Brian V. (![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} brianmv) wrote,@ 2007-09-22 12:39:00 |
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Vinyl/Plastic Ninjas
Guys, i've got a new addiction: vinyl ninjas.
http://www.gumball-machine.com/vend
http://album.robstarling.org/Small-B
http://www.orientaltrading.com/applicat
http://www.zeesevending.com/Products/Bu
http://www.diamond-vending.com/images/n
I'll tell you the story of how this all got started.
So it was most likely my freshman or sophomore year that me, my old friend Philip, and Malcolm were hanging out at the local and most beloved convenience store in North Decatur: Morningside Shop. A hand-crank toy vending machine had some neat little items, most noteably vinyl ninjas like the ones you see above. I bought two for the fun of it.
Of course, next thing I know, I take them home, fiddle with them while trying to sleep that night, and the memories come flowing through my head. When I was in elementary school I used to play arcade game after arcade game just to earn me some more of those ninja badasses at the Skate Castle (my previous addictions include toy guns, badly made Street Fighter vinyl knockoffs from China, Japanese Dragonball Z figurines and Z-bots). After which, I would trade them amongst other arcade aesthetes for other ninjas, etc. Like most of these things, however, I eventually lost them all.
The funny thing about the Z-bots and Street Fighter knockoffs was that my granddad both started and helped me finish these collections (not the ninjas). He was close friends with the man who once owned the now defunct Pocket Change arcade, and used this advantage to help me complete my sets. Back on topic:
So I started buying more of the lil dudes, right? They were only 25 cents each, after all. Even Philip and Malcolm took notice and we all collected more and more ninjas every day, even trading 50 cent pieces so we could get our hands on those things and rush back to Malcolm's apartment with the booty. We played with them, traded them, and I even attempted to make a board-game/RPG with them. For us, it was like we were in fifth grade again. We all knew it was immature, but it's not like we didn't have video games. At least it wasn't like when I was four.
At that age, i'd take at least one figure everywhere I went. They unlocked my imagination. They were ANYTHING I wanted: warriors, civilians, soldiers, even lovers (not with other male figures, mind you). Losing them broke my heart time and time again, and I never could really keep up with them.
Eventually, the novelty wore off. I kept my whole collection (still have most of it), and was given the others by Malcolm and Philip, who didn't want their's. I maintained it, keeping one of each color and pose and giving my girlfriend Opal the rest of them.
Here's what makes them special to me: they're a much more effective escape than video games. Action figures have, for many years in my life, inspired stories, attempted novels, card and board games, ideas, and daydream hapiness in general. Plus, they're much cheaper and imaginative than games. I once made fighting arenas out of paper and textbooks (5th Grade)!
It was only recently that I found my old zip-loc bag of the mighty warriors. I moved them to an old pencil bag and began playing with them again. As a result, i've ended up writing another figure-inspired novel (none of them were about the figures, but the ideas I got by having and examining them).
I was bored and typed "plastic ninjas" in Google and have found a bevy of the little guys online, and I plan on buying them up very soon. I want to collect as many varieties as I can. I want to have them because they've cheered me up with afternoons of daydreaming and imagination, and thus have even impacted my life by cheering me up through the worst of times. I don't want to be materialistic here by saying all this. I could live without them. I even give some away from time to time, like I did with Opal. It's a hobby like anyone else's, but instead of stamps, I have ninjas.
Call me childish or immature. I don't care. I want to always have my imagination.
IN OTHER NEWS: I HAVE A WII. I'M STILL DATING OPAL AFTER A YEAR AND 5 MONTHS. I AM NOW A SENIOR.
Thanks.
Guys, i've got a new addiction: vinyl ninjas.
http://www.gumball-machine.com/vend
http://album.robstarling.org/Small-B
http://www.orientaltrading.com/applicat
http://www.zeesevending.com/Products/Bu
http://www.diamond-vending.com/images/n
I'll tell you the story of how this all got started.
So it was most likely my freshman or sophomore year that me, my old friend Philip, and Malcolm were hanging out at the local and most beloved convenience store in North Decatur: Morningside Shop. A hand-crank toy vending machine had some neat little items, most noteably vinyl ninjas like the ones you see above. I bought two for the fun of it.
Of course, next thing I know, I take them home, fiddle with them while trying to sleep that night, and the memories come flowing through my head. When I was in elementary school I used to play arcade game after arcade game just to earn me some more of those ninja badasses at the Skate Castle (my previous addictions include toy guns, badly made Street Fighter vinyl knockoffs from China, Japanese Dragonball Z figurines and Z-bots). After which, I would trade them amongst other arcade aesthetes for other ninjas, etc. Like most of these things, however, I eventually lost them all.
The funny thing about the Z-bots and Street Fighter knockoffs was that my granddad both started and helped me finish these collections (not the ninjas). He was close friends with the man who once owned the now defunct Pocket Change arcade, and used this advantage to help me complete my sets. Back on topic:
So I started buying more of the lil dudes, right? They were only 25 cents each, after all. Even Philip and Malcolm took notice and we all collected more and more ninjas every day, even trading 50 cent pieces so we could get our hands on those things and rush back to Malcolm's apartment with the booty. We played with them, traded them, and I even attempted to make a board-game/RPG with them. For us, it was like we were in fifth grade again. We all knew it was immature, but it's not like we didn't have video games. At least it wasn't like when I was four.
At that age, i'd take at least one figure everywhere I went. They unlocked my imagination. They were ANYTHING I wanted: warriors, civilians, soldiers, even lovers (not with other male figures, mind you). Losing them broke my heart time and time again, and I never could really keep up with them.
Eventually, the novelty wore off. I kept my whole collection (still have most of it), and was given the others by Malcolm and Philip, who didn't want their's. I maintained it, keeping one of each color and pose and giving my girlfriend Opal the rest of them.
Here's what makes them special to me: they're a much more effective escape than video games. Action figures have, for many years in my life, inspired stories, attempted novels, card and board games, ideas, and daydream hapiness in general. Plus, they're much cheaper and imaginative than games. I once made fighting arenas out of paper and textbooks (5th Grade)!
It was only recently that I found my old zip-loc bag of the mighty warriors. I moved them to an old pencil bag and began playing with them again. As a result, i've ended up writing another figure-inspired novel (none of them were about the figures, but the ideas I got by having and examining them).
I was bored and typed "plastic ninjas" in Google and have found a bevy of the little guys online, and I plan on buying them up very soon. I want to collect as many varieties as I can. I want to have them because they've cheered me up with afternoons of daydreaming and imagination, and thus have even impacted my life by cheering me up through the worst of times. I don't want to be materialistic here by saying all this. I could live without them. I even give some away from time to time, like I did with Opal. It's a hobby like anyone else's, but instead of stamps, I have ninjas.
Call me childish or immature. I don't care. I want to always have my imagination.
IN OTHER NEWS: I HAVE A WII. I'M STILL DATING OPAL AFTER A YEAR AND 5 MONTHS. I AM NOW A SENIOR.
Thanks.
