What a great way to head of the mania...and a smarter investment! I have taken a cursory scan of eBay to see what the value of all the metal sets and trains he has (the Thomas recall affected a very specific model that we didn¹t have) -- and it¹s not that great a return.
On 12/26/07 3:14 PM, "James Landrith" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > > Fortunately, my son skipped out on "Thomas." He did get into wooden trains > though. We (me, wife and my father) bought him one of those expensive Brio > sets for his 4th birthday. For various birthdays and Christmases following, > he received add-on tunnels, new cars, etc. Charles spent many hours > assembling, disassembling and experimenting with track configurations. > > At 10, he doesn't play with it much anymore, but being of solid wood and in > excellent condition - he'll be able to pass it on (hundreds of pieces, cars, > add-ons, etc.) to his children. > > I think this expensive Brio set was our way of heading off the Thomas mania > before it started... > > -----Original Message----- > From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > <mailto:tdlists%40multiculturaladvantage.com> ] > Sent: Wednesday, December 26, 2007 3:07 PM > To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com <mailto:scifinoir2%40yahoogroups.com> > Subject: Re: [scifinoir2] "National Treasure 2" Rules Box Office - :( > > Thomas is still big, she is just not that into him and there was a major > recall recently, so we embraced her inner Car to make up for not having > the train. Besides, have you watched Thomas the Train? What are they > teaching kids? "how to be petty, tease friends and be cruel while > respecting the corporate bosses !?!?! I'm left scratching my head at > the end of some of those episodes. > > She has not seen Static yet, but she loves Superman and Batman, so I > introduced her to Power Puffs last week and she was hooked. There was a > Green Lantern Show? When? > > Fortunately, Lazytown and Barney were not obsessive, however, Dora is to > some degree. Most of the shows, she needs to see alot of I like or can > tolerate. However, once she is done with seeing them over and over and > over, I need a break from them all. > > Daryle wrote: >> > Be glad you missed the ³Thomas² phase. My son¹s the same age. ³Thomas² > type >> > kids are obsessive collectors, and my son is one. We missed Barney >> > completely. We did ³Thomas², ³Cars², and ³Static Shock². Well, we¹re > still >> > doing ³Static Shock², actually. (Because dad is not having a ³Superman² >> > phase without at least a Green Lantern or SOME brother in the mix) I¹m so >> > mad they canceled that show I don¹t know what to do. I only have it on > VHS. >> > >> > As for ³Lazy Town²...God bless you. That show is entirely too damn loud. > We >> > bought those Nick Jr DVDs (they run like 6 hours!) so that he isn¹t > exposed >> > to the commercials between the shows and Lazy Town is on it. As much as I >> > wanna support the show because of Pixel...that show is just no go. ³Dora² >> > also yells throughout her whole show, but at least I can tolerate the >> > music. >> > >> > >> > On 12/26/07 2:43 PM, "Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor)" >> > <[EMAIL PROTECTED] >> <mailto:tdlists%40multiculturaladvantage.com> > wrote: >> > >> > >>> >> >>> >> >>> >> >>> >> >>> >> I know it is inevitable. I just survived Barney and Lazy Town. Don't >>> >> you remember just a few short days ago, I told you we had to watch the >>> >> Grinch five times a day and then listen to the soundtrack a few dozen >>> >> times or how we have to watch Cars, draw Cars, color Cars, build cars, >>> >> be Cars (by poor husband is often Mater) and play with Cars around the >>> >> clock. but you can't blame me for doing whatever it took to avert the >>> >> alvin and the chipmunks tragedy! >>> >> >>> >> [EMAIL PROTECTED] <mailto:KeithBJohnson%40comcast.net> >>> <mailto:KeithBJohnson%40comcast.net> wrote: >>> >> >>>>> >>>> Give it up, Tracey. Every parent is curse by one phenom of the times > that >>>>> >>>> >>>> >>> he/she finds execrable, but which the kids love with a non-stop mania. > It >>>> >>> could be that purple dinosaur singing, non-stop, or those strange > Teletubbies >>>> >>> with their chirping noises and curious drug-induced-seeming plots. Or it >>>> >>> might even be a halfway decent show that, after the thousandth viewing, >>>> >>> simply makes you want to pull your eyes out. I remember many parents >>>> >>> complaining that if they heard Barney's "I love you, you love me..." one > more >>>> >>> time they'd go bonkers! >>>> >>> >>>>> >>>> In the old days parents just self-medicated while their kids zoned out > on >>>>> >>>> >>>> >>> the stuff... not an option i know! :) >>>> >>> >>>>> >>>> -------------- Original message -------------- >>>>> >>>> From: "Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor)" >>>>> >>>> >>>> >>> <[EMAIL PROTECTED] >>>> <mailto:tdlists%40multiculturaladvantage.com> >>>> >>> <mailto:tdlists%40multiculturaladvantage.com> > >>>> >>> >>>>> >>>> >>>>> >>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>> James: >>>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>> You have me living in fear of how long I can keep my daughter away > from >>>>>>> >>>>>> commercial kids shows (we are still on PBS, Disney Pre-School, Noggin >>>>>>> >>>>>> and Nick Jr) or the influence of other kids who will be >>>>>>> advocating > for >>>>>>> >>>>>> "Alfin and his ilk. Be strong... >>>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>> [EMAIL PROTECTED] <mailto:KeithBJohnson%40comcast.net> >>>>>>> <mailto:KeithBJohnson%40comcast.net> > wrote: >>>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> -------------- Original message -------------- >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> From: "James Landrith" >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> How was it? Not very good. At its core, the movie suffered from a > plot >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> that involved talking and singing chipmunks. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> For some reason, my son enjoyed it. This same kid loved TMNT, Iron >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>> Giant, >>>>>> >>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Incredibles, Robots and Madagascar. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Someone explain to me why he liked this >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>> Movie-That-Didn't-Need-To-Be-Made? >>>>>> >>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> I'm guessing it was the barrage of advertising on Cartoon Network, >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>> Nick, >>>>>> >>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Radio Disney, etc. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >>>>>>>>> <mailto:KeithBJohnson%40comcast.net> > <mailto:KeithBJohnson%40comcast.net> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>> [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] >>>>>> <mailto:KeithBJohnson%40comcast.net> >>>>>> <mailto:KeithBJohnson%40comcast.net> > ] >>>>>> >>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Sent: Wednesday, December 26, 2007 12:47 PM >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com >>>>>>>>> <mailto:scifinoir2%40yahoogroups.com> > <mailto:scifinoir2%40yahoogroups.com> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Subject: RE: [scifinoir2] "National Treasure 2" Rules Box Office - > :( >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> lo siento! >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> how was it? There's plenty of kids' fare that's tolerable. Some of > it's >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> quite good. "The Iron Giant" and "The Incredibles" come to mind. > Even >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> "Robots" or "Madagascar" are okay for adults to sit through once. > But >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>> Alvin >>>>>> >>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> just seemed horrible to me from the trailers... >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> -------------- Original message -------------- >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> From: "James Landrith" > > > >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> No, I got sucked into Alvin and the Chipmunks by a 10 year old. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> The entertainment sacrifices we make for our children. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >>>>>>>>> <mailto:KeithBJohnson%40comcast.net> > <mailto:KeithBJohnson%40comcast.net> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] >>>>>>>>> <mailto:KeithBJohnson%40comcast.net> > <mailto:KeithBJohnson%40comcast.net> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >> > ] >> > >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Sent: Wednesday, December 26, 2007 11:01 AM >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com >>>>>>>>> <mailto:scifinoir2%40yahoogroups.com> > <mailto:scifinoir2%40yahoogroups.com> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Subject: [scifinoir2] "National Treasure 2" Rules Box Office - :( >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> I really hope none of you fine people contributed any ducats to > making >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> "National Treasure 2" the number one movie over the Christmas > weekend. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >> > I >> > >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> tried to watch the first movie a couple of years ago, on a Sunday >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>> night, as >>>>>> >>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> background noise while I cleaned up. I turned it off with 45 > minutes to >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>> go. >>>>>> >>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Silly concepts, preposterous occurrences, autopilot acting by Cage > and >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Voight ("just show me the money!!"). Not fun or clever or engaging > at >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>> all. >>>>>> >>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Despite what some think of me, i'm not a movie snob, don't have a > thing >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> against low brow humour (saw "Knocked Up" recently and loved it) or >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>> mindless >>>>>> >>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> action flicks. I"m the guy who will watch "The Warriors" every > single >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>> time >>>>>> >>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> it airs (much to my wife's consternation!) And "Face Off"? Pure >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>> cinematic >>>>>> >>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> pleasure of adrenalin, over-the-top acting, and things that go > "boom!". >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>> Love >>>>>> >>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> that flick. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> But National Treasure sucked, and I hear the sequel is even dumber > in >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>> plot. >>>>>> >>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Mount Rushmore built just to hide a city of gold. A secret book > passed >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>> down >>>>>> >>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> from one President to another that details, among other >>>>>>>>> things, the >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>> truth of >>>>>> >>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> what's kept in Area 51? Brotherrr! >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Please tell me none of you watched it? >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Yahoo! Groups Links >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>> Yahoo! Groups Links >>>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>> >>>> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] >>>>> >>>> >>>>> >>>> >>>>> >>>> >>>>> >>>> >>>>> >>>> Yahoo! Groups Links >>>>> >>>> >>>>> >>>> >>>>> >>>> >>>>> >>>> >>>>> >>>> >>>>> >>>> >>>>> >>>> >>> >> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] >>> >> >>> >> >>> >> >>> >> >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > Yahoo! Groups Links >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
