Off to Neverland!

I wanted to post some of the pictures Pam took of our display at GoGaDoll in San Francisco this past weekend. While it wasn't all I'd hoped it would be in the "having fun at a convention" department, it was a very good weekend sales-wise (and promotion-wise), and being able to introduce your work to a new audience is always a good thing.

The two reps from Peak's Wood were very sweet, and left with a couple of my outfits for the new 10" dolls they were promoting...I'll post a picture below of the whiteskin girl version in one of my dresses. Unfortunately, they weren't allowed to actually make sales, only take orders, but the normalskin girl decided to stay here in the US with me :)



One interesting thing I noted...there were *very* few tinys under 10", which I find to be unusual with Puki-itis having hit most markets. Everyone seemed to have a larger doll...Hounds/EIDs aplenty. So, maybe it's a good thing I didn't do my tiny meetup like I did in Austin...not sure how many people would have attended.

Anyway, the full display here, then the rest under the cut....



( More Goga... )

We wish you all a very relaxing and chocolate-filled day :)

A friend was uploading old pictures to her Facebook account, and happened to have this one:



A million years ago (1984, to be exact), we did the Crest fighters for the Comic-Con Masquerade. It was a blast...Patrick (the C) made all the guns, and we had little toothpaste tube jewelry and everything. It was our first entry at a major competition. In the multiple moves over the years, I somehow misplaced any pictures of this group, so I am very happy to get this one. I really enjoyed this costume, but you really had to have everyone to have it make sense, so I didn't wear it much. (I'm the R, in case you didn't guess)

The "Cavity Creep" is Mark, my friend who was on Amazing Race last season. I think he is about 16 in that picture <G>.

It seems to be official. Scrubs has replaced Pushing Daisies, and is now occupying their timeslot. Suuuuuuuuuuuucks.

As much as I enjoy Scrubs, I would have rather seen it go than to lose Pushing Daisies, which was one of the more innovative, fresh shows on TV. It was nothing like any other show on TV, which is of course why they canned it with three episodes still to go. I was hoping they'd at least show those finished episodes, but with the move of Scrubs to Wednesday at 8, that pretty unlikely now. There's talk of a movie, but if that happens it will most likely take years like it did with Dead Like Me (Fuller's other cancelled show).

At least I got my PD bag at Con. And pie the first year. Lots and lots and lots of yummy pie. Best promo ever, and most likely one of the most expensive (cuz it ain't cheap to bring food into the Center and hand it out).

Goodbye, Pieman. I will miss you and your dead girlfriend, your singing waitress, your knitting detective partner, and the dead girl's kookie singing aunts. I hope I eventually get to see the end of your story.

One has to question the wisdom of scheduling tree-trimmers to start at 7am on a holiday.

So much for sleeping in.

http://www.someecards.com

Some of the cards are freaking hee-larious. Not sure who I'd send them to, but a dang funny read.

I got to spend the evening at Mary's, eating yummy meatloaf and watching TV. Because the rugrats were in charge of the remote, we were treated to one of the programs they watch. A show on Cartoon Network called "Chowder"....a cartoon show. That kids watch.

It was one of the strangest, WTF shows I've ever seen.

I can only imagine that the writers/producers/animators either were high when they created this, or specifically created it to be watched by people who are in the process of becoming high. It was senseless, and had elements like a "fart bubble" that floated around, complete with sound effects. We tolerated it, quizzically, until one scene where a character who had cream injected into his body released this cream by squirting it through his nose into another character, who "belched" it away.

That was it for me.

When did cartoons get so gross and weird? I must have missed something.

Scrubs switched over to ABC from NBC. So far, I'm not digging the move. Not sure what they've done, but the quality of the film looks different. I'm sure they're filming it for HD, so that must be part of it, but still. It looks overly large (the top of JD's head is cut off on my old standard TV, which was never the case before) and just, well, strange--the scene in the cafeteria between Perry and JD especially. I don't watch too many ABC shows, so maybe that's just the way their filming style is? Dunno. Not something I ever noticed with Daisies. And WTH was with the outtake in the signoff? Weird.

I haven't picked anyone out of the new characters that I care for. It's probably too early yet, but they all seem like they're trying too hard. Especially Courtney Cox. The asshattish, moneygrubbing attitude worked for Kelso, because his brand of stuck-in-an-era bigotry worked for that character. For her, not so much, just makes her seem witchy. They also shouldn't make her into Jordan #2, which looks likely. Ugh. Heaven help them if they've actually gotten rid of Janitor.

I did like the George plotline in the second episode. That seemed more the Scrubs I've been a fan of. So, we'll see.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Holiday :)

So, time was when BF was a major assault for Mary and I. We'd plan ahead, have our lists (with photos) and attack plans ready. I'd have to clean out my car to make room for all the things we'd come home with. Normally, it was on BF that I would buy the majority of gifts for the under-16 set in the family, and any spiff electronics. It was always exhausting, but well worth the effort.

Well, not so much any more.

The grandeur that is Black Friday has been slipping for a couple of years, but I think this year it started picking up speed on the downhill track. There was so little in the ads that tempted us that we almost decided to skip this year. Instead, we decided that we would wait until the mob had gone inside, and then we'd shop. For the first time, I only had one thing on my list, because it was all I could find that I wanted. And that one thing was $5. Pretty dang sad. I think I spent less this year than in any previous year, even when I had no money to speak of. Not because I didn't want to spend it, but because there was nothing to buy. Believe me, we TRIED. It seemed that all the best discounts were in the higher-end electronics...there were no deep discounts on toys that I saw, not a single thing under $5. While I did finally use my Barnes & Noble giftcards, the most I spent at any one store on actual merchandise was $55, and that was buying for 15 kids and none of it on sale. Sad. I left more than one store empty handed, or buying only a soda. I actually spent time sitting on a bench waiting for Mary. I have never done that before.

So, Mr. Retailer, the next time you wah wah wahh about how slow the economy is, and how no one is spending, keep in mind that you have to have stuff for us to buy. If items are barely less than normal price, that isn't really a temptation. You want my money? Make it worth my while.

Oh, and Mervyn's? Quit with the "discount", "Sale" facade. We all know that you raised your prices way up before you started "discounting". We're not stupid. If the discounted price is the same as what it used to be regularly, that's not a sale. You're not fooling anyone. Either really put it at discount or shut up about it. Thanks.

Why is Disney now referring to Tinker Bell as a fairy? She's a pixie, not a fairy. Throughout the movie, she's referred to as pixie. Pixie dust, etc. Never as a fairy. Why is she a fairy now? The two aren't interchangeable. Fairies are elegant, magical, supernatural creatures. Pixies are much baser, less well-dressed, and generally helpful to humans by performing household tasks. Why the change? Is she now supposed to be this elegant creature? If so, then they've completely changed her character. Quit messing with the myth, people. The whole "fairy" thing has made me avoid the series...I hate inaccuracy, especially when it's a character I like a lot. It's like when she talked in the movie Hook...and granted "wishes". WTF? I'm sure if Tink had wishes, Wendy would have been a goner for real, or Peter would have returned her love. She doesn't speak, and she doesn't grant wishes. Way to eff up the character.

It also bugs when she's referred to as Tinkerbell. It's two words: Tinker Bell. Yeesh.

Yes, I realize I'm probably the only one who cares about this.

It was a valiant effort.

I was so hoping that the spoiler sites were wrong. Alas, they weren't. Mark and Bill were eliminated tonight. Bleah. It must have been pretty hard to have everyone talking about it at the meeting and the dinner today, knowing that this episode was airing tonight. I can't even imagine how hard it must have been to do all those things with so little oxygen...I think even if they hadn't made the error with reading the clue, they would have struggled with the competition. Unfortunately, they didn't have the advantage of having a younger team person to do the heavy physical challenge, nor did they have one that was a professional athlete like the other older couple. Kinda sucked.

I wonder what they do once they're eliminated? Do they continue to travel with the group? Do they stay somewhere? I can't imagine they actually go home, that would give it away too much. Mark says that everyone is pretty good friends, which would indicate to me that they must stay somewhere until the final teams finish.

I am so done with the heat wave that has had us roasting lately. I *thought* we were supposed to be cooler this week, what the heck happened? It's 8pm, and still over 80 degrees outside. What's up with that? The kids act like complete wild things when it's this hot, it's so hard to get them calmed down after recess, everyone's cranky. Enough already. Turn off the heater.

At this rate, we're going to have one hell of a fire season.

Mark and Bill did WELL this week. I think they would have been first to the Pit stop if Mark's pack hadn't broken, and if Bill had been able to be a little more deceptive with the whiney blond wife of the football player. Interesting that they were the only ones to try the computer route rather than the physical one, definitely a better move for them. Hopefully they'll have more alternatives like that in the future. I was so hoping either the frat boys or the chicks in pink would be eliminated tonight, but no luck. Ah well, hopefully next episode.


In other news, I took my first train trip to see Vence, this was the first time I'd been up since ExpressJet went out of business. It kills the entire weekend for sure, which is very different from the flight. It's definitely doable, though the scramble to get downtown by 4 was quite stressful. It sucks to basically have 30 hours of travel time for a 6 hour visit, but it beats driving. I got a lot done (despite the very inebriated Sox fans going to the game on the way up, replaced after Anaheim by inebriated UCSB students for the rest of the trip, and the inebriated birthday party on the way back--sense a trend?), so that helped quite a bit. Still, it's a looooooooong trip, and the ability to get any sleep along the way is nonexistent, because apparently the concept of not disturbing those around you is not present as it is on a plane. People yell and talk very loudly across the car (mostly because they are having a mobile party with LOTS of alcohol, apparently that's quite popular), or parents let kids run up and down the aisles, jumping in and out of seats, disturbing the people sitting there, etc. But the conductors don't seem to care. That surprised me, to be honest, because flight attendants wouldn't allow stuff like that to happen. I sure didn't allow any of our fourth graders to act that way when we took the train to Capistrano. I felt very sorry for this older man who was trying to sleep and had the unfortunate luck of having the seats behind him empty--the kids thought playing with the seat back trays and footrests was the thing to do. He got no rest at all. I can only imagine how bad a bus must be, if a train is this bad.

Anyway, as long as I'm not counting on getting any sleep on the train, it should be something I can deal with for the remaining time Vence is up in Lompoc.

Tonight was the first episode of the Amazing Race, and Mark & Bill had a viewing party. They did pretty well for a couple of forty year olds...came in fourth...but it was pretty interesting to hear some of the things that didn't get included in the tape. Bill also apparently taught himself Portuguese on the plane on the way there, with the aid of a dictionary. That's pretty impressive.

No way on Earth would I have been able to climb down that net. No freaking way. It was hard enough to watch it on TV. I'm a wuss.

So, I just found out a couple of friends of mine are going to be on the show The Amazing Race this season. And it's not like they're distant friends....no, they're local. I see one of them at con meetings every month, and worked with his wife at the office in June/July. Of course, he travels constantly on business, so him being missing at a meeting wouldn't exactly flag as odd, but still. It doesn't exactly surprise me that he would have tried out for something like this...he's been trying out for Survivor for years...but that he was able to talk the other into competing with him? That's pretty amazing. I have no clue how long the show takes to film, or how long they were gone. I'm quite impressed with their secret-keeping abilities.

The one bad thing is that now I have to watch the show. I hate reality TV, especially competitions, with a passion...I'm just not a competitive person. I saw a couple of the first seasons of Survivor, and an episode or two of dance reality shows that Pam watches, but that's about it. I'm not familiar at all with this show or how it works, so it will be interesting. I don't even know what the prize is (I presume money, but no clue how much). But I can't miss it, if only to see the crap they have to go through. They're already billing them as comic geeks, so their coverage should be interesting. At least it's on Sunday, so it's not opposite Heroes or Daisies.

untamed_sylph
 and 
pamsd
Hope the both of you had a great day today!

It's that time again! The citywide Pre-con is at 10, so I'm off to do some errands before reporting in at the Center and then checking in at the hotel. I will have my laptop at the show, but after Wednesday I will only be checking in the late evening for the most part.

See ya there :)

They're listed as presale, but I am hoping to find this set at Con next week. They would even go with the new Pony. She has to have them.

Tagged by
allaboutm_e
A) People who have been tagged must write their answers on their blogs & replace any question that they dislike with a new question formulated by themselves.

B) Tag 8 people to do this quiz  (removed the annoying "cannot refuse to play" part). These people must state who they were tagged by & cannot tag the person whom they were tagged by. Continue this game by sending it to other people.

1. Which celebrity would you like to meet and why?
Ewan McGregor, since I've requested him as my preferred roommate for Comic-Con for about 7 years now, and he continues to no-show.  Sue's slacking on the job.

2. What do you do before bedtime?
Watch TV with the kitties

3. What will your dream wedding be like?
I recall Klingons and Ferengi being present...

4. What is the city of your dreams and why?
I really like where I'm at, but I'd hardly call it a "dream" city. I can't imagine living anywhere else, though.

5. Are you an introvert or extrovert?
Bigtime extrovert. I talk to everyone.

6. Which is more blessed, loving someone or being loved by someone?
Both are important.

7. Do you trust easily?
Not really.

8. If the person you secretly like is already attached, what would you do?
Well, hopefully he is attached to ME

9. Is there anything that has made you unhappy these days?
I've had a few. Being apart from Ven is chief amongst them.

10. Do you have a good body-image?
Can't say I do.

11. Is being tagged fun?
This is the first time!

12. What websites do you visit daily?
gmail
Zone of Zen
Den of Angels
LJ

13. Who are currently the most important people to you?
Ven, of course

14. What kind of person do you think the person who tagged you is?
loving, creative, and scared of dollies...

15. What’s the last song that got stuck in your head?
It's been a long time since a song got stuck in my head, not sure I want to tempt it.

16. What’s your favorite item of clothing?
A worn blue Mickey shirt I've had for many many years.

17. What's better: to give or to receive?
I like to give, but receiving can be fun too.

18. What's the first thing you notice in people?
If they look at you when you talk to them.

19: Let's say there's a worlwide lightspeed spreading disease. No cure. people are dying real fast. After months of thorough search and people's blood testing (to check if they're infected or not). Turn's out the only thing needed to complete THE cure is your kid's blood. Do you sacrifice your kid for the sake of billions or not?
No kid to sacrifice, guess everyone is screwed. Who knew I was supposed to be a breeder?

20: What were your parents going to name you if you'd been born the opposite gender?
Scott Macrae

Okay, now tagging: pamsd, keeley_keena, christalblu, mechamel, mammadog, sm101doll_paparazziyaaravanesse