Dad's Collection: Jar O' Yo-Yo

This weeks highlight from Dad's collection is fairly unique. I don't know too much about my Dad's yo-yo collection, but I do remember admiring it as a kid. Who knew there were so many types and styles of yo-yo!?

Here we're have shot of the entire collection, 32 in all and they're all winners in my book.

I like the Goofy yo-yo, and thy football shaped yo-yo is interesting to say the least.

Here's a comparison of two of my Dad's older Duncan Butterflies to the newer 90s model. I stuck my red Butterfly after the whole yo-yo fad died down. It's funny thinking back on all those assemblies we had at school. EVERYONE had a yo-yo after that! Did you ever experience the traveling yo-yo circus when you were a kid?

Here's the yo-yo collection all nice and neat in its jar. I wonder of yo-yos will make a comeback by the time Ava's in elementary school. If so, I hope I can brush up on my skills and teach her around-the-world and walk-the-dog.

It's Valentine's Day!

Geez, yesterday was busy and my dang phone wouldn't upload ths post! So yeah, it's the day after, but Happy Valentine's Day! Man, I love holidays, and Valentine's Day ranks as my 4th favorite right after Easter, Christmas, and Halloween. You can listen to Love You Like A Love Song as you flip through our Valentine pics if you like. I know it may be one of the cheesiest songs ever written, but Laura and I love it anyways and we I can totally rock out to it! Max Headroom Selena is kinda creepy though....here we go!

You've gotta respect Laura for putting up with such a goofball like me! I'm such a dork, LOL! I love that woman!

My cute little Valentine, Ava! Laura helped Ava make the cutest little Valentine present ever! With a little help from Mommy, Ava made me the cutest valentine card ever!

Laura got me this fun Minecraft themed gift and I love it! She found these printables on 

I never seem to be able to complete stuff like this.

An oldie but goodie!

Adventure Time McDonald's toys!

Valentine tree!

Little "Vendos"

Some of my "Vendos", as I call them.

I just can't seem to stop pumping hard earned quarters into toy vending machines! The whole vending machine landscape has changed quite a bit and it just ain't as nice as the good old days, but still, I like to keep the tradition alive. 

Not a bad toy line here. I don't know if this is a new one or a revived oldie.

One big change I've noticed is the toys don't cost just a quarter anymore. In some cases you have to pay 50 cents, but usually everything's 75 cents! Talk about pricey, GOSH! 

The classic Martian Men are just 23 cents (plus tax) at Zurchers vs. a whooping 50 cents at a toy slot machine!

Why are these sweet string dolls mixed with the zombie figures!? (Source)

I've also noticed there are a lot of shady practices going on with toy vending machines nowadays, such as the mixing of toys and deceiving advertising. I came across a machine that had these cool little voodoo dolls made of string. The display case of the toys looked very promising. So I dished out my 75 cents and out popped a freaking "zombie" figure! Like an idiot I popped in 3 more quarters, hoping for the best. Of course I got another crappy zombie. (Normally I'd like a zombie of course, but I had my heart set on the voodoo pals. Plus, the zombie figures were just...off. You can see what I mean in the first picture in this post) I was promised a voodoo buddy! What the crap!? On yet another occasion I was hoping for a sweet eyeball (twas Halloween month at the time) and out came a white Scottie dog. WHAT!? LIES! 

There's actually a very subtle hint of K9. At least it was only 25 cents.

The absolute worst machine of all is located in our local Smith's Market. It's the only machine with decent toys in it, but it's mingled with garbage. I have yet to get anything but crappy bouncy balls and half the time it eats my quarters! I wanted the parachuting bug dang it! I would even take the pinkie cuffs over those freaking bouncy balls! When will I learn! At least I stopped playing crane games. Well, for now. Curse you Sugar Loaf! What kind of name is that anyway!?

"Good Stuff"...plus many other total pieces of crap.

But I digress. There are ways around the whole vending machine hoopla. You can always buy the toys you seek online (Well, maybe not every toy you're looking for. Some can be quite hard to find and pricey to boot.) Another simple option is a party supply store. You can by them in bulk of by the piece. They usually have the classic trans-green aliens and I recently picked up a few monster finger puppets for under a buck at Zurchers. When I was a kid I'd buy all kinds of toy treasures at Party Time. I have some fond memories of Party Time. They used to sell some sweet Pogs and Slammers. Party Time is no longer with us, but it will live on forever in my memory. R.I.P. Party Time, you were a sweet store. Of course, you can always try your luck at an arcade like Nicklecade, Classic Skating, or Chuck E. Cheese. You just have to deal with the whole token/ticket system. It's been ages since I set foot in an arcade, so I think it's high time I paid some old favorites a visit. Skeeball anyone?

If you're lucky you can even find vending machine toys in grab bags at the DI or Goodwill. That said, there's still something about turning that crank and scoring a sweet toy. There's always that risk that you'll get totally jipped, but it's the risk that makes it all the more exciting when you win big! I always keep some quarters in my lucky pouch just in case. And of course, when speaking of vending machine toys, one cannot fail to mention Little Weirdos. Frank has some amazing specimens! You simply must check them out!

These shag carpet ruffians were hand picked and purchased at Zurchers. 

Am I alone in my vending machine woes? Does anyone else still frequent the toy slot machines (as I sometimes call them). Let me know in the comments below!

Sunday Reflections: Be Not Weary

I have been so tired lately. Physically, my back is killing me and I don't sleep enough. I am trying to earn enough to make a living, or at least just survive and pay for basic living expenses. It can be so daunting, the world is in turmoil. Despite all this, I read a scripture this morning that gives me comfort and hope.

29 Wherefore, as ye are agents, ye are on the Lord’s errand; and whatever ye do according to the will of the Lord is the Lord’s business.

 30 And he hath set you to provide for his saints in these last days, that they may obtain an ^ainheritance in the land of Zion.

 31 And behold, I, the Lord, declare unto you, and my ^awords are sure and shall not ^bfail, that they shall obtain it.

 32 But all things must come to pass in their time.

 33 Wherefore, be not ^aweary in ^bwell-doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work. And out of ^csmall things proceedeth that which is great.

D&C 64:29-33

Whatever it is you're struggling with, know this, if you are doing your very best and you're feeling worn out, the Lord is there to lift you up.

Dad's Collection: Wacky Hallmark Cars

The quest to document Dad's large and diverse collection continues with these zany automobiles, or as the tires indicate "Road Rovers". Colorful, diecast toy cars produced by Hallmark of all companies.

The armored truck is pretty cool with the classic $ sign and a nice silver paint job.

 

The street sweep is definitely my favorite of the bunch, as it's basically a vacuum on wheels, making it the silliest of the Rovers. Actually, scratch that, my favorite would have to be the pool car. The pool car had a swimming pool on top with a rubber ducky floating in the water. It's not pictured here because my Dad doesn't know where it is, no one does. I like it best for the painfully obvious play on words. Hopefully it'll show up one day.

These things are almost older than me!

Have you ever come across this before? Did you even know such a thing existed? Now you know! You're welcome! If you ever come across the pool car let me know!

Update:

After further research I came across The Long Morrow, a cool little blog that has oodles of info on these funky roadsters! Check it out HERE!

Sunday Reflections: Pooper Bowel Sunday

I love these GPK magnets

When it comes to the Super Bowel, and other sportingly events, I'm a bit of a party pooper. I could care a whole lot less about some boring game. Now, if real live seahawks were battling it out with wild bucking broncos, that would be another story. Honestly though, the last Super Bowel I watched I muted the actual game and only watched the commercials! Ha!

Perfect excuse to show off my Charlie Brown GPK!

But seriously, is watching the Super Bowl on Sunday breaking the Sabbath? Are you a football fan? Who do you think will win Super Bowl XLVIII? What's your opinion?