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Hammond Indiana

Subject	Message	Replies
First Visit to Hammond by Newbie Russ Date: 01-08-2009 By: Russ Firestone	Hey Tom, Took you up on your invite to visit the Hammond Forum. Couldn't help noticing: I did the rough math in my head, but it looks like this forum's got the lowest ratio of topics to entries of them all. Does that mean you guys jabber more about less stuff than everyone else? ;) In the interest of full disclosure, I must admit that I've never been to Indiana -- but I kinda like the music... Which is odd when you consider that my two biggest creative inspirations were both native sons: Shep and Kurt Vonnegut. Am I the only one who finds their writing similar in certain ways? (Discuss among yourselves.) Actually, I noticed the comparison made between Shep and Mark Twain in the site's profile. Vonnegut often got compared with Twain, too. Who was more Twain-like? I think that's like trying to count the number of angels dancing on the head of a pin -- an embarrassment of riches best enjoyed without too much analysis. Oh, yeah -- the other connection I have to Indiana, being a film fan, is one of the best sports movies ever made, "Hoosiers" with Gene Hackman. In fact, I've been toying with the idea of writing a sequel: This time, the coach's daughter -- and head cheerleader -- is pregnant. She won't say by whom, but the coach naturally assumes it's one of the players. So, while he's drilling the team for the upcoming state finals, he's also drilling them to find out who the father is. The title? "Hoosier Daddy", of course. (Insert your own groan and rim shot here.) Don't worry, you don't have to ask me to leave -- I only came to say I must be going... Russ Firestone quote: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Originally posted by Tom J Oh, yeah, Russ, come on over to the "Hammond" forum, since that's where most of the posting is going on. You don't have to be from Hammond to be part of the gang over there. I'll bet you will be able to relate to a lot of what is being discussed in that forum. Welcome to Sheptalk! Tom A 1967 Graduate of Hammond High who cherishes his memories of growing up in the Hammond of the 1950's and 1960's. Bring back those days!	3

Replies

Date	Member	Message
01-08-2009 ( Reply#: 2617 )	Tom J	Russ: The reason there are so few topics but tons of posts is that we don't even bother with trying to stay on topic when a thread gets started. That would take all the fun out of it. :) Glad you decided to come over. Make yourself at home. You have found a kindred spirit when it comes to your puns. I am known as a shameless punster myself. I liked your "Hoosier Daddy" film idea. I don't know how valid the comparison is between Shep and Samuel Langhorne Clemens, but it really doesn't matter; Shep is Shep and Samuel is Samuel, and never the Twain shall meet. Stick around and we will make you an honorary "Region Rat." (The "Calumet Region" is the extreme northwest corner of Indiana, including Gary, East Chicago, Hammond, Whiting, and other nearby communities. I'm not sure if there is complete agreement on the exact territorial boundaries of "The Region" as it is commonly called.) Tom A 1967 Graduate of Hammond High who cherishes his memories of growing up in the Hammond of the 1950's and 1960's. Bring back those days! [IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y145/tsjay/Tom%20and%20Georgeann/img014.jpg[/IMG]
01-08-2009 ( Reply#: 2619 )	Russ Firestone	Tom, Thanks. I do think I'll set a spell. You didn't reference back on Vonnegut -- not in terms of Shep, necessarily, but I don't know if you were a fan, or even a reader. Nonetheless, if you ever read "Cat's Cradle", you might remember the Bokononist language Vonnegut invented, including a great (and, to my ear, very Shep-sounding) word: Granfalloon. A Granfalloon is a group of strangers who form an association -- a kind of convivial, surrogate family -- around some artificial, circumstancial, accidental, or similarly dubious connection. Sounds suspiciously like "The Region" to me... However, any enterprise that can put the words "honor" & "rat" together in a single sentence -- with me as the honoree -- is something I wouldn't miss for the world! Humbly yours, Russ
01-08-2009 ( Reply#: 2620 )	Tom J	No, Russ, sorry, but I don't know anything about Vonnegut. Tom A 1967 Graduate of Hammond High who cherishes his memories of growing up in the Hammond of the 1950's and 1960's. Bring back those days! [IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y145/tsjay/Tom%20and%20Georgeann/img014.jpg[/IMG]