1976 SLOPPY JOE PACKET

I'm tempted to open this and fix me a Sloppy Joe sandwich.  Mmm, mmm, mmm!  I'm sure after 36 years the seasoning mix that's sealed inside is still OK.  Right?

I'll be fine as long as I follow along with the Manwich lady from this 1972 ad.

Now if I survive, I guess I'll celebrate by doing the Sloppy Joe dance!  

OK everyone, get up and get your slop on and let's do the Sloppy Joe dance.

For some more vintage Sloppy Joe fun, visit these links here, here and here!

ROCK 'EM TACKLE 'EM ROBOTS

This Levi's jeans magazine ad from 1978, pretty much sums up the type of dreams I had as a kid.  I was one of those oddball kids who liked both sports and sci-fi, so I totally get this dream sequence.

START/RESET FOR NEATO COOLVILLE

Happy New Year's Day, um...thirty days late.  Yep, Neato Coolville has been in Rip Van Winkle mode all this month, but fear not Neato Readers 'cause new posts are coming soon.

I'm hoping and planning that this year will be the best yet for our town.  Lots of nostalgic goodies will be dancing across your computer screen this year.  The scanner has been turned up to eleven.  I've scanned loads of postcards, found photos and old advertisements that will show up with more regularity than before.  (Ah...it sure is good to be regular.)  Plus, I'll continue some of the regular features like Flea Market Fridays and Memories from the Mayor.

The facebook and twitter pages will continue with links back to the blog, links to other cool spots around the internet and just random whatevers.  The Monday Movie Quote will return to facebook along with a couple of new features.  Recently I've been hooked on that retro photo app, Instagram.  Mostly I'm using it on Twitter and flickr for now.  It sure fills that Polaroid void that I have.

One goal this year is to get down and get creative again.  I've been in a funk and not in the good James Brown kinda funk either.  One of these days I hope to introduce everyone to all the places and people who make up Neato Coolville.  Not the blog, but the imaginary town inside my head.  So maybe you'll see some creative content show up related to the town.

OK, enough about the things to come...I'm ready to get back on the blog bicycle.  Hopefully everyone will enjoy the ride.

HAVE A MERRY COOL CHRISTMAS!

This Polaroid was shot during the holiday season of 2009.  It's not a great photo but I like the simplicity of  of the neon tree.  If you look close, you'll notice some spots.  It was sleeting and snowing when I took the photo.  The spots are melted snowflakes!

Thanks to everyone who has visited our little town during the 12 Days of Christmas.  We wish you a merry cool Christmas!

RUDOLPH THE RED NOSED POLAROID

The Rankin/Bass TV special, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer has been a television viewing tradition since it first aired on NBC in 1964.  I don't remember the first time I watched it, but as a kid it was never to be missed.  In the days before DVDs and DVRs, it was a long wait until it aired again.  I remember crying big ol' Bumble tears when our television went on the fritz right before Rudolph was to start.  I think I was five and all we had on the screen was static.  Back then I thought my Christmas was ruined because I missed Rudolph.  

The above image is a Polaroid photo that I snapped a couple of years ago, during the last days of Polaroid.  I didn't have to travel to the North Pole, I just took a photo of my TV screen.  It is one of my favorite 'roids, because it reminds me of how much I anticipated the TV special and the fun I had watching it.  The white border kinda reminds me of a television set and there's Rudolph forever on the screen.

As a bonus!  Here's some TV Guide ad scans of three different Rudolph specials.  

1976 Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer 

 1978 Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

1976 Rudolph's Shiny New Year

1979 Rudolph's Shiny New Year

 1979 Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas in July