Yup, all these Flea Market things from the Long Beach Swap came home with me yesterday.

First thing I spotted was the little Barona $25 pin, in seemingly the same colors and design as CG 013018.

Mapes Money Tree 3 For 2 Tokens made their appearance at another vendor's, and then I found Blackbeard's Treasure! Arrrgghh, me hearties! I do na' know the swab who walked outta the Golden Nugget with it in 1991 and canna find any further information about a Treasure Hunt on the web. 'Tis but a myth? But then why show the likeness of Ye Goldene Nuggette on it?

But my favorite is the Princess Cruises Panama Canal Passage Button. Supposedly these were handed out to select guests only after the ship had successfully gotten through. In my mind's eye, I see Captain Balboa turning over the helm of the ship to a lucky guest, in this case Aunt Elsie. "Oh, I'm sure I can get it through, I park my Cadillac every Thursday at the Bingo Hall, you know! And those spaces are mighty narrow." So she got the ship's wheel and all of a sudden, Crrrrunnnnch!

And Aunt Elsie exclaimed, "Glory-be, I can't see these parking stripes from way up here. I think we just left the starboard behind!"

And Captain Balboa replied, "Leaves us with more buttons to hand out. Sail on!"

Anyway, folks, there's your photo and a Christmas Eve story to tell the kids before they get nightmares of Sugar Plums dancing around. Happy holidays!