Week of Videos

Hey Peeps!

So recently life has really hit the fan and splattered all over my living room and I have these crawling bug legs climbing all over my couch and arm hairs.

In reality, I had strep throat for a week before I was diagnosed (i.e. went to the Doctor’s after realizing that white spots on the back of my throat were not a normal sore throat thing and then the first test was negative and I had to wait two days for a positive test and antibiotics which are now making my arms feel like bugs are crawling on them. The impetus for the above graphic image.) During that fiasco I was working at my full time job, part time job, going to two classes a week, running this blog, and dealing with a family emergency of the this-is-not-good kind (are there emergencies that are good?).

Suffice to say when I missed two improv classes because of all of this, lost out on a day work at my full-time job, three shifts at my part-time job, and went to my voice over class a mere five hours after I was decontaminated of strep, the blog kind of went to the back of my mind. Today, after some four hours of sleep, invisible bugs crawling over my skin, a jug of caffeine, two donuts, and a few hallucinations (because of the lack of sleep) I realized I maybe needed to get my blog back on track for the next bit because while things have hit the fan they are currently still spreading about the room of my life and there will not be any other time to get this done.

For example, tonight after working for twelve hours I get to commute home for an hour, do laundry, pack for a last minute trip, splice together some recordings for a fantastic opportunity that came at a nearly impossible time, and hope against hope that my overly tired body lets me sleep for a few more hours than four seeing as I have another twelve hour working day ahead of me tomorrow. I also hope that my neighbors are not too upset that I forgot to turn off my alarm before I left as I woke up an entire hour before it was to go off this morning, decided to just get up and leave for work anyway… oops, and left the alarm to go off after I had left the building. But honestly, if that is the one thing I have forgotten to do in all of this, Yay me! (I’m not kidding about the hallucinations. For an hour there I felt like perhaps I was floating above my desk at work, having an out of body experience that felt like some kind of dream.)

I looked at my list of posts to go out over the next two weeks and was ever so grateful I have generally two weeks worth of posts scheduled before they go out. I used up about half of that lead during the illness and know I would use up at least that much in planning and executing a last minute trip. So, I made an executive decision to put up an easy week of Fun Videos I Found on the Internets. Generally these would all be posted in the same posting or at least on the same day, but I spread them out for the good of all, I assure you. I think these videos are funny, I enjoy subscribing to almost all of these channels (the Thor trailer is not really a channel I feel the need to subscribe to), and hope you enjoy them also. I apologize if my answering of questions has been spotty lately, but thems the breaks when you can’t win for loosing.

I love this blog, it makes me happy, and I know it makes other people happy. I’m sorry that this week will not be up to my usual snuff in the way of original content, but I do think some of these videos will make you laugh. My mantra for this year has been that Life is Too Short to be Un-happy. So, enjoy! Laugh at Vader and be happy!

Sincerely,

The Absurdly Nerdly Grrrl

[Edit: I wrote this post two weeks ago. Usually I go back and correct tenses, but decided to leave it as is. Life has been hectic. I'm working on getting things back on track!]

Happy New Year Everyone!

Happy New Year from Charlie and I. Charlie is my sister’s puppy,  but I thought it was a cute picture. He’s sitting on my toes. I added that snowman to cover up a piece of pizza. Not sure why I decided holding a piece of pizza would make for a good picture. It doesn’t.

Nodds & Nends: Cosplay, Snow White, Knitting, and a Rant

Don’t forget about the Blog Tour hosted by Itching for Books that I’m a part of for the next couple of weeks. Ingrid Paulson’s novel, Valkyrie Rising, is an excellent YA read. Check out the Blog Tour for more reviews, interviews, and giveaways.

Check out this awesome Snow White paper cut out of her putting the dwarfs to bed? Or waking up? Something. Anyway. It is cool.

Here is another Snow White print. The only thing I can think is that I’m pretty sure I would not want this guy with his hand up my skirt. And by that I mean I absolutely wouldn’t.

The amazing detail on this Alice in Wonderland Cake is just so delightful. This is why I love the internets. Thank you internets.

Perhaps my favorite find is this picture of several cosplayers in wonderful costumes enacting a (made-up) scene from The Little Mermaid. Lisa Fabio made the costumes for both herself as Ursula and Ariel’s.

And I stumbled across an article asking knitters to create 5X5 squares and send them to two authors (in February, so you have some time) who will then put all these squares together for baby blankets. They have swag for the person who sends in the most squares and a giveaway for getting the word out. So, get the word out and Knit for Charity.

By Loggie-log (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

And now I’m going to rant for a moment. So you don’t need to stick around all the important things have been posted. OK? You’ve been warned.

Some time ago the structure of my postings changed and I’ve been slowly working my way through a back log of old posts to come  under stricter guidelines regarding other people’s pictures. I’m not perfect at it, and I’m still learning, so I’ve given myself some room to be imperfect in this and to correct the mistakes I find. I’m mostly doing this because I want to avoid future legal repercussions.  But then I realized how many times I have to answer comments about how someone is amazed I’ve made something, even though I’ve posted a link to the original posting, put information on the picture to state who did the photo or amazing thing, and yet people assume I’ve done it. It’s like they didn’t even read the posting! I’m so super careful that I give credit where credit is due, I site to my sources, etc, and it seems to not matter! Uninformed questions that would literally be answered by reading the post and clicking on the links are frustrating to deal with on many levels. And I know this is the price to pay for blogging, but seriously I expect better of you internets. I expect better.

End rant.

Tag You’re It!

Recently I was “tagged” by a blogger here on wordpess, The Last Song I Heard, who writes about, well, the last song he heard. I’m one of those really obnoxious bloggers who waits until I have a funny response to taggings or awards before dealing with them, because I usually don’t really follow the rules and I just kind of do what I want with the raw material (as I see it). So lets all pretend we are playing leap frog tag (which was always my favorite version) and I may or may not follow the original rules.

CC Tnarg 12345 at the English language Wikipedia from Wikimedia Commons

The rules are as follows:

• Post the rules.
• Answer the questions set for you in the tagger’s post.
• Choose 11[ish] people to “tag” and notify them.
• Create 11[ish] questions for them to answer or use the same ones set for you.

Basically this is my first interview (from blogging) that I didn’t write myself. I feel soooo special.

By Hubert von Herkomer via Wikimedia Commons

Which colour would you say best represents you? [Edit: I didn't spell color incorrectly, that is how several of my readers and blogging friends spell the word. I guess they think the "u" adds a touch of flare? ]

I think currently I’m a marbling of colors. Everything bleeding together and mixing around, nothing really cohesive and settling.

If time and money were no object, what would you do with your life?

I love this question. Let’s pretend real life doesn’t exist, and go—> I would finish editing the book I started two years ago, with magic, because I would have paid whoever whatever to get Mary Poppins abilities and mind melding abilities to computers. Then I would just think of the edits and they would magically appear on the page. Then I would start writing the book I’ve begun outlining, basking in the glow of my first published book and the demand for more of yours truly. ;D

Trailer screenshot via Wikimedia Commons

What has been your proudest moment or achievement?

I left a sleepy little town stuck in the hallows of the Shenandoah mountains and fundamentalist beliefs about who people were supposed to be, and I headed toward adventure with hope and belief I would stay the same. Thankfully I was wrong, though I lost some hope along the way.

Why do you think you are on this Earth?

I’m pretty sure it is to tell my little three year old friend stories about Hannah, Anna, and Banana. At least I’m sure she thinks that is why I am here on the earth. (Don’t mock me about the names, I knew I was going to have to tell multiple stories of the same three girls and I wanted easy names to remember. She is always comes with with things like MahMahPapaya. Sheesh. Also, I did include Valchek the Robot. So, there.)

What do you consider to be your greatest strength?

My memory. Though my friends seem to see this as a character flaw. Go figure.

Who’s your best friend and why?

My best friend is Sara. I’ve known her since we were 11  years old. We met on a soccer field back when her brother was wearing red bandannas and pretending to be a pirate (actually, I think he still does this) and we played against 17 year old guys because it was a home school team and all ages played. Sara is still my best friend even though we live hundreds of  miles apart, because she is one of the few people with this great capacity to love unconditionally. When you have a friend who does weird embarrassing things because she thinks they are funny, it isn’t easy to just stand there and sigh as your face turns red. But Sara does this, all the time.

CC Pumbaa80 via Wikimedia Commons

How would your friends and family describe you? (Hmm, let me find out!)

Mom: Amazing. Brilliant. Beautiful. Straightforward. Honest. Responsible. Fun. Dependable. Witty.

Me: Thanks Mom!

Becky: Intelligent, witty, beautiful, precise, neurotic, opinionated, and sharp. Hows that?

Me: Perfect!

Megan: Kind, giving, black and white, fiery, intelligent, beautiful, and nurturing.

Me: Aww! I think.

If you could relive any one moment in your life, without changing a thing, what would it be?

It goes against my life philosophy to desire to be in the past. Every year of my life I strive to make it a better, happier year. Though 2012, has been thoroughly crappy, so maybe this isn’t really working for me? But there are two ecstatic moments I’ve had and they all relate back to Doctor Who. When I received a present from my best friend that included a Doctor Who/ van Gogh mash-up, I think I was actually speechless and didn’t breath for along time. Then just last night, I received some bookmarks in the mail, AND THEY ARE AWESOME. I was trembling with excitement as adrenaline rushed through me. I really wanted to jump up and down, but it was 9pm before I finally got home last night and even though my downstairs neighbor annoys me with his keyboard practice, I decided not to jump up and down that late at night. I would relive those moments in a heartbeat. Actually, I just did in talking about them.

Aren’t these the cutest awesomest things ever!!!

What do you hope to achieve with the rest of your life?

I hope to survive.

What legacy would you like to leave the world, or, how would you like to be remembered?

Some day I would like to get past survival mode and create something special that at least some people remember. Also, I’m purely selfish in telling children stories. I want to be their favorite Auntie Jami, so that I can crash at their homes when I’m 90 years old and my back finally gives out, because I have no desire to birth any retirement plans for myself.

Are you happy?

I’m pretty much one of those people who has several emotions in one day. I’m angry when people stand on the left side of the elevator when it is the walking side. I use some interesting hand cyclist decide they neither have to obey vehicle or pedestrian rules of the rode and sidewalk. I laugh my butt off in Improv class when one of my classmates has a really funny idea. I giggle incessantly when my father and I joke on the phone. And some moments, when I’m making up stories about Valchek the Robot and his Teddy Bear who needed a new coat, or when my nieces climb into my lap and say, “Read me,” or when one of them looks up at me after tearing an art project apart and says, “I’m happy,” I think, ‘Of course you are happy, DESTROYING SOMETHING!’ But then I realize, I’m happy too.

MICHAEL AND BEAR, SEASIDE by frail.deviantart.com

While Valchek is a giant robot who can fly and lives in a tree house, I thought this sculpture perfectly captures the little world my three year old friend and I have created.

Ok, as for my Tagging. I’m leap frogging over some bloggers I enjoy reading. If they see this tagging, awesome, if not, then Oh well. Please don’t feel obligated to do anything you don’t want to do. But hey guys, if you want to join the game, let me know if you answer my questions, because I am curious to know the answers (even though that wasn’t a word used to describe me, maybe it is too obvious?)

Picture Me Reading I talked a little bit about her blog yesterday, but you really should check out this reviewer!

Susan Geckle She creates some really fun art, you should check out her blog!

Weaving Light A fun photography blog!

Christian Mihai A published author who has a lot of great posts about writing and publishing!

The Batamon Blog A blog about Pokemon with original drawings!

Nashville Book Worm A reviewer of all the things!

Kips Thoughts A man who takes the time to think and write about it!

Bucket List Publications This woman is living my life’s bucket list! Damn her!

Crayons and Milk A crafting blog with some of the CUTEST STUFF EVAH!!!

Nerdy Book Reviews A fun nerdy blog following blog memes and posting reviews!

SciFi Spirit A nerdy blog centering on all things sci/fi!

Here are my questions.

1. Did you ever play leap frog tag or another version of tag as a child? Which was your favorite?

2. Did you keep a journal as a child? Do you still keep a journal or do you feel that blogging is like keeping a journal?

3. What motivated you to try blogging?

4. How has blogging differed from what you expected? How has the blogging community been different, for better or for worse, than you expected?

5. Contact a couple or more close friends and family ask them, How would you describe me? Post their answers for this question.

6. What surprised you most about the responses you got in Question 5? Do you agree with their assessment of you?

7. If you could travel into any alternate universe on television, in a book, or from the movies, what universe would you travel to and why that universe?

8. If you could have gone a fictional school you’ve read or dreamed about, which one would it be? [Question inspired by Claire Legrand]

9. Have you ever had a dream where you wish you could really go to the place or meet the people that your subconscious created? (I know there is a dream house I made up I would love to find in real life!)

10. When you wake up in the morning, what is the thing you are most looking forward to doing that day?

11. What do you consider the most unique thing about yourself?

Breaking Doctor Who News

Here is an awesome Teaser Trailer for the upcoming season of Doctor Who. I’m not one much for teasing, but in the case I’ll make an exception, because it is glorious! GLORIOUS! Thanks to Frivolous Monsters for the tip!

Tuesday Morning Turnabout

By New York Zoological Society (Picture on Early Office Museum), via Wikimedia Commons

So, yesterday on the internets I stumbled across this extremely informative posting about how using pictures on a blog (even with linking back to original sources and attributing the creator) is not considered fair use of the image, even if you don’t make any money from the blog. There will be changes to Absurdly Nerdly in the coming days in reaction to this posting and in response to how crazy hectic my life has gotten. I wont go into details, as I’ve hinted on it here and there, but I work approximately 60 hours a week. I do this in the summer because I can mentally handle it, but recently I’ve reached the limit of my emotional reserve (to the detriment of my real life friends) and I’m cutting back where I can.

I love this blog so much, and on line among my nerdy blogging friends and family is where I feel the happiest, so it is hard to cut back on what makes me feel alive. However, the bills need to be paid and my responsibilities need to be met and not shirked. Moreover, they need to be met with some sort of contented calm if not over joy. Like most people, change in my life is met by resistance, especially that not of my choosing, and there has been a lot of that this summer. I honestly try not to think about it too much, and continue to relearn what I learned in law school. If there is something you have to do, have no feelings about it. Take it day by day, hour by hour, minute by minute if necessary.

My life has gotten so hectic I no longer have any nerdy fun links in my queue, and I honestly can’t remember the last time that happened when I wasn’t trying to scramble around for future posts because of some emergency or vacation. I’ll still be here, throwing up my nerdy links of the day, but it will be in a truncated fashion. Except for rants and raves like this one, which has definitely gone on longer than it should have.

I just stared at the ceiling fan for five minutes because I don’t know how to end this post. And now I have light spots whenever I blink, which is making me blink more. This is a vicious cycle.

Maintenance Over

For now. I meant to get some more things done and linked, and blah blah blah. But as well all know, when you only have one day that encompasses your entire weekend (yes, I work six days a week), you have a lot less time to work on fun stuff, like your blog. I had high hopes and plan and a long list to do. I did one of them.

I also took a three hour nap.

So, you win some and you loose some.

Plus, my best friend flew in for the weekend and spending time with her is always a priority. Also, drinking is a priority. Especially after a long week.

Hope you all had a great weekend and enjoy Monday’s postings.

Maintenance

I need to do some blog maintenance. This means Absurdly Nerdly may be down for part of the day on Sunday while I wrestle with my computer. No cause to sound the alarm, those grunts are just my (very) suppressed tennis player coming out and lofting the ball back. 

Since, I normally don’t post on the weekends, I am hoping this doesn’t interrupt the flow of my blogging chi. 

Pop Up Library in NYC

Margaret, and unemployed librarian in NYC, had been working with the Occupy Wall Street Movement when she decided to to create a pop-up library with Adam, an architect also looking for work. Based on donated books, with their original collection from the occupy library collection, Margaret and Adam upcycled furniture into brightly painted pieces to hold their donated books. The co-creators are trying to activate the bus space in Brooklyn and give back to their community. If you want to support this cool idea, you can email them at rekstur@hushmail.com. [via Huffington Post, where you can watch a video of their interview.]

 

Get Your Charity On

Today my best friend informed me that she was glad to be interrupted with work emails. 

Me: Yay! I guess?

Her: It’s good. I was starting to give to charity

Me: ….

Her: Although it’s a good charity. One of my favorite authors runs a huge fundraiser every so often. He gets fantasy and sci-fi authors to donate signed books and other cool things.

Me: Sweet. What charity is this? I can put it up on my blog

Her: http://blog.patrickrothfuss.com/ Pat’s group is called Worldbuilders, and the charity is Heifer International.

Me: Just FYI, I know who Patrick Rothfuss is.

Her: I couldn’t remember. I thought you did.

Me: You always do that with him. It’s like you don’t want to share him. “My author.”

Her: Do I? Weird.

Me: Yes.This is like the third time we’ve had this conversation, maybe the fourth.  Every time you say, “So this author I like” or “I read this one author and… ” I think, “Oh its going to Patrick Rothfuss.” And it always is.

Patrick Rothfuss, a sci/fi writer, has put together a charity auction. He has gathered donations from other authors in to a lottery, every $10 dollars of donations means another chance to get your name drawn for one of these donations. The proceeds will be donated to Heifer International.

Heifer promotes education, sustainable agriculture, and local industry.

Go to World Builders 2011 Team Heifers and donate today (it’s the last day to donate for the auction) and they match 50% of your donation. Or buy The Tinker’s Packs and the proceeds will be sent to World Builders.

Give a kid a goat