Happy Monday! #MakeDonaldDrumpfAgain & Xena Cosplay

Donald’s totally under that mask, isn’t he? Avengers image via Comic Book Resources.

Happy Monday! How was your weekend? I went through about 10 pounds of sugar. I am not kidding even a little bit. Fortunately, all of the resulting chocolate cake is out of my house, except for four chocolate cupcakes.

Links!

Politics

Politics? Elisabeth, you don’t post about politics! It’s true. I think most of the yelling about politics on the Internet and via the media is counterproductive. Plus I don’t want to get into any fights with people I love.

But mostly, I honestly thought this wave of Trump jingoism would blow over. I mean, it was a joke, right? I didn’t believe Trump even really wanted to be president–I thought it was all for publicity for his “brand.” But here we are. A lying, racist, grandiose piece of crap has a very good chance of being the GOP candidate for president. Even the GOP doesn’t want this!

So, on one hand, John Oliver’s take down of Trump and his #MakeDonaldDrumpfAgain hashtag makes me feel a little better. But mostly it’s just depressing, because it probably won’t change anything. But you should watch it!

I’m currently reading the Avengers Omnibus Volume 2 to Sid at bedtime, and we just finished a story arc where the Sons of the Serpent decide to spread racism, nationalism, and fear to control the American public because they’re so easily led. This was written in the 1963, but feels entirely relevant to today. Think about that.

Food

I haven’t written a full update on this month’s meal planning, but I’m happy to say it looks like we’ve saved 37.5% over our average pre-planning monthly grocery bill! Last month, we saved 25%. While I did plan this month’s menu around a lot of bulk staples I already had in the house, I was also able to do the following on a budget:

• Have house guests for two days
• Host two dinner parties
• Make a giant cake and 84 chocolate cupcakes for various events

Speaking of dinner parties, I’m having a small one tomorrow. One of our guests is vegetarian. I’m a little tired of pasta (for once) so I came up with the following menu: Sour Cream Enchiladas, Mexican Couscous Express, and Crazy for Coconut Bundt Cake.

Fashion

My sweater came! My sweater came! And it’s everything I hoped it would be. I can finally post my 10-item wardrobe! Err, once I take pictures.

Geeky Stuff

I’ve been thinking more and more about making a Xena costume. Yes, I’m 15 years too old and six inches too short. I don’t care! Plus, I found this incredible tutorial for a Xena Warrior Princess Dress. Hmm!

That’s what I’ve got for today! Post a comment to cheer me up!

Happy Friday! FCBD Links & I Planned Your Weekend

I’m back–and there are no strings on meeeee!

Yay, I’m so glad to be posting again! My apologies for the radio silence. As I wrote earlier, I was super sick, and spent any potential blogging time napping instead. However! We’re going away for the weekend with my parents, and I’m going to use the extra childcare to get some posts (TWIN PEAKS DINNER) ready for next week.

Links! First, as some of you may know, I worked in marketing for Things From Another World, an online and brick-and-mortar comic book retailer, for six years before the baby. What many of you probably do not know is that every year, the first Saturday in May (tomorrow!) is Free Comic Book Day, which for TFAW was like Black Friday, a convention, and a huge party in one–so this is the first time I’ve been out of town on this particular weekend in six years.

But enough about me. What is Free Comic Book Day? It’s that special day each year where your local comic book retailer will be giving out special free comics from publishers like Marvel, DC, Dark Horse, Image, and more: everything from superhero to all-ages comics and horror books! You can find your local participating retailer here.

Many shops use this as an opportunity to throw great sales, offer doorbusters, host signings with awesome creators, and more! If you’re in the Portland, Oregon area, you’re definitely going to want to check out TFAW: the Portland location is topping things off with a barbecue with free burgers and beer. Don’t have a local comic shop? You can visit TFAW online. Make a purchase May 2 (starting at midnight PST) through the 8th, and they’ll include two free comics with your order.

If you’re a FCBD newcomer, I have a few tips for you:

• Get to your shop early. There are often lines, and supplies of the special free comics are limited.
• Not every comic is free. I know it’s confusing, but the Free Comic Book Day freebies are special comics the stores purchase and give away. Here’s the list of possibilities, but not all stores purchase all comics. Of note: the prequel to Chuck Palahniuk’s new Fight Club 2 from Dark Horse Comics!
• Ask about your shop’s restrictions. There’s usually a limit of how many freebies you can snag. Don’t be that person.
• Make sure to check around the store! As I mentioned before, these free comics aren’t free to the stores. FCBD is an outreach event designed to get people and families into comic shops to support their local businesses. There should be lots of goodies available, so pick some up!
• Come back. Free Comic Book Day is an exciting event, but make sure you come back and check out the shop later. It’ll be less crowded, and you can find out the juicy details about discounts when you sign up for a subscription box and more.

So, without further ado, let me plan a geeky weekend for you!

Go to Free Comic Book Day. Grab some free comics, find a new book that interests you, and maybe grab a T-shirt for later.

Return home and make some pancakes to celebrate your haul. The Pioneer Woman’s Perfect Pancakes live up to the hype.

Read Pajiba’s review of Avengers: Age of Ultron. This will get you pumped without spoiling the movie.

Buy tickets to Avengers: Age of Ultron. You’re gonna go see it. Why not see it with a huge crowd–and early enough that you won’t get spoiled by jerks on the Internet?

Now we’re going to continue our geekfest, but switch tracks to the X-Men. I know I’m behind on my posting, but you heard that Iceman, one of the original X-Men, came out as gay last week, right? My friend Rachel Edidin (of Rachel and Miles X-Plain the X-Men fame) wrote an article for Playboy about why this is so important: One of the Original X-Men Is Gay and it Matters More Than You Think.

Finally, check out Sophie Turner’s Jean Grey and Lana Condor’s Jubilee in X-Men: Apocalypse over at Pajiba. I feel . . . ehh? I’m having a very “get off my lawn” reaction to this. Jean Grey and Jubilee aren’t contemporaries! Where’s Kitty? Wahhh! But I have to remind myself that I was not psyched at all for X-Men: First Class, until I saw it and it blew my mind. Teenage Banshee! Flying!

Okay everyone: enjoy your comics, have a wonderful weekend, and I’ll see you Monday!