What to do, what to do...

So I've been re-evaluating my life since I lost my job.  You know, the usual stuff: what am I doing with my life, where am I going, why does working in the corporate machine suck so hard, etc.  Usually losing my job would be met with depression and anxiety, and maybe that will kick in later, but for the most part I'm actually pretty happy.  I hated that job A LOT.  Didn't make me want to kill myself, but it did make me feel like a giant loser, somehow even more than being unemployed does.  Everyday where I don't have to wake up and go to work is a day I smile and breathe a sigh of relief.  Yay!

I've been looking for a new job of course, in between hideous barking coughing fits.  While fighting off illness and working on my resume, I've been reading webcomics and reflecting on my lack of real skills.  Yesterday I found myself lamenting the fact that I'd never received any training as a body piercer, because a friend opened a tattoo shop and needs a piercer badly.  I wished I had more artistic talent so I could be a tattoo artist.  I love tattoos and one of my dream jobs is to be a shop manager.  Maybe I wouldn't be doing the actual tattooing, but I'd be setting appointments, ordering supplies, promoting the shop, etc., and I'd get to be supporting an industry in which I actually believe.  Plus I really like the guy who owns the shop.  He and his wife are adorably cool and his shop is all in green.  I like green.

Not having the skills to get to work in a fun place like Bob's Body Shop, I started wondering if I am, in fact, good at anything whatsoever.  I haven't really come up with much.  So far my best achievement is that I've raised a child who has not yet managed to develop some sort of severe emotional problem and likes stuff like Star Wars.

Which got me thinking.

I like kids.  I like geeky stuff like video games and Star Trek and playing D&D.  You know what I wish there were more of?  Websites devoted to the latest generation of geek parents and their geek children.  I'm wondering if there would be a real interest in starting a site devoted to geek parenting, one that would include but not be limited to the following:

• Kid-friendly video game reviews
• Costuming ideas for kids and parents alike
•  Parenting advice for new parents, likely with Star Wars references thrown in for good measure
• Geek merch reviews and links
• A "Geekling Pic of the Week" spot (I like looking at pics of my kid doing nerdy things, so I figure other people do, too)
• Links and schedules for kid-friendly conventions and fandom-themed vacation spots
• Recipes for geeky treats (for examples, check out this book)
• Activity ideas (top of my list? LASER TAG)
• Forums where readers can trade tips, share stories, and post their own reviews

Anyone have any ideas, lemme know.  DO EEEEEEET.

Hee hee, babies reading manga is adorable.

Worst. Dream. Ever.

As many of you know, I long resisted the popular television series Buffy the Universe, along with its descendant fandom, spinoffs, literature, merchandise, etc.  When I finally gave in and barreled through  all seven seasons in three weeks, I pathetically fell hard and fast (like many other women) with Spike.  James Marsters is now synonymous with hot in Abbeyland, much to many of my friends' dismay.  Ah, sexy, sexy Spike, with your silly (fake) accent and your roguish smile, etc, etc.  As you can imagine, although I'd rather you tried not to, I've had my share of steamy day and night dreams about Spike, rewriting the Buffy-verse to suit my liking.  Usually the dreams are fun, hot, and entertaining.

Last night's dream was not one of those dreams.  Last night demonstrated fully how badly I need a new job.

Last night I watched as Spike, not simply James Marsters, but Spike the vampire, tried to live my life as a Walmart employee.

Spike, dressed as he's usually dressed in the Buffy-verse, frets over finding a plain blue or green shirt and some khaki pants in my bedroom, which via the strange logic of the subconscious, is his room.  This dream is set in my apartment, the current day, every thing is the same down to the last detail, only instead of me, there's me watching incorporeal from the third person as Spike lives my life, albeit in his own unique way.  (There's no Liv or Damion, either, btw.)  A not-quite-friend, really more of an exasperated ex-enemy who has decided for the meanwhile not to dust Spike (also typical to the Spike MO), comes up my stairs and reminds Spike he's going to be late for work.  At Wal-mart.  Spike replies rather dramatically that he is aware of that, pulling on his hair and stomping around petulantly.  "Then" he goes on to say, "there's the little matter of breakfast.  I'm a hungry, hungry hemaphage."  I'm not sure why my brain supplied that particular term, but that's what he says in the dream.  He grins evilly at his not-friend, then curses as he realizes that the dude is his ride to work. What's a ravenous vampire to do?  "I can't bite you, you lucky little Happy Meal, you, because it's just poor manners to eat the DD, mate."  Cue not-friend eye-rolling.  Work clothes found (although thankfully, not donned), they ponder the dilemma of vampire brunching while also trying to see which of my blankets would best cover Spike while he goes from house to car, the duration of the car ride, then car to work.  Whether or not my coworkers were supposed to be aware or accepting of his condition/appetites was not brought up.  They settle on my bird-print quilt.  I recall being rather affronted, as that's a relatively new purchase.  Spike has a Walmart name-badge he picks up from the table by the door.  Spike puts my pack of smokes in his pocket, whistling a tune I've had stuck in my head for days.  Spike chats idly about the people I work with, albeit stopping to consider if some would make good meals and how he easily he could snap their necks.  Spike is wearing the studded-leather cuffs I typically wear as he flicks on my lighter and lights up a Camel.  Spike drives to work in the back of some dude's car, covered in my quilt.  Spike walks in, ready to go change into his work clothes.  Spike greets the old lady at the door fondly, then snarls at a manager behind his back.  Spike wonders idly if he'll actually get to be in Electronics today, or if they'll pull him off to do something else.  Spike considers eating the first person who pisses him off, then checks out a hot customer.  Spike muses aloud if he'll ever get a better job, or if playing nice with humans has ruined his career prospects.

I wake up choking on a scream.

Movin' On

Gave up Coke and most sodas, pretty proud of myself.  The only thing I let myself have now is ginger ale when my stomach is upset, and that's really only been the past few days.  Been feeling really icky lately.  Otherwise I've been soda free for about a month now.  Yay!  I eat a lot more pineapple lately and drink those 0 calorie Sobe Lifewaters a LOT.  Like, everyday.  They're sweetened with black carrot juice, so I feel pretty good about drinking them.  Damion and I are also taking more walks.  I think I should go back to using the Wii Fit.  That was fun.

Liv's in weekly dance classes, and Damion I take that hour to walk around downtown.  Liv loves the socializing more than the dancing, I think.  I'm hoping after we both get better jobs and have settled in to a new place that we can sign her up for some martial arts classes.  I wonder if anyone does kung fu for kids?  I certainly won't let my kid do taekwondo.  I don't want her to be a tool.

I foresee us moving sometime within the next six months, or however long it takes for Damion to get a job.  Once we're settled in, I'll most likely quit my current job, whether or not I have a new one.  I hate my job a lot.

I can't remember what else I was going to say.  

Random updates

Tat appointment set for Monday.  Squee!

In related news, I think I'm going to quit soda altogether.  I can't seem to taste it anymore and it makes me feel sick.  Sarah and Katrina have mostly given up sugar, and they say they feel a lot better.  I know I will, too, and I think now that it always makes me sick, it'll be easier to give up.

Been writing a lot more lately.  Pretty pleased with myself on that score.  Found a poet named Gregory Orr whom I really like.  Also a lady named Nan Hunt.

New tat soon? Mew mew?

So I meet with a tattoo artist on Tuesday to discuss my steampunk raven tat.  It will be awesomes.  It's not Katy, for which I feel slightly guilty, but I'll prolly have her do my hummingbird tat, anyway.  It's at Blackthorn tattoo, located off Green Meadows.  They just opened, and the shops not quite finished yet, but I wanted to give them a try so I have one more place to feel at least slightly knowledgeable about.  I dunno.  I just wants a tattoo.  Also, I might get mah cute little raccoon pendant as a tat.  Well, it'd be redrawn to be a little less stilted and a little more...raccoonish, but it would be the same general shape, pose and most likely size as well.  Maybe put that on my wrist where it apparently hurts so much?  I'm such a weenie.

If you're wondering about where I got this silly idea, here's a couple of pics that caught my eye:

I'm not sure if the one of the bottom is supposed to be a raven or a stylized secretary bird.

One Word at a Time

I found this website called oneword.com and decided to use it for daily writing exercises.  I seriously need to write EVERYDAY.  Today's word:
Coaster
The tiny tickle at the bottom gave me the first thrill of my childhood. Oh, roller coaster dreams ruled my nights and in summer days they enticed me, sirens of rails and wood. Coasters were beings with mystical presence, and they formed vistas in my mind; each slope a promise.

Steampunkery

I just like to make up words.

Anyway, I'm going to a steampunk party in a couple of days and I am suck at ideas, so while I surf around on the interwebs for other people's ideas, I will post the ones I like or that simply occur to me as I look at stuff.  If you're wondering what I'm talking about...well, you suck.  It's kind of like the new Sherlock Holmes movie: Victorian-style dress with lots of cool steam-era mad science happening all over the place.  Think of it that way, more or less.  If you have not seen that movie...er, who are you and why are you bothering to read this blog?  Read this first.

Really good examples of steampunk costumes!

1. Get thyself a toy ray-gun or some such and some copper/brass/bronze-lookin' paint.  Paint gun in old-timey fashion.  Make sure to get a little tarnished feel in it.  Zap your friends while going "whoosh!"

2. Leather straps and metal bits (buckles, grommets, buttons, etc.) should go on EVERYTHING.

3. HATS! (Top hats, aviator caps, bowlers, bonnets, page boy, who cares?!  Everyone wore hats back then.)

4. If it looks even vaguely Victorian, use it.

5. Girls apparently can NEVER go wrong with garters.  I mean, never.  Wow.

6. Guys totally can.  Don't do it.

7. Lab coats are part of the mad science element that creeps into steampunk.  Exploit it.

8. Gears and cogs are a common motif. Find a way to incorporate it.  Embellish outfits with bits of copper wire/wing nuts, that sort of thing.
Link to steampunk accessory creating ideas.

9. If you're a girl who wants to go old school with the accessories, think about finger-less gloves, cameo brooches or pendants, lace additions to cuff/hems/neckline, a small drawstring purse, or antique-looking lockets.  Also, jet beads and rows of tiny little black buttons were popular for women back in the Victorian era.  The buttons can be a bit of a bother, but if you make them superficial/cosmetic, then the look pays off without the hassle of fastening each and every one.

10. Eyewear can be useful, too.  Lab goggles for the mad scientist, aviator goggles for the aspiring pilot, monocles for the aristocrat/villain, or those neat specs that have several different lenses that can be swiveled/clicked interchangeably over one or both eyes.
Click here for a how-to on making some "brass goggles"!

11.  For the really, really, really hardcore, steampunk embroidery! 

12. Don't be afraid to get a little wild and let some oriental influences creep in; remember, the Far East was influencing aspects of Victorian culture, and thus can be a part of the steampunk image.

13. For the ladies, a parasol is always a classic touch, or perhaps one of those little hats with a modest veil.  Remember, Victorian ladies avoided too much sun.

14. I haven't quite figured out why yet, but kilts seem to be a popular look for dudes in steampunk fashion.  Any guy who can pull off a kilt, should.  Seriously.  They're awesome.

15. Vests!  Especially if they be pinstriped.  If you're a guy, wear them.  If you're a girl going for the racey no-skirts look, also wear them.

16. If you're a girl, corsets also seem to be necessary, but with any fantasy cosplay that often seems to be the case.  If you can, do it.  I won't bother because nothing pisses me off more when I'm drunk than restrictive clothes.

17. Recycling tip: if you have some pirate gear, this stuff can often be easily modified to look steampunk, even though the eras are 50-100 years apart.  Replace scarves and sashes with hats and belts, the cutlass with a ray gun, the eye-patch with a monocle, the open vest with a buttoned one, and just generally clean it up. Throw on some wiring or brass gizmos, and you're set.

Additional links:

Livejournal community devoted to steampunk fashion
The Steampunk Workshop
Pics of more steampunk costumes from DragonCon '08

So far I have shoes and gloves.  I have some jewelry I'm going to fiddle around with, and I have decided that a top hat is a must.  I LOVE top hats and have always wanted one.  This is my year to have that top hat, then steampunk it out.  Definitely going with pants (pinstripe).  I'll prolly have to get a new top.  And some sort of coat.  Belts?  I'll definitely be getting a gun of some sort, then modding it with paint, gears, wires, tubes, etc.

I found a shirt I would love to pair with a cute vest: http://www.lanebryant.com/apparel-accessories/tops/shirts-blouses/ruffled-keyhole-blouse-from-our-icon-collection/4018c4019c90p26213/index.pro

More tattoo ramblings.

Okay, so I've decided on a few things.  I'm really fixed on the one arm as a nature-themed sleeve and the arm as a wing-themed sleeve.  I going to do it bits at a time, though, like most people.  What I'm focusing on right now are two pieces that remind me of two very special people.  One is my grandfather.  For his piece I want a hummingbird with some amethyst calla lilies.  I can't decide if I want a Calliope hummingbird or a Green Violet-Ear hummingbird.

  
   

< Calliope





















 < Green Violet-Ear

 < Amethyst Calla Lilies









I kind of like the pose of the Calliope up top with its wings out-stretched.  Anyway, amethyst calla lilies will be part of it because they wound up being my favorite part of my wedding bouquet and my grandfather officiated my wedding.  The reason behind the hummingbirds is that he loved them, and had feeders for the everywhere, but especially right outside his window.  Every time he went to the hospital, it became this tradition for my mother and I to get him something with a hummingbird on it.  When I think about hummingbirds, I think about the Old Man.  So I'm wanting this piece on my right forearm, eventually to be integrated with the nature sleeve.

The other piece I want done is for my left forearm, which I want to feature a running horse, its mane and tail streaming behind.  The horse should be...I dunno, sort of a coppery color, I guess.  I don't want wings on it, but I want the suggestion of wings to be behind it, like made of the wind of something.  I also want it racing after birds, maybe with a couple already out-paced behind it.  This will go on the wing sleeve arm.

                                  

The Ink Addiction

Tattoo ideas:

Gryphon
Tri-raven design
Vines instead of stars around the face
Another pin-up
Something reminiscent of Dante Gabriel Rossetti
Something extremely nerdy, possibly of a Star Wars/Star Trek/Fantasy nature
Something that combines nerdy with pin-up, like my Poison Ivy tat

I'm thinking of making my right arm a nature-themed sleeve; vine, flowers, nature-oriented goddess figures/nymphs...Oh, too late, I like the idea so much that I have to do it.  Sigh.  Which means now I have to decide what to do with the other arm.  I would look pretty silly with just the one sleeve, I'm guessing.

Hmmm...maybe the other arm can be devoted to winged things...phoenix, raven, gryphon, etc.

OH SNAP.  I JUST HAD AN IDEA FOR MY NOVEL.

Creative Nothing

I dream of a house without siding.  I hate siding.  I hate it so much.

Anyway, I haven't been writing lately and I think I may explode as a result.  I'm debating the merits of daily writing exercises.  Back when I was in school and I HAD to write, I produced more stuff.  99% of it was crap, but the stuff I sifted out of it wasn't so bad.  Maybe if I throw myself into my work, I'll actually get something done.  If only video games weren't so distracting.

Been working on a fantasy novel idea for some time now, and it may or may not inspire a future tattoo.  I need to start getting a better grip on the main characters.  I feel like I have a good grip on one lady but not the other.  The title and vague overview of the story is something I've been kicking around for years, but the details have slowly evolved, adapting themselves to my ever-changing perspective.  In its current projection, I wonder if I'd dare to put my real name to it.  Maybe none of my relatives would notice.  Well, maybe Jeff would.  He reads most of the same stuff I do.  Hrrrmmmm....

I'm still trying to figure out how the two mains meet.  I know the origins of the first woman, and the underlying conflict between herself and the main male antagonist, but I'm trying to focus on what the central conflict is going to be.  The first woman's freedom means the freedom of an entire people, I think, but how to mold it and make the relationship between the two women pertinent... The relationship between the male antagonist and the first female protagonist is the foundation of the whole story, so that's easy.  I've been working out some of the fun cultural ephemera; the fun part of a fantasy novel is creating a setting in which the story unfolds.  All I can mysteriously say is amber (the stone) will play a very, very important part of the climax.

Mmmm....tattoos....

So I was thinking about starting a blog for every kind of tat I've ever considered getting that doesn't already have one here on blogspot.  There's already a Batman tattoo blog and a phoenix tattoo blog.  There's a Bettie Page blogspot thing already, so doing a purely Bettie Page tattoo blog seems like overkill.  That way I could get tons of submissions like the Batman one and see what sorts of things people are putting on their bodies in regards to that particular image.  I could do a raven tattoo blog.  Haven't found one of those yet.

Oh!  I never posted pics of my Poison Ivy tattoo!  Check it out, and feel teh envy!

Poison Ivy has always been one of those icons I always wanted to be growing up.  Don't ask me why.  She's a sexy redhead who loves nature and kicks major butt.  Who wouldn't want to be her?  I totally do.

Projects of the Comic Kind

Been planning a few webcomic strips.  Not sure if I want to go strip style or page format.  Thinking of very, very, very loosely basing some of the characters off of real life peeps.  You know, taking a bit of this guy and melding him with a smidge of that dude, etc?  Except for the main character, who mostly just be me, only hotter.

I like me.  ^.^

Also considering including a Liv.  Nerdy kids are hilarious.  In fact, two of my strips involve her already.

Body and Soul Part 2

Why do I bother taking out the "ar" in "Part"?  It's already a short word!  So that stops here.

Anyway, making a list of all the reasons why I should get healthy and get in shape.  (Note to self: look up origins of idiom.)  Maybe I'll print up individual list items in large fonts and paste them 'round my house as motivational reminders for my husband and myself.  Big, big letters.

1. Be a better parent. (You know, playing outside and role modeling healthy choices, etc.)
2. Better job opportunities. (In a perfect world, this would not be the case, but there you are.)
3. Nicer clothes.  I like clothes.
4. I could go swimming again.
5. Feel better physically.
6. Increase confidence.
7. I could actually try to play sports (for fun).
8. Recover faster from illness/surgery (I am feeling this one right now.)
9. Lingerie.  I love it.  I no longer wear it, but I want to do so again someday.
10. Smaller breasts.  Most people may not understand this, but those who know me do.
11. Smaller feet.  I have small feet already, but the last couple of years my shoes have been a little tight.  I want to go back to my old shoe size.  I like those shoes, damn it!
12. Have my wedding ring fit the way it's supposed to, and be able to actually take it off.
13. Be able to wear slutty Halloween costumes again. I really didn't do a lot of that when I was thinner, and now I regret it.  So, I want to slim down so I can dress up as Poison Ivy sometime.  
14. Cook more often.  See, healthy food usually requires more preparation than junk food.  If I get myself liking healthy food, I'll have to cook more.  I want to like cooking again.
15. Function better mentally/emotionally.  Healthy bodies fuel healthy minds, yo.

That's all I've got for right now.  I know I'll definitely be adding to this list later.  Any suggestions?  WRITE A FREAKING COMMENT!  I'd really like more comments.  Thank you.

Anyway, I've also decided I don't like people who approach me simply in order to push their own agendas, especially when it involves either A) transferring money from me to themselves; B) me owing them something in the future; C) me doing something I would normally not do and really regret later if I did; and/or D) something divisive, hurtful, ignorant, biased, stupid, trivial, etc.  I had some "friends" who for a long time only seemed to call me when they wanted something from me, using the guise of wanting to hang out to lure me into complacency so they could spring their agenda on me.  I started avoiding their calls pretty quick, let me tell you.  There was a time when my husband would say he wanted to spend time with me, but it was really him wanting me to stay home and not go out because he wanted to keep an eye on me.  Ergo, I told him to shove it.  (We're doing much, much better now, btw.  He only says he wants to spend time with me when he actually does in fact want to spend quality time together.)  And I do not accept random friend requests on ANY networking/social/community/whatever site (except perhaps Roosterteeth), because usually they're spambots pushing porn or rich-quick scams or whatever the internet version of snake-oil is.  So, therefore, I am warning anyone who approaches me on this blog or Facebok or tweets me on Twitter that if I don't know you and you try to push something on me, you will be BLOCKED.  I don't care if you think we have common interests.  I don't care if you think you're doing me a favor.  If you are not approaching me fully in the spirit of friendly curiosity, you can fuck off.  For realz.

Sorry, Batman; I think I just squeed all over you.

New addiction?  Batman: Arkham Asylum.  It may just prove to be worth all the hype.  I'm only at the Bane fight, but so far?  LOVE it.  The only way I can see me not being happy with this game is if it doesn't naturally get harder as the game progresses, the ending absolutely sucks, or it's too short.  If all three happen I'll be very sad instead of mildly disappointed.

The combat is smooth, visceral, and not too complicated.  As in, not complicated at all, in my opinion.  Yes, it relies on achieving combos through simple button repeats and pairings.  I'm sorry if you gamers out there who love extremely complicated combat mechanics don't like it, but for someone like me who came to gaming after my childhood and adolescence were over, the complicated stuff is too much for my hand/eye coordination and ergo I don't enjoy the game experience.   I thoroughly enjoy kicking thugs into walls, pounding them into the ground, flipping over their heads, and punching them in the face when they're down without having to sprain my hands and wrists to do it.  The camera moves sooooo fluidly with Batman that I never get lost.  Remember the terrible camera work on Legend of Kain: Defiance?  You try to fight an enemy, but the camera switches back and forth so much between four awkwardly-set angles that you just want to scream or puke before it's even half-over?  Not here.  Plus, in BAA the slow-mo in combat is well-timed and feels like the cherry on top of every lil' combat cupcake.  Tasty, tasty cupcakes.  Mmmmmmm...

The Detective Mode is pimp.  Hell, I usually stay in it most of the time, just to be on the look-out for any surprises that might pop-up. The one thing I want more of in this game so far is surprises.  I have this love/hate thing with nasty surprises in video games.  Especially dark and/or spooky ones (Bioshock say what?).  I like the tension to build and build until I'm halfway expecting something nasty to jump out at me, and then still be sort of shocked and thrilled when it happens in a creative way.  Anyway, Detective Mode lets me see through walls and find important objects.  Plus I can see an NPC's heart rate and therefore assess their mental state.  Nothing like picking off a lot of thugs one by one in a large room to raise up the last couple of dudes to a completely terrified state.  Tee hee, I'm mean.

Fun gadgets so far?  I only have a small fraction of them.  The batarang and the grappling gun come standard. Later you pick up the explosive gel dispenser (when you dispense the gel on a crumbling wall, you make a gooey bat shape!) so you can blast your way through blocked off areas.  There are a bunch more slots open and I cannot wait to see what fills them.  The upgrades, however, make the wait tolerable as they allow you to get the most from what you've got.  Experience points buy you upgrades; you can boost your bat armor, learn new combat combos, improve combat techniques and gadget efficiency, and learn new skills to help you defeat thine enemies.  My favorite so far has to be the inverted takedown, wherein Batman hangs upside down from a gargoyle (conveniently located in strategic places around the asylum) and ropes himself a bad guy.  After you've glide kicked ("Doom from above!"), taken down, beaten up, or given the "silent treatment" to all the bad guys in the room, you can cut down the bad guys you've strung up with the batarang, thus dropping them to the floor and rendering them unconscious.  Batman, of course, never kills anyone.  It's his one rule, so he only knocks the bad guys out.

So far, BAA is the perfect mix of everything Batman.  Bats himself is very much Dark Knight style Bats, but without any emo b.s. thus far.  He's the right blend of super-sleuth and ninja master, with a little bit of old-fashioned American hero muscleclature to round him off.  Dude, he's built like an effing ton of bricks.  He's got the Michael Keaton quiet poise with the Christian Bale aggression, and interestingly enough, George Clooney's chin.  The villains are a healthy dose of cartoony with a large dash of murderous psychosis thrown in, and Harley Quinn looks like a BDSM dream nurse come to pixelated life.  Can't wait to ogle Poison Ivy.  I hope she lives up to expectations.  The mood is somehow dark and suspenseful yet still a little optimistic.  Probably because you know that not only are you the protagonist, but you're one of the most bad-ass super heroes of all time.  I mean, you're Batman.  You win.  Duh.  And kids who grew up in the nineties will appreciate the voices of Batman and Joker being reprized by Mark Hamil and... the dude that played Batman in the WB animated series.  I forget.  Look it up on your own time.

There are, of course, a lot of little frills for us gamers who like to get anything and everything extra by collecting stuff.  These objectives are kindly provided by the Riddler, whose vaguely-effeminate voice occasionally gets on my nerves.  Ah, well.  Look for little green "?" trophies and updates on side-objectives as you go.  At one point you can pick up a map add-on that has places where Riddler objectives are located marked out for you.  Now I am hoping Bats can back to previously visited areas to get the stuff he couldn't get at before.  Stupid WayneTech security fields bein' all efficient and stuff.

Well, I need to finish off this segment in the game so I can go remember what sleep feels like.  My doctor will have no sympathy for me when I show up bitching about feeling shitty when she notices the dark circles under my eyes clearly marking me as a sleep-dodger.  If I feel like it, I may add to this review later.  Have fun, kiddies!  (I say this to the 0 people who read this blog.)

EDIT: And if this brief and tatty little review didn't make you want to play it, then check this out: 

10 reasons you must play Batman: Arkham Asylum

Body and Soul Pt. 1

So I read this great NPR article (love NPR, btw) about Interval Training.  It's a great idea for mums with wee ones that are too young to amuse themselves while mums have "serious grown-up exercise" but too old to sleep or sit gnawing gently on their own feet the whole time.  It takes less time and the shift away from maintaining focus on one activity for a long period of time is a huge plus to ADD me.  Being a complete novice at the whole fitness concept, I will admit I know very little so far.  I want to know more, though, and I want to find a kid-friendly interval training program here in CoMO, so that Liv and I have someplace we can go each week to shape up and socialize.  If I can't find one, maybe Katrina, Jesca, and I can create a program together.  It could serve the needs of all sorts of chicks; skinny chicks, heavy chicks, pregnant chicks, endo chicks, whatevs.  Most especially, though, it would allow chicks with kids to have fun with their kids while they exercise.  I know lots of people have done similar things (nothing new under the sun), but I really like the idea of creating something like this with and for my friends.

I've decided the new plan for food is simply to stop eating food that makes me feel like crap afterwards.  I mean, I even had my stupid gallbladder with its giant pistachio-sized stones in it taken out and pizza still makes me want to vomit.  I think this is my body's way of saying as clearly as possible: "Don't effing eat it, then, MORON!"  Usually food that makes me feel bad isn't good for me, anyway, so I feel like this plan has a lot of merit.

I like Rainn Wilson's call to de-lamify spiritual dialog.  I used to be really involved in the search for meaning and discovering the deeper connections between different paths of spirituality.  It helps that I can have some really awesome discussions with Kurt and/or Katrina after gaming group.  Also I can have good discussions with Kirstin about atheism and mysticism.  Still, I want more.  I want to really dig in to some religious and metaphysical wossname, and I really don't want it to be deadly serious.  I feel like if I just get around the next corner, I'll find the key to tapping into something really cosmic, you know?  But I have to do the work to get there.

One of the best resources for discussing how people approach and grow in their spirituality is Finding Your Religion by Scotty McClean.  It's really a great perspective.  I use his 6-phase model all the time when discussing why people choose different alignments at different times, and how religion has evolved as we have evolved as a species.