the expedition is never routine, the cruise is never three hours

Marshall, Will and Holly


Netflix in the mailbox is like Christmas once a week. No driving to and from the vid store at 9:52 so that things aren't late, no wasting my gum and no small talking with the lesser-liked clerks. Oh, we still do get up there every now and then because Sam has THE BEST selection of hard to find titles anywhere. And when he doesn't, he'll order it as you're standing there. Still, Netflix rox azz.


While some friends have hundreds of titles in their queues, we have like 17. That dosn't necessarily make us more discriminating, just not as committed to lining up what the home film festival has in store. It's comforting knowing that last season's Entourage will eventually be released, and our cheery postal worker will deliver it to our porch, quite unaware of the resulting joy and relief he brings as well. If half way through Resident Evil: Apocalypse we decide it really sux, who cares, we don't even have to finish it, and we're only out 1.50 as opposed to 3.25+tax. Incidentally, R.E. does suck, so save your $1.50 for 2/3 of a gallon of gas. To be fair, the torn and dripping dog flesh is pretty good as special f/x go, and as always, Milla does good lip gloss, though sadly she peaked with Fifth Element. "Multi pass?" Didn't she get an Oscar?


Just yesterday those 3 beautiful ruby envelopes came, and one of the treasures was that amazing Sid and Marty Krofft brainchild, Land of the Lost. Just as when you're a kid and your grandma's stairs are so tall and your friend's backyard is so big, this show was huge, incredible, scary and seemed to attempt to preserve historic accuracy. Ok, not really, but at the time it was akin to cinematic genius.


What possibly could Sid and Marty have been smoking, snorting, injecting,eating, drinking and licking? These fellas brought us H.R. Puffnstuff, Dr. Shrinker (he's a mad man with an evil mind...he's as crazy as you'll ever find), The Bugaloos, Sigmund the Seamonster, etc. A quote just in from a former viewer and fan: "I didn't know how fake it was when I was little." In retrospect, it's easy to tear them apart. All had that yucky, soap opera video look, all had the most hideous dialogue, lame costumes, low budget effects, and with the exception of Martha Raye who played Benita Bizarre, all had a no name cast. Little known fact, Phil Collins actually auditioned for The Bugaloos in 1970, and later that year joined Genesis.


As I've been wisely told, homeschool isn't for everyone. So even if our attempt at it was not successful, we still operate under the dictum no child left behind. I like the menu option some dvds offer: play all episodes. Jeremiah and Mason must undergo intense, immersion type instruction in order to surpass their peers' knowledge of both retro and pop culture.

I wonder if Garden Ridge will have any ElectraWoman or DynaGirl costumes for Halloween this year. If not, I'll dig out the old tambourine and fairy wings and be Joy from The Bugaloos again.