Happy (belated) birthday to fellow Leo Kate!

Posted on August 3, 2013 by Steve

All these belated stories I’m trying to dig out over, namely the stuff I let slide while celebrating my own birthday. Yeah, I’m rather selfish after 45 years aren’t I?

Kate gets a special mention due to her birthday being right after mine! Ten years ago we made it extra cool by betting on 13 for Kate right before we went to dinner on my birthday night. She won! The five bucks became $175 instantly! What made it even better was how her luck carried over to us, giving me a two-peat in roulette I’ve never duplicated. Anyone who is keeping score, the odds of back-to-back victories on one number is 1369:2 against.

I loved the nickname she gave herself too, Hurrikate.

We’ll be getting together for a Leo dinner soon and I have a little gift she’ll laugh at.

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Adam Ant at the Belmont

Posted on August 3, 2013 by Steve
Adam Ant

Photo courtesy of Brian Gray. Click on it to check out his site.

To kick off our anniversary and my birthday weekend, we checked out Adam Ant again. This time at the relatively new Austin venue the Belmont. It’s alright. I need to attend a few more shows to have an informed opinion.

Adam and his new band were great again. The new album was released earlier this year so that’s probably helping getting more people out to see him. For Austin, I think the Belmont’s location was a plus since Emo’s move to Riverside; parking is terrible and the neighborhood remains scary.

I readily admit I wasn’t impressed with Adam Ant is the BlueBlack Hussar… upon my initial listens. Going with the Fiona Apple-school of titling was a negative. He’s also going back to his earlier catalog in the shows and sound. Eventually I came around to it as I grew to like “Bullshit,” “Marrying the Gunner’s Daughter” and “Hardmentoughblokes.” They all had elements from the albums I grew up with. No T-Rex cover though, unless he saved it for last. We had to duck out near the end of the encore as the parking meter would expire. This was a wise move, a huge downpour kicked in five minutes after we were headed home.

The crowd was mostly our age. You could tell it was predominantly Austin from the tattoos and piercings. Ugh! Those things get nastier looking as people grow older. They didn’t mind the newer stuff. The Vegas crowd just wanted the hits.

Adam remains entertaining. I loved his jab at Fifty Shades of Gray. “Why read it when you can experience it.” I might be wrong yet I paraphrased his point.

Opening for Adam Ant was a terrific quintet from California called Prima Donna. Just like the Brazil Brothers, I scored a couple CDs. Great job Adam, you’re three for four on openers. Hoping all goes well and we get another album around his 60th birthday.

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RIP Michael Ansara

Posted on August 3, 2013 by Steve

The final actor from the Klingon Commander triumvirate of Star Trek has passed away. Michael’s Kang was my favorite because he played an enemy who wasn’t a two-dimensional cartoon character and was wise enough to see the advantage in siding with Kirk against the hate force. According to the Times‘ obit, I didn’t know Kang made an appearance in Voyager.

Beside Star Trek, he was the Mr. Freeze’s voice for the good Batman cartoon and in Babylon 5, he played Elric, the technomage that warned ambassador Mollari about the horrible things to come. Michael had presence! You doubt me? His second wife was Barbara Eden during the height of her popularity.

It’s a pisser how he was often typecast to play American Indians and other “exotic” types due to his Syrian origin. However, the great Sci-Fi/Fantasy roles he did portray will live on since Michael was a talented actor who made those characters uniquely his. Suck on it Fox News and others claiming Arabs don’t contribute to the West.

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I hate it when they don’t shave!

Posted on August 3, 2013 by Steve

countbitescookieWhoops! Wrong reference but this is still guaranteed to give small children nightmares, confusion or both! The title from Busted Tees is amusing too…Bloodsugar Rush.

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We don’t do babies…duh!

Posted on August 2, 2013 by Steve

cherylduhEverbody’s favorite sociopathic receptionist and heiress has received her due as a shirt from the awesome illustrator Megan Lara. Cheryl gets a special place in the hearts of all Austinites since she corrects Kreiger’s answer to what is the capital of Rhode Island with her signature “duh!” at the end.

I had to use her terms with the astronauts crowning her Queen of Mars because I’m tired of the royal baby coverage.

Fingers crossed Megan does Lana and Mallory next.

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RIP Eileen Brennan

Posted on August 1, 2013 by Steve

It was a shame to hear the actress passed away earlier this week. Eileen brought me numerous funny memories as a kid even though I probably shouldn’t have been watching a good chunk of the movies she did until I was older. Most remember her for Private Benjamin but she was great in Murder by Death and The Cheap Detective. Somara recently paid tribute to Eileen by dressing up as Mrs. Peacock at this Spring’s Clue quote-along at Alamo Lake Creek.

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This month’s banner was tight

Posted on August 1, 2013 by Steve

August is a special month in so many ways but I had to err on the side of my geeky past by reminiscing over Gen Con for multiple reasons.

  1. A new book telling the history of D&D is due out this month. It’s written by a guy who covers popular culture for Forbes. Even if Forbes‘ crappy politics creeps into this, the title alone is cool. Of Dice and Men.
  2. Twenty-five years ago, I attended Gen Con for the first time and it was quite by accident. I would then return for the next five years because it was impressive.
  3. Fifteen years ago, I went with Steve Bryant in what would be my last time. I enjoyed the side trek to Milwaukee as I was on the way back to Austin. The picture above was taken from that trip.
  4. It’s the 20th anniversary of Magic: The Gathering appearing. This little pastime would blossom into a crack epidemic within several months and gradually destroy the industry.

That first visit in 1988 was something. Besides the D&D stuff, there were computer games, collectibles, movies, etc. The MECCA area was Nerdvana for the long weekend. Afterwards I made sure I had a mini-vacation centered around the convention.

The only time I regret going was 20 years ago. The wounds from GDW were still fresh and painful. It felt like being a recovering drug addict at a Grateful Dead show. I had fun with the friends I had, I just hated seeing the same GDW douchebags responsible for stabbing me in the back. I’m over it now since living well is always the best revenge.

Somara keeps asking me about going, Fourth Edition left such a turd in the punch bowl. I also don’t see the point anymore after the convention was relocated. Milwaukee may have  killed the magical goose with its indifference to gamers (lack of hotel rooms namely) yet Indianapolis is such a terrible replacement, it lacks any character. Thumbs up to Adkison for staying in the Midwest so neither coast has home-field advantage.

Fingers crossed, the book lives up to decent expectations. Same goes for August!

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2003: Ten Years of Marriage (plus a few days)

Posted on July 31, 2013 by Steve

caketopperSaturday was an extremely busy, busy day for the two of us. Not quite the crazy one we experienced a decade earlier…Somara and her parents didn’t have a fender bender with an uninsured driver.

We got up early to take the cats to the vet followed by working out and then we picked up Wyatt and Cannon. Fun ensued at Pinballz as we played games. Wyatt is developing his flipper skills but I don’t know if I’m a good teacher. I just quietly watch, say encouraging things no matter what. The goal is to have fun, not “win” necessarily.

Since it’ll be a while before we see them again, I bought the boys their futures from Zoltar. Cannon’s was the funniest. I tried to get Wyatt into joining me in teasing his younger brother over Cannon marrying a wealthy Arab princess; it’s a long story I hope to explain soon.

Before passing them back to their paternal grandparents, we had time for ice cream. Lesson learned? Wyatt isn’t big enough for a medium yet.

Gotta work on my bunny ears! I totally missed.

Gotta work on my bunny ears! I totally missed.

Thanks to the late evening we had at Adam Ant, a nap was in order, always the highlight during a day off from work!

The cats ensured we didn’t sleep too far into the early night. Once they were given treats/dinner, we finished out the day with an impressive meal at Gloria’s on the Domain. Somara had eaten there before through a work function. The place is a mix of Salvadoran/Mexican cuisine. I need to take Sonia’s older sister there to check its authenticity. Sonia has an accurate palette yet she came to the States when she was eight, Ellie left as a teenager.

For now, our anniversary celebrating is on pause. It will pick up with stage two in late September with the annual pilgrimage to Las Vegas and conclude in November with our VIP tickets to meet William Shatner! The podcast mix is in the process of being edited down before mastering. I am also scheming for year 11.

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Thanks for all the good wishes and messages

Posted on July 30, 2013 by Steve

It was a nice several days off to celebrate our 10th anniversary and my 45th birthday. I have a ton of posts to put up. I jointly decided to take it easy along with the errands I had to get completed.

The site will be quite busy since it was very eventful.

Celebrating continues in late September with our annual pilgrimage to Las Vegas and again in November with VIP tickets to meet William Shatner.

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Happy (Belated) Birthday to Christina

Posted on July 29, 2013 by Steve

My fellow Leo and friend of the last 20 years via Dynamic Graphics celebrated this Saturday. We even got to talk on the phone for a little bit!

This year I managed to keep up the lion-themed gifts with some help from Teefury and the local Lego Store. With the former, I had no idea it was a reference/mashup from Game of Thrones. If the Lannister family is represented by a lion, then I’m cheering for them. Maybe I’ll get an idea what the fuss is should or when HBO divorces HBOGo from cable television subscriptions.

The latter I was more proud of. A couple weeks ago, the Lego Store refreshed its build-your-own figure inventory. Finding a lady head, easy. Then a knight torso with a lion on it appeared followed by a gown for legs which seemed to fit the medieval look. The torso came with a cape some kids showed me how to add; you put it over the neck and the head seals it; they noticed I was struggling to get the arms through the cape’s two holes. For the accessory, there were plenty of swords. The piece de resistance was the crown. Unfortunately, it was designed for a king to go into battle wearing due to the noseguard. Somebody at work had a vise-grip, snap, now you can see the queen’s pretty face! To keep it together, I applied some Elmer’s glue in a couple sections.

Christina dug it all.

Now what will I do next year!?

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Good news about two of our cats

Posted on July 28, 2013 by Steve
isisgreeting

Isis thanks you for your votes on her new identity.

I closed the poll several days ago since the traffic had mostly evaporated and Isis seemed to be the clear winner. Even with just a 50% vote, there were enough implied votes for the name despite those people not getting off their duffs to bother. We also decided to make her birthday July 11, the day we picked Isis up from the shelter after her surgery. A new name to go with a new, better life.

Yesterday Isis and Miette went to the vet; Isis had to go to be introduced as per the agreement with AHS, make sure there were no complications from the spaying; Miette had a check up regarding the hyperthyroid situation.

Isis is A-1. The vet said she even looked like a mother due to her face. Thankfully those days are over.

Miette appears to be improving. The medication seems to be working. Seems? Well, she has lost 1/3 of a pound in weight but the vomiting has slowed and her thyroid came back with a reading of one, the goal is one thru five. Now to see how it goes for another couple months with the food thief.

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Happy 73rd Birthday Bugs Bunny

Posted on July 27, 2013 by Steve

Bugs hides his age well because he has always had gray hair!

It’s great to see Bugs and the gang having new adventures on TV even if you need cable to see them, CN hasn’t assembled a proper DVD set for The Looney Toons Show like Adventure Time or Regular Show. Despite it following a sitcom formula, the writers still remain faithful with everybody’s personalities except with Lola. Why did they change her into a needy, crazy dingbat. As much as Space Jam was an 80-minute Nike ad to help you forget Michael Jordan’s gambling problems, Lola was a great addition to the Bugs/Daffy mythos.

Anyway, in honor of Bugs’ birthday, I played a couple games of the pinball machine Bally made for his big 50. It was one of the last voicework jobs Mel Blanc did before he died. There was a little arm-twisting needed to get the younger nephews to join me, they’re the generation that needs constant insta-gratification/obsession games (aka Minecrapt) to keep their attention. No price tag on the machine yet. Oh, I did manage to win one free game through it awarding me a million points at the end.

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The Homer is a reality!

Posted on July 26, 2013 by Steve

Somebody built the car Homer designed and destroyed his half-brother’s business with! It’s a pretty approximation from what I remember of the episode. There’s a movie of the vehicle doing donuts too. Mmm…do-nuts.

Next thing up for the car is a 24-hour endurance race. I wonder what the other competing vehicles will be? The Sixties Batmobile? Bond’s car from Goldfinger? KITT? Speed Buggy? The Mach 5 would be cool.

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2003: Ten years ago was a long, long flight to Las Vegas

Posted on July 25, 2013 by Steve

I re-read what I posted five years ago and I would stand by most of it. These days I am definitely re-experiencing the fatigue of that great day. I could use a nap since I have difficulty sleeping in.

I can’t wait to go to Las Vegas again. What I would give to be there now.

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R.I.P.D.: Don’t Bother

Posted on July 25, 2013 by Steve

ripdShort version…this movie was made 16 years ago, was equally crappy and called Men in Black. The twist? These heroes hunt malevolent dead spirits instead of aliens. Not very original there neither, SyFy when it was SciFi had something similar called G v. E.

Why did I waste a Sunday afternoon on this? It was showing at Alamo Lake Creek during the theater’s last day; Somara wanted to see it; and James Hong was in the cast.

R.I.P.D. does have a few good elements. Jeff Bridges plays a character that isn’t a variation of the dude, Mary-Louise Parker looks great in go-go boots and there will be no sequels or cartoon-spinoff unlike MiB. 

Listing what sucked would be too easy but it can be summed in two words…Ryan Reynolds. When this turkey appears on cable, is offered on streaming services or can be rented from RedBox, walk away, find something better to spend 90 minutes of your life you cannot get back.

Alamo Extras: We arrived a bit under the wire so all I can remember was the trailer for Dead Heat which starred Treat Williams and a mullet-wearing Joe Piscopo. Probably some buddy-cop stuff.

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