Holidaze 11/30/20

Another find from Village Discount Outlet.

Every Picture Tells a Story 11/28/20

Holidaze 11/27/20

The Holidaze display, such as it is, at La Casa de Mama.

From left to right: A deer ornament bought at Target; SpongeBob SquarePants, acquired from a box of cereal; a cardinal bought at Village Discount Outlet; an angel from the same establishment; SpongeBob's pal, Patrick, also from a box of cereal; and a tiger from Target.

This is all I'm putting up this year. No tree--the cats just knock it over anyway.

Gobble Gobble 11/26/20

Tobias Turkey (yes, that's his real name--he's got a tag and everything) and I wish you a happy, warm Thanksgiving. It's been a rough year, but we'll get through this.

Gobble Gobble 11/25/20

Every Picture Tells a Story 11/24/20

My Covid face.

This Week's Travel Reading, Up Up & Away edition

Growing up as an avid comic book reader, Superman was never one of my favorites. He was just too powerful, in body and mind, to hold my attention for long.

I much preferred the flawed, brooding characters over at Marvel comics: Spider-man, who was always nursing bruises (both physical and psychic); the Hulk, the story of a man trapped in a body over which he exerted little to no control (hello, teenagers everywhere); the X-Men, outcasts one and all.

I still read Superman from time to time--whenever relatives gave me comic books as presents for Christmas or my birthday, the stack invariably included at least on issue featuring the Man of Steel--but I never sought out his adventures.

So why, then, am I reading a history of Superman, you might reasonably ask?

Because the history of Superman is the history of comic books. Without the runaway success of Superman in 1938, you wouldn't have had Batman stories a year later. Or Captain America comics a couple of years after that. Or Captain Marvel tales. Or...you get the idea.

Jerry Seigel and Joe Shuster (Superman's creators) paved the way for everything that was to come in the following years/decades. And author Larry Tye lays out the circumstances that created the mightiest man to ever walk the Earth (or, more likely, fly over it) in a clear, entertaining way.

Shk Shk Shk, Ha Ha Ha...

Yes, I know--an old photo again. Sorry, but Jason is still in storage, along with 90% of my other toys. That does not mean he doesn't wish you a Happy Friday the 13th. (Double negative--sorry again.)

Veterans' Day 2020

From the days of La Casa del Terror, this photo of my GI Joe collection, with a Fighting Yank doll in the mix for good measure.

I tip my cap to all who served and those who contnue to serve. You have my eternal admiration and gratitude.

Every (Kitty) Picture Tells a Story 11/10/20

Cocoa wants to know what you think you're doing.

RIP Alex Trebek

During some of the darkest times in my recent life--my recovery from my heart attacks, my episode of self-harm, my periods of unemployemnt, and, most recently, my lockdown due to COVID-19--I had one constant that kept me sane and challenged my intellect: Jeopardy, the TV game show hosted since 1984 by Alex Trebek.

Trebek was urbane and sophisticated, but never condescending or mean-spirited. He presided over the show in a calm, friendly way, like he'd be a cool guy to have a drink with after work.

Yesterday, Trebek died after a year-plus battle with pancreatic cancer at the age of 80.

I have no doubt that Jeopardy will go on with a different host, just as so many other game shows have gone on or been revived with a new face in place.

But it just won't be the same without Alex Trebek at the helm.

This Week's Travel Reading (Yellow Brick Road Edition)

According to the ever-helpful Wikipedia, L. Frank Baum wrote 14 novels based around the magical land of Oz, where Scarecrows talk, Tin Woodsmen dance and Lions are cowardly, until they're not.

Pictured above is the first in the series, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. (The title has been cut short for this edition; apparently, "Wonderful" wasn't so, well, wonderful.) It's brisk, easy reading--something I need on my train trips these days.

Every (Kitty) Picture Tells a Story 11/6/20

Moore wants to know what you think you're doing.

FYI

I've already posted more entries in 2020 than I did in any of the the last four years. By the time this year is over, I may well surpass the total for all four years--combined.

That is all.

Shocktober 2020: One Last Look Back

I hope one and all had as fabulous a Halloween as possible under the current circumstances. Shocktober is over for another year, but the Holidaze are just around the corner. Expect appropriate posts soon.