1980s favorite memories

Birdman666

Well-known member
Sep 18, 2013
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258
San Antonio, TX
Parrots
Presently have six Greenwing Macaw (17 yo), Red Fronted Macaw (12 yo), Red Lored Amazon (17 y.o.), Lilac Crowned Amazon (about 43 y.o.) and a Congo African Grey (11 y.o.)
Panama Amazon (1 Y.O.)
Okay I'm game... the 80's were good to me...

First of all, it was the time of my life. I was living three blocks from the beach in Huntington Beach. Going to Long Beach State, then UCLA.

Ran off to Martinique for the summer in between Long Beach State and UCLA. Partied a lot. Didn't sleep much.

I was the runner up in the Mr. Long Beach contest in 1985, so I was in the best shape of my life...

Working out six days a week, plus surfing everyday, plus doing physical labor on the weekend.

Riding for Beach Surf Center. My boards were shaped by Chris Hawk. I think I had around 15 boards at the time.

I worked weekends as a deck hand on a yacht in Balboa Bay. My summer job involved working for Beachcraft out at the Orange County airport... (refurbishing King Airs.) So I played with boats and airplanes and got paid for it.

I had short hair, but a long tail. Any of you remember tails? They were the rage...

"New Wave" music was on the radio. (And most of it was pretty bad.)

The Red Onion was the local drinking hole.

And the LOCAL GARAGE BAND?! A group called THE RED HOT CHLLI PEPPERS... That's right! First saw them in a backyard party in Long Beach.

OH YEAH, AND THE NINERS RULED!!!
 
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Scott

Supporting Member
Aug 21, 2010
32,673
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San Diego, California USA, Earth, Milky Way Galaxy
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Goffins: Gabby, Abby, Squeaky, Peanut, Popcorn / Citron: Alice / Eclectus: Angel /Timneh Grey: ET / Blue Fronted Amazon: Gonzo /

RIP Gandalf and Big Bird, you are missed.
The 80s were a time of young adulthood and persevering to attain sufficient job experience for my chosen career - was hired for my "forever job" in late 1989. Moved around a lot during the 80s and made lots of friends but always kept my ties to San Diego.

The 80s were far less memorable to me, perhaps because the previous decade was so formative. Musically the scene is a close second to the 70s and sound/listening technology was greatly improved. Anybody remember Personics, a large machine repository that built a custom cassette? They were located in record stores and contained several hundred top hits. Your selections were recorded onto a cassette and a label was printed - the process occurred while you wait. The granddaddy to iTunes was a flop, perhaps it diluted sales of entire albums.

I had a slew of cars, beginning with an Audi 100, a Honda Civic CVCC, Nissan Pulsar NX, Mazda RX7, and an Infiniti M30.
 
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Birdman666

Birdman666

Well-known member
Sep 18, 2013
9,904
258
San Antonio, TX
Parrots
Presently have six Greenwing Macaw (17 yo), Red Fronted Macaw (12 yo), Red Lored Amazon (17 y.o.), Lilac Crowned Amazon (about 43 y.o.) and a Congo African Grey (11 y.o.)
Panama Amazon (1 Y.O.)
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I had a series of 3 VW Buses in college, none of which died with less than 270,000 miles on it. Yep. Surf Rat vans. Anti-Status symbol... That's right, I'm blocking traffic. What do you want, it's windy, and there's a slight incline...

sure, we're being passed by toddlers on tricycles... but it's not my fault.

And then had a little Isuzu Pup pickup truck, my first "new" new car... in the late 80's. That was actually a fun little truck.

Started my "career" job in '87... thought for a minute there, that I was a "grown up!" (Yeah, right!) That didn't actually happen until after my daughter was born...

Hey, what can I say, I had a very happy childhood, so I decided to extend it....
 
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Pinkbirdy

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Feb 26, 2013
2,203
1
Clifton Springs Newyork
Parrots
macaw,LS2,congo grey,2Blk Hd caiques,Hawkhead,yellowstrk lory,Blue frnt amazon,sun conure ,Yellow sided greencheek ,Goffin ,Rosebreasted Cockatoo,Greenwing Macaw,Blue and Gold Macaw,Nanday conure,Ecle
Loved the 80's :) The music ,the hair [not sure about the clothes :) Miss the concerts ] Wish I had known about myself with parrots then . Im sure my life would have taken a different turn. I know I would be living around more parrot people !
 

MyFlock

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Apr 15, 2015
340
1
Parrots
Conures, 2 Red bellied parrots lovebirds.
I was full of angst in the 80s but what I remember is all the cool British bands that came out like Depeche Mode! And I remember we ALL just had to wear Guess jeans! If you didn't have Guess jeans well you weren't cool and the 80s were all about being cool! I remember the hair tails, being mall rats, massive hair spray and gel use, pick combs in our pockets. Movies like the Breakfast Club with Molly Ringwald.

Television...seems fuzzy to me right now. I remember my dad watching Newhart and I liked to watch Tales from the Darkside that come on late at night, it had a scary intro. I purchased some DVDs of this for nostalgia purposes a few years back and OMG! So cheesy! lol but it didn't seem like it was back then but it certainly is now!
 

RavensGryf

Supporting Member
Jan 19, 2014
14,233
190
College Station, Texas
Parrots
Red Bellied Parrot /
Ruppell's Parrot /
Bronze Winged Pionus /
English Budgie
The first thing I think of from the 80's was all the stupid things I did with my friends. Our excuse was that we were still in high school ;).

First of all, my friends and I would never even think of stealing anything for sale. That was out of the question. That being said, for some reason we thought it was absolutely hilarious to go to a fast food place, or casual restaurant and be able to get out the door with the salt and pepper shakers, and even napkin holders. I still have a 'no smoking' sign from Bob's Big Boy. Other things like that too. I never personally did the taking of the items, but was there in the group. We were actually good kids, and did it completely 'innocently' and just for laughs, not realizing consequences if we had been caught. Same for the next paragraph...

The liquor stores were really bad back then... Many of them sold booze to teenagers no problem. Yep, we knew where to go! I am SO thankful that we never got in a wreck or killed anyone while behind the wheel driving drunk every weekend :eek:.

Music... We thought New Wave and the British Invasion was the best music that was ever invented! A guy in high school a couple years older than me told me how rock n' roll was the best music, but I didn't believe him until I was out of high school and started to listen to different music.

Duran Duran! We LOVED them. In their heyday, we went to a concert in San Diego, and we abandoned our seats to attempt to get up to the stage. If you were lucky enough to get past the bouncers, they didn't run after you, and let you go on by. After getting what felt like a gallon of beer spilled on me by someone, and falling and sustaining the largest bruise I've ever had, I finally got up to the stage as far as one could and out of our group,only a few of us did. I looked up and there was John Taylor on the bass. Don't recall how many yards away, but it was very close.

Then a few other crazy things we did as well.... My conservative parents had absolutely no idea what I was doing. They knew who I was with, but they just thought how harmless could it be, Julie's friends are so nice lol.
 
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Aquila

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Nov 19, 2012
1,225
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Philadelphia
Parrots
Sydney - Blue Front Amazon
Gonzo - Congo African Grey
Willow - Cockatiel
RIP:
Snowy, Ivy, Kiwi, Ghost - Parakeets
Berry - Cinnamon GCC
I was born in '89...

But I think my parents definitely had some influence on me music wise for sure, it took me until a few years ago to fully appreciate it!

I would have liked to been older then but blame my parents for having me so late!
 
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Birdman666

Birdman666

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Sep 18, 2013
9,904
258
San Antonio, TX
Parrots
Presently have six Greenwing Macaw (17 yo), Red Fronted Macaw (12 yo), Red Lored Amazon (17 y.o.), Lilac Crowned Amazon (about 43 y.o.) and a Congo African Grey (11 y.o.)
Panama Amazon (1 Y.O.)
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The first thing I think of from the 80's was all the stupid things I did with my friends. Our excuse was that we were still in high school ;).

Then a few other crazy things we did as well.... My conservative parents had absolutely no idea what I was doing. They knew who I was with, but they just thought how harmless could it be, Julie's friends are so nice lol.

STUPID is a relative concept...

OUR stupid was probably STUPID-ER than your STUPID... But we were Serious when it came to being Stupid. Stupid was a "competitive sport" in my crowd... We were never a danger to others, only to ourselves.
 
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JerseyWendy

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Jul 20, 2012
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Most of my 'favorite' memories are from the 80s. :D

I did a whole lot during those 10 short years. In Germany (where I was born and raised) you don't get your license until you're 18. My parents were extremely strict until I turned 18. So once I hit that magic number..... :54:

I competitively rode my horse until we had a pretty bad accident, partied, Lifeguard for DLRG (Deutsche Lebens-Rettungs Gesellschaft = German Lifesaver Company), ran track, partied, took ballroom dancing lessons, finished high school, partied hard, finished college, partied even harder, fell in love, got married, immigrated to the US, and had my first baby. Party came to an end. :09:
 
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Birdman666

Birdman666

Well-known member
Sep 18, 2013
9,904
258
San Antonio, TX
Parrots
Presently have six Greenwing Macaw (17 yo), Red Fronted Macaw (12 yo), Red Lored Amazon (17 y.o.), Lilac Crowned Amazon (about 43 y.o.) and a Congo African Grey (11 y.o.)
Panama Amazon (1 Y.O.)
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And speaking of absolutely STUPID... the STUPIDEST, and perhaps funniest thing that happened to me in the 80's... On some levels, I wish we had this on video, it would go viral!

I drove an old VW bus. My roommate in College had a motorcycle. Well his motorcycle broke down one day. "Help! I'm stranded! You've got a van, can we fit it in the van and bring it home."

"Sure. Be right there."

So, we make a ramp out of a two by four, and roll the thing inside my VW bus. Tie the thing off real good. We tied the back of it to my rear seat. Closed the door, then tied the forks off to the door handle inside the van. My buddy sat in the back seat, and held it steady, and I drove nice and slow, which is actually the only way you CAN drive a VW bus, because 0-60 in 5.2 - MINUTES!

While we did a really good job of tying off the bike, we did not, however, factor the weight of the bike into the problem solving equation. So, I made a right turn onto Beach Blvd. which is the main drag from inland to the Beach. Yeah, it's an eight lane high speed, very high traffic roadway. And I'm driving a VW bus.

As I made my turn, the weight of the bike was too much for my buddy to handle... and it tipped over and hit the door.

When the bike hit the door, the weight of the bike was too much for the door hinges to handle. And my big sliding door broke off, and now the sliding door is sliding down the roadway in heavy traffic.

The bike, of course, is tied off to the door. And we really did do a good job ot tying the bike off. Because out the door it went, when the door went. And my buddies bike is now sliding off into traffic.

BUT WAIT! THERE'S MORE.... because the bike was also tied off to my back seat... so the next thing that went flying out the door, was my back seat....

My friend was still sitting on my back seat at the time... I'LL NEVER FORGET THE LOOK IN HIS EYES WHEN HE REALIZED THE BACK SEAT WAS GIVING WAY, AND HE WAS GOING OUT THE DOOR TOO! EYES THE SIZE OF SAUCERS!

So, now my door, a motorcycle, my back seat, and my friend are sliding down Beach Blvd., with traffic sliding to a halt, and going every which way trying not to run over anything, or anyone...

Fortunately no one got hit, and it was actually all fairly easily repairable...

There were two guys pumping gas at the gas station on the corner that were peeing themselves with laughter. Said it was the funniest thing they'd ever seen...

We actually couldn't have dreamed this one up or staged it any better.

ANYWAY, THAT WAS MY "LAUREL AND HARDY" 80'S MOMENT...
 
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Birdman666

Birdman666

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Sep 18, 2013
9,904
258
San Antonio, TX
Parrots
Presently have six Greenwing Macaw (17 yo), Red Fronted Macaw (12 yo), Red Lored Amazon (17 y.o.), Lilac Crowned Amazon (about 43 y.o.) and a Congo African Grey (11 y.o.)
Panama Amazon (1 Y.O.)
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...had my first baby. Party came to an end. :09:

That was the very, very end of the 90's for me... beginning of my daughter's childhood. End of my extended childhood.

The '00 years were less than kind to me in a lot of respects...
 
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Aquila

New member
Nov 19, 2012
1,225
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Philadelphia
Parrots
Sydney - Blue Front Amazon
Gonzo - Congo African Grey
Willow - Cockatiel
RIP:
Snowy, Ivy, Kiwi, Ghost - Parakeets
Berry - Cinnamon GCC
Most of my 'favorite' memories are from the 80s. :D

I did a whole lot during those 10 short years. In Germany (where I was born and raised) you don't get your license until you're 18. My parents were extremely strict until I turned 18. So once I hit that magic number..... :54:

I competitively rode my horse until we had a pretty bad accident, partied, Lifeguard for DLRG (Deutsche Lebens-Rettungs Gesellschaft = German Lifesaver Company), ran track, partied, took ballroom dancing lessons, finished high school, partied hard, finished college, partied even harder, fell in love, got married, immigrated to the US, and had my first baby. Party came to an end. :09:

Wow Wendy I had no idea you had such an interesting life! Sounds like you really lived the dream, huh?

Man I was really born in the wrong era! :30:
 

ToMang07

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Jul 14, 2015
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17
Maine, USA
Parrots
Willow the Umbrella Cockatoo
I was born in the 80's so I only remember the late 80's, but between terrible styles, from bowl-cuts to mullets, neon-bright terrible jogging suit clothing, and really, really bad music, (most of it, sorry) I still loved it. Learned to play in the woods, ponds and streams in the back yard helped. Loved (and still miss) those old-school cartoons, Bugs and Elmer Fudd, Wiley-E-Coyote and Roadrunner, Daffey, Porkey, you know, GOOD cartoons. Got my first pets, Semi-retarded collie, (not joking, he would eat bees/hornets and wonder why it hurt) and my first cat. Learned to fish and hunt small game. Plus I only had 2-3 siblings at the time, so the house was a lot quieter, lol (I wouldn't trade any of my 7 siblings for the world.)
 

JerseyWendy

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Jul 20, 2012
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That was the very, very end of the 90's for me... beginning of my daughter's childhood. End of my extended childhood.

The '00 years were less than kind to me in a lot of respects...

My hardest years were when hubby was still in the army and they deployed his butt. :( Not once...not twice, but many times. I felt like a single mom. But I was determined not to let his 'job' ruin a good thing.

Wow Wendy I had no idea you had such an interesting life! Sounds like you really lived the dream, huh?

Man I was really born in the wrong era! :30:

I honestly feel like I'm still living the dream, Aquila. :D Sure, there were rough patches. Everyone has them at some point in their lives. It only matters what you make of them, how you deal with them.

...and BTW, the party's started again, HAHAHAHAH! Now that my 'boys' are adults, we can all have fun together - and we do. :D
 

Aquila

New member
Nov 19, 2012
1,225
1
Philadelphia
Parrots
Sydney - Blue Front Amazon
Gonzo - Congo African Grey
Willow - Cockatiel
RIP:
Snowy, Ivy, Kiwi, Ghost - Parakeets
Berry - Cinnamon GCC
I honestly feel like I'm still living the dream, Aquila. :D Sure, there were rough patches. Everyone has them at some point in their lives. It only matters what you make of them, how you deal with them.

...and BTW, the party's started again, HAHAHAHAH! Now that my 'boys' are adults, we can all have fun together - and we do. :D

Sounds like you might need an adopted daughter. :p

I'll have to make a trip down to your area sometime!
 
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Birdman666

Birdman666

Well-known member
Sep 18, 2013
9,904
258
San Antonio, TX
Parrots
Presently have six Greenwing Macaw (17 yo), Red Fronted Macaw (12 yo), Red Lored Amazon (17 y.o.), Lilac Crowned Amazon (about 43 y.o.) and a Congo African Grey (11 y.o.)
Panama Amazon (1 Y.O.)
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I was a single parent even when I was married... BUT I also had to work two jobs. (My ex found working inconvenient once the ring went on her finger. She was a hard worker until then... 180 degree turn. I don't work, I BOSS!)

AND then my ex-spent us into bankruptcy. Try waking up one morning and finding out your dear sweet loving wife has gotten 27 credit cards behind your back while you've been working two jobs just to survive... and has maxed them all out on crap you don't need... (much of it being crap for another man, while you were busy working yourself to death trying to support her!) And then find out she has been leaving the baby alone when you are working, to be with some other guy... (and beating the crap out of her, threatening her with bodily harm if she told Dad.) And now they want to take your house away from you... And you were so busy just trying to keep your head above water, and spend some time with the kid, that you didn't see any of this coming... THIS IS YOUR WAKE UP CALL!!!

GET THEE TO BANKRUPTCY COURT.
THEN GET THEE TO DIVORCE COURT.
THEN GO THROUGH FOUR CUSTODY BATTLES...

Then meet the REAL love of your life... Then have her just drop dead from a pulmonary embolism a month before the wedding...

AND THAT'S HOW THE PARROT REFUGE BECAME MY REFUGE AS WELL...

To say the last 15 or so years of my life have been SUCK-ISH would be a gross understatement!!!

And BLACK is not my favorite color, but it's been a color I've had to get used to. What's that old saying about learning how to dance in the rain?!

But, I've got my daughter on her feet, made it through High School. She took a year off and is getting ready to start College next year. This is the first real down time I've had in over a decade. I've actually succeeded on doing quite a lot, with very little... so I suppose I should be proud of that. I've worked very hard at not becoming a bitter old man... And I tell myself that it's going to get better someday. (But honestly, it's been a long time since I've actually believed that one.)


You just keep going no matter what happens. If it gets better, then it does. If it doesn't, you keep going anyway...
 
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Aquila

New member
Nov 19, 2012
1,225
1
Philadelphia
Parrots
Sydney - Blue Front Amazon
Gonzo - Congo African Grey
Willow - Cockatiel
RIP:
Snowy, Ivy, Kiwi, Ghost - Parakeets
Berry - Cinnamon GCC
Birdman I just want to give you THE BIGGEST HUG EVER.

I feel the same way about my birds, they saved me, from a lot of pain, heartache and dark times. I don't have (human)kids, unlikely that I ever will, but being surrounded by unconditional love, even if it might come at the cost of a few band-aids and holes in clothes, poop stains, messy floors or chewed blinds, when I get those kisses or snuggles, it's all worth it.

I've said many times over, I'd rather go hungry than ever see my birds do without.
 

Kiwibird

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Jul 12, 2012
9,539
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1 BFA- Kiwi. Hatch circa 98', forever home with us Dec. 08'
I was born in '89...

But I think my parents definitely had some influence on me music wise for sure, it took me until a few years ago to fully appreciate it!

I would have liked to been older then but blame my parents for having me so late!

I was born in 89' too! I loved being a 90's kid! Some of the best cartoons EVER (all on Saturday mornings), the world wasn't quite as dangerous as it is now so more freedom, awesome toys, cool technology was becoming a thing everyone owned but wasn't as intrusive as it is now and while it was total garbage to eat all the processed foods that were coming out was DELICIOUS. I kind of feel bad for my (future) kids. It's a whole other world they'll be born into!
 
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Kiwibird

Well-known member
Jul 12, 2012
9,539
111
Parrots
1 BFA- Kiwi. Hatch circa 98', forever home with us Dec. 08'
I am so sorry all of that happened to you Birdman:(
 

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