…at his concert in Kansas City for his KISS a Girl :) OK – that’s great!!! (she’s the KISS member singing next to him the most :) )
I just finished reading Marvel’s New X-Men “New Worlds” graphic novel. It was third in a series. The first 2 were “E is for Extinction” and “Imperial”. I really, really liked these.
The X-Men have been my favorite comics since I was a kid. Now, there were X-Men, New X-Men, The Uncanny X-Men, Astonishing X-Men, and then of course the New Mutants, Weapon X and Wolverine and then allllll of the cross-overs they did. Seriously could go broke trying to keep up!
Some very fond childhood memories are of having my Dad take me to the comic book store to pick up my new arrivals. Always a good Saturday!! I would pour over them there and then again, in more detail, at home. Other favorite regular titles at the time were Wonder Woman, Justice League, The New Teen Titans, Alpha Flight, Batman and the Outsiders, and of course every new X-Men title/crossover they pumped out.
But I do have to admit, I slowed down and then finally stopped. I always wanted to go back and start back up again but when I would grab a few issues, I seemed soooo out of the loop in terms of story and characters, that I never stuck with them.
I was in line opening weekend for each new X movie and they always made me want to start reading the comics again. My favorite story arcs were the Hellfire Club storyline and, of course, the Dark Phoenix saga. If Hollywood could ever make these 2 story arcs correctly – these would rule! Although can not possibly be done in a 2 hour movie. So maybe best left to pages. I reread my Dark Phoenix comics a few years back and loved them just the same. What I always loved about X-Men (and Marvel titles in general) were they were darker and far more convoluted than the DC titles were back then. DC figured it out and revamped. Good move.
These 3 graphic novels were fairly dark. Murdered mutants, murdering mutants, apocalypse, death and mayhem – just a regular day in the X universe :) I highly recommend reading these. They cover New X-Men issues 114-133. Although not for someone who isn’t familiar with the X and Marvel universe for sure. The continuity for me was a bit hard (especially Scott and Jean’s multiple issues) since I have been so out of the X Universe for so long but I could figure most out and it really made me want to find the before and after stories! My only real complaint with any of them is the artwork in the first 2/3 of the 3rd novel (New Worlds.) I have seen this art type in past X-Men comics and never liked it. Much prefer the normal artist renderings of my beloved characters :)
I guess I do wish they had more Wolverine and Storm. Wolverine is in them but not as a MAIN character all the way through. Storm only appears briefly. They were always my 2 favorites. But seeing Emma Frost was great. And I was quite confused to see James Proudstar and Sunfire since last I read they were dead. So clearly (umm…yeah notsomuch) we are now in a different universe? Or they were reborn? Or never killed after all? Or…..? See why I need to get back issues??
I am desperately waiting for Amazon (or Sony?) to make a color-screen Kindle. And then being able to read my comics using that. I would end up spending so much $$$ in monthly titles (hear that Amazon, Marvel and DC???) I LOVE real books. And real comics. But the fact is it will just be easier to get and store. I have 2 huge acid-free comic boxes holding my individually bagged and boarded comics. I just don’t have more room (my Star Wars collectibles take up a *lot* of room…)
I did see that you can buy Marvel titles on CD. Maybe. But still prefer the idea of a color screen Kindle for comics/graphic novel viewing.
So for now, I will likely pick up a few more graphic novels. And maybe bring out my boxes and start re-reading my old ones :)
Today, August 4 is said to be the day Dom Perignon invented champagne back in 1693. Now, I have no idea if this is true. Not sure anyone can confirm this as all parties involved are long gone and record-keeping was a bit spotty back then what with no iPhones, laptops or even a PC around ;-)
The funny thing is naturally occurring bubbles were seen as a problem at the time in wine-making so this was more of a problem than an invention but I’ll take it :) And from what I have read, what was invented back then as a sparkling wine/champagne bears no resemblance to what we love to toast with now.
The Dom :) Looks like its bubbling over to me :)
Now, if you know me, you know I call all bubbly ‘champagne’ (or just bubbly) because that whole “it can’t be called champagne if the grapes aren’t from that region” is phooey to me. But I’ve ranted about that before so won’t re-hash :) So if you are offended if I call a delicious Gloria Ferrar Carneros Cuvee or a Schramsberg Brut “champagne” – you should hang up right now because I simply don’t care if I offended your delicate sensibilities about that.
Champagne is a happy drink. It can be served, and goes well, with any food – from fanciful 6 course dinners to pizza. A long-standing holiday tradition for me is when trimming my Christmas tree I order pizza and drink champagne. Love this! Another of my favorites treats is, when my husband is out of town and I don’t need to make dinner and feel like being bad, a glass of dry Brut with a McDonald’s cheeseburger and fries. The salty food and sweet but not really that sweet Brut mixture is fantastic! I *highly* recommend you try it!
But whatever the truth is about the true origins of champagne, we do owe the Dom (not to be confused with the Don!) a big THANK YOU anyway! And I see this as a good enough reason to toast him this evening with a glass of bubbly – although likely not opening one of my bottles of Dom to do it since I can’t drink the entire thing by myself and it is school night after all :)
If you love champagne like I do, I highly recommend reading “The Widow Clicquot”:
I really liked this book. A good amount of reading on champagne making history in general plus about the Widow’s life. Fun read for sure. Starts off a bit slow so keep with it :)
And if you really want to try a “fancier” bottle of bubbly but find the prices out of reach, look around for a newly released vintage and just hold onto it for a few years. They are still pricey but much less so and it’s a great way to enjoy a really nice bottle on a special occasion later. Champagne should be enjoyed within 10 or so years of its vintage year (on bottle.) Although I had a bottle of Cristal that was given to me as a gift (2 bottles actually) about 13-15 years ago. I finally just opened 1 of them last year and it was GREAT! I need to enjoy the other one soon because if it were to go bad – I would definitely cry over the needless waste of a $400+ bottle of anything!!
And get yourself a champagne stopper so you don’t have to drink it all in 1 night (this is for the less expensive bottles – finish your good ones!) Or *horrors* waste it….this was the best buy ever! I love mine from Beverages & More. I think it cost like $5.00 or something. I had one from Bed, Bath & Beyond – not as good.
Hope you enjoy some soon!
3
Aug
…for this bumper sticker:
2
Aug
…by Trailer Choir. I have not stopped laughing (or humming this tune) since I saw this video on CMT…it’s darn funny – give it a quick watch :)
Watched Fanboys tonight. Loved it. I’m a fairly serious Star Wars geek fan and I know no one like this. Is it sad that I wish I had someone to argue with about the finer points of Star Wars and sibling kissing with? Yes? Ok…well…that’s cool :)
Seth Rogan played a trekker (and a pimp!). Hysterical. Practically unrecognizable but his voice is a giveaway. But he called Han Solo a bitch – he needs to go down!
Funny pop culture references throughout: Nobody Puts baby in the Corner, Menudo, WonderTwin Powers,Talk to me Goose, Judge Reinhold, Scooby Doo, Silent Bob AND Jay :) William Shatner! Funny…
And the best! “Harrison Ford is the greatest actor of all time! Han Solo, Indiana Jones, Deckard! He’s never done a bad movie!” (showing Six Days and Seven Nights billboard) LOL!! It’s ok..Mr. Ford…I blame that crazy beeyotch Heche..
I think it was best to not watch this movie with my husband. He would be afraid that I would know ALL of these references :) (he gets afraid when we watch Big Bang Theory and I know all of those references.) And only as strong as the weakest link? Wookie home planet = Kashyyyk… simple. A baby question…
The memorabilia room that we all dream exists…Steve Sansweet knows it does…(excellent on a Ray Parks/Darth Maul cameo there!)
Fun movie. I liked it. Star Wars fan? Watch it. You do not have to be a crazed fan. Just like Star Wars and you will laugh. And the crawl…Who remembers how they felt in the Episode 1 crawl? After waiting how many years?? Do not care how you felt about the movie – the actual experience of seeing that movie – awesome :) I waited hours in that line and do not regret it. Not one minute. Ever.
p.s. Why are all douchebag older brothers in movies Chazz, Chett, whatever?
p.p.s I am always calling Chewie from now..
p.p.p.s I *always* want to steal the Hwy 101 road sign “Lucas Valley Road”
p.p.p.p.s who wouldn’t flash someone displaying sign ‘if you like wookies….’? :)
Saw “The Ugly Truth” tonight. Movie was ok…if you wait for DVD or cable, you are probably happier watching it from the comfort of your sofa in your jammies. But I’m not unhappy I saw it opening night in the theater either. I’m easy – as long as the movie keeps me entertained and I am not annoyed by the people around me or thinking my butt is, or knees are, sore from sitting there for so long – I’m good (plus some funny previews for other movies!!)
I am NOT an artsy-fartsy movie person. Ugh…HATE. Movies are made to entertain me – I do not give a crap about noticing art direction gone wrong or the material on that dress was NOT from that period. Ugh..please. Is the story or are the actors keeping me entertained? Is my attention off work for these 2 hours? Yes? Great!! All I ask for.
I am not a Katherine Heigl fan. I didn’t mind her on Grey’s Anatomy during the first few seasons but when she and George got together…barf. Thought she was kinda funny in Knocked Up. But is she supposed to “replace” Meg Ryan as America’s RomCom sweetheart? Or challenge Jennifer Aniston for these same roles? Notsomuch…
Gerard Butler however…love him. Loved 300. Loved RockNRolla. Saw P.S. I Love You because he was in it (Hillary Swank is another actress I am just not a fan of.) He is worth sitting through annoying actresses for…
yes...
Although he did keep his shirt on through this entire movie. Quite unfair :)
The funny thing about this movie is that the wickedly obvious stereotypes we get thrown at us are actually pretty spot on. Generalized? Sure. A bit over the top? Absolutely. But yet, I cannot argue with them. My husband has said almost verbatim what he (Butler’s character) says about men in this movie. What men like, look for and seek out in women.
Do I think ALL men are like that? Well…sort of. I think the men that are not all outwardly like this, are only different due to conditioning. They had to conform differently due to some life experiences (good or bad) which altered them. BUT – do they still respond to boobs? Of course they do. Do they still look at hot slutty chicks and drool (even if only internally) – yes. Do they realize that is not what will make them happy so they do not pursue it? Maybe a few have realized this.
I have been told by more than 1 guy (husband included) that men do not equate sex and love. It’s shown to us in vivid color in movies, on TV and in the news. Men have wives they love and do not want to leave. Men marry women they know will love them forever and be awesome mothers to their children. However, some different type of chicklet comes along and they start thinking with their little head.
NOW – the “smart” man does not ever consider leaving his wife/partner for this chickie. He only wants 1 thing. And never confuses the two. Then you have the ding-dong who does and wrecks it for other guys! (Yes, I have heard this argument verbalized.)
Tony Soprano was a perfect example. He, at no time, wanted to leave Carmela. Sure he had a mistress. And cheated on his mistress with a bimbo. But that had nothing to do with the love for his wife. Politicians live this theory.
HUH???
Women do not think this way. Again, I generalize. I am 100% sure there are dirty whores out there who want to keep their husbands/partners who love them, support them and will be there for them through thick and thin but also want their pool boys. But I really think this is a HUGE minority. Most women simply do not think this way. Sex *does* equate to love. Or maybe the girls I know are just a much higher quality. Because none of my girlfriends have ever thought this way. And personally, I am offended by these women. They are simply out there giving females a bad name.
Anyway, this movie tries to break down “the ugly truth” about men, what they want and look for in women. And how women can get and keep the men they want using these simple steps – blow jobs, boobs on display, tight outfits, and laughing at his jokes (even if not funny.) Oh yeah, and faking orgasms if necessary. I’d be insulted but I know that it’s pretty much spot on. What guy doesn’t actually really like these things? (ok, well they do NOT want to know you are faking laughing at the jokes or anything else!)
The other funny, yet true, thing about this movie was the notion that girls use lists to judge men. Men on paper. List guy. A woman will give up on lust, or some certain quality in one guy if another guy has 9 out of 10 qualities from her list. Again, while generalized, I think this is also true. Women like security whether it is physical, financial, whatever. Especially if you are thinking about raising children. It’s pack order. You seek out the best mate. Best meaning a whole list of things, not just 1 quality. But does that always mean you picked the best person for you to make you the happiest in life? Maybe not. But you have to fight against that ingrained behavior for pack/family survival.
In this movie, it works out as you assume it will after the credits rolled in the beginning. Do I think it would work out that way in real life? Probably not. But I have a soft romantic side which fights against my cynical side all the time so who knows :)
In honor of San Diego Comic Con, that I am sadly missing this year :(, I have been staring at my collectibles for the past few days. Sometimes I just like to take them down and look at them. Truly renews my affinity for them. I usually get something new at the Cons when I go. And I have to pre-order at least 1 Con exclusive each year. This year, even though I am missing it, a friend is picking up my pre-ordered Gentle Giant Darth Vader helmet in PINK! YAY! But still quite sad I am not going. There really is a crazy fun energy there and I ALWAYS have a great time. I won’t be this stupid next year and miss it again…
But as I was perusing the Sideshow Collectibles site for their convention pre-orders I saw their new Millennium Falcon. Wow! This is a pretty awesome collectible!
http://www.sideshowtoy.com/?page_id=4489&sku=900584&utm_source=news-scroll
Sideshow's Falcon
I love all things Millennium Falcon – mostly because I love all things Falcon’s Captain and co-pilot :) I am definitely a sucker for these particular character/ship purchases. I have a dangling tiny Falcon suction cupped right under the rear view mirror in my car. And Chewie is my co-pilot after all :)
Chewie is my Co-Pilot sticker - have the Diesel Sweeties t-shirt too :)
I have the Code 3 Collectibles Millennium Falcon which is sold out on their site so no link to theirs – but here is mine!:
Code 3 Falcon 1
Code 3 Falcon 2
Rebelscum.com has a great description/specs: http://www.rebelscum.com/code3millenniumfalcon.asp
It’s a GREAT piece. I remember when I bought it and how excited I was! I believe it was the 3rd or 4th relatively pricey Star Wars collectible I bought. I had been collecting mostly the action figure/toy lines up until then. Of course, I think that’s right around the same time Gentle Giant, Master Replicas, Sideshow and others all decided that little geeks grew up to be adult geeks who had cash to spend and the same geeky passion for Star Wars. Damn that George Lucas!!
When I went and visited ILM in the Presidio in SF (thanks to a friend who was AWESOME and hooked me and a few other SW nuts up with a tour), I got to eat lunch in their very generously-subsidized employee cafeteria and felt no guilt due to the thousands and thousands of dollars I have generously given up to the Lucas cult over the years :) (p.s. It’s awesome there – please hire me!!!)
Me at ILM in front of Yoda Fountain. Yes...in my Han & Chewie t-shirt :)
My Code 3 Falcon is proudly on display in my office and it always gets a lot of attention from new employees or vendors who come by :)
Of course, I also have the (released 1979 I believe) Kenner Millennium Falcon – in original box – from The Empire Strikes Back. This is the old Kenner commercial for the Falcon. This one is for the Star Wars version but dang cool:
I did most of my original toy collecting right before and after (and forever after) this movie (TESB) came out. Had more allowance to spend :) And yes, I kept them all unplayed with (had them on display in my room) and kept the boxes.
I love my old stuff. I take it out and look at it sometimes (like the giant dork that I am.) But it generally stays safely packed away in my home office closet. My home office is my dedicated Star Wars/collectibles room (there and my work office!) I have 1 large bookshelf full plus some of my framed posters, my Master Replicas lightsaber rack, and a few things on the desk. What I want…someday…is a dedicated room for my collectibles with glass cabinets to house my old and pricey stuff. Again…DORK! But really – how many Hummel, Lladro, doll, art, watch, etc, etc, etc. collectors are there out there?!?!? NOT DIFFERENT! :)
I also covet the Master Replicas Falcon. It was $$$ ($2800 plus tax and shipping) with only 500 made. They sold out at MR then. There were a few that Harrison Ford signed which I would have given up a kidney for…every so often I check eBay for them and they are still going for $$$. Hmmm…I only really need ONE kidney, right?? Here is my pic of it from SDCC 2006:
Master Replicas Falcon
Close up this thing is AWESOME! And it’s big! Like 3 feet wide! Sigh…there is one on eBay right now ending Thursday. The bank probably wouldn’t mind if the mortgage payment was short $3000 – right? Right??
But this Sideshow item is fantastic! I wish I was going to SDCC this week so I could see it (they MUST have a prototype there on display!) Very pricey though…but they are offering it as a FlexPay (their version of lay-a-way!) option…I think my husband’s head would explode. But then more room at home for my Star Wars collectibles!! Hmmmmm….. :)
Now if only Sideshow would GET ON IT and make the Premium Format figure for Chewbacca (to go with my Han and Leia)!! But Han and Chewie collectibles really deserve a posting of their very own…
For history on the Falcon (is to a real ship!) you can peruse Wookiepedia. I love Wookieepedia because…well…it’s called Wookieepedia: http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Millennium_Falcon
14
Jul
…while I vehemently disagree with the notion of a “big bad wolf” due to my love of all things wolfy (Red is a lying skank…) I have loved this cartoon since I was a wee lass!! Caught myself bopping to the tune today for some reason so searched for it :) Hopefully its allowed to stay up…
This is HYSTERICAL!!! Take a minute to read :)
