"Hey! Ming the Merciless looks a lot like Vladimir Lenin!"

~ ~ ~

It's taken me two full weeks to adjust to my new work schedule and it changes next week.

This will be a lot funnier if you've played Bioshock: Infinite. Also, language warning (for the kiddies).

The above is what I actually said to my mom after watching my niece star as Alice in a musical (?) and highly adapted fifth-grade performance of Through the Looking Glass. My niece was clear, projected well, and had life and emotion, and remembered all her lines, which easily made her the best actor of the evening.

Most of the time, though, I know Pixie and Imp were going "whaaaat?" about the story, because familiarity with the subject would've helped a lot, and TTLG isn't an easy book. It's probably been 20 years since I read it, and I don't remember much except "man, that was weird".

I now have two gnomes in Sims 3. And a new addition to the family as well.
( Pic under the cut, of courseCollapse )

I miss some of the dialog from City of Heroes/Villains. This was one of my favorites.

Freakshow Lieutenant: Don't front, money, how much a dis whack tech can we get?
Nemesis Officer: I assure you, my good man, Nemesis is most definitely "down with the street". Word up, my homie, as it were.

(aggroed)
Freakshow Lieutenant: This is whack, y'all!
Nemesis Officer: I most vehemently concur. A'ight?

I skipped this last week because because. Seriously, I just haven't done much crafting at all lately. But I did finally finish the fifth ornament. Two more to go!

( Pic of #5Collapse )

Not kidsafe or worksafe (language) but still funny.

The final chapter of the Pirate 101 review. Whew!

( Includes a twist ending!Collapse )

Gritty Reboots' version of Calvin and Hobbes. Not for little kids (it could be construed as a bit dark and scary for young'uns, but fine for tweens and up - Pixie said she wanted to watch the whole movie and was disappointed it didn't exist).



However, Gritty Reboots also has PBS Avengers, which is neat - the classic PBS personalities (including Carl Sagan and Bob Ross) in defense of learning.



They have a few other good ones too. Check 'em out!

Today I saw a Baltimore oriole for the first time ever. They're so beautiful.

Master List for 2013

Late April roundup for Big Year 2013: Chimney swift (spotted by Pixie) and a sharp-shinned hawk spotted by Dad as it flew right in front of him.

Master list is here. We're up to 66 for the year.

This time, we're all about the teaming.

( Okay, and levels of pay-to-play as wellCollapse )

For Imp's birthday (upcoming this week) he gets pets, because at age 10 he was promised gerbils. So we have gerbils!

( Two more of themCollapse )

The kids last saw it when they were way too young (like, 5 and 6) so I decided it was time for them to watch it for real this time, because there are many, many pop-culture references for that movie and you won't get them unless you've seen the movie. Pixie herself twice said "So that's where that's from!" during our viewing today.

Imp, however, had these thoughts:
"But why does she want to [go back to Kansas and] leave all her awesome friends?"
Everyone else: "Because she misses her family."
Imp: "But then her world will be black and white again! How can she want that?"

More Pirate 101 review.

( Including first missions, F2P, and friendliness of playCollapse )

If I had the money I would buy these for Imp's birthday right now! Instead we have to wait until next week... if we can hold out that long...

( Cuteness under the cutCollapse )

Last weekend while cleaning, I found some old sketches I'd done on the back of a to-do list. These were done sometime after 2004 but I'm not sure exactly when.

( Two pixCollapse )

Toly has wanted me to try Pirate 101 for some time now, and I've finally gotten to it. Beginning review beneath the cut.
( Read more...Collapse )

Has some bloody violence in it, so show to kids/coworkers at your discretion.