I really like this tree. But it's too bad that it's surroundings

can't say, "I really do enjoy complimenting your beauty."

When I was younger my mom and my dog and I drove across

these here United States a couple of times. From California all

the way over to Massachusetts, up to Maine, through Quebec

and Montreal, back down by way of Florida (just to name a few

states) and then home again.

My mom is a very cool, very easy going person. She said, "If we

see something we want to explore, we're a'gonna do just that."

And we did. Many trading posts, many caverns and canyons and

other sights. Anyway, one of the many fun things I picked up along

the way was this little covered wagon that originally had a cactus

planted in it.

The covered part of this wagon is "made from the Cholla cactus -

a rare wood growing only in the southwestern United States. The

beauty of the cactus is a work of nature, not men nor insects. In

order to survive the arid desert climate, water is taken in from

the atmosphere through the pores in the wood, creating the lace-like

intricacy seen when the bark is removed." This trading post souvenir

was made in Tuscon, Arizona.

"Wait up, fellas!"

This is one of two souvenir ashtrays that I have from a Hawaiian

restaurant named Kelbo's. Back in the day, Hawaiian/tiki themed

restaurants were all the rage. And Kelbo's was great. They had

drinks that came to your table on FIRE. And the ribs? Oh man.

I grew up going to the West L.A. location for the most part.

But the real reason I am posting a photo of this ashtray is because

eleven years ago today I stopped needing to use an ashtray. I quit

smoking. Not smoking is not always great, but most of the the time it

is good. I am not anti-smoking as I have said before and I will always

stand up for the rights of those who choose to smoke. I just choose not

too anymore. But anyway, HUZZAH for today.

This is an interesting thing to have in front of your house.

I wonder what it means. Whatever it is, I'm bettin' that

it was created a little bit at a time. I would also put
money on it still being a work in progress.

Last week I had mentioned that if funds allowed, I would

pick up the 40th Anniversary Blu-ray of The Texas Chain Saw

Massacre. Funds did not allow. Which translates to, I have no

self-control. In fact, I have such little self-control that I also bought

an absolutely fantastic version of Creature from the Black Lagoon.

$12.96 for the 2D and 3D (for 3D TVs) set. I've been wanting this

movie and I don't think I can get a better deal.

 Today I would like to share a hat that I had previously mentioned in

a post on December 13th, 2012. It's not a very practical hat as it is made

of leather and it is hot in the summertime. And it is heavy. But I was

given this hat as a gift when I was seventeen and it has been in many,

many states with me. I've worn it to the top of mountains and I have had to

retrieve it from the bottom of a river more than once. It has shared emotional

times with me as well. It's just always been there.

You can tell by looking at the conchos that it has seen some action.

But this guy is still as full of heart now as it was the day I received it.

The inside has no markings. It is just a plain old leather hat.

To me it always had the same characteristics as Hogan's (Clint

Eastwood) hat from the movie "Two Mules for Sister Sarah". I

think that at times Hogan's hat looks very similar to mine (minus

the conchos) and the construction looks the same. I don't know

how he wore that thing in Mexico's heat. But then again, his

hat could be completely different than mine and I am full of beans.

That would come as a shock to zero folks at El Rancho De La Tex.

When my son was little I used to enjoy taking him to

Chuck E. Cheese pizza. Whether it was just our family

or for a friend's birthday, it was usually fun. And although

a lot of folks consider Chuck's pizza to be rank, I myself

was all over it.

 

The infamous Chuck E. animatronic show was just bizarre enough that

I could not take my eyes off of it. And when the guitar pluckin' and

singin' and joke tellin' computer driven show ended, when the band

members Helen Henny, Jasper T. Jowls, Mr. Munch and Pasqually

just froze in time, it was like being in the Twilight Zone. If I remember

right, every couple of minutes one of 'em would turn their head a

little or something like they were watching all the guests. Too weird

and too cool.

Anyway, I had to be careful when I took this picture. There are a

couple of things the Chuckmeister keeps his eyes out for. One is

people at his place with cameras and another is visitors who have

no kids. It's just that kind of world anymore.

I was at work one day when I happened to look over and

see this little American flag in the trash. It had been used for

an event of some sort and then apparently... just discarded.

I am not sure how to dispose of these little flags with respect,

but I hardly think that putting them in with the garbage is high on

the list. I found it offensive. I retrieved it from the can and

brought it home.

You can't know that.

This photo would fall in the the category of "downright terrible",

but it is the best picture I could get of the drought resistant plant

on that fence there.

In 1979 I went to see a movie that would end up being my

all time favorite to this day: Apocalypse Now. Going in I

had no idea what this movie was about. Coming out my

roomie and I were speechless for the rest of the evening. I had

never had a movie going experience like that, ever.

In those days we were often given programs for the shows

we attended. I finally found mine and I am going to frame it.

I taped our tickets into the first pages of the program. Kind of tacky,
but what did I know in those days. It is kind of interesting to see the
$4.00 ticket price though. And this was no "bargain showing". This
was a full on Picwood Theater in West Los Angeles as good as it got
Friday evening presentation.

I have seen Apocalypse Now more times than I can even

remember and it is always beyond compare.

(The program size is 7 x 11 inches.)

~ Happy "Talk Like A Pirate" Day 2014 ~

This picture is from the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction

at Disneyland in California, circa 2003. My son took the

picture. That didn't sound very piratey. Oh well.

Pirate Pizza! We had Pirate Pizza today! My plate was
loaded down, but I could only eat four pieces of eight!
AAAARRR!!!!!!!!
(This may break my eight month pizza drought.)

It sure was beautiful out today at 7:30 AM.
 

I know these things are kinda short and weird.

I just have fun making them.

 Must be a long term plan.

I must be slipping. I had no idea that Godzilla (2014) was being

released on Blu-ray today. I saw it at the movies back in May and

I was kind of blase about it. But when I saw it on the shelf today

I instantly reached for it. So I must have liked it more then I thought.

I am suddenly anxious to see it again.

(But what I really want is another "Cloverfield".)

Unlike the last several (or more) weeks there were a few releases

I saw that I am excited about, including a new Texas Chain Saw

Massacre: 40th Anniversary Collector's Edition that I may or may

not buy, depending on funds. Feast or famine in the Blu-ray arena.

Oh and I could not resist this skull soap dispenser. Very cool.

And green. It's green!

Walmart has put this awning up over half of their parking lot. At first

I thought it was lame. But I parked under it on this 100 plus

degree weather day, and it was cool. Literally. It might make

loading and unloading in rain nicer too.

~ Reason #16 Why I Would Not Be Good Law Enforcement ~
Because if I were a cop, and you ran through the red light to make
your right hand turn there just on the other side of that bridge, like

you did today, forcing me to use my brakes even though my light for

my left hand turn was green, all because you are too special to wait,

you've got places to go and people to see unlike the rest of us chumps

who obey the law out of respect for the law and our fellow citizens,

I would light you up and ticket you a minimum of $500 right before

I pull you out of your window and thrash you to a pulp for putting

everybody around you including me in danger.

This another in a series of reasons
Why I Would Not Be Good Law Enforcement.

When you suspect you've struck yer fortune, you're going to want

to come outta them thar hills and head into town. The assayer will

be awaitin' to test your ore. Then you will know whether you should

have a celebratory whiskey (or sarsaparilla), or lead the pack mule

back up to your claim and try again. This is at The Autry Museum

in Griffith Park, CA.

I have a claim. Huh? Where is it ya say? I aint'a talkin.

 It's Knife Day here at the Jewel of the West, El Rancho De La Tex.

Today we have a knife that I cannot tell you much about. My bad.

But it is a nice knife that I bought (again) many, many, many moons

ago at a gun show. This knife is a Cold Steel Something Tanto. I think 

that the steel is AUS-8. It is not the San Mai. It was made in the early

 80's. I believe that they stopped making these knives with the brass

 fittings a LONG time ago.I bought the Kydex sheath you see

there separately.

Cold Steel. Ventura, California.

Hard rubber non-slip grip.

Made in Japan. Love that brass.

And just to keep things interesting, here is a hard plastic Cold Steel

Tanto that I keep in the sheath that the other knife originally came in.

Why I have this, I don't know. I think I may have bought it for

the novelty factor. S'been so long I can't remember.

 

I went to Comics-N-Stuff and found something that I paid

way too much for. But from what I understand, this is the

first time an official "Friday the 13th: A New Beginning" figure

has been released. It took about twenty-eight years for this guy to

come out and NECA did it. (The artwork on the packaging is terrific.)

 

I think the reason it took so long to come out is because fans

were not huge on this movie for many years. It was very

disappointing to them in one major way. And that way is....

is.... well... You just have to watch the movie. I could not

get a good picture of this guy so to compensate

a little, I left the photos really big.

I always did like Part 5, myself.

~ September 11, 2014 ~

 As a little follow up to yesterdays post...

It was too late in the evening to "PRESS ME". I

had no clue as to the noise it would make.

But today, I "PRESSED ME"'d.

I just got home from work and discovered this guy on the

kitchen counter. It is late. Everybody is asleep. So I cannot

"PRESS ME". The words on the tag say "Uncontrollable

Laughter". That just may wake everybody up. Tomorrow.

Without warning, all of my dreams had been
dashed upon the rocks of hope and despair.

A nice red bean burrito.

 

Spicy Steak Taco Al Carbon with a major dose of cilantro.

Del Taco of course.

It's better than it looks. Pretty  much.

Awesome. The Halloween season is just about upon

us. Walmart has a few things in and...

...I bought my first skull of the 2014 season.

I have decided that he is going to ride up front with me

through November. But I am going to have to put a

little piece of velcro on him to keep him from rolling around.

And do you know what? I didn't just buy a skull.

No sir. I bought a calavera.