Out of Sorts

I did a little redecorating over the weekend and cleaning. It’s a cozy and motivating little corner.

They also apparently ate my monster slippers as well. Those evil dragons. Any suggestions on names out there?

I’m thinking Stella and Zoe. ;)

Hey Guys and Girls, Aliens Residing on this Planet, Zombies, Unicorns and Trolls,

Did you miss me? Whatever the answer to the question, I just want to reassure you that I’m back. With the overabundance of things in my life, I had to step away from blogging as my cup overfloweth with things to do. Now, that I’ve finally gotten my stuff together, I’ll be posting again regularly. Aren’t you excited?

To celebrate my return to geekiness, I took a page out of Jeremiah Tolbert’s 365 Project and snapped a stylistic picture of gaming die.

See, isn’t that neat? I experimented with this while playing a Level 12 Soldier/Level 2 Jedi Guardian named Myra. I’m happy to report, she kicked some ass, instead of having hers handed to her, which usually happens when I tend to roll ones.

I recently upgraded my computer as well, and I’m thoroughly enjoying the fact that I can play games like the new Battlefield without choking on the scenery. It’s nice to be able to have a rig that will display the game as it’s meant to be played.  It’s odd to think that when I purchased my computer four years ago, it was state of the art. I am both awed and frustrated at the rate with which I’m swamping old components for new ones.

The best part is that my “ancient” system was gifted to my father. He is quite impressed with it’s speed. Buwhahah.

Never has an ad had so much emotional punch as this one. For something as simple as wearing your seat belt.

Please do.

So I had to test out the vocal capacity of my new microphone. I ended up getting the new THX certified Blue Yeti microphone. I try to do my best impression of Leliana’s Song from Dragon Age: Origins. It’s one of my favorite songs and my main goal was testing out the quality of the microphone on stereo vocals. What do you think? It’s not a perfect copy, but I think I do a pretty darn good job! I also have no idea what the words are, so I wing it in the end. Buwhahah.

Click “Leliana’s & Kate’s Song” to hear my rendition. The video below is for reference.

Leliana & Kate’s Song

Sorry about that previous post… here’s something to cheer you up.

• Just got home from listening to the Knickerbocker Orchestra and @neilhimself. The whole show was absolutely wonderful. So glad we went. #
• In NYC waiting for @neilhimself and the knickerbocker orchestra to start. the kids are awestruck. (as am I) #
• My eight year old wants to see Central Park — to see the Balto statue?? For a minute I was all on board when I thought she said Baltar #
• Heading down to NYC with 3 kids now instead of just the one to hear @neilhimself tonight. This should be uh, errr, fun! :) #
• RT @clarkesworld: Mid-month Clarkesworld Podcast: All the King's Monsters by Megan Arkenberg http://clarkesworldmagazine.com/audio_01_10a/ #
• RT @clarkesworld: Clarkesworld Magazine is open for short fiction submissions: http://bit.ly/61ZOS2 (new guidelines in effect) #
• I'm selling Girl Scout Cookies, I know you want some, they are so yummy. You can't resist them. (*she sings as she does the PB&J dance*) #
• Debating on making a deal with the devil. Don't know for what yet. I've already got beauty and wit. Maybe a lot of money… #
• Putting finishing touches on "All the King's Monsters" by Megan Arkenberg for @Clarkesworld Magazine. Will be put up on the 15th. #
• RT @MaryRobinette: Blantant Self-Promotion: For those of you Hugo voters, here are my 2009 publications. http://bit.ly/6ncHC4 #
• RT @blogwhatever: Whateverette: How to help in Haiti http://bit.ly/87b5bC #
• RT @pie_r_round: Pat Robertson makes the case for preventing stupid people from procreating: http://bit.ly/6gwVHT #
• Here have a nice airport security colonoscopy to go with your crazy. #
• To the idiots who say, "I'd rather have bag fee increases than a rise in ticket prices" — It's justifiably the same damn thing. Morons. #
• Wooo. Surpassed the 1600 dl mark for "The Things" podcast by Peter Watts over @clarkesworld Magazine! http://bit.ly/5UdVwP #
• Inbox = 0 — It's definitely a productive day. Have to drive to Boston later, though. :P #
• RT @mightymur: It looks like it might actually come out tomorrow. My first fiction to actually land in book stores: http://bit.ly/8B7Odn #
• Out of Sorts Post #fb: Review: Scenting the Dark http://anaedream.com/2010/01/10/review-scenting-the-dark/ #

…consisted of two minor things.

We got a car wash. There is nothing quite like three kids in the back of a silver CR-V as the automatic machine went to town, set to the music of the opening sequence of Star Wars. We all totally hammed it up. What was even more fun, was when the dryer started, it looked like we were navigating a field of stars at warp speed.

The second most awesome thing was coming home from a Girl Scout meeting. Lexie, Allyson and I all practiced our “evil” laughs. Presumably to get people to buy more Girl Scout cookies.

Aw jea, peeps. It’s cookie time.

The small little segue aside, most times, I really love being a geek mom.

Inspired by Genevieve Valentine’s post over at Fantasy Magazine, I give you a sexy Tim Curry. The Worst Witch was one of my absolute favorite movies when I was younger. So much so that it inspired me to ride around my front yard on a broomstick.

What?

I just realized I can get the movie at Amazon and I can’t wait to show it to my kids. Diana Rigg, Tim Curry and a little girl named Fairuza Balk who played a small and a big bwitch.

Oh, they grow so fast!

I’ve been on a mashup/remix kick a bit, I know. But I love how people experiment with music. It makes it all the more fun.

Have some “Celebrity Skin” by Hole

…and a more classic mash-up featuring The Police’s “Every Breath You Take” and Leona Lewis’, “Bleeding Love”.

Then way old-school with a little Aretha, The Beatles, and Elton John