar digital watch for me, and I wore that one out just as fast.

Looking back, those early digital watches were straight up tech marvels. For the time, nothing felt more advanced. They were the closest thing we had to a smartwatch. As a kid, wearing a watch loaded with functions made you feel like James Bond or a time traveler.

Over the years I went through all kinds of digital watches. I loved the stopwatch functions and timed everything — how long I could hold my breath.. to how long my old man hogged the bathroom. Totally unrelated, but both were important metrics. And the backlights? I used them constantly, even when I didn’t need to.

Casio CA-53W-1CR
Calculator Watch

I also owned an insane number of video game watches like Pac-Man, Donkey Kong, Q-Bert, and Legend of Zelda. Plus a couple legendary Casio calculator watches that saved me more than once in math class. Since I was seven years old I’ve owned over 100 watches, but I always circle back to digital displays. There’s just something about them.

Antiquated Digital Tech at its finest!
The Timex DATA LINK

In the mid-90s, Timex dropped one of the coolest wrist gadgets ever made — the Timex DataLink. Co-developed with Microsoft, it was basically a wrist-mounted PDA. You’d enter your notes, contacts, and reminders into a computer program, and the watch would read the data through a flashing light pattern on the monitor. It felt like sci-fi. Dead battery? No stress — just re-sync the data again.

And then there’s Casio, which completely changed the game with its G-Shock line. I’ve owned some very nice timepieces in my day, but G-Shocks hit a different nerve. They can take ridiculous amounts of abuse, they require basically no maintenance, they’re loaded with options, and Casio keeps pushing out better designs and special editions. They’ve turned digital toughness into a whole style category.
One of my absolute favorites is here:

The best watch I’ve ever owned — the Casio G-Shock
The watch that simply refused to die

I do love classic mechanical timepieces, but digital watches still hold a special place in my heart. When I find anything retro, unique, or just plain cool, I’ll post it here.

Before Five Nights at Freddy's, ShowBiz Pizza Place animatronics seemed harmless.. until the doors closed

When I was a kid back in the '80s.. ShowBiz Pizza Place was a kid’s paradise. Pizza, games, and the Rock-afire Explosion band putting on a flawless mechanical show. For me, it was like my own little Disneyland way out west in 1980s Northern Colorado. The smells, the laughter, the arcade lights, it was pure magic. You can read why it was so important to me here in an old post from 2018.

During the day, everything seemed perfectly normal. The animatronics danced, sang, and entertained without a hitch. Kids laughed. Parents relaxed. And employees went about their jobs without a second thought.

But for the night shift, things were a little different. My brother had a friend named Rob who worked there and swore the animatronics “changed” after the doors were locked.

“They would jerk or move suddenly. One night, someone was cleaning the stage when Mitzi, the cheerleading mouse, flailed her arm and knocked him off his feet. Sent him flying about four feet across the floor stage”

It was not like the robots were ever dangerous during the day. They were active all day with no weirdness. But after close, the band had a presence. Employees said the robots looked different, like they were watching… waiting… aware of more than just the kids on the floor. The occassional twitching, hissing, or creaking kept everyone working late a little on edge.

I had my own brush with some of this creepiness. Once, I got brave enough to pull back the stage curtain after a show finished, just to see what was going on. That's when I locked eyes with Fatz, the big silverback gorilla. His gaze was fixed on me, and for a split second, it felt like a jolt to the system. My ten-year-old brain scrambled. I quickly shook it off and went back to calm myself with pizza and video games.

Even with that one eerie moment, ShowBiz Pizza Place was pure joy. It is why places like this.. a mix of fun, wonder, and just a touch of the unexplained, inspired Five Nights at Freddy’s. For me, though, it will always be my own little corner of childhood bliss.

The Cookie Crisp Mascots: From Wizards to Wolves (and Why We Still Miss the Old Ones)

If you grew up before the mid 2000's, there’s a good chance your morning cartoon lineup was powered by sugar and mascots. And few cereals hit that sweet spot better than Cookie Crisp.

Back when I first wrote about the Cookie Crisp mascots in 2019, I had no idea it would take off the way it did. The post blew up with readers reminiscing about that wizard, that crook, that howling dog who made cookies for breakfast seem totally acceptable. But.. whether it’s a favorite cereal mascot or a classic frozen pizza like Red Baron and Tombstone, certain flavors and memories stick with us for decades.

So here we are again, a few years later, with a fresh look at every Cookie Crisp mascot from the 1970s through today. No fluff, no filler. Just a nostalgic rewind through the mascots that made us yell “Cooooookie Crisp!” at the breakfast table.

Cookie Jarvis — The Wizard of the 1970s

Before the crooks, cops, and canines, Cookie Crisp started with a wizard. His name was Cookie Jarvis, and he looked like the cousin of Merlin who lived above a bakery.

Cookie Jarvis would wave his wand and turn regular cereal into tiny chocolate chip cookies. It was pure Saturday morning magic. The commercials were weird, fun, and very seventies. Full of fog, sparkles, and that deep announcer voice that sounded like it came from a record player in your kitchen.

If you had a bowl of Cookie Crisp in 1977, chances are you can still hear him say the line: “You can’t have cookies for breakfast… or can you?”

The Cookie Crook and Officer Crumb — The 1980s Duo

By the time the eighties hit, the wizard had disappeared, and Cookie Crisp went full Saturday morning sitcom. The new stars were the Cookie Crook, his Dog and cohort 'Chip' and Officer Crumb. A couple of cartoon criminals and the cop who always tried to stop them from stealing kid's Cookie Crisp cereal.

Every commercial was like a mini episode that was always very Keystone Cops-esque. The Cookie Crook had plans that always failed, as Officer Crumb showed up eventually thwarting their efforts.

For kids watching before school or in between He-Man and The Smurfs, these spots were part of the fun. They made cereal feel like part of the same world as the cartoons we loved.

It was clever marketing, and it worked. You didn’t just eat cereal. You joined the chase.

Chip the Dog — The 1990s Mascot Everyone Remembers

Then came one that hung in there for the next decade, Chip the Dog.

Chip showed up in the early nineties now as a solo act and instantly became the face of Cookie Crisp. He had the kind of voice that could sell excitement to anyone under twelve. The crook and the cop slowly disappeared, and Chip was left to run the show, literally howling “Cooooookie Crisp!” in every ad.

This was peak mascot energy.. loud, happy, and hyper. The commercials were bright, fast, and full of motion. Even if you didn’t eat the cereal, you knew that howl.

If you want a quick blast of memory, look up a 1991 Cookie Crisp commercial on YouTube. You’ll be right back on the living room carpet, watching DuckTales with a spoon in hand.

Chip the Wolf — The 2000s and Beyond

In the early 2000s, General Mills gave Cookie Crisp another facelift. Chip the Dog evolved into Chip the Wolf, a slicker, more animated version with bigger eyes and more attitude.

He wasn’t stealing cookies from the jar anymore but rather, chasing bowls of cereal like a Looney Tunes character on espresso.

It was fun, but it also felt different. Gone were the hand drawn, personality filled ads. The new ones looked computer animated and louder but somehow less warm. Kids loved him, but to adults, it felt like the end of an era.

Still, Chip the Wolf has been around for more than twenty years now. That’s longer than any of his predecessors, which says something about his staying power.

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Then vs Now

Era	Mascot	Vibe	Tagline Style
1970s	Cookie Jarvis	Magical and whimsical	“You can’t have cookies for breakfast… or can you?”
1980s	Cookie Crook and Officer Crumb	Cartoon cops and robbers	“Stop, thief!”
1990s	Chip the Dog	Loud, friendly chaos	“Cooooookie Crisp!”
2000s to now	Chip the Wolf	Modern high energy mascot	“The howl of the modern mascot”

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Why Mascots Like This Disappeared

There was a time when every kid could name five cereal mascots without thinking. Now, most of them are gone or barely used.

The simple reason? Advertising rules changed. Marketers couldn’t directly target kids the same way anymore. Parents pushed for healthier breakfasts, and the world got busier. Saturday morning cartoons went away, replaced by streaming shows with no commercials.

Mascots lost their playground.

But those old characters stuck in our heads because they represented more than cereal. They were part of our weekend routine, part of our identity as eighties and nineties kids.

The Retro Dad’s Take

I still think Cookie Crisp nailed something special. I mean, come on — what kid couldn’t get excited about eating a bowl of cookies for breakfast? It felt like we were getting away with something. Like we were calling the shots for once, eating what we wanted instead of what we were told. Heck, as a kid, I totally knew that when I grew up and was on my own, I was going to endless bowls of Cookie Crisp while watching MTV every night.

But the mascots made the whole experience richer. They gave it personality. Cookie Jarvis made it feel magical, the Crook and Crumb made it funny, and Chip the Dog turned breakfast into a full on cartoon moment. There was nothing like eating your favorite bowl of cereal and then having a commercial for said cereal entertain you as you enjoyed the sugary treat.

It wasn’t just cereal. It was this weird, wonderful mix of sugar, imagination, and rebellion. That’s what made mornings feel alive, and that’s the part I still miss today.

Cookie Crisp Collectors and Where It Stands in 2025

Believe it or not, old Cookie Crisp boxes and merchandise still pop up on eBay and collector sites. The vintage ones featuring Cookie Jarvis or the Crook and Crumb duo can go for surprising amounts.

General Mills occasionally nods to the past with retro packaging, but the mascots themselves stay in the vault.

If you’re into cereal nostalgia, there’s a whole world of collectors out there swapping boxes, trading cards, and even the occasional unopened pack from the eighties. It’s a strange and beautiful subculture.

Which Mascot Was Your Favorite?

Was it the wizard, the crook, the dog, or the wolf?

Drop your favorite in the comments below. I’d love to know which one you remember best, and if you still find yourself howling “Cooooookie Crisp!” when you see a box at the store.

Coca-Cola Brings Back Real Cane Sugar: The Classic Taste Returns to America

 

A Sip of Nostalgia: Coca-Cola’s Return to Cane Sugar
Coca-Cola is bringing back its classic taste with real cane sugar in the U.S., and it’s a nostalgic game-changer for anyone who remembers the original flavor. Here are my memories of the sugary classic and what I think about this major development.

The Sweet Comeback: Cane Sugar Coke Returns

Coca-Cola has officially announced that it will begin rolling out a version of Coke made with real cane sugar in the United States. For decades, American Coke has been made with high fructose corn syrup, a change that started in the 1980s after a government sugar embargo made cane sugar too expensive for mass production.

This new version is Coca-Cola’s answer to growing demand for more natural, nostalgic products. It’s set to appear later this year in select markets, starting with limited quantities in 12-ounce glass bottles that echo the look of the classic Coke many of us remember. Availability will expand gradually as bottlers adjust to the shift in ingredients and supply.

While health experts say there’s little nutritional difference between cane sugar and corn syrup, most long-time Coke drinkers agree: the taste isn’t the same. There’s a brightness, a clean, crisp sweetness that cane sugar delivers in a way corn syrup never quite could.

 Why This Matters (and Why It Hits Home)

For me, this announcement feels like more than just a marketing move. It feels personal. I can still remember the taste of the original Coke, the way it hit different back when my family would gather for dinner on the weekends. My parents, aunts, uncles, and cousins would sit around the table with a couple of 2-liter glass bottles of Coke. Yes, glass. They were heavy, elegant, and somehow, no one ever dropped one.

That memory came rushing back the moment I read the news about Coca-Cola’s return to cane sugar. It’s like they’re finally bringing back a piece of the past that so many of us thought was gone for good.

How I’ve Been Getting the Real Stuff

Even before this new rollout, I found ways to enjoy the classic recipe. For years, I’ve been sidestepping the corn syrup version by picking up Mexican Coke, the Coke still made with real sugar, at the exact kinds of places that have quietly kept the tradition alive.

You can find it in the international or Spanish sections of grocery stores, in local bodegas, and in plenty of Mexican restaurants. In fact, many Mexican eateries now offer the glass-bottle Mexican Coke right alongside their meals. It costs a bit more, but for me, that first cold sip instantly takes me back to 1979.

 Final Thoughts

This upcoming return of cane sugar Coca-Cola isn’t just about nostalgia or marketing. It’s about a flavor that defined an era and still has the power to transport us back in time. When I hear that familiar pssst from a glass bottle cap, I’m not just drinking a soda. I’m revisiting a memory, one that’s been sitting on ice for over 40 years.

3 Vintage Shakey’s Pizza Commercials You Can Watch on YouTube

🍕 3 Great Old Shakey’s Pizza Commercials You Can Still Watch on YouTube

If you ever went to a Shakey’s back in the day, you know there was just nothing else like it. The smell of the pizza, the wooden tables, the player piano.. it was a scene. Shakey’s wasn’t just a pizza joint. It was a night out, a family ritual, a place you told your buddies about. These old TV spots still do the job: they yank you back to those nights like nothing else.

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1. “Shakey’s” — 1980 commercial

This one’s pure 1980s energy. Bright, upbeat, and the kind of ad that makes you want to pile the family into the car and go right now. It nails the “fun night out” vibe that made Shakey’s special.

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2. “Pizza Keeper” — 1978 spot

This 1978 spot (the “Pizza Keeper” box bit) is comforting in a way modern ads rarely are.. honest, simple, and all about the food and family. Those little production touches bring back the smell of hot pizza and the chatter of a lively dining room.

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3. Mid-1970s — little girl bowling commercial

Kids, bowling, and a big pizza hitting the table — this commercial is pure memory juice. It’s the sort of clip that pulls up a photo you forgot you had of your own pizza nights back then. If you miss the community feel of old family restaurants, this one’s for you. 

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Watching these makes me realize how much of a social anchor places like Shakey’s used to be. Not just pizza, a whole night out. Nothing I go to now quite scratches that itch. If you liked these, drop a comment with your favorite Shakey’s memory. Maybe I’ve got a photo or two that’ll match it.

🍫 My Top 5 Favorite Candies from the ‘70s and ‘80s: Sweet Memories That Still Melt in My Mouth

There was nothing quite like being a kid in the ‘70s and ‘80s and walking into a corner convenience store with a pocketful of change. The smell of bubble gum, the faint hum of a soda cooler, and the sound of the door chime — it was pure magic. You could spend 50 cents and walk out feeling like a king with a treasure trove of sugar.

Here are my top five favorite candies from back in the day — the ones that made every trip to the store worth it.

🍫 1. Ice Cubes

Every trip to the store wasn’t complete without grabbing a handful of Ice Cubes — those little foil-wrapped squares of creamy chocolate bliss. They came in those shiny silver or gold wrappers, and once you unwrapped one, it was game over. The texture was unbelievably smooth, almost buttery, and they melted the instant they hit your tongue.

You didn’t chew Ice Cubes. You savored them. Recently, I stumbled across them again at a German market — the same brand, the same foil, the same melt-in-your-mouth magic. It was like time traveling straight back to 1978.

🍬 2. Nerds

When Nerds hit the candy aisles in the early ‘80s, everything changed. Tiny, tangy, colorful crystals of pure sugar — and we couldn’t get enough of them. Half the fun was the box itself, with two separate chambers so you could pour a little of one flavor or mix them together like a candy scientist.

Whether it was Strawberry vs. Grape or Cherry vs. Watermelon, every handful felt like a flavor explosion. You’d tilt that little cardboard spout right into your mouth, and before you knew it, the box was empty and your tongue was neon-colored.

Nerds weren’t just candy — they were a full-blown experience.

🍭 3. Bottle Caps

If there was ever a candy that felt like a fizzy science experiment, it was Bottle Caps. They looked like little soda bottle tops and came in flavors like root beer, cola, and orange soda. Somehow, those chalky little disks captured the essence of a fizzy drink without being liquid.

My friends and I used to sort them out, trade our least favorites, and pretend we were “drinking” our candy. Root beer was always my favorite — and still is.

🍫 4. Razzles

“First it’s candy, then it’s gum!” That slogan was burned into our brains thanks to Razzles. They started out like tiny fruit-flavored candies, but after a few seconds of chewing, they transformed into gum — a magic trick that never got old.

Every kid in the neighborhood had a favorite flavor (mine was the original red). You’d pour the whole pack into your mouth, wait for the transformation, and suddenly you were the coolest kid on your block — blowing bubbles and smirking like you’d just discovered alchemy.

🍫 5. Reese’s Pieces

Before E.T. made them world-famous, Reese’s Pieces were a secret weapon for peanut butter lovers. The crunchy candy shell and creamy peanut butter center were an instant classic. After that movie came out, they became impossible to find — stores couldn’t keep them in stock.

Even now, opening a pack gives me that same sense of excitement. They were the perfect road trip snack, movie treat, or after-school pick-me-up.

🏁 The Sweet End

These weren’t just candies — they were moments. Each one reminds me of simpler times: riding my bike to the store with friends, counting out change on the counter, and walking home with pockets full of chocolate and possibilities.

The ‘70s and ‘80s were full of wild flavors and even wilder packaging, but more than that, they were full of joy — the kind you can still taste when you find one of these classics today.

What was your favorite candy from the good old days? Drop it in the comments — let’s see which ones still make our inner kids light up.

🎬 My Top 5 Favorite Movie Candies from the ’70s and ’80s

Going to the movies back in the ’70s and ’80s was an experience like no other. The smell of popcorn filled the theater, the screen seemed enormous, and the sticky floors crunched beneath your sneakers. But for me, no movie trip was complete without candy. From the convenience store on the way to the theater or straight from the lobby, these little treats were the icing on the cinematic cake.

Here are my top five favorite movie candies from back in the day that still bring back those feel-good memories:

🍫 1. Milk Duds

The king of chewy movie candy! These little caramel bites smothered in chocolate had staying power—a good-size box could last you through a long stretch of the movie. They weren’t just for nibbling on their own either; toss a few into your popcorn and let them soften a bit, and you got that perfect sweet-and-salty combo before it was even a thing. Milk Duds were simple, delicious, and made the theater experience just that much more magical.

🍬 2. Hot Tamales

Before spicy candy was trendy, there were Hot Tamales. That cinnamon kick could wake up an entire theater and keep you alert during the slower parts of the movie. They were also a slow-eating candy, which meant one box could last most of the film. I remember shaking the box during previews, trying not to spill them while waiting for the movie to start. Sweet, fiery, and unforgettable.

🍫 3. Flicks

Flicks were chocolate perfection. Imagine a flattened Hershey’s Kiss, but made from chocolate so smooth and fine it practically melted the second it touched your tongue. Thick enough to savor, yet thin enough to pop a few in your mouth during the previews, they were a real treat. Wrapped in shiny little foil cylinders—red, green, or gold—you could spin the tube in your hands, tracing the repeating silhouettes of two Dutch kids chasing each other in wooden shoes. My dad always got me these, and I’d sit there staring at the wrapper before slowly unwrapping a disk and letting it dissolve in my mouth. They weren’t just candy—they were part of the ritual of going to the movies.

A bit of Flicks history: Originally developed by Ghirardelli in the early 1900s, chocolate wafers were a staple in theaters for decades. Production stopped in 1989, but in the 2000s the Tjerrild family revived the brand, bringing back the chocolate disks and those iconic foil-wrapped tubes, keeping the classic movie candy experience alive for a new generation.

🍬 4. JUJYFRUITS

These chewy, colorful gummies were tough little candies that tested your teeth through the entire film. Sometimes they’d get stuck in your molars, but that was part of the fun. Nothing says “classic movie candy” like sitting in the dark, trying not to crunch too loudly on a Jujyfruit.

🍫 5. Goobers & Raisinets

Chocolate-covered peanuts, chocolate-covered raisins—both made by the same company, both simple, crunchy, and classic. Perfect for tossing into your popcorn for that sweet-and-salty mix. I was one of those strange kids who actually liked chocolate-covered raisins, so Raisinets were a special treat for me alongside the Goobers. I remember the big boxes stacked next to the Milk Duds at the concession stand. If I had an extra dollar, this combo was my go-to—a perfect mix of chewy, crunchy, and chocolatey goodness.

🍬 Bonus Entry: Junior Mints!

Not exactly a candy you’d plan on enjoying the entire way through the movie, Junior Mints were a complimentary theater treat that packed a punch. That first cool, minty pop would awaken your senses, clear your sinuses, and snap you right into the action on screen. Perfect for staying alert during a slow part of the movie or intensifying the thrill during an exciting or suspenseful scene, Junior Mints were small but mighty—a little burst of freshness that made movie-watching just a bit more cinematic.

🎥 Bonus Memory: Sneaking Candy In

Let’s be honest—half the fun back then was sneaking your own candy into the theater. A jacket pocket full of treats saved a few bucks and felt like a small act of rebellion. My friends and I would walk in like candy smugglers, grinning all the way to our seats.

Those candy boxes, the movie posters in the lobby, the paper tickets—they all come together in one big nostalgic blur. Grab a handful of Milk Duds, a Flick or two, and you’re transported back to those magical movie nights. They just don’t make movie nights like they used to—but a little bit of old-school candy can take you right back.

Why I Still Miss Old-School Newspapers (and Why We Need Them Back)

🗞️ The Morning Paper I Can’t Forget

Not long ago, I was visiting friends in Washington, D.C. — the kind of people who still have The Washington Post delivered to their doorstep every morning. One lazy weekend morning, I grabbed their freshly folded paper, stepped onto the porch with a cup of coffee, and cracked it open.

For a moment, it felt like I’d stepped back in time. The sound of rustling pages, the faint smell of ink, sunlight hitting that slightly off-white paper — it was pure nostalgia. My soul slowed down. The world felt quieter, simpler. Real.

🗞️ How It All Started: My Love Affair With Newspapers

Back in the ’70s and ’80s, that’s where it began — a lifelong love affair with newspapers. At first, I was just chasing the comic strips. Spider-Man, Alley Oop, Ziggy, Family Circus — those were my early morning smiles before school.

Then it evolved. I’d scan the movie listings, hoping to convince my parents to drop me off at the theater with friends. Once I started mowing lawns and earning a few bucks, I hunted for coupons — Carl’s Jr., Jack in the Box, all-you-can-eat buffets.

By my teens, the classifieds became my treasure map. I’d circle used cars, hot rods, and project rebuilds I could only dream about. Eventually, I got hooked on the sports section, local stories, and world headlines.

When I moved out on my own, one of the first “grown-up” things I did was subscribe to the paper. That thump on the porch every morning meant the world was still out there, full of stories waiting to be read.

💭 What’s Missing Today

Fast-forward to today. I’m sitting here on a Sunday morning, coffee in hand, scrolling through Google News. I toss my phone aside and feel… disconnected. It’s not the same.

Not long ago, I grabbed an actual newspaper at a convenience store, just for nostalgia’s sake. Coffee, donut, and a real printed paper — a perfect combo. But when I scanned it at the kiosk, it rang up: $5.00.

Five dollars for a flimsy, paper-thin version of what once cost less than my breakfast. I sighed and set it back on the rack. That moment said it all. It’s not just the price that’s changed — it’s everything.

📰 The Soul in the Newsprint

Holding a newspaper was real. You could feel the ink on your fingertips and the weight of the words. You weren’t doom-scrolling — you were reading. You paused. You connected — with your town, your thoughts, and the world.

Today, it’s all push notifications and algorithm-fed headlines from strangers (or AI) we’ll never meet. The pause is gone. The reflection is gone. The connection is gone.

And think about all the people who made those papers possible — reporters, photographers, press operators, delivery drivers. Entire livelihoods erased as the presses went silent.

❤️ Why It Still Matters

That morning in D.C., flipping through the Post, I realized how healthy that ritual used to be. It slowed your heart rate, fed your curiosity, made you think. It wasn’t just information — it was engagement.

Reading the news used to make you feel connected and calm. Now it just feels like noise.

Maybe that’s what I really miss — not just the newspaper itself, but the pace of it. The peace. The deliberate act of sitting down and taking in the world at your own speed.

For all our screens and instant updates, somehow we’ve lost touch with something very human — the simple act of holding a story in your hands.

🗞️ – The Retro Dad

"Still missing the sound of rustling pages and the smell of fresh ink on a Sunday morning."

Oi! Remembering Jacko and the Wildest Battery Commercials of the ’80s

Every once in a while, a random pop culture memory sneaks back into your head and refuses to leave. For me, that’s been the case with an Energizer battery promotion from the mid-1980s. If you were around a TV back then, you probably remember the loud, brash Australian guy who would yell at the camera with unfiltered energy and finish every commercial with a booming, “Oi!”

That guy was Jacko — real name Mark Jackson — a former Australian football player turned accidental pitchman. His signature line was burned into our brains: “It'll surprise ya! The New Energizer! Lasts longer than all the rest! Oi!” It wasn’t slick, it wasn’t polished — but it was unforgettable.

I distinctly remember catching him on The Arsenio Hall Show one night at the peak of his American fame. He had about five minutes of U.S. stardom thanks to those commercials, and he squeezed every ounce of energy out of it. On Arsenio, he went absolutely wild, shouting “oi oi oi oi” over and over with so much manic enthusiasm that the audience couldn’t decide if they should cheer, laugh, or just sit back in shock. It was chaotic, it was hilarious, and it was peak ’80s television. He was wearing an insanely hideous sweater that he was bragging about making himself. I believe it was a dark colored sweater and there were these little pieces of yarn sticking out from all over, like spikes in different colors.

Like so many pop culture flash-in-the-pans, Jacko’s American fame faded quickly. He popped up here and there — even recording a novelty single called “I’m an Individual” — but by the time the Energizer Bunny took over the brand’s identity in the late ’80s, Jacko was already yesterday’s news in the U.S.

And yet, decades later, that “oi!” still bounces around in my brain. It’s funny how something as small as a battery commercial can lodge itself into your memory and live there rent-free for years. It’s a reminder of how advertising in the ’80s had its own kind of unhinged personality, and how fame back then could appear and disappear almost overnight.

So here’s to Jacko, the loudest battery pitchman of all time. He may not have lasted longer than the rest, but his energy sure did.

When Hulkamania Runs Out: Saying Goodbye to a Legend, and a Piece of Ourselves

Last night, right before bed, I heard the news—Hulk Hogan has passed away at 71, reportedly from a heart attack. There’s an old superstition that celebrity deaths come in threes, and this week sure feels like proof. First, Malcolm-Jamal Warner—just about my age, someone I watched grow up on screen. Then Ozzy Osbourne, who I wrote about in a previous post. And now, the Hulkster. These are more than headlines. These are names etched into the fabric of our lives.

When I was younger, a wise old gentleman told me, “Never put anyone on a pedestal—it just gives them farther to fall.” I didn’t fully get that until adulthood. Over time, people I once looked up to—athletes, actors, icons—showed sides of themselves that clashed with my values or just plain disappointed me. So I stopped idolizing. But childhood doesn’t care about wisdom or perspective. And like millions of other kids across the U.S., I idolized Hulk Hogan. The colors, the muscle, the mustache. The guy who got beaten down, hulked up, and came roaring back to deliver justice in spandex.

Hulk Hogan was probably the first wrestler to ever grace the cover of Sports Illustrated back in the '80s, and I held on to that issue for years. Whether he was in the ring or in a cameo somewhere on the internet, his presence was always felt. Sure, there were controversies. People had their opinions about who he was outside the ring—and I get that. But I can’t deny the entertainment, the energy, the feeling of being part of something bigger that he gave us. As a kid, there was something comforting about knowing Hulk Hogan was out there, fighting the bad guys, pointing that iconic finger of his.

There was always this hope in the back of every wrestling fan’s mind that he’d pop up again in the WWE—maybe just to smack a heel around and remind us that good guys still win. But that won’t happen now. And that weird feeling in my chest this morning? That’s not just grief for a person. It’s grief for an era. For the younger version of me who needed heroes in Technicolor. For a simpler time when the battle lines were clear, the crowd always cheered, and our heroes always got back up.

1980s Fort Collins Pizza Restaurants: Retro Memories from a Pizza-Obsessed Kid

I had the pleasure of living in Fort Collins when the population was only around 70,000. There weren’t many pizza places around back then, which is why most of them vividly stand out in my pizza-obsessed mind. Here’s a list I’ve compiled for posterity. 

105 W Prospect Rd.

I loved this place when I was a kid. It was the restaurant equivalent to Disneyland for me. I believe it opened in 1980 and eventually turned into a Chuck E. Cheese. You can read a more in depth article I wrote about SHOWBIZ entitled: Memories of SHOWBIZ Pizza Place

Panhandler's Pizza

1220 W. Elizabeth

Delicious pan style pizza that never disappointed. I believe there were two locations in Fort Collins, but my family's favorite store was the location in the Campus West area by Colorado State University. You can read an article I wrote about the original Panhandlers Pizza entitled:

Memories of the old Panhandler's Pizza in Fort Collins, Colorado

Shakey's Pizza

1500 E. Mulberry Street

While Shakey's definitely lost its charm as a themed restaurant over the years, they still had great pie, and always had a nice assortment of video games to play in the 80s. You can read more about just how incredible this restaurant was during its heyday, in an old article I wrote entitled:
70s and 80s Memories of Shakey's Pizza restaurant

BIG CHEESE Pizza

Located at 2635 S. College Ave. 

This was my family's go-to pizzeria during much of the 80s. The pizza tasted amazing and the restaurant had a simple, yet fun atmosphere. I expressly remember a huge yellow airplane that resembled an early 1900s bi-plane, that was suspended from the ceiling. I don't believe there was any other theming like that in the restaurant, but for some strange reason it worked and didn't look out of place. I must have spent hours peering up at that plane during my childhood.

My brother always started out the evening by pumping quarters into the jukebox, while I would procure a spot at the Pac-Man video game table to play a few rounds before dinner. I had no clue Big Cheese was a chain restaurant until many years later. In fact, I believe there are still locations in different states like New Mexico, Florida and Washington just to name a few.

The Upper Crust

1012 S. College Ave.

and Scotch Pines Shopping Center 

The Upper Crust, was a local chain with stores in neighboring towns like Greeley. They had a store on North College Ave. and another in Scotch Pines Shopping Center by the old Toddy's supermarket. I do remember their pizza tasting pretty dang good, and my older brother's friends visiting for their 'Belly Bust' nights. 

I always got a kick out of my Dad working at a barber shop called 'The Upper Cut' before opening his own barber shop in Old Town Fort Collins that he operated for twenty some-odd years. As a young boy, I often fantasized about him working at the Upper Crust and bringing home free pizza.

UPDATE November 2025!

The original owner's son reached out to me! He stated that In the early 1980s he sold his locations in Fort Collins, Greeley, Boulder and Wyoming to a local investor. He moved on to open up double Dave’s pizza Works in Texas.

The company is now a thriving franchise now with over 37 locations, including one in Colorado Springs. I for one cannot wait to try it out.

147 S. College

Old Chicago opened up in the late 80s and closed in 2018. They had some great tasting pizza and were responsible for opening my eyes to the world of craft beer. The love of craft beer I developed there, set me on a path of homebrewing that has spanned close to thirty years. 

My favorite pizza was 'The Chicago Firecracker' a nice spicy pie made with peppery sauce, spicy sausage, pepperoni, and peppers which brought some heat. Old Chicago still has a south Fort Collins location as well as others peppered around the state. I've been to many an Old Chicago, but no others have the charm and character that the historic Old Town Fort Collins location had.

Vinny's Pizza
The old University Plaza Mall

This one wasn't around for a super long time. It opened in the mid 80s and was located in the old University Plaza Mall at 2229 S. College Ave. I experienced two things for the very first time at Vinny's. It was the first place I was able to buy pizza by the slice in Colorado, and its where I tried New York style pizza for the very first time. Both events had a big impact on me, and I loved eating there while it was open.

Vinnie's Pizza

This place was almost directly across from SHOWBIZ Pizza. I remember the pizza having an incredible crust and the sauce having a nice pop, but what I really miss was a menu item called 'Gator Bread'.

241 Linden Street

Dave Cozzola opened his incredible pizza restaurant in 1987. While the original store in Old Town is now closed, there is another at 1112 Oakridge Drive. Cozzola's Pizza was a real treat. Fresh made, braided crust, and superior ingredients won this pizzeria recognition year after year as the 'Best Pizza in Fort Collins'. Dave Cozzola was a customer at my Dad's barbershop for years, so my family got super acquainted with his restaurant just down the road from my Dad's shop. 

You can read a 2016 review of mine here:
Review of the Original Cozzola's Pizza in Fort Collins, Colorado

Sox and Cubs Pizza & Subs

I remember stopping in at this place near the indoor flea markets on North College Ave., when I felt like a thick and chewy slice of pizza. They had a spicy pizza on their menu that I really loved. They also made thin and crispy varieties as well. The restaurant felt like it was owned by baseball fanatics (Chicago fans of course) and sports decor reflecting this was everywhere throughout the establishment. 

I remember them often hosting Strat-O-Matic tournaments in the restaurant. Strat-O-Matic was/is a table top baseball simulation board game that you can play by yourself or with others. The restaurant would be full of hobbyists participating in tournaments. My brother was a huge fan of this game growing up, so I always enjoyed peeking in on the fun, whilst the enthusiasts had their showdowns. 

Godfather's Pizza

Foothills Shopping Center

If you loved massive amounts of cheese on your pizza, Godfather's was the place for you. The commercials I remember seeing in the 80s boasted about their five pound pizzas with one full pound of cheese. The original location we used to frequent was in the Foothills plaza, across the parking lot from the old Foothills Fashion Mall, not too far from the old 'Foothills Twin' movie theater. Years later in the 90s, another store was opened on Lemay Avenue by Albertson's. The new store featured a lunch buffet and while the pizza was decent, corporate rebranding had greatly changed the style of pizzas they were known for back in the 80s.

These are the pizza places that come to mind as of now, but will definitely update this list if remember more. Fort Collins has always felt like a revolving door for restaurants. I can think of many now defunct Fort Collins Mexican Food places as well.

I'm sure I've missed a few places up and above the ones I mentioned. By all means, if you can think of any that were open between the years of 1970 and 1990 that aren't listed here, feel free to comment below and help jog my memory. Thanks!