Eva Visits The Sears Portrait Studio & I Got A Stay Puft Duck Butt

::wanders in::

::looks around::

::notices you::

OH HI.

So I have a big project to reveal and another to debut, but I'm feeling kinda swirly today. You know, where you don't want to focus, but you do want to chat? Yep. That's got two thumbs and is sittin' right here.

So let me tell you about my new favorite cookies:

These are SO good, gang. Soft like cake, and the orange filling punches your taste buds right in the sweet spot. Plus, dark chocolate. Humina humina. You can get them at Aldi, I recommend buying 2 boxes at a time. For science.

Remember when I posted this Eva photo in my Story?

Someone - forgive me, I don't remember your name - said it had 1980s Sears Portrait Studio vibes with that stone column, which made me laugh and tell John. Then an hour later, John sent me this:

Let this be a lesson to you commenters: John is always up for a Photoshop challenge. 

 

I've been addicted to browsing Facebook Marketplace lately, which is my only explanation for buying a vintage Christmas bracelet in July:

Y'all. I don't even wear bracelets. But look how pretty.

I also got new-to-me Converse! Look at the cute lil' stripes on the back: 

 

The Converse website doesn't carry much in my size (Youth/Junior 3), so I find some of my Chucks secondhand. I'm guessing these were a limited run with the red pinstripe?

I have no segue for this, but look!

A BOX.

More specifically, look what I did to the box:

Ta-daaa! Low-budget ghost trap!

I cobbled this together with stuff from around the house: insulation foam, colored paper, a soda cap dial, and then John made the handle with scrap PVC pipe. I love throw-away projects like this; takes the pressure off.

And of course the box was a clue for the gift inside:

A vintage Stay Puft from 1984. My friend Tim was bemoaning losing his childhood one years ago, so I found him a replacement on eBay.

Tim and I are both big Ghostbusters fans, counting down the days 'til we can see the new movie together. After I delivered this Stay Puft - his belated birthday gift - I came home to my belated birthday gift from Tim, and had to laugh:

Stay Puft, the duck!

(Sweet Stay Puft, there's also an Egon version. Love it.)

The segmented duck butt is quite disturbing, and therefore my favorite part:

I can see how the designers got here, and yet... WHY

This Stay Puft duck claims to smell like marshmallows, but... no. It's more like fresh rubber mixed with vanilla-scented baby powder. Here's hoping it fades quickly.


Tuesday night John and I and a couple FoE friends went to Disney Springs for a meetup, but because I am a disorganized Doofus, I got the time wrong and we showed up 2 hours late. ::facepalm::

Happily we were able to reschedule with the folks we missed, but as I wandered around feeling like an idiot, I found something appropriate:

It's me as an M&M. It's even orange! 

 

Get outta my head, M&Ms.

On a more serious note, and one of the reasons I'm feeling scattered today: the very next morning one of those friends with us miraculously survived a serious car wreck, one that by all rights should have killed her. Karen was going 60 on the interstate when a larger vehicle veered towards her, so to avoid collision she swerved to the shoulder, side-swiped a concrete wall, blew out 2 tires, lost control, shot across the interstate, and finally got HIT BY A BUS. Her car is totaled, the steering wheel wrenched 90 degrees, and Karen walked away. (No one else was injured.)

Then she texted John an extremely calm message that apologized for the inconvenience, but since it wasn't far from us, could he maybe come pick her up? Because, oh yeah, she'd totaled her car.

We're forever telling our friends to call us when they need anything, so really just that text was a victory. John was there in minutes, and has been spending the last few days being Karen's personal driver. She still has lots more medical tests and paperwork and recovery ahead of her, both physical and emotional, but today I'm celebrating that my friend is still here.

We need to celebrate that more, don't you think? And hug more, for those who want it.

So hey, here's some chipper homework for your weekend: Imagine everyone you love just walked away from a deadly accident. Ask yourself what you could regret. Then go celebrate someone. Make a surprise visit or phone call. Bring chocolates, or tacos. Say the things. If you've been waiting for it, this is your sign.

And don't forget to rest and take care of yourself, too, because some of us out here are celebrating you.

Love y'all. Happy Friday!

*****

Whoops, almost forgot to announce our art winners:

The winner of the Toothless set is Texpenguin
The winner of Dragon Specs is Emily F
And the winner of Dragon Hug is froggibabey

Congrats, you three, and please e-mail me your mailing addresses!

*****

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