Ever have one of those great surprises in a day?

After work yesterday I has to run an errand for a science class. Starch. Lots of liquid starch. I decided to go to SaveMart since they always have what I needed before.
While in there, I went to the frozen food aisle. Of course that is where they keep the Hot Wheels.
Giving a quick once over, nearly all of the cars were from the 2011 line. So, either I had the ones I wanted, or did not care about them.
But, not being able to leave it at a superficial
Look, I started to dig. In less than a minute I came across a Treasure Hunt car. Now I don’t care about the TH cars usually, but there was one I always wanted, the Datsun 240Z. And here it was in my hand. Totally worth braving the torrential downpour.
They bagger at the counter said I couldn’t open it. I know they are worth something since they are limited, but I really just wanted the car. What do you think, open or no open??

Currently Reading: Ready Player One

Okay all you 80s nerds, this is the book for you.   I got this book as a sort of in between while I was waiting for another book.  It sounded kinda fun so I thought I would give it a try.  I CANNOT PUT IT DOWN!!!

It is a post-apocalyptic sort of world in 2024 where the world has begun to run out of natural resources.  Think about what it would be like if we did not recover from our current recession.   Mobile home parks where houses are stacked 15 high is the new norm.  People are barely working, if at all, the school system is shot, and people don’t have a hope.

Well, they do have one escape, the OASIS.   An interactive online world developed by one of the greatest video game designers the world has ever seen.  Think along the lines of someone like Steve Jobs.   He creates a world in cyberspace for people to live out their lives, playing and working.  People in OASIS have jobs, kids go to school, and it is all free.

When the designer dies, he leave behind a game.  A game where the winner is given all of his fortune… a few billion dollars and the most lucrative business ever.

The adventure follows one teen, Wade, also known as Perzival.  He uses all of his vast knowledge of all things 80s to try and solve the puzzles to win the game.  Upon solving the first puzzle, his world comes crashing down around him as we find out the the evil company who is also trying to win is willing to kill for it.

This is one exciting book.  I am sure anyone who likes video games and movies would like this book.  If you grew up in the 80s or at least like the 80s, you are going to love this book.  There are so many great references to games, movies, and TV shows.

Give it a whirl.  I bet you will like it.

DC Universe Action League Wave 5: Flashpoint

On my outing yesterday, I was surprised to see a new wave of Action League figures.   It seems like it has been so long since the last wave came out, and I was starting to wonder if they had gone to the wayside.

But, there they were, in all of their miniature plastic glory.  Wave 5 is based on the 2011 storyline called Flashpoint.  Named for the Flash characters who are the only ones who realize there is something wrong.

I decided to grab one set: Wonder Woman vs Aquaman.

I know what you are thinking, those of you who are not avid comic readers: “Wha? Wonder Woman verses Aquaman? Aren’t they both good guys?”  Well, apparently not in this alternate reality.  Wonder Woman, known as Princess Diana has killed Mara, which leads Aquaman to rally Atlantis against the Amazons.

I grabbed this set because seeing WW in a unique armor outfit is just too fun to pass up.  She has a great variety of colors that really make her outfit stand out.   As with the standard design of the Action League figures, she has very little articulation.   Head swivel, and both arms swivel at the shoulder.  Her stance is nice and solid.

Aquaman comes ready for battle.  Holding his trident, which can be removed from his hand, he is in a running pose.  He has one more part of articulation than WW where he swivels at the waist.   He comes with a stand which he does need in order to keep from falling onto his face.

There are three more sets in the series.  Project: Superman & Batman, Cyborg & Element Woman, and The Flash Vs. Citizen Cold.  At this point I am going to wait for the rest of the wave.   The price on these little guys just keep on creeping higher.   With only three or four points of articulation, and such easy designs, I don’t think the continued higher prices are worth it.   But then again, they may surprise me with some outstanding figures for the next wave.  We will have to wait and see.

Die, toy poachers

Today was my fun day for venturing out to hunt for some toys. After a failed attempt at Toys R Us, I went to the nearby K-Mart. Shopping at K-Mart is something akin to trying to get gas in the Mad Max reality. There are a lot of people who would rather be anywhere but at K-Mart, just trying to get out of there, but only having two employees at any given time.

I try as hard as I can to NEVER go into the wasteland that is K-Mart. But, since it was early in the day on a Saturday, I was hoping for the best. Well, it turned out to be worse than I thought.

On my way in, I saw three guys carrying out four cases of Hot Wheels. These damn poachers cleared out the store. I am pretty sure that particular K-Mart will not halve any more Ho t Wheels for quite some time.

I hate seeing these guys walk out of the store with something that I know will end up on eBay. I know they could be collectors, but I actually heard them discussing eBay as they passed. The
Hesse guys are going to sit on them for 9 months and then unload them as people are getting desperate for that one color or whatever they need.

Maybe this blog should have been titled: How eBay killed hobby toy collectors. I don’t want them all, not even most, but there are a few Hot Wheels I do like to collect for aesthetics or classic designs. I hate to think that the guy who is selling the 6 Ecto-1s from two years back is also going to be the guy who is going to keep me from getting this year’s KITT.

Happy Friday Everyone!

As the weekend looms closer and closer by the minute, I am getting more excited for the weekend.
My wife has to work, not that this is a good thing, but I always like to go up there and meet her for lunch.
Not only do I get a tasty burrito from a hole-in-the-wall taqueria, I also get to visit a few stores that are otherwise way outside my normal stomping grounds.
Now generally speaking, I don’t often find stuff I am hunting for, but sometimes the fun is in the hunt.
Still, a little something would be nice.