Spring Loaded: A Message from the Editor top of page | cover page

Welcome once again to the pages of Pezhead Monthly.

August was a flurry of Pez activity for me. In addition to being honored as the August 2005 Pezhead of the Month, I picked up the new Ninja Turtles set and the Limited Edition Giant Crystal Yoda. What's more, I won an auction for an Elton John Fantasy Pez dispenser. While it is well designed, it is also quite obviously a former Hulk dispenser. Still, how could I pass that one up? Lastly, I picked up my first MP3 player and I love this thing. And while that in itself is not Pez-related, I am pleased to report that Less Than Jake's "Pez King" is loaded on it.

This issue of Pezhead Monthly is truly action packed. For starters, this month we have another photo essay, the theme of which this time around is the impact of the annual state fair train on some of my Pez collection. Dramatic to say the least. Then, there are Five Questions for the Pez Racing Car, a little bit of Pez Poetry, and of course the Pez Almost-Quote. Rounding off the issue is a groovin' duet featuring EltonPez and his quite happy new owner.

Take care and see you next month!

Joe Durrant
Editor, Pezhead Monthly
joe@pezheadmonthly.com

My Pez Collection Versus The State Fair Train: A Pezhead Monthly Photo Essay top of page | cover page

When I moved into my apartment last October, it didn't occur to me that there would be implications to living about 50 feet from the railroad tracks. And for ten months, there really weren't any. However, that all changed when the State Fair came to town in August. Because of the notoriously rough parking situation at the fairgrounds, a lot of people choose to park outside of the city and take public transportation to the fair. And what's the coolest way to ride? By train, of course.

Now, I'm not knocking the idea of a fair train. I think it's a good idea and, especially in these times of high gasoline prices, is a great way to save money. And really, I should have known better than to get an apartment so close to the tracks. I've been living in this city for five years now and I was well aware of the fair train, having lived pretty close to it once before.

But this does not change the fact that the state fair train was unbelievably LOUD. It ran by the apartment about once an hour, from about 9am to about 11pm, for ten days straight. What's worse, every once in a while the conductor would blow the train horn right as it was passing my apartment. I cannot possibly express how loud that is, especially when you are not expecting it.

Even without the horn, though, the train was incredibly disruptive. The whole apartment shaked everytime the train would pass. This included my CDs, my silverware and plates... and, of course, my Pez collection. And while I am pleased to report that there were no outright collapses, there were some very, very close calls. What follows is a Pezhead Monthly photo essay on the effects of the state fair train on my Pez collection. As you will see, when the train comes to town and the dispensers get rattled, tensions tend to rise and that famous spirit of Pez comraderie is tested like never before. So brace yourself, the ride may get a little bumpy.

Rumble With The Simpsons: Watch out! Scoop from the Bob the Builder set is going to plow over Homer, Marge, and Bart Simpson, while Maggie and Lisa are running for their lives from the fury of the formerly benevolent tractor.

A Sesame Street Divided: Here we see Elmo and Zoe taking off with Big Bird, while Cookie Monster, Bert, and Ernie are left to their own defenses. Will the Sesame Street crew ever be the same? Will Big Bird and his posse come and play, everything's a-okay? Or is gang warfare imminent?

More Than Jake: Here we see a very angry Less Than Jake "Evolution Kid" ready to unleash his power upon a clearly terrified Donatello from the Ninja Turtles set. The Evolution Kid struts around like Godzilla, taking full advantage of his considerable size difference. Adding insult to injury, his weapon of choice is a likeness of himself as a Pez dispenser.

Getting Antsy: The Anteater from the Pink Panther Set is finally fed up with the "ant-ics" of the Ant dispenser, and is planning to get himself some lunch. Inspector Clouseau is standing idly by and is of no help, as usual. Lucky for the Ant, though, that he and the Anteater are the same size as Pez dispensers, and there looks to be no conceivable way for the Anteater to fit him into his snout.

He Just Can't Wait To Be King: It looks like the long-standing friendship between Timon and Pumbaa has come to an abrupt end, as Timon gets all up in that and is in obvious violation of Pumbaa's personal space. Hey buddy, whatever happened to Hakuna Matata??

What The Shrek? Shrek's reputation for eating reptiles precedes him, and if Kaa from the Jungle Book set is not careful, it looks like he may be Shrek's next meal.

Hold Me, Uncle Scrooge. Hold Me. The trauma of the fair train looks to have completely terrified poor little Webby. Lucky for her that her Uncle Scrooge is always there for her. Meanwhile, Gyro stares aimlessly into the distance, perhaps thinking of another invention. Maybe he can invent something to make the train less loud and disruptive next year.

Happily Ever After: Despite the anguish caused for the ten days of the State Fair Train, the Pez collection once again returns to normal. For yea, while the monstrous train proved a formidable enemy, when all was said and done it was the Pez collection that emerged victorious and lived to tell about it. And when the train returns next year for the dramatic rematch, it will be these brave Pez dispensers who will proclaim in unison, "Bring it on!"

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