so don't ask if you don't want to know
Reviews
Tooth Fairy
Jan 18th
I received Tooth Fairy from Netflix today, and after yet another sit-through of Wizard of Oz, I suggested to Kira we try this new movie. We’re on our second run and I have some questions:
- If the Fairy Tooth Mother can arbitrarily slap wings on just any non-believer, why can’t she give Tracy real wings?
- Nobody in the entire ice arena had a cell phone out taking pictures (before their memory was erased) or video? People have the presence of mind to video accidents or UFOs but nobody recorded a popular hockey player suddenly having wings?
- If imaginary characters want people to believe in them so badly, why do they continue to hide their existence? I’m talking to you Santa/Tooth Fairy/God/Easter Bunny/etc.
- What’s the big hurry? Kids sleep all night, so why does Derek have stop mid-game to fulfill his tooth fairy obligations? Wouldn’t he have less objections and be easier to train if they didn’t keep interrupting his regular life?
- Seriously, we’re supposed to believe a cynic like Derek blogs, or is on Facebook. What the hell was that whole exchange about? “I’d love to poke you on Facebook.”‘ Really?
So Kira says she likes the movie, but she only pays attention to about half of it. I’ll be sending it back tomorrow and will likely forget the whole thing. It’s just… stupid. No matter how hot Dwayne Johnson looks in tight blue silk.
It Was Fabulous!
Dec 5th
My friend Ruthie invited me to her Church’s Christmas concert, so Atheist that I am, I decided to go for it. I love Ruthie that much.
I’m so glad I did! I had a fabulous time! Let me start by saying this isn’t your normal church and it’s not your normal Christmas show. It’s a LGBT Church and the show was… almost secular.
Ruthie’s first song was Mary Did You Know, which is one of my favorite songs. I think of it as a song for any mother who’s child grows up to be extra-special or famous and it always gives me goosebumps. There was the dead-on Grinch song, some ladies singing the 12 Days After Christmas – which cracked me up – a nice violinist, an excellent piano player, and so much more.
I must say though, I thought drag singers you know, actually sang. This one lip-synched but did put on a show.
Thank you Ruthie for inviting me. I think I’m finally getting into the Christmas mood!
Rally Recap
Nov 8th
I didn’t actually make it to the rally.
Here’s the thing, I’m sure I’ve told you I’m asthmatic. So I got to my friend’s house fine*, woke up at 4am unable to breathe and had Ginnie take me to the hospital. By the time that was dealt with, the pharmacy trip was dealt with and getting back to my friend’s house happened it was almost 11. We all decided to go to the last stop on the train line for a best chance to get on a train. I’d passed the closer station and spotted the very long line so it seemed like a smart choice. 
Still having difficulty breathing, the walk to the line and then finally (after more than 2 hours in line) we squished into a (the fifth train that went though) train and made it downtown. I managed to walk about 50 steps before I’d have to stop and rest for a while. It was the cold air. I have a real problem breathing in cold air.
So… I got to a bench on the Mall and gave up. Sent Ginnie off to see if she could get close enough to the stage to actually hear anything but the crowd was so thick she couldn’t get in at all. And that was around 3:30 when it was almost over and lots of people were leaving.
I enjoyed the camaraderie of the crowd. People were happy and cheerful and I got to see lots of signs passing by. Some humorous, some serious. I’d tweeted my location hoping any of my friends would come find me but no luck. I’m still glad I went. I felt I accomplished something though I didn’t accomplish anything at all. Does that make sense?
*Watch for the rest of the road trip in another post.
Mila's Daydreams
Aug 13th
Another of my new favorite sites is Mila’s Daydreams. This woman sets the scene and when her baby naps, she photographs her in all these interesting ways.
This is my evil favorite so far. I wonder how long she can keep this series going, but I’m really enjoying the ride. Just another happy daily in my Google Reader.
Stuff No One Told Me
Aug 13th
One of my new favorite sites to visit daily is Stuff No One Told Me. I won’t say I love every one of his daily comics, but when I love one I LOVE IT.
I have this in my Google Reader so every morning I get a little smile or outright laugh. You should too.
I want to print about four of these comics out and put ‘em up on my wall.
Game On!
Aug 12th
I first saw this video during The Guild panel at San Diego Comic-Con. Though I think it’s not as good as their first video, “Do You Want to Date My Avatar?” it’s still pretty cool.
And don’t forget The Guild Season 4 is already up to episode 4. If you haven’t been watching The Guild, you should. Go back and start from the beginning. The episodes are fairly short.
Two thumbs up!
Cox (Non)Communications
Jul 28th
First let me say, Ralph Wiggins*.
Last week I popped online to make arrangements to move my existing Cox service to my new address. I logged in and after a few false tries, found the actual link that says, “move existing service.” You’d think that would be the right one, right?
It logged me out and sent me to the new service page with all the stupid bundle (meaning they can’t give phone service away) options. I logged in again and looked for a different link, maybe that one was faulty. No such luck so I tried again… about 4 times. Tried again the next day. Every single time I was logged out automatically and sent to the new service page.
Stupid Internet provider. You’d think they could at least get that right, right?
Drove over to the local Cox office on Broadway. Building is empty. Really empty – meaning they moved. Girlchild and I had a race on our smartphones to try and find where it went. The new store at Tempe Marketplace didn’t show up on Google Maps. Swell.
So… I went in yesterday to move my existing service from point A to point B. Sounds simple, eh? Sure, they’re all smiley like they want to help you. But I get the new guy.
Again, Ralph Wiggins!
I will say there was a nice female employee that took charge of Kira and kept her amused while I spent 27 minutes trying to schedule moving my existing service moved to a new address. IT AIN’T THAT HARD! Stop account #blah at this address on August 1 and start account #blah at this address on July 31. One day overlap because I just know they’ll fuck it up. Even though I’m doing all the physical moving myself and all they have to do it tell their computer.
Thank you nice lady who amused Kira, but the rest of you people are useless.
* referring to our Atheist cuss word that replaces Jesus Christ!
SDCC Report
Jul 26th
Wednesday
Flight was good. We shuttled to our hotel, formerly a YMCA, to find our tiny two-twin-bed room and the location of the bathrooms. Our first thought was ugh but it turns out it wasn’t that bad. They keep it pretty clean and after the first night we didn’t really hear the slamming doors anymore.
Found the trolly (light-rail) and rode the two stops to the convention center to get our badges. Turns out that wasn’t too bad either. Walked right in, no line. That was the ONLY thing we went to at the whole con that didn’t have at least an hour wait. We wandered a bit to try and get the lay of the land.
Thursday – Photos
The first thing we did was get in the Hall H line, already snaked through it’s assigned space and back behind the center. We hit that about 9ish for the 11:15 TRON panel we didn’t get into. So we went to the exhibition hall to wander. Scored quite a few pictures, pac-man lanyards and CJ got a couple things for her kids. We decided to splurge for a decent meal before w00tstock.
w00tstock!
The BEST time! Wil Wheaton, Paul and Storm, Phil Plait (a friend or just someone who actually recognizes me in public?), Adam Savage, Mollie Lewis, Aaron Douglas, that magician guy who I saw at TAM8 and then with Craig Ferguson, Marian Call, music, science, magic, comedy, art, laughing, fun, etc. Ran into my friend @ARealGirl there too!
We had sooo much fun.
Friday
Got there even earlier to get in the Ballroom 20 line for the Stargate Universe then Caprica panels, and CJ stayed for The Big Bang Theory but I headed over to the Yo Gabba Gabba line. We heard they’d be giving stuff away so I held our space. Yeah, not so much. Oh well. It was cute anyway. Then we headed out for linner with JR Murdock. He took us to some old town mexican place and we had a great visit, though none of us remembered to take pictures.
Saturday
By now we’re both footsore… actually more shin/calf sore. Walking and standing doesn’t hold as much joy as it once did. We headed over after breakfast and wandered around the streets outside the convention center where there were tons of crap being handed out. Big bags, t-shirts, buttons, coupons, etc. Went to the Hard Rock Hotel to check out the Xbox 360 room and on the way out Chevy Chase walked right past us! We got in the Indigo Ballroom line for The Guild Panel and had to sit through the Venture Bros (?) and The Sanctuary panels first. The Guild panel was EXCELLENT! There’s a new music video that is EXCELLENT but I can’t remember when it’s going to be released to the general public. Just know, Bollywood says GAME ON!
Lunch at Cafe Diem, where SyFy took over a diner at the Hard Rock and went all out. Menus, chairs, table top covers, and art on the walls all Cafe Diem printed. From Eureka. Nevermind.
I got in the Hall H line around 4 for the Kevin Smith panel at 7:15 and by 6 I knew I wasn’t getting in. The line barely moved, and I’m pretty sure that was only from people abandoning their spots. So I headed up to The Mythbusters line on the offf-chance that would happen. I flagged down @ARealGirl and @SurlyAmy and crapIdon’trememberhername Allison? and we all went in together. That was an awesome panel, too. Every cast member was there and they were introduced by George Peterson!
Then the ladies and I went to a stupid Thai restaurant that didn’t serve alcohol, so we scarfed dinner there and went somewhere else for drinks and dessert. But alas, we’re ALL exhausted by then so back to the room.
Sunday
Yeah, we left Sunday morning. When we booked the flights CJ still worked on Sunday afternoons and it was too late to change it now that she doesn’t. And honestly I was ready to go even though we missed the chance to stand in lines for a couple of really great panels (Castle, Glee) we probably wouldn’t get in to see.
Comic-Conclusion
Too many people. Too many long lines. Though the staff had moving us cattle around down to an art form, there are just TOO MANY PEOPLE. Too much wasted time hoping your line moves enough to let you into the panels you want. Lots of free swag, but the lines to get most of it were ridiculous. I really don’t think I’ll be back. Or if I do, I’ll spend more time out on the streets gathering stuff there and skip ever attempting to get into the bigger panels. It just isn’t worth it.
But, if you wanted to make a buck you could set up a mobile charging station or a quick-massage booth. Or both. Get a leg massage while you charge your phone! You’d make a mint! People’s phones were dying every night with the sun and by mid-Saturday you could see everyone slowing down in various levels of pain.
POOL Together
Jun 24th
One of my social groups (#EVTM) was invited to have their monthly breakfast meet-up at a new place in Mesa called:
It’s located in what used to be Mervyn’s on Stapley and Main and they’re kind of a start-up incubator for small businesses. You can rent space there to get your small business out of your garage! We were invited to the coffee shop, but there’s a customized cupcakes booth/store next door and a florist moving in next door to that. I think I saw a Realtor booth around the corner.
It is all still under construction though the coffee place is open and you can go in and wander around. I’ll bet in 6 months the place will be hopping with activity. Skylar mentioned a farmer’s market, an enchilada lady, clock repairs, meeting area, jewelers, embroiderers, and more.
And wi-fi!
The difference between this place and something like Gangplank is actual storefronts without fronts. Everything is more open like an upscale flea market. Less office area, more mini-mall without the higher rents.
I think they’re having a soft-opening at the end of July. You should go down and check it out. Hopefully this place will give Mesa the boost it deserves.
I wish I knew someone who had a small business that could work out of there.
The Good Guys
Jun 15th
Here’s my disclaimer: I haven’t watched the show yet and have no desire to do so.
I’ve always liked Bradley Whitford, but the ‘stache is awful. Ladies man? Uh, no, not this lady or any lady I know. Dumbchick magnet maybe.
And doesn’t Colin Hanks look like he should have a British accent?
I don’t think this show will last. When does a mis-matched cop show ever succeed? Where can the story go? It might be friggin’ hilarious, but I’ll betcha it gets old fast and dies.
