12.11.04
So my editor sent out a memo the other day encouraging everyone to donate to our local Bellringer fund and to purchase presents for our toy drive as well, noting that purchasing presents for others is just as fun as getting them. Why not, I thought, this could be fun. Given that I can't remember the last time I asked for a toy or gave one. It's been CDs and movies and books and cameras ever since I was 14 I think.
So to Toys R Us it was last night. Not only has this retro-80s trend craze come back, but so have the toys. It's almost like a revival of the 60s but to me, it's way too soon before it can be appreciated. I've been keeping my eye on the redesigned Strawberry Shortcake for the past year. I had the doll (she smelled so sweet, of baby powder and strawberries), the sleeping bag, game, pajamas, the big obnoxious strawberry telephone and watch.
There was Rett Alcott's Transformer. That was so cool. It was white with black and red markings. I think it turned into a fighter jet of some sort and was huge when it turned into a robot.
My Little Pony. I got a used one from a garage sale and I loved it because she smelled sweet and had a little jewel on her hip.
Cabbage Patch Dolls. Mine had a funky name I could never remember and quite frankly, didn't like. Kate had a preemie/newborn named Millie. Oh how she loved that thing. And of course, it smelled sweet too. But I was always fascinated by the concept that these were born in a "cabbage patch" by a man named Xavier Roberts and had adoption papers. I also had a My Child - Molly - with a fresh white face, a hint of make up, black hair and a blue and white dress.
I never got in to Barbies though. I had some - my favorites being Peaches N' Cream, Crystal Barbie and Glow In The Dark Barbie, mainly because the dresses were so pretty. And I had one of those automatic hair-braiders - you clip three clumps of hair into the end of this thing, then push the trigger a couple times to "braid" the hair, but it never worked and I just wound up tangling the plastic yellow fibers anyway. I never understood about making the dolls "talk" to each other either, to me that seemed stupid for some reason. I know friends who liked to make their Barbies and Kens make out with each other. All I cared about was playing with the hair and clothes and itty bitty shoes.
Care Bears. I had Love-A-Lot Bear with pink and red hearts on its tummy and Kate had Friendship Bear with the rainbow on its tummy. And a little tuft of hair on the top. Good snugglers.
As I strolled through the store last night, most of these things were back but they had gadgets with them. You couldn't just get a Care Bear, you got one that either glowed in the dark, or had a fitness video with it and a plastic ear piece on its face. Or a My First Care Bear, or a hand puppet Care Bear or a small collectors edition Care Bear.
Cabbage Patch has come out with a 20th anniversary collection of dolls, only 10,000 were made. They come in a big shiny silver box and don't look any different than the regular ones on the next shelf over, maybe just a little bigger. But the same yarn hair and detailed, well-tailored clothes. The only difference is there is a 20th Anniversary logo of some sort stitched into its bottom, plus Xavier Robert's signature.
My Little Pony has a gazillion accessories, including a purse with a cell phone. What Little Pony needs a cell phone?
Transformers haven't changed much, thankfully. There are just different sizes and more types.
VIEW MASTER! I was talking to mom on the cell phone while I looked at those and we agreed those were definitely one of the favorite toys of my childhood. I picked one up and looked through to find images from classic Disney movies. What always amazed me was that there was that incredible 3-D effect in each scene, nothing like the actual cartoon.
I decided to bypass all the modern stuff and go for the old school items for the toy drive - a package of Crayola crayons and pads of paper, a small Love-A-Lot Care Bear and of course, a package of Transformers, of which I almost tore into last night.
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This year is a poor woman's Christmas at 1221 McKenzie Ave. Despite it being a favorite holiday, there will be no Christmas Tree in the living room because there is barely any room, there is no one to get a tree with and to make cider and cookies while we decorate, and well, funds are tight. So I took my typical holiday trimming and decorated a window frame with lights, garland, ribbon and ornaments. The leftover holiday decorations from last year's company holiday party now adorn the tops of the stove range, computer, dresser, entertainment system and coffee table. I figured if I didn't decorate, I'd go crazy by Dec. 18.
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