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Enter 1984
No, I'm not heralding the arrival of some Orwellian society, it's just a computer magazine from 1984, specifically November. Here's why 1984 wasn't like 1984.I think you'll agree, 1984 wouldn't have...
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Of Slurpees and Video Games
When I look back on the '80's, I sometimes feel I was more of an observer than having experienced them first hand. I don't mean that I wasn't the right age, I was. I turned 13 in 1980, prime time...
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Magnetic Fun Board
Kids on long road trips this summer will have no appreciation for the hours of boredom children of my generation experienced. With their phones or tablets, they'll be able watch shows, listen to...
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Uncanny Finds -- Peanuts Edition
No, not a can of peanuts, but a can that launched a thousand (well, 2) Peanuts strips.When I saw this old can of Neatsfoot oil, my mind jumped back to reading a paperback collection of Peanuts comic...
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Magic Snakes, Glo Worms and Memories
Happy 4th of July to my American (United Statesian?) friends. And Happy Wednesday to everyone else.Growing up (here he goes again), we never had much money for fireworks, but every once in a while I'd...
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Sketchy Art
I'm admittedly out of my element when appraising art, but I've seen enough Antique Roadshows to know that if you find original art for under $10, you're typically not going to lose money. This piece...
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Spidey Super Stories #33
I grew up steeped in comic books. My older brothers were there at the beginning of "The Marvel Age of Comics" and witnessed the birth of the characters that now dominate the movie theaters. I missed...
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Let's Eat Outdoors
I know it's not officially over until September 22nd and we still have Labor Day in there, but school starts here next week so let's just call it: Summer is all but over. But before it ends, let's get...
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A Good Start for a Good Day
I have to admit, I'm not good about having a sit-down breakfast, at least on weekdays. Typically, I'm running out the door, getting the kids to the school bus and then making my way to work. I do eat...
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Make Way for Fall
Last Spring I went to a private estate sale, private in the sense it was run by the family and not a professional estate sale company. The house was pretty run down and I wasn't finding anything of...
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Halloween 5: The Baggening
Welcome to Year 5 of my participation in the Countdown to Halloween. And let me be honest: I really questioned whether I would participate this year.If you have kept up with this blog, I'm sure you've...
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American Greetings Witch Die Cut
This past year's sales have produced a few new additions to my die cut collection including this witch from the 1980's by American Greetings below. For the most part, the 1980's produced a lot of...
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Take Off to the Great Black & Orange North
Call me dumb, but I didn't know Canadians celebrated Halloween. Hey, you didn't have to call me dumb that quick. It's just that it seems Halloween isn't as widely (or as wildly) celebrated outside the...
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Are You Yankin' My Chain?
This child's light-up Jack O' Lantern pin features a peeking mouse wearing a witch's hat (or perhaps the mouse is in fact a witch) and lights up with a pull of the attached cord.At least it would if I...
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Witch Scootin' Boogie
So what does a witch do if her broom breaks down? She jumps on her scooter.This flat cake topper decoration is made in Hong Kong and probably dates from the 1970's to early '80's. Manufacturer is...
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K.T. Cat
Found with the witch scooter cake topper from yesterday was this cat and crescent moon cake topper.This one is also marked "Hong Kong" and "K.T. No. 812". So far, I've been unable to identify what...
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Take Your Pick
Rounding (or pointing) out my cake decoration finds of the past year is this set of Halloween Cupcake picks. I remember these being used in the cupcakes from grade school Halloween parties.Kirk over...
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Marvel(ous) Treats Trading Cards
I found these Halloween trading cards, based on popular (as of 1991) Marvel Comics characters, some years back. I forgot I had them until I started going through some old boxes recently. These were...
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Halloween Stamp of Approval
Much like beer can collecting, stamp collecting was once a thing in that great decade known as "the 1970's". I was never a collector, but I felt compelled to pick up this album when I came across it...
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Reader's Digest Condensed - October 1972
Welcome to one of my more sporadic features - Reader's Digest Condensed, or as I call it "Just the Ads". Today's issue is the October 1972 edition.This post actually ended up tying in with a previous...
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