A lifetime of STOOGE-watching!

An appropriate image, if I've EVER seen one! The choices for watching the original 'Knuckleheads' (Moe, Larry and Curly, natch!) and their  ALWAYS funny shorts / episodes, are almost TOO many to keep track of! Coming from ALL kinds of different directions and sources! Keep scrollin' & readin', to see just how much time & effort I've put into saving copies of those shorts over the years!

 Ok, so this post is ABSOLUTELY going to prove what an 'old TOOT' (a term coined WAY-back--by my mom, of course!) that I am! Mostly... because I'm gonna kick it off by saying how AMAZING technology has become in recent years!

If you've been following along with me any length of time here on the 'ol bloggy-woggy-thingy-thang, you'll know that the 3 Stooges were (some of) my absolute HEROES growing up! (Heck, they STILL are!) The story in THIS post, is just how MANY ways (not to mention how MANY years!) I've been chugging-along at trying to SAVE (and RE-WATCH, many, MANY times over!) the adventures of these MASTERS of the art of slapstick!

Never could I, as the wee-lad-Loydster-- around the age of 8 or 9-- have imagined having access to practically EVERY 3 Stooges short... ANY time of day (OR night!)! AND the numerous ways / choices in HOW to watch them all! Back then, I simply looked forward to my time spent with them--- weekday afternoons around 3 o'clock (after school).

In those days, ANY show that you watched on a regular basis, was 'appointment TV'! meaning, if you wanted to watch a favorite show.... you had to be parked in front of the 'ol 'boob-tube' at EXACTLY the time it was scheduled to come on! This was before ANY sort of recording devices were available to the public. So, if you missed your show--- well... you just MISSED it!

Of course, the 'Stooges were NO different than ANY of the other programs I parked my little grade-school-aged-booty in front of every weekday--- in that the episodes were shown OVER and OVER again! So--- if I missed an installment, a few weeks down the line... I could count on it turning up again! Still, it WAS a bit of a hassle keeping up with my 'Knuckleheaded'-buddies!

The household item my pops sometimes referred to as 'the ONE-EYED monster'! Many weekday afternoon-hours were spent by the teeny-Loydster, parked in front of one VERY much like this example!

Fast-forward to my late-teen years, when some of my more 'well-off' friends' moms and dads  started getting another sort of WILD gadget in their living rooms---usually it was parked on top of their TV sets!---

Ah yes! The EARLY 80s version of the VHS player / recorder! Something that pretty much BLEW the then 19 - 20 year-old Loydster's mind! Just to think ---I could watch 'Stooge-shorts (and other COOL movies and stuff!) OVER AND over-- on something called 'video-tape'! It just twisted my BRAIN into a pretzel!

Yes... it would be another handful of years, (the mid-80s -- when they FINALLY went down a bit in price, so average joe-blows could actually AFFORD them! They STILL weren't exactly cheap!) before my folks actually snagged one of the last 'top-loader' types of VCRs, but man-o-man! I became a VCR-video-recording-FIEND! (Even MORE so, after mom and pops eventually bought one of the later 'front-loading' tape machines!)

By then, the 'Stooges were being shown around midnight, and only on weekends. So, I'd stay up 'til the wee-hours-- recording what shorts I could. Several VHS-tapes were filled-up with not ONLY the 'Stooges, but LOADS of movies, favorite TV shows, and OF COURSE-- Looney Tunes! I still had MANY of those tapes-- even after the wife and I got hitched, MANY years later!

Skip a few more years ahead, to the early and mid-90s. VCRs by then were a LOT more streamlined, simple to use, and a TON of material was available on tape for 'collector-types' like yours truly! Sadly--- there weren't any 'complete' collections of 'Stooge shorts that I remember ---though there WERE a few 'best of' / 'mish-mash' / odd-ball collections around, like THIS--- 

The Knuckleheads on home video! NO 'complete' collections of their shorts were around, back in the 80s OR early 90s! (At least that I knew of!) But--- there were plenty of 'random' / 'mixed-bag' collections around---like the example above!

So--- I was STILL recording stuff from both late-night local 'Stooge-programs, as well as cable channels. It took AGES, but I eventually collected / recorded-- EVERY short featuring 'Curly' Howard! Now THAT'S dedicated-stooge-fandom for you!

You can PICK your nose, you can even PICK the noses of your friends! BUT-- in the 8os and 90s-- the ONLY way to 'PICK' - up the adventures of my HEROES, the 'Stooges-- was to relentlessly RECORD late-night showings of their shorts-- mostly on weekends! It was though, TRULY a labor of love for this LIFE-LONG 'Knuckleheads' fanatic!

Not that I disliked Shemp Howard---some of his early appearances, after he took Curly's place -- are indeed VERY funny! BUT-- Curly was ALWAYS my all-time-FAVORITE '3rd stooge', PERIOD! (STILL is!) The team just was NOT quite as gut-bustingly-funny, after his departure! (Just this fan's opinion!)

So, it was ALL 'the Curly shorts' (plus a handful of the 'early Shemps') that I went after, in trying to build-up my 'Stooge-video-library'! The 8 VHS tapes That I eventually compiled, were my 'go-to' source for repeated 'Stooge-entertainment' for QUITE a few years.

Eventually, the old VHS tapes began to gradually wear-out--- from not ONLY the passage of time.... but ALL of those MANY repeat-viewings! Then came the WONDER that was the arrival of the Digital Video Disc! 

Again, it took another handful of years-- but I eventually was able to snag & add THESE little numbers to the 'Loydster-video-library', to replace those nearly worn-out old video cassettes! (-- Not ONLY the 'Stooges tapes-- but LOTS of my favorite movies, and of COURSE-- hundreds of hours of Looney Tunes cartoon-collections, are STILL being gradually 'changed over' to DVDs! It's a SLOW, on-going project!)---

FINALLY! there was a source / media-type, that offered the opportunity to watch PRISTINE-copies of ALL of the Boys' CLASSIC shorts! It took a a bit of time & patience-- but eventually, DVD-sets of EVERY 'Curly-episode' were at LAST on a shelf in my house! BUT-- that didn't end up being the ONLY way I've watched the 'masters of mayhem' since then!
That doesn't mean these discs are going anywhere though! Nope-- these collections are staying with me--- for however long I stay around and kicking!

Which brings us back around to the present day and time, folks-- and ALL those 'viewing-choices' I referred to up above! Now, there's numerous ways a 'Stooge-fan can get their 'Knucklehead-fix'! Streaming-video platforms are about the most convenient. 

YouTube is the one that's my 'go-to' source, here at 'Ferrell-Central'. As also stated above-- ANY time, day OR night-- I can plop down in my old faithful easy-chair, pull-up the YouTube 'Stooge-channel on my Roku device---and let those AGELESS, always FUNNY shorts put a BRIGHT-spot into my life... for 17 to 20 minutes at least!

Oh, there's 'smart-phone' aps and other 'digital-down-load' sources I could be utilizing too, for my 'Stooge-watching'.... but, right now-- YouTube is the easiest and most 'user-friendly'! Especially for an 'over-the-hill-type' like ME! I'll also occasionally pop in one of the DVDs, when I want to watch the boys 'commercial-free'! (One of YouTube's down-sides!)

I just know, that no matter HOW I've managed to watch them over the years.... these SPECIAL funny-folks have ALWAYS brought me a LOT of happiness and PLENTY of belly-laughs-- in ALL the ups, downs, and other CRAZY times in my life! That's one thing that will NEVER change!

This post is dedicated to both of the Arnold brothers, Tim and Jeff! We spent countless hours watching (AND belly-laughing at, of COURSE!) the Stooges together! 

3 Stooges (AND cartoons too!) lovers and fellow GEEK-A-ZOIDS! Circa 1987-or-so! Tim, Jeff, and (a MUCH-YOUNGER) Loyd! (AND-- yes, I know I've put up this old pic once before! But.... SO WHAT!? It's ALWAYS been one of my FAVORITES of the 3 of us!)

When I watch the classic Stooge-shorts even now, I STILL think of you two! You guys are TRULY my BROTHERS! Then, now, and ALWAYS! Love you BOTH!

Some updates on the 'Man-Cave-Annex'!

 

Once again, let us venture into the 'Second-Secret-Sanctum' of the Loydster! MORE stuff's been added!

This is one RARE occasion, folks! Both--- that I'm actually OFF of work in the MIDDLE of a work-week (you can thank Oklahoma's ODD-BALL / ULTRA-cold-FREEZING-winter-weather for THAT!! The wife and I are 'sheltering-in-place', 'til most of this BRUTAL-cold-spell is past!!)-- AND-- that I'm popping up yet ANOTHER post in the SAME month as the previous one!

BUT-- I've been pretty active, these past few days especially-- in putting up additional items out in the 'Annex' section of our little 12x20 storage building! As well as getting all (or at least MOST) of my tools and 'necessary stuff' moved in there too! 

I know I put up a shot of some of the stuff I planned on 'finding a home for' last time--- but, I figured-- why NOT just SHOW you-- the 'faithful few' readers out there-- the places / spots where those 'just-TOO-COOL-to-leave-in-a-BOX' items wound-up!

So--- without any more chitter-chattering from yours truly--- here's some updated images of what's been happening out there!!--(along with the REQUIRED 'Loydster-comments', of COURSE!)---

Another 'over-all' pic of the lay-out of the 'Auxiliary-Crime-Fighting-Headquarters'! It's REALLY starting to look like not ONLY an 'extra-GEEK-out-zone', but a useful 'SHOP-type area' as well! At least I'm feeling like it is!

Just like before-- I searched through some of the goodies that've LONG been in storage, to find NIFTY items to frame and hang in various spots! The '78 Supes' movie trading cards are some extras / 'doubles',(yes indeed-- I have BOTH of the sets that came out back then, stashed elsewhere!) that I stumbled across and figured-- 'Hey... these two would look REALLY neat-o in a frame! A 'Wally-World' 2-buck frame was PERFECT for the job!

An additional couple of framed items, as well as the small collection of model aircraft in my possession,(what you see here is IT-- eight planes! But, they ARE very COOL 'war-planes' INDEED!) are now on display near and above the large 'swing-out' door!

The 'swing-out' door-- now sporting a couple of 'just-TOO-DARNED-COOL-to-leave-in-storage' images of 'Supes and 'Bats, as well as an old 'cut-out' of the '40s Bat-ride I created well OVER 10-plus-years ago! (Again, just something that NEEDED to be displayed--SOMEWHERE!)

As is usually the case, my photography is NOT so great! But-- if you SQUINT just right-- you'll see that a framed Elvis trading card (that's it on the far lower-right!), a 'Hot Rod' image, AND the 3 stooges,(lower middle!) have joined the other framed items and signs near my supply-shelf and tool-box! You can also see (though just BARELY!) the 'Hot Wheels' metal sign to the far upper left, lurking near Captain Marvel's head!)

By the way, the framed 'Danger: no entry' sign, is something that I've had since just before HIGH SCHOOL! That would be nearly 45 years ago, folks!

FINALLY, after a number of years being scattered around various places in our previous shed--- what remains of my old tool-box is at least now sitting on SHELVES-- and ALL of it in ONE location! Another trip to 'Wally-World', yielded the plastic 'garage / storage' shelf-set-- that I customized, of COURSE! (I cut down the 'tubes' between each shelf, for 'tighter' fitting-spots for the tool-box drawers to sit on!)

Before placing it in the new shed, I also re-painted my old supplies-&-paint shelf! This was a BLACK paint-job, over 'factory-original' YELLOW paint! 'WHEW'!! 4 1/2 cans of paint (and LOTS of stooping, squatting, and crawling around on my 'not-a-KID-anymore'-knees!) later--- it now proudly sits near the tool-box, in it's NEW home!
The wifey wants to utilize the 'roll-around' cart for another purpose--- so I'm just using it temporarily, 'til I figure out something else to put all the remaining 'odds-and-ends' stuff into!

Now that I've got it all set-up-- and ALL the 'heavy-lifting' and 'arranging-of-stuff' is complete--- I'm feeling pretty much like the guy above! (Meaning: TIRED, but extremely HAPPY!) Now the 'ol Loydster has not ONLY a WAY-COOL little room in the house... BUT, also an ADDITIONAL area for his EXTREME-NERDINESS-- on the SAME property! Thanks yet once AGAIN, to my number ONE gal, Mrs. Debbie-- for all the help, suggestions AND-- inspiration! You are simply THE BEST, my FOREVER-SWEETIE!

                              See you NEXT time around gang! Stay SAFE, SANE, and of course--- HAPPY!!

A 'Man-Cave-Annex'! for the Loydster!

Already (more or less!) FINISHED!! And-- at a MUCH quicker pace than expected! The additional 'Loydster-GEEK-out-space' is ready for it's OFFICIAL launch! The home-made / 'lettered-with-my-lap-top' sign means it's READY! Though some 'tinkering and fiddling' with stuff is STILL happening! (See more details below, as you're 'scrollin' and Readin'!!)

Once again, I have my SPECIAL little lady, Mrs. Debbie-- to thank! -- For BOTH-- helping me do all the HEAVY grunting / lifting / hauling-- AND-- the encouragement to get this additional little space out in our new storage-building all set-up and ready for use!

I actually didn't think it would be for another few months or more, before we would figure out exactly how our recently constructed, 12-by-20 foot storage building would be used! Just what we would stash in there, where it would all be situated, etc.... SO-- I didn't make any mention of it in my previous post.

But--- after discussing it with my 'BEST-girl-in-the WHOLE-WIDE-WORLD', we agreed there was PLENTY of space in there, for not ONLY my tools, paint-supplies, and other 'working-around-the-house' stuff (not to mention all of Deb's goodies and doo-dads!)--- but ALSO ample room for MOST of my remaining NERD-kingdom-related stuff! 

It was late last month, when we started hustling most of my remaining gee-gaws and doo-dads here to our 'TINY-Ponderosa'! Our additional goal, was to clear-out completely from the larger of the two storage units (where my remaining stuff was still stashed away.) that we'd been renting for the past nearly 4 years! After MUCH sweat, and the aforementioned grunting and HEAVY lifting / hauling --- I'm proud to say-- mission: ACCOMPLSHED! We're also TICKLED SILLY to be saving quite a CHUNK of change each month, now that we're only renting the MUCH smaller / CHEAPER of the two units!

Much like the 'Man-Cave' in the 'Cozy-Cottage' itself, the 'Annex' (as I've decided to call it!) isn't a very large area, but it's just the size I need! Heck, I even had enough 'wall-space' in there, to once again be able to put up ALL of my stand-ups! (John Wayne and Mr. Spock included!!)

 I spent a good chunk of a day, just gluing all the super hero characters back together (they'd been cut into smaller segments, for easier storage)! But, now that they're all 'standing guard' there in my little 'auxiliary-FUN-zone'--- I can truly say it was WORTH all the effort and work!

Guess I've dribbled-on enough for an intro for THIS post!! As is USUALLY the case here at the bloggy-woggy-wang-dang-thang--- you can check out my USUAL nerdy-ramblings that accompany all the pics below!----

Deb and I figured out that the space I'd need-- basically would take-up about half of the east wall on one side of the building, the 'back-wall' (where there's a large 'swing-out' door), and about 6 square feet of space in the west corner (where eventually my toolbox, a shelf containing painting supplies & stuff, and a few other tools will also reside!). Hey, ALL the comics, magazines--AND those above-mentioned stand-ups-- ALL fit in that space! SO-- the Loydster's a HAPPY-geeky-camper!

While sorting through / unpacking some odd-ball boxes of stuff, the wifey found the VERY cool US flag pictured above! I figured -- what better stand-up to place partially-overlapping 'Old Glory', than The Duke himself! Mr. Spock hangs out nearby, partly behind the 'Supes figure. (AND-- the 'Annex' sign too, natch!)

spread around between the figures along the walls in the 'Annex-area', are some just downright FUN framed items and goofy-geeky images / signs! Most of these-- like the 'Knuckleheads garage' sign above-- (AND-- the 'Busted-Knuckle' sign & the 'Gotham City parts and Service' one below!) are images I found on the web, printed up and, in some cases-- partly hand-colored myself! (OR-- simply printed the images on colored construction paper!)

And, by the way--- don't you think those 'Supes and 'Bats figures figures, which I created / put together nearly 30 YEARS ago-- are holding up GREAT? 'Cap and 'ol Shell-head aren't looking too bad either, considering just how MUCH time they've all been piled into cut-up sections inside a dusty old storage unit (they WERE covered in a big plastic bag most of that time, of course!-- Or they probably would NOT have survived!)

MORE 'fun-framed-stuff'!-- As well as an ULTRA-GROOVY 'Bat-logo' (cobbled-together from corrugated plastic sheeting, poster-board and spray-paint, by yours truly, of COURSE!) modeled after the Bat-symbol from the door of the '66 Batmobile!

NEAT-O items, mounted to the 'swing-out door'! The 'not old... I'm a CLASSIC' sign (featuring The Green Hornet's 'Black Beauty'!) is another collection of images found on the 'net, with lettering done-up on my trusty 'ol lap-top!)

Captain Marvel / Shazam, watches over the space that will--hopefully in the NEAR future-- be where my toolbox and a shelf, with various paint-supplies & other tools will reside

Yet another 'Fun-Framed-item'! A 'Gotham Garage' sign! I love the small notice on the right side of the sign, stating that the business is-- 'Bat-family' owned!

The west-wall / corner area, where the toolbox and paint / supplies-shelf will be sitting--- will be watched-over (besides by the good Captain, of course!) by these NIFTY framed items and metal signs! the 'Dad's garage' images are taken (once again!) from the 'net, and printed on brown construction-paper.
The 'Black Beauty' images are some of the box-art from my 1/32-scale model kit of the 'Hornet's SLICK ride! (Hey, us 'collector-types' hardly EVER just throw ANYTHING away!-- You never know when you might be able use images from an old model-kit box, after all, RIGHT???)

Now, in the weeks and days that I've been putting together this here post, (I put'em together SLOWLY-but-SURELY folks!) I of COURSE have been coming up with and tinkering-on a few more small framed items-- and even snagged yet ANOTHER nifty-NEAT-O metal sign! Not-to-mention digging some WAY-cool model aircraft out of a couple of storage-totes! 

Having not exactly nailed-down just WHERE they're all gonna wind-up, I figured I would just snap a 'group-shot' of them, so you-- the teensy-weensy few who follow along with me here-- can at least check them out! Trust me, though... they WILL find a home soon, in my 'secondary-GEEK-out-ZONE'!---

Even MORE goodies to put-up on the 'ol 'Annex' walls! Can you not tell I'm having a BLAST just setting this little additional 'Secret Sanctum'-space up??!?

I guess I'll finish-off this post, much like I started it off!-- with another BIG shout-out and MUCH love, to the SPECIAL lady in my life, Mrs. Debbie! On February 17th, this AMAZING gal and I will be celebrating 35 YEARS of a pretty GREAT life together! Thanks for ALL your encouragement, my BESTEST friend--AND support! Your help with all the 'reconstructing' & revival of my little 'NERD-zones'!--AND-- for being SO understanding and yes, long-suffering with your 'ol GEEK-O-ZOID hubby! Love you now and FOREVER, wife-o-mine!

'Til next time--- stay SAFE, SANE, and HAPPY  everybody! See you here next month!

It's absolutely, positively, completely and totally FINISHED!! ( For NOW, at least!) The LONG - awaited return of The 'MAN-CAVE'!!

 

It's been a slow, sometimes even tedious process! BUT-- at long-last-- the latest version of the 'Loydster-Cave' is FINALLY ready for my faithful-few readers to come in and explore! (by the way--- the pic above is meant to be a copy / goof-spoof, of the one taken for my LONG-ago post (from July 2018!!) about the previous 'Man-Cave'! Time SURE flies, doesn't it? (Well--- SOMETIMES it does!)

What an interesting, bumpy, curvy, twisting road life can sometimes be!! nearly 7 years ago, I was posting about another 'Secret Sanctum', at another location! Through a set of EXTREMELY SUCKY circumstances (a shade LESS than 2 years later!)--- everything in that version of my little hide-out ended-up being put into 'cold-storage'-- for close to 4 YEARS!

 If you've been following along with me here as I've been posting these updates, there's no need for me to go over or rehash the gradual, step-by-step process that's been putting this little (and I DO mean LITTLE-- this space is a mere 8 x 10-foot 'DINKY-cube-of-GEEKYNESS'!) room together! I'm just EXTREMELY glad to see all of this stuff back in the same space, on display again!

For those of you that may be asking: 'So Loydster-- what about ALL the comics collection (10 or so long-boxes worth!), the car magazines (several boxes worth also!) and the remaining collection of vinyl / LPs you still have??' For now-- unfortunately-- all of THAT stuff, along with the life-sized stand-ups that I've mentioned here in recent posts-- has to just stay put in the storage unit! 

Hopefully, in the near-future--I can figure out some kind of 'auxiliary-Man-Cave' (small storage shed maybe?)-- where all of that stuff can at least be with me here on the same property! 'Til then --- it'll just have to remain carefully stashed away!

Anyhoo-doody-roo--- as I OFTEN do here at the 'ol bloggy-woggy-wing-dingy-thing-thang--- I'll stop with the introductory stuff / opening remarks.... and we'll just dive off into the pics! (With the USUAL nerdy / geek-tastic remarks to go along with each-- of COURSE!) Also-- once AGAIN--Forgive the somewhat 'shaky' quality in some of the pics! The 'ol 'Ferrell-mits' aren't as steady as they used to be!!------

Let's start off with an 'unobstructed' shot (meaning me and my extra-LARGE-sized head being OUT of the WAY!-- Like in the pic up top!) of what you see as you enter the 'Secret Sanctum'! Complete with the LED 'tube-lights' turned on-- of COURSE!

Another little 'side-note'--- The pics in this post will just (mostly) focus on the 'now full' shelves & cases in the 'Sanctum'! (Check out my earlier posts for pics of the stuff on the walls, the lay-out with my various books, etc...) Anyhoo--- here's the 'barrister-cases' to the immediate left of the Hot Wheels shelf-- FILLED with all kinds of crunchy-GEEKY-goodness! (Including 'The Phantom', 'Green Hornet', 'The Shadow'-- even 'Robbie the Robot'!)

The case with all the 'Stooges & 'Toons stuff-- right to the left of my teensy-weensy little desk! I definitely break-out in a BIG goofy grin nearly EVERY time I look at THIS one!

The previously mentioned TEENSY-desk! Hey, it's JUST the RIGHT size for me to do tinkering on my lap-top! That's pretty much it's MAIN purpose! Besides-- if I tried using anything even SLIGHTLY larger, all the shelves and cases couldn't possibly fit into the 'Sanctum'!

                                                

Yet ANOTHER little side note!--- This GIANT 'History of The Batmobile' poster, is actually one of SEVERAL items that I'll be 'rotating' out of that space! About every 6 months or so, I'll switch it out with some other WAY-too-NEAT-O-to-STAY-in-storage items! Hey, when you have a TINY little 'Man Cave'--- 'you gotta do what you gotta do'!! In fact, I may do a near-future post about just WHAT the things are, that I'm planning on being 'rotating exhibits'!

Again-- forgive the 'kinda-CRUMMY' photography! ---The 'Bats & Supey-shelf' to the right of the dinky-desk! Also FILLED with PLENTY of 'Man of Steel' and 'Caped Crusader' - COOLNESS!

Elvis-goodies, MORE 'Supes-stuff' and a few NIFTY 'Lone Ranger' items, now reside in the cases above the scale classic car & truck models. 'The Lone Ranger & Silver' model, was a vintage UNBUILT kit I snagged off of E-bay a couple of years back! It's JUST like the one I had when I was 12 years old! The AMAZING part?--- I won it in an auction-- for UNDER 40 smackers! There's NOTHING like getting something THAT cool, for THAT decent a price!! It's now FULLY built (I just painted & assembled it a couple of weeks ago!) and on proud display-- as it SHOULD be!

Now here are some not ONLY very neat-o, but ALSO very PRICELESS items-- to the 'ol Loydster anyway!--- Coloring-pages, recently done by (top-to-bottom) : my Daughter Shelby, daughter-in-law Chloe, and son-in-law Trent, PLUS: a 'Warhol-influenced' pic of the McFarlane toys '66 Batman figure (doing the 'Batusi', of COURSE!), given to me by my nephew Caleb!

The 'curio-shelf-in-the-corner'--- now housing even MORE 'Bat-stuff'! As well as 'Ironman' and 'Captain America' figures

Just for 'grins and giggles'-- another peek at the 'media-nook'! Items that've been added in there, include the 'lapel-flower' / boutonniere --that Shelby created for me, for her wedding! (crafted with 'Batman'- patterned cloth, of COURSE!) It sits PROUDLY on the center-top of the CD shelves!

ANOTHER look, at the combo-Bat-ride-display and book-shelf! Not much different going on there, except I've added a few 'graphic-items' to a couple of the shelves.

'Green Lantern', 'The Flash' and even MORE 'Supes and 'Bats figures-- join the miniature 'Bat-rides' in the case near the door to the 'Cave!

Among the MANY items that were previously displayed in the former 'Man-Cave'--- here's one of the MOST nifty!-- an unusual, cast-metal 'Man-Cave' sign! I just HAD to find a spot for this! I managed to squeeze it onto the top of the door-post. You can see it on the way out! The 'little hidey-hole' just would NOT be the same without THIS little doo-dad hanging-up somewhere in it!

As I was saying up above--- the effort to get the little 'geek-zone' put together, sometimes got to be a little TOO much like WORK! But--- now that all the thrashing-away is over, and everything is set-up where it needs to be.... 'WHEW'! I've gotta say.... ALL the work and time was WORTH IT! It's SO cool to just come into the room, look around-- and get that BIG goofy-geeky-GRIN' on my face--once AGAIN!!

A shout-out to my VERY special-lady, number ONE gal, and (VERY patient!) life-long-best-friend--- Mrs. Debbie! Thanks SO much, honey! Your encouragement (to get another 'Man-Cave' going in the FIRST place!) and helpful suggestions along the way-- helped make this all happen! Loved you then, love you now, will love you ALWAYS!

a couple more pretty EXTRA-COOL items, before I sign-off for this month folks!--- For Christmas, my kids surprised their 'ol daddy-o with--- well, I'll just let the pic below tell you a good CHUNK of the story!----

Believe it or NOT--the t-shirt I wore the day of our family-Christmas-get-together-and-wing-ding... was a pure coincidence! Pretty appropriate though, don't you think?!?

If any of you have ever put together one of these Lego 'build-sets'.... you KNOW how INVOLVED and kinda complex they can be! So--- the 'ol Loydster took his sweet time putting THIS one together! Because I wanted to make SURE to get it RIGHT--- and-- it's an EXTRA-special / unique gift from a couple of the MOST special people in my life!

To add even ANOTHER level of coolness to this ALREADY oh-SO-nifty gift-- my son even added a pretty SWELL 'go-along-PERFECTLY-with-it' item! It'll sure keep the dust and spider-webs off of the 'Lego-Bat-ride'!!----

This 'assemble-it-yourself' display case-- was given to me (as stated above!) by my son Wade! It's made from NICE, fairly thick acrylic-- and it bolted together in around 15 - 20 minutes! Super-easy-peasy! A 'gift-to-help-protect-the-other-gift'! Thanks, son-o-mine!
Thanks also, buddy-- for the 'Batman '89' -related items! A large-scale '89 Batmobile-replica (with removable panels, so you can check out it's engine and weapons-systems! NEAT!), and a 1/3 scale replica of the '89 Batman's cowl! WICKEDLY-cool 'Bat-stuff' INDEED!

AND--- after the careful-clicking-together of over 1800 PIECES--- it's FINISHED! In ALL of it's 'Atomic batteries to power, turbines to speed...' GLORY!!-- Here's a couple of images-- of the Lego-version of the CLASSIC TV Bat-ride! Finished, and residing in it's 'place of honor'!!!---

Another shout-out to BOTH Shelby and Wade! Thank you guys! THIS will INDEED be one of the 'Crown-Jewels' of your 'ol dad's 'collection of Bat-guy-related-stuff'!

Yet ANOTHER surprise arrived on my door-step-- less than a week ago! My life-long buddy, Mr. Jeff Arnold had sent me THIS very SLICK item!---

This '4D-Bat-puzzle', arrived as a surprise 'late Christmas' / 'Man-Cave-warming' gift from my long-time best buddy, Jeff! Despite the EVER-shrinking amount of room in my little (and I DO mean LITTLE) sanctuary--- I simply HAD to squeeze out some sort of space for this! It's just TOO darn COOL!

 

So-- once AGAIN-- I set aside some chunks of time here and there over this weekend just past! And-- like the 'Lego-Bat-ride-build'-- I took my time in putting the 200-piece '4D-'89-Bat-ride puzzle' together. Here's the result!---

The assembled '4D' Batmobile puzzle! SO wickedly COOL!! Now... I had to find a spot to display this bad-boy!!

It took a considerable amount of thought, and a little trial-and-error (the FIRST place I tried was just TOO 'cramped'!)--BUT-- a PERFECT spot / display-space was FINALLY found! The former-closet / now 'media-nook' turned out to be an IDEAL place to show-off this unique gift from my 'brutha-from-another-mutha'!---

A couple of pics of the new home for the '4D' Batmobile! I cobbled together the little shelf it's sitting on, from some odd-ball pieces of cardboard and some wooden dowels. It leans out at a slight angle, so more of the puzzle can be seen! Yet ANOTHER thing in the 'Man-Cave' that brings a BIG goofy-geeky-grin to the 'ol Loydster's face! A big THANK you to my buddy Jeff! You ROCK, amigo!

Needless to say, as you can probably see in the pics above--- I had to do a bit of rearranging of a few items-- to make a home for BOTH the 'plastic-brick' -version of the 'Caped Crusader's ride--AND the '4D-puzzle-version' of the '89 movie-ride! It was worth every bit of the (slight!) hassles though-- because WAY-cool items like THESE have just GOT to have prime spots in the 'Sanctum to be on display!

These 'Christmas-(and LATE-Christmas) surprises' have ALSO made me realize, that even though for the MOST part, the 'Secret-Crime-Fighting-Headquarters' is CURRENTLY in pretty much a 'finished' state--- this little room is going to have to be kind of an 'organic' - type of space! With the occasional necessity of the 'rearranging' of stuff! (I may also have to do as the wifey has suggested, and 'rotate' out not ONLY posters, but some OTHER items / doo-dads as well!) 

There's just gonna be a need to make room --for gifts from family and friends ---and-- yes-- the 'once-in-a-while' times when I stumble across something that's just 'oh-SO-very-COOL'-- that I can't possibly pass it up! That's just the kind of HOPELESS nerd-tastic guy that I am!!

                                        See you NEXT time gang! 'Til then--- stay safe, sane and HAPPY!