LEGO Advent Calendar 2010 - Day 25

Finally, I was able to upload this video recap of the 2010 LEGO Advent Calendar. Don't know what went wrong with the last two uploads. However, this was fun.

I don't know if I'll do the same next year, or find something different. Hope you enjoyed watching.

My One Christmas Decoration

My grandma thought I needed to have at least one Christmas decoration. (She was right.)

Week of Loss - Dec. 26

This week I gained 1.6 lbs., and am 4.6 lbs. under my year-end goal weight (199 lbs.).

Continue to monitor my progress and other health and wellness information over at A Year of Loss and Health, Pirate.

(It was all the Christmas foods.)

What We'll Be Delivering 2010

This is what the Monkey and I have purchased for presents this year (with the exception of a mirror - it's wrapped with a couple of stars and leaning away from the door so it doesn't break before we deliver it). Not a bad little pile of presents to deliver.

I Brought It Back

We haven't done Christmas stockings in my family for a few years...until NOW! I brought the stocking back. This one is crammed full of Christmasy goodness for my brother, a.k.a. The Monkey.

LEGO Advent Calendar 2010 - Day 24

There are some glitches from editing in this, but the video matched up with the music pretty well. I was happy to finally see the train engine that would connect to the two train cars. And with this, the calendar is done.

A NSFW "A Christmas Carol"

I found this to be hilarious and entertaining and entirely the opposite of the Christmas spirt.

Duane Swierczynski's "A Christmas Carol."

It is highly inappropriate and contains naughty, naughty language. (You were warned.)

Snowman of the Year

I wish I could say I thought of this, but I didn't. Still, this is the snowman of the year.

It Grew

My Grinch-heart grew this evening. Not all the way to normal size, but just enough that I was able to think of an idea that will make Christmas a bit better for someone I know.


It's not a new idea, but something that's been missing for a few years, and I'm happy to bring it back. I'd tell you what I'm planning, but that would spoil it the surprise.

Now I'm actually looking forward to Christmas.

To All You Diet Haters

I just wanted to prove to all you haters that I DO eat. It might not be many calories, but I'm eating. And eating healthy.


566.55 calories.

I had tuna with mustard, an applesauce cup, pistachios, blueberry Craisins, carrot chips, mozzarella cheese, and cranberry/blackberry V8 Fusion juice. It was a nice lunch.

LEGO Advent Calendar 2010 - Day 23

This was a fun build. Liked the tree, and was able to add a song that fit nicely.

LEGO Advent Calendar 2010 - Day 22

Only 2 days to go. Thinking about putting it all together into something to recap the experience for Day 25.

The Movie Maven's Top 10 Movies

There's some funny stuff here. And good movies. And the beautiful Tara Perry. What's not to love?

(Mostly) Vacation

I'm on (mostly) vacation!

Finally.

You don't understand - or maybe you do - just how great it feels to not have to go to work (both jobs) tomorrow. It's not that I don't enjoy my (day) job, it's just that it is very time intensive and demanding work. Every little break is greatly appreciated. If for nothing else, to recharge.

The vacation - 11 days - will be spent working out, reading books, watching movies, reading comics, cleaning house, making lists, and sleeping. I actually can't think of a better way to spend my time. (Well, okay, I can. This will be cheaper.)

LEGO Advent Calendar 2010 - Day 21

Almost done, which is a good thing because I'm running out of room to set my LEGO builds on the fold down box/mat. This train car connects to the other. I wonder if a train engine is in the future?

LEGO Advent Calendar 2010 - Day 20

Lacking the Christmas Spirit

This is me. This has been me for the past few years at Christmas time. It's not that I don't like Christmas, but I've lost the Christmas spirit. It's just another day, more or less. (I miss it, but I can't bring myself to care.)

Week of Loss - Dec. 19

This week I lost 4.8 lbs., and am 6 lbs. under my year-end goal weight (199 lbs.).

Continue to monitor my progress and other health and wellness information over at A Year of Loss and Health, Pirate.

LEGO Advent Calendar 2010 - Day 19

LEGO Advent Calendar 2010 - Day 18

Best. Day. Yet. A naked Santa with a scrubbing brush!? How awesome. This will be the leader of my LEGO army.

LEGO Advent Calendar 2010 - Day 17

This build went terribly. Probably didn't help that I was dead tired and trying to do it. I just wasn't satisfied with any part of it. *shrug* Can't win 'em all.

LEGO Advent Calendar 2010 - Day 16

LEGO Advent Calendar 2010 - Day 15

LEGO Advent Calendar 2010 - Day 14

Different camera angle...not any better. In fact, with a large project, it'd be tough to really show as I build. Also, I shot a little too high - you can't see the pile of pieces. Again, not that it mattered with this build.

Still, another soldier to add to the LEGO army. This one with bread!

LEGO Advent Calendar 2010 - Day 13

What a cute little firetruck.

LEGO Zombie Apocalypse

I wish I could be a part of something like this. LEGO Zombie Apocalypse!

Old vs. New

My 10 year-old self (heck, who am I kidding - me now) is in heaven.

Don't Quit Your Day Job

The Justice League of America as a 70's punk band. Nicely done.

Batman Beyond

Was so happy to find an action figure of this version of Batman. The Batman Beyond costume is sharp and simple.

LEGO Advent Calendar 2010 - Day 12

This reminds me that I haven't been out to my uncle's to split wood in awhile. Not that I'd want to be out doing that today - it's cold. Just loading groceries into the car was an experience.

Halfway done with the Advent calendar. Only 13 days until Christmas. (Oh, and isn't it strange that there's no Day 25 on this calendar? Seems a little cheap.)

Week of Loss - Dec. 12

This week I lost 5 lbs., and am 1.2 lbs. under my year-end goal weight (199 lbs.).

Continue to monitor my progress and other health and wellness information over at A Year of Loss and Health, Pirate.

LEGO Advent Calendar 2010 - Day 11

I could have used one of these today while working outside in the cold and wind.

Overlooked Catastrophe/Blessing

In my frustration/anger last night about my end of the day troubles I neglected to mention the following devastating news:

My watch broke.

I know. I'm at a loss. I have to have a watch. I'm at wit's end if I can't look to my wrist and see that three minutes have passed.

A small piece on the face came loose and now catches my minute hand around the 40-minute mark every rotation. I've tried all I can to save the watch, but I'm no miracle worker.


The down side is that I really liked this watch; it had an impressive face and heft.

The up side is that I can purchase a new, better watch. I would have picked one out tonight, but I didn't make it to the mall (there were no great movies out to see this weekend - at least, not around here).

As soon as I get the new watch I'll show-and-tell it for you.

Furnace Problems

I came home last night to a frozen home. The furnace was no longer running, and it had dropped to 56 degrees inside. I'm just happy it wasn't any colder outside than it was, or who knows how cold it might have become inside.

I called to have the furnace looked at today, and they were able to fix it while I was at work. Turns out I had an "extremely dirty flame sensor" and a plugged vent tube on the inducer (whatever that is).

$37 for labor. $80 for a trip charge. And it cost me $124.02 after tax to have the heat restored to my home.


Still keeping the thermostat set at 63 degrees, but with the unseasonably warm day we had, I returned home to a house resting at a comfortable 66.

Thor Trailer

Doesn't have the same...high quality...feel as say, IRON MAN, or either of the new Batman movies, but it does look entertaining. There's just something about it and GREEN LANTERN - and maybe it's just the trailer itself and some unpolished CGI - that doesn't have me quaking in anticipation.

LEGO Advent Calendar 2010 - Day 10

Another soldier to add to the LEGO army I'm amassing. I like that the dude came with an extra hair piece. If only it was large enough for me...

LEGO Advent Calendar 2010 - Day 9

LEGO Advent Calendar 2010 - Day 8

Had some difficulty getting this video to post. I normally share it to YouTube through iMovie, but for some reason it wasn't working tonight. I was able to just upload it through YouTube after exporting the file to my desktop. Hmm. Hope the sharing works again tomorrow; that's so much easier.

LEGO Advent Calendar 2010 - Day 7

I was especially pleased with how a BOOM in the music track (11 seconds in) cued up with the exploding packet of parts that knocked down two LEGO people.

Game of Thrones Inside Look

Now that THE WALKING DEAD is on break (for nearly a year!), I need something else to watch. HBO has an adaptation of the novel, A GAME OF THRONES by George R. R. Martin - book 1 in the series, A Song of Ice and Fire. It's epic fantasy. And I don't normally dig that kind of stuff, but this looks promising. It doesn't begin until April, but that's not as far away as October (damn you slow-moving zombies).

Here's an inside look:



And a teaser:

Week of Loss - Dec. 5

This week I lost 6.4 lbs., and am within 3.8 lbs. of my year-end goal weight (199 lbs.).

Continue to monitor my progress and other health and wellness information over at A Year of Loss and Health, Pirate.

SUPERMAN: THE MOVIE in 6 Panels

Artist Chris Samnee has condensed SUPERMAN: THE MOVIE to just 6 comic panels.

LEGO Advent Calendar 2010 - Day 6

GUEST HANDS. The Monkey was around today, so I thought I'd let him share in the LEGO Advent joy. (Lucky bastard got a person; I love the LEGO people.)

LEGO Advent Calendar 2010 - Day 5

This is my favorite Advent video so far. I like what the music adds to the build, a simple, catchy version of "Pop Goes the Weasel."

What I Want To Eat

I want the pepperoni pizza - any pizza - so bad that I picked up some ingredients to make my own for this week's meals. It won't be as greasy good as the photo above, but it will hopefully satisfy the craving.

(And the corn dogs? I just love corn dogs.)

The Lost DR. WHO Opening by Craig Ferguson

I like Craig Ferguson's show in part for these amazing opening song and dance numbers. They are hilarious. Too bad this one didn't air. I'm glad I could find it online.

For My Messed Up Hands

(My hands - they are cracked and bleeding worse than I can ever remember. So very painful.)

LEGO Advent Calendar 2010 - Day 4

For the life of me, I couldn't figure out what I was building until it was done. It's a snow blower. Sure is.

Reminds me that we still haven't had a good snow yet. Come on, it's already December. Where's the snow?

Holiday Decorations

If I weren't so scared of heights, I'd be all over my house doing just like the home on the right.


At least I hope I'd be this clever. (And funny.)

The Newest Amazon Package

This was my package from yesterday.


Very cool stuff.


Included in this shipment were:

THE WALKING DEAD vol. 10 by Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard
THE WALKING DEAD vol. 12 by Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard
DC COMICS: YEAR BY YEAR
SUPERMAN: EARTH ONE by J. Michael Straczynski and Shane Davis
SPY VS SPY: THE COMPLETE CASEBOOK vol. 1
FIND THE GIRL: POEMS by Lightsey Darst
JACK: SECRET HISTORIES by F. Paul Wilson
BATMAN & ROBIN: BATMAN VS ROBIN by Grant Morrison and Various
MODERN MASTERS vol. 21: CHRIS SPROUSE

LEGO Advent Calendar 2010 - Day 3

Again, I don't know what this has to do with Christmas...

LEGO Advent Calendar 2010 - Day 2

I don't know what a punk in a hoodie with two swords has to do with the holiday season, and I don't care. I'm happy to add to my LEGO army.

LEGO Advent Calendar 2010 - Day 1

Each day, depending on the time I have available, I'll get a video posted of me tearing through this awesome LEGO Advent Calendar.

This was a rush job. So no music. But, enjoy.