There’s this guy, Ian Golder, who collects boxes of macaroni and cheese. He's a little bit famous for this. I had heard of Ian and his macaroni years ago and kept this bit of trivia lodged in some dark recess. I too have loved boxed mac and cheese over the years. When I was in grades 5 and 6, my family lived right across the street from my school. My brothers and I went home for lunch, even when my parents weren't there. As far as I can recall, I boiled up and ate a box of Kraft dinner pretty much every single day. We also squeezed in two TV shows over lunch, Hercules and Rocket Robin Hood. I'd run back and forth to the kitchen during ads until the macaroni was ready. Many years ago, when my mom and I helped clean out a friend's house — she was over 100 years old at the time — I came across an ancient, unopened package of macaroni and cheese. I have no clue what year it’s from. I thought the packaging was a great example of vintage graphic design, and I displayed it on a shelf in my kitchen, along with vintage spice tins, for a long, long time. Ever since I've lived in this house though, Magic Chef has been in a drawer. I figured it was finally time for him to go to a new home, so (thanks to the Internet) I contacted Ian, asked him if he wanted this box for his collection, and, well, the photo says it all. Thanks Ian, for appreciating this old bit of cardboard and tin. (If you google Ian, there is video of an interview he did not too long ago on Jimmy Kimmel. You can also see some of his collection at macandcheesebox.com).

Tags: kitchen, antique, December, odd, macaroni

This is a prop gun from a TV movie called The Adventures of Captain Zoom in Outer Space (1995). When the movie wrapped, a whole bunch of things ended up in the trash at the studio where it was shot. I ended up with some costume pieces and this weapon. It's extremely heavy, mostly wood and fibreglass. Almost 4' long. You can see damage on it from where it was thrown to the ground in a shootout in the movie. As far as I know the movie has only been shown once, right after it was made, and I happened to be watching the night it was aired. There were lots of cool props I wish had been thrown out, but I'm sure the good stuff was snagged by the crew. I gave away most of the costume pieces ages ago to friends who actually dress up for Halloween, but I kept the gun longer because I thought I would eventually find a place to display it. A dealer bought it this summer but I am only getting around to posting now. I had to cut the guy who bought it out of the photo. The only picture I could find on the internet of a soldier holding one of the guns is this one. Isn't the rocketship cool? Now that I'd like to have in my backyard.

Tags: odd, miscellaneous, November

I saved the first couple of wristbands from my visits to emerg — kept them in a bathroom drawer — not imagining that over the next few years I would make more than 25 visits to ER and hospital as a health issue became more problematic. And so grew my collection. Some good doctors fixed me up, and while there's no way I could ever be a contestant on a reality show (wouldn't pass the medical), I just take a few extra pills every day and go on with my life. It's been four and half years since my last trip to ER — a bit of overkill with ambulance and sirens for that one — and I don't expect to be making any more. So why did I feel compelled to keep these wristbands? If I kept a daily journal like I did in my youth, I'd have written about each episode and glued a wristband onto each page. Like glueing in ticket stubs from plays or movies or boarding passes from plane trips. Or they could have been part of a neat collage of weird things I'd accumulated over the years. Whatever. The bathroom drawer is tidier now.

Tags: miscellaneous, November, odd

Only two more months to go on the official challenge, but I think I will be getting rid of things long past December 31. Took some paint cans to the recycling depot yesterday. Thought the place might take old anti-freeze but it didn't. Nor did it take the fire extinguisher. We have a bigger one now — not sure if this one even has a charge any more. I'll have to research where else in town to take it. Getting more brutal with the houseplants. This orchid hasn't bloomed in a couple of years. We keep the house too cold, and now that it's fall it's going to suffer even more. I believe I have found a new home for husband's geiger counter — the yellow thing in his hand. He has a new computerized one now. Another pair of shoes. The second pair of Rockports I ever bought. The first pair was in 1986. I bought them to work 12-hours shifts at EXPO ’86, walking around the Canada Pavilion. I got rid of them just last year I think, either that or they are in the earthquake kit as my spare shoes. I will have to check. This black pair is probably 15 years old. Here's the story about the rock. A woman in Sooke paints them and leaves them on the beach for people to find. She places them face up; the message is a surprise when you turn the stone over. I didn't find this one myself, it was given to me by a friend who regularly walks on the beach and has found several over the years. I find it mildly disturbing. I plan to leave it outside in a park or along a path for someone else to find.

Tags: paint, fire extinguisher, plants, miscellaneous, shoes, odd, November