Perhaps PKD, Michael Moorcock, and DC Comics were all right…

…at the very least in some alternate universe.

When Science Reality Meets Science Fiction was originally published on The Geek Curmudgeon

[  Mood: Hypnotized ]
[  Currently: Watching Australia’s Next Top Model ]
I finished the latest Dresden Files book, Death Masks and I have to say, Jim Butcher is fast becoming a recommended author for me.

This installment sees Harry hired to recover the Shroud of Turin, which has been stolen. In addition, he has to contend with a challenge to a duel by a noble of the Red Court. Add to that the fact that Susan is back in town and you have a heady mix of adventure and humour.

Butcher is not shy about developing characters. Too many mystery authors have their main characters hover in neutral, never growing in response to their dilemmas. In this book we see Harry and Susan struggling to come to terms with their relationship now that she has been bitten by, but not yet become a vampire.

Harry is also once again working with Michael and negotiating a very careful relationship with Michael’s wife, Charity. Also appearing in this book is Michael’s daughter, Molly, who appears to be rebelling. I look forward to seeing more of her.

Overall, a fun read. Go get this.

[  Mood: Silly ]
[  Currently: Watching Days of Our Lives – WHAT?!? ]
I am not much of a sports fan. You may remember me jumping on the Senators bandwagon about cup time, but that is mandatory in Ottawa.

But I do have one weakness, College Football. Specifically Texas Christian University Horned Frogs.

Why you ask, when I am nowhere near Texas? Well, the concept of a Christian University have a team named after an animal that could be mistaken for a horny toad is hilarious to me.

After I first found the team, I followed them and fell in love. So every year at this time, I try and track down when they are playing in the bowl schedule so I can watch and cheer.

They played yesterday in the Texas Bowl. And, as mentioned in the title, they won! Unfortunately, it was not broadcast on a channel I get. So no TCU for me. Sigh.

But I am still happy.

[  Mood: Distorted ]
[  Currently: Eating Breakfast – Blood Orange Tea and Organic Shreddies Knockoff ]
So yesterday the Maternal Unit and I went shopping for some maternity clothes for me. It was a Christmas present from her to me.

Now I hate shopping for clothes. I don’t like to play the game "Do I look pretty in this?" or "Does this make my butt look big?" or "Love it, but it shows too much cleavage for work." Still, because of the pregnancy, my shirts are beginning to be to tight. And not in the belly area. I was like a 18w/2x before the pregnancy, but given that I have technically lost weight (the doctor knows and she is fine with that) I am now most likely a 16x/1x or smaller once the baby is factored in.

No, no, it is my fabulous stripper boobs that are causing most of the problems. And given that I am a teacher of boys just hitting puberty, I can’t be showing off those too much.

My strategy in this pregnancy is to buy one size up from my current size. I have tried to buy clothes in a maternity store that purports to cater to plus size women. That experience at Motherhood Maternity was overwhelming negative. And when I contacted corporate HQ, they didn’t really seem to care about that. "We’re the only ones in Canada with plus sized maternity clothes," was their attitude. Translation, shut up fat chick, you are at our mercy.

So we hit a new retail development near my houses. We went to Reitmans, a Canadian chain that sells plus size clothing. We immediately went to their Encore (read plus size) section to look at the tops you have. After a few minutes, I had quite an armload of tops to try on. At this point I began looking for a sales person to help me. There were plenty in the store, which was not that busy. Two young women, one with red hair and one with longer, dark curly hair were within view, but they seem to be more interested in loudly chatting about what their holidays were like rather than actually helping anyone.

About five minutes later I had pretty much combed the Encore section for tops. I headed to the changerooms and waited for someone to direct me to where they wanted me to go. No one appeared. I was in fact one of about four or five women wondering what to do. One woman said "I guess we have to wait for someone to help us." My answer was "We’ll be waiting a while given what a good job they are doing of ignoring us." That brought some cynical chuckles from the other women. I guess I wasn’t the only one feeling neglected. At this point I walked into an empty room and started trying on my selections.

Luckily, when I needed an different size it was my mother who did the running, not the store’s staff. At one point during this process, I noticed the red headed salesperson was now helping customers while still continuing her loud conversation with the dark haired young woman. I passed the young darkhaired woman, who was now at the front of the changing area putting away unwanted clothes, everytime I went out to show my mother a new top. She looked at me several times and clearly overhead my conversation to my mother about needing another size. At no time did she ever offer to help us or get us another salesperson to help.

As my changing room session wound down to its end, a third salesperson happened by and asked if I needed any help. I told her that she was the first person to stop and offer to help, even though I had been in the store for awhile. I joked that I thought the store should give my mother the commissions on the sales given all the help she had given me. The woman mentioned that they don’t work on commission. I then said they should pay my mom an hourly rate. Then this young woman said the strangest thing. She said that she wouldn’t have thought to help me given that my mother was already helping me. This comment lead to a bit of sarcasm between my mom and I later when she couldn’t remember where a top was and I had to point it out to her. My mother said "I better learn the layout of the merchandise given that I am your only help."

I went back into the changeroom to finish up. As I came out, the long dark haired young woman from earlier came by my changeroom. She gave me a bizarre look. I didn’t think anything of it until my mother mentioned after we left that the third salesperson had spoken to an assistant manager who had gone to speak to the dark haired young woman. The assistant manager had told her that they’d had a complaint and could this woman please check up on customers. The salesperson began to complain. The assistant manager cut her off, saying "it’s not a big deal, just do it please." I guess that explained the look. She still never spoke to me.

I ended up selecting three tops, for a total of $117.00. The red headed salesperson ended up being the one to ring us through. She seemed surprised that I was buying two full price tops.

At this point I am on the fence about returning to that chain. I liked the tops I bought, but the service left something to be desired. Perhaps if I do return, I will come alone, as apparently bringing a friend or family member means I have to fend for myself.

Contrast that to my experience at Thyme Maternity next door. First, the salesperson greeted us promptly and set up a changeroom for me right away. Second, they had xxl sized pants! With the stretchy belly band! They fit like a dream.

Reitman’s and Thyme are owned by the same parent company, yet the experience is soooooo different. And I have contacted corporate in both cases. We’ll see what they say.

[  Mood: Happy ]
[  Currently: Listening to CBC Radio One ]
Joanne Bladwin can control wind and air. This makes her a "weather Warden", someone who can control the weather. Apparently Mother Nature send weather to wipe us off the Earth. Weather Wardens help control that weather to make the world a safe place for you and me to live.

The Dinosaurs are extinct because they had no Weather Wardens.

But Joanne is in trouble. She is accused of murder and on the run. The rest of the Weather Wardens are out to get her and she’s managed to pick up a demon mark.

A fun romp, with an ending you don’t really see coming. I am wondering how she will continue the series. Cause she does.

[  Mood: Sleepy ]
[ Currently: Waiting to Wake My Husband Up So We Can Go to My Dad’s for B ]
This book is the latest entry in Tamora Pierce’s Circle series. And those of you that visit here often, know how much I like Tamora’s work.

This entry finds our four mages at the age of 18. They have begun to return from their travels abroad only to find that their bonds aren’t as strong as they used to be.

Sandry, the young noble of the group has to go survey her lands in a far off empire. Her uncle persuades the other three to go along to protect her.

The Empress wants to keep these talented young mages for a variety of reasons. She throws handsome young men at Sandry. Briar gets access to vast imperial greenhouses. Tris gets a book collection. And Daja gets a female lover.

This book is more mature than previous entries, although if you are looking for soft-core porn, its probably best to head somewhere else. Pierce treats Daja’s lesbianism as a matter of fact, not a titillating tabloid story. Mind you, making the large, brawny girl a lesbian is feeding into stereotypes. Would have been cooler if Sandry turned that way.

Not a bad read, but not her best by a long shot.

[  Mood: Happy ]
[ Currently: Getting ready to go to my mother’s for a feast. ]
Just wanted to say:

And perhaps a more appropriate image:

[  Mood: Happy ]
[  Currently: Watching Britain’s Next Top Model ]
So yesterday we got 30mm of rain, that’s about an inch. It was warm enough that it rained in December Then the temperature plunged to the negative regions, so the rain started to turn to ice. And then the wind picked up, blowing that water to the drain, so there was some ice this morning, but not much.

Now it is snowing.

Who wants to move up here?

[  Mood: Amused ]
[  Currently: Watching America’s Next Top Model ]
Last night Husband Unit, Maternal Unit and I went off to the National Arts Centre here in Ottawa to see a live performance of The Vinyl Cafe.

The Vinyl Cafe is a bit like a Prairie Home Companion, humourous fictional stories strung together with music.

Host Stewart McLean had two new Dave and Morely stories and one old favourite last night, plus a new episode of the Eggs Blackiron show. Musical guests were Danny Michel and Allison Russell. The Husband Unit had managed to snag front row seats. In fact, we were right in front of Stewart for most of concert. We were the people he monitored to see how the concert was going.

Funny, and enjoyable. Given that many of his stories, including my fave, Wong’s Scottish Meat Pies are available on CD or for download, I think you should check them out.

Never get caught off guard again! Cylon Safety Information Sheet #8, issued by QMx on behalf of the Colonial Ministry of Information, contains 10 tips that can save your life and the lives of your fellow Colonials, so heed them well:

★Do they ask questions about classified subjects?

★Do they seem unusually strong, smart or self-assured?

★Do they say God instead of Gods?

★Have you seen them before, but you know it’s not the same person?

★Do you see them hanging around secured or restricted areas?

★Do they seem to hear music that no one else can hear?

★Do they seem unusually fearless, as if death has no meaning for them?

★Do they exhibit sociopathic behavior around other humans, especially defenseless children?

★Are they unusually adept, almost empathic, with machines?

★Does their spine glow red when they get… excited?

Remember, the Cylons look like us now. Be aware. Be vigilant. And report unusual persons immediately!

How To Spot a Cylon was originally published on The Geek Curmudgeon