ANOTHER one comes to the last episode end. Many of you probably don’t remember Jim Lang, but he was the first host of the original bachelor—THE DATING GAME.–sadly he passed this week.

STILL chilly here with a side of getting better for the weekend.

I noticed that AMC is doing a Rocky Festival next week (March 3-5 http://www.amctv.com/schedule#search/rocky). You all know that Rocky Films are: a boxing saga of popular films all written by and starring Sylvester Stallone, who plays the character Rocky Balboa. The films are, by order of release date: Rocky (1976), Rocky II (1979), Rocky III (1982), Rocky IV (1985), Rocky V (1990) and Rocky Balboa (2006). The film series has grossed more than US$1 billion at the worldwide box office. The original film and the fifth installment were directed by John G. Avildsen, while Stallone directed all of the others. (thanks Wikipedia). I think I stopped watching around 1983 too much macho, not much else.

And you all know Stallone who at 67 still insists on doing action movies, most recently with other over-aged action heroes like a former governor I won’t mention. “This athletically built, dark-haired American actor/screenwriter/director of European parentage may never be mentioned by old-school film critics in the same breath as, say, Richard Burton or Alec Guinness; however, movie fans worldwide have been flocking to see Stallone’s films for over 30 years, making “Sly” one of Hollywood’s biggest-ever box office draws.” http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000230/bio?ref_=nm_ov_bio_sm

Got me wondering–are there any worthwhile Stallone stock out there? Obviously I don’t have any but
on to Google:

No surprise the biggie is Rocky
Action figures (only 7″) $26
Knives ($380)
Signed pictures and posters ($179 – $1,180)

Rambo seems to be the next favorite
Kitty collar with picture ($8)
Sound tracks ($30)

There’s also
Cobra Stickers ($4)

Oscar DVD ($10)

Cliffhanger Photo ($5)

Get Carter art print ($15)

Paradise Alley photo ($13)

to name just a few.

There’s items on the man himself including a Stallone Hand Book ($15)

Weirdest: Resin Life Mask with eye sculptured open, done at make up department in 1985….kinda like a living death mask thingy.

And my personal favorite 2 DVDs (Rocky I & II for $25) with special note that Russia has to pay postage, who knew he was that big there?

So do you have any Super Sly stuff to sell?

FURTHER ON RUSSIA AND SLY–CHECK THIS OUT–ROCKY’S WORDS AND UKRAINE : http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/02/24/ukrainian-video-blogger-pays-tribute-to-protesters-with-help-from-will-smith-and-sylvester-stallone/

IF YOU DON’T GRAB THE OPPORTUNITY DON’T BLAME ANY ONE ELSE WHEN YOU DON’T SUCCEED!

WHAT’S HAPPENING WITH YOU THIS WEEKEND—A WONDERFUL ADVENTURE–ONE CAN HOPE.

Back to winter–only 61 degrees here today and wet. This is far from our coldest winter but I put it in the running for the best for ducks.

Yesterday was just work and more work, but hey that’s all part of my new adventure right?

The latest AARP magazine came out with some new studies on coffee:
1. AARP and NIH study: Regular coffee drinkers are less likely to die from all causes(can you die from a non-cause?).
2. Florida researchers: 3 cups of caffeinated coffee a day may reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s and dementia
3. Australian study: Muscles recover faster after exercise if you top off your post-work out meal with several cups of caffeinated coffee.

What happened to the COFFEE ISN’T GOOD FOR YOU rant that we’ve been hearing for so long. I am rapidly thinking that if you look hard enough you can find a study to support and/or put down almost anything you want. For example according to a release by Mayo Clinic in mid 2013: “Drinking large amounts of coffee may be bad” for people under the age of 55.”
http://www.latimes.com/features/food/dailydish/la-dd-coffee-studies-20130819,0,7450524.story#ixzz2uXJhtt33

So you know where this is leading–Alzheimer collectibles–no??? Dementia is us? How about coffee related!

There’s lots of vintage coffee tins (from $19-$135) What do you have you nails stored in?

A 1947 ad ($17)

Cups ranging from a naughty nude ($13) to Naughty Orgy animals (4/$300). I guess Sex does sell

There are many themes on cups including Morton Salt (4), Star Dust Hokey, International Spy Museum, Bathing kitty (not sexy), Factory Motor Parts and What-A-Burger to mention a few (all for $20).

Weirdest Bleeding Muse Coffee House Sign ($90).

My favorite is a plastic Jimmy Carter cup for $3.

International offering: 1920 French red chicken wire coffee pot (its ceramic with the design, not made of wire–otherwise it would be under weirdest or most useless).

AND THE ITEM THAT WOULD BRING YOU THE MOST BUCKS IF YOU FOUND IT IN YOUR ATTIC OR CLOSET: A ceramic cozy kitten instant coffee holder for $650! That’s a lot of instant coffee.

Also in the coffee area there’s the major items (less likely closet items) like shuttles ($100), Grinders ($210-$1,690) and the topper a Russian Imperial Samover Urn for $4,600.

I had an internet date scheduled for today, but due to location (outside venue) we’re rescheduling—I think I’m detecting a theme here…and they haven’t even met me yet.

Let the past go or you will never be able to move into a better future.

Go-have-fun

My adventure yesterday was a drink and grocery shopping(not same place) –shoot me now.

In my reading for my added knowledge in collectibles I came across action results in Cedar Falls, IA. last year.(Kovels Newsletter 12/2013–I’m a little behind). According to the article toy, ceramics advertising and folk art depicting American blacks and their history are a big item with collectors of all colors. Items included a poster advertising Little Eva’s Temptation (believe it or not it was a 1920s musical farce based on Stowe’s antislavery novel: Uncle Tom’s Cabin) ($344). A Louis Armstrong windup toy–mid-20th century ($218) and a 1926 wind up “Charleston Trio” ($438). There were also Mammy items including: tobacco tin–May Cut Plug tobacco 20th century ($219) and a cookie jar mid 1900’s. ($281). The most expensive item was a1885 “Women’s Rights” automation (Ives Manufacturing) with a figure believed to be Sojourner Truth which sold for $3,500.

Back to Wikipedia: Sojourner Truth (/soʊˈdʒɜrnər ˈtruːθ/; c. 1797 – November 26, 1883) was an African-American abolitionist and women’s rights activist. Truth was born into slavery in Swartekill, Ulster County, New York, but escaped with her infant daughter to freedom in 1826. After going to court to recover her son, she became the first black woman to win such a case against a white man. Sojourner Truth was named Isabella Baumfree when she was born. She gave herself the name Sojourner Truth in 1843. Her best-known extemporaneous speech on gender inequalities, “Ain’t I a Woman?”, was delivered in 1851 at the Ohio Women’s Rights Convention in Akron, Ohio. During the Civil War, Truth helped recruit black troops for the Union Army; after the war, she tried unsuccessfully to secure land grants from the federal government for former slaves.

So let’s see what Black items are selling on line:

There’s dolls ($15)

Figurines ($30)

and vintage sheet music ($20)

as well as Victorian trade cards featuring black images 1882 (5/$300)

But most interesting was a series of mostly black figurines “All God’s Children”

Many of the figures range from $10 – $18

But there are others that range from $18 to $40 and on up to $70.

Most are children, but there’s a couple of Santas one black ($61) and one white ($750).

There’s a German child ($57)

as well as non-humans: including a teddy bear ($18) and a pig eating an apple ($57)

The two most expensive I found were Primas Jones (an elderly black man) ($1,079)

And the most expensive Beverly in a period clothing for $1.125.

So that’s today

Step out of the box, you might like it.

Great Day!

Lost another great–Harold Ramos–loved him in Ghost Busters.

Just finished Katie MacAlister’s Silver Dragon Series (last book Me and My Shadow)
In a world of paranormal gone viral MacAlister’s books are a breath of FUNNY fresh air. She deals with a world where dragons who usually are in the form of hot humans exist in a sub-culture unknown to most of us mortals. There are sprites, lots of Demons (in fact the heroine of this series in addition to being the silver dragon’s mate is also a Demon’s consort and did I mention she was a doppelganger?) Try it you’ll like it.

MacAlister also has vampires: A Dark One Series which includes Crouching Vampire, Hidden Fang and The Last of the Red-Hot Vampires.
I enjoyed her contemporary romance Men in Kilts allot but all of her novels are worth a look.

That’s our lead dragons (of course):

I have several dragon pieces with and without wizards and warrior princesses but I plan to use them to decorate the shop.

So I checked Google to see what they had to offer:

There are Celyon, English and Welsh Dragons on spoons ($7)

Chinese Dragon figure in cooper ($30)

Japanese plate with dragon ($100)

as well as fish forks dragons from Vietnam made of Russian Silver ($434)

There are dragon figurines ($13 – $25)

And Dragons appear on all kinds of things Bowls, table cloths, posters etc. (all $20)

as well as on fans with phoenix ($127)

There are gold dragons (lapel pin–$5)

Red Jade (Ship–$2,900)

Jadite Double Dragon (Jar $14,500)

Even Ming Dragon (Blue Naga Jar $18,000)

My favorite: Dragon Beer Tap ($40.00)

Obviously Dragons are very popular: Back to Wikipedia “A dragon is a legendary creature, typically with serpentine or reptilian traits, that features in the myths of many cultures. There are two distinct cultural traditions of dragons: the European dragon, derived from European folk traditions and ultimately related to Greek and Middle Eastern mythologies, and the Chinese dragon, with counterparts in Japan (namely the Japanese dragon), Korea and other East Asian countries.”

I picked the dragon because: “The typical dragon protects a cavern or castle filled with gold and treasure and is often associated with a great hero who tries to slay it. Though a winged creature, the dragon is generally to be found in its… lair, cave…an ancient creature of earth.” Wikipedia again.

How can we humans
be be so developed and yet make such stupid choices?

Enjoy each minute.

solong……

Good weekend? I did some out and about finding new items to feature on my site—SOON.

In addition to my own work I’ve been assisting a friend who does estate sales. I’ve been researching some Nickel Silver/plated that she has. Some of her piece are signed Oneida and when I did some research on it I found out some interesting facts.

Oneida started as a religious commune in 1848 in Oneida, New York. They believed that Jesus had already had his second coming in AD 70 and that you could now become free of sin and perfect on this earth, not just heaven (Perfectionism). All community members were expected to work; their beliefs included free love (with older members introducing younger into sexuality), shared property, with the group family taking the place of the smaller family unit. They canned fruits and vegetables, made traps and chains, traveling bags, straw hats,mop stick and sewing silk. They also found out how to make knives, forks and spoons. They began to thrive and by 1870 were a major employer in the Oneida area. There were branch communities in New York, New Jersey and Vermont. By 1878 there were over 300 members and all the outlying communities were closed. The Community dissolved in 1881, and eventually became the giant silverware company Oneida Limited (INFO from Wikipedia and Oneida site) For more information: www.oneidacommunity.org

I have no Oneida myself, but a do have some other silver plated items (mostly spoons and ladles). The estate sale has a very nice coffee pot, creamer and sugar bowl with tray.

There’s a lot of Oneida on line with prices ranging from $8 (2 forks) to $20 (large set of silverware)for flatware

There’s candy bowls ($28)

Large trays ($45-$50)

and punch bowls with multiple cups and trays ($45-$110)

as to really good Oneida find: Oneida Fruit Stand, 13″W x 24″H, Revolving Spiral, Chrome, Large ($920 – $1,331)

If you have some silver appearing pieces check the bottom to find if it’s silver or plate or nickel and if its signed (will have name or trade mark on bottom.) Don’t know–take a picture and send it to me and I’ll see what I can find out.

So another 500 over (finally)–congratulation to Little E and sympathy to my driver Tony Stewart on the death of his car.

Have a great day, I AM going to!!!

You don’t have to embrace their life style to accept the person–tolerance is one of the surest signs of maturity.

Peace.

Missed YESTERDAY. Had a class on using Google for business at 9 am. Tonight it’s Taxes (not a class unfortunately). But then drinks with the girls at a little Cajun place–TGIF!

IN Central Florida for Nascar this weekend is a big deal–the season starts for the year. I’m a Stewart fan so am glad he’s back. But this year there’s a major issue. Richard Childress has returned the #3 to racing. Now if you don’t know Nascar you don’t understand that this number was for many years the signature number for Dale Earnhardt, he took his last breaths in the black #3 at Daytona. Retiring numbers is something that’s done in sports ie: the Pittsburgh Steelers have not reissued the jersey numbers of their greatest players—most notably Terry Bradshaw’s #12, Franco Harris’ #32, and Joe Greene’s #75. Obviously this is not the case in Nascar as the #43 wasn’t retired after Petty did–however Petty did own the number so it was still his car that bore it. But in NASCAR, only once has a number been officially retired; that is in the Whelen Modified Tour, where number 61 is retired for Richie Evans after his death in 1985. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retired_number

There had never been a formal retirement of the #3 but it had been taken for granted (check the wikipedia reference above)that it was. Now we have the #3 back and a lot of fans very unhappy (Dale Jr. is OK with it). I look at this with mixed emotions, but basically since they did not retire any other numbers for deceased driver I can’t see any recourse. I figure if you have issue your best bet is to express your displeasure with the car’s sponsors who seem to be the most sensitive about these kind of things—dollars talk.

I have Earnhardt items including stand ups (similar $160) and an autographed picture–(Similar selling on line $225-$561).

On Goole there’s many more ie:

There’s the 3 car ranging from $3-$85

There’s a picture of Jeff Gordon’s car flying a #3 flag for $114

A #3 train for $275 (includes a car)

AND NO IDEA: NEW IN ORIGINAL PACKAGING LOT OF NASCAR DALE EARNHARDT SR #3 COLLECTIBLES. THAT’S about all I can find but they want
$1.276 for it)

Not that you’d want to sell any of your 3’s but so you know. Or if you’ve inherited someone else’s collections.

OH and check out this tribute: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LbEWOOoIDxI

HAVE A GREAT ONE
ENJOY LIFE
AND REMEMBER GOING WITH THE HEART CAN BE A GOOD THING.

Today I have a hair appointment. My stylist Liz—who is the best—got a promotion and doesn’t do Saturdays anymore, so going tonight> So expect me to be even more beautiful tomorrow. Instead of walking have been working on the yard–lots of leaves to rake.

Heard on the news there’s a shortage of clowns. My first thought was define shortage. I found an article in the NY Daily News:
“Membership at the country’s largest trade organizations for the jokesters has plunged over the past decade as declining interest, old age and higher standards among employers align against Krusty, Bozo and their crimson-nosed colleagues.”
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/exclusive-national-clown-shortage-approaching-article-1.1616801#ixzz2tmBjtYza

“Membership at the World Clown Association, the country’s largest trade group for clowns, has dropped from about 3,500 to 2,500 since 2004.” The article went on to say that the majority of the clowns in the organization are 40 or older, indicating that younger people are not taking up clowning. But this isn’t affecting the big top with Barnium’s still having an excess of applications to date. http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2014/02/18/279032024/theres-a-clown-shortage-who-will-fill-those-big-shoes

Some say its due to the prestige of other better careers, or the lack of high paying gigs. But what about Clown Phobia?
“A study conducted by the University of Sheffield found that the children did not like clown décor in the hospital or physicians’ office settings. The survey was about children’s opinions on décor for an upcoming hospital redesign. Dr Penny Curtis, a researcher, stated “We found that clowns are universally disliked by children. Some found the clown images to be quite frightening and unknowable.” I don’t have a phobia but ever since the Stephen King “IT” movie I have not had allot of kind thoughts for them.

But are they collectible? I have not to date found any in my collection.
But on Google I found:
Clown figurines tumbling (3/$30), made of paper mache (6/$30) or made by Ron Lee (3/$350).

Cow clowns ($43) and dolls ($50)

Lots of Emmett Kelly Jr. Stuff ($14-$50)

Plaster (5/$8), Pewter ($15), and porcelain ($100) clowns

Batman is represented by thug clowns one with bat ($20) and one with knife ($21) NOW THESE ARE REALLY SCARY CLOWNS

BUT IF YOU FIND A CLOWN IN YOUR CLOSET OR GATHERING DUST ON A SHELF BY LLODRO YOU’VE STRUCK GOLD:
The Magic of Comedy Clown figurine is a bargin at $685.
While the Little Pals Clown with Dog is bringing in $2,925.

Working on a new internet date.

DON’T FIND LIFE WORTH LIVING—WHO’S FAULT IT THAT?

BYE BYE NOW

In my effort to catch you up for the weekend I forgot yesterday was President’s Day.

I found a history of the holiday–“Presidents’ Day is an American holiday celebrated on the third Monday in February. Originally established in 1885 in recognition of President George Washington, it is still officially called “Washington’s Birthday” by the federal government. Traditionally celebrated on February 22—Washington’s actual day of birth—the holiday became popularly known as Presidents’ Day after it was moved as part of 1971’s Uniform Monday Holiday Act, an attempt to create more three-day weekends for the nation’s workers. While several states still have individual holidays honoring the birthdays of Washington, Abraham Lincoln and other figures, Presidents’ Day is now popularly viewed as a day to celebrate all U.S. presidents past and present.” http://www.history.com/topics/holidays/presidents-day

The two presidents with birthdays this month are so different: George a rich plantation owner in the south who as a general facilitated a great rebellion and Abe a poor, back woods lawyer who as president stopped one. Our country is nothing if it is not interesting and diverse. HOPE YOUR DAY WAS HAPPY.

So what do we have collectible President-wise?

Cups and mugs of course: With the presidential seal ($20), Jimmy Carter ($15) and the winner Ronald Regan ($45) and my favorite a 1972 Shakey’s Pizza mug featuring Nixon.

Other practical item include plates with 35 presidents ($20), as well as multiple JFK ($17-$25), Ike ($7) and LBJ ($16), even Andrew Jackson with a pitcher ($18) and the most is a glass bottle with Truman on it ($30).

There’s a bumper sticker for a president wanna be George Wallace ($15) and those that left the office rather early (Nixon/Agnew’s invitation to Desi Arnaz for their Inauguration 1969–$140).

Honorable mention a Snoopy 1982 White House mug ($35), multiple Snoopy for president posters ($30-$50) and even a Snoopy President’s Day cup ($50).

and the winner is a 1896 cane head of Wm. McKinley which is on line for $910.

Are you checking those closets and attics yet–you could have a fortune in there and not know it.

Today is another inventory, learn about business administration so I can write my PERFECT business plan and sort out historical articles day.

Oh looks like the vacation is being change to May now. Plan to have my FACE BOOK up and to be selling by then so keep your fingers crossed (toes will work too)

A GOAL THAT DOES NOT REQUIRE RISKS MAY NOT BE WORTH THE EFFORT

KEEP ON KEEPIN’ ON MY FRIENDS.

One friend showed up so I didn’t do Valentine’s alone and a total stranger bought me a bouquet of flowers. Also got car seat covers and a card from my roomie, so not as bad as expected. This weekend I got my nails done, shopped a bit. It was generally blaa.

Future plans for opening a sales web site due in April. I am looking for people interested to list their consigned items on line or artisits (looking for jewelry, small art items and exceptional clothing items) equally interested. Anticipate store front in September. Note site anticipated down for a couple of weeks in May for buying trip to Texas where I found some great stuff last time there.

LET’S LOOK AT COWBOY COLLECTIBLES:

Vintage Western Cowboy Collectible Hop A Long Cassidy Coloring Book ($45)
Does anybody out there remember Hop A Long Cassidy?
Hopalong Cassidy is a fictional cowboy hero created in 1904 by the author Clarence E. Mulford, who wrote a series of popular short stories and many novels based on the character. I didn’t read the books but I remember the TV show and movies: William Boyd starred as HOPALONG CASSIDY in the movies of the 30’s and 40’s and in the early 50’s these movies were edited down to an hour show and shown on TV. By 1954 they were even making new Cassidy episodes for TV (1/2 hour). There were also radio shows and Boyd did rodeos and personal appearances to name a few. There is a web site so somebody besides me does remember
for more info: http://www.hopalong.com/legend.htm

Other cowboy collectibles:

A Vintage Cowboys pendant ($19.00)

Vintage spurs ($84.00)

Vintage Gary Cooper Western Stein Collectible German Stein ($70.00)

Vintage Barb Wire Collection Mounted On Wood Western Art Collectible ($82.00–for barb wire)

Large Vintage Blue Enamel Cowboy Coffee Pot with Wood Handle 6 qt ($60.00)

and the best Antique Toy Vintage Child’s Tin Toy Cowboy Riding Horse Mobo …from 1952 ($695.00)

So do you have anything that might be collectible, I will be more than happy to help you find out about it and list it if you’re interested.

This last week we lost Pa Walton (“Goodnight Jon Boy”) and we returned the number 3 car to NASCAR racing–and it has the Daytona Pole.

So does any body have any hot Valentine adventures? Remember this is a G-rated Blog.

YOU WILL NEVER SUCCEED AT ANYTHING UNLESS YOU STEP OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE.

Happy Trails to you buckaroo!

HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY.

No plans for the big day, the Valentine office stop by had to be cancelled so other than meeting some friends after work—if there is any body but me that has no plans.

“Valentine’s Day customs developed in early modern England and spread throughout the Anglosphere in the 19th century. In the later 20th and early 21st centuries, these customs have also spread to other countries along with other aspects of American pop culture, but its impact so far has been rather more limited than that of Halloween, or that of US pop-culture inspired aspects of Christmas (such as Santa Claus) Due to a concentrated marketing effort, Valentine’s Day is celebrated in some East Asian countries with Chinese and South Koreans spending the most money on Valentine’s gifts.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valentine’s_Day

“And spend Valentine’s Day celebrants will, according to the retail federation survey. The average U.S. consumer is expected to shell out $126.03 on Valentine’s Day gifts, meals, and entertainment.” http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2012/02/120213-valentines-day-gifts-cards-history-facts-naked-romans/

Presently all over the world the day is celebrated commemorating conjugal relationship of love and courtship. The importance of Valentine?s Day in our time has numerous aspects, particularly the significance of love …the celebration of love and amorousness is significant for nourishing the inherent goodness of our nature.” http://newstrackindia.com/newsdetails/2014/2/14/335-Importance-of-Valentines-Day-Celebration-in-our-Time.html

SO WHAT OTHER COLLECTIBLES MIGHT BE RELATED TO THE DAY?
I found
Lots and lots of love Birds figurines, loving or sleeping owls (you can’t tell the difference with owls?)and even love mushrooms (????)
There was a license plate with “Love” on it.
Even a love (as in I … Lucy)bank complete with the red head’s picture.
A Courtney Love Poster
A $170 autographed picture of Kevin Love (he plays basketball)
and finally a Hvy Vintage Navajo “bear Love” Coral Silver Concho Belt which is listed for 2 cents under $1,000.

So you have the whole weekend to search all that junk to see if you might have something you can make some extra cash on. Feel free to contact me about it.

Went to see THE MONUMENT MEN last night and talk about stowed away treasures, its a good movie about Nazis and art works with George Clooney and friends. I recommend it.

Here’s a quote I don’t know who said it, but I thought it was perfect for the day: Shopping is better than sex. At least if you’re not satisfied, you can exchange it for something you really like.”

HERE’S TO LOVE