Wow, that's really got to be one of the most bizarre threads I've read.  Some of those guys really get worked up when they're trying to defend an opinion that has no logic, eh?  Like Jesse James said: it's like "beating your head off a brick wall" trying to figure it all out.

Geez, you are Canadian.  Rye and coke?  Blech.

Damn prairie kids

Well, actually, nowadays its Rye and Diet Pepsi - gotta watch my figure you know.  I'm not as svelt (sp?) as I used to be.

Bastards! Regulatory Agency Clearance Delay! 

Uh, what the hell does that mean anyway?  Some idiot drove the forklift off the loading dock?

Resolve, what's that?   

I know for a fact that I'll be picking up all of the basic figures, but that's because of that damn completist gene in me.  As well, I'll be hoping to pick up the Unleashed (one of my favourite lines), Galactic Heroes (those things are just too frickin' cute  ), and the Force Battlers (if they make it up here, they look kinda neat).  If the price is right, I'm also hoping to pick up a few vehicles.  I've never collected the 12" line; and I've only ever bothered to pick up the OTC Darth Vader Lightsaber, not really interested in the rest.

Ah, my bachelor party.  'Twas a great nite, from what I can remember.  My wife's
uncle set up my party at the Eagles Club in town, just a lounge basically.  But I was
really surprised by how many of my male relatives made it to the party, and a bunch
of buddies came into town a day early.  We basically just played pool and shot the
**** - a great chance to reminisce about some of the stupid **** we've done over the
years.  

I started with rye and coke, my poison of choice.  Then I did something much
more stupid, I moved to shooters - bad idea.  I don't remember much of the nite
after that, except needing to get some fresh air before I got in the cab to go home.
My ability to walk was slightly impaired, so my father-in-law had to hold my hand as
we crossed the many streets - he still gets much joy in this fact and rubs in as often
as possible.   

After a couple of hours of calculating and revising my lists, this is where I stand after the first month of 2005 (all amounts include taxes and shipping where necessary, and are in Canadian loonies):

3-Jan-05   OTC 31 Bib Fortuna - $10.24
   OTC 36 General Madine - $11.39
   OTC 37 Lando General - $11.39
                     
6-Jan-05   Unleashed Mace Windu - $28.49
   Unleashed Count Dooku - $28.49
                     
10-Jan-05    VOTC Darth Vader - $17.17
   VOTC Chewbacca - $17.17
   VOTC Boba Fett - $17.17
   VOTC Boba Fett - $17.17
   VOTC R2-D2 - $17.17
   VOTC R2-D2 - $17.17
                     
12-Jan-05    VOTC Chewbacca - $19.04
   VOTC Stormtrooper - $19.04
   VOTC Stormtrooper   - $19.04
   VOTC Lando - $19.04
   VOTC Lando - $19.04
   OTC Holo Emperor - $19.04
   OTC 29 Darth Vader - $12.49
   OTC 34 Darth Vader   - $12.49
   OTC 10 Darth Vader    - $12.49
   OTC 11 Scout Trooper - $12.49
   OTC 22 Greedo - $10.95
   OTC 26 Luke Bespin - $10.95
   OTC 30 Gamorrean Guard - $10.95
   OTC 32 Lando Skiff - $10.95
   OTC 33 Leia Slave - $10.95
   OTC 35 Han AT-ST Driver - $12.95
   POTC 05-01 Pablo Jill - $12.95
   POTC 05-02 Yarua - $11.95
   POTC 05-03 Sly Moore - $11.95
   POTC 05-04 Queen Amidala - $11.95
   POTC 05-05 Rabe - $11.95
                     
14-Jan-05 OTC Holiday Jawas 2004 - $28.49
   CW ARC Trooper (blue) - $17.79
   Anim CW Clone Trooper - $17.79
   Anim CW Yoda - $15.65
                     
16-Jan-05 C-3PO Bust-Up - gift from mother-in-law
                     
19-Jan-05    Kinder Surprise SW Hippos - $32.16 - VERY cool German line!   
                     
20-Jan-05    OTC 25 Snowtrooper - $13.38
   OTC 23 Tusken Raider - $13.38
   GH Obi-Wan & Darth Vader - $11.24
   GH Anakin & Padme   - $11.24
   GH Jango & Obi-Wan - $11.24
   GH Yoda & Clonetrooper - $12.31
   GH Lando & Skiff Guard - $11.24
   GH Luke Jedi & Gammorrean - $11.24
   GH Tusken & Jawa - $11.24
                     
25-Jan-05    GG Stormtrooper Bust-Ups 3x3 - $79.19 (may still be some duty due here... )
                     
26-Jan-05    VOTC C-3PO - $22.21
                     
27-Jan-05 ROTS Sneak General Grievous - $8.15
   ROTS Sneak R4-G9 - $8.15
   ROTS Sneak Tion Medon - $8.15
   ROTS Sneak Wookie Warrior - $8.15
   Anim CW General Grievous - $7.69
   Anim CW ARC Trooper - $7.69
   Anim CW Anakin Battle Damaged - $7.69
   POTC 05-06 Feltipern Trevagg - $0 - these are belated Xmas gifts 
   POTC 05-07 Myo - $0
   POTC 05-08 Dannik Jerriko - $0
   OTC 2 Yoda (Opener) - $0
   SAGA Captain Antilles (Opener) - $0
         
28-Jan-05    ROTS Sneak General Grievous (Opener) - $9.57
                     
31-Jan-05 Rebel Storm Starter Set - $27.64 - I just had to see what these looked like - pretty cool.   
                     
31-Jan-05   OTC Jedi High Council #3 - $30.54 - why did I pay this much? 
   SAGA 03-40 Elan Sleazebaggano - $6.93
   SAGA 04-10 Tanus Spijek - $6.93

Total = $943.11 CDN
         = $759.78 US based on today's value.   

It's been a very productive month!  Lots of catching up with the OTC line, etc, etc, so I expected it to be ugly.  Let's see how February goes!   

Lots of the single carded figures have since been opened, but I can't bring myself to open the orange carded POTF2 stuff.  Yeah, it's fairly hideous in a he-man sense, but it's my "vintage" stuff, that got me hooked on this stupid habit anyway. 

You know, the orange carded figures are some of my favourites.  Certainly not because of their accurate sculpts, but simply because they re-ignited the collecting passion that I had as a kid.  As well, I think their He-Man likeness adds a certain uniqueness that I just can't get enough of.  Even though I keep everything carded, one of these days I'm going to track down a second collection of these figures to open and show off their buffness!