*SDCC UPDATE IS AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS POST*
I have an editorial I want to write!
Here it is:
I see that some convention goers are getting together to protest the changes DC is making to their characters at SDCC this year. I'm of two minds about this:
On one hand I think it's a great idea - I admire their gusto, the fact they want their voices to be heard and that they're willing to get their faces in front of the ever-present media. They are getting out there and are going to get their message broadcasted (at least on G4 which no one with DirectTv can watch and maybe CBR video).
On the other hand, I think that it might be a waste of time as DC has too much invested and they're too far down the road to revert back to how things were. Like any good business, they won't make any changes until they start hurting at the bottom line. Maybe that's the fans best bet..... stop buying the books. Hit the publisher in the wallet.
Just an example - There were people all over the place last year complaining about Wonder Woman's new costume (in print interviews,tv, in-person at cons, etc), but there wasn't a big enough drop in sales for them to change it back. What do we have now? Wonder Woman with the new costume. Trust me, they knew fans didn't like it, yet they kept it. Just about every single panel I went to at last years SDCC had a couple of people stand up and say how bad it was. JMS, Jim Lee and Dan Didio all tried to justify the change and begged people to stick with the title. Like I said, I guess enough people kept buying it because she's still got the costume a year later. And that's just a costume change issue! Now they want to protest the retconning of all those characters AND costume changes? No way. DC won't be listening to anyone, at least until they stop making money.
What about the whole "Superman walking across America" plot they tried to sell us..... and kept publishing, no matter what the fan reaction was or how upset other industry people got? Best quote that was ever emailed to me: "You will believe a man can walk". Sorry JMS, you are a very talented writer, but it was a dumb idea and I can't believe it was actually printed.
If I'm still at the con on Saturday when the protest is going on, I may swing by to watch, but I think I'll protest by dropping a bunch of titles from my pull list. By my last count, I had around 12 DC titles being pulled for me each month. That number is going to go way down. I'll spend my money on other publishers work. Like I've mentioned before, I may try a couple of Marvel's X-Men titles and I might try out some indie books.
The weird thing about this whole thing is that I normally like change. I guess I just don't like it as much as I thought I did.
SDCC UPDATE:
I'm writing this as I'm in the waiting room for SDCC. It went live within three minutes before I clicked on it. I know this because I clicked on it about three minutes before I refreshed the page and the button was still shaded out. The button lit up when I refreshed the page three minutes later so I clicked on it and got in at almost # 6,000. They never said how many passes they were going to sell, so I don't know if I'll get one. I'm not too optimistic. At least I'll know either way this morning, right?
Now I'm # 5,087. I've been moving up in increments of 100, but not every two minutes when it refreshes. They have these dumb notices that change every few minutes, like: "The waiting room is moving customers to their registration session every 120 seconds" and "Online registration is currently helping other customers". I wonder how difficult it was for them to resist adding "loser" at the end? Now I'm at # 5,037, so I guess things are slowing down again. It's been almost an hour and I'm only # 4,737.
# 4,437 and I got a notice that inventory is running low.
I'm # 4,237 and just got notice that only Thursday badges are available. No Saturday for me! Took just over an hour for them to sell-out.
I'm bummed. Seriously. Actually, I think a better description would be that I feel defeated. I guess I'll come home either Friday night or Saturday morning and drive back down Sunday morning if there are panels worth making the drive back down. This is casting a shadow over my day. :-(
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
2nd post in one day!
Still nothing on SDCC. Refreshing the page all the time, but the button is still inactive.
HAWKMAN CHANGES! I was on Newsarama (as I am quite a bit) and came across this article:
http://www.newsarama.com/comics/dcnu-philip-tan-savage-hawkman-110629.html
Can't say I like the the shoulder thingy's. Looks like they'd chafe. The wings look way big. He DOES look like a badass though. Which is good, cause that's what he is, a badass!!! They must have made Ray really small, I can't see him anywhere in the picture. <grin>
Wow and I mean WOW, I had a really vicious rant typed up about a comic writer who has a story that we've all had to listen to over and over again for the past few years. I deleted it though, it was too mean and I don't like being that mean. I actually felt really bad after I was done typing it! But I really do hope that I don't have to hear that story again for a long, long time. I got a link to it yet again via email this morning and I just sort of went off. After writing all that mean stuff, I tried to make up for it by saying:
"But if he can continue giving us free tickets to the gun show, that would be great. I have a close friend who is seriously in awe of those biceps and the only way I can get her to go to a comics panel at the conventions that don't involve Doctor Who or Torchwood is to promise he's there with a t-shirt on and the guns on display".
It's all true! But I don't think even that makes up for the mean and nasty things I typed. The funny / sad thing about it is I know / knew someone who was absolutely convinced I had a crush on the guy. No matter what I said and how many times I said it, I just couldn't convince them otherwise. After a while I finally gave up. I never had a crush on him or his biceps. There, it's now in print on the Internet. I can't take it back. :-)
Awe man, thinking about that makes me kinda sad. I suppose deserve it after writing that stuff, even if I didn't publish it in a blog.
More later.
Still nothing on SDCC. Refreshing the page all the time, but the button is still inactive.
HAWKMAN CHANGES! I was on Newsarama (as I am quite a bit) and came across this article:
http://www.newsarama.com/comics/dcnu-philip-tan-savage-hawkman-110629.html
Can't say I like the the shoulder thingy's. Looks like they'd chafe. The wings look way big. He DOES look like a badass though. Which is good, cause that's what he is, a badass!!! They must have made Ray really small, I can't see him anywhere in the picture. <grin>
Wow and I mean WOW, I had a really vicious rant typed up about a comic writer who has a story that we've all had to listen to over and over again for the past few years. I deleted it though, it was too mean and I don't like being that mean. I actually felt really bad after I was done typing it! But I really do hope that I don't have to hear that story again for a long, long time. I got a link to it yet again via email this morning and I just sort of went off. After writing all that mean stuff, I tried to make up for it by saying:
"But if he can continue giving us free tickets to the gun show, that would be great. I have a close friend who is seriously in awe of those biceps and the only way I can get her to go to a comics panel at the conventions that don't involve Doctor Who or Torchwood is to promise he's there with a t-shirt on and the guns on display".
It's all true! But I don't think even that makes up for the mean and nasty things I typed. The funny / sad thing about it is I know / knew someone who was absolutely convinced I had a crush on the guy. No matter what I said and how many times I said it, I just couldn't convince them otherwise. After a while I finally gave up. I never had a crush on him or his biceps. There, it's now in print on the Internet. I can't take it back. :-)
Awe man, thinking about that makes me kinda sad. I suppose deserve it after writing that stuff, even if I didn't publish it in a blog.
More later.
The Houdini exhibit was neat. Traffic was way lighter than I expected, so I got there around 2:40pm and stayed for about two hours. The show was a lot smaller than I expected, but cool nonetheless. Lot's of photos, playbills, information, films, an actual diary, and props, along with art (regular and performance) that was influenced by him and his work. Some of the props on show were the threaded needles, trunk, milk can, straight jacket and a replica water tank. I guess the original tank burned in a fire in 1995, so some guy recreated it with materials from that era. They also had short clips of Houdini movies (Tony Curtis, Norman Mailer, Guy Pearce, etc), along with short film footage of Houdini performing the straight jack escape and one where he's jumping off a bridge all locked up and by the time he breaks the surface of the water he's gotten out of the locks and chains.
One thing that struck me was how small he looked in the photos on display. I'd never noticed that before! Just comparing the trunk and the milk can in-person and their sizes to the photos and their sizes in comparrison to him leads me to believe that he wasn't a tall man. When I got home, I got online and looked up his height and I could only find figures that showed him as being anywhere from 5'2 to a maximum of 5'6. I'm thinking he was probably around 5'4 or so (wow, shorter than me!). Man, his wife must have been tiny! She was quite a bit shorter than he was.
Strangely, I'd always thought Houdini died like he did in the Tony Curtis movie, I had no idea he died of septicemia as a result of an appendicitis.
Other magicians get a little bit of a mention as well. Towards the end they've got Penn and Teller stuff, along with Doug Henning (who I LOVED as a kid) and others I'm not familiar with.
If you go to see the Houdini thing, you should also take time out to see the Illusionist exhibit running in conjunction to it. There's a lot of really interesting items on show, including an Action Comics #14 (with Zatara). Ha! Gotta get a comic book mention in here somehow, right? That show is also mutli-media with film and audio clips to go along with everything else.
I think if I were to plan going to this thing again, I would try to see if someone could go with me instead of going solo. There was a lot of neat stuff to talk about and some people to make fun of. If you can believe it, there was a couple, probably in their 30's, walking around and when they saw the Tony Curtis film clip they went from "Hey - Tony Curtis is a magician, cool!.... So is his wife? Alright!" to "Tony Curtis and his wife are dead and it was just a movie.". They got there in the end, but it was funny watching them connect the dots. Slowly.
The Skirball Center is a really beautiful place. If you see things you are interested in being exhibited there, I definitely recommend that you go. It doesn't have the awesome views the Getty has, but the grounds are pretty. Oh yeah, as of yesterday, the Skirball exits off the 405 (both ways) are closed, so you have to plan around that. Since I was coming from the South, I got off at Getty Center, made a left and drove up. Not sure what exit you would have to take from the north, but there are probably signs.
SDCC Update:
It looks like single day badges are going to go on sale at any time. I'll update this blog and let you know what happens.
Rants:
No rant(s) for Wednesday. It's early yet, so maybe later on in the day. If I do have one, it will probably be related to SDCC. <grin>.
One thing that struck me was how small he looked in the photos on display. I'd never noticed that before! Just comparing the trunk and the milk can in-person and their sizes to the photos and their sizes in comparrison to him leads me to believe that he wasn't a tall man. When I got home, I got online and looked up his height and I could only find figures that showed him as being anywhere from 5'2 to a maximum of 5'6. I'm thinking he was probably around 5'4 or so (wow, shorter than me!). Man, his wife must have been tiny! She was quite a bit shorter than he was.
Strangely, I'd always thought Houdini died like he did in the Tony Curtis movie, I had no idea he died of septicemia as a result of an appendicitis.
Other magicians get a little bit of a mention as well. Towards the end they've got Penn and Teller stuff, along with Doug Henning (who I LOVED as a kid) and others I'm not familiar with.
If you go to see the Houdini thing, you should also take time out to see the Illusionist exhibit running in conjunction to it. There's a lot of really interesting items on show, including an Action Comics #14 (with Zatara). Ha! Gotta get a comic book mention in here somehow, right? That show is also mutli-media with film and audio clips to go along with everything else.
I think if I were to plan going to this thing again, I would try to see if someone could go with me instead of going solo. There was a lot of neat stuff to talk about and some people to make fun of. If you can believe it, there was a couple, probably in their 30's, walking around and when they saw the Tony Curtis film clip they went from "Hey - Tony Curtis is a magician, cool!.... So is his wife? Alright!" to "Tony Curtis and his wife are dead and it was just a movie.". They got there in the end, but it was funny watching them connect the dots. Slowly.
The Skirball Center is a really beautiful place. If you see things you are interested in being exhibited there, I definitely recommend that you go. It doesn't have the awesome views the Getty has, but the grounds are pretty. Oh yeah, as of yesterday, the Skirball exits off the 405 (both ways) are closed, so you have to plan around that. Since I was coming from the South, I got off at Getty Center, made a left and drove up. Not sure what exit you would have to take from the north, but there are probably signs.
SDCC Update:
It looks like single day badges are going to go on sale at any time. I'll update this blog and let you know what happens.
Rants:
No rant(s) for Wednesday. It's early yet, so maybe later on in the day. If I do have one, it will probably be related to SDCC. <grin>.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
I've been told I can leave the office at 2pm today to go to the Houdini exhibit at the Skirball this afternoon. Hooray! Only a 9-hour work day for me! I can't wait to see this exhibit. I've purposefully avoided looking at what they have so that it will all be a surprise. I also can't wait to get a look at the views from the museum after I'm done with the exhibit. If they are as good as I remember, it should be pretty spectacular (plus I'll be able to see how backed-up traffic is <grin>) being up on the hill like that. Too bad I have to go straight from work and not go home in-between and change. I don't really like that I'm going to be in work clothes, but that's unavoidable.
It's pretty lucky for me that I even heard about this showing. They just recently put up a few flags on Ventura Blvd (Maybe 8-10 of them total), only about a blocks worth and only on the east facing side. All the rest of them are the Idea of Beauty (or whatever), the Aztecs (I think), Tim Burton at LACMA (which I'm also going to), and one that's on Film (I think). Usually when I pass through it's either dark or the sun is shining directly into my car, so I don't really notice many of the banners at the side of the road, unless there's a ton of them and they're there for a long time.
New topic!
I've had a bunch of really weird dreams lately, last night being no exception. It's a little off the wall, so I thought I'd share it. Well, the whole thing was about me working or owning a doughnut shop with Kevin Smith. Kevin insisted that we make all of our doughnuts really big, like the size of a grapefruit. I remember coming up with the ideas for a few of them. One was a cake doughnut with quartered mini Reese's Peanut butter cups in them with a peanut butter / chocolate glaze. Another was a maple bar type raised, but it was like a jelly doughnut. It had a really thick portion of maple glaze stuff in the center. Now, I haven't had a doughnut in at least 7 months and I haven't had a Reese's Peanut butter cup since December of last year and truthfully, I haven't even craved them (until now!). I can see why I dreamed about the maple one, they're my favorite, but I can't stand peanut butter things, other than mini Reese's cups and actual peanut butter. The thought of a doughnut with all that crap in it is pretty gross. Plus, Kevin Smith wasn't that good of a business partner, he kept leaving to go work on movies, leaving me there to handle all the customers and running the business PLUS he kept wanting me to make the doughnuts bigger and bigger. He also ate a lot of our inventory. I remember saying:
"Hey Kevin Smith, do you think you should be eating those doughnuts? We're here to make money, not lose it!" (yes I used his first and last name).
I don't remember his response, but it was probably "fuck off".
So that was my dream last night, pretty weird, huh? I guess I can be glad that it didn't have Jason Mewes walking through it naked, like he did at the end of Zack and Miri with his heart shaped pubes.
Short Non-Rant:
SDCC Update - Single day passes still have not gone on sale and no word on when they will (at the time I composed this blog that is). OF COURSE NOT! I hope you don't detect any surprise in the tone of my writing, because I'm definitely not surprised, just a little exasperated.
Newest Rant (kind of a disappointing one though):
Has everyone see the picture of the supposedly "leaked" Justice League line-up? Oh my god, I hope it's a joke!! In fact, I hope everything about it is a joke. Just focusing on the core seven: Cyborg looks like a Transformer (Is he going to turn into Optimus Prime or a Monster Truck?), Superman and Batman have lost their briefs, Superman gained a dumb belt (what was wrong with his old one?) and his "S" looks like the number 5, Wonder Woman's hair is too short and tousled (did I spell that right?) and she still has that messed-up costume (does she really need those upper arm cuffs or whatever they are?), They all have really weird boots on (apart from Arthur), Barry looks like he's about to beat some heads in and I don't think I've ever see him take that stance before. Hal looks close to being the same, but the lantern logo looks strange. At least they left him with his white gloves.
I know that they're all supposed to be younger, but giving them stupid haircuts isn't going to make them look younger, just dumb and nerdy. Plus, why would you give Superman what looks to be wedges for boots? Only chicks wear wedges, right? And maybe a few TV's on Santa Monica Blvd, BUT NOT SUPERMAN.
It looks like the only two who come out fairly decent-looking are Barry and Arthur, but even they're kinda sad looking.
I'm glad the other members are just face shots, I'd hate to see what they've done to their costumes. I can only imagine what they've done to Hawkman..... a black mesh tank top and nipple rings? Is Ollie going to be running around in just a cloak, some strappy sandals and maybe a kilt? Did Jim Lee draw that one woman specifically so no one could tell who she is because he's afraid Black Canary and Power Girl might visit him in his dreams and beat the hell out of him if he adds either of them to the team then fucks with their costumes..... so in reality, he's just hedging on who they've picked? Is Mera's costume held together with the tears of failure this picture promises?
I dunno people. I think I'm going to be dropping The Justice League books. Just add it to the well of my dissatisfaction with DC Comics this year. I think I'm going to be saving quite a bit of money come September! Maybe I'll pick-up those two X-Men books I heard about where Logan is the head of one team and Scott is the head of the other.
I know I've been ranting at DC a lot lately. I'd rant at Marvel, but I don't know enough about their character lines to complain. Don't worry, I'm sure I'll find other things in other areas out there that piss me off.
That's all for now.
It's pretty lucky for me that I even heard about this showing. They just recently put up a few flags on Ventura Blvd (Maybe 8-10 of them total), only about a blocks worth and only on the east facing side. All the rest of them are the Idea of Beauty (or whatever), the Aztecs (I think), Tim Burton at LACMA (which I'm also going to), and one that's on Film (I think). Usually when I pass through it's either dark or the sun is shining directly into my car, so I don't really notice many of the banners at the side of the road, unless there's a ton of them and they're there for a long time.
New topic!
I've had a bunch of really weird dreams lately, last night being no exception. It's a little off the wall, so I thought I'd share it. Well, the whole thing was about me working or owning a doughnut shop with Kevin Smith. Kevin insisted that we make all of our doughnuts really big, like the size of a grapefruit. I remember coming up with the ideas for a few of them. One was a cake doughnut with quartered mini Reese's Peanut butter cups in them with a peanut butter / chocolate glaze. Another was a maple bar type raised, but it was like a jelly doughnut. It had a really thick portion of maple glaze stuff in the center. Now, I haven't had a doughnut in at least 7 months and I haven't had a Reese's Peanut butter cup since December of last year and truthfully, I haven't even craved them (until now!). I can see why I dreamed about the maple one, they're my favorite, but I can't stand peanut butter things, other than mini Reese's cups and actual peanut butter. The thought of a doughnut with all that crap in it is pretty gross. Plus, Kevin Smith wasn't that good of a business partner, he kept leaving to go work on movies, leaving me there to handle all the customers and running the business PLUS he kept wanting me to make the doughnuts bigger and bigger. He also ate a lot of our inventory. I remember saying:
"Hey Kevin Smith, do you think you should be eating those doughnuts? We're here to make money, not lose it!" (yes I used his first and last name).
I don't remember his response, but it was probably "fuck off".
So that was my dream last night, pretty weird, huh? I guess I can be glad that it didn't have Jason Mewes walking through it naked, like he did at the end of Zack and Miri with his heart shaped pubes.
Short Non-Rant:
SDCC Update - Single day passes still have not gone on sale and no word on when they will (at the time I composed this blog that is). OF COURSE NOT! I hope you don't detect any surprise in the tone of my writing, because I'm definitely not surprised, just a little exasperated.
Newest Rant (kind of a disappointing one though):
Has everyone see the picture of the supposedly "leaked" Justice League line-up? Oh my god, I hope it's a joke!! In fact, I hope everything about it is a joke. Just focusing on the core seven: Cyborg looks like a Transformer (Is he going to turn into Optimus Prime or a Monster Truck?), Superman and Batman have lost their briefs, Superman gained a dumb belt (what was wrong with his old one?) and his "S" looks like the number 5, Wonder Woman's hair is too short and tousled (did I spell that right?) and she still has that messed-up costume (does she really need those upper arm cuffs or whatever they are?), They all have really weird boots on (apart from Arthur), Barry looks like he's about to beat some heads in and I don't think I've ever see him take that stance before. Hal looks close to being the same, but the lantern logo looks strange. At least they left him with his white gloves.
I know that they're all supposed to be younger, but giving them stupid haircuts isn't going to make them look younger, just dumb and nerdy. Plus, why would you give Superman what looks to be wedges for boots? Only chicks wear wedges, right? And maybe a few TV's on Santa Monica Blvd, BUT NOT SUPERMAN.
It looks like the only two who come out fairly decent-looking are Barry and Arthur, but even they're kinda sad looking.
I'm glad the other members are just face shots, I'd hate to see what they've done to their costumes. I can only imagine what they've done to Hawkman..... a black mesh tank top and nipple rings? Is Ollie going to be running around in just a cloak, some strappy sandals and maybe a kilt? Did Jim Lee draw that one woman specifically so no one could tell who she is because he's afraid Black Canary and Power Girl might visit him in his dreams and beat the hell out of him if he adds either of them to the team then fucks with their costumes..... so in reality, he's just hedging on who they've picked? Is Mera's costume held together with the tears of failure this picture promises?
I dunno people. I think I'm going to be dropping The Justice League books. Just add it to the well of my dissatisfaction with DC Comics this year. I think I'm going to be saving quite a bit of money come September! Maybe I'll pick-up those two X-Men books I heard about where Logan is the head of one team and Scott is the head of the other.
I know I've been ranting at DC a lot lately. I'd rant at Marvel, but I don't know enough about their character lines to complain. Don't worry, I'm sure I'll find other things in other areas out there that piss me off.
That's all for now.
Monday, June 27, 2011
I'm going to the Houdini exhibit Tuesday (6/28) after work!!!! THAT'S TOMORROW!!!! I'm so excited!!!!
Yes, I know I'm a dork and probably the only woman in my age group who has any interest in this exhibit.
I figure if I go straight from the train station and don't go home in-between, that I'll actually go, instead of getting home, changing my clothes, sitting my ass down on the couch and changing my mind because it seems like too much trouble and I'd rather lay around (How's that for a run on sentence?). I've been doing a lot of that lately and I need to get out of my comfortable rut. Hopefully I can leave work around 2pm since the museum is only open until 5pm and then that way I can spend more than 45 minutes to an hour looking at everything. I should be able to get to the train station to pick up my car before 3pm and head over..... maybe traffic will be light too! Yeah right, the 405? Light? Dream on Robin!!!! :-)
The exhibit is over at the Skirball center, which I don't think I've ever been to before. I've been to the Getty, but that was years ago. Anyway, should be fun. I've always found Houdini to be very interesting! Here's a link to the exhibit page, if you're so inclined:
http://www.skirball.org/exhibitions/houdini
Gotham has gotten sick again. I'm a little worried this time. He's got this reoccuring immune system cancer thing that usually flares up on his face / chin every six months or so and this time it's only been two months since the last occurrence. My vet, Dr. McCartney, seemed a little concerned as well. We're going to keep a close eye on it and see if there is anything different from the other times. Poor guy, he HATES going in his carrier and traveling. He howled the entire way to and from the vets office Saturday morning, PLUS for the first time ever, he had an accident in his carrier. Thank goodness it was only pee! Still a pain to clean up though. The shot seems to have worked and swelling has gone down. The only thing he's doing now is yelling at me like an old lady as he walks around the house. I swear, every time he looks at me he says something. It's kinda funny when he does it while he's walking away. I almost expect him to turn around and say "And another thing....". Sometimes he even does it when he's laying on the bed near my feet. He'll be nice and quiet, then I'll put my book (or whatever) down and he'll look up at me and start in.
I was able to read those four issues of the "Sherlock Holmes Year One" comic book (from Dynamite) this weekend. I was really hoping I would like them, but I didn't (much). They were okay until the last one where they made Irene Adler an active love interest. I doubt Conan Doyle would like that! I'll have to check on this, but wasn't she only in "A Scandal in Bohemia"? So anyway, that kinda ruined it for me. They should have brought in a new character for such a purpose, that way they wouldn't have been messing with canon. I'll give them a few more chances to see if they redeem themselves. I checked and it seems Scott Beatty received good reviews for his writing on this, so maybe I need to read a few more issues. I don't have a problem with the plot or story in general, I just object to using Irene Adler like this. The only other work of his that I've read is "Ruse" and it had the same feel to it. I guess he knows his genre and is sticking to it! Anyway, I'm probably just being picky. "The Complete Sherlock Holmes" was the first book of substance that I got when I was a kid. My dad gave it to me for my birthday. I remember laying on my bed next to the open window, hidden behind the small trellis covered in yellow rose bushes, getting lost in those stories. Ah well...
I've been checking the SDCC website and they have yet to post anything about when the single day passes will go on sale again. I wish they would have said something last week so I wouldn't have wasted any time this weekend going in and seeing if there were any updates.
I've come to the conclusion that, as I was in college, I'm a terrible student. I set aside time on Sunday morning to study / read class materials and I did everything I could think of to get myself out of it.
"Hey, the next lesson doesn't get posted until Wednesday, so you don't have to do it right now".
Never mind the fact that I still had last Wednesday's materials to go over (and Fridays!). I finally sat down and did it, but I didn't enjoy it one bit. Not. One. Bit. While I was studying (and looking for ways to get out of it), it hit me: Why don't people drop by and visit each other any more? When I was growing-up we had people drop by the house when they were in the neighborhood. Sure, you run the risk of the occupants not being home or the house being a mess or surprising them when they look like crap, but it seems like it's worth the risk. At least it was yesterday people!!!!! Someone dropping by would have been the perfect excuse, er, I mean reason, for me to put off my reading. Friends used to drop by when I lived in K-Town. It wasn't an every day occurrence by any means, but it was nice. Even when I was at my uncle's pad, he had people dropping by all the time. Maybe the other places were more central or easier to get to? Maybe people just don't do it anymore.
More later.
Yes, I know I'm a dork and probably the only woman in my age group who has any interest in this exhibit.
I figure if I go straight from the train station and don't go home in-between, that I'll actually go, instead of getting home, changing my clothes, sitting my ass down on the couch and changing my mind because it seems like too much trouble and I'd rather lay around (How's that for a run on sentence?). I've been doing a lot of that lately and I need to get out of my comfortable rut. Hopefully I can leave work around 2pm since the museum is only open until 5pm and then that way I can spend more than 45 minutes to an hour looking at everything. I should be able to get to the train station to pick up my car before 3pm and head over..... maybe traffic will be light too! Yeah right, the 405? Light? Dream on Robin!!!! :-)
The exhibit is over at the Skirball center, which I don't think I've ever been to before. I've been to the Getty, but that was years ago. Anyway, should be fun. I've always found Houdini to be very interesting! Here's a link to the exhibit page, if you're so inclined:
http://www.skirball.org/exhibitions/houdini
Gotham has gotten sick again. I'm a little worried this time. He's got this reoccuring immune system cancer thing that usually flares up on his face / chin every six months or so and this time it's only been two months since the last occurrence. My vet, Dr. McCartney, seemed a little concerned as well. We're going to keep a close eye on it and see if there is anything different from the other times. Poor guy, he HATES going in his carrier and traveling. He howled the entire way to and from the vets office Saturday morning, PLUS for the first time ever, he had an accident in his carrier. Thank goodness it was only pee! Still a pain to clean up though. The shot seems to have worked and swelling has gone down. The only thing he's doing now is yelling at me like an old lady as he walks around the house. I swear, every time he looks at me he says something. It's kinda funny when he does it while he's walking away. I almost expect him to turn around and say "And another thing....". Sometimes he even does it when he's laying on the bed near my feet. He'll be nice and quiet, then I'll put my book (or whatever) down and he'll look up at me and start in.
I was able to read those four issues of the "Sherlock Holmes Year One" comic book (from Dynamite) this weekend. I was really hoping I would like them, but I didn't (much). They were okay until the last one where they made Irene Adler an active love interest. I doubt Conan Doyle would like that! I'll have to check on this, but wasn't she only in "A Scandal in Bohemia"? So anyway, that kinda ruined it for me. They should have brought in a new character for such a purpose, that way they wouldn't have been messing with canon. I'll give them a few more chances to see if they redeem themselves. I checked and it seems Scott Beatty received good reviews for his writing on this, so maybe I need to read a few more issues. I don't have a problem with the plot or story in general, I just object to using Irene Adler like this. The only other work of his that I've read is "Ruse" and it had the same feel to it. I guess he knows his genre and is sticking to it! Anyway, I'm probably just being picky. "The Complete Sherlock Holmes" was the first book of substance that I got when I was a kid. My dad gave it to me for my birthday. I remember laying on my bed next to the open window, hidden behind the small trellis covered in yellow rose bushes, getting lost in those stories. Ah well...
I've been checking the SDCC website and they have yet to post anything about when the single day passes will go on sale again. I wish they would have said something last week so I wouldn't have wasted any time this weekend going in and seeing if there were any updates.
I've come to the conclusion that, as I was in college, I'm a terrible student. I set aside time on Sunday morning to study / read class materials and I did everything I could think of to get myself out of it.
"Hey, the next lesson doesn't get posted until Wednesday, so you don't have to do it right now".
Never mind the fact that I still had last Wednesday's materials to go over (and Fridays!). I finally sat down and did it, but I didn't enjoy it one bit. Not. One. Bit. While I was studying (and looking for ways to get out of it), it hit me: Why don't people drop by and visit each other any more? When I was growing-up we had people drop by the house when they were in the neighborhood. Sure, you run the risk of the occupants not being home or the house being a mess or surprising them when they look like crap, but it seems like it's worth the risk. At least it was yesterday people!!!!! Someone dropping by would have been the perfect excuse, er, I mean reason, for me to put off my reading. Friends used to drop by when I lived in K-Town. It wasn't an every day occurrence by any means, but it was nice. Even when I was at my uncle's pad, he had people dropping by all the time. Maybe the other places were more central or easier to get to? Maybe people just don't do it anymore.
More later.
Friday, June 24, 2011
I know I'm overdoing it with the posts today (3rd one!), but I thought I'd mention that Peter Falk died. Being a child of the 70's, I was a big fan of Columbo and shows like that (Jack Klugman, Jim Garner, I'm looking at you too Quincy and Jim Rockford!). I have some really good memories associated with watching these shows.
No matter what was going on, I could watch these programs and lose myself in the stories. Thank you Peter Falk. You, your rumpled trench, stinky cigar and basset hound "Dog" helped to make my life a little bit of a better place.
No matter what was going on, I could watch these programs and lose myself in the stories. Thank you Peter Falk. You, your rumpled trench, stinky cigar and basset hound "Dog" helped to make my life a little bit of a better place.
SUPPLEMENTAL POST - for today's big post read below this one.
Okay, for giggles, I've been checking the SDCC registration page and I think I got in there pretty close to the time registration opened for the 4-day passes and I was 6,770 or something.
What a nightmare.
*UPDATE* at 11:02am I got notice that 4-day badges have indeed sold-out. And I was still languishing in the 6,000 range. I hope I have better luck getting the single day badge.
Okay, for giggles, I've been checking the SDCC registration page and I think I got in there pretty close to the time registration opened for the 4-day passes and I was 6,770 or something.
What a nightmare.
*UPDATE* at 11:02am I got notice that 4-day badges have indeed sold-out. And I was still languishing in the 6,000 range. I hope I have better luck getting the single day badge.
Another day, another annoyance. Actually, this annoyed me yesterday, but I didn't feel like writing about it. I was THAT pissed off. (If you want to read my thoughts about a possible DC Comics Conspiracy, read post below this).
Before I get to my rant, I'd like to chat about a couple of other nonsensical things.
I watched the "Captain America: The First Avenger" trailer and it looks like it will be a good movie. I know almost nothing about Captain America, so there's no chance I'll be worrying about mistakes and stuff. I love Hugo Weaving! Chris Evans looks freaky at the start of the movie, his body is so small and his head doesn't match. Or is it just me? Hey, did I ever tell you guys that when I heard the announcement that they'd cast Chris Evans in the lead role, my first thought was "Really? Billie Piper's ex-husband? He's British, a redhead and way too old". Ha! (It's a different Chris Evans).
Looking at the titles DC is putting out this Fall, I saw that the Blackhawks are back in the line-up. Again, I know very little about them, but have always been interested. I think I'll either have to read-up on some back issues or do some research before the books hit the shelves. Even though it's going to be set in modern times instead of during World War II, with all the titles I'm planning on dropping, that would be a neat one to add.
Okay, it's time for my rant (how many of you were looking forward to this?!!??):
As it's summer and I am usually on their website least once a day, I was on the Comic Con site looking for SDCC updates and I saw they updated the registration page. I thought:
"Hey, great! Now I'll be able to see when I can get a Saturday pass".
<Scoff> I'm so naive! Turns out that they're going to put 1,500 4-day passes on sale at an undetermined time on an undetermined date. They're also going to give people one hours notice via social networking sites and their own website. So if you're not online at the right time, you're fucked. To a point, this doesn't affect me since I don't need a 4-day pass, so my anger is on behalf of all those people who need to get one. But it does affect me a little. I'll get to that in a bit.
A HILARIOUS aspect of all this that they are trying to convince people that they're listening to the complaints of the common convention goer and want to help.... but the one thing they're changing is the one thing they can make money on. Get this - apparently people were complaining that the 4-day passes were selling out first because people who didn't really intend on going to all four days were buying them because they were discounted (which is bullshit). So, SDCC has decided to add up the amounts of the single day tickets and put the 4-day passes up for that amount. So not only did you get screwed out of a 4-day pass when they went on sale the first four times, you're getting fucked again, IF you're able to get a pass during this on sale.
"Hey Nerd, you couldn't manage to buy a pass after four tries? Well, here's another chance and if you're not too much of a loser and actually get one, we're gonna charge you more than every one of the winners who got them at the other on-sales. Welcome to Comic Con 2011!!! #winning"
Now, here is how it affects me: A really cool thing they're doing is that they're putting the single-day passes up for sale AFTER the 4-day passes have gone on sale and sold-out, so now I have to compete with the people who didn't get 4-day passes (up to five helpings of failure for them!) when I try for a Saturday pass. Come on! Who is planning this thing, 5th graders? Have these people ever worked on a convention before, ever? It's ridiculous. All I want is one stinking pass and I don't want to get stuck online for 11 hours only to get bumped off and end-up empty-handed.
I guess I'll resign myself to the fact that I'm not going to get a Saturday pass, so my plan for this year will be me going down Thursday morning, attending Thursday and Friday, checking out of my hotel Saturday morning and taking the train home, MAYBE driving back down early Sunday morning if there's something good on the program schedule. Chances of me going back down are slim though, so that will be more wasted money on a wasted pass.
Side Note - I think it's interesting that the only comic-related website I saw that carried a story on the passes going on sale is Bleeding Cool (in the UK). Nothing on Newsarama, Superherohype or Comic Book Resources, unless I missed them.... which is entirely possible. Maybe they've gotten together and decided against publicising it so that fewer people have to compete? It would be very cool if that was the reason.
I'll probably blog more later.....
Before I get to my rant, I'd like to chat about a couple of other nonsensical things.
I watched the "Captain America: The First Avenger" trailer and it looks like it will be a good movie. I know almost nothing about Captain America, so there's no chance I'll be worrying about mistakes and stuff. I love Hugo Weaving! Chris Evans looks freaky at the start of the movie, his body is so small and his head doesn't match. Or is it just me? Hey, did I ever tell you guys that when I heard the announcement that they'd cast Chris Evans in the lead role, my first thought was "Really? Billie Piper's ex-husband? He's British, a redhead and way too old". Ha! (It's a different Chris Evans).
Looking at the titles DC is putting out this Fall, I saw that the Blackhawks are back in the line-up. Again, I know very little about them, but have always been interested. I think I'll either have to read-up on some back issues or do some research before the books hit the shelves. Even though it's going to be set in modern times instead of during World War II, with all the titles I'm planning on dropping, that would be a neat one to add.
Okay, it's time for my rant (how many of you were looking forward to this?!!??):
As it's summer and I am usually on their website least once a day, I was on the Comic Con site looking for SDCC updates and I saw they updated the registration page. I thought:
"Hey, great! Now I'll be able to see when I can get a Saturday pass".
<Scoff> I'm so naive! Turns out that they're going to put 1,500 4-day passes on sale at an undetermined time on an undetermined date. They're also going to give people one hours notice via social networking sites and their own website. So if you're not online at the right time, you're fucked. To a point, this doesn't affect me since I don't need a 4-day pass, so my anger is on behalf of all those people who need to get one. But it does affect me a little. I'll get to that in a bit.
A HILARIOUS aspect of all this that they are trying to convince people that they're listening to the complaints of the common convention goer and want to help.... but the one thing they're changing is the one thing they can make money on. Get this - apparently people were complaining that the 4-day passes were selling out first because people who didn't really intend on going to all four days were buying them because they were discounted (which is bullshit). So, SDCC has decided to add up the amounts of the single day tickets and put the 4-day passes up for that amount. So not only did you get screwed out of a 4-day pass when they went on sale the first four times, you're getting fucked again, IF you're able to get a pass during this on sale.
"Hey Nerd, you couldn't manage to buy a pass after four tries? Well, here's another chance and if you're not too much of a loser and actually get one, we're gonna charge you more than every one of the winners who got them at the other on-sales. Welcome to Comic Con 2011!!! #winning"
Now, here is how it affects me: A really cool thing they're doing is that they're putting the single-day passes up for sale AFTER the 4-day passes have gone on sale and sold-out, so now I have to compete with the people who didn't get 4-day passes (up to five helpings of failure for them!) when I try for a Saturday pass. Come on! Who is planning this thing, 5th graders? Have these people ever worked on a convention before, ever? It's ridiculous. All I want is one stinking pass and I don't want to get stuck online for 11 hours only to get bumped off and end-up empty-handed.
I guess I'll resign myself to the fact that I'm not going to get a Saturday pass, so my plan for this year will be me going down Thursday morning, attending Thursday and Friday, checking out of my hotel Saturday morning and taking the train home, MAYBE driving back down early Sunday morning if there's something good on the program schedule. Chances of me going back down are slim though, so that will be more wasted money on a wasted pass.
Side Note - I think it's interesting that the only comic-related website I saw that carried a story on the passes going on sale is Bleeding Cool (in the UK). Nothing on Newsarama, Superherohype or Comic Book Resources, unless I missed them.... which is entirely possible. Maybe they've gotten together and decided against publicising it so that fewer people have to compete? It would be very cool if that was the reason.
I'll probably blog more later.....
Thursday, June 23, 2011
My Costume's Progress!
Decided that I wasn't going to wear my doc's to work Thursday. I've been wearing them every day in an attempt to break them in. I've pretty much done that, but there's still that "squeaking" problem. Every time I take a step in those boots the top part (leg) squeaks! I need to get some kind of leather conditioner or something. I can't sneak up on criminals and fight crime if I have squeaky boots! Besides, I kinda got tired of wearing my work clothes without some kind of heel.
Okay, I was looking around to see the most common listing for the stats of the character costume I've been working on and I was really surprised to see that, after comparing a bunch of websites and looking at the numbers, I'm actually thinner than my character! I never thought I'd say that. Ever. Sure, she's an inch taller than I am, but I'm around 10lbs lighter (it fluctuates daily). Weird! Unintentional illness-related weight loss has it's positive aspects! HOORAY!!! And that's with me gaining back 7-8 lbs! Too bad I don't have an ass anymore, HA! Keep in mind, I'm not looking at the sites that say she's 5'1 or 5'3, cause she can't be. SHE. CAN'T. BE. Okay, maybe she can, because, as Manny keeps telling me, she's FICTIONAL.
Now, should I get a black wig with bangs or a black wig without bangs? I've seen her with both.
Enough for now, more later.
Decided that I wasn't going to wear my doc's to work Thursday. I've been wearing them every day in an attempt to break them in. I've pretty much done that, but there's still that "squeaking" problem. Every time I take a step in those boots the top part (leg) squeaks! I need to get some kind of leather conditioner or something. I can't sneak up on criminals and fight crime if I have squeaky boots! Besides, I kinda got tired of wearing my work clothes without some kind of heel.
Okay, I was looking around to see the most common listing for the stats of the character costume I've been working on and I was really surprised to see that, after comparing a bunch of websites and looking at the numbers, I'm actually thinner than my character! I never thought I'd say that. Ever. Sure, she's an inch taller than I am, but I'm around 10lbs lighter (it fluctuates daily). Weird! Unintentional illness-related weight loss has it's positive aspects! HOORAY!!! And that's with me gaining back 7-8 lbs! Too bad I don't have an ass anymore, HA! Keep in mind, I'm not looking at the sites that say she's 5'1 or 5'3, cause she can't be. SHE. CAN'T. BE. Okay, maybe she can, because, as Manny keeps telling me, she's FICTIONAL.
Now, should I get a black wig with bangs or a black wig without bangs? I've seen her with both.
Enough for now, more later.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Supplemental post - Okay, started to read an article on LoSH with Paul Levitz. I don't know much about the Legion, but I was interested to see what changes are going to be made. Am I the only one who cringed when they saw Levitz say (regarding tonal changes):
"We've gotten some feedback during our run so far. And Dan and Jim spent some significant time thinking about the line, and figuring out how they want to make this move"
Now I don't know about Jim Lee, but if they're letting Dan have any sort of input, the book is fucked. Sorry fans of Dan, it's true and you know it.
Also "Legion Lost"? That's dumb.
Man, I sound negative today!
"We've gotten some feedback during our run so far. And Dan and Jim spent some significant time thinking about the line, and figuring out how they want to make this move"
Now I don't know about Jim Lee, but if they're letting Dan have any sort of input, the book is fucked. Sorry fans of Dan, it's true and you know it.
Also "Legion Lost"? That's dumb.
Man, I sound negative today!
First off, let me say that I love Grant Morrison's work and personality. And his accent. Don't forget that. He's a wonderfully eccentric and talented person, with many, many different facets...... and that brings me to something that I find amusing. I was perusing the SDCC website, looking for updates, guest listings and stuff when I saw Grant's name. Now, I always like the different pictures he submits with his bio each year, so I scrolled down to see what he had for 2011, and it is AWESOME! I don't know the legalities of using images from another site, so I'll just say to go over to the site yourself and click on "special guests", then click on his name. After you're done there, go over to the main pages at Newsarama or Comic Book Resources and take a gander at the video interview they have with him. See a difference? LOL! I want whoever processed that SDCC photo to follow me around and make me look that flawless ALL THE TIME!
Special photo mention has to go to Jim Steranko, er, I mean "STERANKO". Apparently, he's dropped his first name. Anyway, he has the most amazing hair, tan, teeth and glasses I've ever seen in a bio photo. He is ageless! I don't think he's changed one bit in the last 10 years. Either that or the photo is old. I've only ever seen him in a black turtleneck and tweedy jacket, so I'm not sure. You never know, he might have a zillion of each in his closet. Either way, he looks sharp!
I was looking at an article about "Batman: Arkham City" and the unveiling of the image of Tim Drake as Robin and I'm struck by how much they made him look like a cross between convicted child killer Ian Huntley and the fresh-out-of-prison, drunk, marble-mouthed street thug from Birmingham (England) that decided to sit with my friend and I while we were on the train between Victoria Station and Birmingham. His name was Bugsy and he was plotting with his mates on how to steal as much money as possible from train passengers before they had to get off the train. I don't think he got much as he passed out in front of us fairly quickly, plus his mates ran off with the cash. Anyway, this Tim Drake looks remarkably similar to them! All he needs is an accent so thick that nobody can understand a thing he's saying and DC would have a lawsuit on their hands. LOL.
I saw a sample of the new Green Lantern animated series for Cartoon Network. Can't say I'm too pleased. I'll give it a watch if I remember to record it.
I just saw that there is going to be a Torchwood panel at SDCC on Friday 7/22, I hope I can make it (and that there isn't an actual comic book panel at that time, coz they take priority). I've confirmed it on John Barrowman's website too, so it's not a total rumor:
10.00am – ???, Torchwood Miracle Day
Wow, you can really tell summer is here. It's in the air! People are starting to take time off from work, so the office seems a little quieter and traffic isn't as bad since the local colleges are out of their regular sessions. This is the only time of year downtown is even remotely tolerable.
And the days are drrrrrrrragging.
More later.
Special photo mention has to go to Jim Steranko, er, I mean "STERANKO". Apparently, he's dropped his first name. Anyway, he has the most amazing hair, tan, teeth and glasses I've ever seen in a bio photo. He is ageless! I don't think he's changed one bit in the last 10 years. Either that or the photo is old. I've only ever seen him in a black turtleneck and tweedy jacket, so I'm not sure. You never know, he might have a zillion of each in his closet. Either way, he looks sharp!
I was looking at an article about "Batman: Arkham City" and the unveiling of the image of Tim Drake as Robin and I'm struck by how much they made him look like a cross between convicted child killer Ian Huntley and the fresh-out-of-prison, drunk, marble-mouthed street thug from Birmingham (England) that decided to sit with my friend and I while we were on the train between Victoria Station and Birmingham. His name was Bugsy and he was plotting with his mates on how to steal as much money as possible from train passengers before they had to get off the train. I don't think he got much as he passed out in front of us fairly quickly, plus his mates ran off with the cash. Anyway, this Tim Drake looks remarkably similar to them! All he needs is an accent so thick that nobody can understand a thing he's saying and DC would have a lawsuit on their hands. LOL.
I saw a sample of the new Green Lantern animated series for Cartoon Network. Can't say I'm too pleased. I'll give it a watch if I remember to record it.
I just saw that there is going to be a Torchwood panel at SDCC on Friday 7/22, I hope I can make it (and that there isn't an actual comic book panel at that time, coz they take priority). I've confirmed it on John Barrowman's website too, so it's not a total rumor:
10.00am – ???, Torchwood Miracle Day
- John Barrowman (Captain Jack Harkness)
- Eve Myles (Gwen Cooper)
- Bill Pullman (Oswald Dane)
- Mekhi Phifer (Rex Matheson)
- Alexa Havins (Esther Drummond)
- Lauren Ambrose (Jilly Kitzinger)
- Jane Espenson (Writer, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Battlestar Galactica).
Wow, you can really tell summer is here. It's in the air! People are starting to take time off from work, so the office seems a little quieter and traffic isn't as bad since the local colleges are out of their regular sessions. This is the only time of year downtown is even remotely tolerable.
And the days are drrrrrrrragging.
More later.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
I'm not really sure why I'm bothering to post anything today as there's not much to report.
Actually, I have a minor rant I want to get off my chest:
You guys know, either from talking to me or from reading my posts, that I'm a big Flash fan, right? Wally West in particular. It should come as no surprise then that I am pretty upset that Wally hasn't been mentioned in any of the articles I've read about the big DC shake-up taking place in September (Hey DC, what happened to the "Speed Force" book Geoff Johns told us at SDCC last July that Wally was supposed to be in?).
Actually, maybe I should be glad! Afterall, it seems like they've been busy screwing with the origins of just about every DC character (this is from what I've read in the news, obviously I haven't read any of the stories yet, so I'm going on rumors and press releases). I don't necessarily want Wally's backstory to be fucked with. I'd hate to see the awesome origin story we got back in Flash issue #62 (early May 1992... pick it up!) completely re-written and destroyed. No offense to Geoff Johns, but it would break my heart to have Wally's new origin start when he was walking the mean streets of Keytroit, er, I mean Keystone, and saw his mom gang raped by Mirror Master, Pied Piper and Trickster, then murdered by Captain Cold and Chunk and that Aunt Iris was blamed and thrown in jail and THAT'S why he decided to become a superhero (so he could prove that she was innocent). So yeah, maybe I should be glad he's been absent from the solicitations. OK - I've changed my mind, I'm not angry at the lack of Wally West in the September solicitations anymore. Thank you DC Comics for leaving Wally off the roster!!!!
Okay, I'm done ranting about that (for now....don't get me started on the costume design change rumors though.). Wow, I'm tired!
Work's busy, but manageable. Long hours, long days, long weeks. Nothing new there! I've been able to resist going in to the office on weekends and staying too late in the day though. A year ago it was quite a different story, I used to live at the office. Weird thing is, I'm no worse off for keeping my weekends / evenings to myself. How awesome is that? Sure, every so often I need to go in and get stuff done, but it's more the exception, rather than the rule now. Hooray, progress!!! Forced relaxation. That's why you read blog entries on here where I've delighted in weekends where I did absolutely nothing. Some people might think it's weird, but I still see it as such a luxury to be able to have an open weekend once in a while where all I do is sit around, and if I feel like it, watch DVD's, bake, cook, read books (or comics), and sometimes never set a foot out of the apartment.
Ah well, back to grind.
Actually, I have a minor rant I want to get off my chest:
You guys know, either from talking to me or from reading my posts, that I'm a big Flash fan, right? Wally West in particular. It should come as no surprise then that I am pretty upset that Wally hasn't been mentioned in any of the articles I've read about the big DC shake-up taking place in September (Hey DC, what happened to the "Speed Force" book Geoff Johns told us at SDCC last July that Wally was supposed to be in?).
Actually, maybe I should be glad! Afterall, it seems like they've been busy screwing with the origins of just about every DC character (this is from what I've read in the news, obviously I haven't read any of the stories yet, so I'm going on rumors and press releases). I don't necessarily want Wally's backstory to be fucked with. I'd hate to see the awesome origin story we got back in Flash issue #62 (early May 1992... pick it up!) completely re-written and destroyed. No offense to Geoff Johns, but it would break my heart to have Wally's new origin start when he was walking the mean streets of Keytroit, er, I mean Keystone, and saw his mom gang raped by Mirror Master, Pied Piper and Trickster, then murdered by Captain Cold and Chunk and that Aunt Iris was blamed and thrown in jail and THAT'S why he decided to become a superhero (so he could prove that she was innocent). So yeah, maybe I should be glad he's been absent from the solicitations. OK - I've changed my mind, I'm not angry at the lack of Wally West in the September solicitations anymore. Thank you DC Comics for leaving Wally off the roster!!!!
Okay, I'm done ranting about that (for now....don't get me started on the costume design change rumors though.). Wow, I'm tired!
Work's busy, but manageable. Long hours, long days, long weeks. Nothing new there! I've been able to resist going in to the office on weekends and staying too late in the day though. A year ago it was quite a different story, I used to live at the office. Weird thing is, I'm no worse off for keeping my weekends / evenings to myself. How awesome is that? Sure, every so often I need to go in and get stuff done, but it's more the exception, rather than the rule now. Hooray, progress!!! Forced relaxation. That's why you read blog entries on here where I've delighted in weekends where I did absolutely nothing. Some people might think it's weird, but I still see it as such a luxury to be able to have an open weekend once in a while where all I do is sit around, and if I feel like it, watch DVD's, bake, cook, read books (or comics), and sometimes never set a foot out of the apartment.
Ah well, back to grind.
Monday, June 20, 2011
Completely wasted weekend.
I went to try another set of contacts (what is this, pair seven?), and they didn't work. The last few pairs have been shifting, so even though they're the correct prescription, I can't see clearly because they don't match my eyes. Weird, huh? I think the Dr. is tired of seeing me. He's having the next pair sent to my house so I don't have to drive all the way out there.
The weekend was quiet, that's two in a row! I read for my class, cleaned, ate Pillsbury Toaster Strudel and went to pick-up comics at my not-so-LCBS. Jeez, even with putting a bunch back and the 25% discount I got, they still came to $110. Yikes!!!! It was nice talking to Sharon for a bit, she's always so nice! Since her husband died, she's done a fantastic job with running those stores. It's nice that she remembers people when they come in, maybe not their names, but definitely their faces. Plus, she remembers that I'm always pretty uncomfortable when I first go in (even though I've been shopping there for at least 10 years), so I'm always made to feel at home. She encouraged me to wear my costume to SDCC and swing by the booth so she can see it. We'll see! Only thing is, after paying so much for the books, I may have to alter some of it, LOL! Maybe dye my hair black instead of getting a wig? Nah, it will cost too much in time, hassle and damage to my hair to get it back to this color when I'm done! Anyway, I enjoyed my chat with her. I feel so bad that they had been pulling books for me and I didn't know! I'm usually pretty bad about going in to pick them up anyway, but not FOUR MONTHS bad.
Speaking of comics, is everything "Flash Point" related now? Or how about "Road to Green Lantern" or whatever it is they're calling it? I was going through my pulls and, quite frankly, put everything that wasn't a core title back. Sorry DC, but your extra books and your Emerald Knights, Batman Inc., etc. went back on the shelves. DC promised that THIS event would be different and that they wouldn't have a bunch of bullshit tie-ins and spin-offs that people had to buy. Silly me for believing them, right? I drank the Kool Aid!!! That doesn't mean I'm going to buy them though.
For those keeping track, I'm still not reading Knight and Squire. I don't care how good it's supposed to be. I'll survive not reading it. I think I'm the only one on planet Earth who isn't and has never been on the Paul Cornell bandwagon. I didn't like "Human Nature / Family of Blood" and (so far) I don't care for his comic writing. Come on, the book he's working on with Stan Lee (Soldier Zero) is terrible. But then again, I'm probably the only one who thinks this. Plus, it's not like Paul Cornell cares what I think anyway, right?
There is one book I'm excited about reading though. I'd forgotten that I'd checked it's box last time I was in. It's a comic about Sherlock Holmes and I've got three or four issues I can read. I'll probably do that this afternoon when I get home from work.
I called my dad for Father's Day. He's doing well. Been busy painting the inside of their house. I feel bad for him, my dad hates to paint. I mean, he REALLY hates to paint. Add to that the fact that they have a big house! Plus, I don't think there is a plain old easy wall in their home. Everything has an angle, window, sloping roof, or something weird to paint around. Not to mention that my dad is a perfectionist, so I'm sure he's taking extra care so that it all looks nice. He didn't appreciate my laughing at a paint spill mishap he had. It was funny though! He kept saying "You know, I don't know why you're laughing, it really isn't funny". and "I don't see what's so funny about this". :-D I can just imagine how pissed off he was at spilling / splattering paint. It took them forever to clean it all up.
Weird thing, after being able to sleep really well the last couple of months, I was up almost all night last night. I couldn't shut down. Hopefully it was a one-time thing. I've gotten used to sleeping!!!
Today started out sketchy. Left my wallet at home, so I had to go back and get it, brought the wrong contacts in with me, which means I have to wear my old glasses, all of which means I missed my train and had to drive in, which also means I had to get gas, which made me even later, so I had to park in the building. Luckily Audry is getting her car washed and she usually gives me her validation since she's got a monthly parking pass. That's one good thing that's happened today! Let's hope a few more good things happen as well. :-D
I went to try another set of contacts (what is this, pair seven?), and they didn't work. The last few pairs have been shifting, so even though they're the correct prescription, I can't see clearly because they don't match my eyes. Weird, huh? I think the Dr. is tired of seeing me. He's having the next pair sent to my house so I don't have to drive all the way out there.
The weekend was quiet, that's two in a row! I read for my class, cleaned, ate Pillsbury Toaster Strudel and went to pick-up comics at my not-so-LCBS. Jeez, even with putting a bunch back and the 25% discount I got, they still came to $110. Yikes!!!! It was nice talking to Sharon for a bit, she's always so nice! Since her husband died, she's done a fantastic job with running those stores. It's nice that she remembers people when they come in, maybe not their names, but definitely their faces. Plus, she remembers that I'm always pretty uncomfortable when I first go in (even though I've been shopping there for at least 10 years), so I'm always made to feel at home. She encouraged me to wear my costume to SDCC and swing by the booth so she can see it. We'll see! Only thing is, after paying so much for the books, I may have to alter some of it, LOL! Maybe dye my hair black instead of getting a wig? Nah, it will cost too much in time, hassle and damage to my hair to get it back to this color when I'm done! Anyway, I enjoyed my chat with her. I feel so bad that they had been pulling books for me and I didn't know! I'm usually pretty bad about going in to pick them up anyway, but not FOUR MONTHS bad.
Speaking of comics, is everything "Flash Point" related now? Or how about "Road to Green Lantern" or whatever it is they're calling it? I was going through my pulls and, quite frankly, put everything that wasn't a core title back. Sorry DC, but your extra books and your Emerald Knights, Batman Inc., etc. went back on the shelves. DC promised that THIS event would be different and that they wouldn't have a bunch of bullshit tie-ins and spin-offs that people had to buy. Silly me for believing them, right? I drank the Kool Aid!!! That doesn't mean I'm going to buy them though.
For those keeping track, I'm still not reading Knight and Squire. I don't care how good it's supposed to be. I'll survive not reading it. I think I'm the only one on planet Earth who isn't and has never been on the Paul Cornell bandwagon. I didn't like "Human Nature / Family of Blood" and (so far) I don't care for his comic writing. Come on, the book he's working on with Stan Lee (Soldier Zero) is terrible. But then again, I'm probably the only one who thinks this. Plus, it's not like Paul Cornell cares what I think anyway, right?
There is one book I'm excited about reading though. I'd forgotten that I'd checked it's box last time I was in. It's a comic about Sherlock Holmes and I've got three or four issues I can read. I'll probably do that this afternoon when I get home from work.
I called my dad for Father's Day. He's doing well. Been busy painting the inside of their house. I feel bad for him, my dad hates to paint. I mean, he REALLY hates to paint. Add to that the fact that they have a big house! Plus, I don't think there is a plain old easy wall in their home. Everything has an angle, window, sloping roof, or something weird to paint around. Not to mention that my dad is a perfectionist, so I'm sure he's taking extra care so that it all looks nice. He didn't appreciate my laughing at a paint spill mishap he had. It was funny though! He kept saying "You know, I don't know why you're laughing, it really isn't funny". and "I don't see what's so funny about this". :-D I can just imagine how pissed off he was at spilling / splattering paint. It took them forever to clean it all up.
Weird thing, after being able to sleep really well the last couple of months, I was up almost all night last night. I couldn't shut down. Hopefully it was a one-time thing. I've gotten used to sleeping!!!
Today started out sketchy. Left my wallet at home, so I had to go back and get it, brought the wrong contacts in with me, which means I have to wear my old glasses, all of which means I missed my train and had to drive in, which also means I had to get gas, which made me even later, so I had to park in the building. Luckily Audry is getting her car washed and she usually gives me her validation since she's got a monthly parking pass. That's one good thing that's happened today! Let's hope a few more good things happen as well. :-D
Friday, June 17, 2011
I decided to bite the bullet and get my train tickets to the convention. I know I still don't have a Saturday pass, but I got my return for Sunday anyway. If I end up not getting a pass, Amtrak is pretty good about letting you use your ticket a couple days on either side of the actual booking. Plus, hey, it's an option. If I change my mind I can always cancel the booking. I waited too long one year and I wasn't able to get the departure time I wanted because it was sold-out.
You know, It boggles my mind that taking the train down is cheaper than driving and parking (parking alone at my hotel is $30/day! PLUS gas) vs. $65 round trip on the train.
I don't know why, but I was really thinking about driving down this year. Then I thought about it and driving down means, well, DRIVING DOWN. Blah. I'm not as young as I used to be and driving for that long, only stopping to get gas, isn't my idea of fun. It's different if you're passenger. Being a passenger is great. You don't have to pay attention to what you're doing and you can shift around and sit in different positions. If I could get someone to drive me down, that would be cool (and, in essence, what I'm getting by taking the train), but I don't know of anyone else who is going down. I'm the only person I know who's nerdy enough to take time off work to go to a comic book convention. I don't know if that's a good thing or not! Maybe I'll win the Lotto and I can retain the services of a driver to shuttle me back and forth? That would be cool! I DO like the freedom of driving down though. Leaving when I want, driving up to Del Taco or Trader Joe's if I feel like it, blasting my music...... <sigh>. Oh well, I have plenty of time to change my mind.
Have I mentioned that my patience at being wait-listed paid-off and that I got into the hotel I like staying at? One of these days I'm going to get into one of the really fancy and expensive hotels next to the convention center, but until then, I'm pleased as punch to be staying at my usual hotel...... and no, I'm not talking about the Kings Inn, even though that's a cool motel.
I haven't decided if I'm going to see Green Lantern this weekend or not. I really want this movie to be good. I mean, I REALLY want it to be good. I'm afraid it will be terrible. So far I've only heard one review and it basically said it it was fair, but hopefully they will do better with the sequel that's already begun. I heard they are portraying Hal as kind of an idiot. Not sure I like that. Hey, I gotta stop forming opinions before I actually see it! Who knows when that will happen? I still haven't seen X-Men First Class.
Indecisive Procrastinator party of one? That's ME!
You know, It boggles my mind that taking the train down is cheaper than driving and parking (parking alone at my hotel is $30/day! PLUS gas) vs. $65 round trip on the train.
I don't know why, but I was really thinking about driving down this year. Then I thought about it and driving down means, well, DRIVING DOWN. Blah. I'm not as young as I used to be and driving for that long, only stopping to get gas, isn't my idea of fun. It's different if you're passenger. Being a passenger is great. You don't have to pay attention to what you're doing and you can shift around and sit in different positions. If I could get someone to drive me down, that would be cool (and, in essence, what I'm getting by taking the train), but I don't know of anyone else who is going down. I'm the only person I know who's nerdy enough to take time off work to go to a comic book convention. I don't know if that's a good thing or not! Maybe I'll win the Lotto and I can retain the services of a driver to shuttle me back and forth? That would be cool! I DO like the freedom of driving down though. Leaving when I want, driving up to Del Taco or Trader Joe's if I feel like it, blasting my music...... <sigh>. Oh well, I have plenty of time to change my mind.
Have I mentioned that my patience at being wait-listed paid-off and that I got into the hotel I like staying at? One of these days I'm going to get into one of the really fancy and expensive hotels next to the convention center, but until then, I'm pleased as punch to be staying at my usual hotel...... and no, I'm not talking about the Kings Inn, even though that's a cool motel.
I haven't decided if I'm going to see Green Lantern this weekend or not. I really want this movie to be good. I mean, I REALLY want it to be good. I'm afraid it will be terrible. So far I've only heard one review and it basically said it it was fair, but hopefully they will do better with the sequel that's already begun. I heard they are portraying Hal as kind of an idiot. Not sure I like that. Hey, I gotta stop forming opinions before I actually see it! Who knows when that will happen? I still haven't seen X-Men First Class.
Indecisive Procrastinator party of one? That's ME!
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Look what Manny gave me for my birthday, along with a F.A.B. TPB!!!!! Well, this is actually the second shirt he got me, the first one was a small and I could barely get my Charlie Brown sized head through the opening. And it was kinda tight. Hopefully this one fits! Either way, I'm wearing it!!!
Courtesy of Manny (who ROCKS!)!
Courtesy of Manny (who ROCKS!)!
Monday, June 13, 2011
Just when I think I've got the edge over being sick, I'm out of commission all weekend. It's almost as if my body was saying "fuck you, don't get too comfortable". Same symptoms as earlier this year. Pretty much spent the weekend in bed, trying not to be sick........ and not really accomplishing my goal.
I didn't get to read anything as printed words made me sick. Didn't get to watch tv as the screen was too bright and made me sick (I listened to it from the other room instead). Didn't get to go out as driving down the street made me sick (I tried Saturday morning and was unsuccessful).
I guess I should be grateful that I didn't have any pressing plans, so I didn't let anyone down.
I'm still feeling it, so hopefully I'll be able to take it easy and go to bed soon.
I didn't get to read anything as printed words made me sick. Didn't get to watch tv as the screen was too bright and made me sick (I listened to it from the other room instead). Didn't get to go out as driving down the street made me sick (I tried Saturday morning and was unsuccessful).
I guess I should be grateful that I didn't have any pressing plans, so I didn't let anyone down.
I'm still feeling it, so hopefully I'll be able to take it easy and go to bed soon.
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Okay, so I want to know what I did to deserve that awful lawyer guy calling me again. Jeez, I come in to the office to a voicemail from the asshole wanting me to call him about the documents I sent him last week. There’s no way I want to call him back, so I asked my boss if he would handle it. I mean, seriously, why would I voluntarily call a guy who has yelled at me every time I've spoken to him and, in the past, has called me a “moron” and an “idiot $10/hour office clerk”, amongst other names? I really think he doesn’t realize that he has spoken to me as many times as he has and that he treats most people like this. Well, screw that, I don’t get paid enough to be abused by some dude that’s not even a client.
On to other topics…… I wonder when SDCC is going to put their passes up on Ebay? I never did get one for Saturday during the on sale fiasco a few months ago, so I need to keep my eyes open for an EBay sale date. Either that or I’ll return my Sunday pass and just go home Friday night or Saturday morning. I’m not going to hang around all day, NOT being able to go in. I mean, there’s not really that much to do if you’re not going to the Con. Besides, Saturday would be a good day to wear my costume, should I have the guts to wear it in public. Here is a picture of the badass Doc’s I got for it. Please ignore the really white legs sticking out of the tops of them. LOL.
I was just thinking, you know it’s been almost three months since I actually read stuff on Twitter? I go on it every-so-often to post that I’ve updated this blog and I check to see if I still have the same “followers”, but as far as reading stuff, nothing. I don’t know why, but it’s been nice. I feel out of touch with things going on, but that’s okay. It had gotten to the point where I was always checking it, almost obsessively. It was crazy! No one needs to be THAT plugged in, right? It can’t be healthy. At least that’s what I’m telling myself. I do miss it a little though.
I think I’m going to spend some more time reading old comics this weekend. I haven’t picked up a book since I completed my “Read the Entire Wally West Flash Run and Post My Opinions” project (see prior blog entries for the results, if you’re interested in reading my messy, oddly edited critique). I know I’ve got a crapload of books to go through and choose from. Maybe I’ll read old Green Lantern issues since the movie is coming out next week. I guess it will all depend on what I’m in the mood for! It’s the weekend before a pay day, so I’m broke! I’ll definitely be staying in, LOL.
My class starts next Wednesday, so I guess I’d better drag my printer out of the closet and set-up a work area for my laptop. I’ve never taken a class that’s exclusively online before and I don’t really think I’ll like reading from a computer screen instead of a text book, so I’m going to have to print everything out, old school. J Fingers-crossed I will do well with this class. I really need to learn this stuff and understand it. If you have any study tips, let me know. I’ve already canvassed friends and asked them for advice.
I saw my uncle yesterday after my doctor’s appointment. He was supposed to bring my mail and re-pay me for an EBay item is PayPal’d for him. He forgot the mail part. Grrrr. My car registration invoice should be there any day now (if it hasn’t come already) so I was hoping to get that stuff. Ah well, I have to go back for another appointment, I think, next week. Maybe I can swing by and get it then….
Okay, so here is a picture I took of Gotham the other day , he’s finally losing the extra weight he gained when I got him the wrong food. Yes, he’s still handsome. And yes, I have a cat hair roller near the bed. Doesn't he look like he owns the place and I'm the one intruding? So okay, maybe he does..............
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
I had a really good post birthday weekend. Went to Star Wars at the Bowl with Sam, David, and Sandy on Friday night and then went to see Billy Connolly with Sandy on Saturday night.
It was great to start out the weekend with a day off on Friday. I slept in, ran errands and did some chores around the apartment (yes, I dusted, washed the kitchen and bathroom floors / counters, and vacuumed). Later I took the train down to Hollywood / Highland and met Sam and David at the Hard Rock for dinner before the Bowl, then we walked up to wait in line amongst the Imperial Storm Troopers and Jedi's. It was great fun! The weather was a bit cold, but I hardly nnoticed it since the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra did such a wonderful job with John William's scores to all six movies.
On Saturday morning I went to my appointment in Santa Monica (HELEN!!!) and then tried to break in my 20-eyelet Doc Martin's for my costume. I think I'm good to go, apart from walking up stairs. Those are kinda difficult at this point. <grin>. Sandy came over, gave me loads of fantastic birthday prezzies, and then we went to dinner. We were supposed to go to the "8oz Burger Bar", but apparently that closed down on May 11th, so we were just going to hunt around the Ricardo Montalban Theatre for a good place to eat before the show. AND WE FOUND ONE!!!!!!! If you like hamburgers as much as I do, you have to go over to the South East corner of Ivar and Hollywood Blvd and give "Juicy Burgers" a try. They are amazing! I'm definitely going to take the train over and go there again. Sandy said they rival "Five Guys" (I've never been there, but have heard good things). She said that they were similar, but that the toppings at Five Guys are free, where they charge extra for mushrooms and stuff at Juicy Burger. After the wonderful dinner, we went to an amazing show. The last time I saw Billy Connolly was at the Wadsworth Theatre around five (?) years ago. He is still in fine form and hilarious. My sides hurt from laughing by the time we left. He performed for over two hours! I think the people next to me were either Christian or born again though. As soon as he started in on religion, they got all stony faced and stopped laughing for the rest of the show. How horrible it must be to get offended so easily!
On Sunday I did absolutely nothing, apart from some baking and cooking. I made cookies and chili. Not a typical combination, but I was working with odds and ends in my kitchen. I had some Omaha Steak hamburger patties I needed to use, as well as some Trader Joe's chicken chili lime patties that were in danger of going freezer burned. Surprisingly, they made good chili. For the cookies, I had chocolate chips hanging around and they looked like they wanted to be used. LOL. Both the chili and the cookies turned out really well. I miss cooking and baking. I need to do it more often, the trick is trying to figure out what to do with the food once it's been prepared as I still can't really eat most things and I don't want to waste food.
Ugh! I got a call from my local comic book shop (LCBS) yesterday. I didn't realize that they had been pulling books for me and they were calling to tell me that my box was really full. YIKES! The last thing I heard, my main contact at the store left for greener pastures and I was directed to go to the store to fill out new pull lists and stuff if I still wanted titles held aside for me since he shredded what they had on file. As I've pretty much been off comics for a few months, I never went over to fill out the new paperwork. Now I have to make time to go over there and sift through everything and decide what I want to keep and what to put back. BLAH. I guess I'll give them a call today and go over some time next week (after pay day, seeing how there are so many books waiting for me!). I feel bad though. I mean, I know it's not my fault that I didn't know they were setting the books aside, but still.
I just checked my calendar and my schedule is nice and clear for the rest of the week, apart from one doctors appointment. I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing, LOL.
It was great to start out the weekend with a day off on Friday. I slept in, ran errands and did some chores around the apartment (yes, I dusted, washed the kitchen and bathroom floors / counters, and vacuumed). Later I took the train down to Hollywood / Highland and met Sam and David at the Hard Rock for dinner before the Bowl, then we walked up to wait in line amongst the Imperial Storm Troopers and Jedi's. It was great fun! The weather was a bit cold, but I hardly nnoticed it since the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra did such a wonderful job with John William's scores to all six movies.
On Saturday morning I went to my appointment in Santa Monica (HELEN!!!) and then tried to break in my 20-eyelet Doc Martin's for my costume. I think I'm good to go, apart from walking up stairs. Those are kinda difficult at this point. <grin>. Sandy came over, gave me loads of fantastic birthday prezzies, and then we went to dinner. We were supposed to go to the "8oz Burger Bar", but apparently that closed down on May 11th, so we were just going to hunt around the Ricardo Montalban Theatre for a good place to eat before the show. AND WE FOUND ONE!!!!!!! If you like hamburgers as much as I do, you have to go over to the South East corner of Ivar and Hollywood Blvd and give "Juicy Burgers" a try. They are amazing! I'm definitely going to take the train over and go there again. Sandy said they rival "Five Guys" (I've never been there, but have heard good things). She said that they were similar, but that the toppings at Five Guys are free, where they charge extra for mushrooms and stuff at Juicy Burger. After the wonderful dinner, we went to an amazing show. The last time I saw Billy Connolly was at the Wadsworth Theatre around five (?) years ago. He is still in fine form and hilarious. My sides hurt from laughing by the time we left. He performed for over two hours! I think the people next to me were either Christian or born again though. As soon as he started in on religion, they got all stony faced and stopped laughing for the rest of the show. How horrible it must be to get offended so easily!
On Sunday I did absolutely nothing, apart from some baking and cooking. I made cookies and chili. Not a typical combination, but I was working with odds and ends in my kitchen. I had some Omaha Steak hamburger patties I needed to use, as well as some Trader Joe's chicken chili lime patties that were in danger of going freezer burned. Surprisingly, they made good chili. For the cookies, I had chocolate chips hanging around and they looked like they wanted to be used. LOL. Both the chili and the cookies turned out really well. I miss cooking and baking. I need to do it more often, the trick is trying to figure out what to do with the food once it's been prepared as I still can't really eat most things and I don't want to waste food.
Ugh! I got a call from my local comic book shop (LCBS) yesterday. I didn't realize that they had been pulling books for me and they were calling to tell me that my box was really full. YIKES! The last thing I heard, my main contact at the store left for greener pastures and I was directed to go to the store to fill out new pull lists and stuff if I still wanted titles held aside for me since he shredded what they had on file. As I've pretty much been off comics for a few months, I never went over to fill out the new paperwork. Now I have to make time to go over there and sift through everything and decide what I want to keep and what to put back. BLAH. I guess I'll give them a call today and go over some time next week (after pay day, seeing how there are so many books waiting for me!). I feel bad though. I mean, I know it's not my fault that I didn't know they were setting the books aside, but still.
I just checked my calendar and my schedule is nice and clear for the rest of the week, apart from one doctors appointment. I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing, LOL.
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Okay, my birthday started out good enough with my dad leaving me a voicemail to get first thing in the morning. He sang "Happy Birthday" and wished me many more, adding "You old bag" at the end. Isn't that sweet? He likes calling me an old bag now. Apart from getting a couple of really thoughtful gifts, everything pretty much went down hill from there. Most people forgot (including family) and work sucked.
Crappiest birthday in a while, but it's over and I'm moving on!
Yay, I just got approved to take tomorrow off work. I don't have any plans, but it will be nice to sleep in past 4am. Stupidly, since I didn't know I was going to ask for tomorrow off, I didn't bring in some tickets for Sam today, so I'm going to have to swing by the office at some point tomorrow (at least outside the office) and drop them off.
Hooray for me!
I hope you're all having a good week!
Crappiest birthday in a while, but it's over and I'm moving on!
Yay, I just got approved to take tomorrow off work. I don't have any plans, but it will be nice to sleep in past 4am. Stupidly, since I didn't know I was going to ask for tomorrow off, I didn't bring in some tickets for Sam today, so I'm going to have to swing by the office at some point tomorrow (at least outside the office) and drop them off.
Hooray for me!
I hope you're all having a good week!
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
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