Action Figures Coalition

What's this, you say, about action figures? You've heard of Flat Stanley or the Roaming Gnome, right? You should have a talk with your inner child if you haven't. Well, The Action Figure Coalition is a similar concept and it makes everything about traveling more fun!

Once upon a time, back in 2004, I was in the University of Washington Husky Marching Band. We had traveled to Chicago for a football game and during our lunch break we decided we wanted McDonald's Happy Meals. One of my friends, Eric, got a G.I.Joe in his Happy Meal, photos were taken, and POOF the Action Figure Mascot (AFM) was born!

G.I.Joe started it all in 2004

Shortly after, in 2006, I set off on a 9-week European backpacking trip with my long-time friend Kristina. We started the trip off sans-AFM, however, about mid-way through SPIDERMAN found us. Wet met him in a Grecian airport bathroom. He came to be affectionately known as Spidy and spent many an adventure with us.

In the words of my friend Kristina, "Spidy ultimately met his end in Maui, where he tried to throw himself from the rental jeep.  I was able to piece him back together, but to be honest he was never the same, and having to put him on suicide watch was emotionally taxing for all of us." R.I.P

  
After sending Spidy off to the great Spiderweb in the Sky, we had a number of other Action Figure Mascots apply. 
Meet the Gang --HALL OF FAME:

*GI Joe- Flavor ORIGINAL (Born: Atlanta, Georgia McDonalds Happy Meal. Destinations: Georgia)

*Spidey - Spiderrman (Born: Greece Airport Bathroom. Destinations: Europe, Hawaii, Sweden)

*GI Jose - aka Joselito (Born: Seattle, Washington Plastic House. Destinations: Puerto Vallarta, Mexico)

*Jesus Cristo - with glowing hands (Born: Risen from the grave. Destinations: Belize)

*GrandPA MAX (Born: Hong Kong, China Plastic House. Destinations: Hong Kong, Boulder Colorado, this guy gets around)

*Sailor Moon - (Born: Allison's Inner Child. Destinations: The Enchantments Washington, Boulder Colorado on a love affair with Gpa Max)

*RAWR the T-Rex - Rhonald Arthur William Richard for short - (Born: Seattle Grocery Store Aisle. Destinations: Amazon Jungle, Peru)

Recently aquired members:
*Termi - (Born: New Orleans, Louisiana KB Toys. Destinations: Antarctica, New Zealand, Chile)
*Hank the Herm - Abominable Snowman (Born: Eric's Toy Collection. Destinations: Antarctica, New Zealand, Chile)
*Homie Moses - (Born: Seattle, Washington Orellana/Baliga Lab 'White-elephant Gift' Holiday Party. Destinations: Antarctica, New Zealand, Chile)

 

And last but not least....

Allison, as President of the newly formed Traveling Action Figure United Coalition, or TAFUC for short, created THE LAW: 

ATTENTION: Your mission should you choose to accept

You must obtain one action figure deemed worthy of participation on said grand expedition to the city of <insert city here>:

• Action figure must be acquired before travel or not later than the second day of travel  (i.e. if you don't get little figure before leaving you better get one asap in destination).
• Action figure may be of any gender or non-gender
• Action figure must participate in all activities
• Action Figure participation must be documented
• Any behavior or personality traits action figure inspires must be allowed to occur naturally

Don't let us down!

As this is quite serious business, some clarifying questions need to be asked:

• Can we have two action figures?  Can we have an action figure posse?
• What if the posse of action figures was stuck to a skateboard that we pull around by a string behind us?
• Can we dress as life size action figures?
• Can we get huge stuffed animals from the fair to be our action figure?
• What if we paid a someone to be our action figure?

To which the TAFUC provided the following answers.

• There may be only one action figure otherwise attention may be diverted and action figure jealousy is a dangerous thing (however, Siamese Twins are appropriate). Ammendment 35xiv states, as of 2012 it is OK to have more than one action figure per trip.
• No skateboards!
• Life size action figure not acceptable.  
• No paying to rent action figure. Also, action figure must complete the trip back to the US.

 E.O.M (End Of Message for those of you gobbling up all these TLAs -- Three Letter Acronyms!)