Nina's Blog

The Perfect Time: These Rooms Are CLEAN!

{ November 21, 2010 @ 11:40 AM } · { Uncategorized }
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I can’t tell you how amazing it feels to finally have a clean home again. I’ve been working four to five jobs for the past few months, some of them 14 hours a day– so needless to say my home has been a place to close my eyes for a few moments. I’ve only been there long enough to toss stuff on the floor and change.

Yesterday I finally picked up and cleaned the place, did the piles and piles of laundry, and redecorated my room. Sigh. It feels so nice to see the floor!

I’m not a neat freak or anything but I do like a clean place. I admit I get lazy and when I’m exhausted and busy I get really lazy when I’m not working. So yes.

Also looking forward to the Thanksgiving Holiday. A little extra time off before things get a bit busy for me again. Time to buckle down and tear into Elysium again. I’ve really missed it.

And on that note the quote of my month: “There is no perfect time to write. There is only NOW.” -Barbara Kingsolver

Kitty Cats and Jack the Ripper

{ October 24, 2010 @ 9:15 PM } · { Uncategorized }
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So I have a brand new roommate– and while Vanessa is relatively new, my newest roomie is of the kitty cat origin. He’s been flown in all the way from Puerto Rico. When Vanessa went home for a visit she brought Jack the Ripper home with her. While she calls him Jack, I’m trying to get him to respond to “Ripper”. He seems to be responding to both amazingly well.

Yes, I’m bent on spoiling this little feline. He’s 6 years old, pretty darn cuddle friendly, and he uses the toilet. He doesn’t know how to flush yet, but we’ll work on that.

So in honor of Ripper finding his new home here’s a “Talking Cat” video to make you chuckle. Meet Sylvester and Gibson. Gibson’s just learned his first word. Enjoy.

Octoberween…

{ October 5, 2010 @ 5:40 AM } · { Uncategorized }
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I have returned! Why have I been gone so long, you ask? Well really it’s the complete overhaul of Elysium Underground that has had me missing in action and now the daunting of the Halloween shall whisk me away until November! Bwahaha… but I’ll find time to post. It’s always cathartic.

So YES! EU is back up and more will be rolling into action soon. Thanks bunches to Ry who has been great trying implement everything we wanted. So keep an eye out for new character bios maps and all manner of flash stuff that will be filtering in in the next month.

Mara and I spent this past weekend at Saboten Con and were excited to meet and introduce new people to our project. They in turn gave us great inspiration and ideas for Halloween. I’ll post some of the October creations here for you all to see.

I know this hasn’t been the most exciting of any of my posts, but I promise more ribaldry to follow. Until then: eat, drink, and don’t be eaten by zombies!

When It Rains It Pours… Blood?

{ February 14, 2010 @ 10:39 AM } · { Fruit from the Random Tree }
{ Tags: Alan Tudyk, Browncoats, Bruce Campbell, Dale and Tucker, Evil, Firefly, future, Horror, husband, movies, Serenity, weird } · { Leave a Comment }

Well, February’s been an interesting month thus far and not all the surprises have been stellar, but I’ve survived thus far, and some things turn out better than others. Lots of changes going on, but I’m getting back into the swing of things, one of which is checking out some great horror films.

Lately they all seem to be more “Saw” movies and remakes of classics like “The Crazies”. I’m looking for stuff more along the lines of Zombieland, Shawn of the Dead, and Repo the Genetic Opera. Luckily I found a few that make me want to do the horrific happy gore dance.

While there is yet no trailer I look forward to the beholden of sequil for My Name is Bruce. It is entitled “Bruce VS Frankenstein”. This will be a must see. I still do enjoy a good viewing of Bubba Ho Tep–so this makes me giddy.

My "future husband" Waving to Me Via Photo -Thanks Taco

The one that makes me itchy to see premiered in January at the Sundance Film Festival. It stars my future husband (according to my friend Taco) Alan Tudkyk. I was in Chicago visiting my friends and family during the holidays when Alan strolled into my place of employment. Taco apparently informed Mr. Tudyk that I was his future wife then took a picture so I would know he came by. I’m told that Mr. Tudyk will be by again some time to meet “his future wife”– this should be an interesting future.

Curse my introducing Taco to Firefly and Serenity. This is where he get’s these weird fantastical ideas.

Alas back to the horror movie at hand. The name of this fine flick that I cannot wait to see is called “Dale and Tucker VS Evil”. Check out the trailer below then come see it with me when it’s available via full release or DVD. We’ll make popcorn. No, I mean, really. It will be epic.

I’ve shown this to my fellow LA parts of LAD and they agree–tis a must see. Join us, will you?

Too Close to Home

{ February 1, 2010 @ 8:43 AM } · { Fruit from the Random Tree }
{ Tags: dark, elysium, Episodes, happy, light, mace to the face, math, new year, underground } · { Leave a Comment }

That’s right, still working on Episode 5 or really it’s become Episode 6 — I’ll explain that later. I seem to finally understand why this episode is so hard for me to write. Yes, it’s my first real episode to do on my own, but it’s so different from the character norm. It’s emotional and almost painfully draining on those emotions.

I do dark and sad, which is fun– I do love a good dark story. But to do a whole episode of dark and sad with a character that’s so full of sweet and usually happy is almost painful at times. I mean, one of my favorite characters to write, this episode should’ve been a breeze– but I find myself dragging my feet.

Maybe it just hits too close to home. The new year didn’t bring the goodness and light that I was hoping for (yes even in that first month) and that’s life. Things happen, and the bad only makes you appreciate the good even more… but living in some of the badness and then writing even more badness– Bad+Bad=More Bad and remember, math is hard. Ha!

Anyway, I’m starting to hit my stride again. It’s a new month and things are alway darkest before the dawn. We like the dawn with it’s light and shiny brightness… unless you’re a vampire, but then that’s not really a problem. That’s a skin condition for the dead.

Well, I’ve ceased making sense so I’m going to stop. Hopefully my next post won’t be as rambling or only sensical (it’s a word… I made up) to myself.

A Geek Prayer

{ January 5, 2010 @ 10:13 PM } · { 1, Fruit from the Random Tree }
{ Tags: Buffy, creativity, Dead Like Me, Doctor Who, fandom, Firefly, Geek, Heros, Invisible Man, Pushing Daisies, Quantum Leap, Torchwood, Tru Blood, TV, Vampire Diaries, Venture Brothers, Wonderfalls, X-files } · { Comments (2) }

Being a “geek” isn’t the stigma it used to be. With the invention of the interweb, the groups of usually anti-social or socially awkward people have found a voice and a way to communicated with like-minded people. Now, don’t get me wrong. I’m social–when I’m around people I know, but sometimes I find myself terribly shy. I’ve gotten better at social over the years–my job forces me to it.

But some of my good friends, I’ve met because of the internet. My friend Dave and I met at a Save Angel rally. Stephanie, Lee, David, Denise and Liam I met via the Serenity boards. I just stood in one of these friends weddings for Steve’s sake! We all met and became friends over a fandom.

I’ve recently come to the realization that I’m starting to run low on fandoms. It saddens me. Back in the day you named it I loved it: Xmen, The Big Easy, La Femme Nikita, X-Files, Millenium, Quantum Leap, Invisible Man, Buffy, Angel, Firefly, Tru Calling, Heros, Dead Like Me,Wonder Falls, Pushing Daisies, Dollhouse, Doctor Who, Torchwood, Venture Brothers, Dexter… it was a hayday! Now while there are a couple of shows that keep me going– I feel like there’s nothing to watch on TV anymore. Nothing for me to get excited about.

I can’t abide any reality-based TV. I just don’t do it (unless you count Myth Busters, Ace of Cakes, or Top Gear).

The vampire queen is kind of over vampires. I can’t get into the Vampire Diaries or Tru Blood. Heros has lost it’s sheen. Supernatural is too hokey. Most of the shows I did love only lasted a season or two, or on the verge of ending. I cling to the three or four shows I still get a twinge of happy when I know they’re on. I just find myself just not looking forward to anything on TV anymore. I guess I miss the days I’d sit down and make a point to watch a show and tell my friends I’d murder them if they bothered me during my show.

So this is my call to the TV Gods. Bring back the kind of shows I love! This doesn’t mean rehashed Total Recall or Terminator– give me something my imagination can latch onto. I need real romance and drama… maybe with space or supernatural. Give me a real twist! Not 90210 with over done themes. No more contests and Hollywood paparazzi. Well scripted drama! Thank you and Amen.

With a Heavy Heart

{ December 20, 2009 @ 10:50 PM } · { Fruit from the Random Tree }
{ Tags: Christopher Eccleston, David Tennant, Doctor Who, goodbye, Waters of Mars } · { Leave a Comment }

David Tennant as the 10th Doctor

UPDATE POST END OF TIME 1 & 2

Though I still teared up watching Tennant regenerate, I have to say… I was a bit let down with the episodes. It had some great bits, but over all it seemed forced and I felt it was too trite… however I still feel like I’ve lost a friend when we lost the 10th incarnation. I’m done rambling now.

——–

So today I watched the Doctor Who special “Waters of Mars” and all I can say is I’m sad to realize David Tennant’s reign as the 10th Doctor is coming far too quickly to an end than would be to my liking. I’ll admit, I adored Eccleston and was a little sketchy about getting used to a new doctor quickly. We’d only had Eccleston a year after all. Needless to say I found that I loved Tennant as the Doctor in his first Christmas episode, and while other people think of good old Tom Baker as their doctor, Tennant is definitely my doctor. He made Doctor Who a geek-girl passion for me.

Christopher Eccleston as the 9th Doctor

Only time will tell if the 11th Doctor fits into my heart, which I’m sure he will in a new way. I have faith in Davies and Moffat– but only time will tell.

So with a heavy heart, I perused YouTube and found some brilliant little videos that seem to help say goodbye to 10 .

I look forward to watching both parts of End of Time, until then I will bid an early goodbye to our 10th Doctor, brought to life by David Tennant. Thank you, you were truly fantastic. Allonzy!

It Means “One” In Spanish

{ December 14, 2009 @ 8:39 PM } · { Fruit from the Random Tree }
{ Tags: Chicago, family, Game, Uno } · { Leave a Comment }

Ah the good old days. I’m sitting here in my mother’s kitchen on my quick jaunt to visit Chicago-land this year. Yesterday I had a few friends over, including Ms. Mo, and we started a good old skool game of Uno. Now it’s been years since I’d played, but watching one pass around the circle, I fell right back into how simple the game was. It’s designed for kids after all. Colors and matching numbers–pretty to the point, right?

Well easy to play doesn’ t mean for a quick game. The game took about 3 hours–and would’ve probably lasted far longer if we didn’t all start to cheat just so someone would win. We’d come close a number of times… including my sister getting called on not declaring UNO when she was left with one card. Auds looked puzzled as we shouted, “You didn’t call Uno draw four!”

“Why would I do that?” Auds said, “Oh! Uno means one in Spanish!”

There was also the diagnosis that a yellow and blue card both of the same number doesn’t equal a green card, and that all my friends including I are number blind. Yes, it’s a new illness. Forget color blind. Number blind is the new issue–there will be a ribbon and a charity to follow soon.

While it’s all funny to me, I realize I’m terrible at relaying the story so anyone else (who wasn’t there) would never be able to decipher it. I should end it here. But in the mood to play Uno? Check out this keen fun free online version.

I’m so gonna play right now.

The Best Movies We’ll Never See

{ December 2, 2009 @ 11:02 PM } · { Fruit from the Random Tree }
{ Tags: Batman, DC, Grayson, Green Lantern, Hal Jordan, House of Secrets, Joker, Nathan Fillions, Superman, WB, Wonder Woman } · { Leave a Comment }

Okay so I was in my comic shop today and was chatting with Eric about the newest Joss Whedon comic endeavor: Dr. Horrible. He’d mentioned he’d never experienced the phenomenon , so I said I’d be happy to lend him my DVD. Seems like a usual day at the House of Secrets.

Fillion as Hal Jordan? I could see it.

Eric then asks if I saw the Nathan Fillion Green Lantern Trailer. What is this!? I wonder, and he YouTubes me up the best two minutes that make me wish it were a real movie. It’s a fan made trailer, done surprisingly well and makes me wish that Hal Jordan would be brought to life like this.

I thought this was the coolest and would like to share it with you now. The link will open in a new window. Enjoy!

Green Lantern 2010 – fan made trailer

Batman's been murdered and we need answers

This is another one of my favorite “fake” trailers that’s been circling around the net for a couple of years, called Grayson. It’s about Robin, and what takes place after Batman is murdered. It’s so beautifully put together and scripted it makes me wish I could see it–especially adding to it Babs, The Joker, Superman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, and the lot. The link, again, opens in a new window.

Grayson – fan made trailer

Psychosis & Creativity

{ November 24, 2009 @ 9:33 AM } · { 1 }
{ Tags: block, creativity, inspiration, psyche, psychosis, Writing } · { Leave a Comment }

Ah the inspiration faeries have abandoned me! Or at least sometimes that’s what it feels like. I’ve been having a wicked case of writer’s block the last week and a half and it’s driving me batty. I WANT to write. I do! But I just sit at the computer staring at the screen for hours. Then I write a few lines, maybe a paragraph or two then I stare at it again… and delete most of it. Or, you know, all of it. Tis frustration abounds.

Now I know I’ve had a lot on my plate for the last six months, and this month is no exception–what with my regular family life and job being askew as usual. I’m hoping for some good news on those fronts, which may help in my writing dilemma.

Maybe it’s a classic case of TV sitcom plot. I am writing episode 5 as we speak–okay at present which I’m stuck on. While I don’t want to give too much away and spoil anything it deals with family. Maybe the story hits a bit close to home at the moment which is why my brain is stalling. Maybe it’s stalling on purpose? Ah, the psyche is the craziest thing…

In any case, tonight I try again. Maybe a nice dinner of TJ’s (Trader Joe’s in this case not TJ as in TJ Wolfe) Garlic Chicken & Pasta stir fry and a glass of white wine will grease the creative wheels. We can only hope.

Wish me luck.

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