Models

06.02.2004

Last week I managed to have a couple of discussions about making models, and how things have changed in the past 25 years. I remember going to the toy section of whatever store we were in (K-Mart, Woolco, etc), going to the aisle of models, and then looking intently, trying to pick out the perfect model to biuld. I was never much for cars, I always like planes, helicopters, and anything sci-fi.

There was always the learning curve for models. You start out with your snap together models. These were always no-brainers, and fun to play with until you ended up smashing whatever it was against the concrete. Then came the day you got your first model requiring glue. You would use a whole tube of glue, and the model would be hopelessly converted to a pile of plastic pieces stuck together. This would cause a regression to snapping things together again, until Dad decided it was time to help. My first model with Dad was a F-101 Starfighter. Dad glued it together, I added decals. Soon afterward, I got my first glue-together model that I made. Sort of. It was a glow in the dark, Interplantary UFO with scout ship! Dad made the UFO. I made the scout ship. 4 pieces. Top, bottom, 2 tail fins. I probably used a tube of glue, but it counted. I eventually managed to glue whole models together, the first one I remember doing all by myself was a B25 Mitchell bomber that I managed to keep breaking the landing gear off.

Stores don't seem to have the model aisle anymore. Those that do seem to have a quarter-aisle on one side relegated to various car models. I don't know what happened to that aisle. Did the scare fo kids sniffing glue kill model makeing? Has the attention span of today's youths grown too short to put together a model. When set next to a video game, is a model too boring?

There are at least 2 places to get models of more than cars. Hobby Town has more than a wall full of models. Granted, a lot are cars, but they've got the Tamiya tanks, jets, fighters, and more. They've got Warhammer models, fun to build even if you don't play the games. I recently found that Hobby Lobby also has a whole aisle devoted to models. On one side, you have cars. On the other, there are planes, helicopters, aircraft carriers, and even an occasional rocket.

After perusing the aisles of hobby this-n-that, I started to think about those old models I used to make. Thinking of the joy of the Interplantary UFO, I set out to search it down. Oddly enough, I couldn't find it on eBay. I did manage to find it listed on a site of rare models (for $200). But just to keep me from giving up all hope, I did find the scout ship. For $5.00.

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Fun With Paint

06.01.2004

The next phase of the home redecoration started over the weekend: painting. I've never painted anything bigger than a model car before, but luckily I have Gina, expert of all things needing paint. Trying to not be my normal self and paint everything white, I'm going with Gina's ideas for most of the house. I had to step in a little on the kitchen; The shade of golden yellow (not as bad as it sounds) was clashing with my green countertop, so I got to pick a color I've been wanting to use - burgundy. I think it works pretty well, despit Jerry's fears that yellow wall, burgundy accent, and green countertop would look like a traffic light!

After 3 days, the kitchen, dining area, and master bathroom now have a new coat of paint. The great room, foyer, hallway, and other bathroom still need to be done. Yeah, it's going to take a while.

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Very Unhealthy

05.27.2004

I listened today as some co-workers (in the building, not my actual co-workers that I can name on sight) has a discussion about local Mexican restaurants, the quality of food, and where they felt safe eating. I usually don't think about this, having a cast-iron stomach as I do. I soon heard the discussion drift toward a local news station and how they publish the restaurant health ratings. Even though the scores have been on display since the beginning of time, now that there's a reporter committed to telling us what the scores are, people start paying attention.

Varion Walton, no relation to the Wal-Mart Waltons, has been charged with telling us how we're going to die when we eat out, usually because the ice cream machine is 2° warmer than it should be. After a couple of episodes of seeing these stories, I started changing her name from "Varion Walton" to "Very Unhealthy", which managed to get a good chuckle from Jer. So now I share Jer's chuckle with you, the world. Well, maybe not the whole world, just the parts that read this. Like Mom. And parts of Maryland. But probably not Varion. If so, she would come to my house and shut down my kitchen due to my excessive "Single Guyness" all over the place.

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The Next Rock & HHH

05.26.2004

While watching wrestling Monday night, something hit me. A lot fo the wretlers that hit their popularity peak in the 90's are now on their way out (getting older while being body slammed every night will do that to a guy). Vince has been pretty good about bringin up new guys as this happens, both the keep the faces on the rv fresh and to get the next generation of superstars ready.

They've been teasing a feud between Randy Orton and Shelton Benjamin. Orton has been getting a big push the past few months, and I think Shelton is on the verge of continuing a push that's just getting started. Orton has the IC title, so it's only natural for Shelton to go after that title.

This is the part that reminds me of HHH and The Rock. When Stone Cold decided to make the move to challenge for the world title, The Rock got the Intercontinental Title. It was here that Rocky started to shine. HHH was also a mid-level guy, and he and Rock had great, long feuds over the IC title, with it changing hands multiple times. I think it was here that both men took the step to the next level that made both of them main-eventers.

Now that Orton has had the IC title for a while, it's time for a challenger to start giving him a run for his money. He's already taken care of most of the "old-timers", so it would be perfect for him and Shelton to start going against each other and see if they have what it takes to reach the next level, kind of like HHH and The Rock.

Just my 2 cents, but I think it would work.

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Unpacking Is A Pain

05.25.2004

I managed to spend a couple of hours last night unpacking, cleaning up what I was unpacking, and straightening out the mess caused by unpacking. I think part of my disorganization comes from still having furniture and just general junk scattered about as I stay ready for the eventual painting of the innards (those blasted vacationing rednecks have not released my vocabulary yet!) of the house.

Today's picture is one of the few that Gina took while we were at the beach. As you can tell, she's much better at taking pictures than I am, which wouldn't make me angry if it weren't for me buying a $700 camera so that I could take better pictures!!! Bitter? Me? Nyah.

Is a nice flower pic, though....

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