Do me something. Tell me that I can have this funky bedroom at age 68! (PHOTO)

[Radio_Lady]

Now, I didn't say ages 6 - 8.

I mean, I'm a grandmother who wants this look!

I've loved wild colors all my life and this room decoration, at http://martex.com is just a big hit with yours truly!

Grandpa thinks I'm nuts... yeah, maybe, but it's never too late to have a happy childhood! I'd love a candy-colored, purple-striped, big green polka dot sky out my window, too!!!

[PaddyBlueEyes]

1. Yr 68

you earned the right to do what ever the hell you want...

[Radio_Lady]

6. You said it, Paddy. And I love those blue eyes. Funny story:

After hosting an all-night radio show which I took over from Larry King after his arrest in Florida in December 1971, I was lucky enough to get hired for a daytime gig, 10 AM to 2 PM in Boston.

I moved to Massachusetts as the first female radio talk show host with a daily, call-in show Monday through Saturday. The show debuted on May 15, 1972. Listeners were tentative as I fielded the calls those first few days and attempted to get acquainted with a totally different audience.

Little did I realize that just the use of ONE phrase -- could get me in such hot water. Remember, I am a Pittsburgh-born, Miami-raised, Jewish-heritaged woman who didn't have a clue about political correctness, at least not on this one!

In a casual conversation one day, I innocently said the unimaginable...

I had used it in conversing with a caller and then saw the switchboard light up -- five incoming lines with buttons flashing angrily. It seemed as if the entire highly-conservative Irish Catholic listening audience had descended on me "en masse".

"Do you realize what you just said? Do you even realize that you just insulted many people who tune in to WEEI for the male TALKMASTERS and to listen to sports?" screamed one man. (WEEI carried the Red Sox games.)

Whoa. I listened sheepishly, and finally admitted to myself that I had no idea why he was so enraged.

"Jeese, I have no idea what you're talking about. What did I say?" I inquired sheepishly.

"You said PADDYWAGON... Paddywagon means that the Irish (Paddy from the name Patrick) were getting drunk and being hauled to jail. That what it means, lady! And it's a BIG insult!"

Part of the learning curve. I apologized to him and about fifty other incensed Bostonians who called after him.

After that, things went along well enough -- um, that is until I insulted the Jews!

Ask me and I'll tell you that one. I really should have known better...

(TO BE CONTINUED...)

[Hawkeye-X]

7. Do tell, I'm Jewish

[Radio_Lady]

11. This one almost blew me away. One day, in springtime... um, you remember the movie "The Producers"

by Mel Brooks. It was also a musical, and the story line was that the lecherous old play producer was looking for the WORST PLAY in the world. It was called "Springtime for Hitler." Well, that's not the point exactly. And it didn't go as smoothly as that on my show.

However, in a moment, and in what I now refer to as one of the biggest lapses in my life, compounded by complete fatigue at the time of one of the major Christian holidays, (maybe it was Easter or Christmas... I truly don't remember), I said the following:

"Maybe we should forgive and forget Hitler."

Ouch. Oops. As soon as the words fell from my lips, the lines to the station went crazy. There were hostile calls, on and off the air. The FCC got reports calls, and I subsequently got some really terrible hate mail.

The next day, Don Trageser, the station manager, called me into his office. "Ellen, you've created a firestorm. They're calling for your resignation or they want you fired. The head of the Antidefamation League of Boston is demanding a meeting with you." Almost as an aside, he said softly, "By the way, Ellen, you did you tell me you were Jewish back when we hired you, right?"

Gulp. "Yes, I am and I did tell you that," I responded.

"Well, you'll have to show up for a meeting with the ADL. I'll let you know what I'm going to do after the meeting."

A few days later, I sat in the Conference Room with Don Trageser and the ADL people. I don't remember how many there were, but we were outnumbered. The man who headed up the ADL was a wiry fellow named Al (that's my husband's name, too) and his face was as red as his tightly curled hair. "Do you know how much the six million Jews sacrified in World War two?" Yes, I certainly did know. He continued, "Jews have a history in Germany and Poland and other countries. Hitler killed women and children and any Jew they could get their hands on."

"Yes, I know, and I'm so very sorry," I trembled with downcast eyes. "I have broadcast an apology and I will continue to apologize. I'll send you the tape, I promise."

"By the way," Mr. Trageser injected, "did you know that Ellen Kimball is Jewish?"

Every face turned to me. Now I was really in hot water. After that, I vowed to not only apologize as needed, but I said I would speak to their group about my status as a young Jewish woman who had been able to break into broadcasting. That year, I had several of their representatives on my program anytime they sent me a press release on their events.

Just one of the times I put my big foot in my big mouth.

I can tell you it's pretty easy to do if you forget to think and just blurt out something.

[janx]

22. Really?

And you are still broadcasting on public radio in Oregon?

No way.

[Name removed]

30. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[greatauntoftriplets]

31. Oy indeed!!!

My cousins who lived under Nazi occupation in Luxembourg (and who were Catholic) never forget nor forgave! There are only a few left who remember, but they hated the Nazis and Hitler with a burning passion until the day they died. Plus, they loved the Americans who came to liberate them.

[PaddyBlueEyes]

8. Ahhh ta hell with them

They called it a paddywagon for that reason...Fightin Irish....what station u work on? BZ?

[Radio_Lady]

16. Nope. I was on WEEI-AM and then WMEX-AM. David Brudnoy was on WBZ.

I knew some of the newspeople, but I'm hard pressed to remember their names.

My favorite station was WCRB, the commercial classical music station, with Laura Carlo, that smooth-voiced sweetheart. But I listened to Paul Benzaquin and Jerry Williams for a long time after I went into cosmetic sales (1983-1992), and then came back to the production side of radio working for LoJack, the stolen vehicle recovery company, in Dedham, MA, until 1996. I was their Radio Advertising Manager.

For the past six years, I've been afiliated with Oregon Public Broadcasting here in Portland as a volunteer.

Thanks for the memories.

[Radio_Lady]

17. You're in New York? I was in NYC from 1962 to 1969, working first for

Barry Gray at WMCA briefly, then on to NBC, 30 Rockefeller Plaza, for the "Tonight" show unit. I was a commercial production assistant to the show's director, Dick Carson, Johnny Carson's brother, and later worked in the news area.

I also held a job as On-Promotion Supervisor at WPIX, Channel 11. That's about it for my checkered career.

[Joe Fields]

2. cool!

And, as a bonus, you and grandpa can play twister on the bed!!!:toast:

[Radio_Lady]

13. LOL... but boy, would those positions be uncomfortable -- and the beds would shake, too!

We're not as limber as we used to be, if you get my drift.

:sarcasm:

[Robeson]

3. Go for it. It looks fun. You should do what you want....

...:thumbsup:

[The Straight Story]

4. Looks like something from 1968, so I say go for it!

You only live once, and if you like it you should give it a shot.

[Radio_Lady]

18. Hey, 1968! I remember that year! My daughter was born on 10/9/68, followed by my son,

on 12/10/69.

They are like twins. At the time, I didn't have the money to decorate like that. I was glad to get white sheets from some outlet store in New Jersey.

We did have a beautiful king-sized bedspread. It was avocado green and turquoise, in a wild design. The bedspread was also WOOL and VERY SCRATCHY... we retired it when we moved to Florida in March of 1969.

[LibraLiz1973]

5. I think it is AWESOME that you want it!

Make it happen.
Your only going to live this life once- enjoy the crap out of it!

And tell Grandpa to get used to Retro!!

[Radio_Lady]

19. Grandpa and I are BOTH retro... something... but we did get rid of all the leisure suits and

the mini-skirts.

Hey, I spent two pregnancies in mini-skirts. 1968 and 1969. I had a big belly but nice legs!

[SammyWinstonJack]

9. That would give me nightmares. But hey, go for it. What does age have too do with this?

Enjoy!

[Radio_Lady]

20. Nothing. I just love polka dots, stripes, geometric figures, and lots and lots of....

COLOR!

[Rosemary2205]

10. Do you two still sleep in the same bedroom?

No you don't have to answer that - I'm just saying if it's his room too he deserves veto power.


I am like you - wild wonderful colors - my sister recently moved out of my house and I am taking the 2nd bedroom and turning it into "my" room complete with all the colors. Well someday when I can afford it. :)

[Radio_Lady]

12. Naw, I have had to develop an "escape from snoring" bedroom.

The master bedroom is decorated with a Southwestern motif. Even the present popular shiny paisley bedding isn't to my taste.

Personally, I hate rooms that look too frilly for husbands. The second "escape" bedroom is done in bright colors -- red, aqua and blue, but I'm really getting bored with it after eight years in this house.

This bedroom is only a fantasy. I just completed some redecorating of the two bathrooms and was just struck by the Little Mismatched pattern.

Good night and good luck.

[Left Is Write]

29. I love mismatched patterns such as dots with stripes -

as long as all the colors work together and don't fight, it can be really fun.

I do a lot of mismatched pattern backgrounds when I'm making scrapbook pages.

[wildhorses]

14. surely NOT the twin beds?? everything else is a GO!!!

:yourock:

[Radio_Lady]

15. We choose twin beds or two doubles when we travel. If we don't,

Grandma usually ends up sleeping on the couch.

Grandpa has restless leg syndrome, sleep apnea, and does things on a different schedule than I do.

Usually he's up late, but tonight he's pouting over some damned thing and he's gone to bed. It's only 10:20 PM.

Who says women are moody?

Good night and good luck.

[Radio_Lady]

21. To brighten up your work week, I present this thread to you on a Monday morning!

Enjoy!

[Skittles]

23. pleading the 5th darling

yes INDEED :o

[madrchsod]

24. when we get over 60 we can dam well

do and want anything we like and afford. we have earned that right to say wtf

[RebelOne]

25. Hey, I'm also 68 and I'd love that bedroom. n/t

[hyphenate]

26. I'm 51 and I love it!

It's bright, cheery, and just is so pleasing to the eye! I, too, love color, and if I could, I would have big patches of color everywhere around the house--even to the point of making sure each room had a rainbow in every room. (Not gay, just love lots of color everywhere, and nothing is more balanced in color than a rainbow!)

On edit: the only change I would make is a king-sized bed instead of two singles.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

27. As long as it's just YOUR room, why not?

But if you're making it over for Grandpa too, I think you need to come to an agreement.

I think, ideally, everybody sould have their own room to decorate as they please. One of these days I hope to have my own space again...

[Left Is Write]

28. Why not?