ZOE

October 22, 1998 - May 17, 2012

Our beloved pug, Zoe passed away this morning.

Zoe was a very special member of our family.  Regardless of how she felt or what kind of day she had, she was always there sitting in the kitchen to greet me and put a smile on my face when I walked through the door when I came home from work everyday.

Zoe was a smart pug.  When we would take her for a walk, we would ask her "Zoe, do you want to go for a walk?"  She got so familiar with the word "walk" that when she heard it said in conversation, she immediately thought she was going for a walk.  We had to start saying "W" instead when we used the word walk as to not excite her.  So when I went for a walk, I would say to my wife "I'm going for a W."

Zoe traveled with us many times up to Vermont to visit my wife's son at college.  She never gave us a problem on the 7 hour drive.  When we got there, she made herself right at home.  She loved sitting in her bed by the fireplace there.

Monday evenings were a special night for us.  I called it "Castle and Creamsicle Night."   I would spread the blanket out in front of the TV and we would watch our favorite TV show, "Castle" and share a creamsicle.  (Alright, I spread out a blanket and watched TV with Zoe practically every night and we shared many creamsicles on other nights but Monday nights were special.)

When she was left alone in the house, we would either leave the TV on for her or play music for her.  She was a fan of HGTV and in music, liked country music, loved Christmas music and developed an affinity for Frank Sinatra.

As she got older, she slowed down.  Some nights when I sat on our blanket, she would come over to me with a little sadness in her eyes.  It was like she was asking me "Why can't I walk around the block anymore and why can't I go up and down the steps like I used to?".  What could I do.  I would pet her on the head or rub her chin and talk to her in a soft, calm, reassuring voice.   She would look at me and the sadness was gone.  She would lay down on her side or back and I would rub her belly.  Immediately, she started making that purring/snoring sound that pugs make.  All was once again right in her world.  It was the best I could do. 

I started carrying her up and down the main stairway.  When we were beginning the trip at the top or the bottom of the stairs, her little paws would grab my arm as if to say, "I'm ready."  She never gave me a problem carrying her.  She had no trouble with the outside steps, just the main staircase.  When I would carry her, her little head would twist around and she looked everywhere.  My guess is that since she always saw the world from about 6 inches off the ground, seeing it from 4 or 5 feet high was a spectacular sight.

I imagine right now she is laying in her bed, bright sunshine on her. (It is a beautiful sunny day here).  She is content, napping comfortably with one eye ever so slightly open, keeping a watch out for me to enter and take her on a long “W”.  I told her it would be the first thing we would do when I got there.

Crashmobile II

Finally found and won an auction on the elusive red base and green wheel version that I have been looking for.  Here it is!

New Magazine

Well, its not really new. I had this when I was a kid but mine got all torn up, written on etc.

Saw it on Ebay and won it for about $12.00.

Its from 1965 and is about the Baseball World Series. There is a great article on the 1964 World Series as well as one on Mickey Mantle.

There are also some great pictures, this is one of Cardinal Pitching great Bob Gibson.

New Matchbox Display

Just got this in the mail today, all the way from England.

It's a reproduction but I think it is fantastic.

Mystery Space Ship by Marx

One of the toys I had and loved as a kid was the Mystery Space Ship which was made by Marx. I can remember having the spaceship, the crank and the stand. The rest was gone.

It was a yellow saucer shaped ship that had a gyroscope that you cranked up and it could do amazing tricks.

Well, I've been searching for one for awhile and finally got one in an auction at a decent price. I got the package and opened it up and the ship is fantastic. It is in great condition and works well.


Also got the box (pictured above) as well as the orange plastic astronauts and green plastic moonmen as well as the looped handle. Only thing that seems to be missing is the instruction booklet.

1966 Topps Rub-Offs

In 1966, Topps issued Rub-Offs as an insert in one of the series of Baseball Cards issued. These pictures were meant to be rubbed off on paper or some other surface.

These rub-offs were printed in rolls of 20 as well as sheets. There are 120 in the set, 100 players and 20 team pennants.

These rub-offs are notoriously know for being cut off center.

Here is the front and back of an uncut group of 5 from a larger roll.




Here is the Bob Veale rub-off.


Here is the front and back of the Kansas City Athletics team pennant.




About a year ago I decided to put together a complete set for my collection. I have tried to get them well centered so its been a challenge. As of today, I have 53 of the 120 so I'm just a little bit short of completing half the set.

Crashmobile !!

As faithful reads will recall, I was looking for a Crashmobile in red with a green roof. well I found it!!

I put in a bid and was the winner. Still need the red base with green wheels.