My son really likes to have books read to him while sitting on your lap. I don't know if its unfortunate or not, but the one that seems to be his favorite is probably the one he shouldn't be putting his snotty-fingers all over. I have two George Rodrigue "Blue Dog" books signed by the author that were given to me when I was younger by my dad, one of which is a childrens book called "Why Is Blue Dog Blue?". El NiƱo friggin' loves this thing, and gets the biggest smile on his face every time we read it. Hopefully, we'll be keep him from completely destroying it in the next few years so that he will one day be able to read it to his kids. Focus: What is something special or unique that you own?
Focus: My target rifles. Spoiler Rifles custom made for benchrest shooting aren't anything new, but I make my stocks from scratch with wood and carbon fiber and the designs are original so there aren't any quite like these out there. They are very special, prized possesions of mine and each has 80-100 hours of work in them. This one here has a special cedar/carbon fiber stock with some parts handmade from carbon fiber too (i.e. trigger guard and buttplate). Easily the most unique gun I own. Spoiler tags for pics.
My (real) name. Theres not a single person in the entire world that could possibly have the same one.
It's Rumpelstiltskin, isn't it? Focus: I don't know if these count or not, but: - My son. No one else could have another one like him. I couldn't, even if I tried (again). - No one else has a Trans Am exactly like mine. Other than that, I try to make it a point to have things that are easily replaceable should they be lost or stolen. I've got a lot of tools that I've made/modified, but I don't think anyone is interested in hearing about the Ford diesel fan-clutch wrench I made.
I have a collection of antiques (mostly tools) that are worth quite a bit. The most notable pieces include a three foot long throwing axe used for hunting bears (seriously), a Sugar-Devil which is a rare cast iron sugar grinder shaped like an evil, twisted pitchfork but the piece-de-resistance is a single-hand broadaxe, made around 1780 in Vatican City. I also have a collection of about 300 original Matchbox cars, some still mint, other beat to shit by me as a child. I even still have the connectable track pieces that you could use to lash your friend across the calves like a slavedriver whenever he was stupid enough to wear shorts at your house.
Since Blue Dog started off with a signed book, I guess I should share some of my own. Signed copy of Five Plays by Sartre. I also have books signed by Ted Kennedy (two, with one also signed by his dog "Splash" ...yeah, I know). Books signed by Sandra Day O'Connor, Stephen Breyer, and Clarence Thomas. And, in no particular order, signed copies of all these: Counselor, by Ted Sorenson I, The Jury, by Mickey Spillane Sophie's Choice, by William Styron The War Within, by Bob Woodward Eat, Pray, Love, by Elizabeth Gilbert The Corrections, by Jonathan Franzen The Enchantress of Florence, by Salmon Rushdie My Word is My Bond, by Roger Moore The First Billion is the Hardest, by T. Boone Pickens The Affluent Society, by John Galbraith Call by Ted, by Ted Turner Thank You For Smoking, by Christopher Buckley (I have several books by him, and after having been to three signing, I got him to sign Florence of Arabia, made out "To E-bay.") Almost everything by Sarah Vowell Dress Your Family in Cordoroy and Denim, by David Sedaris The Game, and Emergency, by Neil Strauss Lucy, by Jamaica Kincaid The Color Purple, by Alice Walker Sex and the City, by Candace Bushnell
I am a massive, nearly obsessive militaria collector. Being also a broke college student, I can't afford anything as snazzy as a Wehrmacht generals dress uniform; so the bulk of my collection is fairly common. However I count the following amongst my treasure trove... I have a French A.N.T.P 31 gas mask; 1920's issue. I found it in the back of a local antique store, collecting dust on the bottom of a forgotten shelf. Paid five bucks for it, and it's in excellent shape for it's age. I also have my cousin's cartridge belt he wore during his tour in the Korean War. Sitting at the foot of my bed is an artillery shell I bought at a pawn shop. It's quite the mystery; there's no markings what so ever on it; and hence no clues as to where or when it was made. Then of course you've got the British kevlar helmet, circa 1991 with the desert camouflage cover. A Swedish helmet from the 1930's, found at the same shop as the French gas mask. Various American chemical protective suits, dating from the early 1960's through the modern JLIST suits, (one on display, two factory sealed). A M65 olive drab field jacket worn by another cousin while stationed with the Air Force in Alaska. Last but not at all the least, a M72A3 LAW tube; given to me by an ex for Valentines Day. Just for shits and giggles, this is the A.N.T.P 31 mask.
I had a group of friends commission a huge intricate drawing for me a couple of years ago. They presented it to me the night before my wedding and during the reception brought people to the room where it was to show it off. It's a giant pile of references that would take too long to explain, but it's a hugely meaningful piece of art to me. It's literally one of a kind, commissioned by people because they appreciated something I had done for them, and is beautiful. I am not generally an art/wall hanging sort of guy, but it's at the top center of my mantle in the livingroom right now.
Not necessarily special or unique, but there probably aren't many people on this board who have these things: Spoiler
All of the Led Zeppelin albums; on vinyl. I bought them all back in the early 90's and each one has been played no more than 2-3 times. I doubt they are worth all that much but I probably wouldn't sell them anyway.
I have (apparently) a baseball-sized antipersonnel mine from World War 2. It's blue with metal clasps holding it closed, and weighs quite a bit for it's size. My dad has an antique cash register that is among the first electric models ever built.
Ive mentioned it before but I have my dad's collection of pictures he took when he was a amateur photographer in the late 60's/early 70's. I haven't been back through them but I hope to christ I returned the black and white Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon tour shots he did. I had taken them to school to develop in photo class but I lost track of them. But there are some wicked color ones as well. Also, Polaroid's of Jimi Hendrix, shots of Alice Cooper, The Grateful Dead, unfortunately his shots from a Sonny and Cher concert were swiped by the developers...
My family has a horse headed cane that was carved by Geronimo. He was held in jail in Mt Vernon, AL, where my dad's family is from. An ancestor of mine (not sure if it was a grandfather or an uncle of some sort) was his translator during that time.