Cleveland Pinball and Arcade Show!
Sep 13
Took a half vacation day from work on Friday with my best friend since high school and went to the 2015 Cleveland Pinball and Arcade Show. We had a BLAST!!!!
This is a great show and I got to play a TON of tables I love and some I haven’t seen before. Definitely go with a friend. We played all the tables on 2 player which made the experience that much more fun!
Here are a couple shots from the main room floor. The pictures don’t do it justice.
One of the highlights for me was getting to play Jersey Jack’s Wizard of Oz machine. This is a fantastic machine! It’s a low scoring machine (so don’t get frustrated), but an absolute blast to play!
Here’s a YouTube video featuring this amazing machine: CLICK ME!!!
If you are out and about and see this table somewhere, PLAY IT! —— It’s amazing!!!
—– Brandon
Disney Park Props
Aug 22
Here’s my latest authentic Disney Parks prop find:
Disney park used Tomorrowland and Main Street trash can plaques
These are plaques off trash cans in the Magic Kingdom. One is from Tomorrowland and the other from Main Street USA!
Here’s a shot of the back showing these are authentic park used pieces that still have the bolts intact where they were secured to the cans.
Back of the plaques showing how they bolt to the trash cans.
These were an awesome find. They’re in great shape and are going to clean up nicely.
They’re a great addition to my growing collection.
A Day at the Range
Apr 19
Had a great safe day at the range yesterday. Took an “Intro to Competitive Pistol” class.
Tim Logan runs a great class and runs a really safe range.
I learned that actively engaging a target pushes you as a shooter, and also pushes your equipment to a point where any weaknesses in your setup become very evident.
I have a Glock branded 10 round magazine sitting in the trash today as a result from consistent critical failures yesterday that never showed up during stagnant shooting.
I shot well, but the consistent 10 round magazine failures hurt my times. On a positive note, I got a lot of practice clearing jams, swapping mags, and cycling the gun under pressure.
Here’s pictures of the basic course and the instructors showing us how it’s done.
—– Brandon
Happy Thanksgiving
Nov 28
Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!
We got to spend time with family. We spent Thanksgiving at my mom and dad’s house, had a great turkey dinner, watched the parade, and watched old home movies my Grandfather made of all of us and my cousins. Everyone got a kick out of seeing everyone in their younger years and got a good laugh at how chubby of a baby I was. Yep, I was a bit of a Butterball.
As I get older, I’m realizing how important times like these are in a person’s life and how much I’m going to miss them someday. Days like I had yesterday are what memories are made of.
I hope everyone had as nice of a Thanksgiving as we did.
—– Brandon
2014 Geauga County Fair
Aug 31
Missy works for Great Lakes Outdoor Supply in Bainbridge and they have a booth (tent) out at the Geauga County Fair this year. She’s been out there all week so Dane and I decided to head on over there to pay her a visit. Well, Dane mainly went for the Turkey Leg. 🙂
She got out a little early so we got to go do some Fair stuff. It was a great night for it and we had a good time.
Here are a few pictures I snapped while wandering around:
Dane and his Turkey Leg!!!!
Dane petting the nice calm horse at the barn.
Baby goat. This little guy was cute.
This guy would growl when you got near him.
Nice shot of Missy and Dane as we were leaving the Fairgrounds.
2013 Nutcracker Collectors’ Club Convention – Day 2
Jul 15– Day 2 of the 2013 Nutcracker Collectors’ Convention
Day 2 of the Nutcracker Collectors’ Club Convention is usually a whirlwind and this year, it was no different. It started at the hotel with the club’s famous nutcracker show, sale, and auction. After the auction, the official club member’s meeting was held then any members who were interested were invited to go to Holden’s Arboretum to see Homer Jacob’s nutcracker collection.
The day finished with a fantastic meal at Dino’s Restaurant located in Mentor Ohio. Then we all said our farewells. It all went so fast that it’s all really over before you know it!
Pieces on display from Mike Pickwick’s collection.
Nutcracker Collectors’ Club show, sale, and auction
The pieces I brought to sell did real well at the auction.
Snail Nutcracker – Went to the Nutcracker Museum in Leavenworth
Greyhound Nutcracker (#3) – Went to a private collector in New Concord Ohio.
Skull Nutcracker (#4) – Went to a private collector in Ann Arbor Michigan.
— Holden’s Arboretum
The arboretum has a fantastic collection of nutcrackers that includes some very rare pieces. We were fortunate to be able to visit and have unrestricted access to the fantastic pieces Homer Jacob had collected. Rumor has it that the arboretum may be looking at selling off some of the pieces in the next couple of years.
Holden Arboretum – Homer Jacob’s Nutcracker Collection
Holden’s Arboretum had some great animal nutcrackers
Holden’s Arboretum also had 2 very rare House Nutcrackers
— Dino’s Restaurant in Mentor Ohio
The convention ended at Dino’s Restaurant in Mentor Ohio. We were all treated to a great Italian family style served meal. The Eggplant Parmesan was absolutely fabulous and hands down my favorite.
Dino’s Restaurant
Dino’s Party Room
— Parting Words
Unfortunately all good things must come to an end. We had a great time and were very sad to have to say goodbye to old friends and new ones we made this year.
Next year’s convention is scheduled to be in Roswell New Mexico. Hmmmmm…. looks like I’d better start designing a cool flying saucer screw type nutcracker or two….. AWESOME!!!!!
A huge THANK YOU to everyone who bought my pieces and brought me pieces to repair this year! If you’re following this blog, keep an eye out for some fantastic pieces to be featured as I get them repaired and restored!
Again, if you are interested in joining The Nutcracker Collectors’ Club ($20/year domestic, $25/year international), contact Susan Otto at nutsue@roadrunner.com.