KERRY JACKSON
KERRY'S BLOG
I love the little pain in the ass…
Thursday, April 17th, 2008 @ 11:01AM
He's 10! Thats 70 to you and me!
I didnt want him. I cant imagine life without him. This is my dog Artie. Named after X96’s own, Artie Fufkin who greets you at the door drooling and damn happy to see you. Named after Artie, the producer on the Larry Sanders Show, whos job it is to protect Larry from the cruel outside world. Named after R2-D2 who, always at Luke’s heals, joined him on many adventures. He’s always been the one of the best things that have ever been forced upon me. Just recently, he stopped going down the stairs. I asked around and it was determined that his shoulders may have a touch of arthritis. When he goes down the stairs all his body weight (a considerable 16 lbs.) is placed on his shoulders. So, he just sits at the top and looks sad. Were trying many treatments, suppliments and such. In the meantime, I carry him down the stairs, and Sue has built a ramp for him to use to climb into bed with us. This is a whole new experience for me. The dogs and cats in my life have always “ran away” or “ Kitty went to help catch mice at a dairy farm where he will have fresh milk every day”. Still not sure I beleive that one, Dad. Kitty was, after all, lactose intolerant.
Toy Room pt 7. Remote Control R2
Tuesday, April 15th, 2008 @ 12:46PM
What we had to put up with.
I borrowed this picture from r2d2central.com, but mine looks exactly like this. This was the very first remote control R2-D2 that was available.
It arrived around 1979 (I think. If I was responsible I would look it up) Cost..3O bucks(again..guesstimate), alot of money for a toy then. See R2’s big feet? Thats so he wouldnt tip over. Wasnt even R2’s real voice! It was an annoying, constant up and down wistle. Kinda like a toy train. Santa came through, again. I was quite dissapointed. He worked, I think, for a month. See...heres the thing. I dont want to come off as sounding like “when I was a kid we played with rocks and sticks and we liked it! You kids today dont appreciate blahblah.."but I guess I’m going to sound that way no matter how I put this. When we were kids, we wanted accuracy. We wanted a communicator that looked like Captain Kirks! Not a blue walkie talkie with a Trek sticker on it. This R2 holds a fond place in my heart, but I had to wait 30 years for an R2D2 that obeys my command, plays back Leia’s ‘help me Obi-Wan’ speech and moves on its own. Sure it cost me a hundred bucks, and its not life size...but hey...its not this ugly thing! I think I may do a Toy Evolution feature to make this point. Not just action figures, but role Playing toys. Dont even get me started on Halloween Costumes! Listen! When I was your age........
Toy Room, Back Again.
Thursday, April 3rd, 2008 @ 11:57AM
Listen to your father, sometimes!
My dad would often overreact to some of my interests, when I was a kid. He wanted me to take welding classes as something to fall back on if this radio thing didnt work. Just good common sense, and I’m an okay welder now. Dont get me wrong, he was ALWAYS and still is supportive of me. He didnt like the fact that I loved to watch Mr. Rogers Neighborhood. He worried old Fred would make me a wuss. He drove me to the Huish Theatre in Payson 36 nites in a row to see Star Wars, on the condition that I not tell Grandma Jackson. She lived through The Depression and would not understand. When dad raised concerns about Big Jim, I thought he was just being crazy. “Its bad enough the boy plays with dolls!” (They Are Action Figures, DAD!) “But THIS one steps over the line!” It was just coming to the end of the 12” GI Joe craze that was all over the nation, and Mattel wanted in on that slice of the pie. They came up with Big Jim and his friends. At the time I didnt get it, but in retrospect I think dad might have been on to something. I mean LOOK at him! Levi shorts and a vest! He’s a LUMBERJACK for crissake! Ive seen guys dressed like this at the Pride Parade. His freinds were Big Jake, Big Jeff and Big Josh! A cowboy, an alligator wrestler and a cop! They had playsets for camping! Tents, jeeps, RV’s! Barbie was a full 4 inches taller than them all, so no women in the RV!
Oh, well. Those old GI Joes were pretty butch, too. But, now that I think about it...Cobra Commander does have quite a lisp.