State of Collection

 The pandemic changed a lot of our habits. The uncertainty of early 2020 when everything was happening. along with our other responsibilities at that time. made us more aware of our finances. 

So the first thing we had to cut down on was our leisure spending. We had to tighten our purse strings, cut down, and only concentrate on necessities. We didn't really buy much toys during this time period.

The following year, 2021, things were better defined financially but our interests have spread out. I re-ignited my pin collecting. Nate focused on his record collection. Being in lockdown, in our home, had us looking around and appreciating what we already have. Lockdown for us homebodies was something we never considered a prison. We liked our home, we liked being home. Our home had become a place where we can be ourselves, we had privacy and we had everything we needed.

Except display space. That's where we are at right now. Our room has shelving and my office is also technically the toy room. But we have so much more toys. We want to display but we want to work on other parts of the house too. So this, along with a waning interest slowed us down with toy collecting.

Not a lot of new stuff is catching our interest honestly, and I am finding myself choosing where to spend my money. If there's a toy drop vs a pin drop happening at the same time, I am surprised to find myself choosing to get the pin. But that doesn't mean no more toy buying. There's always some toymakers we purchase from consistently but we are getting picky with them too.

What we are in the lookout for is toys from the past that we've always wanted but didn't have the opportunity to obtain at that time. 

Like these two custom Partyballs by Paul Kaiju we picked up recently for a good price. I remember seeing these two in either a show. convention or a shop drop. I just can't recall where or when. 

The average collector has a lifespan of 3-4 years. I've seen many coming into the hobby, spending money like water, and then quietly disappearing and offloading their collection. It's these type of sales I look for and often you get good deals. 

Nate and I play the long game. We'll wait you out.

We're on the hunt for the older stuff. The toys that got us into the hobby in the first place. It's time to curate, not just collect. We are not completely out of the game but just pickier. Refining. 

Hopefully, down the line we'll have the display cases we've always wanted to properly display our extensive collection. 

Documentary: Undercurrent - The Disappearance of Kim Wall

I vaguely remember reading about this in 2018. It quickly disappeared from my memory as this was happening in Denmark and I don't watch the news I prefer to read them and coverage, even though the documentary said was extensive and worldwide, I don't recall seeing much of it. But certain details stuck in my head. Two went down the submarine and only one came out.

 I've been watching a lot of documentaries and having HBO as part of our streaming line-up has opened me up to a lot of shows that I have enjoyed. Netflix has some good ones but lately their documentary series' come off as sensationalistic. 

I like HBO documentaries as they seem more professional, factual and doesn't have that sense of feeling rushed. I was browsing for something new to watch and this caught my eye and jogged my memory. I remember what I read and how the perpetrator kept changing their story about what happened to her at least three times. What he ultimately did to her and how inhumane it was and how utterly senseless. The comparisons between Musk and Madsen was inevitable. There's a tremendous sense of loss conveyed in the documentary in losing a young journalist with so much protentional as Kim Wall. 

Two things stood out for me, Lt. Commander Ditte Dyreborg of the Danish Navy. Her professionalism and kindness struck me. I found her delightful. The other is the Danish court house and it's unusual sculptures on the wall. Very gothic and intimidating if you are being tried there. I am not going to share pictures of either of those as they are quite a sight to see. I wish they mentioned who did the work. I would have loved to see more of it. 

 I have watched super long documentaries, i.e. Surviving R. Kelly, and it's numerous off shoots and those can get emotionally exhausting over time. Undercurrent is just a two part series so it's a great way to delve into documentaries if you're a fan.

Silent Poets - Asylum For The Feeling

A silent faulty feeling A silent fault A silent faulty feeling A silent fault I sigh and fall to the ceiling I sigh and run to the kneeling Asylums for the feeling Ran out of all the meaning I ran out of It's hard to fall believing It's hard to fall So many men are losing While out there doing the proving It's no surprise, he's dooming Bring your friends, bring it all on Oh, don't suck it up, no We seem to need another We need you all While finding our own cover We cover it all I find my own completeness The darkness and the weakness The light, the fight, the quietness We are here for you We are here for you Don't suffer alone Tell us We are here for you We are here for you Don't suffer alone Tell us

Video Credit: Atmospheric Music