Scenes from Kobey's Swap Meet

Astroboi is the king of sideroads...

We were able to get to Point Loma from the College Area without using the freeway...

The grey skies and drizzle this morning gave way to blue skies and warmer temps as we parked in the former Sports Aroma Arena, now renamed Valley View Casino Center (ugh)...

Thanksgiving 2015

It's time to give thanks....

(banner seen at one of the houses on Mt. Nebo near the La Mesa Secret Stairs)

for all that we've been fortunate to enjoy this past year...

Cuteness Overload - The shops at Atlantic Time Square

This entire center, called the Atlantic Time Square is a combined retail and residential complex located in the middle of Monterey Park.

It seems to have it all, from restaurants, to a fitness center and walking distance to various ethnic markets...I noticed they had Curry House here. The one in San Diego by Nijiya is long gone, having been replaced by Koon Thai...

TC and I wanted to check out some of the shops before leaving, especially the candy store....

Mighty Men and Monster Maker

Bert dug this up from his parents' garage several years ago and occasionally, we take it out from time to time for some good old artistic fun. Old School style. This "Mighty Men and Monster Maker" was made by Tomy in 1978.

He doesn't quite remember where his parents bought this but thinks it was most likely the Navy Exchange. Any readers out there who grew up with this toy?

Around Oakland again...

After our awesome lunch at Uncle Dougie's Italian Heroes downtown, we went back to the Piedmont area. This was the same neighborhood that had Fenton's and other cute shops. We wanted to get dessert but weren't sure what was around there...

We wanted ice cream...

Vintage Quiz Wiz

Look what Bert dug up from his parents' house...

The Coleco Quiz Wiz Computer Answer Game, a primitive hand held game that came out in 1980. This was Bert's old toy. This was "high tech" back then.

It still works too. Just pop in some batteries and answer away. 

There are different categories like "Television Shows", "Vocabulary", "Good Habits", "Science", "Books", and "Trivia" (Uh, I think ALL of these questions are Trivia!). Some of the questions are rather dated.  Look at question #508 for example.  And the answer is?    D. Dorothy Hamill.  When I was younger, I had a Dorothy Hamill bowl cut. That was the shit back in 1978. I also used to think that Dorothy Hamill was married to Mark Hamill and that's why her last name was Hamill! Luke Skywalker was pretty good looking back then, pre-"Return of the Jedi". Before his face got scarred up.   And look at #506. DUH, what could the answer be????

This is all kinds of hilarious. Look at  #549 and answers A and C!

I just love the inclusion of #316 and #318. So culturally relevant. Imagine a kid nowadays trying to answer these questions. Who the fuck is Don Kirshner? Even I don't know who Don Kirshner is. And Dr. Zhivago, Captain and Tennille, Lobo (?), Donnie and Marie?

#336 - I used to think Shaun Cassidy was kind of cute but harmless I look like a pretty girl kind of way, but I really really liked Eddie Van Halen a lot more. He played the guitar, had long shaggy hair and bagged Valerie Bertinelli to boot! I was more into rockers back then...

Ha ha, these questions are soooo anachronistic! #334's answer is actually B - Shaun Cassidy (I had to look it up), but I was more interested in answer A - Anson Williams! Really? Potsie Weber from "Happy Days", also known as "Dren" ("Nerd" backwards)  by a lovestruck Joanie in the "Joanie has a crush on Potsie" episode.  Who thought up these questions?

Here's my favorite...Notice that the subject is "For Children" ages 6 - 10!

Gee? What sound DOESthe Roadrunner make? For #451 I had to ask Bert who Oliver Quill and Ray Palmer were. Of course I knew the actual answer (Clark Kent, duh!) but Oliver Quill was the Green Arrow and Ray Palmer was The Atom. I had no idea who those people were. Especially The Atom.

#447 - I never really liked the show "Shazam". The live "action" was so lame and primitive. Ha ha, "The Atom" is listed as one of the answers! 

Oh yeah, good times...

Bert unearthed a ton of his old toys (and his brothers') while cleaning out his mom's garage. I'll have to do future posts on them such as Johnny West, Bat Masterson, Action Jackson, the Six Million Dollar Man, and Thunderbolt (Johnny West's horse).

Dolls I mean, Action Figures...

A few days ago, we were in Target looking for a birthday gift for a Superman's kid. To cut to the chase, we got little Supe Jenga. We figured, he's six. He'll enjoy knocking the tower down.

For my amusement, I took a few surreptitious photos of some boy dolls, I mean action figures.
I mean, look at this shit. It's so damn stereotypical and gender specific. None of this sensitive "My Buddy" doll crap, right? Remember the creepy "My Buddy" doll fromthe 80's? Anyways, I don't watch WWE so I have no idea if this represents a real dude in real life. Behold, "Fist Poundin' Sheamus". Check out his stereid induced bulging biceps. His douchebag goatee and soul patch. His redneck pompadour. Methinks the Tennessee Waterfall is hiding in the back. And of course, the rock hard six pack.

Okay, now exactly who is this doll (the one on the left) geared towards? Is this the gay best friend of the goth chick doll?

Pause.

Some quick googling reveals that this is a series of dolls from "Monster High". This is the "Gloom Beach" series. So, the waify boy doll is "Jackson Jekyll". Love the beach ball prop and the hideous muscle shirt and checkered board shorts. Like you'd ever really see a goth/emo boy wearing that get up and exposing his skin at the beach. The girl doll's name is "Dracalaura". Man, who was the genius who thought of this? I can't imagine my daughter playing with these things.

Oh yeah, we hit the jackpot right here...

This is the "Ultimate Boyfriend" (as seen on his shirt as well), "Sweet Talkin' Ken"!!!! You can actually record phrases and Ken will repeat them ad nauseam until your ears explode. I see some potential verbal abuse here. In a funny way too. Kind of like when you could make Teddy Ruxpin scream out Judas Priest or Iron Maiden songs by adding your own cassette tape in his back! Or like trying to spell bad words with the "Speak and Spell". I was always disappointed that it would never say "Punk ass Motherfucker" in that robotic voice.

"Hey Barbie, do these jeans make my ass look fat? Let's go shopping girlfriend!"
(C'mon, we all know that Barbie is really Ken's BEARD!)

And of course, gotta throw this in. Ripe and ready for an avalanche of marketing for the upcoming "Thor".  In this case, this version is the "Lightning Power Thor". Come on all you fanboys,  isn't Chris Hemsworth dreamy?????? Uhhhh, not.

"Thor is the sworn protector of both Earth and Asgard. With his hammer Mjolnir in his hand there is nothing that can stand in his way. To battle against villains he calls upon the full strength of his mighty arms and the full power of lightning.

Even the very toughest opponents are no match for you and your Thor figure! When enemies approach, press his belt to unleash flashing lights and electronic phrases, like “I am Thor!” and “Feel the might of my hammer!” If the villains aren’t yet quaking in fear, use his snap-on “lightning” launcher to send “bolts” flying in their direction. With that kind of firepower and your figure’s mighty muscles, you’re sure to win the fight!" (info from the hasbrotoyshop website)

Of course Bert just had to try on Thor's Helmet!!!!  (Cough) Nerd (Cough)!

Hey, I read on Yahoo News that Chris Hemsworth got too buff for the role and couldn't fit into his Thor suit. In fact, it was so tight it cut off circulation! I wasn't as surprised to know this as much as knowing that Kenneth Branagh is directing!

Anyways, that was my little foray into the world of boy's toys. Don't even get me started on the girly crap they have out there.

Before signing off, here's a blast from the past, the original "My Buddy" commercial from 1985:

Doesn't the song make you want to stick red hot knitting needles in your ears? Sounds like a kid that's trying to do a "Broadway" showtunes kind of voice.

I think this doll...

was the precursor to this one!!!

Yes, Chucky LeRay from the "Child's Play" series. The first one was the best.

Anyways, can't wait to hit up the toy section again for more hilarious hijinks. Watch out Wal-Mart!

Seriously?

Sometimes when TC is watching "iCarly" or "Spongebob" on Nickelodeon, this commercial comes on...

OMFGWTFSrsly!!!!! 

Who the fk buys this shit for their kid???

"Hey mommy, please buy me the peeing Barbie dog!" (apparently there was one that "pooped" as well).

Who was the genious that thought of this???

Aaaaargh!!!!