Advertisement

Customize
marysgarage1
09 July 2009 @ 07:51 pm
Steampunk: Sewing  
For some insane reason I decided to make a Victorian style outfit for the large Labyrinth of Jareth Masquerade LabyrinthMasquerade.com. The fact that there is a Steampunk theme is just a bonus. I was creating an outfit to go with my tiny hat that I love from WonderCon and the new waist corset I bought at the Ren Faire. I do not sew if I can help it, but I do sort of know how. I have this gorgeous red & black fabric I have been saving. I went to my Mom for help. She is more like a foreman at this point. She used to be a professional Seamstress, but at 85 is long past sewing anything. I found a skirt pattern in her old box of patterns. It said Size 24? What does that mean? The pattern is from the 1970's so we could not decide what 24 actually meant. I decided to go ahead and use the largest size 24. The skirt needed room to have lots of undergarments & underskirts. It is accidentally & perfectly huge! I worked on this skirt every other week in May and June. At this point AX and CCI is taking up all thoughts so a "free" time day is rare. Plus the Elders in my life would not hear of it.
Chris & I did a lot of "parts" shopping. He was looking for goggles, lights, leather and gears. I was looking for masks, fans & jewelry. The bad thing is our costumes are going to end up costing us a lot of money. We had a few hits & misses with our choices. The good thing about it is that we have a lot of alternate items for other costumes.
One great thing that happened was Robin invited me over to Pam's house. She has her sewing machines set up all the time. Robin introduced me to the best sewing machine ever...a Surger. I wanted to kiss that machine. Robin re-did all my skirt seams and added lace at the bottom in no time. It was great! She did some other cool stuff including adding red & black to my formally white hat. Glee! This Saturday the 11th is the Labyrinth of Jareth Masquerade. I will post pictures afterwards.
Tags:
 
 
Current Mood: accomplished
Current Music: Michael Jackson: Smooth Criminal
 
Leave a comment
 
marysgarage1
09 July 2009 @ 07:49 pm
Rants & Randoms: Michael Jackson  
Jon Stewart is a genius. He referred to yet another Senator caught with his pants down. Quote, "Conservative Mind with a Liberal Penis"  Which leads me to...

Some Senator had the nerve to talk about Michael Jackson being a pervert. I disagree. If I had that much constant scrutiny by the media for 40 years straight I would seem a little weird myself. But my complaint is that currently I would not leave my child alone with a State Senator. Senators are the Biggest Perverts Ever!

I was shocked to find that I do not own any Michael Jackson music on CD. I had every cassette. I have the History Music Video DVD that I like to watch, but no CD's. Now it is going to be a pain, but I NEED his music.
Tags: , ,
 
 
Current Mood: sad
Current Music: Michael Jackson: Smooth Criminal
 
Leave a comment
 
marysgarage1
09 July 2009 @ 07:48 pm
Aunt Mary & My Mom  
I was at Anime Expo all weekend long thanks to carpooling. I called my Aunt up Monday morning (7-6) to let her know I would take her out shopping on Wednesday morning at 11:00 and that she also had a 2:00 Eye appointment. She said okay, but sounded kind of sullen. She wanted to know why no one called her on Sunday? July 5th was my Aunts birthday. Whoops. I let her know I was out of town all weekend. She said, "Where?" I said Los Angeles. Explaining Anime Expo to her would do neither of us any good.
After I called my Aunt I called my Mom to give her the Tuesday morning shopping slot. Turns out my Aunt called her days earlier and asked my mother to think about something. My Mom was a little worried about what my Aunt was going to say since her mannerism was very rude. My Aunt has the Gaul to say, "What have you ever done for me?" My Mom being a cool cucumber says, "Okay, I will think about that...Goodbye." My Mom told me my Aunt sounded like she was itching for a fight, but she was not willing to take the bait.
Tags:
 
 
Current Mood: irritated
Current Music: Domina
 
Leave a comment
 
marysgarage1
09 July 2009 @ 07:47 pm
Snoring  
I played a tape of Chris' snoring just so he understood what I have been fussing about. He has a new understanding of how my world sucks & blows! He started wearing the nighttime nasal guards for me. It was wonderful at first. Now they do not seem to work so well. I am going to have him stop using it for a week, then try it again. I have had several things I use stop being effective before. It was damn annoying then, but I will find a way around this now.
Tags:
 
 
Current Mood: tired
Current Music: Domina
 
Leave a comment
 
marysgarage1
09 July 2009 @ 07:46 pm
Comic-Con Season is Divorce Season  
Arguments & Fights just happen due to high stress levels. Plus sarcasm does not translate well into email form. So I would like to say...If I type anything that can be taken two ways, take it the "good" way. Even if I am telling you to go Frak Off, I might be kidding. Really.
Peace!
Tags: ,
 
 
Current Mood: stressed
Current Music: Domina
 
Leave a comment
 
marysgarage1
09 July 2009 @ 07:44 pm
Star Wars Death Star Lego  
I saw the new SW Death Star play set this weekend. It is $399.99 and gorgeous! I think this is the first time I thought a huge Lego set was worth the huge price. It has all these great sections & rooms. More figures than the average play set, 24 little characters! Then I noticed something that no man is willing to admit. The Star Wars Death Star is a Dollhouse for Dudes. Look it up on the Lego site #10188. I do not have the $400 bucks for this awesome set but if I EVER see it on clearance I am all over it!!
Tags: ,
 
 
Current Mood: amused
Current Music: Domina
 
Leave a comment
 
marysgarage1
30 June 2009 @ 12:19 am
SciFi Channel Good, SyFy Bad  
When I first found out about the SciFi channel years ago I was so excited. I love all things science fiction. Space Westerns, Aliens, Drama, Comedy and any genre has the potential to convert to science fiction. My love of the channel went on for years. I used to watch the Bionic Woman & the Bionic Man during the days I was home. Dark Shadows, Firefly, Stargate, Eureka and Doctor Who eventually found their way to the network. Then as they got better so did the shows up until Battlestar Galactica blew everyone away. Finally non-SciFi fans were interested in science fiction. On the heels of 5 great years of programming SciFi sells out. A non-SciFi fan is now in charge of the entire network. I realize all companies need to make a profit, but to hire an admittedly non-SciFi fan to run a completely SciFi channel seems like a bad idea. I would never hire a grumpy old lady to care for kids, so why would anyone else hire the wrong person for a job? All of us who had doubt have now been proven right. There is Pro Wrestling on the SciFi channel. There is James Bond on the SciFi channel. Normal and obvious shows that should be on the SciFi channel are NOT. The Star Trek & Stargate cartoons should be playing at some odd hour of the evening or maybe Saturday morning, but they never are. I can see James Bond on at least 3 other channels at any given time, why on earth is it on a science fiction channel? Ghost Hunters is not my favorite show, but at least it is within the realm of SciFi. To add extra salt to many a wound the SciFi channel has changed its name to SyFy. I pronounce it Sif-Fee. I know it is supposed to be SciFi, but it is not. Science Fiction fans tend to be slightly more well read then the average TV watcher and I can assure you that SyFy is not a word!
I am amazed that they would consider alienating their core fan base so thoroughly. I have seen the clips for some of the July shows. Their nighttime line up is okay, but everything else is horrible. Eureka, SGU & a few others is all they have. Stupid stupid Sif-Fee
Tags: ,
 
 
Current Mood: infuriated
Current Music: Hey You What The Fuck Is Wrong With You!?
 
2 comments | Leave a comment
 
marysgarage1
30 June 2009 @ 12:14 am
School: Summer  
A: I had been waiting for the school to send me a Summer School notice but it never came. I thought it had something to do with the severe budget cuts going on in San Diego schools right now. A few weeks ago I asked Matthew to Man Up and go to the Office and find out. He said he was not on the list to attend. (Which is true). What I did not find out until later was that Teenagers are expected to sign themselves up. WTF!! If a kid is dishonest enough to lie about their homework for an entire semester (or year) what would make a school think that the kid would voluntarily sign themselves up for Summer School? WHO IS THAT FUCKING STUPID?

B: Summer School enrollment is full. They told us to come down on the first day and see if there was an open slot. Mr M and I head on down Monday morning at 7:15 (6-22). There are kids everywhere!! It seemed almost like a normal day, which is scary. Mr M gets a number and waits. All the pre-registered kids go in to class and the rest keep waiting. There were 200 teens just sitting around trying to get in to summer school. Only about 15 extra got in. Mr M was #47. Well that was a waste of time. It worries me that so many students needed to attend but there were not enough Teachers to go around. If we do not get more of these kids to pass a class they may grow up to be the people in charge of budgets and then we really wont have any money. Lack of knowledge breeds ignorance.

C: No child should have to attend school in July & August. It is too dang hot. The only thing they should be doing is laying in a pool, throwing water balloons while shooting a water blaster under a sprinkler. I know school districts want to change things around for financial reasons but doesn't running the air conditioning for 2 months solid cost more? Silly administrations are not looking at the big picture...again.
Tags: ,
 
 
Current Mood: thoughtful
Current Music: Michael Jackson
 
2 comments | Leave a comment
 
marysgarage1
30 June 2009 @ 12:11 am
Movie Review: Moon  
Just saw "Moon" last week starring Sam Rockwell. It is an excellent Science Fiction movie! It is not a space western or an action special effect movie. This is all about story and plot lines. Kevin Spacey plays the voice of the computer :-)  For some reason the couple behind the 4 of us needed to discuss theories out loud...multiple times. Shut Up! Despite their thoughtlessness we all enjoyed the movie and recommend it to everyone.

Tags: ,
 
 
Current Mood: content
Current Music: Michael Jackson
 
Leave a comment
 
marysgarage1
30 June 2009 @ 12:10 am
Movie Review: Bad Seed  
I saw this movie for the first time in June and I LOVE IT!! It is such a perfect little suspense horror classic. Evil little blond girls are so much fun to watch. I could not take my eyes off her! I do not like modern horror movies because they are bloody & gooey. This classic never shows you a thing, yet you know what happened! Watch it even if you do not like creepy blonde kids. Bwahahaha.
Tags:
 
 
Current Mood: bouncy
Current Music: Exterminate Annihilate Destroy
 
1 comment | Leave a comment
 
marysgarage1
30 June 2009 @ 12:07 am
Rants & Randoms  
Licorice, Red Vines & Twizzlers are three different candies and don't you forget it!!

Surprise visits are supposed to be good. However when your June & July is as busy as ours it messes things up. We can only be in one place at a time. Nothing except a Teleporter could have helped to solve the problem.

My Aunt says her Nephew is coming to town in a few weeks. He MIGHT take her back for 1 month in New York and North Carolina. She does not know if she wants to go. Why the hell not? It has got to be boring here, take the blasted trip if at all possible! Of course she could just be making it up. Sigh.
Tags: ,
 
 
Current Mood: calm
Current Music: Michael Jackson
 
Leave a comment
 
marysgarage1
30 June 2009 @ 12:05 am
Kentucky Fried Asian - KFC  
Kentucky Fried Chicken has been spouting their new "Grilled" chicken on TV commercials. Several groups of people show up on screen in normal clothes, but when they get to the 2 Asian guys I get confused. They look like sushi chef rejects. Why are they so very ethnic and everyone else looks like a totally ordinary American? Anyone else notice that?
Tags: , ,
 
 
Current Mood: cynical
Current Music: Assemblage 23: Damaged
 
Leave a comment
 
marysgarage1
24 June 2009 @ 08:05 pm
Girls Guide to Comic-Con, Balderdash!  
Did you happen to read that silly little article in the LA Times (6-12)? I refuse to post a link. I will paraphrase: "Girls go to see big media panels with hunky movie stars or cute TV stars." That is all. Balderdash! Men & Women alike prefer to see attractive people. No shock there. But Damn It, women help run Comic-Con! Women Help Run Everything! Until fairly recently, the last 10 yrs, CCI did not even have a lot of flashy media events that these imaginary "girls" are going to see. It always had something awesome, just not so many. Since this is the 40th Anniversary I would like to ask the lazy writer of that Fluff piece what he thought "Girls" were doing at Comic-Con the previous 30 years?
I would also like to ask the LA Times writer some basic logic questions based on stupid stereotypes they are helping to promote. I'll take it slow so they can follow along:
#1 Where is the best place for all Geeks & Nerds to meet? Answer: Conventions like Comic-Con, Anime Expo & E3.
#2 When people with similar interests meet they tend to date & eventually marry. Doesn't this usually require a girl? Answer: Yes, Girls Rock!
#3 Where do Comic-Con attendees come from? If Geeky men are the only ones who attend Comic-Con who gave birth to them and who are they dating? Answer: Geeky parents! Once again this usually require a girl.
#4 Who do you think reads all the female lead comic books? Answer: Everyone, not just men!
#5 Who do you think reads all the Harry Potter, Dresden Files, True Blood books before they were ever put on film? Answer: Everyone!

I did want to wait until the CCI schedule was posted online before I commented on this silly article, but my rant could not wait. There are plenty of legitimate panels & programs that are totally female centric. But I thought I would focus on just a few of the couples or teams. There are several well-known husband & wife teams including:
Gene & Majel Roddenberry who, before their deaths, did more SciFi than just Star Trek. Look it up!!!
Phil & Kaja Folio who produce Girl Genius - http://www.studiofoglio.com/girlgenius.html
Batton Lash & Jackie Estrada who produce Supernatural Law: Wolff and Byrd, Counselors of the Macabre - http://www.webcomicsnation.com/supernaturallaw/index.php
Richard & Wendy Pini who created Elfquest. At the time this wonderful universe was created they were a husband & wife team. They are still creating - http://www.elfquest.com/
Clamp is a prolific female Manga group from Japan. Their work is Great and it is not just for women - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clamp_(manga_artists)

There are so many more examples of women artists, writers & filmmakers the list is wonderfully endless with possibilities. I attended my first Comic-Con in the very early 1980's and I assure you I was not the only woman in the building at the time. In 2009 I am literally surrounded by other women. Yea, Girl Power!
Tags: ,
 
 
Current Mood: aggravated
Current Music: Exterminate Annihilate Destroy
 
3 comments | Leave a comment
 
marysgarage1
24 June 2009 @ 08:04 pm
Aunt Mary & Meds  
I took my Aunt out on Tuesday (6-16). It was a pretty standard shopping trip. Of course my Aunt had to add a little crazy zest to the mix. She decided to take her prescription bottle into CVS. It is unusual for her to even want medication so I was willing to take her. A simple phone call would have done the trick but noooo. I let her know we will go to the Pharmacy first, since I know they take forever! I pull into the CVS parking lot and Aunt Mary asked me a question. So like a fool I attempted to answer her. I asked did she want to stay in the car while I dropped off her refill? She asked me how long I would be inside? I said I was not sure since I did not know how many people will be in front of me.  Which got me the oh so lovely response of "Just Shut Up Already". Thankfully my hide has thickened up over these past 5 years, so a little thing like that had no effect on me. I simply replied, Then stop asking me questions that require answers.  Aaaah Aunt Mary
Tags: ,
 
 
Current Mood: apathetic
Current Music: Assemblage 23: Damaged
 
1 comment | Leave a comment
 
marysgarage1
24 June 2009 @ 08:02 pm
Relationships: Force of Nature?  
At first I thought, "Why oh why do people try to change their mate?" Not easy or small changes that happen naturally in any relationship. Like nose guards for snoring or no longer drinking straight from the carton of milk. Living with a new person takes some adjustment. I'm not talking about that. I mean major changes that some expect and eventually demand from a new mate.
I am attracted to a certain type of guy, but I would never marry that type (and I didn't). The same thing that makes them so fun loving, adventuresome and sexy is damn annoying in a relationship. "Dear Man, I am very excited that you like to hang out on the side of the mountain from a rope, but I am down here trying to give birth to our child could you please come down?" When the person you are dating is really into their vehicle, do not be surprised that after you are married they are still really into their vehicle. If you meet me at a Convention and find out I like to go to one every few months, do not dare act surprised that I still want to go after we are married. If I wore sexy clothes when we were dating, but later you want me to look like a Mormon commune escapee, forget it!

Just to be fair there is the opposite problem. Couples get "comfortable or lazy". I think this is a major contributor to "the seven year itch". They used to dress nice, but now that only wear sweat pants. They used to exercise, but now they park their car as close to the door as possible for fear of taking 5 extra steps. Almost everyone gets upset when their mate looks longingly at some hottie who walks by. That is natural, but is it the other persons fault that you have not maintained yourself to your original high standards? No, do not lie to yourself and start the blame game. If you do not want to exercise be honest about it. But do not get mad when your sleezy ex-mate runs off with a younger version of you. It is not all his or her fault? Did you really try all that hard to keep him or her? Humans spend a great deal of time shooting themselves in the foot. I know because I sabotage myself far to often. Fortunately not all the time! My wish for everyone is that we all get our acts together. Whatever that may entail.    Peace
Tags: , ,
 
 
Current Mood: contemplative
Current Music: Gwen Stephanie
 
3 comments | Leave a comment
 
marysgarage1
24 June 2009 @ 08:01 pm
Comic-Con Time: BC, DC & AC  
Anastasia & I were having a discussion and she noticed we kept refering to things as Before or After Comic-Con. I decided I needed to write a little note about BC, DC & AC.
BC = Before Con: June is the time for Comic-Con preparations to be made. No lowly worms, not in July. By July some things are too late. For Example any changes in Diet or Health need to start in June. Taking Vitamins & going on a diet should start early in order to do a person some good. It takes 12 days minimum for a human being to form a habit. A good habit or a bad habit takes 12 constant days of nurturing. Occasionally I have taken vitamins and gone on diets that did not agree with me. The only way to have enough time to correct that sad problem is to start early. I am also attempting to sleep 7-8 hours instead of 5-7 hours. Sleep it key.
DC = During Con: We all know what happens during Comic-Con. Mayhem, Fun & Insanity.
AC = After Con: Is all about Inventory & Recovery. The viewing of the items you acquired during the convention in a nice peaceful setting, instead of a hotel room is fabulous. Comic-Con is physically and emotionally draining. Those lucky people who do not get Con Crud still need recovery time from CCI.
I am sure there are a zillion things I could say about this subject, but right now I am very happy to be in BC time. Comic-Con is coming way too fast.
Tags: , ,
 
 
Current Mood: relieved
Current Music: Corrine Bailey Ray
 
Leave a comment
 
marysgarage1
12 June 2009 @ 12:33 am
Steampunk: Chrononaut & Machina Fatalis  
Chris & I went to our first Steampunk party on Friday (6-5). As it turns out it was their first event. It was for all ages from 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm. I will talk about it more later, but I just wanted to say we enjoyed ourselves at Chrononaut: San Diego's First Steampunk Club Night. It was a short get together but good. I am sure they will have more events in the future. We counted around 65 people in attendance. Chris & I worked on parts before the party. I decided to make Gear Pins and Chris made a Derringer. The pictures do not show how cool his gun is. The lights are not showing up in the photo. Plus the wings on my gear pins flap. I made a silver pin for my tie & a gold one for my bag. I was a Newsie & he was a Gent with no affiliation. Some of the people there are very into it and have full blown characters & names. We did not go that route. We just dressed up and had a good outing. The next party we attend demands complete costumes. I guarantee I will be talking about that later with pictures in July.
SteampunkGear6-09
Steampunk6-09
Tags: , ,
 
 
Current Mood: happy
Current Music: Niyaz: Dilruba
 
Leave a comment
 
marysgarage1
12 June 2009 @ 12:27 am
Aunt Mary & the Letter  
Aunt Mary calls me Monday and asks me if I am taking money out of her bank account? #1 I am still really insulted when she asks me questions like that. #2 IF I had taken money from her why would I be honest about dishonesty? #3 IF I had taken money from her over the last 5 years I would have fixed my whole house by now.  So being a glutton for punishment, I say, "No and asked what caused her to think something is wrong with her account?" She said some vague crap. I said something equally vague and then hung up. On Wednesday morning before I could call her, she awoke with a mission. I immediately derailed her rant and killed it with kindness. I promised to bring her a sandwich and come over later to look at "the letter" dun dun dunnn.
I get to her home and make out her bills. She says she was really upset and she called her nephew and told him about "it". She says the letter threatened her. I ask my Aunt if she still has the letter? She actually did & toddled off to get it. She brought back the scary letter from Wells Fargo dun dun dunnn. At the top it says, "Monthly Statement" dun dun dunnn. I skim the whole thing and it is exactly what it says it is, a Monthly Statement. I let her know that. I also remind her that I have told her about her Monthly Statements many many times before. She is still in a tizzy and I try several times to calm her down. I am never sure why her reverse mortgage paper sends her over the edge every 4 months or so, but it does.
Tags: ,
 
 
Current Mood: drained
Current Music: Assemblage 23: Damaged
 
Leave a comment
 
marysgarage1
12 June 2009 @ 12:26 am
Life Lessons: Money  
Save some money. I hate to save and I love to spend it as soon as I get it. This is bad and I know it. I have managed to get myself to save over the decades with the promise of a spending spree at the end. For Example: I save money for Comic-Con a few months out so that I have as much in reserve as possible. I do not like to use credit cards for things I "want" only things I need. For Example: I save for Frank & Son trips because I know spending will happen! Saving money is one of the most ridiculous things I do. Why? Because I do not have a regular 9-5 paying job. Saving money out of thin air is difficult. However if I can manage it why can't the rest of the country...including the Government?
Tags:
 
 
Current Mood: Thrifty
Current Music: Niyaz: Dilruba
 
Leave a comment
 
marysgarage1
12 June 2009 @ 12:22 am
Rants & Randoms  
Joke - Yo Momma is so old she enjoys long walks on the beach after she crawls out of the ocean and grows legs.

According to a commercial 1 out of 4 women cannot read a traditional pregnancy test. My point is 1 out of 4 women was stupid enough to get pregnant.

Never let anyone stand between You and God. Especially not stupid misleading people.

Double Stuf Oreos are good for me. They trigger my guilt and I eat better later.

Why is it that most nudists are people you don't want to see naked?

Why does one trip to Frank & Son offer very little, but the next trip has so much stuff that I cannot even get it all!?

Interesting question I borrowed:
If you saw ME in the back of a police car what would you think I got arrested for?
Reply to me, I want to see how many crimes I get accused of.
Tags: ,
 
 
Current Mood: pensive
Current Music: HexRx
 
Leave a comment
 
 
 

Advertisement

Customize