A to Z Challenge: Z is for Zombies

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So, even if a few of my posts have been a little late, I've managed to make it all the way through!

I feel a bit like I'm cheating, but I actually have a pretty jam-packed weekend ahead of me, so this is going to be a bit short and sweet.

If you weren't aware, there's currently a revitalization of Zombies lately.  They seem to be everywhere.  So I thought I'd narrow down the field a little and share some of my favorite zombie-themed stuff.

• Shaun of the Dead--A great tongue-in-cheek take on zombies (sorry, not supposed to use the zed word.) that is at times hilarious, touching, and quite scary.  The Queen "Don't stop me now" montage is one of my favorite scenes.
• Dawn of the Dead--The remake was my first venture into the new, faster zombie.  And from the creepy zombie girl in the beginning, to the last fateful scene, it's not a movie for the weak at heart.
• Night of the Living Dead--The original George Romero film is still one that any zombie aficionado needs to check out.  It has lost some of it's terror levels through the passing of time, but still his best.  (Ignore anything he's made in recent years, they keep getting worse and worse.)
• 28 Days Later--A pretty brutal and visceral movie that once again stars fast zombies.  (Although some have debated if there are really zombies in the movie, it has all the conventions of one, so I count it.)  Watch out for the creepiest performance Christopher Eccleston has ever given.
• The Walking Dead--Both a comic series and a new AMC series. Both are chilling and wonderful, but don't worry, they're both so different from each other (different characters die, or don't; whole plotlines are rearranged, and the gore of zombies is explored in different manners) that you can enjoy one or both without compromising either one.  

I'm sure if you're already a zombie fan, none of these are new to you.  Hopefully if you're not, some of these might change your mind (if you're scared of gore, The Walking Dead is probably your safest bet).

Congratulations to all of my fellow bloggers that have made it through the challenge!

A to Z Challenge: YouTube

So if you haven't figured it out already, I'm a pretty big fan of YouTube. Not only is it a great way to catch up on Craig Ferguson, see new Trailers, or get your news, it's also a great time waster (as anyone in a cubicle farm knows).

So in the name of Friday procrastination everywhere, here's some of my favorite bite sized clips to help speed along your day.
















Apparently, the best videos on YouTube are about animals.  I didn't realize.

A to Z Challenge: My love/hate relationship with the X-Men

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First off, I do have to declare something in the name of honesty.  I really have never read the X-Men comics.  My first and closest interaction with them was the great animated show from the 90s. 

My dad and I would watch it every Saturday morning.  Which is why I think I have such a soft spot for the series and for Stan Lee (I smile whenever I hear him say "Hello, true believers!").

I have been told that the series did a good job of covering the series, and in fact stuck very close to the comics.  That's the love part.

And now comes the hate.

I hate, I mean, really, truly and deeply hate the movies they've made based on the X-Men.  They took what was a great group of characters and by changing some pretty important character traits, made it almost unrecognizable.  The worst offender is the last one.

SPOILERS AHEAD!

Why would you turn Phoenix, one of the best and most powerful characters in the series into a psychosis of Jean Grey?

And how on Earth would Wolverine be able to overpower her?  In short, he wouldn't.

And why did she kill everyone?

And why did they turn Xavier into a liar, who did pretty despicable things to Jean in the name of "protecting her"?

However, Magneto was still really awesome.

Ok, the rant's over.

So it's with great trepidation that I'm actually looking forward to the new X-Men movie, X-Men: First Class.  I like that it's a reboot, so we don't have to live will all the awful crap that they've done to it (and they might actually get someone who can kick ass to be Storm, now).

I'm really excited that we're going to see the split between Xavier and Magneto.  They're friendship and arch enemy status has always been one of the dichotomies I really enjoy about the series.

And it doesn't help that I think the two main actors are dreamy.

But you tell me, what do you think about it from the trailer?

A to Z Challenge: Wonder Woman...You can't tell me you're surprised.

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If you've been following me for long at all, you've probably seen this entry coming.  I mean, I've ranted about her, praised her, and previewed her.

In all honesty, the choice of using Wonder Woman for my W day was a knee jerk reaction. Now that I've sat down and tried to write it, I'm not really sure what to say about her that I haven't already.  So instead of talking about specifics, I'm going to try and talk you guys into giving the actual comic a try.

Even though the reboot is a few issues in, you can still join in on the relaunch.  (And back issues are pretty easy to find if you're really interested, sadly, the book hasn't quite picked up the speed DC was hoping for.)

So why should you check it out?

• New costume: I wasn't sure about it at first, but now that she's ditched the 80s jacket, I actually really like it.
• Even if you haven't been following for years you can catch up on the action very quickly.  The Reboot has basically made it a whole new story (even though there are hints that we'll get back to familiar territory soon).
• The comic has has some switches in artwork and writing, but the last couple of issues seem to have hit its stride.
• There's going to be some big show downs coming up soon.
• Some interesting characterizations of Diana that we haven't seen before.
• Help support a series that hasn't always gotten the best treatment.

Would you like to follow some other DC women-centric comics to follow?  Try out these others:

• Birds of Prey: Follow the original Batgirl (now Oracle) and her team fight crime.  Written by the famous Gail Simone who is basically agreed to have created the best WW series in recent times.
• Gotham City Sirens: Like your girls with a bit of edge? You can't get much edgier than Poison Ivy, Harley Quinn, and Catwoman
• Zatanna: Watch as this powerful magician fights the forces of evil (usually with a healthy dose of humor)
• Powergirl: Known for having the biggest chest in DC, there's actually a lot more to PG than you'd think by looking at her.

A to Z Challenge: Gamer Girl Tuesday: Value Gaming

Last week I talked about paying the premium for gaming (and how to decide when to spend your $60).  Today I'm talking about the flip side.  Here are some tips on Value gaming.

• Patrol your local gaming stores for used games.  If you're nervous about the idea of buying used, spend the extra few bucks for the extra warranties.  You'll still end up ahead.
• If you can wait a while for a game (usually a year), games will on average drop half their opening price.  Also keep an eye out for "greatest hit" games, which usually have a low price, because almost everyone already has a copy.
• Become a friend of Steam.  They always have a mid-week madness sale and amazing sales around the holidays.  But this will only work for pc games.  Sorry consoles.
• Watch for cyber Monday and holiday sales online.  You can get games for much cheaper and avoid the crowds!
• Don't be afraid to try out "budget games."  Usually not as hyped as the big names, there are still some hidden gems to be found. (Just make sure to try and find a couple of reviews)
• Borrow from friends.  There are lots of games that in all honesty you'll only play through once.  Swap games with friends to give them a play through and see if they're worth buying your own copy.

 Hope these tips help you save a few bucks!

A to Z Challenge: Unraveling

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No, this post isn't about how my plans to keep up with this challenge are Unraveling (but the irony is not wasted on me).

No, this is instead an extension of my post about being an old soul.  But I guess I should back up a little. You see, I have this nasty habit of collecting crafty hobbies.  I'll stick with one religiously for a few months to a year, and then I'm off to the next big thing.

Currently I'm all wrapped up in crocheting.  And while I would love to say that I'm making cool Mario and Pokemon characters like Wolf Dreamer or mini-ninjas like Rheatheylia, I'm not.

This is where the old soul part come in.  I'm crocheting things like scarves and afghans and all those things that your granny might have made you.  I mean, I actually make granny squares, too!

But it really is a rewarding hobby.  Here are some of the reasons I've stuck with it for a few years now (although I've dabbled in other areas):

• You can do it while watching TV.
• The only limit is your budget on yarn and your patience to search for free patterns.
• People are really impressed when you show what you've made.
• You can help out lots of charities with your creations (believe me, just google "crochet for charity" and you'll be shocked at all the options.)

A to Z Challenge: Trigun, my Anime love

So just a couple of short posts today to play catch-up.  I had planned to do a whole long post about why I love the anime Trigun so much, but again, I'm falling back on the glories of Youtube to do the heavy lifting for me.

If you like anime, you'll love Trigun.  If you don't like anime, you'll still love Trigun.







As you might can tell, there's a lot of humor in the series, but then it gets pretty serious and has some really touching moments at the end. And some sad things happen, and amazing things, and things that I don't want to give away. So do me a favor and check it out.

A to Z Challenge: Serenity...The Secret I've been keeping

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After yesterday's revelation about the height of my geek-dom.  I have to say that I'm about to reveal a pretty dark secret that some will say means my geek card should be downgraded, at least.

Serenity, or better yet, Firefly, is the only TV show by Joss Whedon I like.

I know, I know.  I should be all over Buffy, but I find all the characters annoying.

Angel, well, I have to admit I didn't give it much of a try after Buffy.

Dollhouse should have me intrigued, but I was never able to get into the plot line.

That's right, I apparently only like it when Joss and the dreamy Nathan Fillion work together (I love Dr. Horrible, with a passion that comes from deep within).

And it's with this revelation that I have to say, I'm kinda worried about the upcoming Avengers movie. 

So, what do you guys think?  Am I crazy?  What's the draw for those shows for you, or do you feel the way I do?

A to Z Challenge: Renaissance Faires

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This, my friends, is what separates the chicly geeky and the true geeks among us.  This is a topic that only the ones that are fearlessly geeky will admit to: I love Renaissance faires.

And not just going for the turkey legs, beer, and roasted almonds.

Nope.  I'm one of the ones that goes in garb.  But I'm not even the history buff that researches and goes in historically accurate garb.  There's something to be said for that dedication and research.

Nope, I just like to go in vaguely period outfits and play the adult version of dress up.

If I could talk my husband into it, I would probably have a full name and history made up (usually, in my head I have something roughed out).

I'm really looking forward to making a cooler weather outfit, so I can go to Scarborough Faire in garb this year (I had to back out, because damask and velvet don't do well in Southern Texas).

And just in case you think I'm putting all this on, here's a pic:

That's right, we had a Renaissance wedding.

Yup, I have my geek card for life.

A to Z Challenge: Can I Quote you?

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Along with any other self-proclaimed geek worth her salt, I have a lot of random information floating around in my head.  Many times this takes the form of Quotes that I sprinkle in randomly during the day.

Here are some of the most common for me:

• "Run away!" from Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Used as a signal to retreat, like avoiding the salespeople in the Mall trying to spray me with something.
• "Hey careful! There's a beverage here!" from The Big Lebowski. Usually used when Franklin (my little dog) tries to jump in my lap while I'm busy doing something.
• "What we need is some rope." from Boondock Saints.  Usually said when staring at a box of jumbled pieces waiting to be assembled into something.  
• "Damage my calm" from Firefly. Used when someone is really starting to push my limit.  Usually when I'm trying to finish a book or go to sleep, and the husband starts tickling me.
• "Knock, knock, knock, Penny." from Big Bang Theory. Used whenever I've tried to get the husband's attention, and he's still to interested in something else to answer me.  Best used in repetition.

So what do you find yourself quoting?

A to Z Challenge: Gamer Girl Tuesday: Paying the price

One of the toughest things about gaming is the price tag that comes with playing games.  With games hitting the market with typically a $50-60 dollar price tag, and some games costing $15 dollars a month to play, if you're on a budget, it can be tough to decide what to buy.  Here's some things to keep in mind when trying to make that decision.

1. Don't buy a game without reading reviews from several sources.  Believe me, just because a game looks pretty, doesn't mean it's any good.  Reviews can point out make or break issues for a game.
2. Download a demo or borrow a copy from a friend before buying.  You'll get a feel for the game and see if it's something you'd want.
3. Decide if you have time for a new game, especially if it's a subscription game.  If you have lots of time to kill, you'll do fine.  But if you're really busy at work or in life, you'll find yourself cringing every time you get the bill for the subscription.
4. Don't buy an expensive game in a wildly different genre from what you play.  You might decide, too late that FPS isn't for you, or that RPGs leave you cold.  
5. Be cautious of "Revolutionary" games.  Typically these are interesting games, but usually deeply flawed, enough so that you'll feel cheated after you play them (see Heavy Rain, Mirror's Edge, Final Fantasy X2, or LoTR Online).

A to Z Challenge: I'm an Old soul

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So I'm still about a year away from the next big milestone birthday (which I'm already warning my husband I won't take well), but there are times that I feel a lot Older than I should be. 

I look at some of my friends that are my same age (or people I went to high school with), and I sometimes wonder if I haven't skipped whole periods of my life where I have tons of energy and make really bad decisions.

But most of the time, for the most part, I'm happy with my life, even if I sometimes act a lot older than society tells me I should.

1. Instead of listening to the latest and greatest hits, I listen to NPR on my morning and evening commute.
2. I learn about most modern slang through UrbanDictionary instead of actual firsthand knowledge.
3. I get way more excited about the newest episode of Upstairs, Downstairs than the anything that starts with "Jersey" or "Real Housewives."
4. It's not unheard of for me to go to bed at 9pm.
5. I have lots of old-school hobbies (more of that later).
6. I've been known to eat dinner at six, and think eating after eight is too late.
7. I really enjoy a good documentary.
8. I've found myself talking about the good old days when gas was $1 a gallon.
9. I consider 20-year-olds kids.
10. A fun Friday night for me? Board games or bowling.

Yeah, I think my partying days are long behind me.

A to Z Challenge: Neil Patrick Harris

Really, how can you not love NPH?

A to Z Challenge: Movies: If I wrote the screenplay

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Whoops!  I accidentally posted this yesterday.  Sorry if you've already read it!

~~~

I'm not 100% sure if this really fits into my geeky theme for the month, but I thought I'd go ahead with it.


I'm usually pretty good with figuring out the plot of Movies as I watch them.  But there are times that the movie diverges away from my plan.  Sometimes it's good, but in other cases, I prefer my ending.

So I thought I'd debut my new feature "If I wrote the screenplay" with a movie the husband and I saw this past weekend: Insidious.



General Plotline: A young and growing family starts to notice strange things in their new house.  When their young son enters a strange coma-like state, the strangeness hits new heights.  They move to a new house, but soon find that the spirits have followed them.  They soon find out that it's not their house that is haunted; it's their son.

Warning, Warning, Warning: Spoilers Ahead.


No Really, I'm about to give away the twist of the movie.

Where I'm picking up: After consulting with a paranormal expert, Josh and Renai find out their son is an expert Astral Projector, whose soul has lost track of his body. Evil spirits and demons want to take over his physical body. They find out that Dalton has inherited his skill from his dad, who was also a Traveler when he was a child, and was haunted by an old woman.  Josh must now enter "The Further" and fight off demons to help his son return to his body.

My Version: When Josh enters the spirit version of their house where Dalton is being held captive, he sees several glimpses of the old woman (In the first real movie glimpse, it looks like she's in a wedding dress).  He finds his son, who is being tortured by the demon.

While Josh and the demon battle, he notices that the old woman is hovering near his son.  She is releasing the chains while Josh fights the demon.  Just when Josh is about to lose, the old woman, who is still heavily veiled) steps in between them and with a bright flash of light, pushes the demon back.

She grabs Josh and Dalton by the hand and takes them away.  They have to fight off lesser spirits along the way.  When they reach the end of "The Further" the old woman says she will hold off the spirits while they escape.  Josh recognizes her voice and pulls her veil away.  It is his wife.

Flashback to real-movie scenes, where Dalton tells his mom that she's old, and Josh's mom tells him he was haunted by an old woman.

Josh finds out that the old woman is also in the real world, living as his wife in a body she hijacked years before.  Now, Josh is faced with the dilemma of letting his wife continue to do what the spirits wanted to do to his son or continuing the happy life he has.

Not sure where the rest of "my movie" would go...by that point, the movie had gone down a boring and predictable road, so my predictions were down the drain.

So what about you?  Do you ever re-write movies in your head?  Are your versions better?

A to Z Challenge: Little Furry Friends

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I have to admit, I'm one of those pet owners.  Anytime my Little furry friends do something cute or even sometimes do something extraordinarily bad, I tell my friends and family about it.

I can only imagine how bad it'll be once we have kids.

So, like every boasting mother, I'm going to bombard you with pictures.

Einstein, in the bed we bought for Franklin.

Franklin likes to be close to us.  Really, really close.

Einstein with his security blanket...dragon.

I told you he likes to be close.

The boys singing along to the harmonica.

A to Z Challenge: Knights of the Round Table

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I'm not sure if it was The Sword in the Stone, my dad's bedtime stories about Camelot, or Monty Python that did it to me, but I'm a huge fan of the stories of Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table.

Something about the idealized romance of the stories, the idea of chivalry and "might for right" (which even in the stories is haphazard), and the magic of the every day hooked me from my first encounter.

If you're a novice to the stories, or are wanting to take a look at some different takes on the mythology, here are some of my favorite versions of the tales:

• The Sword in the Stone: A family friendly film adaptation of The Once and Future King, this tells the story of Arthur's training with Merlin and his origin as the king of England.This is probably the version most people are familiar with.
• The Once and Future King by T.H. White: My favorite novelization of the traditional story.  Full of quirks and sarcastic remarks.
• Monty Python and the Holy Grail: The epitome of geekiness, and probably what most people thought of when I started mentioning Arthur. If you've never watched it, it's classic Monty Python.  But, I would say don't watch it with big fans of the movie, because you'll never be able to hear it over them quoting their favorite parts.
• Mary Steward's Merlin Trilogy: A wonderful retelling of the Arthurian cycle from the viewpoint of Merlin.  Some great unique twists are hidden within.  A unique take in that it is almost completely free from magic use.
• Camelot: The classic musical that made me fall in love with Richard Harris. Full of humor and heartbreak, and songs that will stick with you forever. 
• Mordred's Lullaby by Heather Dale: A haunting song that shows the viewpoint of the villains of the Arthurian cycle. 

Hope this inspired you to check out more versions of the stories or explore them for the first time!

A to Z Challenge: Gamer Girl Tuesday: Just Right Games

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 One of the complaints that I hear from reluctant gamers is that they don't have time to play games.  So after a bit of thinking, I've come up with a short list of games that are Just right for that few spare minutes you might want to decompress.

Little Big Planet: A game built around short levels is always a safe bet.  LBP is a great game for novices and expert gamers alike.  Levels become more complex, and there's also a huge library of user created games.

Bejeweled: PopCap, the company that has brought casual gaming to a new level.  A fun and easy game that a lot of people have on their phones.  Just make sure you play the timed games, or you might be there a while.

DC Universe: I know, I know, you're getting tired of it.  But the short missions make for a streamlined game that is easy to stop.  A great choice for the more advanced gamer.

Wii Sports: Want to do something more active with your few minutes? Wii Sports is a great and fun alternative.  Play a quick game of baseball or try to beat your record at bowling.  Multiplayer options can also make it fun for the whole family.

A to Z Challenge: In Print?

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There's something about second hand bookstores that always gets me excited.  There's always a great deal to be found, but let me tell you what really gets me going.

The popular In print books?

Nope, I head straight for the bizarre out of print books.

There usually found in the paperback section, more often than not in the sci-fi or horror section.  If you're lucky you can get them for less than a dollar.

After reading them, I find that there's a reason I've never heard of the authors or the books are out of print.  But the premises are so campy and over the top that it's always a fun ride.

One of my new finds that I'm excited to try is The Illegal Rebirth of Billy the Kid by Rebecca Ore.

Blurb from the back:

"Simon Boyle makes chimeras.  Artificial people with programmed memories.  Useful in all sorts of ways.

"Most of Simon's chimeras are legal, for the CIA. But Simon's got a sideline, too: chimeras based on famous criminals, for rent, to private citizens...whatever your pleasure.  His Billy-the-Kid chimera's especially popular, particularly the part where Simon--as 'Pat Garrett'--guns 'Billy' down at the moment of truth.  Billy doesn't even know he's in the 21st century; Simon's got him programmed to see everything in Old West terms.

"Then one of Simon's clients absconds with Billy and sets him loose--helpless--on the 21st century's mean streets.  With the CIA on Simon's tail and Billy struggling to seize control of the myths in his ROM, 'Pat Garrett' had better start running--because this time around, the old story may well have a new ending."

Pretty awesome sounding, right?

So, whenever you're looking for a new book, don't discount the out of print cheap finds at your local second hand bookstore.

A to Z Challenge: The Husband: My friend, my enabler

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I have to admit (at the risk of sounding like a sappy Hallmark card) that I am extremely lucky to have my Husband in my life.

In one of those rare moments that God has blessed me, in my husband, I really have found my best friend.  He gets me in a way that no one else does (even my closest girl friends), and understands what makes me tick, even when I can't.

He's willing to do whatever it takes to provide for me, and works hard to make sure I'm happy.  He's smart, funny, and charming in his own goofy way.

*Cue the awws or the retching from the mushiness*

Now, on to the geeky part. When he saw the title of this post he made a few grumblings, but he is my geeky enabler.

You see, with previous relationships, I was always a bit hesitant to show off my geekier side. I was worried that it would color how they saw me, somehow make me less attractive in their eyes. I was also afraid to show off how smart I was about certain topics. I'm not sure what led me to think this way, but it's taken years to be able to break out of that.

But my husband is the one that pushes me to do what I enjoy, no matter how geeky. He brags about me to others, and shows off my accomplishments with a pride in me that sometimes is overwhelming.

He is my friend, my comrade in geeky arms, and the one that pushed me to do what I love.

I love you, babe.

A to Z Challenge: The Guild

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This is another post where I'm going to let the source material shine. But before I start embedding videos, let me give a little background.

The Guild is an internet based show created by Felicia Day, one of the great geek girls out there right now.  The show began as self-funded and quickly became funded by donation.  Now, the show is partnered with Microsoft and has built a solid following.  It's even gotten several web series awards.

The series came out of Day's personal obsession with World of Warcraft.  After two years of self-proclaimed addiction, she decided to turn her experiences into a comedy show.  It revolves around her guild (or a team of players). 

The first season focuses on how Day's character Cyd's life is rocked when the players she knows in the game become people she knows in *gasp* real life! The show has evolved quite a bit since the opening, and I'm really looking forward to Season 5.

Check out the first couple of episodes and see what you think!