Monday, March 21, 2016

Which Fandom?

I have the Green Bay Packers (GBP) logo tattooed on my left wrist, and when I was out with my Best Friend Betsy RN MSN and her daughter Samm, we discussed future tats that we all three want. Betsy has a lovely hybrid bird/flower image on her back that represents her three children. Her conservative prick of a husband hates it, but it’s her body and her money. Betsy wants something on her leg, but I don’t remember the details. Samm will have to wait another year until she is 18, but I imagine her tattoo will be something to do with one of her many fandoms.


Samm is a very kewl teenager: she does cosplay at conventions such as Geek Kon and Comic Con; She knows her Doctors Who; and she is a member of her high school’s Strategy Games Club, which was called the Chess Club back in the day when Betsy made me join so she wouldn’t be the only female (FTR: I am a horrible chess player). Samm may also be one of the few people on the planet who is paler than I am. With my Irish-German heritage, I make pasty-white Brits look tan.


Not too long after my first tattoo, I decided that I would like more. A friend of mine is deathly allergic to nuts, so she has the MedicAlert (MA) logo tattooed on her arm. I’d like that, too, but additionally, I’d also like my MA diagnoses (epilepsy and hypertension) and my ID # in addition to the MA toll-free number tattooed on my wrist. The logo would be on the back of my left wrist, with the information on the inside, but in the same line as the current GBP logo.


Because I tried to commit suicide when I was fifteen, Brian suggested another tattoo: a semicolon. Project Semicolon is for survivors of suicide (one’s own attempt(s) or the success of a loved one), mental illness, and self-harm. “The semicolon is used when an author could’ve chosen to end their sentence, but chose not to. The author is you and the sentence is your life.” As a wannabe writer, I like that philosophy, so I will add a semicolon tattoo to my left wrist.


The final tattoo that I need to decide upon is fandom; the main problem is which fandom. Do I choose the sci-fi/fantasy books I loved as a child and still love to this day? Do I choose the Star Wars Rebel Alliance logo or the Star Trek: the Next Generation insignia? What about a die for the many board and roleplaying games I’ve enjoyed over the years, and if so, should the die be a D6 or a D20? Plus, I’ve enjoyed many video and computer games over the years; should I choose a Triforce or a Tetris piece or even Ms. Pac-Man?


I guess I’ve known all along that I would go with my original fandom: Star Wars, which I first saw when I was ten. Now I just need to figure out how to pay for all the tattoos I want.


Pog ma thoin!
-Lori


“When the designs are chosen with care, tattoos have a power and magic all their own. They decorate the body but they also enhance the soul.”Michelle Delio

Wednesday, March 16, 2016

Home Organization and the Mithril Party Updates

The World’s Greatest Husband (WGH) and I actually have worked on our goals/new year’s resolutions; specifically, we’re working on the Home Organization, and we’ve been discussing the Mithril Party.


Home Organization Update
We went to Ikea last month and with our tax refund money, we bought a Hemnes secretary with an add-on unit. I hope it will make a good hutch in our kitchen for some desperately needed added storage and organization. We also bought a Brusali TV stand to replace the one in our Master Bedroom that leans like the Tower of Pisa.


This past weekend, we had no RPG nor a visit to anywhere, so we asked Prince Mekhi if he would help us around the house after his Taekwondo classes. We stuffed our garbage and recyclables containers full of detritus from the main floor. The second floor garbage will have to wait until the containers are emptied on Friday.


Together we assembled a bench with storage that we bought from Shopko. I kept smiling as I watched Brian and Mekhi work together, and I even took a few pix. The bit for Brian’s ratcheting screwdriver stuck in the recessed hole for one of the screws, and we all tried to extract it. We couldn’t find Brian’s needle-nose pliers (and I had to bite my tongue from saying to the WGH, “This is why you need to put things away.”), so I dug out my multi-tool. Of course, as I worked on it, I pinched myself and some of my skin came off. Mekhi had a wonderful idea that I ignored to my own peril: loosen the screw enough for the bit to come out of the hole, then remove the bit and tighten the screw again. Brian did as Mekhi advised, and it worked; I apologized to my son for ignoring his suggestion. Women, meh!


Finally the bench was assembled, and Mekhi took the spare shoes that were in a broken box and put them in the storage part of the bench. Then we took him to home #1.


When we came home from some minimal grocery shopping, Brian had the audacity to tell me to put my purse on the storage bench/landing strip rather than the dining room table. I didn’t point out that his bookbag still was on the table when it should be on the bench. Men, meh!


I don’t want to buy any more items for the house until we assemble the ones that we already purchased and put them into use, but Shopko has a sale on Sterilite bins this weekend, and we’re going to need a lot of them.


Mithril Party Update
Sunday at brunch at our usual local diner, the WGH and I discussed our Silver/Mithril Party this summer. He feels that our usual Independence Day barbecue and potluck would be just fine. I want something special to celebrate the occasion. The hard part has been deciding upon that something special within our limited budget, as well as our tastes.


When we married in 1991, I insisted upon a Catholic service because I was Catholic at the time and it was important to me. To this day, I know how much Brian loves me and wanted to marry me because he put up with all the pre-marital rigmarole that the Church requires. I have an entire comedy routine that entails the Marriage Prep and Wedding proper because if I didn’t laugh, I’d have screamed through the process. I don’t want Brian to suffer through this party prep the way he suffered through Marriage Prep.


In this blog post that I posted in June of last year, I state that Brian and I are not traditional people, so the traditional Silver Wedding Anniversary crap is not for us, thus the Mithril idea. Also, I thought of my GodparentsGolden Anniversary party that I attended back in 2012; all they did was a buffet and cake at a local Knights of Columbus. Nothing fancy.


So, to keep within budget, as well as keep it special, I decided, with Brian’s consent, that we are going to have a party at Forester Hall next door to our house, with a pig roast for the food. I will order a special cake to be made, and we will have Jordan almonds because I wanted them for our wedding but couldn’t afford it.


The décor is going to be simple: one balloon each on the front and back doors to let people know they’ve come to the right place. Silver plastic tablecloths and displays around the room of our wedding stuff (that I have in a bin in our basement), pictures of our wedding day and us since then, as well as plenty of games for people to play. I believe the caterer will supply the necessary paper and ware items for eating. I still need to figure out drinks, and I’m hoping the WGH will make a special brew for the party.


Prior to the party, Brian and I need to have another formal portrait done and with Mekhi. We haven’t had one taken in over twenty years. I need to have our wedding video and the pictures from the day scanned, and I also need to find a picture of my mother in her wedding dress because I wore the same dress on my wedding day (that story is another comedy routine).


This all should be relatively painless to plan and implement (touch wood), and hopefully not too expensive (again, touch wood).


ETA: Monday night Brian and I discussed our finances. We recently received our tax returns, and I sold the Ford Taurus that I inherited from my late mother. About half of this money was supposed to go into savings for our party, but because our income has decreased in the last five years (and we weren’t making that much at the onset), I had to use most of the money to catch us up on bills. Brian was angry and hated having to be the bad guy and suggest that maybe we shouldn’t have a big party. I agreed with the caveat that I’ll see what our bills bank account is like on Thursday when we’re paid again. Then we’ll decide.


I really want to figure out how to pay for the party somehow. I know we have some stuff that we can sell (I have some vintage Star Wars bubble gum cards that might bring in some money if I can find them). But as of right now, it looks like we’ll be doing something less expensive for our silver.


Pog ma thoin!
-Lori


Me: “Do me a favor, please?”
WGH: “What?”
Me: “If I start to babble, please tell me I’m babbling.”
WGH: “Okay.”
Me: “How many husbands get permission to tell their wives to STFU?”
WGH: “Not enough.”


Friday, March 11, 2016

Plattecon

Because the WGH and I met at UW-Platteville, from where he actually graduated, and he was a founding member of the Platteville Gaming Association (PGA); we go back to Platteville almost every year for Plattecon (remember: gaming conventions typically are named for their location, e.g. Gen Con originated in Lake Geneva, WI).


Ullsvik Hall, which was the student center back in our day (the 1980s), is not a good place for Plattecon IMHO because it typically does not have food service, nor a place to relax and plug in a laptop. The Markee Pioneer Student Center (MPSC) has such amenities, but from what the PGA tell me, the MPSC is more expensive and difficult to schedule. Thus, Friday I went shopping to our local Costco for foodstuffs we could take with us.


Mountain Dew is the drink of geeks, but because the WGH has diabetes II, I purchased Diet Mountain Dew and G2. The WGH also wanted beef jerky, hummus, and celery; and I wanted chocolate. The large container of Jelly Bellies was a pure impulse buy, but the only chips I purchased were veggie straws. Costco has an amazingly good and portable veggie tray, and I knew the WGH would love the fresh grapes. Because the WGH had to work, I packed everything except his duffle bag of clothes, then loaded everything (including said duffle) into the car.


Brian was tired from being up so early and working all day, and despite my good intentions, I napped, so I was awake enough to drive. Unfortunately, it started snowing, and even though I’ve made great progress since our first married Thanksgiving (long story short: Brian tried giving me a driving lesson, then it started snowing), we switched seats about halfway to P-ville.


Upon arrival and the expedient check-in system (the PGA are geeks who are good with technology), I noticed that their security/helpful staff contingent all wore hats identifying them as ‘Brute Squad.’ Nice. We immediately found our friends Brian (BAS) and Walter Stewart (brothers). I was surprised that BAS already was there as he normally runs later than I do. We spent a few minutes reading the program for the weekend, and the WGH commented on the great and life-like mini someone had: a baby. The baby wore a onesie that her mom made with the itty bitty’s D&D stats: STR: 6, DEX: 3, CON: 4, INT 4, WIS: 3, CHA: 20. Mom told me the next day the little girl would wear a onesie with the graphic, “Hello, my name is Stormageddon, Dark Lord of All.” I told the little one that she had a bright future ahead of her; geek parents are a lot of fun.


We brought games to play, and the WGH wanted to play Trailer Park Boys Supply and Command card game. I didn’t want to play, having never been a fan of the TV show, but the game required four players, so I acquiesced. Good thing, too. It was a fun variant on Dilbert’s Corporate Shuffle, and one didn’t need to know the show to play the game. Similar to The Walking Dead Board Game and its source material.


The Stewart Brothers and I frustrated the WGH by deciding upon dinner plans, then changing them again, and again. Finally we opted for a local Mexican restaurant that was showing the NBA on two TVs and WWE on the third. Walt astutely compared to professional wrestling to the performance of gymnastics.


Although Walt has a spacious spare bedroom, the bed in it is full-sized, not king like our bed at home. We didn’t have our puppies with us, so that made falling and staying asleep even harder. The only good side was that the WGH and I had several good snuggle sessions without a fur-bearing critter sandwiched between us.


Saturday morning we woke at our leisure and ate the delicious pumpkin muffins Walt baked for his guests. Back at the convention’s open gaming area, we snagged a table, and I set up the food and drink purchased the day before. I brought two games: Munchkin Quest, a board game variant of the ever-expanding card game, and Castles of Mad King Ludwig along with its supplement The Secrets. Steve, a longtime convention-friend joined us, so we had to play the former as the latter is a four-person game only. Unfortunately Munchkin Quest is IMHO more complex than needed, and it took too long to learn and play well. The WGH was bored, and because of the mechanics of the game, BAS said at one point, “I guess I’ll fight myself.” The ‘highlight’ of the game was when I gave the Shrieking Geek monster a mate. We stopped at 2:00 so I could join a Star Wars Trivial Pursuit game.


The lady running said game (GM) didn’t realize she had a sign-up sheet at the check-in table, so she already started before I arrived. No problem; it’s just a game. The GM also had house rules: 1. After going to the circle part of the board, your pawn always must go clockwise, and no moving back up the spokes. 2. Answer as many questions as you can from the same card before discarding it. 3. Pie pieces are awarded only on their specific squares. 4. If you have a pie piece of the color pie piece square you landed on, you may request a color that you don’t have and earn it with a correct answer. 5. The winner of the game is the first person who earns all six pie pieces.


The GM also seemed a bit OCD because she kept moving everyone’s pawn and trying to remember who was supposed to ask questions. I smiled because I know what it’s like to have such personality quirks/mental health issues. Two of the other gamers were a father and daughter duo. The daughter was a student at UW-P, and the father was a former colleague of mine that I referred to as “The Narc” when I worked in the hell that was DSPS. (Guess why.) Because I never saw the front of his badge, I couldn’t recall his real name, and it didn’t really matter. During the game he mentioned his dog Karma, and if the dog was being naughty he’d say, “Bad, Karma!” Groan.


Less than a half-hour into the game, and with many super easy (and a few super hard) questions asked of me, I finally had all six pie pieces to win the game. I guess my starting late gave everyone else a sporting chance. I also mentioned that I won a game of Star Wars Trivial Pursuit while waiting in line for a midnight showing of The Phantom Menace. My geek street cred still is solid!


When I returned to the open gaming area, I learned that BAS channeled me in the extreme by accidently dumping the veggie tray. Mercifully he cleaned it all up. Hey, one less thing to take home, so no problem. We still had candy, veggie straws, and grapes.


Steve brought his copy of Cards Against Humanity (CAH), which as usual drew an extra player named Evan. This is why I love gaming conventions and their open gaming areas: you start a game, and anyone interested can join. It’s a ton of fun meeting new people, especially sick and twisted people like us. I was in a particular sick mood with my cards. When the WGH was judge, he drew the card, “What gets me laid?” I had a choice between ‘grave robbing’ and ‘children on leashes’. I asked Walt how gross should I be. He reminded me that it’s CAH and the sicker the better, so I played the leash card. I don’t think I won that hand, though. What I did win was when BAS pulled a two-fer card: “For my next trick, I’ll pull (blank) out of my (blank).” I played ‘coat hanger abortions’ and ‘my vagina’. Very sick; the WGH made me take a picture of the cards. Steve won the game, though.


Later while waiting for our friends to finish their all-day game of Civilization, I checked out artists alley and the silent auction. I didn’t see anything at the latter, but the former had an artist who made geek crafts out of fusible plastic beads and magnets. I chose a blue lightsaber and a potion bottle from the original Legend of Zelda game and will add them to my geek collection in my prison cell cubicle at work.


I also checked out the vendors area and encouraged the WGH to buy something for GMs Day. Our friends Lynn and her ex were running a booth selling clothes, and the company that supplies her wares does make things in ‘hefty.’ Lynn is volunteering for Odyssey Con this year, and I told her we purchased our weekend passes to support the cause.


The WGH was surprised to see that I went to a specific table, picked up several items, and put them in a zippered baggie from the stash I brought. I can’t think of the name of the group, but they encourage board game creation and provided plenty of blank supplies. I explained to the WGH that I read about it in the program, and that I hope to create games based on my Hirapis series of novels (as soon as I write them).


While we continued to wait (Civilization officially is listed as a 3-12 hour game), we rambled the way only gamers can. BAS said he would like to create a wizard named Zoloft because he thinks it would be a kewl name. Someone else suggested a parody or adult board game called ‘Revenge of the Stiffs.’ During a routine check of the Civilization game, our friend Ted and I compared pix of our kids.


Finally the game was done and we headed to Steve’s Pizza, which was very crowded, but they have increased their dining room with space on the second floor of their building. We ordered two extra-large pizzas on thin crust, and the carnivore was served within reason. Unfortunately, they gave our Greek to another table, making us wait an interminably long time. While we waited, I tried to keep the conversation going, but I felt like Mrs. Peacock from the movie Clue, with about as much success. Our discussion included other (and lewd) definitions of things Greek and Roman. (Just go to the Urban Dictionary if you want/need to know more.) When we received the check, I asked to see the manager because we weren’t going to pay for that second pizza. Our server briefed the manager before he arrived, and before I said anything he said he was having the server take that ‘za off the bill. Good.


We’re geeks, though; so the server still received a good tip. The mix-up wasn’t her fault, and she was very frank and honest and apologetic during our wait.


Sunday morning, the WGH and I decided to forgo the breakfast buffet tradition and headed for home. The dogs were happy to see us; the cats acknowledged that we returned and could we please fill the food dish because they could almost see the bottom – almost. Finally we all were back in our king-sized bed for a glorious post-convention nap.


Pog ma thoin!
-Lori


“What’s the difference between a hippo and a zippo? One is very heavy, the other is a little lighter.” – Facebook Meme the WGH read during our trip

Wednesday, March 2, 2016

Movies, Geekdom, and Race

…yes, with an Oxford Comma (thank you, Weird Al)


Deadpool
Brian (the World’s Greatest Husband) and I rarely go to a theater to see movies because 1. they’re expensive; 2. not a lot we want to see; 3. we’re getting old, so staying out late is harder; and 4. a lot is available in alternate formats: Netflix, Amazon Video, DVD, Blu-ray, etc.


Being geeks on multiple levels, we thoroughly have enjoyed the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) offerings. We’ve seen almost all the films to date, and we DVR or subscribe to the various television series (in addition to the DC Comics TV series). We have a lot of TV to watch.


So last Friday we took a mental health day (We both suffer from anxiety and depression, and we work for the State of Wisconsin; need I say more?), and after a blissful day of desperately-needed sleep, we went to see Deadpool, which despite being based on a Marvel comic, is not part of the MCU.


Janet, from our gaming group, had seen the movie and highly recommended it because the eponymous character’s hilarious sarcasm, foul language, and breaking the fourth wall are so much like her own personality. Ryan Reynolds, who is trying the Marvel Universe after his unsuccessful foray into the DC Universe, was spot-on in his portrayal, and the self-referential Easter Eggs were wonderfully abundant.


Deadpool gives plenty of eye-candy for all with plenty of shots of Reynolds’ naked bod and bum, as well as the beautiful body of the talented Morena Baccarin – well known to geeks from her days aboard Serenity, as well as her role on Gotham, based on the Batman DC Comics. Stan Lee also makes his traditional cameo. The real scene-stealer is Leslie Uggams, notable mostly for her role as Kizzy from the phenomenal TV series Roots, who plays Blind Al and perfectly matches the sarcasm and wit of the titular character.


Trust me, if you have an ounce of comic book geekdom, you’ll want to see this movie.


Race
Sunday night was the 88th Oscars Ceremony, mercifully hosted by Chris Rock. I say mercifully because of the criticism regarding the lack of diversity in the nominees of the major Oscar categories. While watching Rock’s opening monologue, I wondered if he had been hired before or after the nominees were announced because his opening monologue dealt as beautifully with the race controversy as Billy Crystal’s solo opening sequence for Oscar 62 made up for the terrible opening number from Oscar 61 (FTR: Rock was hired before the nominees were announced.).


Starting with Rock’s opening monologue, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS or just the “Academy”) seemed to take a mea culpa attitude with a humorous bent; as in, Yes, we need more awards going to African-American actors, and we are addressing that issue; but for now, let’s enjoy a good show. Plus, the “Black History Month Minute: Oscars Edition” was beyond funny on so many levels.


Of course, the African-American community wasn’t the only one complaining; Latinos, Asian-Americans, Native Americans, and other under-represented populations also bemoaned their lack of representation. What all these demographics forget, and Chris Rock did a beautiful job reminding them, is that the problem isn’t with the Academy; it’s with the movie industry. Rock’s opening monologue included a story about a Hollywood fundraiser he attended, which included a grip and grin with President Obama. Rock said, “I’m like, ‘Mr. President, you see all these writers and producers and actors? They don’t hire black people, and they’re the nicest, white people on earth! They’re liberals! Cheese!’”


I agree with Rock that Hollywood is racist and needs to look outside its stereotypes and clichés. A shining example of the way things ought to be is George Romero and the lead actor he chose for Night of the Living Dead: Duane Jones, who was a theater thespian and acting professor. When Romero hired Jones, and mind you this was 1968, the director said Jones “simply gave the best audition.” One would think that Hollywood would be more enlightened in the third millennium, but this is the community so out of fresh ideas that even Spielberg is doing remakes.


Rock said, “We want black actors to get the same opportunities as white actors.” He and Hollywood need to include other under-represented populations: those with dwarfism, actresses who are older and/or larger than the Hollywood stereotype, people with varying abilities physically and cognitively, etc.; as well as people of different ethnicities, including African-Americans.


As an aside note, I have one issue with the term African-American: I know of an actress who was born in South Africa, faced hardships there, then eventually immigrated to the US with her mother to start a new life. The woman now has dual citizenship, thus being truly “African-American,” but cannot state that as her ethnicity because of the color of her skin. The actress is Charlize Theron.

While I was watching the show, my son Mekhi (who is African-American by skin color, as well as ethnicity) came downstairs and asked for a bedtime snack. After telling him that a popsicle is not suitable for bedtime (I allowed cheese and pretzels), I told him about the Oscars and all that I’ve mentioned in this blog – including the Night of the Living Dead story. He agreed that is the way it ought to be. He’s studying the Civil Rights Movement in school, and I think the story of the Oscars would be an excellent lesson in how much further we need to go as a country before We hold these truths to be self-evident that all…are created equal.” Yes, even Thomas Jefferson needs to be updated, and I think he would agree.


Pog ma thoin!
-Lori


“This year, in the In Memoriam package, it’s just going to be black people that were shot by the cops on their way to the movies.” – Chris Rock