BOX DATE: 1992

MANUFACTURER: Mattel

DOLLS IN LINE: Barbie; Ken

VARIATIONS: Blonde; African American

BODY TYPE: 1968; straight arms; straight, non-bending legs

HEAD MOLD: 1991 "Secret Heart"

***My doll is wearing 2007 Surf's Up Beach Ken's outfit.

PERSONAL FUN FACT written by my sister: After Water Jewel Magic Aladdin, this is my favorite childhood man doll. I rescued this guy, who I call Chandler, when I was seventeen. He was at a flea market we frequently went to on a table. He was wearing just a blue t-shirt. Seeing him with his bum showing and dirty, neglected and abandoned tore at my heart the way Dentist Barbie tore at my sister. I adopted him, bathed him, and dressed him. From that day on, he's always been one of my favorite dolls.

He got me really addicted to man dolls. If not for him, I may never have bought Palm Beach Ken (another favorite) or Photo Student Ken. Chandler usually worked at a post office and spent his weekends lounging on his couch, drinking soda with his friends. He also liked to cook and was great at it. I named him Chandler because we were watching too much "Friends" around that time (circa 2004, I believe).

As my sister explains on our "My Story: Ken" photo (which should be titled "Heads Will Roll!"), Chandler got into a very bad accident. My father, thinking himself amusing (and he usually was), made Chandler jump off a high shelf. I still remember Dad making Chandler talk right before he did it, and I still remember him saying, "If I had realized he was your favorite, I wouldn't have done that...I shouldn't have done that anyway." Dad had to take me to stores looking for a guy on a body to match his skin tone. We murdered a poor, innocent Cali Guy Blaine doll (if I could go back in time, I wouldn't do that to poor Blaine). From around 2004/2005 until June 2021, Chandler was on Blaine's aromatically scented body, which made him appeal more to the ladies, I'm sure. However, one summer Sunday, we were at the flea market walking past a container of junk when Shelly observed and pointed out a Ken doll wearing beach shorts. We approached and realized he was a grubby version of Chandler (if he'd been a NICER version of Chandler, I'd have bought him as a gorgeous duplicate of a favorite). We started walking away in disappointment. Before we cleared the other end of the guy's table, Shelly says, "You know, that doll has a lot of missing paint. We could take his body for Chandler." All of a sudden, I saw the grubby Ken doll in a whole new light! I wound up paying three dollars because the guy didn't have enough ones to break my five. The price sticker was only marked at two. (I would not normally spend more than a dollar on a grubby doll, but for a specialty body donor I will. Not only is Chandler an absolute favorite, but his body is a unique skin tone AND has non-bending legs. In fact, I don't know if any other Ken would be a suitable donor.) It was sort of like what happened with Fashionistas Sassy--we took a body we REALLY needed from a doll who, if found in a bin, we would have made a concerted effort to save if we hadn't REALLY needed that body. Between the three dollars I spent on Chandler's new body in June of 2021 and however much Cali Guy Blaine retailed for (so, probably between $8-$12), a doll who started as a fifty cent purchase (I think I got him for that--but it was a LONG time ago) wound up costing our family between $11-$15...and that's not counting how much my dad spent in gas, driving around looking for the first body donor! (It served Dad right--shouldn't have broken my man doll.) Chandler's new body isn't perfect--one hand is a little chewed, but Shelly used warm water to shrink up the damage and make it less noticeable.

Well, I still wish Dad hadn't made Chandler take a shelf-dive. He spent many years looking a little silly and Chandler's original body was nicer than this new, permanent one. Still, it is a pretty funny story--just another memory with Chandler. If I had a chance to buy this guy boxed I would. Not because he comes in a particularly spiffy outfit (it isn't nearly as cute on him as this fashion) or because he's from an iconic line--but because he's Chandler--who will always be special to me! Plus, it would be REALLY nice to have a Chandler twin who was in better shape...it would also be nice to have a Cali Guy Blaine, but I digress.

Anyway, while Shelly and I had male dolls as far back as we had female dolls, it wasn't until I got Chandler that I really embraced guy dolls as their own entity--collecting Ken. In that time frame, I made a point of purchasing oodles of Ken outfits for Chandler and his friends. Also, a lot of the memories I've talked about with my man dolls--like Dennis (Palm Beach) being a detective, Rob (Hawaiian Fun) playing witch doctor to fix Chandler's broken stove, and Chandler working at a post office with my other guy dolls--are memories that I made circa 2003/2004. Chandler and his friends' misadventures inspired many of our ideas, including ones we used for youtube videos. In fact, the "Stovula" incident, in which Chandler's favorite kitchen appliance (he liked to cook) broke and all his friends came over and sat around while Rob decided he was a witch doctor and could resurrect "Stovula" with his powers, was the inspiration for our "Dolly Tales" series, where we discuss some of our favorite memories with our dolls and talk about some of the things that inspired us. Chandler was truly an inspiration. I don't know exactly why...I never knew, when rescuing a half-naked, forlorn man doll that he'd become such a huge part of our lives!

My first attempt at shooting the moon with the Russian made 3M-5CA mirror lens. No crop, 2000mm effective (500mm lens + 2x Teleconverter + 2x CF.)

Toronto

first anaglyph

First West Yorkshire: 37298 (MX07 BUF) a Wright Gemini bodied Volvo B9TL, painted in Huddersfield's blue front version of First corporate livery, It is captured here on New Market Street in Leeds City Centre whilst operating on service 7 to Primley Park.

© Christopher Lowe.

Date: 17th February 2024.

Ref No: PICT44610/CL.

First Transpennine Express 185151 passing York Holgate Sidings

The first class 800 to vist Swansea is seen at Maliphant Sidings (Photo By Steve Powell)

Volvo B7L Wright Eclipse.

new to Rider (York) 1714 delivered in February 2002

Sheffield Interchange

First Hampshire & Dorset Volvo B7TL/Alexander ALX400

Axminster Station

5th March 2016

X53 short working to Bridport

first 63131 at doncaster

Wounded Warrior Marine veteran Josh Wege rounds first base after hitting the ball past the outfielders during the Wounded Warrior Amputee Celebrity Softball Classic at the Nationals’ ballpark in Washington April 3. Wege, from Campbellsport, Wis., is part of the Washington Nationals Wounded Warrior Amputee Softball Team made up of veterans and active duty service members from across the U.S., who lost limbs while serving in Iraq or Afghanistan. Using the latest in prosthetic technology, these athletes travel the country to play able-bodied opponents to bring attention to the sacrifice and resilience of military service members. The wounded warriors won 17-4.

(U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Daniel Wetzel)

First Essex Wright Streetlite 63162 SN64 CHY passing through London Road Hadleigh on the 28 to Southend

The First Nations Leaders Gathering is about fostering relationships, addressing problems, creating solutions and celebrating successes. The gathering has many opportunities for First Nations community leaders to meet about issues of importance to communities and to network with other leaders from across the province.

This year’s gathering offers face-to-face opportunities to continue on the path towards building a fair, just and equitable partnership where we are working together to close socio-economic gaps as part of our journey towards reconciliation.

Learn more: news.gov.bc.ca/stories/first-nations-leaders-gathering-2016

First PMT

Scania L94UB Wright Floline S\Decker bus

Fleet number 60194

W 142 PSH

Service 20A Talke Pits

But from Kidsgrove this becomes the 34A City Centre Via Newcastle

Seen at Kidsgrove

Monday 15th April 2013

Did my first sitting for color of my photography half sleeve. It's about 1/3 done. Two more sittings.

Outline is here. www.flickr.com/photos/andrewsnyder/4923662998/in/photostream

Enjoyed a few glasses of wine at the famous Legends Hotel that we would return to later in the evening for the night club.

crocus

first 36180 at gt yarmouth

Seen at Glasgow Buchanan Bus Station

22nd October 2015

We've got this gift of love, but love is like a precious plant. You can't just accept it and leave it in the cupboard or just think it's going to get on by itself. You've got to keep watering it. You've got to really look after it and nurture it.

~John Lennon

One of the first prints from my first cyanotype printing session.

This is Bostick & Sullivan's cyanotype kit on Arches Platine paper. Using the sun for an 11 min exposure. Rinsed in water for 12 min. I have very hard water so the last 4 minutes the print soaked in distilled water.

I love being able to make hand-made prints at home. I have a lot to learn. I've already figured out the sun doesn't always cooperate. I made two exposures consecutively, same negative, same exposure and same paper. Different prints.?. The first image was perfect. So, I thought, I'll hurry and make another before anything changes. Nope. Didn't work.

Live, learn and love :)

:)

The weekend of 10th/11th July 2016 saw the Weymouth seafood festival in the town, and with the Littlemoor route now taking in the park and ride, some unusual allocations were to be found!

Here is 32804, a Dennis Trident with Plaxton President bodywork heading back into Weymouth along Mercery Road, on a short working to the park and ride site.

Sheffield Meadowhall Bus Station

My favorite season started well

first 48208 at weymouth

First Manchester: 39255 (BW65 DCX) a Wright Gemini 3 bodied Volvo B5LH, painted in purple Vantage livery and based at Bolton Garage. This vehicle is captured here turning from Oldham Street into Piccadilly at the start of a journey on Service V1 to Leigh.

© Christopher Lowe.

Date: 6th March 2017.

Ref No. 0039084.

First PMT

Volvo Olympian Alexander D\Decker bus

Fleet number 34288

P 188 TGD

Seen at Newcastle Depot

Friday 16th November 2012

First PMT

Scania L94 Wrightbus Floline Single Decker Bus.

Fleet number 60196

X 253 USH

Seen broken down in Newcastle bus station

On Saturday 4th December 2010.

Aire Valley, Bingley

First Midland Red Plaxton Centro Volvo B7RLE 66692 CN07HVH seen about to Enter Forgate St Bus Lane.

Seen 28/11/17

i need first aid kit.

at NGV, melbourne

Hood River, Oregon

First Manchester

Volvo B7TL Wright Eclipse Gemini D\Decker bus

Fleet number 32456

YJ 04 FZD

Service 472 Liverpool ~ Heswall

Seen in Liverpool

Thursday 12th July 2012

Cathedral Street, Glasgow 13/7/14

FS#050603

First day of school at Camp Menlo. Photos by Pete Zivkov.

Dennis Trident Plaxton President.

new to First London TN33230

Flat Street, Sheffield

Operator- First Midland Red

Operating Area- Worcestershire & Herefordshire

Make- Mercedes Benz

Model- Citaro O530

Chassie-

Fleet No- 64012

Reg- OIG 6942

Location Seen- Worcester Crowngate Bus Station

Info- New to First Berkshire. Previous Reg LT52WXA

Seen 21/4/22

Great Yarmouth, 8 August 2015.

Bracknell, 9 July 2014.

First Manchester's Volvo B7RLE/Wright Eclipse Urban 66880 MX05CKO is pictured in Bury Interchange, on a Service 472 to Ramsbottom, on June 3rd 2017.

Martlesham, 25 September 2017.

The new order for the Ipswich Park & Ride services from July 2017 is a batch of these former First Scotland East Enviro 300s. This meant once again the Park & Ride contract has changed hands from Ipswich Buses to First.