Pin #358: NASA

This is a cool NASA logo pin.  I don't remember how I got it though.  I've been to both space centers in Orlando and Houston, but I didn't buy this pin in either place.  But anything related to space or NASA is good in my book.

Pin #357: Bear Country

This pin has one of the most random and fascinating stories as to how I acquired it.  A few years ago a friend of mine came to town and we went around town looking at toy shops and antique stores for old stuff that we could use at the camp we volunteer at.  The theme that year was Decades so we wanted stuff from a bunch of different decades.  We went to this hole in the wall antiques store that was in an industrial part of town.  There was a lot of weird and interesting stuff in there, including a basket of pins by the cash register.  Naturally, I started rifling through all of them and stumbled across this one.  It looked like it was from the same series of pins that my Adventureland and Frontierland pins, which were already featured, were from, and I knew that Critter Country used to be called Bear Country.  It was only 50 cents or something, so I bought it, and it turns out I was right.  How crazy that a Disneyland pin from 1985 ended up in an antiques store in Tucson in 2012!

Pin #356: Explore Milwaukee

I honestly don't remember how I got this pin.  I've been to Milwaukee once, but it definitely wasn't in '86 and I surely didn't buy this pin when I was there.  This is a pin from the 1986 Jaycees National Convention featuring a beer stein, which is quite representative of Wisconsin.

Pin #355: Sleeping Beauty - Aurora with Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather

This is one of my favorite pins.  I didn't realize it at the time, but I'm kind of lucky that I even got it.  It's a limited edition pin that was released as part of Walt's Classics Collection.  You can tell by the movie camera icon in the bottom left.  Four pins were released each month in 2009 as part of the collection.  This one was released in October and I just happened to go for my birthday that year.  If you follow this blog you know that I love Sleeping Beauty pins, so I jumped at the chance to buy this one.  I love the imagery of Aurora with the three fairies in the castle window.  It's very classic.

Pin #354: San Francisco

I bought this pin during my trip to San Francisco about a year ago.  I thought it was a cool looking pin with the Golden Gate Bridge and the Trolley car on an all gold pin.  It just stood out, so I bought it.

Pin #353: Sheriff Mickey

This pin was a gift from a friend who went to Walt Disney World a couple years ago.  It features Mickey dressed as a cowboy on a sheriff badge.  It's a cool looking pin.  He bought it for me because he said there wasn't any other pin like it.  And I have to agree.  I don't think I've ever seen a Disney pin quite like this.  Between that and the thoughtfulness of my friend, that's why I really like it.

Pin #352: Black Pearl

This pin came out shortly after the Pirates of the Caribbean movie was released.  It features Captain Jack Sparrow's ship, the Black Pearl, with the message "A Curse Upon Those Who Dare Trespass".  It hints at the plot of the movie.  I like the pin because I love the ride and I love the movies, well, the first three at least.  Also, I think it's really cool looking because of the coloring.  It gives the pin a very ominous feel.  I saw it at Disneyland and it really stood out.  Pirates of the Caribbean and the Haunted Mansion are the two best attractions when it comes to pins.  You'll see that if you keep up with this blog.

Pin #351: 2009 Rose Bowl

This is a pin from the 2009 Rose Bowl featuring USC and Penn State.  I actually went to this game.  My uncle came out from New Jersey, too.  It was his first Rose Bowl.  USC ended up dominating the game, but as usual it was an awesome experience.  As far as the pin goes, it's a very boxy pin with no real panache.  Some Rose Bowl pins are classy and elegant.  This isn't one of them.  But it's still a reminder of a game I went to.

Pin #350: Michigan

This pin represents Michigan.  It features four quadrants of pictures, a bird, the state, cherries, and a flower, that I assume all have something to do with Michigan.  It's a very beautiful looking pin with vibrant colors.  I have no idea where I got it, though.  I've never been to Michigan and I can't remember who I know who might have got it for me.

Pin #349: Mickey and Minnie 80 Years

This pin commemorates the 80th anniversary of Steamboat Willie and the first appearance of Mickey and Minnie.  I love historical stuff like this.  Anytime I see a pin celebrating Disney history I'm automatically attracted to it.  As a result I have quite a few Steamboat Willie era Mickey pins.

Pin #348: Walt Disney Quote - Red, White, and Blue

This is another pin from the Walt Disney quotes series of pins.  It features the quote, "I get red, white, and blue at times" and has Mickey Mouse.  Of all the pins from this series, this is my least favorite.  But I do like the little Mickey ears that are sprinkled around the pin.

Pin #347: Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

I bought this pin when I visited Arlington National Cemetery a couple years ago.  The pin represents the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.  We were fortunate enough to see a changing of the guard at the tomb while we were there.  It was a really powerful experience.  The pin itself is just a really simple representation of the tomb with a silhouette of a soldier in the foreground.  Also, the yellow and orange in the background gives the appearance of the sunset.  It's a nice touch.

Pin #346: Evil Queen

This was another pin that I traded for during my last visit to Disneyland.  I thought it was cool because it's the Evil Queen from Snow White on a purple Q background.  Plus, it was part of the Hidden Mickey Lanyard series that was only available via trade with a cast member.  So that's pretty cool.

Pin #345: Tron Legacy Mystery Pin 1

This is from another mystery pin set.  This set was released in conjunction with Tron: Legacy.  Being a huge Tron fan, I had to buy it and take my chances.  This pin features Sam Flynn standing and holding his identity disc.  Also, it glows in the dark.  I found this out one night when I got up to get water and was walking through my house in the dark.  As I passed my pin boards I noticed three pins glowing.  This was one of them.  That just ramped up the coolness factor for the pin.  Pretty much anything Tron related is automatically cool in my book, and then it usually gets cooler, like this pin,

Pin #344: Syracuse

This is a pin from Syracuse University.  My parents got it for me when they went out there for a friend's daughter's graduation.  It's an orange, which is the nickname for the school.  I'm actually shocked that this is my first Syracuse pin considering my cousin attended school there.  But he did get me a National Championship shirt in 2003, so I can't be too mad.

Pin #343: Grand Ole Opry

This is a cool guitar pin from the Grand Ole Opry.  I don't remember who exactly gave it to me, though.  It was either my dad, my aunt, or a friend.  Either way, I like it because it is a perfect token from the Music City.

Pin #342: USA Baseball

For a few different summers I worked as a scorekeeper for USA Baseball during their teen team national championships.  I got lots of free gear, but I also got a discount in the team store.  One year, I saw a pin and decided I needed to have it.  Unfortunately, because my current job runs year round it makes it difficult to to go back every summer.  But it is one of the most things I have ever done.

Pin #341: Maryland

This is another pin that we got as part of our Road Trip theme at camp a couple summers ago.  The state of Maryland was nice enough to send a package of stuff.  This pin features the state flag of Maryland on a white background.  Simple, but effective.

Pins #339-340: Star Wars Muppets

I decided to show these two pins together because they came together and they just go together.  Disney does a variety a mystery pin sets where you basically buy a box with a couple pins inside but you don't know what they are.  These pins were part of a Star Wars Muppets mystery collection.  As a huge Star Wars fan and a huge Muppets fan, I felt compelled to take my chances with one of these boxes.  The two pins I got happened to be Bunsen and Beaker dressed as C-3PO and R2-D2.  That's a pretty perfect pairing!

Pin #338: Aurora Cast Lanyard

This is the first pin that I actually traded for at Disneyland.  I don't normally like to trade because I buy my pins because I like them and I get attached.  But I had a couple duplicate pins so I felt ok about trading those.  I saw this pin in the Star Traders gift shop so I made the trade.  I'm a big Sleeping Beauty fan, and I liked this pin.  It's a Cast Lanyard pin so the only way I would have gotten it is through trade also, which makes it even cooler.

Pin #337: El Paso

This is a pin from El Paso.  It features a cowboy on horse, I think.  He could be a miner.  But the prettiest part of the pin is the sunset in the background.  It really makes El Paso seem beautiful.  I've never been there, so I can't say if that's actually the case.  And I don't remember where I got this pin either.  I'm sure someone must have given it to me, but I can't recall who.

Pin #336: Wilson Wranglers

This is a pin from the school I used to teach at, Wilson K-8.  The school nickname is the Wilson Wranglers, which should explain the horseshoes, and the school colors are green and blue.  I have to admit it is a nice design.  These were given to all the staff one year by the PTO, if I remember correctly.

Pin #335: Letters to Santa

This is probably one of the cutest pins I have in my collection.  It features a little boy dropping off a letter for Santa in a mailbox, with Santa inside reading the letters.  I don't know what this pin is for.  Maybe the Post Office?  Nor do I remember where I got it.  But like I said, it's cute.

Pin #334: People to People

People to People is a youth leadership organization.  They organize conferences and international trips for middle and high schoolers.  I was selected to work with them one year, but unfortunately was not able to go on the European trip due to low student enrollment.  But, hey, at least I got a pin!