01/25/12
Live Long and . . . Fascinating!
My tale starts with the movie Night at the Museum 2: Battle of the Smithsonian. I never saw this movie in a theater. In fact, I’ve only ever seen half of it – the last half. Twice. But I love it for one reason: the talking Einstein bobble heads that help Our Hero (Ben Stiller) solve the mystery of the Pharaoh’s tomb (which is 3.14159265 or Pi, because spoilers don’t matter here; this is about bobble heads).
When I very first saw the adorable Bobble head Einsteins, I announced to my hubby (like that spoiled little Veruca Salt girl in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) “Honey, I waaant one! “
Guess what? The Smithsonian store sells Bobble head Einsteins. Guess what again? I got one. And he’s awesome. He spouts lines from the movie to me anytime I want, whenever I push his little speech button.
“I’m a BOBBLE HEAD, Dumkopf.” That’s my favorite. Some days, believe me, I feel like the biggest bobblehead dumkopf on the planet, and it’s nice to know I’m not alone.
Because I’m so fond of Albert bobbling away at me from my desk top, come last birthday my dear SIL decided I would be equally enamored of the Smithsonian’s companion offering: Bobble Head Mr. Spock. I kid you not—I’m the proud owner of a second intellectual, talking bobble head doll. But if Einstein amused me, Spock has turned out to have way more than entertainment value.
Mr. Spock has only three phrases (as compared to Albert’s ten), and he has no button to control his speech. He’s supposed to say something when his head is bobbled, but oh no. Surprise! My Mr. Spock speaks whenever he wants to – and nobody has been able to figure out what triggers him.
He speaks while I’m writing, he speaks when nobody is in the room, he speaks at 3:00 a.m., he speaks when music plays, he speaks every day for a week, then he’ll not say a word for four or five days. He is, in a word, unpredictable.
You might think it would be creepy to have Leonard Nimoy’s voice (yup –this is the real deal) remind us to “live long and prosper,” in the middle of the night. (Actually, it was at first.) It might seem strange that we sometimes hear, “Fascinating!” ring out from my office while we’re eating dinner. And it definitely woke my SIL—who was visiting overnight— with a start when Spock announced to her, “You are, after all, essentially irrational” in the pitch dark.
Those are Spock’s three lines. And he uses them as he pleases. Sometimes he’ll repeat all three, one after the other, multiple times. Other times, as he did just three minutes ago, he’ll throw out one of the lines and leave it at that. It’s, um, fascinating to say the least. And note: I can’t make him talk. I can jump. I can bang his head. I can lift him up and give him a little shake. I can push Albert’s button and try to get him to start a conversation. Spock just stares at me—and Albert for that matter— with his lifted eyebrows and keeps mum until something strikes his fancy and he finds it necessary to comment.
He has become my crazy friend in the corner. And what’s weird is, I love having him there. The only remotely creepy thing about him now is how apropos his timing can be. More often than you’ll believe, I’ll be typing away at what I think Is a good idea and hear, “Fascinating,” from over my shoulder. “Thank you,” I reply. Not so encouraging is his, “You are after all, essentially irrational.” Mostly I glower at him then, but he just raises an eyebrow. And quite often, when I leave my office, he’ll offer a parting, “Live long and prosper.”
I swear I’m not making this up. An even bigger truth is how much I’d miss him if he weren’t here. I talk to him. I answer him back. I’m maybe certifiable, because a sentient bobblehead probably should be frightening, but I LIKE him! He makes me laugh—even when the characters I’m writing about are making me crazy.
“I’m not a smart man,” to quote Forrest Gump – but even I know that something probably physics-related makes Spock talk – air currents, or mice in the walls, or vibrations in the space/time continuum. But I choose to ignore all that and believe this Spock was created somewhere just for me. He’s made of magic, or science and magic, and he sits on my bookshelf with the express purpose of making my life a little funnier, a little weirder, a little more fun. And what person doesn’t need more of those in his or her life?
How about you? Do you have weirdnesses in your environment? Or just some little thing that makes you happy despite the fact that nobody else gets it? Please share! Because we all need to know we’re not alone in our bobblehead dumkopf-edness!
25 Responses
That is hilarious, however you can keep him. I picture my very bad dog taking him out and ripping his head off LOL.
Yeah, I hear you! Most people find him kind of creepy, so I’m stuck with him. I think what would make him frightening is finding him headless.
Aside from an imagination that often runs amok, it would have to be our Maltese. He’s smaller than most (cats can tower over him), and though he’s been fixed, he has torrid love affair with a stuffed dog of the same size named Missy. The morning ritual is a quickie, a self examination to ensure nothing was lost, then bark at Missy because she won’t play. We really shouldn’t encourage such behavior, but we can’t help but animate the stuffed critter so he can wrestle with it. If we don’t assist, he will bark his fool head off for fifteen minutes. I always knew he was dumber than a bucket of wet hair, but we have to question our own intelligence for being a part of it. A morning without Maltese wrestle mania is a day that never starts right.
DT this is GREAT! Exactly what I mean — life without being a part of at least one bizarre ritual is no life at all. Hugs to your teensy, studly Maltese — AND Missy
There was an interesting movie about a guy names Lars and a doll… it had a happy ending. Well… I believe there’s a force greater than we can understand, Liabeth, and it has a sense of humor and generosity to it that is not to be questioned. Give Mr. Spock the Vulcan greeting for me, you know with the split between the fourth and fifth fingers?
LOL – I think it was called “Lars and the Real Girl.” I never saw it, but if it has a happy ending, I’m all for finding it! I think you’re so right about the hidden force with a sense of humor – there must be one otherwise most of life makes no sense at all! Consider Spock greeted! (He isn’t speaking at the moment.)
I’m so jealous. I want a Thor bobble head . Sure I’ve got the action figure, but he doesn’t talk. The only thing I can think of that would be better than a talking Spoke is a Roomba vacuum. It would be like an electronic pet that only wants to please me by sucking up my dirt. Oh, or how about a little R2D2 that talks back when you speak to it. Gotta run. Time to hit EBay.:)
Oh, Boone, and WHAT if your Roomba talked to you too? “What next, mistress?” I would spend a lot of time training THAT pet
Let me know what you find. Then again, I’d never bid against you, my friend! Thanks for stopping by and brightening my day even more!
Hysterical! Now I want my own bobblehead doll! I talk to the dog but all he does is look at me like I’m nuts. Very perceptive that dog .
LOL – Marlo. A dog who stares is perfectly acceptable as a “crazy friend in the corner.” They do know exactly when we’re acting nuts, although I rarely need to be reminded. Actually, I’m glad if your dog finds you a little nuts — I love company!
WANT!
LOL – well, if you really do, here’s a link for you and anyone else who’s curious: http://www.smithsonianstore.com/talking-spock-bobble-head-68035.html?&wtl=cs&wtl1=p
We could start a club
Spock bobble head–I want one! What inspiration your bobble heads provide you. Aren’t all writers irrational? Thanks for brightening my day.
You know, Claranne, I think we are a little irrational – lol. And sometimes, as my DH would say, unreasonable, and more than a little tetched
It’s why I love the randomness and camaraderie of my Spock — who, by the way, has not said one little word today. Either I’m doing everything right, or he’s fed up with me – lol.
Well, I’m jealous. What a cool little heint to have in your corner.
I have a collection of weird undeniably quirky creatures and it’s been a while since I’ve been able to add to my stash. There’s a lady giraffe who has a normal head, and HUUUUUGE round purple body and infantry boots. A heavy stone goat with daisies in her mouth and a very guilty expression. A delightfully happy frog in a perpetual sailing-through-the air pose named Flip. A stone momma Toitle and her babys all peeking out from under her shell with wide sappy expressions. A floppy four color pliable squiggly caterpillar that cost me all of a $1 at the dollar store. And Dusty the Pom, the most eccentric Alpha in the household, whom you never want to awaken until he’s taken about ten steps after a nap. He’s in another world and it must be a Freddie Krueger movie.
But no one talks but Dusty. I will be ordering Spock.
Livia!
Say hi to Dusty-is he the Pom? If so, don’t annoy him on my behalf.
That is a phenomenal collection! The giraffe sounds positively amazing and just the phrase “heavy stone goat” makes me laugh. Let me know when you get your Spock and if he’s “normal” or has special powers of his own
Yeah, we were always amazed with our first three FEMALE poms that the picture of the bad dog behind the fence on the post office wall next to all the top ten criminals was a pom. Now we know why.
Great post! I knew about your Einstein bobblehead but knew nothing about your Spock one. I love how it goes off on its own at the oddest of times. It does make you wonder how and why at the times that it does speak to you. I can’t say I have anything in my office that speaks to me, but I have my quirky things. A year ago while on vacation, we celebrated July birthday’s, mine being one of them, and it was a Cinderella decorated cake. I kept the Fairy Godmother, Cinderella in her ballgown cake toppers with the horse and coach plastic backdrop, stating maybe the fairy godmother would grant my wish. She did. I also have a stuffed dog to watch over and bring inspiration as I write my current book. Keep the bobbleheads close and you shall live and prosper. ;^)
Aw Jods – thanks for coming by! Well your fairy godmother did indeed grant you your wish — your wish to become a PUBLISHED AUTHOR! See, these things aren’t just random, are they? You’ll be putting all that Cinderella stuff in a glass case once “Florida Heat” is released. Meanwhile — your collection sounds perfect for you — aren’t you glad you saved it?
i don’t often admit this but i have a wool blankie. my sons are the only ones who STILL don’t think it’s wierd. that’s why i kept them.
Thea, you go girl! I don’t think we’re ever too old for blankies and teddy bears. And since you’re brave enough to share, I’ll tell you that the other night I slept with a stuffed moose. Hubby was working overnight and moose kept me warm. Unfortunately, I don’t have anyone left who doesn’t find that weird
Aw, I’m jealous! All I have is photos of my kids staring at me. Which is great, but I wouldn’t want them to talk back. I get enough of that from the real kids. Now I’m going to have to seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly go … I mean go find and buy a Spock bobble head.
Yay! Another Spock for our Club
Thanks for coming by, Tam. And, hey, can’t WAIT to see you in Anaheim — that’s going to beat a bobblehead Spock by light years! Hugs!
I need someone looking over my shoulder to say ‘Fascinating’ when I write.
“facinating” Love it! Great post as always.