Today at work was B-O-R-I-N-G with a capital ZZZZZZ. Not much going on, and that's never good for me. I need some sort of crisis or something different to keep me interested. Of course, it could be that I'm recovering from 3 days of awesome.
Friday was our team outing at work, and we had a blast! Basically for 5 hours or so we became little kids. We played laser tag, putt putt, video games and way too much Dance Dance Revolution. I felt like when I was a kid, worn out from playing too hard. A trip to the comic shop and home to crash, and I went to bed about 8:30.
Bright and early Saturday morning we got up to meet our friends to go to K-town to AdventureCon! The ride there was a lot of fun, listening to music and talking. We got there just before it opened. After the sticker shock of paying 20 bucks to get in (we thought it was cheaper), we stood in line pointing at the costumed patrons. Not too many this year. I was kinda disappointed. Normally there are lots of people running around in tights. Once we got in the show, we looked around for a couple of hours. Armed with my list (see, I told you I was going to do some research beforehand), I scoured the comic booths. Action figure wise I didn't buy a lot. Actually, I bought one thing: David Horvath's Mothman vs. Flatwoods vinyl playset. (I'll post pics later.) Other than that I bought Wonder Woman comics. Lots of WW comics, to be exact. Most of them are from the 70s and early 80s, but I picked up a few Silver Age in a $3 bin, and they're in pretty good shape. But I also found what I think is my prized possession in my comic collection: a Golden Age Wonder Woman comic from 1948. It's #32, and it's beautiful. (Again, I'll post pics once my camera battery charges.) It wasn't a bad price either, especially for something I thought I'd never own.
After we left the show, we stopped a couple of places and had lunch at TGI Friday's. Then we drove to Turkey Creek to catch The Incredible Hulk before doing a little more shopping. I'm a huge fan of the old TV show, and I love Ed Norton, but I was a little wary, considering the travesty Ang Lee's Hulk turned out to be. This version was everything you could want a Hulk movie to be: great story, great action, lots of humor w/o being campy, and Ferrigno! I'd be hard pressed to choose between this and Iron Man as my favorite summer blockbuster.
Yesterday I slept in, if for no other reason than to give my feet some much needed rest. Then we made plans to get together with my parents for Father's Day. We made a quick trip to the grocery store to stock the bare cupboards. All in all, we did really well with our food purchases. We've got enough food for dinners for the whole week, and all of them are good healthy meals. Then my parents came over, and my dad watched the US Open with Brad, while my mom and I goofed around on the computer. I filled up 2 flash drives with music and a movie, and we talked about randomness. (The most interesting thing was when she told me she really wanted to try sushi--yaaaaaaay!!!) Then we went to Cootie Brown's for one of the top 25 meals of all time--it was fun, and oh so yummy!
Last night after Mama and Daddy left, we watched a mini Weeds marathon. If you've never seen this show, and you have a wicked sense of humor, seek it out. The 4th season premieres tonight (which reminds me--I should wrap this up, so I can catch the last 2 episodes of season 3). I got hooked on the show after my mom let me watch some she had downloaded from iTunes, and though I've missed a lot of the first 2 seasons, I have to say it's my favorite cable show. Yes, Nancy Botwin is probably one of the worst moms in history, based on her status as a role model, but she's so much fun to watch. I love her sense of humor.
That being said, I've got a couple of things I need to do before it comes on, so I'll wrap up. The main idea of this is that I'm trying to do better. Just in general: do better with my time, and not letting it get away from me, eating better, trying to exercise (why oh why can't I find a Wii Fit???), and just trying to be better about how I handle things. Time will tell if I actually make it--I'll keep you posted.
Later!
Not entirely true, but a little. This weekend one of my best friends from college got married. It's been a good 2 years since I've talked to her, and I gotta say it's weighed pretty heavy on my mind. I met my core group of friends in 1998 (!), and we were inseparable pretty much until a couple of years ago. We went dancing at Gatsby's (which doesn't even exist anymore), on random road trips, ate together, slept together, visited each other at work, crammed for exams, "buck danced" at the Carter Fold, fell in love and out of love with each other, got mad, made up, took sides, watched each other graduate, and eventually one day, we all did. Then one by one, we moved away, got married, had a kid, and moved on with our lives. We kept in touch, but I've never been one to do well with keeping up with anyone other than my family and close (in proximity) friends.
Then something happened. I became friends with my husband's friends. Sure, some of them were connected to my friends (which was weird, considering how many times my husband and I should have met before we did), but most of them were new friends. And these guys had more in common with me than my own friends. Don't get me wrong; some of my friends and I had similar interests, but there was this one big knot that tied us all together: school. When we started getting together after college, we talked about the present for a little while, but eventually conversation turned to "Remember when?". There's nothing wrong with that, but when that's the most meaningful thing you have to say to a person who's supposed to be your best friend, what does that mean? I eventually got married, and for some reason just stopped trying to get in touch with my old life. Now I'm reaping what I've sown.
I take full responsibility for the way things are, but I think they should too. A stupid fight last fall made things weird, but I think things were weird way before that.
I guess it's just foreign territory for me. When I was a kid, I was always "the new kid", so I never really thought about long-term friendships. I had my immediate family, and I made friends at school, knowing that when the school year was over, we'd move to a new city and a new school. Then in 5th grade, up until high school, I had to spend time with the same people. I made friends, mostly casual, a couple really close, and one to this day that I still come in contact every once in a while. Incidentally, my closest friends? Guys. I'm much better at getting along with guys. I'm not good at girly relationships. Honestly? Most girls intimidate me. I'm not super girly, at least not with most of my interests, so I feel silly talking about what I like. Just like I was ashamed of being smart when I was in school (up until college, anyway). I guess I'm still afraid there's going to be that one girl that says something judgmental. And when it happens, I don't know how to take it. I go right back to being the chubby smart kid that the cheerleader made fun of in 7th grade--the girl who slumped down in her chair and went home and cried.
There, I said it. Even the Geeky Vixen has an Achilles' heel. While I'm confident about most every aspect of my life most of the time, I have days like today. Days where I regret that one of my best friends from college got married, and I found out about it on myspace.
Song of the moment: "Paranoia in B-flat Major", Avett Bros.
Here are the lyrics (the ones I'm feeling, I'll put in green):
I keep tellin’ myself that it’ll be fine
You can’t make everybody happy all of the time
I found myself in a place that I never been
A place that I thought that I would never be
There’s people looking back at me
I keep having this dream; I’m at a party
There’s people throwing drinks and screaming telling me that I don’t belong
Lately life’s been the same I find this comfortable place
With all my friends then my friends start telling me that I’ve always been wrong
And I’m so tired of being wrong
There was a time I could move there was a time I could breathe
The crowded spaces filled with angry faces
It didn’t once cross my mind
With paranoia on my heels; Will you love me still
when we awake and you find that the sanity has gone from my eyes?
I got secrets from you, you got secrets from me
Because you’re so worried about what I’m gonna to think,Baby I’m worried too
But if love is a game, girl, then you’re gonna win
I’ll spend the rest of my life bringing victory in
If you want me to
Weezer's new album dropped today. I've always liked the band (the blue album gets multiple plays every week). Lately I've had a hankering for songs like "El Scorcho" and "Photograph" in anticipation.
If you haven't seen the video for the first single on the new album, "Pork and Beans", peep it here:
(See how many Internet People you can name.... And have I mentioned that Chris Crocker is from my neck of the woods?)
The new album is very autobiographical in a lot of ways (see "Pork and Beans", "Heart Songs"). Highlights for me are songs like "Troublemaker" and "Dreamin'" that hearken back to early Weezer. This album is by far one of the most diverse. You can see elements of all of their previous work, but it breaks some new ground as well. On first listen, I love all of the songs, even the bonus tracks (I downloaded from iTunes). The bonus tracks are more organic, and in some ways darker (especially "The Spider").
Overall it's a very well put together album. By far it's the best new album (maybe the only new album) I've purchased in a long time. Geek rock is still in full effect, and I couldn't be happier. Now if only Cake would do another album.... ;)
Psst...hey you. Wanna have some fun? Some good clean nerd fun? Mark your calendar, fanboy (or fangirl). AdventureCon is coming next weekend! Comics, toys, celebrities (like Ernie Hudson!), and geeks, nerds, and dweebs galore! (And please know that I use those terms with the utmost of love for my fellow geeks.)
It's a lot of fun, even if you don't buy anything. (I, however, am never able to leave the place without an armload of something. For example, I brought home My Little Cthulhu last year.) There are people in costumes, and a lot of merchandise to peruse. A lot of times I leave thankful my husband is as normal as he is (of course it's a sliding scale, especially in a place like that).
On the nerd front, I'm working on cataloging our comics so we can have lists to take with us. (Gee, nerdy girl, would you like a pocket protector with that statement?) Nothing is more disheartening to a comic book geek (CBG for short) than coming home with a duplicate or passing up on something you needed. I'm using Comic Collector Live, and it's making things muy easy. The software is free, so if you've got a stack that needs organizing, download CCL and make your geeky life easier! (Because you've got better things to do--video games to play, blogs to post, movies to nitpick....)
My latest comic obsession is turning once again to Wonder Woman. Plagued with shitty writing throughout her Amazon life, WW is really underestimated (except for me and the gay community...LOL). Not that she's not popular, but fanboys don't often take her stories seriously, especially the older stories. And I was one of those haters for a long time. I bought WW comics because I like the covers. Then I started reading some of them. Most notably, WW vol. 1 #329. It's the end of the first set of WW comics, and it ties in with Crisis on Infinite Earths. It's a kick-ass story about WW and Themiscyra (or Paradise Island), and how it's affected by the crisis. Another one I really dug was WW vol. 2 #62. My Secret Pal at work sent me a quote from this book that was amazing, and I happened to pick it up a couple of days later.
The other part of WW comics I'm trying to find are the ones where she's out of her costume. Dubbed "The New Wonder Woman", Diana loses her powers and decides to ditch the tiara. These 20 issues or so are more kung-fu and often made fun of by critics. I've managed to get 5 or so so far, and I like them. They're kinda like the first arc of vol. 3 ("Who Is Wonder Woman?"). I like WW when she's a little conflicted and trying to find her identity. It makes it a little better when I feel that way. :) Interesting fact about those issues--many fans demanded WW return to her costume, and the biggest proponent was none other than Gloria Steinem, who felt it sent a bad message that WW changed who she was for the world around her. I don't know about that, but I like having a kinda dark piece of WW's history.
Which brings me to what's going on now. I started subscribing to WW at issue 195 of Vol. 2. Greg Rucka had started writing, and it was a really good story--elements of mythology (she fights Medusa and Circe and goes blind at one point) mixed with a modern WW (going on a book tour, being a diplomat). Then it ended with #226. A little later, Vol. 3 launched. Allan Heinberg (writer most notably of "The OC") took the helm with Terry and Rachel Dodson doing art (they are one of my favorite artist couples). The first 2 story arcs were great. Then Gail Simone started writing. Her first few issues were pretty good. The last 2 or 3, not so much. In the latest issue (*SPOILER*), Wonder Woman is put in a trance by this guy whose name I can't recall, and she thinks she's in a mead hall looking for none other than Beo-f**kin'-wulf. Ummmm, really? I had my doubts when she started writing for the book, knowing what I knew of what she did with Superman a while back (Superman with a heart shield fighting a dinosaur/dragon). And yet, everyone loves her. Maybe I'm overly critical, but Beowulf? I'm just holding my breath that things improve. If not, I may need to take a WW break and read my back issues.
By the way, I went back on my vow. I read The Walking Dead #49. It was brilliant. I can't wait for issue 50. Curse you, Kirkman!!!
Madman Atomic Comics: Some people call it weird, but I call it genius.
The Sword: If you're not reading this book, you don't like comics. Or things like Kill Bill. It's so good--go buy this book (if you can find it).
I won an auction on ebay for the Tara McPherson Hellboy Qee.
I am so excited, I can hardly stand it. She has become one of my favorite artists. I'm starting to look for copies of The Witching just so I can have more of her artwork.
*SIGH* I am such a nerd. But I love being a nerd, so there.
That's why they call me the Geeky Vixen! ;)
Very good weekend--relaxing. Friday was a little hectic, mostly because of the haircut in the middle of the workday. That and the buttmonkey air conditioning guy who didn't show up. :-(
No matter. We still rocked Rambo and a little GTA IV.
Saturday was by far one of the best days in a long time. Morning internet surfing, a quick shower, and hanging with friends. Kelly and I went to see Sex and the City. Honestly, I have to say, I totally expected to hate it, but I was morbidly curious since I watched the series. All in all it was a decent movie. Certainly not the best movie I've ever seen by any stretch, but something I'm glad I saw. The funniest part was the array of young East TN cosmopolitans dressed in their versions of Carrie, Samantha, Miranda, and Charlotte. (The funniest part or the scariest part? You be the judge.) I gotta admit that was the first time I felt underdressed for a movie at the mall. My quick review? If you're a fan of the show, you'll enjoy it. I had to put my girl hat on and not roll my eyes too much at the histrionics that seemed to ensue at every turn. There were moments that I wanted to yell at the screen, "You're overreacting! And you're not listening to anything! Stop it!!!" Other parts of the movie I enjoyed. There are no mysteries, of course, but the ride is fun. I think the most fun part was just having some girl time, and the extended preview of Mamma Mia! was totally worth the price of admission. I so can't wait to go see that one.
After the movie, we met the boys for dinner, and they were waiting with presents and flowers. Nothing can top that. As much as I used to enjoy being a single gal, having a husband is like no other.
Sunday was total relaxation. Breakfast and Underdog (yes, I totally have a thing for Jason Lee, even as a dog), then lounging around and just being us. A great early dinner and some Halo 3, then more relaxation. And last night I got the best night's sleep. Dunno why, but it was fantastic!
Today wasn't actually a bad day. I had to train a technical writer for 4 hours, so that was pretty tiring, and I don't really feel like I accomplished more than that. I was busy enough not to have time to rock the iPod today, so I must have done something. Luckily I don't have to train tomorrow, so I'll be able to get some busy work done. I'm just pumped about next Friday and our excursion to Fun Expedition to play for 6 hours or so. :)
