It's been a busy day and I can't seem to get my mind and body to shut down.
I've done the following toward that end:
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watched the "That 70's Show" marathon until I couldn't stand it anymore...
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read a weird library book
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tried another book, no dice
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drunk herbal tea
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Knitted part of a dishcloth (can't find the sock, ACK! Domestic Goddess must have...stashed it somewhere. I was cursing this and Ken reminded me that, um, I pay her to do that.)
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paced around the house
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taken dogs for moonlight walk
...no luck...
so of course I ended up at computer. Checking blogs I found Deb's post where she refers to a local Cleveland kids' show from her childhood...and BLAM! I remembered
KITIRIK!
Pronounced "KIT-ir-ik"
She was this lady who had a kids' show in Houston on Channel 13 (call letters KTRK), and I was on it once for my birthday! You rode around on this carousel and she would ask you how old you were when it was your turn to see her. I remember being very sad because we had planned to take her a flower from our yard, but we forgot. It was my birthday party, and all the guests got to sit in these bleachers and watch it. I'm sure that was a real thrill! My poor parents...I had just gotten over chicken pox and my little sister had it that day. My Gramma Beth went to stay with her. Nancy didn't get to see Kitirik. I'm sure she is irreparably scarred...
I think it was 1970 or 71. I hadn't thought of it in years, and now, friends, teh Internets are here to help me research it.
Sure enough, I found references to it...a news story on Channel 13's website,
and this site, which reviews Kitirik and a number of other local shows I had forgotten, including "Don Mahoney and Jeanna Claire," which my brother Bill always called "Don Baloney and Jean the Bear." I thought that was tremendously witty...
and even a Flickr! photo of Bunny Orsak, who played Kitirik:
Oh, she was the COOLEST. I don't know why. But she was.
I know you are all tremendously excited about this. I'm going to go try again for the sleeping...wish me luck. I may be back.