Friday, January 2, 2015

A Surprise Package From "Ryan"

So here's a post that's loooooooong overdue:

I received a package last year that was a really nice surprise. It just showed up out of the blue, with no expectations or demands attached. I'm not going to use the sender's full name here just in case, but I want to wholeheartedly thank "Ryan," who sent me this package. It has been forever since I received this stuff, and I want to make it clear that this package did not go unremarked. THANK YOU! Let's take a look at what the incredibly kind Ryan sent to me:


I owned a copy of the Black Hole novelization as a kid. For the longest time it was the only chapter book that I owned. As a kid I had a vague idea that this was some sort of horror novel, and so while I refused to give it up and get rid of it, I also refused to actually read it. I had never seen the Disney movie, and in fact still have not ever seen this Disney movie. I am aware of it's significance as some sort of Star Wars rip-off... but beyond that I have no idea. What's cool about having this book back in my possession is the childhood memories I have of holding onto this book, DARING myself to peek inside, as if some sort of horrific creature was going to pop out and snap my face off and drag it back inside. This thing makes me feel like I'm a kid again.


Anyone who has even casually browsed this blog will already know that I am a huge lover of Choose Your Own Adventure books and their many knock-off cousins. Which-Way Books are yet another of those brand-x CYOA book series that are just as fun as the originals. And when Vampires, Spies, and Alien Beings are involved... look out!


I'm not a huge fan of 101 Dalmations, to be completely honest, but I do love Happy Meal Toys, and the toy on the left side there is one of those completely bonkers vehicles where the top and bottom of the car both have a driving character that you can flip out to play with. So these are both pretty awesome. 


Also in that little package was this set of vikings from the How To Train Your Dragon bucket of Dragons set. I love that they gave these guys the little-plastic-army-men treatment! To be totally honest here too, I already own a set of these, but I genuinely love these so much that I don't mind showcasing them on the blog as much as humanly possible. The letter Ryan included with these items made it very clear that I should not feel obligated to keep anything here if I chose not to. I will definitely make sure that anything here I don't end up keeping will go on to a good home that will appreciate them the way they should be appreciated. 



I hate to play favorites... but I saved the absolute best item for last. This Kermit car is the bomb! This thing is from the Corgi line made back in 1979 and... I mean... KERMIT! This toy is just a classic! 


Here's one final look at the great little package of stuff Ryan sent me Another grand thank-you goes out to him for sending me this package.

I'll be back soon enough with some Geeky Goodwill Goodies! Until then, Happy Hunting!

6 comments:

  1. What a wonderful little package and you should watch the Black Hole movie sometime it's good and having seen it as a kid and having watched again as a adult I really appreciate it more...it's a dark movie for Disney with some wonderful visuals.

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  2. Oh no, Black Hole isn't just a Star Wars ripoff, its also a 2001 A Space Odyssey ripoff and a Forbidden Planet ripoff. Basically any sci fi property was tossed into the soup. Its rather slow, dark and droning. It was the "Event Horizon" of its time.

    By contrast 101 Dalmatians is a personal favorite of mine. I like the look of it with its angular lines and a modernist art style. The contemporary setting of 1960s London is do different from our world today that its practically a new world all its own. Its also fun how so much of story is set at night with slow build suspense like a old school heist movie, its a very unique pedigree in the Disney canon. Sadly these toys don't really reflect that mood.

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  3. Kermit car???? Ryan is good people. :)

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  4. Kermit car is the best. It is on my list. I had it as a kid.

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  5. I think the dog would increase his change of survival if he drove without his paws over his eyes ....... just sayin.

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  6. When did John Laroquette pose for this book cover?

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