Bossy Gnome Tells 2009 Where To Go

Collage via paper-peddler.

Beware: His Tattoo Will Put Your Eye Out

Who doesn't love A Christmas Story? (It's one of my favorite -- though newer -- holiday film traditions) But dude, a tattoo? ...Won't your next favorite film make you remove it?



Tat belongs to Jim of the Spectremen, who recorded a song called Red Rider, a tribute to Ralphie.

Do You Go Bananas For Pettipants?

Novelty embroidery by the bunches with these vintage Van Raalte pettipants.

Thanks For The Reindeer Sweater

This sweater is proof that the dreaded holiday reindeer sweater has been with us for at least 70 or 80 years. (Long live retaliation via fruit cake!)

Ha Ha, Your Momma Took Penicillin

Searching for old letters to illustrate my article at Inherited Values (yes, I need another website to write at, thank-you-very-much), I found this gem of a blog, Matrilineal, by Linda (a jackass owner), who is transcribing 15 years of previously unread family letters. Sadly I did not find any scans of the old letters (I just love looking at them; it's almost as good as holding them), but when you find entires like this one dated December 6, 1954, you can forgive nearly anything:

I was so scared and horrified when I read that you had taken penicillin. No wonder the doctor tested your heart. Don't ever take it again. After taking it several times it reacts on the heart and often causes death in a few minutes. Don't let any doctor give you any more of it.

Getting The Christmas Tree

Looking for Christmas tree photos for other blog posts, I found these photos...

Brining home a Christmas tree on a Vespa reminds me of those motorscooter kids carrying home a 3-foot-tall bookcase during Cleanup Week.



Real men cut down a real tree: sawing down the National Community Christmas tree for the Christmas Pageant of Peace in Washington, D.C., 1959.

The Boob

Gertrude Olmstead THE BOOB vintage movie ad by Jakestuff
More Gertrude olmstead Posters

Hopalong Cassidy Remained Still

Well, at least the boy in the Hopalong Cassidy costume remained still long enough to be photographed.

Invite The Gang Over For An Old-Fashioned Automobile Party

From invitations and decorations, to party games and activities such as the recharging batteries game (in which women spoon-feed men an entire glass of water), a "Ford" stunt and Mason jar "Blow Out" game, The Social Hour section of the The Royal Neighbor (October, 1932) has you covered.

There's even menu ideas such as "Hot Gas" (hot chocolate) and "Extra Tires" (donuts) -- which surely will lead to the more popular spare tires about the midsection.

I Love the Smell of Vinyl in the Morning

I Love the Smell of Vinyl in the Morning by AmbergEntertainment
Design custom shirts at zazzle.com

Because Clowns Just Plain Ol' Scare Me

I'm so grateful that my dad's selling this antique wooden clown ring-toss game -- heck, the clown even has the X eyes of death! Someone, please, buy it so I do not have to deal with it in the estate in 100 years.