NATES "PYTHON" BIRTHDAY, SNAKES, REPTILES, YUCK!!!!

Our grandson Nate is having a birthday party for his 7th year. It turns out that there will be a reptile show in the backyard. Nate loves these things. I, on the other hand, DO NOT!! Maybe I've repressed a bad incident from my childhood or something (I'll use any excuse) but I detest snakes. Mayhaps it is from my Bible School learnings--- remember Adam and Eve and the snake!! Anyway, I sat with all the children to hear what the fellow was teaching us about reptiles and then showing us the creatures afterward. Well, wouldn't you know it, he brings out this damn, humungous 14 foot Python. Everyone there must have thought I was brave because I still sat there. NOT! That devil of a snake had me hypnotized so that I would not move. PURE EVIL!  I no longer blame Eve of Eden for what she did by accepting that apple. The snake handler asked the children if they would like to have the Python over their neck. A majority of them said ,YESSS. Nate was first since he is the birthday boy. I watched as these little kids smiled having this monster wrapped around their tiny throats. I could not have my grandchildren see that their Grandpa (6 foot 5)was a sissy so I marched right up to the fellow and in a faltering voice said," It's my turn". My wife ran for the camera. She could not believe I would do that as she knew my fear. I DID IT! Would I do it again? No, once is enough. Enjoy.

P.S. : The Python birthday cake was delicious that our daughter Steph had made.

Trivia: Queen bees don't use their stingers--except to kill other queen bees.

Did You Know? A Kenyan man escaped from a python by biting it after the snake had wrapped him up in its coils and dragged him up a tree. During the three hour struggle, Ben Nyaumbe smothered the snakes head with his shirt to prevent it from swallowing him and then bit the python on the tip of its tail.

VINTAGE TIN LITHO NASCAR RACE CAR AND DRIVER TOY, 1950's

This is a mint condition (early 1950's) tin litho race car with a driver. It is very nice to say the least. Very detailed old toy. Very ornate for its time. This was taken out of storage after being packed away for over 50 years!! It is about 7 inches long and the race car drivers plastic head can be turned also. It is hard to find one in this condition as these never came in a box. Enjoy.


Trivia: In Bangkok, Thailand, ice skates are known as "hard water shoes.

Did You Know? White laboratory rats protect official police documents in the city of Karnal in the Indian state of Haryana by scaring away mice that would damage paperwork and eat evidence. ( I guess you would call this the "Rat Pack")

VINTAGE AUBURN RUBBER TOYS,1935-1969

In Auburn, Indiana, In 1920 the Auburn Rubber Tire factory came into being. In 1935 during the depression and cars were not selling much, they also started making rubber toys. It was a very smart move. During WW2 they made shoe soles for army boots.Auburn toys could be found in almost every sand box or childs toy box. The two I have here were made in the late 1950's or early 1960's. The convertable is a 1957 Cadillac Fleetwood or Eldorado. The previous owner painted the people in the car. Another interesting fact due to the age of these toys is that I have never come across one where the driver is a woman.  Enjoy.

Trivia: In one study, people were asked," If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, What would it be?"  36% answered pizza.

Did You Know? A new species of rat has been discovered in Papua, New Guinea that is as big as a domestic cat. Found in the crater of the extinct volcano, Mount Bosavi, the wooly rat measures more than 32 inches (80cm) from nose to tail.

VINTAGE MARX WIND-UP "TRICKY TAXI" TOY, 1930-1940's

This terrific little Taxi was the pride and joy of young little boys 70 to 80 years ago. That means that the original owners are now in their eighties and nineties. Can you imagine? This toy car was unique for the simple reason being that it had a fifth wheel on the bottom that kept the car from driving off a tables edge. It was such a great invention that the kids almost thought it was magical. I still do.

Trivia: On average a giraffes tongue is 14 inches long.

Did You Know? German police were called to deal with a dead badger on the road near the town of Goslar ,only to find that the animal was not dead at all. He was drunk and had staggered into the middle of the road after eating overripe cherries that had fermented.

THE A-TEAM (TOY FIGURINES) MR. T AND "HOWLING MAD" MURDOCK

The show "The A- Team" was on from 1983 to 1987. My son Robbie loved to watch this series so I purchased these toy figurines for him to play with. Mr.T was a very imposing figure on the show as B.A.Baracus. Dwight Shultz played the part of "Howling Mad" Murdock. George Peppard (1928-1994) acted the part of John "Hannibal" Smith. As my son grew older he no longer had use for these toys so I put them away. I know that a time will come when he will wish he had kept some of his things . When that time comes he can have them back and won't have to hunt up replacements as I have done over the years.

Trivia: Playboy's " Playmate of the Month" was originally called the " Sweetheart of the Month".


Did You Know? For over four years, a cat in Plymouth, England, has been catching the same bus every day. Casper boards the number 3 bus at 10.55 a. m. outside his home and travels the entire 11 mile (18-km) route before returning home an hour later. He is such a regular passenger that bus drivers look out for him to make sure he gets off at the right stop.