strange and random happenstance

Yarn! Ok, so, yarn is a very easy thing to start a hoarding addiction. No, seriously. You go into a yarn store and you think of all the projects you could do (99.9% of which you will never get to). Why do you think that there is actually a term for your hoard? It's called a yarn stash. Because it's a drug that gets a hold of you. Rowan and hand dyed, and specialty and on and on, oh look, this is alpaca. You want it all, for color, for feel, you to just have! So, in order to avoid my going crazy and blowing tons of money on yarn I didn't allow myself to even set foot in a yarn store till I had finished my tea dyeing and had the color palette set... ok, little fib, I was at Wisconsin Craft Mart, buying buttons, not yarn, and looked at the yarn for ideas and become very covetous, but only bought the buttons... a lot of buttons. But they're Steampunk and will be part of outfit number two... and I didn't by my yarn at that visit to the store, but I did go back...

Ok, so here is the color palette I'm working with. I would like a yarn with more than one color in it, so not a uniform brown, but with hints of the warmer cream and pink... maybe a twill thing going on. So, I was going to go to my uber elite, high end yarn store, but that way leads to temptation. Instead, having been to Wisconsin Craft Mart and seeing that they had tons of yarn and more in the nice mid-range selection that they do carry at the elite stores, but without any of the elite yarn temptations, I thought going back there was a better bet.

My visit also totally paid of! So, at the beginning of your pattern, they always recommend a weight of yarn... I kind of don't ever really look at this, I go for more the color or the feel than the recommendation, which I wouldn't really recommend if I where you, but that's just me. Luckily the yarn I fell in love with was a Worsted Weight (the recommended weight)! Ah, felicity, you are my friend. I picked out a very nice Encore yarn from Plymouth Yarns. Surprisingly, I chose a nice rich brown, instead of a more mottled yarn, this one has more of a color depth inherent to it that I just love. Like a dark brown with a lighter more molten chocolate brown woven in it. Also, not being pure wool, I won't be sweaty and itchy all weekend, which would not be fun!

The yarn was nicely priced at $6 a skein (aka ball o'yarn), and promptly upon making my choice I took apart the display. The owner of the store walked by and nodded sagely, dye lot, asked if I needed help and moved on. See dye lot is key! Most people don't tell you that all skeins have their dye lot on them. What this means is all the yarn with the same dye lot number where dyed at the same time and will therefore be the same. Because say you bought two skeins and didn't check the dye lots, then there might be a weird color shift, which you don't want in the least. So I was able to get enough of the right dye lot and skipped my way up to the register happy in my find and even happier when I got home and placed it on my outfit and it looked like they where made for each other! Now to get my knit on!

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

Labels: Plymouth Yarnes, Sartorial Sundays, Skein, Wisconsin Craft Mart, Worster Weight, Yarn, Yarn Stash

Lord Hasting R. Bobbins, Steampunk Lord and organizer of Teslacon, the definitive Steampunk Convention, took time out from his busy schedule (he is planning on taking us to the moon after all) to answer a few silly steampunk questions. Sadly, if you haven't already booked passage for Teslacon, all the tickets are gone into the aether... more than three months before the event without any guests announced yet! Though, I am curious as to who those guests might be.

Question: What is the definitive Steampunk book for you?

Answer: The Osiris Ritual by George Mann*

*George was a guest at last years Teslacon, and will be participating in Steampunk Summer starting Next Week!

Question: What drew you to this genre?

Answer: A friend.

Question: How do you take your tea?

Answer: Plain - with a little sugar.

Question: Must have sartorial accessory?

Answer: My bug lapel pin.

Question: Sartorial leaning: Street Urchin, Tinker, Explorer or Aesthete?

Answer: Explorer

Question: Top hat or bowler hat?

Answer: Please-Top Hat.

Question: Subgenre you most identify with: Boilerpunk, Clockpunk, Dieselpunk, Gaslight Romance, Mannerspunk, Raygun Gothic or Stitchpunk?

Answer: Diesel/Raygun

Question: If there was one thing that could truly exist from the world of Steampunk what would it be?

Answer: Dirigibles....

Question: If there was one element in the Steampunk genre you could remove forever what would it be?

Answer: Burlesque- I think it darkens the genre.

Question: Favorite movie or television series with Steampunk elements?

Answer: Q.E.D. - from the 80's.*

*Q.E.D. is a 1982 short-lived adventure series set in Edwardian England, starring Sam Waterston as Professor Quentin Everett Deverill (Q.E.D). The Professor was a scientific detective in the mold of Sherlock Holmes, and the series had a smattering of what would later be called steampunk.

Question: Preferred mode of transport: celestial, aether, terra firma or aquatic?

Answer: Airship - all the way.

Question: Favorite Queen to have had a diamond jubilee, Victoria or Elizabeth?

Answer: Please-Vicki.

Question: Victorian or Wild West?

Answer: Again...Victorian

Question: Would you like an automaton butler or ladies maid, considering that it might be the first step in the robotic apocalypse?

Answer: Butler- but I control the punch cards.

Question: If The Doctor showed up at your door, where would you go?

Answer: I go pee...doctors never show up anymore.

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

Labels: Dirigible, George Mann, Lord Bobbins, QED, Queen Victoria, Steampunk, Tea, Teslacon, The Osiris Ritual

1) The Virgin in the Ice by Ellis Peters - Finally found the sixth Cadfael book in the pretty editions I've been picking up at Half Price Books. Bought at Half Price Books.

2) The Occasional Diary of a Transtemporal Adventuress by Paul Magrs et al - Now that I'm getting near the end of Paul Magrs's Brenda and Effie books I am in desperate need of more Magrs, enter Iris Wildthyme, which thankfully I could get some of the titles on my Kindle. 99 cents yo! Bought at Amazon.com.

3) Iris Wildthyme and the Celestial Omnibus edited by Paul Magrs - Ditto above, though a little pricier, still, can't wait to read it! Bought at Amazon.com.

Ok, so now it's going to be a long list... because I had birthday money to spend! Really, my friends and family know me so well they know I get giddy with book vouchers!

4) The Second Empress by Michelle Moran - Which I have been dying to read for over a year, ever since Michelle's first French novel. Also, Target, because they have had her books as part of their book club, had signed first editions! Woot! Bought at Target.

5) The Far West by Patricia C. Wrede - Because I needed the newest and I believe final installment in her alt-west series. Bought at Frugal Muse.

6) Innocent Darkness by Suzanne Lazear - Steampunk book which I haven't heard anything about, but it was literally $4 at Frugal Muse. Bought at Frugal Muse.

7) The Edge of Nowhere by Elizabeth George - Elizabeth George's foray into YA found A MONTH early at Frugal Muse! Bought at Frugal Muse.

8) The Iron Wyrm Affair by Lilith Saintcrow - One of the Steampunk Books I've been dying to read, it is Steampunk Summer afterall... Bought at Barnes and Noble.

9) Geist by Pip Ballantine - I adored her two Steampunk books so I decided to give this a shot. If it's even half as good it will be awesome. Bought at Barnes and Noble.

10) The Unnaturalists by Tiffany Trent - See, more Steampunk, it's not just me having a Steampunk Summer, but the whole publishing industry! Bought at Barnes and Noble.

11) Aladdin and his Wonderfully Infernal Device by Tee Morris and Pip Ballantine - Was trolling Amazon and found that Pip Ballantine and Tee Morris had some other little epubs out there that wheren't part of the Ministry, so I thought I'd give them a go. Bought at Amazon.

12) Magic by Gaslight by Pip Ballantine - Ditto above. Bought at Amazon.

13) Chasing the Bard (The Fey with Us) by Pip Ballantine and Tee Morris - Ditto above and above. Bought at Amazon.

14) For Want of a Nail by Mary Robinette Kowal - Which looking at the Pip and Tee epubs, I stumbled on this one by one of my favorite authors, Mary Robinette Kowal, and I couldn't pass up the opportunity. Bought at Amazon.

15) Stiff Upper Lip, Jeeves by P.G. Wodehouse - Finally! The last Jeeves book released in the Collector's Wodehouse! How I adore these editions from Overlook Press and how I have waited to finish my Jeeves collection! Bought at Amazon.

16) Enter Wildthyme by Paul Magrs - Again, need more Paul Magrs! Bought at Amazon UK.

17) Wildthyme Beyond by Paul Magrs - Ditto! Bought at Amazon UK.

18)* My Lady Ludlow by Elizabeth Gaskell - Because once I read Cranford, I had to read the other short stories that the miniseries incoporated into "Cranford." Bought at Amazon.

*Means it's already been read

19*) Mr. Harrison's Confessions by Elizabeth Gaskell - Ditto My Lady Ludlow. Bought at Amazon.

20) Cards on the Table by Agatha Christie - So, one goal in my life is to have all the facsimile editions of Agatha Christie's books, because they are awesome, both as stories and as lucious editions. So, yeah, if you will notice, I bought a few with my birthday money... Also, if you really know your Christie, you will notice why I bought these ones, and it's not just that they're Poirot, there's a very important supporting character that I love. Bought at Amazon CA.

21) One, Two, Buckle My Shoe by Agatha Christie - Ditto. Bought at Amazon CA.

22) Five Little Pigs by Agatha Christie - Ditto. Bought at Amazon CA.

23) Mrs. McGinty's Dead by Agatha Christie - Ditto. Bought at Amazon CA.

24) Dead Man's Folly by Agatha Christie - Ditto. Bought at Amazon CA.

25) The Pale Horse by Agatha Christie - Ditto, also this one is your big clue. Bought at Amazon CA.

26) Curtain, Poirot's Last Case by Agatha Christie - Ditto. Bought at Amazon CA.

27) Palace of Stone by Shannon Hale - I've been so excited for this book. Princess Academy Sequel in the house! Also, because I don't know if school will let me take the time to see her on this recent book tour, I ordered a signed and inscribed copy from her book launch party at The King's English in Salt Lake! Bought at The King's English.

28) Murder Most Austen by Tracy Kiely - I remember reading something about this on the Jane Austen Centre's website because this cozy takes place durning their annual Austen Festival, so when I saw it at Frugal Muse I picked it up! Bought at Frugal Muse.

29) A Trick of Strong Imagination by Alyson Grauer - A new Ministry of Peculiar Occurances short story, which have become my monthly crack! Bought at Amazon.

30)* Chi's Sweet Home Volume 9 by Konami Kanata - Because everyone needs cute kitties in their lives! Bought at Amazon.

31) Diva by Jillian Larkin - Because I adore anything flappers! Sometimes it boggles my mind to think my grandmother was one! Bought at Frugal Muse.

Note on the bookstores:
Amazon.com - because sometimes, more often that not, your local Barnes and Noble didn't stock that ONE book you where looking for, and having prime means everything shows up so fast!

Amazon.ca - because sometimes you really want British books and don't want to wait or pay this shipping for the book to come from England so you look to Canada.

Amazon.co.uk - because sometimes you just have to bite the bullet and buy the book from England.

Barnes and Noble - the last big chain in the Midwest that everyone knows and loves or loathes accordingly.

Frugal Muse - local Madison, Wisconsin chain with two stores in town which sells both old and new books at wonderful prices (at a really steep discount for new books too) and is easily my favorite bookstore.

Half Price Books - chain store of used books where you can often get amazing deals, but whose prices are not quite half off anymore since they decided to raise their prices in a bad economy.

Target - Megachain that has everything, including sometimes they have good books.

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

Labels: Agatha Christie, Elizabeth Gaskell, Elizabeth George, Mary Robinette Kowal, Michelle Moran, Patricia C. Wrede, Paul Magrs, PG Wodehouse, Pip Ballantine, Shannon Hale, Steampunk

The Edge of Nowhere by Elizabeth George
Published by: Viking Juvenile
Publication Date: September 4th, 2012
Format: Hardcover, 448 Pages
To Buy

The offical patter:
"Whidbey Island may be only a ferry ride from Seattle, but it's a world apart. When Becca King arrives there, she doesn't suspect the island will become her home for the next four years. Put at risk by her ability to hear "whispers"--the thoughts of others--Becca is on the run from her stepfather, whose criminal activities she has discovered. Stranded and alone, Becca is soon befriended by Derric, a Ugandon orphan adopted by a local family; Seth, a kindhearted musician and high school dropout; Debbie, a recovering alcoholic who takes her in; and Diana, with whom Becca shares a mysterious psychic connection.

This compelling coming-of-age story, the first of an ongoing sequence of books set on Whidbey Island, has elements of mystery, the paranormal, and romance. Elizabeth George, bestselling author of the Inspector Lynley crime novels, brings her elegant style, intricate plotting, incisive characterization, and top-notch storytelling to her first book for teens."

Elizabeth George trying her hand at YA!?! YES!

Garment of Shadows  by Laurie King
Published by: Bantam
Publication Date: September 4th, 2012
Format: Hardcover, 288 Pages
To Buy

The offical patter:
"Laurie R. King’s New York Times bestselling novels of suspense featuring Mary Russell and her husband, Sherlock Holmes, comprise one of today’s most acclaimed mystery series. Now, in their newest and most thrilling adventure, the couple is separated by a shocking circumstance in a perilous part of the world, each racing against time to prevent an explosive catastrophe that could clothe them both in shrouds.

In a strange room in Morocco, Mary Russell is trying to solve a pressing mystery: Who am I? She has awakened with shadows in her mind, blood on her hands, and soldiers pounding on the door. Out in the hivelike streets, she discovers herself strangely adept in the skills of the underworld, escaping through alleys and rooftops, picking pockets and locks. She is clothed like a man, and armed only with her wits and a scrap of paper containing a mysterious Arabic phrase. Overhead, warplanes pass ominously north.

Meanwhile, Holmes is pulled by two old friends and a distant relation into the growing war between France, Spain, and the Rif Revolt led by Emir Abd el-Krim—who may be a Robin Hood or a power mad tribesman. The shadows of war are drawing over the ancient city of Fez, and Holmes badly wants the wisdom and courage of his wife, whom he’s learned, to his horror, has gone missing. As Holmes searches for her, and Russell searches for herself, each tries to crack deadly parallel puzzles before it’s too late for them, for Africa, and for the peace of Europe.

With the dazzling mix of period detail and contemporary pace that is her hallmark, Laurie R. King continues the stunningly suspenseful series that Lee Child called “the most sustained feat of imagination in mystery fiction today.”

This sounds so spectacular I can not wait!

Ashes of Honor by Seanan McGuire
Published by: DAW
Publication Date: September 4th, 2012
Format: Paperback, 368 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"It’s been almost a year since October “Toby” Daye averted a war, gave up a county, and suffered personal losses that have left her wishing for a good day’s sleep. She’s tried to focus on her responsibilities—training Quentin, upholding her position as Sylvester’s knight, and paying the bills—but she can’t help feeling like her world is crumbling around her, and her increasingly reckless behavior is beginning to worry even her staunchest supporters.

To make matters worse, Toby’s just been asked to find another missing child…only this time it’s the changeling daughter of her fellow knight, Etienne, who didn’t even know he was a father until the girl went missing. Her name is Chelsea. She’s a teleporter, like her father. She’s also the kind of changeling the old stories warn about, the ones with all the strength and none of the control. She’s opening doors that were never meant to be opened, releasing dangers that were sealed away centuries before—and there’s a good chance she could destroy Faerie if she isn’t stopped.

Now Toby must find Chelsea before time runs out, racing against an unknown deadline and through unknown worlds as she and her allies try to avert disaster. But danger is also stirring in the Court of Cats, and Tybalt may need Toby’s help with the biggest challenge he’s ever faced.

Toby thought the last year was bad. She has no idea."

I have such a weak spot for strong female leads urban fantasy...

An Apple for the Creature by Charlaine Harris
Published by: Ace
Publication Date: September 4th, 2012
Format: Hardcover, 368 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Charlaine Harris and Toni L. P. Kelner have selected the best of a rare crop of supernatural and urban fantasy stories from some of the greatest writers in the school, including a brand new Sookie Stackhouse story."

Of course I'll buy it because of the Sookie story... I'll probably regret it, but there you go. There are lots of other great authors contributing to this Anthology though, so here's hoping it's good!

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

Labels: An Apple for the Creature, Charlaine Harris, Elizabeth George, Garment of Shadows, Laurie King, Seanan McGuire, Sookie Stackhouse, The Edge of Nowhere

Knitting Patterns are quite literally another language that you have to translate in order to use. Well, maybe not literally... it's more of a short hand language that you have to get the hang of. When I was little, like in 6th grade or so, we went on a tour of our local court house, a hideous blue building with this weird light fixture outside that made it look like a death ray. I also think they showed us the holding cells... now that I think about this, how weird, and also, was my Catholic school trying to intimidate me? What I thought was totally awesome is my classmate Ryan's mom did Stenography. I thought it was so cool to see her type so wickedly fast and have all these weird symbols and stuff that looked like hieroglyphics actually be words. Why this recollection when talking about knitting patterns? That's what a knitting pattern is, weird shorthand that you have to translate into something real.

I always start my projects by reading the pattern thoroughly and usually writing it out longhand. For years I've thought it odd that books don't just write it all out, but then again, think of the paper saved and I'm sure there are those out there who can read it and it all translates in their head. Not there yet... perhaps one day. So, I'm starting with only doing the Sontag aka funny weird shawl first. Because I want to see how low it comes on my arm and then adjust or choose my wristband patterns based on that. Also, I might just fly by the seat of my pants and make up the pattern instead...

For me I started knitting when I was very very young. But for years all I could do was scarves, which resulted in tons and tons of scarves for everyone I know. Then once I started to learn to read patterns and design patterns, I thought how fun knitting is. I've done a few sweaters, but I'm always afraid to wear them. Therefore I stick to accessories; hats, scarves, gloves, and this pattern looks just up my alley. So, for the Sontag I'm using Kay's Tess D'Uberville Shawl, which if you want to you can get over on Kay's website, Natural State Knitting, it's under designs on the left hand side. This is a fairly straight forward pattern, I will cast on 5 stitches, and I keep increasing and increasing till I end up with 305 stitches... man, that is a whole heck of a lot of stitches!

Now that I have read the nice and easy pattern, it's time for me to go yarn shopping! What I will find is anyone's guess, but hopefully it won't be too expensive and everything will turn out as planned. Fingers crossed, next week: YARN!

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

Labels: Knitting, Sartorial Sundays, Shawl, Shorthand, Sontag, Tess D'Urberville

Brenda and Effie Forever (Brenda and Effie Book 6) by Paul Magrs
Book Provided by Headline Publishing
Published by: Snowbooks
Publication Date: September 1st, 2012
Format: Paperback, 352 Pages
Rating: ★★★★★
To Buy

Brenda and Effie are taking in the sights on the continent. Of course the sights happen to consist of an odd man obsessed with Opera and a hunchback giving them dire warnings. It wouldn't be a true holiday without something weird coming along and reminding them of their true calling as defenders of Whitby. Even if the hunchback is telling them to never return there. His insistence spurs them homeward where once again they will face their foes and keep the seaside city safe for another day. But there's a dark secret in Effie's past lurking beneath the Bronte Parsonage in Haworth that might destroy everything. There's also a Panda there too, he wouldn't want to be forgotten. Again. This will be their deadliest battle with revelations and danger, and hopefully a nice cup of spicy tea.

I love Paul's books. There's something about reading them that makes you feel like you're home. When I think of a happy place while stuck in the mundanities of real life I think of Brenda's little jewel box of a room at the top of her B and B. But what strikes me most about Paul's books is that he has a looseness to his worldbuilding. Things change, facts get a little distorted, the story of the moment is more pressing then the story that came before. While I am usually a stickler for a rigid adherence to plots and facts, there's something about Brenda and Effie that make this work. Brenda's inability to remember her past in anything other then bits and pieces might be one reason why this works, but I think the truth is far more complex and human.

The truth is that we, as people, aren't the best at remembering things as they happened. We change facts to fit our memories. We remember what is convenient. Of course we also remember in excruciating detail that which we would care to forget. Minds, always playing tricks on us, making what we thought concrete nothing more then daydreams. Brains are fickle, so why can't narratives of books be fickle as well? Stick to the general plot, keep some through lines, but don't worry about what came before or what will come after, just enjoy the ride.

This fluidity to his world has allowed Paul to make a greater universe that his characters inhabit. I love that people drift in and out from one book to the next, and not even within the same series, but within Paul's whole oeuvre. It's like that scene in one of the later Jasper Fforde Thursday Next books where Temperance Brennan wanders out of Kathy Reichs's books and right into his. But while the characters come and go they are never exactly the same. It's almost as if Paul has not only created this huge interconnected world, but also all these parallel interconnected universes where everything connects but it's always just slightly different. Just look to the Danbys... In Brenda and Effie Forever one of my most favorite characters from Paul's universes pays us a visit. Yes, I'm talking about Panda. I adore Panda. There's something so wonderful about this gruff little guy that I think he should just be everywhere.

Yet, despite Panda trying his hardest, the Brontes stole the show. Just the conceit that the Brontes aren't dead but are living in a secret base underneath Haworth? I can't stop laughing at this idea. The idea that they ran an unholy school set by fairy standards (a year and a day), seriously, this is brilliant. Oh, and sacrifices to the Brontes! How can this get better? How about add to that the "Charlotte's Angels" aspect that they were training up girls, including Effie, to be witches on the side of good. AND they were basically training Effie for the time she'd meet Brenda and have to kill her! So not only do we get this amazing humor, we get an answer to why, despite Brenda and Effie being the best of friends, there has always been an underlying tension. It wasn't because of men getting in their way or magic improperly used, it was their destiny to be adversaries, and I adore that instead of following their destinies they have both bucked them. They have decided to be what they want to be NOT what others wanted them to be. Isn't that the best message of all?

For a "final" chapter in their stories despite the amorphous nature of details between books we get several loose ends tied up. Mrs. Claus, Frank, a certain limo... we get an ending. But the truth is I don't want an ending. I am here to scream "MORE" like a petulant little five year old or a drunk Panda at a bar! I could read endless pages and pages of the gang just sitting in Brenda's garret drinking tea. There's rarely books out that revel in good people having a good time. Think of all the negativity being produced on pages and pages of books. I read to escape, to be taken on a ride, and as Brenda and Effie Thelma and Louise it out into the sunset, I want to reiterate how much I've enjoyed the ride.

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

Labels: Brenda and Effie, Brenda and Effie Forever, Bronte, Haworth, Jasper Fforde, Kathy Reichs, Mrs. Claus, Panda, Paul Magrs, Thelma and Louise, Thursday Next, Whitby

Jack of All Trades
Release Date: January 17th, 2000 – December 2nd, 2000
Starring: Bruce Campbell, Angela Dotchin, Stuart Devenie, Stephen Papps and Verne Troyer
Rating: ★★★★★
To Buy

At the end of the Revolutionary War, secret agent Jack Stiles is sent by Jefferson to the island of Pulau-Pulau, a French Colonial outpost in the East Indies. There he meets his British counterpart, Emilia Rothschild. Together they must thwart Napoleon's plans for world domination, as well as the island's Govenor Croque and Captain Brogard. Assuming the identity of a local folk hero, the Daring Dragoon, in order to protect their covers, Jack is able to foil any plan the Frenchies send their way. From rescuing Benjamin Franklin to stolen American gold shipments, getting hold of the Louisiana purchase documents, having a run in with Lewis and Clark, avoiding Blackbeard and the Marquis de Sade, Pulau-Pulau seems to be the hub of the French Empire, despite being a several months sea voyage from Paris.

This short run series staring Bruce Campbell was in the same campy vein as Xena and Hercules, which makes sense because it's the same production team as well as several of the actors. Bruce portrayed Jack as part Errol Flynn, part Three Stooges. Witty, sometimes bawdy, sometimes cringeworthy ripostes and sword play where the flavor of the day. A favorite among Steampunk aficionados for the wacky gadgets that Amelia was always cobbling together in her laboratory, from submarines to love potions, as well as the alt history. Yet the show goes beyond this cult fan base, I'm not just talking Steampunk here, but also Bruce's fan base, to be a broad historical comedy where everything is fair game from Napoleon being portrayed by the diminutive Verne Troyer, to a parrot, Jean Claude, being a secret agent, to Indiana Jones parodies involving the secret tribe of the WallaWalla Bing Bangs.

While it doesn't really surprise me that the show was cancelled half way through the second season, because I'm sure the premise didn't sound that fun to people. But I dare you to put anyone down in front of the tv, even the most sceptical, ie, my Dad for example, and by the end of an episode they will be loving it, and also apologizing for doubting you if you're lucky, after a few, they'll probably be singing the theme song along with you.

What drew me to the series, aside from Bruce Campbell, really, how can anyone not love Bruce Campbell*, was the historical aspect. I have always loved the time of the French Revolution, which had strong ties with the American Revolution, seeing as the French monarchy was bankrolling it. Yet, the idea that this little island in the East Indies, which is easily a few months journey from anywhere, has people coming and going like a French Farce just tickles me. Also, the nudge nudge, wink wink mentality of Bruce and his anachronistic references along with the blatant distortion of history just makes me giggle with glee. The fact that American History was formed by Bruce Campbell... now that's a show worth watching!

*Side not, I love Bruce Campbell so much that despite having pneumonia, which actually wasn't diagnosed till two days later, I bundled myself up against a cold Wisconsin winter and trudged forth to my local art cinema. The reason? Because after months and months of harassing them, My Name is Bruce was coming to the theatre with at least three sold out performances. While a Bruce Campbell movie is all well and good, the fact that the man himself was there made it so worth it. He just has a way with his fans. You can see he respects them, but there's also a slight snark there, especially when criticizing someone for not whisking the fake blood recipe in his book enough, that makes you love him all the more. Also, the movie was quite funny, but that could be the cough medicine talking.

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

Labels: Blackbeard, Bruce Campbell, East Indies, Errol Flynn, French Revolution, Hercules, Jack of All Trades, Marquis de Sade, My Name is Bruce, Napoleon, Pulau-Lulau, Three Stooges, Verne Troyer, Xena

I know I've used this picture before to signal the start of school, but this is what school feels like to me, the determined focus, yet there's still that fanatic hurry. If all things go to plan, this is my last semester of school... if I don't lose my mind and decide to go to grad school. I have been going to school on and off for basically my whole life, there was a one year gap from 1996 to 1997 wherein I refused to go to college, followed promptly by going to school after a year of seeing what a lack of education would have in store for me. I also had some time off from 2001 to 2002, but seeing as that was because of family members dying, I really don't think that should count. When I graduated with my BS in 2004 I said "no more school" followed quickly by me looking into grad schools and the like. I even took that blasted GRE.

I've been going to my current school since 2007, taking about a class a semester, so as I can still work and do my blog. It's going to be weird to be done... So, this semester I'm in Portfolio, which means, at the end I'll have a kick ass Portfolio of about twelve pieces to schlep around to get a job. But I know what you're all thinking, if she's so busy with school what about us? What about the blog posts? Don't worry gentle readers, I have prepared for this eventuality. I have been warned in advance that at the beginning of this class to say good bye to my friends and my family. You are that, but, so as I won't have to say good bye, only see you soon, I have been diligently working on making sure that I have blog posts ready all through December! That's right, I've been planning that far ahead!

What does the rest of the year hold in store? For me, stress and anxiety, for you, the conclusion of Steampunk Summer with many more awesome guests, including some original material from George Mann. Magrs Month for all of October, where I will review a portion of Paul Magrs' oeuvre, which is quite extensive, as well as having a giveaway and time with the man himself! The end of the year will be devoted to Charles Dickens, because you really didn't think I'd overlook 200 years of Dickens did you? So sit back and enjoy, I'll be here... just not here here. Oh, who am I kidding, I'll always be here responding to your posts!

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

Labels: Charles Dickens, George Mann, GRE, Paul Magrs, Portfolio, School, Steampunk Summer