The Man, The Legend, The Ladykiller

Last weekend, Michelle took Alex to the grocery store. As they walked in the door, the typical scene played out. They were approach by two older ladies, who, proceeded to admire Alex and his hair. Alex, in his usual fashion, just smiles and turns his head shyly way. The ladies just giggle over him as my wife continues on her way. At the register, there is two high school/college age girls and they see Alex coming down the aisle. They look at him and admire his blue eyes and his curls. Well, Michelle, expecting the same reaction from him as he did with the ladies before, pretty much looked the other way, ignoring them. Alex loves the older women. He's my Ladykiller. I used to call him The Midget but, no, Ladykiller suits him now. Especially this lady here. This is Colleen. She will go out of her way to make sure she as him for a guaranteed half hour or longer if she could. She's already wanted babysitting duty numerous times. The door is open for you, Colleen.

Meanwhile, my job as his father is to take as many embarrassing pictures of him, so his future dates get to know this boy and his superpower of seducing women. Catch you on the flipside!!

P.S. HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, VAL & FRED!!!!

Next Time: How Many Posts Have You Done?

Lamar: A Real American Hero

I've talked about video games. I've talked about childhood fun. And I do believe I've talked about Transformers. With all these and other fun stuff happening in my life, some things have a tendency of getting overlooked. One thing that falls under this category grabbed my attention from 1983 to 1987. It's been around since 1964, but it's the mid 80s run that sticks in my mind. They are The Real American Hero - G. I. Joe.
1983, for my birthday, my parents got me my first G.I. Joe toy. It was the Dragonfly helicopter and it came with Wild Bill. I was all ready familiar with the cartoon that Sunbow produced and I thought it was the coolest show, even if at the time it was a five episode mini-series. Getting that copter strengthened my imagination about Wild Bill flying in and out of danger while rattling of some Texan metaphors at the enemy. Then Christmas came, and my brother and I were blessed with more fun. I got the M.O.B.A.T. (a motorized tank - batteries weren't included) with Steeler (he was great because his file card said he's from Pittsburgh - home of the greatest football team ever!) and my brother got the V.A.M.P. (a jeep) with Clutch. And so the battles began.
Over the next four years, toys and vehicles would come and go. My brother would get the Rattler (VTOL jet) and Firefly (wish I had him now) but by 1994, they would be all gone.
I don't know what happened to them. Like a lot of things, they were lost, sold, or broken. Of course over the years, if I'm at a flea market and see a G.I. Joe toy from the 80s, I try to get it. In fact last year, I went to this stand at the local farmers market and found a box of toys sitting there. I saw one vehicle I always wanted and ask the guy how much for it. He said he's asking $60 for the whole box. Well, the picture just above this? This Battle Platform was in the box. In the condition it's in, it's worth about $50 to $60. The wifey wasn't too mad but she wasn't too happy either. Me, it just ignited my search for the classic 80s toys. But everything changed. Yes Alex was part of the change, but on the G.I. Joe front, this man I've never met personally. He goes by the screen name Savage and he runs the website Old Man Musings.
Savage did an article about the 25th anniversary collection of remakes of the 80s version Joes. I was reading this, and thinking, yeah they're cool, but I don't know, interesting, but (bad English is all over my thoughts) I'm gonna pass. Until they came out with a version of a figure I had back in 87. The reissue of Battle Armor Cobra Commander completely changed my 'meh' outlook on the toy line. Detacthable hoses, small details in the figure and accessories, and the biggest thing, a removable helmet. That sold it for me!

I now have thirteen of them and plan to get more. It's tough though, not only getting the new ones, I'm still trying to get the stuff I had as a kid. Plus try to get the stuff I wanted but never got. I'm looking for the Dragonfly with Wild Bill (of course!), I'm looking for the hovercraft (it was called the Killer W.H.A.L.E.), and a few miscellaneous figures. Ebay has this stuff, but I hate online auctions. You never know what you're gonna get. So for now, I'll talk to friends looking to unload their toys (I won't cheat them either, I'm not a total heel) and check out yard sales and flea markets. Meanwhile, the Room of Doom grows smaller and smaller. Much to the wife's disappointment.. Sorry honey, but remember the biggest thing I collect in this world is your love. Catch you on the flipside and YO JOE!!!

Next Time: Alex - The Boy, The Legend, The Ladykiller

P.S. : One more shout out - Thank you, Savage! Check out his website www.oldmanmusings.com Tell him Lamar sent ya!

Hersheypark Arcade!

Today was my work's Employee Fun Day at Hersheypark. Hersheypark is fun as long as it's not in the high 90s, which it was ALL DAY. We got very little relief. We didn't want to ride the water rides because we didn't want to walk around dripping and have to fight for a locker to keep our dry clothes. Plus that was where everyone was at the water rides. The only relief we got was at the one theatre with a percussion show and the Arcade. When at this arcade I usually go to win tokens so I can get cheapo but really kickin prizes. Couple years ago I got a dust pan and broom for the house. Cheap but practical. This year I got a camera bag. Meanwhile, I had to do something for the blog. The arcade at Hersheypark has some great old school arcade games. I didn't play any, (because I'm an idiot because I didn't) but if some of you who read this blog would be all over them like flies. So I'm gonna end this here with a challenge, can you name the last one? Sorry about the quality of the pictures... These were taken with my cell phone. Catch you on the flipside!

P.S.: Yes, I did get sunburned. It's on the back of my arms. (payback for not playing Arkanoid, Ghostbusters or Millipede there.)

Next Time: Dean - Not the Greatest American Hero...

A Bridge Too Old

South of my hometown of Manheim, near where I work, is what the old timers call "The Junction." You take Auction Road west, past Junction Road to about 10 houses. Back in the day (sorry, I don't want to make a lot of the old jokes. The elderly are a wealth of information) the trains would past through this small little village. They still do. Right beside The Junction runs Chickies Creek (or Chiques Creek to give credit to the Chiques Indian tribe from this area.) And spanning the crick (that's how we say it) is the bridge of Auction Road. I don't know how old it is. I know that this one guy at work used to ride his bike on the side of it when crossing it. He's 70 years old and tells that story constantly. He always saying about him and his buddies fishing here or going crick stomping. My brother and I used to do the same thing when we were younger. My brother and a friend of ours used to drag race their trucks on Auction Road and the bridge, because it was a one lane bridge, would be finish line. Remember you know you're from Lancaster (not pronounced like the actor Burt Lancaster) County if you know where there is at least 5 to 10 places to drag race. An added plus, if you were moving at a high rate of speed you could get some air in your vehicle. And proceed to scrape the bottom. The years of wear and tear have taken their toll.

The other day coming home from work, I was headed towards the bridge. A Penn Dot (Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Headaches) sign stated that the road will be closed on June 2nd. I know I'm jumping to conclusions, but I got the feeling they're gonna tear down the bridge. The big thing in the U.S. is the repair of our roads and bridges. And this bridge is pretty bad. In the end they'll replace it with a better bridge, seeing this one can only handle up to five tons and there is a lot of traffic from my work. The idea of a historical bridge coming down, though, makes my kind of sad.

So this morning I went and took pictures of the bridge. I never had the chance with other bridges that were raised and replaced. I want to be able to remember what it looked like and all the memories that went with it. When I was taking pictures of it this morning, with the birds chirping, the crick flowing, and the wind blowing thru the leaves, for some reason I was thinking of the Frank Sinatra song "It Was A Very Good Year." Catch you on the flipside.

Next Time: Good Things Happen To Those Who Buy Their Time