Loyd's BONUS video-clip--- # 8!!!

MORE great music!!! This time, it's 'The King' himself, Elvis--- doing the title-tune from the CLASSIC (SO classic that it's basic plot and formula was REPEATED in several OTHER Elvis flicks!!!), 'Viva Las Vegas'!!-----

 Yes..... the 'ol  Loydster freely and openly admits--- with NO SHAME whatsoever--- that I have a soft spot for a LOT of  the music from a number of the King's movies (especially his 'post-army' flicks) !!! AND... even several of the movies themselves!!! I've been a HUGE 'Elvis-geek' most of my life, so it shouldn't be a surprise!!

Were ALL his movies 'masterpieces'??? Of course not!!! Now, his 'pre-army' films,I realize, are considered by most movie-critic-types to be the 'better' ones.But a good number of the ones he made after his hitch in the service,were actually pretty fun and entertaining too (in a  light-weight, 'Archie comics'-kind of way!!!)!!

 Go ahead-- seek out a few yourself!! I recommend MOST of the movies he made from around 1960, 'til around 1966---even a couple of the ones that repeat that 'singing race-car-driver' formula!! All good, clean, GOOFY fun!! Pop some popcorn, plop into a comfy chair. An evening with an 'Elvis flick' is a fun way to pass the time, I promise!!!


                                               -----See you NEXT time, gang!!!!-----

Tex Avery and his CRAZY 'toons!!! (or---'how some INSANE humor SAVED the Loydster's SANITY!!!')

Since we so often visit the subject of humor and things that make us laugh here at this little corner of the universe we call 'Loyd Stuff'---- we might as well visit one of my favorite spots!!! That is the wonderful, wacky, and just plain WIGGED-OUT world of one the greats in the history of animation--- Mr. Tex Avery!!!---

 What's that you say? Don't know (or maybe remember!!) the above pictured, average-looking fellow??? Or... maybe just a picture of this guy, who I'll admit, looks like he might work in an insurance office---just doesn't ring any bells??? How about we take a peek at what he's MOST known for then???----

 Ahhhh, yes!!!! I can see that 'glazed-over' look disappearing from your eyes now!!! NOW you realize the fellow in the above picture, who SO looks like he should've been peddling auto-coverage for 'Allstate', was actually the creative GENIUS who gave us the 'toons that made us LAUGH until we either had tears in our eyes, OR-- we accidentally peed ourselves!!! YES--- his 'toons were THAT FUNNY!!! Especially after he went to work for MGM,in 1942. 

He got his start at Warner Brothers, where he helped develop the personalities of BOTH Daffy Duck and Bugs Bunny, into the CLASSIC characters that they're STILL known as today. After a falling out with studio big-wigs, Tex got a 'better offer' from MGM. And THAT is when he REALLY cut-loose!!! 

In Tex Avery's classic MGM 'toons, things roll along at a breathless,break-neck pace!!! The gags come at you one after another!!! Until you can barely breathe, you've been laughing SO hard!!! At least, that's how it's always worked with me!!!

The REALLY crazy thing is, I didn't discover these little 7-minute-bursts of insanity, until I was a young adult!!! AND--- as is usually the case, the discovery came at a time in my life when I desperately NEEDED to BOTH laugh, AND temporarily forget life's troubles, griefs, and woes!!!

As I have said here before----- laughter is (I believe) God's GIFT to us!!! It uplifts us when we're down, helps heal us when we're hurting the most, and just generally is all-around GOOD for the SOUL!!! The folks who have that SPECIAL gift---being able to make others laugh--- have that extra little something that's been placed into them... and Tex Avery had an extra dose of that gift!!! 

STILL don't quite believe me??? Alrighty then..... let's have a look-see at some highlights from one of Tex's all-time CLASSICS!! The 'hero' of the story, 'Droopy' (a VERY unlikely North West Mounted Policeman!) is after the wolf, an escaped crook..... and... well, see for yourself what happens pretty much throughout!!!-----

Like many of the things that bring a smile to the 'ol  Loydster's face-- or in the case of the Tex Avery 'toons, makes me laugh (long & loud!!!)--- I've watched these animated-bits of craziness OVER and OVER!!! They NEVER fail to at least put me in a better mood!!! Seek out a collection of this stuff at your earliest opportunity!!! TRUST me, you will  be GLAD that you did!!

                                                            See you NEXT time gang!!!!

So----- just WHAT is in the old garage down stairs????

Well..... maybe that IS NOT the most important, burning question on all of your minds out there!!! BUT--- I'm going to answer it anyway!! I'm pretty much like most comics / classic-pop-culture-junkie-types, the space of JUST one room doesn't quite hold ALL of the stuff we gather-up over the decades!!!

Truthfully, the garage below my 'hide-out-and-crime-fighting-headquarters' is like MOST of the garages across this great land of ours!!! MOSTLY full of stuff that a 'catch-all-space' like a garage is full of!!! BUT---- there is a couple of spots for 'ol Loydster's geeky-goofy stuff!!! See the proof below!!!---- Feel free to click on the pics and zoom around up close at even MORE evidence of my TRUE goofy-nerdy-geekiness!!!---

This is what you'll see to the right, as you enter the garage!! And yes, those 'partial hero figures' were done by yours truly!!!---in the case of Bats and Supes, around 20 years ago!!! And yes, they USED to be FULL figures.... until time (and being shuffled around in various kinds of storage over the years!!) took it's toll on them, sadly!!

The unusually DINKY Hulk figure used to be in my son's room for many years--- until dear old dad took it BACK into HIS custody, that is!!!

AND yes, the VHS tapes you see to the right, are just PART of  my MONSTER-sized collection of 'stuff-STILL-on-VHS'!!! What can I say???? I'm a guy with his feet in BOTH the 20th, AND 21st centruries!!!

To the left as you go into the garage, is the other half of the 'Loydster-comics-and-classic-pop-culture-reference-library!!! Yes-SIR, I've got me a LOT of them-there Superman & Batman FUNNY-BOOKS!!!!

And now, the FULL two-story, upstairs AND downstairs-worth of Loyd's GEEKDOM has been revealed!!!  See you NEXT time, gang!!!!

Loyd's BONUS video-clip---- # 7!!!--

This one is WELL worth  the 25 minutes or so it'll take of your time!!! The one, the ONLY, Mr. Robin Williams--- making his very FIRST appearance on the 'Tonight' show, with Johnny Carson!!

Robin Williams,around the time he made this appearance, was like a ROCK STAR to the then-16 year-old Loydster.  It was through his rapid-fire,mind-blowing (and VERY, VERY FUNNY!!), 'stream-of-consciousness' -type of humor, that I realized, at that oh-SO-awkward-feeling stage of my life-- that laughter and humor, were two of the VERY important things that were going to help me SURVIVE my teen years!! It was Robin Williams who gave me BOTH that sort-of 'wake-up call', and incredible gift--- by making me laugh harder than I'd ever laughed in my life!!!

Oh, I'd grown up with humor alright--- other posts on this blog bear that out well enough!!! BUT--- Robin was a one-man REVOLUTION. He stepped up behind a mic on stage, and it was like living, breathing,human FIREWORKS had stepped up there to blow EVERYONE'S mind!! --- AND --- make us laugh 'till our sides hurt!!! (just watch Mr. Carson's reactions, as Robin TAKES OVER the show from him!!)

Lots of folks speak of the tragedy at the end of his life..... but THIS is the way I've chosen to remember this wonderfully gifted, special person---- one who can STILL make me laugh 'til tears come out, and yes,laugh 'til my sides hurt!!!----

                                                           See you NEXT time, gang!!!

The OTHER artist in the family!!!---

We have another kind of  creative-type living here at good old 'Ferrell central'!!! The type that uses seeds, plants and gardening tools to express their 'artistic side'!! I'm referring to my beautiful wife, Mrs. Debbie, of course!!--- You know, THIS lovely lady!!!---

A lot of folks don't realize what a TRUE talent my wife has for putting in plants, a full veggie garden (EVERY late spring/ early summer!!),and various other kinds of 'green-thumb'-type stuff around the property here!!! Well--- allow me to do a little boasting on her behalf!!!

Folks also usually don't realize what kind of HARD work, planning and patience it takes to do all the  type of things Deb is SO talented at!! But..... she truly enjoys the results of all that labor. The rest of us that live here with her (meaning the kids and I!!!) are also pretty impressed with it all too!! Let's take a little tour around our yard here, and check out some of her handiwork, shall we?----

This 'raised flower bed' is something Deb put in just this season!! The plants and soil only go down a couple of feet, and it all sits within this 'box' (made with old landscaping posts she cut down and fastened together all by her lonesome!!) on top of a hidden, sturdy 'platform' of wood & mason blocks (water-proofed with plastic sheeting, of course!!)!!  The lady could be an engineer!!

A closer look at the 'raised bed'!!

The rest of the place has 'bright spots' of color from all sorts of plants and flowers--- from right by the steps going into the house-----

---- To the areas along side AND behind the house!!!----

----- All the way to the edge of the yard and next to the driveway!!----

Also, as you can probably see, Deb uses lots of 'found' objects in her arrangements, making it all look even MORE 'vintage cool'!!! Like I said before, this is the way the FAVORITE lady in my life expresses her creative side!! I'm VERY proud of ALL she accomplishes, EVERY season!!!

 I also can't imagine living in this place that we do, without all this beautiful color all around us every spring & summer!!! What a DRAB place this would be without her!!! Stand up and take a WELL-deserved bow, oh LOVE of the Loydster's life!!!!


                                                          See you NEXT time, gang!!!!

Cartoons and doodles that helped me keep my SANITY!!!

Sooner or later,here at the old 'blog-a-wing-a-ding-thing'--- you might as well expect to see the occasional post with at least SOME 'Loydster-doodling' in it!!! Considering that I've been cartooning and just generally goofing around with pencils / pens / paper ever since I could grasp a writing / drawing instrument, that really shouldn't be much of a shock!!!

In fact, for a good chunk of time there--- mostly my teen years up into my mid-30s, a LONG-time dream of mine was to be able to make a living at the cartooning / doodling / lettering--- or even doing hand-lettered signs & posters. I've made the stray dollar or two at it here & there..... but NEVER have I made enough to 'make a living' at it.

That's OK though, because one VERY important thing I've discovered, is that having this doodling / cartooning ability of mine---while not in ANY way making me 'rich and famous', has helped me COUNTLESS times!!! Both in keeping my sanity, AND-- not to take myself TOO seriously!!!! Oh, and it's helped me take some of life's ups, downs and all-around bumps & bruises with a healthy dose of  HUMOR!! It's truly the most valued tool I have in my 'mental toolbox'!!!

First off, let's look at some 'toons I scrawled while working at the last manufacturing / factory job I had to endure!!! On this particular job, I had to  carry around a set of blank orange 'tags' (about 3 inches wide by 6 inches long) in my shirt pocket, pretty much all the time, along with a handy-dandy 'sharpie' pen!!!

Being the COMPULSIVE doodler that I've ALWAYS been--- and having HUGE chunks of time (we worked 12-hour shifts,rotating from days-to-nights every 4 months!!) with a LOT of tedious, REALLY slow-moving equipment to monitor, it was EXACTLY the right set of circumstances to let loose with some truly GOOF-BALL-type 'toons!!! Keep in mind I was doing these things to BOTH keep from losing my mind from the boredom, and just give myself a reason to laugh!!! Your mileage, as they used to say, may vary!!!---

Now that we've had a look at that weird little form of  'therapy'--- let's take a look-see at some other scrawlings & scribbles I put down, MOSTLY on lined, notebook paper ( I know, a TRULY odd choice!!! But--- hey, these were for pretty much just ME to look & laugh at, remember!!)--- this time to help keep me from going BONKERS during a particularly LONG stretch of unemployment!!!---

---- And that, folks is just a SMALL sampling of the kind of thing the 'ol Loydster will scribble when he's trying to either keep his sanity, OR ..... just needs a good belly-laugh!!! Hope it brought you a few giggles too!!! 


                                                 See  you  NEXT time gang!!!!