Confessions of a Comic Geek...

FREE COMIC BOOK DAY(Oh & Spidey 3)

2007-05-05T11:55:40Z

Today is Free Comic Book Day! For those who dont know it's a day when publishers put out a sampling of their best & you can waltz into your local comic book shop & pick up these titles...FOR FREE!!! Some companies(cough...DC Comics...cough) will put out reprints of current/popular titles, while others (yay Marvel!!!) will put out all new stories. Besides the big 2, ALOT of real good indies also have free comics to try & I urge you to check those out(every year I always discover a new book or 2 that I get hooked on via FCBD). Some of the stuff I'm looking forward to is Spider-Man, Iron Man/Hulk/Franklin Richards, Transformers Prequel, Keenspot(which highlights some of the best in webcomics), The Astounding Wolf-Man, Comics Festival 2007(with some of the best indy creators around), & Nexus. So much Good stuff.

Spider-Man 3 ruled. I knew it would & I wasnt disappointed. Without giving too much away(mini-spoilers-be warned) it was everything one could hope for & more. Venom was awesome(Topher is perfect as Brock), Spidey & the Goblin joining forces was one of the greatest geek-out moments for me ever(It was like a dream come true). Coming into the movie I wasnt overly excited about Sandman, but after seeing him portrayed in the film I was very impressed & came away with more respect for the character(even tho the movie does make a few "changes" to his back story). Bruce Campbell is god & his cameo is, as always worth the price of admission(as is J. Jonah Jameson & the rest of the Daily Bugle gang). Perhaps my fave stuff wasnt the Spidey action, but the montage of Emo-Peter under the Symbiote's influence. Just some real funny stuff there. It definitely is my fave of the series & has replaced Spidey 2 as my all time fave film(along with Ghost World). My only gripe was Venom never referred to himself as "We". Oh well.

Anywho, I'll update L8R after I grab my free loot at the comic store.

J-Food

2006-08-30T17:33:57Z

One thing I really miss about living in NYC is the easy access to all the good food...Japanese food in particular. When I look around where I live now & see the utter lack of variety of Japanese cuisine(oooh beef and the ever-so-vague oriental flavored ramen, wow...it's like traveling through a portal straight to Japan itself) I get all kinds of mopey. When I lived in NYC I had no less than 3 Japanese groceries all within walking distance of where I lived & worked & all 3 had all kinds of mouthwatering treats such as, an aisle of so many different kinds of ramen your head would spin(including real ramen, not the packaged kind), Fresh breads of all kinds & tastes(I miss Melon Pan & Cream Pan so much it hurts. I used to have that almost everyday for breakfast on the way to work & if I was lucky a Curry Pan for a mid day snack, yum...), Countless kinds of drinks(Canned Coffee for days), snacks(don't get me started on the candies), veggies, & tasty things like croquets, taiyaki, even the basics like sushi & so much more. Just writing about it makes me homesick...and quite hungry. I remember when I went back there last year I filled my backpack full of different breads & such, but alas I think I finished every last one off by the time I made it back to the hotel room.... Sigh. One of these days I'll learn to bake some of those style breads(since I can actually bake a fair amount of other style breads...thank you Mr. Bread Maker) & other dishes so at least I can share it with my family(& have a ample supply for myself...).

Along those lines, the Japanese bread fascination came from all things, a manga series(of course, like so many things from Japan I ultimately get hooked on). "Yakitate!! Japan" is a manga about bread making which was recommended to me by several different people & got alot of critical acclaim & I have to say it is an incredible series(one of the better I've read & that's saying something) & well worth the hype. Besides the great art & storytelling, it also just appealed to me on the basis of my insane love of baking. After getting hooked on it, I decided to try some of the breads & the rest they say is history(I bring this up now, because the manga series has just been brought over & is in stores now. Now all we need is the anime series & the licensed line of breads & we're good to go..).

Also along those lines part deux, the greatest DS game EVAH, Cooking Mama finally comes out next month. I can't wait. Eeeee!

Still working messed up hours, which is just kicking my ass all over the place. I hate working nights. I'm a day person. I kinda start to shut down after 8pm or so(the price of being an old geezer). It's at least starting to cool down a bit here(down the hill tho it's as hot & nasty as it ever was. meh).

Anywho, I need some coffee. L8R.

Sunday Rant

2006-07-02T22:21:40Z

Why do people feel the need to pass judgement on others? We all have our interests that make us happy & if they're not bothering any one else, why do some folks feel need to put others down? For the sheer sake of making themselves feel better? To make others feel bad about themselves? It's just a MAJOR pet peeve of mine. I was watching a couple of films over the past few weeks that dealt with this ranging from people who dress up as sci-fi characters, to kids who are considered "geeks", to those of one gender dressing as another because that's how they feel comfortable & all of them being ridiculed for it. Also I see it pretty much on a daily basis(heck, growing up I had to deal with it until I learned how to stand up for myself). Why is it acceptable for someone to dress like they're favorite sports hero, but ridiculous for another to dress as a favorite anime character? Think about it people, no matter how you slice it, it's the same exact thing. Why do we admire athletic prowess, but not artistc or intellectual prowess? Is there a difference? I'm not saying one is better than the other, on the contrary, I'm saying it's all the same, so why can't they all be admired equally. More so, why do we need to berate those who are artistic, or smart, or different? Why do we feel the need to name call or even so much as physically assualt someone because their ideals or hobbies don't match up to yours? It's insanity, yet that's what goes on day after day after day. Another case in point is this weekend's Anime Expo, where you will find a HUGE variety of people cosplaying, to which many people scoff & look down upon like it's some sort of sin. Why? Why do you care? How does this effect your life? Do you sleep much better knowing that you called some 16 year old "fag" because he dressed like Naruto or Inuyasha or Whomever else(I saw this many a time last year at AX)? Personally I admire someone who took the time & effort to craft an outfit by themselves & I see nothing wrong with them showing it off or proclaiming their love for a show or character they enjoy. What really set me off was one of the films I mentioned before, which was the Gwen Araujo Story. While I don't claim to be an expert about transgenders, I do know that these people are entitled to live their life just as much as you or me. If they choose to do so dressed a certain way or living their life as a different gender, than why does it bother you so much? Is it that you are so scared, so insecure in your life that it threatens you on so many different levels? Does it make you think thoughts that perhaps you yourself are ashamed to think? Same with people who are gay? Why is this still an issue today? If two gay people wish to get married, then why does it effect you? If two gay people raise a child in a loving home & two straight people are abusive & neglectful, guess where that child should be? Please oh please, someone invoke the bible...it's like the force in Star Wars, you just use it as an excuse when there's nothing else there. Trust me, if a straight man lived his life as a bad person & a gay man lived his life doing nothing but good, who is God going to accept? I've gone around this topic over & over again & I realize people are just too ignorant & stuck in their beliefs to change, but why then do they need to try & inflict these same beliefs on others. makes no sense. Once again I think it goes back to fear. If we don't understand it or it makes us uncomfortable(for whatever reason...cough, closet cases, cough) then we attack it & that my friends, no matter how you slice it is wrong. I could go on & on & on with this, but I think i made my point for now. What do you all think?

Updating

2006-07-02T14:59:41Z

I tend to forget this blog & just update the one at Myspace(even tho my intention was to post both here & there...ooops), anywho...

So I kicked off the Holiday weekend by taking an impromptu visit to the hospital. While I was conking out on the couch watch wrestling last night I had some sort of insane allergic reaction(they think, that or a bug bite) & I broke out in hives, my body started going numb, my vision got blurry, I started swelling up, became dizzy, lost all muscle control, & my heart started racing like crazy(in other words a typical Friday night). So I had to go & get checked out. They checked me over & gave me shots & meds & ran some tests & today I'm much better. Still woozy & a little weak, but better(quite a bit of a scare tho). I'm only allergic to one thing & had no exposure to it, so I have no clue what happened(I'll get some test results back hopefully sometime next week). Eeep. Worst part of it all is that I'm still itchy...scratch scratch(& a bit swollen too, I look pretty roughed up).

This week's obsessions(I'll add pic & stuff later when I'm more coherent)

Meg & Dia-This band continues to just rock my world. So good. If you havent heard them yet, what are you waiting for.

Ben 10-One of my fave shows & just all around cool. I wish they had shows like this when I was a kid, cuz I wouldve eaten up with a spoon(then again I'm doing just that now).

Law of Ueki-My current fave anime/manga series. I can't even describe how crazy good this series is, just take my word & check it out.. I loves it(& it has a good message too...recycle beeeyotches!!!).

Spidey 3-The Trailer. Must watch the trailer again...and again.

Young Avenegers-One of the best comics on the market. Everyone should be reading this. The artwork is phenominal(Jim Cheung is unlike any other artist out there, no one else can draw these characters like he does) & the writer captures Teen angst pefectly. Good stuff all around.

Anywho, I'm off to go collapse, so more L8R.

Allergies, Anniversaries, & Other Stuff

2006-05-21T17:57:06Z

I hate allergy season with a passion. There's nothing appealing about the ever running nose, non-stop sneezing, & eyes that are so watery/itchy/stingy you just want to claw them out & be done with it. It's especially bad for me since I'm always outsude with plants & such, so I get an all you can eat buffet of allegry ickiness. Meh...;p

Tuesday is Tera & mine's 2 year anniversary. That makes me smile. I'm amazed she has put up with me...for 2 years no less(Trust me I know I'm not always the easiest person to get along with). Just seems like yesterday she was cyber stalking me...;) Seriously tho, it's been a great ride(even with it's bumps & dramas) & I look forward to spending many more to come with her(as long as she'll have me...:) I do love her so(and trust me, I know there were alot of doubters out there, so hopefully at this point that's all said & done with). I'll be with her shortly & we can get on with our lives together...awww, how sweet...:)

I planted all kinds of stuff this weekend. One of these days I need to take some shots of the garden & such, because it's really coming out nicely. So much green...:) On the flip side, I had to do a bunch of weeding/raking this weekend...which is the unglamourous side of gardening. blah. Still now everything looks nice & neat. There is this one tree tho with HUGE thorns coming out of it from every which way that pretty much impaled me while I was planting some lavender underneath. I'm used to little scratches & such from it, but this time I just backed up into it without thinking & bam. That left a mark...:(

Along those lines, I went out & picked up a bunch of trash along the roadside by my house this weekend(I pretty much do it every weekend). So many people just chuck so much trash(bottles, cigarette boxes, wrappers, etc) so I try & pick as much of it up as I can. Just frustrating that people are such a-holes bout that sort of thing(How hard is it to throw your coffee cup in a trash can where it goes...). Sigh.

There's TWO Obsessions this week. First is Hitomi Shimatani. One of my fave singers(J-Pop or otherwise) & singer of my fave song Falco. I've been on a downloading frenzy lately & managed to update my library with a bunch of new songs by her.

Second is Scott Pilgrim. I've been re-reading these this past week & have the biggest grin on my face still. This is the best comic series...well pretty much ever. It made me fall in love with the art form all over again. Even if you despise comics & all they are you'll love Scott Pilgrim. With 2 books already out & the much awaited 3rd volume due any day now(as well as a really neat Free Comic Book day comic) this series can't come recommended highly enough. It's teh Rule!!! You can learn more about this wonderful little series here... www.scottpilgrim.com

Anywho, I'll update a bit more later(I have some drawings to scan & post hopefully by this evening). L8R..:p

Sleepwalker Rises from the Comic Book Grave!!!

2005-12-14T21:40:25Z

I have no idea what that title means. As I started typing something else for the title that popped up, so I figured I'd keep it...;p

Slow day at the comic shop. We had our morning rush after new books were put out, but now it's pretty dead save the occasional person wandering in. Everyone else took off to run errands or get food, so I'm left minding the store. Yay.

BTW, this week's top 5 recommended books are(in no particular order)...
1)Black Harvest
2)Local
3)The Further Adventures of One Page Filler Man
4)Teen Titans(Que the theme song...;)
5)Son Of M

8 Loooooong days until Tera's here. It's dragging right now, it really is. I miss her so much I just want here already. I really hope she has a nice time. It sucks I'm so caught up with work & such(curse you Xmas), but I'll do what I can to show her a good time...;) Seriously, I'm up for some all-night snuggle-thons, watching WWE, Making her yummy treats for dinner, long walks while she snaps pix(maybe she'll even take a few of me...;) watching Neko attack her, etc. I do love that girl so.

Work(besides the comic shop) is very hectic right now. I'm stressing about so mnay things & I ache & I'm exhausted & whine, whine, whine. I know. Still Holiday season sucks when you work retail. There's just no way around it. People are nasty & delusional(what do you mean you dont have the hottest item of the year the day before Xmas) & so help me if one more person rambles on about X-Box 360. Whatever...it's a sucky system. It'l like someone took an X-Box, stood it on it's side, spray painted it, & slapped a 360 sticker on it. Viola. Better wait for real advancements in gaming, be it PS3 or Revolution(drooool). Anywho, getting back on topic here, work stinks all the time, but more so at Xmas.

That's about it for now. More L8R.

Music 2 do things 2

2005-12-10T23:27:47Z

Day off...woo hoo!!!

So it's a lazy day, I washed the dog this morning, did laundry, then took some toys down to donate for the toys for tots thingie(they're collecting for that today down the street), & otherwise I've been just downloading some music, trying to get a little drawing done(finishing up Xmas card sketches, if you want one better let me know real soon, lol), doing other various geek stuff(reading funny books, tuning my YGO deck & making Tera a new one, etc...;)

Less than 2 weeks until Tera gets here....I'm bouncing I'm so excited, heehee..;p

Suggested Comic Reading-Hate by Peter Bagge. One of the best indy comics ever done. Half the series was done in B/W, the rest in color. Almost all of it has been collected in various forms(save the annuals). Funny, crazy stuff & one of my faves...:)

Random question(I posted this over at MySpace too, but I figured I'd do it here as well), what music do you make sweet love to? I'm just morbidly curious about people's taste in sex music I suppose...;)

Anywho, More L8R. Meep.

The New Beetle

2005-12-07T21:29:44Z

Oh...my...god!!!

Ladies & Gentlemen, your new Blue Beetle...

You may now begin drooling. Bwa-ha-ha.

Stalked by the Stalker

2005-12-02T04:26:11Z

Heh, that sounds like a Stan Lee made title...;)

Anyways, the creepy POS that's been stalking & harassing Tera & Myself was served with a nice restraining order today & in a day or so he'll be getting a even nicer violation of said order & be a headin' to court. I really don't understand the logic of going out there & spending your day trying to make other people's lives miserable by harassing/blackmailing/threatening them(then denying you are doing that & lying about everything else on top of it). Seems like such a waste of time & energy, not to mention it has taken it's toll on us both. Not in the way he would've liked(It didnt break us up or ruin the relationship), but she's stressed & upset. I'm stressed & hurt(to the point where at times it actually physically hurts, I've been having bad chest pains since all this started. I actually thought I was having a heart attack the other day). This person seems to think they're above the law & because they possess semi-decent hacking/computer skills(tho if he was so talented why does he have the same email account attached to every blog or im he opens???) that they wont get caught, meanwhile all he has done is dig his own sad little grave. Sad. I'll be happy when it's all over. I'll be happy when Tera is here & this BS will be nothing but a bad memory. meh.

Anyways, it's late & I have to be up & at work at the crack of dawn, so more L8R.

The other first entry...

2005-12-02T04:04:46Z

So hello world, this is me...

I used to be on LJ a looooong time ago, but I left, & now I'm back. The purpose of this blog is basically to just jot down things I might not jot down on other ones. This is more a "for me" blog as opposed to the ones I do on other sites(GJ, Myspace). I'll still post the usual entries I post on the other sites here, but at the same time if I need to rant or just write or post a pretty picture I drew or what have you, I'll do it here...:)