Kenner's Death Star Station

I had this toy - now selling for $750 used on ebay LOL - and remember playing with it in my little bedroom on Arthur Ave. 

But I don't recall playing with it for very long. I was really into Star Wars and the Kenner toys, but this one really occupies only that one brief memory. Looking at the toy now, I think the battle cannon is pretty cool, but the rest of it is rather ho-hum. Yay, an elevator! How exciting!

And need I point out the thing isn't round? The Death Star is a bleeping sphere. From a distance - need I say it? - it can be mistaken for a moon. 

Does this look like a sphere to you? Or any portion thereof? 

It just didn't scream "Death Star" to me. 

BUT . . . 

What I did love about it, what I still love *to this day* was the green rubber monster they included with it. You know, the guy that lives in the trash compactor and dragged Luke into the water? 

Now I don't know where they came up with this design, as all you see in the movie is the neck and head. Maybe it was what George Lucas envisioned, maybe it was made up on the spot by some guy at Kenner. 

 Either way, I did NOT use this as a trash compactor monster. *I* found the overall shape rather reminiscent of Star Trek's Enterprise, and so I used it endlessly, not only for that, but as a generic "space ship" toy. 

And last I looked, this little guy (selling for $80 on ebay as of this writing) is still somewhere in my basement, resting until he is called on again . . . 

Visiting Junie at Work

This Tesla owner's got a sense of humor, what can I say?

A Letter From YaYa

Marcus Cinema -

My new year’s resolution was to see more in theaters. thus far i have seen 41 films in cinema, a majority being viewed at Marcus establishments. i am a weekly visitor, and though i will continue to frequent, i plead for Marcus to consider rolling out the Movieflex program to Wisconsin. 

it is a bit disappointing to see what looks like a fantastic program be limited to so few areas. Marcus dominates theaters around here in quantity alone. getting to the singular local AMC is a hassle, but their movie flex- adjacent program has tempted me to make the effort numerous times.

I appreciate what Marcus has to offer with value Tuesdays but those days are busy, with limited seats for showtimes that often fall at inconvenient times for myself personally. 

Please consider those of us who regularly love visiting your establishments when further rolling out this program (or allow Milwaukee to be a test city!)

Also, please consider adding Greg [Marcus]  blankets to the official merch line (I contacted customer service previously about this and no, I'm not joking)!  

we need Movieflex!!

- Yaya

Grandpa's Day 2023 pt 2

So where did Junie and I go after the cemetery? What was someplace fun but free? 

Why, how about the Humane Society AND the local animal shelter both!

I LOVED this massive boi that reminded me of our dear Billy!

The little doggos were adorable. 

At the animal shelter Junie was romanced by a very performative, all black cat that really, really wanted to go home with someone!

Meanwhile this stunner caught my eye. It looks like a lynx, doesn't it? I mean, look at the facial structure! It's so unique. 

It was a great way to pass the time and we had a blast!

Grandpa's Day 2023 Pt 1

As I mentioned this morning, today was the 40th Anniversary of Grandpa's Day, the epic trip we took together two weeks before he died.

Earlier in the year I had planned to spend this week in Pigeon Forge TN with the entire family, but schedules - including that of  a new job for Lisa - torpedoed that dream, and as it turns out Lu and Smiley were out of town today and Lisa and I worked, so . . at first glance it didn't seem like there gonna be much of a day to celebrate at all. 

Plus the 2023 component lacked one crucial element - $$. I had thrown the complete balance of my checking account at bills the day before, and with payday being a day away, I had little to drawn on. Which, I admit, is pathetic.

So my plans were adjusted accordingly. I decided to visit the grave, then find something free to do with Junie, my only companion of the afternoon. 

Luckily I did have a jar of coins. Junie offered up her own spare coin bag too, and my mother-in-law threw $10 to the cause. Neither offer, although appreciated, was needed, as when Junie and I stopped at the bank to cash in my coin jar there was enough for the flowers I wanted to put on Grandpa's grave. 

But where to buy them?  This bouquet was at Outpost but I thought it was both a little busy, and a little expensive. 

Luckily we found a more appropriate bouquet at Groppi's. 

I recited some prayers at the gravesite, said my hellos, wiped away a few tears, then decided to show Junie around that old section of the VA cemetery. There are vets there from the Spanish American War, another who died the same year as Little Bighorn, and vets from the War of 1812 (although I couldn't find their graves today). 

Then, a first: Junie noticed the gate into the easement separating the cemetery from another was open, as was its counterpart. So we went exploring. 

Tucked beneath a tree, barely visible unless you looked, was a single grave, that of a young boy who died on his 6 month birthday in 1906. How terribly sad, not only to die that young, but to spend 117 years alone, with no other grave within 20 feet. 

I pointed this one out to Junie as we left: a female veteran of WWII - and Polish too!

"Slay," was Junie's response. 

Then it was back to my Grandparent's grave to share some personal updates on each of the kids, and to say another goodbye to them. 

.

Then it was on to Part II of Grandpa's Day . . . 

Unpopular Opinion (exclusive SE Wisconsin edition)

Marty's Pizza is subpar, largely tasteless fare. 

The Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Last night, knowing it was a Holy Day of Obligation in the Catholic Church, I attended a 6pm Mass. 

I was squeamish about going. My church attendance has been non-existent lately, not from a lack of Faith but just scheduling and old-fashioned human laziness. I was running a couple minutes late but thought I could easily sneak in; after all, there wouldn't be much of a crowd on a Tuesday night and they'd be grateful to have another guest. 

I was right, I easily snuck in, but for the opposite reason - it was so crowded no one noticed. 

Young and old, from infants to elderly; singles and couples, whole families, you name it, they were there. Heck, the parking lot was full, and I had to park "illegally" along the perimeter of the lot. 

I'm not sure why I miss Mass so often, aside from the before-mentioned laziness, because not only don't I find it boring (granted, I have a high tolerance for boredom, as my mind is always running) but I find it very moving and comforting. 

Anyway, $4 a pound. 

Miss You Grandpa

 Happy 40th Grandpa's Day!

The First Day of the 2023-24 School Year

And then there was 1. How'd this happen? Have the best 1st day as an upperclassman Junie! ❤️  - Lisa 

Forgive the crude edit on the sign. I'm under no illusion that you can't figure out Junie's name if you sniff around this site long enough, but why make it easy? 

Last night Lisa picked up Insomnia cookies as a "last day of summer vacation" treat, and Junie walked us through a detailed tour of her new backpack and its accoutrements.

 She also showed off her back-to-school outfit, but this *isn't* the same shirt. Alas, I'm at work and couldn't inquire about the change. 

For the record, I am NOT happy to see her return to school. I was never happy to see my kids go back, not after Summer break, not after Christmas; I enjoy their company, and I view parents that celebrate the day with a fair amount of suspicion. 

Anyway, I've already shed a few tears over this, so I'm signing off before there's more waterworks. 

Have a great first day of Junior year Junie!

- Dad

Our Back to School Gift

School resumes tomorrow, marking the quickest summer ever, in my opinion, and to make sure the students at the high school started the year off right, Lisa and I went and filled the little library out front with goodies. 

Afterwards, along with Lisa's Mom and our doggos, we drove out to Tastee Twist for some treats for ourselves.

Have a great and productive School year!!

Hospital Gowns, Battered Cod, and a New 'Do

Disregard the hospital gown, as nothing was wrong. I was just in for a colonoscopy/endoscopy ordered by my doc because of my age. And no, I'm not as happy to have a camera up my bum as I appear here lol

I had been spooked by a bunch of people warning me the lead up to the procedure  aka the colon cleanse, was torturous. I didn't think it was bad.  Tiring, and I developed a headache from being dehydrated, but that's it. By the time Smiley drove me to the 10am procedure, I just wanted it over and done. 

Unfortunately, the guy in front of me in the queue passed out when getting his IV  - don't get me started on what I think of him - and delayed my time on the table. So I sat in a hospital gown and watched the Simpson's "Dome" episodes while they fanned and doted on the first guy. 

An hour later I woke up from the anesthesia, was told I was good to go for the next ten years, and sent on my way via a ride from Lisa. 

Anyhow, the moral of the story is, if you're an old man like me, listen to your doctor and get the procedure.

*****

After a few hours recovery at home, I took Junie for a haircut and styling at a salon on the East side. 

Here's the before pic: 

The "during" pic: 

And the after: 

Then, not having eaten anything for 46 hours at that point, I feasted on a fish fry from Saraphinos, while Junie had pizza.