More and better pictures and video later tonight, but here's a shot of the mobile billboard in front of Warner Brothers today:




ETA: More billboard pics!

It's not a mock-up anymore. The vinyl has been printed and it's already on the truck! In case you'd somehow forgotten, the billboard rolls on Monday (Mon 9/21-Wed 9/23). We've got two routes set up, one of which will run on Monday and Wednesday and the other on Tuesday. The Tuesday route had to be altered today because of city ordinances that prevent it from driving through certain areas, but I think we've got it all squared away now. It's possible that one could change again, though. If it does, I'll update that map.

So here's what we all paid for. Hope you like it.





We'll have video and pictures of it along the routes next week.

I've yet to buy Farscape on DVD because it's freaking expensive and it's confusing as hell trying to figure out which set is best to buy. Well, I'm glad I delayed because a complete Farscape DVD mega set (all 4 seasons) is coming out in November. It's being issued by A&E Home Entertainment to mark the 10th anniversary of the series and it's supposed to be loaded with features.

To top it off, there's going to be a Farscape panel at Comic Con to talk about it. Executive producer Brian Henson, creator Rockne O'Bannon, and stars Ben Browder and Claudia Black will be there.

Can I get a hell yeah?

I picked up my new gun today (the Springfield XDM-9) and it's awesome. I haven't actually fired it yet (we're going to the range on Sunday), but I have some dry-fire bullets (plastic bullets that don't shoot) so I was at least able to play with it a bit. This gun came with a plastic belt clip holster, so of course I tried it on. Ridiculous. That gun looks enormous on my waist! It really is amazing how well it fits my hand, though. I'm looking forward to shooting it :)

You know that gun I was thinking about getting? Well I didn't get it. I got the better model instead :D

Instead of the Springfield XD-9, I got the Springfield XDM-9. Still a 9mm, but nicer grip, more accurate, a little sleeker and I got a decent deal on it: $625. If I could've found the regular XD model (everyone is sold out, apparently, with no dates for getting them back in), it would've been $570. But for $55 more, I got the better model and the dealer had it in stock. The price was actually $679 (kind of steep), but I talked him down. I'm not usually good at that kind of thing, but I guess he knew I was itchy to lay down the cash and he wanted to make the sale. And it's a local dealer I bought from, so no broker fees or hassles.

I'll have it in 10-14 days, after the mountain of paperwork is processed and my background check completed. You should really see the questions on the gun ownership application. You have to answer questions like: Are you an illegal alien? Have you been declared mentally incompetent? And my favorite... Are you a fugitive? LOL



I wanted something more standard size this time since I already have the sub-compact Glock. So I got the 4.5" length. The magazine holds 16 rounds, which will be nice. Baby Glock only holds 10 rounds and my old Bersa .380 holds a measely 7. The Springfield came with 2 magazines, plus I got 3 more in an accessory kit I bought. I'll be able to pop off 80 shots before reloading. Sweet.

Oh, I almost forgot. One sad bit of news. I actually got to hold a Tommy Gun today (I've been wanting one of those ever since the TSCC episode "Self Made Man") and guess what? My arm isn't long enough to hold it properly! I have to have the stock under my arm in order to even reach the hand grip (also that thing is freaking HEAVY). My Tommy Gun dream = *poof*

The discounted hotel rates went into effect today for Comic Con and we managed to claw our way through the online frenzy to get one. Now instead of staying at the Comfort Inn Gaslamp 6 or 7 blocks away, we're booked at the Hilton Bayfront which is right next door to the Convention Center. And the real beauty of it is that the discounted price was $70/night CHEAPER than the Comfort Inn we were going to be staying at. Also, it looks like a pretty sweet hotel.

The man gets all the credit. I forgot all about Comic Con hotels being available today, but he remembered and came home on his lunch hour so we could try to get one. Success :)

Time-shifted numbers are in for episode 16: Some Must Watch, While Some Must Sleep, and they are spectacular!

There was a 41% increase in viewership through DVR viewings.

To put that in perspective, Good Wound had a 36% increase through DVR viewings and Desert Cantos had a 35% increase. I have only one thing to say... Yeeeeeeeeeeeeee-haaaaaaaaaaaaa! Will numbers like this get us a 3rd season? No one knows, but it certainly helps. Keep DVRing the show and watching it within 3 days of air. It matters.

If I could only listen to one song for the rest of my life, it would be "December 1963 (Oh What a Night)" by Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons (that link will autoplay, BTW). The lyrics are completely irrelevant (a guy losing his virginity with a woman he doesn't know); I just love the sound of it and it always makes me happy. It's been my go-to feel-good song forever.

My mom used to store all her old records in my closet when I was a kid and she'd been a huge Frankie Valli fan. Before I had many records of my own, I used to play hers. I guess I must have I played that song a lot because it's just stuck with me.

So... One song forever. What would yours be?

I'm a bit of a later comer to this evening's news, but you guys have all heard about the TSCC DVR numbers for The Good Wound, right? Just in case you haven't, I figured I'd share that bit of good news. 36% gain with DVR viewings! We're not dead. Enjoy it. And don't forget to DVR the show and watch it within 3 days of air every week!

I'm done dwelling on ratings. It's been taking me away from talking about this episode. And I so loved this episode. It just gets better and better with each rewatch too.

( It really was a Good Wound. )

A couple nights ago the man got a hankering for a tasty treat at 11:30 at night so we headed out in search of splurgey goodness. He wanted pie, so we went to 24-hour Wal-Mart (it's one of those super stores with the groceries). Much to our disappointment the only thing they had was lemon meringue at the bakery counter, so we had to hit up the frozen pies. We got a delicious Hershey's chocolate creme pie. And when I say delicious, I am seriously understating it. Really really good pie.

Anyway, there was one piece left tonight. I'm not sure how that happened. Maybe the man ate an exceptionally large piece that first night or he had a bonus slice off-camera. But somehow we ended up with an odd piece. The general rule in these situations seems to be that chocolatey treats go to me and most others to him. Tonight, however, was an exception because I knew he really wanted it.

"You've still got a piece of pie," I said.

"No, I want you to have it."

"No, you take it."

"But I don't need it." <-- always said in Denholm Elliot's voice from A Room with a View

"You should have it."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. It's all yours."

He did finally take it. He gave me a bite, though :)

Remember this?
The man and I just went to the clock shop and bought it. Sort of a Christmas/anniversary gift to ourselves. It gets delivered on the 31st.

SQUEE

Happiness is...
An hour long discussion with the man about time travel.

I've always gone with the multiple timelines theory, but life_on_queen argues there's a single timeline in the TSCC verse. So after a brief "single timeline!" / "multiple timelines!" exchange, I took the discussion to real life and mentioned it to the man. He wasn't interested in talking about it. "Single timeline," he said. "Let's watch TV."

Augh.

I grabbed pen and paper, started drawing diagrams and talking about Derek and Jesse. Next thing you know, the man is all into it, grabbing my pen and paper and drawing his own diagrams. Much debate and pages of back and forth scribbles later (with a very annoying pen that kept refusing to write), he declared there must be multiple timelines (and also "let's watch TV").

Here is a coherent version (I think) of what we came up with:



( UPDATE: There's, um, more. Headaches ahoy! )

It's about fucking time.

Welcome back!

Love always,
Roxy

By now you've all heard the super deluxe awesome news:

We got our full season.

I am delighted, ecstatic, overjoyed, jumping up and down, throwing confetti, dancing and celebrating. But I couldn't just keep it all to myself, so I woke the action figures and broke the news to them...




Three cheers to the hard-working team that brings us this amazing show.
HIP HIP HOORAY!
HIP HIP HOORAY!
HIP HIP HOORAY!
*claps* *cheers* *whistles*

How freaking cool is this? The mailman knocked on my door this afternoon and handed me an unexpected package from an awesome friend. The contents: a Hellboy II Liz action figure!



Surprised, thrilled, delighted and super happy, I am.
Also, Liz has the most kickass boots ever. I am coveting them.

Your husband taking your car to work because his is in the shop and when he gets home he informs you that he not only filled up your gas tank, but also took care of your emissions testing on his lunch break. Sweet.

Here they are at long last... my custom Sarah Connor Chronicles action figures. I've made custom figures from 3 3/4" GI Joes before (which is what these are made from), but never anything this involved and never figures that were supposed to look like existing characters. It was a challenge and a half. But with a pile of GI Joe parts, a box of Super Sculpey, a Dremel Stylus with several grinding bits, lots of sandpaper, some razor blades, my trusty pocket knife, jars of paint, tiny brushes, a magnifying glass, sheer determination, gallons of coffee and a vision, I did it. And I'm really happy with how they turned out.

Special thanks to my husband, who patiently spent night after night alone on the couch watching reruns of Hogan's Heroes while I toiled away in my laboratory. Also to cisaac for inspiring this project with "Want", a short fic about Ellison. And everyone who cheered me along in the process.

Click images to enlarge.



The pride of man, of parents as well, makes us believe that anything we create, we can control. Whether from clay or from metal, it is in the nature of us to make our own monsters. Our children, our alloys, all, built from our own imperfect flesh. We animate them with magic, and never truly know what they will do. - from episode 1.04 "Heavy Metal"



If you'd like to post any of my TSCC action figure photos anywhere, feel free, but please credit me and link back to this post.

( View close-ups of the individual figures >> )

If you want to see know how I made these, you can backtrack through the whole process here:
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Package Design
>> 3 more characters made into action figures

Or take a cruise through my gallery of images from all the work on this project.

Getting woken up by your 18-month-old nephew when he's just learned how to say your name.