Hey hey hey. Got a letter from VH-1 about appearing in some kinda show, but the catch is that I believe it was concerning my Halloween decorations article for a feature about obsessive pop decor. I'm not sure I'm prepared to make a television debut overstating my love for rubber bats, because honestly, rubber bats aren't what really makes my world go round. Oh well -- either way, this is the umpteenth time I've been contacted from some TV station or show or producer or whatnot, and I've grown pretty skeptical whenever those e-mails hit. After going through a rigorous series of BS setup questions, (Do you think you're TV friendly? Would we have to fly you in? Are you available at any time, or are you more seasonal? You're white, right?) they'll usually just end contact anyway. Besides, I like what I do, but I don't want to pretend I'm "that guy" just to gather thirty-five assorted hits from a ten-second spot. I'm rambling -- it's that whole procrastination thing again.
I've removed the pop-ups/popovers from the blog, at least until something can be figured out since many in the current crop are load-stoppers. I'm hoping this'll be rectified soon -- X-E's visitors have been pretty understanding about the ads on the whole, but I can't justify the ones that make readers have to reload a page fifty times to get it up to completion. Oi -- anyway, enjoy the pop-free blog. The next article should be up before 5, and it's got claws. Really, really small claws. Hmmm.
Super Bonus! Remember "Fortress Maximus," the largest of the Transformers? Click here to download & watch his original Hasbro commercial, with kids going absolutely insane over his 3,000 doors, guns, and heads that transform into more robots. If you're not wise to the lore, Max is as expensive as they come -- boxed editions can go for over 500 these days.
Posted by Matt on 07/24/2003. E-mail me!
Chestnuts roasted by 
I’d probably go for one of those mini-sized ballpits, usually sold at TRU. Should be in your range. If not, they sell oversized "Hungry Hungry Hippos" wagons that are sized for two-year-olds to ride and chase around an included pack of balls. Basically, I’m telling you to get the kid something to do with balls. Let him get it out of his system early.
A possible first post? How cool is that!
Sadly, I don’t remember that hulking transformer thing. Ninja Turtles were my main focus back in the day. Hmmm… I picked up one of those new transformers; is it me or kids nowadays much more dexterious then we were?