RETRO FITTING or...



....babies got a brand new top.

Once upon a time, long, long ago in Grandma J's world...which is really just a Compound now, I showed you one of my favorite personal possessions on Vintage Thingie Thursday.


It was my Alf Lamp. Remember Alf? The Alien from the planet Velcro Melmac?



This is what my poor Alf lamp looked like when I posted it on Vintage Thingie Thursday. The lampshade was uh, borrowed from him.....



That's right it's Grandma J's mixing bowl Astro Bear's aka Phillip Johnny Bob, space helmet.


Recently, I tried to research Alf lamps, so I could get him a good replica topper.. but I found none anywhere...not eBay or Amazon. I did find an Alf phone, which was a stuffed animal with a phone attached it to for $85. Evidently Alf is still in demand by alien lovers. So I went in search of a replacement fitting a star.





So here is Alf....all spruced up and on my old abused antique dresser. Actually it's my craft supply dresser since I no longer have a guest room......be that as it may, it's now Alf's new home!




Say, "Welcome home, Alf"

FROM HUMBLE BEGINNINGS....

The deadline for naming my Astro Bear Contest... is tomorrow!

In case you haven't entered yet, and you can't think of a single name.... I thought I'd let you know a little bit of history about Astro Bear...

Life started in a small Build-a Bear town at Downtown Disney in Southern California .....and today? My astro bear is right around two years old.

Astro bear unlike the cowardly Lion, has two hearts. I'll say it again....my sweet bear has two hearts.

Placed in his chest with good wishes and kisses by these two.

Now, Astro Bear has been through thick and thin with me. We traveled from Southern California to Central Texas when I retired. Life has been much more relaxed here..... less hustle and bustle.



He enjoys everyday activities like the rest of us, and is enjoying his life here at the compound with Grandma J.

If you haven't entered my "Name the Bear" contest yet, you still have until noon pdt tomorrow.

This is the grand prize. The best part is my bear will have a real name...chosen by the lucky winner! Could life get any better?

DOUBLE DUTY

I had a feeling Game 5 would be cancelled due to rain...but nope..a little bit of a delay here and there...with some work by the grounds crew, and then it was "PLAY BALL"

It looked like the Phillies had it wrapped up, then in the top of the sixth inning, the Rays scored....tying it up, 2-2.

The umpires called a rain delay around 10:30 PM, and the infield was covered...I don't know, it's after 11 PM, and the rain isn't letting up.

*****UPDATE*****

Game 5 will resume in the bottom of the sixth inning Tuesday on FOX at 8 p.m. ET, weather permitting.

So, when the Fat Lady sings, you know it's in the bag.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I really got caught up in what could be the final game, and yet I was also watching Monday Night Football...and Dancing With The Stars.

I have to say, DWTS was extremely boring. I know, it was probably just me. I mean, I was really into both games.

When they got around to the Olde School Hip Hop group dance, I tried to give it my undivided attention....Then Cloris came bouncing out with a boom box the size of New Hampshire on her shoulder!

I love the woman, and there is so much to admire...but really, she's getting on my last raw nerve. I feel guilty saying that because I couldn't do what she does, and she's old enough to be my mother. Seriously, I try doing Richard Simmons, "Sweatin to The Oldies" vol 2, and after ten minutes I need a break.

It's sad, so sad because I really like her as an actress, and she's sweet. Please tell me I"m not the only one who feels this way?

**Now don't forget to submit a name for my little Bear. See him over there in the column on the right? The little slide show? The winner gets a huge Walmart gift card valued at $25. Contest ends this Friday at noon PDT.

NAME THAT BEAR....please!

I'm having a contest!

Wouldn't you like to win something like this?

Or how about one of these?

Well, the answer is yes you could, if you were entering one of Pioneer Woman's contests The Publisher's Clearinghouse Sweepstakes.

But I love you too, and I want to give you this.....

a WalMart Gift Card valued at $25. I can hear you saying, it's about time yeah!

I have been very fortunate ever since I won two football pools started my blog back in March. I've met so many bloggers over the Internet and some in person...like Her, and Her...on my Major Road Trip to Phlugerville Tx.....and Him, and Him and Her in Los Angeles CA. So, this is my way of saying thank you, and let you know how much I enjoy all of your blogs.

Now, for the contest. Here's what you do. See the slide show in the column on the right? See that pitiful cute little "astronaut" bear? Well, I've been featuring my little astronaut bear in my posts for quite some time, and he's never had a real name....and a reader recently reminded me that he needs one. So, please submit a name in the comment section.

Since I don't have more that six a zillion readers, I won't be using a random computer generated winner picker. No, it will be a random grandchild's grubby little hand picking the winner out of a hat.

So, rack your brain, and shuffle your feet....then come up with a perfect name for my little bear.

Please! Just one entry per person!

Contest ends Friday, October 31st at noon PDT.

That's right, get your entry in before you go trick or treating. I will announce the winner at 6 PM on Friday....unless I can't find a grandchild with grubby hands.

*********************

WORLD SERIES SCHEDULE

Game 1: at Rays, PHILLIES TAKE IT 3 -2

Game 2: at Rays, RAYS TAKE IT 4-2

Game 3: at Phillies, PHILLIES TAKE IT 5-4p

Game 4: at PHILLIES TAKE IT 10-2

Game 5: at Phillies (if nec.), Mon., Oct. 27, 8 p.m. ET
Game 6: at Rays (if nec.), Wed., Oct. 29, 8 p.m. ET
Game 7: at Rays (if nec.), Thurs., Oct. 30, 8 p.m. ET

When The Moon Hits Your Eye Like a Big Pizza Pie...
......your career as an astronaut is in trouble.


Lately, some of you have wondered why I've been hanging out with my old astronaut buddy from NASA. Business has been slow for the Space Shuttle, and it looks like there might be some cuts in the Space Program in the future.

You might remember the unfortunate situation he experienced with the unexpected malfunction of the space toilet in June. He was one of the few astronauts who had the where-with-all to have a back-up solution...

the official NASA diaper....

Then, the new Russian bathroom ended up with it's own issues, by issues we are talking gas...gas separation type issues.

With time on his hands and only a few bucks in his pocket, my old buddy has been hanging around the Compound....

.......traipsing along uninvited to the movies with me, and eating like there's no tomorrow all day. The old saying "hungry as a bear" has taken on a whole new meaning.

With cutbacks looming, my friend went job hunting. Looking for a career change. Something to put bread on the table if you will. This is what he came up with.....

Yeah, he's looking for a quick buck....and based on the amount of money he's bringing in, pole dancing just might be his calling......just maybe.

But it attracts the seediest groupies.

FRIDAY MATINEE.....
....on Friday

It's that time again! Where did this week go? I decided to listen to my readers and see the movie highly recommended by my BFFIANM, Hollywood!

But when we got to the theatre, named after my BFFIANM, Hollywood,....I had second thoughts. For some reason there are two things in life I can't resist....



Sex and Donuts! OK, well, donuts, freshly made donuts like Dunkn' Donuts or Krispy Kremes. And did you know, there are no Krispy Kremes in Texas at all? Sure there is a Dunkn' Donuts 49 miles away, not exactly a convenient place to go for a morning vein clogging breakfast.

So, back to the movies..I was drawn by the story line, and the road trip, and big yellow size 22 shoes.

.........and the added excitement of an Amish Rave Party.

I was please with this movie. It had several laugh out loud moments, and not just by me. I was waiting for it to start dragging, but no, it was good til the end.

We had good seats....in the back row, because it's the only place I can use my camera without getting discovered no one can kick the back of our seats.

We give this movie a big thumbs up!

VINTAGE THINGIE THURSDAY

Hello...remember me? I used to participate in VTT religiously, just like the Sistah's at Holy Crappers. Then I went on vacation. And I was gone for five VTTs. Now I'm back!

I have a special friend who wants to help me this week.....

That's right, it's my little astronaut from NASA....out of uniform.

This is an ivory carved bullfighter and bull, under glass, in a velvet frame. My husband bought this in the late 50's, when he was in the Navy, serving in the Mediterranean when it was a great tour of duty.

Like most of my hangable things, I haven't hung it yet. Maybe I'm not making sense...should I repeat that? Anyway, that's why my little friend was holding it upright for you to see.

The back is all sealed up, and I would like to take it somewhere to have it opened so I can clean the glass in the inside.




The carved ivory is very detailed. One day I will have a 40 pixel camera for all the detailed stuff, because 8 doesn't do it.


Now I have to go see all the other vintage goodies this Thursday.

If you have something to share, please visit Confessions of An Apron Queen and add you name and link to this week's list. It's a great way to intoduce your blog to others, and see some pretty nice vintage treasures.

And while I'm at it, please stop by Shell In Your Pocket and spend some time looking around. You will want to go back again. The icing on the cake is a give away she's having. Hop on over!

SPACE TOILET GOES ON THE FRITZ........
......again!

Zero-G commode fails just when space station is expecting company.

The master bathroom for three astronauts aboard the international space station is on the fritz again, just days before a trio of new spacefliers are due to launch toward the orbiting lab, NASA officials said Friday.

A temporary telemetry glitch also sent the space station into a so-called survival mode earlier this morning, changing the orbiting outpost's attitude and leading to system power downs for several hours.

"It failed late yesterday," NASA spokesperson John Ira Petty said of the Russian-built space commode in televised commentary from Mission Control in Houston. "Russian specialists are troubleshooting. The problem appears to be a [gas] separator issue."

A new toilet, a pair of astronaut bedrooms and a handy new system that recycles urine into pure, drinkable water are on the docket for a fall shuttle flight to the space station, where they'll be tested before the outpost can scale up to six-person crews next year.

This guy is not as prepared for these emergencies.......

.....as this guy!

HOUSTON, WE HAVE A PROBLEM

I kid you not. It seems the Space Station crew has a new challenge. The four words you don't want to hear in space: "The toilet is broken." Some of you are saying to yourself, does she have to talk potty stuff two days in a row? My answer to you is hey, I don't make the news, I just pass it on. The bit of good news is the problem is only with one of the collectors...no, I'm not going to explain it in detail because frankly, some of you don't have the stomach for that kind of talk, so I will let Nasa explain it to those of you that need to know. Pretty extravagant potty isn't it? Thank goodness they have a back up supply of these diapers made famous by this astronaut.

I have my own little astronaut to model one for you so you get an idea about how they fit. See what I mean? Being an astronaut is not all fun and walks in the park on Mars.
I get a great sense of satisfaction when I can bring something educational and newsworthy to y'all.