Goodbye, dear collectables…

Recently, I was told by a friend that iReport (of which I was previously unaware) is currently looking for stories of people who are parting with their collectables due to the economy. Anyone who has read my blog before, or knows me in person, will know that while I’m not a huge collector, I do have my vices, them being, in order of importance, “Titanic” (1997), “The Wizard of Oz” (1939) (and other works affiliated) and “I Dream of Jeannie.” In none of these areas are my collections vast.

With regards to “Oz,” I have a fair number of snow globe/ music boxes from the San Francisco Music Box Company, a number of books about the film, a signed (and personalized) photograph of Jerry Maren (the munchkin who gave Judy Garland the lollipop), a copy of the screenplay, and a small collection of books about Judy Garland one of which, Judy Garland: World’s Greatest Entertainer, I was lucky enough to have signed by Judy’s daughter Lorna Luft when I had the chance to meet her around five years ago.

“Titanic” I was fanatical about as soon as it was released, having a preexisting interest in the disaster. Over the years, I have been able to procure a signed photo from nearly the entire cast (including Kate Winslet, Leonardo DiCaprio, James Cameron, Kathy Bates, among others), the J. Peterman copy of Rose’s “Heart of the Ocean” necklace, a copy of her butterfly comb, a first class dining place (also by Peterman), a rare film cell, a music box, a small collection of books, the Franklin Mint “Rose” doll, and a copy of the screenplay. This entire collection, except the Rose doll and screenplay, I have recently placed on eBay as “Titanic Heart of the Ocean, Cast Signed Photo, + MORE!”,

here: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110357233275

I also have a small, but growing, collection of memorabilia from “I Dream of Jeannie” a show I have adored ever since I can remember. In my small collection I have: two copies of Jeannie’s bottle, one from the 1st season (the golden vines design) with a replica Old Grand Dad crystal stopper, and a second season (purple) bottle, which I was recently lucky enough to have signed by Barbara Eden (Jeannie), the “Jeannie” Barbie from 2000, and a special edition set of the mini Jeannie and her bottle sculptures, in black and white. As I said, this collection is easily my smallest, but, especially after meeting Barbara, it is the dearest to me, especially my signed bottle.

But, given the state of the economy, and my possible admittance to graduate school in the U.K., I have decided to part with the lion’s share of my collection, and if my eBay auction for much of my Titanic collection is successful, I have determined to auction off the whole of my “Wizard of Oz” collection as a set on eBay as well. My Jeannie collection is far too dear to me to ever consider parting with, so it will be staying with me for a good long time to come!

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More Literature… More French… and Barbara Eden

This coming term, along with the general GRE, and the GRE Subject test, I’ll have quite a bit also going on, much of it leaving me both excited and quite nervous. Some may be confused as, a few month ago, I already took the generalized GRE exam. However, recently I received my scores and while they were more than permissible, I, being an ardent perfectionist, was far from pleased with them and I find it pressing on myself to take the test again, if only with the belief that having taken the test previously it should make a second attempt all the more successful.

Also, this coming Valentine’s Day James and I will have a quite fun little weekend adventure, as we are going to go to Detroit to see Barbara Eden in “Love Letters” a play she occasionally performs around the country. We will be meeting up with a few people from a “I Dream of Jeannie” fan site of which I am a member to see the show, so it should be quite enjoyable. After the show James and I are going to go to Canada for the evening. Despite being to Europe three times already, I have never before been to Canada, so I’m very much looking forward to it!

This will also be my final regular term at Ball State, with my final three literature courses and a final French composition course. I will also be staying at the university through the summer to finish my degree with my final science and PE requirements. As enjoyable as the college experiance has been, I’m quite ready to move on to graduate school!

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Childhood…

Lately I’ve been wondering if we’re all forever, really, in all honesty, children at heart just playing a “grown-up” game. Personally, I think growing up is bull crap; I think we can all still tap into the feeling of being a child again, and it’s not necessarily a bad thing.

Almost two years ago, at 20, I went to Walt Disney World for spring break, and it seriously was one of the most fun trips I’ve had. Granted, I think I was one of the few people over 12 not pushing around a stroller (seriously, if you need a stroller for your kid, they most likely won’t remember the trip… wait a few years and save my shins) and yet I still found Space Mountain as awesome as when I was 7! My favorite ride has always been The Hollywood Tower Hotel: Twilight Zone Tower of Terror in Disney’s Hollywood Studies. (It will always be Disney MGM Studios to me even if the naming rights expired!)

Even today I find myself, very often, sitting with James watching old episodes of I Dream of Jeannie on DVD and The Golden Girls on YouTube both of which I’ve loved since childhood. Not to mention the hand painted 1964 Jim Bean Christmas Decanter, better known as simply “Jeannie’s bottle,” that sits on our bookshelf in the living room.

(If I’m interested in something, I can become a tad obsessed. Leave me alone, it’s just the way I am!)

When I’m alone, sometimes I still sit in my pajamas and watch The Wizard of Oz or Beauty and the Beast on DVD and all is right with the world and, yes, I sing along too!

This is not to say I’m infantile or anything like that, it’s just, I like the ability to regress for a bit, clear my head, and just be silly for a bit. If you find anything wrong with that, well, grab the next plan flight to Florida and go take a ride with Dumbo!

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