Categories
comics

Read these if you know what’s good for you

I’ve said this before but it warrants a repeat. Comics are awesome.

Sure, sure, make fun of me and my comics reading. But before you go too far in the heckling, check out a few of my favorite comics online.

American Elf – The Sketchbook Diaries of James Kochalka

Fart Party – more autiobiographical comics from Julia Wertz

High Maintenance Machine – okay these are also autobiographical and they’re from Matthew Reidsma

Three is a nice number so I’ll leave it at that. All of these artists/authors have published (and self-published) works in print, so once you’ve fallen in love, get yourself some mini comics and books.

Categories
book review

The year of living biblically

This book may have benefited from my long drought. It was good enough to keep me turning the pages and so ends up seeming comparatively awesome in my mind. But I think it is stand alone awesome as well.

A.J. Jacobs attempts to live a year following every rule he’s mined out of the Bible. No matter how nonsensical a rule seems, he abides by its literal meaning as best he can. There’s a lot of humor and great encounters with various characters along the way as well as a bit of thought provoking religious analysis.

It has become very difficult for me to find books I enjoy these days (that aren’t graphic novels) so I’ve been quite pleased to read this one.

Categories
update

Soy jerky, friend or foe?

At first the soy jerky tasted bad.  Like a strange fake chocolate taste.

Then I started to like it.  Especially if I chewed it at the back of my mouth.

It’s spicy.  So sometimes it bites back.  But many minutes after I eat it.

I still like it, though.

Categories
aunthood

The moniker

Voting is close. My own mother has suggested Auntie Ann today, so there’s a new choice for anyone who looked earlier.

Get your votes in. I think I’ll give this poll a week and announce the winner next Friday. Perhaps start putting it into use for practice.

Although the nephew will probably come up with his own concoction, it’s good to think about. Kate has advised that having a special name is important and I definitely agree. So it’d be good to have a little Aunt or Auntie or something in there.

Categories
aunthood poll

How shall I be known?

{democracy:3}
Categories
aunthood

Aforementioned book

My uncle book arrived.  I have read a few chapters. There are numerous annoyances that I am not surprised to discover.  There are horrible gender cliches about how aunts are mothering and sensible while uncles are bad boy rules breakers who allow candy and ‘spin yarns’ at bedtime instead of telling stories. Looking past these shortcomings and the disturbing overuse of the term ‘bunkle’ I have found a few good points so far.

The author advises starting the bonding process immediately.  I wondered whether it would even matter whether I spent time with the little guy when he wasn’t aware of his surroundings. Even if it’s a little one-sided, there are two clear benefits outlined in the book that are encouraging.

First off, it will increase my own desire to bond with him.  If I start right in, I’ll look forward to more even if he doesn’t feel the same.

The other not so obvious but still important point is that making an effort right away announces my intentions to everyone else.  They’ll expect me to want face time and opportunities to bond and hopefully will encourage such things.

This all sounds a little stupid as I’m writing it down, but it makes sense, right?

Categories
aunthood

Getting a laugh

I’ve gotten some advice via Google chatting lately.  See, already I’m a hip aunt.  I hear the young think email is old fashioned.

The latest tidbit I’m saving away is to have a willingness to do anything for a laugh.  Apparently it’ll come easy and I won’t be made fun of.  Perhaps I’ll start practicing some methods in the privacy of my own home before debuting them for the little guy.  I guess I’ve got time as they don’t laugh until 2 to 6 months. So I’m guessing funny noises and/or faces.  Waving my arms maybe.  Tickling and such.  I’ll be ready.

Thanks Ann for the advice and pictorial examples.

Categories
image

Kitty kick

Kitty kick, originally uploaded by jocainster.

A lazy Sunday means blogging an oldie but a goodie. Here is Lincoln showing off his martial arts skills.

Categories
update

Forced march

I did make a promise to post every darn day this month, so here I am, on day one of my beautiful three day weekend, tied to a computer.

Everyone might already know about Woot, the site that puts a different product up for sale every day for that day only (purportedly each product is an amazing deal).  Well, perhaps that same everyone might not know about the offshoot peddling original t-shirt designs. 

So check out Woot Shirt for a $10 American Apparel shirt (free shipping) with a different design each day. You can even submit your own design and vote on others in the weekly design competition, called The Derby.

Categories
aunthood

A little of the how-to

My internets searching led to a few online resources on aunthood.

This advice from eHow is definitely meant to solicit a laugh, but there are a few valid points. Providing fun firsts seems to be a common tip for an aunt.  I’ll have to start making a list. First beer, first cigarette, first arrest.  I also read a how-to on writing for the web today that warned against sarcasm, so just in case, please disregard the previous sentence.

WikiHow has concise and to-the-point instructions on aunting. Most of it is either obvious or complete crap.

There wasn’t much to be learned on the web.  Do people still call it the web?