TAYLOR " 'LECTRIC FRIDAY" RHODES- GUEST BLOGGER

     I would like to start by introducing myself as a self proclaimed child of the Eighties.  The MTV and later Muchmusic generation.Your favorite artists were beamed into your living room 24/7 if you were lucky.  If not, hopefully you had a friend that was blessed with parents who did not demonize this new media.  It was no surprise that your favorite artists would have a huge and immediate impact on fashion.
     The fashion aspect was a given for girls, but for guys to wear clothes in the style that the quintessential Eighties band, Duran Duran (someone told me the Beatles of our generation....and i agree) sported was to be branded a fag. Period.  But more about that later.
     All through my scholastic career, I kept to myself.  Partly out of shyness, but also out of a desire to not be one of many.  I wanted some degree of individuality.  Initially, I had no choice as my parent were not of the affluent part of the area.  So the clothing I wore was not "in" or up to snuff and actually looked down upon.  I did not care.  It allowed me to be the person I became.  I did not have Levi jeans, I had Brand X with iron on patches on the knees.  I did not have Harvard Club rugby pants, I had cheap imitations, and so on.  I grew a thick skin and did not care.  I did not like the attitude of many of the "Silver Spoon Club".  These were kids from wealthy families who had no respect for what a dollar meant.  Not all were like this but there were enough.  More on that later.
     Anyhow, I was an outsider, partially by choice and partially by circumstance.  I remained this way even as things began to change.  People gravitated to me and was "invited" into their circles.   Whatever that meant.
     It is because of this I find that I have somewhat of a unique perspective of the Eighties, the cliques, the social order and I hope to make that evident in future entries.
     I am a HUGE John Hughes fan and at one time could recite the dialogue from Weird Science word for word.  I know....Geek, right?
     The name will hopefully make more sense as I write more.  
     I am glad to have the privilege of being part of this amazing blog.  Huge thanks to Parker (who I have known since grade 1 and I briefly "went out with her" in grade 4, I believe)  and Libby (who was the new girl on the block in grade 8.)  More, much more about Libby later.  I hope I can contribute something of worth!