Living Room Project - Progress

Our living room is slowly starting to take shape. This has been a work in progress for almost two years now.

Definitely a new couch is needed as the cats, not just Nodame, have essentially flattened down the back rests of the couches that we currently have. Plus, that couch is circa apartment era so a new set is long overdue.

It's got to be hardy to survive four cats and comfortable enough for our family and friends.

Purchases of the Week - 02/01/2012

 

Eraser - I wouldn't say classic Arnold with this one. Standard Arnold is more like it. It's not unbearable like Collateral Damage. That movie is fucked up plot-wise, but this one is enjoyable. 

Coming to America - Nate quotes this movie a lot and I don't blame him. It is funny. I haven't sat through the whole movie but I do distinctly remember a whole family with jheri curls and a moist couch. 

 
Nacho Libre - I cannot believe this was out of print and ridiculously priced. So when I saw it available again at Amazon for $8.99 I pounced on it. I love this movie! Stretchy pants and corn! 

Amadeus - Classic movie. Not historically accurate but enjoyable drama. The music is amazing.

That's it for now. A lot of movies I have been wanting to replace are dropping slowly in price. We're at 197 in blu-rays and counting!

2012 Brings New Challenges

"Living well is the best revenge." George Herbert, Poet

Nate and I have big plans this year. Hopefully, we can accomplish them. No resolutions for 2012 really. Just a determination to live well and enjoy the company of our family and friends.

Purchases of the Week I will re-start again in February. Although we've done some house stuff purchasing lately. We got our media display organized the way we want in the living room. The hallway is half-done and our bedroom is still a work in progress but we've made improvements to our toy displays.

Further details in later posts. Not quite a resolution for 2012 but I have decided to turn in earlier in the evenings to spend some time reading and resting. I'm getting older and my body is now refusing to pretend I am still in my twenties. =P

UFO Catcher Plushie Apocalypse

A long long time ago, sometime in the early 2000's, I used to collect UFO Catcher Dolls. It was a fun hobby. I loved getting plushies of the characters in anime that I adored. My first collection pic below:

Of course it didn't stay this "small" for long. When I collect, it's go big or go home. My collection grew to 12 plastic bins, Gallon sizes I believe. Full to the brim.

About three years into the hobby, the market got flooded with cheap bootlegs from China. It essentially ruined an entire genre of collecting. My collecting then slowed down and ground to a halt. I bagged and stored all my plush into bins and they have been sitting in the garage.

I had planned on displaying my collection but that changed when I picked up a Dunny in 2007 while Christmas shopping. Back then they were freaking $5 or something. Blind boxing ensnared Nate and I for approximately 2 years.

After growing out of that and purging our shared collection of western vinyl we arrive to now, which started in late 2008, to Sofubi. I must say I haven't been this happy and satisfied with a collection since I started collecting.

So what happens to the plushies? I still believe I have a kick ass collection. Unfortunately, it generates very little interest for me now and I am loathe in pursuing it any further.

It's time to sell.

Although seeing myself sorting them reminds me of the show Hoarders. My pile of what I want to keep and what I want to sell is very uneven. More keep. I need to snap out of that.

But I have awesome pieces! Like DX Edward Elric and lottery Sesshoumaru. I could go on and on but I really need to ask myself where will I be able to display them?

So the slow and painful process of letting go of this part of my collecting history begins. I am slowly putting pieces up on my Ebay store: Fuzen Toy Shoppe.

We already have the remnants of our western vinyl up at the store. I'll be adding more to that pile too as we begin The Culling. A much discussed topic between Nate and I and now we are finally taking action.

We are even culling some Sofubi but that will be sold at Skullbrain.

Because I was a UFO Catcher collector I knew better than to purchase bootlegs so all my plushies are authentic and not HK rip offs.

So this is an official notice! If you are interested in snagging some rare and authentic UFO Catcher plush, be sure to check my Ebay store. The bulk of my collection will be available there.

＼(＾▽＾*)LET THE CULLING COMMENCE! (*＾▽＾)／

Summer of Goodbyes

"There are things that we don't want to happen but have to accept, things we don't want to know but have to learn, and people we can't live without but have to let go." - Author Unknown

On July 1, 2011, approximately ten minutes before 11 o'clock that night, I lost my last remaining grandparent. My Grandpa, died surrounded by all of his children, most of his grandchildren, and two of his great grand children. It was probably one of the most emotional wringing events of my adult life.

He lived a full life of 95 years. I had the chance to say goodbye to Lolo and that memory does bring me comfort. A week later, we buried him with my Grandma. Now they are together.

Before we closed the casket, all the grandkids wrote him letters. April knitted him a small amigurumi rabbit. I pinned that along with all our letters on his jacket. Nate wrote Lolo a letter too but he wont tell me what he wrote down. He said he made a promise. I know better than to ask.

Three days after we buried my Grandpa, my oldest Uncle became seriously ill and was hospitalized. He hung on for almost a month but due to pre-existing health issues and his weak constitution he passed away at the end of August.

A double whammy for our small clan. We were already devastated by the loss of my Grandpa but with the death of my Uncle Bernard the devastation turned into a terrible tragedy.

Our finances stretched to the limit, a decision was made to cremate Uncle Bernard's remains and send his ashes home to his children. My Aunt went back home to the island a couple of weeks ago and had him interred in their family crypt. He is now home.

It's been a difficult summer. Which explains why I haven't been updating the blog and toy buying is at an all time low. We are quietly mourning, coping with the loss and moving on with our lives.

The holidays are coming up and it will be lonely one. Lolo was always here at my house to celebrate Christmas. He always started the feasting with a prayer.

I miss him a lot and think of him often.