Experiencing Braining Difficulties

Now, I know I said I would be giving a detailed account of my awesome roadtrip this evening. But...I'm exhausted. We had a late start to our trip home, so all I can think about right now is my bed and sleep. But I will share my tale, don't you fear. In the meantime, please feel free to check out my earlier posts if you haven't already.

Roadtrip!

I am super excited for this road trip. I’m going to be busy, so in order to keep up with my one blog post a day quota, I’m writing today’s now. While I wait for my friends to pick me up. This road trip is going to be awesome, and I have been so looking forward to it. We’re heading down to Tombstone (never been there) and I hear it’s a lot of fun. There are four of us driving down and we are meeting the rest of our group down there. So…that’s pretty much it. Short and simple. You can bet tomorrow’s post will be a lot longer, when I set about chronicling said roadtrip. Keep an eye out for that. Should be interesting, especially if we find a bar with karaoke.

Don’t Sleep and Skype

I’m tired, throwing that out there. I mean really tired, exhausted—to the point that my thought process is pretty slow. I just spent a couple hours on a Skype call with the hosts of one of my favorite podcasts. I said so little that they probably thought I fell asleep at some point, and I’m not sure that I didn’t. It was still fun though. I laughed quite a bit. It’s great that these guys will take time to talk with their listeners, get to know them and ask their opinions. Each host of the podcast (there are five total) has a different personality and distinct aspects (quirks if you will) that make them likeable. But what really puts everything together is how they interact with each other. You can tell they have known each other for a while, but their jokes and jabs don’t seem old or overused. There is never a dull moment and the show always keeps me amused, no matter my surroundings or current mood. What podcast is this that I speak of you ask? 7 Days a Geek. You can find them on iTunes and Sticher (I don’t think that’s spelled right, but what do I care? I have iTunes). There has not been an episode that I haven’t enjoyed, so I certainly do recommend it. They discuss a lot of geek topics from a variety of genres: film, TV, Comics, Technology. There’s usually something for everyone. But there is adult language, so I wouldn't recommend listening around kids. Check out the show if you like, tell them Stefanie sent you.

The Wizard(s) of SyFy

I am in love with the new SyFy show, Wizards Wars. Penn and Teller have created a golden nugget of magical awesomeness. If they did in fact create it, I haven’t looked into the behind the scenes details, but even if they’re just there as judges their involvement was a good idea.  For those that have not seen it yet, the general premise is: Two pairs of magicians compete against each other for the chance to face the Wizards. The Wizards are the show’s four person group of expert magicians—their goal is to out magic the competitors and keep them from winning $10,000. The catch: all the magic is done using three very different every-day items. Judges then rate their routine on creativity, deception, and showmanship. The judges of course are Penn & Teller, Christen Gerhart, and Jason Latimer. First, they pick their favorite pair out of the two competitor teams. Secondly, the Wizards decide amongst themselves--based on their individual strengths—which two of them will compete against the challengers. That’s it, the whole show. But what makes it fun is what these magicians are able to do with these items. I have always been fascinated my magic tricks—deceptions and slights of hand. I grew up watching David Copperfield, Siegfried & Roy, and of course Penn & Teller. To this day (regardless of the fact that as an adult I know how some of these tricks are done) I still find magic entertaining and cool. So this show is right up my alley. It’s almost as great as…hey what’s that? How did that quarter get in my ear? I can totally buy a gumball—now that’s magical (I’m sorry).

Toast to the Good Times

Every person has a different definition for what they think having a good time is. Some might enjoy going out to the club, others a quiet night at home reading a book or watching a movie, or a game night with a group of friends. I personally have never been a social butterfly and I was extremely shy for most of my life throughout high school and even college. It wasn’t until after a series of events: becoming a volunteer coordinator with Phoenix Comicon (2012 to present), my short stint in the military, and GISHWHES (two years in a row now)—did I finally “loosen up”. Honestly, GISHWHES alone will shamelessly cure you of shyness and be an absolute blast while doing it (fellow Gishers will understand, Death to Normalcy!). Now, I didn’t turn into a crazy party girl, that’s still not me. But I enjoy drinking socially with friends, huge fan of drinking while playing games (card games, Cards Against Humanity, board games, table top stuff in general) and hanging out at cool breweries “sampling” beers while spending hours chatting about whatever. Forget a night club, give me a night out with friends talking about: books, movies, TV shows. Throw in some good food and great music and that is my idea of a good time. I spent tonight with friends, having just such a night. We haven’t known each other for long (even met a couple brand new faces who I’m looking forward to getting to know) but we have so much in common, which makes it so simple to relax and just have fun. A few of us are going on a road trip this weekend and it has been the one thing I’ve been looking forward to the most for weeks. We’ll be visiting the famous Arizona Wild West town of Tombstone for sight-seeing, dressing up, and just amusing shenanigans. Getting out of town and leaving the work stress behind—even if just for a little while—is going to yield a very awesome weekend.

Wine Makes Words…Sort of.

 Yesterday I went to see the Doctor Who Season 8 premier, Deep Breath, in the theater. While the theater viewing did not change my over-all opinion on the episode, I enjoyed the environment. There was a stark contrast between this premier and the hundreds of Whovians that ventured out to see the 50^th Anniversary Special—which makes sense, the 50^th was a very big deal. The theater was not full, far from it, but what interested me the most was the age range of attendees. There were Whovians young and old present and it was very cool to see. Parents had brought their children, siblings and couples shared their popcorn, and groups of friends quizzed each other with the pre-show trivia on the screen. Since the theater was not that full, it was easy to over-hear conversations and people watch, as most of seats occupied were all towards the middle of the theater There were scarves, sonic screwdrivers, and Doctor Who themed t-shirts. It’s what I love best about going to the theater for something like this—you get to spend time with others who share your love for a TV show. My sister, who joined me (her husband also accompanied us) said she did not like Capaldi’s Doctor. Math Smith’s Eleventh Doctor was her Doctor so she was not fond of the new one. But I reminded her that it was his first episode and that it always took a few episodes to get used to a new doctor. Neither of us liked Matt Smith to begin with but he slowly grew more likeable as his first season progressed. I predict the same for Capaldi, even though I already like his take on the Doctor. So we shall see. That will do it for me tonight, As the title suggests, I had a rather large glass of wine—while it provided a bit a fuel to get the creative juices flowing after a long day at the office. Those juices have stopped flowing and I am minutes away from falling asleep as I sit here. Until next time!

Tiny Person, Super Strength

My niece Lilyan will be two months old on September 3^th. Yet, there is still half a month to go until her original due date—she was born two months early. The thought of such a little thing being out in the world so soon, frightened us all. But her improvement over these past months has left me in awe of the strength that such a tiny person can have—almost super human. I had never before in real life (only on TV) seen a premature baby (you would not believe how many there are in that particular hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit). It was a new experience that has affected us all. My sister most of all. But not just because she became a mother, because of the numerous complications she was dealt after the birth of her beautiful baby girl. The first ordeal was a c-section, Liliyan was breached and premature so an emergency surgery had to be performed. Next there was sciatic nerve pain and an internal hematoma approximately 9mm in length—both causing a tremendous amount of pain (pain medicine, a wheel chair, a walker, and physical therapy were all involved). Then, there was the appendicitis. Lastly, a wound vac to speed up the healing process of the incisions from the appendectomy and c-section alike. I didn’t think it was possible to have that many complications after childbirth. If I wasn’t already set against having children, that would have done the trick (my mother is still holding on to the hope, that I’ll change my mind). My niece on the other hand, has been doing great. As of this week in an open crib, off her breathing tube, soon hopefully off the feeding tube—her only obstacle left is too put on more weight, which at the current rate she’s gaining should not be a problem for too much longer. Our fingers are crossed that she’ll be home in a few weeks. I went to visit her last night and to see how much she had grown since the last time I had seen her was amazing. I got to hold her up with one hand while my sister changed her onesie and she has the softest skin I have ever felt. I look forward to getting to actually hold her, but I’m happy to wait until she’s out of the hospital for that. My prediction for the near future: this kid is going to be so spoiled.

The Scottish Eyebrows (Spoilers-Doctor Who)

This is my review of the 8^th season premiere of Doctor Who. So if you have not seen it yet, read no further, unless you don’t mind spoilers…sweeties. I will try not to give away too much, not too much of the plot but certain things may be revealed if relevant to the task at hand. Which of course is to give my opinion on it and how I felt about the episode. So…what did I think of the new episode? I liked it, I certainly love Capaldi—he’s an excellent actor—his take on the doctor is certainly an interesting one and I am looking forward to seeing him develop and get his feet into the role of the Doctor. However, I was a bit underwhelmed by the episode itself. After the long wait, I feel as if it wasn't what I was expecting—I’m not sure exactly what I was hoping for but I came away wanting more. It’s only the first episode so there is definitely still room for improvement, but for an episode written by show-runner himself Steven Moffat…I was hoping for a more intriguing introduction to the new doctor. The majority of the episode, was heavily focused on Clara and her reaction to meeting a new doctor. Clara is the impossible girl, not only did she spend time with the Eleventh Doctor, but she spread copies of herself through all of space and time. In effect giving her the opportunity to see or come into contact with every single doctor from the first to the last. I would have thought even if she had not experienced the regeneration first hand, her increased knowledge of the Doctor would have prepared her more than what her reaction seemed to show in the episode. She was distraught and even told the Doctor, “I’m not sure I know who you are anymore.” She was at the point of leaving. It took a call from “her” doctor to convince her to stick around, convince her that he needed her help. I could have done with a different reaction. I also was not all that impressed with the setting, Victorian London. It’s nothing new, Clara and the Doctor in Victorian London—including: Madame Vastra, Jenny, and Strax. With very few people left that know the Doctor, I guess they wanted to have the new doctor be surrounded by familiar faces in a single familiar location. Still, despite all that, I enjoyed the episode—in large part due to Peter Capaldi. Peter had quite a few good moments and his doctor displays exuberance with a mature and stern exterior. One of my favorite scenes also yielded one of my favorite lines: “Look at the eyebrows. They’re attack eyebrows. You could take bottle tops off with these.” It was the eyebrows after all that took the fandom by storm after Capaldi’s first appearance, so pointing it out within the episode was amusing. That and of course, his accent—Peter Capaldi is Scottish. Although, Capaldi is not the first Scottish actor to play the Doctor (David Tennant and Sylvester McCoy—both Scottish) his Doctor is the first to have the clear Scottish accent. It’s a refreshing quality. Another thing that I enjoyed greatly was the reference to a previous Tenth Doctor episode Girl in the Fireplace (if you've seen the episode, you’ll hopefully have caught on to that as well). Lastly, the introduction of the character of Missy is something quite thought provoking. Who is this woman who calls the Doctor her boyfriend? The popular theory, which I've heard discussed during the after show and on Twitter (which I am inclined to agree with) is that Missy (Mistress) is The Master. So I will certainly be interested to see if that theory proves true. Despite my reservations about this episode, I continue to have high hopes for the 12^th Doctor and look forward to the new episode next week and his next adventure. 

Writing Just to Write

There is no particular reason for this post other than this. Basically, I’m trying to stick to a plan of writing every day. So to achieve that, I have to write something even if it’s just to tell you exactly that. I know, I know what you’re thinking. Thank you Captain Obvious. We could have done without you telling us that you’re writing about writing just to write. Yeah, sorry about that. If it’s any better, I could instead talk about how adorable Max is. For those who don’t know, Max is my furry baby. My 6 year old grey and white adorable (scaredy) cat. He is currently stretched out at the foot of my bed. One of his favorite spots. Scared of quite a few things: Vacuums, thunder, the street outside. But I love the crazy monkey. 

The Long Wait: Endured.

The long wait will finally be over this Saturday, tomorrow—tomorrow is the day, the day is tomorrow. What am I rambling on about you ask? Why Doctor Who ofcourse! The eighth season premier to be exact. This being the season where new Doctor, Peter Capaldi, takes over the helm of this British sci-fi show. We were teased a view of Peter’s Doctor in last year’s Christmas special, where whovians young and old bid farewell to the previous Doctor(Eleven, 12^th regeneration—confused? It’s timey wimey, don’t worry about it) played by Matt Smith. Being myself a whovian, which of course is the term used for fans of the show, I am in utter anticipation for the premier. While I liked Matt Smith, great actor, he is not my favorite Doctor. That title is reserved for the Tenth Doctor(David Tennant) for a variety of reasons that I won’t get into right now because that is beside the point. The point is—just get to it already, you’re probably thinking—I can hardly wait to see what Peter Capaldi is going to do with the role. Now of course, we’ve had the tease during the Christmas Special and numerous spoilers(gasp! The S word) and trailers. But it is always the premier episode of a new doctor that really gives us an idea of what to expect, a glimpse into the new characteristics and personality that this new actor will bring to the show. Every Doctor since the beginning with William Hartnell(1963) has wormed their way into the hearts of whovians, first in the UK and since it’s reboot worldwide. It’s needless to say that the premier has become a big deal, as much so here in the US as it is in the UK. The premier itself will be shown in theaters nationwide on Monday(guess who will be in attendance at this special showing?). I went to go see the 50^th Anniversary special in theaters and suffered disappointment in the form of the theater messing up the episode so that it was unwatchable. We were all awarded free passes to use at a different time. I am hoping for better luck this time. Fingers crossed. Now, why go see it in theaters if it is premiering on BBC America tomorrow at 5:15 pm PST? Simple. Because I can, and it will make my little whovian heart burst with joy—it’s been one of my longest geek obsessions. Other shows--fandoms--have come along since, but Doctor Who will always hold a special place in my heart. By the way, in case you’re interested, everyone’s favorite after-show host, Chris Hardwick, will be hosting a pre-show prior to the episode, as well as(you guessed it) an after-show which will be on after The Intruders. All in all, I expect it to be a good day for all fans, and even those new to the show. A new doctor is always a good place to jump on board, join in on the new experience with everyone else. Then start on the somewhat daunting task of binge watching the previous seven seasons. I recommend it of course, but this time around, I will also forewarn. It is not a happy go-lucky children’s show. While it is certainly appropriate for children, it hints at dark undertones and can incite sadness at a deep level. Then the next moment, leave you in a state of child-like wonderment and joy. It’s for this reason and many others, I am a devoted fan. It is a truly marvelous show and it never ceases to amaze me.

I can’t think…my numb is brain.

It’s been one of those days. You know, a real mind numbing joy sucking kind of day. I can’t claim that it was horrible but certainly not one I would wish to repeat. What should have been a pretty straight forward day was anything but. But not to bum everyone out—which is certainly not the goal of this post—there is a happy ending to this particular tale. As I was heading out of the office, I stopped to chat with the boss. It was just a quick update on an earlier conversation. I was pleasantly caught off guard by words of praise. “By the way, you’re doing a great job. I just wanted to tell you that.” In that exact moment, it all became worth it. The feeling of being appreciated, all your hard work and effort not going to waste—it’s great. I left the office physically exhausted with a head like a pretzel stuffed with fog. But emotionally: UNICORN RAINBOW FARTS!! That is completely a thing(fellow gishers will know what I mean).

Update: If you read my previous post, I was having an issue with the latest update for my phone. More specifically, freeing up enough space to download and install it. Well, I am happy to announce that I stand victorious! I have come out ahead as champion in the Great iphone 4s Skirmish of 2014--managed to de-clutter and ended with 1.1 GB of free space. It wasn’t easy, but mission accomplished.

The Great Iphone 4s Skirmish of 2014

Captain’s Log…no wait, sorry. My log, 7:40pm on August 20^th the year of 2014. I have been engaged in a one-sided losing argument with my Iphone today. Guess which side I’m on? The first battle occurred this morning when I attempted to look up something online and was repeatedly bounced out of the google app. I chalked it up to early morning fatigue—iphones can be cranky in the morning like the rest of us. I steadily realized upon arriving at work, I was embroiled in a full on war with the iphone and it’s allies: poor indoor cell reception and tucked-away corner cubicle. Booted out of apps, music, podcasts…the onslaughts continued. In a last ditch effort, I offered a truce, a treaty. What could I do to appease the Apple gods? Install an update requiring at least 1 GB worth of space. Spoiler alert: I had approximately a 250 MB size space on my iphone. With the new found knowledge that I must admit defeat and submit to my electronic master, I underwent the task of deleting unneeded photos and apps off my phone. Fastforward--many hours, two tv shows, one pb & J sandwich, and a beer later—I have managed to increase the available space up to 507 MB. This of course left me disheartened, halfway there but not far enough. What could possibly require 1 GB worth of space? If this update does anything short of performing miracles, I will be quite upset. I aim to complete my mighty quest, with 1 GB my prize along with whatever riches this update may hold.  Wish me luck folks, I go forth to further unleash my power of deletion. This iphone will assimilate or be deleted…delete…del..I mean, bring on that update!