Tuesday, September 30, 2014

I really like this tree. But it's too bad that it's surroundings
can't say, "I really do enjoy complimenting your beauty."

Monday, September 29, 2014

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.

Sunday, September 28, 2014

"Wait up, fellas!"

Saturday, September 27, 2014

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.

Friday, September 26, 2014

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.

Thursday, September 25, 2014

 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.

Wednesday, September 24, 2014

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.

Tuesday, September 23, 2014

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.

Monday, September 22, 2014

You can't know that.

Sunday, September 21, 2014

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.

Saturday, September 20, 2014

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.)

Friday, September 19, 2014

~ 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.)

Thursday, September 18, 2014

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.

Wednesday, September 17, 2014

 Must be a long term plan.

Tuesday, September 16, 2014

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.

Monday, September 15, 2014

~ 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.

Sunday, September 14, 2014

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.

Saturday, September 13, 2014

 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.

Friday, September 12, 2014

 
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.

Thursday, September 11, 2014

~ September 11, 2014 ~

Friday, September 5, 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.

Thursday, September 4, 2014

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.

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

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

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

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.

Monday, September 1, 2014

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.