(Un)Lucky Number

If you ever get the chance, listen to Lene Lovich's song, Lucky Number, on her 1978 Stateless LP.  It's a quirky little pop number that is quite catchy.  13 is considered an unlucky number and Friday the 13th is viewed as a day of bad luck.  On this Friday the 13th, I thought I'd share some trivia about this day of dread.

Fun facts - There can be no more than 3 Friday the 13ths in a calendar year and no fewer than 1.  Any month starting with a Sunday will contain a Friday the 13th (*see current month). 

History - One possible source is found in Norse Mythology.  A dinner party was held in Valhalla.  12 gods were invited.  Loki was not included.  He arrived as the 13th guest.  He then tricked the Goddess of Darkness, Hoor, to shoot Balder, The God of Joy, with a mistletoe tipped arrow.  His death sent the Earth (Midgard) into despair.  Since then the number 13 has been viewed as unlucky.

In Christianity, there were 13 individuals who attended the Last Supper on the night before the crucifixion of Jesus. Also, members of the Knights Templar were arrested by officers of King Philip IV of France on Friday the 13th, 1307.

Of interest is the 1834 play, Less Finessus des Gribouilles, in which a character with a long string of bad luck states, " I was born on a Friday, December 13, 1813 from which come all of my misfortunes."

Also, the Italian composer Rossini was always fearful of the number 13 and disliked Fridays.  He felt them to be "unlucky".  Rossini died on Friday the 13th, 1868.

Probably more about Friday the 13th than you ever wanted to know.  Regardless, be safe out there today.  Maybe stay away from Camp Crystal Lake!

The Cruelest Month

In his poem, The Waste Land, T.S. Eliot, states the April is the cruelest month.  For the University of Pittsburgh Panther Football Team it was November. The Panthers lost  all 5 of their games by a combined score of 167 to 100.  Boston College, Louisville, Clemson, Virginia, and SMU all took it to the boys in blue and gold.  It was embarrassing at times to watch how badly the Panthers were playing. They were on a roll going into month number 11, 6 wins in a row.  Then the bottom dropped out. What happened??? Too many turnovers and penalties, overall failure to execute the offense, and/or the defense couldn't stop the other team.  I wish I knew.  It was good while it lasted.  Time to regroup and look ahead to next season.  As always...Go Pitt!

Clean Up The Mess

A friendly public service announcement.  If you use or have ever used Mod Wash to clean your car, double check your credit card statement for unauthorized reoccurring monthly charges.  If  your not paying attention (as I was not) you're getting billed for something that you did not want and/or authorize.  It is never explained to you clearly in the beginning and is quite misleading.  Not "modtastic" at all! 

Steel City Sports

It's kind of a mixed bag as far as sports are concerned here in Pittsburgh.  To the surprise of many, the Steelers are having a super season.  They are currently 7 and 2 and on top of the AFC North Division.  Their schedule ahead is a rough one.  Hopefully they can ride it out and get into the playoffs.  Best of luck to the guys in black and gold.

The Pitt Panther football team has had a good go of it.  They have stumbled recently but still can right the ship for the remainder of the season.  They certainly have been fun to watch.

Panther basketball is off to a 3-0 start.  Hoping to see good things from them this year.  They seem to have the horses to get it done.  Go Pitt!

The Penguins are a whole different story.  This is a team in dire need of rebuilding.  I've been to PPG Paints Arena for a couple of games so far this season.  They looked great in each of them.  If they could keep it consistent, they might stand a chance.  They are currently 6 and 9 and near the bottom of the Metropolitan Division.  They took a 7-1 beating yesterday by the Dallas Stars.  YIKES!!!!

Well sports fans, that it for now.  Be safe out there and take care of each other.  Until next time...

The Land of the Ice and Snow

I went on an Alaskan Cruise aboard the Norwegian Cruise Ship Encore.  The ship is beautiful and very well kept.  The crew could not have been kinder or more helpful. Kudos to all.  The food was decent.  The specialty restaurants were very good.  The entertainment was enjoyable.  All-in-all a good experience.

Alaska was not what I envisioned.  No snow - just on top of the mountains. Ice, yes, in Glacier Bay which was pretty cool...cold???  Got to see some whales while in Juno.  Skagway was fun (a little tourist trap).  Glad I went.  Cross off one more from the bucket list.

Victoria, Canada is a great place.  Enjoyed the tour.  Would have liked to have spent more time there.  Got to spend a couple of days in Seattle. The Space Needle was crazy!  Stayed at the Edgewater hotel (lots of famous bands have stayed there going all the way back to the Beatles.)  Wonderful place!  It was nice to get away for a bit.  I'm glad to be home. 

Speaking of ice, I went to the Penguins-Sabers game last night.  What a phenomenal experience!!!!  Geno scored his 500th goal.  Sid scored his 1600th point and then gets the game winner in OT. I have to say I loved the game.  It will be one that will stay in my memory for a long time!

In case you've wondered why no hobby stuff as of late, I just moved and am still in the process of unpacking here at the new place.  It was time to downsize and get everything on one level.  I got a bonus, my new neighbors are super great.  It's a fresh start and I'm happy about it.

Until next time....be safe out there!

A Trip to Clover Valley

Recently I discovered some great stuff by Clover Valley.  Their seasoned pretzel twists are out of this world.  They taste almost exactly like the one's my mom made when we were growing up.  I'm seriously addicted to them.  I also enjoy a good trail mix.  There have several varieties to choose from.  Each one I have tasted was great.  

Dollar General Stores carry Clover Valley products.  I have to say they have not disappointed me.  Try some.

Dinner and a Show (or the other way around)

The family and I went to see Hamilton at the Benedum Center here in Pittsburgh yesterday.  We had a fantastic time.  Every aspect of it was incredible.  Kudos to all involved it making the show a wonderful experience for the eyes and ears to behold.

I first became aware of Hamilton when I saw a video clip of Lin-Manuel Miranda performing Hamilton at the White House for Barak and Michelle Obama on May 12, 2009.  At the time, he said he was working on a Hip-Hop Album based on the life of Alexander Hamilton.  I saw it and was blown away.  When the musical opened in New York in 2015, I wanted to go.  Life has a way of getting in the way, so I had to wait.  I must say, it was worth it.

After the show, we all went to dinner at the Roman Bistro in Forest Hills.  We enjoyed a fine dinner and talked about the show, caught up on each others lives, and generally talked about the crazy world we live in.  

It was a great day.  Spending quality time with family can never be beat.  We were all brought together to hear the story of an orphaned boy, an immigrant, who came to these shores to improve himself and to give back to the nation that took him in.  Many American families, like mine, have an Alexander Hamilton in them.  Someone who dreamed big and wanted to become apart of this great nation.

What a Comeback!

 I watched the Pitt-West Virginia game yesterday,  What a day for college football!  It was a hard fought game going back and forth throughout.  The Mountaineers got a 10 point lead late in the game.  The Panthers rallied and scored 2 touchdowns in the closing minutes.  As a Pitt alumnus, I couldn't be happier with the outcome.  Congratulations to Coach Narduzzi and the Panthers. Hail to Pitt!!!!!

I've Seen Fire and I've Seen Rain

It did rain a little yesterday here in da 'Burgh.  It stopped early enough for the fantastic James Taylor Concert last night at The Pavilion at Star Lake.  I saw the fire and passion in that man as he sang classic hit after classic hit.  Taylor is 76 and you would never know it.  Is he the same James Taylor as yesteryear?  No, but he was amazing just the same.

He opened with Something in the Way She Moves.  Fan favorites like Copperline, Sweet Baby James, Carolina on My Mind, Mexico, Fire and Rain, Country Road, and How Sweet It Is (Marvin Gaye Cover) were all included as well as a couple of Carole King songs like You've Got a Friend.

The crowd was into it on the cool fall-like night in Burgettstown.  Many shouts of "We love you James!" throughout the show.  James responded in kind.  He seemed to be enjoying himself as he gave us snippets about each song and introduced his band members.  His sense of humor was present throughout the evening.  I'm thrilled I had the chance to see him.  The experience was even better as I got to watch my family enjoy the concert right along with me. A truly magical night.

You Spin Me Twice Round

Back in 1996, I went to see Twister in the theater.  It was intense.  Paxton and Hunt were great.  

I saw Twisters today.  I was curious to see if it was just another remake.  It's not.  It's great!  It's intense.  Terrific story, acting, script, special effects....I could go on.  I won't.  Go see it yourself.

Too Much and Not Enough

Went to see Deadpool and Wolverine.  Not a fan.  Loved the 1st 2 Deadpool movies.  This just didn't do it for me.  I actually fell asleep during the movie at one point. Way too many F-Bombs!!!  I thought the story was overly stupid.  For all the hype, it wasn't worth my money.  Sorry fan boys and girls, not all Marvel movies are made equally. 👎👎

Oh no, There goes Tokyo (AGAIN!!!)

I've always loved that big old "King of the Dinosaurs".  I saw that Godzilla Minus One was on Netflix, so I thought I'd check it out.  I have to say, I was not disappointed.  The movie is a definite homage to the old school Godzilla movies from the 1950s and 60s.  These were the ones I would go to with my friends at the matinee on a Saturday afternoon.  Sometimes it was a double feature.  (I think our parents were actually  happy to be rid of us for a bit.)

The mood, cheesy acting, setting, and story were all very reminiscent of those classic films.  I loved some of the new ideas.  (Godzilla on the island in WW2 and the battle scene at the end, for example)  But we still got to see the classic Godzilla rampage in Tokyo (Blue Oyster Cult must be thrilled!) and the lighting up of the spine and atomic fire breath.  Good stuff!

The film was slow at times, but overall I enjoyed it.  Once again I felt like that little boy in the theater with a box of popcorn in awe of what I was seeing on the big screen.  Go go Godzilla! 

Aloha!!!

Grab your board.  Jump the next wave and ride it on over to kahuna-kollectibles and check out the really great stuff in my eBay store.  I've reduced prices on nearly every item.  Go check it out and I'm sure you'll find something that you just can't live without.  Vintage toys, collectibles, DVDs, rock band shirts, and much, much more.  New items are added nearly every day.  Take a look!  Mahalo!

What's Up With Wendy's???

Since the passing of Dave Thomas in 2002, Wendy's Restaurants seem to have been on a steady decline.  It used to be you could count on getting a really good burger and fries from one of the locations for a decent price.  The Frosties were great too.  Not any more.

Franchises are closing.  The ones that are open often seem dirty and understaffed.  The last three times I ordered (3 different locations) the food tasted terrible (burgers, chicken sandwiches, fries, and the berry frosty).  Nasty is the only word to describe it!  When the drink is the best part of the meal, something is majorly wrong!

Not to single out the little red haired girl, my experiences at McClown's and Burger Kinger haven't been much better. Maybe fast food (which I really shouldn't be eating anyway) has just become substandard.  It doesn't seem like Arby's, Chick-Fil-A, and Taco Bell are so bad.  Perhaps I should just stick to them if I'm in a hurry.  Anyway, I just had to beef about it (LOL). Until next time.

Chicken, Chicken, Chicken...and You Gonna Like it

Any of you who lived in Pittsburgh in the 80s and 90s remember the commercial with restaurateur, Lou Pappan, saying those words. Pappan restaurants closed their doors in 2007, much to the chagrin of locals.

I'm going to use that same phrase to describe Raise the Roost Food Joints awesome chicken.  If your lucky, you can find one inside your local 7Eleven.  Raise the Roost has locations across the Northeast and as far south as South Carolina.  While visiting Charleston, I stopped to get gas and discovered one by accident.  It was love at first bite.  Great tasting chicken, potato wedges, and biscuits!  Lucky for me I found one not far from where I live in da 'Burgh.  

If ya see one, stop by and get some bird.  Trust me on this one.  Hey, have I steered you wrong yet?

Soccer - Pittsburgh Style

My son and I went to see the Riverhounds play at Highmark Stadium in Pittsburgh.  Even though the Hounds lost to Louisville  1- nil, great time had by all.  They had fireworks after which was a first for the Riverhounds. It was a beautiful night.  Take a look - the 'Burgh makes a great backdrop!

 

Cats Always Land on Their Feet...Skates

Congratulations to the Florida Panthers for winning their first Stanley Cup.  They beat the Edmonton Oilers 2-1 in Game 7.  It was a hard fought series.  Both teams played amazing hockey.  Very enjoyable for hockey fans to watch.

 

Passed the Taste Test

Hey All,

I wanted to share some new stuff (to me) that I have discovered as of late.  

The first is Gaelic Ale by Highland Brewing.  Smooth.  Easy to drink.  Try some.

Next is Gold Peak Unsweetened Tea.  Awesome!  Can't stop drinking the stuff.  

Garden Veggie "Flavor Burst" Nacho Cheese Flavored Tortilla Chips rounds out the group.  Addictive!  Trust me, eat one and off to the races you go.  Crazy good!

Well that's it sports fans.  Try 'em and see of you like 'em as much as I did.  Thank me later.

 

If It's June, We're In The Carolinas

My cousins from across the U.S. decided to have a family reunion in Ocean Isle, S.C.  On the way down, we took some time to visit George Vanderbilt's amazing estate Biltmore in Ashville.  What an absolutely incredible place.  It is truly awe inspiring.  The building, the grounds, the history. Loved it.  Go down to the winery and sample some of the wines they make on site.  It is well worth it and very enjoyable.  We ended up buying several bottles while we were there.  Bringing home a bit of Biltmore with us you could say.

Next stop Ocean Isle, N.C.  We had a beautiful rental right on the beach.  The water was decently warm.  Temps were in the 90s.  The ocean breeze made it bearable.  It was great to see my family.  Some of us it has been over 40 years since we have seen one another.  Many stories and memories shared and new ones created.  One of the "goobers" in this picture is me.  Any guesses as to which one?  

Last stop, Charlotte, S.C. We love traveling through the South.  If you followed my blog long enough, you know we've been all over Florida, Tennessee, San Antonio, Birmingham, Atlanta, Baton Rouge, Myrtle Beach, and Nags Head.  (Many more destinations down the road!).  Charlotte is beautiful!  We stayed at a small B & B (the Bijou).  We explored The Market (hundreds of vendors).  Ate at Lewis Beef - Soooooooooooo good!!! Did the harbor tour (saw Fort Sumter, some dolphins, and a bunch of Southern Mansions.) Took the bus tour the next day - tons of history (Colonial to the Present).  The last night, we did the dinner walk.  Four different restaurants.  Great food, met some super nice folks, and had a very enjoyable time.  Stopped at my favorite supermarket before we left....Harris Teeter. We don't have them in Pittsburgh and it's a treat when I get to shop in one and get things I can't buy here.

All in all, a wonderful week.  As always, it is great to be back home.  Thanks for checking out my blog.  I am grateful that you do.  Be safe out there!

When the Dust Settled

These two miniatures are from the Dust Tactics: Operation Cerberus game.  The female is the Axis sniper/assassin Angela Wolf and the other is called The Chef.  Angela comes complete with sniper rifle.  The Chef has a napalm canister and two hand-held flamethrowers.

I painted Angela much like she appears on the box cover.  I changed the gray uniform of the Chef to olive drab.  These two will be added to my ever expanding Weird War collection.  Someday they will reach the gaming table....someday.

Power Up

I've been on a kick as of late building/painting terrain.  I purchased this Gothic Generator from Secret Weapon Miniatures last year.  It is a super cool looking model.  I painted it black, then coated it with glitter.  Some copper color areas were added in a few spots and then everything was given a clear coat.  I made a custom base for it  The only issue was assembly.  The clear green rods were too long and had to be cut down,  Then they were too big for the holes in the base and had to be filed down some.  The big issue was getting the rods to line up so that the top could be attached.  NO FUN!  It's all finished now and looks pretty decent as far as I'm concerned.  Take a look.  As always, thank you for taking the time to view my humble little blog.  Until next time.

Fantasy 4 Played

I just got these D&D Miniatures in the mail today.  I ordered them from Barnes & Noble.  $20 for 4 of the smallest miniatures that you have ever seen.  The one in the middle (the largest one) is broken off its base.  I thought the Scarab thingy was a token.  I know Kobolds are small, I get it. The other figure is smallish compared to other D&D figures I have.  Now they are on clear bases.  Okay, so I'll have to paint them to fit in with the rest of collection.  Not a big deal, but a bit of a bother. It just seems like there is not much here for the money.  I know the price of everything keeps going up, but this just seems like I'm being ripped off.  It might be time to end the D&D miniatures collecting.  There are plenty of other options out there.

 

Vat's Happening??!!

While I was looking for some WH40K Miniatures I bought last year, I came across this piece of terrain that I forgot I even had.  This is a Chemical Tank.  It was a 3D print that looks amazing. I painted the liquid with shades of green, yellow, and a bit of orange.  The tank was painted gray with charcoal support columns/  The pump and bolts were painted a dark silver.  When everything dried I gave it a wash of black paint and later went in with some light gray highlights.  

I added some rust to some to the metal areas,  I used the old super glue and water trick to created the overflow down the side of the tank. (Pour the super glue onto the area you want to create the flow.  Let it sit for a second or two.  Dip you finger in water and touch the superglue areas you want to raise. Repeat until you get the desired texture.)  When it dried I painted it the same way I did the liquid.  When it dried I went back and gave all the green areas a coat of sparkle paint to give a metallic feel to the chemicals.

I added two decals; a Danger Sign, and a Toxic Waste Sign.  I clear coated everything and called it a day. I plan to add this to my Chemical Plant Project whenever I get to it. Take a peek.  Don't get too close!!!

 

The Far East

 ...well, Pittsburgh, anyway...I mean it is in the eastern part of the U.S.A., ...whatever.  For the past several months, I have been enjoying some products I have to rave about.

I love Chinese food.  I literally could eat it multiple times per week.  To fill in those times when I can't get to one of my favorite Chinese restaurants, I have found some great munchies from Pagoda.  Their Chicken Egg Rolls are super.  Just follow the directions on the box and they turn out perfect.  Dip them in some hot Chinese Mustard by Ka-Me for a real treat (hot & spicy, but not over the top).  Also good is the Crab Rangoon.   They come with a sweet dipping sauce.  Put them in the air fryer and they are done in no time.  Fabulous!!!

If you haven't tried Pagoda Products yet, I encourage you to do so.  They are reasonably priced and very enjoyable. "Chi Hao He Hao"

Enter....The Dragon

 The yella fella pictured here is a Dragonkin from Starfinder Battles.  It is a Deep Cuts and it sure shows with all the fantastic details on the model.  I bought it for around 9 bucks at a local hobby shop.  I saw it and said "Mine!"

It says on the packaging that it is primed and ready to paint.  Learn from my mistake.  Take the time to prime it.  You'll have a much easier go of your painting if you do.  What you see here is layers of paint to get the coverage necessary.

I went with shades of yellow.  I have no yellow dragons in my collection.  I'm glad I did.  I really like it.  Grays and pewter for the ammo belt.  Carbon for the blaster and blade.  The shaft was painted a metallic purple.  The horns are charcoal and the eyes a pinkish color.  The base is basic black.  

Everything was given a wash and some highlights.  Presto, one bad a$$ space dragon.  Take a gander.

Seeking Lord Stanley

I don't know about you, but the NHL playoffs have been amazing so far. I've watched a ton of the games and each one has been nothing but outstanding hockey.  It's crazy to see that in most cases, the teams are so evenly matched.  I, for one, am loving it.  Kudos to the NHL for putting such a spectacular product out there for the fans to enjoy.  Much thanks and praise has to go to the owners, coaches, players, etc. who are making it all happen.  Great job to one and all.

They Got Their Hooks In Ya!

 

These are Pelegarth Brutes and their Warden.  These miniatures are from Wrath of Kings.  I bought several sets some time ago on sale (Miniatures Market, maybe???)  Looking for something out of the ordinary to paint, I decided upon these guys. They didn't disappoint.

It was a quick, fun, and enjoyable paint job and it didn't take very long.  These guys turned out to be very cool.  

I painted the Shell Cracker set awhile back which I also enjoyed.  I've two more sets to paint from Wrath of Kings.  When will you see them???  IDK.

Your Days Are Numbered

I first read about the Imperial Assassins in WH40K while reading the Horus Heresy Series awhile back.  I was fascinated by them.  When I saw a picture of them, the fascination grew even more deep.  Four individuals who covertly carried on the elimination of the enemies of the emperor/empire.

When I saw these models on sale over at Spikey Bits, I couldn't resist.  The model in the foreground is by Ghamak as are the custom bases.  The other three models were made by HerseyLab.

(Below) Left to right: an Eversor Temple Assassin, a Callidus Tempe Assassin, a Culexus Temple Assassin, and a Vindicare Temple Assassin.  Each model was painted black.  The Eversor model was given a metallic red drybrush, The Callidus model - a green metallic drybrush, the Culexus figure - purple metallic, and finally the Vindicare Assassin -  a metallic blue.  Each looks super cool in their own deadly way.  Take a look.

A Hunting We Will Go

 

I saw this AT-ST online and decided I had to have it.  It is in perfect shape and I nabbed it for a great price.  I loved these in The Empire Strikes Back (even though they were quite vulnerable).  Run Ewoks!  It not too safe out here.

This will make a nice edition to my expanding Star Wars Miniatures Collection.  I grabbed an AT-AT awhile back.  The Rebellion will need everything it has against these "Walkers".