Look Out Disney We Have Cookie Jars Two

Grab a Latte and a Cookie, We Got a Place to Put Them
What should it be cookie jars or pins. I was having difficulties on choosing between the two for my next blog post.   I did both in the recent past so I had to figure what might be the best. If I went with the most the blog that garnered the most hits, it would be pins. There is a lot of interest in the pins and I have many pins blog ideas. But cookie jars are important to me.
Since I have to photograph both, I chose cookie jars. Mickey cookie jars is where I started my collection. However, I branched out to other Disney characters. Some are classic Disney characters like Donald Duck and Goofy.  

This one's for you Princess.

Donald Duck was born in 1934.  He has always had a bit of a temper.  He played a major role during World War II in films against the Nazis.  He was also used on aircraft nose art.  I enjoyed the role that Donald played in the video game Kingdom Hearts.  When my son was young, we would play that game all the time.  My favorite saying he uses is, "Aw phooey" Donald is a true movie star.  Here Donald is seen with a few reels of his many films.  

Where are his pants?

There are many other characters in the Disney universe. One of many is the characters of Winnie the Pooh, a children's novel by A. A. Milne.  My favorite from Winnie the Pooh characters is Tigger. How can you miss?  He is upbeat and peppy.  He even spells his name with style, "T-i-double guh-err," Tigger.  He has a cool theme song. "Tiggers are wonderful things.  Their heads are made of rubber, their tails are made of springs." When I grew to like Tigger, he was voiced by the legendary Paul Winchell.  Paul was a ventriloquist.  He gave voice to Knucklehead Smiff and Jerry Mahoney.  His voice acting of the original Tigger gave Tigger subtle mispronunciations.  Tigger says villyun instead of villain and ridicurus over ridiculous.  However, the statement that Tigger always uses that was way ahead of his time was TTFN, ta ta for now.  Whenever I see anyone clipping or making acronyms when texting, I think to myself, 'way to go Tigger you started it all for us.'

His tail is made of springs

Ready to bounce

My daughter is going off to college and as I was photographing these cookie jars to prepare the blog I said, "You know I should sell some of these cookie jars to help with college tuition." 
She quickly replied, "Go head but I'm taking the Tinker Bell one with me."  Her Disney character preference has morphed from her early liking of the Princesses to the love of Tinker Bell.  As a teen ager, Tinker Bell is ideal.  She has a certain attitude that is easily identified with.  Tink, as she is known for short, started out as a character in J. M. Barrie's Peter Pan.  We all clapped to save her life.  Tink is the keeper of the fairy dust, that magical glittering substance that allows a person to fly. So, I will send Tink to University California Santa Barbara so Tink will be around to help my daughter soar.  

A good place to store Pixie Dust

Blue eyes like my daughter

My favorite Disney character is Goofy.  Goofy is the anthropomorphic Disney dog.  Unlike Pluto, Goofy walks, talks, and drives a car.  He was always a bit clumsy.  But this tripping and falling led to the ever favorite Goofy Holler.  It is a distinctive yodel that is spelled out as, "yaaaaaaaa-hoo-hoo-hooey," first heard in The Art of Skiing in 1941.  Other catchphrases that makes Goofy endearing to me are "gwarsh" and "ah-hyuck".  Goofy like Donald plays a role in Kingdom Hearts.  He never picks up weapon only fights with is shield.  Goofy is an every man character.  In this cookie jar Goofy raids the refrigderator for a snack.  Lift this cookie jar's lid and you will hear, "Gwarsh, I forgot the cookies. Ah-hyuck."

"Soup or salad fries and biscuits extra olives donuts"

I think this will be a good bedtime snack

My fridge never looks this clean around the coils

My mother was a big fan of the Bad Girls. Those Disney villains who were needed in the morality plays that were the Disney stories.  On of her favorite as Cruella de Vil.  Cruella with her Bette Davis looks was a natural for my mom's generation.  Cruella was into fur before fur was so out of vogue.  In the 1960 movie, 101 Dalmatians, Cruella was most vile because she was not only into fur but the fur of puppies.  Everyone loves puppies. So Cruella was easily hated.  As a child watching her tear around in that big red car of hers in the snowy London outskirts, I secretly wished that I could drive like that.  Mom had an identical cookie jar which when she died we gave to my brother.  My mom always had Trader Joe's ginger cookies in her Cruella cookie jar.  My twins always knew that they could find a cookie in that car. 

License plate simply read "De Vil"

Why isn't this car right hand drive

Speed off with the puppies

Experiment 626 is a friend's of mine favorite Disney character.  Who is Experiment 626?  It is Stitch the lovable science fiction character from the movie Lilo & Stitch.  Stitch was an illegal genetic experiment created to cause havoc.  He escaped his outer space compound and came to Earth.  Landing in Hawaii, this nearly indestructible little monster is mistaken for a dog.  He is adopted by an Elvis Presley loving little girl named Lilo.  The antics of Stitch and the bounty hunters from outer space cause many misadventures.  I am happy that I have Stitch because he and Lilo developed into a blended family.  The Hawaiian term Ohana, meaning family not only blood relative but blended individuals.  I had friends who were close enough to be considered family members.  My mom also took in people who she called son or daughter.  This concept of Ohana is second nature to me.  I "adopt" people.  They are like family to me.  I have friends on-line that I have "adopted".  One of them likes Stitch.  So I'm happy I have him.  Luckily, the other likes Donald Duck and I have him too.  I wonder which cookie jar they are taken to college?  

The last place you would check for him to hide

Steve Jobs bought a small computer graphic company from George Lucas.  They called it Pixar.  Pixar made several movies that they sold to the Disney Corporation.  Those movies were highly successful.  Movies like Toy Story, Monsters Inc, Finding Nemo, and The Incredibles.  Soon Pixar was a valuable company not only in dollars but in creativity.  Disney needed to keep receiving movies to screen and sell.  So they bought Pixar for $7.4 Billion.  This sale made Steve Jobs the largest share holder in the Disney Corporation.  Now Pixar attractions  are appearing at both Disneyland and Disney California Adventure.  Cars Land will open on June 15, 2012. This also meant cookie jars were now going to be produced themed on the Pixar movies.  These cookie jars are like Pixar movies compared to the older Disney hand drawn cells.  The Pixar cookie jars are more three dimensional.
In 2003, Finding Nemo came out.  There were several endearing characters. It was about a father Clown Fish, Marlin searching for his lost son, Nemo.  A son who was captured by P. Sherman and taken to his dental office and placed with other tropical salt water fish in an aquarium.  These fish are depicted on a cookie jar. 

Gill, Shark Bait, and Bubbles at Mt. Wanna-Hock-a-loogie

Deb looking for her sister Flo

Peach and Bloat

Jacques and Gurgle

In 2004, a second Pixar inspired cookie jar I bought is The Incredibles.  This super hero family is forced to live hidden away from the public because "supers" have fallen out of favor.  But destiny forces Mr. Incredible back into the super hero business.  He is captured on a clandestine mission which he has told no one about, not even his wife. Elastigirl attempts to rescue him but her children stowaway on her jet.  Her daughter Violet is also a "super".  Her powers are the ability to produce force fields and she is able to become invisible.  The son Dash is just that fast. This cookie jar has the entire family.

Bob Parr and family

Race you for a cookie

Today's final cookie jar comes from the Disney Channel. This one evolved from a live action drama.  When my twins were young they watched the Disney Channel often.  This teen sit-com was Lizzie McGuire.  She was a high school student with common problems.  However, integrated into some scenes Lizzie had a cartoon alter ego.  This cookie jar is a reflection of that cartoon.

Reprsented Lizzie's inner thoughts

Nobody has that many cookies nor counter space for that many cookie jars.  But that is the nature of collecting.  Jay Leno cannot drive all the cars he collects.  Collections are those little baubles that you enjoy.  Hope you enjoy what you collect as much as I enjoy Disney items.

Time Machine Travelogue Thirteen

A Capital Idea

My robot is ready for reinsertion into the past.  Because of nano-technology the robot is small enough not to be seen in the past location.  Luckily, we are returning to a previous location.  At a time, we have been to before.  We are booking reservations for our next trip to Washington D.C.  This was the last day of our field trip before moving on to the next location New York City.  So put 2008 songs on your iPod because we will leave immediately.  Sit back we are on our way again.

Not only did the Egyptins use Obelisks.

In Washington you are surrounded by history.  We have statues and monuments everywhere.  The Washington Monument was erected to honor our first president George Washington.  People often ask me how tall the obelisk is?  I have the answer for you right here. "It is this tall."

Seems taller doesn't it.

  Did you ever want to go some place and when you got there the line was so long?  Add to that the fact that you are on a tour and you have hard deadline's to adhere to.  Well that is what happened when we tried to go to the National Archive.  The National Archive is where all the documents that are important to our nations founding are on display.  The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution are exhibited there.  However, with the line as long as it was, we opted to leave and explore other sites.  But we have a great picture of the outside of the building.  Watch National Treasure to see the inside.

The documents that created our country are inside here.

A freize inspired by the democracy of Ancient Greece.

We did have one more exciting place to visit.  Back to the Smithsonian and a visit to the National Museum of Natural History.  Let's all walk in the museum the admission is free.  As we enter the Rotunda, we are standing face to face with an African Bull elephant.

The African elephant in the Rotunda.

This elephant is eight-tons and 13 feet tall.

From the Rotunda you can branch out into different rooms.  One of the rooms is the Dinosaur Hall.  There are fossil remains of many different species of these ancient creatures that once were the Lords of the Earth.  During my life time dinosaurs have gone from slow plodding lizard like reptiles to fast moving elegant creatures.  They have been identified as the ancestors of modern day birds.  I wonder if dinosaurs taste like chicken.  Maybe we should ask Fred Flintsone if those Bronto ribs the car hop puts on top of the car tasted like chicken.  But how would he know.  Research exploded in the dinosaur field since the 1970's.  Search for these once magnificent animals has expanded around the globe.  Our natural curiosity won't let rest as long as there is still a mystery.  So walk this way and see a small sample of the dinosaurs.

Those small little mammals look delicious.

A face only a mother can love.

Doesn't he look like he's smiling?

The fossil collection is not only limited to dinosaurs.  That is why excavations of any fossil digs require a pain staking exactness.  There are clues to find in and around the place where these creatures died and were buried leading to their fossilization. Plants, insects, and gastroliths, stones swallowed by herbivores to aid in the break down rough plant matter in their stomach, are clues to how these creatures lived and what they ate.  Many fossils are produced in what were once ancient oceans and inland seas.

This display would take up a whole wall in the average size home. It is worth seeing in person.

Another hall contains mammals.  Static display of animals in museums have always fascinated me. When I was younger, I visited the Historical Museum in Helena, Montana.  There was a display of a white buffalo called Big Medicine.  It was incredible.  Also my great grandfather was a avid hunter and had a large display of taxidermied mammals and birds.  Some of which my brother still has in his home.

Looks like he is needing a dance partner, any takers?

The grizzly bear has held a special charm for the people of Washington since the time of Lewis and Clark.  These bears were ferocious and ill tempered.  They had no fear of humans and guns.  It was reported by Mountain Men that shooting them made them madder.  Another animal that I enjoyed is found along the California Coast.  They were hunted nearly to extinction and are only now coming back.  The sea otter was revered for its thick fur that kept them warm in the cold Pacific waters.

The Lord of the kelp forest.

The successor to dinosaurs.

It is hard to believe that the great hairy creatures of the globe evolved from something as small as this little mammal.
My wife and I both have an avocation of working on jewelry.  We use gems and minerals to create necklaces, bracelets, earings and rings.  We aren't Tiffany's but we enjoy working with the Earth's infinite and beautiful gifts.  I was unavoidably drawn to the National Museum of Natural History's Gem and Mineral exhibit.  They have displays of raw gems and minerals and exquisite precious stone jewelry pieces.

Aquamarine, the birthstone for March.

Looks better laying on its side.

Even the simplest quartz looks awesome.

The magic of jewelry is taking the raw miner's grade stones and cutting, faceting, and setting the stones into exotic pieces of art that increases the beauty and value. 

The Hazen diamond necklace by Harry Winston.

I'd buy it if I won the lottery.

Kunzite created for the 100th Anniverasy of Tiffanys

One stone that has undergone many changes is the famous Hope Diamond.  A rare blue diamond that has been labeled as cursed.  It was said to have been plucked from an Indian Idol.  It has brought death and misery to the people who own it.  Now it is in the Smithsonian and you could say it is owned by all of us Americans.  Feeling cursed yet?

A blue diamond a billion years old and still looking great.

The museums of the Smithsonian are too many to visit in a month yet four days on a field trip.  I would have liked to have seen James Whistler's Peacock Room, but there was no time.  From here, we took a bus to New York City.  On this time trip, we are coming to an end too.  So we are powering up for our reinsertion into our own time.  Funny thing about time is it is infinite and never enough at the same time.  Good bye for now look for our next time trip.

This Week in Education Senior Trip

"But I want to go too."

Disney gives every grad a momento when entering.

If you read my blog you know that I am blessed with twins. A girl and a boy gave my wife and I an instant family. It has been an incredible journey.  We took them to Disneyland the first time when they were eighteen months. Anyone one would tell you they are Disneyland professionals. We did all things to acquaint them with Disneyland and its characters. We went to the theater to see all the new releases. They were loyal watchers of the Disney Channel. It isn't like I didn't enjoy any of that. Now for the first time it's happening, they are going without us. It is their trip to Disney's Grad Night. But this is not a trip to Grad Night only. They also go to Universal Studios and Six Flags Magic Mountain.    At Disneyland they get a Grad Night showing of Fantasmic. And the park stays open until 3:00 AM. However thats not late for two kids who just spent 24 hours at the One More Disney Celebration on Leap Day this year. If you haven't read the blogs for these yet check out posts on March 3rd, 5th and 11th . This will be a fun time for them. Neither my wife nor I got to go on this kind of trip. We both had jobs that we couldn't just up and take time off. I know while I mowed those rich kids lawns I was so jealous. Sweating in the hot sun while they got to do anything they wanted.  So I wanted to make sure my kids got to have things better.
This senior trip takes them from their school to Disneyland. They receive a park hopper ticket that allows them into both Disneyland and California Adventure. As I understand it this will be the first and only time this is supposed to happen. 

Wrist bands for safety.

"She's got a ticket to ride."

Disneyland is a controlled environment.  This is one of the benefits of this prepackaged trip.  We found this type of trip was excellent when they were in eighth grade on the Washington D.C. and New York trip.  Check the blog posts of the Time Machine Travelogue for information on that field trip.  As a dad I was, of course, missing them.  Thanks to cell phones it is easier to keep in touch.  My son is not the best texting messenger when it comes to my inquiries.  Now, we have driven this road once or twice a year for over ten years.  I thought he might have paid attention.  While he is traveling on the bus I texted. "Where are you?"  


He texted back, "On the road."  


After they arrived, I texted my son and asked, "What ride are you waiting for?"  


To this I got the best response of the trip, "The ride your daughter learned to drive on."  This made me laugh out loud.  He was going on Autotopia.  It fit with my theory that 90% of the people in California learned to drive on the Autotopia.  So, they were given a wrist band that identified them for staying in the park after it closed to the general public and they also got to attend a special performance of Fantasmic.  

 A new service that Disneyland offers is a photography card.  All photos taken are placed online and the card is used for identifying those pictures.  

Picture this

Also everyday and especially special occasions you want to ask for the events of the day.  If you notice anyone sweeping up or even ride operators, they have a pouch on their belt that has the event cards.  Just ask them for one they are happy to give you one.

Disco ball Mickey

When we were there for the One More Disney Day on Leap Day, my daughter saw the Grad Night Mickey Ears mortar board graduation hat.  The clerk at the hat shop told her that it would be best to buy the hat and have it monogrammed then because on Grad Night they sometimes sell out.  So she did and it was a good thing because the wait would have taken away from rides and fun time.  My son won this cute little penguin at Six Flags Magic Mountain and Mr. Penguini has agreed to model the Mickey Ear hat.  So they partied with their friends a until 3:00 AM.  They went to back to the hotel and started off early the next morning for Universal Studios.

Waddles when he walks for graduation

Universal Studios has several rides based on their movies.  I looked at my copy of the itinerary and I figured where they were so I texted my daughter, "How is Universal Studios?"  

Ride the movies Optimus Prime.

She texted back that she and two other girls, "We just went to the House of Horrors."


I texted back, "Was it scary?"


She answered, "omg yes!!!!"  I thought it might be like a wax museum, but it was like a Halloween fright house with Chuckie and the Texas Chain Saw Massacre.  


They have just added the newest ride based on the movie Transformers.  Both my twins said it was a cool 3-D ride. Mr Penguini show us the flyer.

What could a Decepticon do to you

Later that evening they went to the Medieval Times for dinner.  This is a dinner theater based on the era of Chivalry.  It has all the trappings of the period.  Jousting and sword fighting is part of the display.  Dinner includes Dragon Blood Soup, tomato bisque; Roast Dragon, roasted chicken, and other colorfully named foods.  The girls were given Damsel Headbands and Veils to complete the princess ensemble.  The boys were given princely crowns.  Mr. Pinguini report to the runway please. 

Hit that runway Penguini.

A real fashion horse, uh, I mean penguin.

After they ate and finished at Medieval Times, it was back to the hotel.  The next morning they were off for one more Southern California theme park, Six Flags Magic Mountain.  Are you tired yet?  Well, high school seniors have a ton of energy and they were ready for the long lines of some of the most intense roller coasters in America.  This was the previous home of Mr. Penguini before my son obtained his service contract in a game of chance, shooting hoops.  

Working for a new agent, my son.

The end of the school year is here.  That is great thing.  Everyone says, "You teachers got it easy.  You don't have to work in the summer."  First that is not our fault, we don't make the calendar.  Also we don't get paid for two months.  We have to be industrious like ants and save, and not frivolous like grasshoppers.  I will still have This Week in Education in the summer to show you how we live in that time off.