White Liars Wednesday: The End

This episode went up last Wednesday, but with all the Turkey-themed happenings not a lot of people have had the chance to watch it and I didn't have a chance to share it much. I enjoyed working on these 2 seasons so much. There were times when we were too hot, too cold, too tired, too sick, too sore, or too hungover to feel like filming another moment. But thanks to some hilarious writing and some awesome motivation and direction by our fearless leaders, we made it through. I'm so proud of all of the people I am fortunate to call my friends who contributed to this production; I was able to see everyone grow as artists and entertainers. I've never had more fun playing a character that nobody (and everybody) liked.  Thanks to Andrew and Neil for making me a part of this project. I will miss it!

So, without further ado, the final episode of White Liars:

Memory Lane Monday: Turkey Day Edition

Hi.
I'm back. Did you miss me? Sorry for the week-long hiatus, it was unexpected but necessary. Boyfriend and I went down south to visit his family for Turkey Day. It was an adventure. There were parades, families, friends, strangers, and a really big pony. Oh and giraffes. Seriously. The day after Thanksgiving, I turned into a 3 year old and totally got to feed a giraffe.

Giraffes are fracking HUGE, you guys.

And I saw a really really big pony.

It's really hard to see scale in this picture, but this horse was enormous!

And then I went on a wagon ride and I got horked on by a bison.

THIS bison. This bison hit me in the face with some sort of bovine bodily fluid from his nose/mouth region.

And then I was reminded by some signage that we were indeed still in The South:

Only in The South need we be reminded that alcohol and animals do not mix when entering a petting zoo ranch.

Some people go to "door buster" sales on Black Friday and spend all day fighting crowds and spending hard-earned money on shit they probably don't need. I spent Black Friday with my loved ones and a strange Mexican family on a rickety horse-drawn wagon while riding around a big-ass ranch and feeding semi-wild exotic animals pellets out of buckets and then Boyfriend and I both got doused with plenty of animal fluids. 

Those shopping people are crazy and totally missing out.

Happy Friday! Let's Wreck it!

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It's Friday! This means nothing to me. Weekdays no longer hold any bearing on me because I lost my job on Monday. It's all for the best, however. I loathed that job with every fiber of my being. It was clearly affecting me too. I've been ill more times and with far more serious illnesses this year than any other year I remember. I was so unbelievably unhappy at that job. Now, being unemployed comes with some stigma and a level of uncertainty that I am not usually comfortable with, but I have an awesome support system of friends and family, and I am mentally healthier this year than I have been probably in most of my life. I now have more time to dedicate to writing and acting and gaming; the beer glass is half-full, you guys!

So, Monday was a mixed bag of craziness. I went into work fully expecting to lose my job (I won't go into all the boring minutiae of why and how) and I was correct. But, I had my mental shields up and I took it with grace and dignity and I didn't let the devil my former manager see me cry. It wasn't how I dreamed of leaving this particular workplace, but it's also not the first time I've been "let go" or laid off or fired. No one likes losing their job, even if it's a job they hate. My ideal departure from this job would have involved me marching in the office, head held high and walking straight up to the devil my former manager's desk and proudly informing her that I was putting in my notice because I was offered a better-paying/kick-ass position elsewhere. BOOM! Put on notice, bitch!

Thanks OSHA

 But it didn't go down like that. Meh. So, I went home dragging the last 2 years worth of desk contents with me and I took a nap. Because I could. Boyfriend snuggled with me and when I woke up, the entire morning had felt like a bad dream.To cheer me up, and to remind me that he still loved me even though I was now a financial leech, Boyfriend took me on a date to see Wreck-it Ralph. 

Omagodyouguys! Wreck-it Ralph was so great. This movie was made for me. I needed this movie so much on Monday. If you are a gamer, or a Disney fan, and/or an actor and you haven't seen this movie yet, GET OUT OF YOUR CAVE!!! If you are a gamer, a Disney fan, and/or an actor, and you saw the movie and didn't like it, then there is no hope for you, I'm sorry.

The movie takes place inside an arcade inside the world of the arcade machines. The universe that the movie-makers created is astounding and wondrous. The story follows Ralph (played by the never-anything-but-amazing, John C. Reilly) who is a video game villain in the Donkey-Kong-esque arcade game, Fix-it Felix, Jr. The hero of this game is, obviously, Fix-it Felix Jr. (played by the always adorable Jack McBrayer) whose job is to fix the apartment building after Ralph wrecks it. Ralph is the villain in his game, but he feels unfulfilled as the villain because he's a "bad guy" but he's not a bad guy. On the 30th anniversary of his game, Ralph has grown tired of being lonely and never getting to be a hero, so he sort of snaps when he finds that he is not invited to the anniversary party that the other characters in his game are throwing, and vows that he will obtain his very own hero medal and bring it back to rub in everyone's faces. Thus, Ralph sets out on a journey to explore the other games in the arcade to get his hero medal. Along the way, he unexpectedly makes new friends, reveals the dark past of an arcade legend, and learns what it really means to be a hero. I won't spoil anything here because the movie is such a delight that it needs to be seen to truly be appreciated. 

In my humble opinion, Executive Producer, John Lasseter can do no wrong. When he stamps his name on something, I expect to love it. Wreck-it Ralph is no exception. The story is charming and full of so many nods to the gaming industry, it gives me goosebumps. The casting was also superb. Normally, I'm somewhat against big-name on-screen celebrities or talent being cast into voice-over roles just for the sake of having known names on the poster, but this movie was perfectly cast. The cast also included Jane Lynch (who I also think is amazing all the time) Sarah Silverman (who I normally cannot stand but, she is amazing in this movie) and my beloved Alan Tudyk (who I also believe can do no wrong, but he is SO amazing in this movie that I didn't even know he was in it until the end credits rolled.) Side note: if you don't like Alan Tudyk, you are dead to me.

The movie-makers seriously did their homework for Wreck-it Ralph. There are so many homages to old-school games and lesser-known aspects of the history of gaming.  The movie has heart and a sweet message, but also speaks to nerdy gamers and has tid bits of "potty" humor for the kids and the kids in all of us. But, my favorite part of this movie? Disney acknowledged that girl gamers not only exist, but that they are common and just as into gaming as boys! They showed this through "Moppet Girl," a character that acted as the audience's eyes in the outer world of the arcade. And clearly, someone at Disney reads my blog because they based Moppet Girl on me:

I'm totally in this movie, you guys.

I had a hard time coming up with things that I didn't like about this movie. Boyfriend pointed out that he really disliked one of the songs used in a driving montage scene, "Shut up and Drive" by Rhianna. To be honest I only vaguely remember the song in the movie, but after using my Google-fu and hearing it again, I have to agree with him that it is a bit out of place with the rest of the film. My friend Max also said he wished the movie had shown the inside of more games. I understand what he means, Ralph only travels inside a handful of other games, but there are so many subtle references to other games and their characters that I feel like if the movie took the time for Ralph to actually travel to other arcade games, the story would feel drawn out and stale. Plus, there is such a thing as too many montages, so even a quick montage of other games might feel like too much.

So, let's sum up! I lost my job. Meh. I saw Wreck-it Ralph. Yay! Cute and creative story, fun and funny, girl gamers are great! The End.

I give Wreck-it Ralph 4.5 out of 5 Panicked Q*berts.

P.S Ok, I was sort of joking when I said that Moppet Girl was me. But my Google+ clearly seems to think Moppet Girl is me when I do an image search. (I swear I did not make this up.)

White Liars Wednesday: Shit(bird) Gets Real

As Season 2 nears its end, things heat up for Tim and the former High Society Predators cast. Plus, Mary gets more than one line in this episode! She gets a whole slew of them!

 

Memory Lane Monday: My Ex Box

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We all have one. Some people call it "emotional baggage," but I like Ex Box better. Whether it manifests itself emotionally, physically, or metaphysically a la Scott Pilgrim, we all have an Ex Box that we sometimes carry around with us, or stumble upon when we least expect it. Some people (girls) keep physical trinkets of their relationships in a shoe box or keepsake box to look at when they grow old and grey with that person. I was a little more cynical in keeping my relationship keepsake boxes. I always kept them with the thought in the back of my mind that when (not if, but when) that person smashed my heart into itty bitty pieces, I would have all of this to remember them by. (And they say nerds have self-esteem issues.)

I stumbled upon an Ex Box while going through my closet at my Mom's house last week. It was filled with the usual stuff, old movie ticket stubs from movies I had forgotten that I'd even seen, cheap little trinkets and toys he bought me, some dried flowers, rocks and shells from vacations he went on without me, and his old toothbrush he used to keep at my apartment (gross.)  I laughed at most of the stuff in the box, but I was also amazed at how many memories came flooding back to me, and not many of them good. I smiled fondly at all of the goofy shit in the shoebox, but then when the rush of memories flooded my brain, I was kind of sorry I opened it. I remembered all of the things that made that relationship impossible and I sort of wanted that year of my life back.

But, then after putting the box away, the annoying memories subsided and I was happy that I was with my family and that I had a wonderful boyfriend waiting at home for me to return from my trip and that as much as I missed him, it's healthy to spend time apart.  I learned a lot about myself and my family last week, and I am grateful for it, as painful as learning can sometimes be. 


Wanna see a picture of the Ex Box?! I thought so. Behold, the last Ex Box I will ever have:

LOL Ex Box

You know, this post was a lot funnier in my head. Sorry, I had a bad morning IRL. I'll be better tomorrow because LittleBigPlanet Karting came out last week while I was away and Boyfriend picked up my pre-order for me, then he took me to see Wreck-it Ralph tonight, so lots more fun things are coming later this week for me to share.

White Liars Wednesday: Chariots of Fire

I'm still writing from the road, but for your viewing pleasure, a new episode of White Liars was released today. Things are getting hot for Tim, and...runny.

 

Election Day Edition

All politics aside, I hope everyone was able to or will be able to vote today. I voted via absentee ballot a couple of weeks ago, but I went with my sister this morning to her polling place mostly so I could get coffee that we don't have in NY and an "I Voted" sticker (which are apparently also not available in NY.) It's the simple pleasures in life, you know. Also, for your political viewing pleasure, I am re-posting my PAX East video interview with Jeremy Handel about his game Uncle Slam. As of this post, Romney is leading Obama in wins in the Slambowl on the website.

 

Memory Lane Monday: You Can Sometimes Go Home Again

I'm writing from the road this week, so my time zones are all screwy especially with the Daylight Savings time change. This is a short and sweet post.  I started to write this post on an airplane, but since we all know how I feel about flying, that didn't last very long. I'm visiting family in Colorado this week, staying in my old childhood bedroom. It's always strange to come home. In some ways it's like slipping into a worn pair of sneakers and walking around comfortably. But, it can also be like walking into a room and a a tidal wave of memories (good and bad) and feelings hits you in the chest and you almost fall over. Or maybe that's just me...

I was looking through closets and drawers for old pictures that I wanted to digitize for preservation and I came across lots of things that triggered so many emotions and long-forgotten memories. I came across things and said, "I can't believe mom kept this!" and other times I would find parts or pieces of toys and say, "Why didn't mom keep the rest of this?!" It's a funny thing going home.

I was amazed at some of the games and toys my mom kept for me:

My GameBoy and the only 3 games I could find.

My Rubbermaid tub of toys I decorated with TMNT stickers

Our old version of Risk circa 1975 (and yes, my made-up rule sheets were still in there!)

My Little Pony puzzles!!!

Star Wars Monopoly which, shockingly, no one ever wanted to play with me.

Original Trilogy on VHS! Not special edition! Score.

And to top it all off, my Yoda Pez dispenser complete with decade-old strawberry Pez candy. 
It molds you, know.

Well, that completes this trip down Memory Lane. Everyone remember to vote and no matter the outcome, be good to each other. I leave you with this:

You can go home again, but sometimes when you get there, your childhood candy is rotten. 
Or something else philosophical...
#ThingsYouCantUnsee