Bankruptcy:Thy Name Is Disney

I remember seeing that catchy title on doombuggies.com sometime ago during a discussion about the merchandise release for Disneyland's 50th birthday celebration. I partook in the discussion...partook.. ha ha that is a funny sounding word, and joked about how I would use my kids' college money to get the items Sam and I so desperately wanted. Chill out, Internet, I was just kidding, of course. My kids were going to have to pay for their own college anyway. I didn't take any money from them. :)

But the sad reality of my current situation, is that Sam has been unemployed since February, and while we had savings to hold us over for a few months, that has come and gone (and then some) and we are now bankrupt. For the first time in the 10 years of home ownership, we were not able to pay the mortgage on our house and I realize that the collection with which I have surrounded myself, no longer means anything if I don't have a roof over my family's head. Maybe this was the big lesson I was meant to learn in life. Whatever. I get it now. Lesson learned. Can we move on?

I will be selling certain items of the collection, starting with the Maid and Butler costumes that are pictured in this post. How much has changed in a few short months, back when we thought that we were meant to move to New Hampshire.

Anyway, I want to give my readers a chance at the collection first, because it is far easier to part with pieces when I know they are going to a loving home. (Sounds like I'm adopting out a pet, sheesh!) :)
If there are no serious offers, then I'll probably put them on eekbay, but seeing as how I'm pinching every penny, I'd rather not have to go there. For serious collectors, you might know me as Leotas Child on Doombuggies, so you know I'm an honest collector.

Please email me at hauntedmansioncollectibles@gmail.com with offers on the maid and butler uniforms. Serious offers only, please.

New Haunted Mansion Merchandise

Disneyshopping.com has really outdone themselves this year with Haunted Mansion themed Halloween home decor.

It seems the folks at Disneyshopping.com recognize that Haunted Mansion fans are infatuated with the Hat Box Ghost, so this year they were sure to not disappoint with a release of a poster.

That's right, folks. A vinyl poster...



It looks as though they recycled the concept art from the Hat Box Ghost Big Fig they released a few years ago, when Disneyshopping.com still loved their Haunted Mansion customers and came out with real merchandise.

I don't mean to sound so sour. Its just that I've come to depend on Disneyshopping to provide the coolest Halloween merchandise for Haunted Mansion fans, and it seems in the past couple of years, the merchandise has lacked creativity and durability.

Here are some other releases for this year.

Tombstones - All these tombstones were released in previous years, but in the past, they all had a plug in light which provided an eerie glow. This year's release eliminated the light feature, which brought down the price a bit, but also lowered the wow/creepy factor the original tombstones had.





I'm not positive, but I wonder if the size is smaller as well. I'll have to pull out the tape measure to confirm.

At any rate, I should be glad that there is anything at all. Who knows, maybe this is just the first round of merchandise. If you've shopped with Disneyshopping at all, you're probably familiar with the fact that often items are released in stages.

Should I be worried to see what they come up with for the 40th Anniversary of the Haunted Mansion?

Extinct Attractions Doombuggies Swinging Wake DVD

I'm so pleased to hear that the Doombuggies Swinging Wake DVD by Extinct Attractions is here! This DVD highlights the events from the Doombuggies.com 10th Anniversary Swinging Wake, along with the special get-together at the Napa Rose with the Disney Legends, including the late Harriet Burns, Bob Gurr, Blaine Gibson, and X Atencio. Neil Patrick Harris was also present. Who knew he was Haunted Mansion freak like the rest of us? :)

You can check out a preview of the video here. Just scroll down a bit.

Snowglobe and a No-Go

OK, So the name that collectibles game was a flop. I'm sitting here, red-faced and feeling the heat from embarrassment coming thru my pores...

while listening to the crickets chirp....

But I can't just leave the question floating around out there like Madame Leota's head.. juuust in case there is that one guy or ghoul who is dying to know... what was that mansion collectible?



If you were thinking the teeny tiny mini mansion snowglobe thingy.. you were right!
try saying that 5 times fast.



This cute little gem plays Grim Grinning Ghosts; it almost sounds like a midi file, and honestly I can tolerate listening to it once every 6 months or so. But I love the little bats that swirl around the Hitchhiking Ghosts, so I find myself picking up this piece quite often just to give it a shake. We bought one several years ago, and they are still available at Disneyland for $12.00.

******

On a personal note, Sam and I decided that right now is not the time to move to New Hampshire. He is still looking for work, and sending resumes to companies in New Hampshire, but that dream is on hold for now. Sam just had an interview for job working help desk, of all things, and was turned down for being overqualified. His spirits are low and he is very frustrated, so please keep good thoughts for my husband while he is going thru this very challenging time.

Thanks!

In Memory of Harriet Burns

I am so saddened to hear the passing of Harriet Burns. While our time with her was brief, she left an indelible impression with me and Sam. My heart goes out to her friends and family in this sorrowful time, especially to Blaine Gibson. He and Harriet lived in the same community and he looked after her with such love and admiration. The friendship between them was almost palpable.

Sam and I are sitting here reminiscing about that fateful 24 hours with the Disney Imagineers. I'll never forget how she was so thankful and appreciative of my driving. Sam and I had rented a Town and Country MiniVan for the trip in hopes it would be the most comfortable and roomy of the vehicles available. I had put together a basket filled with a variety of healthy snacks, gum, and bottled water for our guests to enjoy. Because we were late in picking them up the second day, the basket of goodies was a hit on the drive home. X opened the package of gum, while Harriet and Maureen, X's wife, enjoyed the carmel and chocolate mini rice cakes.

Just on the outskirts of town, Harriet mentioned that she needed to pick up a prescription at the local drug store. We offered to take her there, since we were going into town anyway. She was pleased and impressed that I could park that big car into such a tiny parking space. That memory makes me smile. When we said good by, she gave me a kiss on the cheek.

As Sam said, the time spent with Harriet, Blaine, X and Maureen, felt like a road trip with old friends. Its hard to believe that we had only just met. I will miss her dearly.

Harriet Burns Disney Legend Imagineer Bio





Harriet Burns 1928-2008

Name that Collectible!

Greeting Guys & Ghouls!

I just feel terrible about the lack of posts lately! You've all been too kind with the emails of encouragement about the move, and the fact that Sam STILL does not have a job. He's trying to go out to New Hampshire by himself to stay for a week to find a job, and somehow, someway, we'll.....follow? Ugh. I don't really like the sound of that, but the man's gotsta getta job!

I mean, seriously. How else are we going to continue our little obsession...especially with the 40th around the corner. Come on people! We need to stimulate the economy here!

Oh, and paying the mortgage would be a good thing, too. See? I have my priorities in order. :)

Ok, so I took some fun shots of this next collectible and as I was picking out the pics I wanted to use, this idea for a game came to me. If it doesn't work, eh.. we won't do it again. But it could be fun. So let's try it!

*in a loud Michael Buffer-style voice*

NAME.... THAT..... COLLECTIBLE-ble- ble-ble.....

*giggles*




So the first person who guesses correctly gets....nothing! Except for my deepest gratitude for playing and utmost respect for your knowledge of Haunted Mansion Collectibles! And if you complain that there is no prize, can I please direct your attention to the beginning of this post. Thank you very much!

:)

Olszewski Disney Pokitpals

Thanks for the emails friends! I appreciate all the suggestions on packing up the collectibles, especially the one that saves me all the packing and I give everything away to a certain unnamed Haunted Mansion fan. Yeah, that gave me a chuckle. Laughter is good, though, during these stressful times. It seems that everything is in order for the move...well, almost everything. You see, there is this one teeny-tiny detail that hasn't quite worked out... but its just a little thing, really. The little thing called a J.O.B.! But more about that later, because right now there is this other teeny-tiny thing I need to share that I'm sure you're all more interested in anyhow...

A few weeks ago Sam and I picked up this nifty little piece called a Pokitpal by famed miniaturist Robert Olszewski. Bonus points to anyone who can tell me how to pronounce Olszewski. Is it Ol-che-ski or Ol-sews-ki? Help me out here, please!

The Haunted Mansion Stretching Portrait Pokitpal is part of the second series released for Disney. This piece is finely crafted with nice detail all around. See for yourself.




Is this Pokitpal actually stretching.....?



Or is it your imagination?






Pay no attention to the chubby fingers...





This piece is just so cute! I only wish they had done the rest of the portraits, as I'm sure every other Haunted Mansion fans wishes. HINT HINT Olchestki, Olshesski, Ol...UGH! I love your work, Robert, and please forgive me for not knowing how to pronounce your last name.

This piece is also special because it will probably be the last Haunted Mansion piece we'll be getting for awhile, with the impending move. Besides, we have to save up to head back to the Mansion for the 40th, so there will be no more buying for awhile! But never fear, there are plenty of other pieces for us to share, that is if we don't sell. Can you believe it? Sam and I actually discussed selling our lenticulars to help fund the move. *gasp!* That is how desperate we are to move to New Hampshire. Thank goodness Sam came to his senses and halted that thought. We'd rather sell our furniture and first born before we sell our Ghost Ship!

Ya'll know I'm kidding about the first born... no hate mail, please! :)

So wish us luck that the right job comes along for Sam! We're thinking about sending him out there without us to get a jump start on things.