Ugly sweaters ring in the holidays

By TAMMY MALGESINI

East Oregonian

Published on December 13, 2014 12:01AM

Who knew ugly sweaters were going to become all the rage?

Of course, when we got those now “vintage” items they certainly weren’t ugly — well, unless our fashion impaired fathers bought them.

I bring up the ugly sweater for a couple of reasons. One, the Hermiston Chamber of Commerce is hosting an Ugly Sweater Christmas Party. The event is Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. at Hermiston Brewing Co. Nookies Restaurant, 125 N. First St., Hermiston.

Debbie Pedro, Hermiston chamber executive director, will be attending her first ever ugly sweater party.

“I wish I would have saved some of my sweaters from the ’80s with the big puffy shoulder pads,” she said with a laugh. “I could have used one of those right now.”

However, Pedro did recently purchase a sweater that she’s going to alter for the event.

“It’s going to have embellishments on it. It will be very ugly,” she said. “I don’t know if anyone else would want to wear it.”

Those attending are encouraged to wear a sweater. There will be “very merry” prizes for the ugly, uglier, ugliest and most creative sweaters.

And another reason I bring up the ugly sweater is because I have one — a real one.

It initially came into my possession in 1992. It’s a size large, 100 percent acrylic men’s Kennington sweater. 

Two jobs ago, I managed residential programs for adults with developmental disabilities. When clients first moved in we’d go through their clothing and get rid of items that had seen better days.

It didn’t take much to determine “the sweater” was being relegated to the toss pile. Aside from the fact it was an ’80s sweater trying to make it into the ’90s, the sleeves were at least a foot too long. Seriously, even a spider monkey would need to roll them up.

Suzy Tosten, one of the group home managers, put the sweater on and did a little dance, twirling the too-long sleeves. The wheels started spinning in my head. Unbeknownst to Suzy, after she removed the sweater I rescued it.

The first time I gave it back to her was priceless. I had wrapped it up along with a couple of other birthday presents. When she opened “the sweater” Suzy didn’t initially recognize it. But I must say, her parents taught her well in being gracious in accepting gifts. 

Two months later was Christmas and would mark the second time I gave Suzy “the sweater.” Since that time, it has been passed back and forth between us in some very creative ways.

Suzy convinced a lady to wear it to an interview I was conducting. When she stood up to greet me, the sleeve swallowed up her hand. When Suzy was accepting an award at The Arc Umatilla County, it came with a box for long-stemmed roses, only there was the sweater wrapped around a single rose. Then there was the time the “unattended package” at the airport was delivered to me by the flight attendant (of course, this was way before 9/11).

Ugly sweaters seem to be gaining cult status. In addition to ugly sweater parties, I’ve seen notices for ugly sweater fun runs, ugly sweater fundraisers and ugly sweater stores.

So, look in the back of your closet, buy a cheap sweater and embellish it or get ideas on Google. Transform a simple office party into a fashion nightmare — get ugly.

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Tammy Malgesini is the EO community editor. Her column, Inside my Shoes, includes general musings about life. Contact her at tmalgesini@eastoregonian.com or 541-564-4539.

Horror flicks for Halloween

By TAMMY MALGESINI 

East Oregonian

Published on October 25, 2013 12:01AM

What better time than Halloween to kick back and watch a good scary movie.

Rather than forking out a fistful of cash at the movie theater, I suggest popping your own popcorn and renting a DVD or perusing through Netflix choices — then curl up on the couch for your own personal scare-fest.

Although you won’t flinch to the latest horror flicks, don’t fret because according to Rotten Tomatoes’ Top 100 Horror Movies, more than 75 percent of the top 100 were released prior to 2000. In fact, of the nine movies that received 100 percent on the Tomatometer, only two — No. 5 “Spoorloos (The Vanishing)” (1988) and No. 9 “The Witches” (1990) — were released since the mid-1960s.

Why give so much credence to Rotten Tomatoes? Well, my husband, John, rarely budges from his recliner to go to the show with me unless it’s received positive reviews from the tomato crew.

My suggestion of seeing the recent re-make of “Carrie” was rebuffed barely after the question left my lips. Not only did he tell me it received a big splat from Rotten Tomatoes, but a review in last weekend’s East Oregonian Entertainment page reveals the remake is “only effective in stops and starts.” That’s a far cry from the original release in 1976, which is No. 62 on the all-time list with 92 percent on the Tomatometer.

While we’re talking about the original “Carrie,” the ending of the Stephen King adaption scarred my high school boyfriend. Even though I didn’t scream like a girl, he had claw marks on his hand as I freaked out and tightened my grip.

Another one from my adolescent days would be “The Exorcist” (1973). The vision of Linda Blair’s head spinning due to demonic possession is forever embedded in my memory. I first saw the movie when I was 14 and I don’t recall if the actual show or my mom’s response when she found out I saw it was more frightening. Although it didn’t make the top 100 on Rotten Tomatoes, it did receive 87 percent on the Tomatometer.

And to finish off the trifecta of scary flicks from my school days, I present to you “The Omen” (1976). How freaky is it that not even 15 minutes into the film something happened and the screen went black at the Egyptian Theatre in Coos Bay. We were given tickets to come back. After sneaking out of the house a second time, me and my best friend and I (whose name shall not be revealed, lest her children read of her adolescent antics) returned to see the spawn of Satan’s reign of terror. (85 percent on the Tomatometer).

Other flicks receiving 100 percent from Rotten Tomato include “Repulsion” (1965), “Frankenstein” (1931), “The Bride of Frankenstein” (1935), “The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari” (1920), “The Invisible Man” (1933), “Vampyr - Der Traum des Allan Grey” (1931) and “Them!” (1954).

RT Scare Central also gives a nod to “King Kong” (1933), “Nosferatu, a Symphony of Horror” (1922), “Alien” (1979), “The Invisible Man” (1933), “Psycho” (1960) and “Jaws” (1975).

As for me, I’ll be watching “The House That Dripped Blood.” Although I rented the 1971 release a few years back, the pain medication I was taking after surgery rendered it unmemorable. However, parts of the movie must have lingered in my subconscious as evidenced by a comment I made to my husband as he left for work.

“Listen,” I said. “Do you hear it? It’s a dripping sound.”

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Tammy Malgesini is the EO community editor. Her column, Inside my shoes, includes general musings about life. Contact her at tmalgesini@eastoregonian.com or 541-564-4539.

In dogs we trust

By TAMMY MALGESINI 

East Oregonian

Published on January 15, 2013 12:01AM

I’m hopelessly in love. Although my husband John and I will celebrate 30 years of wedded bliss this September, I’m not talking about him — it’s my dog.

General, my nearly 7-month-old German shepherd, has definitely wormed his way into my heart. He can get me to do just about anything.

After having Jeter, my 13-year-old German shepherd, put down in April 2012, I told John I didn’t think I was going to get another dog. It’s tough to lose a furry friend.

Lucifer, my husband’s German shepherd, helped me through the grief process — which included lots of hugs. Several months later, I made arrangements to adopt General and make the Malgesini pack whole again.

As my body has increased in age, my joints have become quite adept at predicting the weather. I honestly think a little meteorologist was surgically implanted along with the artifical knee I had put in several years ago. Since that time, I’ve hung up my skis and have found that bears are really onto something with that hibernation thing.

General, however, doesn’t seem to recognize when the mercury dips below freezing. He still wants to go for a walk. With my schedule, it’s usually at night and dark by the time I’m able to take a stroll. General doesn’t care. His puppy dog eyes melt my heart and soon I’m bundling up like the Michelin Man and heading out the door.

After a few occasions of trying to ignore his pleading looks, I found a way to satisfy his need for exercise and my desire to stay warm. A laser pointer. Yup, I stand on the back porch and point the beam. General runs laps trying to catch the little red dot. Lucifer, who has no interest in the light, derives great pleasure in running defensive interference while his brother from a different mother chases it like a mad dog.

Additional proof that our canine kids rule the household: When we bought a new Jeep Wrangler we purchased the larger and more expensive four-door version to have more room. Also, John and I have talked for years about taking an Alaskan cruise for our 30th anniversary. That idea has been replaced with planning a trip that includes the dogs.

And the biggest indicator that love runs deep for our dogs: I’ll drink after them. This is pretty significant, as I won’t even let my friends drink from my glass or bottle. In fact, one time while golfing in the sweltering heat, my good friend Karin Gilliland asked if she was parched and dying of thirst, would I let her have a drink. I told her if she laid face-up on the ground, I would pour water into her mouth.

Just to be clear, no, I don’t get down on all fours and drink out of their bowls. But a few weeks ago I came downstairs to find General standing in my chair with his snout in my glass lapping up my Pepsi. When I told this story to a friend, she asked if I continued to drink the rest of that Pepsi.

“Yes,” I said. “He’s family.”

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Tammy Malgesini is the EO community editor. Her column, Inside My Shoes, includes general musings about life. Contact her at tmalgesini@eastoregonian.com or 541-564-4539.