A Vintage Retroman’s Plea From The “Green Hill Zone” Part 2, “The Search for V.R.”

Upon enjoying my vacation in beautiful Emerald Hill/

I felt refreshed laid back feet up sipping on coconut milk/

This is a much needed break for the fastest thing alive/

Sonic the Hedgehog is my name, into the mellow I dive/

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Which is the song I sing as I backstroke in the Aquatic Mine/

A zone in Sonic Adventure 2 where I like to swim and unwind/

This is the best vacation ever, not a care in this world/

I should do this more often with Amy Rose that’s my girl/

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Amy, hold on a second I can hear my phone ringing/

Hello…..oh hey Tails how are you my good friend?/

What…..Dr. Eggman’s ship just crashed and it’s sinking?/

In the Green Hill waterfall and he kidnapped Vintage Retroman?/

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You’re kidding? What an unbelievable turn of events!/

I have to find him he’s probably trying to survive in wilderness/

So much for the bliss of this vacation when duty calls I respond/

I am the blue spin attack, Sonic the Hedgehog after all!/

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Hold on V.R. hang in there buddy, I’ll find you in the tropics/

I know the tactics of the diabolical Dr. Robotnik/

Amy, take my blue car and I’ll be right behind you/

Vintage Retroman hold on sir, we are coming to find you/

To be continued……………….

Memory Lane Moments Part 3- A Different Take On Time Travel

What if I told you that there actually is a such thing as a time machine? Would you my reader believe me, or would you think I am going crazy? Would you want to know more, or just write off what I am saying because it seems far fetched? My friends, I submit to you that time machines are real! I know they are, because I have seen them with my own two eyes! I have heard them with my ears! I am not going crazy here, please stay with me as I take you on this journey down memory lane.

When I was a child growing up in the 1980’s and 1990’s, I could distinctly remember certain places, people, and events easily in my youth. Fast forward to 2018, it is not as easy as it use to be to remember those things. As we age we still have our memories, but our mind generally is not as sharp as it used to be. Sometimes I forget what I was talking about 5 minutes ago, yet I can remember an event from 25 years ago through one particular vehicle, or as I like to call it, time machine.

I will not make you my reader wait any longer. The time machine I am referring to is the vehicle of music. Yes my friends, music is a time machine in which I use to travel back down memory lane to remember specific details of life. Below are a few examples of specific events I am reminded of, every time I hear these songs.

  1. screenshot_2018-05-12-12-32-45-1208133503.pngStevie Wonder’s “Another Star”– When hearing this beautifully crafted piece of music, I instantly travel back to 2 different era’s of my life. The first is 1996, sitting with my brother Julius in the back room of my parents home talking about life and eating Hot Pockets. When this album played, my brother did not realize the values he was instilling in me that had a long lasting positive effect on my life. He was molding me in several subjects, from how to handle my business as a young man, to how to impress girls when I went to high school the next year. He taught me to be smart and not get caught up in the system, all while Stevie was playing in the background. The second era was 2001. This was my freshman year in college at Winston-Salem State University sitting in the stands watching the Durham N.C. Battle Of The bands. Virginia State University’s marching band marched out to “Another Star” and it sounded amazing! They were a primary rival of my school at that time, but I must admit I loved the way they played this song. I joined the marching band at WSSU the next year, partially to battle VSU because of this event.
  2. screenshot_2018-05-12-12-34-52-11921006611.pngJames Taylor’s “Shower The People”– When hearing this song, I instantly think of my father and warp back to my childhood. The year was 1988. I was 5 years old at the time. I remember that being the year my parents had a sun room completed in our home. I remember my dad playing this beautiful song on his guitar and the whole family would sit and listen. Then we would go outside right after and play. My dad would continue to play and sing, while me and my 8 year old sister Tomeka made mud pies. I was young, but I remember the message of this song because it was full of emotion. The lyrics were so powerful back then and now.  In the second verse of the song, James passionately sang, “You can run but you cannot hide, this is widely known, what do you plan to do with your foolish pride, when you’re all by yourself alone? Better to shower the people you love with love.” -Classic
  3. screenshot_2018-05-12-12-31-13-1-2125786138.pngNas’s “The World Is Yours”, leading track on his classic album “Illmatic“- Ah spring 1994, I will never forget. I was almost 11 years old and definitely not supposed to be listening to hip-hop music, but tell that to my 5 older brothers! I take this time machine back to that spring, walking with my older brother’s Westly and Julius to Greg’s house, their best friend. I distinctly remember playing Sonic The Hedgehog 2 and Mortal Kombat on his Sega Genesis, when I heard the piano cords at the beginning of this song before Nas started rapping. I turned the TV down to hear what the rapper was saying. Even at my young age, I was taken away by his words and descriptions of the living conditions in the infamous “Queensbridge” Project Homes of Queens, New York. The lyrics that rapper Nas stated on the second verse were incredible to me. He stated, “They aiming guns at all my baby pictures/beef with housing police, release scriptures that’s maybe Hitler’s/ Yet I’m the mild, money-getting style, rolling foul/ The versatile, honey-sticking wild golden child/ Dwelling in the Rotten Apple, you get tackled.” Nas had incredible talent, because he has the ability to make you feel what he saw everyday. That is what great artists do, in my opinion.

These are only 3 examples of many others where music is the vehicle to travel back in time. I can see almost every detail. Music is so powerful. It is a form of art that brings back many feelings and emotions for the masses. I would love to know how many of you agree, and what songs specifically allow you my reader to travel back in time. It is a great feeling, because we are all just trying to figure out this thing called life. I highly suggest that at some point this weekend, pull out a few of your old time machines and take a ride down memory lane. They come in many different forms. Back then there were only 8 track, vinyl, and cassette time machines. Today we have CD, MP3, and Digital Streaming time machines. No matter the format, pull them out, push play, and fly away. This is Vintage Retroman, signing off for now.

V.R.

Fun V.R. RetroQuiz 5- 90’s Cartoon Characters!!

How good are you at naming these cartoon characters from the 1990’s? Take the quiz below today and see! (A big shout out to my follower and blogging buddy @LilyPierce for the terrific idea!😊) Answers are at the very bottom of the page. Some questions have multiple characters, so you get partial credit based on how many you answer correctly in correlation to the number of characters in the question. For instance, if there are 4 characters and you only answer 2 correctly of the 4, you still receive 1/2 credit. Also, please note that there are a few questions without pictures in the quiz to really test your knowledge! Don’t forget to leave a comment on your results in the comments section below. Let’s have some fun and remember, no cheating!! 🙂 Ready, set…..Go!!!!!!

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  6. What were the names of the 3 nephews on the hit cartoon Ducktales?
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  13. What was the name of SpongeBob Squarepant’s hometown?
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  20. Who were the 2 mice that had a diabolical scheme to take over the world? (Hint: Their actual names were also the name of the show)

I really hope that you enjoyed this quiz! Don’t forget to post your comments in the comments section, as well as if you have any other Retroquiz ideas that I can create for the masses! Love, peace, and blessings to all!

V.R.

Answers: 1) Bobby from Bobby’s World 2) Phil and Lil 3) Ren and Stimpy 4) Buster Bunny 5) Chip and Dale 6) Huey, Dewey, and Louie 7) Darkwing Duck 8) Megaman 9) Eric Cartman, Stan, Kyle, and Kenny 10) Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup 11) T.J. 12) Rocko 13) Bikini Bottom 14) Helga Pataki 15) Angelica Pickles 16) Leonardo, Donatello, Michelangelo, Raphael 17) Wacko Warner 18) Doug Funnie 19) Arnold 20) Pinky And The Brain

Mayday Mayday! It’s going down!

May 1st, 1983 a king was born. As I look back reflecting on the events of my life the past 35 years on my birthday, I cannot help but feel grateful for the people and experiences I have encountered for my own personal growth. Many of you know that my dad passed away in March this year, and it left me searching for answers in many area’s of my life. What is amazing, is that I woke up this morning on my birthday feeling different. I had the deepest feelings of peace and gratitude as I sat out at the lake with my wife eating breakfast before work. I thought back to my childhood, and how I used to love going to the lake with my dad. I looked over at the picnic tables and thought about how myself, my 7 brothers and sisters, and my parents would enjoy the natural beauty that God almighty created. With all of those thoughts and emotions, I wanted to take a brief moment to express them through an original poem. It is entitled: MayDay. I hope you all enjoy it!

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MayDay by Vintage Retroman

Everyday is a holiday, everyday is a blessing/

Even when it does not seem like it from constantly stressing/

Take some time to enjoy the beauty within the struggle/

Like the butterfly in the cocoon while the leaves rustle/

Life may seem like a challenge, the only thing constant is change/

Have you ever felt how good it feels to dance in the rain?/

Have you ever seen the trees, the grass, or mountains complain?/

Don’t get me wrong I understand the reality of pain/

Hang in their soldier, you are almost at the finish line now/

And as the curtain calls and the show ends, only then take a bow/

Until then, live life to the fullest while you work hard and pray/

My only wish is that you enjoy the experience of this Mayday/

V.R.

Nerdy & Squirdy- The Retro Relationship Gone Right! An Official V.R. Review

One is Nerdy, the other is Squirdy. Their name itself made me want to inquire more. The dynamic duo of delightful gaming, The power couple of retro fun, Yet when you look deeply into their content they are so much more than just casual gamers on YouTube. They have something special to aspire to. That something special is more than just Nerdy’s pixel Link shirt or Squirdy’s glass of wine. Stay with me.

One day as I was searching along my Instagram page, I came across Nerdy and Squirdy. I immediately thought, this is a pretty interesting and unique couple. I quickly hit the follow button because I loved the idea of a couple having fun with a retro theme. As I scrolled their Instagram page and later their YouTube channel, I admired the title screens and thumb up, thumb down reviews. The facial expressions they gave on certain games make me laugh, because they are so passionate and animated about the content. Just read the profile description below from their Instagram page. It speaks volumes on who you are about to follow, and the entertainment you are about to receive!

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One of the many characteristics I admire about Nerdy and Squirdy is their work ethic. They really put so much passion and effort into carefully creating quality content on their site and channel. I respect anyone who’s able to genuinely connect with their audience though any type of media because this is truly a gift. They grant reviews, run quality livestream video’s, contests and giveaways, and so much more through their channel. I also love the highlighted days like #FanFridays, where the viewer has the opportunity to pick the game in which they review. Pretty awesome!

Although I have shared some great qualities about the work of this couple, those qualities are not the “special” characteristics I referred to earlier in this review. What makes them special in my opinion is the love they share. You can tell that they are best friends in life! It’s authentic and shows on the screen in their videos. Just think, when the camera turns off, there is life, work, kids, and everything else just like there is with all of us. When we heard Squirdy speaking about dropping the kids off at school, my wife and I could relate! Through the daily hustle and grind, we each have to remember that life is short and we need to live each day to our fullest potential.

I highly recommend that you check out Nerdy and Squirdy’s YouTube channel, even if you are not a gamer. With this couple, you get so much more than just game content. They talk about life. They present underlying messages of family, fun, and friendship. In my eyes they are a power couple because they stay true to their passion and purpose. May we all find our calling, put in the hard work and knowledge to obtain it and live life to the fullest. Signing off for now.

V.R.

Fun V.R. RetroQuiz 4- 90’s Trivia, Name That Show!

How good are you at 90’s sitcom trivia? Based off the characters listed, name that show from the 1990’s! Post your results in the comment’s section! Enjoy!

  1. Michelle, Stephanie, DJ, Uncle Jessie

  2. Eric, Kenny, Stan, Chef

  3. Hillary, Will, Jeffrey, Carlton

  4. Zach, Kelly, Lisa, Slater

  5. Peggy, Al, Marcy, Bud

  6. Joey, Monica, Phoebe, Ross

  7. Miranda, Samantha, Steve

  8. Eric, Cory, Shawn,

  9. Carl, Steve, Myra, Harriette

  10. Dylan, Brenda, David, Valerie

I hope that you enjoyed this retro quiz! Don’t forget to post your results in the comments section, as well as if you have more great ideas that I can make future quizzes from! I love to get feedback from people on what they would like to see! Answers are below in red. Until next time remember, never let life dictate how far you can make it! Signing off for now,

V.R.
1) Full House 2) South Park 3) Fresh Prince of Bel-Air 4) Saved by the bell 5) Married with children 6) Friends 7) Sex and the city 8) Boy meets world 9) Family Matters 10) Beverly Hills 90210

Memory Lane Moments Part 2- The Chapters That Were Never Written

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Incomplete, inconclusive, fragmented, all words applicable to the past of certain situations in all of our lives. We have all heard the cliche statement time and time again, “Life goes on.” This is true, but sometimes in everyone’s life a certain person, event, or thought may trigger a response of a wide range of emotions. As difficult as these hidden emotions may be to deal with at times, it is necessary for clarity and closure to address such situations.

So question, have you ever hurt someone in your past either intentionally or by mistake? It’s easy to play the victim when we’re on the receiving end of pain but how much harder is it to accept responsibility for pain you directly or indirectly caused another individual? Even then, once you’ve accepted responsibility how do we deal with the guilt? Think about it, in  some extreme cases we’re no longer able to communicate with those we have wronged due to losing touch or maybe they have passed away.

I truly believe our lives are written by God, the author and finisher of our faith. I find peace and comfort in knowing that God knows the end before we start the beginning. What I have a hard time understanding is the correlation between the free will that God gives us to live out the chapters He has already written, verses His omnipotence that has already finished the book. By the end of this article, I hope that you my reader, will receive some insight as well. Stay with me.

I recently had a conversation with a good friend of mine. She shared with me a story of how in the past she unintentionally hurt one of her best friends in college.  She recently ran into him after several years and he was acting noticeably distant.  When she questioned him about his demeanor he finally expressed all the feelings of both love and anger he had towards her.  He told her how it hurt when he had to find out via text message, only one day before the wedding, that she was getting married.  He expressed how at that time it felt as if his heart had been ripped out of his chest yet all he could respond was a reluctant “Congratulations”

Fast forward 5 years and my dear friend is going through a painful divorce. When she finished telling me her story I responded, ‘Have you ever heard the statement, this is a closed chapter in your life? Unfortunately, when it comes to your college friend this is what it is, a chapter closed. She responded, ‘How can the chapter be closed if it was never written in the first place?’ Interesting synopsis, I thought to myself.  I stopped to really digest that question and after some contemplation realized her frustration was not because it was a completed chapter but because there wasn’t closure in one that was never written. So now she is living with thoughts of “what if’s” and “I wonder.”

Some of us have situations from the 60’s, 70’s, 80’s, 90’s, and 2000’s that are incomplete chapters in our book of life. If we are honest, sometimes regret can creep into our thinking and negative emotions may flare from seemingly missed opportunities in our past. Not everyone has the Peaches and Herb experience of “Reunited and it feels so good”. Some of us have the Katy Perry experience of “The one that got away”. What do we do with those feelings?

I unfortunately don’t have the magical answer for the chapters that were never written. One thing I have learned as a writer though is that the chapters never written have snippets of wisdom and experience that we can use in the current stories of our lives. There is a reason why you are not with that person, did not get that job or promotion, or couldn’t qualify for that home. Could it be that in your story, God is completing an even greater masterpiece of art,such that when others read your story that will draw strength and hope from it?

I challenge you my reader not to run from your past. Give yourself permission to dissect the intricate details of the chapters never written or completed. I know it hurts, and although you cannot go back and write those chapters yourself, learn from them and  use that wisdom to positively impact your story currently being written. After all we are only human, which means we live out what is written. Even the best writers are limited in their creative scope which means that the inspiration to do more has to come from somewhere. Find the beauty in your struggle, and use it in each future chapter of your story as you reflect back from memory lane. Signing off for now.

V.R.

Why Should You Dare To Be Different? An official VR review.

From the moment the VHS tape was inserted into the VCR, I knew it was something special. Then I saw the old school vintage style television with the turn knobs and got excited! The young version of Christian rapper Andy Mineo wearing the 1980’s style Adidas red jacket, priceless. Finally, watching a young Lecrae, playing Nintendo with a retro style hoodie over his hat, I knew this video was going to be something special.

Sure the late 1980’s, early 1990’s references are fantastic. The video snippets of an old school laundry mat, the arcade scene of kids playing Pac-Man, and the kids riding bikes may even put the viewer in the mindset of something that you would see on the popular Netflix show Stranger Things. I love the delivery of the visual messages in the video. It does a great job of bringing me back to my own childhood. Back to a simpler time where kids rode bikes and played outside. Then there is the lyrical message.

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“Say I won’t, why ya’ll scared to be different? And I bet I will, you can say I wont!” It’s a fun song, how Hip-Hop used to be throughout the 80’s and most of the 90’s. When Andy Mineo states “Say I won’t rap over bag pipes? Say I won’t talk about that price? To know Christ and live life like every night is my last night woah?” I chuckled at the delivery, and then realized that i appreciate anyone being true to themselves and their faith. Although the song is silly in nature, the subliminal messages from both rappers are fantastic in this song! In a Hip-Hop culture today dominated by clothes, wealth, and fame, I love how Christian rapper Lecrae starts his verse. He creatively states “Say I won’t sell my shoes and take my kids to Chuckie Cheese with the money? Say I won’t bring my own bottle of Pellegrino to the movies with me, say I won’t? Pellegrino is some refreshing mineral water, I must agree Lecrae. 🙂

I love this song! The reason I love this song, is because it is counter cultural and takes a bold stand for positivity in a primarily negative Hip-Hop culture today. It let’s children know that it is not only okay to be an anomaly in today’s society, but more importantly it gives the listener confidence to question others about being part of the status quo! I have 4 children myself, and I play this song for my kids all the time. I believe that both children and adults should realize that their God given potential grants them the ability to be different. I believe that if God wanted us to be like everybody else, He would have created us all the same. So ask yourself the question, why would you want to be like everyone else? Dare to be different! Do you not realize that you were created not to fit in, but to stand out? You are special! You do matter! You are here on this earth for a reason! Do something original and creative today, and if someone doubts you, simply say to them “Say I won’t?”

V.R.

Fun V. R. RetroQuiz 3- 1990’s Hip-Hop!

1) In Notorious BIG’s song Juicy, what 2 gaming systems were mentioned?

2) Fill in the blanks from the Fugees song Fu-gee-la: “Ohh La La La, _ _ _ _ _ _when we doing our thing.”

3) What is it that MC Hammer states “You cant touch”?

4) According to Ice Cube, what type of day was today?

5) In Mo Money, Mo Problems, Mase mentioned that only one thing had changed. What was that one thing?

6) In Mobb Deep’s Shook One’s, what is there no such thing as?

7) According to OutKast, where did all the playa’s come from?

8) In the Ruff Ryders anthem, what actions does DMX’s squad need to complete? (May be more than one answer)

A) Stop

B) Shut em’ down open up shop

C) Roll

D) Drop

E) All of the above

9) According to Juvenile, what were the original years that Cash Money Records were taking over for?

10) After they had to regulate, Warren G and Nate Dogg had a group of young ladies in the car with them. Where were they heading?

Thank you for taking the time out to complete my 3rd retroquiz! How did you score? Post your results in the comment section! Answers are below. Until the next time, enjoy life and never let it dictate how far you can make it!

V.R.

Answers: 1) Super Nintendo, Sega Genesis 2) It’s the way that we rock when we doing our thing. 3) This 4) Good 5) His Limp 6) Half way crooks 7) Far and wide 8) A, B, and D only. 9) The 99 into 2000 10) Eastside Motel

Memory Lane Moments Part 1- Friday’s Magic

It’s Friday, or as some say, Fri-YAY! Yes my friends it is Friday the 13th, but that is not what this post is about. This is about enjoying the moment, regardless of your circumstances. Spring is in the air! The temperature here in North Carolina is 78 degree’s and it’s good times. Bird’s chirping, fish jumping just ready to be caught, and the sun decided to hang around for a little longer each day. Nothing springs up the feelings of Nostalgia like spring!

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Remember back when most of us experienced Friday afternoon’s as a special time, especially in the spring? School was out, and my family typically either went out to various places if it was my father’s pay week, or we would eat great food gathered around the TV watching the TGIF lineup, headlined by the crazy Steve Urkel of the hit show Family Matters. After family TV time, my parents would allow us to have game nights on the NES! Oh how I loved playing everything from Super Mario Brothers to Mike Tyson’s Punch Out with my brothers in the back room!

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Some Friday’s it was Blockbuster video store nights. Other Friday’s we would head out into the rural area of Walkertown, NC and experience the Bel-Air drive-in theater! Oh how my family loved the drive-in theater! The food there was the best! It was 10 of us total, and the whole car load could enter the movies for $10-$15! Don’t worry, they showed the latest movies as well! Many Friday’s were times to play with our neighborhood friends outside a little later, or even times to hang out with them at their place!

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As I reflect back, I encourage you as my reader to focus on simple fun this weekend. Walk’s in the park, eating good food, spending time together, and having great conversations! Life is not always about the large grand scale trips out of town or expensive apparel. Sometimes we have to enjoy the moment’s that God blesses us with. Most importantly remember, that memory lane has not ended. It is getting paved as we ride along it! My advice, enjoy the ride! Signing off for now,

V.R.