I know what you’re thinking. You’re thinking, “I’m more interested in that Back to the Future Blu-ray than I am these Buzz cups” and that’s a darn shame.
You’re about to learn more about cups than you ever thought possible.
First, a quiz.
Today we have bubbles… or at least things that make bubbles. One in the bath the other in the air. Why does that sound so wrong?
To the left is a bottle of traditional “blow through a textured hole on a stick” bubbles. Buzz stands atop the lid looking off into the distance surely wondering why I didn’t dust it before I shot the picture.
In my online travels I’ve come across several Buzz Lightyear cakes. I thought it would be cool to feature some of them in a post. To my surprise there are many more Buzz Lightyear cakes out there than I ever thought possible. More than I expected, and more than I will end up featuring here. But, instead of one post, there are more than enough for at least 4-5 posts.
I’ve grouped them into categories. Today’s category is what we’ll call “Bursting” because apparently a popular feature of custom Buzz cakes is to have him bursting out of the top of the cake itself.
So yeah. I have a Buzz Lightyear dog costume. I bought it with no dog at home. With no intention of ever owning a dog that would ever fit it (note that the costume size is Large). I’ve had it for at least 10 years… and that dog on the front never ceases to entertain me.
I’ll be the first to admit that today’s items are not in any way interesting or entertaining. These were purchased back in the early days when I would buy anything that had a Buzz on it. It was a weird time where they were putting out a lot of little crap like this… but Buzz hadn’t gotten to the point where they were making real collectible items.
My wife will tell you. When I started collecting she thought that Buzz Lightyear would fade away like so many other characters (Kung Fo Panda). I’m sure product manufacturers did too at first.
All that to say that as this blog goes on the items get better. Both because they’re making better stuff now and because I’m a lot more selective.
We wrap up this week with a well worn collection of Buzz toys given to me over the years by children.
Which would be an odd thing were I not a Children’s Pastor from 2001-2013. Once the kids find out I’m a Buzz fan, they love to give me their old figures.
I’m ashamed to say that I have not kept many of them. Once I forget who they came from they lose their value. Plus these kids are 18+ now. They don’t care or remember anyway.
So although I don’t recall when these were given or who gave them, I do have a few comments for each.
You have before you a 100% genuine Mexican* knock off inflatable Buzz Lightyear. Purchased right off a street vendor in Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico.
Along with all of the wonderful Buzz Lightyear items I’m sharing on a daily basis, I thought it would be prudent to share some of the things I down own.
Buzz stuff that I don’t own falls into three categories:
Do Not Want. These items are cheap, stupid looking, or just doesn’t do it for me. I also don’t purchase things that won’t display well on a shelf.
Too Expensive. There are many, many Buzz items I would own if they weren’t way overpriced or just outright costly.
Can’t buy it. Not everything I want to buy is available to buy. Stuff coming out of Japan can be hard to acquire. But most of the items in this category are no longer for sale. Ebay will have them once in a while… but it’s not likely.
Haven’t bought it yet. I can’t just buy everything I want all at once. I have a budget just like everyone else.
So without further ado, here are some items I don’t own.
Here we have a collection of Toy Story dishes featuring Buzz Lightyear and his friends. From left to right a bowl, plate and child-sized spoon and fork.
All of these items display the Toy Story 2 logo so that means I most likely bought them between 1999-2000. These items have never been used and are in mint condition.
Today we have a collection of candy related items I’ve collected over the years. From left to right: a netted bag of chocolate coins (that if eaten would surely put you in the hospital); a candy camera that contains candy (also would put you in a hospital); two tins of red hots (probably still good but older than my kids who are 8 and 5); and a spin pop that doesn’t spin (lollipop probably still edible but you go first).
Not much to say about the chocolate coins. They’re foil wrapped and each has an image from one of the Toy Story movies. The coins inside appear (through the wrapper) to be flat discs, not embossed with any sort of image in the chocolate itself. The website eatbydate.com says that chocolate lasts between 2-4 months. It’s been between 8-12 years since I bought them. Safe to say they’re better looking on the outside.