Tripping the Other Heels

Triple H attacked
Courtesy WWE

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter
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Just wanted to weigh in real quick on the ending of WWE TLC.  Roman Reigns destroyed Triple H after Sheamus and his fellow League of Nations buddies celebrated in the ring.  Of course I'm speculating and doing exactly what I hate from others, but it appears this is leading to a Triple H-Reigns match at either the Royal Rumble, Fast Lane or Wrestlemania.  

I don't like putting the cart before the horse and I know everything is part of a bigger picture, but I have to share My 1-2-3 Cents on the situation as I see it right now.  To me, putting Triple H in the ring with who the company is selling as the biggest baby face shows there's something wrong in terms of developing new characters, especially heels.

The League
Courtesy: WWE

Seth Rollins injury wasn't expected so I can cut them some slack on that.  When I look at the rest of the "bad" guys on the roster, no one stands out as being a credible top guy.  Even when Rollins was champ, I feel like he wasn't booked as the top guy.  I don't dislike Sheamus, but I'm still having trouble buying into him.  Rusev, King Barrett, Alberto Del Rio and Kevin Owens are all on the cusp of greatness.  Don't forget about Bray Wyatt (even though it seems creative has) either.  However I feel like for whatever reason WWE simply isn't pushing them.

My pick for top heel
Courtesy: WWE

We've seen a lot of guys go down with injuries this past year, including Rollins, Randy Orton, Daniel Bryan and Cesaro.  I'll continue to harp that the time is now (actually yesterday) to start building a more solid foundation for the talent that's there on a regular basis.  That's not to say Triple H can't and shouldn't do a couple matches a year, I'm just not sure I like where this is headed with Roman.  It seems too similar to 2014 and the triumph Bryan achieved at Wrestlemania XXX.

Time will tell.  Maybe I'm wrong.  But I still think more needs to be done to help the younger guys excel as Superstars and not just hold that label because it's the company's buzz word.

Ho Ho Hunsperger: How the Grinch SAVED Christmas

The Grinch!

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter
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I LOVE decorating the outside of my house for Christmas.  But as I get older, that climb to the peak of our roof and down the other side to hang the lights gets steeper each year.  I have visions of pulling a Clark Griswold one of these days and sliding right off.  This year we came up with a plan.

A couple of years ago I saw a picture on Pinterest (yes I have a page) of the Grinch pulling the lights off of a house.  It was a simple idea but I never really pursued it. Over dinner one night with the family we started talking about the Grinch idea again.  My wife and I both searched for the wooden figures online because as much as I'd love to be artistic, I am not. Plus I don't do well with power tools.

A work in progress

So I went to Facebook and put out a plea for help.  Not long after that a friend of mine, Grace, suggested the people at the Choate Mental Health and Development Center in Anna, Illinois.  Clients in the Cypress Woodworking program work with employees at Choate to do projects just like this one.  

Getting wired

The cost: $40.  That's awesome because our Grinch stands 7 and-a-half feet tall.  He's got that mischievous smile as he tugs at the lights from our house.  We bought a pole and some And some wire and secured him in front of the house.  A spot light helps light him up at night too.

He's a mean one...

The price is great, but the even better part is supporting the woodworking program.  The clients at Choate rely on state funding for the things in life most of us take for granted. Finding work and activities for those with intellectual disabilities is often a challenge for programs supporting this population.  This is an exciting way to support people who are capable of participating in paid work which is often hard to find. 

The woodworkers not only do the Grinch.  They make other Christmas icons and stay busy during the Halloween season with Halloween decorations too.  If you're interested in supporting the program, let me know.

Ho Ho Hunsperger: The Christmas Promise

Who loves the 90's?

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter
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In early 1992 I met the woman who would eventually become my wife.  Lisa and I were freshmen in college and became friends pretty quick.  A few months later I finally mustered up the courage to ask her on a date and we essentially became inseparable.  Even at age 19 we'd already started talking about marriage and that Fall I asked her father if I could get Lisa a promise ring with the intent of one day buying an engagement ring.  He approved and I bought a modest ring to show my love and intentions.

I made that bear

I decided to give Lisa the ring on Christmas.  After celebrating with each other's extended families we spent the evening at her parents house, along with my folks.  I had handmade a teddy bear for her (with the help of my mom) as part of her Christmas gift.  Lisa collected bears at the time and I thought the uniqueness of homemade bear was pretty cool.  Looking back, it's a reminder I never really had a man card.  

The bear of course was only part of the gift.  She opened up the ring box and inside was a gum ball machine ring I'd had since childhood. It was the shape of a heart and had a boy and girl kissing on the front of it.  She seemed confused at first and flashed a half smile as she slipped it on her finger and showed it to her parents.  

She's so excited

After a few minutes I told her the real gift was hanging among the ornaments on the Christmas tree.  Her reaction was much more positive when she found the ring and knew the meaning behind it.  

Lisa in 3D photo form

I loved the gift she gave to me.  It was 3-D pictures of her made at the Picture People in St. Louis.  I don't know if the place is still around, but I still have my little Lisas.  It was truly an awesome night and a significant one for our relationship.  Twenty-three years later we're still standing.

Ho Ho Hunsperger: Nintendo

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter
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Long before X Box, Playstation and the iPhone, we played video games on the Atari.  And before that we actually had Pong.  But in 1986, the coolest thing in the gaming world hit the market: the Nintendo Entertainment System.  With its 8 bits and colorful new characters, the gaming system was a welcomed addition under our Christmas tree that year.

The only hunting I ever did

My brother and I had hung up the joy stick from the Atari and embraced the NES controller with its extra buttons and features.  It took some time getting use to the changes and maneuvering the heroes on Super Mario Bros.  We'd spend hours playing as Mario and Luigi trying to save Princess Peach.  I'm not much of a gamer and was never able to complete the mission.  The cool thing about NES was the ability to add different controllers.  We got the gun and had lots of fun with that silly dog in the Duck Hunt game.

8 bit wrasslin' action

Another favorite from that system was Duck Tales.  I also enjoyed the track and field game, but as a wrestling fan how could I not love Pro Wrestling and eventually the WWF games.  Back then when a game wouldn't play right, we'd pull out the cartridge and blow inside it. Most of the time it worked.  I miss those days of 8 bit action.

Ho Ho Hunsperger: Smurf Overload

Merry Smurfmas

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter
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Growing up in the 80's I'd say my three favorite things were wrestling, Star Wars and the Smurfs.  I'll soon do a Star Wars post and I've already talked about my wrestling figures from Christmas, so that leaves the Smurfs for today.  Those little blue creatures first caught my eye in the third grade.  

Smurfy mold

Not only did I get several of the figures from Christmas during my elementary school years, I got Smurf clothes, a TV tray and even a Smurf making kit.  This actually turned out to be a bit of a flop as I'm not nearly as artistic in real life as I am in my mind's eye.  I don't remember much of this, but always preferred playing with the Smurfs that were ready to go.

Smurfy paper

One year, Santa wrapped most of my gifts in Smurf wrapping paper.  I remember being in awe seeing the festive paper covering a pile of presents and not wanting to rip it to shreds.  I don't know how this pack rat did it without saving a scrap or two for prosperity.  

The Smurfy Christmas wreath

But I do still have my Santa Smurf and Mrs. Claus Smurfette.  They've become a part of my wreath I hang on the door each year with a caroling Smurf ornament and an ice skating Smurf.  More than 30 years later I still enjoy seeing my little blue buddies during the Christmas season.

Ho Ho Hunsperger: The Rubik's Orb

The Rubik's Orb

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter
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As a child of the 80's I tired in vain to solve the Rubik's Cube.  Even peeling the stickers off and rearranging them was too hard for this guy.  So why not add a couple of other Rubik's inventions to the mix to try and figure out.  One year for Christmas I got the Rubik's Orb.  

The Orb is exactly what it sounds like, a puzzle ball with colored beads built into four different rings.  The sphere was split in two and you could move it around and line up the rings and then move the little beads around.  The object was just like the cube in getting all the same colors lined up.   It was much easier than the cube and after some time I was able to conquer it.

Rubik's Magic

The same could be said a few years later when Rubik's Magic made its debut.  It consisted of 12 tiles with portions of rings on each.  The object was to get the rings linked.  Unlike the cube this too was a much easier task for me to solve.  One of these days I'm going to take another crack at the cube and try to solve it.

Ho Ho Hunsperger: Snoopy Sno-Cone Machine

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter
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Now days, the Easy Bake Oven has been converted to make it more unisex.  When I was a kid it was pink and touted as a girl's toy.  Back then the closest a boy could get to receiving a "cooking" toy was the Snoopy Snow Cone Machine.

And one Christmas my brother and I got one.  Despite the fact that it was cold outside, we were eager to crunch up some ice cubes and coat the shavings in a sugar solution.  Who needed the sno-cone man to drive by anymore?  Certainly not us.

The machine was put into overdrive during the summer months of course, as we'd make treats for our friends as we splashed around in the pool.  Too bad we didn't have a more entrepreneurial spirit, we could have started our own business.  The classic is back with a bit of an updated look, but it still embraces the retro features that made it so popular.