Monday, July 25, 2011

Classic paper hearts


Guest post written by Catherine Beck

I watched a bunch of 80s movies last weekend and it got me feeling pretty nostalgic for when I was much younger and still in school. So I thought that I would go a little bit further on that note and make some classic paper hearts for some of my family and friends.

I guess that might sound a little weird for a grown woman to make those and give them to people, but I'm doing it in an ironic way. My friends and I love doing stuff like that. So I went online to find some inspiration about how to make them really cool and grown up looking. While I was online I came across a http://www.satelliteinternetbroadband.com/and after I looked through it a little bit, I decided to switch over my home internet service to it.

I had some scrap printed paper left over from some projects I did over the Christmas holidays and used that to decorate each satelliteinternetbroadband.com/. But I also pulled out the trusty old glitter and used it sparingly. It wouldn't be a paper heart without glitter!

The Ring Hunter

As most of you don't know, this book hunter began hunting for a ring a few months ago (the real amount of time is much more than a few months, but yeah. Let's not go there). Sadly, I've turned up with nothing. Instead, I've seem  to acquired more books - mostly graphic novels.

Anyone want to recommend a store? Preferably one not found in a mall. 

While we're on the subject of jewelry, the other day I was shopping for shoes when I saw a display of watches. The prices were cut ridiculously low. I turned to Jyg and asked, "Who wears watches anymore?" And with that, I answered my follow up question of why they were so low. 

Jumping back to the original topic at hand - the ring. The ring. The engagement ring. I originally wanted something with a black diamond, but her idea of perfect is the typical - i.e. boring - white diamond ring. Why a ring? Why can't I buy her an engagement bracelet instead? Be a little unique, you know, like our love. I don't think it'll fly. But I never expected it to.

Sunday, July 24, 2011

The Book Hunter Returns

Three stolen bats and a baseball glove, I'm back. Sort of. This season is taking it's toll on the book hunter ladies and gents. Unfortunately, there isn't much to update you all on. A task has made itself apparent, but it's not searching for any deals on books. If anything, it's doing a little research. 

A man showed up this morning looking for some photographs the stadium may or may not have. He played on a little league team back in the day - somewhere around the early 80's  (this was before I was born, apparently). The Edinburg team - which may or may not have been called the Broncos - played against a team from Vera Cruz, Mexico. The latter team went on to be immortalize in a film released a few years ago.

I told him that I'll ask around to see if the stadium still has the alleged photos and call around to archives to see if there's anything on the books - I always wanted to say that. Not to mention search online for him. I'm hoping this works out. Hopefully, Mr. Elizondo will be of some help. Otherwise, until next time. Keep on huntin'.

Monday, July 18, 2011

The Book Hunter Goes Shopping

Summer buys
I've already mentioned a lot of these books and read most of the ones featured on the bottom there. However, I do like to list what I've purchased.

  1. The Bride Collector - Ted Dekker
  2. Moment of Vengeance - Elmore Leonard (free)
  3. The Zani Murders - Kelly Fero
  4. The Mammoth Book of Zombie Apocalypse! - Stephen Jones (editor/creator)
  5. American Short Fiction (publication, not a book)
  6. The Silent Girl - Tess Gerritsen (currently reading)
  7. The Crow - J. O'Barr
  8. Son of M - David Hine (writer) and Roy Allan Martinez (artist)
  9. Spider-Man: Maximum Carnage - (too many to list)
  10. Wanted - Mark Millar
  11. Marvel Zombies & Marvel Zombies 2 - Robert Kirkman (writer) and Sean Phillips (artist)
And a busy hunter I have been. As of this week - possibly only this week - I've hunted for and purchased four pairs of shoes. Have I crossed the line? Will the Men's Association come for me in order to expel me out? I doubt it. With all the vanity that comes with being men these days, I'm a sure fit. My new shoes include a pair of chocolate Converse All Star Double Upper Ox, as well as, the classic black-and-white All Star style. Along with this, I bought a cheap pair of LA Gear Terrain (for work) and a pair of Skechers Camaro for no apparent reason at all.

I don't think - in my entire life - that I've ever own four pairs of shoes at the same time. At least I don't have to worry about ruining a pair of shoes meant for an outing. Oh well, until next time, keep on huntin'.

Side note: At the rate I'm going updating this blog, I'll be engage. Wish me luck.

Monday, July 11, 2011

Marvel Zombies

Would Spider-Man keep his moral baggage if he were the walking dead? Would Wolverine's healing factor make him immune to the zombie outbreak? Aren't zombie superheroes just villains? Okay, none of the questions ever popped into my head before Marvel Zombies. And now that I've read it, I don't know what to think. 

As much as I love zombies and the Marvel universe, I just don't know how I feel about Marvel Zombies. I neither hate it nor did I love it. It just is. At least for me.

But while we're on the subject - how is it that Wolverine's a zombie? Seriously, I don't understand. Wouldn't his healing factor prevent him from dying and turning? Of course, I've only just read the first book. I haven't an idea how the zombies came to be and maybe I should pick up Marvel Zombies: Dead Days, which act as a prequel.

Don't let my indifference act as a decision that I've given up on the series. I am, after a zombie aficionado...not to mention, I also splurged on Marvel Zombies 2.




Sunday, July 10, 2011

So I finally watched X-Men: First Class...


...and I am reminded that Zoë Kravitz has a much talent acting as her father has singing - which, if you know me, means she has none at all. But this isn't about my hate for the Kravitz family and how they should've been placed in a bunker before the plagued the world with their mediocrity. This is about the semi- to full-on abomination that is X-Men: First Class.

I walked into this film with a dirty slate, so this might be my fault. It wasn't hinted that the film was a reboot of the franchise that contains three films and a prequel. All arrows, in fact, pointed that this film was just another prequel. However, the timeline is off greatly. If Stryker held a younger Emma Frost hostage in Wolverine, how is it she's an adult in this film - presuming that Professor Xavier aided in her rescue at the end of the film. And how is it that Sebastian Shaw is dead when he appears in X2? Let's not mention that Scott Summer's brother is featured in this movie without any hint of him being in the X-Men before - let's not even get to the fact that Alexander is younger than Scott.

When you consider these anomalies, you'd have to jump into the conclusion that the film is none other than a reboot of the franchise. It has to be. Only, it's not. It recycles the opening scene of X-Men as young Erik and his family are split up by the Nazis. It repeats Erik's attempt to open the gate with his mutant powers. Everything about the beginning of that film is repeated in the beginning of this film. So...it's not a reboot. It's a prequel. Well, apparently the writers of this film didn't bother watching the first four so that these inaccuracies wouldn't exist.

The film is painful to watch at times. The build up takes too long and when it finally arrives, it's over as quickly as a prom night rendezvous. Despite its best efforts, X-Men: First Class doesn't bring anything new to the table - it's just a film about things we already picked up watching the first three movies. And that's all I gotta say about that. Until next time, keep on huntin'.

Friday, July 8, 2011

"Ghosts can't haunt you unless you allow them."

Harry Osborn - the second Green Goblin - is dead and Peter Parker's - as well as, Spider-Man's - will never be the same. Grieving the loss of his friend, he promises Mary Jane to stop being Spider-Man for a while. Little do they know that over at Ravencroft - a maximum security facility for the criminally insane - a naive doctor just released a most ruthless killer - Cletus Kasady, Carnage. Collecting like-minded psychopaths, Carnage and his "family" start terrorizing the city, leaving Peter to break a promise and team up with his greatest foe.

I was ten when the Maximum Carnage story arc began. It was also first story arc I was ever introduced in the world of graphic novels - ahem! comic books. (The second taking place a few years after with the Age of Apocalypse.) 

Looking at it now, I can remember what I loved about the arc. However, it's not the same feeling I got when I was ten - go figure. It seems that the story gets too wordy - for instance, Spider-Man's internal monologue gives us the information rather than letting us come up with it alone. And the moral - for lack of the better word - is what you find in a lot of the old story arcs - despite all that surrounds us, there is still good in the world and it's worth fighting for (whoa! talk about Lord of the Rings). All in all, the book is still a fun read.

In unrelated book news, I received my copy of The Silent Girl by Tess Gerritsen, the newest novel in her Rizzoli and Isles series. I'll crack it open the moment I finish Weeping Underwater Looks A Lot Like Laughter. Or maybe I'll just read The Silent Girl instead.