Merry BetamaXmas!

BetamaXmas is a fantastic website. It’s possible that it is one of the greatest websites of all time. It appeals to me in every way, not just in concept but in execution.

In case you’re a lazy bastard and didn’t click the link, I will elaborate. Basically, it simulates sitting in a 70s/80s basement and watching Christmas specials on television. The details are fantastic– you can even “adjust” the “rabbit ears”. I’ve been in many a house with fake wood paneling and have sat on plenty of tacky plaid couches and have cuddled up with lots of crocheted afghans. And of course, I have had the experience of having to get the rabbit ears just right. Also, the “channel” seems to change of its own volition, which simulates the experience of watching the tube with dear old Dad, who is, to this very day, obsessed with changing the damn channel at least five times during every show, usually right when a show starts to get interesting.

Oh, here’s a quick tangent: I’d heard of the show Silver Spoons, but had never seen it until I discovered BetamaXmas. So I watched five or six episodes on Hulu. It’s a cute concept and I’m actually pretty impressed with the kid’s acting, but it pushes my schmaltz tolerance a bit so I’m not sure if I’ll be able to make it through the whole first season, haha. But it’s nowhere near as bad as Full House– so far.

Anyway, this site brings plenty of 80s Christmas Spirit to the holiday table. In fact, I was so filled with it after watching it that I got my husband’s presents out of hiding and wrapped them and stuck them under the tree.

I really don’t know what it is about 80s Christmas commercials that get me in the spirit. Maybe it’s because they’re fuzzy wuzzy and sentimental, and they bring back rosy memories of a time when the most complicated issue I faced was being afraid of the dark.

Hi, Here’s Some Old Stuff. Or Something.

Damn, I haven’t made a real post since July. I can’t make any promises that I’m ready to start updating on a regular basis again, but I wanted to show you guys the retro junk I’ve collected during my little hiatus. To be honest, there’s not very much of it– as I said several times before, the thrift store selection around here is so-so, and I generally don’t even try garage sales, because who the fuck wants to get up at 6 AM on a Saturday to go look at people’s unwanted trash can fodder? The chances of finding something awesome are very slim. (Though admittedly, I did find a couple things at some garage sales last week, but they’re not retro stuff so…)

I’ve been checking the Salvation Army store down the street quite regularly, and the fact that I’ve only bought maybe four little things from there either says something about the store or about my taste. To be fair, I’ve mostly been looking for retro furniture, and every single damn piece that I’ve wanted has disappeared before I could get back down there to buy it. Not exactly good for my morale.

Anyway! Enough moping. Anyone recognize this?

No? I didn’t at first either. I saw it on the shelf, thought it was cute but very unusual. See, it has this hole in the side of it:

I picked it up and saw a mark that told me it was made in 1956, so I decided to buy it even though I didn’t know what the hell it was supposed to be used for. It was only five dollars.

I figured that someone on the internet had to know what this is, so I searched around and was pretty surprised to find that it’s a dresser caddy– you put your wallet in the side hole, your change in the pouch, and your watch on the tail. That’s probably the last thing I would have thought of– I was thinking pencil holder, napkin holder, random-small-crap holder, maybe even a place to put cigarettes.

But I was even more surprised to find that this is just like the kangaroo Bruce Willis’ character used in Pulp Fiction to store his very important watch. I feel stupid for completely forgetting about it because I’ve seen that movie a dozen times. More info here if you’re interested.

It’s in great shape, and it’s not a reproduction. I’m excited to finally own a piece that could actually be worth something someday, and has some pop culture significance. So I doubt we’ll actually use it for its original purpose. I plan to take good care of it.

Alright, moving on. I found some character glasses a few months back! I’ve been looking for some for a while, so I was pretty happy to find these. I found a Ducktales one and a Muppets one.

That’s all for now.

Blurb-a-licious

At the grocery store down the streeet from my house, they have bins full of Fritos and Doritos…in a can. Is it just me, or have chips in a can been pretty much MIA since sometime around 1985? Well, except for Pringles, that is. Personally, I think it’s brilliant because it keeps them from getting all busted up.

I really want to go back to sleep now. Oh, and life isn’t fucking bullshit anymore, which is good. I might even get around to a real update in the coming weeks.

See You Later. Maybe.

Don’t expect any new content for a while. Life is fucking bullshit and I don’t give a damn about nostalgia or retro things right now.

Sorry.

Another Cool Find, and I Have a New Favorite Site.

I found a huuuuge antique store here in Norman today, and I spent quite a bit of time in there. As I’ve said before, I could easily spend hundreds of dollars in one of these places, but I’m trying not to totally break our bank account.

In one room, I found some prints that used to hang in my bedroom when I was little. I had forgotten all about them until today. Here’s a more complete set. The ones I found today were the blonde girl and the brunette in the white hat, but when I was little we also had the one of the baby with the pink blanket and the girl with the kitten.

Turns out that the artist’s name is Frances Hook, and these pieces and other similar ones were used in the print ads for Northern toilet paper back in the 60s or 70s (reports vary). They’re adorable. I’m considering buying that set from eBay, but I already spent twenty dollars on the two I found today…don’t know if the husband will agree to me spending more. Plus, I’d have to frame them and…blah. I think I’ll have to pass.

Anyway, when I was searching around for info on the prints, I found this place: Retro Renovation. It does a bang-up job of combining two of my interests: interior design/decorating and old stuff! I’ve already blown half my afternoon looking at stuff there. Pink bathrooms galore!