#130 - The Blind Faith That Found Predaking

A childhood Transformer, a $200 Marketplace gamble, and a 90-minute drive in cleaning clothes — plus Boujee's (finally correctly-dated) royal birthday, as told by Dapper himself. A full-circle week at the Vilhelm house.

The Blind Faith That Found Predaking

The Day I Found Predaking

Hello Vilhelmians!,

Growing up, my family didn’t have a lot of money. My 14th birthday was no different, but my mom made it special. She gifted me a Transformer I desperately wanted: Predaking. It was a massive combiner made of five different animal bots. I remember the day vividly, going to Yorkdale with my sister to pick him up. She probably doesn't even remember it, but it's the little things that people do that can make a lasting impression. So, thank you to my sister for that memory.

Unfortunately, we could only afford four of the five pieces; one was out of stock and frankly, out of our budget. I remember playing with him, a giant robot with no arm, and inventing stories about how he lost it. To me, his incompleteness was just another part of the adventure.

Later, I traded my four-piece Predaking for a complete Aerialbot named Superion. Predaking was half the size, and when my mom saw the new toy, the look on her face said it all. She thought I had made the wrong choice, and maybe I had, but it was my decision. It was a choice that felt right to me at the time.

That day, as a young boy, my mom told me something that has driven me ever since: “One day you’ll have every single toy that you need. All you gotta do is pay attention in school and do the right thing.” That simple statement became my life’s philosophy. It’s not just about doing the right thing for success, but for finding a happy life. And while happiness is a journey, not a destination, I've always held on to that belief.

I want to thank my mom. The lessons she taught me as a little kid have come full circle and have been part of my journey more than she’ll ever know. The lessons about paying attention to details—whether it was spotting dust on top of the fridge or under a cabinet—made me who I am today. If I ever told a lie, she would always catch me because I'd forget a tiny detail. This taught me to pay attention to the small things, and in turn, I became a better lie detector myself.

Saturday Tradition and a Blind Leap of Faith

Fast forward to last Saturday. My partner, Kat, took our daughter Alyce to her weekly kids’ gym class. It’s a great way for Alyce to play with other kids in a structured environment, something she doesn't get to do much in our quiet neighborhood. With them out of the house, I dedicated my Saturday morning to a family tradition passed down from my mom: the deep clean. It’s not glamorous, but my mom taught me to never miss a detail. Thanks to her, my attention to detail is almost second nature. Every corner, every cabinet, every bit of dust gets dealt with.

After the house was spotless, Kat and Alyce returned, and we started planning our day. We were thinking of a trip to the beach, but as I scrolled through Facebook Marketplace, I saw a deal that stopped me cold. A man was selling a collection of Transformers and other memorabilia for just $200. He was located an hour and a half away, in Richmond Hill, but this was a chance I couldn’t pass up.

I mentioned the idea to Kat, and while she was supportive, the seller's replies were short and direct: "First come, first serve." He had another buyer interested, and it was a race. I looked at Kat, said “I’m sorry, hon, but I gotta go,” and without changing out of my cleaning clothes, I hit the road. Blasting EDM and with my cop sensors on high alert, I took the toll express to shave off some time, a blind leap of faith that this deal was real.

A Collection and a Full Circle Moment

When I arrived, the seller led me to his basement, which was a treasure trove. Sure enough, there they were: the combiners I remembered from my childhood. Predaking, the one from my 14th birthday, was among them. So were Devastator, Bruticus, and Dinobot. I was a kid again.

He helped me load the box of toys into my car, even throwing in some other memorabilia like Deadpool and RoboCop. "One person's trash is another's treasure," as they say, and this was one of the best finds of my life.

I feel incredibly lucky and humbled. This experience was more than just a great deal; it was a full circle moment. My mom's words echoed in my mind. I'm not saying I have every toy I'll ever need, but I am grateful to be able to own these pieces of my past. The best part is the thought of one day being able to share these with my daughter, Alyce, and create new memories and adventures with them. The toys are now collector's items, but the memories they bring and the new ones they'll inspire are priceless.

Thank you to my partner, Kat, who allows me sometimes to say, "Hon, I gotta go," and encourages me when I need it most. That type of motivation is what one needs to move forward in life.

And finally, thank you to Dapper for not chewing on any of these toys, no matter how tempting they are.

Until next week,

Damian 💛

A Birthday Tale of Boujee the Queen

A Birthday Tale of Boujee the Queen! 🎈💕

Bonjour les amis! It's me, Dapper, your favorite French bulldog, and I’ve got a story for you. Now, you all know how much love—and I mean LOVE, like the most intense French love that can only be rivaled by a perfectly toasted croissant—I have for my rock, my sister, my partner in crime: Boujee. Yes, yes, she’s the queen of our castle, the diva of the house, the true ruler of all the snacks, and the only one who can make a “sit” look like a royal command.

You see, Boujee isn’t just any dog. No, no. She’s a baguette connoisseur—a true foodie. This girl knows her way around food like a French chef knows their way around a truffle. If there’s a crumb anywhere, you better believe that Boujee will detect it from miles away. I mean, the way she can sniff out a rogue potato chip... chef’s kiss.

But here’s the catch: Boujee loves food more than anyone I know. That means when there’s a “dropping” (and let’s be honest, who hasn’t dropped something?), she’s the first to swoop in. You drop it, she’s got it. It’s like she has some kind of radar for fallen morsels. Boujee will be there before you even realize you’ve made the accident. That’s my Boujee, always first in line for the food, the real queen.

Now, here’s the twist—my darling Boujee is on a diet. That’s right, folks. A diet. And guess what? I’m now on one too. No more unlimited access to the snack drawer. Alyce has also been stepping up her game with plates, and you know what that means—less food for us... but who am I to complain? I guess we have to stay trim for all those luxurious naps.

So, let me tell you about this epic event that happened last Friday. Kat was having one of her meetings, doing all that important stuff that humans do (you know, spreadsheets, emails, whatever). I was just chilling, enjoying the ambiance of the office, when all of a sudden, I hear a very dramatic uh-oh. Kat looks panicked. “Uh-oh, Dapper! I’ve messed up! It’s Boujee’s birthday!”

Now, this is where things get interesting. Kat drops everything—literally, everything. She’s running around, decorating the kitchen like she’s preparing for a Michelin-starred dinner. She grabs Boujee, drapes her in a birthday bandana, and wait for it... puts a crown on her head! Oh yes, the birthday diva! And you should have seen Boujee—she knew something was up. She starts jumping around like a star at a red carpet event. I had to admire the confidence.

Kat, in all her excitement, makes sure everything is perfect by the time Dad walks in. Now, when Dad finally comes up, he looks at Kat like she's just performed an illegal heist. He’s all confused and like, “Wait, what? How would I forget Boujee’s birthday?” Well, well, well. Turns out, for the last two years, Kat has been celebrating Boujee’s birthday... two days in advance. Yes, two whole days! C'est incroyable, right?

But today, my friends, today we got it right. It’s August 9th—Boujee’s official birthday! The real one. No more pre-party confusion. We did things properly this time.

And so, from the bottom of my heart (and from the very tips of my paws), Boujee, HAPPY BIRTHDAY! You are the queen of our house, the diva of our hearts, and the ultimate snack-sniffer. We love you more than the finest French pastry—more than la baguette herself.

Let’s raise a paw to Boujee—our very own birthday queen! 🎉👑🐾

Dapper, signing off... but not without a few more snacks!

https://youtu.be/d6QGM163gPs