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Monday, January 17, 2011

Disney Dreamin'

We just got back from a week long vacation at Disney World in Florida. It's one of our favorite vacation destinations. The fakeness of it is somehow charming, like an old movie. It always makes me think of The Importance of Being Earnest in particular.

At any rate it was a week full of indulgence and it was much needed.

In case you didn't know, Hollywood Studios, one of the Disney Parks has a Muppets Store. An entire store devoted to the Muppets. They also have a courtyard that continuously plays Muppet songs, has a Muppet Fountain and they also have a 3D film. The last thing Jim worked on before he died.

Well, you can just imagine!

In case you can't...







So, we've got that. All of that. I can't even describe to you the utter delight. You'll just have to try to imagine it. A nearly impossible task, but good luck.

I don't generally buy a whole lot in Disney because, I'm not that big a fan of the Mouse. I mean, I like him, and I generally love the old shorts and have seen them all multiple times. But I don't feel like wearing him as jewelry or on a shirt or whatever. But in the Muppet Store all bets are off. Obviously. The Frog, we love. The Frog, we'll wear. Heck, the Frog, we'll tattoo on our body. I mean, we haven't yet, but we're thinking about it. That's how much we love the Frog. And by "we" I mean, me.

The first thing I bought is almost too amazing and awe inspiring to show you. I'm not sure you can handle it. It could push someone out there over the edge of sanity. The only reason I'm not in a padded cell right now is because I had back up. Nick found the item and eased me into viewing it. He held my hand, he took it to the cash register. He found out that it was half price. Then he asked me why I didn't freak out. It was then that I taught him about poker face. You may want to sit down. Behold....!


...can...you...even..?!!? Would...you...ever....?!!? I love cross over collections! OK, granted I don't have a Star Wars collection, but I have forced others to have said collection and that nearly counts! Please don't miss Rizzo as Yoda or Gonzo as Vader. HALF PRICE!!! $6!! Can you STAND it? I don't think I can. We had better move on.


These items were picked up in the Disney store. Comic book (for which I received a riveting and somewhat sentimental account of "kids today" from the cashier), Muppet silly bands, plush Kermit key chain and Muppet Yatzee where Kermit's head is the cup!! I need to re-learn how to play Yatzee now.

So...Disney Pin Trading. I'm not sure I can explain it well enough, so that you'll be able to understand the process. I know I didn't believe it when I heard it for the first time. It was too good to be true. OK, here we go. People who work at Disney wear a lanyard with Disney pins on it. All different pins, all different characters. If you, in turn wear a lanyard and purchase pins you may trade them for other pins with the people who work there. Here's what you really need to know" A-There are Muppet Pins. Loads of them. B-I buy the Disney pins at yardsales for a quarter a piece to trade. Otherwise they are like $9-$20 each. Yiye.

Trading went well this year. Very, very well.



Yes, in case you are wondering, that is Sam the Eagle dressed as Obi Wan. (!!!!) Onward to summer to stock up on trade pins again!

Saturday, January 15, 2011

OOC

I guess a lot of things feel out of control in my life right now. For someone who is a control freak like me, it can mean a very bad emotional road.

One of the things that I like to do when I'm feeling all angsty is craft.


Start with a little of this.


Move on to some of this. The thing on the left is the craft project. It's a papier mache character on a base that I bought at the craft store. (a small papier mache box) Inside the body of the character is a wooden dowel and wire for the legs. Nail for the neck.

I don't usually use Fimo. Now I know why. I hate that junk. It never really softened up to the point where I like clay to be. I had to wrestle with it. It's crap. I'm not using it again. Nothing you can say will change my mind.

The whole process took me about a week of working on it after work for a few hours a night. This is the final product.







He's right dapper. Maybe all the paint, papier mache and glue will hold me together for another season.